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 94

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 94
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 94

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).

Captain Aiken married Miss Marcia Allen, at Galveston, on January 18, 1865, Mrs. Aiken being a native of Geneva, New York, where she was born May 14, 1846. Her parents were Alexander Allen and Elizabeth Hanville, the foriner of whoin was a native of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and the latter a native of Nelson, Pennsylvania. Captain Aiken and wife have three children, Joseph Percy, residing in Temple, Texas, and

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Robert W. and Albert A., still with their parents. He and his wife are members of the Episcopal Church, and he also belongs to the Masonic fraternity and to Confederate Veterans' Association, Marine Departinent.

NTONE MENTZEL is a son of Antone Mentzel, Sr., who came to Galveston, Texas, in 1855, direct from the city of Oestrich, Germany, where he was born. He brought with him to this country his wife, and the following children: Antone; Mary, who became the wife of John Wegner and is now deceased, and John; Gustaf was born on Galves- ton island. Mr. Mentzel resided in Gal- veston about six months only, after which he moved out to the island, and there followed the calling of a mechanic, and being indus- trious and honest was esteemed as a citizen. He died of yellow fever, in 1867. His wife is still living, residing at the old home about nine miles west of the city of Galveston.

Antone Mentzel, Jr., was born June 11, 1847, and at the time of his father's death was but twenty years of age. Being the eldest of a dependent family the burden of their care and support fell upon his shoulders. Game was very abundant on the island at that time, the market prices for all kinds of wild game were good, and as Antone was skillful in the use of the rifle and shotgun, he decided to follow this occupation as a means of obtaining money, and by following it with perseverance for a number of years he made a living for himself and those de- pendent upon him. Still better, he paid for the home in which they lived, and while this doing his duty and accomplishing what many under more favorable circumstances would have failed to do, he derived much

enjoyment from his· occupation. He in- herited his father's mechanical tendencies as well as his habits of industry, and when more profitable occupations failed hini, he worked on various jobs with his tools, the result being that he acquired a good home for his aged mother and a comfortable com- petency for himself and family. He was married to Miss Rebecca, daughter of Christopher Schinidt, a pioneer of Galves- ton, September 9, 1876. She was born in Galveston February 13, 1854, and the fruits of their union are as follows: Antone, Jr., born December 9, 1877; Henry, December 23, 1882; Hartford, July 16, 1885; Fred- erick, May 28, 1888; Clara, December II, 1891, and Laura, December 10, 1893. Mr. Mentzel's father and mother were born Sep- tember 24, 1810, and November 21, 1825, respectively, and his brothers and sisters are as follows: Mary, August 15, 1850; John, April 16, 1854; and Gustaf, November 23, 1863.

a DWARD RAY, deceased .- The name of Edward Ray is not an un- familiar one to those having a: knowledge of the history of this section and of its development. He came to Texas about 1848, and after a short resi- dence in Collin county, made his way to Galveston island, where he passed the re- mainder of his days. He came originally from New York, his birth occurring in Syra- cuse, that State, and he passed his youth and boyhood and received his education there. In his choice of a companion in life lie selected Miss Margaret Hotalling, a most estimable lady and the daughter of Peter G. Hotalling, and subsequently located on the island, where, in connection with farming,

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he was engaged successfully in the dairy business. Industrious and enterprising, he gave nearly his whole time and attention to his chosen callings, and time showed the wisdom of his choice. Though devoting most of his time to these interests he did not lose sight of his duties as a citizen, and gave liberally of his means to further all worthy purposes. In his death the county lost a good citizen, his wife a kind and attentive husband and his children an excellent father. Of the latter there were four, as follows: Henry S .; Kate E., who married J. L. Ratissean; Susan, who is single and resides on the old home place; and Emily, who died in 1870. These children became worthy members of society and have reflected credit on the family name. The mother died in 1891.

Henry S. Ray was born in Galveston, June 3, 1858, and there grew to mature years and was educated. He married Miss Elizabeth Weyer, daughter of Henry Weyer, an old citizen of Galveston island. The is- sue of this union has been two children: Mary E. and Edward Henry.

J OHN HENRY WEYER, deceased. --- While living this gentleman was familiarly known as Heury Weyer, and as he was a public-spirited, law- abiding and useful citizen a brief sketch of his life in this volume will be of more than passing interest to his many friends and will be a just tribute to a good man.

