A history of Texas and Texans, Part 70

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 70

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public schools of Texas, and, after completing the course of instruction provided by the state, he went to work on the farm with the intention of going to college later. He carefully saved his earnings and was at last enabled to matriculate at the Aiken Institute, at Paris, Texas. After leaving college he taught school for four years and then, taking the money thus earned, he entered the Louisville Medical College, at Louisville, Kentucky.

At the end of his course in the above institution he received a certificate which enabled him to practice, and he practiced for several years. He then entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at St. Louis, Mis- souri, and was graduated from this institution with the class of 1901. After being made a full-fledged physi- cian, he returned to Texas and began to practice at Klondike. Several years were spent in this place and then, in 1908, he came to Seymour, where he has been engaged in practice ever since. He is one of the pros- perous men of this city and has attained his professional success entirely through his own merits as a physician, not through the influence of others.

Dr. Ratliff is a member of the Democratic party, but takes no active share in politics. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian church. In fraternal affairs he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Woodmen of the World, as well as of the Ladies' branch of the Woodmen's Circle. Dr. Rat- liff owns his own motor car and automobiling is one of his chief diversions.

At Paris, Texas, in 1888, on the 29th of January, Dr. Ratliff was married to Miss Bettie Stephenson, a daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Stephenson, of Paris. Four children, three sons and one daughter, have been born to Dr. Ratliff and his wife. Roy, the eldest, resides at Burleson, Texas, where he is in the employ of the Mis- souri, Kansas & Texas Railroad Company. Lavada is a teacher and a student. Robert T. and Add G. are both at home.

ATANACIO VIDAURRI. Along the southern border of Texas there are descendants of old Spanish settlers who were the pioneers in the development of the resources of that section of the country. Atanacio Vidaurri was born at Laredo, May 3, 1833, and died in that city, December 24, 1885. He was a son of Rafael and Lorenza Gil de Vidaurri. His father was robbed and killed by the Indians while on his way to Chihuahua, Mexico, in 1845. From that time forward Atanacio was compelled not only to support himself, but also to contribute to the support of his mother and sisters. Although of tender age, he assumed the responsibility, and with an energy and ability rarely displayed in one so young, he bent himself to his task, becoming in time an influential citizen. On July 10, 1857, he married Miss Ygnacio, daughter of Juan Francisco and Ynocente (Benavides) de Farias, of the Hacienda de Guadalupe, Mexico. The widow, with seven of her children, survives. These children are Defina, Estaban, Margarita, Atanacio L., Manuela, Nieves and Jose. Immediately after his marriage, Mr. Vidaurri engaged in farming, ranching, cattle raising, etc., in Webb county, Texas. At the beginning of the Civil war he enlisted in the Confederate army and was made second lieutenant in the famous company of rangers commanded by Captain (afterward Colonel) Benavides. This company was engaged in protecting the border along the Rio Grande against incursions of Mexi- can banditti, and so well did it discharge this duty that it was frequently complimented by the state govern- ment of Texas and the Confederate military authorities. The men who formed this command were noted for their bravery and their unselfish devotion to the Southern cause, and, though they were denied the opportunity of winning laurels on the historic battlefields of the great internecine conflict, they never faltered in the perform- ance of the work assigned to them. During the war the business interests of Mr. Vidaurri suffered to such an extent that at the close of hostilities he was compelled

to begin anew the work of rebuilding his shattered for- tunes. To add to the trouble of the people of south- western Texas during the years immediately following the war, the Indians were constantly committing depre- dations, and Mr. Vidaurri was frequently called out with his neighbors to suppress these uprisings. In one of the fights with the Indians in 1866 he was wounded. Amid all these difficulties he never lost courage, but applied himself to his work with renewed energy, and in a few years accumulated a comfortable fortune to leave to his family, to which he was always devoted. In politics Mr. Vidaurri was an uncompromising Democrat. He served several terms in the Laredo city council, being elected the first time in 1872. In 1877 he was elected mayor of the city and filled that office with signal ability, and for a number of years preceding his death he was one of the county commissioners of Webb county. He was a member of the Catholic Church; his public and private life were exemplary and without reproach; as a citizen he was public spirited and his successful management of his large business enterprises bears tes- timony to his great executive ability and good judgment.

