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 55

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 55
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 55

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).

a APTAIN HENRY LEASK, a re- tired citizen of Galveston, first came to this city in 1850, as mate of the brig under Captain Asa Stephens, well known as one of the early navigators on Galveston bay. Captain Leask was born November 18, 1817, on the Shetland Isles, of which his parents, Rob- ert and Christiana (Arcus) Leask, were also natives, and where they passed their entire lives. The father was a fisherman and farmer. Of his children, only one besides Henry, a maiden daughter, is now living. Henry Leask went before the mast when but a lad, and followed the ocean life until

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1870, when he settled at Galveston. In 1854 he visited his old home, and there met and married Miss Christiana Cheyne. From 1854 to 1858 he sailed between the chief ports of Europe, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. In the last named year he made a trip to Galveston as master of the bark Trinity, and thereafter made this port regu- larly as master of a sailing vessel belonging to Pierce & Bacon, of Boston, and remained in that city for some time. While lying in port at Galveston, in 1861, he heard the news of the firing on Fort Sumter, and official notice was served on all commanders of vessels to remain in port. The general cargo of his vessel was consigned to E. B. Nichols & Company. The following day the orders to remain in port were counter- manded, but Captain Leask could get no clearance papers, the Confederate govern- ment having taken possession of the custom house. However, he started out with his vessel, and in due time arrived at Boston, where he was promptly arrested and tried for violation of the marine laws. Affairs were in such an unsettled condition that he was exonerated upon the plea that at the time of embarking no authorized custom officer was on duty. During the civil war Captain Leask spent his time on the water, cruising to various ports until 1870. Pre- vious to this, in 1869, he met with an acci- dent on board his vessel, and spent one year at his home, then on Long Island, New York. From there he came with his fam- ily to Galveston, and engaged in the lighter business for Irvine & Beissner, serving them as superintendent of their local business for about fifteen years, retiring in 1887, after an active career of more than fifty years. To him and his wife was born a son, who died in infancy. In 1863 Mrs. Leask died, her

death occurring at Andover, Massachusetts. In 1866, on Long Island, New York, Cap- tain Leask married Mrs. Harriet Doxye, a native of New York city. Captain and Mrs. Leask live in quiet retirement at their pleasant home, 2702 Avenue H, corner of Twenty-seventh street, Galveston.

APTAIN JOHN QUICK .- The name of this gentleman is familiar to every resident of Galveston, for he has resided in this city for many years, and has ever had its interests at heart. No worthy movement is allowed to fail for want of support on his part, and his up- rightness and reliability have won him many friends. He first visited Galveston in 1850, as master of the brig, "Ostaloya," which, being partly disabled by heavy seas, he put in there for repairs. In 1854 he again visited the same port as master of the ship "Geranium," and so favorable were his impressions of the town, its people, and the climate, that he decided to locate perma- nently on the island. Abandoning the sea, he came to Galveston, bought property, and here he has continued to make his home up to the present. Idleness was not one of his characteristics, and, after a short season of that, he purchased an interest in the marble- cutting and monument business of A. Allen & Company, the pioneers of that line in Galveston. Captain Quick had acquired a practical knowledge of the business from his father, John Quick, who was a marble- cutter by trade, and who followed that for many years at Utica, New York. He con- tinued a member of the firmn of Allen & Company until the breaking out of civil war in 1861; he then took up arms in de- fense of the Southern states and served

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through the war as Captain of the "Mary Payne," in the secret dispatch service. After the war closed he retired from active busi- ness life and invested his means in real estate. Captain Quick was born in Oncida county, New York, November 22, 1829, and his father, John Quick, Sr., was a na- tive of Albany, the same State. The Cap- tain is a man of more than ordinary intelli- gence, and, being a great reader, keeps thoroughly posted on all current topics. He makes his influence felt in local and State politics, and is never backward in present- ing his views when occasion requires it. He pushes the cause of his friends with an elo- quent and forcible stump speech and works with unflagging zeal for their interests. He is popular with all. Captain Quick has been twice married and by his first union became the father of one daughter, Mrs. Boatwright, of Galveston.

