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 44

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 44
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 44

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over forty years; but this is not the principal monument he left to his memory. His vir- tues were greater than his achievements; his personal worth more than his gains. Wedded to a brain of surpassing native force he had a heart that was attuned to the faint- est murmurings of his race. Never afellow mortal went to him in distress and left empty-handed. Once satisfied that his help was needed he ask no questions, but gave generously, as became one of his means.

But perhaps the most signal trait of his character was that which enabled him to draw men around him, inspire their respect and hold them with unvarying devotion to himself and his interests. There are now gray-haired men in the bank which he found- ed, who entered his employ as striplings, and the writer has the first one yet to incet who was ever with him in any capacity, that did not speak most feelingly of him and his many expressions of kindness and friendship for them. And here probably, along with his keen mental insight and his superior knowledge of men, is to be found the source of his great success, -his ability to organize and to infuse into those to whom his affairs were entrusted a sense of pride and personal responsibility in the work in hand.

Mr. House was not a member of any secret society nor of any church. But he was a constant attendant on the services of the Methodist Church, and was considered one of the largest contributors to the support of that denomination in the city.

ILLIAM BRYANT BRANCH .- The termination of the Mexican war of 1846-8 in favor of the United States, and the disband- ing on Texas soil of many volunteer regi-

ments from the older States, brought to the feeble settlements of this State a large num- ber of valuable citizens whose services were needed in the communities where they took up their residence. One of these volunteer soldier citizens who thus became a resident of Texas, was the subject of this brief notice. He was a native of North Carolina, but was chiefly reared in the vicinity of Memphis, Tennessee, to which locality his parents moved during his early years. He volun- teered in a Tennessee regiment for service in the Mexican war, in 1846, being then in his nineteenth year, and followed the stars and stripes through Mexico to the final tri- umph of the United States army. He served alternately as wagon-master and quartermaster. After the termination of hostilities he made a brief visit to his old home in Tennessee, and then came to Texas and settled at Richmond, in Fort Bend county. There he was engaged in various pursuits and met with a fair degree of suc- cess. He married Miss Nicholas F. Lookup, of Richmond, and by this union had one child, a daughter, Ida Lowther Branch. She was married to Charles W. Eckman, and in January, 1886, died, leaving three children,-Nicholas Branch, Carl Camille and Ida Branch. Mr. Branch was a great sufferer during his later years from a lung trouble which was brought on in the army, and from the effects of which he finally died, about 1870. He died at Round Top, in Fayette county, whither he went about a year and a half previously for the benefit of his health. He was for many years a mem- ber of the Episcopal Church. He was active in politics, though never to the extent of asking office for himself. His surviving widow moved to Galveston in 1887, after the death of her daughter, for the purpose

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of educating her grandchildren, who now constitute her household.

Mrs. Branch was born in Dumfries, Scotland, and came as a member of her father's family to Texas, when she was" about twenty years old. Her father, Alex- ander Lookup, was a man of prominence in Dumfries, being a member of the town council for more than twenty years, and an Elder in St. Michael's Church (Presbyterian) in that place. He was also a prominent Mason, and was buried with Masonic honors at Columbus, Texas. Mrs. Branch is the third of a family of four children born to her parents, the others being: William, who went when a young man to Buenos Ayres; Thomas, a physician of New York; and Elizabeth A., widow of Thornton Thatcher. Mrs. Branch had one half- brother, Alexander Lookup, who was for years Clerk of the District Court of Colora- do county, Texas, and who died in Virginia in 1872, having gone there in search of health. Mrs. Branch also had one half-sis- ter, Mary A. Lookup, who was married to Alexander Buchanan of Marion, Virginia.

