USA > Texas > Indian wars and pioneers of Texas, Vol. 2 > Part 13
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But ten years of peaceful success had scarce passed over her head when the guns that startled Fort Sumpter called upon this widow to sacrifice her sons to her country. Five of them went into early Confederate regiments, leaving E. M. to care for the home and do local military duty as occasion not infrequently required. Even this degree of quiet was soon broken in upon by a demand for the active military services of this sixth sou of his mother, and in June, 1864, he was mustered as a volunteer into the depleted ranks of the Fifty-first Alabama Cavalry. He followed the fortunes of his regiment through the closing scenes of the bitterest civil war the world has ever known, remaining at his post of duty until the final surrender. It may be remarked here that this trait of standing by his duty is char- acteristic of his entire career. When he knew positively that this was a " lost cause " he turned
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his face toward the old home. He did not even wait for the formalities usually connected with such orias, but simply said to his comrades : ""Boys, come, go home with me," and rode away, in com- pany with the Regimental Commander, Quarter- master, other officers and sixty companions.
Of course he found the old farm a wreck and the daves gone, but he went to work and for two years labored unceasingly, obeying the will and direc- tons of his mother until he was twenty-one years oh !. But in 1867 he decided to " go West," and las home was soon made in Texas. Why should he be called a pioneer? Because he came to a country devastated by war and her institutions in a worse condition than if they had not existed.
Mr. Scarbrough's capital stock, on reaching this State, consisted entirely of such assets as well- planned determination, laudable ambition, well- formed business habits and sterling integrity --- good bankable paper in those days. His first em- ployment was as a salesman in the store of Hall & Evans, at Bryant's Station, Milam County, and there he remained until 1870, when the business of the firm was transferred to Hearne, Mr. Scarbrough remaining with the concern. Not long after this removal he entered into a contract to supply the H. & T. C. R. R. and International & Great Northern R. R., which were being constructed northward, with cross-ties and telegraph poles. The terms of this contract were complied with during the years 1872-3 and Mr. Scarbrough hav- ing acquired the necessary means to enter into business, in 1874 formed a copartnership at Rock- dale with his former employers, and opened business at Rockdale under the firm name of Haskins & Co. This partnership continued until the death of Gen. Hale in 1882. The affairs of the old firm were then wound up and the firm of Scarbrough & Hicks was formed. In this concern Mr. Scarbrough was very active, as he was also in the affairs of the town of Rockdale. He was a moving spirit in the organization of what is now tre First National Bank of Rockdale and became one of its directors. He was president of the School Board and organized the free schools of Rockdale. He entered readily and heartily into
every movement for the advancement of Rockdale's interests. He was one of the earliest and most active of the movers to secure the construction of the Aransas Pass Railroad to Rockdale, and on his own motion became one of four men to become responsible for the required bonus of $10,000 while the competing town of Taylor was circulating a petition and speculating upon its influence. This is a fair illustration of Mr. Scarbrough's business methods. When he wants a thing he goes after it.
In 1889 Mr. Scarbrough moved with his family to Austin, where he lived in comparative quiet for a time, but his active mind could not allow him 'such peace, and in 1890 he opened the mammoth establishment of Scarbrough & IIicks, on Congress avenue, which has in no way interfered with the firm's business at Rockdale. His intention was to have one of the largest, best stocked and most completely appointed department stores in the State, as it was the first in the city of Austin. This store has a frontage of 110 feet on Congress avenue, occupies two floors con- nected by a passenger and freight elevator, and demands the constant services of more than forty people. It is not strange that such a man should become identified with other interests ; so we find him a director in the Austin National Bank, which is one of the strongest institutions in the State.
Mr. Scarbrough, November 7th, 1877, was mar- ried to Miss Ada R. Ledbetter, a daughter of Isaac and Julia Ledbetter, who removed to Milam County in 1853, her mother having died in 1864, after which her home was with her sister, Mrs. Lizzie Wilson, who gave her every possible advantage. On the 23d of May, 1892, the happiness of the home was broken into by death, who claimed Mrs Scar- brough, leaving the husband to care for his five children to whom the tender strength of his nature has gone out in watchful love.
