USA > Texas > Indian wars and pioneers of Texas, Vol. 2 > Part 10
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Felix Grundy Roberts, the youngest but one and row the only survivor of the above family, was born in Washington Parish, La., Angust 23, 1818. He was just five years old when his parents moved to Texas ; remembers riding behind an elder sister on horseback when the family crossed the Sabine, and many other incidents of the jonrney. He was chiefly reared at San Augustine. Attended school in Kentucky and completed his education at the University, at Lexington, in that State, where he took a full law course, gradnating in the class of 1842, of which the late Jndge Thomas J. Devine was also a member.
While at Lexington, Mr. Roberts met and married Miss Elizabeth K. Layton, a native of Kentucky, the marriage occurring Angnst 2, 1842. Returning to Texas he abandoned the idea of practicing law and devoted his attention to his plantation, near San Augustine, until 1859, when he moved to Washington County, where he had pur- chased a farm, and there lived engaged in agricul- tnral pursuits, until his recent removal to Navasota, in Grimes County, where he now resides.
August 5, 1894, Mr. Roberts lost his wife, after
a happy married life of fifty-two years. They raised to maturity four sons: John Harrison, Patrick Henry, Charles Morgan, and Jefferson Davis, all of whom are married and either planters or stoekmen. Mr. Roberts has resided in Texas for seventy-two years and has never seriously thought of leaving the State but once, that being in 1849, when he went to California. After a resi- denee of more than a year there, during which he endured many hardships, he returned to Texas, fully satisfied to make his home here for the rest of his days. He was personally acquainted with Ellis P. Bean (who stopped at his father's honse near San Augustine), Gen. Piedras, Col. Almonte, Gen. Sam. Houston, Thomas J. Rusk, J. Pinkney Hen- derson, David S. Kauffinan, William B. Oehiltree, and many other men who figure prominently on the pages of Texas history.
Mr. Roberts has passed through many changing seenes and trying vicissitudes, through all of which he moved as a brave and true-hearted gentleman and from which he emerged with untarnished honor.
He lived to see Texas transformed from a well- nigh uninhabited wilderness to a well-settled and prosperous State of the Union and now, in his old age, enjoys the confidence and esteem of all who knew him.
JOSEPH BROOKS,
NAVASOTA.
The subject of this sketeh was a native of En- gland, born in Greenwich, April 11, 1830. In 1852 he married Miss Mary Ann Farrar, of Greenwich, and the following year came to Texas, settling in the town of Old Washington. He resided there until 1866, when he moved to Navasota, which place he made his home until his death. During his forty- odd years residence in Texas, Mr. Brooks was actively engaged at his trade, embarking at Nava- sota extensively in the coffin-manufacturing and undertaking business.
The present lumber establishment of Jesse
Youens & Company, at Navasota, one of the lar- gest in the State, was founded by him. He was a man of industrious habits, a skillfull workman, possessed good business ability, and, as a result of these qualities, accumulated a very handsome estate. With the exception of the office of Alderman of Navasota, he never filled any public position, but, nevertheless, was a public-spirited eitizen and dis- charged his duties as such in every capacity.
He died December 1st, 1889. His widow and one daughter, Mrs. Benjamin F. Salyer, survive him and reside at Navasota.
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INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
THOMAS J. MORRIS,
Rev. Thomas J. Morris, the well-known farmer and minister of the gospel of Colorado County, was born in the State of Florida, December 30, 1843 ; completed his education at the University of the South ; served as a soldier in the Confederate army in Company B., Eighth Florida Regiment, during the war between the States, participating in the battles of the Wilderness and Gettysburg (in both of which he was severely wounded), and in 1867 moved to Texas, and settled in Colorado County in
1871, where he has since resided. After coming to Texas, he married Miss Mary B. Hunt, adopted daughter of Capt. William Hunt. This union has been blessed with six children: William Hunt, Howard C., Mabel, Mary E., Thomas J., Jr., and Francis Wilmans Morris.
Rev. Mr. Morris is one of the most progressive and truly representative men of his county and deservedly ranks high as a citizen and Christian gentleman.
F. W. BROSIG,
NAVASOTA.
