A Twentieth century history of southwest Texas, Volume II, Part 5

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 704

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In 1882 Mr. Meyer sold his ranching and stock interests in Frio county and established his home in San Antonio, where he has since lived. Although an unusually quiet and unostentatious man, his worth and character as a citizen brought him public honors and he was elected as city auditor, serving for four years during the Paschal and Elmen- dorf administrations. He is greatly esteemed as a valued member of the Odd Fellows' organization in San Antonio and has been the treas- urer of San Antonio Lodge No. II, since July, 1890, during which time he has handled large sums of money with scrupulous exactness and ad- ministered the expenses of the order with the wisest economy. During the last year he has had in his possession ninety-five thousand dollars belonging to the lodge-being mostly the money received from the sale of the lodge building on Houston street-and the trust reposed in him by his brethren of the fraternity is indicated by the fact that nothing more was required of him than the old bond of three thousand dollars. His fidelity to duty and his honor in financial relations are above question and he has the unqualified confidence and trust of his fraters.

Mr. Meyer was married in this city to Miss Elizabeth Lauterbach, who died some years ago, leaving a son and three daughters: Mrs. Belle Solcher, Andrew Meyer, Mary Meyer, and Mrs. Lizzie Martin.

L. VILLAREAL MADERO, a capitalist of San Antonio, whose efforts have been a valuable factor in the material development of the natural resources of the state and in the promotion of various commercial and industrial enterprises which have had direct bearing upon the general prosperity, during the past five years, was born at Monterey, in the state of Coahuila, Mexico. in 1870. His parents were Dr. Melchor and Victoriana (Madero) Villareal. (The son took his mother's maiden name and his father's surname as a first name.) The late Dr. Melchor Villareal, who died at his home in Monterey, Mexico, in June, 1906. was one of the prominent and wealthy citizens of that place. In addi- tion to his professional interests he was president of the bank in that city and was interested financially in many of its leading enterprises.

Governor Evaristo Madero, the maternal grandfather of our sub- ject, is now living at an advanced age in San Antonio, where he has had extensive business interests for a number of years. He is also a native of Monterey, Coahuila, and a representative of a distinguished family of Mexico. For several years he served as governor of the state of Coahuila. V. L. Villareal, an uncle of our subject, is ex-gover- nor of the state of Nueva Leon, Mexico. In both the paternal and ma- ternal lines Mr. Madero of this review comes of wealthy and prominent families in Coahuila, owning extensive interests in business enterprises. banks, mines and lands, while various representatives have occupied places of distinction in connection with public life and in business af- fairs in the Mexican republic.

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HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS

L. Villareal Madero was reared and educated in Europe, where he spent fourteen years in study and preparation for business life, princi- pally in Paris. Upon finishing his education he returned to Monterey and entered upon active business connections in association with his father, but in 1901 came to San Antonio, where he has since resided, becoming an American citizen. He is engaged in various business enter- prises here, many of them connected with his extensive interests in Mexico-mining, lands and various commercial and industrial invest- ments. He is one of those who are bringing the magnificent resources and opportunities of Mexico to the attention of American capitalists, thus leading to the development of the country and the utilization of its splendid possibilities. He is particularly well fitted for such a work through his business training, his linguistic powers and his social and business connections with the high officials of Mexico and the leading men of that country. He is a member of the Business Men's Club of San Antonio and other leading organizations and his life is actuated by a spirit of progress and improvement, not only for his own gain but also for the benefit of the different localities in which he has reason to be especially interested.

M. H. McLAURIN, a civil engineer, who is also engaged in the land and abstract business in San Antonio, has figured prominently in connection with public affairs and has made a most excellent record characterized by capability and fidelity in the discharge of duty. He was born in Sumter district, South Carolina, in 1849. He comes of an old family of Scotch ancestry that was founded in that state at an early day. He was a boy during the period of the Civil war, when schools were largely closed in the south and when educational privileges there were very limited. He received, however, excellent instruction from Colonel Thomas D. Sumter, a graduate of West Point, and one of South Carolina's representatives in Congress. It was under his direction that Mr. McLaurin studied mathematics and made preparation for the pro- fession of civil engineering. Upon his retirement from Congress Colonel Sumter admitted Mr. McLaurin to a partnership in engineering work in South Carolina. Following the death of his partner Mr. McLaurin came to Texas in 1882 and this state has since been his home.