He was born near Cologne-on-the-Rhine, Germany, in February, 1806, and as his father was a tiller of the soil he was brought up to that healthy occupation until he reached the age of fourteen years, at which time he left home and went to Glasgow,

Scotland, where he learned the art of cloth- coloring, confining himself mainly to coloring Turkish red. After years of hard labor he saved about $900 in gold, which he brought with him to this country and deposited in a bank in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but this bank soon after failed and he lost his hard- earned money, and he had to commence anew the battle of life penniless, and in a foreign country. After he had worked and accumulated a little money, he came to New Orleans, from which place he moved to Velasco, Texas, which was then the leading seaport of the State, and for some time thereafter, as a means of livelihood, was engaged in farm labor. After a time he came to Galveston and engaged in garden- ing and truck farming, as well as in the dairy business, and was engaged in these occupations more or less up to the day of his death. He left a comfortable estate. He was married in Galveston to Miss Sophia Engel, a daughter of John M. Engel, who was born in Switzerland and came to Gal- veston, Texas, with her brother, Rev. August Engel, a Methodist Episcopal .clergyman, with the Texas Colonization Company.

Henry Weyer, son of John Henry and Sophia Weyer, was born on Galveston island, December 16, 1847, and in the city of Galveston and at St. Mary's College he received his education. In 1864 Mr. Weyer was engaged in freighting cotton to Mexico. In January 1865, he enlisted in Company G, Kennard's Battalion, and served till the close of the war. The three years follow- ing the war he spent .in Europe, mostly in Germany, France and England. From 1881 to 1888 he was engaged in teaching in the home districts on the island. He held the office of Justice of the Peace from April 18, 1876, to December, 1890, and during this

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long period showed excellent judgment in the discharge of his duties, was at all times impartial and was therefore well liked. He has followed dairying and farming and is well fixed financially. He was married in Galveston to Miss Mary Kleimann, a native of that city, born May 6, 1852, a daughter of Bernard Kleimann, a German pioneer of 1844. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Weyer five sous and five daughters have been born: S. Elizabeth (Mrs. Henry S. Ray), born September 15, 1871; Henry, Jr., July 7, 1873: Alexander B., April 17, 1874; Mary Pauline, born November 21, 1876, died in October, 1877; Mary Agnes, born July 24, 1875; Joseph Patrick, February 14, 1878; John Thomas, September 21, 1880; Annie M., January 26, 1882; and Lonis George, October 18, 1883.

PILEY T. ALLEN. - William Al- len, father of Wiley T. Allen, was born in Morgan county, Georgia, August 1, 1795, and in the State of his birth married Miss Martha Webb, and the number of their children was an old-fashioned one, thirteen, five . of whom are living at the present writ- ing: Rebecca, widow of Mr. Dewitt; Lucinda, widow of Solomon Dermon, living near Meridian, Mississippi; Julia (Mrs. Erskinson), living in the same place; Clem S., a farmer of Kemper county, Mis- sissippi, and Wiley T., the subject of this sketch. Dewitt lost his life during the war while in the Confederate army; George died at Warrington, Virginia, in the Confederate service, in July, 1862; John died near Athens, in Henderson county, Texas; and all the rest died young. The father died at

his home near Meridian, Mississippi, at the age of eighty-two years.

Wiley T. Allen was born in Perry county, Alabama, April 5, 1835, and remained with and assisted his father on the plantation un- til he had attained the age of about twenty years, after which he became an overseer in Alabama until 1860. He entered the Con- federate army at the opening of the late war, enlisting in the Twenty-sixth Texas Cavalry, with which he served till it was disbanded, May 28, 1865, participating in all the engagements of the Red river cam- paign.

