A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume II, Part 9

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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George Q. McGown spent the early years of his life on a farm, receiving his elementary educational training in the country schools. Learning the mercantile business he went to Wel- lington. Kansas, where for ten years he was suc- cessfully engaged in that occupation, but after his removal to Fort Worth in 1892 he decided to take up the legal profession, and accordingly began his law studies in the office of Judge W. S. Essex. Since his admission to the bar he has conducted a successful and continually growing practice in Fort Worth, and from the beginning of his professional career he has made a special- ty of banking law and commercial and corporation practice, in which he has reached eminent suc- cess and is considered an authority on these branches at the Fort Worth bar. Believing that this is an age of specialization, he has limited his practice to such, and a 'large clientage has been vouchsafed him. Since July, 1904, he has carried on business under the firm name of Mc- Gown & Wade, Mr. Wade having been admitted into the firm at that time, and they have handsome and commodious offices in the new Reynolds building. In addition to his legal prac- tice Mr. McGown has also been identified with a number of corporations and business firms of this city, being the general attorney for the Dallas and Fort Worth Credit Men's Associations and man- ager of their adjustment bureau. He is also a director of and attorney for the firm of F. H. Campbell & Company, manufacturers of wind- mills, gasoline engines, water pipes, etc .; also served as attorney for a number of the local building and loan associations; and was one of the charter members and organizers of the United Benevolent Association and has had charge of its legal interests for some time.

Mr. MeGown married Miss Dora S. Pierce, their wedding being celebrated in Wichita, Kan- sas, and they have three sons,-Harry, Grover C. and George Q .. Jr. Mr. McGown is a deacon

in the Broadway Presbyterian church, in which he is an active worker and liberal supporter. In his fraternal affiliations he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has filled all of the offices. Wherever known he is held in high regard, and those who know him best are numbered among his warmest friends.

GEORGE W. BRAZEAL. The rural devel- opment of "Ten Mile" prairie, in Jack county, and the promotion of the substantial interests of agriculture in the same community have had an active ally in the person of George W. Brazeal, whose name introduces this particular article. For the past twenty-one years he has been con- nected with agrarian affairs in this, one of the most favored spots of rough and rugged Jack, and the efforts of himself and his twin brother, who has been equally active and progressive, have brought a naked and untamed tract of land into the union of homesteads, a beautiful and produc- tive farm with ample and substantial improve- ments and with an area of a baronial estate.

George and Willis Brazeal were born in Gray- son county, Texas, December 23, 1867, and were sons of Henry Brazeal, who settled there before the Civil War and owned a farm near Pilot Point. upon which he died in 1868, at about thirty-five years of age. The father was a Confederate sol- dier during the conflict between the states, and as a tiller of the soil carried on business some- what extensively for his day. He came to Texas from Tennessee a single man and married in Grayson county, Sarah, a daughter of G. Wash. Lemons, who bore him George W. and Henry W., twin sons and the subjects of this sketch. The paternal grandfather of our subjects was Henry Brazeal, who passed away in Grayson county at a ripe old age, and the maternal grand- sire was George W. Lemons, who was a Missouri settler to Grayson county and in Missouri his daughter Sarah was born. Some years subse- quent to her first husband's death Mrs. Brazeal married Jesse L. Craig, once a prominent citi- zen and farmer of northern Jack county, and this union was productive of children as follows : John T., of Greer county, Oklahoma, and James E., of Hale county, Texas. The mother of these children passed to rest near the home of our sub- jects . in 1893.

The brothers of this notice have passed their lives exclusively as farmers, being brought up and instructed by a sympathetic step-father and by a kind and loving mother. Their educations were looked after by the masters of the country school near by and at seventeen years of age they

HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

accompanied the family into Jack county. On reaching their majorities father Craig gave each a horse, ten head of cattle and all the good-will he possessed, and they set about at farming as tenants and worked occasionally for wages and immediately started up the long and stony incline to success. On buying the nucleus of their "Io-mile" farm they contracted for two hun- dred acres, built a box shanty for their families and began to grub. General farming yielded them profits from year to year and farm improve- ments and further farm development was con- stantly carried on. The farm boundaries were extended to include other lands and they now own a body of five hundred acres, a beautiful landscape and an ideal place for a country seat.

