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 95

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 95
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 95

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).

In 1867 Mr. Smalley married Miss Mary E. George, of Harris county, a daughter of Mrs. Harriet George, who came to Texas at a very early date (Mrs. Smalley having been born here), and the issue of this union was several children, but two of whom survive: Myra, wife of A. J. Spencer; and Charles

E. Mrs. Smalley died in 1879, and in 1881 Mr. Smally married Miss Alice Brown, of Polk county, Texas, a daughter of Dr. W. M. Brown. This lady died shortly after marriage, leaving no issue. Mr. Smalley's last wife was Miss Harriet V. Perkins, a daughter of Samuel J. and Rebecca Perkins, of Galveston county, and to this union five children have been born,-Benjamin A., Jr., R. Perkins, H. Carroll and Shirley G. and Ross O., twins.

The religious connection of Mr. Smalley and family is with the Baptist Church, and in politics he is a Jeffersonian Democrat.

a HARLES JUNEMANN. - Among the sturdy sons of Germany, who brought with them to this country the habits of industry, integrity and perseverance which have ever marked those of that nationality, may be mentioned Charles Junemann, who is now engaged in the dairy business in Galveston, Texas. Mr. June- mann is a native of Bremen, Germany, his birth occurring June 24, 1849. His father, who was a coppersinith and a metal-worker by trade, died when his son was only about three years old, and he early came to rely on himself. He had excellent educational advantages, of which he availed himself, re- ceiving a good practical education and some special training in the Naval Academy of Breinen. He emigrated to the United States at about the age of twenty-one and worked for a time in the tow-boat service about Philadelphia. In June, 1871, he camne to Galveston, in the capacity of a sailor, and after a short time decided to give up the sea and seek a livelihood in some sort of land pursuits.

In November, 1872, he married Miss

697

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

Amelia Monnich, a native of Oldenburg, Germany, who came to America the same year, in the month of May. After leaving the sea Mr. Junemann followed various oc- cupations, being for about three years en- gaged in manufacturing cigars and afterward stock-keeper in one of Galveston's leading wholesale stores. In 1881 he located on the island near the city, and, purchasing some cows, started a dairy. In this he has pros- pered, but has not confined himself alone to that industry, but has become interested in real estate, making considerable money on his ventures. His present place is two miles west of the Catholic Orphans' Home, on the south side of Galveston island, where he owns a productive farm and conducts one of the best dairies in the county. Mr. June- mann also owns good property in the city of Galveston. He has a good, comfortable home and is surrounded by much that makes life enjoyable.

Mr. and Mrs. Junemann's marriage has resulted in the birth of five children, as fol- lows: Marcus, born January 4, 1875; Charles, August 21, 1877; Amelia, August 28, 1879; Julius, April 10, 1881; and Ma- tilda, November 10, 1883.

ILLIAM ELLIOTT GREGORY was born in Ithaca, New York, No- vember 24, 1827, in which place he passed his boyhood and youth up to his sixteenth year, when his parents, moving to Racine, Wisconsin, he accom- panied them and there grew to maturity. Shortly after going to Racine young Greg- ory learned telegraphing and entered the employ of the old Northwestern Railway, the pioneer line of Wisconsin, with which he continued until 1860.

At that date he came to Texas, being in- duced to try his fortunes in the Lone Star State by Mr. Robert Harris, then superin- tendent of the Galveston, Houston & Hen- derson Railroad. Becoming station agent for this road at Houston, Mr. Gregory occu- pied that and other local positions until 1867, when he was appointed general super- intendent of the road and moved his official and personal residence to Galveston, which was thereafter his home until his death, nearly twenty-five years later. He was in the employ of the Galveston, Houston & Henderson Railroad as superintendent until 1883, when he resigned to engage in busi- ness of his own, establishing at that time the Tremont livery barn and transfer line, to which he subsequently devoted his atten- tion and which is still being conducted in his name.

Mr. Gregory was a man of sterling in- tegrity and sound business ability. Begin- ning with nothing he left a considerable estate at his death, accumulated by the ex- ercise of industry, practical sagacity, and by faithful application to such interests, whether personal or official, as fell to his lot. He was also a man of enterprise and public spirit, and was always ready to lend a helping hand to anything looking to the advance- ment of the common good. . From the time of his coming to Texas he believed in its future, and he believed in the future of Gal- veston, giving his services freely for the pro- motion of every interest of each whenever and wherever such services were required.

