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 78

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 78
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 78

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HISTORY OF TEXAS.

Ruthven, and Fannie Eloise. He has filled a number of responsible positions, having been in the employ of both the Houston & Texas Central and the Gulf, Colorado & Sante Fe Railway Companies, bookkeeper for the City Bank for nine years, and Secre- tary and Treasurer of the city of Houston for four years. Thomas has been entirely devoted to business pursuits.

In 1862 George H. Bringhurst married Mrs. Kate Stephenson, but had no issue by this marriage. Mr. Bringhurst was a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity from early manhood and one of the best known Masons in the State. He held the office of Secre- tary and Treasurer of the Grand Lodge of Texas for twenty-odd years, and was for more than thirty years Secretary and Treas- urer of Holland Lodge, No. 1, of this city. He believed profoundly in Masonry, gave much study to its principles and the broad- est possible application to its teachings in the relations of life. He died February 20, 1889.

RANK S. BURKE, senior mem- ber of the law firm of Burke, Kir- licks & Griggs, is the eldest living son of Andrew J. Burke, one of Houston's oldest residents, mention of whom will be found in another place in this work.

Frank S. Burke was born in Houston, on the 25th of March, 1848. His early education was obtained in the city schools, followed with a four years' course at Yale College, where he graduated with the degree of B. A., in the spring of 1871. For two years following the completion of his col- legiate training he was engaged as traveling salesman for a New York hardware house, until the summer of 1873, when he returned 37

to Houston and took up the study of law, preparatory to securing admission to the bar and entering on the practice at this place. But his mind was diverted from this pur- pose for a time by the prospects of business success in another direction, and for nine years he was engaged in the cotton commis- sion business, first at Galveston and after- ward at Houston. Having continued his. law studies in the meantime, chiefly under the direction of the late Judge P. W. Gray, he was admitted to practice at the October terin of the District Court at Houston in 1884. He formed a partnership at once with Judge Anson Jones and entered on the pursuit of his profession in his native city. His association with Judge Jones continued until the latter's death, in January, 1888. From that date he was alone until August, 1889, at which time he formed a partner- ship with John A. Kirlicks, under the firm name of Burke & Kirlicks, which was changed to Burke, Kirlicks & Griggs on the admis- sion of George B. Griggs to a partnership in November, 1892. Mr. Burke has given his time solely to his profession since entering on it, mainly to civil practice, his industry and professional attainments having brought their reward in the shape of a steadily in- creasing business.

He was for two terins-from 1880 to 1884-County Commissioner of Harris county, but with the exception of this has never held any public office.

He is a Democrat in politics and takes a general interest in political matters. In fraternity work he has been somewhat more active. He assisted in organizing the first lodge of the Knights of Pythias in Texas, being not only a charter member of this but the first to receive the initiation rites. He is Past Grand Chancellor of the order in this

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State. He is also a member of Lone Star Lodge, No. 1, I. O. O. F., at Houston, of which he is Past Grand, and a member of Webb Encampment, No. 13, at Houston.

a APTAIN LODOWICK J. LATHAM, son of Lodowick and Lucy Latham, was born in the village of Mystic, Connecticut, in which locality his ancestors, New England stock throughout, settled in early Colonial times. His birth occurred on the 16th day of April, 1814. At the age of twelve he went to sea, and by the time. he was eighteen he was first mate of his vessel, having made many trips to China, the East Indies and most of the great commercial ports of Europe. By the time he was twenty-three he was captain of a vessel of his own, and was engaged in trade operations on his own account. In 1838 he sailed from Boston with a cargo of merchandise bound for the settlements in the newly established Republic of Texas. Reaching this country he was greatly pleased with it, and in the fall of the same year, or early in 1839, he settled at Houston. En- gaging at once in the mercantile business in this place he was for forty-seven years a prominent figure in the business circles of this city. In his career was illustrated all that is typical of the mercantile life, -ardu- ous labor, followed by success, and this by losses, and these again by success. He sus- tained two disastrous fires. and paid many thousands of dollars as indorser on other people's paper. But it can be recorded to his credit that he faithfully met every obli- gation that he ever gave, and through all the strains put on his resources he passed with honor unimpaired. Despite his mis- fortunes he accumulated considerable means,

and was for years vice-president of one of the oldest and soundest financial institutions in the city, the First National Bank. His career was entirely of a business nature. He could never be induced to take any part in partisan politics, and was unostenta- tious in the aid he gave to public enterprises. Yet he never neglected his duties as a citi- zen of the community in which he lived, nor did he ever withhold assistance to any measure calculated to stimulate the industry or foster the interests of the people at large.