April 15, 1891, George W. Brazeal was first married, his wife being Laura O. Faver, who died in 1892 leaving a daughter, Jessie A. June 14, 1903, Mr. Brazeal married Effie May Jones, a daughter of Thomas Jones, who died in John- son county, Texas, where Mrs. Brazeal was born in the month of July, 1888. Wealthy Jewell, a little daughter, is the result of this marriage.

Henry W. Brazeal was united in marriage to Miss Mattie Faver, and has seven children. The brothers are not interested in politics beyond the expression of their will at the polls, and on na- tional questions this expression is always Demo- cratic.

JOSEPH M. HENDERSON is numbered among the honored dead of Tarrant county, de- parting this life August 31, 1903. Death often removes from our midst men whom we can ill afford to lose, men who have been active in af- fairs of life that contribute to individual suc- ces's and to the public prosperity and develop- ment as well. Such a one was Mr. Henderson, whose work in behalf of his community was far reaching and beneficial and who in public service and private life was always loyal to those prin- ciples which make for uprightness and honor in man's relations with his fellow men.

A native of Tennessee, Mr. Henderson was born in Bradley county, on the 21st of March, 1841, his parents being William and Serena (Ware) Henderson, the former a native of Vir- ginia and the latter of Tennessee. The father was a farmer and slave owner and about 1845 went with his family to Missouri, establishing his home in Cooper county. He was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, however, for he passed away there on the 8th of August, 1846. His widow afterward married again and her second husband died while en route to California in 1849. In 1851 she came with her children

to Texas, establishing her home near the pres- ent site of Birdville. She was a daughter of John Ware, also a native of Tennessee and he, too, died in Missouri. Mrs. Ware and her fami- ly came to Texas in 1851 with the Henderson family and others, settling in Tarrant county, where she passed away in 1863, being at that time survived by a son and four daughters: Margaret, Samuel, Mary, Nancy and Serena. In the Henderson family were six children, namely : John E., who was killed at the battle of Mans- field; Mary J., who died at the age of eighteen years ; Joseph M. ; Emily A., the widow of John Acres; William C., a farmer and stock dealer of Tarrant county ; and Sarah, the wife of James Hardesty, of Fort Worth.

Having come to Texas Mrs. Henderson pur- chased three hundred and twenty acres of prairie land and upon that farm she spent her remaining days, passing away September 3, 1880. She held membership in the Cumberland Presbyterian church and was a lady of splendid traits of char- acter, devoted to her family, genial and kindly in her relations with friends and at all times true to her professions as a member of the church.

Joseph M. Henderson was a young man when he came with his mother and grandmother and their respective families to Texas. Upon the home farm near Birdville he was reared and as he was the oldest son he early had to assume great responsibilities in connection with the farm and the rearing of the younger chil- dren of the household. He attained his majori- ty in Tarrant county and was truly a self educat- ed and self made man. Very ambitious, however, not only to attain worldly success but also to broaden his knowledge, he added continuously to his information through reading, investigation and observation and became well informed on topics of general interest. He always devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, in which he pros- pered both as a tiller of the soil and as a stock dealer. For a number of years he gave his at- tention to registered stock and was one of the leading promoters of this industry in his sec- tion of the state. Following the death of his mother he purchased the interest of the other heirs in the old home property and as his finan- cial resources increased he wisely invested his money in other tracts until his holdings were al- most two thousand acres. The soil was black and alluvial and the entire farm was under fence, three hundred acres being highly cultivated, while the remainder was used for range pur- poses. He rented much of his cultivated land, while his attention was given more exclusively

HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

to the stock business and in raising both cattle and horses he became well known.

Mr. Henderson not only successfully and ex- tensively conducted farming and stock-raising interests but also figured prominently in public affairs of the county and for two terms or four years acted as county sheriff, discharging his duties without fear or favor. He made a most faithful and efficient officer, winning high en- comiums from all law-abiding citizens. He like- wise served for four years as tax collector of the county and no public trust reposed in him was ever betrayed in the slightest degree.

