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 68

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 68
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 68

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Being in New York city in 1837, when a fleet was being fitted out for the Texas navy, Captain Hitchcock enlisted in the naval service of the Republic, and early in 1838 came to Texas as mate of the steamer Brutus, commanded by Captain Norman Hurd. After a few months spent cruis- ing in the waters of the gulf he resigned his position in the navy and took up his residence at Galveston.

He became one of the first pilots on Gal- veston island and was an honorary member of the Pilots' Association as long as he lived. He assisted in organizing the city govern- ment in August, 1838, was the first harbor master at this port, and for a period of thir- ty years, until his death, was prominently connected with the business and social life of the city. He held more offices and was longer in office during the first twelve or fifteen years of the city's history than any other man in the city, serving eight times as

Alderman, four times as harbor master, four times as Treasurer and several times as acting Mayor and acting Clerk of the Coun- cil. His name appears on all the impor- tant committees during the time he was in the Council and as the originator of many of the chief municipal measures of that period. He was a charter member of Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1, the first fire company ever organized in Texas; of the Galveston Artillery Company, one of the oldest and most select military organizations in Texas, was an early member of both the Masonic and Odd Fellow fraternities, and of Trinity Episcopal Church, being the leader of the choir of this church for nearly a quarter of a century. He was one of the most active and aggressive business men of Galveston, possessed one of the most varied business interests, and up to the opening of the civil war had achieved as large a measure of success as any other man in Galveston. He . conducted at different times, and sometimes simultaneously, these establishments, a gro- cery store and shipchandlery, meat and pro- duce market and hotel. He was a charter member of Union Fire and Marine Insur- ance Company, the oldest insurance com- pany in Texas; the Galveston, Houston & Henderson Railroad, one of the pioneer rail- way lines of the State, and of Galveston & Brazos Navigation Company, in each of which he was a member of the board of di- rectors, and had to do with the active man- agement of all, and of everything with which his name was connected.

In his business affairs, and in all he did, Captain Hitchcock was plain, direct, prac- tical and forceful. He had received the elements of a fair English education in his youth, on which he had improved by study and observation as he advanced in years.

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The entries made by him while acting as City Clerk, and the reports signed by him as chairman of different committees, now on file in the City Clerk's office, are clear state- ments of fact and evince a keen apprecia- tion on his part of the truly essential in all matters under consideration.

Captain Hitchcock was very successful in business His energy, strong practical sagacity and far-reaching disposition, re-in- forced by excellent business methods and habits, enabled him to lay the foundation of a comfortable fortune, which, despite re- verses and the disasters of war, he held well together until his death. Besides his business interests already mentioned, he owned a great deal of land in Texas, some of which has in recent years become very valuable. Most of the land in the vicinity of Hitchcock, Galveston county, belonged at one time to him, the town being named for him.

At Hartford, Connecticut, Captain Hitch- cock married Miss Emily Sarah Elizabeth Clifford, a daughter of James Allen Clifford, and a native of Savannah, Georgia, though born of New England parents, of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Her ancestors were among the early settlers of Connecticut, coming originally from England, where they con- nected with some of the oldest and wealthiest families of that country. Mrs. Hitchcock accompanied her husband to Texas in 1838, and shared with him all his labors here at an early day. The offspring of their union was four children, two of whom became grown: Emily Burroughs Hitchcock, who died at the age of nineteen, the wife of Charles Vidor, of Galveston, and Lent Mun- son Hitchcock, also of Galveston.

Captain Hitchcock died in this city, February 28, 1869, and his wife at I.ces-

burg, Florida, February 22, 1884, both being buried in the Episcopal cemetery in this city. The death of Captain Hitchcock was made the occasion of universal mourn- ing in Galveston, every possible mark of respect being shown to his memory. One brother of Captain Hitchcock, Frank, for about thirty years a citizen of Galveston, a prosperous and popular gentleman, was among the lost on the ill-fated Verona, which sank off the coast of Florida on Octo- ber 19, 1870, and upon which perished so many old Galvestonians.