Captain Latham was a comparatively young man when he came to Texas. Return- ing East in 1849, he married on October Ist, that year, Miss Caroline A. Latham, of Brook- lyn, New York, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Latham, originally from Mystic, Con- necticut, and a representative of the old New England family from which he descended. The issue of this union was nine children, four of whom died in infancy and early childhood, five becoming grown. These were Justina (Mrs. William D. Cleveland, of Houston), Abbie (who was married to J. M. Tryon, of Houston, both of whom are deceased), Lucy E., Benjamin R. and Lennie G.

Two brothers of Captain Latham's were in Texas at an early day, one of them, Ed- mond, dying in Houston. The other, Cap- tain Ben R. Latham, was a well-known sailor forty to fifty years ago, being in com- inand of the Cuba when it was wrecked. The only sister, Lucy, wife of Rev. H. H. Miller, died in her native State, Con- necticut.

On the 20th day of March, 1888, Cap- tain Latham died at his home in this city. His loss was deeply felt, and the esteem in which he was held was attested in every way appropriate to the occasion. A large body of representative citizens met at the

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Cotton Exchange and passed suitable reso- lutions, the county and district courts ad- journed out of respect to his memory, and all the leading merchants closed their places of business on that part of the day on which his funeral took place. His remains were laid to rest in Glenwood cemetery, followed by a large body of sorrowing friends.

S D. HEWES, a resident of the city of Houston for more than forty years, was born in Delaware coun- ty, Pennsylvania, December 11, 1824, and comes, on both sides, of the original Quaker stock by which the old Key- stone State was first settled. Family tradi- tion has it that two brothers, John and Joseph Hewes, came from England near the middle of the last century and settled in Pennsylvania, whence a few years later Joseph moved to North Carolina, and was in public life for some years in that State, his name appearing as one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, while John remained where he first settled and content- ed himself with the simple ways of peace, transmitting to a somewhat numerous pos- terity those habits of industry, thrift and economy for which the Quakers have every- where and under all conditions been dis- tinguished. Samuel D). Hewes, of this article, traces his ancestry on his father's side to the John Hewes here indicated. On his mother's side he is connected with the Darlingtons and the Sharpleses. It is a matter of record that John Sharples, a Quaker, came over from England and settled in what is now Pennsylvania on August 14, 1682, some two months before William Penn brought out his first ship-load of settlers. The Darlingtons took up their residence in the

same province at a somewhat later date, but still among the early settlers. The parents of Samuel D. Hewes were Isaac and Rhoda Hewes, both natives of Delaware county, Pennsylvania. Besides the subject of this sketch they had three other sons, two, Jesse and Jacob, older than he, and one, Caleb P., younger. The eldest two are deceased; the youngest resides at Edwards, Mississippi. Samuel D. was reared mainly in his native county, growing up on the farm of his maternal grandfather, in whose family, after the death of his mother, his carly years were spent.

He learned the milling business before he reached his majority, and in 1845, then in his twenty-first year, he went West, stop- ping in the mining district of eastern Iowa. He worked in the lead mines in the vicinity of Dubuque during the greater part of two years, saving some money and acquiring title to some property there, on which he subsequently realized. In 1847 he went to Kendall county, Illinois, and purchased a tract of land on Rock creek, about ten miles from the present town of Aurora, settled on it and began farining. This section of Illi- nois was then but sparsely settled, and practically unimproved, but had begun to attract settlers and home-seekers, and dur- ing the next few years was the scene of a vast amount of industrial activity. The railroad from Chicago to Elgin, on Fox river, was projected about this time, and Mr. Hewes, having lands to be benefited by such an enterprise, subscribed $500 toward its construction, thus becoming a subscriber to one of the first railroads in the West. In 1850 Mr. Hewes left Illinois and went to Mississippi, whither an older brother had gone a year or two before, and settling at Clinton, engaged, in connection with his

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brother, in the manufacture of gins and mills. He resided in Mississippi for about three years, and witnessed a great deal of indus- trial activity, as well as political excitement, in that State, those being the days of the great political warfare between Foote and Quitman. From Mississippi he came to Texas, settling, in 1853, at Houston. In 1853-4 he worked on a tie contract, furnish- ing ties for the Houston & Texas Central Railroad. After this he engaged in the saw- mill business, and was actively engaged in it up to the opening of the war.

