USA > Texas > A Twentieth century history of southwest Texas, Volume II > Part 40
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killed him, took from him all the money and valuables that he had about him, and then, taking his horse from the buggy, rode away. A number of citizens soon found the body and followed in pursuit. After riding for two hundred miles into Mexico they came up with a man riding the horse that had belonged to Mr. Hatch. They killed this man but lost the trail of the others. They then returned with the horse and thus ended the last chapter in the history of an eventful and active life. Mr. Hatch was a strong, hardy man, courageous and fearless in his younger days. He was also ambitious and energetic in business and lived the life of a diligent and capable farmer. He was a typical pio- neer settler, resolute in whatever he undertook and honorable in all of his business transactions. He was reared a Presbyterian but in his later years joined the Catholic church and died in that faith. His wife departed this life in 1862. She was a member of the Methodist church. Their children were nine in number: Mary; Jane; Anna E., who is living at the age of eighty years; John, a farmer and stockman who resided upon the old homestead until his death; James C., who resides at Corpus Christi; Lemuel, deceased; A. S., of this review ; William, a stock farmer; and Henry W., also engaged in stock raising. Four sons and one daughter are yet living and all are now quite aged.
Of this family A. S. Hatch has passed the seventy-first milestone on life's journey. Born in Tennessee, he was brought to Texas in his childhood days and was reared and educated here, pursuing a com- mon-school course. He removed with his parents to the southwestern part of the state, where he remained. All six of the brothers served in the Confederate army during the Civil war. Mr. Hatch remained at home until after the inauguration of hostilities, when he volunteered, joining the First Texas Cavalry under command of Captain Beaumont. The regiment was assigned to the Trans-Mississippi department and did duty in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas. He was in many skirmishes and a number of important battles but was never wounded. nor taken prisoner. He took part in long marches and hard service, however, and experienced all of the exposure and deprivations that are meted out to the soldier. He was at Nacogdoches on the Red river when General Lee surrendered, after which he returned home and resumed farming and stock raising, continuing to follow those pursuits until 1867.
In that year Mr. Hatch was married to Miss Jane Bell, who was born in Fayette county, Texas, but was reared in Bell county, this state. Her father, Thomas Bell, was an honored pioneer settler of Texas and a leading farmer and stockman, who spent his last days in Fayette county. His children were: William and Thomas, both of whom served throughout the war between the north and the south; Abner, a stock farmer; and Jane, who became Mrs. Hatch. Of the marriage of our subject and his wife there were born four children: Eugene; Mrs. Ida Seidel, who is living in Goliad county, Texas ; Jessie and Sue, both at home. The wife and mother died in 1888. She was a member of the Methodist church, interested in its work, and her life commended her to the confidence, good will and friendship of all with whom she came in contact. In 1890 Mr. Hatch was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Anna De Blau, a widow, who was born in Paris,
John Perry
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France, and with her parents came to America, the family home being located in Texas, where she grew to womanhood and was married. She is the daughter of Felix Smothridge, of Paris, France, who was a civil engineer and a physician. Crossing the Atlantic, he established his home in St. Louis, Missouri, and after coming to Texas located in Liberty county, where he filled many county offices of honor and trust. He served as county judge for a number of years, also as county clerk and as county assessor and the duties of these various positions were discharged with promptness, fidelity and ability, his official record being most creditable. He was a man of liberal education and broad mind, displaying intelligence and enterprise in business as well as in official life. He remained a resident of Texas until called to his final rest, his death occurring in Liberty county. His only child was Anna, now Mrs. Hatch.
Following his first marriage Mr. Hatch began farming and stock raising, continuing successfully in the business at his first location until 1883, when he sold out there and removed to Uvalde, where he bought fourteen acres of land adjoining the town. Here he erected a commodious two-story frame residence where he now resides. Later he sold lots from his fourteen acre tract and in this district are seen the finest resi- dences of the city. After becoming established in his new home Mr. Hatch engaged in stock raising and soon afterward began buying land. He became the owner of twenty-six hundred acres, on which he estab- lished his ranch, fenced the place and erected ranch buildings. He has continued in the cattle business to the present time but expects soon to withdraw from this line of business effort, wishing to concentrate his energies upon other enterprises. In 1886 he began merchandising in Uvalde and conducted a general store for ten years, when he closed out the business. During that time he had also superintended his ranch and stock raising interests. He is now selling his land, but yet holds some cattle. As the years have gone by he has prospered in his under- takings, becoming a substantial citizen, his judicious investment, careful management and keen business discernment resulting in the acquire- ment of a comfortable competence. Moreover he has found time and opportunity to aid in the work of public improvement and in 1901 was elected county commissioner, serving for two terms. He filled the office creditably to himself and satisfactorily to the people, but he is not a politician in the sense of office seeking. In manner unostentatious, his friends nevertheless recognize in him those qualities which are of value in upholding the legal and political status of the community and in fur- thering its material, intellectual and moral progress.
