A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume I, Part 78

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 78

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

STEPHEN T. TURNER, M. D., physician and surgeon at El Paso, is a native son of Mis- sissippi, his birth having occurred in Oktibbeha county, June 17, 1856. Coming to Texas at the age of sixteen years he located at Sulphur Springs, where he studied medicine, his pre- ceptors being Drs. Beck and Beckton, now both deceased but well known practitioners of their day. Following this Dr. Turner received thor- ough school training and was graduated from the medical department of the University of Louisville in 1882, subsequent to which time he did post-graduate work in the Polyclinic of New York city in 1888 and again in 1895. He like- wise pursued a post-graduate course in the med- ical department of Cornell University and in the Post-Graduate School of New Work city in 1902. Locating for practice in Lamar and Red

River counties, he continued to follow his profes- sion in Northern Texas until his removal west- ward to Coleman, Texas, where he remained until he settled in Marfa, this state. In 1889 he came to El Paso, where he has since made his home and in the enjoyment of a large practice has spent his days here, being accorded a fore- most position in a profession where advancement and success depend entirely upon individual merit. He is, moreover, division surgeon for the Galveston, Houston & San Antonio Railway Company and the Southern Pacific Railway and is examining physician for about a dozen of the leading insurance companies. He likewise be- longs to the United States examining board of surgeons and is a member and president of the El Paso County Association, a member of the State Medical Association, of which he is ex- vice president and is present councillor of dis- trict No. I of the State Medical Association. He is also a delegate from the El Paso Medical Association to the State Medical Society, a mem- ber of the State Board of Medical Examiners, a member of the American Medical Association and therein is serving on the national auxiliary, congressional and legislative committee. More- over he holds membership with the International Association of Railway Surgeons, and in his identification with these different organizations he keeps in touch with the advanced thought of the profession and his knowledge is indicated in his scientific methods of practice and in the splendid results which follow his efforts.

Dr. Turner is, moreover, prominent in busi- ness life in El Paso, having made extensive and judicious investments in property and financial interests here. He is the owner of the Turner Building and other valuable real-estate in the business center of the city and is vice president of the Rio Grande Valley Banking & Trust Cont- pany and a stockholder in the W. T. Hixson Company, incorporated, dealers in jewelry.

Dr. Turner was married to Miss Anna Camp, of Georgia, and they occupy an enviable position in social circles in El Paso. Dr. Turner was formerly a member of the city council from the fourth ward and his interests in the welfare and

August Laube

465

HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

upbuilding of El Paso is that of a public-spirited and progressive citizen who realizes the possi- bilities for achievement and works untiringly for the desired end. Fidelity to principle in both private and professional circles has made him a foremost resident of the city of his adoption.

AUGUST GRUBE, one of the early settlers of the German colony at Muenster and a popular real estate and fine insurance agent and also agent of the Texas Land & Mortgage Company of Dallas, has been a most active and influential factor in the upbuilding of his village and section of the state. He is well known in community affairs and is serving as notary public and jus- tice of the peace at the present time. He was born in the province of Westphalia, Germany, September 3, 1863, and was reared to farm pur- suits. He acquired a good elementary education in German and French before leaving his native country. His parents were Henry and Elizabeth (Krei) Grube, both representatives of distin- guished old Catholic families of Westphalia, largely connected with the killing of the soil. Henry Grube was popular in hi- ommunity, was a man of good business ability and owned a farm and homestead, becoming one of the leading agriculturists of his community. He served his town as alderman for many years and his efforts in behalf of public progress were far- reaching and beneficial. Both he and his wife continued residents of the fatherland until called to their final rest, passing away upon the old homestead there. In their family were six chil- dren : Henry, who owns and occupies the old homestead in Germany; Barney, deceased ; Anna, the wife of B. Kortendick; Antone, of Dallas, Texas; William, who is yet living in Germany, and August.

