USA > Texas > A Twentieth century history of southwest Texas, Volume II > Part 63
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Judge Wilson spent the early years of his life on his father's farm, attending the school near his home, and later was a student in the A. and M. College, where he graduated in 1893 in the civil engineering depart- ment. Later he graduated in the law course in the state university and was admitted to the bar in Waxahachie in 1895. He practices in all the courts of the state, doing a general law business, but makes a specialty of land titles. In 1895 he came to Port Lavaca, where he has since engaged in the practice of law, securing a large and distinctively repre- sentative clientele, and he now stands at the head of the bar of Calhoun county. He is an indefatigable and earnest worker, and the litigation with which he has been connected has embraced many of the important cases tried in the courts of this circuit, while again and again he has won the victor's laurels over competitors of marked ability. At the same time the Judge has also been prominently connected with many of the leading industries of Calhoun county, having assisted in the organization of the First National Bank of Port Lavaca in 1900, which has a capital of $25,000, with surplus and undivided profits of $16,000, individual deposits of $155,413, loans and discounts of $96,494, and is numbered among the strong and solid banking institutions of Southwestern Texas. Since its organization the Judge has held the position of vice-president and director. He also assisted in organizing the Fish and Oyster Company of Port
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Lavaca in 1905, with a capital of twenty thousand dollars, and of which he was made the president. The firm employs fifty sail sloops in the business and furnishes employment to about three hundred and fifty men, while the receipts of this large corporation amount to about one hundred and fifty thousand dollars annually. They market their products in both old and New Mexico, Arizona, California, Colorado and as far north as Minnesota and the Dakotas and all intermediate states, with an ever increasing demand for their product. The propagation of the oyster fields and their catch are also increasing rapidly, and a most brilliant future undoubtedly awaits the business.
At Brazoria, Texas, Judge Wilson was united in marriage to Miss Aurelia Melgard, who was born in that city in 1874, a daughter of George and Christena ( Prell) Melgard, both natives of Brazoria county, where the father was engaged in merchandising for more than forty years. He is a prominent and well known business man, and also filled the office of county commissioner. He yet resides in that city, where for many years he has been' a consistent and worthy member of the Episcopal church and is also a Royal Arch Mason. In his family were six children : Aurelia, who became Mrs. Wilson; George, a stock farmer; Carrie, unmarried ; Andrew. a merchant of Brazoria ; Baster P., a civil engineer ; and Ruby, also unmarried. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, namely : Christena, born February 9, 1899; Willett, Janu- ary 29, 1900; and Wallace M., June 10, 1905. Mrs. Wilson is a member of the Episcopal church. Judge Wilson is a Democrat in his political affiliations, and has been the choice of his party for many positions of honor and trust. For three terms he served as the county attorney, and in 1904 was elected the county judge, being its present incumbent. When he entered upon his administration the county was badly in debt, its scrip was below par and its roads and bridges in a dilapidated condition, but he has brought the scrip up to par, has cleared the indebtedness and has bonded the county for twenty thousand dollars for road and bridge purposes, and these bonds will soon be canceled. Accurate and system- atic in his work, he has won the commendation of all· concerned, and with his board of county commissioners has performed excellent work for the county. They have purchased machinery for road work, and in the near future Calhoun will enjoy better roads than the adjoining counties. Judge Wilson is also greatly interested in the buying and selling of land and town property, and assisted in platting the George and Wilson addition to Port Lavaca, in which he yet owns many vacant lots and much rental property. He also owns three farms which he rents, is also a part owner in a valuable rice farm in Jackson county, and has a commodious and beautiful residence. He is a valued member of the Episcopal church, and also has membership relations with the Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of the World fraternities. ADOLPH ROEMER. On the roster of Calhoun county's officers is found the name of Adolph Roemer in connection with the positions of high sheriff and tax collector. This is an indication of his popularity and prominence, and all who know him willingly accord him a leading place among the esteemed citizens of the community. He is a representa- tive of an honored pioneer family of Calhoun county, where he has passed
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his entire life, his birth here occurring on the 23d of February, 1853, a son of John and Anna M. Roemer, both natives of Frankfort, Germany, and descendants of prominent old Protestant families of that city. The paternal grandfather, Jacob Roemer, was a titled gentleman in the father- land, associated with the aristocracy of his country, and he held govern- ment positions of honor and trust. He was well posted on all matters pertaining to state and nation, and was popular in the councils of the government. He had large landed estates and platted the town of Roemer, which will for all time to come honor his name. He also fixed the sale of lots so that no special privileges were allowed, was a leader of men and honored by his government, and was widely known and highly respected. At his death, which occurred in his native land, he left a large estate, and he passed away in the faith of the Lutheran church, of which he was long a faithful member. In his family were three children, but the son John is the only one whose name is recalled.