a C. SWEENEY .- The late C. C. Sweeney filled for nearly a quarter of a century a noteworthy place in the commercial and political liis- tory of Galveston. He was a native of the old Bay State, having been born in the city of Boston in the year 1838. His boyhood and youth were spent in his native city and his early education was such as the public schools of Boston then afforded. At about the age of fifteen, he went to sea and fol- lowed the life of a sailor some years, until 1856, when he settled at Galveston. After locating in this city he immediately turned

liis attention to business pursuits, engaging in stevedoring, which thereafter formed the chief occupation of liis life. He soon at- tained a good standing in this line of busi- ness and through it accumulated some means. He always took great interest in shipping matters and was the prime mover in the or- ganization of the Galveston & Liverpool Steamship Company, which constructed a line of steamships specially designed for the Texas cotton trade between Galveston and Liverpool. Another company in which he was also interested put in a line of sail ves- sels, five in number, naned the "C. C. Sweeney," the "Jennie Sweeney," the "Thomas H. Sweeney," the "John Swee- ney" and the "George W. Sweeney,"-that is, for himself, dangliter, brother and two sons, -for tlie cotton trade between Galves- ton and New England points. When the late war between the States came on, Mr. Sweeney promptly cast his fortunes with the Confederacy, enlisting in Company B, Cook's artillery, with which he served until his com- pany, which was largely composed of sea- faring men, was placed in the marine corps of the Gulf, where he continued in the serv- ice until the close of the war.

Later on, in times of peace, Mr. Sweeney's counsel and advice in civil affairs were sought, and almost unconsciously he became the leader of the Democracy of southern Texas. He was a spontaneously free-hearted and open-handed man, and was constantly befriending others. It was these admirable traits of character that in a large measure won for him the popularity he en- joyed, and that gave him such great influ- ence, especially among the plain people. Though not an office-seeker he held some positions of distinction, and always exercised a strong political influence in his party.

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He was a delegate to three different national conventions of his party, being a member of the convention that nominated Grover Cleve- land for the presidency the first time. Mr. Sweeney was appointed Collector of the port of Galveston, in 1885, which position he held for a term of four years.

C. C. Sweeney was more than an ordin- ary man of business. He was a reader of books and a student of the current affairs of life. Though the fact is not generally known, he left one of the best libraries in the city of Galveston. He spent his money unsparingly for good books, and he took special pride in the treasury which he thus accumulated. Frank, earnest and liberal by nature he dealt liberally with all men and all subjects, striving to find that which was good in each and looking with the broadest charity on failings of all. He held in the greatest respect the religious opinions of others, and was himself a member of the Catholic Church.

About 1858, Mr. Sweeney married Miss Martlia J. Smith, of Galveston, and the issue of this union was three sons and one daughter: John, Charles, George W. and Jennie (now Mrs. D. J. Buckley). Mr. Sweeney died August 22, 1892, from a sudden stroke of apoplexy, having enjoyed vigorous health up to within a year of his death. Surviving him he left a widow, one son, George W. Sweeney, and one daughter, Mrs. D. J. Buckley.

GEORGE W. SWEENEY, son of C. C. and Martha J. Sweeney, was born in the city of Galveston, June 22, 1867. He was accord- ed the advantages of a good education and early entered on business pursuits, being now a member of the firmin of T. L. Cross & Company, ship-chandlers of Galveston. On October 9, 1893, he married Miss Janie

Buckley, daughter of D. J. Buckley. One daughter, Anna, the issue of this union, was born December 17, 1893, and died Decem- ber 29, 1894.

RS. EDITHA REYBAUD .- A full list of the surviving old settlers of Galveston island, so far as it is possible to make such a list, dis- closes the interesting fact that more than two-thirds of the number are women. It argues well for the fortitude and endurance of these pioneer wives and inothers that so many of them have outlived their compan- ions. Especially is this so in view of the fact that the trials and hardships incident to the settlement of this island and the build- ing of this city certainly bore equally as heavily on the female as on the male por- tion of the population. Galveston has passed through nine yellow-fever epidemics, and was blockaded, constantly menaced, and more than once attacked during the Mexican and the late Civil wars. The care, anxiety and suffering which these special visitations entailed are to be added to the labors and vicissitudes inseparably connected with the settlement of a new place, and that, the women of this city bore thein so well and are still living to tell the story of their hardships, while in many cases their hus- bands, and sons also, have passed to the great beyond, stands to their especial credit.

One of the early settlers here referred to, a lady who has remained as constantly on this island during her forty-odd years' residence here as any of her sex, is Mrs. Editha Reybaud, widow of Hippolite Rey- baud and former wife of Rufus Simons, both also old settlers of Galveston. Mrs. Rey-

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baud was born in St. Martinsville, Lonisiana, being a daughter of Eugene and Cleonide Pellerin, of French descent. She was mar- ried to Rufus Simons in her native place, in 1843, and in 1851 came to Galveston, land- ing here October 13. After the death of Mr. Simons in 1853 she was married to Mr. Reybaud, whom she now survives. All the hardships and annoyances that could come to one in her condition in life, Mrs. Reybaud knew after settling in Galveston; and what- ever homage or credit the general public is prepared to bestow on the pioneer women of this city, she is entitled to a share of it.

