A history of Texas and Texans, Part 6

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 6

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Doctor Clark is unmarried. He is popular in social circles of the city, belonging to the Austin Rotary Club, and is also a valued member of the Masons, Austin Lodge

No. 12. His religious connection is with the Presby- terian church, in the work of which he has taken an active interest. His home is located at No. 205 East Ninth street. Although Doctor Clark's practice has been of such a nature as to preclude the idea of his entering actively into public matters, he has ever shown a commendable public spirit and has assisted in move- ments which have made for the betterment of the com- munity, thus showing himself one of Austin's helpful citizens.

DEE DAVIS. Mr. Davis is sheriff and tax collector of one of the most orderly counties of Texas. He was reared on a ranch in Sterling county, and has been known to the citizenship of this section for a number of years as a progressive and capable young citizen.

Dee Davis was born October 23, 1885, in MeLennan county, Texas, a son of Henry and Fannie E. Davis, now of Sterling City, where his father, who has heen a successful ranchman, is now engaged in the loan busi- ness. He came from Missouri to Texas, settling in McLennan county, and there are several families of the Davis name in Missouri, where Grandfather Davis was a slaveholder before the war, and the result of that con- fliet impoverished him as it did so many other southern planters.

The third in a family of nine children, Dee Davis was educated in the public schools of Sterling City, where he has been a resident since childhood. After graduating from the high school he took up work as a cowboy on a ranch, and is thoroughly familiar with the chief industry of West Texas. For three years he served as deputy to Sheriff John B. Ayers, and in November, 1912, was elected to the office of sheriff and tax col- lector, his candidacy having received the approval of the people not only because of his personal popularity, but because of his previous excellent record as deputy. He gave bond and took charge of the office on November 18, 1912. Since he took charge, as one of the duties of his office, of the county jail, only three prisoners have been confined in that structure, two Mexicans and one white man. There has never been a murder in Sterling county since its organization in 1892. These facts show the high character of the citizenship of this locality.

Mr. Davis has always been a stanch Democrat, and has been one of the interested workers for party welfare since he was able to cast his first vote. He is affiliated with the Masonic order and has taken the Royal Arch degrees.

BENJAMIN F. BELLOWS. Thirty-seven years a resi- dent of Texas, Mr. Bellows has enjoyed prosperity as a business man in this state, and is one of the men who has helped develop the southwest county. As a young man he lived in the northeastern states and is a veteran of the Civil war.

Benjamin F. Bellows was born at Granville, New York, .June 20, 1844, a son of Levi D. and Hannah M. Bellows. He resided in New York state most of his years up to 1876, in which year he came to Texas. His early educa- tion was in the schools of his native state, finishing in the high school at Troy, and on leaving school he took up the carpenter and builders trade. That was his regular occupation until he left New York. During the sixties he went to Massachusetts to take up some work there, and while in that state enlisted in the army and spent two years as a soldier of the Union. After the war he returned to New York and in 1876 came to the southwest and located in Bandera county, which con- tinned to be his home for about twenty years. During that time he was engaged principally in the sheep busi- ness, and is one of the pioneer sheep men of the county which was then, as well as now, to a considerable extent, noted for its great sheep herds. In Bandera county Mr. Bellows built a little town of Medina. He was a pioneer in enterprise in this locality, and erected the

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first cotton gin in Bandera county, and brought in the first steam engine operated within the limits of that county. Finally ill health and overwork compelled him to sell out all his holdings there, after which he spent a time in travel for recuperation, and finally located at Sonora in Sutton county. Here he has since been en- gaged in the lumber business, carrying a complete line of building material, and having an extensive retail business throughout this section of the state. Mr. Bel- lows in line with his early occupation, also follows con- tracting and building. It is said that he has erected more than one-half of all the buildings in Sonora and vicinity.