In 1858, at Racine, Wisconsin, Mr. Gregory married Miss Lucy A. Cather, a daughter of Robert and Lucy Cather, who settled in Racine when it was a village con- taining only about 200 people. The issue of this marriage was a daughter, Cora, and

698

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

a son, William W., both of whom reside in Galveston, as does also their widowed mother.

MASA STEWART was born in Marion county, Ohio, April 4, 1828. His father was Zora D. Stewart, and his mother bore the maiden name of Nancy Talbot, the former of whom was a native of New York, the lat- ter a native of Pennsylvania. His parents were among the earliest settlers of Ohio, moving to Marion county in that State in 1827. They lived there till 1835, when they moved to Marshall county, Illinois, and thence in 1848 to La Salle county, in that State, settling in the last named county just after the completion of the canal from Chi- cago to La Salle. The elder Mr. Stewart was a large and successful fariner, being one of the pioneer grain-growers of the great grain State of Illinois. He died in La Salle county in 1850, his wife dying in the same county thirty-two years later. They were the par- ents of four children: Mary, the wife of John Snider; Matilda, the wife of Wallace W. Taggart; Elizabeth, who died unmar- ried; and Amasa, the subject of this sketch.

. Amasa Stewart was educated in the common schools of Marshall county, Illinois, finishing with a two-years' course at the Granville high school in Putnam county, after which he settled in LaSalle county, both in the same State, and engaged in farming and the nursery business until 1855. At that time he moved to Le Sueur county, Minnesota, sixty miles southwest of St. Paul, on Minnesota river, where he opened a large nursery, which he continued at that place for twelve years. From Le Sueur county he moved to the city of Minneapolis,

continuing in the same line, at which he met with increased success, the rapidly set- tling condition of the country affording him a wide field for his nursery stock. He gave special attention to ornamental shrubbery and furnished the material for beautifying the grounds of many of the elegant homes in Minneapolis.

Mr. Stewart left Minneapolis in 1882, and came to Texas, settling at Denison, where he engaged in the fruit and vegetable business, but with very little success. In 1889 he came to the coast country of Texas, stopping at Hitchcock, in Galveston county, where, seeing what he considered good evi- dence of adaptability of soil and climate for fruit raising, he purchased land on which he settled and again embarked in his old business. Interesting himself also in real-estate matters, he began purchasing land in considerable tracts, which he cut up and improved, and then sold at a good profit. He has thus developed into one of the largest fruit-land dealers in Galveston county, carrying on also in the meantime his planting and experimenting operations in fruit-growing. Besides his smaller hold- ings, mostly improved, in and around Hitch- cock, he owns a tract of land consisting of 2,000 acres, located at Texas City Junction, in Galveston county. It is one of the finest bodies of land in the county, only eleven " iniles west of Galveston, bordering on High- land bayou, within three miles of Texas City and traversed by three railways, the International & Great Northern, the North Galveston, Houston & Kansas City and the Texas City Railway, and is well adapted to farming and fruit-growing.

Recently moving upon his place, Mr. Stewart has turned his attention to the task of improving it and hopes to make it in the

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

699

near future one of the most attractive and valuable pieces of property in this section of the State.

In 1851 Mr. Stewart married Miss Har- riet Ashley, of La Salle county, Illinois, a daughter of Jason and Lois Ashley, her father being an early settler in that county and still a resident of the same, having re- cently attained his ninety-eighth year. The issue of this union was six children: Eliz- abeth, Charles; William; Mary, wife of Theo. G. Thomas of Galveston; Laura and George, -- the first two being now deceased. Mr. Stewart lost his wife in 1878; and in 1882 he married Mrs. Sarah J. Duck, of Denison, Texas.

Mr. Stewart belongs to the Masons and in politics is a Republican.

J H. BOLTON was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on the 5th day of October, 1856. His father was William Bol- ton, a native of England, who came to the United States when a young man and for a number of years was a steamboat pilot on the great lakes. He entered the Federal army from Cleveland, Ohio, and died in Wisconsin, in 1862. The mother of J. H. Bolton bore the maiden name of Susanna Schwartz, and was a native of Detroit, Michigan, being of German parentage. After the death of her husband, in 1862, she was married to J. H. Martin, whom she acconi- panied to California, and now resides at Hartington, in Butte county, that State.

J. H. Bolton was reared at Cleveland, Ohio, until he was sixteen years old, when, after brief stops at Chicago and New Or- leans, he came to Galveston in 1872. Com- ing to this city with no means, he was em- ployed for a number of years at whatever he

could get to do that would yield him an honest livelihood. He worked for John Summers, who then conducted the old Washington Hotel, for Allen Girardin of the Girardin House, for Gregory & Bartlett and . Murray & Bartlett in the livery business, quitting the employ of the last named firm in 1882, when he engaged for himself in job teaming for abont four years. In 1886 he formed a partnership with L. J. Bartlett in the livery business, and has been engaged in this for the past nine years at No. 2110 and 2112 Post Office street.

