A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume II, Part 135

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 135

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Mr. Scanland has now retired from active farm labor and is enjoying in a well earned rest the fruits of his former toil. He still resides on the old homestead, however, where he so directed his efforts for many years that he canie into possession of a comfortable competency. He is an influential advocate of the democracy and is a faithful member of the Methodist church, while in his life he exemplifies the spirit of the Masonic fraternity, with which he is also affili- ated.

CHARLES A. DURING, a veteran of the Confederate Army and a pioneer settler of Cooke county, was born in Henry county, Georgia, on the 17th of March, 1822, a son of Reuben and Sarah (Ghent) During, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of South Carolina. Mr. During was of Irish lineage and was married in Georgia, where he began farming and became prominent. The grandfather of our subject re- mained there until all of his children left Geor- gia and went to Tennessee, where his remain- ing days were passed. In the family were the following named : Reuben, Elizabeth, Robert and Jessie.

Reuben During, father of our subject, married and settled upon a farm in Georgia. He served in the war of 1812 under General Jackson, and when not in military service followed farming and stock-raising, thus providing for his family. His death occurred before the Civil war. He had no aspiration for public office but lived the life of an honorable, unpretentious farmer. Both he and his wife were members of the Primitive Baptist church and they deserved in large measure the respect and confidence of those with whom they came in contact. Mr. During possessed rather a stern disposition and

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was firm in his opinions and unfaltering in his support of any cause which he espoused. He died in the year 1843, while his wife, surviving until 1860, passed away when one hundred years of age. Her husband was seventy-five years of age at the time of his death. Mrs. During was a daughter of Charles Ghent, of Virginia, who was a veteran of the Revolutionary war, having fought for five years in the cause of American independence. He, too, was of Irish descent. Af- ter the war he settled first in Virginia and later went to Tennessee, which was then a new country. The Indians were oftentimes hostile and there were wild beasts to be met in the forests, while wild game furnished many a meal for the early settlers. Mr. Ghent aided in plant- ing the seeds of the physical and moral develop- ment of the county. He was a prominent far- mer and slave owner but before his death dis- posed of all his slaves. His religious faith was indicated by his membership in the Baptist church and his life was in harmony with his pro- fessions. He died in Tennessee. Among his children was Sarah Ghent, who gave her hand in marriage to Reuben During, and in their family were nine children: James; William; Robert ; Uriah; Ortha; Polly, the wife of J. D. Har- ris; Delilah, the wife of T. Colby; Mrs. Mar- garet Burch ; and Charles A.

Charles A. During was born and reared in Georgia and in the common schools acquired his education. He was married in 1854. after which he settled upon a farm. He possessed, however, natural mechanical ability and worked at all trades in wood and iron, being especially largely connected with carpentering and house- building. In order to devote his attention to mechanical pursuits he hired others to carry on the work of the farm and he was thus engaged until after the inauguration of the Civil war, when he joined the State Militia and did guard duty in his state, being stationed for a long time at Okteba in Hall county, guarding prison- ers' and deserters. There he spent nearly two years, after which he engaged in making spin- ning wheels to be used in the manufacture of material for clothing. He continued. in the army until the close of the war, during which time he did some farming, and he also continued shop work until 18(6, when he came to Texas, first settling in Rusk county. Here he followed me- chanical pursuits and also to a limited extent carried on farming. When six years had passed he removed to Cooke county in 1872, settling where he yet resides. Here he first purchased two hundred and sixty acres of timber land, to

which he has since added four hundred acres, so that he has a large tract of six hundred and sixty acres. When he first came here he rented land and raised a crop, during which time he erected a house on his property. He then set- tled in his own home and soon placed his farm under cultivation, since which time it has been self-sustaining for he has never failed to raise good crops sufficient for his own support and also some for sale. When he first came here little farming was done and he was the pioneer in the cultivation of cotton in his neighborhood. He did his marketing at Sherman, which at that time contained but two stores, while Gainesville had one small store and one saloon. When he came game of all kinds was plentiful and wild beasts roamed at will, but he had little time for hunting, as his attention was given altogether to his farm work. He has since sold some of his property but he still retains possession of two hundred and seventy-five acres of the original homestead and he has one hundred and sixty acres under cultivation, which he rents.

