USA > Texas > A Twentieth century history of southwest Texas, Volume II > Part 33
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To Mr. and Mrs. Barnhill have been born four children : Mebane C., who was born March 26, 1888; Lester, born September 8, 1891 ; Nell, who died March 12, 1895, at the age of four years ; and Mary E., who was born March 12, 1904. Mr. Barnhill belongs to the Methodist
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church and his wife to the Presbyterian church. He takes a very active part in church work, has served as steward for many years and has been superintendent of the Sunday schools for twelve years. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Woodmen ot the World and he is likewise connected with the Knights of Pythias fraternity. He has served as alderman for two terms and as a school director for six years, while for one term he was county commissioner. His interest in community affairs is deep and sincere and has led to co- operation in many movements which have been proved beneficial to the county. He is a broad-minded, intelligent business man and Uvalde has profited by his residence in this section of the state.
HIRAM J. BOWLES, better known as Hy. J. Bowles, filling the office of county clerk, represents a family whose history is inseparably inter- woven with the annals of Southwestern Texas. He was born in Brazos county July 13, 1864, and was reared on a cattle ranch and farm, while the common schools afforded him his educational privileges. His parents were J. Frank and Maggie C. (Martin) Bowles, both of whom were natives of Mississippi, where they were reared and married. The paternal grandparents were John and Millie C. (Pate) Bowles, both of whom were natives of Mississippi. The grandfather was of Scotch- Irish descent, the Bowles family having been established, however, at an early day in Virginia. General Bowles, from whom this branch of the family is descended, married the daughter of a famous Indian chief and after some children were born to them they left the Old Dominion and went to Tennessee and when General Jackson was raising volunteers for the war of 1812, General Bowles joined the army and was killed at the battle of New Orleans. He was twice hit by the bullets of the enemy and died from the effects of his wounds.
John Bowles, grandfather of Hiram J. Bowles, was born in Vir- ginia in 1802 and went to Tennessee with his parents. After attaining his majority he removed to Mississippi, where he was married to Miss Millie C. Pate and they became the parents of six sons and seven daugh- ters. About 1849, with all of his family, he removed to Texas, settling first in Bell county, where he purchased land and improved a farm. There he carried on general agricultural pursuits and stock raising amid pioneer surroundings. He helped to organize Bell county in 1851. The following year he went overland to California, where he joined his son, J. Frank Bowles, who had preceded him to the Pacific coast by two years. They engaged in mining and met with a fair measure of success in their undertakings there until 1855, when they returned to "the states." John Bowles then settled in Uvalde county and sent for his family, who later joined him here. He engaged in raising cattle and other stock, living here at a time when large herds of cattle grazed on the open prairie. Uvalde county was not yet organized and he also assisted in its organization, in 1856. He had been chosen as one of the commissioners to select the site for the county seat and the election was held the fall of the same year to decide upon a permanent location. There were less than fifty votes cast all told, which indicates the sparsely settled condition of the country at that time. His first home was on the Sabinal river in the Patterson settlement, ten miles south of the town of
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Sabinal, where he purchased a small tract of land to make a home. The range was free at that time and he did not want much land, for the cattle roamed at will, grew fat and were in good condition. After a few years he changed his location to Leona river, more distant from the settlement. There he established his ranch and continued successfully in business there for a number of years. While he was living on the Sabinal the settlement was raided by the Indians at the light of the moon and, with other settlers, he had much difficulty with the red men. He took part in many raids and battles with them and on one occasion he and his three sons started in pursuit of the Indians, who had been com- mitting depredations at the ranch. On overtaking them they engaged them in a skirmish, and during the fight Mr. Bowles killed three Indians at one shot-the most remarkable record ever known. He and his sons, however, succeeded in recapturing the stock and taking them home again. He took part in a raid nearly every time the moon was full, for the Indians chose that period for stealing. The few settlers banded themselves together to protect their mutual interests.