On August 22, 1875, Mr. Bolton married Miss Anna Fagan, a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, and a daughter of Nicholas Fagan, of Irish parentage, a Mexican veteran and a soldier also in the late Civil war, Confeder- ate service. To this union fifteen children have been born, twelve of whom are living: Mamie Elizabeth, born May 26, 1876; John Nicholas, July 6, 1877; August Charles, December 30, 1878; William Thomas, Sep- tember 28, 1880; James Hamilton, July 16, 1882; Joseph Claud, May 27, 1884; Ed- ward Clearmont, November 9, 1885; George Henry, June 8, 1886, died an infant; Frank, August 22, 1887, died an infant; Walter C., May 7, 1888; Benjamin Harrison St. Clair, December 16, 1890; Myrtle, August 21, 1891, died an infant; Annie May, August 12, 1892; Paul Lucas, December 16, 1893; and Ethel Rose Clemantine, January 6, 1895.

HE BORDEN FAMILY is one of the really historic families of Texas, having had its origin on this conti- .

nent in New England, in "early Colonial times." Gail Borden, Sr., the eldest of the family who came to Texas, but not the first to come, was born in Rhode

700

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

Island, August 21, 1777, and was related to the founder of the state through his mother, Philadelphia Williams, who was a grand- daughter of that sturdy, good and pious man, Roger Williams, whom the religious zealots of Connecticut forced to seek a place of safety in the wilderness, where he subse- quently established an asylum for the perse- cuted of all sects.

After his marriage Mr. Borden moved to New York, where his sons and daughters were born, the sons being Gail, Jr., born in 1800; Thomas H., born in 1804; Paschal P., born in 1808, and John P., born in 1812; these were reared in New York. In 1824 Thomas H. came to Texas, being followed three years later by the rest of the family. All of them settled in Austin's colony, and for several years were engaged in such in- dustrial and business pursuits as the con- dition of the country then permitted. Dur- ing the troublous times that preceded the Revolution, they warmly espoused the cause of the settlers, and Gail, Jr., and Thomas H., who had established the first newspaper in the colony, advocated with vigor the necessity of a separation from Mexico. Thomas H. was in the "Grass Fight," and also took part in the storming of San Anto- nio. Paschal P. and John P. belonged to Houston's army (Moseley Baker's company, Burleson's regiment) and took part in the battle of San Jacinto. Gail, Jr., was the first Collector of Customs at Galveston un- der the Republic, and John P. was the first Commissioner of the General Land office of the Republic. For many years the four brothers were engaged in private business pursuits, each spending most of his mature years in the country of his adoption. Gail was the inventor and manufacturer of the "meat biscuit" and of " Borden's con-

densed milk "-articles of extensive use and a source of great wealth to Mr. Borden. Thomas H. Borden was the inventor of the steam gange, which he introduced on Mis- sissippi steamers as early as 1851 and sub- sequently manufactured at St. Louis and New Orleans and sold to the trade.

Gail Borden, Sr., died in Fort Bend county, this State, in 1863; Paschal P. died -

in Fort Bend county in 1864; Gail, Jr .. died in Colorado county in 1874; Thomas H. died in Galveston county in 1877, and John P. in Colorado county in 1891.

Gail Borden, Jr., had four children who became grown: Henry Lee, for some years past a resident of Chicago; John Gail, now deceased; Philadelphia, who was married to J. W. Johnson, of Houston, Texas; and Mary J., wife of Marcellus Munsell, of Hart- ford, Connecticut.

Thomas H. Borden had two sons: John Rolden and James Cochran, mention of whom will be found in this article.

Paschal P. Borden had three sons: Milam, now deceased; Guy, residing in San Antonio, Texas; and Joe, residing in Hico, Texas.

John P. Borden was twice married and the father of nine children, six of whom be- came grown. His children were all by one wife, whose maiden name was Mary S. Hatch and whom he married in Brazoria county, Texas, in 1843. Mr. Borden's eld- est was a son, Thadeus, who died in 1863, from wounds received in the Confederate army. His next, John T., was accident- ally killed in Colorado county in 1873. Sid- ney Gail, the eldest living, resides at Sharps- burg in this State, a planter and stockman. Delia, the eldest daughter, is the wife of William J. Duffel, of McLennan county, Texas; Mary E., the next in age, resides at

701

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

West, McLennan county, this state; and Lee DeWitt, at Galveston, where he is teacher of Natural Science in the Ball High School.

