A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume I, Part 97

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 97

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In Delta county, October 12, 1887, Dr. Gil- bert married Miss Ollie Morris, a native of Cooper, that county, and a daughter of G. W. Morris, an old resident of the state. Dr. and Mrs. Gilbert are parents of five children, three sons and two daughters, namely : Everett, now Mrs. Willis Buchannon, of Haskell, born Sep- tember 12, 1888; Robert Morris, December 25, 1890; Jessie Karl, January 28, 1893; George Yandell, May 27, 1896, and Virginia Sue, October 19, 1905.

ALFRED PORTER COLES, the extent and importance of whose business operations have made him one of the most prominent citi- zens of El Paso and of western Texas, is today the president of the American National Bank. He is also connected with the cattle industry, and his real estate operations have exceeded in volume those of any other man in the city. He was born on a farm in Wilson county, Ten- nessee, July 5, 1861, being a son of J. F. and Susan (Hunt) Coles. His preliminary educa- tion was acquired in the common schools, and he afterward pursued a preparatory course in Cumberland University at Lebanon, Tennes- see, after which he entered the Vanderbilt University, where he completed his education in the spring of 1885. Returning then to his native county he engaged in teaching school

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

there for about three years, after which he started for El Paso, Texas, in search of health, reaching his destination on the 22nd of April, 1888. Here he secured employment as a clerk in a grocery store, in which he continued for about a month. He next became engaged in taking stock subscriptions for the building of the White Oak Railroad, which at that time had been completed for a distance of only ten miles, and the enterprise had been then aban- doned. Mr. Coles afterward became interested in the real estate firm of Newman & Russell in 1889, was admitted to a partnership, and sub- sequently became sole proprietor by purchas- ing the interest of the other partners. He also acquired the business of another firm engaged in dealing in real estate and fire insurance, and was thus occupied until the late 'gos, when the firm of A. P. Coles & Brothers was established. Mr. Coles at one time handled nearly one-third of the real estate in El Paso, including three of the best subdivisions of the city, which have all been sold at the time of this writing. The most important real estate transaction with which he has been connected was the improve- ment and sale of the Franklin Heights addi- tion, Mr. Coles being secretary and agent of the company controlling this property. Indeed, this is the most important real estate undertak- ing in the history of El Paso, and during one year he handled property here to the value of one million dollars. The firm now handles more down-town property than any other in- dividual or company in the city, and Mr. Coles is himself the owner of a number of pieces of valuable business property, including the Coles Building, one of the finest in the city, while in other parts of the city he likewise has various realty holdings. He is thoroughly informed concerning the prices of property, its probable rise and depreciation, and has constantly watched the market, so that he has been en- abled to make judicious purchases and profit- able sales. In connection with his brothers, J. F. and O. C. Coles, and W. W Turney, he is extensively interested in the cattle industry,

and together they own a large ranch in El Paso county. On the Ist of January, 1905, the Amer- ican National Bank opened its doors for busi- ness with a capital of two hundred thousand dollars, and Alfred P. Coles was elected its president, and the bank now has about a mil- lion dollars in deposits.

On the 3rd of January, 1893, in El Paso, was celebrated the very happy marriage of Mr. Coles and Miss Nellye Bell, a native of Mont- gomery, Alabama, and a daughter of Mrs. L. M. Bell, a niece of Judge W. M. Pierson, one of . the pioneers of El Paso. Fraternally Mr. Coles is a Mason, having taken the degrees of the Scottish Rite and also of the Mystic Shrine. He was one of the organizers of the Toltec Club, its vice-president for two years and presi- dent for one year. He was among the first sons of Tennessee to come to this section of Texas and was one of the organizers of the Tennessee Society in El Paso. He has a firm faith in the future of the city, as is indicated by his extensive investments here. For almost eighteen years he has been numbered among its most prominent and progressive citizens and may well be termed one of the founders of modern El Paso, for he has been the pro- moter of many of its leading business enter- prises. His connection with any undertakings insures a prosperous outcome of the same, for it is his nature to carry forward to successful completion whatever he is associated with. He has earned for himself an enviable reputa- tion as a careful man of business and in his dealings is known for his prompt and honor- able methods, which have won him the de- served and unbounded confidence of his fellow men. With peculiar fitness for the lines of business which he has taken up, marked suc- cess has followed his efforts. He is distinc- tively a man of affairs and one who has wielded a wide influence and not only has he won pros- perity for himself but also has contributed to the city's growth and improvement, his labors being actuated by a spirit of direct and im- mediate serviceableness.

