A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume II, Part 87

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

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First locating in Smith county, he there re- mained until 1879, when he removed to Taylor county, where he has since made his home, be- ing engaged largely in farming for ten years, making his home at Buffalo Gap. In 1882 he removed to Abilene and the following year took up his abode on his farm about five miles south- west of the town. There the family lived for about seven or eight years. This locality was then an open country and he put up the first wire fence around a pasture. As the years passed he prospered in farming and other under- takings and he is today the owner of some val- uable property in Abilene.

Mr. Wooten has been twice married. His first wife was Elizabeth Mason, of Mississippi, whom he married in 1849. She died in 1854, and was the mother of two children, William F., de- ceased, and James P.

In December, 1857, Mr. Wooten was married to Miss Sarah Human, of Smith county, Texas, who died in 1887. She had become the mother of nine children, five of whom reached years of

maturity. These are: Horace O., a wholesale grocery merchant; John P., who is employed as a salesman by his brother; Elizabeth, the wife of John L. Leatherman, of Toyan, Texas; Emma, the wife of R. P. Altman, of Toyan, Texas ; and Minnie, the wife of Lynn Smith, residing in Arizona.

While now well advanced in years Mr. Woo- ten is still strong and hearty and today he is numbered among the honored pioneers of the county, his mind bearing the impress of the stirring scenes and incidents that transpired here at an early day, when the country was being opened by the first settlers. His sons are now among the representative business men of Abi- lene, while the wholesale grocery house of H. O. Wooten & Company stands as a leading com- mercial institution of the city. He was made a Mason and Odd Fellow about thirty years ago, and is a member of the old school Presbyterian church.

FRED LANE, a representative of the finan- cial interests of Callahan county, being the effi- cient and popular cashier of the Home National Bank at Baird, was born in Newburn, Pulaski county, Virginia, November 18, 1869. His father, J. E. W. Lane, the present county treas- urer of Callahan county, is also a Virginian by birth, as was his wife, who bore the maiden name of Harriett Fleeman, who died in Callahan county in 1889. The year 1875 witnessed the ar- rival of the family in Texas and they have been continuous residents of the state to the present day. Their first location was at Dallas, the Texas & Pacific Railroad having been completed and put in operation that far. The father, a cab- inet maker by trade, followed his chosen pursuit in Dallas county, principally at Scyene, for about two years, his residence in the county, however, covering about four years. Subsequently he re- moved to Weatherford, where he entered the employ of the Texas & Pacific Railroad in the bridge and building department, the line at that time being in process of construction west of that place. When three years had passed he came to Baird, Callahan county, arriving here in 1883 and this place has since been the home of the family. Mr. Lane has become active and in- fluential in the public life of the county and his fellow townsmen have given tangible evidence of their trust in him by electing him to the office of county treasurer, in which position he is now serving.

Fred Lane, whose name introduces this rec- ord, acquired the greater part of his education

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through private reading and study. He entered business life at Weatherford as a salesman in the book store of A. J. Stanger, now a prominent merchant of that place. When the family came to Baird Fred Lane accepted a position as mes- senger boy for the Western Union Telegraph. Company and also acted as newsboy, selling the daily papers on the streets of this city. He after- ward secured a situation with S. L. and A. M. Robertson, general merchants, with whom he continued for about three years. He then at- tended the public schools in Baird for a short time and afterward entered the store of T. E. Powell, with whom he remained as a most trusted and capable employe for six years, save for a very brief interval in which he was a stu- dent in the college at Belle Plain, Texas. In 1890 his connection with the banking business was begun in the capacity of bookkeeper in the First National Bank of Baird. There his fidel- ity, close application and ability won him recog- nition and he was advanced until he became as- sistant cashier. When the Home National Bank was organized in Baird in 1900 Mr. Lane was offered a position as cashier of the bank, in which capacity he is now serving. He is also one of its stockholders and directors. He has a thorough understanding of the banking busi- ness and his obliging manner and courteous treatment of the patrons of the institution, as well as his executive force and enterprise, have contributed in no small degree to the success of the institution.