At the time of his arrival Hon. Oran M. Roberts was governor of Texas, and he having a knowledge of Mr. McLaurin's ability as an engineer was instrumental in having the latter engaged to prepare the plans and specifications for the North Texas Insane Asylum at Terrell. In 1883, upon the resignation of N. L. Norton as one of the state capitol commissioners, Mr. McLaurin was appointed to fill his place, by the capitol board composed of the governor and the heads of the state de- partments. Mr. McLaurin's associate in this position was the late Judge Joseph Lee, with whom he served until the capitol was completed in 1888.

Mr. McLaurin perhaps became most widely known in this connec- tion because of the splendid record which he made as a commissioner. The Texas capitol is a famous building, being one of the finest in the United States and was erected under contract with the Farwells of Chicago, who were paid for the same not in cash but in state lands

HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS

· in the Texas Panhandle, which lands became the noted Farwell ranch, one of the largest in the world. The construction of the capitol stands unique in the history of such enterprises from that fact that it was com- pleted within the appropriation made. Indeed the funds were handled so economically and judiciously that after the building was completed Mr. McLaurin and Judge Lee had some money remaining to turn back into the state treasury. This certainly is a splendid record when we con- sider the graft that usually accompanies the erection of such buildings in other states. When the capitol was erected it was the seventh largest building in the world and involved many intricate features, which could not or were not fully set forth in the plans and specifications, and only by the most careful scrutiny of every detail as construction progressed mistakes were avoided and Texas secured a building which in point of durability and strength of construction is not surpassed by any modern structure of its size and purposes. Considerable trouble arose caused by the impossibility of securing stone from quarries of a grade such as was desired to be used in the building. The contractors recognizing the fact that only granite could be used under the terms of their con- tract and seeing also that it was going to cost them at least three times more than at first estimated, in order to get the necessary granite, made an attempt to substitute Indiana limestone but this proposition was re- jected by the capitol board. The actual cost of the building proper is known to a cent as the law required a duplicate receipted voucher to be filed with the commissioners for every dollar paid out by the contrac- tors on the actual construction of the building This is the only case on record where a part of the appropriation was turned back into the ' state treasury. Mr. McLaurin and his associates in this work certainly deserve much credit for what they accomplished and their labors did and should receive the commendation of all fair-minded citizens. The state capitol was begun in 1881 and completed in 1888, the total cost of the building being something over three million, six hundred thousand dollars.

While Mr. McLaurin was capitol commissioner he was associated with General Walker in organizing a company to build a railroad from Taylor to Bastrop and Houston but as the carrying out of this plan in- terfered somewhat with his duties as capitol commissioner he and Gen- eral Walker sold out their interests to the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad Company, who completed the project.

After the capitol was completed Mr. McLaurin went to Dallas and engaged in railroad building in that vicinity for some time. He then went to Mexico, where he was also engineer in charge of railroad con- struction but finally had to give up the same on account of his health, the climate not agreeing with him there. He now makes his home in San Antonio and with this city as headquarters he has a surveying corps in the field doing land surveying. He also has an abstract and land office at Corpus Christi and is greatly interested in the development of the re- sources of that portion of Southern Texas, being closely identified with many movements which have been of direct value in the upbuilding of that locality. He is a man of excellent business ability and executive force, of keen discrimination and sound judgment and throughout his

HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS

entire life has formed his plans readily and has been determined in their execution, so that his efforts have resulted in winning him a gratifying measure of success.

C. E. KELLER, M. D., physician and surgeon at San Antonio, is a native of Matagorda county, Texas, and a son of James W. and Martha (Wheeler) Keller. The father was born in Mississippi and came to Texas with his parents in 1836, the family locating in Matagorda county. They were compelled to flee from the country in the early '40S because of the conditions which existed in those pioneer times and they were identified with many events which constituted the early history of the section in which they lived. The father passed away a number of years ago, but his wife is still living at Bay City, Matagorda county. She was of New England ancestry, her father having been a native of Boston, Massachusetts.