He entered the Confederate army in July, 1861, enlisting in Company A, Cap- tain W. B. Botts, Fifth Texas Infantry, commanded by Colonel Archer, with which command, after spending the winter of 1861-2 near Alexandria, he began active service in Virginia in the spring of 1862. From the battle of Williamsburg on to second Manassas he took part in every en- gagement in which his regiment participated. At the last named place he was severely wounded in the thigh and foot. For a year he went on crutches, but in the meantime rendered the best service he could to the cause he had espoused. At the close of the war he turned his attention again to saw- milling, and for twenty-odd years followed this actively and successfully. Some six or eight years ago he withdrew, in a measure, from business life, but still retains an inter- est in the milling and lumber business, and has considerable investments in real estate in Houston and in timber lands in Harris and adjoining counties.

Mr. Hewes married Elizabeth Moore, of Houston, in 1864, Mrs. Hewes being a na- tive of Harris county and a daughter of Luke Moore, who settled on Buffalo bayou and in the vicinity of the afterward famous

battlefield of San Jacinto in the early '30s. Mrs. Hewes remembers hearing the guns at San Jacinto, her father being with Hous- ton's army, but on detached service. Mr. and Mrs. Hewes have had five children, four of whom are now living: Harry, Amy, Cora, and Annie.

ENKY FREUND. -- Much as moral- ists may decry the habit of money- getting, that habit, when formed under the guidance of an intelligent mind and directed by an honest purpose, represents the essence of some of the best virtues attributable to man. Money is a good thing, and the man who is capable of making it, who does make it and uses it wisely, is a valuable citizen in any com- munity. The subject of this sketch is a money-maker. His right to be so desig- nated is unquestioned. Landing in Houston twenty-two years ago without a dollar, he has by his own unaided efforts accumulated what would, by many, be considered a for- tune. Patient industry, constant application to business and faithfulness in the discharge of all duties, great or small, are the quali- ties which, combined with keen practical insight and a certain confidence in self and the future, have raised Mr. Freund to the position he nowoccupies, and which promise to make him one of the really wealthy men of the city of Houston.

Henry Freund is a native of Bavaria, Germany, born in the city of Munich in 1850. He was reared in Munich, in the ex- cellent schools of which place he received a fairly good education. His parents being poor he began inanaging for himself as soon as he quit school, entering a mercantile house in Munich, where, until coming to this

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country, he served as clerk and bookkeeper. He came to the United States in 1871, and after several months spent in the North, during which time he was struggling for the means of subsistence, he drifted to Texas, reaching Houston early in the spring of 1872. When he stepped from the boat at the foot of Fannin street Mr. Freund says that he had just thirty-five cents, and that he did not know a soul in the place. He could speak but little English, and for three days he walked the streets of this city in search of something to do, sleeping of nights under dry-goods boxes and subsisting on cheese and crackers, never enjoying a full meal even of these for fear his money would give out before lie could get work. He finally found employment with the City Railway Company, and, proving his value by his sober, industrious habits, he remained in the employ of this company for a period of eighteen years, rising from the position of hostler, through all the successive gradations, to that of general superintendent. After quitting the service of this company, asso- ciated with others, Mr. Freund organized the Bayou City Street Railway Company, of which he became vice-president and gen- eral manager, and assisted in building twenty-one miles of road, which was operated successfully until the company sold its franchise to the Houston City Street Rail- way Company, and the lines thus con- structed became part of the general system operated under the latter name. .

