A history of Texas and Texans, Part 128

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 128

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ULRICH H. RISCHE. One of the most valuable officials of the city of San Antonio is Ulrich H. Rische, alderman from the Fifth ward. With fine old German stock as his ancestry, he has in abundance those qualities which have caused America to welcome with open arms set- tlers from the Fatherland. Far-sighted and industrious, careful and patieut, Mr. Rische makes an ideal city father. He is a successful business man, and, having

lived in San Antonio for many years, he has many friends here.

Ulrich H. Rische is the son of Edward and Louise (Griesenbeck) Rische, both of whom were born in Ger- many. They came to America with the Prince Solms- Braunfels colony in 1846, locating at New Braunfels, in Comal county, Texas. Later they removed to San Antonio, and Edward Rische took an active part in the city's affairs. He served four years as a Confederate soldier in the Civil war, going out from New Braun- fels, and he was also an enrolling officer from that place. He was city tax collector for four years and was a well- known Mason and a Knights Templar. He died on the 1st of August, 1898, and his wife survived him until the 15th of May, 1904.

Ulrich H. Rische was born in New Braunfels, on the Comal River, May 30, 1858. When he was eight years old his parents removed to San Antonio, obtaining his first glimpse of the city which was to be his future home, on St. Patrick's day, 1866. He grew up in this city, attending St. Mary's College and receiving his higher education from Professor C. Plagge. For forty years Mr. Rische has lived in what was known as "Irish Flat, " but which is now called the Fifth ward. He is the head and sole owner of the Rische Bottling Works, a prosperous enterprise which manufactures soda water and other soft drinks. He has three brothers and four sisters living.

On February 1, 1912, Mayor A. H. Jones appointed Mr. Rische alderman of the Fifth ward, to fill an un- expired term, and in 1913, so competent had he proved and so satisfied were the people of the Fifth ward with their representative, that they returned him to the city council by a large majority. He is valued by his fellow councilmen as a hard working and conscientious mem- ber. He is a member of the committee on streets, bridges and drainage and of the Commerce street widen- ing committee. He is also chairman of the committee on street cleaning, sanitation and hospitals.

In the fraternal world Mr. Rische is also prominent, being a past grand of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at San Antonio, Lodge No. 11, this being the largest and wealthiest chapter in the state. In Septem- ber, 1913, he received from this lodge a Veteran's Jewel in honor of his twenty-five years' membership therein. He is also a member of the Sam Houston Camp of the Woodmen of the World, a member of the Casino Asso- ciation, and is one of the oldest members of the San Antonio Club.

On the 28th of February, 1905, he was married to Miss Leile Pearl Woods, and they have one son, Ulrich H. Rische, Jr., who was born March 27, 1910.

THOMAS F. HARDY. The financial interests of Thomas F. Hardy have been varied and his activities have been of a nature proving directly beneficial to the communi- ties in which he has labored in the promotion of com- mercial and industrial enterprises. As a citizen he has ever wielded an influence for good, but has devoted the greater part of his attention to financial affairs, and is president of the Cameron State Bank, the Burlington State Bank, and the Buckholts State Bank, making his residence at Cameron. Mr. Hardy was born in Barbour county, Alabama, September 30, 1860, and is a son of Joseph E. and Martha A. (Patterson) Hardy.

Joseph E. Hardy was born in Bedford county, Vir- ginia, April 30, 1827, and there received a good educa- tional training and grew to manhood on the family plantation. As a young man he went to Barbour county, Alabama, where he was residing at the time of the ont- break of hostilities between the states of the South and the North, and, casting his sympathies with the Con- federacy, be enlisted in the ranks of the Gray. He par- ticipated in a number of engagements and met a soldier's death while with his command in Louisiana, passing away in 1863. Mr. Hardy married Miss Martha A. Pat-

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terson, who was born in Stuart county, Georgia, June 21, 1838, and after her first husband's death she married Nathan Watson, a Southern farmer, who died in Ala- bama. Mrs. Watson passed away in 1875. By each of her marriages there were three children born, the first three being those of the first union: William Hardy, who is now deceased; Thomas F. Hardy; and Edward Hardy, who is deceased; Lula, John and James Watson.

