A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume II, Part 54

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 54

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through the part which he took in reclaiming this portion of the state for the use of civilization and wresting it from the domain of the savage.

Dr. Barber's wife, who is now making her home temporarily in California, is the daughter of Sol Smith, of North Carolina, and she was married in Parker county, to which she had been brought at an early day, coming here with her father's family before either Parker or Palo Pinto counties were organized.

George P. Barber obtained his education in the local schools, learning the printer's trade at Mineral Wells. He afterward went to Seymour, in Baylor county, Texas, where he established the Seymour News, which he conducted for fourteen years. It was a good newspaper, de- voted to the general interests of the locality, and iweived a good patronage, but on account of ill health Mr. Barber disposed of his paper and plant at Seymour and returned to Mineral Wells, since which time he has been successfully engaged in the real estate business here. He has laid off and placed on the market the Barber addition, ad- joining the town on the north, the growth of the town being in that direction. He is also owner of the George P. Barber well, with its pavilion, and also ships the water to outside towns, selling to the consumer. In addition to his real estate operations he is also a live stock broker, and he handles all kinds of insurance with the best com- panies.

Mr. Barber is a prominent member of the Odd Fellows' lodge at Mineral Wells. He was mar- ried at Albany, Texas, to Miss Sonora Douthitt, of Lamar county, Texas, and they have four children : Sarah Velma, George D., Alfred Man- ning and Myrtle Belle. The parents are promi- nent in social circles in Mineral Wells and Palo Pinto county, and the hospitality of the best homes is freely accorded them. Mr. Barber has spent his entire life in Texas, is one of its repre- sentative business men and his strong character- istics are such as commend him to the respect, confidence and friendship of those with whom he has been associated.

THOMAS S. MCCURDY. The fertile soil of Wise county has responded liberally to the indus- trious touch of its rural citizenship and the proc- ess of bringing blossom and fruit to its virgin face goes daily and yearly on. Men and women of steady nerve and stout hearts have assembled in communities, unconsciously building with their toil the domestic tabernacles and weaving the social fabric which shall contribute to the great- ness of their state. The McCurdys have wielded a silent force in bringing about this physical and

HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

civil change and Thomas S., as the head of this worthy and capable family, has been its guiding and directing spirit.

As settlers and pioneers the McCurdys are among the distinguished in the founding of the metropolis of the state of Georgia. James Mc- Curdy, grandfather of our subject, took his fam- ily to the townsite of Atlanta and was actively connected with the first crude work of founding the town. He migrated from Anderson district, South Carolina, where his father, William Mc- Curdy, established the family prior to the opening of the American revolution. The latter McCurdy was an Irishman, married in his native land, and brought up his family on a plantation. At an advanced age he passed away about 1836, the father of: John, James, Hughey, William ; Polly, who married Mr. Casey ; Peggie, who became the wife of Mr. Austin, and Sallie.

James McCurdy was born in 1778, grew up and married in his native place and served in the war of 1812, serving in the fortifications at Charleston. During old training days he was a militia captain, and the vocation of farming was followed by him throughout life. He was a re- ligious man, a "seceder" from the old faith and a Presbyterian. He married Rachel, a daughter of Archie Johnson, who settled in Elbert county, Georgia, and a slave owner, like the McCurdys. His wife died at ninety-two years of age, having been the mother of: John, Archie and William, of Marietta, Georgia; Hughey, of Alabama; James and Daniel, who died in Fort Douglas as Federal prisoners of war, and Angus, of Ala- bama. Archie McCurdy was a lieutenant with the United States troops who moved the Cherokee In- dians from Georgia to their reservation in the In- dian Territory, and James and Daniel were in Hood's army in the defense of Atlanta in the Civil war, and both were wounded and taken prisoner in the very yard where they were born.

John McCurdy, father of our subject, was born in Anderson District, South Carolina, and accompanied his father to Georgia in early life. His boyhood playground was the Atlanta town- site, and he helped notch the logs for the first house built on the site, which house the city jealously guards and carefully protects. The old McCurdy homestead has long since been covered with metropolitan homes and the familiar marks of the long-ago have been obliterated forever. Mr. John McCurdy served as deputy sheriff of Cass county, and when he became a resident of Gordon county he was a justice of the peace for fourteen years. He brought his family to Texas in 1859 and settled in Upshur county, where he has since maintained his home. He is now aged

ninety and in good health. During the war he joined the state militia and did duty much of the time on Galveston island. His company was sent north just before the war ended and he was guarding prisoners at Tyler when the breakup finally came.

