A history of Texas and Texans, Part 118

Author: Johnson, Francis White, 1799-1884; Barker, Eugene Campbell, 1874-1956, ed; Winkler, Ernest William, 1875-1960
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Chicago, American Historical Society
Number of Pages: 906

USA > Texas > A history of Texas and Texans > Part 118

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WALTER SHEPHERD TRIGG. On August 3, 1905, at his home in Dallas, closed the life record of Walter Shep- herd Trigg, who had made an almost extraordinary sue- cess as a business man, and whose charity and public spirit equaled his material success. For some years dur- ing his early career he lived at Dallas, but his achieve- ments in business were centered at Paris, which was his bome until shortly before his death.

Walter Shepherd Trigg was born in Gallatin, Ten- nessee, July 22, 1854, and was fifty-one years of age at his death. His parents were John H. and Catherine (Shepherd) Trigg, both natives of Tennessee, where the father was a merchant. There were eleven children in the family, only the first of whom is still living, their names being as follows: Martha, widow of Will Lucas, of Gallatin, Tennessee, and the mother of eight chil- dren ; James, Charles, John, Nannie, Lillie, Nancy, Mary, Walter, William, and Walter S.

Owing to the death of his mother when he was nine years of age, Walter Shepherd Trigg had a very early start in life's responsibilities. His education after that was exceedingly limited and he practically carved his own fortune from the beginning to end. For several years he earned his way by clerking in a store, and then took a course in dentistry. He followed that profes- sion for a few years until he perceived that the possi- bilities were restricted and that he could never expand beyond certain limits. In 1876 Mr. Trigg settled in Dallas, where he began work for a large leather and saddle manufacturing concern. During the ten years spent with that house he laid the foundation for his independent business career. Moving to Paris, Texas, he engaged in the saddle business for himself and wås for nineteen years proprietor of a constantly growing concern in that city. He was engaged in both the wholesale and retail harness and saddlery trade, and built up his enterprise to large proportions. In March, 1905, having sold out his business, he retired to Dallas, where he had his home during the remaining few months of bis life. When he first went to Paris, Mr. Trigg started with a very small capital and only a limited stock. By hard work, close attention to detail and fair and honorable dealings, he was soon on the road to success, and his trade grew so rapidly that after a few years the business was incorporated, and he continued as its presi dent until he finally sold out. While at Paris he also organized and conducted a horse collar factory and his products were sold throughout the southern states.

The late Mr. Trigg was extremely charitable. and dur- ing his residence at Paris there was never an undertaking in building or in institutional work with whieb his name was not connected as a financial contributor or in some other way. He was long an active member of the Presby- terian church at Paris, in politics was a Democrat, though never a politician, and bore a helpful part in all relations with his community. Fraternally he was affil- jated with the Knights of Pythias.

In 1880 Mr. Trigg married Miss Mary Catherine Hat- zenbuehler, a native of Illinois and a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Lutz) Hatzenbuehler. Her parents were natives of Germany and her father was a farmer. Mrs. Trigg was the oldest in a family of nine children, the others being mentioned as follows: Peter, deceased; Catherine, deceased; Elizabeth, deceased; Denie, of Dal-

las; Katie, wife of Jack Gorman, of Dallas; John, of Dallas; Phillip, of Dallas, and George, also a resident at Dallas. The one child born to Mr. and Mrs. Trigg is Ruby Shepherd Trigg, a successful business man at Dallas, and living with his mother at their residence at 4503 Junius street. Ruby S. Trigg married Miss Mary Felix Coonce, a native of St. Louis. They have no children.

HUBERT FELIX LEACH, M. D. In matters of progres- sive citizenship, as also in the ability and skill of his profession, the city of Weatherford acknowledges one of its leading men of affairs in the person of Dr. Leach, whose work as a physician and surgeon and proprietor of the only sanitarium in Parker county are well known.

Hubert Felix Leach was born July 20, 1875, in eastern Tennessee, a son of W. J. and M. E. Leach, who came to Texas in 1878 and located in Wise county. There are large families of the Leach name in eastern Tea- nessee, and before the war most of them were slave holders and planters. The descent is from Scotch-Irish ancestors. W. J. Leach went through the war as a Con- federate soldier, and afterwards followed farming on a substantial basis throughout his active life. Dr. Leach was the third in a family of five sons.