John Roemer received an excellent literary education during his youth, and could speak several languages. Deciding to throw off the yoke of monarchical government and establish his home in a free land, he accordingly in 1845 emigrated to America and landed at Galveston, Texas, later removing to Indianola, and about 1847 came to Calhoun county, where his marriage subsequently occurred. Previously, how- ever, he had joined the state ranger service, and patrolled long distances up the Rio Grande. After his marriage he located at Longmott, Calhoun county, where he purchased a small tract of land and improved a farm. At that time range was free and in addition to farming he also carried on stock raising, but later abandoned that part of his business and began the raising of cotton, corn and vegetables, being successful in his ventures and from time to time adding to his land until he now owns extensive tracts. He also received assistance from his father's estate, and he has long been numbered among the leading business men of Calhoun county. He has always been proud of his adopted country, thoroughly in harmony with the spirit of the republic, and is a stanch Democrat in his political affiliations, having been the choice of his party for the office of justice of the peace. Both he and his wife were reared in the faith of the Lutheran church, from which they have never departed, and he is also a member of the Odd Fellows. During many years they have made their home in Longmott, where together they are passing down the western slope of life, for he has reached his ninetieth year, and his wife is over eighty. She came to America with her parents and landed at Indianola, Texas, with the Fisher and Miller colony in a very early day, and the father engaged in improving land. He became a prominent citizen of the locality, but his death occurred of cholera during the terrible epidemic which swept over this section of the country. The daughter Anna is the only one of his children whose name can be recalled. To Mr. and Mrs. Roemer were born eight children, namely: August, a prominent agri- culturist ; Adolph, whose name introduces this review; Fred W., a mer- chant and postmaster at Longmott; Mary, Mrs. John Beriman; John, a stock farmer ; Emil, a speculator and trader ; Rudolf, a lumber dealer of Elgin, Texas; and Edward, who is engaged in stock farming on the old homestead. Emil and Edward are unmarried.
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Adolph Roemer remained under the parental roof until his marriage in 1875, when he engaged in agricultural pursuits on his own account. He had previously been raising stock, and after his marriage he pur- chased land and engaged in stock farming, making substantial improve- ments on his place as time passed and remained thereon for sixteen years. In 1890, to provide his children with better educational facilities. he removed to Port Lavaca, but in the following year returned to the farm. In 1896 he again came to Port Lavaca, renting the agricultural part of his ranch, and has ever since made his home in this city, where in 1898 he was elected high sheriff and tax collector, positions he has since continued to fill with honor and ability. He is fearless in the dis- charge of his duties, and although he has handled some very bad char- acters he has never been obliged to use violence. He now owns over three thousand acres of land, on which he runs a large herd of cattle, while in addition he owns a commodious two-story residence in Port Lavaca, also much rental property, and is a stockholder in the Port Lavaca National Bank and the Port Lavaca Fish & Oyster Company, in both of which he is a director.
