USA > Texas > Indian wars and pioneers of Texas, Vol. 2 > Part 29
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Judge Hardy has never failed to take a decided stand on all political issues and hence has a multi- tude of strong friends. While uncompromising in his political action, he has been uniformly courteous and fair in his treatment of those who have been opposed to him and as a consequence has enjoyed their respect and confidenee.
When the idea of a railroad commission, with confiscating powers, grew into a fever, he opposed it and, though on the bench, attended the Demo- eratic primaries to vote against the adoption of the extreme views advocated by Governor Hogg and others ; but, after the State Democratic convention had regularly nominated a State ticket, bowed to the will of the party.
In 1894, when no Democrat in Texas seemed willing to run for office and defend the national Democratic administration, Judge Hardy, in April, wrote a letter announcing himself as a candidate for Congress from the Sixth Congressional Distriet and in a series of specchies, defended the financial policy of Mr. Cleveland and Mr. Carlisle with all the fervor of deep conviction and all the ability he possessed. The discharge of his duties as District Judge rendered it impossible for him to make a complete canvass. In fact, he scarcely made any canvass except in Ellis and Navarro coun- ties, and these two counties, both holding Demo- cratic primary elections, cast the majority of their
votes for sound money (Cleveland) candidates. Judge Hardy does not assume all the credit for this result, because in that somewhat memorable cam. paign, while three candidates in the field advocated free-silver, Mr. W. Poindexter, of Cleburne, who was announced later, was an exponent of sound money teachings and in Ellis, Johnson, Hill and Bosque counties made a vigorous canvass. The sound money fight for Congress was lost, mainly for the reason that Dallas was given to a free sil- verite because he was a home man, and without a canvass or primary, but the counties of the district brought up a handsome sound money majority in the State Democratic Convention in August, 1894.
In May, 1895, Judge Hardy attended a conference of sound money men, called to meet at Waco to face the gathering free silver movement. The meet- ing was called by Judge Alexander, Judge George Clark, Gen. Felix Robertson, Dr. Moore and other Democrats of Waco. Judge Hardy was called on to preside and a series of resolutions were adopted, which constituted the opening note of the sound money forces in the battle now on for an " honest dollar." Since that meeting a pretty thorough organization of the sound money Democrats of Texas has been perfeeted with Judge Rufus Hardy as chairman of their executive committee. A mem- orable State meeting was held at Galveston in Feb- ruary, and another at Dallas on San Jacinto day (April 21), and, altogether the year 1896 bids fair to be long remembered in Texas politics.
As a public speaker, Judge Hardy is clear, log- ical and eloquent, thoroughly exhausts the subjects that he discusses, and carries conviction to the hearts and minds of his auditors, where that is pos- sible. His career as a prosecuting attorney was marked by exceptional success and his name became a terror to evil-doers. During his long service npon the district bench he has made a record of which he and his constituents have good reason to be proud.
Faithful to his convictions upon the great finan - cial question, as well as npon all others, both in public and private life, he does not believe in com- promise and will never give his consent to the saeri- fice of principle to expediency. He has given his support to every worthy enterprise inaugurated for the development of the section in which he resides and the State at large.
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INDIAN WARS AND. PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
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ROBERT KIDD,
SEALY.
Occupation, farmer. Born in Amherst County, Va., in 1776 ; received a good common school edu- cation ; came to Texas in 1849 or 1850; located on Sabine Lake, at Auroria, Jefferson County, Texas ; remained there for two or three years, then moved successively to Grisby's Bluff, Smith's Bluff, Beau- mont, and San Felipe, residing at the latter place from 1866 until 18 , when he moved to Sealy, where he resided until his death in 1892. Owing to bis great generosity of spirit, his success, in a financial way, was limited, yet he maintained him- self in independent circumstances, and had the satisfaction of knowing that he had done some good and had lessened somewhat the load of human misery.
In 1884, although one hundred and eight years old, Mr. Kidd walked one mile to the polling place
to cast his vote for Hon. Grover Cleveland, thus contributing his ballot to the re-establishment of clean, honest, responsible, Democratie government.
The measure of success that he achieved in life was attributed to his industry, honesty and integrity.
