A history of Texas and Texans, Part 32

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 32

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Dr. McGee, like all progressive, up-to-date members of his profession, has identified himself with numerous fra- ternal organizations. He is a member of the Bowie County, Northeast Texas, Texas State, and American Medical Associations.

He married, in Bowie county, Miss Carrie Eliza Ellis, a native of Illinois, and they have four children: Lillie, Joel R., Jr., Mildred, and Ellis.

THOMAS M. ANDERSON. One of the pioneers of Goree, Texas, and one of the men whom every one respects and likes, is Thomas M. Anderson. He has given of his time and energy for years in the effort to build up this section of the state and is one of the most valuable citizens Goree has ever owned. As a farmer and rancher in this section Mr. Andersou early realized the opportunities which the country offered to settlers, and he has been indefatigable in his efforts to aid in its development. He is now engaged in the real estate and loan business and has made a decided success of this business.

Thomas M. Anderson was born in Gilmer county, Georgia, on the 4th of April, 1869. He grew up in his native state and received his elementary education in the public schools of Georgia. He then took a course in Cumberland College, in Murray county, Georgia. When he completed this work he was only sixteen years of age, but he was mature for his years and a fine student, so he was offered a position as a teacher in Marion county, Tennessee. After one year as a teacher he returned to his home in Georgia, but only remained there for a short time before he went to Kansas. He followed farm- ing and the cattle business in this state for a few months and then came to Texas. After coming to the latter state he taught school for seven terms and then settled down to farming and cattle raising in Knox county, where he had been teaching school. It was in 1885 that he came to Texas, at a time when this section was in a very crude and undeveloped state, and he has lived here ever since, and has been one of the leaders in the marvelous development that has taken place. He has followed farming and stock raising during all these years, and now operates a farm three miles from Goree. In 1908 he established his present office and is now doing a prosperous business in real estate, insurance and loans.

Mr. Anderson is a member of the Democratic party and has always taken an active interest in politics where local matters have been concerned. He was Justice of the Peace for eighteen years and for four years was a member of the board of county commissioners. In re- ligious matters Mr. Anderson leans toward the Metho- dist Church, but he is a supporter of all denomina-

tions. In the fraternal world he is a member of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, being one of the charter members of this order in the county. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. As a member of the Commercial Club his judgment and experience have been of much benefit to the work of this organization.

Mr. Anderson was married to Miss Nelle Gilliland, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Gilliland, of Knox county, on the 3d of October, 1907, the marriage taking place in Knox county. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have two children, both of whom are girls, namely, Montie and Tommie.

R. L. McMEANS, M. D. Now regarded as one of the best physicians in Amarillo in point of ability and extent of practice, Dr. McMeans has been identified with his profession in this state for about twenty-four years. His success has been due to hard study and application of all the energies he possesses, and from the first he has aimed at the highest ideals of professional service.

Dr. McMeans was born at Palestine, Texas, Septem- ber 9, 1866, a son of James L. and Alexena (Ricks) MeMeans. His father, a native of Alabama, came to Texas in 1854, locating in Anderson county, where he followed with considerable success the occupation of farmer and stock raiser. His death occurred in 1895 at Palestine, when he was seventy-five years of age, and he was buried at that city. The mother also a native of Alabama received her education and was married in that state and is now living with her son in Galveston, Judge S. A. McMeans of the court of civil appeals. Ten children comprised the family, of whom the doctor was the youngest.

He attended the local public schools during his boy- hood and at the age of seventeen left home and has since fought his own way to the top. He finally on means acquired by his own efforts entered the Beaumont Medi- cal College of St. Louis, where he was graduated M. D. in 1889. The first five years of his professional career were spent in the railway hospitals at Palestine and Tyler, Texas, and he established himself in general prac- tice at Plano, where he remained for twelve years. In 1906 he came to Amarillo, and since that time has en- joyed an excellent general practice. The doctor is a member of the county aud state medical societies and the American Medical Association, and is lecturer in the nurses' school of St. Anthony's Sanitarium of Amarillo, and at the present time is serving as county physician of Potter county.

Dr. McMeans is a Democrat, and a member of the Methodist church. He is prominent in Masonry, having taken all the degrees in the York Rite, including the Commandery and Shrine, Hella Temple, Dallas, Texas, and is also affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Woodmen of the World. At Childress, Texas, in July, 1904, he married Miss Annett H. Harris, whose parents are now living in San Antonio. Dr. McMeans is a director of the Amarillo Bankers & Trust Company. He is fond of outdoor life and recrea- tion and has a broad acquaintance throughout Potter county.

