USA > Texas > A Twentieth century history of southwest Texas, Volume II > Part 34
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Mr. Smyth remained in charge of the operative department of this extensive business until 1891, when he came to Uvalde and with a part- ner invested in a cattle ranch of twenty thousand acres. They conducted the ranch for five years, and Mr. Smyth then purchased his partner's interest and has since increased his land holdings to thirty thousand acres, whereon he matures steers, having a herd of thirty-five hundred head at the present time. His ranch borders both sides of the Nueces river in the south part of Uvalde county. Mr. Smyth has also extended
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his efforts to other lines of business activity. In 1903 he purchased arı extensive stock of hardware, furniture and house furnishing goods from J. H. Green and is now conducting one of the leading stores in the city of Uvalde. He is also a stockholder in the Uvalde Commercial National Bank, which he assisted in organizing in 1903, when he was elected vice-president and is still filling this position. His time is now devoted to the supervision of his varied and important business enterprises and the scope of his activity has continually broadened as he has extended his efforts into other fields, in all of which he has operated in a manner resulting in success.
Mr. Smyth has been married twice. He wedded Miss Ella Green, a native of Arkansas and a daughter of Robert F. and Mary A. (Armı- strong) Green, of Alabama, who removed from that state to Arkansas and subsequently to Texas. Mr. Green became a prominent merchant of Sabine Pass, Texas, where he carried on business for a number of years, and he died in Huntsville, Texas, in 1866, when attending a con- vention there. He was a very prominent Mason, widely known in the fraternity, and his position in business and social circles was equally commendable. His children were six in number: Mrs. Alice Carway; Ella, who became Mrs. Smyth; Susan; Laura; J. H. of San Antonio, Texas; and Keenan, who died in young manhood. To Mr. and Mrs. Smyth were born two children: Ella M., who is assisting in the store in Uvalde; and Ethel G., who is a successful school teacher. The wife and mother died in 1883 in the faith of the Methodist church, of which she was a devoted member. In 1884 Mr. Smyth married Miss Epsie B. Miller, who was born in Georgia, a daughter of Lewis B. and Nancy. Miller, who came to Texas in 1872. The father, a farmer by occupa- tion, lived in eastern Texas and served as a private in the Confederate army throughout the Civil war. He was in the siege of Vicksburg. where he was taken prisoner and afterward paroled and at that place he was wounded in the right hand. He was a faithful and valorous soldier and met uncomplainingly the hardships of military life. He be- longed to the Methodist church and was an exemplary member of the Masonic fraternitv. His children were: Mrs. Nancy Clark, Mrs. Lou Lanier, Mrs. Jessie Henderson, Mrs. Epsie B. Smyth and Lewis Miller.
The children born of Mr. Smyth's second marriage are Lewis. Jennie. Joseph G .: William H., Andrew, George W. and Murra G., all at home. Both Mr. and Mrs. Smyth are members of the Methodist church, in the work of which they take an active and helpful interest. In politics he is independent. voting for Democratic candidates at local elections but supported Mckinley and Roosevelt for the presidency. He is a man fearless in defense of his honest convictions and reserves to himself the right of forming his own opinions in unbiased manner-a privilege which he also accords to others. His position in business cir- cles in the southwest is a most creditable and enviable one. He has wrought along modern business lines and has achieved a prominence that is evidence of his ability and keen discrimination. Laudable am- bition has prompted him to nut forth his best efforts in the acquirement of success and at all times his methods have been such as neither seek nor require disguise.
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F. J. RHEINER is prominent among the energetic, far-seeing and successful business men of Southwestern Texas. His life history most happily illustrates what may be attained by faithful and continued effort in carrying out an honest purpose. Integrity, activity and energy have been the crowning points of his success and his connection with busi- ness enterprises has been of decided advantage to this section of the state, promoting its material welfare in no uncertain manner. He is now acting as cashier of the Uvalde National Bank and the able man- ner in which he meets his business duties is indication of his capacity and ability.