At the time of the Civil War Mr. Henderson cspoused the cause of the Confederacy and in July, 1862, enlisted in Green's brigadc of Waller's battalion, which was assigned to the Trans-Mis- sissippi department and he served therewith until the cessation of hostilities, having in the mean- time participated in some hotly contested engage- ments and many skirmishes. He went with Banks on the Red River campaign and in the last battle at Yellow Bayou was wounded in the mouth by a minie ball, whereby he lost five of his tecth, while his jaw bone was broken. That ball, as a souvenir of his military experience, is still in the family. Being thus disabled, he was granted a furlough and returned home but at the end of two months, having recovered from his injurics, he rejoined his command and was with his regiment on the Lower Brazos at the time of the close of the war. There the regi- ment disbanded and he returned home.

On the ist of April, 1888, Mr. Henderson was united in marriage to Miss Ishie J. Jewell, a na- tive of Parker county, Texas, born in 1865 and a daughter of Hiram C. and Ann ( Prince) Jew- cll, the former a native of Tennessee. He came to Texas in 1848, settling first in Lamar county and resided consecutively in Grayson, Collin, Ilill, Parker and Tarrant counties. He and his wife are now residents of Fort Worth, Mr. Jew- ell being in the eighty-first year of his age. He was one of the pioneer settlers of this part of the state and his worth was widely acknowledged by reason of the effective aid which he rendercd in the substantial development of this part of the state. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Henderson were born two children, Modenia S., whose birth occurred February 21. 1880; and Robert W., who was born December 11, 1801.

In his political views Mr. Henderson was a stanch Democrat and, keeping well informed concerning the issues of the day, was able to support his position by intelligent argument. He was prominent in Masonry, having taken the de- grees of the Royal Arch chapter and the Knight

Templar Commandery at Fort Worth and his life was in harmony with the teachings of the craft, which is based upon mutual helpfulness and brotherly kindness. Mr. Henderson was a devoted member of the Baptist church of Fort Worth, while his wife holds membership in the Methodist church. He favored intellectual and moral progress as well as the material develop- ment of his county and was a man universally respected and honored by all who knew him be- cause of his allegiance to principles of upright- ness and integrity. He never falters in his sup- port of any cause which he believes to be right, and while he prospered in his business undertak- ings and held friendship inviolable his best traits of character were reserved for his own home and his family, his interests centering in his house- hold.

SAMUEL F. HEATH. Montague county has been the home of Samucl F. Heath since August of the centennial year, when he estab- lished himself within three miles of his present location, in close proximity to the far-famed Queen's Peak. His activities the past thirty years have been displayed in the varied interests of the farm and stock and while his efforts have redounded to his personal welfare his county's good has also been served and it is of the lives of such that it is the province of this work to commemorate.

The Empire state of Missouri furnished many of her hardy citizens to settle the frontier of the Lone Star state, and Mr. Heath among the num- ber. This mecca of open range and cheap homes attracted him hither and he has passed his years herc rather as a farmer than as a stockman. Stock-farming expresses the situation more ac- curately and as such his success is measured by substantial results.

Marion county, Missouri, is Mr. Heath's na- tive place and his birth occurred October 15. 1843. His father. Richard F. Heath, was an early set- tler of that county from Virginia, was a farmer and dicd in 1845. The latter married Rachel Kincaid. a Missouri lady, who passed away in 1855, the mother of John K., of Marion county, Missouri, and Samuel F.

The responsibility of partially rearing Samuel F. Hcath devolved upon his near relatives, for he was left an orphan at the age of twelve years. Limited education was all that was in store for hint and before he attained his majority he was making his maiden effort in life's battle as a farm hand at twenty-five cents a day. For several years he followed common labor as a wage-work- er and before the termination of his career as

Capt Villt. Miller and

HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

such he entered the army of the Confederate gov- ernment, then in conflict with the United States, and saw about two years of military duty in the state of his birth.

His enlistment in Col. Porter's regiment oc- curred in 1863, in August, and was in "Pap" Price's army. His initiation into real serious warfare occurred at the battle of Newark, Mis- souri, and following this came Kirksville, Palmy- ra and a fiasco by another name in the same state. His command disbanded when events pointed strongly toward the eventual success of federal arms and Mr. Heath again welcomed the scenes of the farm.

