A history of Texas and Texans, Part 142

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 142

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Dr. Johnston was married in November. 1874, at Louis- ville, Arkansas, to Miss Virginia J. Featherston, daugh- ter of T. J. Featherston, of Lewisville, Arkansas, and five children were born to this union.

JUDGE HIRAM M. GARWOOD. Few men of Houston have been more conspicuously or worthily identified with the professional or political life of this section of the state than has Judge Hiram M. Garwood, member of the firm of Baker, Botts, Parker & Garwood for some years past, one time state representative and later state senator, with a term as county judge of Bastrop county inter- vening between the periods of his legislative service. He has won distinctive laurels in his profession and in his public service, and is well worthy of place in a work of the nature of this publication.

Judge Garwood was born at Bastrop, Texas, on Janu- ary 11, 1864, and is the son of Calvin B. and Frances B. (Walker) Garwood. The father was born in Bellefon- taine, Ohio, and came to Texas about 1852. He was a representative of the Garwood family of Quaker asso- ciations, the family being of the original William Penn Colony at Philadelphia. Calvin Garwood served through- out the Civil war as a soldier in the Confederate army, and was a prominent and useful citizen in the community where he so long made his home. The mother of the subject was born in Columbia, Tennessee, her family having come originally from North Carolina, where they were early settlers of the state.

Hiramı Garwood received an excellent education, fin- ishing in the University of the South, at Sewanee, Ten- nessee, and graduating therefrom in 1883 with the de- gree of B. S. He then entered upon the study of law in the office of Gov. Joseph D. Sayres at Bastrop, Texas, and was admitted to the bar in 1885, since which time he has been associated in partnership with Col. G. W. Jones, B. D. Oergain, and Jonathan Lane, later form- ing his present connection with the firm of Baker, Botts, Parker & Garwood.

Judge Garwood has been prominent in Democratic poli- tics and in 1886 was elected state representative from

2052

TEXAS AND TEXANS

Bastrop county, serving a two-year term in that office. He became couuty judge of Bastrop county in 1888, and from 1890 to 1892 represented Lee, Bastrop and Fayette counties in the state senate. His service in all these offices was of a high order, creditable both to him and to the state.

Judge Garwood has long been concerned in the wel- fare of his Alma Mater and has been a member of the Board of Regents of the University of Texas for a num- her of years. He is accounted one of the most valuable friends of the University to be found in the state today. Long popular in the legal fraternity, he has been presi- dent of the Texas State Bar Association. His fraternal connections are wide in their scope, embracing Masonry in its various branches, and the Knights of Pythias. In the former order he has membership in the Royal Arch Masons, the Knights Templar and the Ancient Arabie Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. His col- lege fraternity is the Alpha Tau Omega, and in Honston he has membership in the Thalian Club, the Houston Club and the Houston Country Club.

Judge Garwood was married in 1890 to Miss Hattie Page, the daughter of Col. Paul D. Page, a prominent attorney of Bryan, Texas, where Mrs. Garwood was reared. Three children have been born of their union- Calvin, St. John and Louise. The family home is at 1619 Fannin street.

E. A. CLOUSNITZER. One of the local industries which has done much to give Quanah a place among the well improved and finished cities of Texas is the electric light and ice plant, which supplies light and power as well as one of the most valuable commodities in use by the people of this community. The founder of this local industry was Mr. E. A. Clousnitzer, and he has since been its proprietor and active manager.

E. A. Clousnitzer is a native of Germany, born in the city of Dresden, January 3, 1869, the youngest of twelve children born to Frederick Augustus and Christina Ame- lia (Eisbricht) Clousnitzer. The parents, both natives of Germany, moved to America in 1837, and located in Texas. The father, who hy profession was a mining en- gineer, took up farming and stock raising in Texas, and he lived in this state until his death in 1895, when he was at the age of sixty-six years. The mother also died in Texas, in 1893, aged sixty-eight years.