Atanacio L. Vidaurri, one of the surviving children, was born and reared in Laredo. He was educated in Spanish at Monterey, Mexico, and his education in the English branches was acquired at Galveston, Texas. Equipping himself as a bookkeeper and expert accountant, he has been for a number of years associated with the Laredo banks in that capacity-first with the Milmo National Bank, and later with the Laredo National Bank. Fra- ternally, he is a member of Laredo Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and of the Knights of Columbus. His wife, prior to her marriage, was Miss Aurelia Elizondo, of Saltillo, Mexico.

CHARLES H. RAGUET. Col. Henry Raguet was born February 11, 1796, in Bucks county, Pennsylvania. He- was the son of James Michael and Ann (Wynkoop) Raguet. The mother, who was a native of Bucks county also, was born in 1755 and died in 1815, and the father was a native son of France. He was a member of Na- poleon's staff, and, after the banishment of Napoleon to St. Helena, he started to America with his two- brothers, Paul and Claudius Raguet, the latter of whom was drowned during the voyage. Paul and James ar- rived in 1775 in Virginia, where Paul was killed by In- dians, and James Raguet later settled in Bucks county, Pennsylvania. Henry Raguet, the son of James M., was reared in Bucks county, and when a young man he re- moved to Ohio, locating first in Steubenville, where he- lived for a year, engaging then in the mercantile busi. ness in Cincinnati. In 1831, after selling his business in. that city, Henry Raguet journeyed by steamboat and. horseback to New Orleans, Louisiana, at which place he- had the honor of making the acquaintance of Sam Hous- ton, who told Raguet of the wonders of Coahuila and Texas, in the Republic of Mexico. At the same time, through the introduction of Houston, he met Col. John Durst, and, being invited and urged by both, Colonel Raguet traveled with them from New Orleans up the Red River to where Nacogdoches now stands, from which point the three went on horseback to Durst's home, on the Angelina River, in Nacogdoches county, where the party was royally entertained. After looking over Texas as well as he could on horseback and afoot. Colonel Raguet decided to purchase land in and around Nacog- doches, and in 1832 removed permanently to that place with his wife, who was Marcia Ann (Towers) Raguet, and the following children: Anna, Conde. Henry W., Augusta, Mary and Charles M. Raguet. In that year, 1832, he embarked in the general merchandise business at Nacogdoches. He was the first merchant in Texas to sell goods by the American yard of thirty-six inches- instead of the Mexican yard of thirty-three inches. He continued successfully in this business until he was suc- ceeded, in or about 1852, by his sons, C. and H. W. Raguet.

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An interesting incident, showing the friendship that existed between Sam Houston and the Raguet family occurred a few weeks before the battle of San Jacinto, by which Texas won her independence. Houston was a guest at Colonel Raguet's home, in Nacogdoches, and while sitting with his back toward the front door 'of the house and talking with Anna Raguet, who later became Mrs. Anna Irion, and Colonel Raguet, his host, he was approached from behind by a Mexican, who suddenly slipped in at the open door and who, with upraised dagger, attempted to assassinate Houston, but he was frustrated in the attempt by Anna Raguet, who sprang at the Mexican and seized the knife, thereby saving the life of the famous general. Later, and a few days prior to the battle of San Jacinto, on April 21, 1936, General Houston came through Nacogdoches again, and once more was a guest in the Raguet home. On this visit he remarked to Miss Anna Raguet that if he had her good wishes he would defeat the Mexicans in the coming battle. Upon departing the next morning, Miss Raguet tied upon Houston the sash she had made for him the previous evening and placed his sword within it. He told her that if his expected battle with the Mexicans was successful, he would return the sword and sash to her as a souvenir in acknowledgment of her good will and wishes. General Houston won the battle, it is true. but for some unknown reason the sash and sword went to others.

Bolls, the Cherokee Indian chief, had no better friend in Texas than Col. Henry Raguet, and for this reason he was urged to by General Houston, Colonel Rusk and other prominent Texans, to stay at home and control the Indian situation. It was on this account only that Colonel Raguet did not participate in the battle of San Jacinto.

Colonel Raguet was not a secessionist and he strongly opposed that policy, but it is a noteworthy fact that the first secession flag to be blown by the breeze in Texas was raised over the store owned by C., H. W. and C. M. Raguet in Nacogdoches. The flag was made the night before by Mrs. Henry Raguet and Miss Mary Raguet. When the flag was hoisted a number of citizens protested and said the flag must come down; but the three brothers, assisted by their father, though he was not a secessionist, guarded the flag for two days and nights with double-barreled shotguns.