In 1865 Mr. Heath joined a company made up in his county to go to the Pacific coast. They crossed the Missouri river at Nebraska City, went up the South Platte to Fremont's Orchard, crossed over to the North Platte and down through the Bitter Creek country in Wyoming and over into Idaho to Boise and thence to the Columbia river at The Dalles and down the river to Portland. Discouraged by months of sickness in Ore- gon Mr. Heath returned to Idaho in the spring of 1866, where, in company with Payne and Duster, he ran a pack train between Lewiston and Helena. In the fall of 1866 he sold his interest in this crude overland freight transportation com- pany, took a boat at Fort Benton on the Missouri river and disembarked at Sioux City and made his way home.

Once more in his old haunts Mr. Heath re- sumed farming and continued it with fair success until his departure for Texas in the fall of 1875. He reached the state in November and stopped in Grayson county until August, 1876, when he in- troduced himself and small family to the few neighbors about Queen's Peak, in Montague county. He purchased a new farm of one hun- dred seventy-seven and three-quarters acres soon after his arrival, which he substantially improved and where he makes his home. As prosperity has justified he has increased his landed dominions by successive purchases until he owns 433 acres, a farm ample and sufficient for his future do- mestic needs.

February 14, 1867, Mr. Heath married Lizzie, a daughter of A. H. and Andro (Barnett) Kincaid, who was one of seven children in her parents' family. In 1887, Mrs. Heath died leav- ing children: Samuel, of McLoud, Oklahoma, married to Alice Chrisman and has children, Myrtle L., Homer W., John P., and Andro May ; Ann Rachel, wife of Thomas Heath, of Jack county ; Rev. J. O., Washington state, and Liz- zie K. August 31, 1891, Mr. Heath married

Cora B. Presswood, a daughter of Joseph Van- Vacter and widow of Austin Presswood. Mr. Van Vacter was a Virginian but came to Texas from Missouri, in which state Mrs. Heath was born July 13, 1865. The issue of this union are : Nora Belle, Hermine G., Norman, Thelma B., and Arvelle T.

Mr. Heath is a plain citizen with honest con- victions who, on questions of public policy on national issues, espouses the cause of Democracy and in spiritual matters he holds to the Mission- ary Baptist faith.

WILL A. MILLER, JR., is a foremost young business man and public-spirited citizen of Ama- rillo. As manager of the Will A. Miller Land Company at this place he has been an effective factor in promoting permanent immigration to this section of the state and developing it as a great farming and stock-raising region. The Will A. Miller Land Company was founded by Mr. Miller's father, Will A. Miller, Sr., who was one of the leading business men of Decatur, Wise county, this state, for twenty-seven years, and a well known and honored Confederate veteran. Captain Miller was born at Monroe, Louisiana, in 1842, and in 1861 enlisted at that place as an artilleryman, going out as a sergeant and after- ward being promoted to the command of a bat- tery of artillery. It is notable that he opened the great battle of Shiloh, on the part of the Confed- erates, by firing the first shot from artillery. He was in a number of the great battles of the war, and won distinction by his service. For some time after the war he lived at Texarkana, Arkan- sas, and in 1876 came to Texas and located at Decatur, which remained his home until April, 1905.

In 1881 he started in the real estate business there, making a specialty of ranch and cattle lands. About 1884 the Will A. Miller Land Company was organized, which is now owned by himself and his sons, Will A. and Stuart, the latter managing the Shamrock office. The land transactions are now carried on at the Amarillo office, of which Will A. Miller, Jr., has charge. Several years ago this company was made the immigration agent of the Fort Worth and Den- ver Railway, and in that capacity the company's operations have followed the road from Fort Worth to Texline; and they have gradually opened the country toward the northwest and promoted the growth and development of all the towns and surrounding country on that line. Be- sides the large interests which they represent as, agents, the Millers have large properties of their own, among which is a fine ranch in Archer

1HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

county and one in Potter county, sixteen miles west of Amarillo. The large business transacted by the company may be better understood from a few figures concerning their recent operations. In the year 1903 they sold at the Amarillo office a million and a quarter acres of Panhandle lands, and during the first eight months of the year 1904 their sales totaled a million acres. They have made a specialty of selling the lands of the famous L. X. and L. S .. ranches, which are now in the process of division into small stock farms. The L. X. ranch lies in Randall and Potter counties, and at the time it was put on the market it contained nine hundred and eighteen sections of land. The 1 .. S. ranch lies in Potter and Oldham counties, is almost as large, and has all been sold.

