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 92

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 92
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 92

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OLONEL MEDARD MENARD .-- This former well-known and re- spected citizen of Galveston, now deceased, was born at the old French town of Kaskaskia, Illinois, March 8, 1814. He was of French extraction, his ancestors having emigrated from France nearly two centuries ago and settled in Can- ada, whence in the days of Hennepin and Joliet, they penetrated the Illinois country and took up their abode at Kaskaskia. Med- ard Menard was reared at Kaskaskia, Illi- nois, and at St. Genevieve, Missouri, grow- ing up on the frontier, in the habits and cus- toms of which he was schooled. He served in the Black Hawk war of 1834, and three years later, in 1837, came to Texas, being induced to try his fortunes in the new Re- public by his cousin, Colonel Michel B. Men- ard, founder of Galveston. On coming to the country he located at Galveston, with the history of which city he became connected

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and where he ever after made his home, during a period of fifty years. On Novem- ber 1, 1838, at Galveston, he married Miss Susan Le Clere, who was born at St. Gene- vieve, Missouri, June 9, 1813, and who accompanied her brother, I. S. Le Clere, to this city in 1837. This marriage, as appears from the records, was the fourth solemnized on the island.

Previous to the civil war Mr. Menard was engaged in clerical pursuits, being book- keeper for different mercantile and shipping concerns, and holding also for some years the position of Deputy Collector of the port of Galveston. On the opening of hostili- ties between the North and South, in 1861, he raised a company which was mustered into the Confederate service as part of the Twenty-sixth Texas Cavalry (DeBray's regi- inent), and which was engaged in the coast defense and in resisting the Federal invasion of Louisiana until after the series of engage- ments following Banks' Red river campaign. Mr. Menard was with the command through- out its entire service, became Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment and took part in all its movements, having his horse shot from under him and receiving a severe flesh wound at Pleasant Hill.

After the war he was appointed cotton weigher at Galveston, and held this position until incapacitated for the discharge of its duties by reason of failing sight. He was once Alderman of Galveston. During his lat- ter years he lived in retirement until his death, July 12, 1887. Colonel Menard had many friends in this city, his free, open- hearted and open-handed ways winning him the good will and friendship of all with whom he was brought in contact.

Mrs. Susan Le Clere Menard died at Gal- veston, August 29, 1883. The only children

of this pioneer couple were a son, the pres- ent Mr. J. M. O. Menard, and a daughter, Mrs. J. B. O'Lancton, of Galveston.

SIDORE S. LE CLERE was born at St. Genevieve, Missouri, April 20, 1815. He was the son of Francois Le Clere, a native of Kaskaskia, Illi- nois, and of French descent on both sides, his ancestors having emigrated from France to Canada about 1666.

Isidore S. Le Clere remained at St. Gene- vieve, Missouri, until he reached his fifteenth year, when he went to St. Louis, where he learned the trade of a saddler. He remained there until 1837, when the .representations of his friend and relative, Colonel Michel B. Menard, who had emigrated to Texas a few years previous, led him to remove to the in- fant Republic. He was settled near Lib- erty, on the Trinity river, for a time, but, as soon as Galveston was laid out, became a resident of this place and made it his home thereafter as long as he lived.

In 1839 he enlisted in Captain William H. Karnes' company of rangers, and served during the fall and winter of that year in an expedition against the Comanche Indians west of San Antonio, "doing good service," according to Colonel Ephraim McLean, who was his comrade during the campaign. He again enlisted in 1842, during the frontier troubles with Mexico, and became a Lieu- tenant of an independent command operat- ing in the vicinity of Corpus Christi, which important outpost he helped to hold to the Republic of Texas.

After this military service on the frontier he took up his permanent abode in Galves- ton, where he shortly afterward entered the employ of Doswell, Hill & Company, ship-

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

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ping agents, having charge of their extensive wharf interests until their failure in business. Subsequently, upon tlie organization of the Galveston Wharf Company, he became its first secretary and general manager, and re- mained such for a period of more than twenty-five years, until failing health com- pelled his retirement from all business pur- suits. In his annual report to the stock- holders of the company, January 9, 1873, John H. Hutchings, then president, in con- cluding said: "Our good fortune in our sec- retary, treasurer and general superintendent, Mr. I. S. Le Clere, has long been appreci- ated and can not now be estimated too highly. His report will show the receipts and expenditures of the company for the cur- rent year, and I feel confident will be a sat- isfactory exhibit to the stockholders." And such were always the terms in which Mr. Le Clere's services were referred to by liis co-laborers and associates. He was in active business pursuits in Galveston for upward of thirty years, and by industry and sagacity accumulated a competency.