. In 1840 John McCurdy married Matilda San- ders, a daughter of Harris Sanders, a slave- owning farmer and an old settler of Georgia. Mrs. McCurdy died in Upshur county, Texas, in 1897, at the age of eighty, having borne her hus- band eight children, viz: Thomas S., of this no- tice ; Mary, wife of S. A. Cox, of Upshur county ; Amanda, who died at sixteen years; Jerome, of Kemp county, Texas; Martin, who passed away in Upshur county ; Victoria, wife of M. C. Munts, of Upshur county, Texas ; Louisiana, of Yoakum county, Texas, wife of A. A. Rowan, and John C., of Waller county, Texas.

Thomas S. McCurdy was born in Cobb coun- ty, Georgia, November 23, 1843, and chiefly in Gordon county, and in Upshur county, Texas, his bringing-up took place. From the beginning of life to the present the farm has known him and the rural schools taught him the elementary prin- ciples of an education. In 1862 he joined the Eighteenth Texas Infantry, under Colonel D. B. Culberson, and was in the battles of Helena, Ar- kansas Post, Alexandria, Port Derusa, Yellow Bayou and Opalooses, being shot below the right knee in the last named and unfitted for further service in the field during the war.

Returning to civil life he took up farming in Upshur county, and remained with the parental home until his marriage. From 1871 to 1877 he was busy laying the foundation for a successful career as a tiller of the soil in Upshur and the latter year he came to Wise county and estab- lished himself in West Academy settlement on Sandy, buying a new place of one hundred and eighty acres, where he made his first permanent home. He improved it substantially, and in 1894 left it to take possession of a new home just southeast of Chico, which has also undergone improvement at his thrifty and progressive hand. As a farmer he has prospered steadily and has added farm after farm until eight hundred and sixty-five acres comprise his princely estate, chief- ly in the Hersee and Robinson surveys.

January 12, 1871, Miss Carrie Gordon became Mrs. Thomas S. McCurdy. Her father was John L. Gordon, who was descended from an old South Carolina family of that name and blood relatives of General John B. Gordon, late govern- or and United States senator of Georgia The children of Mr. and Mrs. McCurdv are: Sallie, wife of F. Copeland, of Chickasha, Indian Terri-

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

tory ; Lela, who died in 1902, was the wife of Virgil Sparkman; Dr. W. C., of Purcell, Indian Territory, a graduate of the State University Medical College at Galveston ; Dr. T. C., surgeon of the Texas and Pacific Hospital at Marshall, is also a graduate of the Galveston School of Medi- cine; Cue, wife of Dr. J. J. Blanton, of Chico, and Carl, who is nearing his majority and edu- cationally equipped ready to begin life .-

From William McCurdy to Thomas S., our subject, Democracy has dominated the politics of the family, and no matter what others did the cardinal principles of Jefferson and Jackson have ever remained close to their hearts. As we have seen, the early ones were Presbyterians, but John and his family became Baptists, and in this faith Thomas S. has reared and nurtured his. He is a Master Mason and is universally regarded for his high character and inherent worth.

JAMES N. B. GRAY, who has done much toward the improvement and development of Montague county and who is a veteran of the Union army of the Civil war, was born in county Langford, near Dublin, Ireland, in 1829. There he was reared, receiving a limited education, but his training at farm labor and mill work was not so meagre. His parents were George and Jane (Booker) Gray, both natives of county Lang- ford. The father was descended from an honored old Protestant family and for many generations was represented in county Langford and his farm and home had been handed down from gen- eration to generation. He became a captain in the military service of his country and command- ed his company at the battle of Waterloo. In civil life he not only conducted agricultural pur- . remained with her for two years. On the expira- suits, but also owned and operated a mill and was a prosperous and well-to-do citizen of his locality, possessing excellent business ability and marked enterprise. The old homestead farm has become very valuable, and is now occupied by a brother of Mr. Gray of this review, who gave over his right to the present owner. He was, however, being the eldest son, the rightful heir according to the laws of the country, but did not wish to return to Ireland to live, and gave the farm therefore to his brother. The Gray family in Langford county has been prominent through many generations, and the father of our subject there filled several positions of public trust and was recognized as an influential and representa- tive man of his community, taking a deep and helpful interest in public affairs. George Gray died in the year 1839 and his wife, long surviving him, remained upon the old homestead until her death, which occurred in 1882, when she was