JAMES G. WRIGHT, M. D. A successful practice as a physician and surgeon at Big Springs for the past twelve or thirteen years has made Dr. Wright one of the leading citizens of that place and aside from the duties connected with a large medical practice he is a valuable worker in the community, and maintains a public spirited attitude toward all undertakings for the general welfare.

Dr. James G. Wright was born December 8, 1867, at Searcy, Arkansas. His parents were Thomas D. and Mary Elizabeth Wright. On the father's side the an- cestry is Irish, and on the mother's German, and the father belonged to an old southern family which owned

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slaves and large estates before the war. Thomas D. Wright was a native of Tennessee, whence he moved to Searcy, Arkansas, and spent more than forty years at Searey, in the practice of his profession as a physician and surgeon. He had moved to Searcy when he was about twenty-one years of age, and continued there a few years when he came to Texas where he lived until his death, at 66 years of age. There were seventeen chil- dren in his family, twelve by the first marriage and five by the second, and Dr. James G. was the eighth in order of birth, among the first family. At the present time there are five of the first family, and three of the sec- ond still living. The family moved from Arkansas to Texas in 1874, spending one year in Johnson county, and in the fall of 1875 moving to Brownwood, Texas, where the parents both died.

James G. Wright had his education chiefly in the public schools of Texas, and early turned his attention to the profession which his father had followed with such distinction and success. He completed his medical studies in the University of Tennessee, in the medical department located at Nashville, where he was gradu- ated in 1896 with the degree of M. D. He is a pro- gressive physician and has never been entirely satisfied with his attainments and is the kind of man who would never lose ambition for higher accomplishment in the line of his profession. Since taking his regular medical degree, he has studied as a post-graduate in the Post Graduate School of Chicago, in 1899, and in 1905 pur- sued further courses in the Chicago Polyclinic. His first practice was at May, Texas, where he remained from 1893 to 1900, and in the latter year located at Big Springs, where he has enjoyed a large practice to the present time.

The doctor has been a staunch Democrat since casting his first vote, and is affiliated with the Masonic Order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Wood- men of the World. At Brownwood, Texas, July 18, 1891, Dr. Wright married Miss Sarah O. Carter, dangh- ter of J. I. Carter. Her father was a substantial farmer of Brown county, and is now deceased. Her mother lived in the home of Dr. and Mrs. Wright and is seventy - three years of age, yet well preserved and a cheerful old lady. Dr. Wright and wife have four children, whose names are Altus, Vivian, Inez and Ona. The children in age range from twenty to fourteen years, and all are in school except the second boy, who is now a drug clerk.

WILLIAM LUCIUS ADKINS. By more thau thirty-five years of successful practice as a lawyer and by varied and important relations with local affairs, William L. Adkins is one of the best known citizens of Colorado county, and both for his own career and that of his family it is appropriate to give some place in these biographical annals of Texas.

William Lucius Adkins was born on the Colorado river in Colorado county, October 18, 1859, a son of Dr. W. L. and Susan (Munn) Adkins, the father a native of Georgia and the latter of Alabama. Great-grandfather Daniel Adkins came to the Georgia colony with James Oglethorpe, and his name appears on the records of the Second Baptist church of Georgia as deacon in 1779. Through the various generations have appeared many men successful as planters, doctors and Baptist preach- ers. Grandfather John F. Adkins followed his son to Texas, bringing his slaves, and was known through the rest of his life as a leading planter.

Dr. W. L. Adkins, father of the Columbus lawyer, was one of the pioneer physicians of Texas, having come to the Republic in 1837 and settling at LaGrange in Fay- ette county. After a number of years' practice in that locality, in the early fifties he moved to Colorado county and spent the rest of his days there. He was a man of wealth, at one time owned forty-five thousand acres of land in Colorado county, and was one of the largest planters. Though a slave holder, he did not believe that

human slavery could result in ultimate good, and also believed in the integrity of the Union, and accordingly voted against secession. During the Mexican war he had enlisted with a regiment from Texas. Dr. Adkins died in 1861, about the beginning of the war, and his wife survived him about ten years.

