USA > Texas > Indian wars and pioneers of Texas, Vol. 2 > Part 23
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As this book is being put to press, the campaign of 1896 is at its hottest, and Mr. Kearby is en- gaged'in a canvass of the State, in which he is bearing himself with his usual ability. Whatever the outcoine, he will have the satisfaction of know- ing that he has discharged his every duty to the party that honored him with the nomination as its chief standard-bearer in Texas.
JEROME C. KIRBY.
INDLIN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
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W. C. BURRIER,
FREDERICKSBURG.
Capt. W. C. Burrier was born in Fredericks County, Md., January 1st, 1821, fought under Gen. Zachary Taylor in the war between the United States and Mexico and was severely wounded in the hard-fought battle of Buena Vista, and in 1848 after the close of the war, located near Red Rock, in Bastrop County, Texas, where he followed farming for many years.
He married Miss Mary Bell, daughter of Jesse Bell (one of the first settlers of Bastrop County), at Cedar creek, in 1847.
Four children were born of this union, viz. : Richard M., a leading merchant and dealer in live- stock at Fredericksburg, and John, James and William, well-to-do farmers in Gillespie County.
Capt. Burrier joined Parson's Fourth Texas Cav- atry at the beginning of the war between the States and, after the expiration of the term for which he first enlisted, re-enlisted in Grady's Company, with which he served along the Gulf Coast until the close of hostilities. He has been a resident of Fredericks- burg, Gillespie County, for about thirteen years, and no citizen of that part of the State is better known or more highly respected. Richard M. Bur- rier, eldest son of Capt. W. C. Burrier, was born in Bastrop County, Texas, June 13th, 1819. He was married to Miss Sarah Stevens in Caldwell County, this State. They have eight children, viz. : William R., Mary, John, Edward F., Elma, Myrtle, Katy, and James.
HENRY BAUER,
SEGUIN,
Is a native of Wiesbaden, the capital city of the formerly dukedora of Nassau, Germany. He came to America in 1849; stopped for a short time at New Braunfels and finally located about six miles west of Seguin on the Guadalupe river, where he erected a log house with the aid of his friend August Dietz, who had come over from Germany with him, and engaged in farming. Full of the vigor of youth and possessed of a courageous spirit they began their settlement by fencing and plowing thirty acres of land surrounding their simple dwell-
ing. Mr. Bauer afterwards moved and improved two other places, which he afterwards sold. Mr. Dietz having sold the old place, Mr. Bauer repur- chased it in 1876 and from that time has continu- ously resided thereon, bringing it up to a perfect state of improvement. Hardy for one of his age, and healthy, he enjoys the pleasures of a quiet old life, in the society of the family of his nephew, the son of his beloved sister, who after a few years sojourning with him, found her last resting-place in the new land of their adoption.
FRITZ VOGES,
BULVERDE,
Son of Henry Voges, Sr., was born April 17, 1843, in Germany ; and is a thrifty and well-to-do farmer of Voges' Valley, Comal County. He mar- ried, July 31, 1869, Miss Sophia, a daughter of Charles Koch, Esq., of Anhalt, and has three children living, viz. : Otto, Louise, and Frederick.
Louise is now Mrs. Alfred Tepperwein, of Bexar County. Otto married Augusta, a danghter of Mr. L. Weidner, of Bulverde.
Mr. Voges has one of the finest vineyards in Comal County and his elegant home at Voges Valley is the seat of old-time hospitality.
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AUGUST FALTIN,
COMFORT,
A representative citizen and business man of Kendall County, for many years past a resident and stock-raiser at Comfort, was born in Prussia, July 19, 1830. His father, Frederick Faltin, was a merchant at Dantzig, Germany. August Faltin was reared and disciplined in that calling, and embarked in business for himself at Leipsic. Ile was married in Germany, in 1856, to Miss Clara Below, a daughter of Edward Below, an officer of rank in the Prussian army, detailed at that time as director of a government gun factory. Mrs. Faltin was born in Leipsic, January 30, 1835.
Mr. and Mrs. Faltin touched American soil at New Orleans, from which city they came to Gal- veston. New Braunfels, and thence on to Comfort, where lic engaged in merchandising and stock- raising for a period of about thirty-five years and then, in 1889, retired from active business pursuits, in which he has been succeeded by his sons, Richard and August, under the firm name of Faltin Bros. & Co.
