A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume I, Part 107

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 107

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James M. Radford was educated in the schools of Bryan and his first business enterprise was in the line of merchandising. He became a clerk in the employ of his brother-in-law, W. B. Morse, of Bryan, with whom he remained for several years. In October, 1883, when twenty- one years of age, he came to Abilene and estab- lished a retail grocery business of his own. He has continuously done business in Abilene from that day to the present time and his now exten- sive wholesale enterprise is the outgrowth of the small business which he instituted in 1883. The J. M. Radford Grocery Company is now doing the largest volume of business of any house west of Fort Worth and ranks as one of the most ex- tensive wholesale interests of Texas, while the main house is located at Abilene. They have branch houses in Colorado, Sweetwater, Cisco and Stamford. Mr. Radford, together with his brother, E. E. Radford, and his brother-in-law, J. F. Handy, have developed and own the Colo- rado salt mines, at Colorado, Texas. They man- ufacture all grades of salt and ship to all parts of Texas, and also to different places in Louisi- ana, Arkansas, New Mexico and Mexico. The two interests, however, do not represent all of

the business relations of Mr. Radford, who is a man of resourceful ability and has extended his efforts into various fields of activity. He is a director of the Western National Bank of Texas, at Fort Worth, which in its last statement showed deposits of over a million dollars. He is ,likewise a stockholder in the Commonwealth ' Fire Insurance Company, of Dallas, Texas, one of the strongest and most reliable fire insurance companies of the state. He is also interested in and is vice-president of the Abilene Cotton Oil Company, one of the leading industries of the city, also vice-president of the Commercial National Bank and is one of the largest owners of real estate in Taylor county.

In October, 1887, Mr. Radford was married to Miss Bessie May Handy, a native of Mis- souri, and a graduate of Stephens College, of Columbia, Missouri. They now have two sons, Omar and Handy. Their home is one of the finest residences in the city of Abilene, modern in all its appointments and most tastefully fur- nished. It was completed in 1904 and one of its chief charms is its gracious hospitality.

Fraternally Mr. Radford is connected with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias, holding membership with the lodges in Abilene. He is pre-eminently a business man of marked enterprise, keen dis- cernment and of intense and well directed ac- tivity. In the management of all of his affairs he has introduced original ideas and methods, working along such lines as his judgment prompts, and his efforts have resulted in the an- nual increase of the business, which has now 4 reached mammoth proportions. Even in times of general financial depression his business has proven profitable and he is to-day one of the most substantial citizens of western Texas. Moreover he has assisted many of his friends in a financial way to make a start in life and is proud of it and feels that he has never lost a dollar in this way. Himself worthy of trust, he has trusted others and his own business career has ever been characterized by integrity that is unassailable. He is glad he is a native of Texas, and that he began his business career for himself in western Texas, as he has had the knowledge and experience, which is very valuable to any

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

young man, of seeing his adopted home, in twenty-three years, grow from a barren, unpop- ulated and undeveloped country to modern civil- ization. He is a firm believer in Horace Greeley's advice to young men: "Go west and grow up with the country."

WINSTON BAIRD MARKHAM, M. D., who made a creditable reputation as a member of the medical fraternity of Denison, for the work of which he was well qualified by thor- ough preparatory training, left behind him an honorable name and the record of excellent professional service. His birth occurred in Princeton, Kentucky, on the 24th of June, 1859, and he passed away on the 12th of February, 1902. His parents were Winston and Ann Mary (Throkmorton) Markham, and in her maidenhood the mother bore the name of Shep- herdson. When eleven years of age Winston Markham came with his father to Texas, his mother having died about three years previous. The family home was established first in Mc- Kinney, Collin county, where the father fol- lowed the occupation of farming for a number of years but now makes his home in Denison, where he is living retired.

Having acquired his elementary education in the public schools, Dr. Markham became a student in Vanderbilt College in Tennessee and was graduated from the medical depart- ment with the class of 1878. He then entered upon the practice of his profession in Nash- ville, where he remained for a year, when he opened an office in Decatur, Texas, spending nine years in that city. In 1884 he pursued a post-graduate course at New Orleans, Lou- isiana, and in 1898 he again did post-graduate work in surgery in Chicago medical universi- ties. Thus he kept in touch with the progress of the profession, and reading and original in- vestigation also added to his knowledge. In 1890 he came to Denison, where he opened an office and practiced with success up to the time of his death. During the last two years of his life he was also associated with the late Dr. J. L. Jones in the conduct of a drug store on

West Main street in addition to his regular practice.