William L. Adkins was educated in the local schools of Fayette county and in the Military Institute at Austin. In early manhood he married Miss Jeannie Bowers, who was born at Columbus, a daughter of Dr. John H. Bowers.

The career of Dr. John H. Bowers deserves more than passing notice. Born in Alsace, then a Province of France, he died at Columbus, Texas, when almost ninety years of age. While a student at Mulhausen University, he was one of the students body delegated to attend the funeral of Marquis de LaFayette in 1834. At the age of eighteen he left France, traveled in India and China, and while in the Orient had considerable experi- ence in treating Asiatic cholera. He brought with him to Texas a chest of medicines, which had been presented him by an English military officer, and these medicines proved an invaluable aid to him while treating the cholera epidemic in Texas in 1851. Dr. Bowers landed at New York in 1836, and traveled around by sea to Galveston. In his professional capacity his services were given to many of the most prominent early Texans, including General Sam Houston and the second Mrs. Houston, besides many other notable characters of the era of the Republic. He made the acquaintance of General Santa Ana and Col. Almonte while they were prisoners in Texas, and Gen. Santa Ana some years later invited Dr. Bowers to visit him in Mexico City. Dr. Bowers was a fine type of the pioneer physician, dis- regarding all personal inconveniences and hardships and dangers in attending his patients, and it is said that in the early days he made several trips between Galves- ton and Brownsville, at a time when the greater portion of that distance was a wilderness and infested with Indians and outlaws. He had arrived in Texas shortly after the battle of San Jacinto, was attached to Hous- ton's army for a time, and also saw service in the Mex- ican war.

After his marriage Mr. Adkins was engaged in the drug business for several years at Columbus, and studied law in the offices of Major Ford and Wells Thompson. Admitted to the bar in 1887, he began practice at Columbus, and has for many years had a position as one of the leading lawyers in his part of the state. He has also given political service, having served as county chairman, as Democratie Congressional chairman, repre- sented Columbus county in the Twenty-second Legisla- ture, was presidential elector on the Alton B. Parker ticket in 1904, and was a delegate to the Democratie con- vention which nominated William J. Bryan the ' second time. Mr. Adkins is the owner of a large amount of land in Colorado county.

Mr. and Mrs. Adkins are the parents of one son, John Bowers Adkins. With his wife Mr. Adkins has mem- bership in the Baptist church, that denomination having claimed the representatives of the Adkins family for many generations.

MAJOR JAMES SHEPHERD GRINNAN. When Major Grin- nan died in Terrell a few years ago, it was said that no other contemporary had done so much to enrich his com- munity in those elements which make for civic whole- someness and material prosperity. Such a citizen was an honor to Texas history, and the brief synopsis of his genealogy and career in suceeding paragraphs, is but a meagre memorial to one whose life left much that was practical in its accomplishments and inspiring in its character.

Although a Texan by adoption, Major Grinnan was a Virginian by birth, born near the historic town of Cul- pepper, January 2, 1838. Major Grinnan's grandfather,

FB Irvine

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Daniel Grinnan settled in Culpepper county in 1764 on a farm purchased from Governor Spotswood. With his son John he fought in the Revolutionary war, taking part in the battle of Guilford Courthouse. This same Dan Grinnan was a surveyor of Culpepper county, and in one of his surveys was associated with George Wash- ington.

Major Grinnan was the son of William Stewart Grin- nan and Mary Edmondson Welch. His father was twice married, the first time to Miss Shepherd, a niere of President Madison, the marriage taking place in Mont- pelier, Madison's country home. To this union were born two sons, James and Shepherd, after whom Major Grinnan was named, and a daughter Frances. To his second wife, Mary Edmondson Welch were born eight sons and one daughter. The only ones besides the major to live and marry were Mary Elizabeth Grinnan Nelson, and William Welch Grinnan.

Three of Major Grinnan's brothers gave their lives a willing sacrifice to the south and her rights. In 1860, even before the Confederacy was organized, James S. Grinnan as a private soldier joined the Culpepper min- utemen, the same company in which his great-grand- father served during the Revolutionary war. He served under General A. P. Hill, was with General Stonewall Jackson at Harper's Ferry, and also served under J. E. B. Stuart. After Stuart's death he was appointed, by the secretary of the Confederacy, Col. Crump, receiv- ing the indorsement of the Confederate Congress, to a position in the secret service; it being his duty to keep open the communication between Lee's army and the Trans-Mississippi department. In this capacity he acted as messenger, financial and confidential agent in touch and communication with the army and cabinet of the Confederacy. In the discharge of these duties, he made thirteen trips across the Mississippi river and back, twenty-six trips in all, carrying money and dispatches from President Davis' headquarters. He also made two trips through Texas and into Mexico. At the time of the surrender he was on his way to Mexico again, but went to New York and sailed for Europe instead, where he remained eight months.