eighty years of age. Both were members of the Church of England. Her father, James Booker, was a leading; business man of the city of Lang- ford and came of a prominent and prosperous family. Like the Gray family, from whom our subject is descended in the paternal line, he was highly connected and was associated with the prominent class of people of his locality. Unto George and Jane Gray were born eight children : .James N. B., of this review ; George, who died in Australia, leaving a family of seven children ; William, who owns and operates the old home- stead farm; John, who was lost at sea while crossing the Atlantic to America on the vessel Richard Alsap, which went down; Anna, the wife of Dr. Murray; Jane and Catherine, both de- ceased, and Charlotte.

James N. Gray remained under the parental roof until eleven years of age, and in 1840 he came to America in company with his maternal . uncle, Edward Booker, who made a prospecting tour to this country. They landed at New York, and after visiting many parts of the United States prepared to sail for home. The evening previous to the day that was set for their departure James Gray became lost, was separated from his uncle, and the vessel and the uncle sailed for the old world, leaving him alone in this country. He had six dollars in his pocket, which represented his entire possessions at that time. He at once start- ed out to find work and made his way to an in- telligence office, where he met a lady who took a fancy to him and took him with her to the vil- lage of Aronsville, New York, where she con- ducted a large boarding house or hotel. There he was useful in many ways about the house and tion of that period he found employment with a fellow countryman, who was engaged in whole- sale merchandising and the lumber business at Aronsville, where he also owned and operated a large number of canal boats plying on the Erie canal. In fact, he conducted an extensive busi- ness in freighting to New York under the style of F. Kelly & Company. Mr. Gray became his representative as shipping clerk and remained with the firm for some time. He also acquired considerable knowledge of mechanical pursuits, possessing natural ingenuity in that direction, and he likewise did some job work and carpenter- ing. He traveled through many states, working and learning more fully the use of tools and exer- cising his skill in the builder's art for some time. In fact, he was thus engaged up to the outbreak of the Civil war. He found himself at that time in New Orleans, and it was with considerable difficulty that he managed to escape service on

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

the Confederate army. When General Butler made his way to the Crescent city and took charge of affairs there Mr. Gray enlisted in But- ler's Body Guard as a member of Company L, Third Massachusetts Cavalry, with which com- mand he remained for some time, taking part in' various campaigns, including that of the Red river. He was in the battle of Baton Rouge and Hatchie's Run and also in the engagement at Mansfield, Louisiana, and the fight at Muddy River. He was in many skirmishes in the vicinity of New Orleans, after which the command was ordered east and reported for duty at Washing- ton, D. C., thence proceeding to Virginia, where Mr. Gray took part in the battle of Winchester. When in New Orleans he was detailed as Gen- eral Butler's orderly, in which capacity he served in the Virginia campaign. He was also in the bat- tle of Fort Resaca and in the campaign in Shen- andoah valley, where he remained until the close of the war. At Winchester he received a wound on the side of his head from a glancing ball, which has affected his hearing. He received an honorable discharge at Falls Church, Virginia, and with a most creditable military record was mustered out of the service, having been ever loyal to the cause which he espoused.

When it was no longer necessary for him to serve as a soldier he made his way to the city of New York, and after two weeks went to Roches- ter and on to Buffalo, New York. In the latter city he found employment at the carpenter's trade and further promoted his efficiency in that line by actual work. Two years were passed there, after which he went from Buffalo to the west and was employed for a time at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Later he was in Chicago, and subse- quently was at Fort Laramie and Julesburg. Go- ing to Kansas, he found work at his trade and he also made an extensive trip through the moun- tainous country, being employed for a time at Fort Halleck. He was engaged on the first work at Fort Sill and assisted in building barracks there, remaining at that point for eighteen months in the government employ. He also did some work for private parties there. Previous to this, however, he had been employed by a firm to come to Texas and assist in driving cattle to Kansas. In each herd he had some interest himself, and it was through his connection with the cattle indus- try that he became known at Fort Sill and was employed there. When at that place in 1872 he made a trip to Montague county and bought land, on which he yet resides and which he has trans- formed into a well improved farm. Here he has erected a commodious residence, barns and out- buildings, and he now has a well improved prop-

erty and good home. In early days he experienced the usual difficulties and troubles with the In- dians, who, having no regard for the property rights of others, stole his horses, but for his loss he has since been recompensed by the gov- ernment. As the years have passed he has been a successful farmer, never failing, to raise a fair crop, so that he has always had plenty for the support of his family and his stock. In former years he raised diversified crops, but more re- cently has given his attention largely to cotton and corn, and for many years has always had corn to sell.