Thomas F. Hardy received his early education in the public schools of Pike county, Alabama, whence his mother had moved after the death of the father, and subsequently he received the benefit of attendance at a private school at Troy. Alabama, following which he he- came a student in Baylor University, Waco, Texas. He had reached the age of twenty-one years when he laid aside his books to join the world's army of workers, be- coming a clerk in country stores. In 1883 he came to Milam county and secured employment in stores in Cameron, and in 1885 was made assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Cameron, a position which he filled for some years before being made cashier. He thus received an excellent training in financial affairs, and in 1906 became one of the organizers of the Cameron State Bank, of which he has since been president, with T. H. Graves as vice president and T. A. Robinson as cashier. This is known as one of the solid and substantial institutions of this part of Texas, and its depositors have been attracted to it through their thorough confidence in Mr. Hardy's integrity and reliability, as well as his' keen knowledge of financial affairs. It has a capital stock of $30,000 and surplus and profits of $40,000, and the business has enjoyed a healthy and consecutive growth ever since the bank threw open its doors for busi- ness. Brooking no obstacles that could be overcome by determined, earnest and honorable purpose, Mr. Hardy has steadily worked his way upward in the financial life of Cameron, where he is known for his close adherence to a high standard of business ethics. He has been suc- cessful in his affairs because he has given to them abso- lute devotion and is master of every detail of his chosen work. In recent years he has broadened the scope of his activities and at present is president of the Burlington State Bank and the Buckholts State Bank, both of which are well patronized institutions. Possessing all the quali- ties which make a man successful in business, his asso- ciates hold him in the highest confidence, and look con- stantly to him for counsel and leadership.

Mr. Hardy was married at Cameron, Texas, December 5. 1889, to Miss Vance Hefley, of this city, daughter of William V. and Jane (Crenshaw) Heffley, and to this union there have been horn three children, namely : Thomas F., who is deceased; William Edwin and Maude Vance. Mr. Hardy ranks with the distinguished repre- sentatives of Masonry in Texas, affiliating with the Knights Templar and Shriners, and is also well known in the lodges of the Woodmen of the World and the Knights of the Maccabees. In political matters he is a Democrat, but is not an active politician and has never sought publie office, although he has faithfully and con- scientiously performed the responsibilities of citizenship as a member of the board of education of Cameron. With his family he attends the Methodist church, in the work of which he has been particularly active, and at this time is serving as steward and as a member of the board of trustees. While he is socially inclined and has a wide circle of warm and appreciative friends, Mr. Hardy is naturally a domestic man, and when not found absorbed in his business affairs is usually located in his home, where he finds his greatest pleasure.

MAJ. RICHARD LYLES, who, in the profession of Ameri- can law and jurisprudence, has conferred honor upon the legal history of Texas, became one of the early members of the Milam county har, and throughout the forty years of his connection therewith has maintained a foremost

place in its ranks. The law demands not alone a high order of ability, but a superior combination of tact, learning, patience, and industry, and the successful legist must be a man of well balanced mentality, thor- onghly familiar with the law and practice, of broad and detailed general information, and be absolutely devoted to his calling. Possessing these qualities, Major Lyles has won a high place in the confidence of the people of Cameron, where he has been engaged in practice since 1874. Major Lyles was born at Russellville, Logan county, Kentucky, December 16, 1839, and is a son of Archibald M. and Harriet T. (Feister) Lyles.

Archibald M. Lyles was born at Rockville, Montgomery county, Maryland, in 1807, and was an attorney by pro- fession, following that vocation successfully throughout life. He died in 1890, in Kentucky, to which state he had removed in young manhood. Mrs. Lyles was born at Leesburg, Virginia, in 1809, and met her death in a rail- road accident in 18SS. There were eleven children in the family, namely: John R., Elizabeth A., Thomas H., and Archibald M., all deceased; Martha E .; Richard; Robert J., deceased; William W .; Edward H., who is deceased; May C., and one child who died in infancy.