Mr. Rheiner is one of the native sons of Uvalde county, having been born on the 24th of February, 1877, and reared upon his father's ranch. His parents were Peter and Mary (Santleben) Rheiner, the former a native of Switzerland and the latter of Texas. The father be- longed to a prominent old family of the land of the Alps and there acquired a liberal education in his native language. He also attained considerable knowledge of the English tongue, which he could speak with fluency when he came to the United States at the age of eighteen years. He crossed the Atlantic in order to become free from the yoke of monarchial oppression, making the journey to the new world in com- pany with a young man, Mr. Whetstine. Their destination was Cali- fornia and they had in mind the intention of engaging in the sheep in- dustry, but after arriving in the Golden state and spending some time in prospecting they decided that it would not be a good place to locate. Favorable reports which Mr. Rheiner heard of Southwestern Texas led him to leave California and make his way into this district, arriving at Utopia in Uvalde county in the fall of 1855. He had brought some money with him from his old home in Switzerland and being favorably impressed with this country he, with a companion, went to Mexico, where each man bought two hundred and fifty head of ewes which they brought to Utopia, and thus he made his start in the sheep industry. Mr. Whetstine came with him but each man engaged in business alone. Mr. Rheiner soon got his ranch established and owing to his vigilance and care and his knowledge of the business he rapidly succeeded and his flock increased in numbers. He afterward joined with other settlers in making raids against the Indians who stole the stock. Mr. Rheiner's stock, however, could not be run off, but the Indians often killed and ate one of his sheep. The few pioneers lived almost as one familv, for they were mutually dependent upon one another for protection and Mr. Rheiner was ever ready to join in the defense of his neighbors and take part in the raids after the red men. He was never wounded and he continued to engage in the sheep industry, his flocks increasing and his success being thereby augmented. With great love for his adopted country, in 1862 he arranged with other parties to care for his flocks while he should go to the war. He volunteered with Captain Robinson's company of the Thirty-third Texas Cavalry. which was assigned to the Trans-Mississippi department and was actively engaged in military serv- ice in Texas. Arkansas and Louisiana. He did much scout duty on the border and along the gulf coast and a detachment of soldiers invaded Mexico after some renegades. The Federal gunboats at the mouth of
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the Rio Grande, however, cut them off and the troops became divided. In a skirmish Mr. Rheiner sustained a wound through the shoulder and from the effects of this he received an honorable discharge in 1863.
Returning to his home and his ranch, he resumed control of his flocks and soon afterward was married to a Miss Watson, by whom he had two children. Later she was accidentally drowned and a few years afterward Mr. Rheiner wedded Miss Mary Santleben, a native of Texas, whose father, Christian Santleben, was a pioneer of Medina county, this state. He was a stonemason by trade and became a prominent rancher and farmer of Medina county. Of German birth, he displayed many sterling characteristics of his German ancestry and successfully man- aged his business affairs, being well known at the same time as a worthy citizen devoted to the general welfare. Both he and his wife died in Medina county. In the Santleben family were the following named : Mary, who became Mrs. Rheiner; August, of San Antonio; and Ferdi- nand, a prominent cattle rancher of Uvalde county. Both were reared on the frontier and were identified with the work of early settlement and improvement.
A brother of Peter Rheiner came to America after he had crossed the Atlantic and settled at San Antonio, where he reared a family of three sons, who yet reside in that city or vicinity.
Peter Rheiner continued in the sheep ranching business and bought large tracts of land which he held during his life. He possessed keen business discernment and enterprise, was a good financier and created a large estate. He helped to organize the county and underwent the usual difficulties and trials of pioneer life. He gave a loyal support to every movement or measure for the general progress and endorsed those plans which have for their basis the material, intellectual or moral devel- opment of the community. He loved his adopted country and was one of its most worthy citizens. His fellow townsmen, recognizing his alle- giance and his fidelity, elected him to the office of county commissioner and he filled other local positions. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity. He died in the year 1879, while his wife, surviving him for several years, passed away in 1884. Their children were: William, now living in Arizona; Etta, the wife of Judge Garner, now in the United States Congress ; Peter, who died at the age of thirteen years ; August D., of Uvalde ; and F. J.