Mr. Bowles was a brave and fearless man and the Indians feared and hated him. They determined to kill him and when at last they ac- complished their purpose it was at a heavy loss among themselves. He had taken part in many raids and some hard-fought battles with them on the Leona river before he moved there and none but a fearless man would have gone into that district, as that was one of the favorite haunts of the savages. He had got well settled on his new ranch when he learned that some of his stock had wandered back to the old ranch and he went to round them up and bring them to the new feeding grounds. While there the Indians stole his horse and he started in pur- suit. In order to delude him they hitched the horse where he could see the animal, while they lay in hiding and when he came for his horse they shot him, scalped him, took the horse and made their escape. Runners were sent out in all directions and it was soon found that the Indians had also killed John Davenport. Doke Bowles, his son, as fearless as his father, led the settlers in pursuit. They laid in a supply of provisions and notified Lieutenant W. B. Hazen, who was in command at Fort Inge and who came with thirteen men, while the settlers' force numbered ten men. Everett Wilson was selected as chief trailer with Doke Bowles as assistant. They followed the trail rapidly and after traveling for two hundred miles came upon the Indians. Lieutenant Hazen then took command and led in the fight and a hot battle ensued, during which the large band of Indians scattered. It was a running fight for twenty miles. The entire band were killed with the exception of one "brave," who got away, and they recovered the scalo of John Bowles and other things which were taken when he was killed, also that of Davenport. They likewise secured the stock which had been stolen. Lieutenant Wil- son was wounded and fell from his horse and several others were wounded, but all recovered from their injuries. The body of John Bowles lav for several days before it was found. Two of his sons were in the raid that followed the band of Indians and revenged the killing of their father.
John Bowles was deeply interested in the progress and development
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of the town and county of Uvalde and as a pioneer settler did much for its development in laying the foundation upon which has been built its present progress and prosperity. He aided in reclaiming the region from the dominion of wild beasts and hostile Indians and in transform- ing it into a district possible for settlement and civilization. No citizen is more worthy of honorable mention in connection with the history of Ulvade county or the southwest than John Bowles and his family. He was a tall, muscular man, of athletic build and a hardy pioneer, who at all times was brave and resolute and who was regarded with terror by the Indians. He possessed a very social, genial nature, enjoyed meeting with his friends and neighbors and knew every man in the county in the early days, commanding the confidence and respect of all by his integrity and honor, which were above reproach. The last fight in which he par- ticipated was in 1859, as in that year he passed to the great beyond. His wife survived him and died at a ripe old age. She was a very de- voted member of the Methodist church and was a brave pioneer woman, who by her husband's side faced the hardships, trials and deprivations of pioneer life. The children of this worthy couple were as follows: Ade- line became the wife of Dr. Kilgo and removed from Mississippi to Arkansas; Hiram, Sr., came with the family to Texas; J. Frank was the father of our subject; Caroline became Mrs. McDowell; Fannie married Mr. Townsend; Emma married Joe Brown; Greenville is a cat- tleman; David C. is living in Bell county ; Jane is now Mrs. Townsend ; Lizzie is the wife of G. W. Patterson; Mrs. Webb was the next of the family, and Booker was killed in the ranger service.
J. Frank Bowles was born in Mississippi, August 15, 1828, and was married there in 1847. He came to Texas with the other members of his father's family in 1849 and they all settled in Bell county. In 1850, attracted by the discovery of gold in California, he left his wife and children with his father's family and went overland to California, where he engaged in mining for two years, when he was joined by his father and together they continued in mining successfully until 1855, when they returned to Texas, the father settling in Uvalde county, while J. Frank Bowles joined his family in Bell county. Later he sold his prop- erty there and removed to Brazos county, where he settled and opened up a farm. In 1862 he joined the Confederate army, with which he con- tinued until the close of the war, serving in the Army of the Tennessee. He participated in the siege of Vicksburg, where all of his command were made prisoners and all were paroled. Mr. Bowles was a lieutenant of his company, which was under command of Captain Hoag. They participated in many skirmishes and a number of hotly contested battles and Lieutenant Bowles was regarded as a brave soldier, always on duty in the front ranks. He saw much hard service and underwent many deprivations and exposure such as is incident to warfare.