Mrs. Reybaud has been the mother of ten children, eight of whom she raised to maturity. But five of these are now living, two by the first marriage, -Felix and Mrs. Julia Hawkins, widow of W. H. Hawkins; and three by the last, -Mrs. Louise Ayers, wife of Theo. C. Ayers; Henry, and Gabri- elle. All of these reside in Galveston. Two sons and a daughter, -Adamn, Sarah and Joseph, -by the first marriage died in child- hood and youth, and two by the second marriage, both daughters, Rose and Clara, died, the former at seventeen, of yellow fever, in 1867, and the latter, in 1889, be- ing the wife of Bluford W. Oliphant.

Mrs. Reybaud's husbands were both of French descent, Mr. Simons having been born in Alsace, in 1818, and Mr. Reybaud in France, March 17, 1828. The former was a merchant all his life, having been engaged in business in New Orleans before coming to Galveston. After settling in Galveston, Mr. Reybaud also devoted himself to mercantile pursuits. Both gentlemen were numbered among the steady-going, sound, conservative business men of this community and en- joyed the esteem and good will of all with whom they had business or social relations.

NDREW BALDINGER was born in Canton Aargau, near the river Rhine, Switzerland, December, 1813. He was reared in his na- tive place to the age of eighteen, when he came to America and located at Baltimore, Maryland. There he learned the baker's trade, and lived until coming to Texas. Mr. Baldinger first came to Texas in the early spring of. 1837, and, after looking over the country and not finding much going on, re- turned to Baltimore, but came out again in the fall of the same year. A settlement had in the meantime been started on Gal- veston island, and here he took up his resi- dence. He and Christopher Fox were the first two bakers on the island, both locating and opening up in business before the city of Galveston was organized. There was some rivalry between Mr. Baldinger and Mr. Fox as to who should enjoy the honor of baking the first loaf of bread in the new town, the honor being won, however, by Mr. Fox, who, having secured the services of the only brick-mason in town, got his oven in first, Mr. Baldinger having to do the mason work on his oven himself.

Mr. Baldinger's bakery was located on the alley, east side of Tremont street, be- tween Mechanic and the Strand. He sub- sequently formed a partnership with John U. Durst, and, under the firm name of Durst & Baldinger, was in business on the southeast corner of Mechanic and Twenty- second streets. Here Messrs. Durst & Bal- dinger put in an extensive plant, purchased at Jersey City, New Jersey, and did a large and profitable business for a number of years. They dissolved in 1848, and the same year Mr. Baldinger moved to the southwest corner of Mechanic and Twenty- second streets, where he went into the gro-

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cery, crockery and queensware business, which he followed up to 1875, when he re- tired, turning his establishment over to his sons. He was thus in business in this city for a period of nearly forty years; and, while he did not meet with the success that some of his contemporaries did, he always enjoyed a reasonably good patronage and amassed some property. The store build- ings erected by him at the corner of Me- chanic and Twenty-second and Strand and Tremont streets were among the most sub- stantial buildings in the city at the time, and evinced his disposition, manifest on all proper occasions, to add to the solidity and taxable wealth of the city by re-investing his money where it was made.

Mr. Baldinger was a member of the City Council in 1842, and again in 1862, and was two or three times a member of the board of County Commissioners, never seek- ing office, but promptly responded to the call of his fellow-citizens, when made, and giving them the benefit of his best services when accepting a trust. During the war, when the city was invaded by the Federals, ravaged by yellow fever, and distress and suffering were on every hand, Mr. Baldinger was especially active, giving his services both as an official of the city government and as a citizen to those in need of them.

He joined Herman Lodge, No. 51, In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows, at an early day, and for many years held an active membership in the order. He was also a inember of the Lutheran Church at Galves- ton.

