A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume II, Part 114

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: 972

USA > Texas > A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume II > Part 114

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As a citizen Mr. Owens has been quiet and without aspirations beyond the scenes of the farm and to rear an honorable and useful posterity. Cotton, grain and corn have yielded him his success on the farm, and his site is one of the attractive landscape features of his locality.

Mr. Owens married Helen, a daughter of W. H. Wright. The Wrights were from California

and first settled in Cooke county, Texas, from where they came to Montague. They had three sons and as many daughters, and Mrs. Owens was born in Little River county, Arkansas, April 22, 1856. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Owens are : Bertie, for four years a teacher in the pub- lic schools, was educated in the Pella and Alvord schools; Dixie, who is a valuable aid to the fam- ily circle; Ethel, wife of John Gipson, a young farmer near by; Sanford; Henrietta; Blanche ; and James, completing the list.

While Mr. Owens is a mild party man in poli- tics and a Democrat, he is content to simply cast his ballot and let the results be what they may. He has brought up his family in a God-fearing home and owns, fealty to the Christian church.

ROBERT G. ANDERSON is so well known in Abilene that he needs no introduction to the readers of this volume. His father, John C. An- derson, was a native of Mississippi, born in April, 1829. He lived there in early boyhood and about 1837, in company with his parents, came to Texas, settling in Angelina county, where he engaged in farming, which he followed during the greater part of his life. He was married in that county on the 12th of September, 1847, to Miss Mary A. Caldwell, who was born in Maury county, Tennessee, February 29, 1832. She spent her girlhood largely in this state, coming here with her parents in 1835. Following his marriage Mr. Anderson removed to Anderson county in 1850, making his home there through the succeeding eighteen years, when he took up his abode in Ellis county, which was then a typical western frontier district, having but few white inhab- itants and abounding in game of various kinds and of almost unlimited quantity. Again Mr. Anderson made a removal in 1877, when he set- tled in Young county, his death there occurring on the 27th of April of the same year. His wid- ow is still living at an advanced age, making her home with her son, R. G. Anderson. She is the mother of six living children, one son and five daughters, namely : Maggie, the wife of W. R. Wolverton of Erath county, Texas; Ann E., the wife of B. A. Shelton of Greer county, Okla- homa; Isabelle, the wife of J. G. Wolford of Fresno, California; Robert G .; Verina, the wid- ow of J. Wylie ; and Lizzie of Abilene.

Robert G. Anderson was born in Anderson county, Texas, March 28, 1858, and his boyhood days were spent in Ellis and Young counties. Living as he did on the frontier he had little op- portunity for acquiring an education and being the only son in the family it seemed to fall to

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

his lot to assume the responsibilities of his fath- er's farm. Using every advantage possible he ac- quired in one way or another a common school education. After the death of his father his responsibilities were greatly increased, the en- tire management of the farm devolving upon him. His mother, to whom he has always shown the utmost kindness and affection, has formed a part of his household from that time until the present and in fact they have never been sep- arated.

Mr Anderson has engaged for many years in the cattle business, spending many a day and night on the range and he has made four ex- tended trips with cattle following the trail into Colorado and Kansas. On these expeditions he would frequently meet with Indians, but they never occasioned him any trouble, as he always gave them a beef for their own use. In 1882 he removed to Abilene, leaving the range in or- der to engage in mercantile pursuits, becoming an employe of the firm of Wylie & Donovan, gro- cers of this city. Being a typical cowboy of ex- perience, instead of going into the store to work, he would frequently ride out from the town to meet the managers of herds on their way through the country and showed them the best places to care for their stock and by other general favors extended he was able to sell them large quantities of groceries and other supplies as well as acting as general collector for the firm. He continued in the employ of that house until 1887, when he went upon the road as a traveling salesman for wholesale houses, continuing in that service for four years. He next formed a partnership with D. W Wristen in the grocery business, a new firm dating from January 1, 1891. The partner- ship continued until 1895, when Mr. Anderson purchased Mr. Wristen's interest in the business, continuing it under his own name until 1900, when he sold out. About eight months later, however, he opened another store under the firm name of R. G. Anderson & Company, wholesale dealers in groceries and grain. During this time he was also conducting a general mercantile es- tablishment at Van Horn in connection with J. G. Lowdon under the firm name of Anderson & Lowdon. This business was continued until July 6, 1904, when on account of failing health he was compelled to sell out.

