A history of Texas and Texans, Part 80

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 80

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

Judge Davidson is a Past Master of Gonzales Lodge, No. 3, A. F. & A. M., affiliated with the Royal Arch Chapter and the Royal and Select Council. He is a member of the Austin Press Club. Ou December 22, 1870, Judge Davidson married Miss Susan B. Howard. Her parents, Dr. William and Sarah Catherine (Duval) Howard, came to Texas from Virginia in 1953, locating at Gonzales, where her father gained distinction by his service as a physician. The Howards were an old and

prominent Virginia family, while the Duval family has likewise been prominent in the south, and one of its members was a governor of Florida. The seven children of Judge Davidson and wife are named as follows: Nellie, the widow of W. K. Clement, a former lawyer of Milam county, Texas, now lives at Georgetown, and is principal of the Art Department of the Southwestern University; Katy is the wife of George W. Graves, a lawyer of Houston; William Howard Davidson is now judge of the district court at Beaumont; Thomas P. Davidson is a member of the firm of Kirby & Davidson, lawyers, at Abilene; Frank Ross Davidson is in the oil business at Beaumont; Duval A. Davidson is a business man at Georgetown; and Susie A. Davidson lives at home. The family resides at 610 San Antonio street in Austin.

IRA S. SEWELL. The present mayor of the city of Vernon is a type of the enthusiastic and energetic young business men who are doing things in northwest Texas, and to whose ability and practical work this section of the state has owed its best development. The Sewell family has been well known in business affairs, and in civic life at Vernon for over twenty years, and was in fact among the pioneers of Wilbarger county.

Ira S. Sewell was born in Lavaca county, Texas, Sep- tember 15, 1879, a son of Sylvester and Mary E. (McCown) Sewell. The father, who is a prominent Vernon business man, and sixty-one years of age, was born in Texas, was reared and educated in the state, and during his younger years was a close friend and companion of Temple Houston, the son of Sam Hous- ton. He adopted the career of merchant, and in 1890 located at Vernon. He was in the gin business in Lavaca and Fayette counties for some years, operating one of the first gins to take care of the early production of cotton in this section of the state. He is still a live and enterprising merchant in Vernon, and is engaged in the feed and coal business with his son. His wife, also a native of Texas, was reared and educated and mar- ried in the state, and is now fifty-two years of age. There were three children, one of whom is deceased. M. Rupert Sewell is in business with his father and brother.

Ira S. Sewell, the oldest of the children attended school at Flatonia, and from the age of eleven until finishing his education was a student in the schools. of Vernon. When he left his studies he went to St. Louis, and entered the college of pharmacy of that city, where he was graduated Ph. G. in 1901. He then entered the drug business at Vernon for one year, and pursued similar lines in Fort Worth during the next seven years. Returning to Vernon on January 1, 1909, he established himself in the feed and coal business, with his father and brother, and they have built up a large and success- ful trade.

Mr. Sewell has taken an active part in public affairs, served as alderman in 1911, and has recently been elected to the office of mayor. He is a Democrat in politics, is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of the World, and worships in the Presbyter ian church. On July 3, 1898, at Vernon, Mr. Sewell married Miss Sadie J. Givens, a daughter of P. G. and Amelia (Sebastian) Givens, both of whom are now living and residents of California. The two children born to Mr. and Mrs. Sewell are: Herbert Sewell, born at Vernon in July 1902, and attending school and Ruth Aileen Sewell born at Fort Worth, December 14, 1907. Mr. Sewell is not only well known in Vernou, but has many influential friends in all parts of the state. His enthusiasm is all for northwest Texas, and he can advance many reasons for his belief that the resources of Vernon and vicinity are unsurpassed in any other locality of Texas. Mr. Sewell is fond of all outdoor life, is an ardent fisherman, and takes his recreation easily in that form of sport.

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GEORGE L. HAIDUSEK. Among the young men of prom- ise in Seymour, Texas, George L. Haidusek is regarded by his elders as one of the coming men. He is a bril- liant young lawyer, the son of a father of unusual intel- lectual attainments, and in addition to his natural gifts he has had the advantage of a fine legal training. Al- though he has been engaged in practice in Seymour only four years, yet he has built up a good practice with the prospects of increasing his clientele in the future. He is of that type of young man of today, upon whom the thinking men of the country are depending to drag the nation from the mire of political intrigue and degraded social conditions, for they have the knowledge that combats ignorance, and the high ideals which will cause them to use their knowledge rightly.