Mr. Bellows was married at Woburn, Massachusetts, October, 1867, to Miss Elizabeth M. Fowle, daughter of Luke Fowle and wife of Woburn. Four children have been born to their union, two sons and two daughters, namely: May and Warren, both now deceased; Hattie M., wife of J. J. North, a resident of Sonora; and Albert F., who is married and lives in Sonora. Mrs. Bellows is an active worker in the Baptist church and her hus- band is a liberal contributor to all religious and benevo- lent enterprises. He is affiliated with the Blue Lodge and Chapter of Masonry, and is a member and at one time was president of the Sonora business men's club. He and his wife are very fond of travel, and he has used a portion of the competence gained by his many years of business and industry in traveling throughout the state and enjoying the pleasures of all the noted resorts.

EDWIN E. SAWYER. A resident of Sonora, Mr. Saw- yer's interests are so extensive in banking and general financial circles that he is actually identified with some four or five towns and cities of western Texas. He has had an unusually successful career. At the age of fourteen years he began for himself in farm labor, a few years later obtained a position in a shoe factory, and at the age of twenty-two came to Texas and engaged in the cattle business, which was the foundation for his present large and generous prosperity.

Edwin E. Sawyer is a native of the state of Maine, and all his people have been New Englanders. He was born at Stillwater, May 10, 1855, a son of Enos and Frances Sawyer, both of whom were born in Maine. He received a good common school education in the pub- lie schools of his native state and then started in the meat and poultry business in his native state, at Still- water, but this venture resulted in his financial ruin and prompted him to come to Texas, where he arrived in January, 1877. He first located in Bandera county, where he lived for about ten years, and was actively connected with the stock and ranching industry. He next transferred his operations to Kerr county, where he continued as a rancher for about eight years, and then in 1896 came to Sutton county and bought the Fort Terrett Ranch. After more than thirty years of enter- prise as a rancher and stock farmer, he sold out his interests in that business in 1909. He is still the owner, however, of a large amount of real estate property, in different sections of the state.

In banking affairs, Mr. Sawyer has been particularly prominent for some years. In 1911 he bought an inter- est in the First National Bank of Del Rio, and has been its president since that time. He is also a stock holder and director in the First National Bank of Sonora, is one of the organizers and stock holders of the Commer- cial National Bank of El Paso; was one of the original promoters and is now a stock holder in the Citizens Bank and Trust Company of San Antonio; and also owns a large share of the stock in the Del Rio Bank and Trust Company.

Mr. Sawver has been twice married. He was married at Fort Terrett to Miss Gertrude Brown, who died in 1907 at the age of twenty-seven. At Maxfield. Maine, in September, 1912, Mr. Sawver married Miss Mae Clough, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. Clough of Newport, Ver-

mont. Mr. Sawyer affiliates with the Knights of Pythias and the Elks, and has no regular membership in church, but gives his support to all denominations alike. In poli- ties he is independent. For his diversions he finds much pleasure in fishing, and is the owner of automobiles both for business and pleasure. Mr. Sawyer believes that for stock raising and for modern stock farming western Texas stands above any other section of country in the United States, and in addition to this possible feature of the country, 'it possesses an almost unequal climate.

CLIFFORD E. HEFFLER. Among the active and pro- gressive business men of the city of El Paso, Clifford E. Heffler holds a prominent place. Starting out to earn his own living when he was only a boy he has steadily forged to the front, gathering experience and profiting by this experience as he went along. He has lived in many parts of the world and as a member of the United States hospital corps he had the inestimable benefit of service in foreign countries and of contact with men of many kinds. All of which gave him a broad view of the world and his popularity in El Paso is due rather to his geniality and splendid character than to his busi- ness success.

Clifford E. Heffler was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on the 8th of June, 1872. His father is Captain Edward Heffler, who has been in the service of the Canadian government for thirty years. He has been in the revenue service and is a well known resident of Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he and his wife, Annie Heffler, have lived for many years. Clifford E. Heffler received his educa- tion in the public schools of Boston, Massachusetts, for a time being a student at one of the city high schools. He had to leave school at the age of fourteen and he entered the employ of the Maverick Drug Company, of Boston. He rose steadily in the estimation of his em- ployees and made a remarkable success for a young boy, for he was at one time manager of one of their branch stores. He remained in the employ of this drug com- pany for about six years and although the future held out bright prospects for him, he determined to go into the hospital service. He enlisted when he was about twenty-one years of age, in the Massachusetts Hospital Corps and served through the Spanish American war, being detailed for duty in the Philippines. When he was mustered out of the volunteer service, the interest and fascination of the service had taken so strong a hold that he enlisted in the regular hospital corps of the United States army, and served about two and a half years. Part of this time he was stationed in the "land of dopy dreams," and upon leaving the islands he went to China where he served until he was discharged on account of disability, his long service in the tropical countries having been too much for his constitution. He then went to Fort Huchucha and remained for about six months in the attempt to regain his health.

