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 85

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 85
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 85

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).

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stone county, this State, and engaged in the mercantile business. . He followed mercan- tile pursuits until 1873, and in the mean- time read law, was admitted to the bar, and in 1876 was elected County Judge of Lime- stone county, a position which he filled for five years, resigning the office'at the expira- tion of his last term to remove to Dallas and engage in the abstract business. He resided in that city nine years, until April, 1890, when he moved to Galveston, where he now lives. On his removal to this city he organ- ized the Island City Abstract & Loan Com- pany, of which he was made manager, a position he now holds. In October, 1894, he was elected an Alderman of the city to fill the unexpired term of Thomas W. Jack- son, resigned, and is serving in this capa- city. Judge Harrington is regarded as a sound, capable man, diligent in business, faithful in all things. He is a Democrat in politics and has done his party good service in the past. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, Groesbeck Lodge, No. 358, at Groesbeck, Texas, of which he was Master for two years.

November 5, 1867, Judge Harrington married Miss Mary Josephine Horner, of Warrenton, Virginia, a daughter of Joseph and Eliza Baylor Horner, each of old Vir- ginia families, the father formerly a prom- inent lawyer of the Fauquier county bar. Judge Harrington and wife have had seven children: Joseph, now a stockman, residing in Eastland county, in this State; Annie Bradshaw, wife of John W. Bennett, a farmer of Limestone county; Eliza Baylor, wife of T. W. Beck, of San Antonio; Fannie, William E., Mary Horner and John, -the last four residing still with their parents.

Judge Harrington's father, now eighty years of age, resides in Houston, where he

settled about the close of the war and where he was for a number of years engaged in the lumber business, having now retired. The Judge's motlier died in McLennan county, Texas, in July, 1856. He was the only child of his parents, but his father sub- sequently marrying again he has a half- brother, Edward Hugh Harrington, of San Antonio, and a half-sister, Isabelle Nelson Heffernan, wife of Edward Heffernan, of Houston.

Judge Harrington is a typical Texan, a stanch friend and an unflinching adversary, mnodest and unassuming, yet faithful where duty calls. He has seen his young State grow from beneath the rule of barbarity to its present proud place among the brilliant sisterhood of States. He has served her faithfully, without seeking preferment, in both civil and military capacities, with the full confidence and respect of his fellow men.

a ILLIAM MEGSON. - The sub- ject of this sketch has been a resident of Galveston since 1865. He is a native of England, born April 14, 1829, of English ancestry and comes from the industrial walks of life. Going to sea in youth, he served as a sailor . before the mast until 1856, when, having married, he settled in New Orleans, where he engaged in stevedoring, which formed his chief pursuit during the next thirty years. He was engaged in this business at . New Orleans and at Bagdad, Mexico, before coming to Galveston. He followed it for more than twenty years in this city, retir- ing about 1887.

Mr. Megson married Miss Annie White, at New Orleans, in 1856, she being a na- tive of Ireland. The offspring of this union

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was five children, none of whom are now living. Having invested his means mostly in real estate in Galveston, Mr. Megson de- rives sufficient from his rentals to keep him and his wife in the modest style in which they wish to live, and he is spending his de- clining days in peace and comfort.

ARL BRINKHOFF arrived in Galveston April 7, 1846, from Westphalen, Germany, where he was born November 29, 1821. He came as a member of the German Colony then under the leadership of Prince Golms, intending to settle in the interior part of the State. But on reaching Galveston he went to work at his trade, that of cigarmaker, and finding wages good he remained here and soon engaged in business for himself. In 1854 he went to Houston and embarked in the furniture business, at which he met with very good success until his establish- inent was destroyed by fire in 1860. Hav- ing no insurance, he lost practically all he had made during the preceding ten or twelve years; but, not dislieartened by this, he re- turned to Galveston and again started a cigar factory on a small scale, soon adding to it a small line of groceries, in which busi- ness he lias since been engaged.

In 1868 Mr. Brinkerhoff married Mrs. Schach, and by this marriage lias two chil- dren, Carl F. and Louisa.

APTAIN R. C. JENNETT .- One of the honored citizens of Galves- ton, Texas, is Captain R. C. Jen- nett, who was born in Mobile, Ala- bama, August 15, 1844, in which city he grew up and received a practical education.

He came to Galveston in 1859 and accepted a position as marker with a cotton broker.

