USA > Texas > A history of central and western Texas > Part 27
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LIGA RUNNELS .- A native son of the old Lone Star state and one who has gained precedence and definite success as a representative būsi- ness man and progressive citizen of Fort Worth, is Liga Runnels, who is president of the Runnels Live Stock Commission Company and also of the Runnels Automobile Company, both of which are prominent and important industrial concerns of this thriving city.
Liga Runnels was born in Collin county, Texas, on the 11th of De- cember, 1867, and is a son of Riley Runnels, who was born and reared in the state of Missouri, whence he came to Texas in 1846, locating in Collin county, and becoming one of its pioneer settlers. He was among the earliest of the exploiters of the great cattle industry of northern Texas and ran large herds of cattle over the open range of a region which is now one of the most populous and opulent in the state. He still maintains his home in Collin county, and, venerable in years, is held in high esteem by all who know him-one of the honored pioneers of the state and one who has witnessed and assisted in its magnificent development. His wife's maiden name was Mary Spradley, and of their children four sons and three daughters are now living.
Reared under the conditions and influences of the pioneer epoch, such were the exigencies of time and place that the subject of this review was denied more than a limited common-school education, but he has effect- ually made good this handicap through his active association with prac- tical business affairs during a distinctively active and successful career. He became identified with his father's operations in the raising of cattle when he was a mere boy and has continuously been concerned with this important line of industry, in connection with which his judgment is authoritative, while through his effective operations he has achieved a
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noteworthy success. In 1901, while still retaining his home on his finely improved grazing ranch near Plano, Collin county, Mr. Runnels estab- lished himself in the live-stock commission business in Fort Worth, where he has since been identified with large and successful operations in this field of enterprise. He was the founder of the Runnels Live Stock Com- mission Company, of which he is president and general manager. The company is incorporated, and its financial fortification is of the most sub- stantial order, so that it has a solid status and has a secure place in the confidence of the large cattle growers and those identified with the indus- try and with financial affairs in the cities of Fort Worth, Kansas City and St. Louis.
Mr. Runnels was also the organizer and is president of the Runnels Automobile Company, which conducts most successfully an automobile business and a well equipped garage at the corner of West Second and Throckmorton streets. Since 1907 he has also owned and conducted one of the largest and most successful general liveries in the city. He is known as a wide-awake and aggressive business man and loyal and public- spirited citizen, and his success has been worthily achieved along normal lines of enterprise. He now maintains his home in Forth Worth, but still gives a general supervision to his fine ranch property in his native county. Of genial and democratic attitude, he wins and retains firm friendships, and he is one of the well known and distinctively popular business men of Fort Worth. In politics, as may be presupposed, he is a staunch advocate of the cause of the Democratic party.
In 1906 Mr. Runnels was united in marriage to Miss Lucy Nored, of Fort Worth. Mrs. Runnels is a native of Tennessee and is a daughter of T. J. Nored, a well known citizen of Fort Worth.
WILLIAM H. Ross, a brother of the late Governor L. S. Ross, was born at Waco, Texas, in 1853, son of Shapley Prince and Catharine H. (Fulkerson) Ross.
Shapley Prince Ross was one of the notable pioneers of Texas. He was of Scotch descent and was born and reared in Kentucky. After spending some years on the northwestern frontier, he moved, in 1839, from Benton's Port, Iowa, to Texas, and first settled at old Washington, in Washington county, one of the capitals of Texas. Subsequently he went to Austin, where he entered the United States army, and was a soldier in the war with Mexico. Previously to this, however, about 1840, he had moved his family to Milam county and established their home . where Cameron now stands. He laid out the town of Waco and built the first house in Waco, which still stands. His daughter, Mrs. Kate Ross Padgitt, wife of Thomas Padgitt, was the first white child born there. Mr. Ross was identified with all the early warfare against the Indians in Texas, both as a soldier in the United States army and as a member of the Texas Rangers. In the latter he was associated with Rip Ford in service in northwestern Texas, and later was appointed Indian agent for the government at Fort Belknap. About 1859, resigning from this posi-
WARoss
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tion, he returned to his home at Waco, where he spent the rest of his life. He died here, September 21, 1889. He was of the typical Scotch clansman build, over six feet high and well proportioned, and was strong both physically and mentally. Among his children, one son, Lawrence Sul- livan Ross, deceased, figured prominently for many years and won high honor in Texas. Two sons and two daughters are still living, namely, the subject of this sketch and Robert S., of Waco, and Mrs. Thomas Padgitt, also of Waco, and Mrs. Margaret V. Harris, of Dallas. The latter and her sister Mary had a double wedding at Waco in 1849, and they were the first white women to be married in Waco.