In 1875 Mr. Roemer was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Willmers, who was born in Indianola, Texas, in 1855, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Hockenberry) Willmers, both natives of Germany, but their marriage was celebrated in Texas, they having been among the pioneers of the Lone Star state. The father, who was a general mechanic and carpenter, greatly assisted in the building up of Indianola and there resided until the great storm of 1875, when he removed to Longmott and there spent the remainder of his life. He served through the Civil war in the Confederate army, and was ever a loyal son of his adopted country. After his death his widow resided with her daughter, Mrs. Roemer, in Port Lavaca, until her death in 1898. In their family were six children : Lena, the wife of F. J. Deck; Josephine, who became the wife of Mr. Roemer ; Katie, wife of J. D. Crane, a prominent merchant of Port La- vaca: John, a carpenter: Theodore, who is well known as a trader; and Betty, now Mrs. Dierlam. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Roemer has been blessed with six children, namely: Fred, a popular physician and druggist of Port Lavaca; Oscar, who is engaged in the grain and feed business; Lorena, Mrs. Thomas Best; Dolph, who is engaged in business with his brother Oscar; Charles, a drug clerk; and Preston, in school. Mr. and Mrs. Roemer are members of the Methodist church, and he is also a worthy member of the Masonic order, the Woodmen of the World and the Knights of Pythias. His record is that of a man who has ever been true to himself, his neighbors and his country. He enjoys the high regard of his fellow men, and is very widely and favor- ably known throughout Calhoun county, and many counties in Texas.
WILLIAM C. BEST, the district and county clerk and recorder of deeds of Calhoun county, is one of the most popular and efficient finan- ciers and officials in this section of the state. For a number of years he has been an honored citizen of Port Lavaca, actively interested in all measures for the good of the people. He was born in Maury county. Tennessee, July 20, 1864, a son of James O. and Anna (Hunt) Best. both natives of Tennessee, where they were also married. The paternal
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grandfather came with two brothers from Ireland to America in an early day, and after their arrival in this country they separated, one going to Kentucky, one to Ohio, and the third, the grandfather of William, to Tennessee, where he established his home, became a prominent agricul- turist, reared his children, and died. He never aspired to office or public notoriety, but was a plain, honest farmer. He became the father of two sons, James O. and Carroll, the latter having been killed in the Civil war, and the names of the daughters of the family are forgotten.
In his native commonwealth of Tennessee James O. Best grew to manhood's estate and continued as a tiller of the soil until the opening of the Civil war, when he enlisted in the Confederate service and continued as a brave and valiant soldier until the close of the conflict, undergoing the deprivations, hardships and exposures which are the lot of the soldier. With an honorable military record he returned to his home and to the work of the farm, which he there continued until the death of his wife in 1872, when his children were placed in their grandparents' home, and in 1879 he came to Texas. For a time he was engaged in agricultural pur- suits in Collin county, and was there married to a Miss Steward, by whom he had three children. Later Mr. Best removed to northern Arkansas, where he continued to live and labor until his life was ended in death in 1897, when he had reached the age of seventy-three years. Although a stanch Democrat in his political affiliations, he never desired the honors or emoluments of public office, but like his father was content to live the life of a quiet, honest farmer, highly respected in the communities in which he made his home. The children of his first marriage were John H., a merchant of Bell county, Texas; William C., whose name intro- duces this review ; Fannie, of Beeville, Texas; Samuel M., a farmer near Corpus Christi ; and Thomas F., of Port Lavaca. Mrs. Best, the mother, was a daughter of Isaac Hunt, a prominent and highly respected farmer and stock raiser of Tennessee. It was in his home that the children were reared after the death of their mother, he continuing to kindly care for them, until they were old enough to care for themselves. He lived and died in Tennessee. .
