USA > Texas > A Twentieth century history of southwest Texas, Volume II > Part 11
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"A half mile to the west of the heart of Mexican Laredo are lo- cated the new and really elegant buildings of the International road. It will be remembered that Jay Gould and his associates, some time ago, obtained a very valuable franchise and subsidy from the Mexican gov- ernment for a railroad which was to run from Laredo to the City of Mexico. The road was to skirt the extreme eastern part of Mexico, being for the most way from forty to seventy miles east of the line of the Mexican National. Gould contemplated making a southern exten- sion of his Missouri Pacific system. Work was commenced on a grand scale, the line was surveyed. about sixty miles of grading completed, a small amount of track laid at the northern terminus, a bridge built across the Rio Grande, large, attractive and substantial buildings erected. much material gotten on the ground, many improvements made and everything ready for pushing the road right through, when of a sudden there came a hitch in the programme, work was ordered stopped. Most all of the employes were discharged or laid off, and for two months International railroad matters have remained in 'statu quo.' A few teams are still kept at work grading, and six or eight of the young em- ployes of the company, clerks, surveyors, and accountants, occupy a part of the main building, keep guard of the property here, and wait with impatience for reliable information as to when work will be resumed.
"In the meantime a great freshet has washed the bridge away. Just what Mr. Gould proposes to do cannot be told; the prevailing impres-
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sion, however, is that he will commence work again shortly, and put the road through with a rush. There is no reason why the road should not be built, as; if it is completed on the scale proposed, it certainly ought to be a profitable enterprise, as it would run through a very fertile part of Mexico. The main dependence of the two Laredos is upon the railroads, and the stoppage of work upon the International has had a perceptible effect on business here."
Enterprise, pluck and vigor can have but one result : and the evi- dent desire on the part of almost every citizen to build up and make a beautiful city of Laredo has been realized. The local government is now administered by both Americans and Mexicans, who live together in . peace and contentment, each striving his utmost to make Laredo the great international commercial centre of the southwest.
The progress of the city can be measured in many ways. In no better way, however, than in the matter of public improvements. A courthouse to cost $45,000 has recently been voted by the people of the county, and is now (1907) in course of erection in Laredo. At the spring election of 1907 the sum of forty thousand dollars was voted by the city for the erection of new school buildings. Money spent for edu- cational purposes measures quite accurately the extent to which true American ideals possess a community. Education has become a matter of practical duty and civic pride to Laredo, and it augurs well for the future of the city that public schools are receiving such excellent finan- cial support.
Laredo is both ancient and modern. Some of the most enterprising men of this late period of aggressive improvement are members of fami- lies that have lived in Laredo since its founding, over a century and a half ago. Then, too, there are many men of whom Laredo has every reason to be proud, who date their connection with the city from the early eighties, when railroads came and the semi-isolation of the town ceased to react against its welfare. In the following brief sketches of some such prominent citizens much interest attaches from their com- mentary on the foregoing history, and their lives also contain many facts of history that could not be included in the foregoing.
Writing with reference to Laredo's political and civic character, E. R. Tarver said, in a recent issue of the San Antonio Express:
As early as 1850 Laredo and vicinity was organized as one of the counties of the State of Texas. In 1853 it had the honor of electing one of its citizens, Ham P. Bee (afterwards a major general in the Confederate army) to the legislature. who as the second Speaker of the House of Representatives, distinguished himself as one of the ablest and most popular speakers who have ever presided over the Lower House of the Texas legislature.
When the call to arms was made by the South in the great Civil War in 1861, there was no community of the same population that responded more read- ilv and more heartily than did the town of Laredo. Two full companies, under the command of Captains Cristobal and Sortos Benavides, entered the Confeder- ate army, and Captain Cristobal Benavides' company is credited with making the last fight and firing the last shot in that great and memorable war near the town of Rin Grande Citv.
Through all these years. un to a short time before the advent of railroads in TQ&T. the country. in which there were extensive ranches, extending from the Rio Grande to the Nueces river. was continually raided by bands of wild Indians, with whom they had frequent conflicts.
