USA > Texas > A Twentieth century history of southwest Texas, Volume I > Part 64
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67
479
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
Mr. Woodhull was born on Long Island, New York, and was there reared to agricultural life. He acquired an education in the east that has fitted him to manage extensive business interests in his later life. In 1879 he came to Kinney county, Texas, where lived his brother, Captain S. J. Woodhull, who had located there in 1873 and formed the nucleus of what has since become the noted Anacacho ranch, owned by Wood- hull Brothers, the other member of the firm being J. T. Woodhull. This ranch embraced thirty-five thousand acres and lies ten miles east of Spofford. Mr. Woodhull of this review now has the entire manage- ment of the ranch, his brother S. J. now being in business in Las Cruces, New Mexico, while his brother J. T. is acting as vice president of the Frost National Bank in San Antonio. In addition to his interest in this ranch Mr. Woodhull is also the owner and proprietor of a ranch of twenty-five thousand acres lying ten miles west of Spofford, so that he is one of the extensive owners of land in Southwestern Texas. The Woodhull brothers have been very successful in their business ventures both in their native state as well as since taking up their abode in the Lone Star state. S. J. Woodhull in earlier life was a seafaring man and it was in the east that he won his title as captain. J. T. Woodhull fol- lowed mercantile pursuits in the east, while our subject was there engaged in farming.
Mr. Woodhull has made a specialty of the raising of cattle on his ranch but of late years has also become widely known as a breeder of fine horses, which branch of his business he has cultivated as much for pleasure as profit. He has for several years past made his home in San Antonio, from which city he gives personal supervision to his ranch interests. He is a man of good business judgment, readily recognizing and improving opportunities and so utilizing the advantages that have come to him that he has worked his way steadily upward in the financial world and is now numbered among the prosperous and influential resi- dents of this section of the southwest.
Mr. Woodhull was united in marriage to Miss Virginia Warwick Jones, who is also a native of New York. They have a pleasant home in San Antonio and are hospitable people, prominent in the social circles of the city.
JOHN W. KOTHMANN. The success which has crowned the efforts of John W. Kothmann is an indication of what can be accomplished by a young man of determination, enterprise and force of character, for all that he today possesses and enjoys has been gained entirely through his own efforts. He was born in Gillespie county, Texas, near Fredericks- burg, September 16, 1863, a son of H. and Dora (Hartwig) Kothmann, both of whom were born in Hanover, Germany. The parents emigrated to America in 1846, accompanying the Prince Solms-Braunfels colony, which located at New Braunfels, in Comal county, Texas. Mr. Koth- mann, however, continued his journey further out on the frontier and located in Gillespie county, and later in Mason county, where he located a ranch.
John W. Kothmann lost both his parents at a very early age and at the age of nine years he went to make his home in Mason county with an uncle, Diedrich Kothmann, a pioneer Gerinan settler on the frontier.
480
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
He remained with his uncle until he attained his majority, during which time he had become familiar with ranching and stock-raising interests. His uncle was a large owner of sheep and Mr. Kothmann often had charge of large numbers of sheep, taking them out on the open range, where he remained for weeks at a time, having perhaps but one or two assistants. He was often many miles from any habitation, having to depend entirely upon his own resources to protect the stock from danger and depredations, so that this gave to him much self-reliance, which fitted him to later embark in business upon his own account.
When he had reached man's estate his uncle gave him a team of horses, a wagon and ten cows, and with this Mr. Kothmann began busi- ness upon his own account. He remained in Kerrville for three years, after which he disposed of his property and in September, 1890, located in San Antonio. In 1893 he established the San Antonio stock yards at the end of South Laredo street, the junction of the Southern Pacific and I. & G. N. railroads, these yards being conducted by Mr. Kothmann for several years under the firm style of Kothmann & Company, while for eight years Mr. Kothmann conducted independent yards. In the sum- mer of 1906 he removed his office and headquarters to the Union Stock Yards adjoining, although he still remains an independent operator in the handling of live stock and as a general live stock commission mer- chant. He has met with very desirable success in his business under- takings and is now conducting one of the most important business enter- prises of the city.