William H. Ross was reared in Waco. As a boy he accompanied his father to Fort Belknap, which was in the heart of the bloodiest scenes enacted during the Indian wars in Texas, and had many experiences with the red men. In 1870 he went with a party, of which his brother, L. S. Ross, was a member, to California, and remained there for several years, during which time, while in Los Angeles, he learned the printer's trade. Returning to Texas, he opened a job office at Waco, and later conducted an evening paper, the Reporter. Subsequently he bought the Advance, combined the two, and for a short time issued the Daily Reporter-Advance. He was burned out in 1876, after which he went to Young county and turned his attention to farming. To him belongs the distinction of having built the first cotton gin in Young county. In 1880 he became a travel- ing salesman, in the employ of the Padgitt firm of Waco, large wholesale dealers in harness and saddlery, and for twenty-four years in this capacity he covered the territory comprising Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. At last, wishing to leave the road, he moved his family to Fort Worth and established his permanent home in this city. That was in 1906. Here he has since been engaged in the real estate business as a member of the firm of Ross & Blanton. Mrs. Ross was formerly Miss Elizabeth Denison, of Waco, Texas. They have seven children, namely; Mrs. Gipson Will- iams, Misses Hallie and Margaret Ross, Mrs. Frances Ferris, William, Shapley and Josephine Ross.
Mr. Ross' brother, the late Lawrence Sullivan Ross, familiarly called "Stil" Ross, was one of the distinguished citizens of Texas. He was born at Benton's Port, Iowa, in 1838, and was quite small when his parents came to this state. He was educated in Baylor University at Waco and in Wesleyan University at Florence, Alabama. In 1858 he returned from the latter institution, being prompted by a desire to take part in the conflict against the Indians, who were then becoming very hostile in northwestern Texas. He assembled a company of one hundred and twenty-five men and hastened to the support of Major Van Dorn, who was leading the Second United States Cavalry against the Comanches ; and, with Van Dorn, played a prominent part in the battle of Wichita, in which both he and Van Dorn were wounded. After his recovery young Ross went back to Florence and resumed his studies in the uni- versity, and graduated in 1859. Returning home and still anxious to fight, he joined the Texas Rangers. He was elected captain, and in 1860,
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with a company of sixty rangers, in an action at the head of Pease river, he severely defeated the Comanches, killing Peta Nocona, the last of the great Comanche chiefs, and capturing all the effects of the red men, including a captive white woman, Cynthia Ann Parker (mother of Quanah Parker), who had been stolen by the Comanches in 1836 and had become the wife of an Indian chief. This woman was restored to civilization. For his achievement in this engagement he was by Governor Houston made aide-de-camp, with the rank of colonel.
In 1861 he entered the Confederate service as a private in Company G, Sixth Texas Cavalry, his company being commanded by his brother, Captain (later Colonel) P. F. Ross. Soon afterward Sullivan Ross was made a major in this regiment, and in May, 1862, was elected its colonel. Following brave and distinguished services in turning back, while at the head of about a thousand men, a force of over ten thousand Union soldiers on a raid just after the battle of Corinth, Mississippi. Colonel Ross was, on October 3, 1863, on the recommendation of General Joseph E. Johns- ton, made a brigadier-general, in which capacity he served till the close of the war.