He was one of the organizers of the Gal- veston Gas Company in 1858, and at one tiine held the office of vice-president, and at other times served as one of the directors. He also aided in organizing Hook and Lad- der Company No. 1, of the Galveston Fire Department, and generally manifested a proper interest in everything relating to the common welfare. During the war he was past the age of military service in the field, but performed duty on the island.

October 7, 1845, at St. Genevieve, Mis- souri, Mr. Le Clere married Miss Mary Valle, a native of St. Genevieve, and a daughter of Charles and Malinie (St. Gemine) Valle, res- idents of that place, where Mrs. Le Clere's family settled during the latter part of the

last century, coming originally from France, by way of Canada. The children of this union were two,-a son, Charles Valle Le Clere, who died in Galveston in 1894, at the age of forty; and a daughter, Marie, now the widow of General Frank L. Britton, who resides in Galveston.

Mr. Le Clere was a member of the Cath- olic Church, a man of charitable impulses and kind and affectionate nature. He was well known by all of the old settlers of the city, by whom he was held in kind esteem, and to many of their descendants now living. He died September 17, 1885. His widow survives him and is one of the well-known old residents of Galveston.

J M. O. MENARD, son of Medard and Susan Le Clere Menard, was born on the 12th day of October, 1846, in the city of Galveston, where he was reared, and has passed his entire life.

During the late war he was a member of Company I, First Texas Heavy Artillery, with which he served in the defense of the Texas coast country, mostly in the vicinity of Galveston.

In 1873 he was Deputy Collector of State and county taxes; was Treasurer of the city of Galveston from March, 1877, to March, 1878; was City Assessor in 1879 and Alderman from 1885 to 1887.

On the 30th day of October, 1872, he married Mrs. Caroline M. Williams, widow of John A. Williams and daughter of Gen- eral Sidney Sherman, and the issue of this union has been six children.

Mr. Menard is a prominent underwriter of Galveston, with whose business and social interests he has always been actively identified.

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HISTORY OF TEXAS.

S ANDFORD B. SOUTHWICK, son of Stephen and Adeline Brewster Southwick, was born in the city of Poughkeepsie, New York, October 12, 1833. He was reared in his native place until he reached his fourteenth year, when, in 1847, he came to Galveston to make his home with his father, who had come to the island eight years previous. Young South- wick was chiefly educated in this city, attend- ing the select schools of the same for four or five years. At the age of twenty-one he be- came a partner and held an interest in the business established by his father until the final dissolution of the firm by his father's death in 1870. During the late civil war he served for a year as a member of Company A (Lone Star Rifles), of which he was First Lieutenant, Colonel E. B Nichols' regiment ; and after the disbanding of this regiment he was detailed as drill-master for the Confed- erate troops rendezvousing at Tyler, in this State, where he remained in the service for another year. In 1863 he was sent to Houston to take a place under James Sorley, agent for the Confederate States depository for the Territory of Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana, and Collector of the port of Gal- veston, with whom he remained until the close of hostilities.

After the war Mr. Southwick returned to Galveston, and in partnership with his father was engaged in mercantile pursuits till the latter's death. In 1875 he entered the banking house of Ball, Hutchings & Company, where he has been for the past twenty years.

On December 18, 1855, Mr. Southwick married Miss Elizabeth Boothe, of Stratford, Connecticut, a daughter of Isaac P. Boothe, who was a native of Connecticut and a de- scendant of old New England ancestry. To

Mr. and Mrs. Southwick five children have been born: Stephen K., Joseph S., Lizzie, wife of George N. Yard, Charles F., and Marie L.

