USA > Texas > A Twentieth century history of southwest Texas, Volume II > Part 30
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
J. MONROE FENLEY. The name of Fenley figures prominently in connection with the history of Uvalde county, and J. Monroe Fenley, a well-known rancher and farmer, has fully sustained the excellent repu- tation which has always been borne by his ancestors. He was born in Jasper county, Georgia, July 31, 1841, and received a limited education in the subscription schcols, but through the experiences of life has gained a good practical education. The ancestry of the family can be traced back to two brothers of the name of Fenley who came to America from Scotland during the time when this country was numbered among the colonial possessions of Great Britain. They settled in Virginia and one of these brothers married and had a son, and soon after the birth of this son enlisted for service in the Revolutionary war on the side of independence. He was killed and left a wife and son. the latter beino John Fenley, the great-grandfather of our subject and the founder of this branch of the family. The mother afterward married a Mr. Powell, who removed with his wife and stepson to South Carolina, where John Fenley was reared to manhood. He was married in Georgia and soon afterward settled in Alabama, where he spent his remaining days, being a well-known farmer and slave owner of that locality. His children were Charles, John and Isom.
Of this family Charles Fenlev was born and reared in Alabama, where he married Miss Elizabeth McCamy. He turned his attention to farming and inherited a portion of his father's estate, but luxurious living caused him soon to run through with his portion of the property. He afterward removed to Louisiana, where his remaining days were passed. His children were: John M., James M., who served throughout the Civil war and in 1866 came to Uvalde county, where he died at the age of ninety-two years: Joel C., who in 1853 came to Uvalde county and after living through the experiences of pioneer life amid hostile
221
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
savages died in this section of the state; Mrs. Theodosia Gilliland, living in Eastern Texas; and Mary, who died in Alabama.
John M. Fenley, father of J. Monroe, was born in South Carolina and spent his youth in Georgia and Alabama. He afterward removed to Louisiana, where he remained for a number of years, and in the fall of 1853 arrived in Uvalde county, where he spent his remaining days, passing away May 23, 1897, at the ripe old age of eighty-six years. He Early Settlement in Uvalde County.
first lived in Ware settlement near Utopia. At that time there were only a few settlements of white people in the county and they were twenty miles apart. One was the Patterson settlement established in 1853 and the second was the Ware settlement, which was started in 1851. The Indians began to assert their rights, as they thought, and became very troublesome, so that the settlers were obliged to keep in close touch with each other in order to protect their families. The red men usually went upon their raids in the light of the moon. Mr. Fenley bore his full share in the work of converting this district from conditions of barbarism into that of advanced civilization. He assisted in organizing the county in 1856 and in the fall election of that year only fifty votes were cast for the location of the county seat-a fact which indicates the sparsely set- tled condition of the district. Each man was well acquainted with all the settlers and the main topic of conversation was the hostile Indian and how to exterminate him. In those early days the settlers purchased no land, as the range was free and they did not therefore need to buy. Mr. Fenley established a home and ranch, placing a small tract under cultivation in order to produce supplies for his family. Mr. Fenley engaged in raising horses, cattle and hogs. He had the usual difficulty because of the Indians stealing his stock and he lost many horses in this way. He remained at his first settlement about fifteen years and as the Indians were driven back he advanced toward the Nueces river country. In 1867 he took up his abode in the Mula river country, twenty miles west of Uvalde, where he raised stock, the range being free, while there was plenty of good grass and fresh water. He afterward took a home- stead of one hundred and sixty acres, on which he erected a comfortable rock house, occupying it for many years. Later he retired from the ranch and established a home near Uvalde, where he spent his declining days, his death occurring May 23, 1897, at the age of eighty-six years. In the meantime he had purchased two sections of land at Utopia, which he continued to own until his demise. The history of pioneer experi- ences in all its varied phases is his. He was a member of the Christian church and was esteemed by all who knew him. His wife survived him and passed away in 1899. She was a daughter of Dempsy Holland, a prominent farmer of Virginia, who likewise belonged to the Christian church. 'In that family were two children: John, who came to this county when an old man- and died here, and Almeda, who became Mrs. Fenley.
