USA > Texas > A Twentieth century history of southwest Texas, Volume II > Part 44
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Early Days in Runge.
business and again engaged in clerking, but in 1887 he took up his abode in Runge, when the town had just been platted and the Aransas Pass Railroad had just been completed through this district. There had been but one street or road laid out in the town and there was but one house, this being located near the railroad. Mr. Tips located in this hamlet and assisted in the construction of a store building for H. Runge & Company, this being the second structure which was erected. He then engaged in the mercantile business, his partners being H. Runge & Co., the firm being styled Reiffert & Tips. He continued in this business successfully for seventeen years, when he closed out the business and during the subsequent year was in partnership with Mr. J. H. Keepers. In 1905 he purchased a commodious store building and embarked in gen- eral merchandising alone, having continued the business to the present time. He carries a full and complete line of groceries and also has a stock of farm machinery, wagons, etc. He is the pioneer merchant of this city and during his residence here has been interested in the prog- ress and development that has here been made. His firm erected the first cotton gin in the place, which they later disposed of, and he has like- wise assisted in organizing two banks, in which he held considerable stock. He has now disposed of all his bank stock and gives his entire time and attention to his mercantile interests, in which he is meeting with very gratifying success. There is no man in this town who has taken a more active and helpful interest in its upbuilding and develop- ment than Mr. Tips, who has seen Runge develop from a mere hamlet containing one building to a thriving and prosperous little city of twelve hundred inhabitants, and containing prosperous commercial and in- dustrial enterprises. Mr. Tips is a man of excellent business ability, of courteous manner and genial disposition, and he has built up a large and growing business which places him among the leading merchants of this section of the state.
Mr. Tips was married at Victoria, Texas, April 14, 1880, to Miss
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Anna Heberer, who was born in this state, December 31, 1861, a daugh- ter of George and Sophia (Hornung) Heberer, natives of Germany. The father was well educated in his native country and was there en- gaged in the drug business. Following his arrival in this country he made his way to Texas, first locating in DeWitt county, where he worked at various business pursuits for a time, and then embarked in the drug business in Victoria, continuing successfully in business until 1882, when he disposed of his drug business and removed to Cuero, where he remained for two years, after which he took up his abode in San Antonio, where he was retired and lived four years, while in 1889 he came to Runge, here spending his remaining years. His death occurred November 1, 1895, when he had reached the advanced age of eighty- three years while his wife had preceded him to the home beyond, her death occurring January 12, 1893, when she was sixty years of age. The father was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and his family numbered four children, as follows: Anna, now Mrs. Tips; Charles a business man of San Antonio; George, also engaged in business 111 that city; and William, who is cashier of the National Bank at Runge.
To Mr. Tips and his wife have been born five children: Gus, Jr., who is engaged in business with his father; George, a stock farmer ; Walter, who is employed in his father's mercantile establishment ; Sophia, who is attending school in Austin; Anna, at home. All have been af- forded liberal educational advantages and are well qualified for meeting the responsibilities of the business world.
FELIX R. DAUGHTREY, a veteran of the Confederate army and a descendant of a prominent and honored pioneer family of the republic of Mexico, was born in San Augustine county, Texas, March 26, 1828. He is a son of Bryan and Anna (Roberts) Daughtrey, the former a native of North Carolina, born November 3, 1795, while the latter was born in Kentucky, June 15, 1800. They were married in Pike county, Mississippi, where they settled on a farm. Little is known concerning the ancestry or history of the Daughtrey family. Bryan Daughtrey had one sister, Mrs. Catherine Silavan, who removed to Texas in 1839.
When a young man Bryan Daughtrey went from his native state into Tennessee, where he enlisted for service in the war of 1812, and fought with Jackson at the battle of New Orleans, where he received a wound in the hip. Following his recovery he located in Mississippi, and it was during his residence in that state that he was married. He con- ducted a farm there successfully until 1822, when he took up his abode in San Augustine county, Texas, then a tributary of Mexico, where he opened up a farm, conducting the same until 1829, subsequent to which time he removed to Austin county, settling among the Stephen Austin second colony, taking up a headright thirty-five miles south of Wash- ington, where he became a prominent farmer and slave owner. In
In the War for Independence.