The death of John P. Borden at Borden, Colorado county, on November 12, 1891, removed from this world the last survivor of the commissioned officers (he being a Lieuten- ant in his company) who led the triumphant Texans in the splendid victory achieved over the Mexicans at San Jacinto, April 21, 1836. His wife died October 1, 1893.

Thomas H. Borden married Demis Woodard in Austin county, Texas, June 4, 1829, this lady being a native of Vermont, whose parents came to Texas about 1827. The issue of this union was, as noted, two sons: John Rolden and James Cochran. John Rolden Borden was born at San Felipe, Austin county, Texas, December 7, 1832, and James Cochran Borden at Rich- mond, Fort Bend county, January 18, 1835. The elder of these married Miss Jane McKee in 1855; entered the Confederate army in 1861, enlisting in Taylor's battalion, with which he served for a year on the Rio Grande, when he returned home, raised a company and again entered the service and died in it in 1864. His two sons, Thomas Paschal and James McKee, reside in Wash- ington city, District of Columbia, and his daughter, Mrs. Raleigh Lowe, in New York city.

James Cochran Borden was chiefly reared in Galveston, his father moving to this city in 1838. He was educated here and at the Western Military Institute at Drennon Springs, Kentucky, being a student in that institute at the time James G. Blaine was a tutor in the same. Returning to Texas after completing his education, he engaged in the stock business in Jackson county, and

was so engaged until the opening of the war. He raised a company in the fall of 1861, of which he was elected Captain and which was enlisted into the Confederate service as Company D, First Texas Cavalry. After a year's service on the Rio Grande his com- mand was transferred to the coast country and later to Louisiana, where it took part in the series of- engagements following Banks' Red river campaign. Captain Borden was wounded at Mansfield on April 8, 1864, be- ing shot through both thighs and disabled from further service. After the war he re- sumed the live-stock business in Jackson county, and was engaged in it there till 1873. At that date he moved to Galveston and embarked in the live-stock commission business, which he has since followed.

On May 3, 1883, Captain Borden mar- ried Miss Clara V. Arnold, of Galveston, and the issue of this union has been four child- ren: Robert Stafford, born April 11, 1884; Marie, December 24, 1885; Gail J., May 21, 1887; and Adine, December 26, 1888. By a foriner marriage, to Miss Palmyra Atkin- son, of Victoria, Texas, Captain Borden has three children living: Louisa D., now Mrs. Clayton Weld, of Alhambra, California; Willie M., who was married to Gail B. Johnson and resides in Alhambra, California; and Flora P., wife of R. J. Davis, of Weath- erford, Texas.

a APTAIN JOSEPH ATKINS .- The oldest settler on the Bolivar Penin- sula is Captain Joseph Atkins, who was born in Brooklyn, New York, March 6, 1833, a son of Joseph and Eliza- beth (Hardigan) Atkins, natives of England, the foriner of whom came to Texas in 1834 and took up his abode at Stafford's Point on

702

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

the Brazos river. Owing to ill health he moved to Spillman's island about nine months later, and eighteen months after that moved to the land on which the battle of San Ja- cinto was subsequently fought. Mrs. Atkins had but ten hours start of Santa Anna's army prior to that battle, and made her way to Galveston island on the boat Cayuga. Some time previous to this Mr. Atkins had become a member of Sam Houston's army, and was one of the men chosen by the Gen- eral to go to the mouth of the Trinity river and capture the fort situated there, which mission was accomplished. He was a par- ticipant in the battle of San Jacinto, and his house was converted into a prison, in which Santa Anna was confined for a time. This house was afterward burned by the Mexi- cans, before the return of the family. For some time Mr. Atkins, being a machinist, worked in the armory of the Texas Republic at Houston, but afterward left that place and moved to Bolivar Point, in 1838, and there opened up an oyster trade with Hous- ton. Here he and his family remained until 1875, in which year he was called from life, at the ripe old age of seventy-five years. Be- fore the Civil war he served Galveston county two terms as sheriff, and for some time he was drill master or Captain of the militia. The children born to himself and wife were as follows: Charles, a resident of Galveston; John, deceased; Joseph; George, deceased; and Harriet, widow of James McHenry. George Atkins was born on the San Jacinto battle-ground the day the battle was fought, and was but ten hours old when he, with his mother, was conveyed on a sled drawn by oxen to the boat on which they made their escape to Galveston island. Joseph Atkins was brought to Boli- var Point at the age of five years, and in the

subscription schools of Galveston he re- ceived his early education, which lasted for the brief period of three months. In his youth he learned the ship-carpenter's trade, but for many years was engaged in the rais- ing of vegetables, and for thirteen years was Government mail-carrier on a sailing vessel between Galveston and Bolivar, which at the same time carried passengers. In 1861 he joined Company F, Twenty-sixth Texas Cavalry and saw the most of his land ser- vice along the coast. He was afterward transferred to the Confederate navy and participated in the recapture of Galveston, January 1, 1863. After being discharged he returned to Bolivar Point, where he has since resided.