Del Rio.
MRS. FRED C. GARNER, widow of the late John Perry, Sr., promo- ter of Del Rio, Texas, owns a beautiful home in this city, where she is surrounded by a host of warm personal friends. She was born at Mount Vernon, Titus county, Texas. Her paternal grandparents were Ewing and Sarah (Morris) Ellison, the former born in Kentucky, while the latter was a native of Virginia, where their marriage occurred. The grandfather was an early settler of Booneville, Missouri, and was
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a warm personal friend of Daniel Boone. He was a gunsmith by trade and manufactured the weapons which were used by Daniel Boone in his numerous historic raids with the Indians. The gun which Daniel Boone carried until his death was presented to him by Ewing Ellison as a token of friendship. Abandoning his trade as a gunsmith, Mr. Elli- son then purchased and improved a farm and for a time ian a ferryboat across the Missouri river some miles below Herman, continuing suc- cessfully in this business until 1838, when he took up his abode in the Republic of Texas, locating in Bastrop county, in Webbers Prairie. In 1840 he returned to Missouri for his family and while there sold off his possessions and once more returned to Texas, locating at Mount Pleas- ant, in Titus county. He located land, which he improved, owning at one time the ground on which the city of Mount Pleasant now stands. He removed from the latter place to near Daingerfield, where he pur- chased land and engaged in the conduct of the Pioneer Mill at that place. He was also engaged in farming in connection with his milling inter- ests, thus being engaged until the time of his death, which occurred in 1865, when he was sixty-three years of age. He gave his early political allegiance to the Whig party and later became a Democrat. He never aspired to public office, preferring to live the life of an honest and in- dustrious private citizen. He was charitable, ever willing to assist the unfortunate ones who called upon him for aid, while his integrity and honesty were never called into question. He was a consistent member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. His wife survived his death for seven years, passing away at Sherman, Texas. She was a member of the Primitive Baptist church, and by her marriage became the mother of six children : James E., who became the father of Mrs. Perry; Amanda A., the wife of J. D. Wood, of Sherman; William L., who served in the Confederate army and passed away in Louisiana; Mrs. Delcena Wilson, whose first husband bore the name of Ryan; Mrs. Pau- line Coffee; and Ewing, who also served in the Confederate army and now makes his home in Sherman.
James E. Ellison, the eldest member of his father's family, was born in Missouri, and accompanied his parents on their removal to Texas, remaining under the parental roof until he had reached the age of twenty years. In 1854 he went to the gold fields of California, and remained on the Pacific coast for fifteen years, prospecting and mining. In 1869 he returned to Texas and located at Mount Vernon, where he engaged in the portrait business. After three years he removed to Bexar county and engaged in the marble business, while in 1882 he took up his abode in Del Rio where he engaged in house building for a time. Leaving his family in Del Rio he once more made his way to the gold fields of California, where he was engaged in mining during the succeeding decade, and following his return to the Lone Star state he was engaged to some extent in prospecting for minerals in the moun- tains of Texas and Mexico. He was married in this state to Miss Martha Polston, whose death occurred in Texas, in 1893. She was the mother of four children: Lula D., now Mrs. Garner; Claud, the wife of F. Henning; Pearl, the wife of John Finney, and Po'ston, a step- daughter of Mr. Ellison. Since the death of his wife Mr. Ellison has
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made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Garner, in Del Rio, where he is now living in honorable retirement. He was never active in political circles and was formerly identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Mrs. Garner accompanied her parents on their removal from Mount Vernon, her native city, to Del Rio. She was reared and educated in the latter place and remained under the parental roof until the time of her marriage, when, on the 12th of September, 1900, she became the wife of John Perry, the wedding ceremony being performed at Trini- dad, Colorado, by the Rev. B. F. Lawler, pastor of the Baptist church at that place. Returning to Del Rio, they took up their abode at the old Perry homestead, living happily together until the death of the husband on the 15th of January, 1904. Mrs. Perry has left to cheer her home a little son, Vernon Ellison, who was born June 13, 1903.
