A history of Texas and Texans, Part 149

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

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In Fayette county, Kentucky, December 1, 1870, Dr. Coons married Miss Elizabeth Smith, who was born in Kentucky in 1853, a daughter of John Smith. Her mother died when the daughter was two years old. Mrs. Coons died in Wichita Falls in 1897 at the age of forty- four, and the four daughters born to their union are mentioned as follows: Llewella, the deceased wife of C. D. Keyes; Cora and Dora, twins, both unmarried and living at home; and Bessie B. Coons, now deceased. Dr. Coons resides at 1508 Burnett street, and his offices are at 718 Ohio street.

WILLIAM A. HUDSON. One of the ablest lawyers in Pecos, Texas, is William A. Hudson, a man of broad in- tellectual powers and years of practical experience with the intricacies of the law. He has been a resident of Peros since 1906 and during this time has built up one of the largest practices in Reeves county. He is a thor- ough student, gives his cases much study and careful preparation, and when he is in the court room his oppo- nents never find him unprepared on any point in the case. He has taken a prominent part in the political and business world of Pecos and has the respect and friendship of a very large circle, not only on account of his ability but also on account of his strong character and the charm of his personality.

William A. Hudson was born in Wilson county, Ten- nessee, on the 27th of March. 1865. He is the son of Commodore Perry and Caroline (Hill) Hudson, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. They both moved to Wilson county, Tennessee, and there grew to maturity

and were married. In 1868 they moved to Texas and located in Johnson county, where Mr. Hudson engaged in farming. Here they lived for ten years and then moved to Thorp Springs in Hood county, where Nr. Hudson continued to farm until his death in 1884. He was buried near Aledo, Parker county, and afterwards Mrs. Hudson moved with her son to Dallas where she died in 1905. She now lies buried in Greenwood ceme- tery in Dallas. During the Civil war Commodore Hudson served as a scout in General Bragg's army. He was taken prisoner at one time and narrowly escaped with his life, being exchanged at the last minute. He served through the whole four years.

William A. Hudson was the only child of his parents, and he received a good education. He attended Add- Ran College at Thorp Springs, this institution having since become Texas Christian University and now being located in Fort Worth, Texas. Owing to illness he was compelled to leave college when he lacked but one year of graduation. He came to Dallas prior to his father's death, at the age of seventeen and there se- cured a position as deputy county clerk nnder W. M. C. Hill. After serving six years in this position he se- cured the position of deputy clerk of the District court, in which he served three years. During these years he had begun the study of law and now he entered the office of Senator Culberson in Austin, Texas, where he read law for eighteen months. He was admitted to piac- tice in 1892 and then returned to Dallas. He was ap- pointed clerk of the court of criminal appeals, where he served eight years. He then began the practice of his profession in Dallas. At this writing Mr. Hudson is a candidate for Judge of the Seventieth Judicial Dis- triet of Texas.

He remained in Dallas until 1906 when he came to Pecos and became associated with T. J. Hefner, one of the oldest and most prominent lawyers in the county. This partnership continued for two years and a half and then was dissolved. Later Mr. Hudson became asso- ciated with E. C. Canon, the firm being known as Hud- son and Canon. This firm has continued to the present day and is widely known throughout west Texas, having been very successful in a number of important cases, and doing a large business throughout the section.

Mr. Hudson is a member of the Democratic party and has always been an active member of the party. He has served the party as chairman in this county for the past three years. In religious matters he is a member of the Christian church. He has taken much interest in the affairs of the Citizens State Bank at Barstow, Texas, being a director of the instituton. In the fraternal world Mr. Hudson is a member of the Masons, belonging to the Chapter and to the Royal Arch. He is a prominent and active member of the Knights of Pythias, heing past chancellor and present worthy master. He is also a member of the Woodmen of the World.

Mr. Hudson has been twice married. His first mar- riage to Miss Fossie Rowen occurred in 1888, and she died in 1897. Two children were born to this union. Willie Fay Hudson married Judge J. E. Starley of Pecos, and Harl Rowen Hudson lives in Pecos. The second marriage of Mr. Hudson occurred in 1898, his wife being Miss Stella Bullard of Waxahachie, Texas, a daughter of I. H. Bullard. One son, Hill Davidson Hudson, has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hudson.