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In 1881, when the first vanguard of Americans began to pour into the city, its population was not quite five thousand. It had maintained a city government for 134 years, and in all that time had never levied a cent of city taxes, owed not a cent, and had $1,600 in its treasury, the whole expenses of the city being paid out of the money derived from the ferry franchise across the river granted by Spain in the concession of 1757, when the city was first founded and laid off.
Since the advent of Americans politics has been more exciting, and on one un- fortunate occasion in 1887, after a bitter and exciting election for city officers, there was precipitated a fearful and bloody combat between the two opposing par- ties, in which many were killed and wounded. But to the credit of these people, when the fight was over, they made friends, and not a single instance of any personal difficulty has occurred on that account since.
During the smallpox epidemic, a few years later, owing to the prejulice of the poorer class against vaccination and resistance to the strenuous methods the authorities found necessary to suppress it, a few State Rangers had to be called on to enforce the drastic sanitary measures. Leaving out these two instances, no town or city in the State has maintained a better record for the observation of law and order at all times than has the city of Laredo, situated on the banks of the Rio Grande.
The population of the city has grown from 5,000 in 1881 to over 15,000 in 1907. When the railroads reached here 95 per cent of the people were Mexicans. Today about 75 per cent are of the same nationality.
Though politics has become warm and exciting at times since the advent of Americans, and though they only poll 25 per cent of the vote, yet the Mexican people have been generous enough to divide the county and city offices with them all the time.
Notwithstanding these facts, you often hear Americans saying that these Mexicans should not be allowed to vote.
CHRISTOBAL BENAVIDES, deceased, figured prominently for many years in connection with mercantile interests in Laredo as a wholesale and retail dealer until his name became a synonym for business enter- prise and activity. He was born in Laredo. April 3, 1839, and was the third child of Jose and Tomasa (Cameros) Benavides. The paternal grandfather was Jose Maria Benavides, a native of Mexico, who settled in Laredo in the early days and married Dona Petra Sanchez, who was the granddaughter of Captain Tomas Sanchez, the founder of the town. Jose Benavides, Jr., was an extensive ranchman, who spent his entire life in Laredo.
Christobal Benavides was educated in Laredo and at Corpus Christi. Texas. In his early youth he began a successful career as a stockman, handling both cattle and sheep, his ranch headquarters being in Webb county, where he built up a large ranch of many thousand acres of land. He was an industrious youth with a keen insight into business affairs, and before the Civil war he had contracts for carrying the mails. Early in 1861 he entered military service as a sergeant in a company of state troops commanded by his brother, Santos Benavides, and was in this service for about a year, during which time he was advanced to the rank of lieutenant. The regiment to which the Benavides brothers belonged was then re-organized and mustered into the regular Confed- erate service, Santos Benavides becoming colonel of this regiment, which was thereafter known as Benavides' regiment, and Christobal Benavides became captain of a company in the same. This command served mainly on the Rio Grande river from Laredo to Brownsville, mostly in the fighting and expeditions which were commanded by Colonel Rip Ford,
Christobal Benavides.
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the noted Indian fighter and soldier, this regiment also being in the last battle of the war, fought after the surrender at Appomattox, on the Rio Grande a few miles above Brownsville. Captain Benavides made a fine record as a brave and efficient soldier and with his brother, Colonel Santos Benavides, was always accorded the full meed of credit for pre- serving peace and law and order and protection from the enemy on the Rio Grande, which was the objective point of so many concerted attacks by the Federal troops.
Soon after the war Christobal Benavides engaged in business in Laredo with his brother Santos under the firm name of S. Benavides & Brother. This style of firm continued until about 1875, when our sub- ject became sole proprietor under the style of C. Benavides, his brother retiring until his death in 1891. The business became one of the largest and most important mercantile houses on the Rio Grande, both a whole- sale and retail trade being conducted and supplying a large territory. During all these years Mr. Benavides also maintained his live stock inter- ests on a large scale and was among the first to introduce graded Durham cattle into the Rio Grande country.
