A history of Texas and Texans, Part 7

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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This sort of life continued without interruption until the year 1835, when the oppression and tyranny of the Mexican government became so strongly felt that the settlers resolved to bear their burdens no longer, and war was declared. Mr. Wells was among the first to join the army, which was composed of as brave men as could be found on the globe. On account of his familiar- ity with the country Mr. Wells was selected by his com. mander as a spy, and through his efforts the army was enabled to secure much important information of the movements and number of the enemy. He participated in the celebrated battles and defeats at San Antonio and Goliad, and followed the fortunes of the Texas army until its reorganization under General Sam Houston, when it was resolved to make a last resistance. Accord- ingly, on April 21, 1836, the battle of San Jacinto was fought, when a little army of 783 brave men, poorly equipped, scantily clothed and half starved, marched up, and in less than half an hour (eighteen minutes says Houston in his report), crushed to atoms an army of 1,500 men, splendidly accoutered, well fed and ably gen- eraled by Santa Anna. This is little short of marvelous, but these men were each a Hercules; their war cry was, "Remember the Alamo," and ten thousand men could not have daunted their conrage. They were fighting for their lives and those of their loved ones, as well as aveng- ing the death of those who had been murdered by the Mex- icans. This little army was made up of such men as Mr. Wells, and they followed their leader, General Houston, with no thought other than victory. It is such men that gained for Texas her independence and made her a Republie. It is snch men as these that have made Texas the greatest State in the Union which constitutes the grandest nation on the face of the earth, and the posterity of these men will look back over the history of Texas with pride in the knowledge that their forefathers were the ones who so nobly fought and bled that they might lay the foundation of a commonwealth of peaceful

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and happy homes, which their posterity now enjoy. Too much cannot be said in honor of the veterans of San Jacinto. They will live in the memory of their posterity as well as in that of the newer comers, who are enabled to enjoy the fruits of their courage and valor.

Besides serving in the Texas and Mexican wars, Mr. Wells subsequently took an active part in all the Indian wars, and his extensive knowledge of the frontier aided the settlers materially in keeping the savages at bay.

The early record of his life having been omitted, it is now inserted. Mr. Wells was born in Lincoln county, Tennessee, May 11, 1815, and was the oldest son of Martin and Sally (Boyd) Wells, both natives of the same state and county. When he was two years of age his parents removed to Marengo county, Alabama, where his father followed agricultural pursuits until the latter emigrated to Texas in 1826. As previously stated, Way- mau lived at home with his father until the outbreak of the Texas and Mexican war, which he entered at the age of nineteen. After the war Wayman returned home, where, during the same year, 1836, his father died, leav. ing the care of the family and farm to him. The fam- ily consisted of five sons and three daughters, two daughters being then married.

He efficiently continued the management of the home- stead until 1855, at which time he removed to Travis county. He there first purchased eighteen hundred acres on Walnut creek, to which he afterwards added one hun- dred and sixty acres more, and subsequently bought one hundred and seventy-five acres of timber land. He was here extensively engaged in farming and stock-raising until his death. Besides his large landed estates and extensive stock business Mr. Wells owned numerous slaves, of which latter property he was deprived through the result of the late war. Not being discouraged by the loss of his property, however, he pushed on, and be- ing a shrewd trader he continued to increase the value of his property, and at the time of his death was con- sidered one of the wealthy men of his section of Texas. March 4, 1848, Mr. Wells was married to Miss Mary E. Bacon, native of Tennessee, born in Washington county, October 30, 1817. Her parents, Thomas and Julia Ann (Harderman) Bacon, were both natives of the same county as herself, where they were married, and whence they emigrated, in 1835, to Texas. They first settled in San Augustine county, but in 1839 re- moved to Wells prairie, Bastrop county, and afterward to Travis county, where Mr. Bacon died in 1851, and Mrs. Bacon in 1859.

