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 45

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 45
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 45

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veston's business enterprises, with some of which his name is still connected as director. Mr. McAlpine's life, so far as seeking "the bubble, reputation " is concerned, has been of the most unassuming nature. He has never held even the office of alderman of his . ward, though by no means lacking in public spirit or proper appreciation of the duties of good citizenship. He simply has not cared for the honors of office, and, having always found his own business sufficiently remuner- ative to afford him proper means of sup- port, with some surplus for investment, he has kept out of politics.

In 1885 Mr. McAlpine lost his wife, her death occurring at their home in Galveston. Her remains were buried in the old family burying-ground in Grimes county, where rest those of his mother, who came to Texas after the removal of her sons here, and died there in 1872. Mr McAlpine has one brother, John, and two uncles, Dugald and Mal- colm McAlpine, also buried in Grimes coun- ty, and one brother, Franklin McAlpine, still living there, -all of whom came to Texas in the '50s, and settled in that coun- ty. His uncle, Dugald McAlpine, was a well-to-do and highly respected farmer of Grimes county for many years. Most of the paternal uncles of William K. McAlpine -- ten in number-settled in Alabama and Mississippi early in this century, and there they subsequently lived and died, several of thein serving in the frontier Indian wars, and one, Alexander, being with Jackson at New Orleans during the war of 1812-14.

Mr. McAlpine has raised a family of eight children, four daughters and four sons, most of them married and all residents of Texas,-these being Mrs. J. H. Gibson, of Calvert; Mrs. Henry Sales, of Abilene; Mrs. W. J. Hughes, of Galveston; Mrs. J. M.

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Wagstaff, of Abilene; William A. and Dugald P., of Galveston; Angus, of Abilene; and Malcolmn, of Galveston.

The religious connection of the family was originally with the Presbyterian Church, but by removal and intermarriage with those of other faiths representatives of the name are found in each of the churches, - Cumberland Presbyterian, Methodist, Bap- tist and Episcopalian.

Joining the Masonic fraternity, at Union- town, Alabama, soon after attaining his majority, Mr. McAlpine has held a member- ship in the order for more than fifty years, and is now Past Grand High Priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Texas.

a APTAIN JOHN CHUBB is one of the pioneer residents of Galveston and an early-day mariner of the Gulf coast. The circumstances that brought him here in 1839 are recited somewhat in detail elsewhere in this vol- ume, in an extented sketch of his elder brother, the late Commodore Thomas Chubb. Captain Chubb was second mate of the brig Silicia, mentioned in the sketch of his brother, and at the time of its landing at Galveston, in 1839, he was a youth of nineteen.

The appearance of Galveston island at the present writing is in striking contrast with what it was when Captain Chubb first saw it, more than fifty years ago. Where then a barren waste of wire grass and wan- dering bayous stretched far into and across the island, now stand solid blocks of busi- ness houses and handsome residences with well paved streets and all the accompani- ments of a thrifty and progressive city.

The landing of the Silicia at Galveston

in 1839 was an event of some importance in the history of the city. The vessel was loaded with lumber and other building material, including a number of house- , frames ready for erection, all of which was in demand. As a matter of historical in- terest it may be mentioned that one of these frames still stands, being that in a small building on Fifteenth street, between Market and Postoffice. Such material was scarce in those days, lumber of common quality selling readily at $100 per thousand feet, and other material at corresponding prices.

The Messrs. Chubb simply came to Gal- veston at the time referred to in the regular course of trade, and with no intention then to locate. After discharging the cargo of their vessel they went to Virginia Point, where they took on a load of cattle and started for Havana, Cuba. They had got only fairly out from land when a rough sea was encountered and the Silicia was soon on her beam-end, the cargo shifted and a con- tinuance of the voyage rendered impractica- ble. The vessel was headed for New Or- leans and the cargo discharged at Algiers, the destination being changed, and a load of molasses taken on instead of the cattle. This last shipment was consigned partly to Philadelphia and partly to Boston.

