History of Texas, together with a biographical history of the cities of Houston and Galveston; containing a concise history of the state, with protraits and biographies of prominent citizens of the above named cities, and personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families, Part 37

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing co., 1895
Number of Pages: 1532

USA > Texas > Harris County > Houston > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of the cities of Houston and Galveston; containing a concise history of the state, with protraits and biographies of prominent citizens of the above named cities, and personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families > Part 37
USA > Texas > Galveston County > Galveston > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of the cities of Houston and Galveston; containing a concise history of the state, with protraits and biographies of prominent citizens of the above named cities, and personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families > Part 37

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

the father, one son and two daughters dying there.

In 1854 a party consisting of eight or ten families was made up at Columbus to come to Texas. It was headed by Berry Matthews, eldest brother of the subject of this notice, and in it was another brother or two, besides other relatives. The colony settled in Brazoria and was the means of bringing, from first to last, a number of people to this State from the town of Colum- bus, Mississippi, and that vicinity. Henry Frank Matthews came out, as near as can be ascertained, in 1855. He had previously married in Mississippi and had been in busi- ness in that State both at Columbus and Vicksburg, and had traveled considerably in the interest of Pratt, the well-known gin and mill man of Columbus. On coming to this State he settled at Houston, and after representing Pratt's interest here for a while, he turned his attention to other pursuits. He was engaged at different times in the wood, lumber, steamboating, hotel and livery business, besides holding several minor local offices. He built a small steamner, called the H. F. Matthews, which he ran on Buffalo Bayou successfully for some years. Mr. Matthews, however, was not a man of strong business ability. His mind possessed a mechanical turn, and he was always more interested in machinery than in business, and spent much of his time in improving and inventing mechanical devices of one kind and another. He was remarkably in- dustrious, and kept himself employed at something almost to the day of his death.

He died in Houston in February, 1894. His wife, Jane Craig Matthews, preceded him to the grave a number of years. They were the parents of seven children, all of whom are living, these being Pratt, Joseph

265

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

C., Mrs. Jennie M. Burton, Mrs. Ida Tomp- kins, Mrs. Bettie Calhoun, Mrs. Ella Weaver, and Frank.

Mr. Matthews' brothers, who came to Texas,-Berry, John, William, Thomas L. and George A., -all died here except John, who is still a resident of the State.

EN. THOMAS NEVILLE WAUL. -The subject of this brief sketch was born in South Carolina, Janu- ary 5, 1813. His parents were Thomas and Annie Waul, who were also natives of South Carolina and descendants of early settled families of that State. Thomas N. was their only child, and is the last living descendant of the Wauls of the Carolinas. He was reared in the place of his nativity and received most of his educa- tion in the University of South Carolina, at Columbia; but did not graduate because of ill health and lack of means. Having lost his parents when young, he left South Caro- lina at the age of seventeen for the great West, determined to cast his lot somewhere in the "Mississippi country," then at the full tide of that era of its. history, since called "the flush times." He traveled overland from South Carolina, and had reached Florence, Alabama, in his west- ward progress, when, having stopped a few days to rest from the fatigue of his journey, he was tendered the position of principal of the Male Academy at Florence, which posi- tion he accepted, and remained there for one year. Proceeding thence westward, he located in Vicksburg, Mississippi, in 1833, and there entered the office of Sergeant S. Prentiss, and began reading law, prepara- tory to entering on the practice of it as a 18

profession. Before reaching his majority he was licensed to practice by Chief Justice Starkey, of the Supreme Court of the State, and at once entered on the vigorous pursuit of his profession in Vicksburg. He was shortly afterward appointed District Attor- ney for the district, including Vicksburg, Natchez, and many of the wealthy river counties, and, for one of his age, achieved considerable reputation as a public prose- cutor. In 1836 he moved to Grenada, Mis- sissippi, where he soon built up a large and remunerative practice in both the civil and criminal branches of the law. For a period of about fifteen years he followed the law uninterruptedly and most successfully in Grenada, at the end of which time he came to Texas (December, 1850), settling on the Guadalupe river, where, for a time, he sought rest and recreation from the laborious and exacting duties of his profession. Once a resident of this State, he became charmed with its beauties and received material bene- fit from its climate, and was so much pleased with the change that he decided to make his home here in the future. He still had large interests in Mississippi, and for the purpose of handling these he opened an office in. New Orleans, and practiced in im- portant cases in the Louisiana and Missis- sippi courts. He was, in those years, as he has been since, devoted most assiduously to his profession, but being then, as now, a Democrat known to be without "variable- ness or shadow of turning," his political associates saw fit to inake him their candi- date for Congress in 1859, against the Hon. A. J. Hamilton, and though defeated, he made a gallant race, and achieved great popularity as a platform speaker. He was then at his best as an orator, and, as party lines were being tightly drawn and interest

