USA > Texas > A Twentieth century history of southwest Texas, Volume II > Part 19
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 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71
Nye Postoffice.
The railroad company has established a station at Mr. Nye's place and called it Nye, this also being the name applied to the postoffice estab- lished at this point, it being four miles north of Laredo. The onion growers have organized into the Laredo Truck Growers' Association, which looks after the shipping and marketing of the product.
Mr. Nye was married in the town of Matagorda, to Miss Frances Elizabeth Shultz, who was born and reared in that county. They have five children: F. W., A. Pierce, Grover, and Chester Nye, and Mrs. Fannie Collins. The two older sons are in the onion business for them- selves, while Grover is in partnership with his father.
JESSE SUMPTER is a pioneer of Eagle Pass, Texas, and a veteran of the Mexican war. He has been closely identified with the history of this section of the state from early days when its borders were infested with ruffians, smugglers, thieves and outlaws. He has witnessed its trans- formation to the present system of law and order, and has rejoiced in all that has been accomplished for progress and improvement as the years have passed by. Born in Owen county, Indiana, February 21, 1827. he was reared to the honest toil of the farm and pursued a common school education. He is descended from a prominent old North Carolina family and is a son of Isom and Susanna (Loving) Sumpter, both of whom were natives of the old North state, where they were married. In 1814 they removed to Indiana. They came of that hardy Scotch- Irish strain that penetrated the forests of America and were instru- mental in laying the foundation for the moral and physical development of different states. On arriving in Owen county. Indiana, Isom Sumpter purchased land and improved a farm. The place soon became self- sustaining. Later he sold that property and improved a second farm, clearing both tracts of the heavy timber. Upon the second place he reared his family and there died in 1834. He was very charitable and benevolent to the poor and needy, was most social in his relations with his friends and was a typical pioneer citizen of the best class. He at- tended the Methodist church and lived a quiet, unassuming yet honor- able and upright life. His wife survived him and died at the old home- stead in 1840. She, too. was a consistent and worthy member of the Methodist church. She was married three times, first becoming the wife of Michael Holt of North Carolina, who died leaving four children. William H., Polly A., Michael and Isabelle. After the death of Mr. Holt she married William Rollins. who passed away leaving one daugh- ter, Adeline M., who died at the ripe old age of eighty-nine years. Sub- sequently Mrs. Rollins married Isom Sumpter. Soon afterward they went to Indiana and both spent their remaining days in Owen county. They had three children: Littleton L., who remained a resident of In-
138
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
diana until his death; Harvey P., who settled in Missouri, where he passed away ; and Jesse.
Jesse Sumpter remained at home until his parents were called from this life, when the home was broken up. He was then about thirteen years of age and the youngest of the family. Thrown upon his own resources, he started out to fight life's battles and for some time was employed as a farm boy in Owen and Clay counties of Indiana, con- tinuing in that state until 1844, when there came to him the opportunity to go to Illinois with a family removing to that state. A location was made in Jo Daviess county not far from Galena, and there Mr. Sumpter was employed at such labor as he could find to do until 1847, when he enlisted in the United States army for service in the Mexican war. He was enrolled at Galena in the First United States Infantry Regiment and soon afterward was sent to Fort Snelling and on to the front by way of New Orleans. From that point the troops proceeded on a vessel to Brazos, Mexico, and soon afterward joined General Taylor's com- mand. The company to which Mr. Sumpter belonged was late in get- ting into the field, being held in reserve. In the following February peace was declared and the war was brought to an end. The regiment of which Mr. Sumpter was a member proceeded to Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, Missouri, and was soon afterward ordered to Texas, going over the water route by way of New Orleans and thence on a vessel to the Lone Star state, reaching Port Lavaca in 1848. They then marched to Salado Creek near San Antonio, where they remained for fifteen days. during which time the government bought horses and made mounted infantry of three companies, which were then ordered to Fredericksburg, where they remained for several months. Mr. Sumpter with his com- mand went on several scouting expeditions after the Indians but was in no battle. Later the troops were ordered to return to San Antonio and afterward proceeded to Fort Inge in Uvalde county. A few days
Fort Duncan.