He returned to Boston, as yet far from well and started on the road as a traveling salesman. He was thus engaged for about a year when his health again began to fail and he came west again, this time settling in El Paso. Here he accepted a position with the elec- tric light company and worked for this concern for a vear at the end of which time he went into business for himself. He established an electric supply business and carries a full line of electric supplies and fixtures, and he has a large and growing patronage. He is also en- gaged in the contracting and manufacturing of elec- tric fixtures and does a general wholesale and retail business, his trade extending all through western Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. He has also erected and sold many houses in the city and always has several for sale. Although his years in the army almost ruined his health, Mr. Heffler considers them the most valuable perhaps that he has spent, for it was then that he learned self reliance and dependence on his own judgment. One of

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his most striking characteristics is bis confidence in him- self, not that he is aggressively so, but no matter how large the task if in his judgment it is possible of accomplishment be does not hesitate about starting out to accomplish. He has had many obstacles to overcome since locating in El Paso and this quality is what has carried him through. This spirit which he carries into his business relations makes him a valuable man in public matters and since he is always interested in every movement for the public good, be holds a prominent place in the life of the city.

Mr. Heffler is a communicant of the Protestant Episco- pal church, and in political affiliations he is independent. He takes no active part although be is keenly interested in local politics. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and also belongs to the Sons of Jove aud to the Loyal Order of Moose. He is a mem- ber of the Canadian Club of El Paso and is one of the present officers.

Clifford Heffler was married at Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1899, to Nellie McLennan, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward McLennan, of Halifax. Mr. and Mrs. Heffler have three children, as follows: Clifford E., Jr., Norma L. and Gerald.

Mr. Heffler says that he came to El Paso a sick man and that he has not only fully recovered his health but has also established a prosperous and lucrative busi- ness and that in his opinion El Paso and western Texas is destined for continued prosperity in the years to come.

DR. NEWT LONG. Among the successful physicians of Sweetwater, Texas, Dr. Newt Long takes a high rank. He is one of those men who is never content with what he has accomplished but feels that he must do yet more. Progressive and up-to-date, the doctor never lets an opportunity for further study and research along the lines of his profession slip by, and as a result be is able to offer to the people of Sweetwater medical serv- ice of the highest order. His wide personal popularity proves that he is a man as well as a physician, and he is one of the citizens whom Sweetwater is proud to claim.

Dr. Long is of Scotch-Irish descent, coming from some of the old Southern families, bis ancestors having been large slave-owners before the war. He was born on the 28th of February, 1869, at Marquez, Texas, the son of William C. Long and Elizabeth Long. His father was a native of Alabama who settled in Marquez in the early days of Texas, about 1847. He entered the Con- federate service with the outbreak of the Civil war, and was wounded in one of the engagements. He con- tinued his business, which was that of a merchant, in Marquez after the close of the war and there made his home until 1896 when he removed to Santa Anna. He retired from active business after a time and died on April 18, 1902. His wife was born in Texas, a daughter of William M. Vann of Nacogdoches, Texas. Her father was an early settler of the state. Mrs. Long died in 1906, on the 9th of March. Nine children were born to William Long and his wife, four boys and five girls and the doetor was the youngest of these.

Dr. Long received his early education in the grammar and high schools of Texas. Then having determined to become a physician he entered the medical depart- ment of the University of Texas, from which he was graduated in 1896 with the degree of M. D. He has since studied further. taking a degree from the Post- Graduate Medical College in Chicago on April 15. 1905, and being graduated from a course in the Chicago Polyelinie on March 15, 1907. After his graduation from the state university Dr. Long began to practice his profession in Santa Anna, Texas. He opened his office on February 1. 1897, and practiced in this city until October 10, 1910. He then removed to Sweet- water where he has resided ever since. He has built up a flourishing practice in this city, being both a physician and surgeon, and his services are in constant demand.

