A Twentieth century history of southwest Texas, Volume II, Part 12

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 704

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Mr. Cogley, the cashier, was born and reared in Cleveland, and has all his life been connected with financial affairs. Before coming to Texas he was connected as cashier with the Bee Line, known as part of the Big Four railroad system, and on coming to Texas in 1883 he became cashier and paymaster of the National Railway of Mexico, extending south from Laredo into the Republic of Mexico. In 1886 he became connected with the Milmo National Bank and later was made its cashier. He is identified with the best interests of Laredo and is a member of the city school board, of which he was president for several years.

JUDGE A. WINSLOW, of Laredo, was born and reared in that portion Vol. II. 6

HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS

of Coffee county, Alabama, which is now embraced in Geneva county. His father, Elisha Winslow, was a native of North Carolina and his mother came from Georgia. They spent the greater portion of their lives in Alabama and are both dead.

In 1874 the subject of this sketch came from Florida to Texas, locating in Matagorda county. He was a young man at that time and here he completed his legal studies and was admitted to the bar of that county with a temporary license only. From Matagorda county he moved to Waller county, locating in Hempstead, where he was per- manently admitted to the bar in 1877, and where he partially "filled in" the waiting period of a young lawyer's life by acting as night clerk and ticket agent for the Houston & Texas Central Railroad Company, then the leading and one of the very few railroads in the state at that time. In the latter part of 1877 he removed from Hempstead to Brenham, Texas, where he was engaged in the practice of his profession. But in 1881 he became convinced that a great future lay in store for Laredo, so he came here in that year with his family. Laredo was at that time a town of about 4,000 inhabitants and our subject traveled hither in the first passenger train to enter the city, Dec. 25th, 1881, over the Interna- tional & Great Northern Railroad. The town was almost entirely popu- lated with Mexicans at the time and Judge Winslow and his family are among the pioneer Americans of Laredo.

That Judge Winslow moved wisely when he came to Laredo has been demonstrated in the past quarter of a century for the place has be- come one of importance in the state and his own personal affairs have thrived in a corresponding degree. He has made Laredo his home con- tinuously since first coming and all through he has been very intimately associated with the growth and development of the place. If Laredo has helped him, so he has helped Laredo, for he has been ever active in all those advance movements which have made the city what it is today. His profession has occupied his attention during this period and he has become one of the leading lawyers of this part of the state. His legal ability is of a high order and he has been retained in many import- ant cases. For over a year he was master in chancery in the matter of the receivership of the Laredo Improvement Company, in which ca- pacity he adjusted matters and rendered decisions in claims against that company amounting practically to half million dollars, not one of which was ever overruled or set aside. He now occupies the important posi- tion of referee in bankruptcy in the Laredo Division of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of Texas. He is a representative citizen in every sense of the term and takes great pride in Laredo and everything that redounds to the advantage of the place.

Judge Winslow was married in Florida to Miss Julia A. Ferrell, a native of that state. They have four children, their eldest son, J. M. Winslow, a young lawyer of great promise, having died here, January 4, 1906. Their living children are: John J. Winslow, who was a sol- dier in the Spanish-American war, going out with the first Texas Cav- alry; E. Blaine Winslow, Margaret J. Winslow, and Walter W. Wins- low.

Judge Winslow is a self-made man in every sense of that word;

HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS

leaving his native state with a limited education, he came to a new country, worked hard and diligently for the completion of his educa- tion and mastery of his profession, so what he has done is of his own making ; to such men the United States and especially the west owes its individuality.

