USA > Texas > Indian wars and pioneers of Texas, Vol. 2 > Part 27
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Joseph Hebert, Sr., was leader in all movements inaugurated for the up-building of his section of the country.
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INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
W. G. KINGSBURY, M. D.,
BOERNE.
The subject of this sketch was born in Booncillo, Oneida County, N. Y., on the 6th of November, 1823, where his parents owned a small farin at the time. His education was obtained in the dis- trict school and at a Seminary at Cazanovia. He then studied and perfected himself in the profes- sion of dentistry under Dr. Lemon, the leading dentist of the city of Baltimore. From Baltimore he returned to his old home in York State and attended school for a season, practicing among thie students and in the neighborhood, and earning nearly enough money to pay expenses.
Determining to go West, be reached Texas, in the beginning of the first month of the year 1846. He soon got out his kit of tools and went to work at his profession and, being the only dentist in the country, got plenty of work and made money. Among his first acquaintances was the noted Texian ranger, Capt. Sam. Walker, who persuaded him to go to the Mexican War with him. He did not enlist as a regular soldier. Walker told him he could not be a private soldier and be on equal terms with an officer and cat at the same table, so he went as a friend and companion, taking uis tools as a means of living, knowing that he could make more money than any soldier's wages. He followed Walker through the various vicissitudes of the Mexican War, was with him when he fell, as only fall the bravest of the brave, was in every battle that was fought when he was able to take part and left the country with eighteen wounds, one being a bad saber stroke upon his right cheek, which distinguishes him from all other mnen.
Returning from the Mexican War, Dr. Kingsbury practiced at many of the towns in Western Texas, and finally settled in San Antonio, where he occupied one office for twenty-five years, made money and gained distinction in his profession.
In the fall of 1869 he was mainly instrumental in getting up a fair, and was chosen president of the association and then and consequently did much to inake known abroad the advantages Texas had to offer.
Dr. Kingsbury's writings attracted the attention of the Governor of the State, and he was appointed Commissioner - of Immigration, and as long as the bureau of immigration existed, he was stationed in St. Louis and by the dissemination of his writings, thousands of people came to Texas as cmigrants.
Later he represented various railroads as immi- gration agent in Europe and maintained an office at London, England, from 1875 to 1884, during which time he delivered speeches and wrote articles, pamphlets and books, which with other suitable matter were published in the language of nearly every civilized country and were circulated broad- cast over Europe, and sent tens of thousands of desirable immigrants into Texas.
It is safe to say that no man ever worked harder or more intelligently for the good of Texas than the subject of this notice. It is also safe to say that no man ever retired from a large business leaving his affairs in better shape. He has three sons to carry on the good work, a flourishing town in Guadalupe County bears his name, and he has thousands of friends to perpetuate his name.
JOHN WARREN, SR.,
HOCKLEY,
An old settler of Harris County, residing at Hoek- ley, was born in Cumberland County, England, in 1822, and is the son of James and Jane Warren, both also natives of Cumberland, in which county his ancestors lived from time immemorial. The subject of this notice was reared in his native place
(brought up on a farm) and there resided until 1851 or 1852, when he sailed for Texas, the soil of which he first touched at Galveston. He had in- tended to settle at Corpus Christi, but changed his mind and took up his residence in the northwest corner of Harris County, not far from the Mont-
-
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INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
gomery County line, where he kept the stage stand. Later he purchased land and engaged in farming and stock-raising, which have been bis chief pur- suits since. Business took him back to England a year or so after coming to this country and be remained there until 1857, when he returned to Texas. The Houston and Texas Central Railroad having in the meantime been built as far as Hock- ley (about three miles from the place of his first settlement), he located at that place and has there resided since. He has purchased land from time to time until his holdings at this writing aggregate about 6,500 acres, lying in Harris, Montgomery and Waller counties (mostly in Harris) all of which he has stocked with cattle and horses. In point of wealth, as well as in point of time of residence, he is the first eitizen of the locality where he lives. He has followed a quiet and unos- tentatious life, never having desired, sought nor held a public office of any kind. Nevertheless he has at all times manifested a commendable interest in all that pertained to the public good and has aided every worthy enterprise to the extent of his oppor- tunities and means. He has never sold a foot of land since he came to the State, which will show how much confidence he has at all times had in the future of Texas. He thinks that Texas is as good
a country as there is in the world and does not see why any man cannot become independent liere if he tries.