ENRY HENCK .- In every com- munity may be found numbers of solid, worthy citizens who have reached an honorable position by the force of their own pluck and energy. After a long and useful career Mr. Henck has retired from the active duties of life, and now enjoys the fruits of his labors in a comfortable home. The family name is a familiar one in Galveston, for the father of our subject, John Henck, came to the State in 1847, bringing with him his family, con- sisting of his wife and ten children, five of whom survive at the present time, four sons and a daughter, as follows: Henry; Chris- tian; Fritz; and Augusta, wife of David Weber, -- all of whom now reside in Gal- veston. Upon coming to Texas with liis family, John Henck first located on a farm

on Mill creek, in Austin county, but re- mained there only a short time, when he moved to Galveston. He enlisted as a soldier in the Mexican war, and was de- tailed in the quartermaster's department. After serving about eighteen months he re- turned home, where he died, in 1850. His three sons also served in that war. Henry Henck, the subject of this sketch, joined the Texas Rangers, under Captain Mccullough, and fought the Indians for about three years, becoming thoroughly familiar with Indian warfare. He served under General Taylor, at the battle of Buena Vista, and later, at Vera Cruz and the city of Mexico, with General Scott. For some time he was in Colonel Hayes' regiment, under Captain Eams. After the war he returned to Gal- veston, and worked in the foundry business as an iron fitter. This business he · aban- doned in 1882, and retired from the active pursuits of life. During the civil war he served three years as teamster in the Union army, quartermaster's department, under Banks. Upon his return from the war, he married Miss Fredrica Huess, who died in 1879, leaving three sons, all now living in Galveston: August, Harry and Ernest. Mr. Henck is one of Galveston's reliable and worthy citizens, and the name is synony- mous with true worth and uprightness.

EORGE W. DOLL .- Ohio has contributed to Texas many indus- trious and substantial citizens, among whom may be mentioned George W. Doll, who came to the State and settled at Galveston in the fall of 1868. Mr. Doll was born in Stark county, Ohio, May 3, 1840, to the union of John and Elizabeth (Rice) Doll, the former a native of York

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county, Pennsylvania, of German extraction, and the latter a native of Antietam Creek, Maryland, and of French origin. Their family consisted of nine sons and three daughters: Jacob, John R., Benjamin, Jo- sialı, Isaac, Frank M., Joseph V., George W., Eli D., Mary, Lydia and Elizabeth. Of the nine sons, Jacob died when about eight- een years old, in Stark county, Ohio. The remaining eight went to California at various periods ranging from 1849 to 1860. Josiah married in Ohio and located in Scott's val- ley, Siskiyou county, California, where he died in 1893, leaving a wife and family. Joseph V. died in the same county in 1872, single. John R. located near the old home in Stark county, and died there in 1857, leaving a wife and one daughter.

George W. Doll, the subject of this sketch, went, in 1858, to California, where he engaged in farming in Siskiyou county, in connection with which he followed min- ing in the Siskiyou regions, remaining in that State for two years. After that lie went to Idaho, and for about fifteen months was engaged in mining for gold in the placer dig- gings of that region. In 1864 he crossed the plains again and returned to his old home in Stark county, Ohio, whence he went the following year to Missouri, where he followed merchandising at Boonville for two years. Following this he visited Miami, Saline, towns of Missouri, and then went to Memphis, Tennessee. In 1868 he came to Galveston, accompanied by his brother, Frank M., who located on Bolivar Point, where he engaged in farming for about five years. Then he went to Arizona, where he was recently (January 4, 1895) murdered by two Mexicans who sought to rob him, George W. located in Galveston, and in 1869 entered upon his career as a merchant

at his present place of business on Channel avenue, at the foot of Twentieth street. where he has since continued, being now one of the oldest merchants along the bay shore, and one of the most substantial. In the year 1872 he was married, in Galveston, to Miss Eliza, daughter of J. C. Mundine, a pioneer of Texas, and minister of the Bap- tist Church. Mr. Mundine came to Texas, in 1847, located near Lexington, in Lee county, and there reared his family. One of his daughters, Mrs. J. C. Cunningham, lives in Galveston. Mr. and Mrs. Doll's union resulted in the birth of one daughter, Mary E., who died in 1876, when eleven months old.