HALES WOOLLAM, proprietor of Woollam's Lake, a suminer and winter resort of Galveston, Texas, was born in England, August 28, 1845, and was educated in the common schools of the same. A desire to try his fortune in the new world induced him to leave home and friends when twenty-six years of age and cross the ocean. He came direct to the Lone Star State, settled in Gal- veston, and for a number of years was en- gaged in various enterprises in that city. In 1885 he purchased his present property, consisting of five acres, and all the improve- ments on the same have been placed there by Mr. Woollam. A beautiful lake is on this tract of land, which is rendered still more attractive by the large shade-trees, ornamental shrubbery and tropical plants, etc., by which it is covered. It is Mr. Wool- lam's intention to make it the Mecca of all visitors. During the summer season he has open-air concerts, liglit operas and instru- mental music. Here are also to be found oyster bakes, for which Galveston , is so fa- mons. . Mr. Woollam is well known for the interest he takes in the progress, develop-

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ment and prosperity of Galveston and sur- rounding country, and is active in the sup- port of all worthy movements. . Politically he is non-partisan and votes according to his convictions, irrespective of party. Mr. Woollam was married in his native country to Miss Hester Green, and to this union have been born three children, only two of whom, Bettie E. and Hester Anna, are liv- ing, the eldest, Ellen Sarah, being deceased. Mr. Woollain is a member of the Episcopal, and his wife and daughters meinbers of the Baptist Church.

HEOPHILUS JAMES COLLINS. -Within years of recent date the remarkable growth of the real-es- tate business has given it a promi- nence and placed it in a position that is at- tained by very few other elements in this country. This increase and promotion can be nothing less than a reflex of the progress and prosperity of every general interest in the community, and constitutes a strong reason for gratification among all observant and appreciative business men. Theophilus J. Collins has been prominent in this busi- ness, and has been a participator in every movement tending to enhance the value of property, and is one of the most reliable and best informed dealers of Houston. He has had an office in this city since 1892, and is the owner of a considerable amount of valu- able land in Harris county, and some very fine property in Harrisburg, in which place he has made his home for about a quarter of a century.

Mr. Collins was born in Fort Bend county, Texas, June 15, 1847, received excellent ed- ucational advantages in private schools, and finished his literary education by a two-

years course at St. Mary's College, of San Antonio, this State. Upon attaining a suit- able age he began working in the lumber yards of O. E. Stevens, and was later with Charles Bunker, the lumber dealer, at Har- risburg. After leaving the employ of this gentleman he opened a grocery store at Harrisburg, which he operated for about six years, after which he was for some time ex- tensively engaged in cutting, boiling and shipping prairie hay, and in shipping wood. These occupations, however, in time gave place to the real-estate business, which now occupies his attention. Since 1879 he has been married to Miss Minnie Compton, by whom he has four children: Theophilus J., Jr., Stafford, House, and Mabel. Mr. Col- lins is a son of William and Mary Margaret (Compton) Collins, the former of whom was born in St. Landry parish, Louisiana, a son of Theophilus Collins. In 1846 he re- moved to Brazoria county, Texas with his wife and four children, -William, Ce- leste, Laura, and Theophilus James, - all of whom are deceased, with the ex- ception of the last mentioned, but like so many of those who ambitiously sought to make a home for themselves and those depending on them in a new country, he lived but a short time, his death occur- ring on his plantation, known as Chocolate Bayou, in 1847, he having been engaged in agriculture and stock-raising. His wife was born in Rapides parish, Louisiana, March 30, 1821, and their union took place when she was but sixteen years of age. Her parents, Alexander and Elizabeth (Calvert) Compton, were born in Maryland and Rapides parish, Louisiana, respectively, their marriage taking place in the mother's native parish. When a child Alexander Compton was taken by his parents to Ken-