Mr. and Mrs. Faltin have six children living, viz. :
Helen, who was born January 17, 1857, and mar- ried Dan Holeckamp, and died in 1880, at twenty- three years of age, leaving two sons and one daughter ; Elise, who was born July 1st, 1859, is now Mrs. Ernst Flach ; Jennie, who was born April 27, 1861, and is now Mrs. Otto Flach; Richard, who was born June 23, 1863, and married Miss Alvina Steves, of Comfort, 'Texas; August, who was born September 2d, 1870, and married Miss Erna Flato, of Flatonia, Texas; and Mimi Emilia, who was born March 7th, 1866.
Mr. Faltin has been one of the most successful and enterprising business men in his part of the State. For ten years (from 1870 to 1880) he was a partner with Charles Schreiner in the mercantile business at Kerrville and from 1880 to 1890 at the head of the merchandising firm of Faltin & Schreiner, of Junction City. He has also filled large contracts for government supplies.
The Faltin mansion at Comfort is one of the most luxurious and complete family residences in that section of the country.
CHARLES FORDTRAN,
INDUSTRY.
Charles Fordtran was born in Westphalia, May 7, 1801. His father was John H. Fordtran, who was a native of Schleitz, a province of Saxony. The stock came originally from France, being Huguenots who refugeed to Germany after the revocation of the Edict of Nantz, in 1685. They were a wealthy and intelligent class of people, being manufacturers of soap, wax candles, and perfumeries, etc., and carried the knowledge of the production of these articles into Germany, where it was kept in the family for generations. The father of the subject of this sketch was en- gaged in this business, and wished his son Charles to follow it, but it was not to his liking, and as soon as he was old enough he gave it up. Charles got but little education, Europe during his early youth being in the throes of the wars brought on
by Napoleon, in which every available man, whether a member of a learned profession or not, was forced into military service, teachers among the rest. He was reared in Minden, and received ex- cellent home training, and the benefit of good books to read, which compensated in some measure for lack of scholastic training.
He sailed from Hamburg for New York in 1830, which place he reached in due course of time. At New York he met a number of his countrymen, and received valuable suggestions from them con- cerning the new country. Among these was John Jacob Astor, then engaged in laying the founda- tion for that fortune which has since made his name known everywhere.
Mr. Fordtran relates that he took a walk with Mr. Astor one afternoon to what was then the out-
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skirts of the city, and in a conversation concerning the city's growth, Mr. Astor said, that the metrop- olis would soon cover the vast scope of country then embraced in farms, and that there was the place for young inen to invest their earnings. While in New York, and still undecided as to where he would settle, Mr. Fordtran met the former gardener of the Duke of Oldenburg, of his native country, who, through some unfavorable'
literature to change their destination to Texas, and, accordingly, reached Austin's settlements on the Brazos early in January, 1831.
There Mr. Fordtran met Padre Muldoon, Samuel M. Williams and other men of local note, by whom he was welcomed and soon made to feel at homc. Col. Williams gave him his first employment, name- ly, making the boundary of the two leagues of land which he ( Williams) had secured as a grant from
CHARLES FORDTRAN.
turn of fortune, had been reduced to poverty, and was anxious to go West and begin life anew. Mr. Fordtran volunteered to help the gardener and his good wife out, and as their guide and counselor took passage on a ship bound for one of the South- ern ports, whence the party designed going to the then newly created State of Missouri. Aboard the ship they fell in with an enterprising Yankee who had some interests in Texas and who was distrib- Sting literature, telling of the wonders of the coun- tis. They were induced by Mr. Yankee and his
Stephen F. Austin. Mr. Fordtran was given one of these leagues for surveying and locating the other.