Early after the opening of hostilities his keen busi- ness foresight caused him to remove the earnings of his young manhood from the dangers and uncertainty of his surroundings to the Bank of England, and it was for this reason, as well as to watch developments in the first days of reconstruction that he went abroad.

On his return, having in his trip through Texas been impressed with the bright future in store for the Lone Star state, he settled in Texas. He located at Tyler, go- ing into business with his brother Welch Grinnan, who remained there until his death in 1898. In 1868 Major Grinnan moved into Jefferson, Texas, where he went into business with Mr. Wayland, afterwards Senator Wayland. In 1872 Major Grinnan engaged in the bank- ing and cotton commission business in Galveston, the firm being known as Grinnan, Wayland & Duval. In 1878 he removed to Kaufman county, where he resided until his death July 29, 1907, in Terrell.

A great advocate of public education, he was foremost in the organization of the Terrell Public Schools, and was president of the first board. It was perhaps more to his efforts than to any other's that Terrell secured the location of the North Texas Hospital for the Insane. He served on the board of directors of that institution as president through the Ireland. Ross, Culberson and Sayers administrations, and was also on the board under the Lanham administration. Major Grinnan acted as vestryman of the Church of the Good Shepherd from the date of its founding until a few years before his death. He was also a member of the Masonic Order. During his residence in Galveston he was offered the nomination of state senator by the Democrats of the district, the Republicans offering to make no opposition if he ac-

cepted the nomination, but, at the request of his wife he declined the honor.

He was a man of strong and forceful personality, with a keen sense of humor, a Chesterfield in manner, and public spirited. During the thirty years prior to his death there was scarcely a movement of a public nature in which he did not figure conspicuously. As a leader in publie matters, his sound judgment and unselfish spirit always won for him the full confidence and support of his own community. His zeal, enthusiasm and intelli- gent public effort did more for the advancement of the town in which he lived than could be credited to any other one citizen. Always liberal, he responded promptly to every public need. Major Grinnan was known through- out the state, where he was respected and revered as he was at home. High in moral standing, firm in his be- lief of what was right, he was tender, devoted, and lavish in his home. Though sorrow touched him many times, he always maintained the same calm, diguifed bearing and the same cheerful outlook for the future. He died confident in his God and resting in His promises.

During his residence in Tyler, in 1868, he married Miss Disha Belzora Ham, a native of the town and the eldest daughter of Frederick Jourdon Ham and Lucinda Wells Ham. Mr. Ham was born in North Carolina, but moved to Texas in the early days. He was a man of edu- cation and refinement, fond of reading, of quiet bearing, but of the most unflinching courage. It was said of him that "his word was as good as his bond." He was a civil engineer, and accumulated a comfortable fortune in the pursuit of his profession. He died on his plautation, near Tyler, in 1855. Mrs. Ham died in 1914 at the age of eighty-six at the home of her daughter, Mrs. P. C. Coleman of Colorado, Texas, formerly Miss Lucy Ham, one of Texas' most noted belles. Mrs. Ham is the daughter of Colonel Rice Wells, a banker of Brandon, Mississippi. He was a colonel in the war of 1812, fight- ing the battle of New Orleans under Andrew Jackson. He moved to Texas during the Republic, settling in Har- rison county in 1842, afterwards moving to Smith county. He died in Starville, and has a great number of descend- ants in this state.

Mrs. Grinnan died at Broadlands, the country home, in 1895. She left eight children to mourn her loss: Libbie, Mrs. L. E. Griffith (now deceased), who was the mother of Mrs. Janie Belle and Libby Lucinda Griffith; James Shepherd, who married Miss Bertha Dollahite of Terrell; Lucile, now Mrs. William H. Lyon; Frederick Ham and Helen Benners, both of whom died in 1904; Belle Shortridge, now Mrs. Frank Martin, who had two children, Frank and James Grinnan; Louis Porter, mar- ried to Miss Genevieve Manning; and Kate Nadine, who died in 1910.