Mr. Anderson was united in marriage on the 16th of April, 1884, to Miss Nanny E. Hoshall, who was born in Arkansas but was reared in northern Mississippi from the time she was five years of age. She came to Abilene, Texas, in December, 1880. By this marriage there are

three sons : Hoshall C., Robert G. and Frank E.

Mr. Anderson, familiarly called Bob by his many friends, is a popular citizen in Abilene. As a business man he has been successful in all of his varied undertakings and although he has led a busy life he has yet found time to co-operate in matters pertaining to the public good and to the welfare of the city. He is a genial, whole-souled gentleman of refined taste and courteous manner and is able to count his friends by the scores.

H. C. SCOTT, M. D. The medical fraternity of Sweetwater finds a worthy representative in Dr. H. C. Scott, who, well equipped for his profession, has rendered valuable service to his fellow men in the line of his chosen field of labor. He is descended from one of the old families of Georgia, and his grandfather, James Scott, was an own cousin of General Winfield Scott. Thomas Howard Scott, the father of the doc- tor, was born in Georgia and when about twenty- five years of age removed to Mississippi, settling at Pontotoc, where he spent his remaining days. His life was largely devoted to teaching, both in the school room and from the pulpit, for he was a minister of the Baptist church. Thus his labors proved of direct good to his fellow men, pro- moting the intellectual and moral progress of the communities in which he lived and labored. His death occurred, however, in 1863, when he was only thirty-five years of age. His wife bore the maiden name of Laura Ella Coleman and was a native of Georgia, but when seven years of age accompanied her parents on their removal to Mis- sississippi and is still living in Pontotoc, that state. By her marriage she became the mother of two children who reached adult age: Dr. H. C. Scott, of this review; and Mrs. Mary Dannie Stookey, who is living in Pontotoc, Mississippi.

Dr. Howard Coleman Scott was born in Pon- totoc, September 23, 1861, and was reared in the vicinity of that place. At the age of seven- teen years he broke his leg and this was the means of his securing an education, for as he was unable to work upon the farm he made his way to school on crutches, a distance of three miles, pursuing his studies there for a year. Both " previous and subsequent to this time he cared for his widowed mother and sister in a large degree, for the family were left in rather limited financial circumstances at the father's death. Af- ter attending school during that year Dr. Scott divided his time between teaching and further continuing his own education for a period of twelve years. He was graduated from the high

JESSE KENNEDY

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

school at Pontotoc, Mississippi, in 1883, and with the money earned by teaching he met the ex- penses of his collegiate course when he had de- cided upon making the practice of medicine his life work. Matriculating in the University of Tennessee at Nashville in 1891 as a medical stu- dent, he spent one term there and afterward at- tended the university at Sewanee, a little town in the mountains, where he also spent one term. He next returned to the university at Nashville and was graduated from that institution with the, class of 1894.

Dr. Scott added to his theoretical training val- uable practical experience by service as house physician in a hospital at Vicksburg, Mississippi, where he remained for a year. He came to Texas in 1895, locating at Bush, Coryell county, where he entered upon the active practice of medicine, remaining there for a year and a half. He next located at Jonesboro in the same county and entered into partnership with Dr. R. J. Pope, now of Sweetwater. Dr. Scott continued at Jonesboro for four and a half years with the exception of about six months devoted o a special course of lectures in Nashville. This was in the fall of 1899 and the spring of 1900, and his special training in surgery greatly pro- moted his proficiency in that department of prac- tice.

In August, 1901, Dr. Scott came to Sweet- water, where he has since maintained his office. He is a member of the Nolan, Fisher and Stone- wall counties medical society, the Texas State Medical Society, and medical examiner for the New York Life Insurance Company, the Manhat- tan Insurance Company, and the State Life In- surance Company of Indiana. Fraternally he is a Mason. He is recognized as both a capable physician and surgeon, giving considerable atten- tion to the latter branch of practice, and he enjoys a large and growing patronage.