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tucky, thence to Louisiana, and, in 1840, he took up his residence in Brazoria county, Texas, where his attention was given to planting up to 1859, after which he made his home with his daughter, Mary Margaret, until his death in 1870 at the age of seventy years. He was a son of Philip Compton, a native of Maryland, and a grandson of one who came to this country from England, at which time the Compton family-tree first took root on American soil. The wife of Alexander Compton lived to be fifty-five years of age. Her father was Anthony Cal- vert. To her union with Mr. Compton seven children were born, -Mary Margaret, Eva, Ann Eliza, Elenora, Henrietta, Martineza, and Alexander, all of whom are dead, with the exception of Elenora, the widow of Henry Kyle, and a resident of Galveston, Texas, and Mary Margaret, who was married March 12, 1847, to Dr. Elias T. Pilant, after the death of her first husband, Mr. Collins. Her union with the Doctor resulted in the birth of four children,-Tilford, Joseph, William and Linder, -all of whom are dead. Dr. Pilant was born near Nashville, in Robinson county, Tennessee, May 14, 1821, and is a son of Elisha Pilant, who was a soldier of the war of 1812, and grandson of George Pilant, a native of France, and a Revolutionary soldier. Mrs. Pilant, mother of . Mr. Collins, is a remarkably preserved woman, and although now past seventy-three years of age does not appear to be over fifty-five, a fact which is, no doubt, in a great measure at- tributable to her happy and hopeful disposi- tion. She has always been surrounded with everything to make life enjoyable, and thor- oughly appreciates her many blessings. In her youthful days she was a fine shot with a rifle and frequently went deer-hunting with her husband, and wild indeed was the horse

which she could not ride and control. The family is an old and prominent one of southern Texas, and among its members are those who helped to develop the country from a primitive wilderness to a well-culti- vated section with thriving towns and a prosperous people.

a OLONEL A. M. SHANNON .- Nearly a century ago Joseph Shan- non, a native of Virginia, emigrated with his family from the "Old Do- minion " to western Kentucky, and settled in what is now Logan county. There, to himself and faithful spouse, a son, whom they christened Granville B., was born in the year 1801. This son, actuated by the same spirit of enterprise evinced by his par- ents in their emigration to the wilds of western Kentucky, went when a young man to the then newly settled State of Arkansas, where he fixed his domicile in the rich val- ley of the Arkansaw river by the purchase of a considerable tract of wild land. Later he met and married Unity Williams, of that State, a comely orphan girl, ten years his junior, with whom he settled on his land and engaged in the profitable business of cotton-planting.

In the course of time they had a large family of children, the fourth of whom in age was a son, Alexander M., who is the subject of this sketch. He was born at the old homestead in Washington county, on the 7th day of May, 1839. When he was fourteen his parents moved to Texas, and his youth was passed partly in what is now John- son county, where they first settled, and partly in Gonzales county. From Gonzales coun- ty he went, after attaining his majority, to Karnes county, where he was residing at the

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opening of the war. Mr. Shannon was op- posed to secession, and cast one of the seven votes which were cast against the measure in Karnes county; but when Texas with- drew from the Union he acquiesced in the general judgment, and at once raised a com- pany, of which he was elected Captain, joined Sibley's brigade, and served some months as Captain of Instruction, when lie entered Company C, of Terry's Texas Rangers, of which he was made Lieutenant, and at once went to the front. He was elected Captain of his company in a few months, and served as such up to July, 1864, when he was placed in charge of a detached command in the secret service of the ariny, and so served till February, 1865. At that time he was made a full Colonel, and given a regiment composed of detach- ments and recruits from several sources, which he conimanded till the close of hos- tilities. He participated in all the engage- ments in which Terry's rangers took part,

from Woodsonville, Kentucky, where Colonel Terry fell, to Bentonville, North Carolina; was never captured, but was four times wounded, sustaining one serious wound, at the battle of Perryville, Ken- tucky, and three slight wounds in as many different skirmishes.

After the war, up to 1868, Colonel Shan- non was engaged in trade operations in New Orleans, and between that city and the isthinus of Panama. He then became as- sociated with General John B. Hood in the commission and insurance business in New Orleans, Louisiana, and resided in that city until 1869, when, their business having grown to such proportions as to necessitate a separation, he took the Texas division and came to Galveston and settled, for the pur- pose of looking after that interest. In 1880

Colonel Shannon engaged in Government contracting and for a period of ten years following he did most the work of this kind on the coast from Sabine to the Rio Grande. In 1890 he was made general manager of the Galveston & Western Railway, and in De- cember, 1893, he was appointed Postmaster at Galveston, which last two positions he still holds.