Mr. Hudson owns an attractive home in Pecos, and he is also the owner of the finest private library in the town. His books are his chief enjoyment, and he is a great student. He believes thoroughly in this section of the state, believing that the outlook and conditions in the Pecos Valley district are remarkably good for people of moderate means, for land is plentiful and cheap and when irrigated big returns may be expected, especially since the climate is excellent.

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MISS WILLIE-DE WOODS. The woman question is cer- tainly to the fore today and whether we may believe that there is such a thing as a woman question or not, we must face the fact that women are playing a different part in the economic scheme than they did a century ago. When, therefore, we meet a woman who is doing a man's work and doing it well, we must stop and give her our admiration, not only for the fact that she has proved that there is at least one woman capable of competing with men, but also for the moral courage that enabled her to enter the lists. In Reeves county, Texas, the county clerk and district clerk is a woman, Miss Willie-de Woods, and since her election in 1912, she has proved extremely efficient, win- ning the praise of all who know of her work, and the admiration of business men for the efficient way in which she handles the work of her office.

Miss Woods was born in Pearsburg, Virginia, the daughter of Oscar F. and Sallie (Dennis) Woods, both of whom were natives of the state of Virginia. They lived in Pearsburg for many years, coming to Texas in 1903. In September of that year they settled in Pecos, where Mr. Woods engaged in merchandising. He later met with reverses in his business and then it was that Miss Woods showed the courageous stuff of which she was made. She had received a splendid education in her native city and determined to put it to some nse and thus aid in the family finances, for she was the eldest of the five children. She therefore secured a position as deputy in the county clerk's office and re- mained here during 1909 and 1910. She next entered the office of the Pecos Abstract Company, remaining here during 1911 and up to October, 1912. She has dis- played unnsual ability in both these positions, and has become extremely popular with the men who come in con- taet with her, for she is genial and gracious to every one, and, in spite of her undeniable attractiveness, always puts everything on a business basis, a thing which bnsi- ness men appreciate and which women are so prone to forget. Her success in her work at the court house, to- gether with the fact that she liked the work so much, de- termined her in offering her services as county clerk and district clerk for Reeves county. She became a candidate on the Democratic ticket in 1912 and made a determined fight for the office against one of the ablest men in the county, and a man who had had much experience in the office, H. M. MeKeller. her predecessor in office. She made a very thorough canvass, going from house to house and town to town throughout the county, and her record, together with her determined fight, turned the tide in her favor. She was snecessful and was elected by a hand- some majority over Mr. MeKeller, who was later ap- pointed county judge. Miss Woods has the honor of being the first woman elected to office in Reeves county, and when one pauses to think that she is a direct de- scendant of Patrick Henry, one can see whence her inde- pendence and ability in public matters may come.

JEFFERSON DAVIS BARTLETT was born June 27, 1870, at Water Valley, Mississippi, and is a son of Josiah and Elizabeth (Sitton) Bartlett.

Josiah Bartlett was born in Kentucky and as a young man moved to Neshoba county, Mississippi, where he be- came widely known and served in the capacity of sheriff for fifteen years, During the Civil war he enlisted in the Confederate service, faithfully discharging his duties and hecoming captain in the commissary department. Some time after the close of hostilities he removed to Water Valley, Mississippi, and there the remainder of his life was passed, his death ocenrring in December, 1892, when he was seventy-two years of age. He was married in Mississippi to Miss Elizabeth Sitton, a native of South Carolina, and she died at Water Valley, in 1988, aged sixty years, having been the mother of four sons and two daughters, of whom Jefferson D. was the youngest.

Jefferson D. Bartlett received his education in the pub-

lic schools of Water Valley, and as a lad was introduced to business life as a clerk in a grocery store of that place. There he remained until September, 1890, when he went to De Leon, Texas, and accepted a position as book- keeper for Higginbotham & Co., becoming a member of the firm five years later. At the end of another period of like duration he disposed of his interests in De Leon and came to Amarillo, arriving in this city September 10, 1901. On December 10, 1902, having secured a location to his liking, he founded his present business. He is a mem- ber of Amarillo Lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 731, and the Royal Arch Chapter, No. 196. He is also a member of the Polk Street Methodist Episcopal Church, South,

In 1895, Mr. Bartlett was married at Water Valley, Mississippi, to Miss Amma Harmon, daughter of George and Mary Elizabeth (Anderson) Harmon, of Mississippi, the former a Confederate veteran under General Forrest and still living in Amarillo. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bartlett-Harmon, born in 1896 at De Leon, Texas, now attending Lowry Phillips School at Amarillo; Lonise, born in 1898 at De Leon, and Davis, born in 1905 at Amarillo, both attending the public schools of this city.

