A history of Texas and Texans, Part 33

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 33

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While the business relations of the late Mr. Irvine were of a successful character, the more important fea- ture of his career was his attitude toward community and the moral and religious affairs. After his death a tribute came from Mr. P. W. Horne, at one time super- intendent of the Sherman schools, and now at the head of the public school system of Houston, and from his letter, published at the time, will be found the most salient characteristics of this sterling Sherman citizen :

"During the seven years that I had the privilege of being superintendent of the city schools of Sherman, there was no man who stood by me more faithfully than did he, or who contributed more to the educational upbuilding of Sherman. Mr. Irvine always stood for

the thing that he believed to be right. Like all the rest of us, it was at any time possible that he might be mistaken; but, if he believed a thing to be right and just, he had not the slightest hesitancy in saying so in unmistakable terms. He had the courage of his convic- tions, he was not afraid to fight, if need be, for what he considered the right. More than this, he had a kindly, sympathetic heart. If any question arose in the administration of the schools, he always leaned toward the side of kindness and of mercy. *

* When he thought that a certain course would stand for the moral and religious upbuilding of his town, he stood for that course.

"He was a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church and loved his church dearly; but he never al- lowed a sectarian influence to bias his vote on any school question. He had his political views, but what they were no one could ever have decided by a scrutiny of his school record. As a member of the board he stood for the entire town and not for any one portion of it.

"It has been my pleasure in the last twenty years to know a number of good, strong men who made excellent members of a board of education, as well as a very few who did not. In all this number I never knew one who surpassed J. B. Irvine in his unfaltering devotion to the duties of his office and to the welfare of the children under his charge. In this particular he has had a few equals, but no superior. * *

* He will be missed in his community, in his church, and most of all in his family. He will be deeply missed by many men scat- tered over a wide extent of territory, and among these latter I am one."

RIPLEY H. HUNTER, M. D., one of the well-known and successful physicians of Bullard, has practiced his pro- fession in Smith county, Texas, for more than a quarter of a century, and is identified with some of the county 's industrial and financial institutions, being president of the Citizens' State Bank of Bullard and also of the Bullard Lace Leather Company. He was born near Farmington, Marshall county, Tennessee, December 20, 1858, a son of James N. and Cynthia (Hayes) Hunter. His paternal great-grandfather came from Ireland at a comparatively early day and settled near Charleston, South Carolina, and his grandfather, Ephraim Hunter, was one of the first generation descended from this Irish emigrant. Ephraim Hunter married a Miss Bishop, and their children were James N., who was born in 1815; Thomas, Jasper, Henry, and Lizzie, who became the wife of Pope Dryden. Dr. Hunter's maternal ancestry can be traced back to one of the pioneer families of North Carolina.

James N. Hunter was a man of modest ambition, a quiet, unassuming citizen, who engaged in farming and mercantile pursuits at Farmington, Tennessee, where he died in 1889. For many years prior to his death he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and took a commendable interest in promoting its good works. His widow is still living, at the advanced age of eighty- seven years. Their children were Virginia, who married W. C. Adams and died at Farmington; Sallie, who is now the wife of W. K. Long of that place; Dora, who died in Farmington as the wife of T. G. Slate; Alice, who is now the wife of J. H. Culbertson of Farmington; Dr. Ripley H .; Etta, who married a man named Roberts and, after his death, became the wife of Nicholas Boren, is now deceased; Lula, who married L. M. Bell and died at Louisburg, Tennessee.

In his boyhood and youth Dr. Hunter enjoyed the ad- vantages of both country and town life, his early years being passed on his father's farm and in the little city of Farmington. After acquiring an academic education, he taught for some time in the country schools, and then began the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. W. C. Ransom at Farmington. Here he was pre-

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pared for entrance to the medical department of Van- derbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, where he was graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1883. Upon re- ceiving his degree he began the practice of medicine in his native town, where he remained until in 1886, when ne decided to try his fortunes in the great state of Texas. In that year be located at Selman, among strangers, and practiced there for ten years. In 1896 he removed to Bullard, where he built and opened the first drug store, which he conducted in connection with his professional duties as a physician. He is still engaged in the drug business; was one of the organizers of the Citizens' State Bank, in 1907, of which he is now president, and, as above stated, he is also the president of the Bullard Lace Leather Company. However, Dr. Hunter is first of all a physician, and his connection with other enterprises has never prevented him from attending to his patients. In his profession, he has kept fully abreast of the prog- ress of medical science, and is recognized as one of the progressive doctors of Smith county. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and he and his family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church.

