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 53

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 53
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 53

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).

J OHN T. BROWNE was born in the village of Ballylanders, county Lim- erick, Ireland, on the 23d day of March, 1845. His parents, Michael and Winnefred Browne, were natives of the same place and resided there until 1851, when, with their family of five children, they emigrated to America, and settled in New Orleans. In that city, the same year of the arrival, the father died, and, some time dur- ing the following year, the mother moved with her little ones to Texas, and, after a brief residence in Madison county, settled in Houston. In this place the boyhood and youth of John T. were passed.

It need hardly be stated that his early lot was by no means an easy one. Toil and self-denial came to him as they have to many others, -as unwelcome inheritances. For what little education he received he was indebted to a Catholic priest, Father Gun- nard, then an instructor in the families of the Spanns of Washington county. This pious gentleman, believing it to be his duty to make the most of his opportunities as a

religious and secular instructor, took five boys from Houston, one of whom was young Browne, for whom he found places on the Spanns' plantations, where they were given both mental and manual training, and that under good religious influences. About the age of fourteen young Browne went to Madison county, where he earned his first money. This was as an off-bearer in a brick-yard, the wages received being four dollars per month. With a boy's pride in his achievement he returned after a few months to Houston, with the full amount of his wages saved up; and, stimulated by his success, he immediately set about to find permanent employment at home. This was soon obtained as a_driver of a baggage wagon, a business which he followed for a number of years. While at this he estab- lished something of a reputation for industry and faithfulness, and in due time secured a position as messenger in the office of the Commercial and Southwestern Express Com- pany. From this the step was easy to the train service of the same company, and he became a messenger on the Houston & Texas Central Railroad. When the war put a stop to the express business he became a fireman on the same road and followed this until cessation of hostilities. With the re- turn of peace, and the opening of the chan- nels of commerce, he again went at the ex- press business, becoming messenger in the office of the Adams Express Company, at Houston. When this company was suc- ceeded by the Southern Express Company, he took employment with the latter. He subsequently became bookkeeper and salesman in the grocery business for H. P. Levy, John Collins and Theodore Keller, successively, forming a partnership in 1870 witlı Mr. Keller, which lasted about twelve

385

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

months, being dissolved at the end of that time by mutual consent. £

Then in 1782 he became associated with Charles Bollfrass, under the firm name of Browne & Boll- frass, and laid the foundation of his present business, wholesale and retail groceries. No better illustration can probably be found of the rapid and yet substantial growth of the commercial interests of Houston than is afforded by the firm of Browne & Boll- frass. Beginning twenty-two years ago on a capital of $500, they have built up a business representing an investment of $70,- 000, upon which a cash trade of about $340,000 is annually done. This has been the result of steady growth, and has come in response to industry, application to busi- ness, and a faithful compliance with every obligation, whether written or verbal, on the part of the gentlemen here named. Without seeking to monopolize the trade, with no trumpeting of their achievements at home or abroad, with only an abiding confidence in the future of the country and in the truth of the maxims that "Fortune favors the industrious, " and "All things come to him who waits," they have fol- lowed the even tenor of their way, watch- ing the losses and saving the gains, with the very gratifying result of their present pros- perons condition. To this business Mr. Browne has given twenty years of his un- divided attention, having shared the last two years of his time with the public as Mayor of the city of Houston. He has al- ways been averse to politics, and has shunned public office, but represented the Fifth ward in the City Council in 1887-8, during which time he was chairman of the Finance Com- mittee; and such was his record in this capacity that, at the earnest solicitation of friends, including many of the oldest and

most substantial citizens of the city, who had watched his career from boyhood up, he was induced to become a candidate for the office of Mayor in April, 1891, and was elected by a vote of 3,900, against a vote of 600 received by his opponent. It could hardly be expected that his administration would give universal satisfaction; the vary- ing wants and capacities of men give rise to very varied opinions respecting public functionaries; but, in all essentials, he has given satisfaction, his having been a clean, economical, business-like administration. During the era of public improvements, which came to the city a few years ago, most of the contracts were then let for what it was thought the city needed, in the way of public works, so that the present administration has but little to do in this respect, except to carry out the work thus inaugurated. This it has done, in a fairly reasonable and successful manner. As ex- offiicio chairman of the school board, Mr. Browne has watched the school interests with special solicitude, and, during his term of office, four new school buildings have been erected, thus largely increasing the capacity of the schools and adding materi- ally to their efficiency.

