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 81

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 81
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 81

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HISTORY OF TEXAS.

going in 1848, the latter in 1853. Both died there and were buried in Sutter county. Another brother, Robert W., after serving in the Union army throughout the war, as Colonel of the Sixteenth Illinois Cavalry, engaged in the practice of his profession- the law -- at Chicago until his death at that place in 1887. Joseph, another brother, is a practicing lawyer at Bellaire, Ohio. Lean- der L. is a farmer, residing at Tipton, Iowa, which place was also the home of Sarah W., now deceased, formerly the wife of Judge Sylvanus Yates. Luella J. resides in Cleve- land, Ohio, unmarried.

Mr. Smith has been a Mason since 1871, having taken all the degrees in the blue lodge, chapter, council and commandery. He is also a member of the Elks.

J AMES H. PRUETT, the present popular and efficient Marshal of the city of Houston, was born in Mid- way, Bullock county, Alabama, .. August 16, 1855. His parents are Alvin H. and Frances (Mealing) Pruett, both na- tives of Georgia.

James H. Pruett, whose name heads this biography, was reared on a farm in Bullock county, Alabama, and received but limited educational advantages, having to work during the summer and attend school through the winter. He made his home with his parents and gave them the bene- fit of his labor until he reached his ma- jority. At that time he rented land and engaged in farming for himself for four years. In 1880 he came to Texas, and locating in Palestine began work for the International & Great Northern Railroad. He worked for this road as brakeman and conductor for somewhat over a year. Then

in July, 1881, he came to Houston and began work for the Texas & New Orleans Railroad as freiglit conductor and brake- inan, which position he held for two years. From 1883 to 1885 he was again with the International & Great Northern, part of the time as conductor on a freight train. In 1885 he began work on the Houston, East & West Texas Railroad, and was with this company four years, three and one- half years of which time he was yard- master at Houston. In February, 1889, he was appointed Deputy Sheriff under George Ellis, and filled that office until April, 1894, when he was elected Marshal of the city of Houston, a position he con- tinues to hold.

On the 6th of November, 1878, Mr. Pruett married Miss Sallie M. Turner, then of Barber county, Alabama, but a native of Georgia and a daughter of Anderson and Julia (Merritt) Turner. The issue of this marriage has been nine children, six of whom are living: Maud I., Bessie T., James H., Harry D., H. Brashear, and Nor- inan. Mr. Pruett's parents reside at Co- lumbus, Georgia. His brothers and sisters in the order of their ages are as follows: Bessie, the widow of John Geotzen, of Hamburg, South Carolina; Jacob H., a physician of Eufaula, Alabama; Mcaling E., a merchant of Midway, Alabama; John K., an attorney of Stephens county, Texas; Mary, the wife of Mark Bradford, of Co- lumbus, Georgia; Alvin E., deceased; Fan- nie, the wife William Douglas, of Midway, Alabama; Nathaniel, deceased; and William L., of Pine Grove, Alabama.

Mr. Pruett is a member of the Knights of Pythias, being Grand Representative of Virginia Lodge, No. 65. He is also a mem- ber of Pioneer Assembly, Knights of Labor,

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a zealous and useful member of the Bap- tist Church, and a prominent Sunday- school worker, having been Superintendent of the Second Baptist Sunday-school for the past three years.

As a public officer Mr. Pruett is faithful, energetic, prompt and active in the dis- charge of his duties. He has a host of friends.

R EV. W. M. TRYON, the pioneer Baptist minister and leader in the organization of the first "Education Society" organized under the aus- pices of the Baptist Church of Texas, was born in the city of New York, March 10, 1809. Losing his father when he was only nine years of age, his boyhood and youth were carefully watched over by a pious Chris- tian mother. Part of his early life was spent in Connecticut, but at the age of nine- teen he moved to Savannah, Georgia. Hav- ing received a thorough collegiate education at Mercer University, at Penfield, Georgia, he was ordained in 1837 by Elder Jesse Mercer and others. He served as pastor at Eufaula and Wetumpka, Alabama, until January, 1841, at which time he came to Texas under an appointment as missionary of the Triennial Convention.

He first settled in Washington county, between the towns of Independence and Washington, and devoted all his powers to the ministry and to works of Christian en- deavor.