Dr. Hunter has been twice married. In September, 1887, he married Miss Jessie Bone, daughter of Dr. R. D. Bone of Selman, Texas, and to this union were born two children-Annie May and Mina. The former is now the wife of L. F. Kay of Bullard, and the latter is Mrs. S. P. Barclay of Beaumont, Texas. Mrs. Jessie Bone Hunter died in 1892, and in October, 1893, Dr. Ilunter married Miss Bernice Jones, daughter of John Jones of Rusk county, Texas. To this second union have been born six children-Lula, Mary, Rush Q., Ripley H., Bon- ney and Sara. Lula and Mary are students in Kidd-Key College, at Sherman, Texas, and the other children are at home with the parents.

JAMES E. COTTER. Mayor of Port Aransas, leading real estate dealer of the place, and the proprietor of the Famous Tarpon Inn, celebrated the world over for the excellency of its cuisine, James E. Cotter takes his place as one of the foremost or, indeed, the foremost man of the place. He was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, iu 1876, and spent his early boyhood in Topeka, Kansas, whence he came to Texas in 1892, settling first at Port Aransas, then known as Ropesville, afterwards changed to Tarpon.

Port Aransas in those days was the only town on Mus- tang Island, and since the name was changed from Tar- pon it has become widely known for the great work the government has carried on there in building jetties, dredging and deepening the harbor of Aransas Pass. It is now a place of regular call for cotton-carrying steamships, and there is also a regular line of oil- carrying steamers between Tampico, Mexico, and Port Aransas. The town is situated directly upon the har- bor and is receiving the benefit of its most fortunate situation in the building of large warehouses, oil tanks, cotton compresses, etc. It is also an important center of the fish industry of these parts.

When Port Aransas was newly incorporated, James E. Cotter was elected mayor of the city, in 1910, and, by subsequent election, has served continuously in that of- fice. He is a capable and efficient official and has done excellent work in the office of chief executive of the city.

For several years Mr. Cotter has been the owner and manager of the famous Tarpon Inn, known all over the world for its cuisine of fish and other sea food, as well as for being the headquarters of the greatest tarpon fishing waters in America. The Tarpon Club holds forth at this hotel, and the most expert devotees of this rare sport are regular summer visitors at Mr. Cotter's hostelry, as well as large numbers of guests who come season after season for the pleasures that may be derived on extended holi- days in so delightful a spot. In addition to these enter- prises, Mr. Cotter is also the leading real estate dealer in Port Aransas, and finds himself one of the busiest

men of the place, as well as the most popular and prom- inent.

MCDONALD MEACHUM. Lawyer and a former promi- nent member of the Texas State Senate, McDonald Meachum, with law offices at 1004-5-6-7 Union National Bank Bldg., Houston, Texas, has won a successful place, both in his profession and in the public life of his state. His individual record has been in keeping with the ster- ling and useful activities of his forebears, for he repre- sents one of the old families of South Texas.

McDonald Meachum was born in Anderson, Grimes county, August 5, 1876. His parents were Col. W. W. and Mary E. (McDonald) Meachum. His father, a na- tive of North Carolina, emigrated to Texas during the fifties, settling in Grimes county, where he is well kuown as a member of the pioneer bar of that county, and dur- ing the Civil War, in which he enlisted as a private, was promoted for gallantry and served with official rank in a Texas regiment. The mother was born in Texas, a daughter of General James G. McDonald, who came to Texas from Nashville, Tennessee, during the early days of the Republic, settled near Anderson, in Grimes county, and for many years was a leading member of the bar of that section, District Attorney and State Senator in the early days of Texas History, and was a close and intimate friend of General Sam Houston.