In politics Dr. Long is and has always been a member of the Democratic party. He is active in fraternal affairs, being a member of the Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons, and belonging to the Commandery. He is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and is Exalted Ruler of the local lodge. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias and to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a member of the Commercial Club and is deeply interested in all civic questions. In his religious affiliations the doctor is a member of the Christian church and he is an elder in this congregation.

On September 13, 1893, Dr. Long was united in mar- riage to Miss Ida Spencer, of Marquez, Texas. Her father was an ex-Confederate soldier and had been through the entire war. Dr. and Mrs. Long have be- come the parents of three daughters, Gladys, Leah and Adriene. They are all in school and their ages are fourteen, twelve and ten respectively.

J. D. CARROLL. One of the pioneer citizens and busi- ness men of Quanah is J. D. Carroll. Mr. Carroll was at one time a young man dependent upon the labor of his hands aud his native intelligence to give him his living and his start in the world. Many months of his earlier career were spent in work at fifty cents a day. He had a long training both in farm work and in clerking in a store. Through this varied experience he has come up until for a number of years he has been recognized as one of the most influential and most prosperous business men of Quanah.

J. D. Carroll was born in the State of Georgia, in Henry county, in December, 1852, the first of two children born to Elbert and Elizabeth (Harrison) Carroll, both natives of Georgia. The father, who was a planter, enlisted and served in the Mexican war of 1846, and thus was one of the early residents of Texas, having remained a short time in the State about the time of the war. He returned to Georgia, where he died at a comparatively" early age in 1856. The mother was educated and mar- ried in Georgia, and died in Corsicana, Texas, May 5, 1910, at the age of seventy-seven.

As a boy J. D. Carroll attended schools in Georgia, and his first regular employment was on a farm. He worked in a store in Mississippi for eighteen months, and then came to Texas, and after spending a while in different portions of the State, located in Freestone county in 1872. Freestone county at that time was sparsely settled, and he arrived in time to take part in its pioneer period. He worked on a farm for one year, and then was employed in a store. In 1889 Mr. Carroll moved out to Quanah, about three years after the rail- road was built through the town, and was thus one of the first business men to locate in the little village. He established the first stock of hardware in Quanah, and from that original enterprise has developed a large and very important business, with a trade throughout this section of Texas. In 1893 the business was incorporated under the name of Stittler & Carroll Implement Com- pany. The firm owns the buildings in which the business is conducted and eight clerks are employed in attending to the trade. Mr. Carroll is also a director in hardware companies in Hardeman and Foard counties, and one of the directors in the Texas Hardware and Implement Association. As a citizen Mr. Carroll has served as a member of the city council of Quanah and is a loyal Democrat. He is a member of the Masonie order. On December 24, 1878, in Navarro county, he married Miss Bettie Burelson, a daughter of Edward and .Julia Burel- son, old residents of Texas, and now deceased. The five children of Mr. and Mrs. Carroll are: Mrs. Belle O'Dell, born in Freestone county, now a resident of New Mexico, and the mother of two children; Homer Carroll, born in Corsicana, Texas, and secretary of the Carroll Company; Jennie B. Carroll, born at Quanah; J. D. Carroll, Jr., born at Quanah; Dorris Carroll, born at Quanah.

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ROBERT A. WHITLOCK. Among the most popular busi- ness men in the city of El Paso, Texas, is to be found Robert A. Whitlock, the well known lumberman. He has resided in El Paso for ten years or so and during this time has succeeded not only in building up a fine busi- ness but also in making myriads of friends. He is vice president and manager of one of the largest lumber concerns in this section of the country, and it is due in no small measure to his practical business ability and unlimited energy that the business has attained its present size.

