A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume I, Part 105

Author: Paddock, B. B. (Buckley B.), 1844-1922; Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis publishing co.
Number of Pages: 968

USA > Texas > A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume I > Part 105

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Mr. Courchesne was married in El Paso to Miss Severiana Rodriguez, a member of a family

Mr. Courchesne is not a politician in the com- monly accepted sense of the term but is inter- ested in questions affecting the welfare of state and nation and has been neglectful of no duty to which he has been called by his fellow citi- zens. For six years he has served his county faithfully and ably as county commissioner from the city district and he is consul regent for the. French government at El Paso. A contempo- rary publication has said of him, "Mr. Cour- chesne while accumulating an estate for himself at once took an active interest in the welfare of this community and being a young man of force- ful character and sound judgment in all public affairs, the community was not slow to recog- nize his worth as a useful, progressive citizen and a safe counsellor. He is a moving spirit in all public enterprises having for their purpose the advancement of El Paso's interests commer- cially, industrially, educationally and socially." When we consider his financial condition when he came to El Paso his record seems almost marvelous, for he has accomplished much, build- ing a fortune which has made him one of the

JAMES L. JONES, M. D., deceased, was one of the most prominent, honored and great- ly loved physicians that has practiced in Denison,. and no history of the city would be complete without mention of his life and work. He was born in Cleveland, Tennessee, November 18, 1840, and with his parents came to Texas while yet a small lad, the family home being estab -- lished near Palestine in Houston county. When a young man he came to Grayson county in 1868: and entered upon the practice of medicine with. Dr. F. N. Cutler. He took up his abode in the:

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neighborhood where his remaining days were passed, being one of the first practicing physi- cians of Grayson county. He followed his pro- fession in this locality, and all along the border of the Indian Territory before Denison was es- tablished and incorporated and before the build- ing of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad through this part of the country. He was a splendid example of the high principled and highly cultured country gentleman and physician, and was loved by his patients and his neigh- bors for his charitable nature and kindly spirit. He never refused to accommodate a neighbor or friend if it lay within his power to do so, and his home was celebrated for its generous hos- pitality throughout this section of the state.

No man was better beloved than Dr. J. L. Jones, no man was more generous and no man more charitable. There are today many who could tell tales of his ready and helpful assis- tance. He gave of his strength and skill for the alleviation of human suffering, oftentimes with- out hopeof pecuniary reward, but content in the knowledge of duty well done. None ever called on him in vain, for his sympathy responded readily to the need of a fellow man. In the early days when settlements were widely scat- tered no call, however distant, was unheeded by him. He was ever ready to go through rain, storm, heat or cold to aid in checking the rav- ages of disease and restoring health, and he not only took with him professional skill, but also a sympathy as broad as human needs. Moreover, Dr. Jones was a successful business man and at his death left a large estate, consisting of a fine farm east of the city and also a drug store at No. 225 West Main street, which he had con- ducted for more than a decade.

At the time of the Civil war Dr. Jones espoused the cause of the Confederacy, becoming a member of a Texas Cavalry regiment, com- manded by Colonel J. B. Liken, and he was a charter member of Denison Camp No. 885, United Confederate Veterans, in the work and aims of which he ever took an active and help- ful interest. He was likewise a member of the Denison Medical Society, which he joined on its organization, and he was ever interested in what-

ever tended to promote the efficiency of the med- ical fraternity and broaden their knowledge and skill.

