A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume II, Part 116

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 116

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In his political belief Mr. Thompson is a Dem- ocrat, but he holds to party candidates only in state and national elections, reserving the right to vote for the candidate of his choice in local affairs. All his ancestors were Presbyterians and for twenty-five years he has taken an active part in the work of the spiritual betterment of human- ity. He is an elder of the Bowie Presbyterian church and maintains himself a straightforward, upright and honorable citizen. Mr. Thompson raises all kinds of fruit that will grow in this part of the state.

FRANK JOHNSON. On the roster of county officials in Mitchell county appears the name of Frank Johnson, who is holding the office of sheriff and discharging its duties without fear or favor. He makes his home in Colorado, the county seat, and dates his residence in Texas from 1870. He was born in Hartsville, Tennes- see, February 8, 1869. His father, Napoleon B. Johnson, was a native of Kentucky and when a young man removed to Tennessee, where he was mraried to Miss Sarah Williams, who was born in that state. He was a printer by trade and resided in Tennessee until 1870, when he came to Texas, locating in Weatherford, where he was connected with one of the first newspapers es- tablished in that section of the state. The coun- try was new and sparsely settled and the Indians were more numerous than the white settlers, and frequently occasioned considerable trouble to the pioneers who were attempting to plant the seeds of civilization on the western plains. For twenty years Mr. Johnson served as postmaster of Weatherford and was one of its honored and re- spected citizens, his labors contributing in sub- stantial measure to the growth and improvement of that place. He died about 1898 and his widow is still living in Weatherford. In their family were eight children: Frank; Walter; Samuel, Charlie ; Burt; Pearl; Stella ; and John.

Frank Johnson was only a year oki when his parents removed to Texas, so that to all practical purposes he is a native Texan. He was reared in Weatherford and when old enough to assist his father entered the postoffice. He also at- tended the public schools of that town, acquiring a good practical education, and at the age of eighteen years he left home and went to Cali- fornia, spending two years on the Pacific coast. Returning on the expiration of that period to Texas, he became collector in the employ of H. Hill & Company of Dallas and subsequently re- moved to Haskell, Texas, where he spent the greater part of the succeeding winter. He next made his way to Espuela, then the county seat of Dickens county, and while there received the appointment of deputy county and district clerk. He was also the first postmaster of the town and following the retirement from the clerk's office he was appointed deputy sheriff and was closely, actively and helpfully connected with many of the official duties that were transacted in the court- house. He likewise engaged in merchandising in Espuela, conducting a hardware and furni- ture store in connection with S. G. Flook under the firm name of Flook & Johnson. He later

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

sold his interest to his partner and began work upon the Spur ranch in Dickens county. Later he was solicited to enter the sheriff's office in Kent county and subsequently was appointed ranger and inspector of the Cattle Raisers' As- sociation for the northwest district of Texas. He worked at this for several years and about the time he left that position he purchased a ranch in Kent county, which he conducted for a time. On selling out he was appointed cattle inspector for the Live Stock Sanitary Board with head- quarters at Clairemont, the county seat of Kent county, and afterward was transferred under the same management to Snyder, Scurry county. He received appointment to the position of special deputy sheriff of Scurry county and later was moved by the board to Colorado. In the latter city he formed a partnership with Dr. W. K .. Lewis in the live-stock commission business and was reappointed ranger here and also deputy sheriff of Mitchell county. On the 19th of Au- gust, 1901, he received appointment to the office of sheriff to fill out the unexpired term of L. W. Delling, resigned. He has twice been elected to the office since that time, in the year 1902 and again in 1904. During all the period of his ma- jority he has been in office, discharging some duty of public trust, and has ever been most loyal to the responsibilities that have devolved upon him.

Mr. Johnson was married in 1895 to Miss Mattie E. Durrett, a native of Mason county, Illinois, and a daughter of A. K. Durrett. They now have a daughter and a son: Dot, born July 28, 1901 ; and Roy, born September 27, 1905.