Mr. Scarbrough is a firm and unbending business man, but is one of the most approachable of men, which trait has gone far to make him popular as well as respected. His word is his bond and through all the ramifications of his business he will not tol- erate the least misrepresentation or deception of any kind.
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CHARLES V. VAUGHAN,
NAVASOTA,
Was born in Amelia County, Va., January 3, 1844.
devastated and in ruins. He took up his residence His father was Henderson F. Vaughan and his . with his mother and step-father, his father having died many years before and his mother having re- married, and during the year of 1865 made a crop with horses and on provisions furnished by the general government. Concluding that there was nothing in store for him in bis native State, he left it for Texas in December, 1866, and settled at Old Washington, where until 1869 he alternately elerked in a mercantile establishment and engaged in farm- ing. He then moved to Navasota, where he contin- ued in the mercantile business, first as clerk, and. later on his own account, until a comparatively recent date.
mother bore the maiden name of Mollie B. Walthall. Mr. Vaughan was reared in Amelia and Prince Edward counties, Va., and in the schools of the latter received his education. In January, 1862, he entered the Confederate army, enlisting in Com- pany C., Eighteenth Virginia Infantry, Piekett's Brigade, Longstreet's Corps. He took part in all the stirring scenes about, Richmond, and was in the engagements at Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Gaines' Mill, and at intermediate places, and was twice wounded -- by a shell explosion (taking effeet in the spine), at Seven Pines, by a gun-shot (shattering his right arm) at Gaines' Mill, and surrendered at Appomattox at the general armistice.
Returning home, Mr. Vaughan found everything
In 1873 Mr. Vanghan married Miss Imogene C. Cabler, a daughter of Edwin S. Cabler, an old settler of Washington County.
THEODORE GERFERS,
KENDAL!A.
One of the well-known pioneers of Comal County, came to Texas from Dusseldorf on the Rhine, in Prussia, where he was born February 1, 1800, settled at New Braunfels, where he followed farm- ing for abont six years, and then moved to Bexar County, where he established a farm on the Gibolo and engaged in stock-raising until his death. He brought his wife and five children with him to this country, viz. : William, Agnes, Theo. W., Joseph, and Frederick W.
Frederick, living four miles northwest of Ken- dalia, born February 3, 1849, was an infant of five weeks when his parents left Germany for America. He grew up on his father's farm in Bexar County and married in 1873 Miss Albertina Leisti- kow.
Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Gerfers have two chil- dren: Charles and Jennie. Mr. Gerfers has a ranch of about 4,000 acres of farming and grazing lands.
41
an den "
BROOK SMITH.
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INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS. -
JACOB THEIS,
BOERNE,
Was born in Nassua, Germany, October 22, 1831, and in 1854 came to New Braunfels, Texas, where he remained for two years and learned the black- smith's trade. He worked in various towns in Texas until 1868 and then opened a shop on his own account at Boerne, and there followed his trade until about the year 1875, when he bought 117 acres of land near town and engaged in farming. To this property he has since added until he now
owns 25,000 acres. He spent the years 1862-3 working in the Confederate States Arsenal at San Antonio and later went to Mexico and returned to Boerne in 1865. Mr. Theis married Miss Minnie Kass, at Boerne, in 1862. They have nine children. Mr. Theis was a member of Col. Sansom's Texas Rangers in 1858-9 and was in several Indian fights about the head-waters of the Guadalupe. His farm and dairy are among the best in Kendall County.
JACOB SCHMIDT,
FREDERICKSBURG,
A retired farmer and business man and estcemed citizen of Fredericksburg, was born in Prussia, December 14, 1825, and came to Texas in 1857 from Bremen and Galveston, and then making his way overland to San Antonio and Fredericksburg. By his first marriage he had one daughter, Katie, born January 29, 1855, who became Mrs. August Gamman and died, leaving one son and four daugh- ters. By a second marriage Mr. Schmidt has the
following children : Mary, born June 25, 1857, mar- ried to Fritz Karrier, of Kerrville; Louise, born January 3, 1860, married to Max Schultz, of El Paso; Ferdinand, born July 28, 1861, now in South America ; Hannah, born October 21, 1867, married to Charles Gibert; William, born October 20, 1869; and Frederick, born April 28, 1871. Mr. Schmidt has been an industrious and law-abiding citizen and reasonably successful in life.
BROOKE SMITH,
BROWNWOOD.
