A history of Texas and Texans, Part 64

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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Burkville was the early home of Dr. Ford, and be re- ceived his education both under private instructions and in the public schools. Though a boy just entering his teens, when the war broke out, he was old enough to give much assistance to his father, in the conduct of the quartermaster 's business, and in handling the Burkville postoffice. That experience proved valuable to him in later life, as an early training in routine of business. About 1870 he took up the study of medicine in Mobile, Alabama, where he was graduated in 1873. Returning home, he practiced at Burkville a few years, and then

interrupted his practice for another period of study, en- tering Tulane University at New Orleans, where he was graduated in 1880. From that time until 1883, Dr. Ford was located at Jasper, and since then has had his home and his office in Nacogdoches. His professional effi- cieney has been increased by several courses in post- graduate work at different times, and he has identified himself with professional affairs as a member of the County and State Medical Societies and National Asso- ciation.

Dr. Ford has a noteworthy military record. His expe- rience in that direction began in 1887, when be joined the Nacogdoches company of the Texas National Guards, and finally retired after having served as chief surgeon and medical director. At the outbreak of the Spanish- American War, Dr. Ford was commissioned by President MeKinley as brigade surgeon and assigned to the Sec- ond Brigade of the First Division of the 7th Army corps. His actual service, however, was as division surgeon of 1st Division, 7th corps, ou staff of General J. Warren Keifer's command of General Fitzhugh Lee's corps. He went to Cuba with his command, and aided in establish- ing Camp Columbia, near Havana, and helped to clean up the capital and make it a sanitary place, after the Spanish troops had left. Dr. Ford left the island in April, 1899, and was discharged by general order of the war department soon after that date.

In early years Dr. Ford did considerable service as an active Democrat, representing his home district as dele- gate to various state conventions. He was a delegate when Governor Ross was nominated, and again in 1890 when Governor Hogg received his first call from the Texas democracy. Outside of his profession, and his careful attention to the large clientage in and about Nacog- doches, with several other citizens he assisted in con- strueting the original water works plant at Nacogdoches, now one of the best in the state. Dr. Ford affiliates with the Blue Lodge and Chapter of Masonry, with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, and the Woodmen of the World, and his church is the Episcopal.

Dr. Ford in May, 1876, at Shreveport, married Miss Fannie Cates, a daughter of Wesley Cates. She died in Burkville in 1879, leaving a son, Francis C., a druggist of Nacogdoches. At Nacogdoches, in June, 1898, Dr. Ford married Miss Jane Thompsou, whose father was Judge Thompson, marine judge in New York City. The doctor has no children by his second marriage.

ED HENDRICKS, senior member of the mercantile firm of Hendricks and Anderson, of Cooper, Texas, is a rep- resentative of one of the ante bellum families of the Lone Star state.

John Pierson Hendricks, the father of Ed Hendricks, came from Springfield, Missouri, to Texas some time in the 50's. He was a native of Kentucky, born in 1834, and went from there to Missouri when a child, where, in Greene county, he was reared and educated, his educa- tional advantages, however, being limited. At that date St. Louis was the farthest west railroad point, and the Hendricks family made the journey to Texas in true pioneer fashion, namely, by wagon. Their destination was Biardstown community in Lamar county, where John P. Hendricks became a leading factor in the agri- cultural and stock industry, and also in the gin and mill business of that place. John P. Hendricks was a son of Isaac Hendricks, who also came to Texas. Isaac Hen- drieks' father was William Hendricks, who lived and died at Baltimore, Maryland. He was the progenitor of various branches of the family that are scattered throughout the South. Isaac Hendricks married Hamsy Webster, and their children were John P., Shadrick, Me- shack, Marshall; Mary J., who has been twice married, first to Kirk Johnson and after his death to John Evans; Elzora, wife of James Dillard, of Oregon, and Arte-

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missa, wife of Benjamin Jackson, of Oklahoma. John P. Hendricks died in 1907. He maintained a strong in- terest in democratic politics, and was a man of Southern prejudices and practices, but he took no part in the effort to establish the Confederate States. His widow, Serena (Smith) Hendricks, is still a resident of Cooper, Texas. Of their children, we record that Robert, born in 1862, married Miss Lillie Duncan, and is with the Hendricks-Anderson firm of Cooper; Gay, of Paris, Texas, married May Jackson; Ed, whose name introduces this review, was the next in order of birth, and the youngest, Gertrude, is the wife of Neal Duncan, of Paris, Texas.

