A history of Texas and Texans, Part 50

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 50

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JAMES NORMAND. A prominent stockman who has for more than thirty years owned and operated a ranch in Presidio county, Mr. Normand is a Scotchman by birth, came to this country when a young man, and, after sev- eral years of experience in the southwest and in old Mexico, established his headquarters in what is now Pre- sidio county, and is one of the oldest ranchers who has been continuously in business down to the present time.

He is closely identified with banking and mercantile en-

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terprises in Marfa, and few among his contemporaries have enjoyed such successful prosperity during their ea- reers as has Mr. Normand. James Normand was born in Scotland, September 23, 1859, and as a boy attended the parish schools and then the Fettes College, at Edinburgh, after which he took a course in the Royal Agricultural College, at Cirencester, England. When about nineteen he began the battle of life for himself, and his first work was in his father's linen manufacturing establishment, where he remained for two years. He then determined to break away from old home ties and to find a new field of enterprise in the new world. When about twenty-two years old he came to the United States, and on coming over had his mind set upon learning the cattle business. On arriving in this country, he was engaged in work with several cattle companies on different ranches in the old Indian Territory, Kansas, New Mexico, and Old Mexico. Finally he crossed the river at Presidio and moved into Texas, in 1882. He brought stock from Mexico and bought ranch headquarters located twenty-six miles from Marfa. This ranch, which has been in his possession for more than thirty years, was the foundation of his present excellent prosperity, and in that vicinity he has gathered his herds about him and has pursued the operations of cattle raising down to the present time.

At Edinburgh, Scotland, in August, 1895, Mr. Normand married Eleanor Mildred Dodds, daughter of Dr. George Dodds of Edinburgh. Mr. Normand has no special affili- ations in church membership, but is a member of the Blue Lodge and Chapter of Masonry, belongs to the Marfa Commercial Club, and in polities votes independ- ently and for the best man and for good government. Some years ago he was honored with the office of county commissioner of Presidio county. Mr. Normand is vice president of the Marfa State Bank, is president of the Murphy-Walker Company, president of the West Texas Wholesale Grocery Company, and President of the Marfa & Mariposa Mining Company. He owns an automobile and takes much of his pleasure with his machine, while he also enjoys a fishing and hunting excursion. He is a firm believer in the resources and the possibilities of west Texas, where he himself has gained his general pros- perity, and he feels that the same opportunities are ex- tended to every one else as afforded him such abundance of the world's goods and the esteem of his fellow citizens.

EARL A. ROASBERRY, M. D. With a splendid record as a physician, surgeon, and citizen, Dr. Roasberry is one of the residents of Van Horn whose presence here is due to the fact that a few years ago he suffered ill health and a weakened constitution in the middle western states and came here to recuperate. His period of recuperation was extended into permanent residence, and the com- munity now has no more loyal citizen than Dr. Roasberry.

Earl A. Roasberry was born Jannary 2, 1883, at Mans- field, Ohio, the son of Dr. William H. and Martha (An) Roasberry, both natives of Ohio. The father has been actively engaged in the profession of medicine in Ashland, Ohio, for the past thirty years. He is also a prominent Democrat at that point. The mother died in 1904, and she now rests at Mansfield. The doctor was the first of their children, and the others are Maurice E .. who is en- gaged in the practice of medicine at New London, Ohio; Eunice L., who is a graduate nurse and now in the Huron Road Hospital, at Cleveland, Ohio; and Leota, also a nurse and at the same hospital with her sister.

Earl A. Roasberry was excellently educated in literary schools, and attained his medical training in the Cleve- land Medical College, where he was graduated with the class of 1906. He had practical experience as an interne in the Huron Road Hospital, at Cleveland, and he then engaged in private practice at New London. Then, owing to poor health, he gave up his practice there and came to western Texas, locating at Van Horn in the fall of 1910. The doctor is a member of the El Paso County Medical Society and of the Ohio State Medical Society,

and fraternally is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has an attractive home at Van Horn, and he and his wife are valuable members of local society.

