A history of Texas and Texans, Part 84

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 84

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In 1900 an effort was made by the Democrats to unite the forces opposed to the Republican party, and Mr. Davis was requested to take charge of the unionizing of the Populists and silver Republican party with the Dem- oerats in support of Mr. Bryan. Being wedded to the principle of the initiative, referendum and recall, Mr. Davis demanded that these be made a part of the Na- tional platform of the Kansas City Democratic Conven- tion in consideration of his service in unionizing the elements above named. The Democratic leaders con- sented to this program, and Mr. Davis spent the months of that campaign in a task that proved hopeless of accomplishment.

At his home in Texas Mr. Davis' influence was as paramount as in the national convention of his party. In 1892 he was nominated without his approval as

attorney general on the ticket with Mr. Nugent for gov- ernor. He and Mr. Nugent were the only lawyers on the ticket, the others being farmers, and both polled about one hundred and eight thousand votes, some ten thousand more votes than the farmers polled. He was nominated for Congress against David B. Culberson, then one of the leading men of the South, and carried all but three counties of the district. Mr. Culberson lost his own county of Marion by several hundred votes. Many gross irregularities and dishonesties were perpetrated by his old political enemies, which resulted in his being declared defeated for the office.

Mr. Davis' aim has been to bring back Democracy to its former home and not to win office for himself. He prefers to fight as a private, not as a candidate, although in Texas it was necessary for him to declare himself for high office in order that he might meet in discussion those candidates who opposed the platform demands of initiative, referendum and recall and other fundamental principles which must be a feature of the Democratic declaration from his standpoint.

In his sphere as a campaigner, Mr. Davis has dis- cussed in joint debate the income tax, railroad commis- sion, sixteen to one, and the other Populist demands, with the brains of the United States, and students of politics and economy understand how important has been his influence in the moulding of public opinion around these principles. It was in one of these discussions that he earned the name of "Cyclone." The event occurred early in his career as a public debater, and his efforts at that meeting made him both a name and fame. He was pitted against General Watt-Hardin, of Kentucky, a regular Democrat, a famous word-painter, and a polit- ical debater of renown. Senator Peffer, of Kansas, was also one of the Populist advocates at the meeting, but when Mr. Hardin got through with the modest but honest senator the latter was so completely unhorsed that his effort only the more discouraged his followers. Not so with Mr. Davis. He was master of the constitu- tion of the United States, knew the history of its making, was perfectly familiar with the "Madison papers," the life and history of Thomas Jefferson, and other docu- ments bearing on the work of the constitutional con- vention, and he had these books all with him. After answering Mr. Hardin by showing the fallacy of his argument, the inaccuracies of his statements and so on, by quoting from his authorities, Mr. Davis beat down on him with withering sarcasm, then soared above him with inspiring eloquence. Before he had finished, Ken- tucky's favored "orator and intellectual giant" looked the wreck he was. The long, gaunt and awkward coun- tryman from Texas, bedecked in a linen duster and with alligator boots, had torn his speech to shreds, set his friends to cheering the Texan, and put the Populist part of the audience into a frenzy of partisan outburst. Sam Carey, a son of General Carey, was the reporter for the Associated Press on the occasion, and in his article he referred in strong terms to the wonderful effect of Mr. Davis and called him a "Cyclone" in forensic debate.

December 25, 1878, Mr. Davis was married in Rusk county, Texas, to Miss Belle Barton, a daughter of Col. J. M. Barton, who was the first sheriff of that county. The Bartons were from South Carolina, and their an- cestors were of the same Bartons into which family Mr. Davis' grandfather had married. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Davis are: Arlon B., Valton G. and Lan- don V., who lives in Texas, and Leroy, of San Fran- cisco, California. Mr. Davis believes in the religion of humanity, in the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. He is liberal in thought and has brought up his family in the Christian church.

REV. BERNT HOWE. Rev. Bernt Howe came to Austin, Texas, in response to a call from the Swedish Methodist Episcopal church of this city in 1908, and he is still serving the church acceptably aud faithfully. He came

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here after a pastorate of fourteen years in various churches in the middle west, and brought to his duties here an experience that fitted him most admirably for the work of his pastorate.

