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 99
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 99
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99
Judge Jones located . on his Virginia Point estate in 1852, and set about devel- oping a plantation for the raising of stock and cultivation of cotton. He is known throughout the cotton growing States as the first Sea Island cotton grower of the gulf country, and also demonstrated the adapta- bility of this region to the growing of the long-staple cotton. So successful was he in these lines that his product took the gold medal at the Atlanta Exposition of 1884. This was the result of careful observation and scientific experiment in the selection of seed from the most superior and thrifty plants, planting at the proper time, and thor- ough and wise cultivation. By such methi- ods he not only produced an article of su-
perior length, fineness of texture and fiber, but added much to the yield per acre. Judge Jones made Virginia Point famous for its lovely surroundings, its orange grove, peach orchards and a variety of other fruit trees, all in a fine state of development; and its mag- nificent specimens of Spanish dagger and heavy growth of grand old forest trees and feathery salt cedar evergreens have given the old home of the venerable Texan a proud State reputation as a model country seat of utility, refine- ment and enchanting beauty. Virginia Point, too, has since the earliest develop- ments of the Galveston bay country been a point of commercial vantage, jutting as it does into the bay and making it the most accessible point from which to cross the bay to Galveston island and city. Two towns have been laid out there-the first in the fall of 1836,-in fact before Galveston : was conceived. This town seems never to have amounted to mnuch. The second town or city was projected by William R. Smith and William J. Jones in 1853, and was surveyed and platted in 1859, upon the com- pletion of the Galveston, Houston & Hen- derson Railroad, under a contract with the agent and attorney in fact of Paris and London bankers, the holders of the first mortgage bonds of that company, issued by said road, then completed to Houston and doing busi- ness. The price paid by the purchasing parties was £250,000 sterling-one million dollars-and the contract was confirmed in the city of Paris. While preparing to com- mence improvements the Civil war broke out and nothing more was done.
After the death of William R. Smith, in 1872, this league of land was partitioned off by a decree of the District Court, and over 3,000 acres was regularly surveyed, and -
1-50
727
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
Judge Jones transferred all of his interest therein to his son, Walter C. Jones. As his map of Virginia City will exhibit, Virginia City is recognized as the handmaid of Gal- veston, through which all the railroads reach the city from the main land, making the location advantageous.
At the close of the Civil war Judge Jones, seeing the lamentably helpless condition the emancipated slaves were in, without friends and scattered in every direction, evolved a plan whereby they could acquire a legitimate living for their families, and, with industry, eventually a home. He set apart 320 acres of excellent prairie land near his Virginia Point estate, lying along the railroad, divid- ing it into five and ten acre tracts, and sell- ing it upon most liberal terms to such colored men as could produce satisfactory testimon- ials of good standing and industrious habits. He limited the purchase or sale to five or ten acres in a square form, the quantity really being determined by the number of the members comprising the purchaser's family, and the time of final payment placed at ten years from date of sale, deferred pay- inents to bear the lawful interest of Texas. His proposition was eagerly accepted and the outcome is the present Highland Station, just above Virginia Point Station, a thrifty and growing settlement, -a progressive colony of colored people, with church, pub- lic school and everything that goes to make up a thrifty community.
Judge Jones has ever evinced a keen in- terest and has played a conspicuous part in the railway development of Texas, and at a time when his valuable aid was most needed in forwarding such enterprises, he was not found wanting. After the organization of the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railway Company, and upon the construction of the
road to a point about fifty miles north.of Galveston on the Brazos river, the construc- tion fund gave out and the enterprise lan- guished. Galveston county had issued its ·bonds for a half million dollars of stock in the road. Judge Jones, as a member of the County Board of Commissioners, labored earnestly for the execution of a plan to sur- render the county's stock in the road and all interests therein to certain capitalists, as an inducement for them to extend the road 200 miles further into the interior. There was a serious division of the Commissioners' Court upon the question, but by the diligent effort and the diplomacy of Judge Jones the concession was finally made and the road extended. In a letter from a now leading official of the road in question, who was also one of its promoters, the fact is clearly set forth that the completion of this important outlet to Galveston and southern Texas would certainly not have been accom- plished had not Judge Jones personally ex- erted himself in its behalf. He also aided, both with his influence and his means, in the promotion of the Galveston, Houston & Henderson Railway.
In the spring of 1840, while holding court in Matagorda county, Judge Jones met for the first time Miss Elizabeth Gibson, who was there on a visit to her married sis- ter, and he greatly admired her for her per- sonal charins and manners. The chance acquaintance developed into a warm per- sonal friendship, and later a strong attach- ment and ripe affection, and they were mar- ried January 12, 1841. Mrs. Jones was born on the 31st day of May, 1818, at Princeton, New Jersey, where she spent a portion of her youthful days, but after the death of her father, while still a inere child, | her widowed mother removed to Charleston,
728
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
South Carolina, where she had relatives, and later to Texas, where she had a mar- ried daughter, and finally, after years of sojourn here, her life came to an end. Her ashes are entombed on the margin of the Colorado river besides those of several of her descendants who have passed away be- fore and since. The children of Judge Jones are: Ella B., wife of Theodore K. John- son; Walter C., William Stanfield and Maggie M.
a LARK CAMPBELL, M. D .- The physician is a man who inspires confidence because he is worthy of it. His humanity is expressed in the interest he takes in his patients' welfare as well as for the experience he may gain while pursuing the paths of this arduous profession, in order to benefit future sufferers.