Dr. Jones was twice married. He first wed- ded a daughter of William and Martha (Clark) Lankford, and her death occurred in 1879. By this marriage there were two daughters and a son. One daughter, Lillie H., a graduate of St. Xavier Academy, now deceased, was the wife of Edward Ringer, and had one child, Thelma, born November 27, 1894. The other daughter was Rosalie M. Jones. For his second wife Dr. Jones chose Miss Sophia A. O'Dell, a daughter of the late Enoch O'Dell, who was one of the prominent farmers of Desvoign, Texas, and one of the substantial citizens of Grayson county. He came to this state at an early day before the town of Denison was founded and he accumu- lated considerable land and other property in- terests in the county. He was always an enter- prising and business-like farmer and a man of most excellent character and of sterling honesty and integrity, so that all who knew him were his friends. He reared a large family of children, who have become prosperous, energetic and val- ued residents of this section of the state. By his second marriage Dr. Jones had one daughter, Miss Frances S. Jones. Rosalie M., the elder daughter by his first marriage, died July 5, 1903, at the age of twenty-four years and eight months. She was reared in Grayson county, about four miles east of Denison, and was a young lady of superior intellectual and aesthetic culture. She was liberally educated by her father, whose pride and ambition were centered in her, and she graduated first at St. Xavier . Academy. She displayed decided talent for mu- sic, and, after completing her literary course, was sent to the Nashville Conservatory of Music, where under the tutelage of Professor August Schemmel, she attained high proficiency as a musician, completing her course with honors. She then returned to Denison, where she at once proceeded to make use of her talents and musi- cal education. She was the composer of several excellent piano selections, the last of which was the Galveston-Dallas Newes March, which attract- ed wide attention for its merit as a musical com-

HISTORY OF 'NORTH AND WEST TEXAS. 629

position, and for which Miss Jones received the thanks of the proprietors of the News. They pub- lished the selection and received a large number of congratulatory letters from the best musicians of the south. Miss Jones also engaged in teaching, finding great enjoyment from her work. She became one of the foremost representatives of the art of music in this section of Texas, but the work which she voluntarily undertook-from choice, not from necessity-proved too great a strain upon her and undoubtedly hastened her death. The surviving daughter of the second marriage of Dr. Jones is Miss Fannie Seay Jones, who was born in Denison, October 24, 1885. She graduated in 1903 in St. Xavier Academy, in both the literary and musical de- partments, and was awarded a gold medal by the faculty. She is particularly proficient in mu- sic and is a young lady of much local renown in musical circles. The death of Dr. Jones occurred December 30, 1903, when he was sixty-three years of age. His memory is enshrined in the hearts of those who knew him and they cherish the record of his noble life, his kindly deeds and lofty purposes. His name is inseparably interwoven with the history of Denison and this section of the state and it stands as a synonym for business in- tegrity, professional skill and for the highest traits of manhood.

MRS. HELEN V. HARTMAN is a repre- sentative of an honored pioneer family living a short distance east of Denison. Her father, John S. Clark, was born in Ohio in 1790 and on leaving that state removed to Missouri when a young man. There he was married to Miss Nancy Johnston and after his marriage went to Arkansas, whence he subsequently came to . Texas, arriving in this state in 1846. He set- tled first in Denton county at what was then called Peters' Colony, where he remained for a short time. He next came to Grayson county, where his death occurred soon afterward in the year 1849. In his family were eleven children, but Mrs. Hartman, who is the youngest, is also the only one now living. Mr. Clark became one of the early settlers of Grayson county, Texas, and not only witnessed but experienced many of

the hardships and trying ordeals incident to pion- eer life when even existence was precarious, re- quiring constant watchfulness in order to secure protection from the invasions and depredations of the red men. There were also difficulties to be borne incident to the reclamation of the wilder- ness for the uses of civilization. Mr. Clark took an active and helpful part in the early pioneer development and progress of this sec- tion of the state and commanded the respect of all by an upright life and his effective labor for the general welfare. He was the father of eleven children, but only three left descendants. Sarah C. became the wife of Lee Lankford and died leaving one child. Lodoski W. married Fountain Morris and had six children. Martha became the wife of William Lankford and had one child, who yet survives, James Lankford, who is residing upon the old homestead in Grayson county.

In her parents' home Mrs. Hartman spent her girlhood days, and after reaching womanhood she gave her hand in marriage to Merritt S. Sutherland. There were no children by that union. On the 14th of January, 1877, she be- came the wife of Charles G. Hartman, who was born in 1840 and died on the 25th day of May, 1888. Mr. Hartman was a Federal soldier in the Civil war, serving with an Iowa regiment at- tached to what was called Merrilee's Horse Bri- gade. Mrs. Hartman has spent almost her en- tire life in this county and is familiar with its history from an early day down to the present time, her memory forming a connecting link be- tween the primitive past and the progressive present. She now owns and occupies a pleasant home east of Denison and in this community she is held in the highest esteem, while the hospitality of the best homes is freely accorded her.