In 1871 Mr. Browne married Miss Mary Bergin, then residing in Houston, but a native of the city of New Orleans, and a daughter of Michael Bergin, of Irish nativ- ity. Eleven children survive to this union. Mr. Browne's mother, after rearing four of her five children to maturity, and seeing them married and settled in life, died in this city, some ten years ago. His only brother, Thomas, died here at about the age of twelve, while his three sisters, who are still living, are residents of this city. These are Mrs. Mary Collins, Mrs. Joanna Collins,

386

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

and Mrs. Margaret Franks. All of the family are communicants of the Catholic Church.

J ACOB BINZ, for a third of a cen- tury a resident of Houston, being one of the well-to-do and highly respected citizens of this city, is a native of the village of Reigel, Germany, where he was born on the 15th day of Oc- tober, 1828. He is one of a large family of children born to Jacob and Teresa Binz, who were also natives of Germany. His father was a distiller, and, in accordance with the German idea of thrift and inde- pendence, taught his son, Jacob, the business of distilling, after the latter had received a reasonably good education in the schools of the locality where he grew up.

In 1847, young Binz, then in his nine- teenth year, came to America, landing at New York, on the 15th day of May, 1847. In the usual way of immigrants to this country, who have no friends or relatives with whom to stop, he drifted about for some months, going first to Ohio, thence to Illinois, and, finally, to Wisconsin. His pur- suits during this time were regulated by his personal wants, and by the demand for labor in the localities where he happened to be. After settling in Wisconsin, however, he turned his attention energetically to farin- ing, with which he met with moderate suc- cess, and from this to merchandising, with which he met with better success, and from merchandising to brewing, at which fortune favored him best of all. He established a brewery at Sheboygan in 1853, and, from an unpretentious beginning, soon developed a large and very profitable business. His product found sale throughout the central and northwestern States, and, for the proper

distribution of it, Mr. Binz established an agency at Chicago, to which place he moved his residence for the purpose of looking after this branch of the business.

He remained in Chicago until 1858, when, having received a good offer for his business, he sold it, -plant, stock and good will, -and turned his steps southward. After prospecting for some time he finally came to Texas, and, in November, 1860, located at Houston. Here he shortly after- ward started a distillery, but conducted it only a few months, when, on account of the unsettled condition of things brought about by the opening of the late war, he was com- pelled to close. From 1861 to 1865 he was variously engaged, chiefly, however, in look- ing after his real-estate investments in Hous- ton. For three years following the close of the war he was Assessor and Collector of taxes for the city of Houston, the duties of which position he discharged creditably to himself and to the satisfaction of the tax- payers. In the meantime he extended his investments in city real estate, and improved his holdings, and, after giving up the office of Assessor and Collector, turned his atten- tion exclusively to his business interests. It was about this time that he erected his pres- ent residence on Main street, to answer both for a business and dwelling, which was one of the first brick buildings put up in the locality where it stands.

Mr. Binz, although dating his residence in Houston twenty-five years after its found- ing, has witnessed by far the greater part of .the city's growth and development, and in this has lent a helping hand, being finan- cially interested in the advancement of the city's welfare, and also taking a pride in everything pertaining to its history and achievements.

387

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

Mr. Binz married while living in Wis- consin, but his wife died shortly afterward, and he remained single a number of years, not marrying again until 1873. His second marriage occurred in Houston, when he wedded Miss Pauline Schweikart. The re- sult of this union has been two children: Arthur J. and Melamie M. Having been reared Catholics, Mr. Binz and family con- tinue zealous communicants of that church.