In 1840 Mr. Baldinger married Anna Catherine Wild, daughter of Samuel and Verona Wild, originally from Canton Glarus, Switzerland, where Mrs. Baldinger was born. Her family emigrated to the United

States in 1830, settling at Philadelphia, where the father was engaged in business, and died, his family moving to Texas in 1838 or 1839. Mrs. Baldinger died Novem- ber 7, 1877, followed by her husband a little more than two years later, his death occurring June 6, 1880.

Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Baldinger, two of whom died young, the remainder becoming grown. These are Henry A. and Mrs. Mary H. McKee, of Galveston; Andrew, who died in this city some years ago at about the age of thirty; Mrs. Clara Appell, of Waco; William H. and Edward E., of Galveston, and Samuel W., of Dallas.

ICHAEL KIMLEY .- When the subject of this sketch came to Galveston island it was but little more than a barren stretch of salt bayous, forming the haunts of various wild animals.

Mr. Kimley is a native of Bavaria, Ger- many, born May 2, 1815, caine to the United States in 1832, and lived for several years in and around Philadelphia. He was in that city when it was scourged by cholera in 1834, and still recalls with vividness the scenes of suffering and desolation which he witnessed at that time. He came to Gal- veston December 28, 1839. For many years he was employed in the custom house in this city, holding a position therein dur- ing the administrations of collectors Gail Borden, Jr., A. M. Jackson, Major J. Cox, Harden R. Runnels and Dr. William Smith. Afterward, giving up his place in the custom house, he obtained a situation with George Frank, a butcher, with whom he continued until he engaged in the butcher business for

ديد

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himself, in 1853. For years he ran a stall in the city market house and did a large and profitable business. Mr. Kimley lost heav- ily by going security and trusting others too far, but he has a competence, and is spend- ing his declining years in comfort and ease. He has held the usual number of local offices, including one term as Alderman from the ward in which lie lives.

In 1850 Mr. Kimley married Miss Anna B. Frabe, who was born in Bavaria, Ger- many, and came to Galveston in 1846, the issue of which union has been five children, who became grown: Annie, who was mar- ried to Charles Wild, and is now deceased; Caroline, wife of Louis Duffard; Joseph; Emma, widow of Frank Mitchell, and Mi- chael, Jr.

The religious connection of Mr. Kimley and family is with the Catholic Church.

EORGE DUMBLE, deceased, in his lifetime an honored resident of Houston, was born in the town of Coburg, Canada, September 4, 1833. His parents were William and Sarah Dumble, who were natives of England, whence they emigrated in 1830 to Canada, where they settled and spent the remainder of their lives.

The subject of this sketch, one of the younger of a family of thirteen children, was reared in his native place to the age of sixteen, in the schools of which place he re- ceived a limited education. He there also learned the tinner's trade, and after the death of his parents went to Rochester, New York, while still a lad, and thence to Madi- son, Indiana, where he joined several of his brothers and sisters. In each of these places he worked at his trade, earning his

own livelihood. In 1852, in company with two of his brothers, James F. and John, and a sister, Eliza Ann, he came to Texas and settled at Houston. Here he resided the remainder of his life, a period of more than forty years. During the greater part .of this time he was actively connected with the business interests of this city, being one of its oldest inerchants and mnost highly re- spected citizens. His honest integrity of character and gentleness of manner won the admiration of all, both men and women, who came in contact with him. His begin- ning was necessarily modest, but by per- sistent effort and the observance of strict business methods he rose in the commercial world until, at the time of his death, he was the head of one of the leading mercantile establishments in the city, -that now known as Dumble, Armistead & Cronan, dealers in heavy hardware and mill machinery.

During the war Mr. Duinble was in the Confederate service, having enlisted in Com- pany G, Cook's regiment, from which he was detailed to work in the government shops. He never filled any public positions, though often solicited to do so, never seeming to to care for popular applause. In earlier life he joined one or two social orders, but gradually dropped out of these, and in time gave up his connection with them altogether. He was a zealous member of the Church, however, and gave a great deal of attention to church work. He united with Shearn Memorial Church in this city in 1854, and to the day of his death was a constant at- tendant on its services and a liberal con- tributor to its support.