George L. Haidusek was born in La Grange, Fayette county, Texas, on the 6th of September, 1877. He is a son of August Haidusek, who was born in Moravia, Austria, but came as a boy to the United States and located in Texas. August Haidusek is also a lawyer, but it is as an editor that he is most widely known. He now publishes a newspaper in LaGrange, which has a large circulation. Mr. Haidusek has been very active politi- cally, having been city mayor of La Grange at one time and also county judge of Fayette county, for a period of eight years. He was also a member of the legislature at one time and in addition to his political record he has a fine record for military service, having served in the Confederate army during the Civil war. Mr. Haidusek was married after he came to Texas to Miss Annie Becka, who was born in the state. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Haidusek, of whom George L. Haidusek is the third.

George L. Haidusek was sent to school as soon as he was old enough, for his father was ambitious to give his children a good education. After completing the work of the public schools of La Grange, including the high school course, Mr. Haidusek took a course at Add- Ran College at Waco, Texas. After this he went abroad and spent a year in Bohemia, studying the language. After a short stay in La Grange on his return from the Old World, Mr. Haidusek matriculated at the state university where he took a special course in the literary department. After two years in this department he entered the law department of the same institution and took the three-year course, from which he was grad- uated with the class of 1906. Not considering his prep- aration as yet complete, he then went to Harvard Uni- versity where he did a year's work. He then returned to La Grange, opened an office and began the practice of his profession, remaining in his home city until 1909. In January of that year he came to Seymour and has here been engaged in practice ever since.

In religious matters Mr. Haidusek is a communicant of the Roman Catholic church. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and of the S. P. J. S. T., a Bo- hemian fraternal order. In politics Mr. Haidusek has always taken an active part, being a member of the Democratic party, and one of the presidential electors in the campaign of 1908.

HOWARD J. REGER, M. D. A physician and surgeon with a broad and ample experience in his profession, Dr. Howard J. Reger since March 1911, has been prac- ticing at Vernon, and is one of the leaders in his pro- fession in northwest Texas. He is a grandson, through his mother, of Dr. Hillary Ryan, who was distinguished as one of the pioneer physicians and surgeons of this state.

Dr. Howard J. Reger was born in Burleson county, Texas, April 11, 1870, a son of Granville Jarvis and Xanthia Zenobia (Ryan) Reger. His father, a native of West Virginia, came to Texas in an early date, after the Civil war, located in Burleson county, where he lived until his death in 1875. During the Civil war he had served as lieutenant of Cavalry in a West Virginia

regiment, going through from the first year until the close of hostilities, and was in the command of Col. Cochran. He was well known as a merchant, and was also a musician of considerable ability. The doctor's mother was born in Texas, was reared, educated and married in this state, and is now living at Fort Worth at the age of sixty-three. She is now the wife of T. H. McMahan, of that city. Of the three children in the Reger family the doctor was the first.

He grew up in Burleson and Mitchell counties, at- tended the public schools at Caldwell, in the former county, and at Colorado City in the latter, and while still a boy took up the responsibilities of life and by his own labors found his way eventually into a pro- fessional career. He entered Centenary College at Lampasas, but left before graduation. Later he be- came a student in the Texas Christian University, now located at Fort Worth, and graduated in 1902. In October, 1903, he became an interne and house surgeon of St. Joseph's infirmary at Fort Worth, remaining with that institution until November 1904. At Fort Worth he was engaged in general practice until 1906, in which year he moved to Dalhart, but after a short time re- turned to the former city and became an assistant in practice to Dr. Saunders, the eminent surgeon of that city. In March 1911, Dr. Reger moved to Vernon, and since that time has built up an excellent local practice. He has membership in the Wilbarger county Medical Society.

Dr. Reger is prominent in Masonic circles, having taken his Blue Lodge and Royal Arch degrees at Fort Worth, Texas, and also the orders of Knights Templar there. He is a past high priest of the Fort Worth Chapter, and past commander of Worth Command- ery, No. 19. He demitted and is now commander of Vernon Commandery No. 33, K. T. He is also a member of the Dallas Consistory of Scottish Rite Masonry, No. 2, and a Thirty-second degree Mason, and also a Shriner in the Hella Temple of Dallas. In polities the Doctor is a Democrat, and he worships in the Presbyterian faith.

