A history of Texas and Texans, Part 49

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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Mr. Barry was married in Paducah, Kentucky, August 22, 1877, to Miss Laura O. Paine, daughter of Thomas P. Paine of Paducah. The three children (two sons and one daughter) of their marriage were: Thomas J. and Robert B., both deceased, and Mrs. J. L. Mitchell, a resi- dent of Fort Stockton, where her husband is a contractor and builder. Mr. and Mrs. Barry are active members of the Christian church, he serving as elder and as superin- tendent of the Sunday school, while Mrs. Barry is a mem- her of the Ladies' Aid Society. Mr. Barry has also for forty-two years been a member of the Masonic order, and his wife is affiliated with the Eastern Star. His other fraternities are the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. He served one year as secretary of the Fort Stockton Commercial Club and is now postmaster of Fort Stockton. He is one of the party fighters in the Democratic organization, and it is note- worthy that he was one of the original Wilson men and advocated the nomination of that scholar and statesman through the columns of the Pioneer. Mr. Barry finds his best recreation in the newspaper business and in the hard work connected with it. He is a great mixer socially and is one of the most popular men in Fort Stockton and vicinity.

JOHN H. HIGHSMITH. Now proprietor of a transfer, storage, ice, and feed business at Fort Stockton, Mr. Highsmith is one of the progressive young business men of west Texas. He began his career as a hard-working clerk at a meager salary, and is now one of the influential men of Fort Stockton.

John H. Highsmith was born in Lampasas, Texas, January 8, 1876, a son of Henry A. and Sallie High- smith. He was the fifth in a family of seven children. His early education was in the public schools of Round Rock, and at fifteen years he began his own career, when he took a place in a general store and worked as clerk for one year at a salary of thirty-five dollars per month and board. He then went into a hardware store, where he

Jours lively ron

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spent nearly two years, after which he came out to west Texas and was introduced to the life of this country by eight months of work on a ranch. He returned home, and then began buying and selling stock on his own account. He was later in the mule and horse business for several years, after which he managed the ice business at Hutto, where he remained for about two years. In 1908 he came to Fort Stockton to close up the estate of G. H. Cato, his brother-in-law, and has remained with this place ever since. He set up in the contracting business for the construction of streets and highroads, and has con- structed nearly all the made streets in Fort Stockton and nearly every wagon road in Pecos county. From the contracting business he got into his present line, and now handles a complete line of stock food supplies, has a storage warehouse, and deals in ice and does a general transfer and heavy hauling business. The sign on all his buses, "We never miss a train," is indicative of the spirit of punctuality and promptness which has charac- terized Mr. Highsmith's entire business career.

His church is the Presbyterian, and he is affiliated with the Woodmen of the World and the Knights of Pythias, belongs to the Fort Stockton Commercial Club and the Fort Stockton Club, and is one of the active workers in the Democratic ranks. At the present time he is serving as city pound officer. Baseball is his fa- vorite diversion, and he is a broad-minded man, who takes an interest in everything that concerns the welfare and wholesome conditions in his home town.

F. M. NEWMAN. A native son of Texas, where he has passed his entire career, F. M. Newman has risen to an enviable position at the bar of MeCulloch county, and for more than a quarter of a century has been in continuous practice at Brady. In no walk of profes- sional life is the value of thorough preparation more evident than in the domain of law. Mr. Newman pre- pared himself with patience and thoroughness before venturing into the practice of his chosen vocation, his training including work as a teacher in Texas school- rooms, with the result that when he finally became active as a legist he was able at once to take a position of prominence among the thorough and learned men of his profession. With increasing competition in the legal field, he has been able to maintain his position, and today he is recognized as one of the leading practition- ers of his locality.