Since settling in Galveston Colonel Shan- non has always manifested a proper interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the city. He has been very little in public office, has taken practically no interest in partisan politics, but has aligned himself with the business men of the community and has always lent the weight of a strong per- sonal example to the side of law, order, prog- ress and prosperity. When Galveston ex- perienced its first serious labor troubles, during the Santa Fe strike in 1885, he was mnade leader of a large body of representative citizens and property-holders, and as such put down the local disturbances which for a time seriously threatened the peace and welfare of the community. He was subse- quently made president of an association growing out of the same matter, the object of which was to protect public and private property against lawlessness and to promote the public peace, which association contin- ued in active operation as long as there was any necessity for its existence.

Colonel Shannon was made a Mason in 1860, the night after he was twenty-one years old, in Concrete Lodge, No. 182, at Concrete, DeWitt county, Texas, and he has been an active member of the order since. In politics he is a Democrat.

In 1872 Colonel Shannon married Miss Clara V. Scott, a daughter of William B. Scott, then residing in Harris county, Texas,

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but originally from Clark county, Alabama, where Mrs. Shannon was born, she being a grand-daughter of ex-Governor Murphy, of that State. The issue of this union has been seven children. Colonel Shannon's father died in Washington county, Arkansas, in 1872, having returned to that State after the war. His mother, now in her eighty-fifth year, born March 28, 1810, resides in the same county.

ILLIAM R. ECKHARDT, M. D. -Few, perhaps none, save those who liave trod the arduous paths of the profession, can picture to themselves the array of attributes, physical, mental and moral, and the lost of minor qualities essential to the making up of a truly successful physician. His constitution inust needs be of the hardiest to withstand the constant shock of wind and weather, the wearing loss of sleep and rest, the ever- gathering load of care, the insidious ap- proacli of every form of fell disease to which lis daily round of duties momentarily ex- poses him. The above are but a few neces- sary remarks introducing Dr. William R. Eckhardt, who is an exceptionally popular and successful young physician of Houston, Texas. He is scholarly and well informed in every branch of his profession, and has already given abundant evidences of the ability which qualifies him for a high place in the medical profession. He is a product of the Lone Star State, for his birth oc- curred in Dewitt county, September 15, 1864, being the third of eleven children born to Robert C. and Caroline Eckhardt, and he fortunately, in his youthful days, was given good educational advantages, and be- sides the common schools attended Cuero

Institute, in his native county, and took a three years' course in the Agricultural and Mechanical College, at Bryan, Texas. At the age of nineteen years he began the study of medicine under Dr. Roger Atkinson, and, after thoroughly fitting himself under the able instructions of this gentleman, he took a full course of medical lectures at Tulane University of New Orleans, after which he went to Louisville, Kentucky, and took a course of lectures in the Hospital College of Medicine, at which institution he graduated in June, 1887. While in that city he took a special course in surgery under Dr. A. M. Cartledge, after which he returned to New Orleans and graduated in the Medical De- partment of Tulane University, in March, 1888, after which he was appointed a mem- ber of the visiting staff of the Charity Hos- pital on nervous diseases, which place he continued to fill, greatly to his own benefit ' and also to that of those among whom he labored. In November, 1889, he resigned this position and went to Gonzales, Texas, where he took up the general practice; but wishing to further perfect himself in his pro- fession, lie, in 1890, went to New York city and took a course of lectures in the New York Polyclinic Medical College, at which lie graduated, and at the same time took up a special course of operative surgery under Drs. Gill Wylie and John A. Wyeth. Know- ing that health is the most precious gift of nature, and how to retain it and how to re- gain it when lost, are matters of vital moment, he has entered heart and soul into his profession, has attained a degree of eminence far beyond the average, and his patrons are among the most exclusive fami- lies of Houston, to which city he came in January, 1891. He has handsomely fur- nished offices in the Kiam building, and,

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while doing a large general practice, makes a specialty of diseases of women. The Doctor is of a social, genial and kindly dis- position, and is a prominent member of the honorable order of the Knights of Pythias. He was married in 1890, to Miss Iris Kent, of Gonzales, Texas, a daughter of Jack Kent, of that place, and to them two bright little children have been born: Frances Irene and William R., Jr.