Mr. Kothmann was married in Medina county, Texas, to Miss Annie Schwers, a representative of a pioneer German family of this sec- tion of the state. They have nine children: Amelia, Minnie, Janie, Alice, Wilkis, Helen, Roy, Leslie and Milton.
FENWICK C. HUNNAM, a capitalist and real estate dealer of San Antonio, has in the management of his business interests displayed a capacity for the successful control of affairs that has made him one of the prominent representatives of financial interests here. He was born in Durham, England, in 1866, and his father, Richard Hunnam, also a native of Durham, came to America in 1845 and, making his way west- ward, settled in Kansas, where he lived for a number of years. Atter the close of the Civil war he came to Texas in 1866 and engaged in the cattle business, which at that time was just beginning to assume the gigantic proportions to which the industry grew in the '70s and '80s. Richard Hunnam, who is still living at his home in Bexar county on the old Sulphur Springs road, about twelve miles east of San Antonio, is looked upon as one of the prominent pioneers of the great cattle industry of Texas and is still engaged in that line, although now operating on a somewhat smaller scale. He has also been an extensive breeder of high- grade horses and was one of the first to introduce standard bred horses into Texas. Since coming to the Lone Star state he has had extensive ranch interests both in Bexar and Kendall counties, though for several years past he has made his home in the former county.
F. C. Hunnam, born in the north of England while his parents were on a trip to their native country for the purpose of visiting rela- tives and friends and settling up business affairs there, was reared in
F.C. Huma
11
48I
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
San Antonio and vicinity, acquiring the greater part of his education in this city. He has extensive land interests in Southwestern Texas, prin- cipally in Starr and adjoining counties, but makes San Antonio his head- quarters, with office and home in this city. Here he transacts a general real estate business. He controls much important property and few men are better versed concerning realty values in Texas than Mr. Hunnam. He is taking a prominent part in the development work now being car- ried on in Southwestern Texas, whereby this section is being rapidly settled up and the country is thereby being brought to the front as one of the most favored sections of the United States in its agricultural, hor- ticultural and other possibilities for business development.
ALBERT NORDMANN. For many years an active factor in the indus- trial interests of San Antonio, Albert Nordmann, through his per- severance and business ability, has won for himself a name in piano manufacturing circles which has passed beyond the confines of locality and permeated many sections of the Union. He was born in Prussia in 1842, and he seems to have inherited the love of his profession from his father, who was a manufacturer of musical instruments. Under his watchful guidance the son learned the business, and began work at the same when only fourteen years old. He learned thoroughly the con- struction, both artistic and mechanical, of various musical instruments, but particularly the piano, to which he has ever since devoted his atten- tion, with the exception of a brief period in St. Louis when he was engaged in the making of violins. After leaving his home in Prussia Mr. Nordmann visited Finland, after which he spent four years in Rus- ยท sia, at St. Petersburg and Moscow, working at the business of piano making, as he did also later at Stockholm and Paris, and in fact his experience is cosmopolitan and world-wide. From Paris he came to America in 1870, and, landing at New York, there became a piano- maker with the Steinways and later in the Weber piano factory. From New York he journeyed to St. Louis, and in 1876 came to San Antonio, which has ever since continued as his home.
While never having made pianos on a large scale, the instruments which Mr. Nordmann turns out are made entirely by his own hands and in his own workshop, and are of a recognized high grade, both from an artistic and mechanical standpoint, and therefore find much favor with musical people. To him belongs the distinction of being the only piano manufacturer in Texas, and in addition he is also a piano tuner and makes and sells parts of pianos. He is one of the public-spirited citizens of San Antonio, where he is well and favorably known as well as in the surrounding trade territory.