Dr. Keller was reared and educated in his native county and sup- plemented his literary course by preparation for the medical profession. He attended the Hospital Medical College at Louisville, Kentucky, and completed his course in Texas Medical College at Galveston, from which he was graduated in the class of 1881. That institution, which was later merged into the medical department of the state university, was at the time of Dr. Keller's student days an institution of the highest character, the faculty comprising some of the finest minds connected with the medical profession in the country and thoroughly devoted to the duty of giving to their students the highest standing and equipment for their chosen work, insisting on proficiency in all classes.

Following his graduation Dr. Keller located for practice in Fayette county, Texas, and in 1891 attained further skill in his work by a gen- eral post-graduate course in New Orleans Polyclinic. About seven years ago he located in San Antonio, where he enjoys a large and lucrative practice, having an established reputation for skill and success in the treatment of disease through careful and accurate diagnosis and treat- ment and a thorough knowledge of his cases. He was one of the or- ganizers and was the president of the Charity Hospital Association of San Antonio, whose hospital on Austin street was established in Janu- ary, 1906. This is a philanthropic enterprise of great benefit to the poor; the hospital, as the name indicates, giving medical treatment and all other necessary care free of charge. It is the only institution of its kind in San Antonio and is one that is greatly needed. No contagious diseases or tubercular patients are received here, however, rendering it perfectly safe for all patients needing general medical or surgical treat- ment. The greatest care and attention is given to those who seek aid here, the physicians in attendance all being men of superior ability and professional discrimination who have high standing in their profession. Much of the success of the institution is due to the earnest efforts of Dr. Keller, who as its first president has systematized the work and placed it upon a basis that is particularly beneficial, its value being ac- knowledged by all who have regard for public health.

Dr. Keller was married in Fayette county to Miss Elizabeth Lunn, a sister of Dr. W. W. Lunn of Houston, Texas, who with his son, Dr. Edwin Lunn, an eye, ear, nose and throat specialist, owns and conducts

HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS

a prominent sanitarium at Houston. Dr. and Mrs. Keller have two chil- dren: Edwin B. Keller of the city of Mexico; and Miss Nola Keller, of San Antonio. In all of his work Dr. Keller has maintained a high standard of professional ethics and has been not only a follower but a leader of advanced thought and methods of practice. He stands today prominent among the leading representatives of the profession in San Antonio and the consensus of public opinion is indicated by the extensive private practice which is accorded him.

HARVEY M. MATTHEWS, M. D., proprietor of the Matthews Home in San Antonio, is one of the able and successful medical practitioners of Bexar county and in connection with his chosen field of labor is con- ducting the Matthews Home, which in its scope displays a philanthropic purpose as well as the legitimate purpose of acquiring financial success. Dr. Matthews is a native of Texas, having been born in Carthage, Pa- nola county, on the 31st of March, 1867. He was reared to farm life and acquired a thorough education in his youth, completing his classical course at Trinity University, which was then located at Tehuacana, Limestone. county, Texas. After completing his college course he sup- plemented his literary training by preparation for a professional career, entering upon the study of medicine in Louisville Medical College of Louisville, Kentucky, from which he was graduated in the class of 1890. Dr. Matthews then located for private practice at Dawson. Texas, and subsequently resided at Coleman city and afterward at Waxahachie, Texas. From the last named place he removed to Corsicana, where in 1898 he established the Matthews Home for the treatment of drug and alcoholic addictions. In 1899 he removed to San Antonio, establishing the Matthews Home here and has since continued its management with the highest success. Dr. Matthews has now had nearly twelve years' ex- perience in the treatment of those addicted to the use of drugs and alcoholic liquors and through hard work, close study and the strictest application has achieved a very gratifying success in this most difficult branch of medical practice. The Matthews Home is located in the beau- tiful West End of San Antonio at 300 Day avenue. It is at a high altitude, with spacious grounds surrounding and plenty of pure air. The building is modern and well arranged for its purpose. All of the details connected with the treatment of these patients, such as plenty of nourishment and hygienic food, quiet and nerve restoring surround- ings, congeniality and cheerfulness are thoroughly looked after.