Mr. Johnson was made a Mason in Snyder, Scurry county, about eight years ago and has at- tained to the Knight Templar degree. He has also taken the various degrees of Odd Fellow- ship, including those of the encampment and the Rebekah lodge, and he likewise belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Red Men, the Elks and the Eastern Star, in all of which he is recognized as a valued representative and has gained many warm friends among his brethren of the frater- nities. Although yet in the prime of life Mr. Johnson has passed through many thrilling ex- periences, more than falls to the lot of the aver- age man. He is one of the best known sheriffs in the state, having the reputation of being one of the most capable officers that has ever filled this important position. His life has largely been spent on the frontier, and in the discharge of his duties he has ofttimes gone to places of danger, practically taking his life in his own hands, but he has never faltered in the performance of any

duty, and on the contrary has displayed marked bravery, coolness and valor. He has a host of warm friends among the best citizens of the state and he possesses social qualities that have en- deared him to the great majority of those with whom he has come in contact.

P. A. HAZZARD, who is filling the position of postmaster at Colorado, Texas, was born in Scottsburg, Scott county, Indiana, on the 16th of July, 1860. His father, George Hazzard, was a native of Indiana and resides in Scott county, living upon the old homestead where he was born. It was originally the farm of his father, William Thomas Hazzard, a native of Virginia, his birth occurring almost on the bounadry line between the Old Dominion and West Virginia. George Hazzard became a farmer and has fol- lowed that occupation throughout his entire life. He married Harriet Lester, whose birth occurred in the town of Crothersville, Jackson county, In- diana. Her father was engaged in merchandis- ing in that place for thirty years. To Mr. and Mrs. George Hazzard were born four children, who are yet living, a son and three daughters, and the latter are residents of Scott county, In- diana. The parents, having celebrated their marriage on the 8th of November, 1855, have now been married for a half century.

Prince A. Hazzard, whose name introduces this review, was reared upon the old homestead farm in the state of his nativity and acquired his education in the schools of the neighborhood. He also studied by lamplight in his own room after the family had retired for the night, for matters of education were of deep interest to him, and he thus well qualified himself for the practical and responsible duties of life. He left home in 1878 at the age of seventeen years and went to Monticello, Illinois, where he was engaged in clerking in a store for two years. He then spent a year as a farm hand in that locality and in Jan- uary, 1881, he came to Texas, making .the jour- ney by rail as far as Millsap, just west of the Brazos river. There he bought a team and com- pleted the trip overland. Colorado at that time had but one store of any account, conducted by Dunn Coleman & Company. There were a few settlers, five or six families living in tents, and the surrounding country was an entirely open range. The buffaloes had just been extermin- ated a short time before and in their place grazed a few herds of cattle and horses. Grad- ing on the railroad was then being done but even that work had not yet reached Colorado when Mr. Hazzard arrived here. He soon en-

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

tered the employ of Dunn Coleman & Company and when a postoffice was established became as- sistant postmaster. The postoffice was opened on the 13th of April, 1881, with A. W. Dunn as postmaster and in August of the same year Mr. Hazzard was appointed postmaster, the ap- pointment coming to him as soon as he had at- tained his majority. He served in that capacity until 1888, when on account of ill health he re- signed and for two years thereafter was engaged in the insurance business. In 1890 he was reap- pointed postmaster and served for five years, when a change of administration caused him to retire from office, and he again engaged in the insurance business. In July, 1900, he was once more appointed postmaster and has filled the po- sition up to the present time, proving a most capable officer, being prompt, active and efficient in the discharge of his duties. When he arrived here lands could be purchased from fifty to sev- enty-five cents per acre and the same property is now worth from ten to fifteen dollars per acre. Mr. Hazzard has made his home in Colorado throughout the period of his residence in Texas and has been a witness of the marvelous growth and development of this section of the state from a wild and unbroken country to a region of rich fertility, dotted here and there with the homes of a contented and prosperous people.