In 1875 General Ross was elected sheriff of McLennan county, Texas, and was a member of the Texas Constitutional Convention which was held that year. He was a member of the state senate from 1881 to 1883, and in 1886 was elected governor. To this high office he was re-elected in 1888, and early in 1891, on retiring from the governor's chair, he was made president of the A. and M. College, he being the first to occupy that position, which he held until the time of his death. He married Elizabeth D. Tinsley, of Waco, and they became the parents of seven children: Mervin (deceased), Florine, Lawrence S., Harvey R., Frank, Bessie and Neville.
MARTIN CASEY .- For more than thirty years has this well known and honored citizen been identified with the civic and business interests of Fort Worth, which he has seen develop from a typical frontier town, the headquarters and rendezvous for the cattlemen operating over the great open range, which extended throughout the wide expanse of country now marked by well improved ranches and thriving towns and villages. He lived up to the full tension of the pioneer days and was familiar with the wild and picturesque phases of frontier life that are now represented in memory only. He has contributed his quota to the development and upbuilding of the magnificent city of Fort Worth, his course as a citizen and business man has been marked by impregnable integrity and honor, and he has a secure place in popular confidence and esteem as one of the sterling and pioneer business men of the city that has so long represented his home. He is president of the corporation known as Martin Casey & Company, engaged in the wholesale liquor and cigar business, with which line of enterprise he has here been actively identified since the centennial year, 1876.
.: Mr. Casey reverts with a due measure of pride and patriotism to the
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fact that he is a native of the fair Emerald Isle, which has contributed a most valuable element to the complex social fabric of the great American republic. In 1871 Martin Casey set forth to seek his fortunes in America, whither he came without financial reinforcement and with no influential friends to aid him. He had, however, the goodly gifts of ambition, energy, self-confidence and a determination to make for himself a place of independence, so that he was well equipped for the initiation of his business career in the new world. He first located in Memphis, Ten- nessee, whence he later removed to the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was variously employed until 1876, when he set forth to identify him- self with the interests of the Lone Star state, which was then considered on the border of civilization in the southwestern section of our great national domain. He forthwith established his home in the town of Fort Worth, where he engaged in the wholesale liquor trade on a modest scale, beginning operations in a small building near the old court house. The enterprise increased rapidly in scope and importance and finally more commodious quarters were secured further down on Houston street, where the business was continued until 1909, in April of which year removal was made to the present large and modern building erected for the purpose, at 1610-12 Houston street, corner of Front street. This location is in the heart of the railroad district, so that the best of shipping facilities are afforded, while the site is one most eligible from a local business standpoint. The building occupied is a substantial stone and brick structure, three stories in height. Its equipment is of the best modern type throughout, and here are afforded ample accommodations for the large and select stock carried by the company, which controls a large and substantial trade throughout the southwest and whose reputa- tion, earned by long years of honorable dealings, is unassailable. The business is exclusively wholesale, in the handling of all kinds of domestic and imported liquors, cigars, etc., and the concern has the general agency for the Pabst Brewing Company, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
From the time of establishing his home in Fort Worth to the present Mr. Casey has been closely identified with all local interests touching the welfare of the city, to whose development and upbuilding he has con- tributed with all of loyalty and civic liberality. He was specially generous in his contribution to the various funds raised for the promotion of rail- road building and other enterprises projected for the general welfare of his home city and state. He was one of the promoters and the chief financial backer of the Texas Brewing Company, which is now one of the large and substantial business concerns of Fort Worth.
In politics, though never a seeker of public office, Mr. Casey has been unfaltering in his allegiance to the cause of the Democratic party.
WILLIAM P. FISCHER, the general manager of the American Home Life Insurance Company and one of the influential business men and citizens of Fort Worth, was born at Gonzales, in Gonzales county, Texas, where his father, A. Fischer, was a pioneer settler of 1842. Until the
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spring of 1909 Mr. Fischer, the son, had spent his life in his native city of Gonzales, learning in the meantime the mercantile business under his father, and before reaching the age of maturity he embarked in the same line for himself in partnership with his brother, the late L. H. Fischer, whose death occurred in 1905. They were actively engaged in the dry goods business for twenty-five years, and beginning with a very small country store they built up the enterprise to one of the largest and most successful establishments of its kind in southwestern Texas.