JAMES ISAAC KENDRICK. As a business builder few men in northwest Texas have had so progressive and suc- cessful a career as James Isaac Kendrick, now head of a large furniture establishment at Amarillo. Mr. Ken- drick gained his early experience as a clerk, and on start- ing business for himself opened a very small stock of goods in one of the central Texas towns. From small beginning he has extended his enterprise until he would now easily rank among the leading merchants of the state. His career has also been successful from the point of view of his relations with civic affairs, and he has always been a leader and a worker for organized movements which would benefit his local community or the state at large.

James Isaac Kendrick was born in Scott county, Vir- ginia, August 15, 1865, and comes from a family which in its several generations of American residence has been characterized by the best qualities of citizenship and busi- ness ability. Of Scotch-Irish stock, the paternal grand- father, J. Q. Kendrick, was the founder of the American branch of the name. He was in his time one of the wealthiest men in southwest Virginia. He took up his residence in America prior to the Revolutionary war, and, settling in southwestern Virginia, became owner of large tracts of land there. These lands are today worth millions of dollars on account of their mineral resources and are largely controlled by eastern capitalists. On the maternal side, Mr. Kendrick's ancestry goes back to his great-grandfather, Draper, who was the founder of the Draper family in this country in the colony of Pennsyl- vania. Grandfather Jonathan Draper was a Methodist preacher, but belonged to a Quaker family, and was born in Philadelphia, of Scotch deseent.

The father of the Amarillo business man was James P. Kendrick, who was born in Virginia, and is now living retired in the enjoyment of a well spent life at Wheeling, West Virginia. From 1876 to 1891 he was a resident of Texas, and while in this state was engaged in merchan- dising and in the lumber business at Ennis, subsequently moving to Plano, in Collin county, where he continued business as a merchant. During the Civil war he had been captain of a company in the Confederate army, going throughout the struggle and being wounded in the battle of Gettysburg. He was a member of Stonewall Jackson's command during the early years of the war. In politics he is a Democrat and is a member of the Methodist church. The maiden name of his wife was Annie Draper, who was born in Virginia and was mar- ried in Lebanon, Russell county, that state, in 1858. Her death occurred at Plano, Texas, in 1887, at the age of forty-six. There were nine children in the family, of whom James I. was the third, Two of his brothers, M.

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R. and A. S. Kendrick, are residents of Texas, the former at Plano, where he is a merchant, and the latter at Dalhart, in the real estate business.

James I. Kendrick attained part of his early education in the Emory and Henry College, near Abingdon, in Washington county, Virginia. He also attended school in Ennis for a short time, and on leaving school entered the employ of his father in the store, where he remained until 1885 and gained a thorough knowledge of business details. On embarking in business on his own account, he chose the town of Gatesville, in Coryell county, where he opened a stock of hardware and furniture, and pro- ceeded with characteristic vigor to build up a trade. He transferred his operations to the Panhandle country in 1891, first locating at Quanah, and he conducted several branch stores at different points in this part of the state. In 1904 he moved his headquarters to Amarillo, and in the past ten years has created the largest store and stock in furniture and house furnishing goods at this city. His store is sixty by one hundred and ten feet in dimension, and there is a large warehouse for storage of additional stock.

A Democrat in politics, Mr. Kendrick is not now active in party affairs, but before coming to Amarillo was hon- ored with a number of places of trust at the gift of his party. Mr. Kendrick is now a director and the only official in this section of the state of the Fish and Game Association of Texas, an organization whose purpose is the protection of game within the borders of Texas, and composed of leading citizens throughout the state. Mr. Kendrick some years ago took a very active part in hav- ing passed by the legislature the law regulating the un- dertaking and embalming business. He is one of the oldest undertakers and embalmers in the state, although now retired from active practice. He still retains his membership and was at one time president of the State Association of Embalmers. During his residence in other Texas cities he has held such offices as alderman, mayor, school director, but has declined official honors since coming to Amarillo. He holds membership in the Am- arillo Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Presbyterian church.