Dr. Markham was married twice. In 1882 he wedded Nannie Wootters, at Crockett, Texas, and there were by that marriage two children, of whom one is living, John W., whose birth occurred in Decatur, Texas. The wife and mother died in December, 1885, and in 1886 Dr. Markham was married to Miss Ada Hockett, of San Antonio, Texas, a daughter of David and Mary F. (Howater) Hockett, the former a native of North Carolina and the lat- ter of Virginia. By the second marriage there were three children: Baird H., who was born in Decatur, Texas, in 1887; Edith Marie, whose birth occurred in Decatur in 1889; and Lois Lowrance, who was born in Denison in 1897.

Dr. Markham was a member of the board of health of Denison and for three years prior to his death served as a member of the school board of the city. In politics he was a Demo- crat and was ever interested in the welfare of Denison, co-operating in many progressive movements. He was conscientious in the per- formance of all of his professional duties, real- izing fully the obligations that devolved upon him in this connection, and in his home was a devoted husband and father, while among his friends he was known as a man who could be relied upon in times of need. He displayed many sterling traits of character that won him the regard and warm friendship of all with whom he was associated. As a diagnostician his skill was unusual, and in consultation and in operative work he took a high place among the surgeons and physicians of his section of Texas.

JAMES R. CAMPBELL, attorney at law and justice of the peace in Sherman precinct No. 1, is a native of Sneedville, Hancock coun- ty, Tennessee, born December 28, 1847, and a son of Anderson and Belinda Ann (Ely) Campbell. The father was also a native of Tennessee, where his life was spent largely in public office. He served as county clerk, circuit clerk and clerk of the district courts

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

and held the office of sheriff for many years. In these various duties he was prompt and capable and over the record of his official ca- reer there fell no shadow of wrong or sus- picion of evil. He died from the effects of an accidental wound when sixty-six years of age.

Mr. Campbell has been thrice married. He first wedded Rebecca Ellison on the 3rd of August, 1865, in Bradley county, Tennessee, and by this union there were nine children. His wife was a native of Lee county, Virginia, , His second wife was Eliza J. Whittenburg, and was a daughter of Robert and Ann (Mc-' whom he married March 2, 1890, in Rhea coun- Pherson) Ely. Her death occurred in Rhea county, Tennessee, in February, 1889, when she was seventy-seven years of age. In the family of this worthy couple were three sons and four daughters, of whom six are living: Mary A., now the widow of W. W. Whitten- burg, who was a Confederate soldier and died while being held as a prisoner of war; Martha E., who is living in Bradley county, Tennessee, with her sister, Mrs. Whittenburg; Robert E., who resides in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, where he is engaged in the dairy business ; Jo- seph A., who is engaged in merchandising at Eureka Springs, Arkansas; Sarah J., who died at the age of two years; and Margaret E., the wife of A. F. Whittenburg, of Elm Springs, Arkansas.

James R. Campbell of this review pursued his education at Greasy Rock Academy in. Sneedville, Tennessee, and supplemented his Mr. Campbell is a member of Mystic Lodge, No. 12, K. P., also of Camp No. 70, W. O. W. at Collinsville. He is a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, South, and he has al- ways been an active working Democrat. In the profession which he has chosen as a life work he has made a creditable name, advanc- thorough study of legal principles and his cor- rectness in their application to the points in litigation. more specifically literary education by profes- sional training in Lebanon College Law School at Lebanon, Tennessee. He followed farming and teaching until April, 1890, when he en- gaged in the regular practice of law at Dayton, Tennessee, and has since devoted his time and energies to professional service. He came · ing through individual merit, owing to his to Texas in 1892, first locating in Greer coun- ty, whence he afterward removed to McClel- lan county and in January, 1899, he came to Grayson county. He engaged in the practice of law at Collinsville until October, 1903, when he came to Sherman, and at the general election in 1904 was chosen justice of the peace.