F. M. Newman was born November 4, 1860, in Wash- ington county, Texas, and is a son of Joel and Mary A. (Overton) Newman. The Newmans are of English origin. They came to America during the Colonial pe- riod, and the family was founded in the Southwest hy Jonathan Newman, the grandfather of F. M. Newman, who was a member of the Austin Colony and came to Texas in 1825, here passing the remainder of his life in farming and stock raising pursuits. Joel Newman, father of F. M. Newman, was born in what is now Washington county, Texas, but which at that time was a portion of Mexico. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and, with his father, Jonathan Newman, being a slaveholder, at the outbreak of the war between the South and North, his sympathies were naturally with the Confederacy. Accordingly, Joel Newman enlisted in the service of the South and continued to do duty until the close of hostilities, the greater part of his service being passed in Galveston. He subsequently returned to his native locality, and continued to be engaged in farming and stock raising until his death, which occurred at his home, located within 600 yards of where he had been born, in 1890. His wife, a native of Tennessee, passed away in 1873, having been the mother of four sons and two daughters, F. M. being the second in order of birth.

F. M. Newman was reared to manhood on the home place in Washington county, and there received his pri- mary educational training in the community private

schools. Subsequently he entered Baylar University, from which he was graduated in 1885, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, being the last graduate of that institution before it was moved from Independence to Waco. During his last year in the University, he was one of the teachers, devoting half of each day to hear- ing recitations and the other half to his own studies. Following this, Mr. Newman taught school for one year, being principal of a public school, and in the meantime prosecuted his legal studies. In June, 1886, he commenced the study of law exclusively at Brenham, and in 1887 was admitted to the bar. Iu October of that year he came to Brady, and this city has since been his field of practice. Mr. Newman has devoted himself to his profession and he has pursued it upon the same method as the scholar in science-quietly, enthusiastic- ally, and industriously bringing to it the highest intel- lectual qualities and attributes of character which have given him an envious position and earned him conspicu- ous success. There is no doubt that he would be emi- nently successful on the bench, for on several occasions he has accepted appointments as special judge, yet he has not courted publicity nor has he shown any desire to thrust himself into politics except as an earnest sup- porter of the principles and candidates of the Demo- cratie party. In this connection he is known as a zealous worker, for whatever he undertakes receives the full benefit of his energetic nature. In Masonry he has attained to the Chapter and Council degrees and is a Past Master and Past High Priest, and he is also a popular member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Woodmen of the World. His wide circle of sincere friends testifies to his popularity both in and outside of his profession.

On February 4, 1891, Mr. Newman was married at Brady to Miss Laura Sheridan, daughter of John P. Sheridan, a retired Texas rancher, who migrated to this state from Indiana. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Newman: Pearl, born February 2, 1892, and F. Sheridan, born October 20, 1909.

HERMAN H. BUTZ. County treasurer of Pecos county, Mr. Butz is one of the well-known business men of Fort Stockton; was for a number of years associated with Mr. James Rooney in merchandising, and now does a large business in general real estate and insurance lines. He belongs to the old, substantial German stock, an element which had done so much for the development and enter- prise of Texas, especially in the south and southwest, and he himself well represents the solid characteristics of his race.

Herman H. Butz was born in one of the chief centers of German colonization in Texas, at New Braunfels, July 12, 1876. His father was Theodore Butz, who was born in Germany, and came to Texas when a young man, fol- lowing various occupations and during the Civil war serving as a Confederate soldier. He was a member of the Knights of Honor and well known in his community. His death occurred in 1883, at the age of forty years. He married, in Texas, Augusta Koehler, who was also born in Germany, and she now makes her home at San Marcos, Texas. Of four children, Herman H. was the first, and the other sons and daughters also live in this state.

Herman H. Butz had his early education in the public schools, and at eighteen years began for himself. He came out to Fort Stockton, took a clerkship in a store, worked one year at a salary, and then joined Mr. James Rooney and bought out the mercantile business which has since been conducted and is now known as the Rooney Mercantile Company. Mr. Butz was associated ac- tively with the management of this concern for about ten years, and at the end of that time became interested with several other local business men in the organization of the First State Bank of Stockton. He held the of- fice of cashier in that institution for six years, at the

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end of which time he resigned, and since then has man- aged his private investment, and also has an office for general real estate, insurance, and investment business.

