USA > Texas > A Twentieth century history of southwest Texas, Volume II > Part 67
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HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
Mary A. (the mother of W. T. Moore). Mr. and Mrs: Moore have be- come the parents of twelve children : Cynthia, Mrs. A. Cox ; Sarah A., who died when young ; Mary E., Mrs. Hayms ; W. T., whose name introduces this review ; Salina C., Mrs. Staton; Sadie A., Mrs. Wofford; Milton B., on the old homestead ; John S., a merchant in Florida; Ulysses G., a Georgia merchant; Alice J., Mrs. Staton ; Marly, unmarried ; and Milla, who is married.
IV. T. Moore was reared in his native commonwealth of Georgia, and after his marriage he continued to reside on the old homestead until he purchased and removed to a farm of his own, but in 1881 he sold his place and moved to Banks county, Georgia, where for four years he was engaged in mercantile pursuits. At the close of that period he sold his stock and purchased a farm and mill property in Murray county, but in 1892 he closed his operations there and came to Texas, fixing his abode in Bell county, where he was successfully engaged in agricultural pur- suits until 1898. In that year he removed to the land he had previously purchased in Calhoun county, where he improved two excellent farms, but he yet retains his old homestead of eighty-nine acres. The year of his arrival in Calhoun county (1898) also witnessed the advent of the boll weavil, and his first efforts at farming were rather discouraging, but he persevered in the face of all obstacles, gradually forging his way to the front, and his name is now conspicuous among the leading busi- ness men of Calhoun county. During the past few years Mr. Moore has rented his farm, and in 1902 he assisted in organizing the Farmers Gin Company of Port Lavaca, purchasing stock therein, and was made the vice-president and manager. The gin had been brought from Long- mott in 1896 by Mr. Michot, who conducted it in connection with a small acreage of cotton planted in this vicinity, his run being good for the amount planted until in 1898 the boll weavil appeared and considerably lowered the output. In 1902 the Farmers Gin Company was organized, who purchased the gin and at once began improving the plant, changing the fuel from wood to oil, adding new machinery. During the first year they turned out over nine hundred bales, the output steadily increasing until in the present season, 1906, it reached eighteen hundred and twenty- one bales. The acreage is also being increased from year to year, and in good seasons the land will produce from three-fourths to over a bale to the acre, while the capacity of the gin is thirty bales daily of ten hours. In the near future the management intends to add to its capacity, make it modern in every way and place it among the foremost institutions of its kind in this section of the state. In 1904 Mr. Moore also assisted in the organization of the Bay Trading Company of Port Lavaca, Incorporated, which has a paid up capital of twelve thousand dollars, and he has since served as its vice-president and assistant manager. He is associated in this enterprise with T. A. McKaney, the president, and Roy Miller, the secretary. The company carries a stock of general merchandise amount- ing to twenty thousand dollars, their annual sales reaching as high as forty thousand, and the firm discounts all bills, buys all the produce of- fered, including nearly all the cotton sold, and their trade is constantly increasing. As will be seen Mr. Moore is public spirited and enterpris- ing, always ready to further the conditions of the farmers and others, and
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is well known throughout the county and highly respected by all with whom he has had dealings. He has inherited many of the sterling char- acteristics of his father, never having used tobacco or intoxicating liquors in any form, has had no court litigations of any kind, and these same commendable traits of character have been inherited by his sons.
In his native state of Georgia, in 1875, Mr. Moore was united in marriage to Miss Martha I. Miller, a native of that commonwealth, born in 1856, and a daughter of William A. and Serepta (Smith) Miller, both also natives of Georgia and descendants of honored old southern fami- lies. The father was a prominent and successful agriculturist, and dur- ing the Civil war served as a member of the Home Guards, but took but little interest in the conflict. He was one of the pillars and a deacon in the Baptist church, was an active worker in the cause of Christianity, commanding the highest respect of those who had the pleasure of his ac- quaintance, and was also a worthy member of the Masonic fraternity. He was called from life's labors to the home beyond in 1903. In his family were the following children: James N., who resides on the old Miller homestead; Georgiana A., at home; John H., who died leaving three children; Alford, a Georgia farmer; Martha J., who became the wife of Mr. Moore; and Julia, who became Mrs. Pierce and is a resi- dent of Indian Territory. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Moore has been blessed with nine children: Lester, who is married and is a resident of Port Lavaca; John S., married and a resident of Temple, Texas ; Frank, who is serving as bookkeeper for the Bay Trading Company; Joe B., a stenographer ; and Georgia, Willie, Myrtle, Clyde and Hershell, all at home. Both Mr. and Mrs. Moore are consistent and worthy members of the Baptist church, and he also has membership relations with the Masonic fraternity.