REV. FRANK MIKELS. It has been with- in a comparatively short period that the possibil- ities of Texas as a fruit producing state have been demonstrated, but within a comparatively few years it has been shown that the soil of Texas under scientific care can be made to pro- duce as fine fruits as can be raised in the world. Rev. Mikels, having retired from the active

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

work of the ministry, is today recognized as one of the leading representatives of horticultural interests in Texas, with a fine fruit farm that is pleasantly and conveniently located about four miles east of Denison. He was born in Davis county, Missouri, October 8, 1844, a son of William and Sarah (Rouark) Mikels, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. The father was a Baptist minister and farmer, devoting his life to agricultural pursuits in Missouri and In- diana. He died in the latter state when about fifty years of age, and his wife passed away in the same state when seventy-three years of age. In their family were eight children, but only two are now living, the elder brother being W. R. Mikels, who is a Methodist minister en- gaged in preaching in Indiana.

Rev. Frank Mikels pursued his early educa- tion in the public schools of Indiana and con- tinued his literary course in Thornton Acad- emy. Subsequently he studied theology at the Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois, a Methodist school, and was a graduate of the conference class. Coming to the southwest, he directed his labors for the benefit of the church and his fellow-men until a very recent date, but in September, 1903, retired from active work · of the ministry, and in June, 1904, purchased his present farm and home. He owns sixty acres of land about four miles east of Denison, which is a well improved property, largely planted to fruit trees and devoted to market gardening. There is a peach orchard of thirty-two acres with apple trees planted in alternate rows, and there are four acres of fine pear trees. From the or- chard Mr. Mikels sold in 1904 about fifteen hun- dred bushels of fine peaches. He is continually adding to the number of his fruit trees and there is no finer fruit farm to be found in Texas. The place is supplied with excellent water, and, in ad- dition to his orchards, Mr. Mikels has five acres of blackberries and raspberries. His home is a fine two-story residence containing fourteen rooms, and is one of the handsomest country homes in northern Texas, being supplied with every modern convenience that adds to its com- fort and attractive appearance.

On the 12th of December, 1865, Mr. Mikels

was married in Thorntown, Boone county, In- diana, to Miss Mary A. Ross, whose birth oc- curred in Tippecanoe county, that state, and they have two living children, William. A. and Lena Belle, both of whom were born in In- diana. The latter is the wife of E. E. Bailey and has two children, Ross M. and Bessie Ruth.

At the time of the Civil war Mr. Mikels, re- sponding to the call of the Union, enlisted on the 15th of October, 1861, in the Fortieth Regi- ment of Indiana Volunteers and became a pri- vate in Company K, with which he served for a little more than three years. He was in a number of hotly contested engagements and was injured in the charge of Kennesaw Mountain, sustaining a slight scalp wound. It was following his military service that he entered the ministry, devoting a number of years to the active work of the church. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias and Masonic fra- ternities, and also to the Grand Army of the Republic, having been made a member of the last named in Indiana. His political views accord with Republican principles. He is now directing his energies entirely to the development and im-

provement of his splendid fruit farm and in- tends to make it a model in every respect. His intellectual qualities, business integrity and gen- uine personal worth have already won for him the friendly regard of many with whom he has come in contact during his residence in Denison, and the circle of his friends is constantly grow- ing.

WILLIAM J. HARRIS, vice president of the American National Bank of El Paso, has from pioneer times to the present been a witness of the growth and development of western Texas and as a co-laborer in this work has contributed in substantial measure to the accomplishment that has brought this part of the country up to a par with older settled districts. A native of Tennessee, he was born in Paris, Henry county, and is a son of Judge John W. and Martha M. (Wilborn) Harris and a nephew of Hon. Isham G. Harris. The last named died in July, 1898, while serving as a member of the United States senate. Judge Harris was born in Franklin

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

county, Tennessee, to which locality his parents removed from North Carolina, while later they became residents of Paris, Henry county, Ten- nessee, which was thereafter the family home. Judge Harris, reared in the state of his nativity, took up the study of law and became a promi- nent attorney of Paris, while his brother, enter- ing the field of politics in 1847, was elected to congress in 1849, chosen governor of the state in the '50s and was three times re-elected to that office, being the war governor of Tennessee, his last election occurring in 1861. Subsequently he became a member of the United States senate and was a most distinguished man in every re- spect, making a splendid record in connection with the framing and administration of the laws of his commonwealth and the nation.