266

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

in public questions generally aroused, he enjoyed exceptional opportunities to impress himself upon the country. He was made Elector at Large on the Breckenridge and Lane ticket in 1860, and aroused great en- thusiasm in behalf of the party, making, during this time, some of the ablest speeches of his life. He was opposed to war, and hoped that the South would be able to en- force her rights in the Union; yet, should war come, he urged a united and vigorous resistance, and pledged his life and fortune to the cause of the Confederacy, a pledge which he most faithfully kept. An incident, occurring during his delivery of a speech at Seguin, in the summer of 1860, so well illustrated his devotion to his native South, and is such a splendid example of apt reply, that it will bear repetition in this place. Some one in the audience called out: "But, sir, suppose Lincoln should be elected; what would you do then?" Turning toward the questioner, he answered instantly: "God Almighty grant that that day may never come; yet, should the evil day arrive, I shall remember that I am a native son of the South, and shall say to lier as Ruth said to Naomi, 'Whither thou goest I will go; and where thou lodgest I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God. Where thou diest I will die, and there will I be buried; the Lord do so to mne and more also, if aught but death part thee and me.'" The effect of this sentiment, delivered at such a time and with splendid dramatic accompaniments, can hardly be es- timated. The crowd went wild and the speaker was the object of the most enthu- siastic admiration.

When Texas seceded General Waul was a representative to the Confederate Con- gress at Montgomery, and before that body

his voice was often heard setting forth his views upon the great questions with which the South was then confronted. When it became clear to him, as it did to most of the far-seeing men of both sections of the Union, that the country was then engaged in a contest which was likely to last for an indefinite time, and one to be at last de- cided by the military rather than in the halls of legislation, he gave up his seat in the Con- federate Congress, and securing a commis- sion, returned to Texas and raised a com- mand designated as "Waul's Legion," and entered the Confederate army. General Waul's knowledge of the topography of Mississippi rendered his services in that State, and especially along the exposed water front, almost invaluable. His com- mand, aided by the Second Texas under Colonel Ashbel Smith, repulsed the Federal- gun-boats in their progress towards Vicks- burg, and thus saved that place for a time to the Confederacy. At Vicksburg, and again at Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, Yellow Bayou and Jenkins' Ferry, General Waul bore himself with distinction, bearing from the field the evidences of his bravery, not only in his commissions of promotion, but in wounds received while leading his men, and personally directing the operations of the army.

When the war was over General Waul returned to Texas, and was elected to the Constitutional Convention of 1866. Be- lieving that it was as much his duty to pro- tect the rights of his people by law as by arms, he served in this body and used his best efforts to secure an early return to the peaceful order of things. During the trying times of reconstruction he resided on his plantation on the Gaudalupe, and used what little power he, in common with other ex-

267

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

Confederate soldiers, was allowed to exercise, for what he conceived to be for the best in- terests of the people. In 1868 he moved to Galveston, and here resumed the practice of his profession, which he has since uninter- ruptedly followed. General Waul, although he would perhaps resent the insinuation of age, is now both in age and practice one of the Nestors of the bar of Texas. With but very brief intervals of interruption, -hardly any save the period covered by the war, -he has been continuously in the practice for sixty years. More than forty years of this time he has resided in Texas and practiced before Texas courts. Coming to the State so long ago, and having been so actively and con- tinuously in the practice, he has transacted a large amount of legal business, and of necessity had much to do with fixing the State's jurisprudence. Although he has always stood ready to honor sight drafts on his time and services in behalf of his party, and has inany times rendered it good service and is always in demand as a speaker on public occasions of every kind when good speaking is expected, it is as a lawyer that he is best known, and as a lawyer that he has achieved the best results. His chosen profession has been the ambition of his life, and he still pursues its arduous duties with all the enthusiasm of youth. He is greatly respected by the members of his profession, having been honored several times with the presidency of the State Bar Association and with the vice-presidency of the American Bar Association.