Ed Hendricks was born November 13, 1873, at Biards- town, Lamar county, and spent the first sixteen years of life on his father's farm. In addition to a common school education, he had the advantage of a course in a business college, and when he was seventeen he entered upon his business career. His chief training has been in the broad school of experience, where he has rounded out a character typical of the prosperous, genial Southerner, on good terms with himself and everybody around him. He earned his first money as an employe of the mill and gin at Biardstown, and subsequently he ran a confec- tionery stand at that place. On coming to Delta county, he found employment as clerk for S. C. Ratliff in the old town of Charleston, at $16.00 a month, and there famil- iarized himself with all the details of the business and developed into a successful salesman and merchant. His ambition was to have a business of his own, and when he had accumulated a small capital he put in a stock of groceries and dry goods at Charleston, and thus opened up an independent career. His first capital amounted to only $425, but he met with success from the very start, and subsequently doubled and trebled his stock. After fourteen years spent at Charleton, he was ready for a wider field of activity. At that time his cash on hand and stock in trade were in marked contrast with the few dollars he had put into the business.

On coming to Cooper in 1910, Mr. Hendricks em- barked in the grocery business in his own brick house, just off the main square of the town. The following year he joined Carter Anderson in the purchase of the business of Cooper Bros., and under the firm name of Hendricks & Anderson is now identified with a mercan- tile business that is at the head in its line in Delta conn- ty. Mr. Henderson is one of the directors of the First National Bank of Cooper, vice president of the Home Relief Insurance Company, and president of the Delta Retail Merchants' Association. Also, he is a member of the Cooper Board of Trade.

While a resident of Charleston, Mr. Hendricks was married to Miss Nina Akard, daughter of Henry Akard and wife, nee Terrell. The Akards, as the name sug- gests, are of German origin, and Henry Akard is one of the merchants of Charleston. Mr. and Mrs. Hendricks are the parents of six children, namely: Gertrude, Bes- sie, Noland, Earl, Gordon and Lucile.

Mr. Hendricks' social interests include membership in the A. F. and A. M. and the I. O. O. F.

DAVID K. RENFRO. Brownwood, Texas, has among its honored retired citizens many men to whom it owes much, men of the highest type of responsible citizenship. They have been useful to the community through their activities in business, their public services and their professional achievements, and now, having stepped somewhat aside from the busy paths that their descend- ants still creditably occupy, are entitled to the consid- eration and respect which they universally receive. Standing prominent among this class of citizens may be mentioned David K. Renfro, who for years was en- gaged in farming and as a druggist. He was born

March 16, 1840, in Sabine county, Texas, and is a son of David and Martha (Dixon) Renfro.

The Renfro family is of Scotch descent, and many of the name are to be found in the State of Missouri, from whence came David Renfro to Texas in 1822. He was an early pioneer, farmer, stock raiser and slave owner, and continued in active operations up to the time of his death, which occurred April 13, 1865, the day of General Lee's surrender at Appomattox. Dur- ing the early days of the Texas frontier, he was com- missioned by the United States Government as captain of the Home Guards, an organization for the protection of the early settlers against the Indians and Mexican desperadoes. Five sons and one daughter were born to David and Martha (Dixon) Renfro, and of these David K. was the next to the youngest.

David K. Renfro secured his education in the private schools of early Texas, and proved a diligent scholar, making the most of his somewhat limited opportunities. His first business was in freighting with ox-teams and mule-teams from Grandoco, Louisiana, to various points in Texas, and while thus engaged hauled large loads of merchandise from fifty to ninety miles. Mr. Renfro continued to be thus engaged until 1861, when the out- break of the war between the North and the South caused him to lay aside his private interests to join the ranks of the Confederate army, and he accordingly en- listed in the First Texas Infantry, Hood's Brigade, First Division, under Generals Longstreet and Lee. Serving throughout the war, Mr. Renfro participated in fifty-one engagements, and made an excellent record for bravery and faithful service. He was discharged at the close of the struggle as orderly sergeant of his command, and upon his return to private life engaged in farming in Sabine county, where he hired twenty- five negroes, cotton being his principal erop. Next he opened a 400-acre farm on the Colorado river, where he was the first to raise cotton in that country. In 1867 he moved to Shelby county, Texas, and continued to farm until 1869, then returning to Sabine county, where in addition to carrying on agricultural pursuits he was the proprietor of a general merchandise business at Milan. Disposing of his interests there in 1873, he came to Brown county, and after spending abont seven- teen years in farming came to Brownwood and opened a pharmacy. This, like his other ventures, proved a de- cided success and he continued as proprietor of the drug store until 1905, when he retired, turning over 50% of the business to his sons, who are still conducting it. Al- though now living a quiet life, he still takes an interest in commercial activities, and is known as one of his community's most substantial men. His business career was one of untiring industry and perseverance, and at all times he well merited the esteem of his business as- sociates and the confidence of all with whom he had transactions.