Mr. Campbell's business career, however, was interrupted by active service during the Civil war. He enlisted as a member of Com- pany E, Sixty-third Tennessee Regiment in 1863, was wounded at the battle of Chicka-

mauga and was captured by the Union forces. Later he was paroled and returned to his home.

ty, Tennessee. She died February 3, 1899, in McClellan county, Texas, and on the 4th of July, 1899, Mr. Campbell was married to Miss Nicie Clouse at Rhea's Mills, Washington county, Arkansas. He has had thirteen chil- dren, of whom ten are living. Tennessee O., who was born in June, 1866, was married and resides at Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Robert A. is also married and makes his home at Eu- reka Springs. Thomas W. P. and Margaret Alice are also living at Eureka Springs. James Edgar, who was a soldier in the Spanish Amer- ican war, is now deceased. Elbert J. K. and Benjamin E. are both married and live at Eu- reka Springs. Belinda Viola died in infancy. Freddie W. is a resident of Eureka Springs. Claude I. and G. A. are at home. Janie Jewel is deceased. Silas Hare is an infant born of the last marriage.

HAMP P. ABNEY, an attorney and coun- sel at law at Sherman, was born in Angelina county, Texas, on the 3rd of February, 1869, his parents being Paul C. and Margaret E. (Fullerton) Abney, both of whom are natives of Mississippi. The father was a soldier in the Confederate army, serving about three years. In his business relations he was a

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

planter and was quite successful in the manage- ment of his property. For twelve years he served as tax assessor and tax collector in An- gelina county and was regarded as a public- spirited citizen of his community, always loyal to its best interests and a co-operant factor in its development. He died May 23, 1894, at the age of sixty-five years and is still survived by his widow, who is now living on her farm in Brown county, Texas, at the age of seventy- three years. In their family were eight sons and three daughters, who attained years of ma- turity, while Nathaniel died at the age of five years and Cory C., the youngest of the family, died in Whitesboro, in 1898, at the age of twen- ty-six years. The surviving members of the family are: James A., a physician and surgeon of Brownwood, Texas; William Albert, who is engaged in merchandising at Lufkin, Angelina county, Texas; George M., a physician and surgeon of Franklin, Robertson county, Texas; Frank P., a merchant of Winchell, Brown coun- ty, Texas ; Peery C. and John E., who are mem- bers of the firm doing business under the name of the Abney-Marshall Company at Whites- boro; Mrs. Sarah McMullen, the wife of E. H. F. McMullen, a merchant at Lufkin, Texas; Addie, the wife of A. R. Moore, who is engaged in the real estate business in Houston ; Emma, the wife of Rev. V. A. Godbey, pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal church, South, at Beaumont, Texas.

Hamp P. Abney was provided with excellent educational privileges, supplementing his earli- er studies by a course in Southwestern Uni- versity at Georgetown, Texas. He studied law at Rusk, this state, and was there admitted to practice in 1891. Opening an office there he remained in Rusk until 1895, when he removed to Whitesboro, Grayson county, and has since been a member of the Grayson county bar. He took up his abode in Sher- man in 1901 and he has attained prominence in his profession, giving special attention to civil practice. He is very careful and thorough in the preparation of his cases and his devotion to his clients' interests is proverbial.

While living in Whitesboro Mr. Abney was

married to Miss Jeannette Marshall, a daugh- ter of W. H. Marshall of the Abney-Marshall Company mentioned above. She was educated in Southwestern University and North Texas Female College at Sherman and is a lady of superior culture and natural refinement, who presides with gracious hospitality over her attractive home. Two children grace this marriage: Evelyn, aged seven years; and Hamp P., who is now in his second year. Mr. Abney is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Sherman Commercial Club. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church and they occupy an enviable position in social circles. Politically a stal- wart Democrat, he is now serving as a mem- ber of the city council from the fifth ward and is deeply interested in the welfare and prog- ress of his adopted city, giving hearty and help- ful co-operation to many movements that are of direct benefit to Sherman.

JAMES H. BOONE, owner of Washington Park, at El Paso, and at one time sheriff of the county, is a native of North Carolina, born in Raleigh, in 1859. His parents were Ben Tur- ner and Annie (Bennyfield) Boone, and the former was connected with the family to which Daniel Boone, the noted hunter and explorer, belonged.

