A history of Texas and Texans, Part 63

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 63

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James E. Murrie received his early education in a private school, and in fact, this was all the education he had, for circumstances forced him to become a wage earner early in life. He has, however, been a great reader and a natural student, and is today a man of culture and education. His father died when he was six years old and at the age of thirteen he took the responsibility of the family upon his young shoulders and started out to earn a living for himself and to aid in the support of his mother and the younger chil- dren. He lived at home and worked at anything he could find to do, taking his share in the work of the ranch as soon as he was old enough. At the age of seventeen he left the home ranch and went to work in a cotton gin. He spent the next four years working in the gin during the winter and on the farm in the summer. Then he went to Mineola, Texas, where he began clerking in a store. After seven years of this work, during which he saved his money in the hope that he could start in business for himself, he found himself with enough capital to open a grocery store in Mineola. His grocery business grew and prospered to such an ex- tent that at the end of four years he determined to go into the business on a larger scale and so moved to Seymour where he continued in this business. Fortune, which in this case was hard work and close attention to business, again favored him and his store became one of the leading establishments of this kind in Seymour. After twenty-three years he sold out his business and organized the First Guaranty State Bank. He was elected its president and has been its active head since that time.

Mr. Murrie is a member of the Democratic party but takes no active interest in political questions. He is prominent in the fraternal world, being a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In religious mat- ters he is a member of the Baptist church.

Mr. Murrie was married at Fort Griffin, Texas, on the 25th of February, 1883, to Miss Margaret Gregg, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Gregg, of Fort Griffin. Mrs. Murrie died on the 2nd of January, 1891, and is buried in Mineola. She was a member of the Methodist church and was the mother of one child, Robert G., who is married and lives in Albany, Texas. On the 15th of March, 1893, Mr. Murrie was married again, his wife being Miss Salome Hargrave, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Hargrave, of Sulphur Bluff, Texas, where the marriage took place. Two children have been born of this union, namely, Neil and Rebecca.

DR. HUGH C. MCKINNEY. Though comparatively young in practice, having finished his medical training as lately as 1908, Dr. Hugh C. Mckinney is neverthe- less regarded as one of the leading physicians of Young county, and one whose future is especially bright. He has applied himself to the duties of his profession in the same ardent and energetic manner that characterized his work during his college career, and it is the men of his ambitious tendencies and combined skill who are inevitably ordained to success in their chosen fields of activity.

Born in Milam. Milam county. Texas, on March 3, 1886. Dr. Hugh C. Mckinney is the son of J. M. and Sarah James (McIntyre) MeKinney. The father was

born in Alabama, and the mother was born in Chapple Hill, Washington county, Texas. When J. M. Mckinney was sixteen years of age he made his way alone to Milam county, Texas, and there settled down to farm life. In the years that passed he became well and prominently known in his community and district, and in public life he played a prominent part. For six years he was the representative of the Eleventh Sena- torial District, comprising Milam, McLennan and Falls counties, Texas, and he rendered a service in that im- portant capacity that would be sufficient honor for any one individual during his career. He was prominent as a farmer and stockman in Milam county all his days, and he died there on February 17, 1912, aged seventy years. He was a veteran of the Civil war, and served first with General Hood's brigade, later with the Seven- teenth Texas Infantry. He passed through the long period of the war, receiving only one slight wound that incapacitated him for service for a short time, but otherwise experiencing all the horrors of war.

The mother, who still lives in Milam county, was born in Chapple Hill, Texas, in 1843, and spent the best years of her life in Milam county, where she went to reside upon her marriage. Six daughters and two sons were born to the parents, of which goodly number the subject was the youngest born. He received good educational advantages as a hoy, and early made his choice of a profession. His literary training was gained in Milam county, and the first year of his medical train- ing in Galveston, in the Medical Department of the State University. He attended the University at Fort Worth for three years, being graduated in 1908 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He initiated the practice of his profession in Milam county, remaining there for three years, after which he came to Olney in Young county, and has here been active in his profession, and very successful from every point of view. He has an ever growing and lucrative practice, and has the confidence and high regard of the public, while the medical pro- fession of the county and district regard him as one of the most successful and coming young physicians in Young county. He is a member of the Milam Countv Medical Society and the State Medical Society as well. Fraternallv he is connected with the Masons, as a member of the Chapter, the Council and the Royal Arch Masons. He is also a member of the Woodmen of the World. Politically, Dr. MeKinney is a Democrat, but the demands of his profession are such as to preclude the possibility of his taking more than a good citizen 's part in the political activities of the district, even were he so disposed in his inclinations.