John Perry came to the territory of Texas when it was still included in the Mexican possessions. He grew to manhood amid the exciting scenes of the early settlement of this state, and during his boyhood and youth had little opportunity for acquiring an education. Believing that he might enjoy better business advantages in San Antonio, he made his way to that city, where he was employed for a short time at cutting timber.
In 1841, when a youth of only sixteen years, he took up arms in defense of his adopted country against the Mexicans. Santa Anna had sent a strong force of soldiers to invade San Antonio, and the authori- ties of that city called out all the men possible to meet the encroachments of Santa Anna, and much skirmishing followed, during which time the Mexicans captured fifty-five of the Texas soldiers, disarmed them and started them on the march to Mexico, they being guarded by 'one hun- dred cavalrymen. The first day they covered twenty-five miles, reach- ing Medina river weary and almost famished for water. Their feet became sore and it was almost torture to be compelled to continue on their march. After many days they reached Saltillo, where they were confined in prison, enduring all the hardships of prison life. The pris- oners were then ordered to the city of Mexico, and Mr. Perry, being unable to walk, was mounted on a mule and when just outside the city, an order was received from Santa Anna to take the prisoners to the Perote castle, and it was there that Mr. Perry was confined in prison. He was poorly fed and was compelled to do arduous labor on the streets and roads, being held captive until 1844, when the Bexar county men were released through the influence of Waddy Thompson, United States minister to Mexico. Santa Anna allowed Mr. Thompson to return with the men to the United States, traveling on the warship to New Orleans, from which city they made their way to Texas.
Returning home, Mr. Perry once more resumed his farming opera- tions, and he became an active and prominent factor in public affairs. He was a successful stockman in Harris and other southwest counties until in 1870, his health having become impaired, he sought a change
Founding of Del Rio.
of climate and removed to San Phillipi Springs, where he joined a colony of white settlers who had come to this place two years previous.
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They erected a fort in which they might find safety from the Indians, some of the members of this colony being Randolph Pafford, James Taylor, William Adams, John Grove and William Hudson. All were engaged in the stock business. Following Mr. Perry's arrival he in- vested in land and engaged in the stock business, after which he became interested with the other members of the colony in organizing a ditch company for irrigating. Mr. Perry erected a store building made of rock, in which he opened a country store, becoming the pioneer mer- chant of this district, while in 1872 the town was located and named Del Rio. The store building is still standing as a monument to the en- terprise and public spirit of Mr. Perry. During those early days the settlers suffered great loss of stock at the hands of the Indians, who were constantly on the warpath. Although Mr. Perry was engaged in many desperate struggles with the savages he was never wounded. Mr. Perry met with very gratifying success in his business undertakings, and at his' death left to his family a large and valuable estate. He was broad minded, a maneof excellent business ability, and a good financier. He was interested in much of the development and improvement that has been fhade in Del Rio during the past three decades and no man in South- western Texas is more deserving of prominent mention in a history of this character than is John Perry. He never cared for public office and was not a member of any church or fraternal societies. His desire was to be judged by his actions, which were ever manly and sincere, and he ever stood ready to lend aid to the poor and needy, who found in him a warm friend.
Mr. Perry was first married at Houston, Texas, March 4, 1852, to Miss Hannah Lange, who was born in Hanover, Germany, May 18, 1835. This union was blessed with nine children: James, deceased; Judith A .; Samuel, a prominent stockman; John C., a stockman of Ar- gentine Republic; George; Elizabeth H .; Willie R., who died when quite young ; Anna ; and James, deceased. After losing his first wife Mr. Perry wedded Miss Lula D. Ellison, who still survives and occu- pies a beautiful residence in Del Rio. Mrs. Perry married July 10, 1906, Fred C. Garner, a native of Texas and a railroad man in the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad. They were married in San Antonio at St. Mark's Episcopal church.