He married Miss Rebecca Hitcheoek, of North Carolina, in 18 . Seven children were born to them, four of whom are living: F. M. Kidd, of Sealy, Texas, fifty-one years of age, engaged in farming and stock-raising; G. W. Kidd, of Beau- mont, Texas, forty-nine years of age, County Treas- urer of Jefferson County ; Mrs. Anna Elizabeth Caswell, of Beaumont (widow), a large stock- holder in the Texas Tram & Lumber Co., of Beau- mont, and Mrs. Mary E. Cook, wife of N. II. Cook, Esq., of Sealy, a wealthy stock-raiser and farmer.
G. W. KIDD,
BEAUMONT,
Was born at Benton, Polk County, Tenn., Decem- ber 7, 1846, and was brought to Texas in 1849 or 1850 by his parents, Robert and Rebecca Kidd, for many years a resident at Sealy, this State. He grew to manhood on his father's farm, where he remained until 1868 and then accepted a position as clerk and bookkeeper in a mercantile establish- ment in Sealy, Texas, which he filled for fifteen years, when he was elected County Treasurer of Jefferson County, to which office he has since been continuously re-elected ; often defeating rival can-
didates at the polls. His discharge of the duties of the office has given universal satisfaction.
Mr. Kidil's chief pleasure during his father's life was to care for him and see that his every want was supplied. He has been a dutiful son, a faith- ful public official and has faithfully discharged the duties of every trust confided to him.
HIe enlisted in the Confederate army in 1864 and served until the close of the struggle. lle is a member of the Masonic, Knights of Honor, K. of P. and Elks fraternities.
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ERNST SCHERFF,
NEW BRAUNFELS.
Ernst Scherff, one of the leading citizens of New Braunfels, was born in the town of Goettingen, Hanover, Prussia, March 31st, 1826. Ilis father, Gottlieb Scherff, an expert mechanic and metal worker and manufacturer of surgical instruments, died in Germany, and his widow and her children, William and Elise, came to America in 1859. William entered the Confederate army as a private in a cavalry regiment, but it becoming known that he was a skillful worker in metals, was detailed for service in the arsenal at San Antonio, where he remained until the close of the war. After the surrender he clerked in the store of his brother Ernst for a time and finally engaged in merchan- dising in San Antonio, where he died seventeen years ago. Elise became Mrs. Schuenemann. Mr. Schuenemann, now deceased, was a wheelwright, and his widow and her daughter Sophie, who re- sided with her brother at New Braunfels, died some years after. The mother of the Scherff chil- dren died in New Braunfels, in June, 1887, at the age of eighty-four years.
Ernst Scherff's business experience commenced at the age of fourteen, as a clerk in a store in his
native land, and when twenty-two years old he enlisted as a private in the Frei Corps under com- mand of General von der Taun in the German- Danish War in Schleswig-Holstein in the year 1848 to 1840. After the war he decided to go to Amer- ica, and first landed in New York in the year 1849, remained there two months and then proceeded to Texas, thence to New Mexico and Arizona and in the year 1855 he returned to Texas and located at New Braunfels. He clerked there until 1861 and then entered into business for himself. Being in poor health he did not enter the Confederate army. He conducted one of the two stores kept open in New Braunfels during the war. He continued suc- cessfully engaged in business until about 1887, and then retired from active pursuits, and sold out his business to his nephew, George Knoke and Mr. George Eiband, both clerks of his business, who continue the well-established and successful busi- ness under the firm name of Knobe & Eiband. In 1859 he married Miss Sophie Rick, a most esti- mable and accomplished lady. During the war be served eight years as Alderman of his town, but he never sought or desired political honors.
G. W. DURANT,
ALVIN.
Maj. G. W. Durant, of Alvin, Texas, is a pioneer of 1852, coming from Georgia. He is a native of South Carolina, and was born at Georgetown, in that State, October 25th, 1834. His ancestors, both on the paternal and maternal side, were soldiers in the war for American Independence, serving under Gens. Washington and Green throughout the struggle.
Ilis father, F. H. Durant, was a planter, who had three sons and one daughter, all of whom, except the subject of this sketch, are deceased.
Ilis mother's maiden name was Miss Martha . daughter of the State Senator, Hon. John W. Zewell.