Mr. Clousnitzer was reared in his native land, and had the advantages of the excellent technical schools of that country. He served an apprenticeship in the machinist trade, and when he had finished that prepara- tion he came to America and formed a home in Texas. After a short period as a farmer he went to work at his trade in Houston and was for a time employed in the railroad shops of that city. His next move took him to old Mexico, where he was employed as a locomotive en- gineer on the Inter & Mexican Central Railroad for a number of years. He then became a stationary en- gineer at Taylor, Texas, and from there he went to San Angelo as superintendent of the San Angelo water- works. Some years later he took up the special work in which he has been so successful, that of installing elee- trie light and ice systems.

Mr. Clousnitzer is the pioneer electrical engineer of this part of the state, and it is he who promoted most of the plants along the line of the Fort Worth & Den- ver Railroad lines. He had in charge the work of install- ing plants at Colorado City, Bowie, Wichita Falls, and Vernon, and in 1902 he came to Quanah and installed the splendid electric light and ice plant here operating. It is a large and important industry, and represents a goodly amount of capital, the machinery for such a sys- tem being very intricate and costly, both for the gener- ation of electric power and the manufacture of ice.

Mr. Clousnitzer is a Democrat in his politics, but has never entered the political arena to any extent. He is affiliated with Masonry in the Knights Templar body, and

with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World. His church is the Methodist.

At Colorado, Texas, on May 24, 1897, Mr. Clousnitzer was married to Miss Ella Lee, a daughter of W. R. and Sylvesta (Young) Lee. Her father is now deceased, and was one of the old timers of Texas, having moved to this state from Tennessee in the early forties. The three children of Mr. Clousnitzer and his wife are: Irene, born at Colorado City in 1898 and now attending high school; Fern, born in Quanah, January 20, 1903, and also attending school; and Colvin, born in Quanah, May 29, 1904.

Mr. Clousnitzer is one of the very prosperous citizens of Quanah, and his prosperity is the more satisfactory since it is the result of his own unaided efforts and en- terprise. Besides the large business of which he is the owner and proprietor, he and his family live in a very handsome residence in Quanah, their home being one of the show places of the city.

There are some who believe that Mr. Clousnitzer bears a charmed existence, else he would not otherwise be among the active members of society in Quanah today, for he has had experiences in the past few years that are fortunately not the lot of every man. In October, 1906, Mr. Clousnitzer, who is one of the best known huntsmen in the state, accidentally emptied a charge of gunshot into his arm at the shoulder. His life was despaired of for weeks, but modern surgery, aided by his wonderful constitution and clean blood, resulted in a perfect recovery, though his arm, as the result of the operation performed, is three inches shorter than the other. However, he has perfect control of that member and, though short, is considerably better than no arm at all, as Mr. Clousnitzer will readily attest.

Again, on May 12, 1913, while crossing the tracks of the Fort Worth & Denver Railroad, less than three hun- dred feet from his house, his automobile was struck by a fast train, which was obscured from view by some box cars on the siding, and Mr. Clousnitzer was thrown a distance of seventy-nine feet, hurtling through the air, his flight being stopped at last by a fence post. The machine, which was thrown a distance of something like forty feet, was literally smashed into kindling. Mr. Clousnitzer kept his bed three weeks, but the experience was not sufficient to conquer him and at the end of that time he was able to be about again, while he is now, some two months later, enjoying the most perfect health.

HAMILTON B. MCDOWELL. As manager at El Paso of the Western Woodware Manufacturing Company, Mr. McDowell is at the head of the largest enterprise of the kind in the southwest, and has the management of a large force of men and the direction of the sale and general distribution of a large product. Mr. Me- Dowell represents the young and progressive business enterprise of this western city, and stands high among all his associates in this city.

Hamilton B. MeDowell was born at Lampasas, Texas, September 14, 1877, the oldest in a family of eight chil- dren born to W. J. and Jennie (Corbin) MeDowell. The father, who was also born in Texas, was one of the early families which settled in this state received his education at Lampasas and later entered the mercantile and machinery business. Subsequently he moved to Ari- zona, where he is still a resident, being now fifty-eight years of age, and for many years having been active as a farmer and rancher in Texas. He is now a builder and contractor at Clifton, Arizona. The mother, who was born in Mississippi, came to Texas when a girl, was married in this state and is now fifty-five years of age.

