USA > Texas > A Twentieth century history of southwest Texas, Volume I > Part 63
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Besides mental and nervous diseases first class treatment and facili- ties are offered for alcoholic and narcotic addictions. The sanitarium has a high standing among the medical profession and its patients have included physicians of note from distant cities. Dr. Moody's life is given to his profession, in which his thorough and broad study has brought him a proficiency making him one of the distinguished specialists in his line in the southwest. He is now president of the Bexar County Medical Society, a member of the State and American Medical Associations and of the American Medical Psychological Association.
ALBERT BEITEL, who is engaged in the lumber business in San An- tonio, his native city, was born in 1856, and is a son of Joseph Beitel, also a native of Germany, who died in San Antonio in 1890. The family was founded in this state at an early period in its development and prog- ress, and the name of Beitel is intimately associated with the history of the lumber business in the southwest. The business with which Albert Beitel is now connected was established by his eldest brother, Frank J. Beitel, now deceased, in San Antonio, in 1863, the yards being located on East Commerce street about where the Ludlow House now stands. From there the yards were removed to North Flores street, and in 1878 to the Sunset Depot, and in 1880 to their present location on Commerce street near the I. & G. N. depot. The founder of the business passed away in 1899. For a number of years the firm name was F. J. Beitel & Company but after the death of the founder the business was re-organized under the name of The Beitel Lumber Company. Roy M. Beitel, son of
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Albert Beitel, is also a member of the firm and is now manager of the San Antonio office. In addition to the plant in San Antonio the firm has large yards at Kerrville and is in every way a prominent and repre- sentative institution of the lumber industry in Texas.
CAPTAIN CHARLES PHILLIPS SMITH is a member of the real estate firm of Charles P. Smith & Company, of San Antonio, and in this con- nection has a wide acquaintance, having been identified with the business interests of this city since 1884, while he has made his home here since 1866. Captain Smith was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1844, a son of Hon. W. H. and Sarah A. ( Phillips) Smith. In the paternal line Mr. Smith is descended from Quaker stock, the family having located in the Keystone state with William Penn in 1681. The paternal grand- father removed to Missouri in early pioneer days, and in that state became a very prominent man, serving as a member of the Missouri territorial legislature. It was in that state that the father of our sub- ject was born, although he was reared in Pennsylvania. He was also a prominent man, being a member of the constitutional convention of Pennsylvania, while he likewise served as a director of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. He was particularly well known in the newspaper field, being the founder of the Pittsburg Post, conducting this enterprise for several years. The mother of our subject was a native of Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania, and of English descent.
Mr. Smith was reared in his native city and acquired his education in the Western University of Pennsylvania, making a brilliant record as a student, especially in mathematics. In his early youth he received appointment to West Point Academy, in which institution he received splendid training, being graduated therefrom with high honors in the class of 1865. Following his graduation he served with the army at Portland, Maine, being in that vicinity for several months, after which he came to Texas with the Seventeenth Infantry, arriving in Galveston in April, 1866, remaining in that city until November following, when he took up his abode in San Antonio. He made an excellent record dur- ing his service in the army and because of his meritorious service was promoted from the ranks to the position of second lieutenant, later to first lieutenant and subsequently to the rank of captain, making an unu- sual record for a young man. During the troublesome and often tragic period of military occupation and reconstruction following the Civil war. Captain Smith was entrusted by the military authorities with many responsible positions, all of which were discharged in a most capable and trustworthy manner. Establishing his headquarters at San Antonio, Captain Smith became adjutant of the Thirty-fifth Infantry, a new regi- ment formed from the old Seventeenth Infantry, but a great deal of his time was spent in detached service in special positions created for him. including that of commanding officer of the United States arsenal at San Antonio, judge advocate in the trial of important military cases, as secretary of civil affairs, etc. In those early days he also saw service on the Texas frontier at Fort Davis and Fort Clark. Captain Smith performed all the duties entrusted to his care with such ability and strict adherence to high principles as to win the highest esteem of the military
Jou A Bailar
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authorities and the officials, and his later years have been filled with kindly associations and friendships with army officers.