Mrs. Nordmann, who before her marriage was Miss Amelia Hal- bach, is also a native of Prussia, and the union of Mr. and Mrs. Nord- mann has been blessed by the birth of four children: Mrs. Clara Cush- mann, Albert George Nordmann, Arnold Powell Nordmann and Miss Amelia Nordmann.
RUSSELL CAFFERY, M. D., physician and surgeon at San Antonio, was born at Lafayette, Louisiana, his parents being Jefferson J. and Anna M. (Crow) Caffery. The father was a prosperous and well known sugar planter of Louisiana. In the paternal line Dr. Caffery is descended
Vol. I. 31
482
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
from Senator Don Caffery of Louisiana, who made a notable record in Congress. His maternal grandfather was Hon. Basil Crow, who was a prominent man in the public affairs of Louisiana.
Dr. Caffery acquired his preliminary education in the schools of Lafayette and subsequently was a student in the academical department of Tulane University at New Orleans. He matriculated in the medical. department of Tulane and was graduated therefrom in the class of 1891. In the same year he established himself in San Antonio for the practice of medicine and this city has since been his home. Since locating here he has taken several post-graduate courses in New York and in Chi- cago, thus broadening his knowledge and promoting his efficiency. He is a physician and surgeon of acknowledged eminence by his fellow prac- titioners and has built up a large and highly remunerative business. In surgery he has been particularly successful and his operations at the local hospitals are spoken of as models of clean and effective surgery. Since entering upon active practice his life has been devoted to his pro- fession. He has worked hard and steadily with the result that his prac- tice alone affords him a splendid income. He is a member of the County, State and American Medical Associations and thus keeps in touch with the trend of modern thought and progress of the medical fraternity. "He is now president of Bexar County Medical Association.
Dr. Caffery was married at Houston to Miss Edith Cushman, a daughter of B. C. Cushman and a granddaughter of the well known Judge Milton Cushman.
CHRONICLES OF THE PRESENT.
"Forsitan et haec olim meminisse juvabit."
A book descriptive of Texas, published some fifty years ago, con- tains in its last pages a number of clippings from local newspapers cover- ing a miscellaneous lot of items, news, advertising, etc. No doubt at the time those extracts were so trivial in importance that their printing in a book seemed almost an affront to the reader. A scrapbook seldom pleases anyone except its compiler. Yet, in this case, as one looks over the varied assortment of newspaper scraps, each one referring to an institution or phase of life at a distance from us of half a century, he feels the past brought before his mind with an intimacy of detail and suggestiveness that a more studied description could not produce.
It is with this example in mind, that it has been determined to append some extracts from current newspapers of events and affairs which are of interest at this time and which may pass into history. That the readers "may at some future time take pleasure in recalling these things." in accordance with the Vergilian line above, is the hope of the writer.
Unless otherwise designated, all the following extracts are from San Antonio papers issued during the first four months of the present year (1907), (Express, Gazette or Light).
Real Estate Development.
Last week witnessed a continuation of the remarkable activity in residence property in this city that has attracted the attention of real estate promoters and investors for the last year. The increase in number of sales and prices obtained for property of this class has been greater within the last three months than during the preceding nine, however. The suburban districts. are spreading more than it was ever thought possible when they began to grow a few years ago.
The growth of the city in a northerly direction has been so rapid that a rather peculiar condition exists. It is usually noticed in the larger cities that toward the edges of the city the dairies and gardens are numerous, and that the land is cut into small tracts. In this city the residence district has taken up the small tracts and with gigantic strides reached clear into the pasture land toward the Fredericksburg Road and other highways running north and north- west. One now stands in the center of a beautiful residence district in this section of the city and looks over a barbed wire fence into a pasture of possibly 200 acres.
South of the city the growth has been in keeping with the development in the other sections. A gradual development is in progress along South Flores Street, particularly near the end of the car line, which extends the length of this street. Along the Hot Wells car line many new houses are being erected. Nearer the Fair Grounds beyond the additions opened a year or two ago new city addi- tions are being opened rapidly. A little residence district is also growing up around the end of the car line, which extends to the wells. This section of the city will soon be brought much nearer the business district of the city by the double tracking of the Hot Wells car line, giving a much better service.
