USA > Texas > A Twentieth century history of southwest Texas, Volume II > Part 23
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At different times Mr. Martin had studied law, and in 1894 he was admitted to the bar. The same year he was elected county attorney of Atascosa county and served as such until 1900, when he was elected dis- trict attorney of the thirty-sixth judicial district, and re-elected in 1902, his term expiring in 1904. He is a lawyer of fine ability and has made money in his profession. He was the successful candidate for the legis- lature in the ninety-third representative district in the summer of 1906 and is now a member of the Thirtieth Legislature.
Mr. Martin was married in Pleasanton, to Miss Cornelia O'Brion, a daughter of Elijah O'Brion, a noted pioneer of Southwestern Texas, and one of the first board of county commissioners of Atascosa county when it was organized in 1856. He was almost fatally wounded by arrows from Indians at Pleasanton in 1861, in the well remembered Indian raid of that year. His widow is still living in Pleasanton. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have three sons, George M., W. B. and Bernard, and the first two are now prosperous young merchants of Pleasanton. Mr. Martin has wielded a wide-felt and beneficial influence in public affairs both in his profession and in political circles and has left and is leaving the impress of his in- dividuality for good upon the community. He is widely known and hon- ored here and his genuine personal worth has made him popular.
EDMUND L. SHARPE, M. D., practicing along modern scientific lines and recognized as one of the foremost physicians and surgeons of Pleas- anton, was born in Nashville, Tennessee, a son of the Rev. J. M. Sharpe, D. D., a prominent minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He was liberally trained along educational lines and supplemented his more specifically literary education by thorough preparation for the prac- tice of the profession he has made his life work. After attending the Nashville high school he was a student in Emory & Henry College, in Washington county, Virginia, from which he was graduated in 1880, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, while at a later date his alma mater conferred upon him the Master of Arts degree. He studied medicine in the University of Nashville from 1883 until 1885, and in the medical
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department of Vanderbilt University in the scholastic year of 1885-6. He was graduated from both institutions and received in addition to his diploma the M. D. degree from both. In the months not devoted to the work of the classroom he applied himself closely to hospital service in the City Hospital of Nashville, where his preceptor was the distinguished surgeon, Dr. Richard Douglas. He also had the benefit of training and instruction under other noted members of the profession including Drs. Briggs and Callender, and gained a knowledge of surgical aseptic work which was then beginning to be practiced so successfully.
In 1885 Dr. Sharpe came to Texas, where he has remained continu- ously since in the practice of his profession, save the year spent in the Vanderbilt University. For several years he practiced in Bandera, Uvalde and Wilson counties and in 1892 located in Pleasanton, Atascosa county, where he has since made his home. He has a very extensive patronage both in the practice of medicine and surgery and is particularly skilled in the latter line, his reputation extending over wide territory and bringing him a practice that is exceedingly gratifying both from a professional and financial standpoint. He has been county physician since coming to Atascosa county and is said to be the best read physician in west Texas. He keeps thoroughly in touch with the trend of modern thought and progress through his perusal of medical journals and the literature of the profession and is thus continually broadening his knowledge and pro- moting his efficiency. He is likewise a frequent contributor to medical journals and is, moreover, an interesting writer for Texas newspapers on matters that awaken general attention.
Dr. Sharpe has been married twice. He wedded Miss Betty Rainey in Seguin, Texas, where she had resided up to that time, and following her demise he was married in Wilson county. Texas, to Miss Naomi Matthews. They have three children, Richard Douglas. Edna and Mora H. In addition to his attractive home in Pleasanton Dr. Sharpe is the owner of a fine farm of two hundred acres adjoining the city on the south and irrigated by a splendid artesian well. He also has other business interests, which he is successfully managing, but his time and energies are chiefly concentrated upon his professional duties, which he discharges with a sense of conscientious obligation and a strict conformity to a high standard of professional ethics.
TILMAN L. RICHARDSON, filling the office of sheriff of Atascosa county, and carrying on a successful business as a stockman, makes his home in Pleasanton. He was born in Wilson county, Texas. in 1859, a son of Tohn W. and Mary J. (Hedrick) Richardson. His father was born in Virginia, and on coming to Texas settled in Wilson county. in 1859, making his home there until his death, which occurred in 1801. His entire life was devoted to farming and live-stock interests. and he went through the experiences of life on the frontier in Texas. His wife, who was born in Missouri, still survives him.