Mr. During was married to Miss Sarah H. Dickey, who was born in Georgia in 1836, and has been to him a faithful companion and help- mate for life's journey. Her parents were John and Nancy ( Beard) Dickey, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of South Carolina, in which state they were married. Her paternal grandfather was John Dickey, Sr., a native of the Emerald Isle, who, accompanied by his fam- ily, crossed the Atlantic to the new world at an early day, settling in South Carolina, where he reared his children. He became a prominent agriculturist there and was also a worthy minis- ter of the Primitive Baptist church, his upright life winning him the honor and respect of all with whom he was associated. His death occur- red in that state. In his family were five chil- dren : Thomas ; Henry ; William; John and Mrs. Jane Hickinbottom. John Dickey, Jr., born in Ireland, was a youth of thirteen years when he came with his family to the United States. He was reared in South Carolina and after his marriage removed to Georgia, where he reared his own family. He became a successful and well known agriculturist of his community and enjoyed in high measure the respect of those with whom he was associated. He served in the war of 1812 and took part in the battle of New Or- leans under Andrew Jackson. He lived the life of a plain, honest farmer and was a member of the Baptist church. He remained in Georgia until old age, when he and his wife came to Cooke county, Texas, and spent their declining

WILLIAM M. THOMAS

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

years. His death occurred at the very advanced age of one hundred and two years, while his wife passed away when ninety-eight years of age. In their family were seven children: Rob- ert, who removed to Mississippi, and there died; Mrs. Jane Crow; William, who died in Georgia ; Mrs. Sarah H. During; Joseph, who served in the Civil War and afterward died in the Indian Territory ; Samuel, who died in the Confederate Army ; and Franklin, who served throughout the war, was taken prisoner and was sent to Chicago, where he was stationed at the time of the close of hostilities. He afterward died in Georgia.

Mr. and Mrs. During have become the parents of six children: John, a prominent farmer of Cooke county ; Franklin, who is living upon the old homestead; Uriah, an undertaker residing at Cleburne, Johnson county, Texas; Nancy J., the wife of L. Crow, a farmer ; Levi, a farmer ; and Zachariah, a farmer of Oklahoma. Mr. During formerly gave his political allegiance to the Dem- ocratic party but later joined the ranks of the Greenback party. He has never cared for nor sought office but has concentrated his energies upon his business interests. He has now passed the eighty-third milestone on life's journey and in a review of his history it will be seen that perseverance, enterprise and executive manage- ment have been the strong and sterling elements in his career.

WILLIAM MARION THOMAS. Prom- inent among the professional men of Palo Pinto county is numbered Dr. William Marion Thom- as, who is engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery at Mineral Wells. He was born near Athens, McMinn county, Tennessee, and is a son of S. M. and Abigail (Pierce) Thomas. His boyhood days were spent on the home farm and his education was begun in the public schools and continued in the Grant Memorial University, at Athens, Tennessee, where he was graduated in 1888. During this time he had been studying medicine and he finished his professional course in the College of Physi- cians and Surgeons, at Saint Louis, Missouri, where he was graduated in 1891. He then came to Blue Ridge, near Farmersville, Texas, where he entered upon his practice, and although he located in a district where he was a stranger and had a cash capital of only twenty-five cents at the time of his arrival he soon won his way into public favor and gained a constantly grow- ing patronage. His close application to his business combined with his thorough and prac- tical knowledge of the principles of the science of medicine, and his skill in demonstrating re-

medial agencies, soon brought him success, his practice reaching proportions in excess of that of any other country practitioner of Northern Texas.

In 1902 Dr. Thomas came to Mineral Wells and here success attended his efforts as it had in Collin county. He is now engaged in the con- struction of a fine sanitarium to be known as the Texas Bath House. It is a two-story brick structure, equipped with the most modern con- veniences and furnishings known in the best sanitariums of the country, and it is also sup- plied with every facility for the treatment of patients with the healing waters of Mineral Wells. The sanitarium is being erected at a cost of twelve thousand dollars and Dr. Thom- as has his office located in the new building. Dr. Thomas is also the owner of a very fine and valuable ranch of sixteen hundred acres in the Brazos river bottom in Palo Pinto county and he likewise has other valuable real estate, most- ly rich farm lands.