On October 23, 1867, Mr. Renfro was married in Shelby county, Texas, to Miss Alif A. Tillman, of Scotch descent. daughter of Elijah and Elga (Modlock) Till- man, the former of whom was engaged in farming for many years in Shelby county. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Renfro, four sons and four daughters, all of whom are living, six being residents of Brownwood, while the oldest son is in business in Forth Worth, and another is a farmer and stockman of Wagner, Oklahoma. All are married.

Mr. and Mrs. Renfro are spending their last days in their comfortable home in Brownwood, surrounded by their many friends. They are faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South. Always a stanch democrat, Mr. Renfro has been active in his support of his party's candidates, while his fraternal connection is with the local lodge of the Masonic order, with the members of which he is decidedly popular.

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HEBER STONE. One of the ablest and most useful citizens of Washington county and of the state was the late Heber Stone, who died at his home in Bren- ham September 22, 1906. Among Texas bankers he held a high place, and the varied activities of his career whether in business or in citizenship were a valuable factor in Washington county for nearly thirty years. Hundreds of people knew his work, his public service, his high character and his great business enterprise, and throughout his continuous business success he was always guided by lofty ideals and dominated at all times by a strong sense of duty.

Heber Stone was born in Louisburg, North Carolina, August 26, 1853, a son of D. C. and Mary (Yarbarough) , Stone. The family moved to Texas about 1858, locating at Galveston. D. C. Stone was one of Galveston's most prominent citizens. A successful cotton factor, he had the honor of election as the first president of the Gal- veston Cotton Exchange, and served as mayor of the city of Galveston in 1877-78. His death occurred in 1884.

The late Heber Stone grew up in Galveston, attended the public schools, finished his literary training in the University of Virginia, and was a student of law in Galveston in the office of General Waul until admitted to the bar in 1875. While his best work was accom- plished in fields outside of his profession, the late Heber Stone was a lawyer of large attainments and powers, and for some years did a successful practice. He fol- lowed his profession in Galveston, but in 1876 became one of the pioneer members of the Brown county bar, and from that county in 1879 moved to Brenham in Washington county. During his residence in Brown county he served as county attorney one term. On his removal to Brenham Mr. Stone became identified with the banking house of Giddings & Giddings, and remained with that old financial institution for some years. Fi- nally selling his interests there, he devoted himself to his private affairs for several years, but in 1899 or- ganized the private bank which was conducted under his individual name, "Heber Stone. " In 1890 his pri- vate bank was consolidated with the First National Bank of Brenham, and Mr. Stone acquired controlling interest in that bank and became its president. With the ex- ception of one year he was the chief executive of the First National Bank of Brenham until 1903. From that time until his death most of his time and atten- tion were taken up in the supervision of his extensive land and other investments throughout the state.

To this able business man political honors came, and he might have gained more had he so desired. From 1996 to 1900 he sat in the state senate, and throughout that time served as chairman of the finance committee, a position for which his experience and training well fitted him. While in the senate he also displayed much interest in educational affairs, accepted every oppor- tunity to raise the standards of state education and improve its institutions, particularly the University of Texas. Fraternally the late Mr. Stone belonged to the Masons, and had taken the Knights Templar degree in that order.