Born in Odalen, Norway, on October 6, 1868, Rev. Howe is a son of Kjostel Haugen, a farmer of that country. He had his education in the common schools of Norway, and came to Racine, Wisconsin, from his native land, in the year 1887, when he was nineteen years of age. Soon after his arrival on these shores the young man changed his name to Howe, and has since borne that borrowed patronymic. Four years after his settlement in America, he entered the Swedish Methodist Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois, and in 1894 he was gradu- ated from that institution, an ordained minister. He took up his active work in the ministry as pastor of the Swe- dish Methodist Episcopal church in Tacoma, Washington, remaining there for two years, after which he was trans- ferred to the Swedish Methodist Episcopal church at La Conner, Washington, where he remained for two years. His next pastorate was at Norway, Michigan, and he held the pastorate of the Swedish Methodist church of that thriving mining town for three years. His next service was performed as pastor of the First Swedish Methodist Episcopal church of Minneapolis, Minnesota, where for six years he rendered faithful service to his church, and then responded to a call in 1908 to Austin, Texas, where he is still pastor.

Rev. Howe has had a busy career in the ministry of his church, and his activities have taken him into the dif- ficult fields of the church, as well as into those where prosperity and well being was the keynote of the parish. In every pastorate he has acquitted himself admirably, leaving a regretful church whenever he has responded to a call to other fields, and his work in Austin has been no exception to the rule that has characterized his ministe- rial services throughout his entire active career thus far. In addition to his regular church work, Rev. Howe is a member of the directorate of the Texas Wesleyan Col- lege of Austin, organized under Scandinavian auspices, and one of the most successful schools in the state, con- cerning which further mention will be found elsewhere in this work.

In September, 1898, Rev. Howe was married to Miss Nanie Hedberg, of Tacoma, Washington. She is a daugh- ter of P. S. Hedberg, who was born in Sweden, but who has been an American citizen for a good many years. Rev. and Mrs. Howe have three children-Serena, Be- atrice and Eulalia. Rev. Howe has two brothers and a sister, all of whom are residents of the state of Wiscon- sin, and are there identified with the agricultural activities of the state.

DR. HANS HARTHAN. In the labors to which men de- vote their activities, not the least in importance or the most insignificant in their impress upon character and destiny are those which minister to our aesthetic tastes. There are many diversities of art, wide variations in the display of artistic gifts. The painter transfers his fancy to canvas, the player holds the mirror up to nature, the sculptor carves his inspiration in living lines in bronze and marble, and the poet has the rare faculty of couch- ing his thoughts in rythmic measure. And, standing pre- eminent among these, the nmusician reproduces in glori- ous melody the emotions which make our lives sad or joyous, despondent or hopeful. Who shall question, then, the right of the musician to a place in the temple of fame and to rank among the benefactors of mankind? Such thoughts arise while contemplating the career of one whose life has been spent in constant effort, not merely to amuse the public, but also to cultivate the popu- lar taste for the higher forms of musical art.

Dr. Hans Harthan is a native of Bavaria, where he was born in 1855. He studied at the University of Munich, where he came in close relation with Lachner, Rheinberger, and von Buelow, and upon their recommen- Vol. IV-18

dation he was appointed conductor of orchestra and chorus in Magdeburg. Rubinstein made his acquaintance, while in Berlin, and this meeting resulted in Doctor Harthan's nomination for leader of the Philharmonic Orchestra in Odessa. In St. Petersburg he met his great countryman, Adolph Hensel, who made him accept the position of musical director at the University in Derpat in 1885. In 1893 he resigned his position on account of the Russianizing of that famous university, and after a two-years' stay at Dresden, where he conducted the Bach Society and the Dresden School Teacher Singing Society, he was engaged by the Chilean Government as the di- rector of the Conservatorio National de Musica, in San- tiago, with a five-year contract. Doctor Harthan came to the United States in 1902 as judge of a singing con- test at the Musical Festival, Baltimore, Maryland, spent one year in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as director of the German Singing Society, and three years as director of music at MeGill University, Montreal, Canada, and then again became judge of the Singing Festival, held at New- ark, New Jersey, in 1906. In 1907 he came to Belton, Texas, as director of the musical department of Baylor College. Looking for a broader field of activity, he came to Austin, Texas, in 1909, and here he still lives, at this time holding the positions of organist and choir leader of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, and professor of music at Texas Wesleyan College. He has concertized for many years on piano and organ and has been the leader of orchestras for more than a quarter of a century. In addition to having composed over 1,500 selections, he edits music for a number of large publishing houses. It little becomes the layman to attempt an enumeration of the accomplishments of one who has so indelibly im- pressed his ability and genius upon the music-loving pub- lic. That were a task better fitted to the pens of those whose understanding of the art has been gained through years of study and training, and it is for this reason that the following extracts are quoted from the musical columns of some of the country's foremost journals, as well as those of other lands:

"Through Raff's Concerto for piano and orchestra we learned to know Doctor Harthan as a very cultured, edu- cated and refined pianist, who also in the following solos showed himself to be a spirited interpreter."-Tageblatt (Leipzig). "It must be said straightaway, that Doctor Harthan, who made his first appearance on this occasion, passed the ordeal triumphantly, and proved himself a fine and very able cultured and sensitive musician .- Deutsche Wacht (Dresden). "What immediately won the public in Doctor Harthan's piano playing was his high intelligence and refined musical taste. At the same time he is a great master of technic, as witness his won- derful performance of Rubinstein's Etude."-Posen Zeit- ung (Posen). "Doctor Harthan pleased me extremely, not only in the sonata by Gade, but also in his other selections. He is an excellent pianist with an extraordi- narily fine technic, elegant touch and keen observation, which give him the power to play every composition in the peculiar style of the composer. He proved himself a master and delighted all his hearers."-Frankischer Kuri (Nurnberg). "In his second concert Doctor Har- than, director of the National Conservatory, played a wonderfully brilliant concerto for piano with orchestra by J. S. Bach. We have never heard Bach played in such a glorious, harmonie manner, and we never dreamed that the music of this Titanic composer could raise the mighty enthusiasm which we noticed last evening in the crowded assembly .- Ferrocaril (Santiago de Chile). The following notices came from the Montreal papers. Herald: "Montreal finds a great pianist. Dr. Har- than's recital proves him an authority of international rank. Montrealers have often paid two dollars a seat to hear important pianists; none of them had Doctor Har- than's excellencies. True, they excelled him in manner- isms and in the copiousness of their press agency-two factors which Doctor Harthan seemingly scorns. He is

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a Teuton in playing as in appearance and as in nation- ality. Doctor Harthan is a master of tempo rubato when he likes, as witness the exquisite effectiveness of the momentary suspense upon the upper note of each phrase in the Chopin prelude, played by way of pre- liminary to an encore. It was Beethoven, however, in which he showed his power. His reading of the Kreutzer Sonata was massive, authoritative and above all intensely clear, and his tonal quality exquisitely beautiful at all times." Daily Star: "Doctor Harthau came to Mon- treal with a European reputation, and his recital was looked forward to with much interest. While not being in the least sensational or extravagant, and while he seemed to let his head. govern his emotions, his interpre- tations are always meritorious and interesting. One of the most enjoyable features of Doctor Harthan's playing is a sympathetic touch noticeable in pianissimo passages. His technique is admirable for all requirements, and accuracy is one of his strongest points." Daily Witness : "Dr. Hans Harthan gave his first publie piano recital in the Royal Victoria College last evening. Seldom in Montreal have music critics been so charmed with the art. Accuracy of technique and sympathy of rendition made it brilliant throughout." Herald: "Doctor Har- than is perhaps the most finished pianist in Canada. Certainly we know of no one who could approach the liquidness of his finger-passage in the Mendelssohn Spin- ning Song, or the intellectual clarity of his playing of the old polyphonic music.