At Fort Worth on October 23, 1906, Dr. Reger mar- ried Miss Lena May Smythey, a daughter of James and Ellen Smythey, both of whom are deceased. Dr. Reger is fond of outdoor life, and is a broad minded young physician, whose successful accomplishments presage a large field of useful service for the future.

KARL G. MCDONALD. One of the younger business men of Vernon, already successfully established in an enterprise of his own, Karl G. McDonald has made his success by following out one line of business, having started in before he had reached his majority, and being now proprietor of the Empire Laundry at Vernon. He owns the business, also a good home in Vernon, and hy first-class service has made his laundry an institution in the city and over a large surrounding territory.

Karl G. McDonald was born at Somerville, Texas, October 4, 1884, the youngest of three children born to David C. and Elizabeth A. (Pearsons) McDonald. His father, who was one of the early settlers at Cleburne, Texas, is still living there a successful farmer and stock raiser, being now sixty years of age. The mother was born in Texas, where she was educated and mar- ried, and her death occurred in New Mexico in July, 1905, at the age of forty-six.

During his boyhood Karl G. McDonald attended school in western Texas, and finished a business course at Fort Worth in 1903. As soon as he was through school he found employment with a laundry company in New Mexico, and the four years that he spent there gave him a solid foundation for his business career. After working at different places he came to Vernon in 1909 and established the Empire Laundry. He has developed this to an important concern, which employs eight or ten hands, has a thorough equipment of up-to-

Pt. Per Magr. J. Blan.

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date machinery, and a fine building, in which he con- ducts the business.

In politics Mr. McDonald is independent. At Vernon on March 25, 1910, he married Miss Lucy Belle Fletcher, a daughter of F. C. and May Fletcher, a well known family. Her mother is still living at Vernon. The one child born to Mr. and Mrs. McDonald is Nora McDonald, born at Vernon in 1911.

FRANK P. MCGHEE. More than thirty years of con- tinnous practice in the law at Vernon have constituted Mr. McGhee one of the oldest attorneys in northwest Texas, and his length of practice has been accompanied by a corresponding degree of success and prominence as a lawyer and man of affairs. All his success has been due to his own efforts, and he practically educated himself for the law, since he taught school in order to get the money to pay for his courses through the Uni- versity of Missouri.

Frank P. MeGhee was born in Walker county, Georgia, Jannary 30, 1853, and was the third of nine children, five daughters and four sons, born to John Forrest and Nancy Elizabeth (Harris) McGhee. Both the parents were Tennesseeans by birth, the father born near Knoxville. A farmer by occupation, he spent some years in Georgia, and in 1856 moved to Wayne county, Missouri, where he spent many years in the quiet and substantial occupation of farming. His death occurred in that state in October 1881, at the age of fifty-seven. He went out to Missouri to serve in the Confederate army, became second lieutenant, and was in command of his company at his surrender on June 5, 1865. The mother received her education and was married in Georgia, and died in 1883 in Missouri at the age of fifty-seven.

Frank P. McGhee grew up in Missouri, where he lived from the age of three years, attended the local schools, later took a course in the State Normal, and after sev- eral intervals of teaching and farm work finally com- pleted his education in the law at the University of Missouri in 1881. His first practice was done in Mis- souri, where he remained until 1882, and in March 1882 arrived at Vernon. Vernon at that time was still on the frontier. The Fort Worth and Denver City Rail- way had hardly been completed to that point, and he was well established in the confidence of local people before Vernon began to improve and grow to an im- portant business and commercial center.

Mr. McGhee has performed much useful publie serv- ice. In 1884-86 he was county attorney of Wilbarger county, and was again elected to that office for 1904- 06, and in 1910-12. His influence and activities have been helpful factors in Democratic success in this sec- tion of the state. His church is the Baptist. In Wil- barger county, in January 5, 1888, Mr. MeGhee mar- ried Miss Junia Miller, a daughter of John and Saman- tha (Switzer) Miller. Her mother was a native of Virginia, and her father of Pennsylvania, and both are still living being substantial farmer people of Wil- barger county. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. MeGhee as follows: James B., born at Vernon in October, 1888, is married and lives at Ros- well, New Mexico, where he is serving as court reporter ; Mrs. Lelia, born at Vernon in February 1892, is a graduate of the Vernon high schools; Frances and Alpha are twins, born at Vernon in December 1595, and Frances is a graduate of the high school; George Lee was born at Vernon in August, 1898, and is a school boy; Nanie McGhee, also in school, was born at Vernon in October, 1901.