His early education was in the public schools of Wise county, and from 1892 to 1895 he was a student in the Polytechnic College of Fort Worth. His medical studies were pursued in the medical department of Fort Worth University, where he was graduated in 1899, with the degree of M. D. Soon after his graduation he began active practice at Aledo in Parker county. Since 1910 Dr. Leach has had his home and practice in Weather- ford. In that city under his direct supervision has been erected a modern private sanitarium, on a high and healthful location, and the sanitarium receives and treats medical and surgical cases from all the adjoin- ing country. It is the only institution of the kind in Parker county, and has been of great service to the com- munity in affording facilities which previously could not be obtained short of Fort Worth. In addition to his large private practice is now serving as health officer of Weatherford. Since graduating from medical col- lege, his studies and experience have combined to keep bim fully abreast of the times, and he has taken three post-graduate courses in the Chicago Poly-Clinic, and in 1913 was a student in the medical department of Tulane University at New Orleans.

In polities Dr. Leach is a Democrat. His fraternal connections are with the Masonic Order, in which he has taken both the York and Scottish Rite, including fourteen degrees of the latter, and is a member of the Mystic Shrine. His only other fraternity is the Wood- men of the World. As a member of the Weatherford Commercial Club, he contributes his share to the ad- vancement of commercial interests as promoted by that body. For a number of years he has been a steward in the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

At Fort Worth on August 12, 1896, Dr. Leach and Miss Eva C. Hall were married. Mrs. Leach is a daughter of A. S. and M. E. Hall, her father a promi- nent ranchman and stockman, who donated the site to the Methodist Episcopal Church for the Polytechnie Col- lege at Fort Worth. Mr. and Mrs. Hall now have their home with the doctor and wife, and are living retired. Mr. Hall came to Texas from Kentucky, and located in this state before the war, later serving as a Con- federate soldier throughout the period of hostilities. Four children have been born to the doctor and wife, and the only son is now deceased. The daughters are: Eva Sue, aged fourteen; Mamie, aged twelve, and Elizabeth, aged four. The two older are now in school.

Dr. Leach is an enthusiastic advocate of the resources and advantages of Parker county and vicinity. By his own example he has done a good deal to keep the com- munity abreast of modern progress. He is the owner

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of a farm, and was the first man in Parker county to build a silo, an improvement which has subsequently been copied by many of the most progressive farmers in this vicinity. He also shipped the first cream from Aledo, Parker county, and did much to promote the establishment and extension of telephone lines in the county. He was the first member of his profession in Parker county to buy an automobile and use it in his practice.

ELIHU M. WEBB, M. D. One of the pioneer physi- cians of northwest Texas is Dr. Elihu M. Webb, who has been identified with Hardiman county and adjacent territory for upwards of twenty-five years. He is a resident and man of affairs of Chillicothe and is the oldest physician in point of continuous practice in that locality. Dr. Webb has had a very prominent place in activities outside of his profession, and has done much to promote and develop business enterprise in his section of the state.

Elihn M. Webb was born in Perry county, Tennessee, December 23, 1855. He was left an orphan at an early age and earned his way and means necessary to equip himself for his learned profession. His great-grand- father Webb came from Buncomb county, North Caro- lina, to Perry county, Tennessee, in 1816, one of the pioneers of that section. The Webbs are of English ancestry and there is also an admixture of German stock in the family. Dr. Wehb's father was Joseph Webb, a native of Tennessee, who died when his son was a child. He was a farmer by occupation and a Democrat in polities. The Doctor's mother was Eliza- beth Webb, also a native of Tennessee, who died in 1864, the mother of four children, of whom Dr. Webb was the first born.

After the death of his mother Dr. Webb was reared by an unele, Major John L. Webb, of Linden, Tennessee, and he attended school at Linden to the age of twenty. By hard work he qualified himself for the duties of a teacher, and he followed that occupation for five years. It was with the earnings from this work that he entered upon his college training and was graduated from the medical department of Vanderbilt University at Nash- ville in 1881. His first practice was in Perry county, where he remained for two years, and on May 12, 1883, arrived at Rockdale, Texas.

Until 1889 Dr. Webb practiced at Valley View, in Cooke county, and then moved to Chillicothe, where he was one of the few physicians who practiced over the broad extent of northwest Texas, and in the early days he had his full share of pioneer practice, with all its hardships and difficulties which the physician had to encounter before the era of telephone and of modern highways.