On December 29, 1909, Dr. Mckinney was married to Miss Ruby Elliston, of Temple, Texas, the daughter of J. T. Elliston and his wife,-a well known and highly esteemed family of that place. One child has been born to them, James Elliston MeKinney, born in Milam county, on November 29, 1911.

ARBA A. COOPER. One of the most estimable and popular young men of this city is found in the person of Arba A. Cooper, postmaster of Olnev since 1910, and prior to that engaged for something like eight years in educational work, in Clay, Boyson and Young counties. Of a sturdy type, he has done excellent work and most conscientions, in his teaching experience, and when he assumed the duties of the postmastership of Olney, he brought to his new position the same qualities of steadfastness and integrity that made him a snecessful and desirable teacher. His place in the community is a most desirable one, and he has a host of excellent friends in the various communities with which he has been identified in former years.

Born in Jacksboro, Texas, on July 22. 1882, Arba A. Cooner is a son of C. C. and Mary (Staats) Cooper, both natives of Illinois, who came to Texas soon after their marriage, locating in Jacksboro in 1880. There

your Way Frank S.A.

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the father identified himself with agricultural activities, and continued to be so occupied. He is now living at Jermyn, in Jack county, at the age of fifty-nine, and his faithful wife, who was born in Illinois in 1863, still shares his fortunes. They became the parents of nine children, of which Mr. Cooper of this review was the eldest.

Arba Cooper attended the schools in Jacksboro and was eventually graduated from the high school of that place. His graduation came in 1902, and soon thereafter he identified himself with teaching work, in which he continued to be active for the following eight years. He taught for three years in Clay county, three years at Bryson in Jack county, and a little more than a year in Young county. In 1910, he received the appointment to the office of postmaster of Olney, and he assumed the duties of that office in March, 1910, since which time he has faithfully discharged the duties of the office. He is a Republican in his political faith, and has per- formed the duties of citizenship wherever he has found himself ever since he attained man's estate. Fraternally, he has membership in the Maccabees, but has no other social affiliations of that nature.

In December, 1904, Mr. Cooper was married to Sarah Manton, of Bellevue, Texas. She is a daughter of W. J. and Lucy (Manton) Manton, the mother being now deceased. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cooper: Mary Katherine, born in Bryson, Texas, on July 3, 1907; Robert Manton, also born in Bryson, in 1909; and William Cooper, born in Olney in 1912.

The family takes its place among the best people of Olney, and they enjoy the genuine regard of a wide circle of friends in those localities where they have been known formerly. Mr. Cooper is enthusiastic in his opin- ion of his adopted state and looks for greater develop- ments than have been yet planned for the great com- monwealth of the southwest.

HON. FRANK S. ROBERTS. The average man is seldom brought face to face with the stern realities of life before he has reached years of near maturity. He is generally given the opportunity to make a choice of occupations -allowed to follow his natural inclinations insofar as untoward circumstances do not prevent. Showing an early predilection for one of the learned professions, for one of the various fields open in the marts of trade and commerce, or for the hazardous activities of the political arena, he may be given the chance to develop his talents in his chosen line, and his success or failure rests upon the manner in which he exercises and directs his inherent gifts. It is not the average man, however, who always reaches the highest goal. The records of history and biography distinctly show that many of the men who have achieved distinction, who have grasped the great things of life, the men to whom men have looked, have had their start in comparative obscurity. It would seem that the mere necessity of self support and self protec- tion, which really mean self reliance. develops indwell- ing power which would probably, under other circum- stances, have lain dormant. The man who takes upon himself the responsibilities of manhood when still in the days of his youth, who bends his every energy toward the accomplishment of those things which chance or in- clination has placed before him, and who finally triumphs over all and finds the fruits of victory sweet, is far above the medial individual.