later the order came to proceed to the Rio Grande, where they estab- lished Camp Duncan, arriving on the 4th of March, 1849. That was then a wilderness district, in which not a tree had been cut or an evidence of civilization made. They went into camp near the river, where Fort Duncan was afterward established. Soon the troops were ordered back and camped where the town of Uvalde is now located. After a brief period Colonel Johnson arrived and the company to which Mr. Sumpter belonged was made his escort to open the road to El Paso, piloting and protecting him and his associate engineers and the commissary to their destination and afterward returning with him to San Antonio, where the company received their pay for services rendered. Next came the order to return to Camp Duncan, where they remained for some time, during which period Mr. Sumpter again went on several scouting ex- peditions after the unruly Indians. They had a number of running fights with them but no set battles, for the red men refused to make a stand. Later the company was ordered to San Antonio to escort pro- vision trains to El Paso, making the trip without any casualties and thence returning to Camp Duncan, where Mr. Sumpter remained until
I39
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
he received an honorable discharge on the 27th of April, 1852. During the latter months Indian raids and running fights were common. When the fort was being established the border ruffians and outlaws among the white men began to assemble and gambling and shooting were an everyday occurrence. It required considerable courage for the men to remain among such an element where life was constantly endangered.
In 1851 the government put up temporary buildings and began doing away with tents, and the old stone guard house yet stands. The work of improvement was continued until a modern fort had been estab- lished and named Fort Duncan. The buildings and quarters are all sub- stantial stone structures and the place was manned as a fort until 1905, when an act to concentrate the troops was passed and the soldiers were removed, but the government yet holds the post in readiness should occasion demand its immediate use.
Beginning of Eagle Pass.
In 1850 Henry Matson borrowed a tent and established a saloon. He later erected a house just outside the post grounds near where the east end of the iron bridge is now located, and there he conducted a saloon until 1854. John Twong owned the land and in 1850 he platted the town, sold lots and named the place Eagle Pass, although the first settlers called it California Camp, as many stranded emigrants of Cali- fornia had found their way thereto. The most of them had become gamblers and highwaymen and for a number of years life was held very cheap at Eagle Pass.
Jesse Sumpter was honorably discharged from the army in 1852, after which he was employed by Matson to assist in the conduct of the saloon, which he continued until Mr. Matson withdrew from the busi- ness. Mr. Sumpter then opened a saloon for himself, which he con- ducted successfully until 1861. During that time he engaged in the cattle business with a partner who looked after the ranch and cattle, and in 1861 he abandoned the saloon to concentrate his energies upon other business interests, having in the meantime gained a good start in the raising of horses and cattle. The range was free and grass good and their cattle herd numbered about eleven thousand head. They also had a large number of good horses.
The rebellion opened and soldiers went to the front, leaving no pro- tection in the large field from the Indians and renegade white men, who in the guise of Indians would steal and run off stock. They also smuggled goods to the Mexican side of the Rio Grande and it was not long before Mr. Sumpter's large herds of cattle and horses were almost gone. He finally sold the remnant of his stock and after the close of the war en- gaged in merchandising. After the beginning of the war the governor issued a proclamation that all Union men must go into the Confederate army or get out of the state. With his ranch and large herds of cattle and horses Mr. Sumpter was not prepared to leave the state, so he lingered. Later a Mr. Castor was sent as collector of customs for the Confederacy at Eagle Pass and Mr. Castor made Mr. Sumpter inspector of customs for the Confederacy. He hated to accept any position from the southern government, but it was better for him than to leave the
140
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
state and abandon his stock and he continued to act in that capacity until the close of the Civil war. About that time he disposed of the horses and cattle which he had remaining and turned his attention to merchandise.