On June 27, 1887, at Waco, Mr. Kendrick married Miss Maggie Kendrick, daughter of Capt. B. J. Ken- driek, one of the pioneers of Texas, who died in April, 1912, at Waco, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. Captain Kendrick was one of the first settlers in the vi- cinity of Waco, having come to Texas at the close of the Civil war. He served as a soldier in the Confederate army from Georgia, serving in General Morgan's com- mand. Mr. and Mrs. Kendrick are the parents of ten children, all of whom were born in Texas. The Kendrick residence in Amarillo is at 1110 Harrison street. Mrs. Kendrick takes an active part in church work and the activities of the Woman's Club at Amarillo.

SIM FLORENCE. A resident of Grand Saline, Texas, since the early eighties, Sim Florence has a wide ac- quaintance in and about the county and as the leading insurance and real estate man of the city and proprietor of the Journal and Sun, a weekly newspaper, his repu- tation aud standing is most secure. Possessing none of the more showy qualities, he manifests in his daily walk those more sturdy and quiet traits that mean so much in their possessor and never fail of producing excellent results in the better interests of the community wherein their owner resides. Mr. Florence is well known among the newspaper men of the county, having engaged in the work soon after his advent to the county as the founder of the Grand Saline Sun, which printed its first issue in 1893, with Sim Florence as proprietor and Jud Riley as editor.

Born in Lincoln county, Georgia, on September 13, 1841, Sim Florence is the son of Seaborn Florence, who spent his life in farming. He was born in Georgia, of slaveholding parents, and he was reared under that in- fluence. He came to Texas in 1869 with his family and settled in Smith county, where he died in 1893, when he

was seventy-three years of age. His ancestors were French people and his wife was Eveline Blaylock, who died in Alabama in 1853. They had children as follows: David, who died in Dallas county, Texas, leaving a family, he having been a Confederate soldier; Gibson. Martha and Lucinda did not reach mature life; Wilson died in Smith county, Texas, in 1912, and he had served in the Confederate army also, and, like his brother, he left a family at his death; Thomas B., another Confed- erate soldier, died in Henderson county, this state, leaving one son, Dudley; John, who died in Van Zandt county in 1893, leaving a son and a daughter; Hamilton died in the Confederate service; and Virginia died in child- hood. Seaborn Florence married in later years and reared another family. He was a member of the Baptist church and the tenets of that church were effec- tively instilled into the minds of his offspring.

Sim Florence spent several years of his boyhood in St. Clair county, Alabama, whither the father settled after the birth of the boy, and there he acquired his education in the country school of the district as well as in similar schools in Texas after they took up their residence in this state. Like his brothers, he entered the service of the southern army, and when he returned from the war he taught school for a short time in Hen- derson county, no certificate being required at that time, the principal element that entered into the making of a successful teacher being the courage to approach the task. He later engaged in farming here, which he fol- lowed until 1876, and in that year he moved to Wills Point, where for some time he was engaged in cotton buying. He came to Grand Saline in 1888 or 1889 and here continued for a time in the same enterprise, leaving it to enter the newspaper field and the insurance and real estate business.

The Grand Saline Sun was the first vigorous and per- manent periodical given to the readers of this industrial center, and its literary and editorial success was the result of the efficiency of Mr. Riley, mentioned in a previous paragraph, while its business success lay with Mr. Florence. They continued in control of the paper for a time, then it was sold, and the Journal of Edge- wood was purchased. In 1908 it was moved to Grand Saline, and it now occupies an ideal newspaper home, built by its owners after many years of experience in familiarizing themselves with the needs of a country office such as theirs. A concrete building, with concrete floors, amply lighted and ventilated and equipped in the most thorough manner, is now the home of the Journal, a Democratic paper which aims to instruct and entertain the home folk rather than to dispense political opinions and prejudices.

In February, 1914, Mr. Florence bought the Grand Saline Sun and consolidated it with the Journal, discon- tinuing the name Journal and keeping that of the Sun as it was the oldest paper. After the consolidation he sold a half interest to Roy Walton who now has charge of the best paper in the best field in all East Texas-the Grand Saline Sun.