During the term of the Congress of the Republic that was held in the old town of Washington, in 1843 and 1844, he served the body as chaplain by consent of his churches when the financial condition of

the country was such that no remuneration was expected for his services.

In the winter of 1846 he inoved to Hous- ton and took the pastoral oversight of the little church in this city, and here performed the last and crowning work of his life. The Baptists of this place then were few in num- ber and without a house of worship, but under the fervor of his ministry the small congregation increased to a large number and the little church soon contained almost a hundred communicants. The church, under his ministry, put forth an organized activity, and in a short time erected a very creditable building, since succeeded by the present handsome edifice.

The influences for good wielded by a man like the Rev. Mr. Tryon in the forma- tive era of a great State like Texas can hardly be estimated. He was well equipped for his work and entered into the spirit of it zeal and understanding. He was a man for any field. As pastor few excelled him, as missionary he gathered all classes, from the poor to the rich, and from the most illiterate to the most refined and cultivated about him; and when he espoused the cause of educa- tion he was master of the field and moved the Baptists of Union Association to rally around the infant institution at Independence and labor industriously to provide means for the, education of the rising ministry of Texas. As an orator he had few, if any, equals in Texas. He was well-versed in the history and principles of the church, and when his powers were brought to bear on this and kindred subjects the charge of bigotry and ignorance so often brought in an earlier day against the Baptists was hurled to the ground.

His career of usefulness in Texas was short. The last time the denomination was permitted to sit with him in council was at

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the session of Union Association held with the Houston Church, in October, 1847. At that meeting he was elected and served as moderator. There were a few cases of yellow fever in the city at that time. After the adjournment of that body and the fever was declared epidemic, he preferred to re- main among the people whom he served and who loved him, notwithstanding the dangers that surrounded. On the 16th day of No- vember, 1847, he died, after much suffer- ing, from a violent attack of yellow fever. His remains were deposited near the church edifice that he had labored so hard to erect. His loss was deeply felt by the church at Houston and sincerely mourned by all who knew him. He is still pleasantly remem- bered by many old citizens of this city and locality, and every student that has been educated in Baylor University owes him a debt of gratitude.

William A. Tryon, son of the foregoing, was born at Longpoint, Washington county, Texas, September 14, 1842, and was reared mainly in the city of Houston. His educa- tion was obtained in the schools of this city and Osnabruck, Hanover, Germany. He read medicine in Nashville, Tennessee, under Dr. Thomas Buchanan, and attended lectures in the University of Nashville. He began the practice of his profession in Hous- ton at the age of twenty-one, and has since been engaged in professional and business pursuits in this city. He married Miss Alice Cushman, of Houston, and by this union has five children : Leona, John L., Carrie, Joseph, and Armistead.

Joseph M., the only other son of Rev. W. M. Tryon, died a few years ago in Houston; and Ella, the only daughter, wife of William Clark, died about the same date, in Austin.

J OHN H. LANG .- Integrity, intelli- gence and system are characteristics which will advance the interests of any man, and will tend to the pros- perity to which all aspire.

Such are some of the traits of the gentle- man whose name heads this sketch. Born in Prussia, Germany, April 29, 1845, he has inherited the push and perseverance of his Teutonic ancestors, and his correct mode of living since coming to this country has gained him a popularity which is merited in every respect. His parents, Frank and Catherine Lang, were natives of the old country, and there the father followed the miller's trade until 1848, when he sailed for the United States. In February, of that year, he landed in Galveston, Texas, and for several years worked as a wagon-maker for a Mr. Benison. Later he embarked in the business for himself and followed it suc- cessfully until his death, which occurred in Galveston, August 12, 1884, when he was eighty-two years of age. Mrs. Lang is still living, makes her home in Galveston, and, although eighty-three years of age, time has dealt leniently with her, and she enjoys comparatively good health. To this well- respected couple were born an old-fashioned family of eleven children, seven of whom survive, as follows: Louis; Lena, the wife of Peter Muller, of Fort Worth, Texas; Eveline, wife of Frank Hahn, of Galveston; Charles, who resides on a farm in Harris county; Kate, the wife of Martin Breen, of Galveston; John H .; and Henry, who lives in California. The four deceased' were named Henry, Mary, Lizzie and Frank.