J ERRY LORDAN, the efficient Chief of Police of the city of Galveston, was born in county Cork, Ireland, on April 19, 1851. His parents were John and Ellen Lordan, natives of the same place, who emigrated thence to America and settled in Boston, Massachu- setts, where the childhood and youth of the subject of this sketch were passed. He re- ceived a good common-school education, and left liome at the age of sixteen, in 1867, to take up the life of a sailor. After some- thing less than two years on the sea he found himself in the city of Hong Kong, China, where, during the years 1869 and 1870, he served on the police force of that city, holding the rank of Sergeant. From Hong Kong he went to San Francisco, Cali- fornia, in the year last mentioned, and, after a brief stay there, proceeded to the mining districts of Arizona, where he spent some two years engaged in mining. In 1873 he returned to Boston, whence he came the same year to Galveston, and took up his

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permanent abode. Since residing in this city Mr. Lordan has been variously engaged, chiefly, however, as a member of the police department of the city. He first became connected with the department in 1881 as patrolman, Captain Joseph Atkins then being chief. He served at intervals as patrolman, and a member of the detective force for some time, in all about eight years, being, in the meantime, engaged in the cot- ton business, until 1889, when he was elected Chief of Police by the city council. On the election of Mayor Fly, in 1893, he was appointed as the head of the police depart- ment, and is still serving in this capacity. The difficult duties of this office Mr. Lordan has so far discharged creditably to himself and satisfactorly to the citizens and tax- payers of Galveston.

He married, November 22, 1874, Miss Hortense Marchand, a daughter of Ferdi- nand and Octavia Marchand, early settlers of Galveston, Mrs. Lordan being a native of this city. The issue of this union has been six children: John J., Ferdinand, George, Jerry, Daniel and Ellen.

EORGE A. REYDER, merchant at Thirty-sixth street and Broad- way, Galveston, was born in Sax- ony, August 12, 1854. He came to America at the age of thirteen, a poor boy, unaccompanied by friends or relatives, landing at Baltimore, Maryland, where he found his first employment as a general- service hand in a well-to-do family, with whom he remained until he acquired a fair knowledge of the language and customs of the country, when he started out in search of something better. Drifting South and West he found himself some time afterward

at Louisville, Kentucky, and after a short time spent on a farm in Jefferson county he went thence South and secured a position in a grocery store in the city of New Or- leans. Learning the business of a grocer, he had a desire to embark in that business for himself, and came to Texas, settling at Galveston, where he had been advised op- portunities were favorable to enterprising young men. The first year or so after con- ing to this city he worked about the differ- ent cotton presses, and then, in 1881, with what means he had saved, he rented a build- ing and opened a small grocery store on the corner of Thirty-sixth street and Avenue K. His business prospered, and four years later he bought property on the corner of Thirty- sixth street and Broadway, to which he moved, and where he has continued to drive a steadily increasing trade.

. In 1880, Mr. Reyder married Miss Julia Keohler, who is a native of Germany, and to this union three children have been born: Adolph, born March 6, 1882; Alma, born April 23, 1884; and George A., Jr., born July 26, 1889.

At the. November election in 1894, Mr. Reyder's friends saw fit to put his name on the ticket as a candidate for the office of Commissioner of Precinct No. 3, Galveston county, and lie was elected. He is a progres- sive, public-spirited citizen, a good, safe, business man, and popular with the people among whom he lives.

a RNEST WITTIG was born in Grunhainichen, Saxony, on the 7th of October, 1829. He learned the trade of a carpenter in his native place and followed it there some years, until 1857, when, as assistant engineer, he joined

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a mining expedition to Bonanza, Mexico, where he spent the greater part of three years. He then came to Galveston and settled here, and took up his trade as a car- penter, which he has since followed. Mr. Wittig had not taken out his naturalization papers when the late civil war came on, and was therefore not subject to military duty.

In 1868 Mr. Wittig married Miss Louisa Becker, a daughter of William Becker, who emigrated from Hanover, Germany, in 1847, when a young man, and settled at Galves- ton. Her mother, whose maiden name was Caroline Funck, was born in Han- over, Germany, in 1819. Mrs. Wittig is a native of Galveston. Mr. and Mrs. Wittig have had born to them nine children: Ernest, Louise, Richard, Frances, Hattie, Clara, Elsie, Walter and Edna.

J OHN RIGG, proprietor of the New City Hotel of Galveston, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, January 13, 1845, and is a son of Thomas and Sarah Rigg, who were natives of the same State. Mr. Rigg's ancestors on his father's side settled in Peimsylvania before the American Revolution, belonging to that thrifty, well-to-do class of people called "Pennsylvania Dutch." His ante- cedents on his mother's side were from Scotland, and settled in Pennsylvania at a comparatively recent date. His parents emigrated to Ohio in 1855 and settled in Clinton county, and there the subject of this sketch passed his youth. He lived on the farm until he had attained his twenty- first year, when lie engaged in steamboat- ing on the Ohio river, beginning as a deck hand, and rising to the position of Captain.