After the war he settled on his present property on Galveston island, where he has since been engaged in farming. He was married October 20, 1863, to Miss Anna Butler, a daughter of Captain John W. But- ler, who was born off the isle of San Do- mingo, on a large vessel. His father was a Colonel in the British army and all his an- cestors were military men. For seven years Captain Butler was Indian agent in Canada for the British government. He was mar- ried to Henrietta D). Onderside, in Philadel- phía, Pennsylvania, in 1832, after which he removed to France and for four or five years was a resident of the city of Tours. At the end of that period he returned to America and took up his residence in Texas, and embarked in the live-oak-timber busi- ness for Government uses, which occu- pation he pursued on the Brazos river from 1832 to 1839 and lost considerable money. He then settled on Galveston island near the present Catholic Orphans' Home, and was engaged there in dairying and farming until his death, which occurred June 25, 1881. Mrs. Allen was born on the island October 20, 1845, and her union with Mr. Allen has resulted in the birth of the follow-

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ing children: Lucy, born July 21, 1872; William J. and Herbert B. (twins) were - born December 12, 1877; Claud Marion was born November 12, 1892; and four children lied in early childhood. Mr. and Mrs. Al- len have a comfortable home and dispense generous hospitality to the numerous friends they have gathered about themn.

APTAIN SEBASTIAN DROUET, in point of residence and actual ex- perience, is one of the oldest pilots living in the city of Galveston. He was born in northeast France, January 8, 1839, a son of Nicholas and Margaret (Mil- let) Drouet, and was brought by his parents to Texas in 1842. He has passed his entire life in Galveston, and since he was old enougli to be aboard a vessel he has been on the waters of the gulf, the bay and the streams of this general locality. In his youth Captain Drouet sailed a small vessel called the Water Lily, with which he car- ried the mails and did some passenger and traffic business between Galveston and Vir- ginia Point before the island and mainland were connected by bridges.

Soon after the opening of the late war Captain Drouet volunteered as a private in the Confederate army and was assigned to duty on the Royal Yacht, marine depart- ment. After a brief service on this vessel he left it in company with a number of his comrades on account of some dissatisfaction and joined the land forces, enlisting in Com- pany B, Cook's Heavy Artillery. As a member of this company he was detailed to duty on the cotton-clad steamer, Bayou City, on which he served as assistant pilot and shared in the honor of the capture of the celebrated Federal steamer, Harriet

Lane, at the battle of Galveston, January 1, 1863. He was in the marine depart- ment until the close of the war.

Since the war Captain Drouet has fol- lowed piloting, having held for the past twenty-eight years a license from the United States Government as pilot and master of steam vessels. He is a member of the Gal- veston Pilot Association.

In November, 1865, Captain Drouet married Miss Josephine Chambard, who was born near Lyons, France, and was brought by her parents to Texas about 1857. The offspring of this union has been five daugh- ters and three sons, all of whom were born in Galveston, are living and are residents of this city, these being: Virginia, wife of Alexander Caudou; Adele, wife of William Boddeker; Edm& Josephine, Edith, Charles, Edwin and Pierre. Captain Drouet's father is still living, being a resident of Galveston, and is now in his eighty-sixth year, having been born in November, 1808. Captain Drouet has one brother living, Captain Adolph Drouet, and one sister, Mrs. Leonie Bray, widow of Edward Bray, both resi- dents of Galveston.

a E. SEIXAS .- More than three centuries ago, during the religious disturbances in southern Europe, a large body of Spaniards left their native country and settled in southern France, among whom was one named Scias, who subsequently made that country his home, and, dying, left his posterity. The name was gallicised to Seixas, and the family continued to occupy French soil without the occurrence of anything to affect its history till near the end of the last century, when the troubles then existing between France

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and England led to one of its members, M. Seixas, a man of wealth and political in- fluence, being appointed governor of the French possessions in the island of Hayti. M. Seixas was for some years a central figure in the political and commercial his- tory of that island, but finally, after the great insurrection and the overthrow of the French government there, he was forced to abandon the country, barely escaping with his life in company with eight of his country- men. He came to the United States, where he established his domicile and afterward preferred a claim of $3,000,000 against the French government for the loss of his prop- erty, which had been confiscated and de- stroyed by the insurgents. This claim was acknowledged and granted by the French government, but subsequently cut down by Napoleon's administration to $1, 500, 000, the claim still being in force and yielding his heirs a small revenue. M. Seixas made his home in this country after coming here, and died in New York city.

Charles Louis Seixas, son of M. Seixas, was born in Paris, France, about the year 1793, where he was reared and educated, being in school during his father's stay in Hayti. He subsequently joined his father in the United States after the latter's arri- val here. Ile married Harriet Hurd, a na- tive of New York city, about 1827, and, soon afterward establishing himself in the wholesale marble business in St. Louis and New Orleans, was actively engaged in this business from that time until his death, which occurred at New Orleans in 1846, during the yellow-fever epidemic of that year. His widow, who survived him only a short time, died in New York State near the place of her nativity.

