A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume II, Part 138

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 138

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H. C. HORD. The Hord family is Scandina- vian in origin and traces its ancestry in England back to the year of 1215. The Raven, the ancient emblem carried by the Norsemen on their flags, has always been in the family coat of arms, and indicates the origin from which they sprang. Its settlement in England probably took place at the time of the incursions of the Norsemen into that country. There is a prominent family in Sweden bearing the name of Hord, of which General Hord, a valiant officer of Charles XII of Sweden (see Voltaire's Life of Charles XII), and his son, Count de Hordt, a lieutenant-gen- eral of Frederick the Great of Prussia, were dis- tinguished members. This fact makes it very probable, considering the peculiarity of the name

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

and its Scandinavian origin, that the Hord fam- ily of England, from which the Hord family of America sprang, was an offshoot of the Swedish family bearing the same name, and that during the incursions of the Norseman into England some of the Scandinavian Hords settled there.

The Howard family of England and America is descended from the Hords. The Hord family in America it is believed all sprang from John Hord, who came to America from England and settled in Virginia in 1685. He was an English gentleman, and was an officer under the Duke of Monmouth in his rebellion against King James II, and came to America after the defeat of the former. In a "History of the Hord Family," published some years ago, this John Hord first of the family in America was number 89 of the family in England. John Hord settled in what is now Caroline county, Virginia, and purchased a large tract of land on the Rappahannock river, which he named "Shady Grove." His house was brought from England in sections and is still standing.

Thomas Hord, grandfather of H. C. Hord of this review, was the great-grandson of said John Hord of Virginia; Thomas Hord was born in Virginia in 1791; moved to Christian county, Kentucky, January, 1817. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. His son David S. Hord, father of H. C. Hord of this review, was born in 1819 and died in 1885. The following was said of him in the "History of the Hord Family" above referred to: "He was quite a remarkable man in many respects. He was admitted to the Hop- kinsville bar in 1875, and though he entered the profession late in life, he had acquired a very lucrative practice at the time of his death. He loved the study of astronomy, and wrote several articles on that subject which attracted consid- erable attention. He also wrote a number of ar- ticles on the harmony of religion and science. He was a man of large knowledge and research, and a wide acquaintance with many subjects."

He was raised on a farm in Kentucky, and in 1840 married Miss H. Catlett, a member of a prominent old Virginia family, and for a num- ber of years engaged in farming, owning a num- ber of slaves. He sold his slaves and farm, and in 1854 moved to Bloomington, Illinois ; bought 640 acres of land near that place (now a part of that city). This was prior to the building of the Illinois Central or C. & A. railways through there. He resided there during the period of hostilities between the north and the south and in 1865 returned to Kentucky. In Illinois he was engaged in the grain trade. During the clos-

ing days of the war he invested thirty thousand dollars in grain which he shipped to New Or- leans, but this was confiscated by the Confeder- ate forces or else the commission merchants swindled him out of it, so that he suffered an entire loss, save for a comparatively small sum of seventeen hundred dollars. On making the trip south he experienced considerable difficulty in crossing the lines. Putting the seventeen hun- dred dollars in gold in a belt he returned with it to Illinois. On again locating in Kentucky he gave his attention to the practice of law, which he afterwards followed.

Harry Catlett Hord, whose name introduces this review, was born in Bloomington, Illinois, February 17, 1857, and attended the public schools there until the removal of the family to Kentucky. They settled at a town called Pem- broke in the southern part of Christian county about ten miles from Hopkinsville, the county seat, and there Mr: Hord attended a private academy taught by E. J. Murphy, who after- ward married a sister of Mr. Hord and is still teaching in Christian county. Mr. Hord pursued his studies at intervals until eighteen years of age and when not busy with his text-books gave his time and attention to farming. Realizing that there were few opportunities for a poor young man in Kentucky, he went to Indiana and secured work as a farm hand, thus earning the money with which to pursue a more advanced education. He afterward attended a normal school at Mount Vernon and prepared himself for teaching, to which profession he gave his at- tention for three years in connection with public school work in southern Indiana. In the mean- time he became quite actively interested in poli- tics, although not old enough to vote. On account of failing health he resigned his position as a teacher in Indiana and came to Texas, reaching Fort Worth on the 21st of February, 1878. It was his intention to join his brother Thomas Hord upon his ranch in Callahan county. After remaining in Fort Worth for three days and finding no conveyance in which he could make the trip he bought a horse, saddle and bridle at an auction, paying fifteen dollars for the outfit, and thus he made the trip to the ranch of Jim Hart on Deep creek in Callahan county, his brother Thomas Hord being at that time associ- ated with Mr. Hart.