The last named was reared to farm pursuits and remained under the parental roof until nine- teen years of age, when, thinking to enjoy better business opportunities in the new world, he emi- grated to America in January, 1881. Landing at New York, he made his way direct to Belton, Texas, where he joined an old acquaintance from Westphalia, Germany. Here he soon found em-

ployment as a farm hand, at which he was em- ployed for a short time. He could not speak the . English language in those early days. His friend from the old country, however, furnished him a team and he began hauling wood on contract, giving his attention to that work for some time. Making good wages, he saved most of his earn- ings until he had a sum sufficient to purchase a horse, saddle and outfit. He then went to the west and at Abilene, Texas, he found employ- ment on a ranch, soon after becoming a full- fledged cowboy, in which service he continued successfully until 1889. He had no German asso- ciates, and hearing nothing but the English tongue, he soon found that he could speak the English language almost as fluently as a native son of America. Hearing, however, of the Ger- man Catholic colony which was being established in Cooke county, he closed out his business in- terests in the west and with his horse, saddle and outfit he arrived at Muenster on the 8th of De- cember, 1889. Here he found a colony which spoke his own language, many coming from his own province in Germany, and found, too, the church in which he had been reared. He felt once more at home, and regarding no labor as difficult, he secured employment at anything that he could get to do. Working diligently and per- sistently until the following spring, he then pur- chased a prairie-breaking outfit with three or four yoke of steers and followed the breaking plow for the settlers for about seven months. He then bought a tract of land which he proceeded to im- prove, thus making a start in farming.

In 1891 Mr. Grube was married and he con- tinued successfully at his farm work until 1893, when he made a visit to his native land, which was the last time he saw his father and mother. In 1894 he again bade adieu to his friends and native country and returned to Texas. He then settled in Muenster, where he has since remained and here he began dealing in live stock and lands. He has handled much stock, including many fine horses and cattle. He also found lands for sale and purchasers who wanted property, for colon- ists were arriving and there was a demand for real estate. He established his own home upon.

466

HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

a tract of fine land, then assisted others in gain- ing homes. Many came to the community with limited capital, but he assisted them to make purchases on credit, and many have now paid for their property and have found improved farms. In this way he has done much in promoting the town of Muenster and in upbuilding the sur- rounding districts. In the meantime he has also given attention to his individual business inter- ests and has gained for himself a good property.

In 1894 Mr. Grube was elected justice of the peace for the district of Muenster and has been chosen to that office for the fifth term. He de- serves much credit for avoiding lawsuits by in- ducing the parties to settle their difficulties out of court. The discharge of his duties in public service has indeed been a credit to himself and satisfactory to all. In 1897 Mr. Grube accepted the agency of the Texas Land & Mortgage Com- pany, with C. E. Wellesley as manager for the company, and has contributed much to the busi- ness success of that corporation. A self-made man, he has been the architect and builder of his own fortune, and by strict attention to business, hard work and honorable dealing he has secured a good property and very desirable competence. Upon his place he has a commodious dwelling, a good barn and other outbuildings, and he is a well known resident of Muenster, residing on a sixty-acre tract of land. He also has much rented property and unoccupied land in the coun- try and he also has a fine pasturage upon which is a fine herd of Hereford cattle. He holds mort- gages and corporation stocks, and altogether his invested interests are represented by a large fig- ure. He has seen good opportunity to place his means in realty, and by embracing his possibili- ties in this direction has gained a very creditable success.