As a child Mr. MeDowell attended the public schools in . Lampasas for some time, and subsequently went to Montana. In that state he attended the high school in Great Falls, and also a business college where he com- pleted his course in 1901. His active and successful

2053

TEXAS AND TEXANS

business career has been passed in a little more than ten years, and few men have more to show for twelve years of activity. He went to Arizona after leaving school and became connected with a merchandising es- tablishment there, where he remained for six years. His next field of enterprise was in Chihuahua, Mexico, where he continued for one year in work in merchandising, and then in 1909 came to El Paso to take charge of the affairs of the Western Woodware Company, incorporated. Under his supervision in this establishment are twenty- five employes, and the output of this plant is distributed widely throughout this state and adjoining southwestern states and through old Mexico.

Mr. McDowell also owns considerable valuable real estate in El Paso. He has succeeded well in business affairs and is a popular member in social and civic circles. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Masonic Order and the Travelers' Protective Association. His polities is Republican. On September 4, 1902, at Lampasas, his native town, Mr. McDowell married Miss Emma Horne, her parents having been old residents of Lampasas, where her father still lives. The one child born of their marriage, on September 19, 1905, at Clif- ton, Arizona, is Miss Ruth Virginia MeDowell. She is now attending school in El Paso. Mr. McDowell is fond of all outdoor sports, and enters actively into com- munity and social affairs, his name usually being linked with all publie spirited enterprises and the social ac- tivities of the better class.

LACY W. DALTON. In a practice of a quarter century's duration, the late Mr. Dalton was identified with west Texas the greater portion of this time, and accepted and utilized all the opportunities for his personal advance- ment and for real public service to the communities in which he made his home. He was recognized as an able lawyer, and for ten years preceding his death enjoyed a very extensive clientage in Plainview and Hale county.

Lacy W. Dalton was born at New Albany, Mississippi, in August, 1867, and died October 16, 1913. The family has been identified with Texas more or less continuously for a much longer time. His grandfather, Lacy W. Dal- ton, for whom the attorney was named, came from Henry county, Virginia, to Texas, locating in Palestine, a num- ber of years before the war, and during his residence there was well known and a close friend of John H. Me- Means. James Haywood Dalton, the father of Lacy W., was born in Mississippi. He came to Palestine, Texas, in 1858, at the age of sixteen, but after a short time returned to Mississippi, entered the legal profes- sion and gained distinction as a lawyer, and at one time represented his district in the state senate. During the Civil war he enlisted in the Second Mississippi Regi- ment, and made a splendid record as a soldier of the Confederacy. He was in the thick of the fight at Gettys- burg, in which he was severely wounded, from which he recovered eventually and then returned home. He re- mained a resident of Mississippi until his death in 1887, at the age of forty-five. The maiden name of his wife was Martha Stoval, who was born in 1843, was edu- cated and married in Mississippi, in which state she died in 1910. Her father, Ezra Stoval, a native of Georgia, was one of the old-time planters and slave hold- ers, and for a number of years before railroads became common he owned steamboats, operated a packet-line up and down the Mississippi River between St. Louis and New Orleans.

Lacy W. Dalton, who was the oldest of the four sons in the family of his parents, from the lower schools entered the University of Mississippi, where he was graduated Bachelor of Philosophy at the age of nine- teen years. He then entered the law office of his father and was admitted to the bar in 1888, the same year in which he attained his majority. For several years he remained in practice in Mississippi, but in 1891 came to Texas, located at Seymour, in Baylor county, where he

was in practice for eleven years, and from 1903 until his death was in Plainview. In politics Mr. Dalton was a Democrat and his fraternal affiliations were with the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Modern Order of Pretorians.

His marriage occurred in New Albany, Mississippi, August 8, 1888, to Mary T. Mitchell, daughter of Thomas B. Mitchell. The five children horn of their marriage are: Mrs. Mary Daily, who was born in Texas and now resides at Plainview; Miss Patty, a high school graduate ; Jennie Virginia, attending Wayland College, Parke in Webb School, Bell Buckle, Tennessee, and Miss Lacy, attending Wayland College. All the children were born in this state. Mrs. Dalton still resides in her home at Plainview.

EMERY A. SMITH. Among the young business lead- ers of El Paso, men who have located in this city after a thorough survey and investigation of commercial con- ditions and have embarked in their enterprise with the determination to remain and earn a prosperity for them- selves and to promote the welfare of the entire com- munity, Henry A. Smith and his partner, A. Rader, are particularly well known and have a high commercial rating in the business circles of this city.