For twenty years he ran on river packets on the Ohio and Mississippi, up to 1866, when he helped to fit out three steamers, the Thomas M. Bagby, Lizzie and Diana, at Louisville, Kentucky, and came with these to Galveston, the boats having been built for the Houston & Galveston Navigation Com- pany, for which Mr. Rigg worked for a period of two years. Following that he ran on the Belle of Texas, which was en- gaged in the Trinity river trade, then on the Stonewall, a coaster owned by W. B. Norris, running between Galveston, Sabine Pass and Lake Charles, and still later on the tug, Alert, owned by the same gentle- man and running on the Calcasieu river, in Louisiana.

In 1880 Mr. Rigg quit steamboating, and, locating in Galveston, purchased the old City Hotel on Postoffice street, between Twenty- fifth and Twenty-sixth streets, where he en- gaged in the hotel business, which he has since followed. In 1886 Mr. Rigg bought the lot on the southeast corner of Postoffice and Twenty-fifth streets, and on it he erected the present New City Hotel, to which he moved that year, and which he has conducted with marked success during the past nine years.

In 1880 Mr. Rigg married Miss Maggie Rolien, of Galveston, who died three years later, leaving three sons, -John, Eddie and Joe. In 1884 he married Miss Helen Schwarzbach, of Galveston, she being a native of this city and a daughter of John and Louisa Schwarzbach, the former of whom came to Texas in 1852 and the latter in 1859, and who were married in this city, on September 27th of the year last named.

Mr. Schwarzbach died in Galveston in 1891, in his sixty-second year; his widow is still living. By this last marriage Mr. Rigg

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has three children, -Helen, Louisa and Willie.

The religious connection of the family is with the Lutheran Church. Mr. Rigg is a member of Humbolt Lodge, No. 9, Knights of Pythias, and of the Woodmen of the World.

J OHN MEALY, the subject of this sketch, is a native of Ireland, having been born in county Tipperary, on June 22, 1835. At the age of thir- teen he was brought by his father, John Mealy, to America, passing his youth and early manhood in New York, where he settled. On account of the impoverished condition of his family, no advantages were afforded him to acquire an education, learn a trade or become acquainted with the world of business, except such as he sought out and won for himself. From the time of his landing in this country, he became the architect of his own fortune. From a news- boy at thirteen, he became a helper in a restaurant on Wall street in New York city, and later a railway brakeman, from which position he went on, serving as yardmaster, baggagemaster, and in other capacities, for a period of several years. His longest service was with the Mobile & Ohio Rail- road, one of the pioneer lines of the South, with which he was connected, both before and after the war.

Mr. Mealey came to Texas in 1866, and settled at Galveston, where he has since re- sided. For twenty-five years he was a member of the police force of Galveston, quitting the service only in 1892, at which time he retired altogether from all active pursuits. In 1890 and 1891 he was deputy Chief of Police, in which capacity he did

good service for the public, and proved a most popular officer with the men over whom he ranked, as was evidenced by the many expressions of satisfaction from the citizens in general, and by the presentation to him of a handsome gold badge, with ap- propriate inscriptions, by the members of the force, on his retirement from office.

In 1860 Mr. Mealey married Miss Mar- garet Sweeney, at Mobile, Alabama, and by this union he has had seven children, four of whom are deceased and three living, -one daughter, Ellen, and two sons, John and Joseph.

Having taken care of his earnings and invested them in good real estate in Galves- ton, which he has from time to time im- proved, Mr. Mealey finds himself now, in his latter years, in the enjoyment of a com- petency from his rentals, and, though neither rich nor famous, he can look back over his career of forty-five years as time well spent, the modest fruits of which his many friends hope he may long live to enjoy.

a HARLES S. OTT is a 'native of Louisville, Kentucky, was born on the 23d of June, 1847, to Jacob and Katherine Ott; both of whom were born in Germany, the former in the province of Bavaria, August 10, 1810, and the latter in 1816. Jacob Ott, who was a wagonmaker and wheelwright by trade, came to America about 1826, and, after locating in Louisville, where he was mar- ried, he began following his trade. He was the pioneer wagonmaker of that city, also did a blacksmithing business, and, being a natural mechanic and quite ingenious, in- vented an improved .potato-plow, which came into general use. He died in 1856,