On December 20, 1907, Dr. Roasberry married Miss Mary Donnely of Ohio, daughter of William E. and Ella (Ford) Donnely, natives of Ohio and prominent citizens and farming people of that state, her father having been very active in Republican polities. Three children were born to the doctor and wife, one of them being deceased and the other two being Martha E. and Marjory. Dr. Roasherry foresees a great future for this section of Texas, owing to its mineral resources and the cheap price of its lands. Since coming to west Texas he has found opportunity to exercise bis taste as a sportsman and spends a large part of his leisure time in hunting excur- sions. He and his wife both worship at the Presbyterian church. A progressive physician, and always seeking to keep his capabilities apace with the achievements of the profession, Dr. Roasberry during 1913 attended post- graduate studies in New York city.

WILLIAM P. MURPHY. The Murphy-Walker general de- partment store and the West Texas Wholesale Grocery Company are two solid business enterprises of Marfa which have a proper history of their own and which illus- trates the increasing prosperity of Marfa as a commer- cial center and the career of one of its foremost citizens.

Thirty years ago, in 1883, when William P. Murphy first came to Marfa and attained a place as a clerk in a business of which he is now manager, the establishment was conducted under the firm name of S. F. Wiles & Company. The company part of this firm subsequently bought out Mr. S. F. Wiles and changed the firm name to Humphries, Murphy & Company, and subsequently to Humphries & Company, and then, in 1901, the business took its present title of Murphy-Walker Company. This is a very extensive establishment and carries a full line of everything found in a first-class department store and all the supplies used on the ranch and the other special requirements of west Texas life. The management of the business is perfect, each department having a head of its own and being conducted as a separate part of the system, both in accounting and in general detail. The business ocenpies a floor space of more than ten thousand feet, and the regular retail store is a large col- lection of related buildings, including a garage for auto- mobiles, barns, stables, yards, wagons, coal storage plant, etc. The Wholesale Grocery business is conducted en- tirely separate from the other concern, and its trade throughout all the towns in west Texas has made this one of the central commercial institutions of Marfa and of great value to the growing city.

William P. Murphy, who now for the past ten years has been the genius of these important firms, was born at Bath, Maine, April 15, 1866. His parents were James K. and Mary Jane Murphy. When he was two years old the family went to Havre, France, where they remained until he was about nine years of age, and while there he received the portion of his education in private schools. On the return of the family to Bath, Maine, where he lived until seventeen years of age, he continued in the public schools, and also the high school, and on leaving school at Bath began the battle of life for himself. He was thus seventeen years of age when he first came to Marfa, in 1883, and took a position as a clerk in the old house of S. F. Wiles & Company. He re- mained here for about four and a half years, at the end of which time he resigned and went to El Paso, where he spent a year and a half. He was engaged in railroad- ing for some time, and finally drifted to San Francisco, where during a residence of more than three years he was employed in a wholesale mercantile establishment, and thus gained the most thorough and practical portion of his equipment for his subsequent career. He was con- nected with a wholesale business in New York City for a

Erskine Long

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few years, and then, in 1902, returned to the city which had first been the object of his affections in Texas and took charge of the business with which his name and management are now associated in such important re- lations.

Mr. Murphy was married in Brooklyn, New York, to Miss Florence McDonald, daughter of James McDonald of Brooklyn. Mrs. Murphy is a member of the Catholic church, but he has no special church affiliations. He is a Mason, in both the Lodge and Chapter, and a member of the Woodmen of the World. A Republican in politics, he takes only the part of the voter and good citizen. He is also a member of the Marfa Commercial Club, and as an avocation he is especially fond of baseball, being a real fan. He also enjoys good horses, and his tastes likewise run to good books and intellectual entertainment of every kind. Though an adopted resident of Texas, the state has no more loyal nor more enthusiastic citizen than Mr. Murphy, who considers Texas, the grandest state of the Union, offering more and better opportunities for men with limited means and with sturdy ambitions and ener- gies than any other part of the world.