For two years past, since severing his connection with the street-railway business, Mr. Freund has given his attention to real- estate matters, being the owner of a large amount of city property, the improvement of which, and the handling of property in general, both for himself and others, occupies

his entire time and is the source of consid- erable remuneration to him. In April, 1887, Mr. Freund was elected Alderman of the city from the Second ward, and he has been a member of the City Council since, having been twice re-elected. He has been very active in matters pertaining to the city gov- ernment and is considered one of the most efficient menibers of the Council. He is a Democrat in politics and frequently goes as a delegate to county, district and State con- ventions, and always turns out and works for the success of his ticket wlien his services are needed. He belongs also to a number of social orders, among them the American Legion of Honor, the Chosen Friends, the Independent Order of B'nai B'rith, and the Woodmen, in each of which he takes an ac- tive interest.

Mr. Freund married Miss Malina Rosen- field, eldest daughter of the late Joseph Rosenfield, of Houston, in May, 1877, his wife being a native of this city, and by this union he has five children: Sophia, Risa, Fannie, Louis and Simon.

a HARLES BENTE .- Among the sons of Germany who brought with them to the United States the en- terprise and thrift which have ever distinguished the native German, it is a pleasure to be able to name Charles Bente, whose walk through life has been one of the utmost circumspection.

He was born in Saxony, May 14, 1838, and in the land of his birth he was reared to a knowledge of useful employment, and, as is usual in that country, up to the age of twelve years was an attendant of the public schools. In 1860 he accompanied his father, Frederick Bente, and his brothers and sis-

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ters, to America, the voyage hither occupy- ing two months, and, after landing at Gal- veston, he came directly to Houston. Here he secured work as an ordinary laborer on the railroad, and to his credit be it said that he never hesitated to put his hand to any honorable employment that he could find to do in order to make his own living. In 1863 he went to Mexico, and thence, after a residence of about six months, to St. Louis, Missouri, where he remained until 1866, when he returned to Houston. Here he shortly afterward opened a boarding-house on Con- gress avenue, between Milam and Louisiana, now known as the old Texas House, which he conducted up to 1870. In 1880 he opened a second-hand store, loan office and jewelry establishment, and that business has occupied his attention since, much to his benefit financially. He has become well known for the honorable basis on which his business affairs are carried on, he being one of the thoroughly honorable and reliable men following this line of business in Hous- ton. His investments in real estate have proved profitable, he now being the owner of much valuable property. He owns the place where his business is carried on, No. 910 Preston avenue, and he has a comfort- able, commodious, and tasteful home. For what he has he is indebted to his own exer- tions, and deserves mnuch credit for what he has done, from the fact that he came to this country laboring under the disadvantages of poverty, an imperfect knowledge of the Eng- lish language, and without friends, and has attained a solid footing and good standing among the business men of this city.

In 1868 he was married to Miss Minnie Rojowsky, by whom he has five children: Mary, wife of Ed Reardon, of Galveston; Annie, Lizzie, Charlie, and Minnie. In his

social relations Mr. Bente is a member of the Knights of Honor, and also of the Knights and Ladies of Honor.

ILLIAM SAMUEL NAPIER .- The philosophy of success in life is an interesting study. In what- ever pursuit individual effort is directed, it is not always necessary that it should be entered with a theoretical knowl- edge acquired at the proper schools, followed by a practical application, to prepare one successfully to assume responsibilities that follow. In choosing a pursuit in life, taste, mental gifts, opportunity and disposition to labor should be considered, as any young man who has an ambition to become a re- spectable and useful citizen desires to suc- ceed therein. A narrative of success in life affords a lesson from which others can profit.

In the list of prominent and substantial citizens of Houston, Texas, stands the name of William Samuel Napier, general baggage agent for the Houston & Texas Central Rail- road. He is a man of excellent business acumen and has made a success of whatever occupation he turned his hand to. Mr. Na- pier was born in La Grange, Alabama, May 19, 1849, to the marriage of John S. Napier and Mary C. Myatt, the former a native of Virginia, and the' latter of Raleigh, South Carolina. The father followed the occupa- tion of a fariner, before the late civil war, and by industry and good management ac- cumulated a very large fortune. He was one among the most extensive planters in that famous section of north Alabama, known as the "Tennessee valley," and dur- ing the war supplied, "without money and without price" hundreds of families from ad-

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joining counties with the necessities of life, who were left helpless and destitute by the absence of fathers and sons who were en- listed in the Confederate army. In 1869 he moved to Waco, bought city property ex- tensively and retired from active life. He always pursued a correct course through life, and for honest integrity, thrift and phi- lanthropy, set a good example to his chil- dren. Full of honor he died in Waco, Texas, at the ripe age of eighty-two years. The mother died in Waco, Texas, when fifty-two years of age.