Captain Chubb had seen enough of Gal- veston during his brief visit to satisfy him- self that it would be a desirable place for a young man in his condition, and he soon after returned to make it his home. He at once identified himself with the shipping in- terest of the city, and for a period of more than fifty years following he built, owned and commanded various small craft and en- gaged in coast-wise trade in this vicinity. During the war Captain Chubb commanded

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the Confederate gunboat, Liverpool, which did effective work in local harbor defense, the boat being a well equipped craft carry- ing small mounted guns and having a crew of nine inen. Later Captain Chubb was superintendent of the Confederate naval works at the head of Galveston bay in Har- ris county, where he was serving at the close of the war.

From 1865 till 1881 Captain Chubb was engaged in local marine traffic, and did a very creditable business. He sold his last vessel, the Coquette, in 1891.

There have been no happy strokes of fortune in Captain Chubb's life, what he has accomplished having been done by tenac- ity of purpose, promptness in execution and a broad sense of duty, which characteristics not only directed his course over many a stormy sea, but have been the basis of a reasonably successful business career on land.

May 28, 1840, Captain Chubb married Mary Ann Abbott, of Charlestown, Massa- chussetts, she being a native of that State, and a member of a respectable family, and a lady of intelligence and domestic culture. Captain Chubb and wife have one adopted daughter, now Mrs. Thomas Bollinger, of Galveston.

a HARLES F. HASSELMEYER was born in the village of Lippe-Det- mold, near Bremen, Germany, Oc- tober 3, 1817, and was there reared. He learned the trade of tailor in Bremen, and served four years in the German army. In 1843 he married Emilie, daughter of George and Mary Franck, who was born near Hamburg in 1823. In 1846 Mr. Hassel-

meyer emigrated to Texas, landing at Gal- veston just before Christmas of that year. He engaged at his trade here, working, at different times, for Seligman, Maas & Keough, carly-day merchant tailors, until about 1851. He then abandoned the tailoring business, and, investing his savings in ten acres of land lying west of, and at that time consid- erably beyond, the corporate limits of the city, he embarked on a small scale in the dairy business. By thrift and industry his means accumulated from year to year, and, having bought another ten-acre tract of land adjoining his first purchase, he improved the whole of it, and there resided the re- mainder of his life, engaged in dairying. This property, bought by Mr. Hasselmeyer for $2,400, has increased many times that amount in value, being now within easy reach of the city and forming eligible sites for suburban homes. It still remains in the family, having been divided between his sons, who make their homes on it.

Mr. Hasselmeyer died August 28, 1881. He had been a member of the Presbyterian Church for many years, and was very gen- erally respected by those who knew him. His widow subsequently married Mr. Will- iam Platzer, another old citizen of Galves- ton, and the two still reside in this city. Mr. and Mrs. Hasselmeyer had ten children, five of whom became grown, these being Charles F .; Emelie, wife of John G. Rost; Louis G .; Henry, who died June 16, 1893; and John W. The four now living are resi- dents of Galveston. The eldest of these, Charles F., was born in Germany, in March, 1844, and was an infant when his parents came to Texas. His entire life has been spent in this city. He began his business career here at the age of twenty-three, as a butcher, and with the exception of a short

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tinie spent in dairying, has followed the butcher business since.

He served in the Confederate army dur- ing the late war, -marine department, --- in which he was assistant steward at different times on the Bayou City, Island City and Diana.

Mr. Hasselmeyer married Bettie Harmes, of Galveston, her parents being natives of Germany, who resided in Galveston when she was young, her father and two brothers dying here of yellow fever. By this mar- riage Mr. and Mrs, Hasselmeyer had seven living children: Charles F., Jr., Jolin, Ludwig, Henry, Gus, Bettie and Mollie, the wife being now deceased.

ATRICK H. CARVILLE, for forty- four years a resident of the city of Galveston, was born in county Down, Ireland, March 19, 1827, being a son of Daniel and Margaret Carville, both also natives of Ireland. The father . came to America in 1828, followed two years later by his family, and settled in Perry county, Ohio, where he spent the . Inost of the remaining years of his life. He was a farmer by occupation, a man of small means, but of industrious habits and up- right life. He died at Martinsville, Morgan county, Indiana, in 1853, at the age of fifty. His widow survived many years, dying at the home of her son in Galveston, in 1890, at the advanced age of ninety-seven. The subject of this sketch was one of four chil- dren of his parents, the others being: John, who was a resident of Galveston a number of years, dying at New Orleans in 1859, leaving no descendants; James, who lived and died in Galveston, also without issue;

and Margaret, now Mrs. James Brougham, living at Rockport, this State.