JOHN M. GRAY. It is the men of enterprise, of keen discrimination, and of sound business judgment who are being called upon to fill the various public offices and to manage the important commercial and in- dustrial concerns of our cities, and the gentleman whose name intro- ʻ
duces this sketch is one in whom these characteristics are dominant. Mr. Gray is now filling the office of county treasurer and is also acting as manager of the Del Rio Electric Light & Ice plant, at Del Rio. He was born in Saginaw, Michigan, October 9, 1864, and comes of English parentage.
The father, Captain Charles W. Gray, was born at Cowes, Isle of Wight, England, and when yet a lad displayed a great love for the sea. He left home at a very early age and became a sailor on a vessel, and this formed the nucleus of his life occupation. He gradually worked his way to a position of prominence and was only sixteen years of age
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HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
when he became a competent navigator. Later he became captain of an ocean vessel and became a well known man at all the principal ports of the old world. He finally came to America, making his headquar- ters at Buffalo, New York. After a time he made his way to Saginaw, Michigan, soon becoming interested in the lakes. He soon became cap- tain of a vessel, which was twice shipwrecked, but Captain Gray never lost a man. He finally retired from the sea and engaged in the manu- facture of boilers at Saginaw, continuing successfully in this business for a number of years. He lived retired for a few years prior to his death, which occurred in that city in 1900. He was a Republican in his political views and affiliations and was several times called to fill posi- tions of public honor and trust, serving at one time as alderman of his city. He was an interested witness of the growth and development of Saginaw, for when he first located there it was a mere village but in the years of his residence there he saw it develop into a city of wealth and importance. Captain Gray was a communicant of the Episcopal church and also attained the Knight Templar degree in Masonry. His widow still survives him and yet makes her home in Saginaw, at the age of sixty years. Mrs. Gray bore the maiden name of Mary A. Massey, and was likewise a native of England, but was married in this country. Her father, Captain Charles F. Massey, commanded a whaling vessel on the high seas. Upon coming with his family to America, he settled at Saginaw, becoming one of its early pioneer settlers. After coming to America he became captain and manager of a vessel which plied the Great Lakes, continuing in this connection for many years. His death occurred very suddenly at his home in Michigan, coming as a great surprise to his family and friends, for he had enjoyed good health to the last. He was a member of the Church of England. His children, four in number were: George F., who early in life became a sailor and boilermaker ; Charles, who was engaged in the same business; Mary A., now Mrs. Gray; and Mrs. Maggie Decker. The home of Captain and Mrs. Gray was blessed with five children, namely: George, who is a sailor and boilermaker and is now in Porto Rico, where he is superin- tending the construction of an engine, while his family are in Sagi- naw; John M., of this review; Jessie; Alice, who died at the age of sixteen years ; and Allen, a lumberman of Saginaw.
John M. Gray was reared in his native city, and when quite young displayed a love for the sea. His desire was never gratified, however, for his health became impaired, and at the age of seventeen years he was compelled to seek a change of climate, and the year 1881 witnessed his arrival in Texas. He was first employed in herding sheep, hoping that the outdoor life would prove beneficial to his health. He slept on the ground without any shelter over him and lived in the open air as much as possible, so that he soon recuperated his former vigor and in the years which have since come and gone has become a very stout and rugged man. He finally became interested in the sheep business on his own account, having at one time a herd of six thousand, but in 1893 on account of the tariff changes, the business became unprofitable and he disposed of his stock and took up his abode in Del Rio, where his family had been living.
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Soon after locating permanently in Del Rio he entered the political field and in 1894 entered the race for the office of county treasurer. Although he was a strong Republican and this district had always given a Democratic majority, Mr. Gray was elected to the position, a fact which is indicative of his popularity and high favor among his fellow citizens. He has through re-election continuously filled the office to the present time, giving entire satisfaction to the public at large, for he ever discharges his public duties with the same promptness and fidelity that he displays in his private business affairs. He was at one time bookkeeper and cashier for the Lewis Lindheim Mercantile Com- pany at Del Rio, filling the position for five years, while in 1904 he helped to organize the Del Rio Electric Light & Ice plant, being elected as its secretary and treasurer. The plant was recently purchased by another company and Mr. Gray was retained as its manager. The suc- cess of the plant is largely due to the efforts of Mr. Gray, for he has the ability to solve intricate business problems and displays excellent executive force in the management of the affairs of this enterprise.