In Laredo, in 1867, Mr. Benavides was married to Miss Lamar Bee, who survives him. She is a daughter of the distinguished Confederate soldier, the late General Hamilton P. Bee, of Texas, and on the maternal side is descended from the Martinez family of Spanish ancestry in Mexico. Her mother's father was Don Andres Martinez, who was mayor and alcalde of Nueva Laredo, Mexico, during the latter '40S. Mrs. Benavides was provided by her father with a splendid education, spend- ing several years as a student in the east, principally at the Academy of Mount de Sales, five miles west of Baltimore, Maryland. A woman of tact and culture, yet intensely practical, she was a most excellent help- mate to her husband and their ten children, splendid specimens of young manhood and womanhood, are evidences of the wholesome and careful home training and parental influence. The Benavides family are of the Catholic faith and the children were all educated in Austin-the sons at St. Edward's college and the daughters at St. Mary's college. Their names are as follows: Carlota, the wife of M. Valdez; Marie, the wife of Amador Sanchez, mayor of Laredo; Santos M., city treasurer of Laredo; Lamar, wife of Dr. H. J. Hamilton, of Laredo; Aurela, the wife of Francisco Garza Benavides of Monterey, Mexico; Christobal, Eulalio, Luis, Melitona, and Elvira.
Christobal Benavides died in Laredo September 2, 1904, and no man was ever more deeply mourned than he, not only by his family, upon whom he lavished the love and affection of a heart that was full of kindness and generosity, but by the whole community as well, particu- larly by the poor, to whom he was ever charitable and open handed to a fault, giving freely and generously as he saw the need. His funeral was the largest ever witnessed in Laredo and was characterized by expres- sion of the keenest sorrow by every person in the city. His life was singularly pure and upright. He was a man of great and noble nature, whose mere presence gave a sense of comfort, protection and sympathy. Although he made a fortune in his business enterprises, leaving for each of his family a splendid heritage, yet during all his life he gave with an
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open hand to every deserving person and cause. His memory is cherished by all who knew him and his life and deeds furnish an example that is indeed worthy of emulation.
JOHN T. MURPHY, deceased, was at one time closely associated with the business interests of Laredo, Texas, as a dealer in hides and wool, and throughout his business career made an unassailable record, being known for his reliability, his energy and his sterling worth. He was born in Ireland and in his boyhood days came to America, locating in New Orleans. He entered mercantile life when a youth and remained in that business until his life's labors were ended in death. About 1871 he located in Corpus Christi, Texas, and became connected with the hide and wool business as a buyer for an eastern firm handling those products. He soon became proficient in making purchases and remained in the business, removing to Laredo in 1886 and continuing in the same line. He died in this city in May, 1903. For a long number of years he repre- sented the large hide and wool house of New York conducting business under the name of the John Finnegan Company and having branch houses throughout the country. Mr. Murphy established the Laredo branch for this firm and the house here is still conducted by his sons, J. H. and George Murphy, the former managing the business at the office, while the latter represents the house upon the road. They are connected with the purchase of hides and wool throughout southwestern Texas and to some extent in Mexico. Their business, although one still of consider- able magnitude, is hardly what it was in the earlier days, as the cattle and sheep industry has been gradually diminishing as Texas has been converted into a farming state. In the days when the sheep industry was at its height in Webb county and vicinity the wool shipments from Laredo alone often amounted to a million pounds per year.
John T. Murphy was one of the representative and successful busi- ness men of Laredo through a long period. He recognized and improved his opportunities and as the years passed by won a measure of prosperity that classed him with the substantial citizens of this portion of the state.
Mr. Murphy is still survived by his wife, who was born in Philadel- phia of Irish parentage, and who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth R. Peterson. During their long residence in Laredo they gained many friends and the hospitality of their own home was greatly enjoyed by those who knew them. Mr. Murphy is classed among those whose labors have done so much for the upbuilding of the city and at all times is spoken of as one of the leading business men connected with Webb county.