Patrick H. Carville was reared and edu- cated in Perry county, Ohio, and learned the trade of a cooper in Chillicothe, in that State. After working at his trade in Peo- ria, Illinois; St. Louis, Missouri, and New Orleans, Louisiana, he came to Texas aboard the steamer Mexico, landing at Gal- veston November 4, 1850. He secured employment, shortly after reaching this place, with John Tronson, who ran a small cooper shop on the corner of Mechanic and Twentieth streets. From the employ of Tronson he went to Brazoria county the following spring, where he worked for two seasons on the Darlington plantation, mak- ing molasses barrels. Returning to Galves- ton, he started in business for himself, open- ing a little shop on Twentieth street, be- tween avenues A and B. After two years spent there, and a year on the corner of Strand and Bath avenue, his business as- sumed such proportions that he felt justified in enlarging his plant and extending his lines of operation, and accordingly leased a lot on the south side of Mechanic street, between Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth, where he carried on his business successfully until he was burned out in 1883. He then bought a lot on Mechanic, between Twenty-seventh and Twenty-eighth, where he put in an- other shop, and has since conducted his business. Mr. Carville has thus been con- stantly in business in this city for forty years, during which time he has made thou- sands of cisterns and barrels, adding his due proportion to the manufactured products of the city, and incidentally thereto amassing some wealth for himself. His investments, made froin time to time as his means have accumulated, have steadily grown in value,

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and he is now one of the comparatively large taxpayers of the city. His policy has been to improve his holdings, and thus derive from them some revenue, and at the same time add to the wealth of the com- munity. During the war Mr. Carville en- listed in the Confederate army, and was placed on detail duty, so serving till the close of hostilities. He joined Washington Fire Company, No. 1, in 1851, and was a member of it till Island City Company No. 2 was organized, March 7, 1856, when he joined the latter, and was an active member of the same until the opening of the war. He was a member of the City Council in 1866-7-8, and in 1873-4-5-6. In 1854 he joined the Odd Fellows and Chosen Friends in this city, and was an active member of each a number of years.

In July, 1859, Mr. Carville married Miss Johanna Dwyer, then of Galveston, but a native of Ireland, where she was born in 1835, and came to Galveston in 1855, and the issue of this union was eight children, but three of whom became grown, namely: Margaret, who was married to F. P. - Kil- leen, of Galveston, and is now deceased; Lillian, now Mrs. William E. Doyle, of Galveston; and Nellie, unmarried.

With all the heterogeneous elements that enter into the constituency of our na- tional life there is no foreign land that has perhaps contributed more effectively to the vitalizing and vivifying of our magnificent commonwealth, with its diverse interests and cosmopolitan make-up, than has the Emerald Isle, the land of legend and ro- mance, the land of native wit and honest simplicity of heart, the land of sturdy in- tegrity and resolute good nature. To Ireland we owe the inception of many of our most capable, most honest and most patriotic

families in these latter days; and there has been no nationality that has been more readily assimilated into the very fabric of complex elements that go to make up the nation, no class of people that has been more in touch with the spirit of progress that is typical of our national life. The subject of this brief sketch is an exemplifica- tion, in a large ineasure, of the foregoing statement, and certainly in the somewhat long list of honored pioneers of this island which appears in the present volume, none have achieved more substantial financial results with so little aid, or reached a more secure place in public esteem than has the one of whom we here write.

ERDINAND MARCHAND, de- ceased, a long-time resident of Galveston, was born in Alsace, France, near Balfore, on the 10th of May, 1814. He came to America in 1845 and followed his trade as a journeyman carpenter in various sections of the United States for about six years, when he returned to his native country and married Octavia Leonard, who also was born in Alsace, of French parentage, and the same year, 1851, came to Texas, settling at Galveston. He engaged in contracting and building in this "city for a number of years, in connection with which he also for a time carried on a retail grocery business. In 1866, on ac- count of his wife's health, he bought a tract of land consisting of 1,000 acres, lying near old Highland (now Lamarque), in Galveston county, on which he took up his residence and lived during most of his remaining years. He, however, kept his home in Galveston, corner of Twenty-fourth street and avenue HI, where he first settled after coming to

