USA > Texas > A Twentieth century history of southwest Texas, Volume II > Part 28
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been successful in his farming and stock-raising pursuits and has thereby won a competence that now supplies him with all the comforts of life.
Captain Harkness has been twice married. He was first married in Alabama, to Miss Rock Merriweather, a representative of an old Virginia family. Her death occurred in Friotown in 1876. His present wife bore the maiden name of Margaret Maney, a native of Guadalupe county, and their children are: Lucy, Bessie, Lynn, Margaret and Mary B. Captain Harkness is prominent in Masonic circles, belonging to the Blue lodge and the chapter. The family are prominent in social circles in Pearsall and have a host of warm personal friends.
BEN DUNCAN is not only one of the brave pioneers who did a bold and faithful part in snatching Texas from the hands of the Indians and desperadoes who infested its soil in the early days, but has brought him- self to a substantial condition of prosperity, brightened with honor and affection. He was born in Gonzales county, this state, in 1838, was reared on the frontier and remained to be a large factor in the preservation of law and the development of the country into civilized and modern com- munities. In 1856, then eighteen years of age, he came to the vicinity of his present home in Frio county, and has therefore been a resident of this locality for more than half a century.
Mr. Duncan is one of the small guard of old frontiersmen still living, and certainly none of that band have had a more typical experience. It is said of him that he was always one of the most fearless of the pictur- esque characters who in the old days were compelled to rely solely on their six-shooters for protection, held their own against Indians and desperadoes and blazed the way for the influx of settlers and the resultant prosperity of later days.
Ben Duncan has always been a stockman, but of late years has taken up such other interests as general farming and the raising of bees. He owns a fine ranch four miles north of Moore, Medina county, as well as other lands, and has a fine business block in town, where he lives and enjoys a still active life. At one time he had extensive cattle interests in Arizona, in addition to those in Texas.
LEVI J. W. EDWARDS, pioneer and wealthy stockman of Moore, Frio county, was born in Virginia in 1829. When he came to Texas in 1850 he located in Gonzales county, and in 1856 removed to the southwest frontier of the state. Ever since that time, or for over half a century, he has resided west and southwest of San Antonio and has never abandoned his old-time occupation. He spent many years in McMullen county, and it was in that region that he experienced most of his troubles with the Indians.
In 1871 Mr. Edwards located in Frio county, which has since been his home, his residence for about seven years being old Friotown, the original county seat, situated on the river by that name. In addition to his cattle interests he conducted a mercantile business, and after leaving Friotown located at his present home about five miles west of Moore.
Mr. Edwards and his family suffered great hardships from Indian depredations, being often compelled to pursue the savage marauders. Not infrequently they showed fight, and he still bears the wounds indicative of their marksmanship. His most serious injury was occasioned by an
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arrow which struck him on the head, the scar of which still remains. Hc was at Friotown on the memorable day that the Indians killed seven people there. His wife was formerly Miss Eliza Holland, and they have one child, L. D. Edwards.
Now nearing his eightieth year, Mr. Edwards has the satisfaction of knowing that he has passed through the hardships and dangers of frontier pioneer life with credit and eventual benefit to himself and family. He is now a wealthy man, being the owner of twelve thousand acres of fine land which is rapidly increasing in value, besides conducting quite an extensive stock business. Although highly honored and popular he has never seen fit to assume public functions, with the exception of the period of his service as county commissioner while a resident of Friotown.
JAMES E. BERRY. There is perhaps no man in Medina county who is more familiar with the early history of Southwestern Texas than is James E. Berry, for he has spent his entire life in this section of the state, covering a period of almost a half century, and in the years which have since come and gone he has been an interested witness in the won- derful transformation that has here been made as the country has been rid of the rough element which infested this state during that early period and has taken a place among the foremost ranks of civilization.