Col. Henry Raguet died at Marshall, Texas, December 8, 1877. As stated in the foregoing, he had been suc- ceeded in business in about 1852 by his sons, C. and H. W., who later were joined by their younger brother, Charles M., with the firm name of C. and H. W. Raguet & Company.

These three brothers all rendered distinguished service to the Confederacy during the Civil war. They enlisted at Nacogdoches at the beginning of the war as privates in Gen. Tom Green's brigade and took part in the famous expedition to New Mexico under General Sibley. Conde Raguet was elected captain, later made major, and finally rose to the rank of colonel of cavalry; Henry W. Raguet was promoted to a first lieutenancy, then to captain, and then major of infantry and cavalry, and was noted as a brave and dashing soldier. He was killed in action at the battle of Glorietta, New Mexico, on March 28, 1862. Charles M. Raguet was first assigned as a private in Teel's battery; at the beginning of the New Mexico expedition he was promoted to first lieu- tenant and commanded Teel's battery during every en- gagement in the New Mexico campaign. Later he was in service in Louisiana in the campaign against General Banks. On account of being at home on sick leave, re- sulting from an attack of measles, he did not participate in the battle of Mansfield, but for valuable services he was promoted to the rank of major of the First Vir- ginia Cavalry, Lee's army, and was on his way to fill this assignment when the surrender took place at Ap- pomattox. Among his other services he had participated in both of the battles of Galveston.

A sad misfortune happened to the family in 1868, when, on December 8th of that year, Col. Conde Raguet and his sister Mary were drowned in the Ohio River in the collision of two steamboats, the America and the United States, at Ray's Landing, about two miles above Warsaw, on the Indiana side.

Maj. Henry W. Raguet was the first fiscal agent of the Republic of Texas, serving as such under President Sam Houston. He drove alone through the new re- public and collected tax money in an opeu wagon, which he handled without a guard.

After the war, Maj. Charles M. Raguet settled in Nacogdoches again, and, after straightening out the estates of his two brothers, he engaged in the drug and general mercantile business, which he conducted until 1872. In that year he removed to Marshall and there formed a partnership with Mr. E. J. Fry in the bank- ing business, with the firm name of Raguet & Fry. After being engaged in this business successfully for eight years, he retired from the firm, disposing of his interest in the business to Mr. Fry. Thereafter he engaged in the general land business, which he continued in up to the time of his death, which occurred on November 11, 1903. He is survived by Mrs. Raguet and their son, Charles H. Raguet. Maj. Charles M. Raguet was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, September 22, 1832, and as in that year the family came to Nacogdoches, it will be seen that practically his entire life was spent in Texas.

Mrs. Charles M. Raguet was, prior to her marriage, Miss Isabel Edwards; she was born in Nacogdoches and married Major Raguet on April 21, 1870. She is a daughter of the late Hayden H. Edwards and grand- daughter of Col. Hayden Edwards, who was the founder of the Edwards Colony in the Mexican state of Coahuila and Texas, to which county he came in 1825. This is another distinguished family of Texas, only a brief sketch of which is given here, as an account of the Ed- wards Colony is given in the general historical section of this work. Col. Hayden Edwards and his son, Hayden Harrison Edwards, were both born in Virginia. The former married Miss Susan Beall of Maryland, while the wife of the latter was Miss Sarah M. Forbes, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, the daughter of John and Emily (Scisson) Forbes, who came from Hartford, Con- necticut. Col. Hayden Edwards died at Nacogdoches, Texas, on August 14, 1849. Hayden Harrison Edwards died at Cincinnati, Ohio, in August, 1865. The latter, who was always known as General Edwards, in or about the year 1859, with his associates, started the first rail- road in Texas. It started at the old town of Sabine Pass and extended to Beaumont; the roadbed was graded between those points and the ties and rails laid, but the outbreak of the Civil war caused the work to be abandoned before it was fully completed.