Tilman L. Richardson earlv became connected with stock interests and from early age herded stock all over the open range of this state. He made his first trip over the trail to the north in 1883 and the follow- ing vear he located permanently in Atascosa county, which has since been his home. He lived for some time in the southern part of the county
HABlocker
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but afterward removed to his present ranch at Amphion, ten miles west of Pleasanton. He has a fine place, embracing over a thousand acres of land, and he also leases land in order to have extensive pasturage for his stock. Formerly he raised Hereford cattle but of late years he has preferred Durham and finds them profitable.
Mr. Richardson was married in San Antonio to Miss Theresa Foster, and they have five children, Ray, Mildred, Edgar, Terry and Ina. Mr. Richardson is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the lodge and chapter, and he figures quite prominently in local politics, being elected in 1904 to the office of sheriff of Atascosa county. He has discharged his duties without fear or favor and his capability and fidelity are widely recognized. He is a man of sterling qualities and genuine worth both in official life and in business connections, and in the county where he has now made his home for twenty-three years he is very popu- lar amid a large circle of friends.
Medina County.
V. H. BLOCKER is one of the able members of the bar of Hondo, Texas, his practice, however, extending into all of the state and federal courts, wherein his skill in argument and his comprehensive knowledge of the principles of jurisprudence have gained him many notable victories. He was born in Harrison county, Texas, November 19, 1852, his parents being William J. and Mary D. (Butler) Blocker, who were natives of South Carolina and Tennessee respectively, being married in the latter state. The grandfather. Colonel Jesse Blocker, was a resident of the Edgefield district of South Carolina and a son of John Blocker, who in turn was a son of Michael Blucher (for so the name was originally spelled). Michael Blucher was a native of Prussia and one of the pioneer settlers of the American colonies. Five generations of the Blocker family have since been identified with church and state, largely living in the south. Jesse Blocker was born and reared in South Carolina and was a man of more than ordinary prominence and influence. He served as colonel of his regiment in the war of 1812 and had a personal acquaintance with General Andrew Jackson, with whom he was closely associated in securing a victory at New Orleans in the second war with England. He was an extensive planter and large slave owner and was one of the wealthy .and leading men of the Edgefield district of South Carolina, where he spent his entire life. His children were Bartley, Abner, William J., Jesse, Tr., Mrs. Julia Warner and other sons and daughters whose names are forgotten.
William J. Blocker father of the Hondo attorney, was reared in South Carolina, was married in Tennessee and afterward settled at Mo- bile, Alabama, where he engaged in merchandising as a member of the firm of Blocker & Horner until 1839. He then removed to Harrison county, Texas, being one of the pioneer residents of the new country. He purchased land and improved a good plantation, conducting extensive farming interests through slave labor. He was also engaged in mer- chandising at Greenwood, Louisiana, not far from his home, there carry- ing on both a plantation and a store. He was associated with Sam Hous-
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ton and all of the leaders of the republic and was often urged to accept political positions but would never consent to do so. He preferred to concentrate his energies upon his private business interests, in which he met with signal prosperity. Politically he was a Whig and was a great admirer of Abraham Lincoln, having carefully watched his course in Illinois and his career in connection with Douglas in their campaigns for Congress. Had he lived until 1860 he would have supported Lincoln for the presidency. He held membership in the Methodist church, in the work of which he took a most active and helpful part. While he pros- pered in his business undertakings he was ever charitable and benevo- lent and the poor and needy found in him a friend. He died at his homestead in Harrison county, Texas, in 1858. His widow, who survived him, kept the children together and reared them to lives of respectability and honor. But little is known concerning the history of the Butler family save that her brothers and sisters were: Frank A., a prominent merchant of Nashville, Tennessee; Charles, who died in Texas; Mrs. Jessie Kirkpatrick; and Mrs. Sarah Jackson. The parents owned prop- erty at Strawberry Plains, Tennessee, which was a noted place, and the Butler family was prominent and influential in that community. Their daughter, Mrs. Blocker, was a faithful member of the Methodist church and died in Harrison county, Texas, in 1896, at an advanced age. By her marriage she had become the mother of seven children: William P., who was a captain in the Confederate army and a prominent farmer, is now deceased. Eugene B., who served as a surgeon in the Confederate army, is now living at Marshall, Texas. Frank gave his life in battle for the Confederacy. Albert B. served through the war and is now a promi- nent stock farmer. Charles M., who was a successful physician, has de- parted this life. V. H. is the next of the family. Jessie, a daughter, died at the age of seventeen years, in 1862.