Ferdinand Wallace Brosig was born in Niesse, Germany, October 31, 1842, and when seven years of age came to America with his parents, Joseph and Augusta Brosig, and other members of the family, who landed at Galveston, 1849, and pro- ceeded to Houston, where they made their home and where the subject of this brief memoir passed his boyhood and youth and learned the tinner's trade. Ilis father and mother died when he was a child. When in his nineteenth year he enlisted in the Con- federate army as a volunteer and was mustered into service at San Antonio as a soldier in II. B. Andrews' Regiment, and some time later was put in charge of the mechanical department of the Trans- Mississippi Department of the Confederate States Army and stationed at Anderson, in Grimes County, where he remained until the close of hostilities and for a year thereafter, and then removed to Navasota, where he passed the remaining years of his life.
July 2, 1867, he was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Shafer, daughter of J. P. Shafer, a mer- chiant of Navasota. Her parents were natives of Hermany. They were pioneer settlers in the city of Houston, where they located in 1848 and she was born in 1849. Mr. Brosig clerked and worked at his trade until 1871, and then purchased his father- sh-law's establishment and embarked in the hard- Ware and agrienltural implement business. During the time intervening between 1871 and 1886 he sus- tamed three serious business losses, by fire, and once the loss of his residence. Being a man of
great will-power and indomitable perseverance he surmounted all such reverses and built anew upon the ashes of his former fortunes. In 1886 he ereeted the " Brosig Block" (a two-story brick building, 58 by 145 feet, in the heart of the business center of Navasota), which he fitted up for the hard- ware and crockery business and where he did thereafter an extensive and successful business. It was mainly through the efforts of Mr. Brosig that the First National Bank of Navasota was organized in 1890. He was elected president of the bank upon its establishment and continued to serve as sueb until the time of his death, which occurred at 11:30 p. m., the night of July 31, 1893, at his home in Navasota, Texas. Aside from his mercan- tile business, he owned valuable real estate interests in and about Navasota.
Mr. Brosig's death was caused by a paralytie stroke. His funeral was one of the most largely attended ever witnessed in Navasota, of which place he had been a citizen for twenty-nine years. The religious services took place at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Rev. Dr. Dunn officiating. He was buried in the Oakland Cemetery with Masonie honors. Mr. Brosig had one brother, Hugo Brosig, now a merchant at El Paso, who located at, lived in and was for many years a prominent citizen of Galves- ton, where he was for several years Justice of the Peace of the eity. Joseph, another brother, settled in Mexico, where he distinguished himself as a General in the Mexican army.
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INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
Mr. Brosig left surviving him a widow and five children, four daughters and one son, Annie, Elea- nor, Joseph Wallace, Mattie, Nettie. The son has charge of the hardware business and other property interests left by his father, which he mauages for the benefit of the estate.
Mr. Brosig was a man of sterling traits of char- acter. Possessed of keen business foresight and strictest integrity, his judgment was cousulted upou quite all matters of local concern. His influence was always exercised on the side of good morals,
for the maintenance and enforcement of the laws of the land and for the promotion of all movements looking to the welfare and advancement of his home, city and county. He possessed the un- bounded confidence of a wide business acquaintance and a large circle of friends throughout Central Texas. IIc left an honored name aud fine estate as legacies to his family.
llis memory will be long kept fresh and green by the many who knew and loved him for his genuine manly worth.
J. E. DYER,
RICHMOND.
"The late J. E Dyer, for so many years a promi- nent figure in the section of the State in which he lived, was born at Stafford's Point, in Fort Bend County, Texas, July 11, 1832, and was reared and educated in the town of Richmond, in that county, to which place his parents tuoved when he was seven years of age.
His father, Judge C. C. Dyer, came to Texas, in 1822, from Dyersburg, Tenn., and settled in what is now Harris County, where he resided for a num- ber of years. He then moved to Fort Bend County, where he passed the remaining years of his life. In journeying to Texas, Judge Dyer traveled iu company with Mr. William Stafford and family, consisting of A. Stafford and Misses Sarah and Mary Stafford. Acquaintance with Miss Stafford ripened into love and they were married at Natchi- toches, La., upon the arrival of the party at that place. Her grandfather built and owned a place in Tennessee called Stafford's Mills, which still bears that name. Judge Dyer served as a member of the First Commissioners' Court of Harris County and later was clected County Judge of the county aud filled that office for a period of ten years. Judge Dyer was in the famous battle of the " Horse- Shoe," when quite a boy. He followed the occu- pation of a trader for many years after coming to Texas, bringing goods from Nachitoches, La., to the then sparsely settled Mexican province and was absent from Texas ou one of these trips when the battle of San Jacinto was fought. He and his wife died in Fort Bend County and are buried in the family cemetery at Richmond. Mr. J. E. Dyer, the subject of this memoir, was educated in private
schools at Richmond and upon reaching manhood engaged in stock-raising and merchandising and in the baukiug business at that placc. He was a suc- cessful business man and left at the time of his death a considerable estate to his widow and children.