On the Ist of December, 1870, Captain Smith resigned his military position, and locating on a farm in Wilson county, Texas, made that his home for two and a half years, subsequent to which time he once more returned to San Antonio, where he took up work as a surveyor and civil engineer. From 1881 until 1884 he acted as city engineer under the administration of Mayor French, and in the latter year retired from the position, since which time he has been connected with the' real estate interests of this city. The business is conducted under the firm name of Charles P. Smith & Company, his son, Charles C., being associated with him in this important enterprise. Coming to Texas at an early day, Captain Smith became familiar with its early development and progress and this has served as a splendid foundation for the success which he has achieved in his business affairs. He has ever followed the most conservative and honorable business methods and is classed among the prominent and representative business men of San Antonio, having been identified with its development for a period of more than forty years.
Mr. Smith was married in San Antonio to Miss Gertrude Cassiano. a daughter of Jose Ygnacio Cassiano, of the well known Spanish family of that name, and whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born three children: Charles C., who is associated with his father in business ; Marguerite ; and Alfred W. Cap- tain Smith and his eldest son are prominent members of the Knights of Columbus.
TOM O. BAILES, who, connected with mining and land interests in Texas, is recognized as one of the enterprising and far-sighted business men of San Antonio, was born in Giles county, Tennessee, in August, 1846. His life has been a somewhat remarkably eventful one. In the Civil war he enlisted in the Confederate service in Limestone county, Alabama, and entered upon active duty with a company known as the "Red Fox" Company under Sam Moore and attached to General For- rest's scouting service. Later he joined General Roddy's "Bull Pups." another company of scouts which in the latter part of the war became the escort of Roddy. His entire military career was spent in such serv- ice as this-scouting, bushwhacking, etc., often inside of the Yankee lines and also in service that was dangerous and thrilling. It was doubt- less due to his excellent record as a brave and intrepid young soldier that later in Texas he was drawn into service as a criminal officer, in which he further distinguished himself for his prowess and fearlessness in hunting down offenders against the law during the memorable frontier days of the 'zos when crime was so rampant in Southwestern Texas. He came to this state in 1870 and in 1873 was appointed deputy sheriff of Bell county, this being the period when the county was known as "Bloody Bell." Eleven men were killed in the county during the first week that Mr. Bailes was deputy sheriff. For sixteen years he con- tinued to fill the office of deputy sheriff, ranger and deputy United States marshal in Southwestern Texas and on the Mexican border. This period included the worst years of the criminal reign in this sec-
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tion of the country and is replete with a long record of cattle stealing, stage and train robberies. Some of the most noted desperadoes of the country operated here in those days. In addition there were deadly feuds between cattle men, sheep men and others of the section. Mr. Bailes served as deputy under several United States marshals, beginning with Stilwell H. Runsell and including Marshals Gosling, Jackman and Rankin. It was Mr. Bailes who arrested and convicted the man who, while being taken to prison on a train between Austin and San Antonio in 1881, shot and killed Marshal Gosling. In earlier days Mr. Bailes' jurisdiction as deputy sheriff included a wide scope of thinly settled country extending from the Colorado river to the Rio Grande, and he always carried with him papers of assignment of the deputy sheriff and of ranger, giving him the necessary authority to arrest criminals in all of the counties over which he rode as deputy marshal.
In his earlier life Mr. Bailes engaged in business as a contractor and builder, continuing in that line after resigning his position in connection with the criminal service of the southwest, but later he took up real estate and mining exploitation, largely in Mexico, where he has spent several years in promoting mines and land operations with much suc- cess. He makes his headquarters for this business in San Antonio, where he maintains his home. He is president of the Santa Cruz Min- ing & Milling Company of the state of Durango, Mexico, and has large interests in other companies operating in Durango, Sonora and other states of that republic. Beside these flourishing mining interests he deals largely in lands in Mexico and in Southwest Texas and has nego- tiated some very important realty transfers. In fact his business inter- ests in these lines are extensive and he is one to whom the country owes much for his efforts in behalf of its resources to the attention of the public and thus promoting its development and substantial upbuilding.