When the state issued an order for holding the elections in order to vote upon the subject of secession Mr. Sumpter and three other Union men joined forces and went into the battle and successfully carried the county for the Union, but later when the war was fully on a company of Confederates went to Brackett, where they encamped, while the cap- tain of the company selected a few of the best men and came to Eagle Pass to kill the four Union men. They came in a hack with the inten- tion of getting their victims under the influence of liquor and then dis- pose of them. They succeeded in their plan in getting two of the men to drinking, while the other two were sober. The captain shot Alex- ander Oswell and killed him. Finding that this awakened great op- position he and his party left the district. Within a short time a dozen men were in the saddle ready to start in pursuit of the captain, but Jesse Sumpter, level headed, called a halt. The men rebelled and were deter- mined to go but Mr. Sumpter argued that should they follow and kill the captain the entire regiment would be brought down, would burn the town and kill the inhabitants. It was seen that his insight and under- standing of the situation were correct. The plan was abandoned and the captain was allowed to return to his camp.
In those days a saloon man who was sober and trustworthy was the influential citizen of the county and Mr. Sumpter was found tried and true. He displayed marked ability in managing the worst men that roamed over the country and he saved many a man's life in those days in his saloon by the influence which he exerted. He felt that he never had occasion to demand the life of another and at all times he was fear- less and brave, so that he commanded the respect of the highwaymen and law-abiding citizens as well.
After the close of the Civil war Mr. Sumpter saved what he could from the wreck of his fortunes and began merchandising, in which he continued successfully until 1871, when the county was organized and he was made high sheriff, in which capacity he continued until 1876. He had closed out his mercantile interests for cash and used the money to carry on the campaign. He had to take scrip for his pay, which was worth only ten cents on the dollar, and thus he was left almost penniless. He traded. however, for some property at Uvalde and, moving there, remained for a year, after which he returned to Eagle Pass, where he has since continued. Later, on the construction of the railroad into Mexico, he was employed with the surveyors and continued with them as far as Monclova, Mexico, to look after their commissary and to buy and keep provisions. Following his return honte he bought the King Fisher saloon, which he conducted for two years and then closed out. He was afterward employed in other ways and in 1894 he became custom inspector for Eagle Pass, which position he has since filled. During these years the town across the river in Mexico, an old place called Diaz. has grown to a city of twenty thousand inhabitants and a substantial iron bridge has been built between the two places. Mr. Sumpter has
F. O. Ste del ore.
I4I
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
witnessed the development of both towns and is thoroughly familiar with all of the exciting events which have constituted an important factor in its history. He has lived to see the hostile Indian and the outlaw give away before the advance of the law-abiding citizen and at all times he has stood for law and order. He is widely known throughout South- western Texas and Mexico as Uncle Jesse and commands the respect of all who know him.
Mr. Sumpter was first married, in 1859, to Miss Refugia Ramiris and to them were born two children: William, who is now quarantine inspector at Eagle Pass; and Louisa, the wife of J. M. Zapato, who is storekeeper and commissary at the India ranch. In 1872 Mr. Sumpter wedded Miss Virginia Ramiris, who was born in Mexico in 1846. Her father died during her infancy and the mother afterward removed to San Antonio, where the daughter was reared and educated, pursuing her studies in a convent, where she remained until twenty-two years of age. In the meantime her mother had married again and her stepfather had removed to Eagle Pass, where Virginia formed the acquaintance of Mr. Sumpter, later becoming his wife.
FRANK O. SKIDMORE, a capitalist, who in former years was exten- sively engaged with the live-stock interests of Texas, and who is now the owner of large landed interests in the state, makes his home in San Antonio. He was born in Virginia, in 1849, and is a son of Samuel C. and Elizabeth E. (Keyser) Skidmore, who were likewise natives of the Old Dominion. In the paternal line he comes of a family of prominent and wealthy planters of the valley of Virginia. His father brought his family to Texas in 1853, landing at Indianola and making settlement in San Patricio county, with the pioneer development of which he took an active and helpful part, serving as sheriff of the county at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war. He then organized a company and entered the Confederate army, being attached to Bushell's regiment, serving mostly in this state and Louisiana. After the conclusion of hostilities he established his home in Oakville, Live Oak county, where he spent his remaining days, his death occurring in 1883. He was a prominent pioneer and cattleman at an early period and became a man of affluence and of prominence throughout this portion of the country. His wife died at Corpus Christi in 1891.