In 1861 he espoused the cause of his sec- tion by becoming a member of Company A, of the Lone Star Rifles, and assisted in the capture of the United States troops and na- tional stores at Brownsville, Indianola, and other points, in which special service he was engaged about four months. In the latter part of 1861 he returned to his native city and joined Company H, of the Second Ala- bama Infantry, and while serving in the Army of Tennessee participated in the battles fought by that army, including the memor- able engagements at Shiloh, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Resaca, New Hope Church and Atlanta. He was wounded in the left foot at Chickamauga and again at Atlanta, and fell into the hands of the Fed- erals at the last named place, by whom he was sent to Camp Chase July 22, 1864, from which he was paroled in April, 1865. He joined the army as a private, but was soon promoted as First Lieutenant, and prior to attaining his eighteenth year he, in 1862, was made Captain of his company.

After the war closed he remained in Ala- bama until 1866, when he returned to Gal- veston and again entered the cotton broker- age business, which has since occupied his attention in connection with other matters of local interest. He was Alderman from the Eighth ward in 1879, but after serving a short time resigned, and from 1882 to 1885 was on the School Board. In 1894 he was elected Sheriff of Galveston county, but, by a technical clause or misconstruction of the law, was never qualified. He was elected City Assessor in 1893, which office he now holds. He has been twice married, first in 1865, in Mobile, Alabama, to Miss Alice Poitevin, a daughter of Dr. A. and Marcia

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(Polmos) Poitevin, natives of France and Spain, respectively. Dr. Poitevin was a sur- geon in the French navy during the reign of Louis Philip. While the civil war was in progress in this country Dr. Poitevin served the French Government as Consul at Mobile to the Confederate States, having filled the same position to the United States previous to the war. Captain Jennett's wife died at Galveston in October, 1875, and was buried at her old home at Mobile, Alabama. Six children were born to this union, only two of whom survive: Louise, wife of Remond Drouilhet; and Alice, wife of Leo Graven- berg. In 1879 Captain Jennett married Miss Leontine Drouilhet, who was born at Castries, France, and to them six children were given, four of whom are living: Russell, Gaston, Adrienne and Leontine. The father of Captain Jennett was Captain Albert H. Jennett, a native of North Carolina, and a midshipman of the Texas navy under Com- modore James W. Moore, with whom he was serving when the latter was declared an outlaw and pirate by President Sam Hous- ton. Captain Albert H. Jennett was mar- ried in 1839 or 1840, in Mobile, Alabama, to Miss Mary Russell, a native of that city, whose father, Gilbert C. Russell, a Virgin- ian by birth, was a Colonel of the United States army and served during the war of 1812, under General Jackson. The Rus- sells went from Normandy to England with William the Conqueror, representatives of the family settling several generations later in Ireland, whence the ancestors of the sub- ject of this sketch emigrated to America be- fore the Revolution, taking up their abode in Virginia. General Sam Houston, of Texas, and Colonel Russell were old and in- timate friends, slept under the shelter of the saine tent, fouglit side by side in their coun-

try's battles and enjoyed many social pleas- ures together. Captain Albert H. Jennett served in the Confederate army, and as- sisted in raising the Second regiment of Alabama Infantry, and became the first Cap- tain of Company H. He resigned in 1862 and joined the navy, and served under Ad- miral Buchanan. His death occurred in 1894, at seventy-five years of age. His widow resides in Mobile, Alabama. Of fif- teen children born to them, ten were reared to maturity: Robert C., Frank, Albert, Au- gusta, Margaret, Mary, Henry, John W., Innerarity and Eliza.

a ARL G. ROEMER .- The subject of this sketch is a native of Ger- many, born in the Udersleben of Thueringen, on the 2d day of July, 1822. He was reared in his native place and there learned the trade of tailor. At the age of twenty-five he came to America, reaching New York city June 1, 1847. After a short stay in New York he drifted to Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and thence in a year or so to New Orleans. At the last named place he became a citizen of the United States, re- ceiving his naturalization papers from the Sixth District Court of New Orleans, June 8, 1854. On the 18th of May, 1856, he married Miss Wilhelmina Meineke, and the same year came to Texas and settled at Galveston. From 1856 to 1861 he worked at his trade in Galveston; he then went to Houston and resided there till 1872, when he returned to Galveston, which has since been his home, and where he was engaged in the tailoring business up to 1894, the date of his retirement. Mr. Roemer has met with fair success, and is thus enabled

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to pass his declining years in comfort and ease. He and his wife have had three chil- dren, all of whom are grown: Eliza, now Mrs. Louis Alberti; Albert C .; and Wilhelmina.