Maj. Durant, at the age of twenty-one years, in
1855, was elected Surveyor of Brazoria County, Texas, and held that office for several terms, In 1861 he enlisted as a private in the Magnolia ran- gers; served in the Trans-Mississippi Department, was soon elected Captain of the company and later was promoted to the rank of Major. He was slightly wounded at Vadalia, La., where two horses were shot from under him the same day and a third wounded. After the close of the war between the States, lie spent a short time in Leon County where. June 1st, 1865, he married Miss Emma L. Durant,
Durant. Shortly thereafter Maj. Durant engaged in merchandising at Bryan and also in farming near
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that place. In 1880 he purchased eighty-three acres of land, upon which a portion of the prosper- ous town of Alvin now stands.
Ile was mainly instrumental in securing the build- ing of the Santa Fe from Houston to his town. The Santa Fe Company had determined to build from Ilitcheoek to Houston, but Maj. Durant, being a practical engineer and having a thorough knowl- edge of the topography of the country, made clear to the railroad authorities that to build from the town of Alvin instead would give a shorter line and better grade and if they made the survey and if the route was not adopted that he would pay for said survey when it was made and the profiles, etc., submitted. The Alvin route was adopted. Little
of importance in the way of local development has been accomplished which he has not actively promoted.
Maj. and Mrs. Durant are members of the Chris- tian Church, the first built in the city. The Major donated the ground on which it now stands and all but $150 of the money used in erecting the edifice.
They have one daughter, Virginia, Mrs. J. S. Bering, of Alvin, and three grandchildren: May, Emma, and Martha Bering.
Maj. Durant is broad-minded, liberal in his views and has shown himself ready at all times to forward any cause that gave promise of promoting the wel- fare of his town and people.
FRANK THOMAS,
BURNET.
Frank Thomas, son of John A. Thomas, was born in Wayne County, Ky., in 1841. His father died when Frank was small and the mother, aceom- panied by her five sons and one daughter, came to Texas in 1855, settling in January of that year in Burnet County, where she subsequently lived and died, her death occurring in 1869 at the age of fifty-seven years. The eldest son of the family, James M., was in the Indian service when a young man, quitting it to enter the Confederate army at the opening of the late war, in which he died soon afterwards while stationed as a member of Wilkes' Battery at New Braunfels, in this State. The second of the family was Frank, the subject of this sketch; the third, Mary Jane, who was mar- ried to Carter T. Dalton and died in Burnet County in 1885; the fourth, William H., who died in youth ; the fifth, John A., who died at, Fort Yuma, Arizona, while on his way to California in 1869, and the youngest was Marshall, who died at about the age of eighteen.
Frank Thomas was reared in Burnet County from the age of fourteen. Ile entered the ranging ser- vice in 1859, as a member of Capt. Dalrymple's company and was in the service for nine months, covering a large portion of Northwest Texas - from Fort Worth to Wichita mountains. In February, 1862, he enlisted in the Confederate army as a member of Capt. Wm. Rust's company, Company B., Carter's Twenty-first Texas Cavalry, with which
he served in Louisiana, Arkansas and Missouri, participating in fights at Fort Patterson, Mo., Capc Girardeau, Mo., Crawley's Ridge, Ark., and the operations around Helena, Ark. He was with this historic command from February, 1862, to Decem- ber, 1863, when he was honorably discharged on account of sickness, and returned to Burnet County, Texas, where he was elected Tax-assessor in 1864 - an office he filled for two years, without compensation, as State warrants, by & subsequent act of the general government, were rendered worthless. From 1864 to 1882 he was engaged in farming and stock-raising in Burnet County. In June of the latter year he embarked in merchan- dising in the town of Burnet, to which he has since chiefly devoted his energies. Ile still retains, how- ever, his farming and stock interests. He is a liberal, public-spirited citizen and a successful man of business, admired by a wide cirele of friends. He married, in Burnet County, in 1866, Miss Elvira Rowntree, a native of Travis County, Texas, and daughter of James L. Rowntree, who came to this State at a comparatively early date and was for many years a resident of Burnet County. Seven children have been born of this union, six of whom are living, namely : Marshall, Alice, Robert, Kate, Frank, and Wecsic.
Mr. Thomas is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Emanuel Samp- son Lodge, No. 187, at Burnet.
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INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
AUGUST TOLLE,
NEW BRAUNFELS.