In January, 1891, Mr. Lane was united in mar- riage to Miss Susie C. Trent, a daughter of John Trent, one of the earliest settlers of Callahan county. In their family are five children, three sons and two daughters, namely : Fred, Arthur, Bessie, Corinne and Trent. Mr. Lane has been a consistent member of the Methodist church, South since 1888 and is also a Mason, having taken the degrees of the lodge and chapter. In municipal affairs at Baird he is deeply interested and his co-operation has been a resultant factor in the promotion of many interests for general progress. He has been treasurer of the city for the past eight or nine years and well merits the trust that is uniformly accorded him. His busi- ness positions have come to him unsolicited, his employers recognizing his worth and ability. He is regarded as one of the most deserving young men of western Texas. Starting out in life amid humble surroundings, willing to per- form any work that would yield him an honest living and showing a strong and commendable disposition to help himself, he won the interest

and attention of others and gained advancement and promotion from time to time. His leisure moments have been largely devoted to study and investigation and he has kept in close touch with the progress of the world and the history of business development. His latent powers have been called forth in his business career and he has gained an enviable position in financial circles.

THOMAS EDWARD POWELL, whose name figures prominently in connection with the banking interests of Callahan county and west- ern Texas and whose efforts in business life have been of material benefit to his fellow men as well as a source of individual profit, now makes his home in Baird and is president of the Home National Bank. He is also proprietor of a large mercantile enterprise, dealing in cloth- ing, shoes and hats and also general dry goods, and this store has become one of the leading commercial centers of Callahan county.

A native of Kentucky, Mr. Powell was born in Louisville on the 15th of July, 1859, his par- ents being Thomas and Anna (Gallager) Powell, both of whom were of Irish descent. The father was reared by well-to-do parents and for many years was a dry goods merchant in Louisville, while later he conducted a similar enterprise at LaGrange, Kentucky. The last years of his life were passed in Baird, Texas, where he died in 1900. His widow still survives him and is now living in Baird. They reared a family of eight children, six sons and two daughters, all of whom are now living and the sons occupy prom- inent positions in business life in their respective localities.

Thomas E. Powell was reared in Louisville, Kentucky, where he attended the public schools. At the age of fifteen years he began conducting a store in LaGrange, Kentucky, but after two years sold out to his father and turned his atten- tion to railroading in the bridge and building department of the Louisville & Nashville Rail- road. He followed this for nine years and be- came superintendent of bridge building of the first division out of New Orleans for this com- pany, occupying the position for four and a half years. His health then failed, causing his resig- nation and he removed to Texas. About this time, in 1885, he was married to Miss Amanda A. Gray, of Louisville, Kentucky.

With his bride Mr. Powell removed to the Lone Star state, locating at Baird, Callahan county, where he became identified with mer- cantile interests as a dealer in clothing, shoes

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

and hats on a small scale. His patronage, however, constantly increased and he enlarged his stock to meet the growing demands of his trade. Later he extended the fields of his oper- ations by the establishment of a dry goods department and although there have been hard times in Texas occasioned by the droughts of 1886-7 Mr. Powell has by unremitting dili- gence, careful management and close applica- tion built up a large and growing business, to which he has constantly made additions until he now carries a stock valued at sixty. thousand dollars. It is by far the largest bus-' iness house in Baird and the trade is the most extensive carried on between Fort Worth and El Paso, the sales of 1904 amounting to one hundred and forty-nine thousand dollars, while his minimum sales during the last ten years have amounted to one hundred and ten thou- sand dollars. In the meantime Mr. Powell, in 1900, organized the Home National Bank with a capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars, which carries deposits of over one hundred and eighty-seven thousand dollars. Mr. Pow- ell is president of the bank and in 1904 he also organized the Bank of Clyde and likewise the Bank of Cross Plains. Of both of these he is likewise president and they are all flourishing financial institutions doing a prosperous busi-