Emery A. Smith, who has been a resident of El Paso for the past ten years and identified with the southwest throughout nearly all the years of his active career, was born in Madison county, Ohio, August 2, 1868, a son of Charles B. and Mellissa (Dominy) Smith. The father, a native of Delaware county, Ohio, spent all his life in that state, and hy occupation was a banker and stock raiser. His death occurred in 1892, when fifty-two years of age. He was a young man at the time of the Civil war, and enlisted and got as far as Camp Chase, at which point the troops were disbanded. The mother was also born in the state of Ohio, was married there, and her death occurred in 1891, when she was forty-eight years of age.

Mr. Emery A. Smith, the third in a family of four children, attended the public schools of Ohio until he was ready to begin work for himself, and his first busi- ness experience was in farming and in a general store at Hyatts, Ohio. After one year there, however, he came into the southwest, and for six years was with the Santa Fe Railroad in New Mexico. From railroading he drifted into the mining camps of New Mexico, where he had a varied experience for one year, and then for two years was at Douglas, Arizona. In 1903 Mr. Smith came to El Paso, and as a result of his hard experience during the preceding years was in poor health, so that for several years he did little more than recuperate. He then established the El Paso Carriage Works in 1907, having as his associate Mr. Harry A. Rader. This busi- ness the partners have developed to extensive propor- tions and they occupy quarters in several thousand feet of floor space and equipped with the most modern ma- chinery for the work. In politics Mr. Smith is inde- pendent.

On June 10, 1912, in El Paso, Mr. Smith married Mrs. Lizzie Leech.

HARRY A. RADER. The partner of Mr. Smith in his business enterprise at El Paso, Harry A. Rader, was born in Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, 1872, a son of Thurston and Emma (Knoll) Rader. His father and mother were both born in Pennsylvania and the mother is now living with her son in El Paso at the age of sixty-four years. The father was for many years a locomotive engineer, and some years ago moved to El Paso, where his death occurred in 1907 at the age of sixty-two years. There were four children in the family, of whom Harry A. was the second. His childhood and early youth were passed in California and El Paso chiefly, and it was in the public schools of these two

2054

TEXAS AND TEXANS

localities that he attained his education. He left school before graduating in order to begin work for the Gal- veston, Harrisburg & San Antonio Railway. The occu- pation for which he was accepted in the employment of this company was that of coach painter, and he was for fifteen years at work in the shop of the Southern Pacific in this trade. Then, in 1908, he established himself as a partner with Mr. Smith, and they have since conducted a large business in general manufacturing, painting and trimming.

Fraternally, Mr. Rader is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of the World and the Order of Elks. In politics he maintains an independent atti- tude and his church is the Methodist. Mr. Rader has a large acquaintance among the leading business men of El Paso, where he has resided for many years, and he and Mr. Smith well uphold the title of progressive busi- ness men and citizens.

FRANK A. WHITE. We have all heard of brakemen who have become railroad presidents and grocer boys who have become judges, but although we know these things are true, we feel that they are often exaggerated. However, in Amarillo, Texas, Frank A. White can tell a story that sounds as much like fiction as any novel. Mr. White is now one of the most prominent and suc- cessful business men in the city of Amarillo. He began life as a messenger boy and has risen through hard work and pluck and the determination never to sleep at his post. He has had innumerable difficulties to over- come and his advance has not been aided by good luck. Whatever he has won he has earned by hard work.

Frank A. White was born in Iola, Allen county, Kan- sas, on the 12th of December, 1874, the son of Joseph N. White. The latter was a native of the state of Indiana where he was born in 1837. He grew up in his native state and when the Civil war broke out he enlisted in the 111th Indiana Infantry. He served as second lieutenant in his company, being in the Federal service for three years. After the war be returned home, but in 1868 migrated to Kansas where he lived for a time, carrying on his business as a builder and contractor. In 1880 he removed to Lees Summit, Missouri, where he resided until 1887. At the time of his death in 1905 he was living in Leavenworth, Kansas. Joseph N. White mar- ried Miss Katherine Garrettson, a daughter of James L. Garrettson and a native of Illinois. They were married in 1868 in Oden, Illinois, and Mrs. White died in 1908 at San Diego, California, at the age of fifty-nine. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. White, and of these Frank A. White was the youngest.