CHARLES G. JOHNSON. The energetic, able and popular gentleman whose name heads this article, is president of the first National Bank of Rockport, and an extensive dealer in lumber, building supplies, ship chandlery and farm implements. Born in Aransas county, Texas, March 23, 1866, he was reared to ranch and stock pursuits and educated in the common schools and the parochial institution connected with St. Mary's Catholic Church, at San Antonio. His parents were Theodore and Bertha (Herra) Johnson, the father being a native of Denmark and the mother, of Germany. When quite young the father was left an orphan, found a home among relatives and friends, and while yet in his 'teens shipped as sailor on the high seas. His occupations brought him to all the im- portant ports of the world, and his last voyage, when he had reached manhood, took him to America.
It was Mr. Johnson's fortune to be wrecked upon the Gulf coast, but all the crew were saved and landed at Galveston. Later the young man went to Indianola and found employment in the bay and coast trade, and never returned to the high seas. He married at Indianola, settled his family in Aransas county, and engaged in the stock business. By also conducting a small farm he managed even during the first few years of his settlement to comfortably support his family. His love of the water was so strong, however, that he afterward bought a boat and en- gaged in the bay trade until 1895, when he abandoned that occupation
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altogether and settled with his family permanently on his ranch-the property which is still his homestead at the ripe and hearty old age of sixty-eight. Shrewdness and industry have brought success to all the undertakings of the elder Mr. Johnson, and he has accumulated a com- fortable estate. Besides his stock operations, he was a prominent bee fancier, established large colonies of bees, and for several years profita- bly conducted a well-arranged apiary.
During the Civil war Theodore Johnson served in the Home Guard of the Confederacy, his special duties being in connection with the patrol- ling of the coast country. Having achieved his present honorable and comfortable standing through the wise use of the larger opportunities which he found in the United States, he has never failed to be grateful to the land of his adoption. He is not only grateful for the benefits which he has received, but for the freedom which he has enjoyed and which is now the heritage of his descendants. He is a strong Republican, but has never coveted public notoriety or honors, being simply a plain and honest American citizen and stock farmer. He is a worthy member of the Masonic fraternity and although a man of the strictest morality, has never been connected with any church.
The wife of Theodore Johnson was formerly Bertha Herra, a most intelligent lady and worthy woman. She was born in Germany and about 1842 came with her parents to America, the family making their home at Indianola. Bertha was the only child, and about a year after coming to Texas her father died, the widow subsequently removing to Aransas county, where she again married and reared a second family. Both parents were faithful members of the Catholic church. Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Johnson were the parents of eleven children, as follows : August, who died leaving four children ; Charles G .; Edward, acciden- tally drowned at the age of fifteen years ; Hubert, who is assisting Charles G. in the lumber yard; Amos, a well known mechanic, now serving as county commissioner ; Robert, employed on the home ranch ; Minnie, Mrs. Sutherland; Bertha, Mrs. Walker; May, Gussie and Phene, all unmar- ried and living at home.
Charles G. Johnson, who is now (1907) in his forty-second year, is a native of Aransas county, and, until he was eighteen years of age, remained on the homestead assisting his father on the ranch and in his boating business. He then went further west and for two years was employed on a stock ranch, after which he returned to Rockport and clerked in the lumber yard of Kahler & Hildenfels. After continuing with that firm for eleven years Mr. Johnson purchased their plant, and by strict attention to business and honest dealing has since established an extensive and increasing business. He carries a large stock of lumber and building material, including hardware, paints, oils, etc., and also operates a complete ship chandlery and farm implement depot.