Captain Miller was a man of much influence at Decatur, and for several years he was honored by election to the office of clerk of the county and district courts there. His wife's maiden n'une was Emma Whetstone, and she was born near Shreveport, Louisiana, their marriage being celebrated during the progress of the Civil War. Hle is now living at Amarillo and is one of the progressive citizens of this city.

Will A. Miller, Jr., was born at Texarkana, Arkansas, May 14, 1871, and was reared and rc- ceived his elucation at Decatur, Texas. He af- terward stu:lied law in the law department of the Texas State University at Austin, where he was graduated in 1801. He has never practiced ex- cept in connection with the company's business, and is the company's attorney and confines his legal work to the same. He came to Amarillo to establish the office of the land company in 1899 and has since remained a resident of this city. Ile is a very busy man, has the requisite energy for an extensive business of this kind, and his time is almost entirely occupied in promoting the growth and settlement of the Panhandle. He spends large sums for advertising, and has been the medium through which many settlers have been located in the stock-farming business in this part of the state and made worthy and perma- nent citizens. His business is always conducted on a thoroughly reliable and honest basis, with- ont the misrepresentation and exaggeration which cause the statements of the ordinary real estate agent to be discounted fifty per cent in the judg- ment, and this policy has paid well and been to no small degree responsible for the large and continued success of the company. Mr. Miller has traveled so extensively through all this Pan- handle region that he is one of the best known mien of this section, and he likewise wields no small influence among his fellow citizens. At the present writing he is serving as chairman of

the Potter county Democratic executive commit- tee.

In 1896 Mr. Miller was married at Decatur, Texas, to Miss Nellie Beard, and they have two children, Lee Roy and Charlotte.

PRICE W. BROOKS, a representative of one of the early families of Texas, who is now giving his time and energies to stock-farming in Montague county, is a native son of Kentucky, born February 13, 1847. His parents were John B. and Julia A. (Kelly) Brooks, both of whom were natives of North Carolina, in which state they were married. The father was of English descent and the mother of Scotch-Irish lineage and of Choctaw Indian stock. They were mar- ried in the old North state and afterward removed to Kentucky, whence they went to Illinois in 1854, remaining there until 1860. That year witnessed their arrival in Fannin county, Texas, and in 1863 they removed to Grayson county, where the father purchased raw land, which he transformed into a richly productive farm, mak- ing his home thereon until his death, which oc- curred in 1889, when he had reached the ripe old age of seventy-eight years. For some time prior to his death he was blind. The family, however, remained together and ultimately be- came possessed of large farming interests and gained a good start in the stock business, rais- ing cattle, horses and other stock. They were progressive, accomplishing much through deter- mination and earnest purpose, and their labors contributed in substantial measure to the mate- rial improvement and upbuilding of the county. The father was a minister of the Christian church and was among the first to preach that doctrine in Grayson county. He also extended his minis- terial labors to many other counties, assisted in the organization of various churches and in the establishment of this work, his labor bearing rich fruit to the present time. His memory is yet enshrined in the hearts of many who knew him and remains as a blessed benediction to those with whom he was associated. Politically he was a Democrat and used his influence for the party but never sought or desired office for him- self. He was a broad-minded, intelligent man, charitable and kindly, his life being permeated by the principles of the Christian religion, so that his worth was widely acknowledged. He left to his family the priceless heritage of an untar- nished name and an example that is indeed well worthy of emulation. His wife, also a member of the Christian church, died in 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks became the parents of thirteen chil- dren : Elizabeth and Caroline, who died in child-

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A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume II, Part 9

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