East of the city the extension of the residence district has been slow, but the developing of the already established districts has been steady. This course
483
484
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
is usually noted in southern cities. The demand is for plenty of room. Large front, back and side yards are demanded and the lack of neighbors is not consid- ered an objectionable feature nearly so often as in the cities of the north and east.
The development north of the city has taken a new start within the last few weeks. Activity in this section of the city was. particularly noted last week. This section of the city has been somewhat neglected by the real estate agents on account of being an older section of the city, where values are more fixed.
San Antonio has so many natural attractions and beauties that residence property has a greater value in this city than possibly in any other city in the state. The northern tourists who have visited San Antonio this winter have often remarked about the price obtained for property in the aristocratic suburbs which have been opened or are being opened. They say the price is as high as that required to purchase the better quality of residence property in the larger cities of the northern states from which they come.
The activity in residence property in the western part of the city is too well known for it to be necessary to explain.
Prospect Hill property and city lots at West End have been much in demand on account of the promises of the gas and water companies to give this property all the modern conveniences. It is now reached by street car lines giving good service. Many of those who purchased cheap city lots on the edge of the city a few years ago remember seeing the children chase jack rabbits over the ground which is now fairly well settled up by modest cottages.
An encouraging feature of the residence development in suburban property in this city is that every inducement is being made to encourage the wage earn- ers to build their own homes. They are taking advantage of the opportunities offered. It is safe to estimate that far more than 50 per cent of the homes now being built are to be owned by wage earners who will henceforth call the Alamo City their home, no matter to what country they may wander or be called by business. It is now well known that the breadwinners of many families in this city work in the other large cities of the state but wish their families to enjoy the climate, natural beauty and schools of San Antonio.
The continued activity in building of all sorts was one of the features of development in this city last week. Big deals and small in a steady stream con- tinued to enliven the real estate market. Each week it has been thought the high tide was reached in building activity, and each succeeding weeks has proven the opinion a mistake. During the last week the erection of several very large resi- dences on Tobin Hill and Laurel Heights was begun. Probably more than a hun- dred of the average residences are now in course of erection in that section of the city, while the residence district is rapidly spreading over more territory on the dry, high, healthy limestone hills. The popularity of these hills has encouraged investors and promoters to open a new suburban addition not far from this sec- tion of the city. A large number of houses is in course of erection on River Avenue, Alamo Heights, Government Hill and the northern part of the city gen- erally. In the eastern part of the city the development has been steady.
Recently a small boom was noted in Prospect Hill lots and the result is now showing in the erection of modest but comfortable cottages. A real estate agent said last week that the development in this part of the city has been greater within the last few months than ever before. West End is steadily advancing to take an important position among the city's suburbs. In the southern section of the city in the vicinity of the fair grounds the steady development that fol- lowed the boom in this property several years ago is still in progress. Small cot- tages are being erected by that middle class which forms a large and important part of the population of this city.
On West Commerce Street between the business section and the I. & G. N. depot a number of pieces of property were sold last week, and it is understood that business houses are to be erected. One three story brick business house at the intersection. of West Commerce and Leona Streets is about completed. Other buildings are in course of erection.
485
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
On West Houston Street a momentary lull is preceding the rush that is ex- pected when this street is widened and paved. A number of sales of property on Houston Street were made recently and it is announced that large buildings are soon to be erected. Houston Street is rapidly taking an important position in the business district of the city. From sales recently made it is thought that the block on which the Moore building stands is soon to be almost covered by tall office buildings.
A number of improvements are being made on the cross streets between Houston and Commerce and Commerce and the river. On East Commerce Street a number of two or three story buildings for business purposes are being erected, making this street a part of the business district as far out as the Sunset depot. Only a few years ago it contained not more than five stores beyond Alamo Plaza. The business district is also busily engaged in pushing out onto Main Avenue a short distance from Houston Street.