S. M. Williams.

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the city, and there he died September 9, 1889. Surviving him Mr. Marchand left a widow and three sons and three daughters : Ferdinand A., born August 24, 1852, Hor- tense, now Mrs. Jerry Lordan, born Sep- tember 25, 1853; Jule, born July 11, 1857; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Leopold Fivel, born November 13, 1859; Octavia, now Mrs. C. S. Kirkpatrick, born February 13, 1861; and George, born October 27, 1862. All of these reside in Galveston except Mrs. Kirkpatrick, who lives in Sealy, Texas, and Ferdinand A. who lives at Lamarque, in Gal- veston county. Mrs. Marchand, who was born January 8, 1821, is still vigorous at seventy-four, ripe in 'years and all full of early-day reminiscences of Galveston island.

S AMUEL M. WILLIAMS, the sub- ject of this sketch, filled a consid- erable place in Texas history in an early day, but his name is hardly known to this generation. . His case is an apt illustration how much more enduring military glory is than civic honors. Had he exerted himself on the battlefield as he did in the world of business, it is not likely that he would now be almost forgotten.

Samuel M. Williams, son of Howell and Dorothea Williams, was born in Providence, Rhode Island, October 4, 1795, a descend- ant from New England ancestry of Welsh . extraction. He received the rudiments of a common-school education in his native place, and at the age of thirteen went to live with an uncle in Baltimore, Maryland, where he was put to business as a member of the cler- ical force in his uncle's store. There he en- joyed excellent opportunities to become ac- quainted with the world of business, of which he was not slow to avail himself. 22.

From Baltimore he went to New Orleans, while still a youth, and there resided until 1821, when he was attracted to Texas, com- ing out with Stephen F. Austin and locating at old San Felipe, then the head of Austin's colony. He at once became secretary of the colony and Colonel Austin's confidential clerk, and as such had charge of all the books, maps and papers belonging to the colony. This was a position which Mr. Williams was well qualified to fill, and one that he did fill with entire satisfaction both to Colonel Austin and the settlers.

The following extract from John Henry Brown's history is in point : "It must be borne in mind that while nearly fourteen years had been added to the scroll of time since Mr .. Austin began colonization in Texas, he had in fact been only about ten years in the country, the remainder of the time being consumed in his two prolonged trips to Mexico. Hence it is the more re- markable that the affairs of his colony were managed with such great skill, and that he enjoyed in such an unusual degree the con- fidence and esteem of his colonists. That he was ably assisted and sustained by his secretary, and in one grant his partner, Samnel M. Williams, we have his own as- surances and the testimony of their contem- poraries."

Interesting himself in all the affairs of the colonists Mr. Williams was led to take a pronounced stand against Mexico in the troubles preceding the revolution, and as a result he was one of the patriots for whom special demand was made by the Mexican authorities in their efforts to quell the dis- turbances. He was' not in the field during the time of the invasion of the country by Santa Anna, being absent in the East soli- citing aid for the settlers.

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HISTORY OF TEXAS.

Mr. Williams had already severed his connection with Austin's colony as secretary when the war caine on, and having formed a partnership with Thomas F. Mckinney, was engaged in mercantile business at the old town of Quintana, at the mouth of the Brazos, when the crisis was reached in the early spring of 1836.

When the city of Galveston was projected by Michel B. Menard, Mr. Williams became interested in the enterprise, taking stock in the company, and accepting a place on its first board of directors. The firm of McKin- ney & Williams was one of the first to open a mercantile establishment in the new town; they built the first wharf; put up the first warehouse, and owned the first boat, the Lafitte, engaged in local trade. Subse- quently obtaining from the Congress of Texas a charter for the Commercial and Agricultural Bank, Mr. Williams turned his attention to banking, and for a number of years conducted the only bank in the city of Galveston. He received a great many land grants, but as land was cheap in these days he never realized inuch from this source. Indeed, though he led an active career for more than forty years, and possessed varied interests, he did not succeed in accumulating a large estate. He lived at a time of low values.

March 18, 1828, Mr. Williams married Sarah Patterson Scott, a daughter of Will- iam and Mary Scott, who inigrated from Kentucky to Texas in 1824. The issue of this marriage was four children, who became grown: Austin May Williams, who died in Caldwell, Burleson county, Texas, in 1869; William Howell Williams, for many years a resident of the city of Galveston, now living in Newark, New Jersey; Mary D. Williams, now widow of Thomas J. League,

residing in Galveston; and Caroline Will- iams, who was married to Dr. Marcus Campbell, and died on Clear creek, in Gal- Veston county, in 1876.