John H. Lang, of the above number, and the subject of this sketch, passed his boy- hood and youth in Galveston, and received his scholastic training in the common schools.

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When about seventeen years of age he be- gan clerking in a wholesale and retail grocery store in Galveston, and then and there laid the foundation for his subsequent . prosperous career. When the war broke out, he enlisted in the Confederate service as a member of the "Galveston Blues, " and became a steward on a vessel loaded with cotton. This was trying to run the block- ade for Mexico, but was captured by the United States sloop of war, " Brooklyn, " and all the crew were made prisoners and the cot- ton confiscated. After twelve days' impris- omment, our subject, with the other mem- bers of the crew, was sent back to Galves- ton, but made a second effort at blockade running, which was successful, after which he saw no further service in the Confeder- acy. After the cessation of hostilities, he opened a restaurant and oyster and fish house, carried it on for a short time, and in 1868 came to Houston, where he worked in the Houston City Mills, a cotton manufac- turing concern. He then became fireman on an engine on the Houston & Texas Cen- tral Railroad, and later began running an oyster boat from Galveston to Houston. Following this, he opened a wholesale and retail fish and oyster stand in the old market house, and then moved to the brick market house, where he carried on the same busi- ness for some time. From there he moved to his present place of business on Travis street, and has one of the flourishing estab- lishments of the city. Mr. Lang has proven 1

himself a merchant of unbounded ability and integrity, and his success is a credit to his enterprise.

In his political views our subject is a stanch Democrat, and at one time was Al- derman of the First ward. Socially he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Knights

of Honor, Chosen Friends, and American Legion of Honor. On the 27th of March, 1877, he was married to Miss Ida Kumke, a native of Germany, and daughter of Carl and Annie R. Kumke, then living in Harris county. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lang, of whom John, Eddie and Dollie are living, and two, Charles and Alexander, are deceased.

HOMAS MARTIN .- The subject of this sketch, now one of the oldest settlers living in Houston, is a na- tive of Pennsylvania, and comes of pioneer stock that has felled the forests, fought the battles and laid the foundation of the en- terprises and industries of this country from the beginning. He is the elder of two sons born to Thomas and Jane Martin, both of of whom, like himself, were natives of Pennsylvania, born in or near the city of Philadelphia. The father was of English extraction, the mother of Scotch. The

mother was a daughter of a Revolutionary soldier, John Herin, who served as a Lieu- tenant in General Washington's army and took part in the battles of Bunker Hill, Stony Point and the disastrous winter at Valley Forge, and in the battle of Lundy's Lane, in the last war with Great Britain. He lived to the great age of 114 years, dy- ing January 1, 1860.

Thomas Martin, the subject of this arti- cle, was born in the town of Carlyle, on the Cumberland river, Pennsylvania, April 15, 1818. His parents dying when he was about two years old, he was taken into the family of his maternal grandfather, John Herin, to be reared, and to that patriotic old gentleman he was indebted for all of his training. His grandfather mnoved, late in

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life, to the western part of Pennsylvania, settling in Washington county, and there the boyhood and youth of Thomas were spent. He was apprenticed, while yet in his 'teens to the trade of a tinner in Steuben- ville, Ohio, and spent a considerable por- tion of his time in that place. His home, however, continued to be at his Grandfather Herin's, and hither he was wont to repair after regular intervals of absence. He had great veneration for his grandfather, and learned many lessons of wisdom from him. With these lessons of wisdom he also re- ceived some romantic ideas from the stories of warfare and adventure to which he lis- tened, and, as might have been expected, he longed in time to try the great world for himself and see if it had in store for him any of the thrilling experiences on which his fancy had been fed.