F. J. Rheiner has spent his entire life in Uvalde county and here acquired a liberal education. He began his studies in the common schools and later attended a private school of San Antonio and also a Catholic school of that city. He was likewise a student in the Agri- cultural and Mechanical College at Auburn, Alabama. His first efforts in an independent business career were in the line of stock raising. He had a ranch and cattle and conducted the business for two years with
Uvalde National Bank.
considerable success. He then disposed of his ranch and stock and in 1899 assisted in organizing the Uvalde National Bank, of which he be- came one of the original stockholders. This bank was the outgrowth of the private bank of Collier & Company and was capitalized for seventy-
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five thousand dollars, while at the present time there is a surplus of twenty-five thousand dollars with additional liability .of stockholders to the amount of one hundred thousand dollars, making a total of two hundred thousand dollars. Upon the organization of the bank Mr. Rheiner was made cashier, which position he yet fills, while W. W. Collier was the first president. Upon his retirement J. F. Simpson be- came president and since his death J. M. Kincaid has been president. With these exceptions there have been few changes in the offices. The bank has always had a strong force of officials and is among the solid and reliable financial institutions of Southwestern Texas. The officers at the present time are: J. M. Kincaid, president ; J. A. Mangum, vice- president; and F. J. Rheiner, cashier. A general banking business is carried on in accordance with modern ideas of financial transactions and Mr. Rheiner gives his entire attention to the bank, carefully guarding its interests and doing all in his power to promote its growth and suc- cess.
In April, 1899, was celebrated the marriage of F. J. Rheiner and Miss Mittie Davenport, of Sabinal. She was born in this county in 1878, her parents being Jack and Mary (Binyon) Davenport, both rep- resentatives of prominent pioneer families. Her father was born in Missouri and came to Uvalde with the first pioneer settlers. He helped to drive out the wild beasts and the hostile red men and to sow the seeds of the present civilization and progress. For some time he engaged in cattle raising and he yet resides at Sabinal, being a worthy and esteemed citizen of that locality. He had five children: Ed, a farmer; Robert, who is engaged in the practice of medicine at Trinidad, Colorado ; Oscar, a rancher; Mrs. Mittie Rheiner; and Ray, who is a bookkeeper in the Uvalde National Bank.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Rheiner has been blessed with two chil- dren : Ralph, born in May, 1900; and Jack, on the 11th of February, 1906. Mrs. Rheiner belongs to the Christian church and Mr. Rheiner is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias fraternity. His entire life hav- ing been passed in the county, he is well known to many of its settlers because of his long residence here as well as by reason of his connec- tion with important business interests. He is wholly worthy the respect that is everywhere tendered him, for his name is synonymous with hon- orable dealing and with all that is elevating and beneficial to the city and the individual.
W. P. DERMODY, who at the age of fifteen years started upon his business career and upon his diligence and enterprise has placed his de- pendence, building thereon the superstructure of his success, is now the cashier of the Commercial National Bank of Uvalde and is prominently identified with the development of the city and its business interests. He was born at Flora, Illinois, September 28, 1864, and was reared as a boy about town, attending school and enjoying the pleasures of the play- ground as most boys do. His parents were John and Jane ( Michaels) Dermody, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Indiana. The father came to America when young and was reared to manhood in this country, acquiring his education here. He always had the strongest at- tachment for the land of his adoption, and no more loyal citizen could be
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found among the native sons of America. When a man he found em- plovment with the railroad company and was engaged in railroad service successfully for many years, after which he invested his savings in land and turned his attention to farming. He also prospered in that under- taking and now in honorable retirement from further labor he and his wife are spending their declining years in the enjoyment of the fruits of their former toil in a pleasant home in Flora, Illinois. He has had no aspiration for public office, content to do his duty as a private citizen, and in the community where he resides he is one of the well known and highly respected residents. His wife is a daughter of Casper Michaels, of West Virginia, who removed from that state to Indiana. He was a cabinet maker by trade and followed the pursuit for many years, pos- sessing much ability in that direction. Both he and his wife have now passed away. In their family were the following named : Solomon ; Wil- liam J .; Elizabeth, the wife of J. A. Haggerty; Nancy, the wife of J. Shipley; Mary, the wife of O. Stanford; Emeline, the wife of G. Schroyer ; Mrs. Hetty Boltz ; and Jane, who became Mrs. Dermody.
To John and Jane Dermody have been born seven children: W. P., of this review ; John, who became a resident of Texas and died in this. state; James, who is yet living in Illinois; Daniel, a member of the United States navy; George, who died at the age of eighteen years ; Jerry P., who is living in Flora, Illinois; and Mollie, who died at the age of two years.