Dr. Webb is sole proprietor of what was once the Chillicothe Telephone Company, and he owns the entire plant. He owns the Webb building, a two-story brick block, and the Webb opera house and has given his support to a number of local undertakings for the bene- fit of the community. He is a member of the Hardi- man County and the Panhandle District Medical Asso- ciations, also the Texas State Medical Association. He is a local surgeon for the Fort Worth & Denver Railway and for the Kansas City. Mexico & Orient Railway, be- sides being local examiner for a number of old-line in- surance companies and a number of fraternal orders. Fraternallv, Dr. Webb affiliates with the Masonic order through the Royal Arch, the Chapter and Eastern Star bodies, and with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. the Woodmen's Circle and the Modern Order of Pre- torians. He is a Methodist in his religious faith though he retains membership in no denomination.

At Eldorado, Texas, as it was then called, but now a portion of Greer county, Oklahoma, Dr. Webb was married on April 13, 1892, to Miss Thursey C. Bishop. a Texas girl, born April 13, 1877, and a daughter of

Simpson B. and Margaret (Littlejohn) Bishop, now both deceased and who were old pioneer settlers of Fannin and Greer counties. To Dr. and Mrs. Webb were born two children, a daughter and a son. Jessie May was born on August 14, 1893, and was graduated with the class of 1913 from the Chillicothe high school. She is a member of the Methodist church and is now a student in Clarendon college, a Methodist institution of Claren- don. She is a fine type of Texas young womanhood and has always been an obedient danghter, very conseien- tious in all her relations with family and others, and has exercised her talents to increase the happiness and pleasure of all about her. Her father and mother take great pride in this daughter and have great hopes of her success and a worthy place in the world. The sou, William S., was born in Chillicothe, which town was also the birthplace of the daughter, on September 6, 1895, and is now a student in the local high school. He has already done much to justify the care and labors bestowed upon him by his parents, who have well grounded anticipations for his future, feeling that he will always be true to the principles which they have endeavored to inculcate in his training. Mrs. Webb, who is popular and prominent in local society, was a charter member of Prairie Gem Lodge, No. 232, Order of the Eastern Star, at Chillicothe, and has filled all the Star offices and is Past Worthy Matron of the order. Dr. Webb is justly proud of his family and of his wife and says he believes that there never was a mother who has tried harder to instill the principles of truth and veracity in her children than Mrs. Webb.

JAMES M. BLANKENSHIP. Since 1910 identified with the bar of Wichita Falls, Mr. Blankenship has reached a very creditable position in local professional and busi- ness cireles, and has been honored with the position of vice president of the Wichita County Bar Association. He is a young man, possesses the qualities of energy and talents which are the chief requisites in the law, and his friends predict for bim a brilliant future.

James M. Blankenship was born in Macon county, Tennessee, September 21, 1882, the youngest of five sons and oue daughter, born to S. S. M. and Kathrine (White) Blankenship. Both parents were natives of Tennessee, and are still living, the father at the age of seventy-two, and the mother aged seventy-three. The father by occupation has been a farmer. During the Civil war he enlisted in the Ninth Kentucky Regiment, and though wounded at the battle of Murfreesboro, continued on as a soldier until the end of the struggle.

Mr. Blankenship as a boy attended school in both Kentucky and Tennessee, and acquired a liberal educa- tion. He graduated from the Bowling Green Business College, and from the Southern Normal School of Ken- tucky with the degree of Bachelor of Science in 1904, and with the A. B. degree in 1906. From Cumberland . University he graduated in law in 1907. In the latter year he came to Texas to take up the active work of his profession, first locating at Dallas, where he re- mained six months, and for fifteen months was at Pilot Point. In March, 1910, he established himself in Wichita Falls, and since that time has become known as one of the most skillful younger members of the local bar. He has a general practice, and his business is increasing with every year.

Fraternally Mr. Blankenship is affiliated with the Woodmen of the World, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In polities he is a Democrat. At Wichita Falls on June 19, 1912, he married Miss Nellie Ward, a daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Ward of Wichita Falls, and has been identified with Wichita Falls for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Blankenship have one girl, Amie Ruth, horn July 20, 1913. He is very fond of outdoor life and sports, and he and his wife move in the best social circles of Wichita Falls.

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THOMAS BENTON PRUETT. No man bears a finer rec- ord in Pecos and Reeves county, Texas, than Thomas Benton Pruett, one of the most prominent business men in this section. He was one of the early settlers of this region, and as one of the pioneer lumbermen did much for the development of the country around Pecos. He is now the head of one of the largest lumber concerns in western Texas, and is considered one of the most influ- ential men in the business world of this section. But his success in business is not what has given him his wide popularity, it is rather the way in which he has earned this prosperity, for no more honorable career can be pointed to than Mr. Pruett's. He has the highest reputation for honor and integrity and possesses the con- fidence of the entire business world, for he has never been known to conduct a business deal in anything but the most honorable way. His geniality and ability to make friends has won for him a large circle of warm friends both in Pecos and in the other sections where he has lived.

