A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume I, Part 81

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 81

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BENJAMIN F. JENKINS, city assessor and collector of El Paso, was born in the historic town of Mansfield, Louisiana, March 19, 1857. His parents, Benjamin Francis and Mary Frances (Hewitt) Jenkins, were natives of Vir- ginia and became early residents of Louisiana, settling in the vicinity of Mansfield, where the father was known for many years as a promi- nent and wealthy planter and merchant. The old

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Jenkins plantation is still in possession of the family and the father died in April, 1905, in Mansfield. Mr. Jenkins of this review has two brothers, Charles Edward and John, who are prominent in business circles in Louisiana, the former being a merchant and banker of Mans- field, while the latter is a merchant at Shreve- port.

Benjamin F. Jenkins was reared and educated at Mansfield and in 1886 came from that town to El Paso, where he has since made his home. Here he engaged in the real estate business in connection with W. E. Kneeland, who died in 1892. After several years' connection with real estate operations here Mr. Jenkins entered the El Paso National Bank, holding a position there- with for several years and subsequently was connected with the United States customs serv- ice in this city under Captain Charles Davis, who was a collector of the port for five years. In April, 1901, he was elected city assessor and collector, was re-elected in 1903 and again in April, 1905, so that he is now serving for the third term. He is a most competent and effi- cient officer as is indicated by the suffrage of the people who have three times called him to his present position. His administration of the affairs of the office is business-like and in the discharge of his duties he gives the same spirit of promptness and devotion which have char- acterized him in the management of his private business interests. At the present time Mr. Jen- kins is a prominent candidate for the office of sheriff of El Paso county.

In El Paso in 1892 Mr. Jenkins was united in marriage to Miss Kie Kneeland, a daughter of W. E. Kneeland, who was a pioneer business man of El Paso, having come here prior to the advent of the railroads. Previous to this time he had been a resident of Fort Worth and built one of the first frame houses in that city. He was associated with many of the well known, old-time residents of that place and he had a wide and favorable acquaintance throughout Western Texas, where his efforts proved a ma- terial and tangible factor in the progress and up- building of this portion of the state. His wife,

who bore the maiden name of Eva Ochiltree, is now living with one of her daughters in Mex- ico. She is a daughter of Judge W. B. Ochil- tree, deceased, and is a sister of the noted Tom Ochiltree, who has also passed away. This cel- ebrated family was prominent in the history of Nacogdoches at an early day and her brother, Tom Ochiltree, achieved fame not only in Texas but in connection with national affairs and his history is a familiar one to the residents of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins have an in- teresting family of four children, Walter Ed- ward, Mary Frances, Benjamin Francis and Kneeland. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity, to the Woodmen of the World and to the Elks lodge, and is a popular and valuable representative of these different organizations.

MAJOR GEORGE C. WIMBERLY, city engineer of El Paso, is a native of Georgia, his birth having occurred in Richmond county about eleven miles from the city of Augusta. His parents were Richard and Sarah D. (Kent) Wimberly. The father spent his entire life in Richmond and Burke counties, where he died in 1867. He was a prominent planter with exten- sive and profitable business interests. His wife, also a native of that state, likewise passed away in Georgia.

Major Wimberly received a good education with special preparation for the profession of civil engineering. Much of his study was pur- sued in Waynesboro, Georgia, and later he was graduated from Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1871.

The year 1886 witnessed the arrival of Major Wimberly in Texas and he located first at Fort Davis in what is now Jeff Davis county, West- ern Texas, then all a new country in which the seeds of civilization had scarcely been planted. For a year he remained there and then came to El Paso, being connected with the engineering corps of the Mexican Northern Railroad then in process of building. To that work he gave his time and attention until the latter part of 1890. Returning from Mexico he entered the

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office of John L. Campbell, then city engineer of El Paso, in the capacity of assistant city engineer, and in 1894 he was elected city en- gineer, succeeding Mr. Campbell and by re-elec- tion has been continued in the office to the pres- ent time, covering a period of eleven consecutive years. When he took charge of the office there were only about three miles of sewers in the city and now there are forty-five, about forty miles of main sewers having been con- structed under his administration and guidance, while other public works have advanced in a corresponding ratio at the same time. At this writing, in October, 1905, bonds to the value of one hundred and seventy-five thousand dol- lars have just been voted for street paving. Major Wimberly is practical, progressive and enterprising in all that he does, and is a popular and efficient officer whose labors in behalf of El Paso have been extremely beneficial and far- reaching and have won for him commendation and high encomiums from the majority of his fellow townsmen.