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

JOHN H. REDICK, deceased, who was numbered among the enterprising and success- ful farmers of Grayson county, was a native of Illinois, born in 1840 and a son of Cleon and Lucy (Harris) Redick, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of New York. In their family were seven children, of whom John H. Redick was the eldest. James Por- improved this property and devoted his fields to the raising of cotton and corn. In all of his work he was practical and systematic and his labors resulted in bringing to him well merited success.

ter married Estelle Ross and has one child. Bernice, who was born in Grayson county, now resides two and a half miles southwest of Denison and has been one of the most suc- cessful strawberry and blackberry growers in Grayson county during the past year. He also has a very fine orchard and has placed upon the market some of the best fruit produced in the south. He also raises Irish and sweet pota- toes, which he finds very profitable and he believes that no man living in Grayson county, in sandy land at least, need devote his attention to cotton, corn, or even small grain, but can make a much better living in the production of berries, fruit and vegetables. Mr. Redick is constantly improving his fruit in size, quality and flavor and has already produced strawber- ries that are as fine in flavor as those brought from the Ozarks in Missouri. Lucy Redick is the wife of John W. Ford and has three chil- dren, Olney, Glenar and Ada. The younger members of the Redick family are: J. Madi- son, Jonas R., Millard F. and Nelora G.

John H. Redick spent the first fourteen years of his life in the state of his nativity and then became a resident of northern Missouri, where he earned his living as a farm hand by the day. . or measures for the general good.

He was thus engaged until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he joined the Confederate army with the Missouri forces under Captain Cowper. He served for four years and saw very active field service. Following the close of hostilities he returned to Illinois, for his father's family had in the meantime gone back to that state. His father was also a Confeder- ate soldier. Mr. Redick, however, did not re- main long in Illinois but returned to the south, settling first at Memphis, Tennessee, and after- ward going to Mississippi, whence he and his father subsequently came to Texas in 1867 or

'68. Here they rented a farm a mile and a half south of Sherman and later John H. Redick purchased this place and continued to make it his home up to the time of his death. It is now the property or his widow and comprises two hundred and fifty-seven acres located three miles southwest of Denison. He cleared and

In 1875, in Grayson county, Mr. Redick was united in marriage to Miss Mary M. Vestal, a native of Arkansas and a daughter of James Madison and Martha (English) Vestal. Her father, who was born in Tennessee, December 14, 1829, is still living, making his home in Sherman. His wife, who was born in 1835, in Tennessee, died in Sherman at the age of fifty years. Mr. Vestal was a soldier of the Con- federate army, enlisting from Arkansas.

In his political views Mr. Redick was an earnest Democrat and gave unfaltering sup- port to the principles of the party up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1893 when he was fifty-three years of age. During the period of his residence in Texas he had be- come widely and favorably known in Grayson county both by reason of the extent and impor- tance of his business affairs and his devotion to local interests. He was regarded as a public spirited citizen and one whose co-operation could always be counted upon to further plans

JOSEPH H. THOMPSON. The agricul- tural interests of Montague county find a worthy representative in Joseph H. Thompson, who was born in Alabama, April 16, 1839. His parents were John and Henrietta (Turrentine) Thompson, the former a native of South Caro- lina and the latter of North Carolina, their marriage being celebrated, however, in Ala- bama. The paternal grandfather, James Thompson, was of Irish parentage and became an enterprising and leading farmer of his local- ity in South Carolina, whence he afterward re-

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

moved to Alabama, spending his last years there. His children were: Thomas; John; Crow; Edward; Mrs. Sela Skidmore; Emily, who became the second wife of Mr. Skidmore ; and Alice, who died unmarried.