Frank (). Skidmore spent the days of his boyhood and youth in San Patricio and adjoining counties, having been only about four years of age when the family came to Texas. By the time he was eight years old he was proficient enough in the saddle to make a good cow man. His youth and early manhood were spent entirely on the great open range, extending throughout Southwestern Texas to the Rio Grande and on the trail to the north-days that were fraught with excitement and danger and the typical frontier life of the period that forms such a thrilling and romantic feature of the history of the southwest. School privileges were limited, yet, notwithstanding this, Mr. Skidmore man- aged to acquire a good education, principally at the college in Goliad. After reaching early manhood he embarked in business on his own ac- count, making his headquarters near Rockport in what was then San Patricio but has since been formed into the county of Aransas. Later
142
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
he removed to Bee county, where he lived for twenty years, during which time he became known as the most prominent representative of the.cattle and horse raising interests in that locality and at one time was the largest stockman of the county. In 1876 he delivered a bunch of ten thousand cattle on one trade to parties in Bexar county, and his oper- ations of those days included many deliveries of similar magnitude. He
Wire Fences.
was one of the first stockmen in Texas to adopt the wire fence and his first move in that direction was in 1877, when he fenced thirty-five thousand acres of his lands in Bee, San Patricio and Live Oak counties. He carefully watched the interest of his business, planned for its advance along growing lines and by his capable management, keen discernment and unflagging enterprise gained a foremost place in the ranks of the cattle dealers of the state and became a capitalist of Texas.
Town of Skidmore.
For many years Mr. Skidmore owned extensive land interests in Bee county, and when the San Antonio & Aransas Pass Railroad was built through the county (about 1885) the town of Skidmore, located on his land, was named in his honor. This is the center of one of the richest agricultural regions in Southwest Texas and has splendid natural re- sources and advantages which have already been improved to a great extent and which in future years will yield a splendid living to its resi- dents, enabling many to gain fortunes through the improvement of its advantages. Desirous that his children should have better educational opportunities Mr. Skidmore decided to leave the frontier and removed to San Antonio, where he has made his home for the past four years, al- though he still retains his business interests at Skidmore. He has an office in San Antonio in the Mahncke Hotel Building for the transaction of land and real estate business conducted under the firm name of the South Texas Realty Company, his sons being associated with him in this enterprise. They deal extensively in lands in Southwest Texas and Mexico and are taking a prominent part in promoting the settlement and present great development of Southwest Texas. Mr. Skidmore also has valuable mining interests in the states of Sonora, Coahuila and Oaxaca. The record of his life is a typical story of the pioneer days and the later growth and development of Southwest Texas, and in fact his name is inseparably connected with its history and his labors and efforts have been far-reaching and beneficial to the state.
Mr. Skidmore was married at Rockport to Miss Carrie W. Dixon, and they have nine children: R. O., C. H., Mrs. Martha Hunter, Mrs. Josephine Mckinney, Samuel C., G. D., Mrs. Lillie Ellis, Frank O. and Margaret.
It will seem almost trite to those familiar with his history to say that Mr. Skidmore has advanced from a comparatively humble financial posi- tion to rank among the capitalists of the state, but it is just to say in a history that will descend to future generations that he has made a rec- ord which any man might be proud to possess. He has steadily climbed the ladder to success and each upward step has gained him a brighter
ILanda
I43
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
future and wider scope for his activity and energy-his dominant qual- ities. His business life has closely adhered to a high standard of busi- ness ethics and the extent and magnitude of his operations have indi- cated his splendid business capacity and executive force.
Comal County.