William C. Best when fifteen years of age left his grandfather's home and came to Texas, arriving in Collin county in 1880, and after three years spent as a farm hand he turned his attention to the securing of a better education, thus alternately attending school and farming during the following four years. Becoming an artist with the pen, he taught penmanship for a time, at the same time diligently pursuing his education. To such as he belongs the proud American title of a self-made man, a fitting example of the boys who have educated themselves and secured their own start in life. As a man his business ability has been constantly manifested in one phase or another, showing unlimited possibilities, and the extensive concerns of which he is now the head are monuments to his wonderful power. From Collin county Mr. Best removed to Bee county, where he was engaged in farming until 1892, the year of his arrival in Port Lavaca. During the first four years after his arrival in this state he was employed as a barber, and in 1896 was elected the county and district clerk, also the recorder of deeds. Accurate and pains- taking in his work, he won the commendation of all concerned, and when
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he was again placed in nomination he was elected with a large majority, thus continuing to the present time with the exception of two years when he was employed as a commercial traveler in old Mexico, one year for the El Paso Saddlery Company of El Paso, Tex., and for A. Shillings & Company, grocers, of San Francisco, California for about one year. Dur- ing his incumbency in the clerk's office there has never been a legal hanging in the county, while only one man has been sent to the peniten- tiary, and Calhoun has had less litigation than any county in Texas, the district court never occupying more than one week for the transaction of its civil and criminal business-truly a creditable record. Throughout the period of his residence in Port Lavaca Mr. Best has been actively interested in all measures for the advancement of his city and county, and among the many enterprises with which he is connected may be men- tioned the Port Lavaca Telephone line, connecting Victoria and all inter- mediate points with a large list of telephones in the circuit, and of which he is the owner and manager; a stockholder and director of the Port Lavaca Fish & Oyster Company, organized in 1905 and which furnishes employment to over three hundred men. Its annual sales amount to one hundred thousand dollars, and they ship their commodity to all parts of the United States and old Mexico. He is also a partner in the Texas Oyster & Fish Company, of Palosias, Texas, which gives employment to seventy-five men, and they also ship to many parts of the United States. He is also a real estate and land agent, buying and selling lands and town property, is a fire insurance agent and is extensively engaged in buying and selling horses.
In 1889 Mr. Best was united in marriage to Miss Bertie Boyd, born in Collin county, Texas, July 5, 1872, a daughter of B. M. and Mildred (Steinbaugh) Boyd. The father, a native of Missouri, became an early pioneer of Texas, and it was in Collin county that the parents were mar- ried, where he was a successful merchant in Allen and Farmersville, later removing to Beeville in 1891, where his life's labors were ended in death in 1893. A stanch Democrat in his political affiliations, he used his influence for the success of his party, but never aspired to political pre- ferment, being strictly a business man. He was a deacon in the Mission- ary Baptist church, and was also a member of the Masonic order, the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Honor. His widow yet survives and resides at the old home in Farmersville, and she, too, is a worthy member of the Missionary Baptist church. In their family were the following children: Bertie, the wife of Mr. Best; Claudie, the wife of Walter Harding, of Farmersville, Texas; Alta, wife of P. C. Williams, also of that city; and Blake, a clerk in a general store in Farmersville. l'wu little daughters bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Best: Ora, born August 18, 1893, and noted for her musical ability, and Gladys, born March 6, 1899. Both Mr. and Mrs. Best are consistent and worthy members of the Missionary Baptist church, in which he is a deacon and superintendent of the Sunday school. He also has membership relations with the Ma- sonic order, being a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of the World, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Fratonians. Since casting in his lot with the citizens of Calhoun county he has been accorded a leading position among its
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business men, and his official career has been an honor to the district which has honored him.
San Antonio.
M. CHARLES SHINER, a capitalist of San Antonio, who at one time was well known in connection with the live stock interests of Texas, was born in Victoria county, this state, in 1852, his parents being Peter and Amie (Hemis) Shiner. This is one of the prominent families in the busi- ness and cattle history of southwestern Texas. The father was born in Belgium of French and German parentage, and came to this state in the early '40s, locating at Victoria, in Victoria county. He soon became heavily interested in the cattle business and was for many years one of the largest and most successful operators in cattle in the "lower country." He was a fine business man, of native shrewdness and ability, and with a keen insight into the splendid future of the then new and undeveloped country. His cattle interests in those days extended principally over Vic- toria and Lavaca counties. He also became a prominent merchant in Vic- toria, and was interested generally in large business affairs which proved important elements in the development and upbuilding of his section of the country. As an instance of his intrepid nerve and enterprise it is recorded that as early as the year 1858 he drove a bunch of thirteen hundred horses from Mexico to Illinois, that period being long before the establishment of the first trail from Texas to the north. The first part of the journey was made through a country infested with thieves and other notoriously bad characters, and further north the hostile Indian element was encoun- tered.