Were but simple justice to be done the memory of the subject of this review, it would be most consonant that more particular attention be directed to those noble characteristics which were a dominating power in his life and which animated his every action during the long years which were a power for good to the extent of their duration. He maintained a lively interest in all that tended to conserve the welfare and advancement of the community in which he lived and he contributed lib- erally to public institutions of all denominations and his benevolence was as unstinted as it was unostentatious. He was particularly concerned in the providing of edu- cational facilities for the youth of the State, and con- tributed largely to the building of the Southwestern University of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, at Georgetown, and the Baptist high school at Walnut Creek. All public enterprises found in him a ready friend. He was one of the board of trustees of the State Insane Asylum, under Governor Lubbock, and simultaneously served as County Commissioner. He had ever a responsive recognition of the sufferings of the fatherless and the widow and was never known to refuse the extending of a helping hand. A man cast in the finer mold, one who dignified humanity and made the world better for his having lived, there was in his death a con- sistent consummation which can hut rob the grave of its victory and death of its sting.

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Mr. and Mrs. Wells had nine children, six of whom lived to be grown and five of whom still survive: Amanda, wife of George LaRue; Sally Boyd died aged seventeen; Julia Ann died aged four; David L. and Martin Thomas died in infancy; Peter C., of Elgin, Bastrop county, married Katie Walling and they have five children; George Henry married Annie Anderson and resides in El Paso, Texas; J. M., and Wayman Thomas.

Mrs. Wells, a lady of strong force of character, was well fitted by nature and experience to be a helpmate for a man making a frontier home. She dispensed hos- pitality with a cheerful hand to friends and strangers alike, in true Texas style, and in a way known only to the true Texas frontier families. She has survived her husband, and now, at the age of seventy-six, retains in a remarkable degree the vigor of her youth. She is a devoted member of the Baptist church and interested in all good works.

After a long, active and useful life in Texas, Mr. Wells was called to his last home, February 25, 1878, but before his death, he espoused the cause of Christ and died with a full conviction that he would be saved and meet his loved ones in that place which knows no parting. He was deeply mourned by a loving family and a large circle of friends. His wife lost a loving and tender husband, his children an indulgent father, and the community a generous charitable citizen. He was identi- fied fraternally with the A. F. & A. M., under whose auspices his funeral services were conducted.

Since this memoir was written, Mrs. Wells has been called to the home beyond, dying on the 19th of May, 1898.

G. F. LARUE. Much has been said concerning the re- markable transformation in the live stock industry of Texas, concerning the changes which have caused the dis- appearance of the old Texas long-horn and the substitu- tion of modern high-grade cattle, and at the same time the subdivision of the open range into fenced fields and pastures, and a development of the modern stock farm. For the permanent economic wealth and welfare of Texas no change has been more important than that, and in a history of a development which has been 80 significant wherever possible mention should be made of and credit given to the individuals whose work was re- sponsible for this transformation. There were many instances of Texas cattle men who were successful as range stock men, and who steadily resisted the progress which brought about the division of the range into stock farms. At the same time there were others, of a more progressive nature, who advanced with the time, who accepted the changing conditions of agricultural econ- omy, and who became leaders in the new movement. One of those prominently identified as a leader in modern live stock farming, and who was abreast of if not often in advance of the times was the late G. F. LaRue, who was for thirty years actively engaged in the leading Texas industry, and whose stock interests were large and important in Travis county.

A son of David and Rebecca (Fauss) LaRue, G. L. LaRue was born October 9, 1839, in Adams county, Pennsylvania, the son of a farmer and stockman of that state. Educated in the public schools of his native state and with a training in a business college, he partly earned his way while attending school by elerking in a store. Early in life he went west, was in Nebraska for a time, and from there in 1861 moved to Texas, and at the beginning of the war joined Allen's Brigade. He was captured with his command at Arkansas Post and taken back to Pennsylvania, being released in 1862. Thenceforward he remained in the north during the war, and during a portion of the period of hostilities was engaged as a clerk in the war department at Wash- ington.