When James H. Boone was but twelve years of age he left home and came to Texas, start- ing out thus early upon an independent ven- ture. He has since made his own way in the world and whatever success he has achieved or position he has occupied is due to his untir- ing efforts and strength of character. He located first at San Antonio and soon drifted into the cattle business as a cowboy. This gave to him that ruggedness and familiarity with western life which later made him an ideal officer in western Texas, when personal bravery and undaunted spirit were required of the officers in that section of the state. In 1884 he came to El Paso and was soon after- ward appointed government inspector, while

JAMES H. BOONE

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

a short time later he was made captain of the river guard, a federal function, the purpose of which was the guarding of the frontier along the Rio Grande river against smugglers of dutiable goods and other lawbreakers. He was on constant duty as captain of this guard for ten years and on the expiration of that decade was chosen sheriff of El Paso county, in which position he rendered capable and efficient service for more than eight years, resigning from the office on the Ist of July, 1905. During that period he successfully coped with the western law-breaking element characteristic of a western mining and cattle country. His last official act of importance was the suppression of public gambling in El Paso in the early part of 1905, thus putting an end to an "industry" that had long flourished in El Paso and one that had brought to the city much unenviable notoriety. The office of sheriff of El Paso county is one of the most important in the southwest, this county being the largest in the entire United States and re- quiring a strong experience and force in its control. The political interests of the county largely hinge upon the office of the sheriff and Mr. Boone made a splendid reputation as a fearless and faithful officer and his course re- flected credit upon his 'constituents and the law-abiding element of the west.

Mr. Boone has long figured prominently in political circles and for about ten years was the Democratic campaign manager in El Paso county. It is largely through his skillful force in this line that the party won its many suc- cesses in which regard he displayed excellent managerial ability and a thorough understand- ing of the working forces of his party so that he was enabled to control its movements in a manner to bring about the desired results.

Since his retirement from the office of sheriff -which he left with the confidence and good will of all-he has been devoting his entire time to the improvement and promotion of Washington Park, a noted suburban resort, situated two and a half miles east of the busi- ness center of El Paso and at the terminus of the Washington Park car line. This is now a beautiful place, being both a general summer

and winter amusement resort, containing a theater, gardens, athletic grounds, one of the finest race tracks in the west, a pleasure lake and other attractions. Mr. Boone has a beauti- ful residence at Washington Park and his. private grounds have been greatly improved and beautified through the judicious expendi- ture of much money in irrigating for fruits, flowers, shrubs and trees. In fact he has de- veloped here one of the prettiest and most comfortable homes in the southwest. A plen- tiful supply of water is pumped from two bored wells by electro dynamo and the entire place, including the park and private grounds, covers seventy acres.

Mr. Boone was married to Miss Lillian Mabus, a member of an old Texas family, and they occupy an enviable social position here.

. EDWARD HENRY BRAINARD, of Cana- dian, Hemphill county, is one of the cattlemen and ranchers of the Texas Panhandle to whom success has come in almost lavish amount and has made him one of the foremost men of his section in material affairs and financial substan- tiality. Mr. Brainard began his career with practically nothing, except that he was indus- trious, rugged, ready to take advantage of what- ever opportunity should offer and from humble beginnings less than twenty-five years ago, much of which subsequent time was spent in the em- ployment of others, he has attained a command- ing position among the extensive and prosper- ous ranchers of northwest Texas.

-He was born in Massachusetts on July 4, 1860, but in infancy was taken by his parents to Orange county, New York, where he was reared. He was a son of Peter H. and Eliza Brainard, and his mother died when he was a child. His father, a native of Ireland and a tan- ner by trade, lived in Massachusetts and New York, and in 1880 came out west and is now liv- ing with his son in Canadian, being retired from active pursuits.