The children of J. M. Fenley and his wife were: Joel C., a promi- nent rancher of this county residing in Uvalde; J. Monroe; C. D., of
222
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
Uvalde; James T., of El Paso, a stockman; and Elizabeth, the wife of John Ware.
J. Monroe Fenley came to Uvalde county with his parents in 1853 when eleven years of age and was reared here, largely in the saddle. He assisted his father with the stock and shared with the family in all the hardships and difficulties incident to subduing the wilderness and extend- ing the frontier. In 1866 he was married and then, taking up his abode upon his mother-in-law's ranch, he took charge of the place, which he operated on the shares, remaining there three years. He then settled near his present place of residence two miles northeast of Sabinal. When he was married and commenced his business pursuits he owned two ponies and thirty head of cattle and had sixteen dollars in money. When he settled upon this farm he had about one hundred and eighty head of cattle and he bought at tax sale fifteen hundred acres of land. Later the original owner of the land came and he discovered his title to the land was void, so that he again bought land, for which he paid four dollars per acre, making permanent settlement thereon. He has since added to his property and now owns about seven thousand acres. It is mostly fine grazing land and can be converted into agricultural uses. He has given all of his attention to stock, at one time handling horses, cattle and sheep. Finding that the last named were profitable, he ceased to deal in horses and later he abandoned sheep raising, while his atten- tion is now given solely to the cattle industry. In later years he opened up some land to cultivation and now has one hundred acres, on which he first cultivated corn, while later he has engaged in raising cotton. He has had a few short crops but usually there is a good yield and al- together it averages up well. His entire life has practically been given to stock raising, in which he has prospered. He has speculated to a very little extent but he still owns some vacant lots at Sabinal. His energies are concentrated upon his business affairs and his diligence and per- severance have been the dominant factors in his success. The town of Sabinal having been established in this locality, his land is in con- sequence increasing in value but is not for sale.
Mr. Fenley married Miss Margaret C. Davenport, who was born in Kaufman county, Texas, October 19, 1849, a daughter of John M. and Mary J. Davenport. The mother was a widow when she became the wife of Mr. Davenport, and she was born in Tennessee. Mr. Davenport was born in Johnson county, Missouri, February 8, 1827, and was a son of John Davenport. Their marriage took place in Kaufman county, Texas. Mrs. Davenport was a daughter of Tohn Crane, of Tennessee, who became an early settler of Texas when it still belonged to Mexico and he fought for its independence as captain of his company. He was in the battle of San Jacinto, which resulted in securing Texan independ- ence. For this service he received a headright from the republic of twelve hundred and eighty acres, which he located in Montgomery county, and there he carried on stock raising until his death. being killed by the Cherokee Indians. He was a public-spirited and enterprising man, possessed of a strong constitution, and was a fearless and typical frontier settler. Mary J. Crane was first married to James Elkins, a pioneer of Texas, in which state his father, James Elkins, Sr., located at
223
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
an early day. The two children of this union were one who died in infancy and Polly Ann Elkins, who was reared by J. M. Davenport and who married L. C. Davenport. They yet reside in this county. J. M. Davenport after his marriage removed from Kaufman county, in com- pany with his father and family, to Lockhart and afterward to Cibolo, while in 1852 he arrived in Sabinal Canyon in Uvalde county. The range was free and the grass good and he engaged in stock raising. After about a year he removed to D'Hanis and subsequently located a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres southeast of the present site of Sabinal. There he established his ranch and after getting started in the stock business opened a store of general merchandise. He also prepared a small field and raised home supplies, feed, etc. In the days of his early residence here the Indians were very troublesome and con- tinually occasioned losses to the settlers. Mr. Davenport was the first man to raise a company and as their captain led them against a large band that had raided the country and gathered much stock. Captain Davenport with his company followed and overtook them on the Leona, where a battle occurred, the white men exterminating most of the "braves" and recapturing all of the stock. Mr. Davenport continued a leader in many raids and was a man of unquestioned bravery, always accomplishing what he undertook. In 1859 he went over on the Blanco for a yoke of oxen and when returning with the cattle alone he was over- taken by a large band of red men, who opened fire on him. He re- turned it with a six shooter, but the Indians were too many for him and after killing two and wounding the third he himself was killed. John Bowles was also killed the same day and the settlers banded them- selves together and joined with some military forces from Fort Inge to avenge the death of these men. They followed the Indians for three hundred miles, when a running fight ensued, all of the Indians being killed with one exception. Mr. Davenport had been very successful in his stock-raising and merchandising interests and had a large number of cattle, so that he left his family in comfortable financial circum- stances. He contributed in many ways to the development and im- provement of the community and following his death his wife sold the store, continuing in the stock-raising business until August, 1901, when her death occurred at the ripe old age of seventy-nine years. She was a member of the Christian church. In her early life she was acquainted with General Sam Houston, who often had her make coffee for him.