Dr. Thomas was united in marriage in Far- mersville, Texas, to Miss Mary Honaker of that place and they have five children: Horace Honaker ; William Marion; Andrew Orin; Lil- lian; and Felix. Dr. and Mrs. Thomas occu- py an enviable position in social circles and their home is justly celebrated for its gracious and charming hospitality. The Doctor belongs to the Odd Fellows society and to the Methodist church. He has never been active in politics as an office seeker, but in early life before he en- tered the medical profession he engaged in teaching in McMinn county, Tennessee, and was elected and served there as county superin- tendent of schools. In his profession he has made continued advancement and the favorable judgment which the world passed upon him at the outset of his career has been in no degree set aside or modified, but on the contrary has been strengthened as the years passed and he has demonstrated his ability to cope with the intricate problems that continually confront the physicians.

ELISHA S. RAMSEY, one of the early set- tlers of Cooke county, and a successful farmer who has been the architect and builder of his own fortunes, is a native of Atlanta, Georgia. His parents were William and Sallie (Brown) Ramsey, natives of North and South Carolina respectively. They were married, however, in Georgia, where the father, who was a tanner by trade, carried on a tannery at Atlanta. He also owned and conducted a farm. At the time of the Civil war his sympathies were with the Con-

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

federacy, but he was too advanced in years for active service in the field. However, he became a member of the State Militia and saw some light service in his state. During the siege of Atlanta, when both armies were foraging in that locality, he had little left, his estate being largely crippled for his stock was driven off and all that he had on his farm that could be used for food was taken. Those were trying times which followed the war and the entire south was financially crippled. With others, Mr. Ramsey made a heroic attempt to recuperate his fortunes, remaining in Georgia until 1871, when he removed to Grayson county, Texas. Pur- chasing property at Whitesboro, he there remained for two years, when he sold out and removed to Cooke county, settling at Marysville, where he bought a farm. There he remained throughout his remaining days but died at the home of one of his sons. His life was devoted to his mechanical and agri- cultural pursuits without desire for public office of any kind but his genuine worth commanded for him the respect of every community in which he lived. His wife survived him and died upon the old homestead farm, September 28, 1905. She had two brothers, Elisha and James, who be- came residents of Grayson county, Texas, and were prominent farmers here until they were called to their final rest. Unto Mr. and Mrs. William Ramsey were born seven children : James M .; of Gainesville; Elisha S., of this review; Mrs. Sarah Whittington, deceased; Lawrence, deceased; Betty ; Wilie, a grocer of Gainesville ; and John, of the Indian Territory.

Elisha S. Ramsey was reared to farm pursuits and educated in the public schools of Atlanta, Georgia. He came to Texas with his parents in 1871, settling with them in Grayson county, where he remained until 1875, when he was married to Miss Ella Morrow, whose birth oc- curred in Georgia in 1856, her parents being V. T. and Nancy (Adkinson) Morrow, both of whom were natives of Georgia, where they were married. They turned their attention to farm- ing, there remaining until 1876, when they re- moved to Texas, becoming residents of Smith county, whence they afterward went to Grayson county, and in 1874 they came to Cooke county, where Mr. Morrow became a prosperous and en- terprising agriculturist of the community. He died in 1898 at the advanced age of eighty years and his wife survives him at the venerable age of ninety-two years, finding a good home with her daughter, Mrs. Hugh W. Roberts. Mr. Morrow was a member of the Missionary Baptist

church, also of the Masonic fraternity and his widow also holds membership in that church. She was a descendant of an honored old Georgia family and by her marriage she became the mother of two daughters: Rhoda, now the wife of Hugh W. Roberts; and Mrs. Nancy Ramsey. There were also two sons in the army who were killed while serving in the Civil war.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey have been born seven children: Morrow, a farmer of Cooke county ; Willie, the wife of S. O. McReath ; Mat- ison, Hiram, Gordon, Thomas and Essa, all at home. Mrs. Ramsey is a member of the Mis- sionary Baptist church.