Richard Lyles was educated in the public schools of Kentucky until he was eighteen years af age, at which time he became a student in Lebanon University Leb- anon, Tennessee, being graduated from that institu- tion in 1857. He was admitted to the bar of his native state during that same year, and engaged in practice at Russellville until the outbreak of the war between the South and the North. He at first enlisted for service in the Fourteenth Regiment, Tennessee Infantry, and was discharged in September, 1861, following which he re-enlisted in the Ninth Kentucky Infantry, Company A, and served for an extended period therein. In 1864 he raised the Thirteenth Kentucky Cavalry of which he continued as major until the close of hostilities. Major Lyles' service was an exceedingly active one, and during it he was wounded no less than three times, first at Greenbriar, Virginia; second at Fairview, Kentucky, and third at Nolin Creek, Kentucky. He was known as a gallant soldier and efficient officer, and won the respect of his fellow officers and the admiration of his men. When the war had closed he returned to his practice at Russellville, but there continned for a short period only, and in 1874, seeking a new location, came to Texas and settled at Cameron, Milam county. Here he has built up a large and representative practice, hav- ing upon his books the names of some of the leading business houses and corporations in this part of the state. His connection with a number of important cases has made him a familiar figure in the courts, where his broad knowledge and high accomplishments have won him success. Major Lyles assisted in putting through the T. C. & W. Railroad, now a part of the M. K. & T. Railroad, in 1892, which operates between Granger and Austin, and was the general manager and right-of-way man for this road. While Major Lyles carries on a general practice, his specialty is criminal law, in which he has been very successful.

Major Lyles has been married three times, his first union being with Mary E. Jones, in 1857, who died in 1881, the mother of two children; Richard M. a resi- dent of Temple, Texas, who married Elma Robinson and has two children : Lee M. and May G .; and Irby M., who married Ida V. Bradley, and has four children- Richard, Ida, May V. and Nadine. Major Lyles' second marriage was to Mrs. Idelia Looney, in 1882, who died in 1894, there being two children to this union- Richard, Jr., who married Edna Rose, lives in Waco and has three children-Francis D., Celia R. and Jose- phine; and Robert M., who is single and his father's law partner. Major Lyles was married in 1898 to Lucy P. White, at Waco, she being a daughter of Captain White of Falls county, Texas, and three chil- dren have been born to this union-Gladys D., Hazel K.

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and Mattie C., all of whom are single and live with their parents.

Politically, Major Lyles is a Democrat, and his abili- ties have been recognized repeatedly by the people who have sent him to positions of responsibility and trust, in which he has failed in no way to discharge the duties devolving upon him. He has frequently served as special judge of the district court of Milam county, and was also county attorney of Caldwell county, Ken- tucky, for four years. In 1912 Major Lyles was ap- pointed superintendent of the Confederate Soldiers' Home by Governor Colquitt, but after thirteen months resigned his position in order to concentrate his ener- gies upon discharging the duties of his profession. He is a member of the Texas Bar Association and is held in high regard by his fellow members, who recognize in him a man who has the highest regard for professional ethics, a valued associate and a worthy opponent. With his family he attends the Episcopal church. He owns his own residence at Cameron and is never as happy as when in his home, surrounded by his children. He is now reaching his seventy-fifth year, yet still takes an active interest in his profession, in affairs of importance to the country and in those movements which are mak- ing for the betterment of his community. Major Lyles' life has been an exceptionally full one and in none of its activities has he failed to bear himself creditably.

MARVIN C. OVERTON, M. D. Now regarded as the physician with the largest practice in Lubbock county, Dr. Overton has the distinction of being the first doctor to locate permanently in the town of Lubbock. Within the town limits there were only one hundred and twenty five persons to whom he could offer his services when he opened his office. Dr. Overton by his own work paid his way through college and it has been his constant aim to keep his ability and knowledge up to date, which he has done by close attention to his work, and by post- graduate courses since beginning practice. He well deserves his success.

Dr. Marvin C. Overton was born in Morganfield, Ken- tucky, June 13, 1878. His father, George B. Overton, was also born in Kentucky and now resides in Lubbock, Texas. His profession has been the ministry of the Methodist church, to which he has devoted his time and energies for a period of fifty-three years. Rev. Overton is a graduate of the Pennsylvania University. His ancestry was English, of early colonial settlement, mem- bers of which bore arms during the Revolution and sub- sequent generations moved from Virginia to North Caro- lina and then to Kentucky. The maiden name of Dr. Overton's mother was Susan J. Lawson, a native of Kentucky, and now a resident at Lubbock. She was the mother of six children, all of whom are living, the doctor being the fifth in order of birth.