The children of John M. Davenport and his wife are: M. C., now Mrs. Fenley ; Newell R., who was accidentally killed when young ; John W., a prominent stock man of this county ; Ambrose, also a stock man ; and James, who died at the age of fourteen years. To Mr. and Mrs. Fenley have been born three children: John D., who is assisting in the management and operation of the ranch and farm; James I., who died at the age of twenty-one years ; and Marvil D., who is an invalid. The family are members of the Christian church and Mr. Fenley is a stal- wart Democrat. In his business affairs he is thoroughly reliable and he and his family occupy a prominent position in the regard of their fellow townsmen.
224
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
A. J. DURHAM, a business man and postmaster of Sabinal, who is also connected with farming and stock raising interests in Uvalde county, was born in Harford county, Maryland, September 16, 1857. He was reared to farm pursuits and educated in the common and high schools, while later he studied law and civil engineering. During the process of acquiring an education he made his home with his parents, David and Dorcas (Wood) Durham, who were born, reared and married in Mary- land and eventually passed away there. The paternal grandfather, Abel Durham, was also a native of Maryland and was a son of David Durham, who became an early settler of Ohio, where he died. Abel Durham, how- ever, remained in his native state until his demise and was there exten- sively engaged in farming. He was of English descent and he and six brothers served in the war of 1812 to 1814, and Samuel and John Dur- ham, ancestors of the family, were soldiers in the Revolutionary war. They afterward settled in Maryland and all became influential and highly respected people. Abel Durham had four children, David, Sarah A., Mary E. and William, and the last named is yet living.
David Durham spent his entire life in Maryland, where he passed away January 6, 1877, while his wife died May 22, 1862. He was a prominent farmer, following that occupation through life. He voted with the Democracy and he and his family were active and devoted mem- bers of the Primitive Baptist Church. His children were: Sarah E. T., wife of S. J. Lowe: Mary A., who married H. Poteet and died leaving a family of children ; Allie, Margie, the wife of P. R. West, and A. J.
After acquiring a good preliminary education in his native state, A. J. Durham took up the study of law and civil engineering and in Uvalde county and other parts of Texas has done much surveying. While in his native state he also worked at the carpenter's trade to some extent and in 1878 he arrived in Uvalde county. Here he was first employed at herding sheep for Mr. Rheiner and after a brief period obtained from his employer one thousand head of sheep, which he run on shares of the increase and the clip. This proved profitable and he soon obtained a good start in the sheep-raising industry. Later he bought and ran sheep on his own account for fifteen years and before retiring from that business had gained a good start in cattle. He is still engaged in cattle raising. His next venture was to build the pioneer cotton gin and mill at Sabinal, which he conducted five years, during which time he bought and shipped cattle and sheep. He then engaged in the livery business at Sabinal and added to his other interests the buying and shipping of grain. Since making a start in life he has always owned lands and has bought and sold much ranch property. He still owns several surveys and has three good farms near Sabinal. For thirteen years he has been doing dry farming and has one hundred acres in each farm in a good state of cultivation, raising diversified crops. He has always gathered good harvests, save in 1892, when he lost money, but in 1893 the crop was much above the average, producing nearly a bale and a half of cotton to the acre and fifty bushels of corn to the acre. He has had some short crops, but many very good ones, and altogether has had average success in his farming, which he carried on with improved ma- chinery. He has a small acreage which he irrigates for early vegetables,
225
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
and this tract produces bountifully. He also has a field of alfalfa which does well and his various farms are splendidly improved. His home farm is about a half mile from the town and thereon he has a commodious residence and substantial outbuildings with many modern equipments. His farms lie on different sides of the town and he has made an addition to Sabinal and sold several blocks to permanent settlers who have built good homes.