In June, 1879, Heber Stone married Miss Louise Gid- dings, daughter of J. D. Giddings, a sketch of whose family is found in succeeding paragraphs. Mrs. Stone was born in Brenham and still lives at her old home, representing one of the most distinguished families in Washington county and esteemed for her own beautiful personality and social and charitable efforts. To her marriage were born five children, as follows: Giddings Stone, born in 1880, and now joint manager of the estate of his father; Mary, born in 1882, wife of Dr. R. E. Nicholson, a physician and surgeon of Brenham; Heber Stone, Jr., born in 1884, and joint manager with his brother of his father's estate; Albert Stone, born in 1886, a Brenham lawyer; and Louise Stone, born in 1892. and living at home with her mother. Vol. IV-14

CALVIN DENTON LINDLEY, M. D. Since the year 1906 Archer City, Texas, has known the professional activities of Dr. Calvin Denton Lindley, one of the younger medical men of this section of the state, and a generous measure of patronage is accorded to him in his professional capac- ity. He is a native product of the state, born in De Leon on December 10, 1878, and is the son of D. and Mrs. Nancy (Denton) Lindley, natives of Georgia and Tennessee, respectively.

Mr. and Mrs. Lindley were married in Tennessee and came to Texas soon thereafter, settling in Cooke county, this state, where the father practiced medicine for years, Burkett, Texas, having been his place of residence for the past quarter century. The mother, who is now in her fifty-fifth year, was reared and educated in her na- tive state of Tennessee. Five children were born to Dr. and Mrs. Lindley, and Calvin Denton Lindley is the third of the number. He was educated in the schools of Cole- man county and the University of the South at Sewanee, Tennessee, taking his M. D. degree from the latter insti- tution in 1900. Soon after his graduation Dr. Lindley came to Burkett, and for three years was engaged in practice in his old home town. He then went to Pioneer, Texas, for the space of three years, after which he came to Archer City, and here he has since been actively en- gaged in a constantly growing general practice. In addi- tion to his regular practice, he has the duties of the of- fice of city physician to attend to, and finds himself one of the busiest men of the community.

Dr. Lindley has membership in the County and State Medical Societies, and is a member of the Christian church.

In October, 1899, Dr. Lindley was married at Ard- more, Indian Territory, to Miss Maude Brown, a daugh- ter of John and Mrs. Rebecca (Henry) Brown. The father still lives and makes his home at Rush Springs, Texas. Three children have been born to Dr. and Mrs. Lindley. The eldest, Miss Jewell H., is attending school in Burkett, Texas; Ray, born in 1904, also attends school there; and Harold, who was born in 1907, lives with the parents in Archer City.

Although the early years which Dr. Lindley spent in practice with his father in Burkett were invaluable to him in establishing him and giving him an experience beyond his years, his own efforts have had a great influ- ence in gaining to him the position he now enjoys. He is studious and progressive, and devoted to his profes- sion, and is rightly regarded as one of the coming medi- cal men of the state. Dr. Lindley is especially enthusi- astie on the subject of the development of Texas, and has an unlimited faith in her future.

JOHN PERRY ALEXANDER. John Perry Alexander has done his full share in the work of advancing Olney in in- terest and importance in Young county, for he has been the main spring and movement in the work of making his dry goods business to occupy the place of one of the leading concerns of its kind in the county. He came here in 1908, and, together with Terrell Collins, they have evolved a merchandise business that bids fair to outgrow its confines within a brief time. Mr. Alexander has shown himself to be a merchandiser of no slender ability, and Olney has been fortunate in drawing to her- self one of his character and capacity.

Born on July 1, 1883, John Perry Alexander claims Decatur, Wise county, Texas, as his birth place, and John Crockett and Ella (Collom) Alexander as his parents. The father, a native of Mississippi, came to Texas in 1878, and was one of the early pioneers of Wise county. Early in his life he was a school-teacher, but in his more advanced years he devoted himself to stock-farming. He is now in the sixty-second year of his age, and is hale and hearty, and yet carrying on his business affairs. His wife and the mother of the sub- ject was born in Wise county and there reared. She is

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now forty-nine years of age, and the mother of eleven children.

John Perry Alexander was the first born of the eleven children that came to his parents. He was afforded the privilege of attending the public schools of Wise county as a boy, and at an early age identified himself with the dry goods business, starting in the stores in Decatur and there gaining the experience, for the most part, that has made his later success possible. In 1903 he went to Alvord for five years, where he was similarly occupied and bent upon learning what he could that would be of practical use to him in conducting an independent husi- ness, and when he came to Olney in 1908 he felt himself ready to put to use the accumulations of the few years of experience he had behind him. With one Mr. Terrell Collins he engaged in the dry goods business, and while they started in a small way, it is worthy of mention that their establishment, after five years of growth, is one of the leading mercantile stores in Young county. A complete stock of all kinds of dry goods is carried, in- cluding men's and women's wearing apparel, and theirs is one of the best patronized stores in the county, and one that bears a highly ereditable reputation for honest goods and honorable methods of business.