Hon. Frank S. Roberts, Judge of the Twenty-second Judicial District Court, of Lockhart, Texas, is far from heing an average man; his present high position among the judiciary of Texas could not have been attained had he possessed only mediocre talents and ordinary ambi- tions. When he decided upon a career in the law, he found it necessary that he gain his own education, and in the attainment of his ends he was willing to labor in any honorable capacity, no matter how humble. At all times, in whatever field of endeavor he has found

himself, he has continued to be an energetic, forcible and industrious worker, and his career has finally been crowned by the esteem of his fellow men and an enviable position in the calling to which he has so devotedly given his life.

As in the wars the bravest fight, so in the emigratiou to new sections the bravest travel, and it is for this reason that the great Southwest country has produced so many stalwart, fearless men. Among the pioneers to Texas in 1851 came David Powell Roberts, the grand- father of Judge Roberts. He had been a planter in Mississippi, and on coming to the Lone Star state he settled on Walnut Creek, in Caldwell county, there estab- lishing himself upon a ranch, which he operated until his death. During the war between the states he enlisted in a Texas regiment, and saw active service with the Confederate army along the Gulf. Elias Keeton Roberts, the father of Judge Roberts, was born in Mississippi in 1848, and was a child of three years when he accon- panied his parents to Texas. He was educated in the country schools of Caldwell county, adopted the medical profession, completed his studies at Tulane University medical school, at New Orleans, Louisiana, and for many years was a country doctor in Caldwell and Blanco coun- ties. He retired from active practice some ten years ago, and is now living quietly at San Antonio. He mar- ried Melvina Sheppard, who was born in Blanco county, Texas, where her mother was also born, her father being a native of Ireland who came to Texas during the days of the Republic. She still survives and resides at San Antonio.

Frank S. Roberts was born November 20, 1877, in Cald- well county, Texas, and early in life evinced that deter- mination of doing and succeeding in his doing that has characterized him through all his undertakings. He was reared on a farm and received his early education in the country school, this being followed by a course at the Lockhart High school, where he was graduated in 1896, although the last year of his term was only made pos- sible by his working his own way. He obtained the position of janitor that year, at a salary of ten dollars per month, and was thus able to complete his course. Following this, he taught school in Wilson county for two years, saving his money with the intention of taking a course at the University of Texas, but unforeseen cir- cumstances found him at San Antonio in 1898, when the Spanish-American War broke out, and he enlisted in the Rough Riders. He presented himself in person to Lieut .- Col. Theodore Roosevelt, who assigned him and made him a member of Troop B. Mr. Roberts departed with the regiment to Tampa, Florida, and while in march- ing order, ready to embark on the transport, to go to Cuba, he was suddenly stricken in the ranks with a fever which developed into measles and later into typhoid, so he could not accompany his regiment to Cuba, much to his disappointment. He remained in the hospital until August, and was then removed to Washington Barracks Hospital, and rejoined his regiment, when it returned, at Montauk Point, Long Island, and was mustered out of the service in October, 1898.

Mr. Roberts then went to Danville, Indiana, with the determination of securing the education so much de- sired, and there worked his way through the Central Normal College, taking the full university course, study- ing law and graduating in August, 1900, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts and the degree of Bachelor of Laws. While at college he earned his own living and tuition fees, being engaged at all kinds of employment, including janitor work. He was also married during this time. his wife being a teacher in Hendrix county and a student in the college. After his graduation Mr. Roberts re- turned to Texas and took up his residence at Lockhart, where he engaged in the practice of law. In 1902 he was elected county attorney of Caldwell county, by the largest majority ever given a candidate for that office, and was reelected, serving two terms of two years each.