P REDERICK W. SCHMIDT, de- ceased .- The subject of this brief memoir was a native of Germany, born in the city of Wurtemberg in the year 1813. He was reared and edu- cated in his native country, whence he em- igrated, in 1835, to Texas. For some time after coming to this country he was engaged in military service, helping to pro- tect the frontier against the Indians and Mexicans. In 1839 he came to Galveston and engaged in the butcher business, open- ing a shop at the corner of Twentieth and Market streets, and being one of the first butchers in the new town. In 1840 he pur- chased five acres of ground lying west of Twentieth street and between what are now avenues O and P, on which, at a later date, he took up his residence and developed the afterward popular pleasure resort known as "Schmidt's Garden." At the time of the purchase of this property, and for several years following, it lay considerably beyond the settled portion of the city, being a stretch of open prairie, around a part of which ran the lagoon known as Hitchcock's bayou. There Mr. Schmidt lived for many years, engaged in butchering, dairying and market-gardening. In time the gradual rise in real estate made his property valuable, -in fact, one of the best real-estate invest- ments ever made in the city. He was connected with the history of Galveston from the date of his settling here until his death, and always manifested the 'liveliest interest in everything partaining to its wel-

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fare. He was twice a member of the City Council. Previous to his removal to Gal- veston he had been rider of the express be- tween Houston and San Antonio, in which, as well as in the military, he did the Repub- lic faithful service.

On the 25th day of November, 1843, at Galveston, Mr. Schmidt married Charlotte Beissner, a sister of Charles L. and George W. Beissner and a native of Welsede, Hes- sen, Germany, whence she emigrated, in company with her brother, George W., and her sister-in-law, Mrs. Charles L. Beissner, to Galveston in February, 1843. The issue of this union was nine children, seven of whom, -six sons and one daughter, -be- came grown, these being: Christopher, Fred- erick W .; Louis; Quarantine B .; Buchanan; William; and Bertha, now the wife of John Edward Beissner.

Mr. Schmidt died on the 16th day of August, 1885, and his wife on the 18th day of October, 1869. The religious connection of the family was with the German Lutheran Church, upon the services of which both were regular attendants.

S TEPHEN SOUTHWICK, de- ceased. - The subject of this sketch was born in Ulster county, New York, in the year 1800. He came of Quaker parentage and was reared ac- cording to the faith and practices of that pious people, receiving his mental training in the excellent schools then maintained by them in the city of Poughkeepsie, New York. He learned the tannery business in his youth, and after attaining his majority engaged in it for some years at Poughkeepsie, in partnership with several of his brothers. During the financial troubles of 1837 Mr.

Southwick was a heavy loser, and, failing to regain his footing in a satisfactory man- uer after the storm had swept by, he closed ont his interests in the East, and in the fall of 1839 came to Texas to start anew. He came aboard the sailing vessel " Stephen F. Austin," and brought with him a small amount of merchandise and the skeleton and material for the erection of a two-story frame building. The building, the first of its kind in Galveston, was put up on the south- east corner of Center and Market streets and was for many years known as the "Trinity House," being used as a boarding house above and for stores below. Mr. Southwick engaged at once in the mercantile business and from that date until his death, thirty years later, was one of the active business men of the city. In an earlier day, when the country was being continually threatened with invasions by the Mexicans and the settlers on the frontier were an- noyed by the Indians, he volunteered on two or three occasions to help repel the enemy and did good service as a ranger. He was past the age for military service during the late civil war, and, in fact, opposed secession in 1861, as he had annexation in 1846; but he remained at the South throughout the entire struggle, believing that the South would ultimately succeed. He served as a mem- ber of the City Council of Galveston and actively interested himself in everything re- lating to the welfare of the community. He built one of the first substantial business buildings in the city, the three-story brick erected by him and his sons at the corner of Twenty-fourth street and Strand, where the firm of Southwick & Sons was engaged in business for a number of years.

Mr. Southwick was twice married - first in 1832, when he wedded Miss Adeline

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HISTORY OF TEXAS.

Brewster, of Poughkeepsie, New York, by whom he had two sons, Sandford Brewster Southwick (see sketch in this volume) and Joseph Wright Southwick, who enlisted in the (Galveston) Lone Star Rifles, Hood's brigade, Confederate States service, and was killed at the battle of Gettysburg dur- ing the late war. Mrs. Southwick died in 1836, and in 1847 Mr. Southwick married Miss Julia Shelton, by whom he had one « daughter, Marie L. Southwick, who died in September, 1893, unmarried. Mr. South- wick was lost on the Varuna in September, 1870. His widow and elder son survives him. Mr. Southwick held a membership in Trinity Episcopal Church, Galveston, from 1839 till his death.