Major Wimberly was married to Miss Frances Caruthers, daughter of Judge William E. Ca- ruthers, of Jackson, Tennessee, December II, 1894. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow and also has membership relations with the Woodmen of the World, the Elks and the Red Men. He has gained a wide and favorable acquaintance since coming to Texas, and his business inter- ests, while proving a good source of income to himself, have also been of a character that has benefited the community at large.

JAMES A. SMITH, president and manager of the El Paso Dairy Company, has figured prominently in business circles in this city for a number of years and is also recognized as a Republican leader here. His capability, laud- able ambition and strong determination have gained him prominence in both lines and his value as a citizen is widely acknowledged. A native of Allegany county, New York, he is a son of Asahel and Susanna Smith. The mother died in Wisconsin many years ago, but the father spent his last days in El Paso, whither

he came in 1897, his death occurring here in Į900.

. When James A. Smith was two and a half years old his parents removed from the Empire state to Wisconsin, and about 1860 the father took his family to DeKalb county, Missouri, where the boyhood days of James A. Smith were largely passed. At the time of the Civil war the father entered the Union army and served throughout the period of hostilities with the Thirteenth Missouri Regiment. The son was reared to farm work and also became con- nected in early youth with a sawmill industry, his father owning the mill. His educational facilities were somewhat meager because of the condition of the schools at that period, but he made the most of his opportunities and through self-imposed tasks of study he also added largely to his knowledge, becoming a well informed man. In early manhood he removed from Missouri to Colorado, where he spent several years, and in 1884 he came to El Paso, where he organized the wholesale produce firm of Smith & Thompson, the predecessors of the present firm of D. M. Payne & Company.

James A. Smith retired from the firm in 1890 and was appointed postmaster by President Harrison, serving for a term of four years. In 1891 he purchased an interest in the El Paso Herald and became the editor and business man- ager for the company publishing that paper. Under his editorship and management the Herald at once took on new life and soon be- came, as it has since continued to be, a leading representative of metropolitan journalism in the southwest. It is a very enterprising and aggres- sive paper, constantly working for the interests of El Paso, and has been a potent force in bringing about a better and cleaner local gov- ernment and also in securing those measures that work for the city's improvement. It was for several years a most active element in the agitation for the suppression of public gambling in El Paso, and these efforts resulted success- fully in the early months of 1905, when that evil was practically suppressed in the city. Mr. Smith remained at the head of the Herald Com-

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pany until 1899 and is still a director and stock- holder.

About 1892 Mr. Smith embarked in the dairy business in a small way and in 1897 his interests were consolidated with those of the firm of Mc- Cutcheon, Payne & Company and the El Paso Dairy Company was incorporated, Mr. Smith becoming the president and general manager of the business. Since 1899, when he retired from the active management of the Herald, he has devoted his undivided time to the upbuilding of the dairy enterprise with the result that it is now the largest dairy in the southwest and the largest one in the entire country that is concentrated at one point. The dairy proper is located in Rand's Grove at the foot of Second street in the southeastern limits of the city, while a large ranch is maintained eight miles below the city in the valley. Usually about four hundred cows are kept at the dairy, while about three hundred young cattle are on pasturage at the ranch. These are all blooded stock of the Holstein, Jersey and Durham breeds. An idea of the magnitude of this business may be gained from the fact that the feed bill averages one hundred dollars per day, while nearly as much more is paid for salaries, labor and other ex- penses. The sales are of such magnitude that the business is highly successful and the com- pany earns a handsome revenue. The machin- ery, equipments and appurtenances of all kinds are of the best and most modern and the san- itary idea is carried out to perfection in all de- partments. Mr. Smith is also a director of the El Paso Commercial Company. His dairy business, however, is his chief interest at the present time and is one of the most important enterprises of El Paso, furnishing a splendid market for farmers of the locality and thus prov- ing of value to the community as well as to the individual stockholders.