Soon after his marriage Mr. Ramsey settled upon the farm in Cooke county, whereon he yet resides. He first purchased forty-one acres of land and as his financial resources have increased he has added to this property other surveys until he now has seven hundred and forty acres under fence: - He has made good improvements upon the place, has erected a commodious frame resi- dence, large barn and other outbuildings, has planted an orchard and has five tenant houses all occupied. Of his farm two hundred and fifty acres is under a good state of cultivation and an- nually produces good crops. Mr. Ramsey is a practical builder and carpenter and not only has erected the buildings upon his own place but has also done some work in this line for others. All that he possesses has been acquired through his own well directed labors and his life history stands in exemplification of the fact that success is not a matter of genius but is the outcome of clear judgment, experience and industry. In pol- itics he is a stanch Democrat but without aspir- ation for office although in matters of citizenship he is progressive and does all in his power for the welfare of his community.

SAMUEL C. TICE is the owner of four hun- dred and forty-six acres of good land in Mon- tague county and in his farming operations has been quite successful. He is numbered with that class of citizens who owe their advance- ment in the business world to their own efforts and his life record proves the value of industry and enterprise as factors in a prosperous career. He was born at Hannibal, Missouri, December 3. 1857, his parents being Martin and Dorcas (Piggett) Tice, both of whom were natives of Virginia. The paternal grandfather, David Tice, was likewise born in the Old Dominion and at an early day became a farmer and stock raiser of Missouri, where he resided throughout his remaining days. He died, however, while on

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a visit at Fort Smith, Arkansas. In his family were five children: Martin, John, Reuben, Mrs. Nancy Sims and Perry. The family were Bap- tists in religious faith.

Martin Tice spent the days of his boyhood and youth in the state of his nativity and was married there to Miss Dorcas Piggett, after which he began farming in that state. Several children had been born unto them ere their re- moval to Missouri. The father lived at five dif- ferent places in that state and about 1878 came to Montague county, Texas, having exchanged his Missouri land for a farm in this locality, to which he afterward added, carrying on the work of cultivation and improvement until his life's labors were ended in death in 1898. He met with a fair measure of success in tilling the soil and raising stock and in all of his business dealings was strictly honorable, winning the confidence of his fellow men through his unassailable integrity. His wife survived him only ten days and was laid by his side in Mallard cemetery. Both were members of the Baptist church. In their family were the following children: Eliza, the wife of E. Everman, who served in the Union army in the Civil war; James, who enlisted in Missouri as a member of the Union army; David and Cummins, who are living in Oklahoma; Ellen, who became Mrs. Bashurs, and after losing her first husband married John C. Burk; Sam- uel C .; Mary, deceased; and George, who is en- gaged in the stock business in Missouri.

Samuel C. Tice was reared in Missouri, re- raining under the parental roof until sixteen years of age, when he started out in life on his own account and has since been dependent on his own resources. He came to Texas in 1875, going first to Clarksburg, in Red River county, where he was employed on a farm for nine months. He afterward spent three months as a farm hand in Collin county and later went to Sherman, where he again secured employment at farm labor. He spent the fall and winter of 1876 in that locality and was married there, the lady of his choice being Miss Margaret Terry, who was born in Missouri in 1854, a daughter of David and Mary (Lee) Terry, both of Missouri. The father served as a defender of the Union cause in the Civil war. He was a blacksmith by trade and was detailed to shoe nules and horses and also did service as a miller. He en- gaged in the milling business after the war and died in Missouri. In 1878 his widow came to Texas and while en route to her old home in Missouri she died in the Indian Territory. Both were devoted members of the Methodist

church. They reared a family of seven daugh- ters: Elizabeth, the wife of P. Tice; Mrs. Nancy Smith; Mrs. Mary A. Welch; Mrs. Lou Carr; Margaret, the wife of Samuel C. Tice; Mrs. Martha Cox; and Mrs. Melissa Taylor.