With the Sun firmly founded and its editorial depart- ment well provided for, Mr. Florence turned his atten- tion to the development of a business where his own superior talents might be displayed. He found this in the writing of fire insurance and in the exploitation of real estate enterprises, a combination for which he has displayed and demonstrated an aptitude and ability wholly equal to his hopes. His business connection has served to ally him with the vital affairs of the town and his hand has been seen in much that has taken place in the development of it and its enterprises.

When Mr. Florence first came to Grand Saline he was placed in charge of the mercantile affairs of Dr. J. C. Austin, the pioneer merchant of the place. As perma- nent administrator of the doctor's estate, he wound up its affairs and himself remained in the merchandise business and in cotton buying until he saw an oppor- tunity to engage in newspaper work.

Sim Hlavenel

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In 1861 Mr. Florence enlisted in Company K of the Third Texas Cavalry, with Captains Gaines and Johnson and Colonel Greer in command of the regiment. He participated in the battles of Oak Hills and Elkhorn and went with his command across the Mississippi river and fought at Corinth and other engagements in which the Tennessee army was active, leading up to the fall of Vicksburg, then going with General Johnston's army on the retreat from Chattanooga to Atlanta. He was with General Hood's army when it made the last Tennessee campaign, after the fall of Atlanta, and after the battle of Nashville Mr. Florence furloughed home, where he was when the war ended. He was wounded in the hand with a poisoned bullet at Newnan, Georgia, on the Atlanta campaign in July, 1864, but otherwise passed through the war without injury.

As a Democrat, Mr. Florence has participated in state polities to some extent and he was in the state conven- tion when "Charley" Culbertson was nominated for governor of Texas. He has always been a factor in Baptist affairs in Grand Saline and as one of the older members of the church here he has attended state con- ventions and missionary associations of the church as a delegate.

Mr. Florence was married in Talladega county, Ala- bama, in September, 1864, to Miss Fannie E. Curry, a daughter of Allen K. Curry and Elizabeth (Hogan) Curry, both Irish people. The children of their union were Elizabeth, who died in Grand Saline as the wife of Jud Riley, without surviving issue, and Jennie, who married Walt Smith of Grandfield, Oklahoma, and has one son, Sidney.

DEWITT C. PRIDDY. Beginning his independent busi- ness career with only fifty dollars of capital, and having from early boyhood relied upon his own efforts to pro- mote along the line of his ambition, Mr. Priddy is now one of the foremost real estate men of Amarillo, and, besides possessing a large brokerage business, he is the individual owner of a large amount of property and one of the successful men and influential citizens of the Texas Panhandle.

DeWitt C. Priddy was born near Booneville, Missis- sippi, March 4, 1875, and was a son of Dr. Racy Priddy, who was born in Alabama and later moved to Mississippi after the close of the war. The paternal ancestry was from Ireland, and its members were early settlers in Vir- ginia, and the family furnished several soldiers to the Revolutionary war. The founder of the American branch of the family was James Priddy. For services rendered during the early wars one of the ancestors received title to one hundred and sixty acres of land, inelnding the site of the present courthouse of St. Louis, Missouri, and this property has never been relinquished or deeded away. Dr. Racy Priddy was a carpenter by trade, and during the Civil war enlisted in the Twelfth Alabama Infantry at the beginning of hostilities, and went through the entire command as a soldier in Lee's army in Virginia. He was never taken prisoner, but was twice wounded and fonght in every important engagement that took place on the great Virginia battlefield. He was one among those who stacked arms at Lee's surrender and helped take the last two pieces of artillery secured by Lee's army. He is now living at the age of seventy-six in Quanah, Texas, being retired after a long and suc- cessful career. He came to Texas on December 15, 1880, first locating in Gainesville, in Cooke county, at the time the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad was first being operated through that section of the state, and removed to St. Joe, Texas. For a number of years he was en- gaged in merchandising at that place. The maiden name of the mother was Mary Cornelius Osborne, who was born in Alabama, of a family which settled in this state many years ago and before the war were planters and large slave owners. The mother died at Quanah on November 19, 1912, at the age of sixty-eight years. Of

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A history of Texas and Texans, Part 149

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