Mr. Hord of this review came to Texas with the intention of pursuing any business that would yield him an honorable living but with no definite object in view. After talking with Mr. Hart for a time the latter expressed a desire for Mr.

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

Hord to teach school in western Texas and a business arrangement was perfected whereby Mr. Hart was to employ Mr. Hord as a teacher through the months of March, April and May, 1878, for one hundred dollars and his board. This was undoubtedly one of the first schools taught in Callahan county. On the conclusion of his service as a teacher Mr. Hord began working for his brother Thomas, tending cattle at twenty dollars per month. The brother re- moved his cattle from Callahan to the northern part of Runnels county on Elm creek and there H. C. Hord remained with his brother for two winters, when they took the herd to the head of the Colorado river and H. C. Hord continued in charge of the cattle interests there until the fall of 1880. He then entered into partnership with J. W. Dickinson, who was at that time a passenger conductor on the Iron Mountain Rail- road and who came to Texas in the interest of a syndicate to establish a ranch. Mr. Hord en- tered into a contract to carry on the ranch and buy the cattle for an interest in the business. The ranch was located at the head of Sweet- water creek in Nolan county and was known as the H triangle bar, H> ranch and was known all through this western country. Mr. Hord con- tinued in the business until the fall of 1883, when he sold his interest and severed his con- nection with the cattle industry.

In the meantime, during all these years in Texas, he had been reading law. After he had established this ranch he was one of the original organizers of the county in 1881. He was elected the first county assessor and after serving for one term declined a re-election. On disposing of his ranch he removed to Sweetwater and in October, 1883, was united in marriage to Miss Betty Glass, a daughter of William Glass, now deceased, one of the old and prominent settlers of Nolan county.

From the time that he took up his abode in Sweetwater Mr. Hord continued reading law and in 1885 he accepted an appointment to the office of justice of the peace, there being con- siderable business of the kind to do at that time. He was formally admitted to the bar in 1887 and at the same time was appointed county attorney for Nolan county, while later he was elected to that office and continued to fill the position for ten years, or until 1896. In the meantime he se- cured a considerable practice in civil law and a liberal clientage has been accorded him since he became a member of the Texas bar. In :897 he was elected mayor of Sweetwater, the corpora-

tion of the city being re-organized at that time, and was re-elected in 1898. He gave a public- spirited, progressive and practical administration and after retiring from the mayoralty he en- gaged in the general practice of law until the Panhandle & Gulf Railway was incorporated in March, 1900, since which time he has been en- gaged almost exclusively with work connected with that enterprise, acting as general attorney for the corporation. This company is now known as the Kansas City, Mexico & Orient Railway of Texas, being the Texas division of the Kansas City, Mexico & Orient system. He is also vice- president and secretary of the International Con- struction Company of Texas, which has the con- tract to build the Texas division of the road. Mr. Hord is also attorney for the Sweetwater Cotton Oil Company and the interests of these two corporations occupy his entire time to the exclusion of any other business. While he is . not 'active in politics as a candidate for nomina- tion to any office, he takes great interest in polit- ical matters in a general way, was a member of the state executive committee in 1902 and is now chairman of the congressional committee of the sixteenth district.

Mr. Hord has been a Mason since 1895 and belongs to the lodge and chapter at Sweetwater, the commandery at Abilene, and to Hella Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Dallas. He has for three different terms been master of the lodge. He is also an Odd Fellow and the present noble grand and with this organization has been affiliated for twenty years.