JOSEPH LANDA. Comal county, and more especially the beautiful and thriving town of New Braunfels, is peculiarly fortunate in having been settled by a class of intelligent, enterprising men who came here from Germany, the land of thrifty habits, and from the first were identi- fied with the interests and progress of this part of Texas. Bringing with them their capital and their families, the latter far exceeding the former in every respect, they have formed the bone and sinew which has stead- ily pushed the car of progress onward, rendering this section of the country one of the most attractive and prosperous garden spots of Texas. First and foremost among the men of enterprise and ability who contributed so largely towards raising this town from a small trading village to its present enviable condition as the metropolis of a rich agricultural region, with varied manufacturing and other interests, and the loveliest and most noted pleasure park of the Southwest, was the late Joseph Landa, who arrived here in time to assist in the building up of the town, and was a dominant force in promoting its development and rapid growth. As a man of influence, public spirit and generosity, a brief record of his life will doubtless be interesting to those who are in any way associated with the industrial or business interests of one of the lead- ing cities of Texas.
A native of Prussia, he was born, February 7, 1810, near Kempen, a village lying not far from the noted city of Breslau, this being, like- wise, the birthplace of his parents, Jacob David and Rachel Landa, who spent their entire lives in that locality. The father was a farmer and dairyman, and a much respected member of the community in which he resided. Of the six children reared by the parents, but two came to this country, namely : Morris, who lived for a number of years both in Eng- land and in Australia, spent his last days in San Francisco, Cal., and Joseph, the special subject of this sketch.
With ambitions far beyond those of the ordinary boy, Joseph Landa early decided, when the proper time came, to seek his fortune in a newer country, where there were more favorable opportunities for acquiring a fair share of this world's goods. With this object in view, he started for America almost as soon as his school days were over, and for a few years after his arrival in the United States resided either in Mississippi or Louisiana. Not finding exactly the conditions suited to his tastes in either of those states, Mr. Landa migrated to Texas in 1845, locating first in San Antonio, then a frontier village containing but three or four stores. Embarking in mercantile pursuits, he established a good busi- ness, people coming there to trade from miles away, that being the market for many of the small settlements round about. Wishing to en- large his field of operations, Mr. Landa, who was a man of keen fore- sight and discriminating judgment. left his San Antonio store in charge of a trusted clerk, and came to New Braunfels to open a store in this
1.44
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
new village, and for a while thereafter successfully managed both estab- lishments, carrying on a large and thriving business in general mer- chandise. Fortune smiled upon his every venture, and as his money accumulated he wisely invested in lands, and by the purchasing of land certificates located over thirty thousand acres of land in different parts of the state.
.A large tract of land lying along the headwaters of the Comal river then belonged to Col. Meriwether, a pioneer settler of wealth, who had erected a small mill on his plantation. The Colonel and his young wife used to spend the winter seasons at New Braunfels, but when summer approached would visit other scenes. While crossing the Gulf on one of their annual trips, the boat foundered, and the lives of the passengers were imperiled. In their stateroom was but one life preserver, and that one Mrs. Meriwether fastened to the Colonel, and she clung to him, both being saved. She, however, declared that she never again would come to Texas, so Col. Meriwether, desirous of selling out all of his property interests in this section besought Mr. Landa to become the pur- chaser. After thinking the matter over, Mr. Landa, foreseeing the rich possibilities in store for the owner, bought all of the land on the Comal, including the spring, paying but part of the money down. When the bal- ance of the payment was due, he had it ready, but as the Civil war had just broken out he was afraid to send it, and was obliged to guard that entire amount of good money during the whole time of the conflict.
As the years passed by, Mr. Landa made frequent acquisitions to his landed property, buying abutting lands along the river, securing all riparian rights. and each season added improvements of value to his estate and to the mill plant. By wise investments, he acquired title to about five thousand acres of choice land, two miles of which front on the Guadalupe, and two on the Comal, a part of which, lying within the limits of New Braunfels, is the home of the great manufacturing plants. in which he took great pride and pleasure. The first grist mill and cotton gin was washed away, but was soon replaced by a large flour mill, which was erected by him in 1875, and furnished with the old-time burr stone.
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.