Mr. Durham assisted in organizing the Sabinal Drug Company, of which he became a stockholder, and upon its incorporation was chosen president. His activity in matters relating to the welfare of the town has also led to his co-operation in political affairs. He is a strong Re- publican and in 1902 was chosen for the office of county commissioner, being nominated and elected by the Democrats, who recognized his fitness for the position. He has since been re-elected, so that he is serving his second term. The position came to him entirely unsolicited. One of his more recent business ventures is in the line of banking. In 1905 he became a stockholder and assisted in the organization of the Sabinal National Bank, of which he is a director. He also took stock in the telephone corporation and is secretary and director of that. In 1905 he received the appointment of postmaster at Sabinal and is acting in that capacity. This is an office of the third class with two rural routes. He is likewise road superintendent and secretary of the Sabinal Cemetery Association. Thus many interests and enterprises have felt the stimulus of his energy, business resource and capability. To him have been en- trusted many interests relating to the public welfare and his business affairs have likewise been of a nature that have contributed to general prosperity.
On the 4th of July, 1883, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Durham and Miss Clara Kennedy, who was born in Uvalde county in 1860, a daughter of Ross and Jane (Rankin) Kennedy. both natives of county Monaghan, Ireland, born in 1826 and 1833 respectively. The father was reared to farm labor and was educated in the common schools. His parents were George and Jane (Ross) Kennedy, descendants of honored old Protestant families that had lived in the north of Ireland for many generations. George Kennedy was a farmer and both he and his wife died at the old homestead. They were reared in the Presbyterian faith, from which they never departed. Their children were: George, Jr., who spent his entire life in Ireland; Ross, who came to America at the age of twenty-one ; Thomas, who came to the United States and joined the army, his death occurring in St. Louis prior to the rebellion. By a second mar- riage the father had three children: Edward and Robert, who went to Australia, and James, who remained in Ireland. An extended sketch of Ross Kennedy will be found on other pages and need not be repeated here.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Ross Kennedy was blessed with nine children: Margery, the wife of Thomas Adams, a stock farmer and rancher; Jane, the wife of Louis M. Peters, the oldest merchant of Sabinal; Clara, the wife of A. J. Durham; Rosalie, the wife of Leon T. Heard, a prominent hardware merchant and vice-president of a bank ; Mary, the wife of C. W. Giffin, a stockman of Reeves county, Texas ; Vol. II. 15
226
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
Vine, who married D. Malone, a stockman, and died leaving one child ; George, a stock rancher; Ross, who has a stock ranch and conducts a .meat market at Uvalde; and Maud, who is living with her mother.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Durham has been blessed with three inter- esting children : Rosalie, born November 9, 1886; Nettie, January 12, 1896, and Abel J., Jr., February 20, 1898. Mr. Durham belongs to the Presby- terian church and his wife to the Christian church and they are both interested in religious work. He is also connected with the Woodmen of the World and the Knights of Pythias. Everything he has undertaken he has carried forward to successful completion, has been watchful of busi- ness opportunities and of all indications pointing to success. As the architect of his own fortunes he has builded wisely and well and he justly merits the prosperity which has been vouchsafed him.