The Mail and Empire, of Toronto, commented as fol- lows: "There was a personality about his work that made it unique. He has a touch of wonderful firmness and tender delicacy, and is completely free from the dis- tracting mannerisms of the average piano soloist. Seem- ingly, he plays abstractedly, forgetting himself, and de- voting every thought to the music. In a Chopin prelude he did his best work, bringing out the resonant, swaying rythm with a peculiar force and beauty. Liszt's Rhap- sodie No. 8 was given after the Chopin, and served as a contrast, in which his delicacy and clear-cut technique were predominant. Doctor Harthan also gave Beeth- oven's Allegro, op. 31, No. 2. The rapidity of the changes in expression, and the individuality of interpre- tation shown in this number, stamped Doctor Harthan as a Master." The New York Musical Courier said: "Doctor Harthan has been enjoying a round of formal receptions in New York and Philadelphia since his ar- rival. He is one of the best choral leaders now in the country. And again: "Doctor Harthan is one of the finest of European pianists and a composer of high repu- tation for voice and instrument." He was received en- thusiastically in Philadelphia, as witness the extract from the North American of that city: "Doctor Harthan is a pianist and composer of high rank and world-wide recognition." The Houston Chronicle expressed its ap- preciation of his genius in the following manner: "Doc- tor Harthan's accompaniments were perfect gems. He accompanied the songs in their every feature with ar- tistic effect, and many expressions of pleasure were given by the large number of listeners present. Both artists were repeatedly called out." At Dallas he was no less enthusiastically received and appreciated, as is chron- icled by the Morning News: "Dr. Hans Harthan, with an unstudied simplicity, offered several piano numbers and won immediate appreciation. With that charming unaffectedness, characteristic of the German scholar, for which Doctor Harthan stands, aside from his musical worth, he played on, unmindful of his audience. His is the sort of liquid tone music that is unhampered with superfluous technique that so often mars. He played and the people loved the real music of the liquid touch. He is a real lover of Bach, and the influence of that master is felt keenly in the sustained work of the voices that sing throughout his own selections. It is not to intimate that technique or power was wanting-such was not so-but emphasis should be put on the charm of

quietude in the man and his work. The Liszt Hungarian Rhapsodie awakened all the talent, power and brilliancy of hand work, and the tonal elision that constituted the value of his other numbers was for a time forgotten."

In 1883 Doctor Harthan was married to Miss Anna Fell, of Mainz, Germany, who at that time was his piano pupil. She is his faithful and able co-worker in his musical labors. Mrs. Harthan was a voice teacher in the conservatory of Chile, South America, and also taught in Baylor College for a year. Their daughter, Elsie Harthan Arendt, is one of the best singers in America, residing in Chicago and coming to Austin every winter for a few months, where she won much admira- tion, both as a singer and teacher of a large class. She was born in Odessa, Russia. Hans, the elder son, was born in Durbat, Russia, and is now a successful architect in California, while the younger son, Eric, born in Chile, is now a student in the Austin public schools, being thir- teen years of age. Doctor Harthan is a member of the German Lutheran church. His pleasant home is situated at No. 1208 West Sixth street.

REV. H. JOHANNES ROMBERG. The life of Rev. H. Johannes Romberg has been one devoted to the ministry of the German Evangelical church in various places since he came to America from his native land in 1890. His work has been of an especially worthy order, entering largely into education service, and his ministry thus far has yielded rich returns in the young lives that have come into daily contact with him, as a result of his precept and practice.

Born at Berlin, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Germany, on March 20, 1856, H. Johannes Romberg is a son of Her- mann and Therese (Fischer) Romberg, the father a Lutheran minister all his life. To one interested in names and their derivations, it will be of interest to know that the name Romberg means Rome Mountain, that being the name of a mountain peak in the Tyrols on which was situated a castle inhabited by the family from which the Rombergs spring. The family is an old and honorable one in its native land, and Rev. Romberg does honor to the family name in the nature and purpose of his work in his adopted country.

Rev. Romberg had his education in Germany, and it was of a particularly thorough order, indeed. When he had finished the Gymnasium course, comparing favorably with our best high school training, he entered the Uni- versity of Leipsic, from which he went as a student later to the University of Tubingen and still later to the University of Rostock, finishing the latter in its theo- logical department. In 1890 he came to America, here entering into active service in the ministry for which his long years of study had carefully prepared him, and he has since that time filled pastorates in the following places, in the service of the German Evangelical Lu- theran church: Earlville, Iowa, 1890 to 1895; from 1895 to 1897 he was pastor at Sheffield, Iowa, and in 1897 he came to Texas, and at Breman took up the duties of president of the German Lutheran College, con- tinuing as president and as teacher Theology and Ger- man from then until 1903, when he came to Austin to accept the pastorate of St. Martin's Evangelical church, which he still holds.

In 1905 Rev. Romberg was elected president of the First German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Texas, and he is still serving in that capacity, having under his supervision and direction sixty-five ministers and one hun- dred and twenty-five congregations, numbering 4,688 members.

In December, 1891, Rev. Romberg was married to Miss Emma Theda Ommen, daughter of Peter Ommen, a pros- perous farmer of Monticello, Iowa. The home of Rev. and Mrs. Romberg is at 105 East Fourteenth street, this city. They have no children.