Mr. Warren married Miss Jane Maffat, of Cock- ermouth, Cumberland, England, December 18, 1846. She was a native of that place, and, like himself, of old English ancestry. Six children have been born of this union, three of whom are still living, viz. : Jane Eliza, now Mrs. George Ellis, of Houston ; Mary G., now Mrs. W. J. Peele, of Hockley, Harris County ; and John, Jr., a ranchman in Harris County.
Mr. Warren says he has never gone in debt for anything in his life, never had a copartner, never engaged in speculation in any form and never car- ried a dollar's worth of insurance. He has paid some security debts, however, sustained two losses by fire and gone through with the usual number of vicissitudes, privations and hardships that fall to the lot of even the prudent. He has always met his obligations of every kind promptly and honorably and now, at the advanced age of seventy-three years, enjoys an untarnished reputation, good health and an abundance of good spirits. He has great faith in his country and fellow-men and feels that, all in all, time and fortune have dealt very kindly with him.
GOTTLIEB OBST,
BULVERDE.
Gottlieb Obst was one of the pioneer settlers of Bexar County, Texas. He was born in Germany, January 25, 1817, and emigrated to America in 1847; and located in the vicinity of Bulverde, where he developed a good farm and raised a family. Ile married Miss Johanna Bunzel in Bastrop, by whom he had five children, viz. : Her- mann, born January 12, 1862; Gustav, born June 25, 1863; William, born October 23, 1864; Charles,
born September 26, 1866, and Emma, born Octo- ber 5, 1869. Mrs. Johanna Obst was born Decem- ber 15, 1827, and died February 2, 1882.
Mr. Obst died November 1st, 1888. He was an honest and industrious man and highly esteemed.
William, Charlie and Emma, who are not married, live on the old home place, emulating the example and cherishing the memories of their departed parents.
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INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
SEBASTIAN BEIERLE,
WESSON,
A Texas pioneer, horn at Baden, Germany, Jan- uary 20, 1827, came to Comal County, Texas, in 1854. Lived in town for eight months and then located on the Guadalupe river, where he purchased land from the State, to which he has since added until he now owns 1,542 aeres.
Mr. Beierle brought his wife with him from Ger- many. They have six children: Charles, Valen- tine, Catherine, Christiana, Mary, and Emelie. Mr. and Mrs. Beierle are venerable old people and much esteemed for their many excellent traits of character.
MAX WAHRMUND,
FREDERICKSBURG,
Well known throughout his native county of Gil- lespie, and a leading citizen of Fredericksburg, at which place he was born July 27, 1803 ; is a son of the late Louis Wahrmund, who was born in West Baden, Germany, Kingdom of Prussia, March 19, 1822. Of the coming of the family to this country in 1846, something is said in the sketch of the life of Emil Wahrmund, elsewhere in this work. Louis Wahrmund followed freighting between Victoria and Indianola, and interior points in Texas, up to about 1860, after which he engaged for a time in farming at Bear creek, and then moved to Fred- ericksburg, where he engaged in business, which he followed up to the time of his death in 1883. He
was united in marriage to Miss Susana Ressmann, daughter of John Peter Ressmann. They have eight children, viz. : Charles, Mina, now Mrs. August Schinidt; Nellie, now Mrs. Charles Jung; Ferdinand, Gustav, George, Edward, and Max.
Mas Wahrmund married Miss Sophia Weyrich, daughter of Chas. Weyrich (a pioneer settler of Fredericksburg), in 1881. They have four chil- dren : Arno, Alma, Egon, and Kurt.
He was elected Treasurer of Gillespie County in November, 1894, and is now (1895) the incumbent of that office, which he is filling acceptably to the people.
JOHN T. HART,
ORANGE.
Lawyer. Born June 18, 1854, at Mobile, Ala., and raised on his father's plantation near Demo- polis, Ala. His father, James M. Hart, a well- known Southern planter, was born in South Carolina, April 1, 1802, and died May 4, 1864.
His mother, Sara J. (Turner) Hart, was born near Althens, Ala., November 16, 1815, and died October 30, 1893.
John T. Hart acquired his primary education in
private schools in Alabama, and completed it at Springfield Hill College, Miss., attending the latter institution during three sessions and graduating therefrom in 1869 with high honors at the age of seventeen. Came to Texas in April, 1872, and located at Orange, where he has since resided.