His early experience in Texas led him in 1867 to

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return to the state, and the first three years were spent in the revenue service at Cameron in Milam county. On March 3, 1869, Mr. LaRue married Miss Amanda Wells, a daughter of Wayman F. Wells, one of the veterans of the battle of San Jacinto, a noteworthy Texas patriot, of whom a sketch will be found in preceding paragraphs. After his marriage Mr. LaRue and his wife located on the Wells' farm in Travis county. It was there that his career as a stockman reached its greatest prosperity and influence, and before he died in 1897 Mr. LaRue was credited with having one of the finest farms for regis- tered stock in this section of the state. He gave his attention not only to cattle, but to sheep and fancy poul- try. While he shipped stock to the regular markets, the greatest benefit that came from his enterprise was in sup- plying stock for other farms all over the state, and it would be impossible to estimate the great value which bis leadership in improving and maintaining the finest grades of live stock had upon that industry in this state. He believed that high-grade stock was just as profit- able to Texas as to older parts of the country, and his own success in that line did much to stimulate other stockmen to follow his example. The character which he exemplified in his business was carried into all his relations, and he was a man of fine personality, the soul of honor, and highly esteemed for his integrity and abil- ity. In his home and community he was a public spirited citizen and a loving husband and father. After his death Mrs. LaRue moved to Austin in 1901, and still resides in that city. She is a woman of culture and refinement, and for a number of years has been one of the regular patrons and readers in the State University library, and has kept herself fully informed on the many subjects of interest in the world of art, science and history.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. LaRue are: Inge, wife of Robert Walling of Austin; Myrtle, who lives with her mother; Etta, wife of H. L. Yeager, an extensive farmer of Milam county; Fay, wife of H. H. Harris, a farmer and real estate man of Austin; Norton, who is interested in the oil fields of California; Miss George, a trained nurse and a graduate of the medical depart- ment of the University of Texas; Ruth, graduate from the University of Texas in 1910, and is the wife of I. S. Kibbe, cashier of the First State Bank of Fowlerton, Texas.

JAMES R. MIDDLEBROOK. M. D. After five years of active practice at Alpine, Dr. Middlebrook has been ac- corded the position of the leading practitioner of medi- cine in that town and vicinity. He has won this dis- tinction by ability of unusual order, and is one of the skillful representatives of the modern class of medical men, who are fortified by thorough training and who bring to their practice the experience and knowledge of all the generations of doctors who has preceded them.

Dr. Middlebrook not only has an excellent practice in his profession, but enjoys a place of special esteem as a citizen of Alpine, and has a most happy family life. James Middlebrook was born in McLennan county, Texas, August 29, 1879, and all his career with the exception of the years spent in the study of medicine have been passed in Texas. His father was John W. Middlebrook who was a Virginian by birth, but came to Texas when a young man and followed farming in McLennan county for many years. The maiden name of his wife was Sallie O'Donnell, who was born in Missouri, and was married in Arkansas. Dr. Middlebrook, the oldest in a family of five children, had his early education in the public schools, and then went to St. Louis, where he was a student for a time in the Marion Sims medical college. He completed his preparation for the profession in the Memphis Medical Hospital College, where he was grad- uated M. D. in 1903. Equipped with his degree in medi- cine, Dr. Middlebrook first located at Stratford, Texas, but after two years moved to Fort Worth, where he

was engaged in practice for three years, and from that city came out to Alpine and established his office and began acquiring patronage among the inhabitants of this locality.

On April 16, 1901, Dr. Middlebrook was married at Leroy, Texas, to Miss Laura Waters, whose family is one of the oldest in Texas, and its members bore an honorable share in making Texas during its pioneer period. Her father, Samuel E. Waters, who now resides in Hutchinson county, Texas, was born in Alabama, and came to Texas atter the war. He went through the war as a Confederate soldier, serving with the Seventeenth Louisiana Infantry, and his record of engagements in- clude many of the notable battles of the war. At the present time, as for a number of years past, he is en- gaged in ranching and has also had an active part in politics, having filled various publie offices. He is a member of the Masonic Order. His wife, whose maiden name was Jennie Matthews, was born in Texas, and her father lived in this state under four different govern- ments and flags, first during the Republic, then as a state, then as a confederate state and finally as the modern Texas. There were seven children in the Waters family, and Mrs. Middlebrook was the fourth.