HON. JESSE KENNEDY, or Judge Kenne- dy, as he is known by his friends and business associates, is one of the young-old men of North Texas, where he has been identified with real es- tate operations for the past fifteen years or more. Iowa Park is one of the most thriving towns of Wichita county, has a prosperous and progressive population, and is at the center of a beautiful and extremely fertile agricultural and stock-raising district. This community, both commercially and agriculturally, looks to Mr. Kennedy as one of its founders and chief promoters, and, in fact, ever since identifying himself with the place he has been a mainspring of activity which has kept

in motion the varied industries and enterprises of Iowa Park and vicinity.

Judge Kennedy, the later years of whose life have thus so worthily been associated with North Texas, was born eighty years ago, in 1824, in Perry county, Pennsylvania, a son of William T. and Susannah (Peck) Kennedy. His father was also a native of Pennsylvania, being a son of a native Irishman. His mother was born in the Keystone state, and both parents died there.

Judge Kennedy has had a distinguished public career, both in his native state and in Iowa, where he lived for ten years before coming to Texas. Born and reared in Perry county, he spent a great part of his life in Cumberland county, Penn- sylvania. In 1861 he represented Perry and Cum- berland counties in the state legislature, and for a number of years before had been among the most prominent men of that part of the state. During the war three of his brothers enlisted and served throughout the conflict as Union soldiers. During Lincoln's administration Judge Kennedy was assistant internal revenue collector for Perry county. For ten and a half years he was principal and proprietor of the State Orphan School, at Mount Joy, Pennsylvania. He also served as burgess, or mayor, of that town, and in many other ways took a conspicuous part in public affairs. Before the war he was second lieutenant in Captain W. R. Fetter's company of Pennsyl- vania State Cadets.

In 1878 Judge Kennedy decided to come west, and in that year he located at Ida Grove, in Ida county, Iowa, where he turned his attention to farming. Here, too, his abilities as an organizer and man of affairs brought him into prominence, and in 1884 he was elected to the legislature, dur- ing which session he introduced and fathered through the lawmaking body the famous prohib- itory law of the state of Iowa. Although thus al- lied with the cause of prohibition, he is and has always been a stanch Republican in funda- mental political beliefs.

While in Iowa Judge Kennedy was also elect- ed president of the Iowa State Farmers' Alliance, which office he held for five or six years, and in that capacity promoted important railroad legis- lation through the legislature. Also he was presi- dent of the State Wool Growers' Association, was one of the vice presidents of the Iowa Fine Stock-Raisers' Association and president of the Ida County Agricultural Society.

In 1888 Judge Kennedy came to Wichita coun- ty, Texas, and, with David C. Kolp, also of Ida county, organized and became president of the Iowa-Texas Land Company. This company bought several thousand acres of land about

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

eleven miles west of Wichita Falls on the line of the Fort Worth & Denver Railroad started the town of Iowa Park. On account of the promi- nence and known reliability of the organizers and by extensive advertising a colony of progressive and capable Iowa, Illinois and Minnesota farm- ers were brought to this locality and sold tracts of land about Iowa Park, which has been one of the most successful of such colonization schemes in this state. Nearly all the farmers who came here at that time and persevered and remained in spite of natural discouragements, have now attained wealth and affluence, and the agricul- tural regions tributary to Iowa Park are noted for their larra per capita wealth, there being many notable examples of men who began here with nothing and have become well-to-do, not- withstanding several severe droughts.

Judge Kennedy has continued to make Iowa Park his residence ever since 1888, although he has sold out all his own farms. But he is still en- gaged in the real estate business, which has occu- pied his attention ever since coming here. With his Pennsylvania and Iowa political experience, he naturally became a leader and man of weight in public affairs, and through loyalty to party, but with no hope of individual success in such a Democratic state as Texas, he was drawn into politics, and twice accepted the nomination for state assemblyman, being successful in carrying one county-Jack county-against his opponent. He was also nominated for the state senate, and has been strongly urged to run for Congress. Judge Kennedy is a very pleasing public speaker, is a man of great address and force of character that impresses itself at once on his hearers, and throughout his career has made himself a power in affairs in every community of his residence. He has known and been associated with many prominent men in Pennsylvania and Iowa. He has been a member of the Church of God and a Mason for forty years, and an Odd Fellow even longer, having joined the order a half century ago.