WILLIAM A. LOWE is thoroughly familiar with the state of Texas from the period of the early days when this district was the home of the . rough element, down to the present system of law and order, and he has rejoiced in the work of progress and improvement that has been accom- plished as the years have gone by. Mr. Lowe has been engaged in the stock business throughout almost his entire life and has never sought to change his occupation, for he finds it a most profitable source of income. He was born in Atascosa county, Texas, in 1857, a son of James and Melissa (York) Lowe, both of whom were natives of North Carolina. In 1845 the father removed with his family to Atascosa county, so that he was numbered among the prominent pioneers of this section of the state. The father was closely identified with the history of Southwestern Texas as it was developed from a wild frontier region to a well-settled country of farms and cattle ranches. He was at one time the largest owner of cattle in the state.
McMullen County History.
In 1859 he established his home in McMullen county, bordering Atascosa on the south, and was one of the founders of Dogtown, which was later named Tilden, the county seat of McMullen county. he being the third settler in that county. He there made his home for many
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years, during which time he was extensively engaged in the stock busi- ness, which continued to be his occupation through his business career. He was a man of high moral worth and of generous impulses, and although he reared his children on the frontier he gave to them the best educational advantages that were to be enjoyed in that day. He died at the home of his son, William A., on the 20th of August, 1904, having survived his wife for only a few months, her death having occurred in April of that year.
Although born in Atascosa county, William A. Lowe was reared in McMullen county. Mr. Lowe and his elder brother, the late Judge M. F. Lowe, spent several years in study at the famous Bingham school in Asheville, North Carolina, which was presided over by Colonel Bingham. Later they both studied law and were admitted to practice, M. F. becom- ing one of the most distinguished practitioners in Southwest Texas. He served as county judge of McMullen county, became a member of the Texas legislature, was later district attorney and district judge. In Sowell's history of the Indian raids and troubles in Southwest Texas, the Lowe family was given prominent mention, for on account of their large interests they were particularly a mark for Indian depredations and suffered much therefrom. Our subject also has one brother, James Lowe, who makes his home in Del Rio. Judge Lowe died at Pearsall, Frio county, in 1902, and thus passed away one of the most distinguished attorneys of this section of the state.
It was amid the wild and exciting scenes of Texas that William A. Lowe was reared. He spent his boyhood and youth upon a stock farm, early becoming familiar with the duties of herding stock on the open range. Later in life Mr. Lowe studied law and was admitted to the bar but his tastes did not tend in the direction of a professional career, so that he never practiced. He has given his attention to his cattle inter- ests and has prospered in his undertakings, so that as the years have gone by he has increased his possessions and now owns thirty thousand acres of land, situated in Atascosa, McMullen and Duvall counties. His land has become very valuable owing to the increased settlement in this district. Mr. Lowe now makes his home in San Antonio, to which city he removed in 1902, although he still gives his attention to his cattle busi- ness. Mr. Lowe has taken an active interest in public affairs and for fifteen years served as district and county clerk of McMullen county.
Mr. Lowe was married in McMullen county, Texas, to Miss May Beall, whose father was a pioneer of this state and was killed by Mexi- cans on the Rio Grande. She is a niece of the well known Sebastian Beall, now deceased, who was at one time a large land owner and cattle- man of Southwestern Texas. To Mr. and Mrs. Lowe have been born seven children: Ethel J., Guy, Arthur, William A., Jr., Roy B., Mattie May and Mabel Moss Lowe. The eldest daughter, Ethel, is now the wife of Captain J. W. Craig, U. S. A., at Washington, D. C.
JUAN M. GARZA is now filling the responsible position of captain of the police force of San Antonio, and in this connection is giving satis- faction to the public at large, for he ever discharges the duties of the office with promptness and fidelity and has gained the confidence and good will of the residents of this city, while he seems to be especially
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fitted for superintending the labors of the force of men who serve under him.