It can be said without exaggeration that Dr. Matthews, devoting his entire time to the treatment of drug addictions, has had most re- markable success in this line. His patients come from all parts of the United States and from Mexico. He has the hearty co-operation of the regular practitioners in the medical profession and as evidence of this fact the Matthews Home treats a larger percentage of physicians for these addictions than any other one class of patients. The beneficence of a work of this character cannot be over estimated when it is con- sidered what terrible results follow the habitual use of morphine, co- caine, opium and other drugs as well as alcohol. His patients leave him sound and strong and manly, again equipped for life's duties. Dr. Matthews has studied the question of treatment of such cases from

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HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS

every possible standpoint and has given to the world a work which is a monument to his life and its worthy purpose. He certainly deserves the unbounded gratitude of his patients, who through his successful ministrations are restored to health and strength, free from the enervat- ing effects of the habits by which they were once enslaved.

JOHN BAUER, grand secretary of the Sons of Hermann with head- quarters at San Antonio, is of German lineage, as his name indicates. His birth occurred in the fatherland, the place of his nativity being Frankfort on the Rhine. His boyhood and youth were spent in that country, where he acquired a good education and for several years he was in the German military service and was a soldier in the Franco- Prussian war. The opportunities of the new world, however, attracted him and he sought a broader field in America that his labors might more directly and quickly secure financial returns. Accordingly he came to Texas in 1882 and has lived in San Antonio since April of that year. From the beginning of his residence here he has taken a prominent part in the affairs of the German order of Hermann's Sons and in 1891 he was made grand secretary for this order of the state of Texas, which position he has filled continuously since, covering a period of sixteen years, discharging his duties with efficiency and to the benefit of the order in increasing its membership and usefulness in this state. This

Sons of Hermann.

Order was founded by the German people of New York in 1841, about which time the first heavy emigration from Germany was made to this country. The society grew rapidly and soon became a national organiza- tion. The first lodge of the order in Texas was instituted at San An- tonio, January 1, 1861. There are now in this state two hundred and thirty-five "Brother" lodges and forty "Sister" lodges, there being ten lodges in San Antonio, which is the center of the German population and interests in Texas. There is a membership of eleven hundred in the San Antonio lodges and twelve thousand members in the entire state. The organization is in a flourishing condition and this is due in no small degree to the efforts and capability of Mr. Bauer during his sixteen years' service as grand secretary.

In other ways Mr. Bauer is identified with the best interests of San Antonio. He is a member of the city council, being elected as an alderman at large in that body, in which he is chairman of the commit- tee on parks and plazas. In the council he gives careful consideration to each question which comes up for settlement and his co-operation with public movements is that of a progressive citizen, who places the general welfare before partisanship or personal aggrandizement. Mr. Bauer was married in Germany in 1875, to Miss Helene Schley.

JOSEPH MENY, engaged in the real estate business in San Antonio, was born in the province of Alsace, France, in 1848, his parents being John T. and Agnes (Conrad) Meny, both of whom were of Huguenot lineage and were natives of Alsace. They came to Texas in 1852, first locating in the coast town of Port Lavaca, whence they afterward re- moved to Victoria and later to Goliad but subsequently returned to Vic- toria. Afterward passing through San Antonio, they joined the Alsa- Vol. II. 3

HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS

tian colony at Castroville in Medina county, making the trip with ox teams and thus traveling after the slow and tedious manner of the times. In 1865, however, John T. Meny took up his abode in San Antonio, but after three years returned to Castroville, where he resided until his death in 1886. His wife passed away subsequent to this time, spend- ing her last days in San Antonio. Her sister, Katharine Conrad, re- mained with the Meny family after Mrs. Meny's death and acted in the capacity of mother to the children. She died in San Antonio at the very advanced age of eighty-eight years. Of the three children born to Mr. and Mrs. John T. Meny two are yet living, the brother, Frank S. Meny, who was born at Castroville, being a resident of San Antonio.