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In 1906 he again took up private practice, but in March, 1908, was appointed by Governor Campbell district at- torney of the Twenty-second Judicial District, to com- plete the unexpired term of James L. Storey. In Novem- ber, 1910, he was elected to that office for the term of two years, but resigned November 1, 1911. As county attorney and later as district attorney be displayed such a deep and accurate knowledge of the law, that he was considered eminently capable of occupying the bench of the Twenty-second Judicial District, which had pre- viously been occupied by two of the most distinguished jurists of the state, Judges L. W. Moore and H. Teich- mueller, and on November 1, 1911, he was appointed by acting Governor Davidson to that office, to succeed Judge Moore, who had died. In November, 1912, he was elected to that position for the full term of four years, the youngest judge in years of any in the state. As district attorney, during his last year in that office, Judge Roberts did not have a single acquittal, having successfully prosecuted every case tried before a jury. In his judicial capacity he has shown himself absolutely impartial in his decisions, weighing carefully both sides and deciding fairly to all interests. One of the rules of his life and which has characterized his work on the bench is as follows: "In all questions he seeks first to determine from the facts upon which side is justice, then to discover and announce the rule that is or ought to be the law to obtain it." He is truly a man of the people, knowing full well of his own experience what it is to fight single-handed against obstacles. Frater- nally, Judge Roberts is past master of Lockhart Lodge No. 690, A. F. & A. M., a member of Lockhart Chapter No. 208, R. A. M., and Past Thrice Illustrious master of Lockhart Council, No. 11, R. & S. M .; and also holds membership in Lockhart Lodge No. 52, Woodmen of the World, and Germania Lodge No. 15, Sons of Herman.

Judge Roberts was married in 1899 to Miss Alice Thomas, daughter of W. P. and Elizabeth M. Thomas and the mother is now a resident of Whittier, California. One son has been born to this union, George C. Mrs. Roberts' mother was the widow of Henry Swain, who died in Libby Prison. She also lost two brothers during the Civil War, they having been soldiers in the Northern army. She married William Pilton Thomas, a native of Bristol, England, who died. He was a Soldier of Fortune who fought with Garibaldi in Italy, aud who came to the United States after the Civil war. Mrs. Thomas was a Pickering of the old Quaker stock, whose ancestors came over the ocean in the May- flower, this family taking a prominent part in the win- ning of American independence.

From the earliest times the Roberts family has always been pushing toward the frontier. Of Welsh stock, it was founded by a pioneer settler of the Virginia Colony, who was killed by the Indians while engaged in digging ginseng roots for fever patients. The great-grandfather of Judge Roberts was Nathan Roberts, a Baptist preacher in Alabama and Mississippi, and from him have descended men who have formed the advance guard of American civilization in the great Southwest. A worthy represent- ative of this family, Judge Roberts is upholding its best traditions, and if the past may be taken as a criterion of the future he has still far to go in the making of the history of his native state.

LYCURGUS W. PORTER. A resident of Texas since 1872, Lycurgus W. Porter has in the passing years ex- perienced a variety of life in the great southwestern commonwealth. Farming and the cattle business in its various aspects occupied a good many years, and it was in 1910 that he first identified himself with life in Pe- trolia, when he established himself in the livery business. He retired from business, however, in 1913, and has since lived retired from active business pursuits. He devotes practically all his time to his administration of the office of mayor, to which he was elected in the spring

of 1913, and in which he has already demonstrated his fitness for public service of that order. He has long been one to give considerable attention to the matter of civic life in his locality, and at one time, while a resi- dent of Baylor county, he was overseer of highways for ten years, as a result of which many miles of good roads in the county are directly accredited to him.

Mr. Porter is a native of Missouri, his birth occurring in that state on June 10, 1851, and he is a son of Eze- kiel H. and Mandina H. Porter. They were native Ken- tuckians, and for years the father was identified with farming in Missouri. He was a successful and prosper- ous farmer and a man of some position in his com- munity, both he and his wife being devout church- people. The father is buried in Texas, while the mother died in Missouri and is there buried.

Up to the time when he was twenty-one years of age Lycurgus W. Porter obediently remained on the home farm, where he was his father's main assistant. His schooling was not elaborate in its scope and nature, be- ing confined to the country schools of the community where he was reared, and when he reached his legal ma- jority he answered the call of the world to young man- hood, and set out upon his own responsibility. He came to Texas in 1872 and went to work on the cattle ranges of the state, that field offering a sure employment to young and inexperienced men. For ten years he con- tinued in the cattle business, and in those years he drove cattle through numerous states, including Kansas and Nebraska. He prospered in his work, and in 1882 he bought a farm in Baylor county, Texas, and he carried on a successful farming enterprise until 1907. He then went to Belleview and bought a farm and operated there until 1910, when he sold it, and came to Petrolia. He operated on a generous plan, and his profits were un- failing with each season. He finally disposed of his farming interests and in 1910 chose the town of Petrolia as a suitable location for the enterprise he had in mind, and in that year he established the livery business in which he was so successful and which he has now rele- gated to his son's sole charge and supervision, himself having retired from all business activities. In the years that he devoted to business Mr. Porter amassed consid- erable wealth, and he is regarded as one of the finan- cially stable men of the city and county.