Mr. Hord has a family of five living children, three sons and two daughters : H. C., Jr., Nellie E., Homer D., Howard and Grace. Since 1885 Mr. Hord has been a member of the Baptist church and has taken considerable interest in its affairs, proving one of its helpful members. He was a member of the association and served on the committee that located Simmons College at Abilene and was one of its first trustees. His activity has touched many lines of business since he came to Texas for the benefit of his health many years ago. He was without capital but he possessed determination, laudable ambition and energy and, watchful of opportunity, he has im- proved the business advantages that have come to him and gradually extended the scope of his labors until he has attained prominence in legal circles and in the public life of western Texas, leaving the impress of his individuality for good upon the substantial development and upbuild- ing of the state.

STEPHEN H. OVERSTREET

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

JOSEPH P. MEADOWS, whose landed in- terests comprise seven hundred acres in Grayson county, was born in Tennessee in 1853. His pa- ternal grandfather was Solomon Meadows, who married Miss' Lucinda Davis and both were descendants of old Virginian families. Adolphus Meadows, father of our subject, was born in Tennessee and served as a soldier in the Mex- ican war and also as a member of the Confed- erate Army in the Civil War. He devoted his entire life to farming and remained a resident of Tennessee up to the time of his death, which oc- curred when he was seventy-one years of age. His wife survived him for a number of years and died when seventy-two or seventy-three years of age, passing away in 1901.

Joseph P. Meadows remained a resident of Tennessee until eighteen years of age and during that period acquired a fair English education. He then came to Texas, settling in Grayson county near White Mound and about twenty-six years ago he removed to Preston Bend in the northern part of the county, where he now owns seven hundred acres of valuable land. Much of this he rents on shares and the tract is devoted largely to the production of cotton. Mr. Mead- ows also owns and conducts a cotton gin and is one of the leading farmers and progressive busi- ness men of his part of the county.

In 188I was celebrated the marriage of Joseph P. Meadows and Miss Alice Thompson, a na- tive of Preston, and they have two sons; Exey and Ernest, both born in Preston. Mr. Meadows is a member of the Fraternal Union of America and gives his political allegiance to the Democ- racy. As the years have gone by he has worked earnestly and persistently and has found that labor is the basis of all success and that prosperity is ambition's answer.

STEPHEN HOLLINQUIST OVER- STREET. The efforts of the subject of this re- view in the field of agriculture in Montague county have been liberally rewarded by the hand of Providence and the achievements of his pastoral and industrial life have won him a high place among the successful men of the county. Through his ancestors he represents the gen- eration of the last years of the Republic of Texas and this fact, aside from his personal ex- periences and achievements, is sufficient to energize his posterity with a consuming spirit of patriotic state pride.

In 1843 the founder of this worthy family, Stephen Overstreet, established himself in Har- rison county, the Republic of Texas, from some

point in Georgia where he was born in 1811. He brought his little family hither and was ac- companied on the overland journey by his wife's brother, who died some years afterward in Gilmer, Texas. He followed his trade as a carpenter in that county and became a man of influence and of considerable prominence in the accumulation of real estate. In the forties something occurred in his county to start fac- tional difficulties and bitterness, one party be- ing called the "Regulators" and the other one the "Moderators." Each side seemed to have the ultimate extermination of the other in view and but for those who occupied neutral ground this ending would have resulted. Mr. Over- street's neutrality and his eminent fairness sug- gested him as a peacemaker and he helped to adjust matters to the satisfaction of all.

About 1850 he located in the new town of Gilmer and put up the first frame building in the place. He also has the distinction of having erected the first house in Marshall and his work as a mechanic made him well known over Up- shur county and a leader in its affairs. He acquired much real property there and his heirs are now conducting a suit to recover their rights in that part of it which was never deeded away. He died in Gilmer in 1859 as a Mason and a member of the Baptist church. Jane Avery, a daughter of Ingram Avery, became his wife and she passed away at the home of our subject in 1890 at seventy-two years of age. Their children were: Emma, widow of H. L. Cherry, of Bowie; Louisa, wife of S. D. Gaf- ford, of Bowie; Stephen H., and Rev. John H., a Methodist minister of Dickens county, Texas.