Bylomalskin

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HON. J. W. ROBERTSON. The late Col. Robertson was far many years following the close of the Civil war and until his death one of the ablest lawyers and distin- guished public leaders of Texas. His home was at Aus- tin from 1872, and his widow still lives in that city, an esteemed member of Austin society and enjoying the re- gard paid to the memory of, her late husband. Mr. Rob- ertson by gallantry and efficiency as a soldier won his title to command a regiment in the Southern army, and his qualities as a soldier were more than equalled when he became active in the law and in public affairs in Texas.

Col. Robertson was born under the shadow of the Al- legheny mountains in Washington county of East Ten- nessee in 1840. When he was five years old his parents moved to Roane county, in the same part of the state, and his early years until manhood were spent on a farm. In 1857 he became a student in Hiawassee College near Madisonville in East Tennessee, an institution of learn- ing which graduated many young men subsequently dis- tinguished in Tennessee and national history, and Col. Robertson came out from that college at the head of his class in 1861, and received the degree of Master of Arts from the same institution after the war. It was also in that institution he raised his regiment.

As a young college man he almost at once took his place as a fighter in the Confederate ranks, entering the service as first lieutenant in the Forty-third Tennessee regiment. In 1862 came his promotion to Captain in the Sixty-third Tennessee regiment, and there followed a long and arduous duty in many campaigns and on many battlefields. He was present in the battle of Chicka- mauga, at the siege and assault on Knoxville, and in the battle of Beans Station. In the spring of 1864, Bushrod Johnson's Brigade, to which the Sixty-third was attached, was sent first to Virginia, and Col. Rob- ertson was present in the battles of Walthall Station, Swift Creek, and at Drury's Bluff, where three-fourths of his regiment were killed and wounded. He was in all the battles along the lines around Petersburg during June and July of 1864, and at New Market Heights and Fort Harrison in front of Richmond during the fall of 1864. On June 17, 1864, in the midst of a great battle, Colonel Robertson succeeded to the command of the Sixty-third Tennessee regiment and continued its leader until the fall of Petersburg, when he was made a pris- oner of war. Col. Robertson was on several occasions mentioned for distinguished gallantry, and in the early part of 1865 was promoted to the rank of colonel of a consolidated Tennessee regiment, on recommendation by the brigade commander, Gen. McComb, and by Gen. Heth and Geo. A. P. Hill. However, he did not receive his commission in time to take command of that regi- ment. He remained a prisoner of war at first in the old capitol building at Washington and later on Johnson's Island, until paroled in June, 1865. From Johnson's Island he went to Huntsville, Missouri, spent the rest of the year in teaching school, and on March 28, 1866, was married in that town to Miss Sophronia M. Austin. She was a young woman of many accomplishments and proved an effective inspiration and practical adviser to her hus- band throughout his subsequent career.

Following his marriage Col. Robertson returned to Ten- nessee, had charge of the Academy at Sweetwater in eastern Tennessee, but in the latter part of 1867, came to Texas, and lived in Bryan and at Calvert until 1872. In that year his home was moved to Austin, and he re- mained a resident of that city until his death on June 30, 1892. Col. Robertson was soon prominent in public affairs, served a term in the legislature, and for a short time was district judge of the Austin District. The older citizens also remember his two terms as mayor of the city. In 1888, he was a delegate from the tenth district to the National Democratic convention in St. Louis, assisting in the nomination of Grover Cleveland in that year.

As a lawyer Col. Robertson possessed thorough learn- ing, marked ability both as a counselor and advocate, and gained a record of many important successes in the Texas bar. Much of his time for a number of years was taken up in important litigation in the courts of Austin and in adjoining counties, in the state supreme court, and in the United States circuit court. With his ability to comprehend and work out the details of a complicated case he united splendid powers as an effective pleader and logical speaker, and attained a more than ordinary reputation for his literary accomplishments, possessing an incisive and fluent style which made all his work with the pen valuable both from the literary standpoint and for its effectiveness in reaching the object desired. At the time of his first sickness he was attorney for the English syndicate that built the state capitol. Col. Rob- ertson was an honor to the Texas bar, and one of the distingished figures in the state during his generation. Mrs. Robertson now lives at 1710 Pearl street in Austin.

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A history of Texas and Texans, Part 84

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