Mr. Fischer enjoyed an unusually satisfactory and creditable career as a merchant, for the records show that during all the time that he was in business there was never a sight draft drawn on him, that he never contested a piece of paper against him or that he never entered suit against any of the firm's customers. The business was founded and car- ried out on the strictest principles of honor and integrity. Having accu- mulated a comfortable fortune, he sought a larger field of enterprise, and in the spring of 1909 came to Fort Worth and purchased a home and other property in this city, also acquiring a fine ranch in the western country tributary to Fort Worth, but his active business life is centered in the American Home Life Insurance Company, a Fort Worth enterprise of which he is the general manager. Mr. Fischer brought to this position the ripe business experience and acumen that made his mercantile business so successful, and since the new management took control of the com- pany in the summer of 1909 it has rapidly forged to a place of the highest standing in insurance circles. The American Home Life has behind it some of the strongest men in Fort Worth and in Texas. Mr. Fischer is also a director of the State National Bank of Fort Worth.
Mrs. Fischer was before marriage Cora Fitzgerald, of Sweetwater, Texas, a daughter of one of the prominent citizens of that place, Captain R. H. Fitzgerald. Their two children are Lois and William Lee.
W. JACOB DOYLE .- Long and prominently identified with railroad interests, through which he did much to further the development and progress of the state of Texas, Mr. Doyle is now the popular proprietor of the Worth Hotel in the city of Fort Worth, and maintains the fine establishment upon the highest metropolitan standard. He is well known throughout the Lone Star state and his popularity is of the most unequiv- ocal order, based upon sterling personal integrity and genial and kindly attributes of character.
Mr. Doyle was born at Riceville, McMinn county, Tennessee, on the 9th of January, 1878, and is a son of B. M. and M. C. (Tipton) Doyle. When he was three years of age his parents came to Texas and settled in Itasca, Hill county, where he was reared to maturity and where he gained his rudimentary education in the common schools, after which he continued his studies in Waltham New Church School, at Waltham, Massachusetts, where he prepared himself for college, his intention having been to enter Harvard University. Circumstances shaped themselves in such a way, however, that he found it expedient to abandon his further
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educational work and turn his attention to practical business affairs. He returned to Texas and secured a position as stenographer in the office of the general auditor of the Fort Worth & Denver Railroad, at Fort Worth. Later he held a similar position with the Cotton Belt Railroad, but he eventually re-entered the employ of the Fort Worth & Denver Railroad Company. He subsequently accepted a position as buyer for the McCord- Collins Grocery Company, of Fort Worth, but a few months later he assumed a clerical position in the office of the L. B. Menefee Lumber Company, in the city of Houston. About one year later he entered the service of the Southern Pacific Railroad, and shortly afterward he became secretary to J. H. Hill, manager of the Galveston, Houston & Henderson Railroad, with headquarters in Galveston. He held this posi- tion about one year and then accepted the office of assistant personal injury, fire and stock claim agent of the Frisco Railroad. Later he became traveling freight agent for the Cotton Belt Railroad, but he eventually returned to the service of the company previously mentioned, becoming chief clerk for its immigration commissioner. It was in this department that Mr. Doyle gained prestige and high reputation as a suc- cessful railroad man, and he became a potent factor in initiating the great wave of immigration that has brought many thousands of desirable settlers to the great southwest. From the position of chief clerk Mr. Doyle was advanced to the supervision of the general immigration work of the road, and in this capacity he organized, with marked initiative and executive ability, one of the largest and most efficient immigration depart- ments that have ever been an adjunct of railway operations. He reor- ganized the department that was known as the Frisco Immigration Asso- ciation. This was composed of men of distinctive ability and resource- fulness, so that the work of the association was one of most productive and effective order. With discrimination and unflagging zeal Mr. Doyle finally ncreased the corps of men in his department to the noteworthy number of twenty-five hundred, each one being efficient in the promotion of the business assigned to his charge. This fine force of workers included not only immigration agents in the north and east, but also repre- sentatives in the southwestern territory, the former corps being assigned to the work of sending immigrants to this favored section and the latter force