DON QUINTIN VILLEGAS. The name of Villegas is widely known as identical with the interests of the border country of Texas and Mexico, where its owners have stamped their prestige in a business and personal way. Don Quintin Villegas is a Spaniard by birth, and was born in the province of Santander, Spain, in the year 1850, coming to this country very young. He arrived in Cuba in 1865, where he re- mained for some years. In 1870 he went to Corpus Christi, Texas, where he became associated in business with his brother Joaquin. Here they continued the mercantile pursuit, which coupled with their natural ability, their perseverance, and honest dealings which has ever charac- terized them, laid the foundation of their success. In the year 1874 both brothers established themselves in New Laredo, Mexico, and continued business on both sides of the river, sometimes associated and sometime separate, until in 1889 they formed the partnership of J. Villegas & Bro. Each year saw their business grow in proportions and witnessed the invasion of additional territory in their dealings. Hon- orable conduct, and the best business methods soon made the firm one of the largest and most influential on the border. The business became strictly wholesale, and from year to year they held the confidence and trade of this entire section. Although established many years their suc- cessors still retain customers who began with the firm when it was first commenced. In 1903 they organized the Villegas Mercantile Co., retaining in same over one-half interest, and these were their preliminary steps to retire from business. In 1905 the Villegas Mercantile Co., liquidated their business, selling same to the present firm of L. Villegas & Bro., and both brothers retired altogether from business, closing a long and honorable career.

Don Quintin is a very popular gentleman. In 1894 the citizens of Laredo desired to place him as a candidate for mayor, but he has never desired to accept any political office, for reasons best known to himself.

His handsome residence is one of the most beautiful in the city, and is elegantly furnished with all modern improvements. He is still interested as owner with his brother of fine ranch property in Webb and surrounding counties. also in several mining and banking enterprises in Mexico, and is a stockholder and director of the Milmo National Bank of this city.

In 1904 he resigned from the Laredo Business Men's Club, having been its president for seven consecutive years until the time of his resig- nation. Together with Hon. J. O. Nicholson, the secretary of the Busi- ness Men's Club, he took an active part in the improvement of this city, as well as this section of the country.

Both brothers have passed most of their life in this section where they are much liked and respected, for their integrity, urbanity, and strict business principles ; their word is as good as their bond.

HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS

The present firm of L. Villegas & Bro., composed of Leopold and Lorenzo, are both sons of Don Joaquin. They are following the busi- ness methods largely of their predecessors, and it is needless to state that they are successful therein. The firm is one of the largest on the border and does an exclusive wholesale and commission business, also imports and exports.

HONORE LIGARDE, county tax collector for the county of Webb, was born in Bordeaux, France, in 1855, and was reared and educated in that city. He served one year in the French army and then entered public life, being deputy treasurer of the Province of Gironde, of which Bordeaux is the capital, for some years previous to coming to America. In 1881 he came to America with his wife, who was formerly Miss Elizabeth Martin, a niece of Raymond Martin, a native of France, who had come to America in 1852, and who became a prominent stockman and business man of Texas. Mrs. Elizabeth (Martin) Ligarde was born in the French city of San Luis, Senegal, Africa, although after- ward reared in Bordeaux, France, where she married the subject of this review.

Upon first coming to America in 1881, Mr. and Mrs. Honore Ligarde made their way to the home of Mrs. Ligarde's uncle, Raymond Martin, in Laredo, Texas, where Mr. Ligarde soon became interested in busi- ness and where he has ever since resided. His eminent fitness for the duties of public office soon attracted the attention of the residents of this city and county and he was early called upon to fill positions of trust and responsibility. He has had a long and honorable career in the public life of Webb county, beginning three years after taking up his residence here. He was county commissioner for eight years, city alderman for six years, and in 1900 he was elected county assessor, which office he filled until 1906, when he was elected county tax col- lector, a position which he now fills. Through long experience, re- quisite education and natural aptitude, he makes a particularly efficient official in positions of this character and he has the thorough confi- dence of the public. In addition to his public duties, he is also the man- ager of the vast estates of his late uncle, Raymond Martin, now con- ducted in the name of his widow, Mrs. Raymond Martin. Mr. and Mrs. Ligarde are the parents of four children: Fred H., Hermance, Amedee and Antoinette.

Raymond Martin.