He attained his early education in the public schools of Louisville, Kentucky, graduated from the high school of that city, and pursued his medical studies and took his degrees in 1902 from the University of Louisville. He served one year as interne in the University hos- pital after his graduation, and in the spring of 1902 arrived at Lubbock to begin practice. In 1905, having established himself firmly in the regard of a large num- ber of patients, Dr. Overton went east to continue his studies by post-graduate work in the New York Poly- clinic. In 1910 he again took a vacation from his work and was a student in the Chicago post graduate schools. Besides his large private practice he has the post of examiner for a number of old-line insurance companies, and secret orders. He is also, together with his partner, Dr. C. J. Wagner, now conducting the Overton Sanitarium, an institution with twenty beds, modernly equipped for medical and surgical cases.

During 1909 Dr. Overton was president of the First National Bank of Lubbock, and since locating here has always been closely identified with public affairs and

business, so far as his large practice would permit. He is independent in politics, and at the present time is serving as an alderman. For four years he was school trustee, and for several years served as county phy- sician of Lubbock county. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Masonic Order, including the Knights Templar degree, with the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of the World, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Knights and Ladies of Security, and professionally be- longs to the county, district, state, and the American Medical Association. He is now vice president of the Lubbock County Medical Society. His church is the Methodist.

On June 25, 1902, at Louisville, Kentucky, Dr. Overton married Miss Georgie T. Robertson, a native of Ken- tucky, and a daughter of G. W. Robertson. The three children born to their marriage are: Marvin C., Jr., born in Lubbock, April 29, 1903; George, born in Lub- bock, November 7, 1905; and Philip R., born at Lub- bock, March 26, 1908.

JAMES WATSON, D. D. S. An able and popular repre- sentative of the profession of which he is a successful exponent at Cameron, the judicial center of Milam county, Dr. Watson here has built up a large and sub- stantial practice, the extent and character of which attest his technical skill as well as his distinctive hold upon popular confidence and esteem.

Dr. Watson comes of stanch Southern lineage and was born at Brundidge, Pike county, Alabama, on the 17th of November, 1874. His father, Nathan C. Watson, was born in Macon county, Alabama, in 1830, and his mother was born at Cuthbert, Randolph county, Georgia, in 1836. Her death occurred in 1875, only a few months after the birth of her son James, whose name introduces this article. Nathan C. Watson married Martha Sellers, who survives him and who resides at Banks, Alabama. The death of the husband and father occurred in 1902, and he had long been numbered among the representative farmers and honored citizens of the state of Alabama. The three children of his first mar- riage are Lulu, John and James, and the one child of his second union is Hugh, who remains with his widowed mother.

Dr. Watson attended the public schools of Brundidge, Alabama, until he had completed the curriculum of the high school, and for the purpose of preparing himself adequately for his chosen profession he then went to Nashville, Tennessee, in which city he entered the de- partment of dentistry in fine old Vanderbilt University. In this institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1907, and from the same he received his coveted and well earned degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery. In the same year he came to Texas and en- gaged in the practice of his profession at Cameron, where he has since maintained his home, where he has finely appointed offices, with the best of modern equip- ment, and where his practice is of appreciative and representative order. He and his wife are popular in the leading social circles of their home city and here they are zealous members of the Presbyterian church. The Doctor is a stalwart in the local camp of the Demo- cratic party, is liberal and progressive as a citizen, but he is devoted to his profession and has had no desire for the activities of politics. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of the World.

On the 23d of April, 1913, was solemnized the mar- riage of Dr. Watson to Miss George Bowman, daughter of George W. Bowman, of Monroeville, Texas, and she presides as the gracious chatelaine of their attractive home in Cameron.