The brief biography here submitted is not based . on a political or military record, it is simply that of a plain man of business. Yet it will not be without significance in this work, not only as help- ing to show the character of men who, since the Civil War, have been chiefly instrumental in build- ing up the State's commercial and financial interests, but as an illustration of what in varying degrees of success can always be accomplished by persistent industry coupled with integrity and sound practical sense.
Brooke Smith, who established the first bank in West Central Texas and who has been longer and more prominently connected with the banking busi- ness in that seetion of the State than any one else, is not, as this fact might seem to indicate, an old man, for he was born in March, 1853, and is there- fore still on the sunny side of tifty by several years. He is a native of Hanover County, Va., and comes of Virginia stock throughout, his ancestors on both sides having settled in the "Old Dominion " in early colonial days. His parents were John Snelson
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Smith ( who is still living, being a resident of Auson, Jones County, Texas), aud Paulina T. (Doswell) Swith, who died some years since ( December 31, 1883), at Brownwood, in this State.
Very little of Brooke Smith's life was spent in his native State, his parents moving from there when he was about seven years old (1860) to Indiana, settling in Marion County, ncar Indianapolis, and from there ten years later (1870) to Texas, settling in McLennan County, close to Waco. He was brought up as a farm boy in the localitics men- tioned and received his education in the public school of the same, no opportunities for distinction in the higher branches of learning being open to him.
Mr. Smith's career has been strictly one of a business nature and it began at the time at his loca- tion in Brownwood, in 1876. Brownwood at that time was a new place but had begun to attract the attention of settlers and was one of the best towns in Western Texas. It was the supply point for a large area of country drawing trade for 150 miles West, Northwest and Southwest and for about half that distance in other directions. The cattle indus- try was then yielding fair results and the business being concentrated in the hands of a few large dealers, made their patronage very profitable. The firm of Smith & Steffens (Brooke Smith and Otto W. Steffens), merchants, started in business at Brownwood on the 4th of April, 1876. Their capi- tal at that time consisted of about $4,000 invested of course in their business. They soon began to receive their share of the trade and before the expiration of a year were doing the bulk of the general mercantile business of the place. There were no banks then in Brownwood and none nearer than Ft. Worth, Waco and Austin, each distant about 145 miles. In consequence there was very little banking business done by the people of that section, none in fact except what was done at the places named. A local merchant might occasion- ally cash a check or draft, but none of them thought of taking deposits. Business ran along this way for about two years after Smith & Steffens located in Brownwood when, having a number of cash balances standing on their books to the eredit of their customers who had deposited checks, drafts and in some instances cash, they thought it advisable as a sceurity against loss as well as to facilitate the conduct of their business to establish a banking department. The suggestion was made by Mr. Smith, who agreed to take charge of that feature of the business, aud readily concurred in by Mr. Steffens, who was to continue to give his attention to the muereautile
branch. An 8,500 pound safe was ordered from the Dichold Safe & Lock Company, of Canton, Ohio, which was shipped to Round Rock in Will- iamson County, whence it was hauled with ox- teams to Brownwood. The arrival of that safe in Brownwood marked an era in the history of the town. For days before it had been the chief topic of conversation, and when it finally reached the outskirts of the place it was met by about one-half the population, who greeted it with a welcome that made the traditional "welkin" ring. A proccs- sion in which the irrepressible small boy and the ubiquitous village wit took a conspicuous part, escorted the ponderous mass of iron and steel with its dusty and leg-weary attendants into town, and subsequently amidst much speculation and amateur " bossing," saw it securely placed in the rear of Smithi-Steffens store. The safe was a good one, being of fire and burglar proof construction, and up to date in other respects. The other fixtures, however, were not so pretentious, though answer- ing in all essentials their purpose. These consisted of a counter ten feet long and three feet four inches high, made of lumber, along the top of which ran a light wirc netting, extending upright three feet six inches, which, with a small door of the same material opening against the wall, served as a guard against intruders. Over the cashier's window appeared the sign in cheap