Governor Veramendi.
Captain Garza comes of a noted ancestry, his maternal grandfather having been Juan Martin Veramendi, who was governor of the Mexican state of Coahuila, which included the province of Texas, acting as chief executive of the state from 1833 until 1836, when Texas gained her independence from Mexico. Governor Veramendi performed his official duties from the famous old Veramendi Palace, which still stands on the east side of Soledad street between Houston and Commerce streets. Governor Veramendi was a Spaniard, having been born on the Canary Islands, and his parents were among the original families who came from the islands in 1730 and established a home in San Antonio de Valero. The Governor also had two brothers, Fernando and Jose, who came to the state of Texas, and in addition to the official duties of the former he also was a prominent merchant and a large land owner of Mexico.
The parents of our subject were Rafael and Josefa (Veramendi) Garza. The father was born in San Antonio, and died here in 1849. The son was reared and educated in this city, although he spent several years in Mexico. He served in the Mexican wars and became captain of a company in the war of resistance against Maximilian. In 1868 he once more took up his abode in San Antonio, since which time he has continued to make his home here to the present time. He has ever taken an active and helpful interest in local political affairs and through a long period has been connected with the police force of this city. He served on the police force during the administration of Mayors Paschal and Elmendorf, while at the present time he is captain of the police force, having been elected under the present administration of Mayor Callaghan, and his duties in this connection are being discharged with general satisfaction to the public.
Captain Garza was married in this city to Miss Gertrude Sandoval. a daughter of Carlos Sandoval, whose father came from Spain to Mexico, and later made his way to San Antonio, where he was married. The children of our subject and his wife are: Adolph, Rafael, Juan M., Jr., Vincente, Mrs. Carmen Conine, Mrs. Josephine Musquez and Mrs. Vic- toria Martinez.
COLONEL SMITH S. THOMAS, a capitalist of San Antonio, dates his residence in this city from 1876, and during the three decades that have since passed he has been a factor in the real estate and financial circles of this place. He was born at Rocky Mound, Franklin county, Virginia, a son of Cornelius and Elizabeth (Slaughter) Thomas, with whom he removed as a child to Pike county, Missouri, where he was reared to farm life. During his early manhood he engaged in the study of medi- cine but on account of impaired health never practiced his profession. He eventually removed to Pike county, Illinois, just across the river from Missouri, his location being Pleasant Hill. He there engaged in mercantile pursuits for twenty years, being one of the most prominent and successful merchants of that place.
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In 1864. being in very delicate health, and hoping to benefit by a change of climate and a rough outdoor life, he made an overland trip, taking with him a stock of goods, and started across the plains for Boise City, Idaho, where, after a long and dangerous journey, he arrived in safety. He opened a store in that city, conducting the same for about a year, while in the meantime he had retained his mercantile interests in Pleasant Hill. He then started on the return trip, being accompanied by a party of men. They experienced many hardships in their travels on the frontier on account of Indian attacks, especially in South Pass, Wy- " oming. Arriving once more at his home he there continued his mer- cantile pursuits, in which he met with very desirable and gratifying suc- cess, until 1876, when he came to San Antonio. He first engaged in real estate operations, and has been a helpful factor in this line of work, having opened up a number of subdivisions to the city. He also engaged in loaning money and since his residence here has been prominent in financial circles. Finding in the southwest the climate he sought and being pleased with the outlook for the development of business interests. he disposed of his interests both in Missouri and Illinois, where he had some rich farming lands, and has given his entire time and attention to his enterprises in the southwest. He formerly traveled over the United States to a great extent but finds that San Antonio excels all the various places he has visited in regard to climate and he is now enjoying the best of health.
Mr. Thomas possesses a charitable nature and has assisted many worthy poor, while he has likewise been very generous in his contribu- tions to various churches and other worthy organizations. He is genial and kindly and has ever been straightforward in all his dealings with his fellow men so that he has won the confidence and good will of a host of friends both in business and social circles.