MeDonald Meachum was reared in Grimes county, ed- ucated at the Anderson High School, and in 1894 entered the law department of the University of Texas, where he was graduated LL. B. in 1896. During his last year at the University he was president of the Senior Law Class. With the conclusion of his studies and his admission to the bar, he began practice at Navasota, in Grimes county, in the month of November, 1896. It was in that community that he attained rank as a successful lawyer and won his most conspicuous honors in public life.

In 1902 Mr. Meachum was elected to the legislature as a representative, serving during the 1903 session. After one term in the house, in 1904 he was elected to the senate, and sat in that body from 1905 to 1911. In the latter year he resigned in the senate and moved his home and law office to Houston, where he has since prac- ticed. While in the senate, Mr. Meachum attracted at- tention for his ability, both as a debater and originator of practical and useful legislation. He took a part in practically all the important discussions over public mat- ters during his official term. He was either a member or chairman of some of the most important committees in the senate, including chairmanship of judiciary com- mittee number one. For a time he served as president pro tem of the senate. It was Senator Meachum who prepared and introduced the bill providing for the build- ing of à monument at state expense over the grave of General Sam Houston, at Huntsville. That bill, by unanimous consent, passed both houses, and at the dedi- cation of the monument, on April 21, 1911, Senator Meachum shared the platform honors of the day with the Hon. William J. Bryan.

Mr. Meachum has membership in Navasota Lodge, No. 299, A. F. & A. M .; B. F. Wilson Chapter, No. 125, R. A. M .; Ivanhoe Commandery, Knights Templars, and El Mina Temple of the Mystic Shrine, at Galveston; is past grand of I. C. Stafford Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Navasota, having passed all the chairs and being a past representative of the Grand Lodge of Texas. He is also affiliated with various fra- ternal orders.

On December 5th, 1899, Mr. Meachum married Miss Lucile Shaw, daughter of James M. Shaw of Navasota. Her father was one of the early settlers in Grimes county; for twenty years was cashier of the First Na- tional Bank of Navasota, and is now connected with the Rio Bravo Oil Company. Mr. Meachum and wife have a daughter, Marguerite.

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JAMES ISAAC EASON. Banking has been the field to which Mr. Eason has devoted the energies of his active career for a number of years. With his long experience he combines an unusual equipment of ability and skill in the organization and management of financial insti- tutions. About six years ago he organized and took an executive post in the First Guaranty State Bank of Plano, and as cashier and active manager of that insti- tution has made it one of the most serviceable banks in Collin county.

James Isaac Eason was born June 29, 1872, at Dal- ton, Georgia, a son of T. J. and Mary Allen Eason. Both parents were natives of Greeneville, Tennessee, and, after the war, located in Georgia. The father was a loyal soldier of the Confederacy, served throughout the struggle, and at the conclusion identified himself with Georgia as a cotton merchant, and later followed gen- eral mercantile lines. About 1885 he moved to Texas, locating at Ennis, in Ellis county, and continued as a farmer and stock raiser until his death, in about 1890. The mother died in Dalton, Georgia, about 1884.

James I. Eason, who is the youngest in a family of eight children (seven sons and one daughter), five of whom are now living, was about thirteen years old when the family established their home in Texas, and his early education, begun in Georgia, was completed in this state in the public schools. His first business experience was acquired as a clerk in a dry goods store at Waxahachie, and, after five years of clerkship, an election to the office of city tax collector gave him considerable publie ex- perience during the next four years. At the end of that time he accepted a place as bookkeeper in a department of the state government at Austin, and lived and was thus employed at the state capital for five years.

With this broad experience, Mr. Eason next moved to Bardwell, in Ellis county, and organized the Bardwell State Bank, in which he took the position of cashier. A year later, however, be sold bis interests, and in 1908 moved to Plano and organized the First Guaranty State Bank of Plano. His first official relations with that bank were as assistant cashier, but after one year he became cashier, and now has the chief management of the bank's affairs. This bank has a capital stock of thirty thousand dollars, has accumulated six thousand dollars' surplus, and has made a splendid showing in de- posits and in commercial service to the community.