FRED P. GIBSON. In the recent development of the business and general resources of Van Horn and Culber- son counties no individual has taken a more active and influential part than Fred P. Gibson who, after a long period of service as a telegraph operator and sta- tion agent at different points on the Texas and Pacific, came to Van Horn in 1908 on account of failing health. During the subsequent five years he has not only made a successful position for himself, but has contributed much to the development of his home community. In all this prosperity Mr. Gibson would never omit a large share of credit to his capable wife, who has been his loyal assistant in their mutual work of creating a home and fine prop- erty which now represents their joint enterprise.

Fred P. Gibson was born August 17, 1880, a son of William W. and Kate M. (Lewis) Gibson, natives, re- spectively, of Mississippi and Tennessee. The parents have for many years been residents of Van Zandt county, Texas, where Mr. Gibson was born, in the town of Wills Point. The senior Gibson is now a resident of Grand Saline, where he is engaged in the land and insurance business. In earlier years he was in the cotton business at Galveston, but in 1875, owing to an outbreak of yel- low fever, he left that coast city and began the prac- tice of his profession as civil engineer at Wills Point. William W. Gibson made a brilliant record as a Confed- erate soldier, and his service in the armies of the south deserves special mention in this article. There were four children in the family, the others being named as fol- lows: Walter, who has for twenty years been agent for the Texas and Pacific Railway at Grand Saline; Flor- ence, who is associated with her father in the insurance business, and Williard, who is in the general offices of the Texas & Pacific Railroad at Fort Worth.

Mr. Fred P. Gibson received his education in the public schools of Wills Point, leaving school at the age of sev- enteen and learning telegraphy. He was an operator in the general offices of the Texas & Pacific at Dallas and other large points. He then became station agent on the same line at Gladewater and at Atlanta, and continued in that work for six years, until failing health compelled him to move in to the 'extreme west of Texas, so that in 1908 he became agent for the Texas & Pacific at Van Horn. On resigning this office, in 1910, he became a partner in the Beach Mercantile Company, and about the same time acquired ownership of some five thousand acres of land in Culberson county. These lands were located thirty miles from Van Horn. Probably the most inter- esting feature in his career is the fact that while he continued his work as station agent at Van Horn his young wife was living on this large body of land alone, her experience entitling her to special mention as one of the hardy and courageous women of western Texas. It

was as a result of these hard labors and self-denials that they laid the corner stone of their success. After selling out his rauch lands at good advantage, Mr. Gibson bought an interest in the firm of Beach & Platt Mercan- tile Company, buying Mr. Platt's interests, and subse- quently others, until he acquired a third interest in one of the largest, oldest, and most practical stores in Van Horn. Mr. Gibson now owns property in Waco and has one of the most attractive homes of Van Horn.

At Dallas in 1905 he married Miss Alma L. Hunter, a native of Wills Point and a daughter of William R. Hunter. Their two children are named Freda, aged six, and Ruth, aged three. When Mr. Gibson came to Van Horn, in 1908, there was little or nothing in the way of entertainment or social life at this point. Since then he has taken a foremost part in organizing many of the wholesowie features of social diversion as well as the more valuable institutions of education. Through his efforts and those of Mr. Beach, his partner, was organized the Masonic Lodge, known as Van Horn, No. 1208, A. F. & A. M., Mr. Gibson having become a master mason when twenty-one years of age. He is also prominent in the local Baptist church, being a deacon of the society. He is a member of the Van Horn school board and takes much pride in the general claims that this is one of the best schools in the state. Mr. Gibson is now devoting his spare time to the study of law, not with the purpose of entering the profession, but on the theory that every up-to-date business man should be informed on the fun- damentals of law. In Mr. Gibson's opinion, Culberson county is best adapted to stoek raising; but he calls at- tention to the presence in this locality of splendid min- eral resources, consisting of copper, silver, lead, zine, and mica, none of which resources have yet been developed, and, as a public-spirited citizen, he will gladly co-operate with any parties interested in such a field for industrial enterprise.

ERSKINE LONG. From the early seventies until his death, March 27, 1909, the late Erskine Long was one of the most extensive and best known farmers of Cooke county, and he had peculiar success in his vocation. He was a Confederate veteran and a man who bore his civic and private responsibilities with the same fidelity he displayed as a soldier.