metal let- ters: "Pecan Valley Bank." The cost of the entire outfit exclusive of the safe not exceed- ing fifty dollars. The bank was opened with- out any preliminarics, Mr. Smith simply taking his position at his desk and announcing ready for business. This came at once and in very gratify- ing quantities. Before the expiration of the first year the deposits had reached $90,000, and increas- ing from year to year ran as high as $250,000. Discounting, buying and selling of exchange, col- lections, etc., kept pace with the increase of depos- its, and the Pecan Valley Bank rapidly developed into one of the recognized financial institutions of the country. In 1881 Messrs. Smith and Steffens started a store and small banking business at . Buffalo Gap in Taylor County, but shortly after- wards moved their establishment to Abilene, where, the goods being disposed of, they with others organ- ized the First National Bank of that place, since continued under the management of Mr. Steffens. The Pecan Valley Bank of Brownwood ran along under the management of Mr. Smith uutil 1883, when he, representing Smith & Steffens, associated with hhuself J. L. Vaughn, J. C. Weakley and D. HI. Trent, and organized the First National Bank of Brownwood on a capital of $75,000, increased a
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year later to $100,000. This bank succeeded the l'ecan Valley Bank and, being placed in charge of Mr. Smith as cashier, accumulated under his man- ugement during the next ten years a surplus of $20,000, and paid its stockholders in eash dividends $211,000. In 1894 Mr. Smith, having withdrawn from this bank, associated with himself J. C. Weakley, John G. Lee and his old partner, Mr. Steffens, and started the private banking house of Brooke Smith & Co., at Brownwood, of which he is now the manager. There are at this writing four banks in Brownwood, all presumably secure and doing a satisfactory business. The following figures taken from their last published reports, February 28, 1896, are inserted in this place, not for the purpose of drawing any invidious comparisons, but simply to show, in the most direct and practical way, the standing, relative and absolute, of the bank under consideration :-
Brooke Smith & Co. : Loans, discounts and seeur- ities, $162,225.75 ; capital, $200,000, since increased to $250,000; deposits, $137,118.38.
The Brownwood National Bank : Loans and dis- counts, $75,408.89; capital, $60,000; deposits, $93,678.87.
The First National Bank: Loans and dis- counts, $111,925.41 ; capital, $100,000; deposits, $69,976.93.
The Merchants' National Bank: Loans and dis- counts, $73,420.91; capital, $50,000; deposits, $55,181.24.
Twenty years measures the time to date that Mr. Smith has been connected with the banking busi- ness of Brownwood and Western Texas. This is an important period in the formative era of a new country and perhaps in no respeet has it been more important in that section than in the banking busi- ness. The entire business has grown up in this time, and in its growth not only has this single in- terest been developed, but a direction has been in- cidentally imparted to latent energies and a cast and coloring given to events that will survive through this and perhaps many succeeding generations.
The three banks mentioned, the Pecan Valley, the First National of Brownwood, and that of Brooke Smith & Co., represent more largely the labors of Mr. Smith than of any other man; and as to what these labors involve no adequate idea ean be given in a brief sketch like this ; for it is to be remembered that the business was begun and for years carried on under circumstances very different from those now existing. Until 1887 Brownwood had no rail- way connection with the outside world, nor any telegraph or express facilities, all communication being by stage-coach and slow-going ox-trains.
This rendered the task of ordering money and trans- ferring balances especially difficult, and in the latter case often hazardous. All sorts of uses had to be resorted to to elude road agents and to in- sure protection against possible dishonesty on the part of carriers. Specie was usually shipped as nails, axes, or other heavy merchandise, and eurrency in the same manner, a few bars of soap, or a bolt of cheap cloth being removed from a box to make room for $10,000 or $20,000 in bills. Once Mr. Smith was going to Ft. Worth, and wished to take a considerable sum of money with him. He constructed a small box with a false bottom; put the money in the bottom, filled the top space with dirt in which he placed a geranium and thus carried his valuable package on his lap, or in the seat by his side. Sometimes in removing silver in large amounts the weight of the metal made secreey im- possible, in which case more heroic methods had to be adopted. He once hauled $16,000 dollars in silver, weighing approximately one thousand pounds, in a hack from Cisco, the then terminus of the rail- way, to Brownwood, the guards being himself and one other. It may be added, however, that the weight of the money in cases like the last was no small protection of itself.