In connection with the biographical sketch of Mr. Ligarde, it is par- ticularly appropriate that due mention be made of the career of Mr. Ray- mond Martin, who has been such a prominent figure in this region. Mr. Martin was born in France, May 31, 1828, being the son of Jean Marie Martin, who was a merchant. Raymond Martin was reared to mercan- tile pursuits, as also were his brothers, Paul and Joseph Martin, who came to the United States in 1852, Paul Martin coming to Texas in 1853 and locating at San Antonio. Raymond Martin came to America in De- cember of 1852, living a short time in each of the cities of Pensacola, New Orleans and San Antonio, until 1854, when he came to Laredo and at once engaged in the mercantile line. There were then only two stores

garde

RAYMOND MARTIN

HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS

in the place and from the first he was uniformly successful, he continuing in the mercantile trade for a number of years. It was also natural that he should engage in other pursuits and he was the pioneer in sheep rais- ing in Webb county, beginning in 1861, and for many years he was the largest operator in this line in this section of country. At times over 50,000 sheep grazed on his pastures, as well as thousands of head of cat- tle, in which latter industry he also became one of the leaders. He accu- mulated large tracts of land in Webb and LaSalle counties and at the present time the Raymond Martin estate includes 130,000 acres of land which is constantly increasing in value. Mr. Martin retired from the mercantile line in 1887, although he continued to take a most active part in the upbuilding of the city of Laredo, erecting the Commercial hotel and several other business blocks. He was also one of the organizers of the Laredo Bank and of the city water works, and in many other ways materially assisted in the growth and development of the city. Equally prominent was he as a leader in politics and all during the remainder of his life he was considered as one of Laredo's foremost citizens. His widow, who now conducts the management of his estate, was before her marriage Miss Tirza Garcia, their marriage taking place Jan. 10, 1870. Mrs. Martin is a native of Laredo, being the daughter of Bartelo Garcia, who was an old and prominent resident of this city. Mrs. Martin has ten children, five sons and five daughters. The sons are Raymond V. Martin, Marcelino G. Martin, Jean M. Martin, Joe Martin and Albert Martin, while the daughters are Mrs. Antonia M. de Martin, Mrs. Herlinde M. de Gutierrez, Mrs. Magdalena M. de Bruni, Miss Mamie Martin and Miss Louise Martin.

CAPT. SAM T. FOSTER. One of the leading figures of Laredo, as well as one of the pioneer American residents of this city and state, is the gentleman named above, who has lived continuously in Texas since 1847, with the exception of the period of his service in the Civil war. Captain Foster is a native of Union District, South Carolina, where he was born in 1829, his parents being Isaac J. and Frances (Stribling) Foster. His father was born in Virginia and his mother in South Carolina, and they came with their family to Texas in 1847, making this state their home until they died. They first located in Lavaca county, which was the home of our subject until 1857, when he went to Live Oak county, locating at Oakville, where he was living when the war broke out. He enlisted in the Twenty-fourth Texas Cavalry, which was afterward dismounted, and in which he became the captain of a company and remained in com- mand of the same throughout the war. The members of his command were among those who were captured at Arkansas Post and taken pris- oners to Virginia. After being exchanged, Captain Foster's company was put into the fighting in Tennessee, where they arrived shortly after the battle of Murfreesboro. They were in the general engagements of Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge and the accompanying skirmishing and fighting in that vicinity; then in the siege and battle of Atlanta ; thence came back to the battle of Franklin and the battle of Nashville. From there they went to North Carolina, under Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, in whose army Captain Foster had served ever since entering Tennessee at first. Captain Foster did valiant service for his state, his military

HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS

record being one of gallantry and distinction. He was wounded three times in battle, at Missionary Ridge, in the Atlanta campaign and at Nashville.

After the war, Captain Foster returned to Live Oak county, and removed from that place to Corpus Christi in 1869. He came to La- redo in 1879, which has ever since been his home, he being one of the pioneer American residents of the city. Although a lawyer by profes- sion, he is not now actively engaged in its practice, but devotes his time and attention to the duties of his office, he being the United States com- missioner at Laredo for the United States District Court for the South- ern District of Texas. His has been a long and honorable career and he possesses in a marked degree the confidence and esteem of the people of this portion of the state.

Captain Foster is the father of five children: Mrs. Bettie Atlee, Arthur Foster, Mrs. Ida Kerr, Miss Mary Foster, Mrs. Mollie Ulmer and Sam T. Foster, Jr.