The status of the man in his recently chosen com- munity is that of a leader in every worthy enterprise that is inaugurated within the limits of the city. He is quite generally known as the Peacemaker of Petrolia, and he is the friend of all, and all are his friends. The peo- ple bring him their problems of life and seek his advice on matters of moment to them, and no man in the com- munity has a greater following among all classes than he. He has made good, in common parlance, in every- thing he has undertaken. In his ranching and farming business, he was undeniably successful, as success is measured by the amassing of property. In his public career he has given excellent service in every office the people have called him to, and now, when he has retired from business life and is giving his sole attention to the administration of his office of mayor of Petrolia, he has the esteem and confidence of all.

For nearly forty years a member of the Methodist Episcopal chuch, Mr. Porter is one of the active church- men of the community. His family also have member- ship in that body.

On Christmas Day, in 1881, Mr. Porter was married in Baylor county, Texas, where he long made his home, to Miss Mary N. Moon, the daughter of R. J. Moon, for- merly of Alabama. To them were born eight children- four sons and four daughters-named as follows: Rolla, deceased; Harley L .; Attrice B .; Iola; Lawrence; Verda; Boyd and Cleta.

The family have a leading social position in Petrolia,

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and have a host of genuine friends in the city and county.

FRANCIS CATES FORD, M. D. It is now thirty years since Dr. Ford began his practice at Nacogdoches. His career as a member of the Texas Medical profession is even longer, since he earned his degree and began prac- tice in the state in 1873. In his profession he has been known as a man always apace with the progress of his great science, and by post-graduate work and private study, has never suffered severely from competition by younger men. Both his family and his personal record are interesting subjects for biographical mention.

Francis Cates Ford was born in Newton county, Texas, September 17, 1849. The forefathers were descended from the Stuarts of Scotland, came over the ocean and founded a home among the American Indians, and as early settlers of South Carolina joined the fighting forces under General Marion, and lent their aid in effecting in- dependence for the colonies. The grandfather of Dr. Ford was John Ford, a South Carolina planter and slave holder, who subsequently moved to Hinds county, Mis- sissippi, where he died. His children were: Joseph and Samuel, who were long identified with the profession of law at Shreveport, Louisiana; Washington, who died in Mississippi; Catherine, who married Mr. Wommaek and died at Shreveport; and Sarah, who became the wife of Rev. Thomas Griffin, the latter having been a prominent factor in the separation of the Methodist church into Northern and Southern branches, and was one of the fathers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

Rev. David Ford, the father of Dr. Ford, was a Meth- odist minister, was born in the Marion district of South Carolina in 1806, and came to Texas in the early forties while the Republic was still in existence. He had a lib- eral education, and it is believed that he was a student at Princeton College, since he met his wife there. Though a regular preacher of the gospel, be devoted himself to farming, and had a household of slaves until the war set them free. Though too old and physically infirm to go to the front, during the war he was quartermaster in bis district, and did a fine service in relieving hunger and distress, and in handling the mail as postmaster at Burk- ville, where he lived. He furnished four sons to the Con- federate army, two of them with the First Texas in- fantry, in the army of Northern Virginia, and two in the First Texas Cavalry. His son, John, in the Virginian army, was captured with twenty-three comrades, while fighting a regiment of Federals, after killing more than two hundred of the enemy, and suffering capture only because ammunition ran out. The bravery and resolu- tion of these Confederates caused their captors to desire their parole, but instead they were sent to Camp Chase, Ohio, where John Ford died, and his body was buried there. Rev. David Ford married Miss Maria Van Dyke Hamilton, who died at Nacogdoches in 1897. Rev. David Ford died at Burkville, Texas, in 1874. His children were Thomas W., of Houston; Mrs. Catherine Nation of Newton county, Texas: Mrs. Ellen Cates, died near Shreveport, Louisiana; Addie, who married William Nor- vel, and died at Burkville: John D., who was the soldier above mentioned; Henry Harrison, who died at Orange; William Hamilton, who died in Beaumont ; and Dr. Fran- cis C.

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A history of Texas and Texans, Part 63

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