This esteemed citizen and prosperous druggist of New Braunfels is a native of Germany. His father, Frederick Tolle, a tanner by trade, came to New Braunfels, Texas, in 1845, by way of Galves- ton and Indianola, and located two miles west of the present city, where he established a farm and reared his family. Advanced in years, he finally retired to New Braunfels, where he died in May, 1881, at eighty-four years of age. The mother survived until 1885, when she died also at the age of eighty-four years. Frederick Tolle and his good wife were consistent Christians, and members of the Lutheran Church.
The subject of this sketch, Mr. August Tolle, was born August 10th, 1829. He secured a good education in his native country. Upon coming to Texas, being seventeen years of age, he associated himself with Dr. Theodore Koester, a brother-in- law, who was at that time a practicing physician,
and with him opened an apothecary shop in New Braunfels, in 185S, under the firm name of Koester & Tolle, a connection that continued until Dr. Koester died in 1878, since which time Mr. Tolle has owned and conducted the business alone. Frederick Tolle had four sons and two daughters, all of whom, save one, are still living: Christopher and August, residents of New Braunfels ; Harry, a tanner, at San Antonio; Frederick (deceased in 1875) ; Augusta, now Mrs. Ilerman Schimmelpfen- ning, of San Antonio, and Mrs. Theodore Koester, of Dallas.
He married, in 1861, Miss Caroline Messer, a daughter of Michel Messer, an officer of the German army, and has five children : Edith (now Mrs. George Stark, of Bastrop); Amelia (now Mrs. Otto Schroll, of New Braunfels) ; Theodore (married to Miss Ella Henne, of New Braunfels) ; Clara and Alfred.
SIMON FEST, SR.,
SAN ANTONIO,
A native of Alsace, France, born October 26th, 1823, was a son of Antone Fest and the youngest of eight children. Three of his brothers served in the French army: Antone, Louis and Lawrence, the latter dying in the French service in Africa. Simon was reared in his native place to the age of twenty, left Alsace in October, 1846, and went to Antwerp, from which port he sailed for Galveston, Texas, in company with several col- onists bound for different parts of the State. From Galveston he went to Indianola and from thence by ox-teams to Castroville, which he reached after a three wecks' journey, landing there in February, 1847. He remained in Castroville until the August following when, on account of scarcity of work there, he went to San Antonio. There he worked two months for the government and then went to work for John Fries, a contractor and builder. After earning money enough to buy a yoke of oxen and a wagon, he went to the head
of the San Antonio river and spent the year of 1851 farming. In 1852 he moved to Atascosa County and engaged in stock-raising, remaining there until the close of the war between the States .. after which he returned to San Antonio and on December 25th, 1865, purchased and settled on a tract of land on South Flores street, one and one- fourth miles from Main Plaza, where he engaged in gardening and the dairy business and where he has since lived and followed these pursuits up to 1881. Ile has for a number of years lived at ease, engaged in no active pursuit. His property has become very valuable and he is now reckoned as one of the large tax-payers of that portion of the city.
He married Mary Bil, a native of Alsace, France, October 16th, 1823, just prior to sailing for Texas. She was a daughter of Michael Bil, who accom- panied his daughter and son-in-law to this State and settled in Dennis colony. Of this union were born seven children, six of whom reached years of
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INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
maturity, viz. : Simou Fest, Jr., who died in San Antonio, in 1893; Caroline, who married Fred Miller and died in Elkho, Nevada ; Mary, who mar- ried Henry Karm and resides in San Francisco, California; Henry, now living in San Antonio, Texas ; Edward, who died at the age of twenty- three, and Louisa, who was married to Fred Kerbel and died in 1886,
October 14th, 1886, Mr. Fest's wife died and iu 1889 he married Mary Karm, then of San Antonio, Texas, but a native of Alsace, France. After his removal to Texas, Mr. Fest brought his mother and two sisters from the old country, and his mother died in San Antonio as did also his brother Louis, who came over and settled in that city in 1852.
EDWARD EBELING,
ROUND MOUNTAIN,
An old settler of Blanco County, was born in Hanover, Prussia, April 2, 1828, and was reared in his native country and resided there till he was thirty years old. Was brought up as an agricul- turist and was superintendent of a large plantation in the province of Hanover previous to his coming to his country. He came to Texas in 1858 in com- pany with Otto Markensen, one of his countrymen who had been engaged for some years previous to that time in bringing out immigrants to this coun- try. Made his first stop in Austin County, where he secured employment as a farm hand at $7 per montlı. Worked a year at this and then in partnership with Markensen rented a farm for a ycar.