Muenster is the home of a prosperous German Catholic colony which was established by two brothers of the name of Fleusche. They were born and reared in the province of Westphalia, Germany, and on emigrating to America settled in Iowa, whence they came to Cooke county, in 1889, with a view of establishing a colony. They took the agency for twenty-two thousand acres

of raw land belonging to the firm of Gunter & Wellesley and immediately afterward they began writing to others and also advertising the prop- erty, and soon homeseekers were visiting the locality and the town of Muenster was platted, being named in honor of the principal city of Westphalia. German residents of Iowa, Illinois and other states came to Texas, and in 1890 a number of other families arrived. In the spring of that year they commenced the erection of a suitable house of worship and a good frame structure was built, while Father Blum held the first religious services here. Both the church and the colonists were progressive, but in 1891 the church was destroyed by a wind storm. Immedi- ately, however, it was replaced by the building that is now used as a schoolhouse, and church services were held therein until a more spacious church took its place. In 1895 was begun the erection of a handsome brick structure which is one of the best churches in Northern Texas. It is splendidly furnished and in connection there is a commodious and substantial parish house, a large, fine hall and two good school buildings used by the parish school and the public school. The church and the colony have made a phenom- enal record for advancement and the church now has one hundred and fifty-four families, there being in all about fourteen hundred members. The colony has increased rapidly, many of its representatives coming from Germany as well as from various states in the Union. The town of Muenster was platted in 1889 and in 1905 the population was eight hundred and fifty, having had a steady and substantial growth. It is a good trading town for produce, including grain, cotton and other commodities, for it is situated on the line of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad. There are three elevators, a cotton gin, two hotels, a blacksmith shop, an implement store, three general stores, two groceries, and a hardware store. There is also a bank and a large lumber yard, and the business in its various de- partments is flourishing.

Mr. Grube, who has been connected with the town almost from its beginning, has always been regarded as a representative and worthy citizen

467

HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

here. He was married to Miss Anna Wiesmann ing an overland trip through Texas with teams in 1891. She was born in the province of West- . with a party of about thirty-two, their destina- tion being Leadville, Colorado, at a point where rich mineral deposits had recently been discov- ered. After meeting with many dangers, hard- ships and difficulties, the party arrived at Las Vegas, New Mexico, where Mr. Sorenson met

phalia, Germany, in 1868 and has been a faithful' helpmate to her husband. Her parents were Henry and Anna (Holper) Wiesmann, repre- sentatives of honored old Catholic families of Westphalia, in which country they spent their entire lives. They had five children: Henry, ' Charles Wheelock, an architect, for whom he had who now owns and occupies the old homestead ; . formerly done some work in Texas. Upon Mr. Wheelock's solicitation Mr. Sorenson decided to remain in Las Vegas and work there, while the remainder of the party continued on to Lead- ville. Barney, who is living in Spokane, Washington ; Joseph and Theodore, who follow farming near Muenster; and Anna, now Mrs. Grube. The last named came to America in 1890 and joined her two brothers at Muenster. The following year she was married, and this union has been blessed with seven interesting children: Anna, August, Bernhart, Joseph, Theodore, Mary and Aloys, all at home. The parents and children are communicants of the Catholic church and Mr. Grube is connected with the Knights of Colum- bus.

JOHN SORENSON, identified with building operations in El Paso, where, as a contractor, he has been accorded a liberal patronage resulting in the construction of some of the finest and most substantial buildings of the city, is a native of Denmark, born December 17, 1852. He came to the United States in 1868, at the age of six- teen years, settling first in Warren county, Penn- sylvania, where he lived until 1872-the year of his arrival in Texas. He had learned the trade of a brick layer and he was employed in the vicinity of Dallas, which was then a small town. In the latter part of 1873 he went to San An- tonio and beginning at Harwood worked on the construction of the Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio Railroad, which was the only line in Texas on which the work of construction was not suspended on account of the financial panic of that year. Mr. Sorenson was thus engaged for about two years, after which he spent a brief period at Austin and later he returned to the railroad work, which claimed his time and energies until the line was extended to San An- tonio in 1877. Two years were there passed, af- ter which Mr. Sorenson started westward, mak-