Mr. Berry was born in Medina county, in 1858, a son of Tillman Berry, who settled in the state at a very early day. The son was early thrown upon his own resources, for he lost his father when but a young lad, so that he began herding stock almost as soon as he was old enough to sit in the saddle. He has been in the stock business throughout his entire business career, first engaging in that pursuit when the Indians made constant raids upon the property of the settlers down to the present time when the pastures have been fenced and high grades of stock are being raised. Mr. Berry made his headquarters for many years on the Leona river, but later removed to the vicinity of Friotown on the Frio river. In 1878 he established his home on a ranch six miles east of Pearsall, and this has continued to be the headquarters of his ranching and cattle interests to the present time. His ranch embraces about ten thousand acres and is a very valuable property, especially in view of the fact that property here during the past four years has greatly enhanced in value. In 1902, however, Mr. Berry took up his abode in the city of Pearsall, from which place he gives personal supervision to his ranching interests, making frequent trips to his farm. He has been very successful in his business ventures, for he started out when a mere boy to make his own way in the world, and through his persistency of purpose and his laudable ambition he has worked his way up until he is now numbered among the well-to-do stock men of Southwestern Texas.
Mr. Berry was married in Medina county to Miss Martha Pigford, by whom he has eight children, namely: Ora, Kittie, Ernest, Minnie, Jack, Ollie, Ruth and Esther, the two last named being twins.
DR. JAMES C. MAGNESS, a well-known practicing physician of Pear- sall, Frio county, is a native of Newark, Independence county, Arkansas, where he was born in the year 1873. He was reared and educated at Newark, and even during his preliminary courses had the profession of medicine in his mind as his life work. His first regular lectures were at
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Louisville Medical College and later he became a student in the College of Physicians and Surgeons at St. Louis, Missouri, from which he was grad- uated in the class of 1899. He has since broadened his knowledge by reading and observation, and in 1904 took post-graduate courses at the New Orleans Polyclinic.
On leaving St. Louis Dr. Magness located at Devine, Medina county, Texas, about thirty miles southwest of San Antonio. Here he engaged in general private practice, both of medicine and surgery and his thor- ough and conscientious methods and skilful treatment won him profes- sional success and the high esteem of the people over a large section of the country. Early in 1906 he took up the practice of his profession tem- porarily in San Antonio, but later in the same year decided to locate permanently at Pearsall. Here again his ability as a physician and sur- geon, with his sincerity and earnestness of purpose, is winning him the confidence of the people, with the material benefits which naturally follow.
H. EVART JOHNSON. A substantial business and public man of Moore, Frio county, as well as one of the most prosperous stockmen on the San Miguel river, Mr. Johnson represents a pioneer family of Bexar county which established itself in what was a wild frontier region of the southwest nearly sixty years ago. His parents, Lott W. and Eliza- beth (Noel) Johnson, came to Texas in 1850, first locating in Bexar county, near San Antonio. The father is a native of Mississippi and the mother of Kentucky, and they are still living at Moore, where they are honored as among the earliest of the pioneers of that region. In the next year (1851) after the family first came to Texas they located on the Medina river, in Bexar county, fourteen miles south of San Antonio. There the father continued to engage in stock operations until within a few years past. He was a member of the Home Guards of San Antonio during the Civil war, and has done his full share of pioneer work in contending with Indians and desperadoes.
H. Evart Johnson was born near San Antonio in the year 1864, and was reared in Frio and Atascosa counties, having been engaged in the stock business since very early boyhood. He had the usual strenuous experience in the days of the free range, before the period of wire fences, and made trips over the northern trail as far as Montana. Not- withstanding the wild life which was his lot, he retained a clear head and has become a successful business man, not only as a stockman but in real estate and mercantile lines. For one thing he had the advantage of good employers, being reared under the careful eve of the lamented Captain John T. Lytle, and was for many years in the employ of John R. Blocker.
Mr. Johnson has resided at Moore since 1893, and for some time has owned a fine ranch of over ten thousand acres on the San Miguel river, seven miles below Moore. He also erected one of the fine brick business blocks at that place, and is otherwise thoroughly identified with the growth and development of the town and surrounding country. In addition to his other interests he maintains a successful land and fire insurance office at Moore. He has also been honored with several local offices, having held those of county commissioner, deputy sheriff and
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justice of the peace. His prominence in Masonic circles is indicated by the fact that he is a Royal Arch and district deputy grand master for the forty-second district of Texas, holding a certificate to teach Masonic work under the grand lodge. Mr. Johnson's wife was formerly Miss Lula Little, their children being Ethel and Blocker Johnson.