Mr. Smith has been a most prominent local figure in Republican politics for several years. He was the candidate of that party for mayor at the spring election of 1905 and although the strength of the opposition was too great to hope for Republican successes, he received the en-

dorsement of many of the best citizens of El Paso who recognize his genuine worth. He served as postmaster for four years under Presi- dent Harrison and was a delegate to the Re- publican national convention held at Chicago from the sixteenth Texas district and ex-alter- nate delegate from the state at large to the Phila- delphia national convention, while at this writing he is chairman of the twenty-fifth senatorial dis- trict of the state and a member of the state Republican committee. Mr. Smith was also president of the Chamber of Commerce for a year and has contributed in large measure to local progress and improvement. He has been an active figure in promoting the great interna- tional dam near El Paso and was one of the three commissioners appointed by the Chamber of Commerce to go to Washington and interest national legislation for this enterprise, in which work he was successful. He is a prominent Mason, having attained the Knight Templar and Thirty-second degrees, and he is also a member of the Elks and the El Paso Quien Sabe Club.

Mr. Smith was first married to Miss Eva Hendricks, now deceased, of Illinois, and to them were born two children: Mrs. Katie E. Franklin, the wife of Captain Thomas Franklin, treasurer of the military academy at West Point; and Mrs. Lillie G. Howard, wife of the city editor of the El Paso Times. Mr. Smith's pres- ent wife, to whom he was married at Cleburne, Texas, was Alice Kendrick of that city and they have a son, Ray K. Smith. Throughout his entire life Mr. Smith has been very practical and this is one of the strong elements of his successful career. He recognizes and utilizes opportunities and so uses the means at hand at all times as to bring about the best results at- tainable.

JAMES G. COFFEE. At an early day in the development of western Cooke county, James G. Coffee became one of its residents and through a long period has been numbered among the prominent stock farmers of this sec- tion of the state. He is a native of North Caro-

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

lina, his birth having occurred in Alexander county on the 30th of January, 1852. His par- ents were Calvin and Cerena (White) Coffee, both of whom were born and reared in North Carolina and there they remained until called to their final rest. The paternal grandfather, Thomas Coffee, was a native of the same state and was of English lineage. The progenitors of the family in America came to the new world at an early day and settled in North Carolina, where the representatives of the name have largely devoted their attention to the tilling of the soil. Thomas Coffee, the grandfather, had no aspiration for public office, preferring to give his attention to his agricultural interests. His children were five in number: Calvin, Rufus, Larkin, Thomas and John.

Of this family, Calvin, the eldest, is the father of James G. Coffee and his childhood and youth were passed in North Carolina, after which he wedded Miss Cerena White, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Lagle) White, who were likewise . natives of North Carolina, where they spent their entire lives. They had the following children : Cerena, who became Mrs. Coffee; Henry; James; Ephraim; Betsey, the wife of George Chapman; Anna, the wife of Alexander Pennell; Sealy, the wife of W. Pennell, and Anna, the wife of William Pennell. Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Coffee located on a farm, where they reared the family. He always gave his attention to agricul- tural pursuits and was a consistent and worthy member of the Missionary Baptist church. In politics he was a strong Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Coffee had six children: William T., a farmer of North Carolina; James G .; Thomas F., who died in the Old North state; Henry M. and George M., who are living in Oklahoma, and Mila E., who became the wife of W. Julian and died leaving one child.