V. H. Blocker was only six years of age at the time of his father's death. He acquired a liberal education, attending the common schools and afterward the East Tennessee University at Knoxville, from which he was graduated. He entered college in 1871, completing his course in 1873. He pursued a special course in civil engineering and became a competent surveyor, following that profession for a short time, but think- ing to engage in the practice of law, in 1874 he entered the law office of Turner & Lipscomb, with whom he studied until 1875, when he passed the required examination and was admitted to the bar.
Mr. Blocker entered upon active practice at Marshall, Texas, where he continued successfully until 1879, when failing health caused him tem- porarily to abandon his profession. He then removed to Texarkana, where he successfully engaged in merchandising for one year, and in 1882 he removed to Pittsburg, Camp county, where he opened a law office and engaged in practice until 1886. In that year he became a mem- ber of the bar of Sulphur Springs, Hopkins county, where he continued until 1892, when he removed to Hondo, where he yet resides. On coming to this place he was in poor health and his voice had become so affected that he could not make a speech before a court.
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Hondo, County Seat.
At that time Hondo was only a small village with less than seventy- five inhabitants. He soon became interested in the subject of the removal of the county seat from Castroville to this place, for Castroville was lo- cated at the eastern side of the county and Hondo near the center. He joined Rolf Frerichs in an effort to secure the removal, Mr. Blocker tak- ing charge of the legal points at stake. Both were good workers and earnest men and the election resulted in victory for the purpose for which they labored. Those two deserve the credit of making Hondo the county seat.
After removing to this locality Mr. Blocker's health and voice im- proved and he resumed the practice of law, in which he has since gained a large and distinctively representative clientage, being recognized as one of the able members of the bar of his district. He practices in all of the courts successfully and has done some surveying here in order to settle disputes and accommodate friends. He has also handled real estate to some extent but gives his attention largely to the practice of law. In
James Bowie Mine.
1896 he took up the search for the old Spanish mining claim, later known as the James Bowie mine. There had been a tradition which is traced back to a period long before the Santa Anna war in Texas of a rich mine in the Western Texas mountains. The Mexicans for many years took bullion to San Antonio and exchanged it for supplies but would never tell the location of the mine. James Bowie spent much time hunting for it and had some hard fights with the Indians during his explorations. He finally succeeded in finding the mine but did little toward its improve- ment and kept its whereabouts a secret. The Santa Anna war against the Texans ended his career and the location of the mine was again lost. General Santa Anna had ordered all mines closed and shafts filled up. Mr. Blocker took up the search for the mine and found two shafts and a long tunnel. He has done much work and has defined the walls of a rich vein of gold and silver and sunk the main shaft to about one hundred and sixty feet in depth. He found specimens that assayed three hundred and twenty dollars worth of gold to the ton and one hundred and seventy- five dollars worth of silver. He has spent much time and money in his research and he feels that he has made a valuable find, which will prove very profitable when he can secure capital to develop it. He has secured the title to the land and has formed a corporation known as the James Bowie Mining Company of Texas. The mine is situated between the Dry and Main Frio rivers on the mountain range in Uvalde county and Mr. Blocker is looking forward with confidence and enthusiasm to the time when capital and machinery will develop this rich property.
He is an enterprising and public-spirited citizen, has been an im- portant factor in the development of Hondo and Medina county and is recognized as an able and successful jurist. Politically he is a stanch Democrat but without aspiration for office, and socially he is a Royal Arch Mason in good standing.