On the 26th of September, 1883, Mr. Hazzard was united in marriage to Miss Lillie Field, who was born in Arcola, Louisiana, a daughter of George Dana Field. She was reared in New Orleans and came to Texas in November, 1881, with her mother, her father having died during her early girlhood, and on the 13th of February, 1882, she became a resident of Colorado. To Mr. and Mrs. Hazzard have been born three sons : Herbert, born August 24, 1884; Lester, August 12, 1887 ; and one died in infancy. The parents are members of the Presbyterian church and both are highly esteemed in the locality where they have now long resided. Mr. Hazzard is a popular postmaster and has won high com- mendation from the department at Washington. Many important duties are entrusted to his care not only in the workings of the Colorado office but also in the promotion of the government mail service in other points in the west. A large quantity of mail is received at the Colorado of- fice, which is a distributing point for an exten- sive section of country, and all of this is handled by Mr. Hazzard with the greatest accuracy be- cause of his long connection with the position and his fidelity to the duties that devolve upon him. He is a man of unquestionable integrity

and of unassailable reputation in official and so- cial life and certainly well deserves mention in this volume.

ULYSSES S. STEWART. Ulysses S. Stew- art, vice-president and managing officer of the First National Bank of El Paso, was born in Leavenworth, Kansas, a son of S. B. Stewart, who was born in Indiana. His ancestral his- tory, however, is one of close connection with Virginia. The father became a pioneer settler of eastern Kansas, removing to that locality a short time before the beginning of the border warfare and the Quantrell raids, of which events he was a witness. Subsequent to the close of hostilities between the north and the south he removed with his family to northern Colorado and is now living in Gillette, that state. He was among the prominent and influ- ential citizens of Leavenworth, Kansas, and is remembered by many of the old settlers there.

Ulysses S. Stewart largely acquired his edu- cation in the State Agricultural College of Colorado, being ten years of age when his family removed to that state. The year 1887 witnessed his arrival in El Paso, and in 1888 he entered the employ of the First National Bank, since which time he has figured in con- nection with financial interests of the city. In 1890 he was promoted to assistant cashier, was subsequently chosen cashier and is now vice president and managing officer of the bank. The president is Joshua S. Raynolds, of the well known New Mexico family of Raynolds, who have extensive interests in that territory, mainly of a banking nature. The First Na- tional Bank was founded in 1881 by Jefferson Raynolds, brother of the present chief execu- tive of the institution. The First National Bank makes a magnificent showing which clearly points not only to the marvelous suc- cess of this institution, but to the expansion of many operations and enterprises in the city and surrounding territory. In the year 1881 El Paso was beginning to assume importance as a commercial center and a few prominent business men determined to establish a bank to be governed by the banking laws of the na- tional government. The organization was ef- fected and with a capital of fifty thousand dol- lars the First National Bank in El Paso opened its doors for business on the 29th of May of that year in a small adobe building on San Francisco street, then the principal thorough- fare. Within three years the business had in- creased to such an extent that the corporation

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

was forced to seek larger quarters and the bank was removed to the corner of San Antonio and El Paso streets, since which time the business has been greatly enlarged, while the capital was increased to one hundred thousand dollars, and on the 12th of August, 1901, was again doubled. This did not mark the last step in the growth, however, for on the 3d of March, 1904, the capitalization was increased to three hundred thousand dollars. A general banking business is conducted, exchange, both foreign and domestic is bought and sold and accounts are kept with individuals, firms and corpora- tions. United States, county and city secur- ities are handled, together with corporation bonds, and the bank is a depository for United States disbursing officers and is also a United States depository and serves in this capacity for a number of banking institutions out of the city. For correspondents it has the strongest banks of eastern cities and of the west, as well as connections which show the confidence in which the bank is held abroad. It also has connections with the leading banking institu- tions of Mexico and special attention is given to the handling of Mexican silver and ex- change. The principle of the management has always been to conduct the bank upon the most liberal lines, consistent with conservative methods and it is but just to say that this spirit and liberality have done much for the upbuilding of this section of the state.