Dr. Middlebrook prefers the Baptist church among the various religious denominations, but gives his support to all without discrimination. Fraternally he is affili- ated with the Masons, the Pretorians, the Woodmen of the World and the Knights of Pythias, while his wife is a member of the Eastern Star Chapter. Dr. Middle- brook is examining physician for the Woodmen of the World, and is local surgeon for the G. H. & S. A. Railroad. In politics he is a Democrat, though never active in party affairs. For recreations he enjoys hunt- ing and reading, and is one of the well informed men who see a great future for western Texas, not only 'as a mining and stock raising region, but as a country which in the course of a few years will be settled up by pros- perous farmers.

JULIAN CLARENCE FEILD. The precincts assigned for this review of the career of an active and eminent mem- ber of the profession of civil engineers are wholly inade- quate to give even a cursory notice of the many brilliant works which he has planned and executed. It must suffice to make allusion to those incidents of a useful life which will afford the best clue to the character of the man and to his admirable achievements. Julian Clarence Feild was born in the city of Denison, Texas, his present field of activity, September 9, 1881, and is a son of Dr. J. C. and Susan Elizabeth (McClain) Feild. The father was born at Pulaski, Giles county, Tennessee, of French-Scotch ancestry, July 5, 1841, received a good education, graduating from Tulane University, and began the practice of medicine at Little Rock, Arkansas. At the outbreak of the Civil war he cast his fortunes with the Confederacy, serving for a time as surgeon and subse- quently rising to the rank of colonel in the command of General Benjamin McCulloch. He served valiantly throughout the war, and was wounded slightly on several occasions, his engagements including the battles of Oak Ridge and House of Seven Gables.

After the restoration of peace Dr. Feild took a post- graduate course in medicine at Philadelphia, and in 1865 went to Fort Smith, Arkansas, where he remained in practice for five years. In 1870 he removed to the Old Boggy depot, in Indian Territory, but in 1872 came to Denison as one of this city's earliest physicians, here continuing in practice until the time of his death, Jan- uary 31, 1906. Dr. Feild was justly accounted one of Denison's most helpful and progressive men. At all times he did all in his power to promote the interests of his adopted community and saw his labor bear fruit in the various walks of life. A successful physician and surgeon, he also demonstrated his ability in financial matters as one of the founders of the National Bank of

Johan Feild

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Denison, was prominent in Masonic circles, and met with the appreciation of his fellow citizens in publie matters, his record during his two terms in the State Legislature and in other offices of the county and State being an active and honorable one. Dr. Feild married Susan Elizabeth MeClain, who was born September 23, 1855, at Osceola, Missouri, of Scotch-English descent, and of their children two are living: Mrs. W. J. Mathis, the wife of Judge W. J. Mathis, of Sherman, Texas, and Julian Clarence.

Julian C. Feild received his early education in the public schools of Denison, subsequently attended Har- shaw's Academy, of this city, and then became a student in the University of Texas, at Austin. In 1902 he was graduated from Cumberland University, Lebanon, Ten- nessee, with the degree of Bachelor of Science, and his first work at his profession was that of railroad location and construction, in which he continued to be engaged from 1902 until 1907, thus gaining excellent practical experience. In the latter year he resigned his position to return to Denison, and here he has rapidly risen to a high place among the civil and consulting engineers of Northern Texas. At this time he maintains offices at Suite 5-8, Feild Building. A list of Mr. Feild's achieve- ments and incumbencies shows that he has been city engineer of Denison for more than five years; he is con- sulting engineer for the Southwestern Surety Insurance Company ; engineer of the Red River Bridge Company of Denison; engineer of Milam and Robertson counties, Texas, and consulting engineer of the Oklahoma, Texas & Gulf Highway Association. It is probably in the line of good roads that Mr. Feild has been brought most promi- nently before the public, however. One of the first road builders in this part of the State, he has been connected with work that will run into millions of dollars spent in improving roads in the northern part of Texas, this being the third system of its kind in the State. He is also engineer of Road District No. 1, and is just com- pleting about $300,000 worth of improvements radiating from Denison. That he has not devoted his entire atten- tiou to the building of highways is shown by his active participation in all movements making for the welfare of Denison in any way. He has seen the city grow amazingly since his residence here and in no small degree bas contributed to this wonderful development. In his profession Mr. Feild is known as a man who combines prudence with boldness, who is able to differentiate between the valuable and the impracticable and visionary, and whose untiring energy keeps him constantly active among the helpful men of his vocation. He seldom takes vacations, and when he does is generally found in one or another of the large cities, combining business with pleasure by studying the methods and ideas of other communities. Devoted to his profession, he has found little time for polities, yet is known as an earnest and enthusiastic supporter of the best principles of the Democratic party. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the good roads committee. In fraternal life he has been more active. While at Cumberland University he became a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, and he now holds membership in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and has risen to a high place in Masonry, being eminent com- mander of the Knights Templar of that order. With his family he attends the Episcopal church, and for some time has served in the capacity of vestryman.