The First National Bank of Rockport was organized in 1892, with a capital of $60,000, which was later reduced to $52,000. In 1902 T. E. Mathis and Charles G. Johnson bought a controlling interest in the insti- tution, at which time it was reorganized with the reduction of capital noted. The books of the bank now indicate a surplus and undivided profits of $15,000, deposits of $73,000 and $110,000 loans and discounts.
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The business embraces the buying and selling of exchange and general transactions, and is now classed among the most substantial financial in- stitutions of the southwest. At the reorganization in 1902 Charles G. Johnson was made vice-president, with T. E. Mathis cashier. In 1903 Mr. Johnson became president. The headquarters of the bank are in a handsome three story brick building, while its accommodations include commodious safety vaults and other modern accommodations.
In the winter of 1907, with two others, Mr. Johnson organized and incorporated the Light, Ice and Power Plant of Rockport, which was capitalized at $25,000. Of this promising enterprise he is president, and is one of the three stockholders. The month of March, 1907, found the plant in successful operation, as to the manufacture of ice, and the elec- tric light feature will be later developed. The industry is considered a good paying investment, as well as a valuable public improvement, and is an additional evidence of the enterprise, energy and business and finan- cial ability of Charles G. Johnson, who is esteemed as among the strong- est and most progressive business men of Rockport.
Charles G. Johnson is also one of the most influential Democrats in Southwest Texas, having strictly adhered to the principles of that party for many years. He has filled many city offices, and for a long time has been chairman of the Democratic county committee. He has often served on the county finance committee, and has most acceptably filled the positions of county commissioner, county assessor, chairman of the school board and school director. He has been reared in the faith of Catholi- cism, and has never departed from it, and in his fraternal relations is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of the World.
In 1889 Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Clara Peets, born in Refugio county, Texas, in 1870, and an intelligent and worthy wife and helpmate. Her parents, Edward and Libby Peets, were both natives of York state, where they were married. The family came to Texas early in the 'fifties and settled in Refugio county, where the father became a prominent stockman and still resides there, an honored citizen. Although he saw much hard service and endured many hardships in the Civil war, he passed through the conflict without being wounded or being made prisoner, and at its conclusion returned to his farming and stock raising. He is a strong Democrat, but has never had political aspira- tions, notwithstanding which his influence and character are such that the people have persisted in electing him to such offices as county commis- sioner and county financier for a period of more than twenty-five years. Mr. Peets is a member of the Masonic fraternity in good standing. In the full vigor and enjoyment of a well spent life he and his wife still reside on their old homestead, honored by a large and worthy family of children and by their neighbors and friends of many years standing. To Mr. and Mrs. Edward Peets were born the following: Charles, who died single, at the age of twenty-five; James, who also died unmarried at the same age ; Edward, a farmer ; Emma, now Mrs. Dugat; Elizabeth, Mrs. F. Sparks ; Clara, wife of Charles G. Johnson, and Hattie, now Mrs. Burdett. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Johnson, with the dates of their birth, are as follows: Carrie, January 15, 1893: Freddie, April 27, 1896; Travis, June II, 1902, and Marie, August 25, 1904.
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Runge.