Dr. Campbell is a physician of long standing, his range of information is broad, and during the many years that he has pur- sued his calling he has won a wide reputa- tion and a large practice. He inherits Scotch and English blood of his ancestors and is a great-grandson of General Elijah Clark of Georgia, who belonged to one of the most prominent families of the State and who gave valuable aid to the colonists in the Revolution- ary war. His grandfather Clark became Gov- ernor of Georgia, and was a man of fine character and good personal record. Dr. Campbell was born in Georgia, December 29, 1824, and was educated principally in private schools. In 1844 he entered the Jefferson Medical College, and was gradu- ated at the same in March, 1846, after which he practiced his profession in Montgomery, Alabama, until 1849. He then removed to
Louisiana, and up to 1856 was engaged in planting, then came to Galveston with his family, which he left here while he went to Montgomery county, where he improved a place about twelve miles from Montgomery and now about one and one-half miles from Willis. There his attention continued to be occupied with planting up to 1862, when he went to Virginia and was a volunteer in the battle of West Point, though not in actual service. One of the most noteworthy en- gagements in which he took part was the battle of Malvern Hill, after which he re- turned to his home in Texas and soon after became connected with the State troops, with which he served in the capacity of surgeon on the coast region of Texas until the war closed.
In 1868 he took up his residence in Gal- veston, at which time the population con- sisted of six or eight thousand souls, and the port, as a commercial center, was not of great importance. At the time the Doctor located in this city there were in active practice Drs. Ed Randall, Kelley, T. J. Heard, Welsh, Peete, Dewell, and William R. Smith (retired), all of whom have passed away with the exception of Dr. Heard. From 1868 to 1878, with the exception of the years 1873-74, Dr. Campbell was in charge of the City Hospital, but since that time he has devoted his attention to private practice. He has for some years been a member of the Board of Medical Examiners of this district, and is at present a member of the board of managers of the John Sealy Hospital of Galveston.
In 1847 the Doctor was married to Miss Lucy C. Goree, a native of Perry county, Alabama, and daughter of James and Martha (Robb) Goree, who were among the early settlers of that State, the former being a
.
729
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
prosperous planter by occupation. To the lowers, immunity from punishment for any Doctor and his wife the following children shortcomings that may have been theirs as pirates of the Spanish main. Nor was this all, -- for to thein the American Congress tendered a vote of thanks for their bravery on the plains of Challamette. have been given: Goree, who served during the latter portion of the Civil war, in Texas, and is now deceased; John W., an attorney- at-law of Houston; Clark, a resident of Austin; Martha, wife of P. S. Wren; Anna C., deceased; Mary, deceased; and Lucy.
The buccaneer and his followers made the Three Trees their rendezvous after the war of 1812 up to 1821, and this fact assuredly entitles the grove to the sobriquet of "Lafitte Grove." A visit to Galveston is incomplete unless there is made a ride to this historic spot, either by way of the Gal; veston & Western Railway, along the beau- tiful blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico; or by an uninterrupted drive over the inter- vening distance over the beach, said to be the finest in the world.
The resort is utilized for picnics in the summer, and in the winter for oyster roasts; while gunning, sporting, horse-racing and all other means by which the gods of out-door sport and recreation are courted, are much in evidence. Fishing and fowling are excellent. A company of local capitalists have purchased 1, 200 acres of adjacent land and laid out the town of Nottingham. Here . they have erected a substantial brick build- ing, 330x 80 feet in dimensions and three stories in height, for the manufacture of lace curtains. They have imported the latest improved lace-making machinery, and are turning out very fine work in the line. These gentlemen are making overtures for the purchase of Lafitte Grove for a public park, in the consummation of which deal Galves- ton will be second to none of the large cities of the East on that score.
AFITTE GROVE .-- Galveston is justly proud of her public buildings, her business houses, her manufac- turing industries and her most beautiful private residences, but her delight- ful suburban resort, " Lafitte Grove," known in the early history of Texas as " Tress Palacus," or " The Three Trees," (see Thrawl's History of Texas -- pages 126 to 135) is one of the most romantic onting places extant, being situated on the gulf front, ten miles from Galveston city. A clump of grand old live oaks and ever- green shade trees, right at the edge of the gulf, has long been regarded as one of nature's freaks. The Spanish naine, given . on the first coast chart as " Tress Palacus," in 1827, by a party of explorers, was also supplemented by the still more beautiful title, "Altar of Jove." But the place found its name perpetuated in history as " The Three Trees." Later it took the name of .. I.a- ' fitte Grove," in honor of Jean Lafitte, the hero of Challamette, who, with his brave buccaneers, did the artillery work for Gen- eral Jackson at the battle of New Orleans, for which service " Old Hickory of the Her- mitage" was pleased to bestow upon him the The accommodations of the park are adapted to a population thirty times that of Galveston, and with its easy access from title of America's La Fayette the Second. In the connection Jackson also secured, from President Madison, to Lafitte and his fol- I the city, by rail, water and beach; its fine 47
.
3
730
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
grove of evergreen shade trees; its beautiful pleasure lake of fresh water and the magni- ficent view afforded of the gulf, bay and city, by reason of the high altitude of the * land, there could be found no more eligible a location for a public park. Nature has been here prodigal in her gifts, and the park is one of which Galveston may well be proud at the present time, and still more
proud in case the resort is brought further toward the ultimate of its magnificent possi- bilities.
The present proprietor of Lafitte Grove is Mr. M. A. Barr, and his efforts in improv- ing the same and extending entertainment to the public have not fallen short of appre- ciation.
-
Public Library DEC 1 1 1948 Dallas, texas
4987,
3239 1
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.