Thomas Benton Pruett was born on the 7th of Janu- ary, 1855, in White county, Arkansas. His father, Ben- jamin H. Pruett, was born in Kentucky. He lived there until after his marriage to Nancy MeBride, who was also a native of Kentucky and in 1849 they removed to White county, Arkansas. Here Mr. Pruett became fairly successful as a farmer, dying in 1892. He was born in 1808 and was eighty-four years of age at the time of his death. Mrs. Pruett, who was born in 1817 lived until 1898, when she died at the age of eighty-one.

Nine children were born to Benjamin Pruett and his wife, and five of this number are deceased. In addition to Thomas B. Pruett, those living are Phillip H. Pruett, who is a prominent stock man of Alpine, Texas; James B. Pruett, who is engaged in farming in Hopkins county, Texas, and Diana, who is the wife of W. W. Hinson, of Alpine, Texas.

Thomas B. Pruett was the next to the youngest child and the education which he received was very meager, amounting to twelve months in all. Even this little schooling, which was had in the private school of White county, Arkansas, was received at the rate of two months a year. Not only were the country schools of the poorest but it was a hard struggle for existence in those days and children had to get what education they could and be thankful for it, no matter how little it was. At the age of eighteen he began farming in White county, and for fourteen years followed this occu- pation. During this period, in September, 1874, he was married to Miss Minerva Hammons, who was born in White county, Arkansas. In 1887 he sold his farm and moved to Texas where he located at Fort Davis. Here he went into the mercantile business and became very successful. He preferred the farm, however, and so after a time sold his business to good advantage and moved to Fannin county, Texas, where he bought a farm and settled down to the old life again. He lived here for three years when his wife died, leaving him with the care of a family of seven' small children, the young- est of whom died eight months after the death of the mother. With six children to rear and educate and no wife to help him, life looked pretty gray to Mr. Pruett about this time, but he was not to be discouraged, and so selling his farm in Fannin county be removed to Mitchell county, Texas, where he farmed for a year.

It was in 1892 that he moved to Pecos and here his real prosperity began. His first essay at business was as the owner of a transfer and drayage business and for four years he followed this line successfully. . He then engaged in the lumber business, being one of the very first men to enter this field in this section. He has been very successful' and between 1896 and 1905 established five lumber yards. These are located at Pecos, Toyah, Barstow. Monahan and Grand Falls. In 1905 he organized the Pruett Lumber Company, having previously been in business by himself. The capital was

twenty-five thousand dollars and in 1907 this capital was increased to one hundred thousand dollars. He served as president of the company for two years and during this time has added three more yards to those already in operation. The new yards are located at Pyote, Saragossa and Balmorhea, Texas. He has con- siderable capital invested in real estate in this section of Texas, owning in addition to his fine home in Pecos, four sections of land in Reeves county.

Mr. Pruett should be credited with the success of his children as well as his own success for it is largely due to his careful training and the good education which he has given them that they are the successful and use- ful men and women which they have become. The eldest, Vida Pruett, is now the wife of the Reverend Joel F. Hedgpeth, the minister of the Methodist church in Pecos. Tina is the widow of William Adams, who died in 1909 at Barstow, Texas, as the county clerk of Ward county, and she now makes her home in Pecos. Verde Elmer Pruett is the manager of one of the Pruett Lumber Company's yards, located at Balmorhea, Texas. Mamie married A. Graves Taggert, who is the bookkeeper of the Pecos Mercantile Company at Pecos. Lilian Pruett is a successful teacher of music at Pecos. Pear, the youngest, married Charles Jorden, who is connected with the Pecos Valley State Bank of Pecos.

In 1899 Mr. Pruett was married again, his wife being Miss Mamie Taylor, the daughter of 1ra and Mrs. A. O. Taylor. Two children have been born to this union, as follows, Ora, who is now twelve years old, and Thomas Benton Pruett, Jr.

Mr. Pruett is a member of the Methodist church, and for twenty-one years has served as a steward in this church. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons, being a Royal Arch Mason. He also belongs to the Woodmen of the World.