John Thompson was born in South Carolina and with his parents removed to Alabama, where his youth was passed. There he was married, reared his family and spent his re- maining days, passing away in 1890. He was too old for active service in the Civil war, but used his influence in behalf of the Confederacy. In politics he was a staunch Democrat, and he was a devoted member of the Methodist church. His entire life was given to farming, and at all times he commanded the respect of his fellow men. His wife passed away in 1869, in the faith of the Methodist church, of which she, too, was a loyal member. She had been left an orphan at an early age, and was reared by strangers. Her parents were natives of North Carolina, and her father died while serv- ing his country in the war of 1812. His widow afterward removed to Tennessee, taking all of her belongings on a pack horse and there she reared her family. Later she removed to Ala- bama, where her last days were spent. Her children were: John, James, Mrs. Henrietta Thompson and Nancy. Unto Mr. and Mrs. John Thompson were born seven children : Mary J., who became Mrs. McClanahan and after the death of her first husband became Mrs. Martin; John J., who was killed while serving in the Confederate army; William S., who was also a soldier and returned home ill, passing away soon afterward; Joseph, of this review; Harvey M., who is living in Alabama; Sarah E., the wife of J. Means; and Fannie A., the wife of M. Brown.

Joseph H. Thompson is the only member of the family who came to Texas His youth was passed in his parents' home in Alabama, and in 1861, when twenty-two years of age, he espoused the cause of the Confederacy, becom- ing a member of Company A, Fortieth Con- federate Provincial Regiment, under command of Colonel L. M. Walker. This regiment was

assigned to the Army of the Mississippi, and Mr. Thompson participated in the battles of Fort Pillow, New Madrid and Island No. 10. There the regiment was captured and Mr. Thompson and his comrades were held as pris- oners of war at Camp Butler, in Illinois, for five months, being exchanged at Vicksburg. The regiment then re-organized at camp in the wilderness near Canton, Mississippi, joining the Fifty-fourth Alabama Regiment, under Colonel Alpheus Baker, with J. C. Pemberton commanding. This regiment did duty with the Army of Louisiana and Mississippi until 1864, when it was transferred to the Army of Ten- nessee. Mr. Thompson had participated in many hotly contested engagements, including the battles of Baker's creek, Jackson, Resaca, New Hope Church, Pine Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain and Atlanta. After the capitulation of that city the regiment went to Mobile, Ala- bama, and Mr. Thompson left the command at Hamburg, Alabama, and went to the northern part of that state, where he joined a cavalry regiment. Not long afterward General Lee sur- rendered, and it was subsequent to this that the regiment had a fight with an Ohio regiment, capturing nine of their men. The command was at Somerville, Alabama, at the time of the surrender and was paroled at Apple Grove, Alabama, the men there returning to their re- spective homes. Mr: Thompson was never wounded, but saw much hard service, display- ing always unfaltering valor and loyalty to the cause he espoused.

On returning home he resumed farming, and remained in Alabama until December, 1872, when he came to Texas, locating first at Jef- ferson and afterward at Kellyville. Later he went to Pittsburg, where he was employed in a tannery for ten months, after which he en- gaged in making rails in Hopkins county. In 1874 he came to Montague county, where he rented land and raised a crop. He then leased some raw land from Wash Williams and brought it to a high state of cultivation, remaining thereon for six years, when he sold his lease and bought one hundred acres in

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

Cooke county. He then improved his farm, remaining there for three years, after which he sold out and paid a visit to his old home in Alabama, spending almost a year in that state. Returning then to Texas Mr. Thompson bought eighty acres of land in Montague county, which he afterward sold and for three years rented a farm. In 1893 he married Mrs. A. A. King, a widow, and settled at his present place of residence, where he has since remained. He took charge of the farm, which he has success- fully conducted, now carrying on general agri- cultural pursuits and stock raising. He has fed and handled stock for the market and has supervision over a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres of rich valley land, a large por- tion of which is under cultivation. Since he has located here a commodious two-story frame residence has been built, also barns and out- buildings and an orchard has been set out. He has likewise purchased the Patrick farm ad- joining, comprising one hundred acres. This he rents, and he is also interested in other lands, being a prosperous and successful agri- culturist who in all of his business dealings is found thoroughly reliable and trustworthy.

Mrs. Thompson was, prior to her present marriage, Mrs. Ava Adelia King, the widow of John H. King. Her first husband was born in Tennessee, was educated in the common schools and reared to farm life, his parents being James and Marium (Hereford) King, both natives of Tennessee, where they were married, and where their children were born. In 1848 they came to Texas, settling first in Van Zandt county, where the father purchased land and improved a farm, residing thereon until 1865. He then removed to Cooke county and his two sons took charge of the business. With them he found a good home until his death, October 10, 1878, when he was seventy-four years of age. Throughout his active business career he carried on agricultural pursuits and was highly respected in each community in which he lived. His wife survived him but a short time, passing away in December, 1878, at the age of seventy-one years. She was a devoted

member of the Presbyterian church. In their family were five children: James, who died while serving in the Confederate army; Wil- liam R., who died in 1885; John H .; C. M., or Kit, who was a farmer of this country ; and Buena Vista, the wife of C. Loring.