In the spring of 1877 Mr. Tice of this review returned with his wife to his father's old home farm in Missouri, where he remained for about a year, and then again located at Sherman, Texas, where he engaged in the grocery busi- ness. The father afterward brought his family to this state and settled in Montague county. Samuel C. Tice admitted J. H. Buff to a part- nership in the grocery business, but after four months sold his interest and removed to Mon- tague county, where he rented a farm and raised a crop. He then purchased the land on which he now resides and improved the place. After ten years, however, he sold out, but he again purchased the property. He had two hundred and forty acres and he has since purchased his father's homestead farm, so that his realty hold- ings aggregate four hundred and forty-six acres. Much of this land he now rents. He has given his attention to the tilling of the soil and raising stock and is regarded as an enterprising agri- culturist, whose prosperity is attributable en- tirely to his own efforts. As stated, much of his land is rented, while he gives his attention to his stock and other interests. His business affairs have been very capably conducted and by perseverance he has overcome all difficulties and obstacles in his path, working his way steadily upward to success. He is a stanch Democrat and for twelve years has filled the office of presi- dent of the school board, the cause of education finding in him a warm friend. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen camp and in fraternal, political and business circles is highly esteemed.

Unto Mr. Tice by his first marriage were born four children: Russell, now the wife of E. Brown; Rose, the wife of William Gabbart; Clarence, at home ; and Maude, at Saint Jo. On the 16th of March, 1905, Mr. Tice was again married, his second union being with Miss Lee Brooks, a daughter of William Brooks, who was born and reared in Texas, and is a farmer and stock raiser residing in Montague county. . He votes with the Democracy and is a member of the Baptist church. His children were: Lee, now Mrs. Tice; and Pearl, the wife of G. Wat- son. The mother died March 9, 1900, and the father afterward married Betty Tryce and resides upon a farm in this county. In presenting the personal history of Samuel C. Tice we give to our readers the history of one of the well known

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citizens of this part of the state, whose labors have proved the basis of his success and whose record is proof of the fact that gratifying busi- ness advancement can be gained through deter- mined and honorable effort. .

JOHN EDWARD LUTZ is a prominent real estate operator of Vernon, Wilbarger county, has been identified with the industrial and agricultural development of this section of Northwest Texas since the pioneer times and before the advent of the railroad, and as a pub- lic-spirited citizen and whole-souled, genial gentleman has won the esteem of all residents of his community.

Mr. Lutz is a northerner by birth and train- ing, but his personal character and qualities of leadership are such that he has made himself welcome among the men of the sunny south and is one of the most popular citizens of his town. He was born in Greene county, Ohio, at Xenia, September 17, 1859. His father, John E. Lutz, was born at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1828, moved from there to Virginia, thence to Maryland, where he was married to Miss Sa- villa Woolford, who was born in Maryland in 1834; and in 1852 he located at Xenia, Ohio, where he and his wife still make their home, both being now past the Psalmist's three score and ten years. While in young manhood John E. Lutz became a machinist and wagon-maker. and in Xenia he started a small shop which finally developed into a wagon and carriage manufactory of considerable importance. In later years the centralization of such industries by large corporations worked detrimentally to the manufacturing department of the Lutz concern, and the establishment is now devoted largely to custom work on wagons and car- riages, being in charge of Henry Lutz, another son of the founder of the business.

Mr. Lutz was educated in the public schools of Xenia. After a thorough apprenticeship in his father's business he became expert as a ma- chinist and in wagon and carriage work, but did not continue in this line of business as a life work. He left Ohio and came out to Texas in 1885, and in that year became connected with the land department of the Texas and Pacific Railroad, under General Immigration Agent Sabin, of that company. That business took him into western Texas, which was then but sparsely settled. The outlook was promising enough so that he left the employment of the railroad company in 1885 with the object of lo- cating permanently in some advantageous portion of Northwest Texas, a new country

which was just then being opened up to agri- cultural settlement by the building of the Fort Worth and Denver City Railroad. When Mr. Lutz started for his destination the railroad had been completed only from Fort Worth to Harrold, in Wilbarger county, so that from the western terminal he had to take the stage to Vernon, where he located in 1885 and where he has made his home ever since. Vernon was in that year a typical cowboy town, and as rough and uncouth as any range town in this part of the state. The country to the west and north was infested by desperados and renegades who frequently interfered seriously with the work of the new and permanent settlers just then beginning to develop the agricultural re- sources thereabout.

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A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume II, Part 135

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