In 1860 Peter Shiner decided to remove to San Antonio, where he arrived with his family and outfit in wagons on the 16th of July of that year. He went into the mercantile business in this city, having a store on the south side of the Military Plaza, and he also extended his cattle inter- ests in this section of the state. Watchful of business opportunities and possessing resourceful ability, he enlarged the scope of his activities in 1869 through the establishment of the first candle and soap factory in the southwest at San Antonio, under the firm style of P. Shiner & Sons, this becoming, like all his other ventures, a success, and, moreover, it was the first important manufacturing industry of the city. Prior to this Mr. Shiner had established here a rendering works, buying cattle in large num- bers and killing them for the hides and tallow, and it was this that led him to establish the soap and candle business. He was also a stockholder in the original company that was organized for the manufacture of extract of beef. In 1865 and 1866 he was a member of the city council of San Antonio under the provisional government then in force under Governor Hamilton. He was likewise county commissioner of Bexar county, by re- election holding the office for two terms, and in other ways he was one of the prominent, substantial citizens of the county and state. He was also uninterruptedly successful in business and at his death, which occurred in 1881, he left valuable real and personal property, much of which is still in possession of the family. One of the largest of these interests is the well- known Shiner ranch, scarcely surpassed in the southwest. It is in Frio county and is very valuable. The town of Shiner in Lavaca county, where
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he held large interests for many years, was named for him. His wife, who is also deceased, was born in New Orleans and belonged to one of the orig- inal French families of that city.
M. Charles Shiner was reared and educated in San Antonio, complet- ing his education, however, at Soule's University in New Orleans. For some years, as a boy and youth, he obtained valuable business experience as a clerk in his father's store in San Antonio, but the most interesting part of Mr. Shiner's life and for which he is best known in Texas was in con- nection with his career as a cowman, "hitting the trail" soon after he left school. He was one of the first to go over the Chisum trail with cattle to the north, and his numerous adventures from the Mexico border to Kansas with the notoriously bad elements of the lower country and the border, and the hostile Indians here, in themselves would fill a book, and the tale would be more thrilling than any invention of fiction. He has seen people scalped by the Indians and knows all of the difficulties, hardships and dangers of life on the frontier. The whole of Texas was his camp ground in those days. With headquarters principally in Lavaca county he operated all over southwestern Texas and was in the cattle business exclusively for thirteen years. His home has always been in San Antonio, however, and for the past few years he has been devoting his time to his real-estate and other property interests, having disposed of his cattle interests. He represented his ward-the first-for two terms in the city council.
Mr. Shiner was married to Miss Addie Jones, a daughter of the late Captain A. H. Jones, of Gonzales county, a noted pioneer soldier and In- dian fighter, who was a veteran of the Mexican war and the owner of an extensive plantation in that county. In the more remote period his his- tory is connected with that of military movements resulting in Texan independence. Mr. and Mrs. Shiner's children are Dr. Milton Shiner, Gordon, Jack and Adeline Shiner. Two of Mr. Shiner's brothers, Henry B. and Bee Shiner, also live in San Antonio. The life history of Mr. Shiner, if written in detail, would present an accurate picture of condi- tions in the southwest during the days of the free range and the open trail. He has watched with interest the onward march of civilization and prog- ress and has kept pace with the work of uniform improvement until now, well known as a capitalist of San Antonio, he is regarded as one of its rep- resentative citizens.
JAMES L. TRUEHEART of San Antonio, who is engaged in mining operations in Mexico, was born in the city where he still maintains his resi- dence, his parents being James L. and Margaretta (Garza) Trueheart. The father was a native of Virginia. His mother was a member of the well-known Overton family of Virginia and her brother, William Over- ton, was one of the old-time large landed proprietors of that state and a man of wealth and distinction.
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