Robert A. Whitlock was born in Alleghany City, Penn- sylvania, on the 28th of May, 1872. He did not grow up in the Keystone state, however, for when he was only two years of age his parents moved to Indiana. Here he spent his childhood and he well remembers the date, the 23rd of October, 1883, when his father and mother left Indiana for their new home in Nevada, Missouri. Here he received his education attending the grammar and high schools, and after finishing the courses herein offered he was ready to go forth and play his part in the world. It was in the spring of 1894 that he left home to go to St. Louis where he had accepted a position of a clerical nature in the office of the Bogwell Timber Company.

After remaining in St. Louis for about three years he came south to Alexandria, Louisiana, where he engaged in the lumber business with the Tioga Lumber Company. He remained with this firm for about two years, and then accepted a position with the Central Lumber Com- pany at Lincecum, Louisiana. He was with this company for a year and then in 1901 came to Texas.

Upon first coming to the state he settled in Pine Ridge where he held the position of secretary and treasurer of the Pine Ridge Lumber Company. After three years spent in this section of eastern Texas, he removed to El Paso and in company with C. S. Woodworth, organized the El Paso Lumber Company. He is now vice president and manager of this concern, and the business which started in a modest way has grown to large proportions, and still continues to grow. The firm handles lumber of all kinds and also deals in building materials. Mr. Whitlock has given all of his life as a business man to the lumber trade and no one is better equipped than he to manage a large business such as the El Paso Lum- ber Company. Much of the success which the firm has met with has been due to the judgment and expert knowledge of the young manager.

In his religious beliefs Mr. Whitlock is a member of the Baptist church. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and belongs to the Texas grand lodge of this order. He is also a member of the Hoo Hoo, a lumber- men's society, and his popularity and the high esteem in which he is held by his business associates is clearly shown by his record as a member of this society. He was appointed for western district of Texas a vicegerent snark just ninety days after becoming a Hoo Hoo, which in itself is a record unequaled in the history of the order, and he has held this office for five consecutive years, a most unusual honor, and one seldom attained by a man. Mr. Whitlock is an active member of the chamber of commerce. In politics he is a member of the Republican party, but takes no active part, other than casting his vote at election time. When he resided in eastern Texas he was connected with the school board at one time, but his business cares have been too heavy to permit of many other interests since coming to El Paso.

Mr. Whitlock owns a fine automobile and is very fond of this form of travel or sport. He thinks that this section of Texas is one of the finest spots in the world. and says that a man who is honest and ambitious and willing to work will make no mistake in settling in this valley for the climate and opportunities are here.

At Lincecum, Louisiana, on the 28th of May, 1902, Mr. Whitlock was married to Miss Anna Janney Wood- worth, a daughter of C. S. Woodworth of that place.

Mr. and Mrs. Woodworth now make their home in El Paso. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Whitlock, namely, Fred Janney and Jessie Jane.

WAYMAN F. WELLS. (A sketch published in 1893.) In portraying the lives of the pioneers of Texas, the heroes of San Jacinto and the first settlers of Bastrop and Travis counties, no name is more worthy of mention than that of the subject of this sketch. In looking over the now thickly populated and finely cultivated country it is difficult for one to imagine what great changes have taken place during the active lifetime of as early a resident as Mr. Wells.

In 1826 Mr. Wells, then a lad of eleven years, accom- panied his father's family from their home in Alabama to this new and wild country, at that time belonging to Mexico. There were then but few small civilized set- tlements in what is now the great State of Texas, one of which was situated in what is now Fayette county. With this last settlement the Wells family cast their lot during the first year. The next year, however, they pushed their way forward to the frontier, until they came to what is now Bastrop county, which locality was then principally inhabited by Indians and wild animals, the Wells family being among the first settlers, the mother and sisters of Mr. Wells being the first white women that had ever ventured as far north on Texas soil. Amidst these surroundings the youth of Mr. Wells was passed, his time being occupied in assisting his father, in opening up the frontier farm and in caring for the stock. The farm was situated on what has since been known as Wells' Pyramid, fifteen miles from where the city of Bastrop now stands. For some years Mr. Wells' life was spent much like that of other boys of his age, but in those days boys matured to man's estate early, and, being the oldest son, many of the cares of the farm and stock devolved on him, thus materially strengthen- ing his independence and natural firmness of character.

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A history of Texas and Texans, Part 6

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