RT. REV. JOSEPH BLUM. Where eminent abilities and unblemished integrity, combined with unimpeachable virtue, derivable from the daily practice of religion and piety, contribute to adorn the character of an individ- ual, then it is most proper to be prominently set forth

as an example to those who would make themselves use- ful to the rest of mankind. Aud the writer cherishes the belief that he will perform this acceptable service in giving a brief sketch of the reverend gentleman whose name here appears. Rt. Rev. Joseph Blum was born at Breyell, in the Rhineish Province of Prussia, November 17, 1847, and is a son of Peter Joseph and Anna Mary (Born) Blum, natives of that country.

Father Blum was educated by private tutors at Co- blentz, in France, and in the government schools of Prussia, proving himself an apt and diligent student, studious and reflective. Coming to the United States in 1866, he located at Galveston, Texas, in October of that year, and there completed his studies for the church at St. Mary's Seminary, remaining there one year and being ordained at the age of twenty-two years, March 25, 1871, in the Cathedral at Galveston, by Bishop Du- buis. At that time he was made assistant at Houston, of St. Vincent's Parish, and one year later, when the new church was finished, took over the old St. Vincent's, which was converted into a German church, and of this he had charge for six years. He next went to Galveston and assumed charge of St. Mary's Cathedral, but after eight months came to Sherman, Texas, and was appointed to take charge of St. Mary's here, continuing for seven years. At that time Bishop Gallagher appointed him to take charge of St. Mary's Cathedral at Galveston again, but six years later resigned and went to Denison, Texas, remaining three months in charge of St. Patrick's Church, and then being called by Bishop Gallagher to take charge of the Sacred Heart Cathedral at Dallas, where he continued for four years. On resigning that charge, he took up his work at Munster, being the first priest ever in that section, where he remained for four- teen months. Again being called to Sacred Heart Ca- thedral, at Dallas, he remained eight years, and then resigned and again came to Sherman, where he intends to remain, feeling that the needs of this parish should receive his labors during the rest of his life. He has built a magnificent church, school and an infirmary, and has labored indefatigably in behalf of his congregation. Father Blum has endeared himself to all classes, regard- less of creed or nationality. His philanthropic work alone would tax the strength and endurance of most men, and all of his charities are carried ou in such a quiet, unostentatious manner that the extent of his benevolences will probably never be known. The biog- rapher approached a little urchin on the street and asked him if he knew Father Blum. "Do I know him?" asked the youngster, scornfully. "Why, of course I know him. Say, do you know the best man in the world? Yes, and I love him, too. He knows all of us fellows every time." It is said that from the lips of a child comes truth. At any rate it seems that this is the general opinion where Father Blum is concerned. That because he knows the people and understands them, he is held in heartfelt affection.

CECIL STOREY. A young attorney who is rapidly making a name for himself in northwest Texas, Cecil Storey has been in practice at Vernon since 1909, and besides his important relations with his profession in that section, he is also prominent in politics. He be- longs to one of the old Texas families, and has worthily lived up to the traditions and standards of both the old and the new generations of Texans.

Cecil Storey was born in Freestone county, Texas, December 21, 1884. His parents are William F. and Arabella Josephine (Johnson) Storey. The paternal grandparents were Captain J. W. and Anginetta ( Wills) Storey. Captain Storey made a record during the Civil war as a Confederate officer, and was one of the pioneers of Freestone county. He died in 1900 at the age of seventy-four. His wife was brought to Texas as a child, and her family, the Wills, were among the first to make homes in the wilderness of

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Freestone county. Dr. J. R. and Amarilla Johnson, the maternal grandparents, were likewise among the older settlers. Dr. Johnson practiced medicine in this state for fifty years, and died in 1897 at the age of seventy-seven. His wife is still living, making her home with her daughter in Freestone county, William F. Storey, the father of Cecil, was born in Texas in Freestone county, graduated from the Agricultural and Mechanical College, and became an important factor in the political life of Freestone county. He served as county clerk for a number of years, and afterwards engaged in banking at Fairfield. He is still a well known banker in that part of the state and is now fifty-two years of age. The mother who was born in South Carolina, came to Texas as a child of eight . years, and was educated and married in Limestone county. She is now fifty years of age. There were six sons and two daughters in the family, of whom Cecil was the third.