Mrs. Roemer was born in Brunswick, Germany, February 14, 1829, and came with her parents, John and Dorathea Mei- neke, to Texas in 1846. Her parents be- longed to one of the early German colonies that came to Texas about the time that Texas was admitted to the Union. After a short residence at Galveston they moved, in 1847, to Grimes county, and settled six miles from Fanthrop, now Anderson, the county seat. The hardships endured by this pioneer family were many and often trying, even to as hardy people as they were. Mrs. Roemer relates that for some time, until her father was able to build a house, they lived under a black-jack tree, the pro- jecting limbs of which were their only shelter. Provisions soon running short, they made coffee fron parched acorns and resorted to all kinds of make-shifts to get bread and the other necessaries of life. The family had some means, but articles of food were not to be had, the country being very sparsely set- tled, and but little as yet having been raised. Mr. Meineke's family consisted of seven children, nearly all of whom now are de- ceased. The eldest was a son, Albert, who was married in Germany before coming to Texas; his wife died in Houston in 1847; the others were Christian, August, Caroline (who was married to Charles Weiss), Wil- helmina (Mrs. Roemer), Charlotte (who was married to John High), and Leopold. The parents died in 1856, the father at Halletts- ville, Lavaca county, and the mother at Anderson, Grimes county, their deaths oc- curring within six hours of each other.

EORGE SCHNEIDER, the sub- ject of this skecth, is a native of Germany, born in Prussia, in 1826. He came to Texas in company with his parents, William and Julia Schnei- der, who brought their children, consisting of four sons and three daughters, to this new country, where they might enjoy better advantages than were open to them in their native land. . The vessel aboard which they sailed landed at Galveston December 31, 1845. The senior Mr. Schneider settled in this city, but subsequently moved to Austin county, where he died in 1866, followed several years later by his widow. George accompanied his parents to Austin county, but remained there only a year, when he came back to this city to make it his home. He had no means on which to begin busi- ness, and like hundreds of others he had to do whatever he could get to do that would yield him an honest dollar. Draying was a paying business then, as it is now, where in- dustriously followed, and he invested what money he had in an outfit and began the work. He followed this with success some five or six years, doing a great deal of heavy, hard work, but receiving fair compensation, and getting his share of the business until, overtaken by rheumatic troubles, he con- cluded to turn his efforts in another direc- tion, and in 1855 opened a small grocery store. He did well at this, continuing it until the outbreak of the Civil war, when, with the general paralysis of trade which followed, he disposed of his business, and - from 1861 to 1865 was inactive, save for such military duty as he did in guarding property on the island during its investment by the Federal forces, and in assisting to look after the families of soldiers at the front and providing public supplies.

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In 1865, after the return to peace and trade had somewhat assumed its normal condition, Mr. Schneider again embarked in the mercantile business, opening a whole- sale grocery house, afterward merged into a wholesale liquor and cigar store, which he carried on with marked success for a period of several years, severing his active connec- tion with it in 1882, when he turned it over to his sons. In addition to this Mr. Schnei- der has helped, to some extent, to build up local industries and contributed in a general way to the progress and prosperity of the city of Galveston. He has served two terins as Alderman of the city and six years as County Commissioner. He is one of the oldest members now living of the German American Benevolent Association of Galves- ton, and he has been many years a member of, and liberal contributor to, the Gerinan Lutheran Church of this city.

On October 22, 1848, Mr. Schneider married Miss Mary Plitt, a daughter of George and Elizabeth Plitt, who emigrated from Darmstadt, Germany, and settled with their family at Galveston, in 1846. Mr. and Mrs. Schneider have had six sons and one daughter, all of whom have grown to maturity and are now living, these being: Louis, of the firm of George Schneider & Company, of Galveston; George, a mer- chant of Hitchcock; William, of George Schneider & Company; Bertha, wife of H. O. Stein, of Galveston; Charles, of the firm of Schneider Brothers, of Galveston; Fred, of the firm of George Schneider & Company; and Rudolph, of Schneider Brothers.

Few men of Mr. Schneider's age are in a condition to enjoy the remaining years al- lotted to them on this earth with greater , satisfaction, and few can look back on a life spent to a better purpose. Beginning his

career in this city, now nearly fifty years ago, with nothing save the counsel and as- sistance of a good wife, he has succeeded in accumulating sufficient means to enable him to settle all of his sons in business and still have plenty left to keep himself and those immediately dependent on him in comfort. Preserved to him also are all of his mental and bodily powers, so that he can with in- terest and profit turn his attention to what- ever pursuits or diversions his necessities may require or his inclinations prompt him to.