HENRY WHITE TREMLETT, a wealthy stockman making his home in San Antonio, is the owner of twenty-five hundred and sixty acres of land located fifteen miles north of Kerrville and twenty-two miles from Fredericksburg, in Gillespie county. Mr. Tremlett is one of the worthy citizens that Germany has furnished to the southwest, his birth having occurred at Hanover, in 1860, and he comes of English ancestry on the paternal side. The family record can be traced back directly to John Tremlett, squire of Tremlett Barns, Cowley Bridge Parish, city of Exeter in St. David county, England, John Tremlett having flourished in the time of Charles I. The grandfather of our subject, Richard Henry Tremlett, was a prominent wholesale wine merchant of London. He married a beautiful Portuguese lady, a splendid oil painting of whom may be found in the home of the grandson, Mr. Tremlett of this review.
The father, James Tremlett, had charge of the extensive commer- cial interests of the Tremletts in Hanover, and was married in that city to Miss Meta Mugge. Both the parents are now deceased, having passed away in their native land. A maternal uncle of our subject. J. E. Mugge, came to Texas in the early ^40s with the Prince Solms-Braunfels colony of German noblemen and is still living in San Antonio, where he is a prominent pioneer merchant. Another uncle, Theodore Mugge,
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was also a pioneer of Texas and was for many years a banker and prominent citizen of Cuero, in Dewitt county, but is now deceased.
Henry White Tremlett was reared and educated in Hanover, hav- ing pursued a course of study in Heidelberg University, preparatory to entering the medical profession, but having heard favorable reports con- cerning the business opportunities to be enjoyed in the new world, at the age of eighten years, in 1878, he decided to try his fortune in America, and accordingly crossed the Atlantic, coming direct to Texas, where he joined his uncles in Cuero. For eighteen months thereafter he was employed in the bank of his uncle in that city. In the meantime he had cultivated a taste for ranching interests, for it was about this time that the sheep industry was being promoted in Texas. Mr. Tremlett wished to engage in this business but desired to familiarize himself with every detail in connection therewith, so that he began as a herder of sheep, being employed in Kerr county. He was employed about three years in this way, operating with different sheep men throughout Southwest Texas from the Colorado river to the Rio Grande. During this time he gained valuable information concerning the business and also experienced all the hardships and privations of western frontier life. He applied himself diligently and earnestly, carefully husbanding his resources, so that he was at length enabled to engage in business on his own account. He at first rented a ranch in Kerr county, and purchased a flock of sheep. He prospered in his undertakings and in 1887 purchased a ranch in Gillespie county and stocked it with sheep. He has added to his property until he is now the owner of twenty-five hundred and sixty acres of land in Gillespie county, situated fifteen miles north of Kerrville and twenty-two miles south of Fredericksburg. In addition to raising sheep Mr. Tremlett also engaged in raising cattle and in both branches has met with gratifying success, accumulating a comfortable competence that now enables him to retire from the more active pursuits of life and he now rents his ranch and makes his home in San Antonio, having removed to this city in 1902, in order that he might give to his children better educational facilities. He is a man of excellent business ability and sound judgment and through his honorable and straightforward methods has won the confidence and good will of all with whom he has come in contact.
In 1887 Mr. Tremlett was united in marriage to Miss Alice A. Johnson, who was born in Kerr county, a daughter of a pioneer stock- man. They have an interesting family of four children, James White, Lillie, Gertrude and Volma. The eldest son, James White Tremlett, has made an exceptionally fine record as a student in the West Texas Mili- tary Academy, from which institution he will graduate in the class of 1907. He is captain of the first company in this academy, and at the end of the school year of 1906 he was presented with a gold mounted sword by the faculty, this being given as a tribute to his efficiency and high character as a student. The home of the family is at No. 220 East Mitchell street.
OLIVER J. WOODHULL, an enterprising business man who makes his home in San Antonio, is proprietor of a ranch of twenty-five thousand acres lying west of Spofford, in Kinney county.
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