As a Democrat, Mr. Butz has been an influential leader in this part of the state, and at the present time is serv- ing his fifth consecutive term in the office of county treasurer. He is also president of the school board, hav- ing been connected with the board for ten years, and at one time was secretary. He is a member of the Com- mercial Club, and, besides his other interests, has for the past five years held the office of local observer for the weather bureau at Fort Stockton. This work, through its practical scientific features, has interested Mr. Butz very much. He was married in Fort Stockton, December 20, 1898, to Agnes Rooney, a daughter of Francis Rooney, the old pioneer of Fort Stockton. Mr. and Mrs. Butz are the parents of five children, four sons and one daughter, namely: Francis, Karl, Marvin, Walter, and Mary Agnes. Mrs. Butz and her children are members of the Catholic church, while Mr. Butz was reared in the Episcopal church. He is active in the Woodmen of the World, having served as clerk for several years, then in the position of banker, and is now one of the board of managers.

GEORGE C. ROBINSON. Mr. Robinson is one of the solid, progressive business men of Marfa. During fifteen years, with active business affairs, has acquired a generous prosperity, and is one of the influential citizens whose advice and support are sought and consulted on all mat- ters affecting the local welfare.

George C. Robinson is a native Texan, born in Uvalde county, February 15, 1871. His father was George W. Robinson, who was born in Georgia, and came to Texas when a very young man, and for a number of years was engaged in ranching and the general stock business. He now lives retired at Sabinal, in Uvalde county. He takes much interest in religious affairs, and is a member of the Christian church, in which his wife is likewise interested. The maiden name of his wife was Caroline Kelley, and she was born in Arkansas, but was married in this state. Of the nine children in the family, George C. was the third.

As a boy in Uvalde county, he attained such education as the public schools afforded, and, when about sixteen, left school in order to begin work on the home ranch. He has had a thorough experience in the ranching indus- try of Texas and knows it in every detail, but during the greater part of bis career has followed other lines of business. When about twenty-three years of age be left home and went into Oklahoma and northern Texas, where he spent about two years engaged in the handling and trading of horses. He then returned home, and a year later moved to Marathon, Texas, where he engaged in the contracting and building business. This experience led up to his location in Marfa, in 1898, and for several years he was engaged in contraeting and building here. In 1906 he bought an interest in the general building supply concern at Marfa with which his name has since been associated. He has since become owner of the en- tire establishment, and is now its sole proprietor. In his warehouses and yards he handles a full line of lumber, lime, cement, wire, and everything used by the building trade. His retail business extends all over Presidio county, and he also does some wholesale trade.

At Marfa, on August 20, 1900, Mr. Robinson married Miss Mamie Sheilds, who was formerly a resident of Fort Davis. Their two children are Helen George and Ruth Sue. Mr. Robinson gives his support without discrimina- tion to all the churches, without special affiliation with any one denomination. He is a Blue Lodge and Chapter Mason, and also affiliated with the Woodmen of the World. His public spirit in citizenship and local en- terprise finds a medium of expression through the Marfa Chamber of Commerce, of which he is one of the direct- ors. Mr. Robinson's favorite amusements are hunting,

fishing, and baseball. With regard to his home com- munity, he says that, taking the future into consideration, for general business purposes there is no better town in the state than Marfa, Texas. If a man wants a home and a permanent location, no matter what his vocation, if he will set forth his honest efforts he will never be disap- pointed in this part of Texas.

GUS ELMENDORF. A representative of the old Elmen- dorf family of San Antonio, one of the most prominent names in that city and representing the best of the old German stock in the citizenship of south Texas, Gus El- mendorf is a progressive young business man and manu- facturer, who some years ago chose Marfa as the field for his enterprise, and is now one of the active heads in the Marfa Manufacturing Company, one of the largest local enterprises.