William J. Harris was born in Henry county, Tennessee, December 25, 1857, and is one of the most prominent and widely known pioneers of western Texas, closely connected with its his- tory and development from the early days of the stage coach and other evidences of frontier ex- istence. In 1877 he left his home in Tennessee, his destination being the ranch owned by his uncle, Hon. Isham G. Harris, in Callahan county, Texas. In September of that year he arrived at Fort Worth and after remaining for . American National Bank, of which he is now the a short period on his uncle's ranch he accepted vice president. Mr. Harris by reason of his con- nection with the old stage lines formed a very wide acquaintance in western Texas and is to- day one of its representative and honored citi- zens with a circle of friends almost co-extensive with the circle of his acquaintance. a position on the overland stage route from Fort Worth to Fort Concho, now San Angelo. This line was controlled by John D. Chidester and after remaining in his service for a time Mr. Harris was offered a better position and larger wages by C. Bain & Company, of San Antonio, . Mr. Harris was married in Ysleta, Texas, May 7, 1885, to Miss Emilie Schutz, and they have one child, a son, Eugene. the famous old time stage owners on the over- land line from Fort Concho to El Paso. Mr. Harris became agent of the line and continued in that position until the completion of the Texas WILLIAMSON BURTON SIMPSON was one of the early pioneers of Grayson county and contributed in a large measure to its progress and development as it emerged from pioneer condi- tions and took on all the evidences of an ad- vanced civilization. The nineteenth century might properly be termed the age of utility, es- pecially in the west. The vast regions beyond the Mississippi were in that period opened up to civilization and the honored pioneers who founded homes in the fertile but undeveloped & Pacific and the Galveston, Houston and San Antonio railroads, whereby the stage companies were forced out of business. There was a pic- turesque and romantic element in connection with staging in those early days and yet the work was at times fraught with danger because of the unsettled condition of the country. The stage coach, however, was a splendid and inval- uable institution, furnishing the only means of travel at a period when sparsely settled districts

.could not support a railroad. The advent of the stage coach was an important event in each town, bringing the news of the outside world and perchance carrying a visitor or new comer to the community and a detailed account of Mr. Harris' knowledge and experience of those days would furnish a story of as thrilling interest as many that are found on the pages of fiction.

About 1881 Mr. Harris was appointed dep- uty collector of customs at Lanoria, Arizona, on the Mexican border and filled that position for three years, when he was transferred to El Paso as mounted inspector of the customs depart- ment. . He continued in the latter capacity for a few years and then through the influence of Governor John C. Brown secured the labor con- tract on the Texas & Pacific Railway, since which time he has been largely engaged in the business of contracting along that line on the construction of western railroads in the El Paso district. In El Paso he has figured prominently in public affairs here and is now county commis- sioner, a position which he has filled for fourteen consecutive years. He has likewise been very prominent and helpful in the business life of El Paso and the promotion of its leading enter- prises and he was one of the organizers of the

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

regions were men who had to contend with the trials and difficulties of pioneer life. Theirs were lives of toil. They were endeavoring to make homes, to cultivate farms and establish business enterprises. Their importance to the commun- ity, however, cannot be overestimated, and the comforts and luxuries which we today enjoy we largely owe to the brave band of pioneer men and women who came to the southwest during its primitive condition. It is also encouraging and interesting to note that many who came here empty-handed worked their way upward from a humble financial position to one of af- fluence, and that as the years passed and the country improved, prosperity attended their ef- forts and wealth rewarded their earnest en- deavors.

To this class of honored men belonged Wil- liamson Burton Simpson. He was born in Boone county, Kentucky, March 18, 1833, and came to Texas with his parents, William and Rebecca (McPherson) Simpson. This was in the year 1845, when the son, Williamson, was but twelve years of age. The family settled first in Titus county, Texas, and afterward removed to Colo- rado county.