After being in the country something over a year he was stricken down with fever and becoming dis- couraged determined to return North. He had im- proved his land in the meantime and collected about him some stock and implements of husbandry. He offered all his possessions for $1,000, but could not find a purchaser, and finally left what he had in the hands of friends and started away in search of
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health. IIc accepted an invitation from Capt. Mexicans and Indians until their final dispersion Henry Austin and made a stay of about three weeks and removal from the country. He also lies at rest. The daughters of William Brookfield were Mrs. Emma Evans, wife of Vincent Evans, and Mrs. Amelia Fordtran, wife of Charles Fordtran. Mr. Fordtran's home at the time of his marriage was on the outskirts of civilization and he saw and experienced all there was of frontier life. His nar- ratives touching the ways of getting on in those days, the long distances they went for supplies, the dangers encountered, etc., are most interesting. at his house at Billiver Point, after which he went to Mississippi in company with Nathaniel Townsend to visit a brother of the latter, Judge Townsend, a wealthy and hospitable gentleman of that State. His stay in Mississippi resulted in making him a number of warm, personal friends and in a complete restoration of his health, and he returned to Texaswith the determination of making it his home in the future. He made a contract with Col. Samuel M. Williams to bring in for Austin's colony 800 families, for which he was to have liberal donations of land. He went to New Orleans where large numbers of his country- men and others were rendezvousiug preparatory to going to South America, where extensive coloniza- tion schemes were then on foot, and there under- took to secure settlers to carry out his contract with Williams. But interested parties soon started the re- port that the Texians were only beguiling the ignorant foreigners to the Mexican provinces to sell them into -slavery and so strongly were the intending settlers persuaded of this that they could not be induced to come to the country. Mr. Fordtran threw up his eontraet in disgust, and returning to Texas settled on a tract of land in what is now Austin, County, where he began making permanent improve- ments with the intention of thereafter making it his home.
Shortly afterwards he became acquainted with Miss Amclia Brookfield, whom he married in 1834, and with whom he took up his abode on his home- stead. She was born in Detroit, Mich., and was a daughter of William and Lalliet Brookfield, who emigrated from New York to Texas in 1831 and soon after coming to this State located in what is now Fayette Couuty. As a civil engineer and Indian fighter William Brookfield had consider- able to do with the early bistory of Austin's colony and of Texas, and is remembered for his patriotic services by the few of his old associates still living. Hle was a man of wide learning, an orator of ability and an author of some note, having published just before his death in 1847, a book in the defense of . the Jews. He raised a family of four sons and two daughters. His oldest son, Charles, served on the side of the colonists in the revolution of 1835-6. Charles, Frank and Walter were volunteers in the Texas contingent of the United States army in the war of 1846-8, with Mexico. Walter died in Mexico. Charles is supposed to have been murdered by his Mexican servant. Frank has also passed away, and now dwells above. Edward, the youngest of the four brothers, was frequently in the ranging ser- viee helping to keep back the marauding bands of
He was one of those who always held himself in readiness to go to the relief of any section of the country that was attacked or threatened by the Indians, and for years after coming to the coun- try he was in every campaign organized to repel the redskins from Austin's colony, and was a member of a number of rescuing parties. In the vicinity of his own home he assisted in saving Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Peltis from capture and helped several times to drive off the Toncahuas, who car- ried on an extensive scheme of stealing under the direction of one Ross, a disreputable character. On the occasion of the invasion of the country under Santa Anna in 1835-36, Mr. Fordtran joined Capt. Bird's company of the Spy Rangers and assisted in protecting the outlying settlements from attack by Indians and in facilitating the escape of those families who were in the path of the invaders. The service so rendered was the only publie service ever performed by him. He has never cared for office and when urged in an carlier day to become a candidate persistently refused to do so. He was opposed to annexation and secession, but had four sons in the Confederate army during the late war. He brought up & family of nine childreu, viz. : William, who died in Fayette County ; Portia wife of Dr. G. C. McGregor, of Waco; Eugene H., Frank, who died in the Confederate army during the war; Charles, Jr., of Waco; Louisa, wife of M. A. Healy, of Brenham ; Ann, who was married to J. L. Ilill, of Galveston, both of whom are deceased ; Josephine, wife of G. H. Mensing, of Galveston ; and Sarah, wife of James B. Baker, of Waco, and has more than sixty grandchildren. His beloved wife died in November, 1888. During slavery days Mr. Fordtran's was one of the best known country places around, well furnished, open to all, and abounding in all good things --- good society, good musie, good cheer, etc., etc.
Asked to what he attributed his great age and remarkable vitality (for he still goes about every day, the same as for the past seventy-five years), he said, to a naturally strong constitution and to correct modes of living. He has always led an
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active outdoor life and has been strictly temperate in his habits. He is fond of good books, the society of young people and good music and has grown old gracefully.
Ile is a remarkable man - a veteran and citizen whose life has been full of usefulness to those about. him and of honor to his country, to whose pros- perity and glory he has so materially contributed.
