USA > Texas > A Twentieth century history of southwest Texas, Volume II > Part 59
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Mr. Pumphrey was married in Arkansas to Miss Mary S. Matthews, a native of Georgia and a daughter of Loderick and Mary (Harda) Matthews, who were married in Georgia, but later removed to Alabama, and in 1841 to Arkansas, while in 1851 they came to Jackson county, Texas. During their residence in Alabama they had much trouble with the Indians, and they there also opened two or three farms. The jour- ney to this state was made overland, bringing with them a large number of slaves, and they purchased an extensive tract of land a few miles west of where Edna is now located, where the father was extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock raising until his life's labors were ended in death in 1855, at which time he left a large estate and sixty negroes. Both he and his wife were consistent members of the Baptist church, and in their family were the following children: Benjamin, who served as captain of his company in the Confederate army, and after the close of the war returned to Arkansas, where he served as county clerk for a number of years, and his death occurred in that state; Loderick, who served as a lieutenant during the war, and is yet living in Arkansas ; John, who died in Texas; Madison, who also died in this state ; Allen, who rose to the rank of lieutenant in the Confederate service, and was afterward made high sheriff of Jackson county ; Dade, who died during his service in the Civil war; Missouri, who became Mrs. Ben Cochran : Lucinda, Mrs. Laclere ; Louisiana, and Mary S., who became the mother of Mrs. Laughter.
To Mr. and Mrs. Pumphrey were born the following children : Pike, who removed to the west and his present residence is not known; Lavinia, Mrs. Laughter; Blake, who died at the age of twelve years; Ray, deceased at the age of eighteen years ; Jessie, who married Richard Saunders, a farmer and merchant; Allen, who died when young; Lee, now Mrs. Gaines; and Murus D., who was formerly engaged in agricul-
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tural pursuits but is now in the artesian well business. Mr. Pumphrey, the father of these children, is the only member of his father's family now living, and although he has passed his four score years he is yet hale and hearty.
Mrs. Laughter, the first of the family born in Jackson county, has spent her entire life here, and in 1871 was married to William P. Laugh- ter, who was born in Mississippi, February 7, 1840, a son of Michael H. and Sarah (Vardeman) Laughter, both natives of Mississippi, where they were people of prominence. The father was an extensive planter and also operated a large saw mill. After his removal to Texas he con- tinued his agricultural pursuits, and was well known and honored for his many sterling characteristics. To Michael H. and Sarah Laughter were born nine children, namely: James, who died of consumption after the war ; William P., the next in order of birth ; Britton S., deceased ; Annie, the wife of R. Milby ; Thomas, who died at San Antonio, leaving child- ren ; Gideon and Robert, who also died leaving children; Lizzie, whose husband, Mr. Moore, is the district and county clerk, and Emma, the wife of E. Davis, of San Antonio.
William P. Laughter received his education in the common schools and in the Salem and Oxford Colleges, graduating in the law department of the latter institution, after which with his parents and family he came to Jackson county, Texas, and was engaged in teaching school for a time. He never followed the practice of law. He preferred agricultural pur- suits as an occupation and was also a natural machinist. At the opening of the Civil war, in May, 1861, he enlisted for service in the Confederate army, entering the ranks as a private, but was later promoted to the position of sergeant major, and served until the close of the struggle. He was ever at his post of duty, and on one occasion on a retreat while passing a Federal battery he silenced a cannon by filling the touch hole with mud. In 1864, while at home on a furlough, he was married to Miss Sarah G. Kerr, of Jackson county, where her father, Dr. Kerr, was a prominent physician. They had one daughter. Sarah G., now the wife of C. S. Simon, a stock farmer and ginner of this county. The wife and mother died on the 2d of February, 1868, passing away in the faith of the Catholic church.