NDREW J. BURKE .- About the beginning of the present century, probably in the year 1805, Benja- min and Drucilla Burke left their native place in Fairfield district, South Carolina, and, joining the tide of immigra- tion then pouring through the mountain passes of western North Carolina, settled near the present town of Elkton, on Elk river, in what is now Giles county, middle Tennessee. There, on the 10th of October, 1813, Andrew J., their seventh child, and the subject of this brief sketch, was born. His boyhood and youth, until he was seven- teen, were passed on his father's primitive patch in the wilderness and along the streams and in the forests of his native place. His educational advantages were very limited, and opportunities for learning much of the outside world were more so. The death of his father, in 1830, threw him, in a measure, upon his own resources, and, having determined on seeking a more promising place in which to make his start in the world, he secured letters of introduc- tion from gentlemen of good standing where he lived, and started to the lower Missis- sippi country. Vicksburg was his objective point, and there he made his first stop. After several days of vain effort to secure

employment in that place, he was sitting one day, about the noon hour, near a store, when he saw the owner come out and lock the door, to go to dinner. It occurred to young Burke that a business should be open during businesss hours, and that that mer- chant needed a boy. He went to the merchant, on his return from dinner, and told him frankly his condition, and offered to enter the merchant's employ, to do any- thing that needed to be done about the store or liouse. His character having been vouched for by a Presbyterian minister, to whom young Burke had brought a letter of introduction, he was engaged, the merchant agreeing to pay him $100 a year and ex- penses. This was January 1, 1832. In November following, Vicksburg was visited for the first time by the cholera. Business was suspended, and most of the inhabitants abandoned the place. Under an arrange- ment with his employer, young Burke took a small stock of goods and went out to a town called Amsterdam, twenty miles from Vicksburg, where he opened a store, his wages having been increased to $300 a year and expenses. He remained there in charge of that business for nearly two years, when, having saved his earnings and established somewhat of a personal credit, he started a store of his own. He conducted this for a period of two years, and met with marked success. Having about that time heard a great deal concerning Texas, he con- cluded to try his fortunes in the then recently established Republic, and, in the spring of 1837, closed out his interests at Amsterdam, and came to San Augustine. Finding that the country suited him, he shortly after- ward married and decided to settle here. The town of Houston had but recently been laid out, and selected as the seat of govern-

هـ

388

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

ment of the Republic, and hither he came in search of a location. The exact time of his first visit to Houston was November, 1837, and from that time he dates his residence here. He became one of the early mer- chants of the town, opening a store, in the spring of 1838, in a small building on the south side of Main street, about midway of the block between Preston and Congress avenues. He kept a general store, and, from a small beginning, came in time to do a large and successful business. That be- ing before the era of railroads in Texas, and at a time when Houston was the distributing point for all of interor Texas, the merchants of this place did a large jobbing business, as well as a good local retail trade. "Times were good," and Mr. Burke, in common with others, prospered. For forty years he was in active business, and, during that time, sold many thousands of dollars' worth of goods. Most of the time he was alone, but had two or three partnerships, the longest of which was with the late B. A. Shepherd, with whom he was associated pleasantly and profitably for a nminber of years. Mr. Burke withdrew from business about 1876, since which time he has lived mainly in re- tirement. He has never cared for public life, and, in fact, has rather shunned it, but during his active years he interested himself in matters of a local nature, and subscribed, in accordance with his means, to enterprises looking to the advancement of the welfare of the city of Houston. He was at one time a member of the board of directors of the Houston & Texas Central Railroad, and lent that enterprise substantial aid when it was one of Houston's "infant industries." He also served two terms as County Com- missioner, and one term as Mayor of the city.

Mr. Burke has been a life-long Demo-

crat, as was also his father, whose admira- tion for General Jackson, one of the fathers of Democracy, prompted him to name his son for that popular hero. In religion, the family were Methodists, but, abandoning that faith, if indeed he may be said ever to have been a follower of it, he, early in life, united with the Presbyterian Church, of which he has since been an active and consistent mem- ber. He was made a Mason in 1844, and must, therefore, be one of the oldest in the State. He is a strong believer in the teach- ings and practices of Masonry, but has not, especially in recent years, been active in the order.