ness. Each bank carries a deposit of forty thousand dollars. In 1901 Mr. Powell became one of the organizers of the Texas Cotton Company capitalized for thirty thousand dol- lars with headquarters at Abilene, of which he was chosen president and in 1904 he assisted in the organization of the Abilene Dry Goods Company at Abilene, Texas, with a capital stock of fifteen thousand dollars and of this enterprise he is likewise president. His busi- ness interests are thus extensive and are of a very important character. Mr. Powell also owns considerable farming land in Callahan county, much of which is under cultivation and he likewise has a small mercantile store at Cross Plains which is doing a good busi- ness.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Powell has been blessed with eight children, two sons and six daughters, namely: Ada L., Robert Gray, Jennie Belle, Jessie, Leota, Luzon, Irma and Carlton. Mr. Powell has been a Mason since 1881, joining the order in Louisville but taking his third degree in Texas. Since that time he has taken the various degrees of the York and Scottish rites, becoming a Knight Templar and Consistory Mason. He belongs

to the Royal Arch chapter of Baird, to the commandery at Abilene, to the consistory at Galveston and to the Mystic Shrine at Dallas. Mr. Powell is likewise a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity and the Wood- men of the World and has been a member of the Methodist church from the age of six- teen years. For fourteen years he has been a teacher in the Sunday school and also Sunday school superintendent and during that entire time has never been absent from school on Sunday mornings save on a few occasions when he was away from home on business. His life has been honorable, his actions manly and sincere and at all times his career has been actuated by high and noble principles. He is a leading figure in business circles of western Texas and gives to his business his close and unremitting attention, regarding no detail as too unimportant to receive his supervision, while at the same time he gives due attention to the more important concerns of his exten- sive business interests. His record as a mer- chant and banker is such as any man might be proud to possess and he enjoys the unqualified regard and trust of his contemporaries. He has worked his way steadily upward from a humble position to one of affluence and is now controlling important financial and mercantile concerns. He also takes great pride in ad- vancing the interests of his home town and is liberal in his donations to charity and the church. He is likewise an active supporter of the cause of temperance in all of its forms and his contributions to religious work and co- operation therein have done much to promote the moral advancement of the community. In social life he is genial and courteous and has won the esteem and confidence of his patrons, his friends and the community at large.

CAPTAIN W. C. POWELL. The ances- tral history of Captain W. C. Powell of Baird can be traced back to Colonel Leven Powell, his great-grandfather, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and served on the staff of General George Washington. His son, Burr Powell, settled at Middleburg, Loudoun county, Virginia, and his fourth son, Francis Whiting Powell, was the father of Captain Powell of this review. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Harriet Hard- ing and was a daughter of John J. and Dorcas (Davis) Harding, the latter a daughter of Richard Davis of Montgomery county, Mary- land. In the family of Francis Whiting Powell

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were thirteen children, of whom six sons and three daughters reached years of maturity.

William Cuthbert Powell, the fourth son in his father's family, was born in Middleburg, Virginia, December 29, 1845, and was reared in his native town, attending private schools until fifteen years of age. At that time his father sent him to Halifax county, where he became a student in Halifax Academy, remain- ing there for two years. The Civil war being in progress at that time, he left school with the intention of entering the Confederate army and in August, 1863, just after the battle of Gettysburg, while he was on his way to join the army, he was taken prisoner by the Fed- eral troops, the capture occurring on the Rap- idan river in Culpeper county, Virginia. He was held for twenty-one months before his release. On the expiration of that period he was exchanged and arrived at Richmond on the 28th of February, 1865, where President Jefferson Davis received the Confederate troops and declared them duly exchanged, the parole being for ninety days. Mr. Powell then joined the first regiment of engineering troops of the army of northern Virginia, then in the trenches at Petersburg. On the 2nd of April the Confederates retreated from Peters- burg and surrendered on the 9th of that month at Appomattox Courthouse.