CAPTAIN C. B. HOBRON,
BOERNE,
Was born in New London, Conn., January 23, Pa., Miss Elizabeth Loosley, daughter of William 1830. Descended from an old Connectiont sea- faring family. Capt. Hobron's early life was spent at New London. He followed the sea from sixteen years of age until about the year 1866, first in the whale fishing service and later in the merchant marine between New Orleans and New York. When twenty-three years of age he became first officer of the " Samuel Russel," and later first officer of " The David Brown," both elipper-built ships, ply- ing between New York City and Chinese ports in the tea trade. About 1860 he bought an interest in the ship " Indiana " and engaged in the New Orleans cotton trade. The Civil War broke out and practically destroyed the trade. When war was declared his ship was anehored at New Orleans, but he cleared for New York City with clearance papers issued by the Confederate government and made New York City in the marvelously quick time of thirteen days.
February 3d, 1862, he married, in Philadelphia,
Loosley, an Englishman, who died when she was very young. After his marriage Capt. Hebron and wife made a voyage around the world, occupying about three years, during which he visited the ports of Australia, New Zealand, Peru, South America and other countries, returning to New York via Panama. The time intervening between his return and the year 1877 he spent at various points in the New England and other States, and then came to Texas for the benefit of his health and that of Mrs. Ilobron, and purchased his present home, three miles southeast of Boerne. He has made a specialty of fine Merino sheep and Jersey cattle. Capt. and Mrs. Hobron have one son, Charles L., born August 5, 1867, in Philadelphia, Pa. ; one daughter, Mat- tie, was born in Melbourne, Australia, and died at Lome near Boerne, 1880, at fifteen years of age. She was a young lady of charming manners and promising future. Capt. and Mrs. Hobron enjoy the esteem of a wide circle of friends.
JOHN KLECK,
FREDERICKSBURG,
Came to Texas in 1845 from Prussia, landing in this country at Galveston. Ile located and lived at Victoria for one year and in 18-16 moved to Fredericksburg. There he erected the first black- smith shop in the town and followed his trade for about fifteen years, after which he engaged in farm- ing.
He married Miss Victoria Failer, who bore him twelve children, of whom three sons and six
daughters are living. Mr. Kleck died July 1, 1887. John W. Kleck, a well-known citizen of Fredericks- burg, the sixth child of John and Victoria Kleck, was born November 29, 1856, in Fredericksburg, and grew to manhood on his father's farm and stock ranch ou Grape creck, in Kendall County, where his father lived for twenty-five years. Jomm W. Kleck has later been engaged in farming, stock- raising and speculating in real estate, and in 1883
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laid Kleck's Addition to the town of San Angelo, in Tom Green County. He married Miss Louise Fel- ler, daughter of William Feller. She is a native of Gillespie County. They have two children. John
W. Kleck later sold his San Angelo property and removed to Fredericksburg, where he now lives, and owns one of the best business houses on Main street.
JOHN SCHNABEL,
BRAUNFELS,
A well-known early settler at New Braunfels, was born in Prussia in the year 1831 ; came to America in 1851, and located at New Braunfels. He spent about two years in various employments and then purchased land and engaged in farming, which he continued until 1893. He married in 1857 Miss Elizabeth Troeste. She died October 18, 1886, leaving a family of eleven children, viz. : Dora, Henry, Anton, Phillip, John, Augusta, Annie, Lina, Ida, Albert, and Ella, eight of whom are mar- ried.
Dora married William Voigt and lives in Gonzales County with her husband. Their children are Olga, Wanda, Oscar and Hertha.
Henry married Miss Augusta Ebert. They live in Gonzales County, where they own a large ranch. Their children are: Hilda, Laura, Alice, and Herbert.
Anton married Miss Annie Reinhard, and is a merchant at Belmont. His wife died August 11, and lives at case.
1895, leaving three children: Malinda, Eugene, and an infant not named.
Phillip married Miss Lena Schultz. He is a mer- chant at Belmont. They have one son, William.
John married Miss Lizzie Hegemann and lives at the old family home at First Santa Clara, Guada- lupe County. They have one daughter, Josephinc.
Augusta married William Hoeke, a farmer, resid- ing near New Braunfels. They have three children : Erna, Roma, and Martin.
Annie married Adolf Reinarz. She died June 3, 1895, leaving two children, Gilbert and Gerome.
Lena married Adolf Forshagen, a merchant of Belmont.
The Schnabel home at First Santa Clara consists of five hundred acres. Besides this homestead Mr. Schnabel owns valuable property in New Braunfels and a comfortable home, to which he retired in 1893, with his three youngest children,
WILLIAM EDWARD MAYNARD,
BASTROP.