The two sons are engaged in business in Terrell. James, like his forebears, responding to his country's call, took part in the Spanish-American war and went to Cuba with Hood's Immunes. He is a vestryman of the Church of the Good Shepherd, a member of the Asy- lum board, and also a member of the executive commit- tee of the Democratic party of Texas, and is a thirty- second degree Mason. Louis is also a thirty-second de- gree Mason, is prominent in social circles, and is a noted globe-trotter.

J. B. IRVINE. In the death of J. B. Irvine, which oc- curred during a temporary residence at Mineral Wells on September 13, 1911, the city of Sherman and Grayson county were deprived of a citizen whose influence and character they could ill afford to lose. He had for many years been a business man and farmer and stockman in the vicinity of Sherman, but his success in material di- rections was perhaps less important to his fellowmen than his devotion to eivie ideals and service, and his unflinching integrity in every relation with society, com- munity and church.

J. B. Irvine was born at Timber Ridge, Virginia, July

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30, 1853, and was fifty-eight years of age when he died. He came to Texas in 1883, first locating at San Marcos, but a year later moved to Sherman, locating in the Fair- view addition to that city. For some years he was identified with the packing house market business in Sherman, and later turned most of his attention to the supervision of a large farm west of the city. He was the youngest in a family of five daughters and two sons, whose parents were William F. and Christiann (Berry) Irvine, his father a native of Pennsylvania and his mother of Virginia. The Irvine family has for a number of generations been established in America, and has furnished a number of prominent names, including a general of colonial troops during the Revolutionary war. The late Mr. Irvine's father was a Pennsylvania farmer. J. B. Irvine was reared and educated in Virginia and was married in that state to Miss Ella Wilson, whose parents were Robert T. and Eliza (Ingles) Wilson. Her parents were both natives of Virginia, and the Wilson and Ingles families had settled in that old colony at a very early date and secured their land direct from the Indians. In 1850 the Wilson family moved to Knox- ville, Tennessee, where Mrs. Irvine was born March 13, 1853, being the fourth of nine children, six daughters and three sous. Of these, besides Mrs. Irvine, the only survivors are: Mrs. Ida Fultz, of Rockbridge county, Virginia ; Mrs. W. F. Bonds, of Quay, New Mexico, and Miss Nora Ingles Wilson, a trained nurse living at Roanoke, Virginia.

To the marriage of Mr. Irvine and wife were born the following children: A. Percy, born at Lexington, Vir- ginia, March 22, 1876, is unmarried aud is a prospector living at Glendale, Arizona. Sid H., born at Lexington, Virginia, September 8, 1877, is unmarried and is man- ager for the N. K. Fairbanks Company at Atlanta, Georgia. John Kyle, born at Lexington, Virginia, on August 30, 1879, died as a result of injuries received in the cyclone at Sherman in 1896. Janie Ingles, born May 13, ISS1, at Timber Ridge, Virginia, was married December 14, 1904, to W. R. Greer, a merchant at Bowie, Texas, and they have one son, Rudy Irvine, now five years of age. Maggie S., born at San Marcos, Texas, January 21, 1883, was married March 22, 1905, to Dr. C. J. Colling, lives in Sherman and has two children, Margaret and Beverly. Ross A., born April 22, 1885, at Sherman, married November 14, 1907, to Gertrude Barthlow, a native of Sherman. Nellie Joe, born Janu- ary 13, 1887, at Sherman, was married December 27, 1913, to Guy Bounds, a rancher of El Paso county and a son of Ed Bounds proprietor of the Circle Ranch. Mary M., born December 5, 1888, at Sherman, was mar- ried April 20, 1912, to Osgood Campbell, ticket agent and rating clerk for the Missouri Kansas and Texas Railroad at Sherman, and they have a daughter, Eliza- beth Berry, born July 14, 1913. Robbie, the ninth child, died in infancy. Charles W., born April 19, 1891, now farmer and managing his mother's affairs, was married September 25, 1913, to Miss Mattie Miller, a native of Sherman. Miss Bess, born April 12, 1893, at Sherman, lives at home. Miss Ruth, the youngest, was born the twelfth child on the twelfth day of the twelfth month in 1897 and is now a student in the Sherman High School.

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A history of Texas and Texans, Part 32

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