Mr. Alexander is a member of the Texas Volunteer Guard, and of the Pythian Knights, but has no other fraternal or social relations. He is a Democrat, but not especially active in the party.

On March 9, 1909, Mr. Alexander was married to Miss Susan Jackson, the daughter of Johu and Mary Jane Jackson, a well known family in Wise county.

Mr. Alexander is a shining example of the successful young business man who gained his foothold in the busi- ness world through the exercise of habits of thrift and integrity, and his success as such is one that is especially pleasing to contemplate.

SELL MELUGIN. As county judge of Archer county, Judge Sell Melugin is continuing a record of public service that began in 1908 with his election to the office of county and district clerk. In both positions he has demonstrated a high order of ability and has proven himself a wise choice on the part of the voters of the district. Prior to his public service, Judge Melugin was engaged in school teaching for some five years, and was one of the promising young educators of the county.

Born in Jack county, Texas, on August 22, 1881, Judge Melugin is a son of S. R. and Annie (Beard) Melugin, the father a native son of Texas, horn in Fannin, and the mother born in Missouri. In her young days she set- tled in Fannin, Texas, and she is still living at the age of fifty-two years. The father is a prosperous stock- man, who years ago removed from Fannin county to Jack county, and still later to Archer county, where he now resides, aged fifty-nine years. Four sons and two daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Melugin, and the subject was the third in order of birth. He attended the schools of Jack county and finished his training in the high school of Archer City, after which he taught school for five years in Archer county. In 1908 he was elected to the office of county and district clerk, a posi- tion he filled with all efficiency until 1912, when he was elected on the Democratic ticket to the office of county judge. Already has he given an excellent account of himself in that office, and he gives promise of a worthy career as a public official. Already he has a wide ac- quaintance in this section of the state, and he is highly esteemed of all who know him. His success has come thus far as the logical result of his own excellent activ- ities and in acknowledgment of the numerous worthy traits that characterize him among his fellows. Judge Melugin has membership in the Woodmen of the World, but has no other fraternal affiliations.

On January 28, 1906, the Judge was united in mar- riage with Miss Cordie Moore, of Archer City, a daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Moore, both of whom are yet

living, and who came to Texas in their youth with old pioneer families of the state. One child has been born to Judge and Mrs. Melugin-Francis, born December 16, 1908.

WALTER JENNINGS CROOK, M. D., of Cooper, Texas, holds prestige both as a professional man and as a rep- resentative of one of the prominent pioneer families of the State.

Doctor Crook's fatber, Jere S. Crook, came to Lamar county, Texas, in 1840, with his parents, from Henderson county, Tennessee, the journey being made by wagon across the wilds of Arkansas and into the Texas fron- tier. Their home was established about six miles south- east of Paris, where Jere S. grew to manhood. He was born in Henderson county, Tennessee, February 22, 1836, and was therefore four years of age at the time of their removal to Texas. His education, begun in the schools near his home, was finished in the old Mckenzie College at Clarksville, Texas. The opening of the war of the Rebellion found him in a mood to espouse the cause of the South, and he hecame a lieutenant in a Texas regiment which became a part of Ector 's Brigade. Among other engagements of the war in which he partic- ipated were those of Murfreesboro and Chickamauga, and when he resumed civil life it was as a farmer in the locality where his boyhood was spent. There he demon- strated his success and won a place among the large farmers of Lamar county. He bore an active part in Democratie politics and was honored with the chairman- ship of bis county committee. He became a strong Bryan partisan, and his following the cause of a leader of national fame added strength to that cause in Lamar county. Jere S. Crook was a sterling citizen as well as a successful farmer, and manifested an interest in and sympathy for the social and religious side of life. He possessed humaneness to a marked degree and lent his voice and purse to the advancement of righteous work, both in and out of the church. He was a Methodist and was of the counsellors of that body, and his prac- tice was always to entertain strangers at his home with- out price. His body, like bis mind, was quick and ac- tive, his carriage erect, his weight 170 pounds, his height 5 feet, 9 inches.

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A history of Texas and Texans, Part 64

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