Charles H. Raguet, son of Maj. Charles M. and Isabel (Edwards) Raguet, was born in Marshall, Texas, Janu- ary 27, 1875. He received his education in local private schools and in the University of the South at Sewanee, Tennessee, and Kenyon College, in Cambria, Ohio He was associated with his father, directly and indirectly. for twelve years before the death of the latter, and succeeded Major Raguet in business. On November 12, 1903, Mr. James F. Gregg, who had also been associated with Major Raguet, became a partner, and the firm then took its present name of Raguet & Gregg, general in- surance and land agents. This business in reality was originally established in 1832 by Hayden H. Edwards, grandfather of Mr. Raguet, and Nathaniel Emory, in Nacogdoches, and re-established by Charles M. Raguet at Marshall, Texas, in February, 1895.

Charles H. Raguet was married in San Antonio April 19, 1910, to Miss Harriette Rouse Gallagher of that city, daughter of John Francis and Harriette (Head) Gallagher.

Mr. Raguet enlisted in 1897 as a private in Company D, Third Texas Volunteer Guard (Texas National Guard

E.B. Black

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under the "Dick" bill after July, 1903). He served as an enlisted man, corporal and sergeant, up to May 23, 1900, at which time he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant and battalion adjutant. He served in that rank until April 19, 1910, when he was promoted to his present rank of captain and assigned as quarter- master of the Third Regiment of the Texas National Guard.

E. B. BLACK. The career of one of the most success- ful of the Texas Panhandle, and a popular and promi- nent citizen of Hereford, is briefly sketched in the fol- lowing paragraphs :

E. B. Black was born in Russell county, Alabama, Oc- tober 13, 1866, and is a son of Capt. C. B. Black by a second marriage, his mother being Miss Fannie John- ston of Putnam county, Georgia. His father came orig- inally from Virginia to Harris county, Georgia, where he lived several years, later moving to Russell county, Ala- bama, where he permanently located. At the outbreak of hostilities between the North and South, Captain Black espoused the Southern cause, joined the Confed- erate army, organized a company of infantry and was appointed their captain, and was wounded in battle. He was a prominent planter and a man of considerable in- fluence in his community. His death occurred in 1873, when sixty-five years of age, his wife having passed away in 1867 at the age of forty-five. They were the parents of seven children, of whom E. B. Black was the youngest.

Being orphaned at an early age, his schooling was much neglected and his opportunities for acquiring knowl- edge or making advancement along educational lines were very limited. His success in life is not due to his early advantages, but is the result of indomitable will power and determination to succeed in spite of obstacles.

Mr. Black came to Texas in 1882 and eventually set- tled in Cleburne, where for fifteen years he worked in the dry goods business. In 1901 he moved to Hereford, where he established his present business. He carries a full line of modern first-class furniture and household supplies and has built up an excellent trade in Hereford and surrounding country, his business having developed from an humble beginning to one of large proportions. In addition to his furniture business he also carries a full line of undertakers' supplies. To a great degree Mr. Black possesses those qualities which bring success - good judgment, business faculty, a high sense of honor and a just appreciation of the rights of others.

On July 30, 1891, E. B. Black was married at Cle- burne, Texas, to Carrie English, and to this union have been born four children: Nellie Dea, born July 17, 1892, and married December 30, 1913, to Mr. William Jesse Stanford; James English, born February 8, 1896; Frances Elizabeth, born December 23, 1899, and William Alexander, born July 19, 1904.

Mr. Black has become prominent in fraternal eireles, is a member of the local lodges of the Masons, the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Woodmen of the World, and in the Masonic fraternity passed all the chairs in his lodge and is a member of the Royal Arch Chapter. In polities a Democrat, he has not sought publie office, but is discharging the duties of citizenship by serving as a member of the Hereford school board.

With his family he attends the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of which he and all his family are mem- bers. When he came to Hereford the town was two years old. He organized the Methodist Sunday School and became its superintendent, which relation he still sustains. This Sunday School has the distinction of being one of the best in the Texas Panhandle. As one who has met with success and distinction, he is ever ready to state his confidence in Hereford and its peo- ple, and through his efforts and integrity has made this confidence mutual.

PAUL C. MURPHEY, M. D. Numbered among the younger members of the Texas medical fraternity is found Dr. Paul C. Murphey, who is rapidly rising in his chosen calling by reason of his ability. Although he has been engaged in practice at Waco' only since 1912, he is already in the enjoyment of a good profes- sional business, and the successes of the past may be generally taken as a criterion of the future.