In early life General Waul married Miss Mary Simmons, a daughter of Thomas and Nancy Simmons, of Georgia, Mrs. Waul hav- ing been born in Georgia and coming, as does her husband, of old South Carolina stock.

a HARLES HENRY SPRONG .- The subject of this brief sketch is a native of New York, having been born in the city of Rochester, December 27, 1853. His parents, William H. and Rebecca (Blair) Sprong, were also born in New York, and in that State the father still lives, residing on a farm near Spencerport, ten miles from Rochester, the mother having recently (January 10, 1893), died. Mr. Sprong's father is a farmer, and Charles Henry was brought up on the farm in the wholesome duties of which he re- ceived his early training. His education was obtained in local schools, and was restricted to the elementary branches. Be- ing the eldest son of a family of seven chil- dren he remained with his parents and gave them the benefit of his services until he reached his twenty-sixth year, when in 1879 he started out to manage for himself.

He was attracted to Texas by favorable reports of the country received through newspapers, and on February 10th, of the year just mentioned, he landed in Houston. His first employment in this city was as a driver of an ice wagon. He was engaged at this only about a month, when he secured the position of timekeeper for the Houston Water Works Company, this company then having in its employ a large number of men engaged in putting in an extensive system of water works. From the position of timekeeper he was promoted after one year to that of assistant superintendent. At the end of the fourth year of his connection with this company he was made superin- tendent and general manager, and held this place until he resigned it in June, 1890, to accept the position of secretary and treas- urer of the Houston Land and Improvement Company. After a year with this company

268

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

he gave up his connection with it, and pur- chased an interest in the Simpson, Hart- well & Stopple Foundry and Machine Shops, being made secretary of this association. He held this position till April, 1894, when he sold his stock in this company, and, associating himself with Love & Com- pany, built the fine grist and flouring mills on Tenth and Railroad streets, Houston, now being operated under his management. October 19, 1891, he was elected secretary of the Houston Water Works Company, which position he now fills.

It will thus be seen that Mr. Sprong has had to do with a number of the business interests of Houston, and it may be added that he has made an unqualified success of whatever he has had to do. His career since coming to Houston, a little more than fifteen years ago, is one luminous in mean- ing and full of encouragement to young men situated as he was at that time. When he reached Ilouston in February, 1879, he had only $60. He has never received even a cent since by gift or inheritance, but the tax rolls of Harris county show him to be worth over $15,000. His standing both as a man of business and as a citizen is of the best, and his career is pointed to with be- coming pride by his many friends and busi- ness associates.

December 13, 1871, Mr. Sprong mar- ried Miss Cordelia Blake, daughter of Dr. Edmund H. Blake and a native of Houston. (See history of the Blake family elsewhere in this volume). The issue of this union has been three children: Eula Belle, William H. and Jennie Blake. Mr. and Mrs. Sprong are members of the First Presby- terian Church of Houston, in which Mr. Sprong is a Deacon. Mr. Sprong has two brothers: William H., Jr., and Frank J.,

residing in Houston; and four sisters resid- ing in New York, namely: Mrs. W. T. Amsdell in Albany, Mrs. William Shourds in Auburn, Mrs. Edward Witherspoon in New York city, and Mrs. W. W. Wilcox in Niagara Falls.

a HARLES A. BURTON. - While there are few incidents of a sensa- tional or even novel character in the ordinary lines of business men, there are yet in every successful career points of interest and an undercurrent of character well deserving of careful thought. However closely lives may resemble one another, each · must differ from all others and preserve an identity truly its own. The life history of the late Charles A. Burton, of Houston, while it has many phases in common with others of his calling, yet discloses an energy, perseverance and integrity, which acting together as a motive power, enabled him to attain and maintain a high standing of respectability socially and an esteem in business circles that always cause his name to be mentioned with pleasure by those who knew him.