ROBERT A. NABOURS. The career of Robert A. Na- bours, of Cameron, has been one of singular interest, including all the essentials for a story of self-made

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manhood and clearly illustrating the vicissitudes which occur in the life of the man who has the courage of his own convictions and the daring to grasp opportuni- ties in the form in which they present themselves to him. As a lad he led the life of a cowboy, drifted naturally into the business of speculating in cattle, shipped at one time more stock than any other man from Milam county, and is now serving ably in public office, having been appointed justice of the peace of precinct No. 1, in 1913.

Justice Nabours was born in Milam county, Septem- ber 17, 1856, and is a son of Jerry M. and Mary (Stew- art) Nabours. His father was a native of Alabama, born in 1817, was a local Methodist minister, served as county assessor and collector of Milam county prior to the Civil war, and as district elerk and county clerk following the close of that struggle until the two offices were separated, and was known as one of the foremost and most influential men of his community. He had come to Texas when a young man of abont twenty-five years, and here he passed the remainder of his active life, passing away in 1884. Mrs. Nabours, who was born in 1822, in Tennessee, survived her husband until 1894, and was the mother of eleven children, of whom five are now living: William A .; Pamelia, who is now Mrs. Wheeler; Belle, who is now Mrs. Jones; James O. and Robert A.

The country schools of Milam county furnished Robert A. Nabours with his educational training, but at the age of seventeen years he laid aside his books to face the world on his own account, accepting employment as a cowboy, a capacity in which he was employed during the following ten years. He then turned his attention to farming for two years, and while thus engaged became a speculator in cattle, and shipped and raised more stock than any one individual in Milam county. For a number of years his ventures were crowned with a high order of success, but circumstances over which he had no control caused the failure of several of his large transactions, and for a time he was compelled to accept heavy reverses. However, it is not in Mr. Nabours' nature to become disheartened, and he bas since re- euperated his losses and is known as one of the sub- stantial business men of his community. He has al- ways been straightforward in his dealings, has been content to accept conditions as he has found them, and to make the most of whatever chances have come his way. His associates have had every reason to trust him implicitly and his reputation is that of a man of high business integrity and stalwart personal worth. It was probably the possession of these qualities that gained him the appointment as justice of the peace of precinct No. 1, in 1913, an office in which he has shown himself. capably fitted for the discharge of its responsibilities, and a mau of impartiality and excellent judgment. His politics coincide with the principles of the Democratic party, in the ranks of which he is known as a strong and influential factor in Milam county.

Mr. Nabours was married March 15, 1877, at the home of the bride in Milam county, to Miss Rebecca Poteet, daughter of J. B. Poteet. She was born in Mississippi, but at the age of eleven years was brought to Milam county, and this has since been her home. Mr. and Mrs. Nabours have a comfortable home at Camerou and are the parents of five children-Lula P., May Ethel, Willard, Parolee, and Homer. Of these, Lula P. married John House, engaged in the grocery business at Cameron, and has one child, Maourine. May Ethel married Herbert Massingale, a farmer of Milam county, and has four children- Robert, LeRoy, Rebecca, and Mildred. Willard married Mollie Lascoski, of Cameron, is an auditor of Oklahoma, and has one son, Don. Parolee married C. M. Davis, a civil engineer, and they reside at Fort Worth and have one child, Martha Zoe. Vol. IV-27

ARTHUR V. SMITH. Manager of the Cameron Herald, Arthur V. Smith is one of the successful newspaper men of central Texas. He has been through all the grades of service in the fourth estate, from devil to editor, has written leading articles and performed the various mechanical duties of the composition and print- ing room, and with his mature ability in the newspaper field is also a popular and progressive citizen of his home community.

Arthur V. Smith was born in Robertson county, Texas, October 6, 1881. His father, B. D. Smith, known more generally as Bird Smith, was born in Alabama in 1853, came to Texas after the war, and followed the voca- tion of bookkeeper. His death occurred in 1894. The mother, Octavia Welborn, was born in Mississippi in 1859 and now lives at Groesbeck, in Limestone county, Texas. There were five children-Lamar, Arthur V., May, Emmett, and Belle. The son Lamar is a rail- way attorney and married Maud Campbell; May is the wife of B. B. Smith, a merchant; Emmett is a con- tractor and is unmarried, while Belle is also unmarried and a teacher in the schools of Limestone county.

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A history of Texas and Texans, Part 128

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