W. P. Dermody was born and reared in Illinois and when fifteen years of age secured employment in a railroad office, where he learned telegraphy. He was soon capable of managing an office and became telegraph operator and station agent, in which capacity he served for more than eight years. He was employed by the Iowa, Burlington & Western Railroad, serving at different stations in Indiana and Illinois in a manner entirely satisfactory to the company. Later he left Illinois and removed to the southwest, securing a position as station agent and tele- graph operator on the Texas and Pacific Railroad. Subsequently he was transferred to Pecos City, where he continued successfully until 1888. when he resigned his position with the railroad company and engaged in merchandising there. He continued in business at that place for seven years, meeting with a gratifying measure of prosperity, and on the expiration of that period he removed to Wise county, where he again engaged in merchandising for about a vear.
In the spring of 1897 Mr. Dermody arrived in Uvalde county and became connected with cattle raising upon a ranch. He is still identified with that industry and conducts a ranch of six thousand acres on the Nueces river, running steers. He regards this as an excellent district for stock raising purposes and believes that it will also prove to be a profitable farming country. In addition to his ranch Mr. Dermody also has a small farm near the town of Uvalde which he is renting. It has been under cultivation for three years and each year good crops of cot- ton and corn have been produced. The first vear the cotton produced over a bale to the acre. Dry farming is carried on without irrigation and excellent success has resulted. Mr. Dermody is a man of marked business ability and enterprise, and in 1903 assisted in the organization
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of the Commercial National Bank of Uvalde, in which he became a stockholder. He was then chosen cashier and has since acted in that capacity, while the other original officeholders are still occupying their respective positions. The bank is capitalized for sixty thousand dollars and has fifteen thousand dollars in undivided profits. This is a bank of deposit and discount and also issues drafts and buys and sells exchange all over the world. The business is conducted in accordance with strict banking principles and the institution has become one of the solid finan- cial concerns of Southwestern Texas owing to the conservative policy and business capacity of the men who are in control.
Mr. Dermody was married in Pecos City in 1889 to Miss Lee Havins, who was born in San Angelo, Texas, in 1873, her parents being Ira and Frances J. (Mills) Havins, the former a native of Raines county, Texas, and the latter of Florida. Mr. Havins has been identified with the settlement and development of Texas for many years. He served on the range for a number of years, helped subdue the red men and ex- tend the frontier and aided in planting the seeds of civilization. He has for many years been prominently connected with the cattle business, in which he has met with merited success. In 1896 he removed to Uvalde county and has been connected with the cattle interests to the present time. He is also a stockholder in the Commercial National Bank and now resides in the city of Uvalde, where he is well known and highly esteemed as a man of excellent business capacity and of genuine personal worth. In politics he is an earnest Democrat but has no desire for office as a reward for party fealty. His wife died in 1904. In their family were but two children: Lee, now Mrs. Dermody; and Pearl, who became the wife of J. E. Comport and died leaving three children.
To Mr. and Mrs. Dermody have been born eight children: John H., born in 1890; L. H., born in 1892; George B., in 1894; Louise, in 1896; Ira, in 1898; Lawrence, in 1900; Gerald, in 1903; and Bernard, 1904. The parents are members of the Catholic church. The family have a commodious residence in the city and its hospitality is greatly enjoyed by their many friends. Mr. Dermody is a self-made man, who has been the architect of his own fortunes and has builded wisely and well. He feels that he made no mistake in choosing Texas as a place of residence. Recognizing in its natural resources and conditions the business opportunities which lead to success, he has firm faith in the future of the country and is doing much to develop this part of the state.
D. C. MILAM. Among the more recently developed industries of Uvalde county is that of the culture of bees and the production of honey and to this industry Mr. Milam is now devoting his time and energies. He is also engaged in the raising of goats in addition to dry and irri- gated farming and is widely recognized as a man of excellent business qualifications. He was born in Alabama, October 13, 1854. His pa- ternal grandfather, Benjamin Milam, a farmer by occupation, died in that state. In his early life he was a member of the Primitive Baptist church and afterward became a member of the Christian church. His children were: James L .; Monroe and Harrison, who died while serving in the Confederate army; William, who died at Greenville, Alabama ;
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John, who resides now in Alabama; Mrs. Caroline Lewis, now living with D. C. Milam; Mrs. Betty Hall; Mrs. Polly Richardson ; Mrs. Ellen Hall; Mrs. Lucindy Eliza Howell; Rebecca ; Emily, and Henry.