Mr. Simpson, of this review, aided with the family in the labors of pioneer life and continued an active factor in business affairs until he en- listed in the Confederate army. He served throughout the war in General Price's division and was once wounded. At the close of hos- tilities he returned to Texas and in 1872 came to Denison, which was just being laid out and set- tled. It was an embryo city with as yet little done in the way of improvement, but Mr. Simp- son believed that it had a bright future before it and identified his interests with the new town. He engaged in business here and built the first brick residence erected in Denison. It is still standing at the foot of Gandy street near the yards of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad Company. As the years passed by Mr. Simp- son was connected with various business enter- prises and contributed in large measure to the welfare of Denison through the promotion of its industrial and commercial activity. At length his labors brought to him a gratifying compe-

tence, and being relieved of the necessity of fur- ther active connection with business life, he re- tired several years prior to his death and spent the evening of his days in the enjoyment of a well earned rest.

On the 22d of December, 1853, Mr. Simpson was united in marriage to Miss Lucy M. Bridges, who was born in DeKalb county, Ala- bama, and is a daughter of Ephraim and Eliza- beth (Newman) Bridges. On the 22nd of De- cember, 1903, they celebrated their golden wed- ding anniversary in this city. During the fifty years of their married life there had never been a death in the family. Theirs was largely an ideal relation, their mutual love and confidence increasing as the years went by and they met to- gether the joys and sorrows, the adversity and prosperity of life. They became the parents of nine children and the family record is as follows : John Lewis, the eldest, born in Titus county, Texas, married Miss Ida Cleaver, of Gainesville, Texas, where they now reside. They have two children, William and John, both of whom were born in Gainesville. William E. Simpson, whose birth occurred in Titus county, is now living in .St. Louis, Missouri. Rebecca Elizabeth, also a native of Titus county, is the widow of Judge Richard Maltby, of Mckinney, Texas, and has two children, Grace and Richard, both born in Mckinney. James N., who was born in Colo- rado county, Texas, married Lizzie Toppin and lives in Dallas, Texas. Burt A., born in Colo- rado county, was married to Alice Morgeson and had four children: Walter, Elizabeth, Georgie and Burt, all born in Gainesville, and for his second wife he chose Lillian Whiteman, of Louisiana. They now reside in Ardmore, In- dian Territory. Sterling P. Simpson, born in Colorado county, Texas, married Gertrude Seas- feldt and they have three children, Gertrude Jack and Richard, all born in Gainesville, where the family home is maintained. Arthur O. Simp- son, also a native of Colorado county, is living in Ardmore. Minnie Eleanor, born in Denison, is the wife of Henry C. Ashley, of this city, and has a son, Henry A., also born in Denison. Lucy Simpson, a native of Denison, completes the family.

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

Williamson B. Simpson, the father, was a mem- ber of Denison Camp, No. 885, United Confed- erate Veterans, and he gave his political al- legiance to the Democracy. He died October. 17, 1904, at the age of seventy-one years. He was regarded as a wise counselor in his political party, but he disliked the publicity of office and.' therefore always refused official preferment. He was a generous and benevolent man, ever ready to extend a helping hand to the poor and needy and especially willing to assist those who were anxious to engage in business for themselves. He recognized the brotherhood of the race, but was always quiet and unassuming in his assist- ance to others. As a citizen he was public spirited in an eminent degree, deeply interested in the welfare of his country and the prosperity of his community. His death seemed a personal be- reavement to the majority of the citizens of Den- ison, for he was honored and esteemed alike by young and old, rich and poor.

ERWIN J. SMITH, engaged in the practice of law in Denison, was born in Celina, Tennes- see, on the 27th of November, 1866, a son of Nathaniel and Belle (Langford) Smith. The father, a native of Kentucky, came to Texas after the Civil war and located in Grayson county, where he has since followed farming. He was an advocate of the Confederate cause and with Morgan's brigade took part in the war as captain of his company. His wife is a native of Tennessee. In their family were three chil- dren, of whom two are living: Erwin J., of this review, and Buena, the wife of John S. Perrin, of Oklahoma City. She has two children, a son and a daughter.

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A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume I, Part 105

Author: Paddock, B. B. (Buckley B.), 1844-1922; Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis publishing co. Number of Pages: 968

Author: Paddock, B. B. (Buckley B.), 1844-1922; Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis publishing co.
Number of Pages: 968