Mr. Stewart was united in marriage to Miss Agnes Beattie, of a Virginia family. They have four children, Virginia, Agnes, Helen and Robert. Mr. Stewart is recognized as one of the leading spirits in the life of El Paso and devotes much time, energy and money to fur- thering the interests and welfare of the town, being financially interested in many of its leading enterprises. He is a prominent mem- ber of the chamber of commerce and his co- operation has been a valued factor in many lines of substantial development and improve- ment. He possesses untiring energy, is quick of perception, forms his plans readily and exe- cutes them with determination and with a ca- pable management that cannot fail to produce the result desired.

CAPTAIN PAT DOLAN, residing in Clint, Texas, was formerly connected with cattle raising interests but is now devoting his time and attention to the cultivating of fruit and alfalfa in El Paso county. He is a native of County Roscommon, Ireland, and came to the

United States when a young child with his parents, who made their way direct to Texas, settling in San Antonio in December, 1852. His father, James Dolan, and also his mother, were natives of the Emerald Isle and died in San Antonio.

Captain Dolan of this review was reared in that city, dividing his time between play and work in the usual manner of lads of the period. In war times he was still a boy but he had given considerable thought to the question of dissension between the north and the south and decided to enlist in support of the Union cause. Accordingly he went to New Orleans and joined the Second Texas Cavalry of the Federal army, there being two full regiments of Texans in the Union army during the Civil war. Colonel E. J. Davis, afterward governor, was commander of the regiment to which Cap- tain Dolan belonged and which was attached to the Thirteenth Army Corps under General A. M. Getty: They were in New Orleans dur- ing the latter part of Butler's occupancy of that city, but the Second Texas Cavalry was largely engaged in service in Texas, partici- pating in the campaigning at Brownsville. On the 13th of May, 1865, Captain Dolan, with a number of others, was taken prisoner at White's ranch near Brownsville, this being the last battle of the war, the forces in that part of the state having not yet heard of Lee's sur- render. As soon as the information of the sur- render was received Captain Dolan was sent up the Rio Grande river with a flag of truce to inform the different commanders. He re- mained in service until November 10, 1865, when he was mustered out at Brownsville.

Following the close of hostilities Captain Dolan spent a short time at his home in San Antonio and then went to Uvalde county, where he made his home for several years. He was the only "Yankee" elected sheriff by that county by the Confederacy and he filled the office for five years. Later he was appointed lieutenant of Company F of the Texas State Rangers by Governor Coke and subsequently was made captain of the same company. He was in the service for about four years, trav- eling over a large stretch of country from the head waters of the Nueces and Guadalupe rivers to the Rio Grande river. While sheriff and captain of his company of rangers Captain Dolan never killed a man nor allowed a man to be killed in his presence-an unusual record for those days in view of the notoriously bad characters and the desperadoes with whom he

JAMES D. AVIS

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

had to constantly deal. It is impossible to overestimate the services of the Rangers of Texas in ridding the state of hardened crim- inals and protecting the settlers from Indians and the white men who were equally untrust- worthy.

Following his retirement from his military office Captain Dolan engaged in the sheep busi- ness in Uvalde county and later turned his attention to the cattle industry, moving farther west to what is now Jeff Davis county, but was then a part of Presidio county. When, Jeff Davis county was organized he was elected county assessor and later was sheriff of the same. As a cattle man he became familiar with all the counties of western Texas. In March, 1905, he located at Clint, El Paso county, purchasing a nice home and an alfalfa and fruit ranch, where he has fine fields of al- falfa and well kept orchards that annually re- turn excellent crops. Although this is one of the choicest districts of the valley the business is not as congenial to him as was the cattle in- dustry and he contemplates returning to cattle ranching, having purchased the necessary land for the same in El Paso county.

Captain Dolan was married in Uvalde county to Miss Maggie J. Cook, and they have five children : H. P. and Robert Dolan, Mrs. Nora Funk, Maggie and Alice Dolan. The Captain has ever been a man of firm convictions as was displayed by his service in the Union army in the Civil war. At all times he is equally loyal to a cause which he espouses and in business circles he has made an excellent reputation for enterprise and reliability.