The eldest of the family, James L. Milam, and the father of our subject, was born in Georgia and was married in Alabama to Martha A. E. Dunn, a native of Alabama. But little is known of the history of the Dunn family. She had three brothers; David, who died in Ten- nessee ; Solomon and Richard, who served in the Confederate army, and Richard died in the army. The father of these children passed away and the mother afterward married a Mr. J. B. Griffin, by whom she had four children: Mary, Euphemia, Silas and Henry. The maternal grand- parents of our subject were both members of the Primitive Baptist church.
Following his marriage James L. Milam located in Alabama and subsequently removed to Tennessee, where he remained until 1874, when he took up his abode in Delta county, Texas, purchased land and im- proved a farm, carrying on business successfully there until 1892, when he settled in the city of Uvalde, where he conducted a bottling business for four years. He then retired from active business life, but he still owns some business interests and property which give him a good in- come. He was in the Confederate service in the Civil war, joining the army from Alabama. By trade he was a shoemaker and was detailed to service in the shoe and harness shops at Columbus, Georgia, where he remained until the close of the war. He then returned home and resumed farming. In January, 1866, he removed to Marshall county, Tennessee. He has led the life of a busy and enterprising man and his genuine personal worth has made him highly respected by all who know him. He holds membership in the Church of Christ and is loyal to its interests and teachings. His wife died in Uvalde in 1900 in the faith of the Church of Christ, of which she was a devoted member. To Mr. and Mrs. James L. Milam were born nine children: David C .; Mrs. Mary K. Wilson; Mrs. Martha J. Patterson ; Mrs. Laura Hooten ; John W., in the Indian Territory ; Benjamin F. and James Lafayette, both of Delta county, Texas; Sally, the wife of G. W. Cantrell; and Thomas, an attorney at law now practicing in Uvalde county.
D. C. Milam, the eldest of the family, was born in Alabama but was reared in Tennessee and came with his father's family to Texas in 1874. The home was established in Delta county and later Mr. Milam married and began farming on his own account. He bought land, which he cultivated for a number of years, but his family did not enjoy very good health in that locality and because of this and other facts he made a prospecting tour to the west. He then returned to Delta county but after a few months left the farm and in 1890 took up his abode in Uvalde county. He brought with him his family and a few colonies of bees. Here he turned his attention to dry farming and succeeded in raising a fairly good crop of corn, cotton and cane. He then rented some land, on which to establish his apiary, and during the succeeding four years gave the most of his attention to the raising of bees. He afterward bought a small tract of land for apiary purposes and soon afterward sold his farm in Delta county and added eighty acres to his first purchase. Vol. II. 17
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Later he added different surveys and he now owns about two thousand acres of valuable ranch land. In the meantime he also bought twenty- four acres near the corporate limits of Uvalde, where he established his homestead and yet resides. He has made comfortable, modern improve- ments here and has a nice residence near the school. His ranch borders the Nueces river, so that there is plenty of flowing water, and on the back part of the ranch he has a windmill and well, supplying plenty of water for all purposes. He has made good improvements on the ranch and in addition to the raising of bees he also engages in raising goats and hogs and in all branches of his business is meeting with suc- cess. He follows diversified farming and has placed his land under cul- tivation, a part of it being dry farming, while a portion of the land is irrigated. Through a decade, with the exception of one year, he has had good crops by dry farming and the irrigated districts never fail to return rich harvests. He has prospered in his different branches of business in Uvalde county and he regards the bee industry as one which is always sure to produce good returns. He has had a good average crop through the fifteen years in which he has conducted his apiary and with the increase of the colonies he has had as many as one thousand. Re- garding this as too many for one place, however, he has sold many of his stands of bees and now has about five hundred colonies. He has also established a ranch at another place and has divided his colonies. He has turned over all the other branches of his business to his son, while he gives his undivided attention to bee culture and the care of his honey. using all modern appliances to assist the little workers. There is a con- stantly increasing demand for Uvalde honey because of its light color and fine flavor. He ships all of his own product and buys from others, and he finds a good market for all the honey that he can produce. As the years have passed he has increased his estate in this county very satisfactorily and his health has also been restored here, so that he has every reason to be satisfied with his present location. He was appointed assistant bee inspector for Southwestern Texas, which position he still fills.
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