HON. AMADOR SANCHEZ, who has been mayor of the city of Laredo since 1900, is a member of one of the very oldest families of the place, they having made their home here for the past 150 years. Mayor Sanchez was born in Laredo, being the son of S. Sanchez, who was descended from Captain Tomas Sanchez of Buenrotiro, who visited the site of Laredo and made representations and recommendations which resulted in the original grant of the colony and town of San Augustine de Laredo by royal decree of the Spanish authorities, as told in the history of Laredo's founding, on other pages. The Sanchez family made their home here at that time, since which they have been prominent residents.
Amador Sanchez received a most liberal education, graduating at the
Amador Caucho
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St. Mary's University at Galveston, Texas. A portion of his early life was passed out on the range, engaged in the cattle industry, and he has ever since been interested in this line and a prominent figure therein. An idea of the magnitude of his operations in the cattle line may be gained from the statement that he and his associates now have in the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico, a stock ranch of 100,000 acres-a most valuable property. Mr. Sanchez has also for many years been extensively interested in various mining enterprises in the Republic of Mexico. He has for many years been a prominent figure in the Democratic party in the state of Texas and he has filled many positions of importance in this connection. He was chairman of the Democratic executive committee of Webb county for four years, and a member of the Democratic state executive committee for a similar period, and is a man of influence in the party. In public office he was first elected, in 1890, as district clerk of Webb county, a position which he filled with credit for three terms. Following this he was sheriff of his county and in 1900 he was chosen as Laredo's mayor, his services in this position being of such a satisfac- tory nature that his fellow citizens have kept him as incumbent of the office ever since, being re-elected in April, 1907. Being by profession a civil engineer and surveyor, Mayor Sanchez's knowledge in this direc- tion has been put to practical use for the benefit of his city, while as a man of intelligence, marked executive ability and a natural leader of men he is just the one to be at the head of a city's affairs. Under his
Finance and Public Works.
administration an excellent showing has been made. The floating and bonded indebtedness existing when he was first made mayor have been greatly reduced. During the first years of his incumbency he set to work to reduce the yearly expenses of the city, sacrificing his salary one year in this effort, and he made the expenditures about $5,000 less than usual. But with all this economy, he has always been in favor of increasing the permanent public improvements and he has seen to it that the real estate of the city paid a goodly tax in this direction. Under his direction great improvement has been made in the sanitary conditions, while the streets and public parks have received due attention. The public credit of the city has been placed upon a sound basis and today Laredo city bonds are considered as gilt-edged securities in financial centers. Himself a man of education, he has paid particular attention to the educational facili- ties of Laredo and several new school buildings have been erected, with the equipment of each complete. He has the best interests of his city closely at heart and there is no forward movement in which he is not a leader. That Laredo is coming to the front in public works is shown by the voting of $40,000, in April, 1907, for the erection of public school buildings, this following closely upon the bonding of the county for the erection of a new court house.
Mr. Sanchez was married to Miss Maria Benavides, of the well- known Benavides family of this city.
ELISEO E. OCHOA. Is the worthy descendant of one of the oldest Spanish families which came from the mother country in the 18th cen- tury and at the behest of their sovereign established in America the New
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Spain which so flourished for an hundred years or more. Those were romantic and stirring times and the conquering of the new country filled with many dangers and exciting incidents, but the invaders were a cour- ageous people and they made for themselves and their descendants com- fortable homes and accumulated considerable wealth.
Eliseo E. Ochoa was born in Laredo in 1860, his parents being Fran- cisco Ochoa and Sostenes Flores de Ochoa. His father was born in Nueva Leon, Mexico, and was an early settler in Laredo. But before Francisco came here to live, his ancestors had been pioneers in the vicinity of Laredo, in what is now the Texas side of the Rio Grande, once a part of Spain, and later of Mexico. Francisco Ochoa's grandfather, Don Jose Rafael Enriquez, was one of the founders, about 1810. of a villa de San Jose de Palafox, on the Rio Grande, the King of Spain for his valiant services granting him a tract of land at Palafox, in what is now Webb county, Texas, and, as specially mentioned in the records of that time, he was the hero of the noted fight against the Indians in which the said town of Palafox was wiped out in 1818. He was a soldier of un- daunted bravery, and in the fight in question he, with only a mere hand- ful of men, made a gallant stand against an overwhelming force of blood- thirsty Indians, as per records in Austin, Texas, which are signed by an authorized representative of the King of Spain.