Captain Powell arrived at his home in Mid- dleburg, Virginia, in May, 1865, after which he again attended a private school for one year. He next entered the Virginia Military Insti- tute at Lexington, Virginia, entering the third class and was graduated with the third honors of his class in July, 1869. Subsequently he en- gaged in teaching school for two years in the same institution, being instructor in civil en- gineering and chemistry as assistant to Gen- eral G. W. C. Lee. While thus engaged he also took up special courses of study and won the degrees of B. S. and M. E. in 1872. Sub- sequently he taught in the University School at Richmond, Virginia, for a year and in the fall of 1872 came to Texas.

Captain Powell here accepted a position in connection with the engineering corps of the Texas & Pacific Railroad and continued with that corporation during the construction of this line and the survey of its land grants until the road had been completed to El Paso. He next went to Arkansas, where he engaged in build- ing a railroad from Knobel to Forest City. On returning to Texas he built the road from Greenville to Mckinney and in 1877 he came

to Callahan county, where he established a sheep ranch. In 1879, however, he resumed railroad building and constructed the road from Taylor to Sealey. In 1879, however, he became cashier of the First National Bank at Baird, holding that position until August, 1904, a period of twenty-five years. On account of failing health he was then compelled to give up his position and seek outdoor life and has since devoted his energies to farming and stock raising. He owns a tract of land adjoining Baird, comprising one thousand acres, of which two hundred acres is under cultivation. He also has six miles northwest of the town a ranch of twenty-six hundred acres, of which one hundred acres is under cultivation, while the remainder is devoted to stock raising pur- poses. He likewise owns valuable city prop- erty in Baird.

Captain Powell was married September 18, 1884, to Miss Sallie Lane, a daughter of J. E. IV. Lane, who was a native of Virginia and came to Texas with her parents when fourteen years of age. By this marriage eight children, four sons and four daughters, have been born, as follows: Harriet Lane, William C., Daisy Leigh, Francis Whiting, Louis Hamilton, John Burr, Lillie Brooke and Cuthbert. Mr. Pow- ell has been a member of the Episcopal church for the past forty years and is also identified with the Knights of Pythias fraternity, having filled all of the chairs of the local lodge, while at one time he was a delegate to the grand lodge.

While engaged in railroad surveying across the plains in 1874 Captain Powell had a num- ber of exciting experiences peculiar to border life. At one time while in camp a large herd of buffaloes were heard coming toward them on a stampede. It was dark and there was no possible chance to escape, as the herd were al- most upon them, so that the party took their stand close to the ground and each in turn fired his rifle, the flash of which caused the herd to separate for the time being and thus pass around the party but came together again after they had passed. In this way the party stood their ground and in about half an hour the last of the buffaloes had gone by. On an- other occasion their supply of water gave out on what was commonly known as the Great American Desert. Some of the men compos- ing the party refused to go any further and demanded that the captain give them a part of the water in the last remaining keg. Captain Powell thereupon took the keg from the wagon

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and sat upon it, at the same time declaring to the men that if they wanted to go back they could do so but that they could not have a drop of the water. He was .of the opinion that they were not far from the Pecos river, where water was sure to be found and that it was no further to that point than they would have to retrace their steps. During the parley that ensued it was finally agreed upon that a well should be dug. This was done and at a. depth of about fifteen feet water was struck and the problem was thus solved for the men. and their horses. This was about fifteen miles south of the original survey. It was no un- common experience for the men engaged in this work to find the burial place of ill fated emigrants who perished there while on the trail bound for the gold fields of California in 1849. On some of the dead bodies there was found writing to the effect that they had perished from thirst in what they supposed to be a vast expanse of desert, little dreaming that an abundant supply of water could have been had by digging for it. Few men have taken a more active or helpful part in the de- velopment of the great west than has Captain Powell in his railroad building and in the con- duct of his private business operations. He is now associated closely with the great farm- ing and stock raising interests of Texas, which form perhaps the leading industry of the state and is meeting with very gratifying success in his undertakings.