LEON F. HEARD is the junior member of the firm of L. F. Heard & Company, dealers in hardware and furniture at Sabinal, and his business enterprise and intense and well directed activity easily place him in the foremost ranks of the representative merchants of this part of the county. He was born in Chambersville, Arkansas, February 25, 1866, his parents being A. E. and Sarah (Dixon) Heard, who were natives of Georgia, but were married in Arkansas. The paternal grandfather, Wyatt T. Heard, was also a native of Georgia. Nearly all of the Heard families in America are descended from Stephen Heard, who came from Ireland at an early day and settled in Virginia, where he remained and died. His descendants largely lived in the southern states. Wyatt Heard was born in Georgia in 1799 and was there reared to manhood and married. After the birth of all of his children he removed to Texas and settled in Bell county, where he died. His attention was given to farming and he commanded the respect of all who knew him.
A. E. Heard (father) was born and reared in Georgia and went to Arkansas prior to his marriage. Following his marriage he settled upon a farm there and remained for many years. He was a natural mechanic and built houses for himself and others and also made many articles for family use, being able to construct almost anything out of wood. He was also a prudent and conservative farmer. During the Civil war he was assigned to the freighting department, in which he continued until the close of hostilities and in consequence thereof he never carried arms nor participated in any conflict. After the close of the war he returned home and in 1869 removed from Arkansas to Louisiana, where he purchased land and improved a farm, remaining thereon three years. He then sold out and came to Texas. After raising a crop in Bell county and one in Comanche county he removed to Sabinal Canyon in Uvalde county in 1874 and there engaged in farming for two years. He afterward located a homestead on the Dry Frio, built a house and began the work of im- proving a farm, but death claimed him in 1877. Up to the time of his last illness he had been a man of strong constitution but he was cut off in the prime of life when hoping to make a permanent home here. In politics he was a stalwart Democrat but though often solicited to accept office he always declined. He belonged to the Methodist church and was a devoted adherent of the cause, while of the Masonic fraternity he was likewise an exemplary member. His wife, surviving him, kept their
227
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
children together and remained upon the old homestead. Through her capable management and the assistance of her sons a good farm was developed, on which she lived until 1890, when her children having mar- ried and gone to homes of their own, she sold the property and after- ward found a good home at Sabinal with her daughter and her son Leon. Mrs. Heard was a daughter of Thomas Dixon, of Georgia, who removed with his family to Arkansas, where he followed farming as a pioneer settler and served in the Confederate army. He died from the effects of hardships and exposure. His family remained in Arkansas, where his wife died. She was a faithful member of the Methodist church. In the Dixon family were three children: Mrs. Sarah Heard; Kate, the wife of Dr. A. S. Holderness ; and William, who died at the age of twenty- four years.
Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Heard : Thomas D., a carpenter and stock farmer ; William D., a stock farmer, who served for two terms as county assessor; Wyatt E., a stock farmer; Leon F. ; Harvey, who died at the age of eighteen years; Maria M., the wife of Ross J. Kennedy ; and Kate, who died when twenty years of age.
Leon F. Heard accompanied his parents on their various removals until he became a resident of Uvalde county. He early became familiar with farming and stock raising through the assistance which he rendered his parents in the care of the farm, and in the public schools he obtained his education. He was eleven years of age at the time of his father's death and he assisted his mother in the farm work and with the stock, remaining at home until the family was broken up. He afterward lived upon a farm till 1893, when he came to Sabinal and closed out his agri- cultural interests in 1894. He had carried on general farming and also raised some stock, having cattle, sheep, goats and hogs. Removing to Sabinal in 1894, he entered the employ of the firm of Johnston & Riley, merchants, with whom he remained for two and a half years. In 1898, in company with L. M. Peters, he engaged in the hardware and furniture business on his own account. The business has since been maintained and is now conducted under the name of L. F. Heard & Company. The stock is carefully selected and the trade has now reached large and gratifying proportions, Mr. Heard being recognized as one of the leading merchants of the city. He is also interested in a small herd of registered red polled cattle. In 1905 he became a stockholder and assisted in the organization of the Sabinal National Bank, with a paid-up capital of thirty thousand dollars. The following officers were chosen: L. M. Peters, president ; Leon F. Heard, vice-president, and Merton Swift, cashier. Mr. Heard is actively and helpfully interested in the develop- ment and progress of the town and is a broad-minded, intelligent business man, whose efforts have been of direct benefit to the locality.
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.