The political experience of Mr. Eason has always been in harmony with the Democratic party, and fraternally he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, and belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church Souill. On Decem- ber 24, 1899, at Waxahachie, Mr. Eason married Miss Ava Johnston, a daughter of J. C. Johnston. Her father came from Kentucky, was a farmer and stock- man in Ellis county from the early days, and is now liv- ing, partially retired, at Plano, though looking after his interests as a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Eason have one son, born February 28, 1903, and now attending school. During the six years of his residence in Plano. Eason has come to be regarded as a permanent factor in the business and social life of the community, and his plans for the future contemplate continued residence and activity in what is regarded by many as the garden spot of all Texas.

CAPT. THOMAS D. COBBS. During a successful career as a lawyer in Texas for more than thirty-five years, Captain Cobbs has gained many of the more important distinctions of professional and public life. He is known all over the state as a careful, painstaking, conscien- tious and profound lawyer, a thorough scholar, a disin- terested but aggressive worker for what he believes to be the best welfare of state and country, and a digni- fied, accomplished gentleman. At one time or another Judge Cobbs has been retained as general or special counsel for many of the large corporations of Texas,

and his entire career has been characterized by strict adherence to the best ethics of his profession.

Thomas D. Cobbs was born in Choctaw county, Ala- bama, a son of Chancellor Thomas and Lucy (Thom) Cobbs. The Cobbs family was founded in America by Joseph Cobbs, who settled at Yorktown, Virginia, in 1613. The paternal grandfather, Thomas Cobbs, was at one time mayor of Raleigh, North Carolina, and married a Miss Boone. The earlier generations of the family furnished soldiers of the American side to the Revolu- tionary war and the pioneer history of both the Caro- linas and of Georgia contain frequent mention of the name.

The late Chancellor Thomas Cobbs, who died in 1898, served for more than a quarter of a century with great distinction on the bench in Alabama, and was during the greater part of that time chancellor of the court of chancery, and was regarded as one of the ablest lawyers of the South. His work as a jurist is written perma- nently in the records of his home state, but in at least one case he made a notable decision affecting interests of more than state importance. This was his decision in the case of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad vs. The East Tennessee, Virginia & Georgia Railroad, which changed the status of railroad investments and had a marked influence on railroad interests throughout the nation. Chancellor Cobbs was one of the learned and most able jurists in the South, and both in his profes- sional and in his private life was honored and loved for the great integrity of his character, his fine ideals and his important service in all his relations.

By his marriage to Lucy Thom, Chancellor Cobbs brought into the family relationship a line of distin- guished lineage. The Thom family had its original seat in Virginia, and Lucy Thom's mother was Lucy Hansborough, who was related to the family of P. Hans- borough Bell, who was Governor of Texas from 1849 to 1853. Another Hansborough ancestor was Major Hans- borough, who gained his rank and title as a soldier of the American Revolution. The Thom family was founded in America by Alexander Thom, who was from Scotland and belonged to the clan Cameron in Invernesshire. He died in Westmoreland county, Virginia, in 1788, and had been one of the devoted followers of the Stuart Prince Charlie at Culloden in March, 1746. The Thoms were distinguished for their royalist tendencies, and during the American Revolution a number of them remained loyal to the mother country. Mrs. Lney (Thom) Cobbs continued to live at her home in Birmingham, Alabama, where her son, J. B. Cobbs, is a prominent business man. She died in 1911 while on a visit in Culpepper, Vir- ginia.

The late Chancellor Cobbs practiced law at Livingston, in Sumter county, Alabama, for a number of years, and it was there that Thomas D. Cobbs grew up and received most of his early education, and in Lindisfarne Acad- emy, a school conducted by the Episcopal Church at Marion. He studied law in his father's office and was admitted to the bar at Livingston in 1875. He had al- ready gained a somewhat varied experience, at first as civil engineer during the construction of the Alabama & Chattanooga Railroad, and also as circuit court so- licitor in Choctaw county, Alabama. On coming to Texas in 1878, Judge Cobbs became a law partner of Major Hannibal Boone, at Navasota, in Grimes county. Major Boone was at that time attorney-general of Texas. From Navasota Judge Cobbs moved to San Antonio in April, 1893. This removal was partly due to his practice as attorney for the land department of sev- eral railroads, and it was a matter of greater conven- ience for him to live in San Antonio in carrying out his duties. His services were required in connection with the lands originally granted by the state to the Texas & New Orleans, the Galveston, Houston & San Antonio, the Galveston, West Texas & Pacific, the Houston & Texas Central, and the Waco & Northwestern Railroad

J. D. Carlos

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Companies. This naturally gave him practice of large and profitable character, but he also followed a large general practice in all the courts. Judge Cobbs was ad- mitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court in October, 1893.