He worked in a saw-mill for three or four months, and then accepted a position in the mer- cantile establishment of Mr. Henry Thompson, 3
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INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
connection that continued nearly four years, dur- ing which time he studied law at spare moments. Hfe then resigned his position and read law for eighteen months in the office of Triplett & Talvey, at Orange, and while absent on a visit to his old . home in Alabama was elected County Attorney of Orange County before he was admitted to the bar.
He was, however, granted temporary license by the District Judge and sworn into office. He re- ceived his permanent license at the following term of court (in 1878). He was re-elected two years later, served about half of the term, and then resigned the position to devote his entire attention to his growing practice.
Mr. Hart has been successful in many important cases, both civil and criminal, and in but few cases have judgments secured by him been reversed on points of law. He was a prime factor in the organ- ization of the city's government, drawing up all of the first code of ordinances. He has been a mem- ber of the local board of trade ever since it was
organized. He was elected a member of the first board of Aldermen, selected by the people after the incorporation of the town, did good service as president of the school board, and in 1893 was appointed Postmaster at Orange by President Cleveland, a position that he now holds. Starting in Orange with a capital of nine dollars he has accumulated a competency. He owns considerable property in Texas, a large tract of land in Ala- bama, and the old family homestead in the latter State.
He married, January 15, 1878, Miss Addie Good- man, of Orange, daughter of Mr. C. G. Goodman, of that city. Three children have been born to them, two of whom are still living, viz .: Edna M. Hart, aged sixteen years, now attending the North Texas Female College, at Sherman, Texas, and Jobn W. Hart, living at home with his parents.
Mr. Hart is a member of the Knights of Honor and Legion of Honor.
In politics he is a strong Democrat, and bas done good service for his party.
JAMES G. BROWNE,
BROWNSVILLE,
A well-known Texas pioneer, was born of Irish parents in Manchester, England, January 1, 1820. Hle was a carpenter by trade, a master of his call- ing, and became a contractor for the government, and, in the latter capacity, came to Texas and erected barracks, soldiers' quarters, etc., at Point Isabel, Texas, in 1848. Soon thereafter he engaged in merchandising: at Freeport, on the Rio Grande river, which place was soon absorbed by the cstab- lishment and growth of Brownsville and finally taken into that corporation. When Brownsville commenced to grow in population and importance, he moved there from Freeport and continued in merchandising, meeting with gratifying success until 1863, when he lost heavily by fire. He then moved across the river to Matamoros, Mexico, and engaged for a brief time in business there, after which be removed to Camargo, Mexico, near the Texas line, and opposite Rio Grande City. There
he remained in business until the close of the war between the States. In 1865-6 he returned to Brownsville to look after his extensive landed inter- ests in Cameron County. He left his ranches well stocked with cattle, sheep, horses, etc., all of which were confiscated and utilized by the Coufed- erate government or stolen by marauding Indians and Mexicans.
He set about the restoration of his estate to its former condition, however, with his accustomed energy, and made a large amount of money raising stock. He married Miss Helen Kilvin in Mata- moros, Mexico, daughter of one of the early settlers of San Patricio County, Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Browne had six children, four of whom survive: Mary C., widow of the late Henry San Roman, of Brownsville ; James A., of Brownsville; William, Assessor and Tax Collector of Cameron County, and a prosperous farmer and stock-raiser of that
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INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
county, and Albert A., Chief Clerk in the United States Customs Office at Brownsville.
James G. Browne was an industrious, useful and frugal citizen. He was a well-informed man and popular with the masses. He held the office of Sheriff of Cameron County and also that of Tax
Collector many years. He left to his children an honorable name and a handsome estate.
He died at his home in Brownsville, surrounded by the members of his family.
The memory of his worth is preserved by many loving friends.
FRANCIS M. HENRY,
TEXARKANA.
Hon. F. M. Henry, ex-member of the State Senate, a lawyer of distinction, and a Democrat who has served his party with fidelity since old enough to vote, was born November 11, 1832, in Rhea County, Tenn., and has lived in Texas since the late war; during the last twenty years at Texarkana.
His parents were Henry and Mrs. Jane ( Mont- gomery) Henry. His father was born and reared in Sevier County and his mother in Rhea County, Tenn.