Stephen H. Overstreet's environment dur- ing boyhood was favorable to his proper bring- ing up and his education was obtained largely under the tutorship of the old and efficient educator, Morgan H. Rooney. At about seven- teen years of age he departed from the home of his stepfather, Eben Andrews, and under- took to manage his own destiny. He got into the business of freighting and with his own team he hauled goods to and from Shreveport, Gilmer, Jefferson, Tyler and other nearby points and was engaged in the business for some five years. Abandoning this vocation, he became a farmer on some of the family land and made some progress at it while there. In 1872 he removed with his family to Falls county, where he bought land and laid what he sup- posed for a time was the foundation for his first success. When he had gotten himself comfort- ably situated some parties brought suit for his and many other farms around him, alleging a

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

flaw in his title, and after an era of expensive litigation he lost his property and moved away from the county in 1884 almost as poor as poverty itself. On top of this adversity his wife died and he decided to seek a new country and make a new start in life.

Coming to Montague county he located on and rented a piece of ground three miles north of Salona and spent four years there. He then contracted for the old home of his sister, Mrs. Cherry, containing one hundred and sixty acres, and upon this he has since made his home. The dawning of a new day came to him here and prosperity has followed his efforts all along the way. He has increased the area of his farm to four hundred and seven acres, three hundred of which are under plow, and his estate, lying as it does in one of the most fertile belts of the county, is substantially and attractively im- proved and marks his place as one of the most desirable in the county. The growing of fruit has enlisted his interest and fourteen acres has been planted to orchard in a variety of fruit.

Mr. Overstreet was first married in Upshur county, Texas, to Catherine, a daughter of Robert Ford, a North Carolina settler to Texas. Mrs. Overstreet died in June, 1884, in Falls county, being the mother of Wit W., who died in Foard county, Texas, in 1904; Molo, of Mon- tague county ; Hardy, Hubert, Ula, wife of H. L. Cook, of Montague county, and Maggie. For his second wife Mr. Overstreet married Mrs. Nancy Bolls, a daughter of a "forty-niner," Charles M. Booth, and by this union has : John H., Harold, Ursel, Ethel, Bryan, Edna and Vernoy. September 4, 1903, this wife died, and December 15, 1904, Mr. Overstreet married Mrs. Susie Springer, a daughter of Logan and Sarah Ballard. Mrs. Overstreet's first husband was Mr. McCoy, who left a daughter, Dennis, and by her second husband she has a daughter, Barbara. She had one child that died at birth unnamed.

Stephen H. Overstreet has filled a positive niche in his county's affairs. While never in public life he has maintained a fellowship with and a friendly interest in those who have sought the public favor and is regarded as a strong man in his community. Without blow or bluster, pomp or show, he has kept the wheels of industry turning about his bailiwick to the ultimate enriching of his county while gathering a few crumbs for himself. He votes the Democratic ticket on party issues and his name is on the rolls of the Missionary Baptist church.

J. R. MILLER, who, coming to Texas at an early period in the settlement of the western sec- tion of the state, has in the course of years won a place among the prominent farmers of the Red River valley, was born in Mississippi, December 13, 1848. His paternal grandfather, Charles Mil- ler, was a well known farmer of Georgia, in which state he reared his family, including Sea- born Miller, the father of our subject. Seaborn Miller was reared in Georgia and after arriving at adult age was married to Caroline Moore, a native of North Carolina. He had but one brother, Madison, who died in Dallas county, Texas. It was before his marriage that he went to Mississippi, where he was employed as over- seer of a plantation, occupying positions of that character for several years but at the time of his marriage he began farming on his own account and so continued for eight years, when he sold his property and removed to Winston county, Mis- sissippi. He was engaged in merchandising at Plattsburg, where he yet resides. He had ac- cumulated a good estate when the Civil war broke out, but like thousands of others in the south he lost heavily by reason of the fortunes of war, being robbed and plundered, while both armies foraged from his place, so that when hos- tilities had ceased he was largely penniless. He entered the army in the winter of 1862 and served until the close of the war as a Confederate sol- dier under General Hood and in Muldrone's reg- iment of cavalry with the Army of the Tennessee. His loyalty to the cause which he espoused was never questioned. When he could no longer ren- der military service to the south he returned to his home to find that the earnings of a lifetime were gone, but he started again in a small way in the mercantile line and continued in business until he retired in the evening of life. He now resides at Plattsburg, at the advanced age of eighty-five years. There have been in his history many traits of character worthy of emulation. In his business dealings he has ever been reliable and trustworthy and in behalf of his community