Judge Kennedy has two children: Mrs. Eula- lia T. Clift, of Point Loma, California, and Wil- liam Kennedy, of Ray, Colorado.

JOHN W. MADDOX, a leading stock farmer of the Red River valley, making his home in Montague county not far from Nocona, was born in Van Buren county, Arkansas, April 7, 1860. He was reared to farm life and acquired a com- mon school education. His parents, James and Emily (Wilson) Maddox, were natives of Ten- nessee, but were married in Arkansas. The pa- ternal grandfather became an early settler of

the latter state and there followed the occupa- tion of farming. He was also a great hunter and took much pleasure with his gun. He con- tinued a resident of Arkansas up to the time of his demise and he was long survived by his wife, who married again and lived to a ripe old age. In his family were five children: David; George; James ; Lavina, who became the wife of George Brown; and Mrs. Lizzie Tummilson. After losing her first husband Mrs. Tummilson became Mrs. Daily and by her third marriage be- came Mrs. Mercer.

James Maddox was reared to manhood in Ar- kansas and at the time of the California gold ex- citement in 1849 made the overland trip across the country to the new Eldorado of the west, where he was engaged in mining. After spend- ing about two years on the Pacific coast he re- turned to Arkansas and was married. He then purchased a farm and turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits. Two years later he bought and drove cattle to California, taking with him quite a large herd, which he sold at good prices. He again spent six or eight months on the coast and then returned home by way of the Isthmus of Panama, rejoining his family in Arkansas. There he resumed farming and was thus engaged until after the beginning of the Civil war, when he espoused the cause of his loved southland and enlisted in the Confederate army under command of General Price. He served through all the campaigns of Missouri and Arkansas and was very fortunate in that he was never wounded nor taken prisoner, although he was always on active duty and was often in the thickest of the fight, rendering valiant service to the Confederacy and bravely meeting all the hardships incident to military service. Following the close of the war he returned home, there to meet death, being assassinated by some cowardly jayhawkers. His first wife and the mother of his children had died two years previous and his children were thus left orphans. He had married a second wife but there were no chil- dren of that union. Soon after the death of Mr. Maddox she married a soldier and is now living in the Indian Territory. The home was thus broken up and the six orphaned children were separated, going to live among relatives. James Maddox was an intelligent business man of en- terprise and keen discernment, possessed much energy and was public spirited in an eminent degree. His children were: David W., who makes his home with his brother John; George W., who is a farmer of Indian Territory ; Dica, who became Mrs. Collins, and at her death left

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

three children in Montague county ; John W., of this review; Mrs. Annie Boyd, who after the death of her first husband became Mrs. Bagley; and Emily, who has been twice married, first to a Mr. Tucker and second to a Mr. Rittenberry. The mother of these children was a devoted member of the Methodist church.

John W. Maddox was left an orphan when about five years of age and went to live with an uncle, George Brown, with whom he remained for a short time. He later made his home with his grandmother and lived among relatives until fifteen years of age, when he started out in life on his own account. Whatever success he has achieved is due entirely to his own well directed efforts and strong purpose. In 1875 he came to Texas, locating in Grayson county, where he was employed at driving an old mule in one of the primitive cotton gins of that day. After three months spent in that way he hired out to a farmer (one of the Short brothers ) at fifty dol- lars per year and was to have the privilege of attending school for two months. He continued work until after he had entered the school ac- cording to the terms of the contract and while there he also made arrangements to attend writ- ing school. His employer, however, insisted in his leaving both schools and go to picking cotton and because he refused to do so his employer became angry and discharged him, never paying him the thirty or forty dollars which was his due for previous labor. Mr. Maddox, however, sought employment elsewhere and in 1879 came to Montague county, where he engaged in pick- ing cotton and in other such labor as he could secure. The following winter he went to Archer county, where he aided in the construction of a rock house in Archer City, the county seat, and later was employed as a cook by a firm driving beef cattle to Gainesville. He next entered the employ of Bob Binge, a stock man and farmer of Jack county, with whom he remained for six months, after which he was employed by Mr. Lane of New York to help drive a herd of cattle to New Mexico. He spent two months in the lat- ter place and then returned to Montague county, where he hired to C. C. Rumrill, went to Knox county, and was engaged in fencing a large pas- ture. He continued with Mr. Rumrill, aiding him in his work with stock in Knox county un- til 1885, then came to Indian Territory under the employ of Rumrill, and looked after the stock there, which was owned by the firm of Adding- ton and Washington. This firm afterward failed, but Mr. Maddox remained with Mr. Rumrill for six years. In the meantime he saved his earn-