On June 10, 1903, Mr. Feild was married at Lebanon, Tennessee, to Miss Mary Lea Sanders, daughter of John C. and Katy B. (Lea) Sanders, the latter the daughter of the Hon. Benjamin J. Lea, who was chief justice of the Supreme Court of Tennessee. Mr. Sanders is a prominent practicing attorney of Lebanon, and also prominent in business life as president of the Cedar City Mills. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Feild: Katherine Elizabeth, born February 24, 1908.

The Feild home, one of the modern residences of Denison, is located at No. 1123 West Gaudy street.

R. F. POOL is the president of the Sherman Overall Factory, one of the prominent industries of Sherman and its vicinity. Although born in Alabama, his natal day being the 14th of May, 1862, Mr. Pool has been a resident of Texas since boyhood, aud here he has gained his success and at the same time added to the material prosperity of his community. His father, Gabriel Pool, was an Alabama farmer who came to Texas in 1870, locating in Milan county, where be resumed his vocation of farming and continued it to the end of his days, dying in 1905. His widow survived him until 1909. They became the parents of twelve children. When Mrs. Pool passed away she was in her ninety-second year, and in the seventy-fifth year of her marriage she could count the births of one hundred and sixty-six children in her family, including her own children, her grandchildren, her great-grandchildren and her great- great-grandchildren and her great-great-great-grand- children-a circumstance most unique and seldom encountered in genealogical and biographical research. Of that number one hundred and thirty-eight were living when she passed away, and during her seventy-five years of married life there were only twenty-eight deaths in the entire family, only nine of that number being adults. She was Alpha Brussell in her maidenhood, and she came of a family that is noted for its good health and longevity.

R. F. Pool, the youngest of the twelve children of his parents, received a limited education in the public schools of Texas, and his first business enterprise of au inde- pendent nature was as a general merchant at Cameron, Texas, where he launched a small business in 1881. From there he went to Amarilla, and in 1911 came to Sherman, here buying the Sherman overall business, in which he has since continued successfully. The firm is engaged in the manufacture of overalls and as wholesale dealers in the men's furnishing goods, and the trade of the establishment extends throughout Texas, Oklahoma, Mis- souri, Arkansas and Louisiana. About sixty people are given employment, and it adds very materially to the business enterprise and industrial activity of the city.

Mr. Pool has been a life-long Democrat, active in the interests of the party, and is fraternally identified with the Knights of Pythias. With his family he is a member of the Baptist church.

In 1886, in Milano, Texas, Mr. Pool was married to Miss Minta Fraim, a daughter of John R. Fraim, a merchant of that place for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Pool have four living children: C. L., aged twenty-six, is secretary and treasurer of the business of which his father is the president, the Sherman Overall Factory; Roy F., aged twenty, is a student in the College of Mines at Rolla, Missouri; Miss Lorine, aged sixteen years, is in school, as is also John, now thirteen years of age.

Though a resident of the city for only a short time R. F. Pool is highly impressed with the many advantages of Sherman, and regards it as a growing city and one that will play an important part in the history of the state in the years to come. He and his family have an excellent social and business standing in the community, and they already enjoy the friendship of an ever widen- ing circle in and about the city.

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A history of Texas and Texans, Part 7

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