has displayed a public-spirited citizenship. The poor and needy have also found in him a friend and he has not only been a loving and indulgent father in his own household but has cared for twelve orphaned children as well. He was par- ticularly helpful during the period of the war when the families of the soldiers were in need of assistance. Mr. Miller assisted in securing the establishment of a postoffice at his place and for many years acted as postmaster there. He was also appointed and served for two years as jus-

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tice of the peace and he has long been a devoted member of the Missionary Baptist church and an exemplary representative of the Masonic frater- nity. In 1869 he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who was a daughter of John Moore, of South Carolina, who became an early settler of Mississippi, where he was known as a leading planter and slave owner. He held mem- bership in the Primitive Baptist church and was favorably known for his integrity and honor. His children were: Samuel, a pioneer of Texas ; Mrs. Caroline Miller ; Silas, who died while serving in the Confederate army; Nathaniel, who was a lieutenant of his company and was killed in the siege of Vicksburg; Mrs. Elizabeth Dorrell; Newton, of Mississippi; Mrs. Sarah Mayo; and William and Perry, both of the Indian Territory.

In the family of Seaborn and Caroline Miller were nine children: Mrs. Louise Holder, who died leaving four children; Jeff, of Hatchet City, Mississippi; J. R., of this review; Mrs. Lizzie Miller ; Mrs. Mat McCowan; Samuel, who was killed by the cars; Augustus, of Mississippi; Dow, who is living at the old homestead; and Mrs. Emma Woodall, who died leaving four chil- dren.

J. R. Miller was reared to farm pursuits. His educational privileges were somewhat limited but by experience, observation and reading he has gained a good practical knowledge. He was but a boy during the period of the Civil war but he yet remembers clearly many events connected with that long and sanguinary struggle when his district was devastated by the northern and southern troops. He remained at home until near the close of hostilities, when he joined a com- pany known as Wheeler's independent scouts, with which he was connected for about a year or until the close of hostilities. He then returned home and assisted his father until 1868, when he came to Texas, where he was employed for four months as a farm hand. He next made his way to Gainesville and spent five months in the em- ploy of Dr. Ellison, after which he entered the service of Mr. Sparks, a rancher, and went to the west for cattle. In this employ he traveled far and wide over the Wichita and Brazos districts, continuing as a cowboy for five years, after which he returned to Cooke county to secure the scattered cattle which were returning to the main herd. He continued this service in all for seven years, after which he was employed as a farm- hand in the Territory for a year. He then leased land and while conducting his farming operations there he kept "bachelor's hall" for three years, but in 1877 he married and settled where he now

resides. He has a large tract of land, on which he has made most of the improvements, carrying on general farming and raising stock to some extent. He has one hundred and forty acres of land under cultivation, planted to diversified crops, and the farm is neat and thrifty in ap- pearance, indicating his careful supervision and practical, progressive methods. His place is pleasantly situated three miles east of Bulcher in the Red River valley.

In 1877 occurred the marriage of Mr. Miller and Miss Victoria Able, a descendant of one of the honored early families of this valley, her pa- rents being James M. and Elmina ( Hodges) Able, the former born in Monroe county, Tennes- see, March 2, 1830, and the latter in South Caro- lina, January 9, 1837. Mrs. Able was a daughter of Thompson and Mahala (Hill) Hodges, who were natives of South Carolina and were there married. Later they settled in Alabama and at an early day he became a school teacher and far- mer. Both he and his wife held membership in the Baptist church. Their children were: Mary, who became Mrs. Madison and afterward Mrs. Ward; Mrs. Nancy Poser; Harrison, a Baptist clergyman ; Mrs. Emeline Hodges; Amanda, the wife of M. Thomas; Margaret, the wife of A. Thomas; Mrs. Hazleton Ward; Mrs. Frances Dickey ; and Mrs. Elmina Able.

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A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume II, Part 138

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