At the age of nineteen Mr. Brainard went west and has been identified with the cattle business ever since. In Colorado he did all kinds of work connected with ranch life, such as cooking, herd- ing horses, punching cows, etc. In the spring

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

of 1882 he came down into the Texas Pan- handle, in the very early days of that region, and located in Hemphill county, which has been the principal scene of his operations ever since. For a time he did about the same kind of work in the Panhandle that he had been doing in Colorado, and for twelve years he was in the employ of the Cresswell Land and Cattle Com- pany, during the last eight years of which time he was foreman for the company, which was one of the largest cattle ranching corporations of the time. When he left the service of this com- pany he had accumulated a considerable bunch of cattle, and since about 1895 he has been ranching on his own account, with constantly in- creasing success. That he has made good use of his time and opportunities and his business ability is evident from the fact that he now owns twenty-three thousand acres with enough more leased to make forty thousand acres under fence. This land is in two ranches, one in the corner of Hemphill and Lipscomb counties and the other in the corner of Lipscomb and Hutchin- son counties.

Mr. Brainard is not only prominent as a cat- tleman but also as a citizen, and he has shown great interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare of this part of the state. He is one of the trustees of the public school system of Canadian, and is secretary of the Panhandle Cattle Raisers' Association.

Mr. Brainard was married in Orange county, New York, to Miss Kitty Fullerton, a member of one of the old and prominent families of that part of New York state.

JOSEPH JOPLIN HOLT, as' president and founder of the Amarillo Sash and Door Com- pany, has through this enterprise as well as by numerous other means wrought untold benefit to the industrial and commercial prosperity of Amarillo. A man of almost unlimited business resourcefulness and courage, of well balanced judgment and mature experience, he has natur- ally been very successful, and besides bringing prosperity to himself his undertakings have also been on such a broad and useful basis as to effect much for the material welfare of every com- munity with which he has been identified.

Born at Cameron, Milam county, Texas, in 1865, Mr. Holt is identified, through his parents, Captain John O. and Fannie (Turnham) Holt, with much important Texas as well as ancestral history. Several generations of the paternal ancestry have resided in this country, his pater- nal great-grandfather, a native of Ireland, and his paternal great-grandmother, a native of Hol- land, having both come to America and settled in North Carolina many years ago.

Captain John O. Holt was born at Raleigh, North Carolina, a member of a large family of brothers who were pioneers in the building of cotton mills in the south, especially at Haw River, North Carolina, where. several of the captain's brothers still live, being the most prominent cotton mill operators in that part of the country and are wealthy and influential men. Captain Holt came out to Texas in 1837, not long after the winning of independence had been achieved. He located in Milam county, and, be- ing a man of great enterprise and push, he soon became identified in a foremost way with the larger interests of the young republic. He was a pioneer in the cattle industry, and in his later years devoted almost all his time and energies to the business, in which he gained a large suc- cess. He had large landed and cattle interests in Milam, Robertson and McLennan counties, and later, going further west, at Midland, this state, which is the center of one of the most im- portant cattle regions of Texas. Captain Holt or- ganized a company and fought valiantly for the Confederate cause in the Civil war, and the rec- ord of the company he commanded is replete with stirring deeds and acts of bravery. Follow- ing the war his energetic spirit was constantly harrassed by ill health, and for several years he was compelled to devote a great deal of his time to health seeking, and it was while thus re- cuperating at Carlsbad, New Mexico, that his death occurred, in 1902. Several of his sons and daughters are living, and two sons, O., B. Holt, of Midland, and J. R. Holt, of Carlsbad, New Mexico, are prominent in the cattle business.

Mrs. Fannie (Turnham) Holt, the mother, was born in Milam county, Texas, in 1834, and is at this writing one of the oldest if not the oldest native daughter of the state. Her life-

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time covers an eventful period of history. She was born when Texas was still a part of Mexico, was two years old when independence was achieved, as a young girl lived under the flag of the Republic, grew to womanhood under the stars and stripes, was then a citizen of the Con- federacy, and for the past forty years has been under the flag of the Union. She now makes her home at Midland, Texas, honored and re- vered by family and friends. Her father came to Texas from near St. Louis, Missouri. Two of her brothers were soldiers under General Sam Houston when the little army of patriots cap- tured General Santa Anna at San Jacinto in 1836. Her brothers, as well as Captain Holt, were engaged in several of the early Indian wars of Texas. She also bears the distinction of be- ing a cousin of the late ex-Governor Ross.

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A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume I, Part 107

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