Mr. Burke's marriage occurred in Shelby county, Texas, on the 26th of September, 1837, when he wedded Miss Eloise Lusk, daughter of George V. Lusk, who had moved to Texas the year previous. Mrs. Burke was born in Pickens county, Alabama, where she was also reared. She died February 18, 1886. Thirteen children were born to them, only three of whom are now living. Five died in infancy. and five after reaching ma- turity. The deceased are Andrew J., Jr., who died May 5, 1880, at the age of thirty- eight, leaving a family; Matilda J., wife of E. H. Cushing, died May 12, 1881; Mary, . wife of Bell Copes, died August 10, 1864; Horace T., who died March 20, 1890; and Fannie, wife of N. A. Blake, who died Jan- uary 19, 1882. The living are Frank S., an attorney of Houston; Edmund L., a railway conductor; and Annette, wife of George R. Bringhurst, of Houston.

Although past his eightieth year, Mr. Burke is still vigorous in mind and body, being remarkably well preserved for one of his age. He has led an active life, but has husbanded his strength by temperate habits and a faithful observance of the laws of na-

389

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

ture. He is now one of Houston's oldest, and, as he has always been, one of her niost highly respected citizens.

A. RIESNER .- Young blood counts for a good deal in the affairs of this world, and the youthful energy and enthusiasm which have been infused into the currents of traffic and developinent of this city during the past ten or fifteen years, have told wonderfully in its history.

A man who would justly resent the in- sinuation of age, and yet who has lived long enough to do something worthy of mention in connection with the history of this city, is B. A. Riesner, for six years a member of the City Council, and in many ways identified with the development and general welfare of this growing place. Mr. Riesner is a na- tive Texan, and has spent the most of his life in Houston. He can therefore be cred- ited with an amount of pride and disinter- estedness in what he has done, which will all the more heighten the value of his serv- ices. He was born in the town of Brazoria, Brazoria county, on the 19th of February, 1856, and is of German extraction. His parents, Anton and Wilhelmina Riesner, were both natives of Germany, the father having been born in Berlin, and the mother in Mecklenburg. They emigrated to the United States in 1847, coming direct to Texas and settling at Brazoria. The fatlier was a cooper by trade, and followed his call- ing at Brazoria until about 1862, when he came to Houston. He is remembered by the citizens of this place as a plain, plodding German, of modest, frugal ways, a good citizen, and a faithful soldier in the late war, having served on the staff of General Ma-

gruder, and taken part in the capture of the historic "Harriet Lane," in the battle of Galveston. He died here in January, 1886.

The subject of this notice was only about six years old when his father moved to Houston. What little education he got was received in the schools of this city; but this was nothing to speak of. He was appren- ticed to the trade of a blacksmith, at the age of fourteen, under H. A. Maydole, an ex- Federal soldier, now a practicing attorney of San Antonio; and, after completing the period of his apprenticeship, worked at his trade as a journeyman until 1875. At that date he opened a business of his own on a capital of fifty dollars, which he had saved from his earnings, supplemented by a small amount borrowed from his father. From this modest beginning his present establish- ment has grown. The amount borrowed from his father was repaid in a year or so, with interest, so that what he has may, in the strictest sense of the word, be said to be the fruits of his own toil. To start with, Mr. Riesner did only the rougher sort of blacksmithing, but with the increased de- mand for better work, and with the increase of his capital, he has come to manufacture wagons, buggies and other vehicles, to do bridge and bolt work of all kinds, and to turn out all kinds of architectural material that is made of iron. His establishment is in fact one of the growing industries of this city. While giving his attention to this he has also found time to interest himself in other enterprises, being a stockholder and director in the Simpson-Hartwell-Stopple Machine Works, the Texas Real Estate and Investinent Association, the American Brew- ing Association, the Houston Ice and Brew- ing Association, and the Mutual Building and

390

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

Loan Association, of which last he is also vice-president.