GEORGE F. HINDES is a striking example of the frontier business man, who has combined romantic adventure with the business of life to his own material benefit, as well as to the formation of a rugged, useful and interesting character. Although now only a man of sixty-three, he has been connected with the livestock business for half a century, the substantial reputation which he has made as merchant and banker being the result of late years of wise activities.
Born in Wilcox county, Alabama, in the year 1844, the son of Moses and Mary (Mason) Hindes, George F. Hindes came with his family to Texas in 1855. In the following year they located in Atascosa county, and ever since that time George F. has lived within a radius of forty miles of his present home at Pearsall. This fact makes him one of the oldest settlers in this section of the state.
Both before and after the Civil war, and also during the period of the rebellion, the Hindes family were constantly subjected to the most trying hardships of frontier life, the Indians being the cause of their chief troubles. Several times the father was compelled to flee with his family from the savages, and more than once they made their escape afoot, as the wily red men had stolen all their horses. In 1865 Moses Hindes was killed by the Indians, his death occurring on the Frio river, in what is now McMullen county ; and his was the fate of more than half of the early settlers who came about the time of the Hindes family. Even more would have been killed had the pioneers not persistently banded together for self-protection.
Amid these harassing frontier conditions George F. Hindes de- veloped into a sturdy and self-reliant youth, and, although only seventeen at 'the commencement of the Civil war, he joined the Confederate army at the beginning of hostilities. The army in Texas not only had to contribute its share to the general cause of the Confederacy, but to protect the border country from Indians and desperadoes; and it was as a member of this latter force that Mr. Hindes joined the regiment of Colonel Santos Benavides, serving along the Rio Grande, at Laredo and below. Although chiefly thus engaged, the command with which he was connected also engaged and repulsed the Federal troops at Laredo. Upon one occasion during the war, with four companions he went hunting wild Mexican horses-known by plainsmen as "mustang- ing."
The expedition took the party along the Nueces river, in what is now LaSalle county, and George F. Hindes only survived to tell the story of their exploits, the other four being murdered by Indians and desperadoes in a very short time afterward. This was by no means the last of his mustanging expeditions, or his harrowing experiences with the Indians. Without going into details, he recalls that he literally saved his scalp four times by outrunning the red men, and upon two occasions by standing them off with his gun.
N. M. C. Patterson
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In 1872 the family removed from the ranch to Pleasanton, the county seat of Atascosa county, where George F. entered the mercantile business in partnership with James Bowyer. It was in that year that he took his first herd of cattle over the northern trail to Wichita, Kansas, receiving $15,000 as the proceeds of the sale. This was the first con- siderable sum of money he had earned and was the starting point in his future prosperity. In the following year (1873) he took a herd of cattle to the Chugwater, above Cheyenne, Wyoming.
In 1885 Mr. Hindes removed to Frio county, and since 1889 his home has been at Pearsall, the county seat. Here he has become thor- oughly identified with the largest business interests and the growth of the country. His largest ranch is located on the San Miguel, east of Pearsall, and lies in Frio and Atascosa counties. This fine property, before it was divided among his several children, consisted of 50,000 acres. Mr. Hindes has another ranch nearer town, and upon all of his property he not only raises livestock but carries on general farming. Of late years he has gone quite extensively into the specialty of horse raising.
In the spring of 1891, in partnership with C. H. Beever, Mr. Hindes founded the firm of Beever & Hindes, dealers in general merchandise, cattle and lands. They built the Mercantile block in Pearsall, and their store became one of the largest and best known between San Antonio and Laredo. Recently the business was sold to the Pearsall Mercantile Company. Mr. Hindes was one of the founders and is still a leading stockholder and director of the Pearsall National Bank, a flourishing financial institution of the place. The old firm of Beever & Hindes still exists, its one interest now consisting of a large store at the new town of Artesia, in LaSalle county. At the point named Beever & Hindes also own a tract of fine farming land, with one of the best artesian wells in Southwest Texas. George F. Hindes was married, in 1865, to Miss Caroline Fountain of Atascosa county, and they have the following children : David, Frank, Mrs. Fannie De Vilbiss, Mrs. Nettie Windrow and Miss Mary Hindes. Mr. Hindes is a prominent figure in the old- time fraternities, being, as a Mason, a member of the Blue Lodge, Council, Chapter and Commandery, and having taken all the degrees in Odd Fellowship.