F. S. EBERHART. A prominent attorney at Mineral Wells, where he located in 1908, Mr. Eberhart began practice in Texas in 1886, and has long had a high standing as a lawyer and a public spirited citizen. His position has been gained through his individual efforts, and early in life he manifested talents fitting him for a career of service both to himself and to his com- munity.

F. S. Eberhart is a native of Georgia, where Mr. Eberhart 's family has been a numerous and thrifty stock since the early days. On his father's side, Mr. Eberhart is of German and Welsh descent, and his mother is of English lineage. Nearly all the members of the family were planters and slave holders before the war, and were of that substantial stock upon whom the results of the struggle bore most heavily. Mr. Eberhart was born in Elberta county, January 9, 1862, a son of George and Sarah Helen Eberhart. His father was a physician and saw service in the Confederate army, first as a surgeon, and later organized and became captain of a company of his own. He and his company participated in many of the battles in General Lee's army in Vir- ginia, and he was in the struggle from the beginning to the end. After the war his practice was resumed, and was continued until his death at Hartwell in Hart county, Georgia, in 1893. The mother died there about 1901. Three of the nine children are still living and the Mineral Wells attorney was fourth in order of birth. 'Two brothers, E. J. and H. H. Eberhart are farmers in South Carolina. The grandfather of Mr. Eberhart was a large planter and slave holder in Georgia before the war.

F. S. Eberhart finished his early schooling in the Hartwell high school in Georgia. Several years before reaching his majority he came to Texas with Professor M. V. Looney, who had been his former tutor, and after reaching this state qualified as a teacher and assisted Professor Looney in a school at Overton in Rusk county, and later at Atlanta. His work as a

Jons truly, Dobre Schmidt

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teacher was also continued at Madisonville, and in the meantime having taken up the study of law, he pursued it vigorously until admitted to the bar at Madisonville on May 14, 1886. His first cases as a lawyer were ob- tained in Cass county, and from there he moved to Gilmer in 1892. Since 1908 Mr. Eberhart has been one of the leading lawyers of Mineral Wells. Though a stanch Democrat and often working privately in the in- terests of his party, Mr. Eberhart has firmly declined all proffers to enter politics for office or other honors, and has given his best service in the capacity of a lawyer and a public spirited citizen. Mr. Eberhart is chairman of the board of directors of the Bank of Min- eral Wells, is a Chapter Mason and a member of the Knights of Pythias, belongs to the Mineral Wells Com- mercial Club, and is active in the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and superintendent of its Sunday school.

On December 24, 1889, at Madisonville, Texas, Mr. Eberhart married Miss Lila Byers, a daughter of J. A. and Zue A. Byers. Her father was born in Texas, was a farmer throughout his active career, and during the war served in the Confederate army along the coast. Her mother came from Georgia, a daughter of Robert Westmoreland, who owned a large plantation and many slaves in that state, and who came to Texas while the war was still in progress. Mr. and Mrs. Eberhart have one child, a daughter of Lila Maud, born September IS, 1900, and now attending school.

WILLIAM H. MERCER. The business position of Mr. Mercer at Mineral Wells is that of superintendent of the City Water Works. That indicates only one phase of his varied activities and his value as a social factor in the community. Mr. Mercer is one of the prominent Masons of North Texas, has long been active in com- munity affairs, is a zealous worker for church and char- ity, and is a man whose upright life has not only brought him personally high esteem, but has resulted in numberless acts of kindness and love to his fellow men.

William H. Mercer was born July 21, 1872, at Tehua- cana, in Limestone county, Texas. It has always been a matter of satisfaction to himself that he is a native of Texas. His parents were Adiel S. and Julia (Hamil- ton) Mercer, who came from Georgia to Texas in 1861, locating at Towash in Hill county. His father, who was a nephew of Professor Jesse Mercer, founder of Mer- cer's University at Cartersville, Georgia, was a farmer and stockman for many years, sold out his interests about 1900, and was engaged in the hotel business at Mineral Wells until his death in February, 1910. The mother is still living at Mineral Wells. There were ten chil- dren in the family, six daughters and four sons, and the oldest of these is William H.

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A history of Texas and Texans, Part 118

Author: Johnson, Francis White, 1799-1884; Barker, Eugene Campbell, 1874-1956, ed; Winkler, Ernest William, 1875-1960 Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Chicago, American Historical Society Number of Pages: 906

Author: Johnson, Francis White, 1799-1884; Barker, Eugene Campbell, 1874-1956, ed; Winkler, Ernest William, 1875-1960
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Chicago, American Historical Society
Number of Pages: 906