To Charles Louis and Harriet Seixas

four sons were born: Charles Louis, Jr. ; . William, Eugene E. and Henry O. The second of these, William, died at about the age of sixteen; the others became grown. Charles Louis was for many years a resi- dent of New Orleans, where he died about 1874. He was a gallant soldier during the late war, serving in the Confederate army as a member of the Louisiana artil- lery from New Orleans, with which he took part in all the operations of the army around Richmond. Henry O. resides in New York city; is a man of large means and leads an active life in the financial world. He is a bachelor. He also served in the Confederate army throughout the late war, being a member of Girardy's artillery, with which he took part in all the principal battles fought by the armies of Virginia and Tennessee, to each of which commands at varying periods he belonged.

Eugene E. Seixas was born in the city of New York, June 16, 1838. He was reared in that city, in the schools of which he received a good English education, and there learned during his youth the trade of a carriage-maker. He went to New Orleans in 1860, and on the opening of the Civil war in 1861, through the per- suasion of friends, entered the Confed- crate army, enlisting in Company C, Four- teenth Louisiana Infantry. His service was short, he being severely wounded at the outset in the right arm and right breast, from the effects of which he was rendered unfit for duty during the remainder of the war.

After the surrender Mr. Seixas returned to New Orleans, where he worked for a short time at his trade, when, in the fall of 1865, he came to Texas and settled in Gal- veston. On taking up his residence in that

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city he opened a shop for the manufac- ture and repair of carriages in partner- ship with John N. Stowe. In 1875 Mr. Stowe sold his interest to Mr. Sei- sas, since which time the latter has con- ducted the business alone. From the first Mr. Seixas has enjoyed a good patronage, and he has earnestly striven to deserve it. Ile has made his business a study, and has endeavored to advance the standard of ex- cellence. As a result he is recognized as the leader in style and finish in all kinds of carriages, and has a reputation extending beyond the bounds of the county in which he resides. While developing this business with energy and the strictest personal appli- cation, Mr. Seixas has found time to take some part in things going on around him, and has even interested himself in other lines of activity of a private nature, is known as an enthusiastic and practical horse fancier and breeder, and has probably done more than any other man on Galves- ton island to raise the grade and improve the strains of horse-flesh in this locality. He imported the horse Morgan and is the owner of Overton, No. 1475, the high-bred son of Harold, and one of the finest-bred horses in the South. Mr. Seixas has never been in public life, having confined him- self strictly to business and as far as possible avoided everything savoring of a political nature.

December 31, 1868, he married Miss Celia E. Garrison, a daughter of William M. and M --- Garrison, and a native of New Orleans. Mrs. Seixas' parents were for many years residents of the Crescent City, where her father was well and favor- ably known as a contractor and builder. He died in that city recently, at the ad- vanced age of eighty-one years. To Mr.

and Mrs. Seixas three sons and two daugh- ters have been born: Harry O., now with Swift & Company, of Chicago; Armour H., in the employ of the Philadelphia & Read- ing Railroad Company at Hartford, Con- necticut; Charles Lonis, at school; Celia E., at home with her parents; and Eugenie E., deceased. These children and a pleasant home presided over with grace, dignity and kindness by an intelligent, accomplished and most estimable wife, make his home- life a source of never-failing happiness, being a fit complement to a prosperous and honor- able business career.

I NDREW JAY JOHNSON, a rea- sonably successful real-estate dealer and stockman of Texas, is a prod- uct of St. Landry parish, Louisana, his birth occurring May 27, 1844. His par- ents, Raphael and Mercline (Marques) John- son, were also born in St. Landry parish, Louisiana, the former in 1807. The mater- nal grandfather, Simon Marques, was born in Grand Pre, Nova Scotia, and was one of those who were banished from that country by the British, but, unlike many of those unfortunate people, was accompanied to Lonisana by his family. The paternal grandfather, who also bore the name of Raphael, was born in Demmark and came to the New World and the State of Louisiana in 1790. The Johnsons and the Marques were planters, and the heads of each family were men of considerable financial ability. The father of the subject of this sketch died in 1892, at the age of eighty-five years, and his wife in 1891, when seventy-five years of age, after they had reared five children, namely: Herma, wife of Louis Hayes, of Louisiana; Azelima, wife of R. H. Slaughter,

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of Texas; Andrew Jay. ; Mary T., widow of A. L .. Merriman, of Texas; and one deceased.