As a boy he attended public school in Freestone county until the fall of 1905. For two terms he was a student of shorthand and commercial arts in the Metropolitan Business College at Dallas, and stood at the head of his class in that work. In 1906 he en- tered the University of Texas, and was graduated in the law department in June 1909. In the July fol- lowing he established his office at Vernon, and has since been in active practice in that city. On locating at Vernon he became associated with Hon. R. W. Hall. When Mr. Hall was appointed on the Court of Appeals, at Amarillo, Texas, Mr. Storey succeeded to a large part of his practice, and now conducts a general and large corporation business, representing locally two railroads. In politics he is serving his second term as chairman of the Democratic Executive Committee of Wilbarger county, is also on his second term as chair- man of the Thirteenth Congressional District Com- mittee, and is chairman of the Seventh Supreme Jud- icial District Committee. As to his political affiliation it is needless to say that he is a Democrat. Fraternally Mr. Storey's associations are with the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Masonic Order.

In Fort Worth, Texas, May 9, 1912, occurred the marriage of Mr. Storey to Miss Fannie T. Boger, a daughter of A. T. and Mattie (Fly) Boger. Her par- ents were both born in Georgia, and her mother taught the first school in Vernon. Mr. Storey, though he started out as a boy on his efforts has succeeded in establishing himself firmly in professional and civic affairs, and is regarded as one of the coming leaders of the bar in Northwest Texas. He is fond of outdoor life and during his college career and since has taken much interest in athletic sports.

HENRY L. COLEMAN. County surveyor of Wilbarger county since 1908, Henry L. Coleman is a native Texan, represents the sterling qualities of the Texan and west- erner, and both in business and in his profession has made a success. Henry L. Coleman was born in Harri- son county, Texas, May 27, 1872. He was the oldest in a family of eight children, born to William H. and Ellen (Thrailkill) Coleman. The father was a native of Alabama, and the mother of Mississippi, both com- ing to Texas when young, and settling in Harrison county, where they were married. The father, a farmer and stockman, lived in Harrison county from 1853 to 1875. He then located in Coryell county, aud now lives at Wellington, at the age of eighty-two years. Early in life he took part in the Civil war with a Texas regiment, and belonged to Longstreet's corps and Hood's Brigade. He was never wounded, although he served from beginning to end of the war. The mother is still living, and is sixty-one years of age.

Henry L. Coleman made his start in life a compara- tively poor boy, and to his own efforts must be ascribed

his rise in his profession, and in business. As a boy he attended school in Bell county, and then for several years was engaged in farming in this vicinity. By private study he perfected himself in civil engineering, and became well qualified for all the work of that pro- fessional art. In 1901 he moved to Wilbarger county. and for five years was engaged in contracting and building. In 1908 came his first election to the office of county surveyor, and by reelection he holds the office to the present time.

Mr. Coleman has done work as surveyor in all parts of Wilbarger county, and there is probably no man better informed as to the resources of this county. It is his opinion that the farmers cannot do better than to engage in mixed farming, combining the raising of grain and forage crops with stock, and with the build- ing of silos and proper management this will eventually become one of the best agricultural regions in north- west Texas.

In politics Mr. Coleman is a Democrat, and frater- ally is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Woodmen of the World, and the Modern Woodmen of America. He and his family worship in the Baptist church. At Moody, Texas, October 14, 1896, occurred his marriage to Miss Ara B. Clarkson, a daughter of James and Rachel Clarkson. Her par- ents, who are farmers, now live at Blair, Oklahoma. Mr. and Mrs. Coleman have been blessed with a fine family of children, whose names are as follows: Ona Coleman, born in Johnson county, Texas, August 22, 1897, and now an assistant in her father's office; Lee, born in Johnson county in 1899; Erma, born in John- son county in 1901; Floyd Coleman, born in Wilbarger county in 1903; Allen Coleman, born in Wilbarger county in 1905; Erwin Coleman, born in Wilbarger county, in 1907; and triplets T. Marvin, Roselyn, and one that died unnamed.

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A history of Texas and Texans, Part 80

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