Mr. Gray was married in Montague county in 1870 to Miss Mary S. Cardwell, who was born in Kentucky July 6, 1851, and is an estimable lady. Her parents were Thomas M. and Parmelia (Lit- tlepage) Cardwell, both of whom were natives of the Blue Grass state, where they were married. In 1855 they came to Texas, settling first in Hopkins county, and subsequently they removed to Johnson county, whence in 1859 they came to Montague county. Their first home here was near the town of Montague, and in 1862 they removed to Red River Station, where soon afterward Mr. Cardwell joined Captain Roland's company of frontier scouts, organized for the protection of the settlers against the invasions and depredations of hostile Indians. Mr. Cardwell was detailed to remain at the station and assist in erecting a fort ress, also in looking after and foraging for sup- plies. After the close of hostilities he purchased land and improved a farm, whereon he re- mained until his death, which occurred in 1885. He was an enterprising agriculturist, giving un- divided attention to his farming interests, so that he never aspired to office or public life of any kind. His first wife died in Cooke county, Tex- as, in 1859. She was a daughter of Ellis Little- page, who came to this state at a very early dav and settled in Johnson county. Subsequent to the death of his wife Mr. Littlepage went to Hop- kins county and lived with a son until his death. The members of the Cardwell family were: James E., who died at the age of eighteen years ; Henry, who is now in Oklahoma; and Mary S., the wife of our subject.

Mr. and Mrs. Gray have become the parents of seven children: George C., a farmer; William T., at home; James D., who follows farming; Permelia J., the wife of Joseph Spivey ; John E., Maud and Clara. The parents are members of the Church of Christ. In the course of an active and busy life Mr. Gray has visited many parts of the country, and is therefore largely familiar with his adopted land. He has now passed the seventy-sixth milestone on life's journey and

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he has accumulated a comfortable competency which brings to him the rest which he well merits. His income is the direct result of earnest and persistent labor and his life history proves what may be accomplished through determined and earnest effort when guided by sound judgment and supplemented by unfaltering business integ- rity.

ROBERT F. ARNOLD. Of the strong and able bar of Young county during the era of fed- eral court practice only a semblance of the "old guard" yet remains, but that remnant includes a noted scion of the profession whose abilities have shown forth in scores of legal contests and marked him as the leader of the local bar. He is not less prized as a citizen than admired and trusted as a lawyer, and the whole course of his citizenship of more than a quarter of a century in the county has won him a substantial place among her first and honored countrymen. We refer in this connection to Robert F. Arnold, of Graham, the subject of this review. It is nearly thirty years since Mr. Arnold came to Texas, a young. man yet under age but equipped for life's duties, and prepared to engage in the profession which he was destined to honor and adorn. He had been coached and trained by his worthy father, a careful and painstaking lawyer of the old school, and accompanied the latter to the Lone Star state during the centennial year to win a position among the able expounders of the law. The twain established themselves in Fort Worth, where the firm of Arnold, Paddock & Arnold was an active and effective factor of the bar from October, 1876, till December, 1879, at which time the Arnolds withdrew and followed the Fed> eral court to Graham, ever afterward the radial center of their professional activities.

While Robert F. Arnold was only twenty-two years of age when was enrolled at the bar of Young county he possessed the natural endow- ments so essential to a good lawyer, was a hard student and was ambitious to succeed. Night study of Blackstone and Parsons and other au- thors had prepared him for admission in youth, and day and night study now prepared his invul- nerable brief or planned and builded impregnable fortresses about his court cases. He knew and understood the law and his arguments before the court came early to be strong, clear and com- plete, and by the time he had extended his ac- quaintance throughout the district his fame as an able lawyer had been achieved. He was on some side of most of the murder and other impor- tant cases of the county from the start, and the