Mr. Blocker was married in 1889 to Miss Lulu D. Kimberlin, who
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was born in Hopkins county, Texas, in 1872. a daughter of R. S. and Elizabeth (Gregg) Kimberlin, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Texas. The father removed to Missouri in early manhood and there engaged in the stock business until the Civil war, when he joined Quantrell's band of scouts. He afterward joined the regular Confeder- ate army and so continued until the close of the war. Sectional feeling ran so high in Missouri even after the cessation of hostilities that, de- ciding it would not be wise to return to that state, he came to Texas, locating in Hopkins county, where he engaged in the stock business. Later he married and continued successfully in the stock business upon a ranch. There his children were born. Later, to secure a better range, he re- moved to Donley county in the Panhandle, locating his family at Claren- don, the county seat. He then bought a ranch in this county, where he has since been engaged in the cattle business. He is a stalwart Democrat and a worthy member of the Methodist church, while with the Odd Fel- lows society he also holds membership. His wife was a daughter of Mr. Gregg, a prominent stock farmer of Hopkins county. In the Kimberlin family were five children : Mrs. Etta Beville ; Lulu D., now Mrs. Blocker ; Laura, at home; Samuel B., cashier of the National Bank of Pauls Valley in the Indian Territory ; and Mrs. Laura Archer, of Redlands, California.
Mr. and Mrs. Blocker have become the parents of four children : William P., who was born September 30, 1892: Laura, who died at the age of five years ; V. H., born June 8, 1900; and Jessie K., born August 12, 1905. Mrs. Blocker is a devoted member of the Methodist church. The family are well known in the community and our subject and his wife enjoy the high regard of all with whom they have come in contact. He is a man of business enterprise as well as of marked ability in his profession and has made a creditable name in connection with every pur- suit in which he has engaged.
JOSEPH NEY, sheriff of Medina county and vice-president of the Hondo State Bank, is a descendant of an honored pioneer family of this county. He was born at D'Hanis, September 10, 1854. The Ney family was established in this section of Texas by John Ney, the, grandfather, who came from Prussia with Castro's colony and located where the town of D'Hanis now stands. He become interested in the development and improvement of Medina county, and was here engaged in raising stock. When he first settled here the Indians were quite friendly to the white settlers but later became very hostile and committed many depredations. Mr. Ney was a veteran of Napoleon's army and participated in the battle of Waterloo. He was a nephew of Field-Marshal Ney, of Napoleon's staff, and one of his trusted leaders. Following the war John Nev was in very limited financial circumstances and it was because of this that he took up his abode in Texas, hoping the advantages offered in this country would help him to retrieve his lost possessions. He was an industrious and hardworking man and soon adapted himself to the changed condi- tions which he found here and became very successful in his business ventures. He was reared in the faith of the Catholic church and passed away in 1872, at the extreme old age of eighty-six years. His family numbered seven children : John, Jr .; Nicholas ; Joseph, mentioned below ; Mary, who became the wife of John Breiten; Mrs. Louisa Chabot ; Eliza-
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beth, the wife of L. Zurcher; and Angeline, who became the wife of H. Weynand.
Joseph Ney, the father, was born in Prussia, whence he was brought to America by his parents. He was reared and educated in D'Hanis, Texas, and upon his removal to San Antonio, he was employed for a time in a bakery. Later he was employed by Governor Hansboro Bell in different ways, during which time he carefully saved his earnings, so that he was at length enabled to engage in the grocery business on his own account. He started in a small way, with a small stock of goods at D'Hanis, but as his financial resources increased he added to his stock of goods and in course of time built up a large and increasing trade. He was a very successful merchant and was so engaged until his death, which occurred in 1882 when he was forty-nine years of age. He was an' ex- tensive trader and owned much land throughout the state, and he also contracted with the Federal government to furnish beef cattle and other supplies at Forts Clark, Davis and Stockton. He likewise conducted the stage route at D'Hanis, and during the rebellion manufactured saltpeter, having two factories, one situated in Uvalde county while the other was located in Medina county. He was a good financier and became a wealthy man. He was a stalwart advocate of Democratic principles and served as county commissioner and also as postmaster for a number of years. He was an enterprising, public-spirited man, charitable to the poor and needy, and a kind neighbor and friend. During his residence in the southwest he encountered many difficulties with the Indians and was engaged in many fights with them, but he was never wounded. He was reared in the faith of the Catholic church but for many years prior to his death did not affiliate with any denomination. He is still survived by his widow, who makes her home at D'Hanis, at the age of seventy-one years. She is an intelligent and active lady, and a communicant of the Catholic church. Their children were: Joseph; Mary, the wife of Henry Steinly ; John B., who conducts a cotton gin at D'Hanis; Euphrosina, the wife of Joseph Braden ; Anton, a stock farmer; Teressa, the deceased wife of Jacob Reinhart, and the mother of four children; and Henry, a stock farmer.