He served as County Treasurer of Fort Bend County, from 1852 to 1859, a period of seven years, and at various times filled many positions of honor and trust. An uncompromising Democrat, he did much to promote the cause of good government in his section of the State. Every worthy enterprise found in him a liberal supporter. Enlightened, liberal and public-spirited, he was a power for good in his day and generation. The needy and friend- less were often relieved by his bounty, and there are very many who have reason to revere his mem- ory. He served during the war between the States as a soldier iu Brown's Battalion, Waul's Legion, and was stationed for a time at Matagorda, but saw no field service, as the command, detailed, as it was, for coast defeuse duty, was never iu an engagement.
He was a member of the " Temple of Honor," an old organization in Texas, but was connected with no other secret or fraternal society. He was uuited in marriage to Miss Isabella M. T. Hcard, at Woodville, Texas, January 4, 1830. Eight chil- ren were born of this uniou; viz. : J. T. and II. L. Dyer, who own the largest mercantile establish- ment at Richmond; Ray and Milton Dyer, who are attending the Texas Military Academy at San Antonio; C. C. and Reginald Dyer, who stay at home on the ranch four miles from Richmond;
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INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
Maud, wife of Mr. H. M. White, of Houston, and Juha, wife of Mr. A. B. Heard, of Richmond, and J. E. Dyer, Jr. Mr. Dyer died at Bourne, October 31, 1894, whither he had gone in the hope of res- toration to health, and is buried in the family cemetery at Richmond. His death was a sad bereavement to his family, to which he was thoroughly devoted. His loss was also deeply mourned by a wide circle of friends extending throughout Texas.
Mrs. Dyer's parents, Mr. George L. and Mrs. K. (Wright) Heard, were Georgians by birth and came to Texas at an early day. Her mother's father was Dr. Isaac Wright, of Tennessee.
Mrs. Dyer had four brothers who served in the Confederate army during the late war. Of these
G. W. Heard died ten days after the battle of Cor- inth, frow wounds received at Oxford, Miss. ; W. F. Heard, for years a banker at Cleburne, Texas, died at that place a few years since; J. F. Heard lives at Woodville, Texas, and - Heard died soon after the war. Mrs. Dyer's mother and father died at Woodville, and are buried there. The Dyer and Heard families have been prominent in social, business and political life in Texas, since settling in this State, and representatives have distinguished themselves in various professions, civil and mili- tary, in other parts of the Union. J. A. Dyer, Jr., died July 25, 1895, aged twenty-one years. He was educated at the University of Georgetown. He was a young man of great promise and his death was a sore affliction to his family and many friends.
WILLIAM M. KNIGHT,
MERIDIAN.
William M. Knight was born in New Hampshire in 1855. His parents, Prof. Ephraim and Mrs. Augusta B. (Crain) Knight, were natives of that State, and scions of an old Colonial family of Scotch- Irish descent. Prof. Ephraim Knight was one. of the founders of the New London Literary and Scientific Academy (now Colby Academy), and occupied the chair of mathematics in that institution until 1876, when he retired after many years of service. He died in 1878. Hlis widow is still living in New Hampshire.
William M. Knight graduated from Colby Academy in 1875, and Brown University in 1877, winning the degree of A. B. at the University ; went to Charleston, W. Va., in 1878 and entered the law office of Smith & Knight (the latter gentle- man an uncle), and was admitted to the bar in
1880, and shortly thereafter came to Texas and located at Meridian, where he has since resided. He has served three times as County Attorney of Bosque County, twice by appointment and one full term, from 1884 to 1886, by election.
December 3d, 1800, he was united in marriage to Miss Mattie E. Farmer, a native of Virginia, but then recently from Missouri. Mr. Knight is a member of the Masonic fraternity ; a member of the Blue Lodge and Chapter at Meridian and of Cleburne Knight Templar Commandery No. 10, and has served as master of the lodge and high priest of the chapter at Meridian. He is an active Democratic worker and has been a delegate to various party conventions.