Samuel M. Williams died September 13, 1858, followed a little less than two years later by his wife, who passed from earth August 31, 1860. Both are buried in the Episcopal cemetery at Galveston.

Samuel M. Williams was a man of ex- cellent business ability, superior mental at- tainments and charming graces of manner and person. He spoke three languages fluently, English, French and Spanish, and was a most entertaining conversationalist. He was scrupulously neat in his dress, and distinguished for his great dignity of char- acter, being a man whoin a child might ap- proach, but at the same time one with whom the most exalted would not dare take any liberties. He was a prominent Mason, a pioneer member of the order in Texas, making the principles and practices of the craft his religion.

J OHN H. MOSER, only son of Peter H. and Elizabeth Moser, was born October 3, 1853, on the Gulf of Mexico, aboard the ship "Star of the Republic." He spent his boyhood and youth in Galveston, in the schools of which city he received his education. He learned the marble-cutter's trade and followed it as a journeyman until 1876, when he engaged in business for himself, opening a marble yard at the corner of Twenty-fifth street and Avenue L. There he has since conducted a successful business, handling all kinds of marble inaterial, staple and ornamental. Mr. Moser has an aptitude both for business

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and books, and has made marked progress in the study of the physical sciences, to which his tastes specially incline.

He married, on December 12, 1885, Miss Agnes Niedenfuhr, who was born in the province of Silesia, Germany, March 8, 1863, being a daughter of Hubert and Josephine Niedenfuhr. She died November 6, 1891, leaving two children, a son, Inno- cent HI., and a daughter, Hildah R.

The following bit of history concerning the Star of the Republic, aboard which Mr. Moser was born, may be appropriately in- serted in this brief mention of him. The article was written by Captain J. J. Hend- ley, her commander, a few years before his death: "The ship Star of the Republic was originally a bark. She was built by Sylves- ter Gildersleeve in 1842, at Portland, Maine, for the Galveston trade, and was owned jointly by Sylvester Gildersleeve, William Hendley and J. J. Hendley, and for her first voyage sailed from New York city October 12 of the same year, arriving in Galveston October 25, making the passage in thirteen days, J. J Hendley commanding. She was consigned to Mengurs & Garcia, merchants of Galveston. In July, 1843, she was taken to Portland and changed into a ship. She sailed from New York city October 3, 1843, and arrived at the port of Galveston the 18th of the same month; passage, fif- teen days. During her stay at Galveston, sixteen vessels of foreign tonnage were lying in the harbor, but of that number the Star of the Republic was the only one flying the American flag. She was a fast and a favor- ite ship, and often made the passage in twelve to fifteen days." She was also the first vessel flying the flag of the Republic of Texas, carrying this flag as her signal, be- tween 1842 and 1846.

OMMODORE THOMAS CHUBB. -The life of the subject of this sketch` was an eventful one, and furnishes another illustration of the oft-repeated saying that truth is stranger than fiction. He was born June 17, 1811, in Charlestown, Massachusetts, almost within the shadow of Bunker Hill monu- ment. His father, Thomas Chubb, was also a native of Massachusetts, a rope-maker by trade, which in those days was an im- portant and profitable industry, and his grandfather Chubb, also named Thomas, came of a family of celebrated English lock- smiths, who for generations were established and did an extensive business in Oxford street, London.

The first Thomas Chubb in America came to the country in early Colonial days and settled in Charlestown, Massachusetts, where he carried on his trade as a locksinith very successfully for many years. He was a vol- unteer in the Colonists' struggle for inde- pendence, and took part in the battle of Bunker Hill. He spent all of his mnature and later life at Charlestown, and there founded a business which continues to this day, being one of the largest in this country.

Of his grandmother Commodore Chubb knew but little, she having died when he was small. The father of our subject was a steady-going, industrious and prosperous tradesman, a man of great independence of character and great pride of family, which characteristics he transmitted in a large ineasure to his children. He was an active member of the Order of St. Ann, an exclu- sive social guild of wide influence to which only men of sturdy craft and irreproachable character were admitted. He took great interest in his calling, and it was his wish that his sons should succeed him therein,

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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