ings and when occasion offered he invested his money in stock and soon handled cattle on quite an extensive scale. He bought and sold stock from time to time with good success and in 1889 he formed a partnership with N. J. How- ard. Together they handled stock, conducting an extensive business, in which they continued for four years with good success. The partner- ship was dissolved in 1893 and Mr. Maddox con- tinud alone in the stock business until 1899, when he disposed of most of his herd, for all of the leases had expired.

In that year he came to Montague county and purchased the E. T. Coe farm and stock, the ranch comprising thirteen hundred acres. By purchase he also came into possession of all the crops, farming tools and fixtures. He made a cash payment for this and he has since pur- chased the Walker farm, containing two hundred acres, so that he now has a valuable ranch of fifteen hundred acres with over four hundred acres under a high state of cultivation. This is pleasantly and conveniently located about twelve miles north of Nocona in the Red River valley and Mr. Maddox carries on general farm- ing, and the place furnishes nearly all of the home supplies, including meat and lard. He feeds and sells hogs and has a fine herd of cattle. He also feeds and markets cattle and raises some mules. He is a very practical and successful stock farmer and cattle dealer. He has spent many years in the saddle and has given his at- tention to his stock interests and the manage- ment of his agricultural pursuits, his labors being crowned with a fair measure of success.

In 1889 Mr. Maddox was married in Indian Territory to Miss Mattie Davis, who was born in Indiana and is a daughter of Henry J. Davis of the same state, who was married there and afterward removed to Illinois. In 1884 he made his way to the Indian Territory, where he was engaged in farming. He also greatly enjoyed hunting and found ample opportunity to indulge his love of that sport. He continued his resi- dence in the Territory until his death, which oc- curred in 1890. He lived the quiet uneventful life of a farmer, having no aspiration for public office. At the time of the Civil war he espoused the Union cause and joined the federal army. His widow yet survives and is now living in the old home neighborhood in Indiana. She is a member of the Christian church, to which her husband also belonged. Their children were: Mattie, the first wife of Mr. Maddox; Cap, who went to the west; and Carrie, the present wife of our subject. Mr. Maddox was called upon

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

to mourn the loss of his first wife in 1892, her death occurring on the 18th of November of that year. She left one child, Vunah, who was born August 17, 1891. On the 2nd of April, 1893, Mr. Maddox wedded Miss Carrie Davis, who was born in Indiana, August 18, 1875, and is an intelligent and cultured lady. The children of this marriage are: John C., born December 5, 1894 ; Donnie D. and Bonnie V., twins, born February 9, 1898; Boyd C., born March 1, 1900; and James D., born September 14, 1903. In poli- tics Mr. Maddox is a Democrat and he takes an interest in seeing that good men are nominated and elected to local office, but never seeks nor desires the honors nor emoluments of office for himself. He is an exemplary member of Bur- lington lodge, No. 440, A. F. & A. M., and is a gentleman of genuine personal worth, enjoy- ing in high measure the esteem of all who know him. Mr. Maddox was at one time the owner of a very favorite horse, Bush, which was named for a Methodist preacher and whose life of use- fulness ceased in 1902 when he was about twen- ty-two years old. He had been owned by the family for over eighteen years and Mr. Maddox has an enlarged portrait of the horse with himself in the saddle hanging in a conspicuous place in his parlor. The horse was of Spanish breed and Mr. Maddox rode and used him in his business for eighteen years and says that Bush helped him to make a start in life. At his death the family almost felt as though they had lost a dear friend, so attached had they become to the animal. He had the free range of the ranch, had the best the cribs and granary afforded and was worth the affection bestowed upon him by the members of the household, being a most intelligent, gentle horse, also of good speed and of durable quali- ties. Mr. Maddox has become well known as a stock farmer of the Red River valley and his suc- cess has resulted from earnest and persistent effort. He has worked untiringly year after year and is now in very comfortable financial cir- cumstances.

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A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume II, Part 114

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: 972

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: 972