Gus Elmendorf was born in San Antonio, September 3, 1875, a son and the second among ten children of Emil and Emelia (Heilig) Elmendorf, both of whom were na- tives of Texas, the father a native of San Antonio. Emil Elmendorf was for many years engaged in the hardware business at San Antonio, where he died in 1898 at the age of forty-eight, and his remains now rest in one of the beautiful cemeteries of that point. The mother still resides in San Antonio. Mr. Elmendorf, as a boy, first attended the noted old German-English school at San Antonio, and subsequently continued his courses through the grammar and high school, and then. finished with a course in the Alamo City Business College. When he was seventeen years of age he began to make his own way, and found employment for the first year in Hondo City, after which he came to Marfa. The first employ- ment which he accepted on arriving in this flourishing west Texas city was as a clerk in a local store, and he continued in that occupation nntil 1909, when he bought an interest in the Marfa Manufacturing Company. He is now secretary and treasurer and also office manager of this enterprising firm. His partner is Mr. Emmett B. Quick, who has charge of the mechanical and ont- side part of the business. This business is general black- smithing and machine shop and repair work, and also handles automobile supplies and accessories, maintains a first-class garage, has a complete stock of oils, packing, windmills, gasoline engines, and other supplies for the mechanical trade. Their shops are large and well equipped and in shop and warehouse the business uses a floor space of more than 12,000 feet, and the large pay- roll of the company is one of the important industrial assets of the town of Marfa. The establishment is well known and patronized extensively throughout this part of Texas.

In April, 1904, at Marfa, Mr. Elmendorf married Miss Julia Lopez, daughter of Mrs. Monica Lopez of Marfa. The three sons born to their marriage are named Gus Jr., Richard, and Eugene. Mr. Elmendorf has no regular church membership, though he is a supporter of all de- nominations and religious work in general. In politics also be is interested only to the extent of voting his ticket in the interest of good government, and usually supports the Democratie candidate.

He has himself been solicited to run for office, but has always declined such honors. He is fond of hunting and all outdoor sports and gives his support and encourage- ment to athletics.

THOMAS M. WILSON. Now president of the Marfa State Bank, and financially and officially connected with several other important business undertakings at Marfa, Mr. Wilson began his career in Presidio county about twenty-five years ago, a young man, with only limited experience and capital, and during the subsequent years has attained a place of large influence and, through bis publie-spirited activity, has been able to assist the com- munity in its development and welfare.

Thomas M. Wilson was born at Halletsville, Texas,

Olivier Ramas

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September 14, 1865, and was a son of Thomas and Flor- ence Randolph (Davenport) Wilson. Thomas Wilson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was only a boy when he came to Texas. For a number of years he was engaged in the real estate and drug business. He was a very prominent Mason in this section of the state. His death occurred in 1867, when his son Thomas M. was but two years of age. His widow, who was born in Vir- ginia and was married in Texas, lived until 1911, and was seventy-one years of age at the time of her death. She was a devout member of the Episcopal church. Thomas M. was the oldest of the three children, and of the others, his sister Annie is deceased and his sister Julia now reside in San Antonio.

Thomas M. Wilson attained his early education in the public schools, but left at the age of sixteen in order to begin the battle of life for himself. His first job was on the old home ranch, and he remained there, looking after the property and conducting a general stock busi- ness, until he was twenty-one years of age. With such experience and equipment for a practical life, he came west, to Presidio county, and went into the cattle busi- ness for himself. For upwards of a quarter of a cen- tury he was one of the well-known stockmen in this part of Texas and conducted his activities on a large scale. He is one of the most popular members of the old Cat- tlemen's Fraternity, and his name is well known from the Rio Grande to the Pan Handle. After selling out his stock and ranch business, in 1910, Mr. Wilson or- ganized the Marfa State Bank, and has since been its president and active executive. The bank does a general banking business and has made a remarkable record in the three years of its existence, its capitalization having been increased from $10,000 to $50,000 and all its re- sources accordingly. Mr. Wilson is also director in the Murphy-Walker Mercantile Company and the West Texas Wholesale Grocery Company, both of them being among the largest enterprises of the kind in Presidio county.