JAMES DAVID AVIS is connected with a business which has contributed largely to the wel- fare of the state of Texas and he is now a prom- inent cattleman of Wichita Falls and the owner of four thousand acres of valuable land, much of which lies in Wichita county. While developing important business interests he has also been prominent in city and county affairs, and his in- fluence has been a valued element in promoting general progress and improvement.

Mr. Avis was born in Montague county, Texas, in 1861, his parents being David and Mahala Catherine (Webb) Avis. The father, a native of Maryland, removed with his parents to Missouri in his boyhood days and there resided until he had attained early manhood. In the fifties he came to the Lone Star state, established his home in Montague and entered upon a mercantile ca- reer that brought to him a high and gratifying

measure of prosperity. He was one of the pio- neer residents of that part of the state and is well remembered by the early settlers. The old homestead, which is still in possession of the family, is just west of the court house at Mon- tague and stands upon the site of the little log cabin which was the early home of the family in Texas. This location is also notable from the fact that the homestead was turned into a fort for defensive purposes against the Indians dur- ing the time that they threatened the residents of Montague, the fort consisting of a stockade eight or nine feet high built around the place. Mr. Avis departed this life at the old home in 1873, aged about fifty-two years, honored and respected by all who knew him. His widow, who was born in Missouri, is now living in Wichita Falls. She- became the wife of David Avis in Montague county and after his death was married to C. C. White, who departed this life in Wichita Falls in September, 1896. Mr. White was one of the wealthiest residents of this city, having extensive mercantile and banking interests. He also made large investments in cattle and as a stockdealer became widely known. He was married to Mrs. Avis in Montague, and, with their family, they removed to Wichita Falls in 1887. Here Mr. White organized what is now the Kemp Whole- sale Grocery Company and developed a business which became one of the largest and most pros- perous in Northwestern Texas. He was also an officer of the Panhandle National Bank and was proprietor of a dry goods store in Wichita Falls. He was the promoter of many local industries and contributed in large measure to the substan- tial upbuilding and material improvement of the city, and he was widely known throughout this part of the state as a dealer in cattle. He pos- sessed keen business discernment, marked enter- prise and indefatigable industry. He carried for- ward to successful completion whatever he un- dertook.

Many of the comforts and most desirable privi- leges of life were to be enjoyed in the home in which James David Avis was reared, but never- theless he was instructed in those things which tend to develop a self-reliant spirit and activity in business and upon his own labors he has depended for the splendid prosperity which now crowns his life work. His youth was spent upon the frontier with typical scenes of western life. The bound- less prairies stretched away on every hand and, while excellent opportunities were thus afforded to cattle men and agriculturists, the early set- tlers also had to endure hardships that came through the depredations of the cowboys and red men from the adjoining Indian Territory and:

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

Western Texas. From his early youth Mr. Avis has been connected with the raising of cattle, which was then one of the most important indus- tries of the state and has always been a source of large revenue to Texas. The land was then un- claimed by individual citizens and the cattle own- ers had free range where are now seen prosper- ous citizens and highly developed farms. Mr. Avis has continued uninterruptedly in the busi- ness of raising and selling cattle, save that for a period of six years, from 1890 until 1896, he con- ducted a grocery store in Wichita Falls. In the year in which the town and county were organ- ized he became a resident of Wichita Falls and has since made it his home. He was thus in part- nership with his stepfather, C. C. White, and al- though then in early manhood his experiences from boyhood had been such that Mr. White in- trusted him with the management of his im- portant cattle interests. At the time of his arriv- al in the fall of 1882 Mr. Avis established a camp on Holiday creek and lived throughout the win- ter in a tent, as few houses had as yet been built. As his financial resources have increased, he has made judicious investment in land and is today the owner of about four thousand acres. Of this twenty-five hundred acres is on one tract covering the portion of the southeastern portion of Wichi- ta county and extending into Clay county. This is largely devoted to pasturage purposes for the cattle. He also owns two separate sections near Wichita Falls on the south in the irrigated dis- trict, and these farms are devoted to general agricultural pursuits, including the raising of wheat and alfalfa.

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A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume II, Part 116

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