Frank A. White went to school in Kansas City and in Lees Summit, Missouri. He had to leave school at the age of twelve, however, and he gained the remainder of his education by studying by himself and by wide reading. As a boy he sold papers in Kansas City and in Lees Summit, and he also worked as a messenger boy. His first real position of any importance was with the Home Telegraph and Signal Company, of Kansas City, with whom he was apprenticed to learn the business. He next entered the employ of the Postal Telegraph Company as delivery clerk and upon leaving their em- ploy he entered that of the Interstate Electric Light Company, being employed in the battery department. He never lost an opportunity in any of these positions to learn everything he could about the business and he was so valuable an employee that when the company failed he had no difficulty in securing a place with the Edison Electric Light and Power Company, which is now known as the Kansas City Electric Light Company. He entered their offices as station office boy and re- mained with them for sixteen and a half years. He was steadily promoted for efficiency, working in turn in every department, until in 1906 when he left the employ of this company he was assistant to the general manager and one of the influential men in the company.

In August, 1906, he determined to resign to go into business for himself. He entered the business world as a manufacturer of chandeliers and brasses in Kansas City, but the business proved a failure and Mr. White lost all that he had saved. He then removed to Texas and came to Amarillo in the summer of 1907 to take charge of the Amarillo Water, Light and Power Com- pany. This company is now known as the City Light and Water Company and the capital is owned by eastern investors. Mr. White is now serving as general manager and his work while with this company has won much admiration, for the position has been a difficult one. In March, 1909, the company was put into the hands of Mr. White, as receiver, by the United States courts, be having been manager for eighteen months. In the month of June, 1912, he was able to return the company to its original owners, having increased the business fourfold. He was able to liquidate every indebtedness, giving one hundred cents on the dollar, and giving a very nice dividend to the stockholders. It was a big task and he handled it in a masterly manner.

In addition to his work as general manager of the above company, he is vice president of the First State Bank and also a director and general manager of the Amarillo Street Railway Company. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and has been treasurer of the traffic bureau for the past five years.

In polities Mr. White is a member of the Democratic party. He has never cared to hold office and of late has taken no active part in politics. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and of the Rejuvenated Sons of Jove. In religious matters he is a member of the Presbyterian church. He cares little for fraternal or social affairs, being devoted to his family and finding his recreation in his home.

Mr. White was married in Leavenworth, Kansas, on the 12th of September, 1893, to Miss Isabel Stone, who was a native of Oakland, California, and a daughter of Jefferson and Minnie Stone. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. White: Ruth Katherine, born June 24, 1895, died at the age of three years; Eugene G. was born in Leavenworth, Kansas, on the 3rd of October, 1898; Harry Morton, born December 30, 1901, died aged ten years; Frank A., Jr., was born in Ama- rillo, October 18, 1908; James L. is also a native of Amarillo, where he was born on the 8th of January, 1912.

THOMAS JEFFERSON MCCAMANT, M. D. One of the best known residents in this section of Texas is Thomas Jefferson MeC'amant, of El Paso, Texas. He has been for many years engaged in the practice of his profession in this part of the state and has won a reputation for skillful work and for closely following the high ideals of his profession. He has held a number of public posi- tions, being keenly interested in politics and in civic matters, and he has filled each post with honor to him- self and to the great satisfaction of his many and warm friends.

Thomas Jefferson MeCamant was born at Glenrose. Texas, on the 27th of November, 1874. He is a son of William Graham MeCamant, who was born in Old Town, Virginia. William McCamant left his native state in 1854 and came to Texas overland, making the journey in a prairie schooner. He was a well known civil and mechanical engineer and was the government surveyor for the counties of Erath, Hood and Somerville, living during that time in the three counties, but never changed his residence, because Hood and Somerville were orig- inally contained in Erath. He was the first settler in Somerville county, and previous to locating in this county he lived for a time at Greenville, Texas. He was in the frontier service against the Indians under the command of Major Valentine, and was in a number of Indian raids, in all of which he was so fortunate as

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A history of Texas and Texans, Part 142

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