Following the close of hostilities J. Frank Bowles returned to Brazos county and joined his family, who in the meantime had been busy in improving the farm and had got some stock around them. Soon afterward he sold out and took up his abode in the town in order to provide his children with better educational privileges. In June, 1872. he came to Uvalde county to visit friends and was so well pleased with
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the country that he decided to remain. He purchased a large tract of land at Fort Clark crossing of the Nueces river, where he built a large rock house and made other substantial improvements. He was then en- gaged in the stock business and in farming, in both of which he was successful. He raised good crops of corn, which he sold to the govern- ment at high prices, together with all other supplies that he could fur- nish. He remained upon his ranch until 1878, when he sold the prop- erty and removed to Jones county, where he was engaged in the stock business. From there he made several moves and for a time was located at Angelo, where he conducted a livery stable during the winter. In the spring of 1880 he was attacked by the gold fever and arranged for his family to come to Uvalde county, while he started for Tombstone, Arizona, which was then supposed to be the mining Eldorado. Being an old California miner, he knew how to find the yellow metal and began prospecting, but soon afterward, through the accidental discharge of his own gun, he was shot and never recovered from his injuries, his remains being interred at Tombstone. Thus was ended an eventful life in August, 1880. He was an enterprising and public-spirited man, pos- sessed of good business qualifications. In politics he was a strong Democrat but without aspiration for office. A man of athletic build, he was fearless and brave and was well fitted to cope with the conditions of frontier life. He was a worthy member of the Masonic fraternity and was regarded as a good neighbor and faithful friend. His wife and family returned to Uvalde county and Mrs. Bowles kept her children to- gether and reared them to lives of honor and respectability. She was a devoted member of the Methodist church and died April 24, 1894. Her father was Henry Martin, a prominent planter and slave owner of Mississippi and was one of the respected residents and substantial citi- zens of his community. He died in his native state, leaving behind him the priceless record of an untarnished name. He was a prominent and influential church worker and was much beloved by all who knew him. He reared a large family of children, but only three are now re- membered : David; Maggie C., who became Mrs. Bowles; and Mrs. Lucinda Dockery.
To Mr. and Mrs. J. Frank Bowles were born six children : W. A., a stockman ; John H., a boss painter; James M., of San Marcos ; Belle. who became the wife of F. B. Brooks and at her death left two chil- dren ; Hiram J., of this review; and Mrs. Mollie E. Estes.
Hiram J. Bowles was born in Brazos county. Texas, and. accom- panied his parents on their various removals to Uvalde, to Northern Texas, and upon the return to this county, where the family arrived in 1880. He then began working in order to assist his mother in the sup- port of the family and in 1883 he went to Alpine. Texas, where he was employed on a ranch. There he remained until 1887. during which time he accumulated quite a band of cattle. In the year mentioned he took a drove of horses to New Mexico, where he remained for about a year. and upon his return to Alpine he sold out all of his stock and then joined his mother at Uvalde in 1888. Here he has since remained and was actively engaged in business as a stock dealer for a number of years. In fact he still continues in this line, in which he has been quite suc-
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cessful. He is interested with a partner in two ranches-a small one near the town of Uvalde and the main ranch, containing fifty thousand acres, some distance away, and on which they are running a large herd of cattle.
In 1892 Mr. Bowles was a candidate for sheriff, but was not suc- cessful in his race for the office. In 1896, however, he was elected dis- trict and county clerk, which position he is still creditably and capably filling and when he retires from the office he expects to return actively to the stock business. He has been deeply interested in the growth and upbuilding of the county and has co-operated in many movements that have been of direct benefit toward its development. He has a com- modious cottage in the city where he resides and he is a self-made man, who as the architect of his own fortunes has builded wisely and well.
On the Ioth of February, 1897, Mr. Bowles was united in marriage to Miss Sallie A. Dalrymple, who was born in Uvalde county February 6, 1871. She is a daughter of James and Jane (Patterson) Dalrymple, the latter of Smith county, Texas, and the former of Williamson county. They were married, however, in Uvalde county. Mr. Dalrymple was a son of William C. and Elizabeth (Wilbarger) Dalrymple. William C. Dalrymple was a native of North Carolina and was a politician and popu- lar office holder, devoting the greater part of his life to public service. He was a devoted and worthy member of the Presbyterian church and removing to the west spent his last days in Georgetown, Texas. In his family were four children: Janette; Sally, who died at the age of eighteen years; James, of Uvalde; and William T., who died in Llano county, Texas, in 1896.