S IMON PRIESTER, for thirty years a resident of the city of Houston, being now deceased, was born in the village of Detmold, principality of Lippe-Detmold, Germany, April 29, 1833. His father was Simon Priester, Sr., , and his mother bore the maiden name of Henrietta Badger. The father was a baker by trade, and young Simon learned this trade under his father.

At the age of eighteen, on the advice of his two brothers, who had previously come to Texas and settled in Houston, he came over, accompanied by still another brother, Emil, sailing from Bremen in the latter part of April, 1851, and reaching Houston July 8, following, took up his residence in this city. He immediately found employment at his trade in this place, working for H. Back for about twelve months. In the spring of 1854, he married Wilhelmina Herdejuergen, and with her personal assistance, and what means he had saved during the previous three years, he started a small bakery on Congress avenue, about where Dumler's restaurant now is, between Main and Travis streets. Here he did a prosperous business until he was burned out, some six or eight years later. The greater portion of the period covered by the war he spent in

Mexico, but after the. return of peace he purchased two lots on Preston avenue, op- posite the market house, on one of which he erected a two-story brick, and again opened a bakery. He built up a good busi- ness in this place, which he subsequently sold to Bollfrass Brothers, who were succeeded by Browne & Bollfrass, Mr. Priester re- maining out of business four or five years, when he again opened another establish- inent, which he was conducting at the time of his death, June 15, 1881. He never held any public positions, lived modestly, accum- ulated considerable property, and died well respected. He left a widow, three daugh- ters and one son surviving him, all of whom are residents of Houston.

Mrs. Priester was born in Detmold, principality of Lippe-Detmold, Germany, being a daughter of Anton and Wilhelmina (Larma) Herdejuergen, who emigrated to Texas in 1847, settling at Houston. Her mother died here the following year, and her father in 1852. One brother, Fred, and one sister, Louisa, also died here; one sister, Hannah, married and moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where she died, and one brother, An- ton, still resides on Bray's bayou, in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Priester's children are: Simon; Mary, wife of Henry Bering; Ella and Teresa.

The religious connection of the family is with the Lutheran Church, in which Mr. Priester held a membership for a number of years before his death.

J AMES STERLING PRICE, the effi- cient general manager of the Mer- chants' & Planters' Cotton Oil Com- pany, of Houston, is a native of South Carolina, having been born in the 1

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village of Somerville, twenty-two miles fromn Charleston, on November 7, 1862. He de- scended from an old South Carolina family on his father's side, being the fourth removed from William Price, Sr., who settled in Charleston more than a century ago. Mr. Price's father, James Price, was born in Charleston, as was also his grandfather, William Price, Jr., and these, as well as the great-grandfather, were engaged at different times in planting and in the commission and shipping business, William Price Jr., being the owner of Price's wharf at Charleston. The mother of the subject of this notice bore the maiden name of Rosalie Weyman, and was born near New York city on the island of New Rochelle, which was originally called Weyman's island, being the property of her ancestors.

James Sterling Price was reared in Charleston and was educated in the schools of that city. He began his connection with the cotton-oil business before he attained his ma- jority, at Charleston. After a service of five years in three different mills in that city and one year as superintendent of the mills of Oliver Brothers, of Charlotte, North Caro- lina, he organized the Raleigh (North Caro- lina) Cotton Oil & Fertilizer Company, of which he was superintendent for three years, until it was sold to the American Cotton Oil Company, at which time he became asso- ciated with the Southern Cotton Oil Com- pany, and built the mill now operated by that company at Columbia, South Carolina. It was as manager of the interest of this last named company that Mr. Price came to Texas to take charge of their mills at Hous- ton. After a year so spent he associated with himself a number of leading business men of Houston and organized the Mer- chants' & Planters' Cotton Oil Company, of

which T. W. House became president, Will- iam D. Cleveland, vice-president; and him- self general manager. The plant put in by this company is one of the most extensive and best equipped in the State, and the company has done a large and steadily in- creasing business since it opened its mills two years ago.

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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