As a lawyer he ranks among the most skillful practitioners of the Central Texas bar.
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INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
JAMES R. MOSS,
LLANO.
James R. Moss, eldest son of Mathew W. and Mary Moss, was born in Fayette County, Texas, January 24, 1843, and was reared in Williamson County, where his parents settled four years later.
eenth year, he entered the Confederate army as a member of Company E., Seventeenth Texas Infantry, McCulloch's Brigade, with which he began active service in Arkansas, and later took part in
JAMES R. MOSS AND WIFE.
His educational advantages were limited, the neighborhood schools taught from three to four months in the year, being the sole reliance of the youth of his day for that mental training and equipment now considered so essential to success in life.
At the opening of the late war, then in his eight-
that series of brilliant military movements along Red river incident to the Federal General Banks' campaign in Arkansas and Louisiana. He was in- jured by a fall the day before the battle of Mans- field, which necessitated his transfer from the infantry to the cavalry, in which branch he served during the remainder of the war.
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INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
After the surrender Mr. Moss engaged in the live stock business in Llano County, which he has since followed, having thus been identified with the cottle Industry nearly all bis life and is familiar with all its details and experiences. He is one of the oldest stockmen of Llano County and has been one of the most suceessful. He owns a raneh of about 9,000 aeres located in the southern part of Llano County, which he has stocked with a high grade of cattle.
Mentioning Mr. Moss' experiences on the frontier brings to mind the fact that he took part in one of the last Indian fights in Llano County, the " Pack Saddle Fight." The incidents of that affair as related to the writer by Mr. Moss were as fol- lows : -
On the 4th of August, 1873, a party of redskins supposed to be Comanches, made a raid into Llano County, and stole a lot of horses, with which they were making their escape out of the country, when a company of eight, Dever Harrington, Robert Brown, Eli Lloyd, Areh Martin, Pink Ayers, and the Moss brothers, James R., William, and Stephen D., was hurriedly organized and started in pursuit. After following the trail perhaps a distance of forty miles, the rangers discovered the Indians about noon on the following day in camp on the top of Pack Saddle Mountain. Concealing their move- ments the pursuers carefully reconsidered the sit- uation and discovered that the redskins had made only a temporary halt to rest and refresh theni- selves. They had passed over an open space about forty yards in width covered with grass and had pitched their camp on the edge of the bluff beyond, leaving their stock in the glade to graze. The bluff where they halted was skirted below with a sparse growth of stunted trees, which, with some scrubby bushes growing adjacent, afforded them a good camping ground. Some of the Indians had lain down in the bushes to rest, while others were roasting meat over a stick fire and eat- ing. It was agreed among the rangers that they would charge across the glade on horseback and put themselves between the Indians and their horses, then dismount and open fire. The charge
was made and all dismounted before firing, except William Moss, who fired two shots from his horse. Though surprised, the Indians gathered their guns and returned the fire, forming, as they did so, in a kind of battle line, in which manner they made two separate charges, evidently intending, if possible, to reach their horses. But they were repulsed each time, and a third line was broken up before they got well ont of the timber, under cover of which it was formed. One buck, bolder than the rest, ad- vanced alone to some distance to the right of the others, and without firing his gun, which, however, he held grasped in an upright position, seemed de- termined to make his way to the horses. He eame to within a few feet of the rangers, some of them firing at him, when suddenly he turned and, retreat- ing to the edge of the timber, fell forward stone dead, but, as was afterwards found, still tightly grasping his gun. About this time three or four of the Indians started up a chant and began to file off under the bluff, the others followed suit, and al- most in a twinkling, nothing more was seen of them. On inspecting the battle-ground the rangers found three bodies. Four of their own number were more or less hurt, William Moss being shot in the right arm and shoulder, the ball ranging through the breast and coming out on the left side ; Arch Mar- tin shot in the left groin; Eli Lloyd three slight wounds in the arms, and Pink Ayers, two balls in the hips. It was estimated that there were twenty Indians, seventeen bucks, two squaws'and a boy. All of the stock which these Indians had, twenty head, together with some of their fire-arms, saddles and accoutrements, fell into the bands of the ian- gers. None of the wounds sustained by the pursu- ers proved serious, except those of William Moss ; he has always suffered more or less with his.
Though he has had considerable military expe- rience, Mr. Moss has never been before the public in any official capacity. His private affairs have en- grossed his attention to the exclusion of everything else. He married Miss Delia Johnson, of Llano County, in 1877, and has by this uniou a family of eleven children.