Coming to Houston a comparatively young man with no means, family influence or business backing, he literally began his career here at the bottom of the ladder, and by the exercise of those inherent qualities of head and heart which must be possessed in a large measure by every man who achieves more than ordinary success, he rose gradual- ly, developing a character in the meantime and accumulating means such as few men do without adventitious aid of some sort.

Mr. Burton was a native of New Hamp- shire, having been born in the town of Man- chester. He came of New England ances-

269

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

try throughout; was educated in the schools of his native State and reared to habits of industry and usefulness in accordance with the New England idea of training the young. His parents died while he was yet a lad, and he was thus early thrown on his own re- sources. He followed industrial pursuits of one kind and another in New England and Canada until after reaching his majority. He then came South, and locating in Hous- ton he here secured employment on the Houston & Texas Central Railway. He had previously been engaged in railroading in Canada and had there become a locomo- tive engineer. He was given a similar posi- tion on the Central and occupied this posi- tion a year or so when he was promoted to that of conductor. His rise from that time on was rapid and in a few years he became general superintendent of this road. His unremitting attention to his duties told in time on his health and he was compelled at last to resign his position and give up active business pursuits. Recovering somewhat, after the lapse of several months, he accept- ed the position of general superintendent of the Texas & New Orleans Railway, with which he continued however only a short time, when his health again forced his re- tirement. He never sufficiently recovered to engage in business again, but failing gradually, he at last succumbed to the disease which had been insidiously sapping his vitality.

November 31, 1871, Mr. Burton married Miss Jennie M. Matthews, of Houston, a daughter of Captain H. F. Matthews (see his sketch herein), and by this union had two daughters, Josephine, Jennie, and a son, Arthur C., who with his widow survive him.

Such is a brief outline of the career of this gentleman. Mr. Burton was not a

public man and he never became generally known to the people of this community. But he had a large and favorable acquaint- ance among Houston's business men, to whom he was well known, and by whom he was greatly respected.

In seeking for the life purpose of the subject of this sketch, it is much to his credit to be able to say that his purpose seems to have been no scheme of self-aggran- dizement, or fleeting worldly ambition, but a sincere desire to live up to the measure of his endowments and responsibilities, to develop a character and leave an honorable nanie to his posterity. He was greatly devoted to business and achieved noteworthy success. He had been made to feel very forcibly some of the inequalities of life, and it was his sincere wish that his children might be spared so far as possible these embarrassments. His career was shaped largely by this purpose. The cast of his mind was eminently practical and he had at all times the bearing of one earnestly devoted to the matter in hand. He made it a rule to have but one business at a time, and to give it close and undivided attention, never to postpone till to-morrow what could be done to-day, to attend to business first, and pleasure afterward, and to employ strict integrity and unfailing compliance with every obligation, whether verbal or written. Whether his income was great or small, he always lived within it; was never sued for debt, and in the discharge of every duty and strict compliance with every obligation he won the confidence and respect of all with whom he had business intercourse.

The domestic virtues preponderated in him, and his home circle was charming and pleasant. Under his own roof and by his own fireside lie realized the best phases and

270

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

the truest enjoyments of life. Of quiet, retiring disposition, he did his own thinking, acting vigorously and promptly as occasion demanded. He was possessed of genial manners and great kindness of heart, quick to notice an intended injury but, equally quick to forgive if proper restitution was made. He had a strong will united with extraordinary firmness and decision. Un- fortunately his physical constitution was not equal to his ambition. He was continually taking on his shoulders more than he could do with safety to his health.

In addition to being a thoroughgoing railroad man, Mr. Burton was a shrewd man of business. He possessed the acumen, the practical insight, the mental grasp that would have made him a successful merchant, banker or other man of affairs where these. qualities are in demand and where success so much depends upon their constant and orderly operation. As it was, while he devoted himself during all his active and Inature years to pursuits where the most unremitting attention to the interest of others was demanded, he yet found time and opportunities to make investments which resulted in leaving his family well provided for at his death, thus offering a signal refutation to the oft-repeated saying that a man who works on a salary never accumulates.

a D P. LARKIN .- A recent essayist has said with great truth that "Every man who lives out his nat- ural life usefully and honorably, however obscure he may be, is a hero." Modern civilization has made life so com- . plex, wearing and arduous, has entailed

such weighty responsibilities, that the exer- cise of steady courage alone can sustain it.