The subject of this memoir received an excellent education in Tennessee and Georgia. In 1860 he was married to Miss Mary E. Taylor, born Feb- ruary 18, 1838, in Clark County, Ark., and has five children : Francis Beauregard, Stonewall Jackson, Robert Lee, Johanna M., and Patrick Gustavus. all of whom are living, except Francis B., who died in infancy. Stonewall J. is practicing law at Texar- kana and Robert L. at Waco.
Capt. Henry commanded Company D., Nine-
teenth Regiment of Arkansas Infantry, in the Con- federate army, east of the Mississippi river, during the early part of the war, and a company west of the Mississippi river in 1863-4, and in that capacity distinguished himself as a brave and capable officer and won for himself the confidence and respect of his men and superior officers. He has participated prominently in public affairs in this State during his residence here, but has never, of his own notion, sought political preferment. In obedience to the wishes of the Democracy of the district, he served as Senator in the Texas Legislature in 1876-8, and participated in the framing and ensetment of much of the important legislation accomplished during the session. His soundness of judgment, his learning as a lawyer, and his grace as a speaker, won for him a prestige that caused him to rank among the fore- most of his colleagues. He has been very suecess- ful at the bar and has been engaged in the practice of law and dealing in real estate for the last thirty years.
W. W. DUNN,
FORT WORTH.
The subject of this sketch was born in Washing- ton County, Va., six miles west of King's Salt works, near Dunn's Hill, May 6th, 1822.
Ilis mother died February 4th, 1825, leaving five children, three daughters and two sons. A year Jater his father married a Miss Taylor, of Sullivan, Tenn., a daughter of John Taylor. She hore five children, three boys and two girls. In 1831,
the father sold his home with the intention of going to Missouri, but through persuasion of his brother, John Dunn, of Abingdon, located six miles west of Abingdon, where he died, February 3d, 1836. There being ten children to care for, in the winter of 1837 the subject of this memoir, W. W. Dunn, launched ont for himself and hired to a hog-driver at $10.00 per month, to aid in moving about five
INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
557
hundred hogs to Lynchburg, Va., a distance of two hundred miles. All things moving slowly on for two months, they landed the hogs at Lynchburg, where they were sold for $10.00 per hundred, and young Dunn set out on foot to return home, making the trip in five and a half days.
Then he spent three months in Abingdon, going to school, after which he returned home and worked on the farm until about the first of August, 1838, when, with his sister and her husband, Stephen Bray, he made his way to Scott County, and there found his brother Jacob, who had preceded them about one year. In Scott County he entered into a contract with Hiram Cowden, living on Sinken
widowed Mrs. Cowden until he was twenty-two, all of which he did not fail to do. At the age of twenty- two he left the widow and located in Castlewoods, Russell County. There he boarded with one Nath- aniel Dickinson and went to school, working evenings and mornings for his board. Spring time came, the school was out, and all the boys and girls had to go to work -- the girls to spinning and weaving flax ; the boys to sowing, mowing and reaping, and thus the summer was spent. By this method he managed to earn sufficient to defray his modest expenses during the succeeding winter. He left Castlewoods and went to Lebanon, the county seat of Russell County, and there engaged with Bone
W. W. DUNN.
creek, the contract being to serve him until twenty- one years old, for which young Dunn was to receive necessary wearing apparel and have one year's schooling, a horse, saddle and bridle, and last, but not least, $50.00 in actual cash. This, the last prize, caused him to bear his burdens cheerfully and look forward with much pleasure. meditating over what nice things he would get with the money. All went smoothly ; but, alas, his good friend Cow- den fell sick and died of consumption in the spring of 1811, not. however, without providing for his young employee by will, bequeathing to bim all that he had stipulated in the first part of the contract and $100.00, the latter to be paid the grateful devisee when twenty-one years of age, and one hun- dred and fifty more, provided he remained with the
and George Gray, merchants of that place. He was to cultivate a small farm and do such hauling with a four-horse team as he could get about the town. So he hauled wood, rock and charcoal and broke lots and gardens for the good citizens of the village during the summer. In the fall he gathered his small effects together, procured a one-horse peddling wagon, bought $81.00 worth of goods and traveled across the mountains into Kentucky. There he busied himself among the early settlers of Letcher County for about three months, coming out fifty dollars ahead. During one of his jour- neys the following humorous incident occurred on Millstone creek. His was the first wagon, per- haps, that ever passed that way, or at least the first that many of the younger children had ever
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INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
seen. The way was very rough and in driving over roots and gulleys the curtains of his wagon came loose, and hung down and flapped much like the wings of a bird. He spied three boys in the road ahead of him. They were running and hallooing for life. For about a mile they ran. Arriving at home, they reported the biggest thing they had ever seen in life, flying up the branch with a man in its mouth and chasing a horse. He returned to Scott County and followed peddling during the winter.