The early education of Andrew J. John- son was obtained in Opelousas, Louisana, but in 1861, at the age of seventeen years and eight months, his books were laid aside and he joined Company A, First Regiment of Louisiana, Partisan Rangers, of which he was elected Captain when not eighteen years old, receiving his commission January 27, 1861. He was the youngest commissioned captain in the Confederate service at the commencement of hostilities, but notwith- standing his youth acquitted himself credit- / ably. He was at Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, Mansura, Yellow Bayou, Berwick's Bay, Irish Bend and other engagements, and in all was under fire for thirty-seven days.

After the surrender of his command, which took place in Louisana, June 6, 1865, he returned to his old home to find that all the family possessions had been swept away and himself penniless, with the exception of some real estate. He settled down to farm- ing, employing the former slaves of his father, most of whom had remained on the old place. In the spring of 1867, the entire family, with the exception of Mrs. Hayes, came to Texas and settled at Parr's Grove, and Mr. Johnson began raising sea-island cotton on Bolivar Point, which for some years proved a success. After it had ceased to be profitable be began raising the short staple, and vegetables for market, the latter occupation proving highly remunerative. In 1890 he retired from farming and engaged in the stock business, and is the owner of about 2, 500 head of sheep, besides a large number of horses and cattle. Since 1886 he has also been in the real-estate business, fills the position of Notary Public at the present time and is aiso the Postmaster of

Bolivar Point. He was married in 1865 to . Miss Camilla A. Shaw, a native of Ver- million parish, Louisana, and daughter of J. S. and Serena (Lyons) Shaw. Mrs. Johnson was the eldest of a family of nine children: Camilla, James, Emma, the deceased wife of Fred Schneider, Daniel, Hugh, Otho, Felix (deceased), Jefferson, deceased, and Morris. Seven sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson: Ollie, Bennett, Crawford, Simon, Moise, Sidney and Birdie. Mr. Johnson owns a fine home on the Peninsula and several hundred acres of fertile land, of which 100 are under cultivation.

At 11 o'clock A. M., February 22, 1895, Mrs. A. J. Johnson, on the invitation of the managers of the Gulf & Interstate Railway Company, drove the silver spike signalizing the beginning of the construction of that road on Bolivar Peninsula.

ENJAMIN A. SMALLEY, lumber dealer and farmer of Clear Creek, Galveston county, was born in Ver- million county, Illinois, May 15, 1841, and is a son of William and Mary Al- corn Smalley, who emigrated to Texas in 1846. The senior Mr. Smalley, after com- ing to Texas, settled in Fayette county and was for several years engaged in farming and in the land business in that and adjoin- ing counties, until 1859, when he moved to Harris county, purchasing a place on which he took up his residence on Buffalo bayou, twelve miles northwest of Houston. About 1864 or 1865 he made a trip to Bee county in this State, where he was killed by nn- known parties, his fate not becoming known to his family for twelve months after his death.

The subject of this sketch was chiefly

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reared in Texas and enjoyed very limited opportunities of every kind in his youth. At the opening of the war, then in his twen- ty-first year, he entered the Confederate army, enlisting in Captain Carter's com- pany, Waul's Texas Legion, with which he took part in the engagements incident to the attempt to repel the attack of the Federal gunboats near Yazoo, Mississippi, and in the siege of Fort Pemberton and Vicksburg. He was captured at the fall of Vicksburg, July 4, 1863, but being shortly afterward paroled he rejoined his company, which thereafter became a part of Colonel Tim- mons' regiment, operating in Texas, with which he served till the close of hostilities.

Soon after the war Mr. Smalley settled in what is now Waller, then Austin county, in this State, and engaged in the sawmill business in Harris county, and resided in Waller county some twelve years, when he moved to Polk county, continuing in the same business in that county up to 1884, at which date he moved to Galveston county, settling at Clear Creek. There he engaged in farm- ing and fine stock raising; and in the spring of 1894 he opened a lumber-yard, which he lias since conducted in connection with his other interests. He is one of the pioneer lumbermen of Texas, having been engaged in the business continuously for nearly thirty years. In his farming operations he has given particular attention to the cultivation of Louisiana sugar cane, with which he has been very successful.

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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