THOMAS WYNN, a prominent fruit farmer of Palo Pinto, Texas, and one of the most pro- gressive citizens in this part of the state, was born in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, No- vember 2, 1820, his parents being Jonathan and Mary (Wynn) Wynn. The father was born in Schuylkill county and in early life lo- cated at Pottsville, Pennsylvania, in the coal region. Subsequently he removed with his family to Chester county, Pennsylvania, his home being about thirty-five miles from the city of Philadelphia. In 1834 the family emigrated to Indiana, settling about thirty-five miles north of Indianapolis, and their next place of residence was in Edgar county, Illinois, Mr. Wynn taking up a farm about thirty miles west of Terre Haute, Indiana. His death occurred at Monticello, Illinois. Throughout the greater part of his life he had carried on agricultural pursuits and was a successful farmer. His wife, who belonged to a different branch of the Wynn family, died in Pennsylvania, prior to the removal westward.

When the family went to Edgar county, Illi- nois, and the father secured land there, Thomas Wynn of this review took part of the farm, which he conducted in capable manner, win- ning prosperity with his well directed efforts and unremitting diligence. He continued a resident of Illinois until 1877, when he came to Texas. With his sons he made a trip of investigation through this state, traveling from the northern portion southward almost to the Gulf. They made the journey in a wagon in search of a favorable farming location that would suit their purpose. Mr. Wynn finally decided upon the place which has since been his home, his farm being located three miles east of Palo Pinto, in Palo Pinto county at the foot of Wynn Mountain. Here he began making extensive improvements which he has industriously and systematically continued from year to year, his labors resulting in the development of one of the finest vineyards and fruit farms in Texas. He at first owned over one thousand acres of land and not wishing to engage in general farming or in the cattle business he sold off all except that which he used in his horticul- tural interests, a place of three hundred acres. He built a beautiful residence of two stories and basement, but this house was destroyed by fire. With characteristic energy, however, he replaced it by the present substantial home, one of the finest country residences in all Texas. It is equipped with every modern convenience, is built of excellent materials, has splendid in- terior finishing, and is elegantly furnished. The house is also arranged so as to furnish the maximum amount of convenience with the minimum amount of labor. Upon starting this place Mr. Wynn took advantage of a fine spring in the ravine above his residence, constructed an extensive system of piping, not only to sup- ply the bath-room, kitchen, and other parts of the house, but also for irrigating the vineyard and orchard, for which purpose there is twelve hundred feet of piping. The vineyard is very extensive and most attractive in appearance, and together with the orchard is in the highest state of cultivation in accordance with the most modern and scientific methods of cultivating grapes and other fruits. Mr. Wynn has been assisted in the management and improvement of his fine fruit ranch by a competent German horticulturist, Mr. F. W. Bester, who has had long years of experience. He has one hundred bearing apple trees, also pears and peaches and an orchard of Japanese persimmons. There are also twenty-two different varieties of plums on his place, together with apricots, strawber-

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ries and blackberries. There is a greenhouse filled with beautiful flowers and it would be difficult in any part of the country to find a more attractive or desirable country home than this.

Mr. Wynn was married to Miss Lida Mitchell, a native of Ohio, who presides with gracious hospitality over their home. They have two living sons and four daughters : Isaac Newton, who is cashier of the bank at Mineral Wells, Texas; John, who is living on the old homestead farm in Illinois; Mrs. Mary South- ers, a resident of Kansas; Mrs. Rachel Moyer, of Weatherford, Texas; Mrs. Viola Hudson, and Mrs. Linnie Watson, deceased.

Mr. Wynn is probably one of the oldest Ma- sons of the country, for he was made a Master Mason at the age of twenty-one years, or in 1841. He is also a Knight Templar, having been for- merly actively connected with Palestine Com- mandery No. 27, at Paris, Illinois. His is a notable career for many reasons, not the least of which is that he is still active in the business affairs of life, although he has reached the eighty-fifth milestone on life's journey. Such a career should put to shame many a man of younger years who has grown weary of the trials and struggles of business life and would relegate to others the duties that he should bear. Mr. Wynn has also been very successful, owing en- tirely to his own enterprise; persistence and business sagacity. He has not attained suc- cess at the sacrifice of other men's fortunes, but has gained his wealth through honorable business methods and commands the entire re- spect and confidence of the business com- munity.

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A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume II, Part 87

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