A. W. TALK. There is perhaps no resident of Southwest Texas more familiar with the history of its early development than is A. W. Talk, who was born in Travis county, April 10, 1847. a son of John and Abigail J. (Jenning) Talk, the former a native of New York. while the latter was born in the Lone Star state. The father removed from his native state to Texas at a very early day and was here married. He settled in Travis county and saw the first house erected in Austin. He settled on a farm and engaged in raising stock. in which he met with success. His wife died on this farm in 1853. She was a daughter of Gordon C. Jenning, a pioneer of the republic of Mexico and later of Texas. He was numbered among the brave men who went down with Travis in defense of the Alamo. His wife survived him and died at the extreme old age of ninety-nine years. Their family numbered three chil- dren : Mrs. Catherine Lockwood : Samuel ; and Abigail J., who became Mrs. Talk. After losing his first wife Mr. Talk was married a second time, and in 1855 removed to Karnes county, bringing with him his stock and other possessions. He settled on Hondo creek and established a ranch. where he was engaged successfully for many years. Later he re- moved to the east side of San Antonio river in the same county, where he remained during the war. He was a Union man and opposed to secession but when the state seceded he was true and loval to his country. using his influence in behalf of the Confederacy, although he was too old for active service in the war. He continued his operations as stock farmer until his death, which occurred in 1875: He was a Democrat in his political views, but never aspired to public office. He was a member of the Methodist church and was identified with the Masonic order. He was familiar with all the exciting events which occurred in Texas, helped to defend the country from Mexican invasion and was with the band of brave men who were taken prisoners and by order of Santa Anna marched into Mexico, where a certain number were to be shot. To de- cide this the men drew beans, and those receiving black beans were to meet their fate, while the men drawing white beans were to be set free. Fortunately Mr. Talk drew a white bean and was afterward released and allowed to return home. He. like the other settlers, endured all the hardships and privations of life on the frontier, for the Indians were constantly making raids upon the stock and property of the white settlers, who had encroached upon their hunting grounds, and the settlers lived in constant fear and terror. Mr. Talk bore his full share in sub- duing the red men and driving them out of this district, thus making the state a peaceable place of abode. He was a highly respected citizen, a kind, neighbor and friend, and gave hearty co-operation to every movement and measure which tended to advance the public welfare. His family numbered five children: Cynthia A., the wife of William Reeves, of Austin : A. W .. of this review : Gordon C., who died at the age of twen- tv-one years ; Abby J., the wife of J. Barnett; and Lucy, the wife of N. Barnett.
A. W. Talk was a little lad of eight vears when he accompanied his parents on their removal from Travis to Karnes county. He was reared
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in much the usual manner of lads on a ranch, early becoming familiar with the duties of herding and caring for the stock. He remained under the parental roof, assisting his father in his business interests until he had reached the age of twenty-five when in 1870 he was married and re- moved to Dewitt county, here he engaged in stock business on his own account. He made a good start in business during the time of the free range but he realized that the conditions would change sooner or later, and, availing himself of the opportunity, invested his financial resources in land. From time to time he added to his possessions until he now has twelve thousand acres, paying two dollars per acre for much of it. His ranch is stocked with good grades of cattle, and he is meeting with very desirable success in his business undertakings. He was among the first to divide his fields by fences, this being about 1875. At first the stockmen lost many horses and cattle, for they had not been accustomed to wire fences and would run against the wire and often be killed. To show that the land was greatly enhanced in value in the southwest, Mr. Talk paid as high as fifty dollars per acre for some of the land which is included in his more recent purchases. He has placed about two thou- sand acres under cultivation, this being rented, and he finds that he de- rived a good income in this way. His land is situated in the cotton belt of Texas and this product as well as corn is fast becoming a profitable industry. The surrounding country is fast becoming settled with good and substantial residents and Mr. Talk has great faith in the future of this part of the state. Mr. Talk made his home on the ranch until 1892, when he purchased a commodious residence in the city of Runge, where he has since made his home and now merely gives supervision to his ranching and invested interests. He also owns some residence and busi- ness property in Runge and his financial resources are thereby greatly enhanced. All that he today enjoys has been acquired through his own labors, for when he started out on his own account he had no assistance, but through his own well directed labors, his economy, and sound busi- ness judgment he has accumulated a goodly competence that now enables him to rest from the more arduous duties of an active business life. He and all the family are worthy members of the Methodist church, and he is a Royal Arch Mason.