Dr. Murphey is a native son of Texas. his birth hav- ing occurred at Athens, this state, December 4, 1888. His father, James Lee Murphy, was born in Anderson county, Texas, in 1854, and for many years was en- gaged in the cattle business, being known as one of the largest horse owners of his section of the state. Dr. Murphey's mother bore the maiden name of Annie E. Coleman and was born in Henderson county, Texas, in 1865. She still survives the father, whose death oc- curred in 1909. There were three children in the family: Paul C., of this review; Hubbard L. and Julia.

The early education of Dr. Murphey was secured in the public schools of Athens, this being supplemented by a course in Itaska High School. Following this, he spent two terms in the Baylor University, and then, having decided upon a medical career, he entered Fort Worth Medical College, from which he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1911. A natural athlete, during his college career Dr. Murphey won honors for his college in various lines of athletics and was a star player on the football, baseball and basketball teams. Upon his graduation, Dr. Murphey became house surgeon at the Provident Sanatarium, at Waco, where he obtained valu- able experience during the one year he acted in that capacity, and in 1912 entered general practice at Waco. It is seldom that a young physician just entering upon his career meets with the almost instantaneous success that rewarded Dr. Murphey's efforts, but from the start he has been successful. He has built up a lucrative practice among the city's most representative people. and is now recognized by his fellow practitioners as a physician of ability and one who respects the highest ethics of his honored calling. He is a member of the McLennan County Medical Society, the Texas State Medical Society and the Central Texas Medical Society, and through his membership therein keeps fully abreast of the numerous advancements constantly being made in the field of medicine. He has never ceased being a stu- dent, and is entirely devoted to his calling, although he finds time to enjoy social events and is popular with a wide circle of friends. For a short time he served as first sergeant of the Hospital Corps of the Texas Na- tional Guard at Dallas, and during the season of 1913 looked after the injuries sustained by the members of the Waco Baseball Club. He has continued to be fond of all kinds of outdoor sports, and during his vacations generally goes on hunting and fishing trips. In politics he is a Democrat. He is a member of the Baptist church. Dr. Murphey owns his own residence at No. 1915 Sauger avenne. His office is located at No. 1108 Ami- cable building.

On November 6, 1912, Dr. Murphey was married at Waco to Miss Cora Lilly, daughter of George W. Lilly, who was for eight years sheriff of McLennan county, and is now engaged in the furniture Imsiness at Fifth and Washington streets, Waco.

HON. WILLIAM MERCER KEY. When the Court of Civil Appeals, in the Third Supreme Judicial District, was constituted in 1892, among the various candidates Wil- liam M. Key was foremost both in qualifications and in popular estimation the most logical choice for one of the three seats in the court. He had served as county judge of Williamson county and district judge of Travis and Williamson counties, and his twenty years' service in the Court of Civil Appeals leaves no doubt as to the admirable efficiency and wisdom with which he exercises his office. Judge Key was at one time a merchant,

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found himself in a sphere unsuited to his disposition and abilities, gained admission to the bar at the age of twenty-five, and has won secure honors in Texas judicial history. The most distinctive feature of his publie career has been his unwillingness to put himself for- ward as an aggressive candidate for position. It has always been a case of the office seeking the man.

Born in Oglethorpe county, Georgia, October 20, 1850, Judge Key is a son of Jasper N. and Mary (Howard) Key. Both parents were born in Georgia. The father, who was a minister of the Baptist church, came to Texas with his family in 1853, settled in Gonzales county, where he combined his profession as a min- ister of the gospel with the cultivation of the land. During the period of the Civil war he saw service in Colonel Cook's regiment of artillery. He lived a long and useful life and died in 1901, while the mother of Judge Key passed away in 1867.

The circumstances of the family were such and the hard conditions incident to the war period also inter- fered with the early opportunities and advantages af- forded Judge Key. His education was largely self- applied, and the time which modern boys put in in attendance at school was spent by him in work on the farm. He attended private schools to some extent, but remained at home until the death of his mother in 1867. After one year in school he was clerk in stores for two or three years, and then engaged in merchandising on his own account. That proved uncongenial, and he came to Austin and took up the study of law in the office of John F. Jones. Admitted to the bar in 1875, he moved to Georgetown, where he opened his office and soon gained rank as a leading lawyer. His home was at Georgetown until 1889.

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A history of Texas and Texans, Part 70

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