After the close of the war Mr. Laughter settled on a farm, and throughout the remainder of his life was extensively engaged in agricul- tural pursuits. He also erected a gin on his farm, which he conducted in addition to his other interests. About 1885 he also erected a gin at Edna, but he still continued his residence on the farm until sickness made it necessary for him to remove to that city for medical aid, his death occurring on the 26th of October, 1900, at the age of sixty vears. A short time afterward Mrs. Laughter removed to Edna in order to afford her children better educational facilities, her eldest son continuing to care for the farm and other property. During his early life Mr. Laughter was a Democrat, but later joined the reform forces and be- came a leader in the People's party. He was a forceful campaigner, a fluent speaker. and performed efficient service for his chosen partv. During a number of years he served as president of the Square Bale Cotton Ginners Association. He also possessed much literary ability,
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and contributed many articles of value to newspapers and magazines. He was a consistent and worthy member of the Methodist church, while his fraternal relations were with the Masonic fraternity.
Mr. and Mrs. Laughter became the parents of nine children, namely : Maury, who died at the age of twenty-two years, leaving a wife and one son ; Alma, the wife of W. M. Manly ; William P., who conducts the old homestead farm and gin; Ray, who died when young; Charles P., a rice farmer ; Lois, who died at the age of sixteen years; John G., also a rice farmer, and Jessie and Enid at home.
GEORGE S. GAYLE is descended from honored and prominent pioneer ancestors in Jackson county, Texas, and is a popular county commis- sioner, stock rancher and rice farmer. His birth occurred in Jackson county, Texas, on the 13th of September, 1845. His paternal grand- father, Bartlett Gayle, was born in Virginia, where he was a prominent farmer, a large slave owner, and was connected with the aristocracy of that old commonwealth. He at one time visited Texas with the intention of making the Lone Star state his home, but returning to his old Vir- ginian plantation his death soon afterward there occurred in 1845. He became the father of the following children: Alexander T., the father of George S .; Mathew; Joshua ; William B., of Cuero, Texas ; C. M. S., a prominent physician.
Alexander T. Gayle was born in Virginia in 1815, and remained in his native state until the fall of 1836, when he came to Texas, bringing with him a number of slaves, and his first location was near where the city of Austin now stands, while later he took up his abode near San Felipe on the Brazos and continued his agricultural pursuits. In 1844 he transferred his residence to Jackson county, there making permanent settlement on the Lavaca river, four miles west of Texana, the old county seat. There he purchased a tract of land, heavily timbered, and his slaves at once began its clearing and cultivating, his first crop of corn being planted with an axe. A hole was cut in the ground, the seed put in and no further attention save a hoeing was paid to it until the time of harvest, when he secured a good crop. His first home was a little cabin, but later he obtained lumber by the old style whipsaw process, with negro power, and was among the first to own a good home in this section of the commonwealth. There were but few permanent settlers here at that time, and they were widely scattered. Range was free, and stock of all kinds flourished, while game was plentiful and wild beasts roamed at will. His old homestead farm in Jackson county was placed under an excellent state of cultivation as the years passed by, and there his life's labors were ended in death on the 8th of March, 1857. He early foresaw the future of the slave, and believing their liberation not far distant he decided to sell a portion of those he owned, which he did. His neighbors ridiculed the idea, but he was firm in his convictions and replied that he wanted to teach his children to work before the event occurred. Mr: Gayle was also a civil engineer, and was engaged in sur- veying in many parts of the state, also purchasing and owning many tracts of land throughout the commonwealth. He became a stock dealer, raising both cattle and horses and also some sheep, and was a horse fancier, breeding from Kentucky thoroughbreds, and always owned the
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finest in the country. During the early days he also had some experience in the subduing of the barbarous element that infested the country, for the Indians and Mexicans were then much feared. Their milling was done at long distances, and often the old style steel hand mill had to be resorted to at home. Mr. Gayle was a stalwart Democrat in his political affiliations, and although he never cared for the honors or emoluments of public office he was a public-spirited gentleman, a fluent talker and was well posted on the public questions. He underwent the deprivations and hardships of pioneer life, assisted in ridding the country of the wild beasts and its barbarous element and did all in his power to promote the moral development which made possible our present civilization. No man is more worthy of an honored place in the history of Southwestern Texas than that of Alexander T. Gayle.