1835-6, when Texas declared her right for independence, Mr. Daughtrey was detailed to help get the families into Louisiana where they might be in safety from Santa Anna. After making the families of the settlers secure Mr. Daughtrey started for Houston's camp at San Jacinto and
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the day before he reached camp the battle had been fought, Santa Anna was taken prisoner and Texas was declared an independent state. The father was absent from his home for several months, during this time being engaged in helping the other settlers to rid the country of the bad Mexican characters. Following the return of the settlers to their homes they experienced much suffering for two years owing to lack of food and clothing. There was no breadstuff until something could be raised and the first relief from the famine was in 1837, when a schooner ar- rived in Lavaca Bay with a load of flour, which sold for ten dollars per barrel. The women carded and spun wool for clothing. Bryan Daugh- trey opened a country inn and for many years was the host for the traveler who came from various states, some of the eminent statesmen of that day stopping at his place. He was a very charitable and generous man and no one who ever came to him was turned away without food. and shelter. In 1847 the death of Mrs. Daughtrey occurred. The chil- dren had all reached mature years and some had established homes of their own. Following the mother's death, the father then disposed of his plantation and took up his abode in San Antonio, where for two years he was engaged in freighting to Victoria, and later he was for a similar period engaged in farming pursuits. He then took up his abode in San Patricio, where he conducted a mercantile enterprise until the time of his death, which occurred in September, 1856. He took an active part in the early development and upbuilding of his section of the state, and in the early days when settlers were frequently locating near him he would procure the assistance of some of the neighbors and build a home for the new-comer. He did what he could to advance the cause of edu- cation and thus provide for the intellectual development of his own chil- dren as well as those of his neighbors. About 1839 a teacher came to the home of Mr. Daughtrey looking for employment. Mr. Daughtrey employed him and the neighbors selected a central site and put up a rude building preparatory to holding a session of school but the teacher who had been employed failed to appear. Eventually a second man. came along seeking employment and Mr. Daughtrey engaged him, but he. too, failed to return. Finally a third was employed for a three months' term of school but though he came he remained but one month. This constituted about all the educational facilities in that day. Mr. Daugh- trey was a leader in much of the material, moral and industrial develop- ment of the state of Texas and he underwent all the privations and hard- ships which were meted out to the frontier settler in this section of the state. He was a man whose integrity and honestv were never called into question. Mrs. Anna Daughtrey was the daughter of Elisha Roberts, of Scotch descent. He was a prominent planter and slave owner, fol- lowing farming very successfully in Mississippi until 1824, when he located in San Augustine county, Texas, where he continued his farming operations. He was a large landowner and a prominent and influential citizen of his day. He took a most important part in settling the diffi- culties which arose between the settlers, there being no courts at that time, so that all disputes had to be settled by arbitration. He was active in political circles and filled a number of public offices. He remained on his old homestead in San Augustine county until the time of his death
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in September, 1844. His wife died in November, 1845. They were identified with the Presbyterian church. Their family numbered eight children : Noah, a farmer ; Felix, who was educated in law but never practiced his profession, always following the occupation of farming ; Anna, who became Mrs. Daughtrey; Matilda, the wife of T. Allen; Elizabeth, the wife of W. G. Smith; Mrs. Esther Sublit: Mrs. Mahala Sharp ; and Margaret, the wife of James McDonald. All are now de- ceased. Of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Daughtrey there were born eleven children, namely: William, who was born in Missis- sippi, in 1818, and died in San Augustine, Texas, in October, 1823; Martha A., who was born in Mississippi in 1820; Tames, who was born in San Augustine county in 1823: Edward, born in 1825; Felix; Mar- garet, who was born in Austin county, June 22, 1830, and died in San Augustine county September 26, 1836; Josiah, born in Austin county in 1832: Elisha, born in 1835; Mahala, in 1837; Lenora, in 1839; and Elizabeth, born in 1842. The last four named were born in Austin county. Following the death of the wife and mother, the father was married a second time to Mrs. Eliza Moore, who was a Baptist in her religious faith, and died in 1866.