Mr. Riesner has served as a member of the City Council for six years, from the Fourth ward (north), having been returned at each successive election by an increased majority. It is as a member of the Council that he has performed the services which have entitled him to the grateful recogni- tion of the citizens of Houston. For four years as a member of the Finance Commit- tee, -two years as its chairman, -lie gave an amount of attention to the city finances which not only served to strengthen the public credit and render efficient the vari- ous departments of the city government dependent thereon, but, more than once, saved the city treasury fromn financial em- barrassment, and prevented the stopping of important public works. His successful efforts in securing the funds with which to complete the public-school buildings, in the summer of 1893, are fresh in the inemory of the citizens of this city. As chairman of the. Fire Committee Mr. Riesner was also instrumental in introducing new features in that department, among them the pres- ent electric fire-alarm system. In this branch of the city's service he has been particularly active for many years, having held every office in the department, from that of fireman up to that of chief.

Having been denied the advantages of the best school training in his youth, he has learned from experience the value of an education, and he has, on this account, taken especial interest in the educational matters of the city, using his utmost efforts when- ever occasion offered, to help the city schools, and make them as nearly perfect as may be.

On the 14th day of January, 1881, Mr. Riesner married Miss Sophie Laritze, of

Houston, and the result of this union has been five children, four girls and one boy: Le Etta, Mary, Benjamin A., Jr., Sophie and Bessie. These children, and a pleas- ant home presided over by a kind and esti- mable wife, have made Mr. Riesner's domes- tic life a source of never-failing happiness -a befitting counterpart to his successful business and official career.

EORGE H. HERMANN, was born in the city of Houston, August 6, 1845, and is a son of John and Fannie (Mitchell) Hermann, who were born in the city of Davos, Graubun- den, Switzerland. The father was a soldier when a young man, and took part in the battle of Waterloo, in which he received two wounds and had his horse shot from under him.

He came to the United States in 1830, and remained a short time. Returning to Switzerland he married, and, at a later date, came again to America, landing at Norfolk, Virginia, whence he went in a short time to New Orleans, and thence to the city of Mexico. Returning to New Orleans, he came, in 1838, to Texas, and settled at Houston. When he reached this place his family consisted of a wife and three chil- dren, and he had only $5 in money. For- tunately, his wife had some jewelry, which she consented to have pawned, and, with the proceeds, a barrel of flour and twenty- five pounds of sugar were purchased, and on this a small bakery, or cake stand, was started. He was in the bakery business some four years, when, with what small means he had earned, he purchased a few cows and engaged in the dairy business. He followed this for twenty years, .- until

391

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

his death in 1862. He bought lands and lots from time to time, and, at the date of his death, was in comfortable circumstances. He was a plain, industrious, frugal citizen, worthy, and well respected. The mother of the subject of this sketch died in 1863. There were seven children in the family of John and Fannie Hermann, only one of whom, the subject of this sketch, is now living. Four died in infancy and early childhood, and two, Louis and John M., since, -the former in 1869, and the latter in 1872.

George H. Hermann was reared in Hous- ton, with limited educational advantages, and, at the age of sixteen, entered the Con- federate army. Enlisting, in the fall of 1861, in Company A, Twenty-sixth Texas Cavalry, he served with this command, mainly in Texas, until toward the close of the war, when his command was placed on the eastern border of the State, and in Louisiana, where it took part in the series of engagements following Banks' campaign up Red river. At the close of hostilities, he returned to Houston, and, turning his attention to the cattle business, was so en- gaged up to 1875. The ten years so spent brought him good returns, and, in the last named year, he turned his attention to real estate matters, which, with an interval of three years, from 1882 to 1885. spent in the cattle business, have since formed his chief pursuits. Mr. Hermann has never held any office, nor has he ever married. June 7, 1894, he was nominated by the Democratic party for County Assessor of Harris county, Texas. He is regarded as one of Houston's men of solid wealth, de- voted to the best interests of his native city, an earnest, industrious, faithful citizen, and a safe and capable man of business.

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