In 1870 occurred the marriage of Mr. Talk and Miss Margaret A. Parker, who was born in Cherokee county, Texas, on Christmas day of 1854. She is a daughter of Matthew and Elizabeth (Lowe) Parker, the former born in Alabama, in 1801, while the latter was born in Tennes- see, in 18II. Her father, Isaac Lowe, was a pioneer of the republic of Mexico and later of Texas, settling in Sabine county in 1816. He there located and improved a farm and was an owner of slaves. He likewise conducted a ferryboat across the Sabine river, and he carried many families to safety at the time Texas was invaded by Santa Anna and his Mexican forces. He served as alcalde, the Mexican term for justice of the peace, and was a prominent and influential man in the community where he resided. He died in Texas at the age of seventy-seven years. His children were Mahala, Eli, Levi, Elizabeth, who became Mrs. Par- ker; Hickman, Joseph, Rebecca, Edith, Thomas and Margaret. The father of Mrs. Talk, Matthew Parker, became a pioneer of Texas and
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helped to establish the independence of the state. He was a personal friend of Sam Houston and, although he did not take part in any of the battles during the exciting period in this state, he was detailed to per- form many important tasks which could be done only by a most trust- worthy man. He also acted as county judge, which title he bore through- out his lifetime. He later took up his abode in Cherokee county, where he remained for a time and then went to Dewitt county, where his death occurred in 1862, when he was sixty-one years of age. His wife survived for a long period and passed away in 1895. She was a worthy and con- sistent Christian woman and during the early days when the women of the neighborhood were called upon to make clothing she did her full share in accomplishing this work. Mrs. Talk now has in her possession a bed spread, which was made from cotton which her mother picked ; and she took the seed from the cotton, spun and wove it into the spread, which is now more than eighty years old and is highly prized by the daughter. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Parker were four children : Rebecca, who died at the age of nine years ; Susan, the wife of F. Middle- ton ; Isaac, who was formerly engaged in the stock business, but of late years has been engaged in business in Runge; and Margaret A., who is now the wife of A. W. Talk. The wife and mother was a consistent member of the Christian church.
To Mr. and Mrs. Talk have been born twelve children, namely: Ida, the wife of S. J. Tipton; John G., a stock farmer; Matthew, who died when a young man of twenty-four years; Alda, the wife of F. Wood; Lilla, who died when fourteen years of age; Oscar P., a stock farmer ; Nettie J., the wife of Hicks Green, a traveling salesman; Daisy, Rosa, Maggie Pearl, Beulah and Alpha, all with their parents. The family are all members of the Methodist church.
El Campo.
CHRISTIAN BRUNS, a pioneer farmer living retired at El Campo, was born at Oldenburg, Germany, August 28, 1848, but from the age of five years was reared in Texas. His parents were John and Meta (Zu- muehlen) Bruns, both of whom were descended from prominent old Protestant families of Oldenburg. John Bruns married in his native country and continued in business at his trade as a potter. He established a factory for the manufacture of pottery and operated it successfully until the death of his wife in 1853, when he determined to bring his children to America, believing that they might have still better advantages in this country. Accordingly he arrived at Galveston, Texas, in the fall of 1853, proceeded on a small steamer to Houston and thence by ox team to Colorado county, where he remained for a brief period. He had some capital and expected to engage in the manufacture of pottery ware. At length he found clay to suit his purpose in Gonzales county and at once began the erection of a plant, but he worked so hard to establish his business that he undermined his health and died in 1855. When he came to America he left his youngest child, then an infant in Germany, but in the meantime had returned to the fatherland and brought the babe to, America. The children were early orphaned, but they found homes with different families and by reason of their early training and good
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judgment and their sound principles, which they received as a precious legacy from their parents, they grew to honorable manhood and woman- hood, becoming respected citizens of the various communities in which they lived and all remained true to the teachings of the Lutheran church -the church of their ancestors. At the time of his death the father had considerable money, but the estate was wasted by the administrator so that the children received only fifty dollars each, and have been forced to depend upon their own resources. There were four sons and two daughters in the family : Frederick (a farmer) and John, who operates . a cotton gin and sawmill and is engaged in farming in Fayette county ; Gerhard, a farmer of Gonzales county ; Anna, wife of Louis Fahrenthold ; Christian, of this review, and Johanna, the wife of G. H. Meyer, a mechanic of San Antonio. All but the youngest son served in the Con- federate army.
Christian Bruns was only five years old when brought to the United States and was only seven when his father died. He has always resided in Texas and when he lost his father went to live with a German couple who had no children of their own. They treated him with great kind- ness most of the time, but both had the habit of imbibing too freely occa- sionally and at such times became irritable and unkind. On one such occasion they demanded that young Christian go for more liquor and when he refused locked him in the smoke house all night. In the morn- ing, when they were sober, they were very sorry and apologized to him and promised never to do so again, but in the meantime Christian had determined to leave and when the opportunity offered he ran away. He then found work on different farms and later at a mill and cotton gin, being thus employed until he was twenty-five years of age.
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