Mr. Gayle married Frances A. Sutherland, a native of Tennessee, born on the 12th of June, 1824, her parents being George and Frances Sutherland, natives respectively of Alabama and Tennessee. The mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland was celebrated in Knox county of the latter state in November, 1813, and they later took up their abode in Alabama, subsequently returning to Tennessee, and in 1830 they came to Texas. They established their home in Jackson county, where the father secured a headright and continued its cultivation until his life's labors were ended in death in 1853, at the age of sixty-five years. His journey to this state was made with teams and wagons, bringing with him his slaves and all his portable possessions, and soon after his settle- ment here engaged in farming and stock raising. He also opened a hotel on the main thoroughfare for the accommodation of the traveling public, his being about the only one sufficient to care for the wayfaring. people, and therefore became widely known. He was a patriot of Sam Houston's army, and participated in the struggle for Texas liberty; serving in the battle of San Jacinto and the capture of Santa Anna. Before the battle opened his horse was shot from under him, but he continued through the entire struggle without a wound. He with others formed in small squads and rid the country of the renegade Mexicans and Indians and made possible the present settlement and civilization .: In connection with his other interests in an early day Mr. Sutherland conducted a general mercantile business in Texana, and became possessed of extensive tracts of land throughout this portion of the state. He was widely known for his integrity and business ability, and at one time his friends made him a candidate for the legislature against the most popular man in the district, and he lost the election by only one vote. He, too, was a stanch Democrat, 'and he is worthy of an honored- place among the representative men of Southwestern Texas. His death occurred at his old homestead on the 22d of April, 1853, but his wife survived for many years, and died in 1873, continuing to reside on the old homestead. She was a worthy member of the Methodist church, and was loved and honored for her many Christian virtues. Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland became the parents of the following children: John, who died while attending school in Alabama ; William D., who perished with that brave little band at the Alamo in 1836; Thomas S., who died in 1900, leaving seven children; George W., who died when young ;
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Frances A., who became the wife of Mr. Alexander T. Gayle; Elizabeth M., who also became a Mrs. Gayle, and George Ann, Mrs. Munson. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Gayle was blessed with the following child- ren : George S., Martha S., who died in infancy ; George Ann, Mrs. J. D. Rogers ; Martha, who also died when young; Alexander T., who died at the age of sixteen years; Mary E., who died at the age of three years ; Virginia, Mrs. S. M. Lesesue, and Bartlett B., of Port Lavaca. Of this large family of eight children, only four lived to years of maturity and but three now survive.
George S. Gayle has been a resident of Jackson county throughout his entire life, and remained under the parental roof until 1863, when, at the age of eighteen years, he entered the Confederate service in the First Texas Cavalry, under Colonel Birchel, and was attached to the army in the Trans-Mississippi department, with service in Louisiana and Texas. His first engagement was the battle of Mansfield, Louisiana, where they drove the enemy back, as they also did at the battle of Pleasant Hill, that state, after which they were engaged in skirmishing for several weeks, and after much marching and maneuvering returned to Texas and at the time of Lee's surrender were near Corsicana, where they were disbanded. Although Mr. Gayle saw much hard service during his military career, undergoing the deprivations, hardships and exposure ever meted out to the soldier, he was never wounded or im- prisoned, and at the close of the struggle returned to Chappel Hill, where his mother had temporarily located during the war, and attended school during the following three months in 1865 in addition to planting and harvesting a crop. In 1866 he returned to the homestead in Jackson county to take charge of his mother's property there, she remaining at Chappel Hill until her death in 1867, caused by yellow fever. After the father's death in 1857, Mr. Gayle, although only a lad of twelve years. became his mother's chief manager, and after her death was appointed administrator and guardian for the minor heirs until the settlement of the estate. He witnessed the terrible destruction of the cotton crop by the caterpillars. At that early day the range was free and stock plentiful but there was no market and consequently the cattle business was not profitable. Later some parties established a market for hides and tallow, but even then large and fat beef cattle brought only seven dollars apiece and often only five. He and two other gentlemen agreed to furnish five hundred head of fine large steers at a contract price of seven dollars and a half a head in silver or ten dollars currency. Later the market im- proved, and in 1874 he delivered a herd at fifteen dollars a head in gold being the best sale made in this county after the war between the states.