James Dalrymple, father of Mrs. Bowles, came to Uvalde county early in the '6os, was here married and soon afterward entered the Con- federate army, serving throughout the war. He saw hard service and underwent the privations and exposures incident to the life of the soldier. After the close of hostilities he settled in Uvalde county, where he en- gaged successfully in the stock business and at one time was a prominent stock dealer of the county. He also conducted a meat market in Uvalde. A Democrat in politics, he used his influence for the party and for a number of years served as hide and animal inspector. He was also a candidate for sheriff, but failed to secure the nomination. He did his full share of jury work and was regarded as a man of incorruptible in- tegrity, faithful to every trust reposed in him. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained the Royal Arch degree. In 1903, as the result of illness, he lost his eyesight and is now blind. His wife died December 29, 1899. She was a daughter of John C. Patter- son, and a granddaughter of George W. Patterson, members of a leading and well-known pioneer family of Uvalde county, who helped to reclaim this district from the domain of the savages and convert it into a settle- ment where all of the advantages known to the white race mav be en- joyed. John C. Patterson was among the prominent and well-known residents of this part of the state. He died early, leaving but one child, Mrs. James Dalrymple. By her marriage she became the mother of six children : Mrs. Sallie A. Bowles; Zena: Ottie, who died at the age of twenty-three years ; Lela, Riley and Henry, all at home. Mr. Dalrymple
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yet resides at his homestead near Uvalde. His wife is a zealous member of the Methodist church.
To Mr. and Mrs. Bowles have been born five children: Manilla, who died at the age of three years; Orin, born August 14, 1899; Jack, May 20, 1901 ; Garrett, April 1, 1903 ; and James F., December 30, 1904.
Mr. Bowles is connected with the Woodmen of the World, the Knights of Pythias and Knights of Honor, and his wife is a member of the Methodist church. Both are held in high esteem in the com- munity where they reside and enjoy the warm friendship of many with whom they have been brought in contact. Both represent old families of Texas and Mr. Bowles has from pioneer times resided in this state and now stands as an exemplar of modern progress and improvement.
J. G. SMYTH, a veteran of the Confederacy, has been the promoter of many business enterprises which have contributed to the substantial upbuilding of the southwest and is now a factor in industrial and com- mercial progress of the city of Uvalde and the agricultural interests of the county. His ready recognition of opportunity combined with energy and ambition have been the dominant points in his successful career and made him widely known as a prominent business man of the south. He is descended from a prominent and honored pioneer family of Texas and was born in Jasper county, this state, February 25, 1847. His parents were George W. and Frances M. (Grigsby) Smyth, the former a native of Alabama and the latter of Kentucky. They were married at Nacogdoches, Texas, by an alcalde, a Mexican justice, for Texas at that time was a province of Mexico and there were Mexican laws governing marriages. This was before the decisive battle of .San Jacinto, which made Texas a free and independent republic. They participated in what is known in history as the "Runaway Scrape." The settlers, hearing of the approach of the Mexican general, Santa Anna, and his army, fear- ing that he might slaughter all who remained, left their homes and fled for their lives to the east, making their way to Louisiana. The men were mostly in General Houston's army and few were left to care for the families save the old men, who were incapacitated for military serv- ice. It was an exciting time and one long to be remembered. The Smyth family is of Scotch descent, but the names of the grandparents of our subject are not remembered. The grandparents, however, were early settlers of Alabama, where they reared their family and spent their last days. Their children were: George W., Andrew F., M. C., Mrs. Susan Isbell and Mrs. Ann McCallister, all of whom came to Texas.
George W. Smyth, born and reared in Alabama, acquired a liberal education there and mastered the profession of civil engineering. He came to Texas with a view of following the profession of surveying here and located in Jefferson county, where he was thus engaged. He was a highly educated and broad-minded man, intelligent and enterprising, and his opinions became valued factors in measures and movements relating to the development and progress of the new country. In fact he was one of the leaders in all of the affairs bearing upon its growth and im- provement and upon its political conditions. He was a member of that body of organizers that declared Texan independence and was one of the signers of its declaration of independence. During the existence of the
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state as an independent republic he was influential in its councils and in movements relating to its upbuilding along many lines. He filled the office of land commissioner for several terms and after the annexation of Texas to the United States he was elected and filled the office of con- gressman one term. He was continued in many offices of honor and trust up to the time of the secession of the state. His sympathy, how- ever, was with the Union cause and he opposed secession. In connection with General Sam Houston he made speeches throughout the state and predicted the result that would follow civil war just as it came to pass. He labored untiringly among the people in an effort to get them to settle their differences without resort to war, believing that they had no right to disavow allegiance to the Federal government. He lived to see his predictions concerning events of that period verified. He was a slave owner and an extensive farmer, having a large force of colored people to work his place. After the close of the war he was a delegate to the first reconstruction convention held at Austin that formulated plans for reconstruction, and while there he was taken ill and died, thus passing away in 1866. The first Congress of the United States, however, passed reconstruction laws doing away with all of the work of the Texas as- sembly and put in "carpet bag" officers all over the southern states. In his death at a momentous crisis in the history of Texas the state lost one of her foremost men, whose wisdom and sound judgment have been of the greatest benefit to the commonwealth. He counseled wisely and well and his labors were effective and far-reaching. He was a successful man in all of his business undertakings and his name was ever above re- proach. He was honorable in action, fearless in conduct and stainless in reputation, never swerving in his support of the cause which he bc- lieved to be right. He did much in surveying work in the early days of Texas and his labors were carried forward with great accuracy, so that after he had abandoned surveying as a profession he was often called upon by his neighbors and those in authority to establish lines and boun- daries and settle disputes connected therewith. In his religious faith he was a Presbyterian and lived a consistent Christian life.