Erskine Long was born in the state of Missouri in 1844, a son of John Pope and Elizabeth (Story) Long, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Mis- souri. John P. Long was also a farmer, and in early life studied medicine, although he never practiced that profession.

The late Erskine Long, the only child of his parents, grew up in his native state, and on his grandfather's farm until he was fifteen years old, or until his grand- father's death. In the meantime he had received some advantages in the public schools there and had learned the lessons of industry under his father. When the Civil war came on, he joined the Confederate army as a private, and went through from beginning to end. Following the struggle between the states, he resided with an unele in Missouri and spent two years working at wages on his farm. For some time after that he traveled about the country and had varied experiences.

Then in 1871 Mr. Long married Miss Molly Black, who was born in Cooke county, Texas, a daughter of John D. and Ann (Duty) Black, her father a native of North Carolina and her mother of Arkansas. Mrs. Long was one of two children, though her mother was married four times. Her brother is William Black, deceased, who was a farmer and left three children. The eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Long are mentioned as follows: Bettie, wife of William Murrell, of Fort Worth, and the mother of three children; Sallie, who is a teacher by profession and resides at home iu Gainesville; Lolo, who is the wife of H. B. Murrell, of Walnut Bend, and the mother of three children; Molly,

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who married S. F. Murrell of Walnut Bend; Edna, wife of F. C. Gillock, of Oklahoma; Lutie, Erskine, and Alice, who are all unmarried and living at home with their mother.

After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Long they located in Cooke county, and lived on a farm until his death. His estate comprised nine hundred and sixty acres of land, six hundred acres of which was in culti- vation to corn and crop. This large farm since the death of Mr. Long has been leased to tenant farmers. Mr. Long was a Democrat, but not a politician, and never sought office. He and his family worship in the Christian church. Mrs. Long, who is well known in social circles at Gainesville, resides at 108 Richie street.

ELTON R. SILLIMAN. Cashier and active manager of the Van Horn State Bank, Mr. Silliman has since 1909 been closely identified with the general commercial en- terprise of Culberson county. The successful position of the bank has been largely due to his personality and abil- ity as a financial organizer and manager, and, besides looking after this institution, Mr. Silliman is also owner of considerable property in this section, and is always ready to lend his influence to promote the further up- building and development of this section of Texas.

Elton R. Silliman was born on August 17, 1872, at the old capital of Texas when it was the province of Mex- ico, at San Felipe, in Austin county. His parents were Abram F. and Samantha (Dresser) Silliman, natives, respectively, of Mississippi and Texas. His parents are now deceased, the father passing away in 1891 and the mother in 1874, and both rest side by side in the old cemetery at San Felipe. His father, who for many years was a farmer, was a man of special education and during his early life taught school in Texas. There were in the family eight children, Elton R. being the youngest.

He attained his early education in the public schools of Austin county, and subsequently was a student in the Hills business college. His first employment was that of bookkeeper for a mercantile house of Sonora, Texas, and after a few years he entered the field of local poli- ties and was appointed deputy county and district clerk of Sutton county, Texas, Sonora being the county seat. He served in that capacity for three years. In 1898 he moved to Eldorado, Texas, where he established a mer- cantile business of his own, and continued successfully in that business until selling out, in 1904. In 1909 he came to Van Horn to take charge of the Van Horn State Bank as its cashier, director and stockholder. He also owns a residence in Culberson county, and his pres- ent home at Van Horn. Beginning his career in a clerical capacity, Mr. Silliman, by his thorough ability and by good management, has acquired an independent position in business affairs.

At Van Horn he is an active factor in the community and is now chairman of the school board. Fraternally, he is a Royal Arch Mason and Knight of Pythias, and his politics is Democratic. He and his family worship in the Methodist church. On February 3, 1897, he married Miss Margaret Murcheson, daughter of Robert W. Mur- cheson, a retired and wealthy ranchman of El Paso. Their two children are Elton Jr., aged ten, and Hazel, aged four. Among his recreations, when he finds time to rest himself from business, Mr. Silliman is especially fond of hunting. He foresees a bright future for Van Horn and Culberson counties, and, owing to the fact that lands are being sold at a reasonable price, and the pres- ence of great mineral resources here, he believes that the locality will bring wealth and happiness to twenty times the number of people who are now inhabitants of the county.