Uvalde County.
N. M. C. PATTERSON, who is descended from an honored and prominent southern family, is a pioneer settler of Uvalde county. No man is more worthy of an honored place in the history of this section of the state, because his life in all of its phases has rendered him worthy of the respect of his fellow men and has won him a measure of success that indicates his ability. Born in Fayette county, Alabama, on the 24th day of September, 1825, he was reared to farm life and was educated in the com- mon schools. He spent his youth in the home of his parents, George W. and Elizabeth (McCullom) Patterson, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of South Carolina. Their marriage, however, was celebrated in Alabama. The ancestry of the family can be traced back to the great-grandfather, who was a native of Scotland and came Vol. II. 14
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to America in early colonial days. When the colonies attempted to throw off the yoke of British oppression he joined the American army and fought for the independence of the nation. When the republic had become an established fact he settled in South Carolina, where he reared his family and spent his remaining days.
His son, John Patterson, grandfather, was a native of North Caro- lina and was of Scotch-Irish lineage. He was reared in the place of his nativity, and, possessing many of the tastes and qualities of the frontiers- man, he left the south for the territory of Ohio, where some of his children were born. Later when Kentucky was opened up to settle- ment he went to that state and subsequently became a resident of Ten- nessee, at all times keeping on the frontier and aiding materially in the development and progress of various new localities. He always followed the occupation of farming, giving his entire attention to his business affairs. He had no desire for public office, but was recognized as a valued citizen, noted for his truthfulness and fearless integrity-traits of character which have been manifest in the Patterson family from gen- eration to generation. His children were: William, John, Joseph, George W., David and Kate.
Of this family George W. Patterson, father, was reared to manhood in Tennessee and was married in Alabama to Miss Elizabeth McCullon. They reared their family in the latter state, and to provide for the sup- port of his wife and children Mr. Patterson followed the blacksmith's trade and also engaged in general farming. He owned a number of slaves, who operated his land. In each community in which he lived he became a prominent and highly respected citizen, well known for his integrity and honor. In 1847 he sold his property in Alabama and removed with his family and his slaves to Texas, first locating in St. Augustine county, where he raised one crop. In the fall of the same year he removed to Smith county, purchased land and made some improvements thereon. He placed a portion of the land under cultiva- tion, but after living upon that property sold out and in 1851 removed
Uvalde County in the 'Fifties.
to Uvalde county, settling seven miles south of the present site of Sabinal. There he pre-empted a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres and afterward added to his land by purchase, opening up a farm and raising stock. At that time there were but few white people in the country and farming was all an experiment. Up to this time the entire district had been devoted to stock raising on the open range and there were less than a half-dozen houses in the district. Game was plentiful and wild beasts roamed at will. The red men asserted their rights by force and made it very unpleasant for the settlers at every opportunity by stealing their stock and committing other depredations. Mr. Patterson on more than one occasion had his place raided and his stock stolen by the Indians. He was too old to go after them on the raids in which many of the white men engaged against the red race. but he continued to live upon his farm until he placed his land under cultivation, raising mostly supplies for the family. He had upon his place several slaves, who worked in the fields and who were always
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HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
kindly treated, sharing with his own family in the products of the farm. He continued to reside upon the ranch and develop the property until after the outbreak of the rebellion. He was loyal to the south, but was too old for active service. When the war was over his slaves had been freed and his estate had been largely demolished. In the early days he was a strong Whig and was prominent and influential in the party. He filled the office of county commissioner, of justice of the peace and other positions of public trust in Uvalde county, and his efforts to pro- mote general progress and improvement were effective and far reaching. He was among the earliest pioneer settlers of this portion of the state and knew every white man in the county. He assisted in organizing the county and locating the county seat, and he lived to see a modern system of civil government inaugurated together with the building of churches and schools and the establishment of happy homes. Civiliza- tion was brought to a high standard, rendering property and life safe, while all modern advantages were secured for the settlers.