: John H. King was born in Tennessee and ac- companied his parents on their removal to Texas in 1848. Here he was reared and edu- cated, and at the time of the Civil war he joined the Confederate army as a member of a Texas regiment. In 1865 the family removed to Cooke county, where he and his brother Kit pur- chase'd four hundred and eighty acres of land from the Jacob Wilcox survey and took charge of the family affairs, caring for their parents during their remaining days. They improved a good farm, devoting their attention to gen- eral agricultural pursuits and stock raising, making a specialty of horses. They had much difficulty with the red men during the period in which the Indians displayed much hostility toward the white men, and also committed many depredations, especially in the way of stealing stock. Mr. King, however, continued actively in farming operations until his death, which occurred December 26, 1889, after which his brother Kit and his widow carried out the plans that had been agreed upon by the broth- ers and divided the property and lands, each holding the home which they had previously occupied. John H. King was a prominent and successful farmer, well known and highly re- spected as a man whose business integrity was unassailable. He left a wife and three chil- dren: Linnie, born September 8, 1883; Joseph H., November 1I, 1886; and Myrtle, November 26, 1889. Joseph is now attending school at Bowie.

Mrs. King was a daughter of John and Mel- vina (Thackston) Scisson, both of whom were natives of Tennessee. They were married in that state, and all of their children were born there. Mr. Scisson was a tanner by trade and followed that pursuit through the period of the Civil war for the benefit of the Confederacy. He died in the year 1870, and his wife after-

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

ward married W. M. Boyd. In 1878 he re- removed to Texas, settling in Grayson county, where he resided for two years and then came to Montague county, where he rented land, but later bought a farm which he operated success- fully for several years. He then rented his farm and retired from active business life, mak- ing his home at the present time in Hardy. Both Mr. and Mrs. Scisson were worthy mem- bers of the Methodist church. In their family were four children : William, deceased; Lodusta, now Mrs. Young; Mrs. Thompson ; and Delbert, deceased. It was in 1881 that John H. King and Ava Adelia Scisson were married, and they took up their abode upon the farm where she yet resides. Here Mr. King died December 26, 1889.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have been born five children: John and Delbert, twins, who were born November 6, 1893, but the lat- ter died at birth ; May M., born August 6, 1897 ; Esther, born May 16, 1900; and Benjamin T., born May 4, 1903.

In his political views Mr. Thompson is a stalwart Democrat, but is without aspiration for office. He belongs to the Methodist church and takes an active and helpful part in its work, while fraternally he is connected with the Masons and with the Tribe of Red Men. He has worked persistently and energetically, realizing that labor is the basis of all success, and is now one of the prosperous and leading agriculturists.

ALLEN GUSTAVE NEATHERY, M. D., is a representative of one of the prominent families of the state of Texas and, although yet comparatively a young man, enjoys the distinction of being the oldest physician in Haskell county.

The Neathery family is of Scotch descent. Previous to the Revolutionary war three Neathery brothers came from Scotland to this country and for some years kept near together in the east, finally, however, drifting apart, one going to Kentucky and one to the Pacific coast. Where the third one settled is not known. The Kentucky brother was the pro-

genitor of that branch of the family to which Dr. Neathery belongs. Wesley Neathery, born in Kentucky, left the state about the year 1830 or 1831 and came south, stopping in Arkansas, where he remained two or three years, coming thence to Texas and taking up his abode in Lamar county, where he resided for many years and where he died. In his family were three sons and five daughters, one of whom, Allen Hill Neathery, the father of the sub- ject of this sketch, was born in Arkansas in 1832 and was reared in Lamar county, Texas. He was educated for the medical profession in Nashville, Tennessee, at the Vanderbilt Uni- versity. Returning to Texas, he settled in Collin county, where he entered upon the prac- tice of medicine and where he has since made his home, now being retired and enjoying the fruits of his long and useful career of activity. A young physician in a pioneer district, he was for many years closely associated with the growth and improvement of his locality. He married, at Farmersville, Collin county, Miss Jemima Elizabeth Buie, a native of Mur- ray county, Mississippi, of Scotch descent. Her father, Cornelius Buie, was born in Tennessee ; came south, locating first in Mississippi and from there coming to Texas in 1849 and set- tling in Collin county among its pioneers. To Allen H. and Jemima E. Neathery were given twelve children, nine sons and three daughters, all of whom are now living, with the exception of one of the daughters, and are residents of Texas, prominent in the affairs of their local- ities.