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at the age of forty-six years, and his widow in August, 1894, in her seventy-eighth year. Of ten children born to them, four reached maturity: John, Jacob, Louise, and Charles S. John is now deceased; Jacob is a pat- ternmaker by trade, and lives at Austin, Texas; and Louise is the wife of Joseph Marshall, of Louisville, Kentucky. Charles S. Ott left Louisville, Kentucky, and came to Austin, Texas, in 1878, to superintend the stonework on the Government building in that city, where he remained two years. Upon coming to Galveston, in 1881, he en- tered the employ of A. Allen, who was the pioneer in the marble-cutting business in Galveston, later on becoming his partner. After the death of this gentleman, he con- tinued in the business with his deceased partner's widow, until 1886, when he bought her interest, and added the department of building-stone to the marble monument trade, which former line has, since that time, constituted the larger portion of the business.

Mr. Ott was married on the 9th of Jan- uary, 1868, to Mrs. Nellie A. Riley, a na- tive of Ireland, who came to America, with her parents, at six months of age. Her father, John Riley, was a contractor of Louisville, Kentucky. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Ott resulted in the birth of eight children: Mary Louise, Minnie Florence, Nellie Agnes, John Charles, Clarence Jo- seph, Julia Clara, Cecelia Liela, and Leo Louis.

APTAIN GEORGE WILSON .- Nearly forty years ago, or, to speak by dates, in August, 1856, the sub- ject of this sketch first crossed the bar at the head of Galveston bay. He was

then a youth, lacking two years of his major- ity. The intervening years have wrought great changes in the general aspect of things in this locality, and have not been without their corresponding influence on the personal fortunes of him of whom this brief notice is written.

Captain Wilson has, as one may say, spent almost his entire life on the water. He is a native of Denmark, the home of the fearless Norseman, once known to fame through the terror which his Viking ship was wont to spread upon the seas. He was born December 5, 1837, and went to sea at the age of ten. Two years later he came to America aboard a sailer, and for nine years following was engaged in the merchant marine service, between New York city and Charleston, South Carolina. In the summer of 1856 he came to Galveston on board the bark, Coloma, from New York, to be loaded with cotton. Cotton shipments from this port were then light. The Coloma lay in port here three months waiting for her cargo. Young Wilson was thus given a good opportunity to become acquainted with the city and its surroundings. He conceived a liking for the place, and on his second visit, the next year, he decided to take up his residence here. He served in various capacities as a steamboat man, until the opening of the war, when he voluntered in the Confederate army, and was one year in the field, chiefly on Galveston island, after which he was transferred to the Marine De- partinent, and served as a pilot on trading vessels, running between Galveston, Hous- ton and Trinity river points. He continued in this general line of employment after the war until 1870, when he engaged in running lighters and towboats in Galveston harbor, up to 1879. At that date lie became a mem-

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ber of the Galveston Pilot Association, and has since given his attention to his duties in this capacity. Captain Wilson's ability and faithfulness are fully vouched for by the association of which he is a member, while his personal popularity is coextensive with the circle of his acquaintance.

Captain Wilson has been twice married. He married, first, in 1862, Miss Julia Magean, of Galveston, and this lady died in 1884, without issue. His second marriage occurred two years latter, the lady whom he wedded being Miss Mary J. Everette, then a resident of Galveston, but originally from Mobile, Alabama, where she belonged to one of the first-settled families of that place, a great-uncle of hers being the first Mayor of Mobile.

S AMUEL F. HUGHES, a typical Texas pioneer of 1849, now resides on Bolivar Point, in Galveston coun- ty. He was born in Worcester, England, September 12, 1820, and remained there until about twenty-two years of age, when he joined the English Navy, and made a three-years cruise along the coast of Africa, to aid in the restriction of the slave trade, which had grown to alarming propor- tions. During this voyage, his experience was most novel, and at times dangerous. He assisted in the capture of thirty brigs and brigantines, which were especially con- structed and equipped for that unlawful business. One of the vessels captured, a steam sloop, contained 352 slaves, of both sexes, all nude, and herded into the differ- ent appartments of the ship like cattle. These vessels, wlien captured, were either burned or used as targets, and thus destroyed, or sent to the isle of St. Helena. They

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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