J AMESG. HURD, for forty-five years a resident of Galveston, was born in Middle Haddam, Connecticut, in the year 1813. His father was Captain Norman Hurd, and his mother bore the maid- en name of Ann Gardner, both parents being descendants of early settled New England families. Captain Norman Hurd, a sailor in the merchant marine for many years, came to Texas in 1835 and settled at Lynchburg, on Galveston bay, where he became associated with David G. Burnet in the erection and operation of the first steam sawmill ever brought to Texas. He was not in the coun- try during the Revolution of 1835-6, but joining the Texas navy in 1838 he was in the naval service of the Republic, latterly as purser to the flag-ship " Brutus," till 1845. After annexation he was a customs officer for some years, first at Galveston and then at Sabine. He died at Galveston, Novem- ber 22, 1870, in the eighty-fourth year of his age, having been preceded four years by his wife, who died in 1866, in her seventy- fourth year.

James G. Hurd was the only son of Cap- tain Norman and Ann Hurd, and was reared

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in his native place, where he received the best educational advantages then to be had. He came to Texas in 1837; was in the naval service of the Republic under his father after the latter's arrival in 1838; then with him in the custom-house, and later engaged in private enterprises until after the late war. He was confidential clerk to Captain Charles Fowler, manager of the Morgan steamship interest at Galveston, a number of years, the duties of which he discharged with credit to himself and satisfactorily as to condition of detail. He was very little in public office, being a man entirely destitute of desire for public preferment. He was a member of the City Council, one of the original stockholders in the Galveston Fire & Marine Insurance Company, and generally exhibited a proper interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the city. He opposed secession in 1861, but remained on the island during the period of the war, and helped to protect public and private property and to care for the families of soldiers at the front. He passed through every yellow- fever epidemic from the first in 1839 to the last in 1867, and never failed in any of the duties of manly firmness or humanity.

In 1846, at Galveston, Mr. Hurd married Miss Julia A. Day, a native of New York, born in the town of Troy, April 13, 1833, whence she came in 1839 to Galveston as a member of the family of her uncle, William F. Mead. The issue of this union wasthree children, - a son, Norman, who died at the age of five; and two daughters, Florence, who died at the age of twenty-four, unmarried; and Ella E., now Mrs. R. W. Shaw, of Galveston. Mr. Hurd died March 14, 1883. His widow is still living, and is now one of the oldest set- tlers on Galveston island, having lived here continuously for a period of fifty-six years.

For a number of years before his death, Mr. Hurd was in delicate health, but had continued to give his attention to his business affairs and official duties (being inspector of vessels at this port). His demise, though not without some warning, was a great bereavement to his many friends, for he was justly held in high esteem, especially by the old settlers in the city. He has been de- scribed to the writer as a "man without a fault." He was domestic in his tastes and habits, quiet and unassuming, intelligent and judicious. To Texas, the State of his adop- tion, and to Galveston, with whose social and material interests his own had been in- terwoven, he was devoted with unyielding constancy.

NTONE HEIMAN was born in Westphalen, Prussia, February 20, 1824, being a son of John and Elizabeth Heiman, who were na- tives of the same place, emigrating thence in 1835 to the United States. The elder Mr. Heiman first settled, after coming to this country, in New York, but resided there only about three years, when, in 1838, he came to Texas and settled in Galveston. At the time the family settled in this place Antone was a mere lad, and his pursuit for several years were of a desultory and boyish kind, ending in his becoming a hunter of some local note.

On June 15, 1847, Mr. Heiman married Ottelia Burttchell, of Colorado county, this State, and settling in Galveston began the dairy business in a small way, which, with his wife's aid, he followed very successfully for a number of years. By his industry and thrift he accumulated, with the assistance of liis wife, a considerable amount of prop-

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erty, represented by valuable real estate in- vestments in Galveston and good paying securities.

Mr. Heiman died January 1, 1888. He was reared a Catholic and maintained mem- bership in the church all his life, but never joined any secular organizations and did not generally manifest much interest in such organizations. Mr. Heiman's widow sur- vives him, and he has two sons and two daughters living, these being: Antone and John, of Galveston; Mrs. Amelia Franz, wife of Andrew Franz, of Colorado county; and Mrs. Lizzie Treaceer, of Galveston. One daugliter, Mrs. Mary Fowler, wife of James Fowler (being the second in age), died some years ago.