Joseph Ney was reared under the parental roof, and remained at home until he reached the age of twenty-eight years, during which time he assisted his father in his business interests. In the meantime he like- wise accumulated some stock and in 1883 he engaged in the stock business on his own account, first being located in his native city, subsequent to which time he removed to Castroville, the county seat of Medina county, where he accepted an appointment to fill the office of sheriff. In 1890 he was elected to the office, continuing therein until 1900, when his term of office expired. In 1902 the county seat was removed to Hondo, and in that year he was again elected to the office of sheriff and through re- election has been continued in this official position to the present time. He capably manages the affairs in connection with the position and his services have given entire satisfaction to the general public. While looking after his interests in this connection he has likewise been engaged in the stock business, in which he is meeting with gratifying success. He assisted in organizing the Hondo State Bank, of which he was made
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vice-president. The bank has a paid-up capital of thirty thousand dollars and this is proving a valuable institution to the city and a source of profit to the officers and stockholders.
In 1883 Mr. Ney was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Reiley, who was born in Medina county in 1864, a daughter of Richard and Mary A. (Sauter) Reiley, the former a native of Ireland, while the latter was born in Germany. The father came to America when a young man and was a soldier in the Mexican war. Following his honorable discharge from service he was post sutler at Fort Lincoln near D'Hanis, where he continued until the soldiers were removed, after which he engaged in the cattle and sheep business, accumulating a goodly estate. His death oc- curred in 1886, while his wife had preceded him to the home beyond, her death occurring in 1875. They were communicants of the Catholic church. Their family numbered the following: Jacob, who was drowned when a youth; Tobias, deceased; Joseph, who is engaged in the stock business; Regina, the wife of A. G. Davenport; Jacob, a stock farmer ; Mrs. Jane Twomey ; Mary E., now Mrs. Ney ; Euphrosina, the wife of F. J. Carle ; Antone, deceased; Henry W., a merchant at Sabinal; Teresa, the wife of L. Carle, a merchant at D'Hanis; and Lucie A., the wife of H. C. Rothe, who is also a merchant at D'Hanis. By a former marriage the father had two children: Richard, deceased; and Maggie, who be- came. the wife of H. Taylor, and at her death left a family of seven children.
To Mr. and Mrs. Ney have been born nine children: Edmond H., who was born March 29, 1884; William J., who was born June 23, 1885 ; Ella R., who died at the age of four years ; Ida, M., who died when a year old; Johanna F., who was born September 22, 1888, and died October 12, 1906; Marguerite, who was born in August, 1892; Oscar C., who died at the age of one year ; Adella T., who was born in 1895 .; and Corrinne, who was born in 1897. Mrs. Ney is a communicant of the Catholic church and the family are well known in social circles in Hondo, where they own a beautiful residence.
JUDGE HERMAN E. HAASS, of Hondo, is a native son of Texas, where he has spent his entire life. He is now serving as county judge of Medina county and is numbered among the prominent and influential citizens of this section of the state. He was born in Medina county, December 22, 1866, and comes of German ancestry. His great-grandfather was Valen- tine Haass, who was born in Durkheim, Rhein-Baiern, while his wife bore the name of Elizabeth Orth, and was born in Worms, Rhein-Baiern. They became the parents of Geo. Henry Haass, who was also born in Durkheim, Rhein-Baiern, April 5, 1796, and was killed by the accidental discharge of a pistol when he was seventy-two years of age. He was a cabinet- maker by trade, while he served on the police force from 1830 until 1850. He came to America with two brothers and settled in Castro's colony, the year of his emigration being 1852. He was married in Germany to Anna M. Schwarz who died in Castroville, April 6, 1880, when she had reached the age of eighty-two years. She was a communicant of the Catholic church, while Mr. Haass was a Protestant in his religious views. In 1852 George Henry Haass brought his family to America, in which vear they joined Valentine and Phillip Haass in Medina county. His family of
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