The subject of this brief sketch belongs to a class of men who perhaps bear an amount of responsibility as inuch dispro- portioned to the pay they receive and the credit they get for the discharge of their duties as can be found anywhere in the land. Even a moment's reflection will show how much of life and death and how many million dollars' worth of property are constantly entrusted to the care of the rail- way engineers of this country, whose faith- fulness to their duties is proverbial, whose sacrifices to such duties are of daily occur- rence, and yet whose services and sacrifices are accepted by the public as a matter of course, and remunerated by the railway companies with salaries far below those paid to officials who do not perform half the labor and incur practically no risk.

Mr. Larkin was born in Carbondale, Lackawanna county, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Hugh and Mary Larkin, both of whom were natives of Ireland. He was reared in his native State, but leaving there at about the age of twenty-one, he was, for some years in early manhood, somewhat of a wanderer. He spent several months in the Western and Northwestern States and Territories, where he was engaged in min- ing operations. He then went to Central America, thence back to the Eastern States, and finally, in 1871, drifted to Texas, tak- ing up his residence at Houston. Here he secured employment as a fireman on the Houston & Texas Central Railway, and for the past twenty-three years he has been in the employ of this road. For more than twenty years he has had charge of an en- gine, sometimes on freight and sometimes on passenger runs, and during this time he

371

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

has, with only brief intervals of absence (when away for a month or two of recrea- tion), been regularly at his post, and has covered thousands of miles in his runs. His long service shows the value in which he is held by the officials of the road, while his personal popularity among his associate employes is a matter of common knowledge along the line of the road. Mr. Larkin is a large man, weighing over 200 pounds, and is good-natured and jolly, like most large men. He possesses a keen eye, and, when on duty, wears the earnest, thoughtful face of one intent on what he is about. He is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomo- tive Engineers, Division No. 139, and re- sides at Houston, where he has a comfort- able home, corner Sabine and Lubbock streets.

Mr. Larkin married Miss Johanna Sulli- van, of Houston, in 1885, and lost his wife December 11, 1890, she leaving him two children, a daughter and son, -Josie and Eddie. Since his wife's death Mr. Larkin's sister has had charge of his house, and is assisting him in the responsible task of rear- ing his little ones.

0 LE CHRISTIAN TELLEFSON, son of Tellef Oleson and Annie Christina Poulson, was born in the city of Christiansand, Norway, on November 5, 1836. After a few years' at- tendance at the primary schools in his na- tive place he entered and learned the trade of ship carpenter, which he mastered, at the expiration of his apprentice term, and shipped as carpenter on a vessel which plied between southern and northern Europe.

In 1858 he came to America on the brig Otto, as her carpenter, the boat landing at

New York. There he took employment on a Nova Scotia vessel. In 1859 he came to Galveston in the ship Panama, of New York, became attached to the city and settled here and worked successfully at his trade until the opening of the war. In 1861 he went into the Confederate ordnance department, in which he remained for a long time,, after which he joined Captain Van Hardin's com- pany of heavy artillery, Cook's regiment, which participated in and recaptured Gal- veston, January 1, 1863. He was subse- quently transferred to the Marine depart- ment, in refitting and building vessels for the Confederate service, among them the Bayou City, John F. Carr, Neptune, Lone Star, Florelda, Uncle Ben and several others. During a severe illness in the spring of 1865 he received a pass from General Walker to leave the State and run the blockade to Cuba, on the steamship Danby, and went thence to Mexico and remained there until the close of the war. He went from Mexico to Philadelphia and came back to Galveston as carpenter on steamship Morgan, with John Y. Lawless, as captain, and served also in capacity of mate and second mate on said steamship. Subse- quently he was employed for a number of years by the Houston Navigation Company, as superintendent of repairs, under Captain John H. Sterrett.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Author: Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing co., 1895 Number of Pages: 1532

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing co., 1895
Number of Pages: 1532