In the spring one Wm. E. Sutton (who was a leather peddler) and Mr. Dunn joined their wagons together and opened a small country store and conducted a successful business until the next winter, when Mr. Dunn sold out to Mr. Sutton and later volunteered as a soldier in the United States army for service in the Mexican War, which broke ont in the spring of 1846. The company raised was not received by the government and the men were disbanded the first of January, 1847. A. McCorkel, Marian Hoozer and Mr. Dunn left Abingdon on the 10th of January, by stage, for Lynchburg, and proceeded thence by canal to Richmond, Va., where they enlisted as volon- teers in Company H., commanded by Capt. E. G. Alburtis. A few days later they em- barked on a steamer for Old Point Comfort, and remained there for about one month and a half. On the 22d of February, they sailed on the barque "Exact " and in due time landed at Point Isabel, six miles below the mouth of the Rio Grande. On March 9th they made their first march from that point to the mouth of the river; thence by boat to Camargo, Mexico, and thence on foot to Monterey. There they rested for about two months, spending about one half of the time at Walnut springs, six miles from the city. From this point they returned to the city of Monterey, where Mr. Dunn's friend, McKorkel, died. From Monterey they marched and, after much fatigue, reached Saltillo, on June 13th.
In that city and at Buena Vista they sojourned until the 13th of June, 1848, when they set out for the United States, landing at Old Point Comfort about the first of August.
At that place they were honorably discharged. Soon after they were discharged they scattered, many of them to meet no more. It was a sad sep- aration, although each and all were cager to see their old homes and friends. Ilis route was by Richmond and Lynchburg to Abingdon, which he reached without adventure. After remaining three days at home, he engaged in mercantile pursuits
again, moving to Tazwell, where he did a fairly good business for ten years.
November 3, 1851, he married Miss Emily Gil- lespie, a daughter of Col. Robert Gillespie, of Taz- well County. She died December 13, 1853, leaving him one child, a little daughter, Emily Louisa Wid- difield, as a pledge of their affection. The child was cared for by her aunt, grew up to womanhood and was the idol of her father's heart. She was united in marriage to Mr. Win. S. Hartman, an ex- cellent gentleman, and is now the mother of seven children, four girls and three boys, viz. : Annie, Bettie, Eva, Mary, Willie, Sammie, and Clinton Hartman.
In December, 1862, Mr. Dunn was united in mar- riage to the widow Sonter, maiden name, Miss Nannie Davis. She bore him two sons, Bascom and William Dunn. She departed this life in the summer of 1866. Iler son William died in 1868.
In August, 1867, he was married to Mrs. Lina Grant, his present wife. She had two children at the time of their marriage, Josie and Ada. Josie first married Dr. John Dunn and, after his death, E. B. Strowd, of Hillsboro, Texas.
Ada married G. W. Hollingsworth, and lives in Fort Worth. Bascom is married and has one child, Florence. His wife's name was Martin. In 1869 Mr. Dunn located in Fort Worth and has since made that city his home. He purchased of E. M. Daggett the block of land he now lives on for $150.00. The block is 200 by 200 feet, and is now worth about 8200,000.00. Mr. Dunn owns five-eighths of the block yet, on which stands the Mansion Hotel, a building that contains one hun- dred and fifty rooms, all told.
He has a fine system of water works which he operates in connection with the hotel. His well is 333 feet deep; the water is pure and soft; no better bath water can be found, no better drinking water in the world. The supply is abundant. It is pumped into tanks, from which it is conveyed to all parts of the house. The house is three and four stories high, well ventilated, and furnished with gas and electric lights.
Mr. Dunn has passed the seventy-fourth rung in the ladder of life. He is strong and active. Now in old age he has but little to reproach himself for, and hopes to be as active during the remainder of life as he has been in the past.
His religious belief is based on Christ's promise : " I came to the world to redeem all mankind."
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