On account of the increase in building activity in this city during the past few months the City Council thought it advisable to reduce the fees for issuing a building permit. This was done at the last Council meeting.
It was found that the small fee of one-tenth of I per cent of the cost of the building gave a revenue of about three times what was required to make the office of the building inspector self-sustaining. This is considered evidence of the healthy condition of the market.
A large office building is now in course of erection on Alamo Plaza, and an- other on Houston Street only a short distance away. On account of recent sales of property on East Houston Street and other streets east of Alamo Plaza and near it a number of large buildings, it is expected, will soon be erected in that section of the city.
On the whole, the material improvements made recently and those certain to be begun within a short time are maintaining the confidence of investors in the future of the Alamo City.
"Fuel is the drawback of San Antonio and of all the southwest. Look at the disadvantage this city labors under in this respect, yet as I understand it, the annual pay roll from the few plants located here is something over $14,000,000. The city could use an immense tin-bucket brigade.
"How would I get factories here? Do as they do, I believe in Louisville, Ky. Every new manufacturing enterprise that starts in that city gets a ten years' ex- emption from local taxation. San Antonio could do this and profit immensely by it. This I think should be sufficient inducement. I am not in favor of giving either land or cash bonuses. When you give a taxation exemption you wipe out a considerable debt at once.
"Keep all Texas money in Texas, and when it becomes a 'plethora' there will be cheaper money. The great abundance of money now in the state is caused by the splendid crops the farmers have had. Then again, there is considerable money coming into the state from outside investors. Land is changing 'hands all over the southwest with great frequency. Many sales are cash; taking it all in all the financial condition of the state is one of healthy prosperity.
"San Antonio is attracting great attention now as a tourist city. She needs two things immediately to keep up her reputation in this respect. They are more hotels and better sidewalks. I am informed that hundreds of people every night have difficulty in finding hotel accommodations here. This should not be. It is true the San Antonio hotel keeper has three dull months in the year, but then he has nine hustling, bustling months in which to recoup and make money. There should be more hotels here if we want to hold the tourist trade.
"Our sidewalks are in bad shape. A gentleman from St. Paul, Minn., was sitting in my office the other day talking to me about San Antonio.
"'If,' said he, 'you people only had the sidewalks we have in St. Paul, you certainly would have a model city.' I hope the city government will at some time remedy this glaring defect, which is remarked by every stranger visiting the city.
"We have everything here to delight the eye, with a climate unequaled any- where in the world. We who have been long residents of the town do not half
486
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
appreciate these truths. The newcomer is hardly in town twenty-four hours be- fore he wonders why, with all our natural advantages, we have not erected more spacious hotels, located factories here and kept our sidewalks in good con- dition. He does not understand municipal conditions and life is too short to explain them to him."
Stock-Yards and Packing House.
In answer to a letter from the president of the Business Men's Club, asking his opinion about the practicability of the plan, Nat R. Powell, a well-known stockman of Pettus, says :
"I am heartily in favor of the contemplated step to establish a union stock yards for the sale in San Antonio of all classes of live stock, and would suggest that I think it entirely within the bounds of possibility to have in San Antonio in the near future one or more packing houses for the slaughter of cattle, hogs and sheep.
"I will mention that I was living in Fort Worth when the first steps were taken to locate stock. yards there, and we had knockers in those days, who asked, 'Where are hogs to come from? How can we supply the fat beef and sheep?' Last year there were slaughtered nearly 900,000 head of cattle, besides vast numbers of hogs and sheep. Besides this the horse and mule trade at the Fort Worth stock yards has made more rapid strides than any market in the United States. At that point each month there are public sales at which. from $100,000 to $250,000 worth of horses and mules change hands and are distributed to all points of the compass. A part of this trade naturally belongs to San Antonio. Are we to sit by and see all this trade taken away from us?
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.