L OUIS SCHMIDT, son of Frederick W. and Charlotte Schmidt, was born in the city of Galveston, April 8, 1847. He was reared in this city and educated in the private schools of Professors Nash and Videl. He learned the butcher business under his father, and was engaged in it as an apprentice till the second year of the war. He enlisted in the Confederate army in 1862, joining Company B, Cook's regiment, with which he served for a short time in the coast defense, being subsequently transferred to the Quarter- master's department. After the recapture of Galveston, in January, 1863, he shipped aboard the steamer " Frances," engaged in blockade running, and made several trips to Havana, Cuba. After the war he embarked in the butcher business in partnership with his brothers, Christopher and Frederick W., and followed this for about ten years, - un- til January 1, 1875, -when he took up city contracting, grading and filling. He fol-

lowed this till January 1, 1882, when, for a short time, he conducted " Schmidt's Gar- den," the old pleasure resort established by his father near the sea-beach, corner of Twentieth street and avenue O. Then in 1883 he assisted in organizing the Gulf City Street Railway & Real Estate Com- pany, of which he becaine superintendent, and was actively connected with that enter- prise till November, 1887. Since that date he has been engaged in. the live-stock busi- ness, at which, as well as at the other voca- tions mentioned, he has met with a reason- able degree of success. Mr. Schmidt has been somewhat active in local politics, and has filled acceptably a place in the City Council during the past four years. A na- tive of the city, thoroughly familiar with its history and its needs, and full of zeal to promote public welfare, he has devoted him- self unreservedly to his official duties and has won a large measure of personal popu- larity.

In May, 1875, Mr. Schmidt married Miss Mary Hemmer, a daughter of Michael and Catherine Hemmer, and a native of Galveston. The issue of this union was one son, William, who was born May 24, 1881, and who died December 1, 1891.

Mrs. Schmidt's parents were natives of Germany, the father having been born in Hamburg and the mother in Wurtemberg. Both came to Galveston in early times. The mother arrived in January, 1847, with her father, George Rudi, and her two sisters, . Lena and Christiana. Lena Rudi was mar- ried to Charles La Sauer, who kept one of the first boarding houses for seamen in this city; Christiana was married to Charles Eberling, one of the first cigar manufactur- ers of Galveston, who came here in 1845; and Catherine was married to Michael Hem-

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mer, father of Mrs. Schmidt. Mr. Hemmer made his home in Galveston until his death, June 5, 1865. Mrs. Hemmer was subse- quently married to John Lizner.

Mrs. Schmidt was the second in age of three daughters born to her parents, the other two being Rosa and Louise. After the death of Mr. Hemmer his widow was . married to John Lizner, by whom she had two daughters, Minnie and Emina. Rosa Hemmer was twice married, first to John Gavecoth, by whom she had one daughter, Annie, and after his death to Gentz Rieman. She died in 1885. Louise Hemmer was married to John Schermer, and after his death to Lawrence Curtis. Minnie Lizner was married to Felix Trost and Emma Liz- ner to George Jacobs. The mother, Cath- erine Lizner, is still living in Galveston.

a HRISTOPHER SCHMIDT, de- ceased, eldest son of Frederick W. and Charlotte Schmidt, was born in the city of Galveston on the 16th day of March, 1845. He was reared in this city and in Wurtemberg, Germany, where he spent some years attending school. He began his business career as a butcher, suc- ceeding his father in this business at Galves- ton, and continuing at it until 1885, when he was stricken with paralysis, -in conse- quence of which he disposed of his business interests and lived in retirement, his health gradually failing from year to year until his death, May 6, 1893. In 1862 Mr. Schmidt offered himself for service in the Confederate army, but was not accepted on account of his youth. He, however, entered the ser- vice at a later date, enlisting in Company B, Cook's regiment, with which he partici- pated in the battle of Galveston, January I,

1863, and was present and took part in the capture of the " Harriet Lane."

In 1869, at Galveston, Mr. Schmidt mar- ried Annie Harms, who was born in Han- over, Germany, and accompanied her par- ents, Conrad and Catherine Harms, to Texas, settling at Galveston in 1859. Mr. Harms was a shoemaker by trade, and died in this city the year after his settling here. His widow died in 1876. Mrs. Schmidt was the second in age of six children born to her parents, there being an elder brother, Franz, who died in Galveston of yellow fever in 1864, and three sistersand a brother younger than herself; Bertha, who was married to Charles F. Hasselmeyer and is now deceased; Herinan, deceased; Meta, widow of Louis Pressler ; and Lena, widow of Franz Brookhoff.

To Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt eight children were born: Charlotte, the wife of Harry Nor- ton; Frederick W., Katie, Gustave, George, deceased, Hattie, Edward, and Freda.

EORGE W. BUTLER, one of Galveston county's representative farmers and stock-raisers, was born Calcasieu parish, Louisiana, Janu- ary 11, 1845, being a son of Willis and Hepsey Butler, who were born, the father in Ken- tucky, the mother in Mississippi. Willis Butler was reared an orphan and went to Louisiana when a young man, where he married and lived until 1855, when he came to Texas. On coming to this State he set- tled on Clear creek, in Galveston county, when that section of the county was but sparsely populated. He was one of the fore- most citizens of the cominunity from the time of his settling there until his death be- coming a well-to-do farmer and stock-raiser.

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HISTORY OF TEXAS.

He died at the age of sixty-nine, and his wife died in 1879. They raised to maturity a family of nine children, of whom George WV. was the fifth in age. The others were: Richard, who now resides in Madison county, Texas; Amanda, who was married to L. Porter and died in Houston, in 1867, of yel- low fever; Adeline, who was married to J. J. Lewis of Galveston, and is now deceased; Green W., now deceased; Maggie, who is the wife of Dr. J. M. Slaten, of Houston; Rebecca and Vienna, twins, the former the wife of W. Andrews, of Louisiana, the latter the wife of W. C. Mims, of Brazoria county, Texas; and Martha, the deceased wife of . John Thomas.

George W. Butler was reared from the age of ten, in Galveston county, growing up on the farm and stock range, where his early life was devoted to pursuits suitable to his age. "He entered the Confederate army in 1862, enlisting in Captain R. L. Fulton's company, DeBray's regiment, with which he took part in the defense of the coast country of Texas, until just before Banks' expedition up Red river, when with his com- mand he went to Louisiana to help resist the invasion of that section by the Federals. In the skirmish at Spanish Town the day before the battle of Mansfield, he was shot in the right shoulder with a minie ball, and thus missed that series of engagements in which the troops of Texas so signally distin- guished themselves. Being conveyed to the hospital he was subsequently removed to Kechi, Louisiana, whence in a short time he returned to Texas, still carrying in his shoul- der the ball from the effects of which he had all the time been a great sufferer. After the lapse of eight months he had the ball ex- tracted, after which the wound rapidly healed and he regained his former health

and strength, but not until the war was practically over.

After the cessation of hostilities Mr. But- ler went to work for an uncle, Allen Cunard, on the farm and ranch in Galveston county, and worked for him for three years, at the end of which time he had earned enough to buy an interest in the business, and, with the large profits which accrued to stock-raisers and stock-dealers from 1870 to 1880, he made from this source considerable money. Mr. Butler now owns a ranch of 2, 300 acres, lying along Clear creek, in Galveston county. on which he has running a large band of half-breed Norman horses and Bramah cat- tle. He is an enthusiast on the subject of fine stock, and has done a great deal to raise the grade and improve the strains of both cattle and horses in this section of the State. He imported the first Jersey bull, and the first Norman stallion ever brought into Gal- veston county, and is the only man who has ever imported any Bramah cattle into this portion of Texas.

Mr. Butler served as one of the Com- missioners of Galveston county from 1884 to 1892, during which time he had the honor to propose a number of measures of much consequence to the county, and to take part in important proceedings proposed by others, his term of service covering the period dur- ing which the present wagon bridge was built spanning the bay between the island and the main land, besides the numerous smaller bridges which were built across the various streams throughout the county. He is a Democrat in politics and has done his party good service in different contests dur- ing the past.

Mr. Butler has been three times mar- ried. First, in 1865, he wedded Miss Litza Frierson, of Shreveport, Louisiana, who died

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the following year, leaving one son, William, who now resides in Schulenburg, Texas. In 1867, Mr. Butler married Miss Alice Beatty, of Brazoria county, Texas, who died three years later, leaving two children: Robert, now deceased, and Alice. For his third wife Mr. Butler married Miss Mary Baker, of Houston, Texas, and the issue of this union has been eight children, seven of whom are living,-Henry, Mabel, Andrew, Libby, Rebecca, Milby and Mary.

In addition to the office of County Com- missioner, already mentioned, Mr. Butler has filled the position of Postmaster at Clear Creek, and has shown a becoming interest in every thing relating to the welfare of the community in which he lives, and in the county at large.

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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