Mrs. Frances M. Smyth survived her husband until 1877. She was a daughter of Joseph Grigsby, one of the pioneer residents of Jefferson county and one of the four men who bought the land and platted and established the town of Beaumont, Texas. He was accounted a leading farmer and carefully managed his business affairs, without desiring office or seeking prominence of that character. His last days were spent at what was known as Grigsby's Bluff in Jefferson county. His chil- dren were: Mrs. Sarah Allen; Mrs. Frances Smyth ; Mrs. Susan Thomp- son ; Mrs. Ann Allen; Mrs. Elizabeth Glen; Matilda, deceased ; Enoch, who served in the Mexican war; William and Nathaniel, both of whom are prominent farmers.
To Mr. and Mrs. George W. Smyth were born seven children : Sarah, the wife of J. T. Armstrong; Susan, who married Sam Adams ; Matilda, the wife of Rev. R. T. Armstrong, a minister of the Methodist church; George W., a prominent mill and lumberman of Beaumont, Texas, who served throughout the Civil war as orderly sergeant in Ross'
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brigade and was wounded in the shoulder; Francis, deceased ; Emily, the wife of W. H. Smith; and J. G., of this review.
Upon the home farm J. G. Smyth was reared and acquired a com- mon-school education. He remained under the parental roof until six- teen years of age, when he enlisted in the Confederate army in Keith's company and Colonel Griffin's command of artillery, with which he re- mained until the close of the war. He was located mostly at Sabine Pass and while he was still there the war was brought to a close and he was paroled at Jasper by General Custer. Through the two succeeding years he attended school and in 1868 he was married. He then settled on a farm, where he remained for three years, when in connection with his brother, George W. Smyth, he engaged in the lumber business at Beaumont. They at first operated in cypress timber and also conducted a small store. They built a sawmill at Smyth's Bluff in Jefferson county, where they engaged in the manufacture of lumber for three years and then built a mill at Beaumont, which they conducted for two years. At the end of that time they traded their property for some farms and were engaged in general agricultural pursuits for a year, after which Mr. Smyth entered the employ of a firm as logman, being thus engaged until 1887. He then again formed a partnership with his brother and at Wise Bluff, in Jasper county, Texas, they built a tram logging railroad and bought a tract of land. They operated their road for a year, after which they sold their plant to the Beaumont Lumber Company and re- moved to Suddith's Bluffs on the Sabine river, where they constructed a tram railroad and put in logs for the Orange mills, continuing at that point until 1898, when they built a sawmill for themselves at Dewey- ville, Texas. They also bought large tracts of timber land and operated extensively, where they have sixty-five thousand acres of timber lands bought at different times. In 1899 they purchased a sawmill at Juanita, Louisiana, together with twenty-five thousand acres of timber, and they continue to operate both plants with an output of lumber of from fifty to sixty million feet per annum, finding market for their product in dif- ferent parts of the world, their shipments not only being made to various points in America but also to Germany, South Africa and Mexico. Their trade is constantly increasing and their business possessions in this con- nection have grown from a few ox teams and a small amount of capital to an extensive plant, their holdings being estimated at about three mil- lion dollars. Their business is returning a very gratifying remuneration and in fact is one of the important productive enterprises of the south, the business having been conducted along modern progressive lines in keeping with the trend of activity and thought in the business world of today.
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