W. E. Maynard, member of the well-known firm of Fowler & Maynard, at Bastrop, was born at Lockhart, Texas, January 13, 1858. His parents were C. B. Maynard (a prominent merchant) and Mrs. Maggie M. Maynard- both deceased.
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He attended the Waco University two years, and completed his education by a two years' course at Emory and Henry College, Washington County, Virginia, after which he entered the office of Hon. Joseph D. Sayers, under whom he read law for two
years. At the expiration of this time he read law under Hon. J. P. Fowler for one year: was admitted to the bar in 1878, and thereupon formed a copartnership with Mr. Fowler, which has since continued. Mr. Maynard is devoted to his profes- sion, possesses a clear, searching and analytical mind, and is an eloquent and persuasive speaker. He has acquired a standing at the bar second to that of no other advocate in his section of the state. In January, 1880, he was united in marriage to
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INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
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Miss Mollie A. Clements, of Virginia, and has five children: Maud May, Powell Clements, Virgie Deel, Nettie Gertrude, and William Edward.
He was appointed City Attorney of Bastrop in January, 1879, and in November, 1880, was elected County Attorney of Bastrop County. He was re-elected County Attorney for five successive terms and, finally, declined to again become a ean- didate for the office. In November, 1890, the Dis- trict Attorney died, and the bar of the Twenty- second District at once petitioned Governor Ross to appoint Mr. Maynard to fill the vacancy. The petition met with a favorable reception, and he was tendered and accepted the appointment, and has
since discharged the duties of the office, winning golden encomiums from the press, bis fellow-men- bers of the bar and from the people at large, by whom he is held in high esteem as a man of high integrity, and a capable, faithful and fearless public official. Mr. Maynard has twice been elected to the office of District Attorney of the Twenty-first District, which is composed of the counties of Bastrop, Washington, Lee and Burle- sou, and at present holds that position.
He is a Democrat of the strictest sect, a member of the Methodist Church, and has represented his home lodge of Odd Fellows in the Grand Lodge for a number of years.
DAVID McFADDEN,
CRAWFORD.
David McFadden, of Crawford, McLennan County, was born in Randolph County, Mo., Octo- ber 14th, 1831; a son of Wyatt McFadden, a native of Kentucky, who came to Missouri at an early day, settling in Randolph County, where he was a prom. inent farmer and married Miss Rebecca Hammitt, a daughter of Elijah Hammitt, also of Kentucky, and a pioneer settler of Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt McFadden reared a family of four children, namely : Jonathan who came to Texas in 1849 and served as a State ranger and also in the Confederate army during the late war and is now living in Bosque County; Catherine, deceased, who married I. Richardson, of MeLennan County ; Sally, who died in 1864; and David, our subject. The father came to Texas in 1856, settling in. McLennan County, where he died in 1876.
The subject of this notice remained in his native county until 1846, when he enlisted for the Mexi- ean War under Gen. Priee. Ile served through that struggle and was mustered out at Independence, Mo., in 1848, after which he returned home. He participated in the battle of Santa Cruz, took part in all skirmishes of his command and was never wounded.
With the earnings received from this service he came to Texas in 1848, settling first at Austin, and then at San Antonio. In 1850 and a part of 1851 he was a State ranger and during the latter year he bought 320 acres of his present farm. He then
commenced the improvement of his land, built a log cabin, and added to his original purchase until he now owns 695 aeres situated on Hog creek, in the western part of McLennan County. This log cabin was on the extreme frontier, there not being a white settler west of him. He had consid- erable trouble with raiding parties of Indians.
In 1862 Mr. McFadden enlisted in the Confeder- ate army, served in Arkansas for a time, was dis- charged and then came home and joined McCord's frontier regiment. He participated in the Dove creek fight with the Kickapoo Indians, was in many skirmishes with the Indians and was at Camp Col- orado at the time of the surrender. After he returned home he resumed his farming operations, erecting a large two-story frame dwelling, and adding many other conveniences to his place until he now has a home to be proud of. Ile has 135 acres of his farm in cultivation. The pasture part he has always kept well stocked with horses and cattle. When Mr. McFadden came to this State his worldly possessions consisted of a horse, saddic and bridle, and about $200.00 in money, and he can truly be called a self-made man. He served seven years as a soldier and defender of his country and since his residence in McLennan County has taken an active part in the development of that section of the State.
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