Felix R. Daughtrey was reared in his native state and his educa- tional advantages were very meager, for the public school system had as yet not been established in this section of the country. He was only a year old when he was taken by his parents to Austin county, and it was there that he grew to maturity. He has vivid recollections of the excitement that prevailed in 1836 when the state declared her inde- pendence from the republic of Mexico. He remained under the parental roof until he had reached the age of twenty-two years, when, in 1850, attracted by the discovery of gold in California, he made his way to that state by way of the Panama route, and was successfully engaged in mining on the Pacific coast for fifteen months. He then returned by the same route and landing at New Orleans, made his way from that city to Victoria county, where he joined his father. In 1857 he settled on a farm in Victoria county and was also engaged in handling beef cattle, which he marketed in New Orleans. After his return from the west he arranged for the education of his three sisters, who received in- struction at Rutersville, Texas.
In 1862 Mr. Daughtrev enlisted for service in the army. becoming a member of Yeager's Battalion in Company B, with Captain Beaumont. and stationed at Brownsville. In 1863 Yeager's and Tavlor's forces were combined to form the First Texas Cavalry, and later the command was ordered to Louisiana. They passed through his home in Victoria and Mr. Daughtrev there remained, sending a substitute to the front. A few months later, however, he joined the state troops in camp at Corpus Christi. They were patrolling the town and coast when the company was taken prisoners by the Federal forces. It so happened that Mr. Daughtrey was absent at the time of the capture and thus escaped being taken a prisoner. He later joined Company B of the same troon, being stationed at Corpus Christi, where he continued until 1864, when he was detailed for freighting for the government to Brownsville, being thus engaged until the close of hostilities. During his absence in the
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war he left his farm in charge of his slaves, who were obedient and dili- gent in carrying on the work. Following his return from the war he found his slaves all freed and he then sold his farm and made various removals until he made a permanent location in Boerne, Kendall county, where he was successfully engaged in farming until 1905, when he dis- posed of his interests on account of his wife's health and removed to Kennedy, where he expects to spend his remaining days in honorable retirement. He has accumulated a goodly competence and is able to provide himself and family with all the comforts of life. He is a man of upright character, highly respected in the community where he re- sides.
Mr. Daughtrey was united in marriage to Miss Narcissa Green, who was born in Liberty county, Texas, August 13, 1836. She has proved to her husband a worthy companion and helpmate on the journey of life. She is the daughter of Benjamin and Riley (Pruitt) Green. The mother had previously been married, her first husband being William Everett, by whom she had two daughters. The father was born in Louisiana, a son of Dr. Benjamin Green, who was a prominent physi- cian of that state but became one of the early settlers of the Lone Star state, practicing in Liberty county until his death. The father is also deceased, his death having occurred in Liberty county in 1864, when he had reached the age of fifty-two years, for his birth occurred in 1812. He was the owner of a sugar and cotton plantation, and during the war for independence took a prominent and active part and also endured with the other settlers the hardships and privations of life on the frontier. He was a Royal Arch Mason and was a man highly respected by all with whom he came in contact. His wife was a consistent member of the Methodist church and died in 1862. Their family numbered six children: Narcissa, now Mrs. Daughtrey; William, who owns the old homestead farm ; Martha A., who died when young; Doc and Edda, also deceased ; and Mrs. Jennie Rader.
To Mr. Daughtrey and his wife have been born four children: Ben Milam, who died in youth; Ben Bryan, who died leaving a widow; Maggie, who died at the age of seven years ; and Lela, the only surviving member of the family, and now the wife of Monroe Sainor, of Burney, Texas. The parents are members of the Baptist church and are num- bered among the most prominent pioneer residents of this part of the state.