Soon after coming to Houston, Mr. Dumble purchased half a block (his brother owning the other half), on the southwest corner of Crawford street and Preston

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avenue, and here in a small frame dwelling he established himself in bachelor quarters and continued to live here alone until June 5. 1860, wlien he married Mary Elizabeth King, of Houston. After this event his bachelor quarters were displaced by a more commodious and better appointed building, and this in turn gave way at a later date to a more modern structure. Mr. Dumble was greatly attached to his home and family, and here spent all his leisure hours. Great fondness for floriculture marked his domes- tic life, and through flowers he studied nature, his love for these drawing him nearer to nature and the God who gave them. He made every reasonable provis- ion for those dependent on him and seemed to derive his highest pleasure in minister- ing to their happiness. . Of a family of nine children born to him and his excellent wife, six are living: Mary Georgia, now Mrs. H. B. Rice; William King; Edwin Harrison; Agusta Ruth, now Mrs. Percy Allen; Davy Harvey and Robert Norman. The fifth child, Sarah Flake, died in child- hood, and two others died in infancy.

In personal appearance Mr. Dumble pos- sessed the characteristics of his English an- cestors, standing five feet and seven or eight inches in height, weighing between 160 and 165 pounds, being compactly built and having a strong muscular frame, inclining somewhat to rotundity. He liad dark brown hair, which toward the latter part of his life was sprinkled with gray, and his eyes were a light blue. He was frank in manner and of very kindly disposition. At his deatlı, the Cotton Exchange and Board of Trade, of Houston, bulletined the following tribute to his memory: "A good man has gone before. George Dumble, one of nature's noblemen, honored and respected by all, departed this

life March 24, 1893. None knew him but to love him."

Mrs. Dumble, whom he married, as al- ready stated, in Houston, is a native of Texas, being a daughter of William and Margaret King, who were early Texans. Her father, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, came to Texas in 1837, and settled in Burle- son county, becoming one of the first resi- dents of the town of Caldwell, the county seat, and was one of the first Postmasters at that place. Holding a Captain's commis- sion from the Republic of Texas he organ- ized companies at different times and assist- ed in protecting the frontier in an early day against the Indians. In 1845 he moved to Houston, and subsequently served as Alder- man and Mayor of this city. He died here January 8, 1867. Mrs. Dumble's mother died when Mrs. Dumble was young, leaving only one other child, Crockett McDonald King.

ILLIAM K. McALPINE .- The subject of this brief sketch is of Scotch and English descent. His paternal grandfather, Malcolm McAlpine, and wife, née Mary Smith, emi- grated to America before the Revolution and settled on the line of what are now Robertson and Cumberland counties, North Carolina. They had eleven sons and one daughter, among the elder of whom was John, the father of William K. John Mc- Alpine was born in North Carolina and there passed his entire life, being a farmer of small means but of industrious habits and good repute.

The mother of William K. McAlpine bore the maiden name of Susanna Ander- son and was of English parentage, being a

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native of Georgetown district, South Caro- lina. John McAlpine died at a compara- tively early age, leaving his widow with nine children to provide for, -next to the young- est of whom was the subject of this sketch. He was born in Richmond county, North Carolina, in 1822, and was there reared, growing up on the farm and receiving very limited educational advantages. At the age of nineteen he started West to seek his · fortune, his destination being the home of his paternal uncle, Dugald McAlpine, in Alabama. This uncle subsequently moving to Texas, William K. also came on to this State and took up his residence with him in Grimes county, in 1851. In April, 1853, William K. McAlpine married Miss Sarah J. Perry, a daughter of Dr. D. A. Perry, of Washing- ton county, Texas, and settling on a farm in Washington county, was successfully en- · gaged in agricultural pursuits until the open- ing of the war. When the call was made by his State for volunteers for the Confeder- ate army he responded by enlisting in Com- pany C, Twentieth (Ellinore's) Regiment of Infantry, of which he subsequently became Adjutant, and served in the defense of the coast country of Texas. He took part in the celebrated battle of Galveston, January 1, 1863, but with the exception of this en- gagement, saw but little active field service.

After the war, in the spring of 1867, Mr. McAlpine gathered together all his available means, and, moving to Galveston, he en- gaged in business as a cotton factor, and was so engaged nntil 1886, when, having accumulated a competency, he retired. During his business career of twenty years in this city, he established a reputation as a man of sound financial ability, having not only amassed some wealth for himself, but having helped to develop a number of Gal-

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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