Allen Gustave Neathery, whose name intro- duces this sketch, was born in Collin county, Texas, February II, 1862. His boyhood days were passed in attending the public schools and working on his father's farm. He early decided to adopt the medical profession and began his studies with his father for instructor. In 1885-6 and again in 1887-8 he attended lec- tures at the Memphis Hospital Medical Col- lege and graduated at that institution in March, 1888. He then put out his shingle at Farmers- ville, Collin county, and practiced there one year, coming thence to Haskell, in 1889, where he has since continued to reside and where his

Allere Gustav chambery m.a.

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

marked success as a physician has gained' for him a large and valuable practice.

Dr. Neathery married, December 19, 1884, Miss Tennie Hale, a native of Giles county, Tennessee, and a daughter of James H. Hale. They have had five children. The eldest died in infancy, and the two sons and two daugh- ters living are Chester Allen, Emmett Hale, Laura Effaleen and Hattie Geraldene.

Fraternally Dr. Neathery is a Mason and has advanced through the degrees of this an- cient and honored order up to and including the Knight Templar. He is a member of the West Texas Medical Association, comprising the counties of Knox, King, Jones and Has- kell, and has been appointed a member of the Congressional and Judicial branch of the American Medical Association for Haskell county.

JOHN M. BUCK, postmaster of Hardy, who is also conducting a store there and carries on a ginning business and farming interests, was born in Madison county, Arkansas, May 2, 1861. His paternal grandparents were Morgan and Barbara (Beale) Buck of Tennessee. Her father was John Beale, a prominent farmer and slave owner of Arkansas, becoming one of the wealthy men of his county. He afterward be- came a pioneer resident of eastern Texas, and was an influential and highly respected citizen. Morgan Buck of Tennessee settled in pioneer days in Arkansas, where he bought a farm for fifty dollars, and which had before been traded for an ox bell and a fiddle. After his death it was valued at thirty-three hundred dollars, a fact which indicates that he was industrious, enterprising and successful in his active life. He was too old for active service in the Civil war, but used his influence for the support of the Confederacy and for safety refugeed to Texas, remaining near San Antonio until the close of hostilities. He then returned to Arkan- sas, where he resided until his death in 1875. He voted with the Democracy, and held member- ship in the Masonic fraternity. His children were: John, Richard E., W. M., Sarah, Ma-

tilda, Ann, Minerva and others whose names · are forgotten.

John Buck was reared in Arkansas and after- ward engaged in farming, which he continued until the time of the Civil war. He then en- listed in the Confederate army in 1861, serving with the Trans-Mississippi department in Arkansas, Missouri and Texas under Harring- ton. He was once captured, but was later ex -. changed and he made a creditable military record because of his loyalty and bravery. When the war was over the command dis- banded and he returned to his home, being there successfully engaged in farming until 1876, when he removed to Texas and bought land in Williamson county. Upon this he settled and continued its improvement until 1890, when he sold out and went to the Indian Territory. There he raised one crop, after which he went to Oklahoma and bought land, camping out there' during the erection of his house. There death came to him before his new home was completed. He was a stalwart Democrat and in Arkansas served for two terms as justice of the peace. A well educated man, he engaged in teaching school in William- son county, Texas, and he was also identified with the moral development of the community, being a leading worker in the Methodist Epis- copal church, South. He was a fluent speaker and a strong exhorter in the church and he lived an upright Christian life. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity and to the Farmers' Alliance. His wife yet survives him at the age of about sixty-three years. Her father, John Thurman, was a farmer of Tennessee, whence he removed to Arkansas, there dying on the old homestead in 1903, at an advanced age. In his family were: Andy, who was killed by bushwhackers during the Civil war; John C., now of Uz ; Conzada ; America ; Virginia ; Eliz- abeth A., Tucker and Doc. By a second mar- riage of the father there were: George W., Philip D. and other children whose names are now forgotten.

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A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume I, Part 97

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