At Alpine, Texas, November 27, 1902, Mr. Wilson mar- ried Lucy Powe, daughter of Henry Powe of Alpine, the family having formerly come from Mississippi. The son and two daughters of their marriage are Nellie May, Henry Meade and Florence Julia. Mr. Wilson's church is the Methodist, and his wife is a very active member in that denomination in Marfa. Fraternally, he is affili- ated in Masonry from the Blue Lodge, through the va- rious degrees of the Scottish Rite, including the thirty- second, and is also in York Rite Masonry through the Commandery, and also affiliates with the Mystic Shrine. He is one of the members of the Marfa Chamber of Commerce, and as a voter gives his support to the Demo- cratie party and to every individual and principle which will promote the best welfare of the state and country. He has never been active in party affairs, but has been honored once with the office of county commissioner, and for a time served as deputy United States marshal. He takes much pleasure in hunting and in horses, and is a broad-minded, liberal citizen, whose cordial co-operation can be enlisted in any undertaking which will strengthen the prosperity and develop the resources of this section of the state. As an old resident of west Texas, his opin- ion as to the resources is based upon full observation. He calls particular attention to the fact that lands in this section during the past five years have advanced from $1.00 to $5.00 per acre, and at the same time live stock bas increased in value from $14.00 per head to $30.00 per head. In this rapid rise of economic values Marfa has benefited materially, and has increased in population and general development more during the last five years than in the twenty years previously.

OLIVER THOMAS. Many beautiful words could be written in commemorating the life of Oliver Thomas, for his work was successful, he was ever just in his dealings and he ever maintained the highest standard of citizenship. He was called from earthly cares and Vol. IV-11

trials in March of 1893, but he had so lived and labored that he left the impress on his community of a success- ful, progressive and honest man, and a wide circle of acquaintances will long continue to miss the splendid personality of Oliver Thomas.

He represented a family who have lived in Dallas county since pioneer days-prominent farming people -- and in the city of Dallas one of the principal residence streets and one of the most attractive residence addi- tions have been given the name of this honored family, a permanent memorial to their name. The late Oliver Thomas represented the second generation of this family here, and he was born near Plano, in Dallas county, in 1855, a son of James and Jane (Routh) Thomas, who came to this commonwealth from Tennessee in 1851. James Thomas became prominent both as a rancher and later as a merchant of Dallas, and in 1869 he moved from his farm and erected the home where his widow now lives ou the corner of Mckinney and Pearl streets. It was in that home that James Thomas laid down the burden of life and passed over to the silent majority, his death occurring in the year 1875. Of the seven children born of his marriage with Jane Routh the late Oliver Thomas was the eldest, the others being as fol- lows: Mary, who lives with her mother in Dallas; Ella, deceased; Mattie, wife of John Aiken, of Nevada ;. Jesse D., deceased; William, also deceased; and Colby, a business man of Lubbock, Texas. Oliver Thomas spent the days of his boyhood and youth in Dallas county, receiving in the meantime his preliminary edu- cational training in the home schools, and he was pre- paring for a college course when his father's death occurred. He was a lad of nineteen years when this sad event threw upon him, as the eldest son, the re- sponsibility of looking after the family estate, thus having to forego his college training. At that time the home now occupied by his mother was a farm of forty acres, principally devoted to the raising of fruit, and the son continued its management for a few years, after which he engaged in business on his own account. About this time the farm was also platted into town lots and became known as the Thomas Addition. In order to dispose of these lots Mr. Thomas engaged in the real estate business, and later became head of the firm of Thomas Brothers, dealers in real estate and fire insur- ance. He continued to be thus identified with the busi- ness interests of Dallas until the time of his death. He honored the honored name which he bore by his con- sistent and meritorious career, and he may be numbered among those who made Dallas the city it now is.

Oliver Thomas was married in 1883 to Miss Mary Smith, a daughter of Colby and Mariam (Stevenson) Smith, of this city, but both now deceased, the father passing away in 1876 and the mother in 1888. Mr. Smith owned a small tract of land which is now incor- porated within the city of Dallas and which is known as the Excelsior residence district, now almost entirely built up with fine houses. Four children were born of this marriage: Clarence, Willie May, Ina and James Oliver, all of whom are at home. In his political affiliations Mr. Thomas was a Democrat, and was serv- ing as an alderman at the time of his death. He was an active worker in the Christian church, and for sev- eral years prior to his demise held therein the office of deacon. The Thomas home is located at 2500 MeKinney avenue.

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A history of Texas and Texans, Part 49

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