He was married October 8, 1856, to Miss Jane Oliver, a native of London, England, who came to America with her mother, Mrs. Christina Oliver, in 1853, her father having died in the old country. To Mr. and Mrs. Atkins thirteen children have been born, ten of whom reached maturity: Alice, wife of J. P. Fine; Charles J .; Benetto, wife of S. H. Merrell; Rebecca, Joseph D., Harriet, John, Sarah, Howard and Lillie. Mrs. Atkins died June 10, 1894, at the age of fifty-three years and ten months, a worthy member of the Baptist Church, with which Mr. Atkins .is also connected. In politics he is, and has always been, a Democrat.

ILLIAM KAHLA owes his na- tivity to the city of Galveston, where he was born April 18, 1847. His parents were Charles and Wilhelmina (Herseman) Kahla, who were born in Germany and came to Texas about 1846. His father, a cabinetmaker by trade, engaged in that line of business after his

个·

703

HISTORY OF TEXAS.

arrival in this country, and died of yellow fever during the epidemic of 1847. His widow married Samuel Beckshoft, a native of Germany and a Texas veteran, having served in the war of 1836 for the independ- ence of Texas. He was also in the late war, being a Captain in the local militia. He died about 1866; his wife died in 1894, at the age of seventy-one years. By her first marriage she had one son, the subject of this sketch, and by her last she had five daughters: Sophia, wife of Charles Schrier, f Galveston; Alvina, widow of a Mr. Lyons; Matilda (deceased); Hattie, wife of Frank Warren, of San Antonio; and Emma (de- ceased).

William Kahla was educated in the pub- lic schools of Galveston and received from his step-father a good musical education, Up to 1863 he followed various callings; he then joined the Commissary Department of the Confederate army stationed at Galveston, and there remained until the war closed. In the fall of 1866, he settled on Bolivar Point, across the bay from Galveston, where he engaged in vegetable farming and made his first purchase of real-estate in 1870, at the same time purchasing 196 acres of coast land at a place called " Roll-over." In 1894 he purchased a lot in Bolivar Point, on which he erected a handsome two-story resi- dence of ten rooms, finished in modern style and very conveniently arranged.

He was married, in 1867, to Miss Ellen Hamshire, who was born in Smith's Point, Chambers county, Texas, a daughter of John Hamshire, a native of Louisiana who was one of the very early residents of Texas. She was one of thirteen children, only three of whom survive: Mrs. John Crainer, Mrs. Charles Hughes and Mrs. Kahla. Nine of the eleven children born to Mr. and Mrs.

Kahla survive: William H., John, Fred- erick, Alice, Frank, Hattie, now wife of Otis Harrington, Louis, Barney and Anna L. Those deceased are Matilda and Mary J.

AMILTON STUART was born September 5, 1813, on a farm in Jefferson county, Kentucky, nine miles above Louisville, but re- ceived his education and attained his man- hood at Georgetown, Scott county, in the same State, where he resided for six years. prior to coming to Texas. He there learned the trade of printer, and edited and pub- lished the Weekly Sentinel in 1835-6-7. He married, in the latter part of November, 1837, at Georgetown, Miss Beline S. Cham- bers, sister of Mrs. Anna Chambers Ketchum, the authoress, whose grandfather, one of the Bradfords, printed the first newspaper west of the Alleghany mountains, and who died in Galveston in 1887, within a few weeks of what would have been the fiftieth anniversary of her marriage.

In the latter part of 1837 Mr. Stuart, by the advice of his physicians, left Kentucky and started for Texas, with letters of intro- duction to General Sam Houston, General T. J. Chambers and others prominent in the affairs of the infant republic. Landing in Galveston in January, 1838, he found a collection of a dozen or so houses, and pro- ceeded by steamboat to the town of Hous- ton, which had just been made the capital of the Texas republic. Here he secured em- ployment on the National Banner, news- paper, as editor, but remained in the posi- tion but a short time, and on May 9, 1838, started the Civilian, which was published for a few months, when, its editor being taken sick, the publication was discontinued,

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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