W. B. MIXON, conducting a cotton gin in Runge, is one of the prominent and influential business men of this city. He is a native son of Texas, born in Lavaca county, August 3, 1859. His paternal grand- father was Naham Mixon, who was a well known horseman of Alabama, whence he removed to the Republic of Texas when the city of Houston was only a small village. He was identified with the early development of this state, making his home in Lavaca county, where he continued his operations as a dealer in thoroughbred horses. He was likewise engaged in dealing in lands, owning large tracts in this state, and he became one of the prominent pioneer settlers of this section of the country. Mixon creek in Lavaca county was named in his honor. He never aspired to public office, preferring to do his duty as a private citizen. His only
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child was W. N. Mixon, who became the father of our subject. He was born in Alabama but was quite young when brought by the family to Lavaca county, so that he was here reared and educated. He was mar- ried here and engaged in business on his own account, by following stock farming, the pursuit to which he had been reared. He also owned and operated a cotton gin prior to the outbreak of the Civil war, at which time he put aside all business and personal considerations and enlisted for service. He was a member of Whitfield's command and was consigned to duty with the army of the Tennessee, with which he participated in many hotly contested engagements. He endured many hardships and exposures such as are meted out to the soldier, and was- once taken prisoner, but later was exchanged and continued in active service until the close of hostilities. He then returned home and re- sumed farming operations and ginning, which he continued in Lavaca county until the time of his death, which occurred in 1895. He was a stanch advocate of the principles of Democracy but never aspired to public honors, and both he and his wife were consistent members of the Missionary Baptist church. The mother survived until 1901, when she, too, was called to her final rest. Their family numbered five children : John, who is a merchant, and is also engaged in ginning and stock farm- ing; W. B., of this review ; G. K., who is likewise engaged in mercantile, ginning and farming pursuits ; Sally, the wife of T. Judd; and Ellen, the wife of H. Demson.
W. B. Mixon, the second in order of birth in his father's family, was educated in the common schools of his native county, and was reared to farming and ginning pursuits, assisting his father in his busi- ness operations until he established a home of his own and started in business on his own account. He first began business as a stock farmer on the old homestead farm, where he remained until 1897, when he took up his abode at Wharton, where he purchased a block of land and erected a cotton gin and mill, which he conducted for a few years. He, however, found that this section was not a good location for his business as very little cotton was raised in the surrounding district, and in 1901 he removed the entire plant to Runge, where he purchased another block of land and located his plant. To do this he had to incur quite an in- debtedness but his success here is proved by the fact that he has liqui- dated his entire obligation and has increased the capacity of the gin and- is now doing a large and increasing business, whereby he is adding each year to his financial resources and is now numbered among the successful and enterprising business men of this part of the state. The first year after he located at Runge he ginned eight hundred and seventy bales of cotton, while in 1905 he ginned thirty-two hundred and fifty- eight bales, and in 1906 twenty-six hundred and thirty-eight, while in- cluding the intervening years he has ginned on an average of seventeen hundred and fifty-five bales per year. Mr. Mixon has great faith in the future of this business and is highly pleased with the location where he is now successfully operating. He is a capable business man, possess- ing keen foresight, executive force and sound judgment-qualities which are essential to a successful career.
Mr. Mixon was reared in the faith of the Baptist church and al-
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though he is not at the present time affiliated with any church organiza- tion he is generous in his support of any worthy cause and the poor and needy hnd in him a warm and helpful friend. He is identified with the Modern Woodmen of the World.
Mr. Mixon was married in January, 1888, to Miss Mary Carville, who was born in Missouri, in 1870. Her parents were Patrick and Nancy (Eads) Carville, the former a native of the green isle of Erin, while the latter was born in Kentucky. They were married, however, in Missouri, where the father was engaged in agricultural and horticul- tural pursuits until 1880, when he removed to Texas and settled in Lavaca county, where he was successfully engaged in farming until 1905, when he disposed of his farming interests and took up his abode at'El Campo, where he owns a half interest in a cotton gin. Although now seventy-three years of age, Mr. Carville is active and enjoys good health, while, his wife, sixty-two years of age, is also enjoying good health. They are communicants of the Catholic church and are highly respected people of the community in which they reside. Their children are : Edward, who was married and is now deceased; Harry, a resident of San Angelo; Gus, of El Campo; Ath, who is engaged in farming ; Mary, now Mrs. Mixon; Betty, the wife of W. Mckinnon; Nancy, who is with her parents ; Zita, who is successfully engaged in teaching; Wal- ter, at home; and Conrad, residing in Coleman county, this state.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Mixon has been blessed with six interest- ing children: Eugene, who was born in December, 1889; Dulas, born in January, 1892; Alban, in February, 1894 ; Zita in January, 1896 ; Bell E., who was born September 6, 1900; and Felton, who was born November 9, 1906. The wife and mother is a communicant of the Catholic church.