Judge Cobbs practiced for a time at San Antonio as a member of the firm of Denman, Franklin, Cobbs & MeGown. He is now senior member of the firm of Cobbs, Eskridge & Cobbs. His public service has been of a varied and important character. For a number of years he was connected with the State Militia and gained his rank of captain by service in that organiza- tion. Governor Lanham appointed him on his staff with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. In 1902 Captain Cobbs was elected to represent Bexar county in the Twenty- Eighth Legislature, and he was re-elected in 1904 and in 1906. Captain Cobbs went to the legislature as the result of a public opinion in his district that demanded men of the highest ability and character rather than mere politicians. He never made a campaign for elec- tion, and during his presence at Austin was regarded as one of the forcible leaders in the assembly, and was a member of the judiciary committee No. 1 and of sev- eral other important committees. Judge Cobbs has never been afraid to take an independent stand on any issue which he believed to be vital to the welfare of his com- munity or state. While in the legislature, although one of, a handful, he opposed what were known as the tax bills to increase taxes on corporations, his opposition being based upon the uuconstitutionality of such bills, especially the gross tax bill. His contention has since been sustained by action of the Supreme Court of the United States. Judge Cobbs is a friend of the working classes, and his record in the legislature shows that fact, although nothing in his public or private record could be found to indicate any undue discrimination or prejudice in favor of any class, and it is his belief that laws should be fairly and impartially administered for all. On the basis of his splendid professional accom- plishments the appointment of Mr. Cobbs as au asso- ciate justice of the Court of Civil Appeals was an honor as much to the state and to the bench as to himself. Judge Cobbs recently resigned his position in the Court of Civil Appeals, and now devotes himself to the many important interests intrusted to the firm of Cobbs, Eskridge & Cobbs, at San Antonio.

Judge Cobbs was married at Navasota to Miss Carrie Quinney. She was born in Texas, and her father was a prominent physician of Grimes county. Her mother was a daughter of General Barnes, a distinguished citizen of Grimes county.

Thomas D. Cobbs, Jr., the only son and child of Judge Cobhs and wife, was born at Navasota, Texas, in 1885, graduated bachelor of science from the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, and subsequently received his degree LL. B. from the law department of the Uni- versity of Texas at Austin. He is now junior member of the well known law firm of Cobbs, Eskridge & Cobbs, and has already proved his ability both as a court and office lawyer. Mr. Cobbs, Jr., is a member of the Beta Theta Pi college fraternity, the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, of the Travis Club and the Casino Association of San Antonio.

HARRY ROBERTS. Among the prominent business men in Bonham, Texas, who feel that it is their duty to take some of their time from their business affairs to devote to the public welfare of the town is Harry Roberts, one of the principal merchants of the place. He is a native of this state, and practically all of his life has been spent within her borders; so his love for Texas is a very real one. He is as yet a young man, and his success in the business world makes it easy to prophesy his future success, for he is not afraid of hard work and has un- doubted ability in the line he has chosen.

The father of Harry Roberts, Ruffin C. Roberts, was

born in October, 1828, in Limestone county, Alabama. The father of Ruffin C. Roberts owned one of the large plantations in Limestone county, and the boy grew up in the easy, luxurious days preceding the Civil war. His father owned many negroes and was a man of consider- able wealth and influence in the community. Life on a plantation in those days did not, however, offer many opportunities for an education, and Ruffin C. Roberts could not have been called an educated man; yet be inherited the education that belongs naturally with birth and breeding and was a man of considerable mental pow- ers. His mother was a Miss Cox previous to her mar- riage, and the family consisted of Matthew, Fountain, Carrie, who married a Mr. Nunn, and Ruffin C.

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A history of Texas and Texans, Part 33

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