After the settlement of the estate the land was divided, Mr. Gayle receiving the old homestead, of which he subsequently became sole owner, and after residing thereon for a number of years traded it for land near Edna. In company with others he there owned seven thousand acres of pasture land, where he was extensively engaged in farming and stock raising, and he yet owns three thousand nine hundred acres adjoining the town of Edna. For a number of years he was extensively engaged in the raising of cotton and corn, but in 1898 the boll weevil ruined the cotton business, and after heavy losses he abandoned the business in
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1903. He has since improved a rice plant at a heavy expense, having three hundred and fifty acres devoted to the raising of that cereal, and in addition he is also engaged to some extent in the cattle and horse business, handling only those of a high grade. In 1883 he moved a portion of the old homestead residence to Edna, which he remodeled and converted into a beautiful and commodious two-story structure, which is surrounded by extensive grounds of eleven acres planted with shrubbery and evergreen trees. He also has a pear orchard on his farm of twenty- five acres.
During the early years of his life Mr. Gayle was a stalwart supporter of Democratic principles, but is now a Prohibitionist. The cause of education finds in him a warm friend and earnest worker, and for a number of years he has served as school trustee, while in 1884 he was elected a commissioner of Jackson county, in which he served for three terms, and in 1900 was returned to the position, being the present in- cumbent. He is an earnest worker in the good road question and during his incumbency a good blade grader and scrapers have been secured, and they have also erected eight iron bridges.
In Goliad, Texas, in 1875, Mr. Gayle was married to Miss R. S. Dill, who was born in that city April 27, 1857, and is a descendant of one of the honored pioneer families of the county. She is a daughter of Dr. J. A. and Nanna (Lea) Dill, natives respectively of South Caro- lina and Tennessee. The father was among the very earliest physicians of Goliad, practicing in the early days when it was necessary to respond to calls from long distances, traveling on horseback over unfrequented roads or even before their establishment. His death occurred in June, 1882, but his wife still survives and now makes her home in Austin. In their family were ten children, namely: Mary L., the wife of W. M. Brown, state comptroller and chief clerk in the land office in Austin ; R. S., who became the wife of Mr. Gayle; Julia E., who became the wife of a Mr. Kellogg, a civil engineer, and her death occurred three months after her marriage; Jane A., the wife of W. H. Caldwell, of Corpus Christi; Nannie, the wife of Captain Seiker, of Austin; Jacob A., a merchant, who died in 1902; Livia; Minnie G., a successful school teacher at Austin; Elmo and Sally, at home. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gayle: Fannie L., Mrs. A. R. McDowell ; Nannie E., Mrs. E. P. Simons : George S., a farmer of Jackson county ; A. D. and Gena S., at home : Jennie L., attending school at Sherman, and Lea M., a student at the A. & M. College. The family are members of the Methodist church, in which Mr. Gayle has held all the offices and is now serving as stewart and recording steward and trustee.
WILLIAM L. JOHNSTON, engaged in the real estate business in Yoakum as a member of the firm of William Johnston & Company, came to this place in 1889. He is a native son of Ohio, where his birth oc- curred on the 5th of December, 1869. When he was eighteen months old his parents removed to Kansas and later became residents of Tennessee, where he was reared in Coffey county. His education was acquired in the common schools and he thus prepared for life's practical and re- sponsible duties. In 1889, when twenty years of age, he came to Texas and in December of that year took up his abode at Yoakum, where he
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has since resided. On the 25th of December, 1892, he established the Weekly Times and in 1896 began the publication of the Daily Times. He thus was engaged exclusively in the newspaper business until No- vember, 1905, when he sold his papers, having in the meantime, in 1904, engaged in the real estate business as a member of the firm of William Johnston & Company, his partners being P. H. Tom and J. F. Mont- gomery. He was also instrumental in organizing the South & South- west Texas Development Association and was elected vice-president. Such are his business connections at the present time and he is, through his enterprise, activity and capable management, contributing to public progress through the development of the natural resources of the state, while Yoakum finds benefit in his active and successful manipulation of property interests.
De Witt County.
STERLING FONTAINE GRIMES of Cuero, Texas, was born in Lincoln county, Kentucky, and is a son of Thomas P. and Martha D. (Lackey) Grimes, natives of Kentucky. He was educated in the public schools, and was preparing for college when the Civil war broke out. He im- mediately gave up his studies and enlisted in Company A, Sixth Kentucky Cavalry, of the Confederate army, and served under Generals Wheeler and Buford. He took part in the battles of Perryville and Murfreesboro, and a number of minor engagements. He later joined Morgan's com- mand and was captured in the latter's Ohio raid, at Cheshire, on the Ohio river. He remained a prisoner until the end of the war, and re- ceived his exchange in March, 1865.