firm of Arnold & Arnold embraced two lawyers whose banner seldom bore the word "failure." In 1889 he defended the noted Marlow mob pris- oners and carried the case to the supreme court of the United States to get a verdict for his cli- 'ents. When the federal court was removed from Graham to Abilene a strong support of the legal fraternity of the county was taken away, and the most desirable business and best source of rev- enue to attorneys was cut off. The bar dwindled down to suit district and county courts until only Mr. Arnold and C. W. Johnson of the "old crowd" now answer to the roll. John F. Arnold, our sub- ject's father, passed away in 1887, after having been identified with the courts of the county eight years. He was regarded strong at making up a case, safe in counsel, loyal to the ethics of his pro- fession and a model of integrity in his profession- al life. His office was always his place of business and if accosted on the street about a business mat- ter he seldom failed to say, "Come down to my office and we will talk it over." He was a lawyer of the ante-bellum days in Mississippi, and many of the proprieties and peculiarities of that age clung noticeably to him to his death.

Robert F. Arnold was born in Alcorn county, Mississippi, March 14, 1857, a son of Judge J. F. Arnold, who served Tishomingo county many years as Judge, and who represented his county in the legislature of the state. The latter was born in Aberville district, South Carolina, in 1826, but grew to manhood in Mississippi, was practi- cally educated there and prepared himself for the law. During the rebellion he served in the quar- termaster's department with the rank of major, Confederate service, and married a Tippah coun- ty lady, Miss Julia Fields, in 1855. Following the war he returned to his profession and was closely identified with it the remainder of his busy life. He was a Chapter Mason, and in his political views a Democrat. His wife survived him five years and was the mother of Robert F., of this notice; Mrs. M. M. Chandler, of Young county ; Mrs. Nina Ford, Mrs. Julia Meece and H. G. Arnold, also of Young. county.

Robert F. Arnold, after completing his educa- tion, engaged in teaching a few months, and while so doing took up the study of law. He was only nineteen years old when he was admitted to practice and was only twenty-five years old when elected county judge of Young, county. He served in the office two years and eschewed poli- tics for all time. He is in harmony with the views of the Democratic party and is a Master Mason. He owns a large farm on the Brazos, with seven hundred acres under cultivation, upon which he

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has discovered coal in paying quantities and upon which he has spent much money prospecting for oil and gas, and with some degree of success.

December 22, 1882, Judge Arnold married Miss Kate Taylor, in Alcorn county, Mississippi. Mrs. Arnold was a daughter of Colonel C. A. Taylor, a merchant at Rienzi. She and Mr. Ar- nold are the parents of Fred T., Ed C., Robert F., Jr., Carl and Katie, all members of the family circle.

D. M. SMITH. In a profession where ad- vancement depends entirely upon individual mer- it D. M. Smith has won prominence and is now a leading attorney of Montague. He was born in White county, Tennessee, April 20, 1853, his pa- rents being Carroll and Catherine (Bradley) Smith, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Tennessee. The paternal grandfather, John Smith, of Virginia, became a pioneer set- tler of middle Tennessee, where he was success- fully and extensively engaged in farming. He died there at the old homestead at the advanced age of one hundred and four years. His two sons were Dyer and Carroll.

The latter was reared in middle Tennessee, where he married and began farming. His wife was a daughter of Ansalum Bradley, of Tennes- see, who was a prominent farmer, well known and highly respected in his community. In his family were six children: Patsy, who died in Tennessee in 1905 at the very advanced age of ninety-six years; Thomas, who died in Arkan- sas; Nancy, the wife of J. Fulkerson; Hampton, who died of yellow fever at Jackson, Mississippi ; John; and Mrs. Catherine Smith. She is a cousin of Wade Hampton of national fame. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Carroll Smith began their domestic life upon a farm in Tennessee and the father devoted his energies to agricultural pur- suits there until his death. He engaged in the tilling of the soil and in raising stock, and in all of his business affairs was active, enterprising and progressive. He was also influential in the com- munity interests, was a stanch Democrat and filled the office of high sheriff of his county. He passed away in 1856 and is still survived by his wife, who has reached the advanced age of eighty-five years and makes her home with her son, D. M. Smith. They became the parents of the following named : Nancy J., the wife of S. L. Maxwell; William T., a veteran of the Confeder- ate army now living in northern Arkansas; Andy Hampton, who was also a Confederate soldier ; James, of Montague : Henry, of Arkansas; Mrs. Mary Lloyd ; Daniel M .; and Joshua, of Tennes- see.

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A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume II, Part 54

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