Mr. Patterson was a man of social, genial nature, who enjoyed having his friends around him. He was rather quiet in manner, but nevertheless possessed a resolute spirit and was unflinching and unfalter- ing in his support of the truth and right as he understood it, and had no use for dishonesty or prevarication in the slightest degree. His religious faith was that of the Universalist church. He remained upon the old family homestead until 1868, when his wife died and the home was broken up, after which he found a home with his son, N. M. C. Pat- terson, with whom he remained until his death, which occurred in 1875. His wife departed this life in 1868. She was a daughter of Newman McCullom, who was of Scotch and English descent. Her father was born and reared in South Carolina and became a well-to-do farmer and slave owner there. Later he removed to Alabama, where his remaining days were passed, and in the community where he lived he was widely known, enjoying the good will and confidence of all by reason of an upright, honorable life. His political allegiance was given to the Whig party. The members of his family were: Elizabeth, who became Mrs. Patterson; Henry, a farmer; James, a farmer, who represented his dis- trict in the state legislature; and Joseph, who was also identified with agricultural pursuits.
To George W. and Elizabeth (McCullom) Patterson were born six children: N. M. C .; John, a farmer and stock-raiser of Uvalde county, who died while in the frontier service during the Civil war, leaving a wife and one daughter ; Talitha T., the wife of W. A. Brown; Elizabeth. who married A. B. Dillard; Nancy, the wife of John Lakey ; and George W., a farmer and stock-raiser. Both he and his wife died in 1904, leaving nine children.
N. M. C. Patterson was born in Alabama and with his parents came to Texas in 1847, when twenty-one years of age. He accompanied them on their various removals and while in Smith county, Texas, was married in 1849, after which he purchased land and opened up a farm in that county, placing a small tract under cultivation. In 1852. how- ever, he sold that property and removed to Bexar county. In 1854 he came to Uvalde county and joined the pioneers who were reclaiming
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this region for the purposes of civilization. He settled seven miles south of Sabinal, where he took a homestead claim, securing one hun- dred and sixty acres, from which he opened up a farm. He later added to this property and soon got well started in farming and in the raising of cattle and other stock. He always had plenty for the support of his family, although at times the drought proved detrimental to his crops. He had been a resident of the county for only a brief period when he had become acquainted with all of the people in this locality. All ap- peared to be here to stay and constituted a contented community. They were all regarded as neighbors, although some lived twenty miles dis- tant, and on all occasions of social interest most of the settlers would be present. It was not an unusual thing to drive twenty miles to attend a party or dance, and Mr. Patterson recalls a dance at which the lady of the house not only cooked an elaborate supper but danced every set. Those were happy old days, in which there was much pleasure and amusement unknown at the present time. There were only nine houses in the county outside of Fort Inge, the government post. The county had not yet been organized, and in that work Mr. Patterson shared in 1856, in which year the county seat was located. The first election was held in the fall of the same year, and not to exceed fifty votes were cast. Other evidences of pioneer life were found in the fact that game was very plentiful and that wild beasts were numerous. In times of the full moon the Indians raided the countryside, stealing stock and committing other depredations. Mr. Patterson took part in many raids after the red men, and on one occasion Mr. Patterson and party overtook the Indians. They killed a squaw, who was dressed as a man and was running off a herd of horses together with eight Indian men. The pursuing party attacked and only one of the Indians got away and all of the horses were saved. The red men of the country continued molesting the white people until the Southern Pacific railroad was built, after which they feared to continue their raids. Mr. Patterson, with other settlers, had come to stay and they were banded together for protection and so continued until the red men were driven out. They also waged relent- less warfare on the wild beasts and continued the work of development until they had subdued the wild land and converted it into uses for civilization. It was the earnest, untiring efforts of these brave pioneers that opened the country for settlement, and no man is more worthy of mention in this connection than Mr. Patterson, who has labored un- tiringly for the best interests of Uvalde county and the southwest. As time passed by people came in larger numbers and the work of farming was begun, resulting in a fair measure of success. At times dry farm- ing meets with the desired results and at all times irrigated farming is a profitable industry. Mr. Patterson raised from a half bale to a bale and a half of cotton per acre, the average crop being about three-fourths of a bale. He also raised from thirty to forty bushels of corn per acre. One of the detriments to the production of cotton has been the boll weevil, which at times has destroyed the cotton.
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