Still more interesting, from an historical and genealogical stand- point, is the record of our subject's maternal ancestry. At the expense of a great deal of time, labor and money, Mr. Ochoa has compiled a complete record and tree, tracing in a direct line his ancestry on this side back to his great-great-grandfather, and embracing six generations. This maternal ancestor was Don Juan Bautista Villareal, who was one of the settlers at San Augustin de Laredo, now Laredo, in 1767, and who was one of those who received a grant of land from the King of Spain in the new town, although he had settled here several years previous to this time. He was a soldier in the Spanish army and one of the leaders of his day in the arduous labor of subjugating and civilizing a new country. The wisdom of many of his acts at that time is recognized to this day as indicating a far-sightedness not generally attributed to these soldiers of the early days.
Mr. Ochoa has in his possession many interesting old original papers and official documents showing the connection of the members of his family on both sides with the early history of Laredo and vicinity, from the days of the Spanish dominion down through the earlier days of Mex- ican independence. Among these he has the deed from the King of Spain to the property which is now his homestead on Yturbide street, Laredo, dated in 1814.
Mr. Ochoa received his early education in Laredo and this was fol- lowed by several years of thorough mercantile training. as clerk, with such well known old firms as C. M. McDonnell, Harris, Murphy & Com- pany, and Davis. Caden & Company. The latter two firms were import- ers and commission merchants in hides and skins and it was in that line that he started out independently for himself in 1897. He has been most successfully engaged therein ever since. His good business sense and his sterling worth of character has led to his election by his fellow
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citizens as an alderman, his first election occurring in 1894 and being followed by several re-elections. He still holds this position, represent- ing the second ward on the city council.
Although his mother has been dead for several years, his father is still living, a resident of San Antonio and active in business.
Mr. Ochoa was married in Laredo in 1885 to Miss Maria Drasdo Himmler, a native of Saxony, Germany, and they are the parents of five children, Eliseo, Alfonso, Jose, Luis and Daniel.
THE MILMO NATIONAL BANK. Perhaps no one element in a busi- ness community contributes so largely to solid and permanent prosperity as conservative and correct banking methods and in a town where the banks are conducted carefully while at the same time giving to the mer- chants and business men generally all the co-operation consistent with safety, it will invariably be found that failures are few and that business is conducted on proper lines. Such a financial institution is The Milmo National Bank, of Laredo, which is the oldest and the first national bank to be established in this city.
Its charter as a national bank was issued July 12, 1882, and it has been in business continuously ever since. Mr. Eugene Kelley of New York, who was instrumental in the establishment of this bank, became its first president, which position is now held by Mr. Daniel Milmo, also one of its founders, and Mr. Miles T. Cogley, of Laredo, is the cashier. This bank has steadily improved its status ever since organization, and its general condition is now better and its deposits and resources larger than at any previous time in its history. The institution has extensive and influential outside connections and it has always enjoyed peculiarly confidential relations with the leading business men of Laredo and vicin- ity. Particularly true is this in connection with the new business and agricultural growth of Laredo and Webb county, where the onion and trucking industry and the diversified agricultural interests have recently received such an impetus by the application of irrigation. This irriga- tion has placed a new phase upon the growth and development of this section, assuring within the next few years a great influx of thrifty set- tlers on the lands for agricultural purposes and a consequent increase of general prosperity and wealth. With this new movement the Milmo National Bank is closely in touch and is aiding in every way consistent with the methods of a safe and conservative financial institution. New- comers, whether going into farming, stock-raising or general business, have found this bank a most excellent medium through which to get in touch with the life and business of the place.
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