In addition to having helped establish the banks named, Mr. Smith has been a leading spirit in every enterprise of consequence that has been set on foot in Brownwood or Brown County since he settled there. In 1885 he subscribed $10,000 to the Brown County Milling Company, assisted in organizing the company, and has since been connected with it as director, seeretary and treasurer. He helped to organize the Brownwood Cotton Compress Com- pany, with which he is still connected, and he was a charter member of the Ft. Worth & Rio Grande Railroad Company, of which he is now a director, and for which, as well as for the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe, at an carlier day he obtained, un- aided and alone, the rights of way through Brown County, donating his services and securing the grants at a nominal cost to the companies. A few years ago Mr. Smith owned 32,000 acres of land in the vicinity of Brownwood. Seeing the necessity for a larger farming population in that section he eut these lands into tracts of 160 acres each, which he began to sell to settlers and has, up to this time, disposed of about 20,000 acres. Ilis terms - one- tentli down, and balance in ten equal annual in- stallments with eight per cent interest on deferred payments --- are such that any one can comply with them and thereby secure a home, and it is gratifying to know that many are doing so. Snel settlers add materially to the taxable wealth of the State and
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their presence in the communities where they locate is in every way beneficial.
Mr. Smith has manifested an especially friendly interest in popular education and in good local government; and while he has differed widely at times from some of his fellow-citizens as to how these ends were best to be attained, oceasionally finding himself with the minority advocating un- popular measures, his zeal has not on that account known any abatement nor has the rectitude of his motives ever been called in question. He has taken scareely any interest in partisan politics and has held no offices except those of school trustee, Alderman and Mayor of Brownwood. He prefers to be known for the good he ean do rather than for accumulated public honors, and for this reason as well as for the real pleasure it gives him to be help- ful to others he has made it a point through life to assist in a finaneial way and with advice young men of his acquaintance, among whom he has thus created enduring friendships. He belongs to the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias, and is a mem- . ber of the Episcopal Church. St. John's Episcopal Church at Brownwood, one of the handsomest and
costliest edifiees in that diocese, was erected mainly through his efforts and contributions. Benevolent under the exereise of reason and sound judgment, charitable without compromising his principles, firm without obstinacy, and religious without big- otry, he is a representative of that type of man- hood most potential for good in this world and of which, sad to say, it has all too much need.
On March 2, 1880, in Bourbon County, Ky., Mr. Smith married Miss Juliet L. Sparks, daughter of Lloyd W. and Elizabeth (Richardson) Sparks, and the issue of this union has been three daughters and a son, three of whom, Lola Doswell, Norma Brooke and Brooke, Jr., are living, the eldest of the number, a daughter, being deceased. Mr. Smith has three brothers living: R. C. M. Smith, of McCordsville, Ind., the only one of his father's family who never came to Texas, Temple D. Smith, engaged in the banking business at Fredericksburg, Texas, and Frank M. Smith, a banker at Auson, Jones County, this State, and three sisters, all residents of Brownwood: Fannie Gwatbmey, now Mrs. A. P. Jones, Nannie Lee Smith, and Alice Lewis, widow of J. J. Ramey.
ANSON RAINEY,
WAXAHACHIE.
Judge Anson Raincy was born in El Dorado, Union County, Ark., March 1st, 1848. His father was Christopher Columbus Rainey, a native of Alabama, who died at El Dorado, Ark., in 1854, when twenty-nine years of age. The Judge's grandfather, Matthew F. Rainey, was, for many years, a citizen of Green County, Ala., in which county he held for years the office of Sheriff. He also represented it in the lower House of the State Legislature. He subsequently moved to Arkansas, and at the time of his death was a State Senator. The Judge's mother, nee Nancy Blake Baker, still living, was a daughter of Zadok Baker, a primitive Baptist preacher, who came from North Carolina to Alabama, where he died at an advanced age. The wife of Zadok Baker, nee Lucretia King, was a cousin of Ilon. William R. King, Vice-President of the United States during Pierce's administration and for twenty-five years United States Senator from Alabama.
Judge Rainey is one of a family of four children
consisting of himself, a brother (Columbus) and two sisters (Lee and Minnie R.). The brother died in early manhood. In 1880 Miss Lee mar- ried N. J. Nash, who died in October, 1881. She now lives in Waxahachie, Texas. Miss Minnie married E. F. Yrager, who died in 1890. She died in 1893.
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