The Santa Fe Railroad had not yet reached that town but was completed to Las Vegas on the 4th of July of that year, 1879. In those days Las Vegas was a typical western town filled with the' excitement incidental to the building of a new railroad, the opening of mines and the rule of a large element of lawless people who wished to make their living by dishonest methods. Mr. Sorenson worked for nearly a year in the vi- cinity of Las Vegas, after which he became con- nected with the work of building on the officers' quarters at Fort Stanton, a task that required about six months. He then met the man who had the contract for building Fort Bliss on the western edge of El Paso. This was in 1880, about a year before the railroad was completed to the city. He remained on the construction work of Fort Bliss until it was completed, and then turned his attention to the contract business in brick and stone. This has claimed his atten- tion continuously since and he has done the brick and stone-masonry work on a large number of El Paso buildings, beginning with the first brick buildings to be erected here in the early days. He has a partner, J. E. Morgan, under the firm style of Sorenson & Morgan. They have a brick yard for the manufacture of brick in the Cotton addition near the river in El Paso, also a brick manufacturing plant at Las Cruces, New Mexico, where they have been and are now put- ting up some substantial buildings in that grow- ing city.

Mr. Sorenson was married to Miss Alice Smith, who came to El Paso with her family

468

HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

from New Orleans. Six children have been born of this marriage. Mr. Sorenson belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is in sympathy with the teachings and tenets of those societies. Coming to America empty- handed but imbued with a desire to benefit his financial condition in the different business en- vironment of the new world, he has steadily worked his way upward and as opportunity has offered has broadened the scope of his labors until he is today a leading contractor of El Paso with a business which at once indicates his fidel- ity to the terms of a contract, his efficiency in his work and the confidence reposed in him by those who have employed his services.

DR. E. ALEXANDER, pioneer military sur- geon in charge of the Marine Hospital depart- ment at El Paso, was born in Germany near the Switzerland line, May 2, 1832, his parents being Major and Ida (Picard) Alexander. The father was a wine merchant and gave to his son excel- lent educational privileges. Dr. Alexander pur- sued his studies in Constance College and in the University of Munich and Vienna, and on the completion of a thorough course in medicine and surgery was graduated in 1854. He came to the United States about the time of the commence- ment of the war between the north and the south. He did not know the language of the people at that time, but soon afterward he enlisted in the federal army and was advanced rapidly to the position of medical officer. During the period of hostilities he served in different hospitals, be- ing located at various times in Washington, New York, Key West, at Forts Jackson and St. Philip, and also at Baton Rouge and Ship Island. He has remained continuously in the government service and in 1870 was transferred to Texas, being post surgeon successively at Fort Griffin, Fort Stockton and Fort Quitman. In 1874 he was located at Fort Bliss at El Paso, and has re- mained here in the federal service, with the ex- ception of the period from 1876 to 1888, he hav- ing resigned because of his wife's failing health. In the latter year, when El Paso was made a

quarantine station, he again entered the service. His official capacity is that of surgeon in charge of the public health and Marine Hospital ser- vice at the Port of El Paso under the surgeon general of the Marine Hospital at Washington.

Dr. Alexander is a member of the City and County Medical Associations of El Paso, the American Medical Association, the Public Health Association of the United States, Canada and Mexico, and the Association of Military Sur- geons of the United States who were in the ser- vice during the Civil war. He has for the greater portion of forty-four years been contin- uously in the federal service in connection with its health department and has continuously broadened his knowledge through research and investigation so that he is to-day a man of marked efficiency and comprehensive learning in the line of his chosen profession. He is more- over one of the greatly revered pioneers of El Paso and his mind is stored with an interesting fund of information about Western Texas, es- pecially in connection with its military life.