WILLIAM G. BUTLER, who has been engaged in raising stock ·throughout the period of his active business career, was born in Missis- sippi, in 1834. His paternal grandfather was John Butler, of Virginia, and a veteran of the Revolutionary war, subsequent to which time he settled in Kentucky, when it was a frontier district. After residing in the Blue Grass state for a number of years he removed to Mississippi, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a natural mechanic, and was able to make many useful devices from wood, stone and iron. He could build a mill and make the burrs which were used in grinding, and he also manufactured chairs and other furniture, thus being a very useful man in those early days. He was a quiet, unassuming man and never cared for public office. His family numbered the following : Bunnell, William, Landon, Martha, Susan, Ruth, Elizabeth, Patsy and Fanny.
Bunnell Butler, the father of William G., was born in Kentucky, and accompanied his parents on their removal to Mississippi. He was married in the latter state to Miss Sarah Ricks, who was born in South Carolina, a daughter of William Ricks, who at one time was a promi- nent planter of South Carolina but later took up his abode in Mississippi, where his death occurred. William Ricks was twice married and by his first union his children were Robert, William, Sarah, who became Mrs. Butler, and Mary, while by the last marriage the children were John. Richard, Stephen and Landon. Following his marriage Mr. Butler set-
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tled on a farm, where he remained for many years. He had a large family to provide for and decided that he could better do this in the new western country, and accordingly removed to Texas, the year of his arrival in this state being 1851. He took with him his few slaves and some stock and located in Goliad county, believing that section of the state would afford better advantages for farming pursuits. This county was later reorganized and the part in which he settled is now known as Karnes county. When arriving here he pitched a tent in which the family took shelter until a rude home could be constructed. He en- gaged in raising cattle, in which he met with gratifying success, for at that time the settlers were widely scattered so that there was plenty of free range for the stock. He was a man of good business ability, was a friend to the poor and needy, and was highly respected in the com- munity where he so long made his home. He was a consistent member of the Baptist church and died in that faith in 1870. His wife survived for about thirty years, and passed away in 1900, at the ripe old age of ninety years. Their family numbered thirteen children, twelve of whom were born in Mississippi, while after locating in this state one more was added to the household. The record is as follows: Mrs. Susan Johnson; Woodard, who died in 1853; James, a stock farmer ; William G., whose name introduces this record; Mrs. Mary Hinton ; Mrs. Ruth Burris; Robert and Pleas, both of whom are engaged in raising stock ; Betsey, now the wife of Judge J. D. Newberry; Albert, engaged in agricultural pursuits, and Fayte, Wash and Daniel, all of whom are stockmen.
William G. Butler was a youth of seventeen years when he accom- panied his parents on their removal from Mississippi to Texas. He assisted his father in the development of his stock interests in this state, meanwhile accumulating some stock for himself. He remained with his father until 1858, when he established a home of his own by locating on a ranch near his present home. He was engaged in raising stock until 1862, when the Civil war broke out and he joined the Confederate army in Karnes county, becoming a member of Wilkes' Cavalry, but later was transferred to the Trans-Mississippi department, being engaged in service in Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas. He continued at the front until the battle of Arkansas Post, when the command was all taken prisoners, and taken to Springfield, Illinois, by Federals. At the time of the surrender the troops were ordered to stack their arms, which they did, and Mr. Butler with two other men, quietly walked away un- noticed and thereby escaped imprisonment. They were soon out of sight of their command but found it difficult to make their escape as they had to swim rivers and keep out of sight of the Federal forces. They were hungry and tired but pressed on until they reached Mc- Culloch's command, where they were fed and sheltered and were then ordered to join a refugee camp at Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Mr. Butler later joined Carter's command and was in active service in Arkansas and Missouri until the close of the war. He was never wounded nor taken prisoner and had but one furlough during his entire service. He endured all the hardships and privations which are meted out to the soldier and returned home with a most creditable military record.
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