James G. Coffee was born and reared 'in North Carolina, spending his youth in his par- ents' home. He came to Texas in 1873 and was employed as a farm hand in Grayson county for three years. In January, 1876, he married and in the fall of the same year he came to the western part of Cooke county, establishing his

home near his present place of residence. He was the second settler in the neighborhood, having been preceded by one year by Samuel R. Trues- dale. He purchased a small tract of land, settled thereon and began the further cultivation of the property, which at that time was but partially im- proved. He later sold out and then invested in three hundred and forty acres of land where he now resides. There was a small house upon the place and six acres were under cultivation. As the' years went by he carried on the work of development and soon the entire place was fenced. He has erected a commodious and comfortable frame residence, has planted an orchard, has installed a windmill and water plant and has built outhouses for the shelter of grain and stock. The soil is rich and productive and everything about his place is neat and attractive in appearance. His home is surrounded by for- est trees and to the north lie the forests of Mountain Creek, while to the south are rich farm lands and his home commands an excel- lent view of the surrounding country. His house and mill can be seen for long distances and his place forms one of the most attractive features in the landscape. He carries on general agri- cultural pursuits, having one hundred and fif- teen acres under the plow and devoted to vari- ous crops. He is also successful in his stock dealing and although he came to Cooke county with limited means he is now in very comfort- able financial circumstances and as the archi- tect of his own fortunes has builded well.

Mr. Coffee was married in 1876 to Miss Rose B. Akers, who was born in Floyd county, Indi- ana, August 8, 1854, her parents being Joseph W. and Frances (McCutchen) Akers, both of whom were residents of that state, where they were married. Her father was a son of Martin and Mary (Clark) Akers, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Virginia. Their children were: John, Druly, Joshua, James, Joseph, Martin and Vina.

Martin Akers was reared in Kentucky and at the time of his marriage settled upon a farm in Indiana, which he secured through a land warrant granted him in recognition of his

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service in the Black Hawk war. He filled some local offices and was a man of more than ordi- nary prominence in his community. He became a leading and prosperous farmer of his adopted state, was recognized as one of the stalwart sup- porters of the Democracy there and was a de- voted member of the Primitive Baptist church. His genuine worth gained him the respect and confidence of all with whom he was associated. and his death, which occurred upon the Indiana homestead, was deeply deplored by all who knew him. His wife was a worthy Methodist. Her father, John Clark, was a prominent farmer and well known resident of Indiana, who filled the office of constable for many years and was likewise justice of the peace and was also a con- sistent member of the Methodist church. Their children were: Mary, who became Mrs. Akers; Betsey; Jane; Nancy; Phebe; Martha; John; James, and William.

In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Akers were seven children: Thomas, James, Joseph W., John, Elizabeth, Nancy and Martha. Of this number James, John and Joseph all served as defenders of the Union cause in the Civil war.

Joseph W. Akers was reared in Indiana upon the old home farm and in his youth learned the cooper's trade, but after his marriage resumed farming operations, which he followed in con- nection with coopering. He did the latter work in the winter seasons, while in the summer months he was busy in the fields and he thus continued until 1864, when he enlisted in the Fifty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. The regiment at once went to the front and he was in active service throughout the remainder of the war, participating in the celebrated march to the sea under General Sherman. He was also in the Carolina campaign and continued with the army until the close of hostilities, dur- ing which time he saw much active service and is now granted a small pension in recognition of the aid which he rendered to the government. He was at Raleigh, North Carolina, at the time of General Lee's surrender. He then returned home and for some time suffered greatly from rheumatism because of the exposure that he

had undergone while at the front. His physi- cians advised him to go south as the only remedy which would prove beneficial and in 1875 he removed his family to Texas, first locat- ing in Grayson county, where he raised a crop. He then removed to the western part of Cooke county, where he purchased a farm which he operated for a number of years and then sold out, later taking up his abode in Saint Jo. Here he bought a home which he occupied until 1905, when he disposed of the property, and now he and his wife reside with their daughter and son- in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Coffee. He was born February 5, 1830, and was married to Miss Frances McCutchen, a native of Indiana and a daughter of Fulton and Rosa (Hay) Mc- Cutchen. Her father was a farmer, horticul- turist and gardener, devoting his life to those pursuits. Both he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church and their children were: James, Martha, William, Theodore, John, Aaron, Robert, Joseph, Mary, Eliza, Rosa H., Emily and Mrs. Frances Akers. To Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W. Akers were born five children: Rose B., now the wife of our subject; Enoch E., a contractor of Kansas; John, who died at the age of nineteen years; Lafayette, a farmer of the Indian Territory, and Frances A., the wife of W. F. Davis, of Saint Jo. Both Mr. and Mrs. Akers belong to the Presbyterian church.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Coffee has been blessed with four interesting children: Eliza- beth A., the wife of F. Eason; Mary J., the wife of A. M. Eason; Enoch F., who is conducting a cotton yard at Saint Jo, and Maggie M., at home. The parents and all of the children are members of the Missionary Baptist church and Mr. Coffee belongs to the Farmers' Union.