HON. WILLIAM W. BRIDGERS, engaged in the practice of law in El Paso, was born in Montgomery county, Texas, November 6, 1869, his parents being W. W. and Melissa C. (Tins- ley) Bridgers. The father, a native of Tennes- see, came to Texas in the year 1855, locating in Montgomery county, where he resided for two decades. About 1875 he removed to Austin and spent his remaining days in the state capital. Mrs. Bridgers, the mother of our subject, was born in Newberry district of South Carolina, and when a child came with her parents to Texas, the family home being established in Huntsville, where they were among the early settlers. She saw the first penitentiary of Texas at that place. The old Tinsley homestead is still standing near Huntsville-a mute reminder of the many changes that have occurred. James Tinsley, father of Mrs. Bridgers, was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, enlisting with the South Carolina troops, and his two brothers were also valiant defenders of the cause of liberty and were made the subject of an interesting historical

469

HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

sketch published in Godey's Lady's Book in 1854. They served throughout the war, taking prom- inent part therein and were present at the sur- render of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown. The Tinsleys were prominent in the early history of South Carolina and as the years passed repre- sentatives of the name aided in the substantial improvement of other sections of the country to which they removed, James Tinsley becoming an active factor in the development of Texas. His daughter, Mrs. Bridgers, long surviving her husband, lived for many years in El Paso and she passed away on the Ist of February, 1905, at an advanced age. Three sons of the family have become pioneer residents of El Paso, and Leigh Bridgers is yet a resident of this city, but Sam Bridgers is now living in Mexico.

William W. Bridgers was only about three years old when his parents removed to Austin and his youth was passed in that city and in El Paso, his education being acquired in the schools of both places. He came to El Paso in 1881 and is thus numbered among its pioneer residents, for it was in an embryonic stage at that period. Following the completion of his literary course Mr. Bridgers took up the study of law, was ad- mitted to the bar in 1889, and has since engaged in active practice with growing and gratifying success. Before his admission to the bar he served as justice of the peace for two years and for six consecutive years he was a member of the Texas legislature, serving in the twenty-sixth, twenty-seventh and twenty-eighth general as- semblies as the representative of the El Paso district. During the last session he was chair- man of the land committee, and in fact during his entire connection with the house he gave particular attention to the two most important interests of Western Texas-cattle and land. The latter involves the lease question, which is a most important one, largely affecting the wel- fare of this part of the state. Mr. Bridgers was also an important factor in legislation involving the quarantine line for cattle, a question which came up for settlement during his incumbency. Mr. Bridgers is now serving as assistant district attorney of the El Paso district and is a candidate

for the Democratic nomination for the office of 'district attorney subject to the election of No- vember, 1906. In his legislative career he has- been actuated by lofty purposes and a public- spirited devotion to the general good. He is greatly esteemed in the community where he has now resided for a quarter of a century, and he "has commanded the respect and confidence of the leading men of the state whom he has met in leg- islative halls and in political councils. At the bar he is an earnest and able advocate and is a wise and safe counsellor, having a wide and comprehensive knowledge of the principles of jurisprudence. He is correct in his application of the law to the questions in litigation, is force- ful in argument and logical in his deductions.

In June, 1895, he married Victoria Bradley, of Freestone county, Texas, of a pioneer family of Texas. They have one daughter, Sarah.

DR. MICHAEL P. SCHUSTER, a successful physician and surgeon of El Paso, who in his practice is making a specialty of the diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, and is president of the board of trustees of the Providence Hos- pital, is a native of Hungary. He acquired his medical education in the University of Vienna, from which he was graduated in 1889, after coming under the instruction of some of the most noted physicians and surgeons of the old world. In the year 1891 he crossed the Atlantic to the United States and has constantly won recogni- tion from the public for his professional skill. In 1894 he came to El Paso, where he has since made his home. He now limits his private prac- tice to diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, but he is also chief surgeon of the Consolidated Kansas City Smelting & Refining Company, which has an extensive plant here, employing over fifteen hundred men. and as the member of this department Dr. Schuster's practice is gen- eral. He is likewise the president of the Provi- dence Hospital Association, incorporated, at EI Paso, whose hospital is a splendidly equipped in- stitution for general medical and surgical prac- tice through its recent enlargement, now having a capacity of fifty beds. He belongs to the County

470

HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

State and American Medical Associations, and was president of the El Paso County Med- ical Society in 1905, which is one of the most noted organizations of this character in the southwest, having on its membership rolls the names of many eminent physicians.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume I, Part 78

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