Accordingly, when he heard, in the early '30s, of the struggles then going on in the Southwest between a handful of brave, ad- venturous Americans and the Mexican Gov- ernnient, he determined to come to Texas and cast his lot with the people of this country. He left his home in western Pennsylvania in the early spring of 1835 and began the long journey. His route was the usual one for those days: Down the Ohio river to the Mississippi, thence by that stream to New Orleans, and to Texas by the gulf. The trip occupied several months, two or three long stops being necessitated by the conditions of travel. But at New Orleans he found a strong feeling in favor of Texas, and he was soon offered an oppor- tunity to join a company which was being organized to march to the defense of the colonists. He enlisted in this company, and, sailing in the schooner Urchin; in April, 1835, reached Matagorda bay a few days

after the battle of San Jacinto had been fought. He did not get to share the glories of that great day, but immediately entered the service, becoming guard over the pris- oners taken in that battle, and continued in the service until the 4th of June, 1837, at which time he was honorably discharged. With most of the members of his company he immediately set out for the town of Houston, then but recently laid out, and reached this place on the 11th of the same month. From that time Mr. Martin dates his residence in this city. He is thus, as stated, one of its oldest living inhabitants, and has witnessed, practically, the making of its entire history.

Had Mr. Martin's tastes been different his life and fortunes might have been quite different, for he has enjoyed exceptional op- portunities, both of a financial and political nature. But he has lived up strictly to the spirit of the old adage that "a shoemaker should stick to his last." He has followed his trade, in one capacity or another, during all the years of his residence in this city, being content with the living which his hands have earned without attempting "to woo Dame Fortune's golden smile," or seek the " bubble, reputation," in political con- tests. Like many of the veterans of 1836, he opposed annexation to the United States in 1846, his being one of the sixty-one votes cast against that measure in Harris county, and he also opposed secession in 1861; but he went in each case with Texas, and plac- ing his heart and hopes with those of his country, gave it loyal support in every in- stance. He was too old for active field service during the late war, but he occupied the responsible position of Provost Marshal during the entire period of the war, the duties of which position he discharged cred-

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itably, and at the close received an honor- able discharge, just as he had done twenty- eight years before at the expiration of the term of his enlistment in the Texas army.

Mr. Martin has been a life-long Demo- crat, having cast his first presidential vote for Lewis Cass in 1848, since which time he has voted the Democratic ticket in all elec- tions, State and national.

In 1849 Mr. Martin married Miss Mar- tha Ann Trott, then of Houston, but a na- tive of Tennessee, being a daughter of Henry Trott, who came from Tennessee to Texas in 1839, and settled in Harris county, where he and his wife subsequently lived and died. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have had three children, all sons: Thomas H., who is now chief of the Houston Fire Depart- ment; Alexander, who was killed in a rail- way accident some ten or twelve years ago; and John, a contractor and builder of Hous- ton. While Mr. Martin's people were Pres- byterians in religion, he has so far departed from the religious faith of his fathers as to become a member of the Methodist Church, having been a consistent member of this church for many years.

Thomas H. Martin, eldest son of Thomas and Mary Ellen Martin, and the third to bear the name in as many generations, was born in the city of Houston February 4, 1855, and has spent his entire life in this city. He learned his father's trade, that of tinner, and worked at it for a number of years in his youth, but he abandoned it and learned the trade of a printer, which he followed for six years, but was com- pelled to give that up on account of his eyes. In 1874 he became a member of the Houston Fire Department, serving as fire- man two years, when he was elected treas- urer, driver in 1878, foreman in 1880, and

chief in 1889, having held the last named position for the past five years. His ability and popularity are probably sufficiently at- tested by the brief foregoing statement, and need no comnient.

REDERICK WILLIAM MALLY. -The subject of this sketch was born on a farm near Des Moines, Iowa, on November 30, 1868. He was educated at the Iowa Agricultural and Mechanical College, at Ames, Iowa, at which institution he graduated in the regu- lar four years' science course, in 1887, and, having later completed the post-graduate course, received the degree of Master of Science in 1889. Shortly before finishing his collegiate education Mr. Mally was ap- pointed assistant to the State entomologist of Illinois, who was also professor of zoology in the University of Illinois, at Champaign, which positions he held about nine months, when, in June of 1890, he was made as- sistant entomologist in the United States Department of Agriculture, and was at once placed in charge of the cotton boll-worm investigation inaugurated by the depart- ment that season. The field work of this special investigation was completed at the close of 1891, and the laboratory work in July, 1892, at which time a final report was submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture, and published as "Bulletin No. 29," a pre- vious report having been published as "Bulletin No. 24," Division of Entomology United States Department of Agriculture, in the same division.