In addition to the arduous duties connected with his public interests, Mr. Gray also finds time for other interests, being identified with much of the development and progress of his home city. He is ever ready to assist in any worthy cause which promises to be of public benefit, and he is likewise interested in the goat industry, which is becoming a prof- itable source of income in Texas. He is well pleased with the south and has never had any desire to return to his native state.
Mr. Gray was married in Texas, in 1888, to Miss Kate Rose, who was born in this state, a daughter of Patrick and Julia ( Martin) Rose. The history of Mrs. Gray's family is given on other pages, under her father's name, and for that reason is not repeated here.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Gray has been blessed with a son and two daughters: Charles W., who was born July 27, 1889; Margaret, who was born in 1898; and Alma, whose birth occurred in 1904. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gray are worthy and consistent members of the Metho- dist church, while he is a Royal Arch Mason and likewise affiliates with the Woodmen of the World. They are prominent in the social circles of Del Rio and the hospitality of their own pleasant home is greatly enjoyed by their many friends.
PATRICK H. ROSE has from an early day been interested in the development and advancement of Southwestern Texas, and is now en- gaged in the livery business in Del Rio, where he has a well equipped barn, keeping a number of good driving horses and vehicles to suit the demands of the public. He was born in Jones county, Georgia, Decem- ber 29, 1830, a son of Dr. Hugh F. and Elizabeth (Robinson) Rose, the former a native of Virginia, while the latter was born in Georgia. The father came of Irish descent. He was reared and educated in his na- tive state, and chose as a life work the profession of medicine. He went to Georgia, where he studied medicine and surgery, locating in the latter state for practice. It was about this time that he enlisted for serv- ice in the war of 1812, joining Jackson's army, with which he continued throughout the war. At the battle of New Orleans he lost a finger but with this exception was never wounded in an engagement. Following
Patrick H. Rose.
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the close of hostilities he returned to Georgia and resumed practice, in which he continued very successfully throughout the remainder of his active business career. While giving the greater part of his attention to his profession, he yet found time for other interests, making invest- ments, from which he derived a good income, and he likewise owned slaves. He was highly respected in the community where he resided both as a private citizen and as a practitioner. He was a Royal Arch Mason, while both he and his wife were worthy members of the Metho- dist church. His death occurred in 1842, while Mrs. Rose passed away the preceding year, in 1841. Their children were: Patrick Henry; Mrs. Caroline McDonald; Hugh F., who is now deceased; Mrs. Susan Galloway; and Landon C., who follows farming in Alabama. Following the death of the parents the children were taken into the home of their maternal aunt, Mrs. Euphemia Caton, who took them to her home in Alabama. She reared the daughters in her own home, while the sons were bound out to others. Mrs. Caton lived to the very extreme old age of ninety-four years and passed away at her old home in Alabama.
Patrick H. Rose went to live in the home of his cousin, John Caton, who was an overseer and large slave owner and a very prominent and wealthy man. He came to Texas in 1846, bringing with him Mr. Rose, and the former died here five years later. Mr. Rose remained with his guardian until he reached the age of seventeen, when he obtained permission to begin life upon an independent business career. He secured employment on a cattle ranch, where he remained for more than three years, after which he once more returned to the home of his guardian, who arranged to send him to school, for his educational privileges had been very limited to this time. Soon after entering upon his studies, his cousin died, so that Mr. Rose was then com- pelled to leave school and again provide for his own support. Dur- ing his previous employment he had carefully saved his earnings, which he had invested in one hundred head of cattle. With his stock he was rapidly progressing, but he desired to change his business and decided to dispose of his cattle, but the man to whom he sold proved dishonest so that he got nothing whatever for his stock, and was thus compelled again to begin life anew. He then engaged in freighting in San An- tonio for a short time, after which he sold his interests and secured em- ployment on a horse ranch, thus continuing for three years, during which time he again saved capital sufficient to invest in some cattle and engage in ranching. He added to his numbers from time to time until he be- came the owner of a large amount of stock and was engaged in the ranch and cattle business in Texas for many years.
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