William Samuel Napier, the subject of this notice, secured a fair education in the schools of north Alabama, among them the renowned military college of La Grange, and when but nineteen years of age he opened a drug store at Mount Hope, Alabama, in company with Dr. J. M. Clark, under the firin name of Clark & Napier. From the first he showed ability as a business man, and was thus engaged for about two years. In 1869 he went with his parents to Waco, Texas, and at once opened a grocery store, which he conducted successfully in that city for two years. From there he went to Peoria, Texas, and gave his attention to the milling and cotton-gin business, and in this, as in his other enterprises, met with an un- usual degree of success. Two years later he sold out and entered the drug business at Peoria. After a successful career of four years in this line, he sold out and accepted the position of bookkeeper for A. L. West- brook, an extensive grocer doing business in Whitney, Texas, in which capacity he was engaged for two years. During this time he joined a company of Texas Volun- teer Guards, organized in Whitney, and a few months later was honored by O. M. Roberts, then Governor of Texas, with the

appointment of Captain and Adjutant of the Third Regiment of Infantry.

After leaving the service of Mr. West- brook he accepted the position of Deputy Sheriff under John P. Cox, of Hill county, serving in that capacity for six months, when he resigned and returned to Waco, where, for a few months, he did not follow any par- ticular line of business. Soon, however, he entered the employ of the Houston & Texas Railroad as train baggage-master. At that time the baggage-master had to handle the express and the United States inail, but Mr. Napier was soon promoted from that position to assistant tie and fuel agent. He traveled all over Texas, Louisiana, Indian Territory and Colorado, looking after ties and fuel for the railroad, and so well did he fill this position, and so reliable and trust- worthy did he become, that he was promoted to the important and responsible position of general baggage agent, and this he still holds. He has never attempted any enterprise of which he has not made a success, for he always gives his undivided attention to the business in hand. Mr. Napier possesses un- usual perseverance, energy and integrity, at- tributes which are everywhere, and under all conditions, the stepping-stones to prosperity, and which have been the means of placing many a struggling young man in an inde- pendent financial condition. In his present position, as in every other that he has filled, he has shown himself to be a man of excel- lent abilities, having worked hard, not only because work was a necessity with himn, but also because it was a pleasure, and whatever he has accumulated in the way of worldly goods has been acquired through persistent labor. In all his ventures his sound judg- ment has ever been his aid and guide, and upon everything to which he has devoted

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his attention he has left the impress of his personality and the marks of study and thought. In 1867 he married Miss Mattie P. Morehead, a native. of Memphis, Ten- nessee, and daughter of John W. and Har- riet A. Morehead. To his happy domestic relations, the counsel, advice and prayers of his Christian wife he attributes, in a large measure, whatever he has accomplished in life that is noble or good. Two living chil- dren have blessed this union, Lena Wilkes and William Samuel, Jr.

Fraternally Mr. Napier is a Knight Tem- plar in the Masonic order, and member of the Woodmen of the World. He is an upright, industrious citizen, and has proven a valuable addition to the city.

HOMAS BOYD HICKS, who has been employed as locomotive en- gineer by the Houston & Texas Central Railroad Company for thirty-five years, was born in Warren county, middle Tennessee, December 7, 1838, a son of Thomas F. and Angelina (Boyd) Hicks. Mr. Thomas F. Hicks, a native of North Carolina, moved to Tennessee in an early day, locating in Warren county. He was a tailor by trade, but also had a general store and a farm. He was married December 4, 1832, and died July 31, 1851, and his wife died in 1863. Their children were: Mary E., born December 15: 1834; Martha E., December 24, 1836; Thomas B. ; William, September 5, 1840; Angelina, January 28, 1843; Edward F., November 10, 1844; and Catharine, Angust 8, 1845.

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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