After the completion of the work of this investigation Mr. Mally came to Texas in the capacity of manager of the Galves- ton Nursery and Orchard Company at Dick-

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inson, in Galveston county, at which place he took up his residence in June, 1893. A short time after coming to the State Mr. Mally was elected a member of the Texas Academy of Sciences, and is now serving as chairman of the special commission of the Texas State Horticultural Society for the in- vestigation and eradication of root diseases of orchard trees and nursery stock. His most immediate efforts for some months past have been directed to building up a wholesale and retail nursery especially adapted to meet the demands of the coast country and of the State generally. In ad- dition he and his associates in business, J. · G. Berryhill, of Des Moines, Iowa, and F. M. Slagle, of Alton, lowa, are planting ex- tensive orchards, and have now in fine, healthy condition 30,000 trees in orchard, under a fine state of cultivation. Their ranch covers a thoroughly drained area of 1,000 acres, bounded by streams on the northern and southern extremities, the northern one being navigable, and is one of the most promising places in all of the fruit- growing belt of the coast country.

The father of the subject of this brief notice is Frederick Henry Mally, and his mother bore the maiden name of Anna Catherine Stotzel, both of whom were born, and the latter, reared and educated, in Ger- many. His father was an early settler in Iowa, taking up his residence near Des Moines when the Hawkeye metropolis con- sisted of a blacksmith shop and a boarding house. He still resides there, being a large and successful farmer and fruit-grower. The elder Mr. Mally is an enthusiast on the subject of education, having given his five children, of whom Frederick William is the the eldest, the benefit of the best schools in Iowa. His second son, a graduate and

post graduate of the Iowa Agricultural and Mechanical College, at Ames, Iowa, holds the position of assistant entomologist to the Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station, while of his three daughters, the eldest has alinost completed the ladies' course at the institu- tion just mentioned, and the two younger ones are also in school preparing themselves for usefulness in life.

Q APTAIN LAWSON LUTH was born in northern Denmark, Sep- tember 28, 1852, and is a son of Terkel M. and Frederica L. Luth. His father being a seafaring man, the son took up the life of a sailor when a boy, which he followed along the coast of his native country some three or four years, when, in 1866, he made his first trip as a sailor before the mast to the United States. For a little more than ten years he sailed out of the ports of Boston, Massachusetts, and New- port, Rhode Island, until 1877, when he came to Galveston. He was favorably impressed with this city on his first introduction to it, and after some reflection decided to make it his home. For about six years after coming 'to Galveston he ran on the bay in command of a steam lighter, then, in 1883, he became a member of the Pilots' Association, since which time he has discharged the duties fall- ing to his lot in that capacity.

At Newport, Rhode Island, in 1879, Cap- tain Luth was united in marriage with Miss Mary Ambrose, a native of that city, born October 13, 1856, and a daughter of Theo- dore Ambrose, who was a manufacturing jeweler. The offspring of this union has been six children: Anna L., born Novem- ber 14, 1880; Mamie R., born November 17, 1883; Lawrence M., born July 26, 1885;

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Perry A., born September 26, 1890; Bessie C., born November 5, 1892; and Carrie A., born January 25, 1894.

Captain Luth has a pleasant home at 1401 Postoffice street in Galveston, and has made many friends during his seventeen years' residence in this city.

NDREW L. PIERSON, the sub- ject of this sketch, was born in the town of Billibega, Sweden, No- vember 6, 1852, where he was reared, coming thence in 1872 to the United States as a sailor, aboard the steamship General Sedgwick, and landed at New Or- leans. From that place he came to Gal- veston in September of the same year. Here he abandoned seafaring pursuits and began work as a laborer about the wharf. For several years he was so employed, and by industry and economy managed to save some means from his earnings. After a time he was induced by his brother-in-law to en- gage in manufacturing ready-made clothing, such as pants, overalls and shirts, then and still in steady demand by the laboring classes. This venture proved disastrous, and after eighteen months, February 21, 1883, the business was abandoned under the partner- ship management.

Less than a month later, however, Mr. Pierson opened a business of his own in the same line, securing, from a friend, goods on credit to the amount of $10, with which to begin anew. His start proving successful, he rented a storeroom at $20 per month, paying $2 down on the rent, and opened his modest establishment to the public, at. 161 West Market street. He subsequently made two removals before locating at his present place of business at Nos. 2722 and

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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