Joseph Meny was reared amid the surroundings, conditions and environments of pioneer life in Texas and during the period of the Civil war he earned thirty-five dollars a month as a driver of ox and mule teams, mostly carrying loads of cotton between San Antonio and the Rio Grande. On one occasion his wagon train was raided by Indians. After the surrender of Lee in April, 1865, Mr. Meny made a freighting trip to Port Lavaca and return. He then permanently abandoned that business and took up his abode in San Antonio in June, 1865, since which time he has made this city his home. He had earned and saved considerable money by freighting during the period of the war and had judiciously invested it, so that at about the close of hostilities he was the owner of six hundred head of cattle, which, however, he gave to his parents. He then started out in life anew, following his arrival in San Antonio, and for several years thereafter conducted a saloon, but for the past eighteen years has been engaged in the real estate business in this city. He has informed himself thoroughly concerning realty values, has noted each indication of a rise in the realty market and has nego- tiated many important property transfers. He has many regular clients and has done a gratifying business, making him one of the prosperous real estate dealers of San Antonio.

Mr. Meny was married in San Antonio to Miss Auguste Schulz. who came with her parents from Germany to America when three years of age. They now have one daughter, Irene J. Meny. In former years Mr. Meny was a prominent member of the old Turner Volunteer Hook and Ladder Company of the city fire department and otherwise has been closely associated with the early growth of business and social life in this city. At one time he was an alderman of San Antonio.

WILLIAM N. HAGY, a builder and architect of San Antonio, was born at Independence, Washington county, Texas, in 1870, a son of George W. and Hattie (Wood) Hagy, both of whom are now deceased. The father was born in Washington county. Virginia, at the ancestral home of the family and came to Texas in 1856, locating first in Bastrop county. He was a builder and contractor and took the contract for the wood work on the old state capitol at Austin, which building was the predecessor of the present capital. Subsequently he established his home in Inde- pendence, Washington county, where he died in 1872. He was a sub- stantial and representative man of his community and at his death the county mourned the loss of one of its valued citizens.

William N. Hagy spent his early boyhood days at Independence,

HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS

where he acquired his education and, following in the footsteps of his father, began learning the builder's trade. He entered upon that work when only eleven years of age and has since not only depended upon his own resources for a livelihood but has also assisted others, and it should redound to his credit that he has faithfully discharged every obligation that has devolved upon him in this connection and also educated himself as well. He attended Baylor University, a well known Texas educa- tional institution, now located at Waco, but in those days at Independ- ence, where the college was originally established. In 1882, when only twelve years of age, Mr. Hagy came to San Antonio, where he has since made his home and has been remarkably successful as a builder and business man. He entered upon an apprenticeship to the carpen- ter's trade, which he completed at the age of seventeen years and was then given a position as foreman. After acting in that capacity for about a year he began working on his own account and for three years was in partnership with his two brothers under the firm style of Hagy Brothers, contractors and builders. For the past few years, however, he has conducted his business as an individual enterprise and has met with very creditable success. While engaged as a contractor and builder he also studied and qualified thoroughly for the profession of an archi- tect and does all of his architectural work, combining the two branches of business and thus avoiding the conflicts which sometimes result be- tween the plans of the architect and the practical work of the builder. Better satisfaction is thus given to his patrons and the excellence of his work is indicated by the liberal business support accorded him. In con- nection with the construction of buildings under contract he also builds houses for customers who pay on the installment plan, thus conducting a financial department in connection with his other business and using considerable capital in this way. He contributes largely to the improve- ment and development of the city through his business operations and has converted many unsightly vacancies into fine residence districts. One of the chief assets of his business is his reputation for thorough honesty and good workmanship. He never submits bids or takes con- tracts for municipal or government work which involves deals with poli- ticians or agents, knowing that too often it is necessary to resort to trickery or the undue use of political influence to secure such work. His business has grown steadily and along healthful lines until it is the largest of its kind in San Antonio. He has made a specialty of fine resi- dences and has constructed some of the most beautiful homes in the city, including those of the late Colonel C. C. Cresson, D. J. Woodward, Frank A. Winerich, John Bollins and others. He also built the First Baptist church, the Woodward business block, the San Antonio Female College, the Peacock School for boys, a portion of the West Texas Mili- tary Academy and other schools and churches. He is awarded many contracts outside of the city, his business in the state amounting to many thousands of dollars annually. He also deals in building materials and his business is represented by a large figure that indicates his prominence in building circles.

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A Twentieth century history of southwest Texas, Volume II, Part 5

Author: Lewis Publishing Company Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 704

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 704