Mr. Grimes' law education was obtained in the office of Judge John W. Staten (who afterward became chief justice) at Clinton, Texas, and in 1874 he came to Cuero, DeWitt county, where he has since remained. In 1878 he was elected district attorney of the twenty-fourth judicial district, and served in that capacity until 1888, when he resigned and was succeeded by A. B. Davidson, the present lieutenant-governor. After leaving the office of district attorney, Mr. Grimes practiced law as a member of the firm of Kleberg & Grimes, until he was elected district judge in 1892, which office he held for four years, and has since been practicing his profession in the firm of Grimes, Schleicher & Kle- berg.
In 1871 Mr. Grimes was married to Miss Cora W. Lane, but his wedded life was short, as his wife died in 1874 and without issue. He is a member of the Elks lodge, and is also a Mason, having attained the chapter and commandery degrees in the latter body.
MR. EMIL REIFFERT, of Cuero, Texas, was born in Hersfeld, Kur- hessen, Germany, in 1839, and emigrated to this country in 1853, settling first at Indianola, Texas, where he engaged in ranching. In 1856 he entered the general mercantile line and during the Civil war, enlisted in Hobby's regiment, from which command he was honorably discharged at the conclusion of the war. The war being over, he returned to Indianola, and became partner in the firm of H. Runge & Co., in the mercantile and banking business. In 1875 and again in 1885 Indianola was almost destroyed by cyclones, the storm in the latter year practically
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wiping out Mr. Reiffert's place of business. His firm had some time before, opened a branch house at Cuero, and in 1886 he came to that town, and has since resided there. Under the firm name of H. Runge & Co., Mr. Reiffert and his partner do a general mercantile business, beside selling machinery, buying cotton and running a general banking business and owning several ranches stocked with cattle, etc. Mr. Reif- fert's business ventures have been very successful, and he is looked upon as one of the substantial, and conservative men of his section of the state. Since 1870 he has acted as consular agent for the German empire.
In 1867 he was married to Miss Helen Tips, a sister of Senator Walter Tips, of Austin, Texas, a well known and wealthy hardware merchant of that city. To this union have been born five children, viz. : Walter, in his father's bank at Cuero; Emil, in business in Galveston ; Mrs. Meta Reuss, wife of Dr. Reuss, one of the leading physicians of Dallas ; Mrs. W. A. Blackwell, Jr., of Cuero; and Hilda, who is unmar- ried. Mr. Reiffert is a friend to fraternal orders, and holds membership in the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias.
Bee County.
JUDGE WILLIAM R. HAYES, a veteran of the Confederate army and well known throughout Southwest Texas for his acts of philanthropy and by reason of his long years of public service, is of English ancestry. His forefathers, on his father's side, came from England, and were among the first to settle in Jamestown, Virginia, in the old Colonial days, and became identified with the early development of that state, From here their descendants have scattered to all parts of the United States.
The parents of Judge Hayes were Joseph and Lavina (Young) Hayes, both of whom were born in Virginia. They were married in North Carolina, moving from there to South Carolina, and later to Missouri. The elder Mr. Hayes was a blacksmith by trade, but in his latter years devoted himself to stock-raising. It was in Hickory county, Missouri, that the children of Joseph Hayes were born, and here his wife died in 1842. In 1846 he sold his ranch and stock and started for Texas, stop- ping for the winter in Sevier county, Arkansas, where he remained, how- ever for eight years. In 1856 he arrived in Texas, settling in Medina county. Several of his children had meanwhile become married and he was welcomed to their homes, living for a time in Medina county, Atas- cosa county, and later with our subject in Bee county, in which last county he remained until his death. He was a member of the Christian church and a man universally respected and esteemed by all who knew him. His children were seven in number: George W. (deceased), Benjamin F. (deceased), Caroline (Mrs. McMaines), Rebecca (Mrs. Neal), who died in New Mexico, Abbie (Mrs. Neal) ) of Floresville, Amanda (Mrs. Mc- Curdy), who died at Floresville, and William R.
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