assisted the settlers in selecting locations and making permanent settlement. A system of checking was instituted and through the same was shown with exactitude the details of each man's work and the results of the same. Mr. Doyle made regular trips throughout the wide area of country in the jurisdiction of his finely organized department and gave his personal supervision to the work, besides which he established an efficient system of advertising, the same being of wide scope and of much importance in furthering the work of his department. With this important branch of railroad enterprise Mr. Doyle continued to be actively identified for nearly five years, and all familiar with his able and pro- gressive work in the connection concede that it was due to his efforts that the tide of immigration was so largely deflected from the northwest
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to the southwest. In the great northwest the railroad companies had been carrying forward effective promotion of immigration for a term of years, and Mr. Doyle had the prescience to see that the same effort could bring desired results in the southwest. His great capacity as an organizer and administrative officer came into effective play and his name merits a place of honor on the roster of those who have aided materially in the civic and industrial development and progress of Texas and other parts of the southwest, whose magnificent resources and attractions were ex- ploited by him with admirable ability. Although he modestly claims for himself no special credit in the connection, it is a matter of recorded fact in railroad statistics that during the period of his incumbency of the office mentioned the Frisco Railroad system had fifty-seven per cent of the passenger business through the St. Louis gateway.
Mr. Doyle resigned his position with the Frisco Railroad and in May, 1908, he became proprietor of the Worth Hotel, the only first-class Amer- ican-plan hotel in the city of Fort Worth and one whose facilities and high-grade accommodations have given it reputation as one of the best hotels of the southwest. Both as an able business man and as a genial host Mr. Doyle has proved himself splendidly equipped for effective work in his present field of endeavor, and few citizens of Texas have a wider circle of appreciative and valued friends than this sterling and popular boniface. In politics Mr. Doyle is aligned as a staunch supporter of the cause of the Democratic party, though he has never been an aspirant for public office. The brief record of his business career given in this sketch offers full assurance of his loyalty and progressive attitude as a citizen, and he maintains a lively nterest in all that tends to conserve the advance- ment and civic prosperity of the "Greater Fort Worth." He has attained the thirty-second degree in the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of the Masonic fraternity, is a member of its adjunct organization, the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and is also identified with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
THE MONTGOMERY LAND SECURITIES COMPANY, INC., which is largely interested in property in western Texas, and of which R. W. Montgomery is president and C. W. Harris, secretary and sales manager, makes a specialty of developing and selling subdivisions with a guaran- teed value of each lot placed in each contract, a plan that has met with the highest degree of satisfaction. The business policy of this company is the development and selling of subdivision property under a selling con- tract which guarantees the repurchase of the property, if, for any reason, the purchaser desires to sell when he has paid for it.
This is the company's manner of advertising the fact that it only handles high-class subdivision property, and property which it buys, de velops and sells to suit its plans. The company does not engage in com- mission business and handles no other properties except subdivisions and large tracts of western land, the latter being really a wholesale branch of the business.
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In the sixteen months that the company has been handling Guaran- teed Value properties it has made a very rapid growth, and the company has practically completed arrangements for a very substantial increase in its capital stock and enlargement of its field of operations, taking in properties in Fort Worth, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio to be sold under the Guaranteed. Value Contract.
The fact of the company's confining its operations entirely to its own properties and development and selling of its subdivisions, with the re- demption feature above mentioned, gives this company a standing prob- ably different from any real estate firm in Texas, if not in the United States, and its policy of selling only on investigation, on a contract to repurchase, is finding a marked approval among the class of investors in real estate who are looking for legitimate investments in staple property.
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