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INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
C. T. MOSS,
LLANO COUNTY.
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Charles Tate Moss, son of Matthew and Mary Moss, was born in Travis County, Texas, Deeem- ber 28, 1845. He was reared in Williamson and Llano counties, his parents residing successively in these two counties during his boyhood and youth. In 1863, then in his eighteenth year, he entered the frontier service as a member of Capt. Bowling's Company from Llano County, and served with this and Capt. Irvin's Company from Blanco County till the close of the war. Engaged in stock-raising cn the cessation of hostilities, and has followed it with a marked degree of success since. The firm of C. T. & A. F. Moss, of which he is the senior member,
is one of the largest and best known in West Cen- tral Texas, owning more than 30,000 acres of grazing land lying in Llano and Gillespie counties, on which is kept from 2,000 to 3,000 herd of cattle the year round.
In 1882, Mr. Moss married Miss Sallie Ryfield, daughter of Holmes and Lucinda Ryfield, and a native of Goliad County, Texas, her parents being early settlers of Texas, her father a veteran of the Revolution of 1835-6. Mr. and Mrs. Moss have three sons and one daughter: Holmes, Carlos, Maud, and Cash.
SAM. S. SMITH,
SAN ANTONIO,
Was born at Boston, Mass., September 17th, 1810, and died at San Antonio August 17th, 1882, in the seventy-second year of his age. He came to Texas in the memorable year 1836, just after the battle of San Jacinto, and took part in several subsequent campaigns, serving with gallantry and distinction. He made his home in the city of Houston in 1837, and in 1843 went to San Antonio, where he iden- tified himself with the growth and progress of Southwestern Texas, occupied several positions of honor and trust and resided until the time of his death. He served for twenty-three months as Mayor of San Antonio in 1840-41 and later as Alderman and City Treasurer. He was also a mem- ber of the Secession Convention of Texas in 1861. He was elected to the office of County Clerk of Bexar County, August, 1850, and served the people in that capacity continuously up to the reconstruc- tion era. In 1873 he was elected District and County Clerk and held that position until the two offices were separated, after which he held that of County Clerk of Bexar County until the time of his decease.
The long years he held so many positions of trust and emoluments at the hands of a most friendly and appreciative constituency fully attests the universal esteem in which he was held. Char-
itable and kind in all his dealings with his fellow- men, it has never been intimated that he willfully erred either in word or deed. He, together with his wife who survived him, was a member of the Texas Veterans' Association, which historic organi- zation passed a feeling tribute of respect to his memory as, "An esteemed friend and comrade, whose loss was deeply mourned."
The Express and other city papers contained fitting obituary editorials. The members of the Bexar County bar, through a committee appointed for that purpose, passed and caused. to be spread upon the records of the court a tribute to his mem- ory in which due appreciation of his exemplary life and valuable services to his people were acknowl- edged. The report declares, " that in the death of Mr. Smith Bexar County lost an honored and trust- worthy officer ; a polite, worthy and trusted citizen, and a kind, true and generous friend to the poor and needy, whose place in social and official life can scarcely be filled from among the living." It was signed by Wesley Ogden, Thos. J. Devine, N. O. Green, T. S. Harrison, T. G. Smith and John F. Ochse.
Samuel S. Smith married Miss Sarah Brackett at San Antonio, January 18th, 1854. Mrs. Smith has
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INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
four children: Osear; Thaddeus W., county clerk of Bexar County; Georgia C., now Mrs. Joseph Olivarri; and Minnie, now Mrs. Edwin Flory. Thaddeus M. Wood, grandfather of Mrs. Sarah B. Smith, was born at Lenox, Mass., in 1772; became at first a practicing lawyer at Onondago in 1794 and was distinguished for his legal ability. He was also widely known as a military man. He died January 10th, 1836.
Her father, Oscar B. Brackett, a merchant, native of the Empire State, came directly from Syracuse, N. Y., to San Antonio, in 1844. He
brought with him his wife (nee Miss Emily Wood) and four children, of whom Mrs. Smith was the third born. Two sisters of Mrs. Smith are living : Emily, widow of Chas. F. King, and Ella N., widow of Simeon W. Cooley, of San Antonio. Mrs. Smith's mother was a daughter of Gen. Wood, who served with distinction during the War of 1812.
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