SAMUEL W. WHITE. The first prosecuting attorney elected in the new county of Culberson, Mr. White has been a member of the Texas bar for the past ten

years and has a successful position in professional and business life.

Samuel W. White was born September 20, 1883, at Dardanelle, Arkansas, son of John W. and Bettie (Byers) White, natives, respectively, of Mississippi and Tennes- see. The father is now deceased, and the mother resides with her son at Van Horn. The parents came to Texas in 1887, locating in San Antonio, where the father was engaged in the land business up to the date of his death, in 1899. Samuel W., the only surviving child, received his education chiefly in the public schools of San Antonio, and subsequently graduated from a San Antonio business college. He began the study of law in the offices of Kellar & Williams, prominent members of the San An- tonio bar, and, on completing his preparatory work, was admitted to practice on June 30, 1903. During the fol- lowing three years he directed his principal attentions to the land business rather than law, and then for four years held the position of manager of the advertisement department of the Denison Herald. At the end of that time he came into west Texas, and at Pecos established a real estate office, and still owns considerable property of his own in that vicinity.

Mr. White was elected county attorney of Culberson county on April 18, 1911, this being prior to his residence at Van Horn. He was re-elected to the office at the general election of November, 1912, his first election coming with the beginning of Culberson county 's official existence, its territory having formerly been a part of El Paso county. Mr. White is a very active and popular Democrat and one of the able stump speakers in this county. Aside from his duties as prosecutor, he has built up a nice private practice in the law, and also has a set of abstract books in his office. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is chaplain of the local lodge. A member of the Baptist church by early training, he has, since taking up his residence at Van Horn, worked with the Presbyterians in the Sunday school work and is now superintendent of the Presbyterian Sunday school. In 1904 Mr. White married Miss Elizabeth Martin, daughter of Hon. Judge J. D. Martin, who for many years was district judge at Beaumont. They are the parents of two sons, Samuel Martin and John W. White. The family occupy one of the pleasant homes of Van Horn.

JOHN HENRY FEELY. A distinction which will always be associated with the name of Mr. Feely in the history of Culberson county is the fact of his being the first sheriff elected after the organization of the county. Mr. Feely has been identified with this section of Texas for a number of years, and Culberson county has no more popular or public-spirited citizen than the present sheriff.

His career is one of exceptional interest, from the viewpoint of its accomplishments against heavy odds. John Henry Feely was born June 20, 1871, in Cole county, Missouri, near Jefferson City, a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Magee) Feely. His father was a native of Indiana and his mother of Missouri, both now being de- ceased. The father was for many years a farmer and merchant in Cole county, and made a fine record as a sol- dier, serving in the Mexican war, and later as a Confed- erate under General Price, with which noted leader he fought in numerous battles. In 1876 he came to Texas, locating in Cooke County, where he was engaged in farming and stock raising until his retirement, attaining to the fine old age of eighty-five years before his death. His remains now rest at Vernon, Texas, while his second wife, the mother of Mr. Feely, died at Pilot Point, where she now is buried.

Sheriff Feely, one of two children, his sister being now deceased, attained his education in the public schools of Pilot Point, and when sixteen years of age was thrown upon his own resources, and has since fought the battle of life by himself. He began work as a farm hand, and, though a mere boy, did a man's work. This was his oe-

Charles Deraty

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cupation until 1904, at which time he became a section hand with the Texas & Pacific Railroad. He knew how to work, and was a natural leader of men, and in a short time became foreman of his section. In this work he took great pride, and was frequently complimented by the roadmaster on the condition of his section. This was his regular work up to 1910, in which year he was elected to the office of sheriff of the newly organized county of Culberson on the Democratic ticket.

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A history of Texas and Texans, Part 50

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