JAMES J. HAYNES, who holds the important position as collector of customs for the customs district of Corpus Christi, Texas, is a native of Texas, where he has passed practically all of his life. He was born at Rio Grande City, on the lower Rio Grande, in Starr county, South- western Texas, in 1853, his parents being Col. John L. and Angelica ( Wells) Haynes.

Col. John L. Haynes was a very prominent character in the ante- bellum days and in the succeeding history of the state of Texas. He was a native of Virginia and he first came to Texas from Mississippi, accompanying a volunteer regiment from that state, this regiment being attached to General Taylor's army of occupation, in the campaigning leading up to the Mexican war. He served all through this war with distinction and was musterel out in 1848. During this service he had become impressed with the great future which was evidently in store for the new state of Texas, and after the close of the Mexican war he decided to make this his home. He located on the Rio Grande, in Starr county, at the place then known as Davis' Rancho, but which later be- came Rio Grande City. Here he made his home and he soon became identified thoroughly with the interests of his adopted state. He was a man of force and character and filled many positions of responsibility and honor in the early history of the state. When the secession move- ment began in Texas he was a member of the state legislature and from principle he opposed the secession idea. In this respect his ideas con- formed with those of his friend, General Sam. Houston, who was then a leading figure in the state. These were exciting times, but Mr. Haynes stood steadfast to his convictions, and after the state had seceded and hostilities had begun, he raised a regiment of cavalry for the Union

. Ist Texas Cavalry (Union).

service. Edmund J. Davis, afterward governor of Texas, also raised a similar organization and these two regiments were consolidated as the First Texas Cavalry, it being the only Union regiment to go into the service from Texas. Of this new regiment Mr. Haynes was chosen colonel and he remained in command all through the Civil war, seeing

HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS

a great deal of severe service and being in many important engagements in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. He made a splendid record as a soldier and an officer and he performed valiant service for the cause which he considered right. His service was also notably recognized by the Federal government and following the war he was appointed to several posts of honor and responsibility. He first located in Austin, where he became assessor of internal revenue. Later he was appointed collector of customs at Galveston, and still later collector of customs at Brownsville, in which latter position he remained for twelve years. He died in 1889, after a long career of honorable and distinguished public service. His widow, who was a native of the state of New York, is still living and a resident of Los Angeles, California.

Their son, James J. Haynes, was reared principally in Austin, where he attended school. When only eighteen years of age he went to Brownsville and became inspector of customs there, this being in 1872. The following year he was appointed commercial agent for the United States at Mier, Mexico, and in 1874 he went to New Laredo, Mexico, as commercial agent, in which position he remained until 1881, when the office was made a consulate. In that year he located in Laredo, Texas, which has been his home ever since. Here he was United States commissioner for about two years, following which he was in business in this city for himself, as customs house broker. In 1898 he was ap- pointed by the late President Mckinley as collector of customs for the customs district of Corpus Christi, which position he still fills, having been reappointed thereto by President Roosevelt. His lifelong residence in the state and his extended experience in this and kindred lines pe- culiarly fit him for the duties of the office and he performs them in a manner similar to that of his distinguished father.

Mr. Haynes is a prominent figure in the Republican party of Texas and he is also closely identified with the affairs of his home town, Laredo, where he is a leading citizen. He was married in this city to Miss Angela M. Arizola.

AUGUST C. RICHTER of Laredo, was born in San Antonio, his father being Charles A. Richter, who was one of the pioneer settlers and busi- ness men of San Antonio. Chas. A. Richter was associated with various leading enterprises in the early. history of the city and was also known as one of the founders of the old German-English school in San Antonio. His son, August C. Richter, was reared and educated in San Antonio and here he also received the very best kind of commercial training in his young manhood, being employed in the mercantile establishments of M. Half & Brother and the Hugo & Schmeltzer Company, two of the oldest and largest mercantile institutions of San Antonio. He came to Laredo in 1888 and took a partnership in the store of Mr. D. Stumberg. He remained in this line until August, 1898, when he established the present business of A. C. Richter. This is a large department store, carrying complete lines of general and special merchandise, and is the largest retail trading establishment in the city of Laredo. In January, 1907, their store was enlarged. In these fine new quarters the depart- ments of the store have been greatly enlarged and increased in number and the establishment ranks far above any of its character in this part

HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS

of the state. It is thoroughly modern and metropolitan in all of its stock and appointments and it is greatly appreciated by the people of Laredo and a wide trading territory, as it enables them to purchase at home everything usually to be found only in the larger cities. The success attained by the Richter mercantile establishment is due to the large and varied stocks constantly carried, coupled with business meth- ods which make friends of all their patrons, and every year the goods of the store go into a wider territory.

Associated with Mr. Richter in this mercantile business is his brother, Charles E. Richter. These brothers, in addition to their mer- cantile interests, have made a great success in the operation of irri- gated farms, and in this line they have become leaders in the ranks of the enterprising gentlemen who are laying the foundation for Laredo's still greater prosperity by the proper development of the hitherto almost unsuspected agricultural fertility, the natural facilities being aided by the application of irrigation to the growing of small and diversified crops. Although the Richter brothers have separate farms, which are operated independently of each other, their methods and experiments are similar and in many instances their example has been followed by others of this region. Mr. August Richter's farm is one of the best in the valley. it consisting of a 710 acre tract, 100 acres of which are under cultiva- tion and irrigated by water from the Rio Grande. This farm, which is located about four and one-half miles southwest of Laredo, has been selected as an experimental station by the United States Department of Agriculture, as fulfilling all of the necessary requirements. The soil is a light sandy loam and verv productive. especially when irrigation meth- ods are applied. Mr. Richter has been very successful in the raising of the famous Bermuda onions, his average yield per acre being in the neighborhood of 16,000 pounds. Mr. Richter is a firm believer in di- versification in farming and his crops are varied and numerous. He has realized a profit of $100 per acre in grape raising and is now experi- menting largely in the growing of figs. His alfalfa crops are also large and he makes no less than, six cuttings per year from the same. He raises 300 bushels per acre of Irish potatoes, while his crops of cabbages, cauliflower and lettuce are among the largest in this section. The United States Department of Agriculture is experimenting here with the date palm tree and the pistache nut tree. The native home of the latter is in France and the product has great commercial value. The soil and climate here are both well adapted to the culture of the tree and it is thought that great good will come from these government ex- periments. From the foregoing it will be seen that Mr. Richter has not only been eminently successful in a business career, but he has also done a great work on the agricultural side, and in both he has greatly bene- fited this region.

DR. HENRY J. HAMILTON, marine hospital surgeon at Laredo, and who also has a large general practice, was born at Barrie. Ontario, in 1864 his parents being Dr. Alexander and Katherine (Spohn) Hamil- ton. His father was a native Canadian, of Scotch-Irish stock, whose father in turn was one of the York pioneers who founded the city of Toronto, he also being an own cousin of the Countess of Dufferin and

H. J. Hamilton

HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS

of Lord Claude Hamilton, of Scotland. Dr. Alexander Hamilton be- came a physician of distinction in Canada and in 1875 he came to the United States with his family, locating at Corpus Christi, Texas. For several years he was surgeon of the Marine Hospital at Corpus Christi and he died there in 1882. His widow is still living in the city of Laredo.

Several members of the Hamilton family have achieved positions of prominence in the professions, chiefly in that of medicine, and one of the brothers of the subject of this review is Hon. A. C. Hamilton, a prominent lawyer of Laredo.

Dr. Henry J. Hamilton received his preliminary education in the Barrie High School and graduated in the Collegiate Institute at Hamil- ton in 1880. He received his medical education in the United States, beginning as a student under his uncle, Dr. A. E. Spohn, at Corpus Christi. He also studied at the Kentucky School of Medicine at Louis- ville, where he graduated in the class of 1888 with honors, winning the Regent and three other gold medals. Later, in 1890 and 1891, he took post-graduate work in New York City and in the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia.

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A Twentieth century history of southwest Texas, Volume II, Part 12

Author: Lewis Publishing Company Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 704

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 704