JUDGE JOSEPH U. SWEENEY. The life record of Judge Sweeney stands in contradis- tinction to the old adage that a prophet is never without honor save in his own country, for in the state of his nativity Judge Sweeney has made substantial and gratifying advancement in a profession where success depends upon individual merit, so directing his efforts as to

CHARLES M. WILSON

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win signal recognition of his ability, as is evi- denced by the fact of his election to the bench.

Judge Sweeney was born in San Antonio, Texas, in 1875, and since 1879 has been a resi- dent of El Paso, coming to this city with his father, Joseph Sweeney, who brought his family here and has since been a resident of the city. He is in fact one of its pioneer citizens.

Judge Sweeney was a student in the public schools of El Paso in his early youth and also attended the Catholic University at Austin, Texas. His literary education being completed .he entered upon his law study in the office and under the direction of Judge Peyton F. Edwards and later was in the offices of M. W. Stanton and W. W. Turney, all leading attorneys of this city. In February, 1896, he was admitted to the bar and immediately afterward entered upon the practice of law. Soon a liberal patronage was accorded him that constantly increased and con- nected him with the important litigation of the district until his elevation to the bench in No- vember, 1902, when he was elected county judge. In 1904 he was again elected and is now filling the office. He is spoken of as an excep- tionally capable and worthy young man, who from humble circumstances has worked his way upward through his own efforts, his strong men- tality, his analytical mind and his logical deduc- tions well equipping him for the responsibilities of a profession to which property, life and lib- erty must look for protection.

Judge Sweeney is captain of the local militia company at El Paso and is thus well known in military circles. He is likewise a member of the Elks and in a general way is identified with the best social and business interests of El Paso.

CHARLES M. WILSON. Although in more recent years Texas has become imbued with business activity in every line, for a long period the state found its chief source of living in its stock-raising interests and today its broad prai- ries and plains still offer splendid opportnuity to the cattle raiser. A representative of this class of business men is found in Charles M. Wilson of El Paso. He was born in Girard

county, Kentucky, a son of Samuel and Eliza- beth Wilson, the former a native of North Car- olina and the latter of Tennessee. In the early boyhood of their son Charles they removed to Salem, Illinois, where they spent their remain- ing days.

Mr. Wilson of this review was reared upon a farm near Salem and acquired his education in the public schools there. Immediately after the breaking out of the Civil war he responded to the call for troops, for he had watched the progress of events in the south, had noted the threatening attitude of certain southern states and had resolved that if a blow was struck he would stand by the Union and fight manfully in its defense. He enlisted April 7, 1861, becom- ing a member of Company G, Twenty-second Illinois Infantry, commanded by Colonel Dougherty, of Carlisle, Illinois. The regiment went to Bird's Point, Missouri, thence to Island No. 10 and participated in the battle there under General Grant. With his command they pro- ceeded to Fort Donelson and afterward took part in the battle of Shiloh, subsequent to which time Mr. Wilson was engaged in the battles of Corinth, Big Springs and Florence, Alabama. He then went to Nashville, Tennessee, where the army encamped during the winter of 1862-3 and in the spring of the latter year he went to Murfreesboro with his regiment and took part in the fierce engagement there known in the south as the battle of Stone River. Later he was a participant in the engagements at Tula- homa, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Chattanooga, the siege and battle of Atlanta and afterward went with General Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea, being mustered out at Springfield as sergeant of his company on the 5th of July, 1865. He was a brave and loyal soldier, never faltering in the performance of any duty or in his allegiance to the old flag.

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A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume I, Part 81

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