Mr. Heiman's parents both died in Gal- veston, the father about 1840 and the mother in 1876. Of his brothers and sisters, Casper, wlio came to Texas in 1835 and served in the Revolution, died in Colorado county, Texas; Bernhard and John died in Flatonia, where they had lived for many years; Henry resides on Smith's Point in Galveston county; Mrs. Sarah E. Allen is a resident of Galveston, where the two re- maining sisters, Mrs. Eliza Taub and Mrs. Mary Bierman, died, the former in 1886 and the latter in 1888.

Mrs. Heiman is also a representative of an old Texas family, hier father, Lucas Burttchell, emigrating from Germany to this State in 1846. He settled in Colorado county, where he died the year following (August, 1847), the mother also dying there in 1876. They had a family of ten children, all of whom became grown, married and raised families. At the time of Mrs. Burtt- chell's death, in 1876, the progeny of this pioneer couple numbered over a lumdred souls, there being ninety-four grandchildren

and twenty-four great children. Mrs. Hei- man has twenty grandchildren and five great- grandchildren.

Antone Heimnan, eldest son of Antone and Ottelia Heiman, was born in the city of Galveston on March 5, 1848. He was reared in this city and here learned the trade of butcher, which he followed during his earlier years and until within a recent date. Mr. Heiman is a man of quiet life and un- pretentious ways, but possessed of good sound sense and sturdy independence of character. He has served two years as a member of the Board of Alderinen of Gal- veston, during which time he took an active part in the municipal affairs of the city and attracted a considerable measure of public attention. As a member of the committees on Fire Department, Streets and Alleys and Public Lights he exercised a wide influence on the departinents with which these com- mittees had to deal, helping to raise the grade of public service in the same and to place on a business-like basis all the work thereunder. He was particularly aggressive in forcing measures of public improvement respecting the streets and alleys and. the sanitary condition of the city.

On March 10, 1870, Mr. Heiman mar- ried Miss Sarah M. L. Prosh, then of Gal- veston, but a native of Newark, New Jersey, who died December 15, of the same year. On December 23, 1871, Mr. Heiman mar- ried Miss Augusta Bichler, a native of Gal- veston and a daughter of Leopold C. Bieh- ler, an old citizen of this place. There was no issue born to his first union, but of the last there are four: Emma, born October 16, 1872; Tillie, July 19, 1876; William, October 31, 1878; and Lena, born August 27, 1884. On August 16, 1892, the eldest daughter, Emuna, was married to Stephen

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Tenbush, of Galveston, and the issue of this marriage has been one child, Wallace A., born August 16, 1892. Mr. Heiman's sec- ond daughter, Tillie. was married May 23, 1894, to Joseph Somers, of Galveston, and they have one daughter, Allyne.

John J. Heiman, second son of Antone and Ottelia Heiman, was born in the city of Galveston, Texas, on August 27, 1851, and was here reared, learning the trade of butcher, at which he is now engaged. No- vember 2, 1873, he married Miss Catherine Jackson, of Galveston, but has no children.

Amelia Heiman, daughter of Antone and Ottelia Heiman, was married to Jacob Jacobs in 1872, and the offspring was seven children: Ottelia, born at Hempstead, Texas, in 1874; Augusta, born at Galveston in 1876; John, born at New Hamburg, Missouri, in 1878; Lizzie, born at Bernardo Prairie, Texas, in 1880; Emil, born at Bernardo Prairie, Texas, in 1882; Nettie, born at Bernardo Prairie in 1884; and Clara, born at Bernardo Prairie in 1886. Mr. Jacobs died in September, 1886, and in September, 1887, Mrs. Jacobs married Andrew Franz, by whom she has one child living, -- Edwin, born in 1888; and two deceased: Antone, born in 1891; and Adolph, born in 1892.

Mrs. Ottelia Heiman, now the oldest liv- ing representative of this pioneer family, de- serves more than passing mention in this genealogical roll. Without education, withi- out training of any kind, solely by her in- dustry and native strength of character, she has accumulated a comfortable fortune, has reared her children and made ample pro- vision for them in life. Her energy is un- bounded, her strong comnon sense rarely equaled, and her executive ability of the first order. She has not only been a mother to her children, but has been their business ad-

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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