In 1860 Mr. Ebeling settled in Blanco County near the Burnet line, where he purchased a small place and engaged in the sheep business. Was successful at this and as his means continued to accumulate he invested in more lands and sheep. Prospered from year to year until he is now one of
the wealthiest, probably the wealthiest man in Blanco County. He owns a ranch of 14,000 aeres, well stocked with cattle (went out of the sheep business before the "Dump") and has money besides. Is a stockholder in the First National Bank at Marble Falls and was chiefly instrumental in setting that enterprise on foot. Has given bis time and attention wholly to his own affairs which, with his industry and good business ability, accounts for his success. Was in the irregular sort of frontier service necessitated by the condition of the country from 1860 to 1868, helping to run down pillaging bands of Indians, but was never under arms by regular enlistment nor has he ever occupied any official position.
Has been twice married and has raised a family. of six sons and three daughters to each of whom he has given proper educational advantages. These are: Frank, Otto, Rudolph; Clara, now Mrs. Wade Bader; Max; Hedwig, now Mrs. Herman Gisseke ; Edmund, Louis, and Bartic.
JOSEPH HARLAN,
ROBERTSON COUNTY.
Joseph Harlan, deceased, one of the pioneer settlers of Robertson County, was born in Laurens District, S. C., in 1797, and was a son of Aaron and Elizabeth Harlan, natives of North Carolina, who settled in South Carolina a few years after the American Revolution. Aaron Harlan took part in
the Colonial struggle for independence as a member of Marion's command. Joseph Harlan, when about sixteen years old, ran off and joined the army at Charleston, S. C., for the War of 1812.
Joseph Harlan was reared in Lauren's District, S. C., where he married Delilah Burke, June . 14,
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1825, also born in the district, and resided until his removal to Texas. He came to Texas first in the early spring of 1836 on a tour of inspection, accompanied by a negro man and woman, making a journey overland with a team and wagon. Reaeli- ing Nacogdoches, he found the country in a great state of excitement, rumors flying in every direction of the approach of the Mexican army under Santa Anna. He left his servants and team with a younger brother, Isaiah (who had come to the country a short time before, and was then stopping at Nacogdoches) and enlisted in the patriot cause. He reached Houston's army a few days after the battle of San Jacinto, and remained at the front until the following July, when, seeing but little prospect of further trouble with the Mexicans and being desirous of going back for his family, he pro- eured a substitute to take his place in the ranks and returned to South Carolina. Settling up his affairs there, he moved to Texas with his family and possessions in the winter of the following year, reaching Old Wheelock, in Robertson County, on the 14th of February, 1837. In November of the same year he took a head-right between the Big and Little Brazos rivers, about five miles south of the present town of Calvert, and there settled. All that section of the country was then very sparsely inhabited, his nearest and only neighbors for miles being John D. Smith, Thomas and Jesse Webb, and an old bachelor named Harden. The same winter, however, J. R. Robertson, brother of Maj. Sterling C. Robertson, the founder of the colony, brought
out some negroes and a number of young white men and made a settlement in the same locality, and others arrived and settled to the south and east shortly thereafter. A few settlers also ventured north into what is now Falls County about this time, but were subsequently driven back, and some of them then killed by the Indians. Mr. Harlan opened a farm where he settled, and divided his time during the succeeding years, until his death, between the labors of opening up a plantation in the wilderness and keeping out marauding bands of Indians who continued to harass the frontier until after annexation. He died at his home in 1844, in the prime of life, being in his forty-seventh year. His wife, who accompanied him to Texas, survived him many years, dying in 1884 in the eightieth year of her life. He had been twiec married and raised a family of seven children : two, a son and daugh- ter (William and Jane), by his first marriage, and five, three sons and three daughters ( Martha, Eli- phalet, Alpheus, Isaiah, Mary and Sarah) by his last. The eldest of these, William, died in 1843, at about the time of attaining his majority. Jane is the wife of L. A. Stroud and now resides in Limestone County, where she and her husband were among the first settlers. Eliphalet resides at Cal- vert, in Robertson County, and Alpheus at Port Sullivan, in Milam County. Isaiah was killed at New Hope Church, Ga., during the late war, while a member of Hood's Brigade, and Mary and Sarah were married, the former to John Patrick and the latter to W. T. Stephens, and are both now deceased.
E. HARLAN,
CALVERT,
An old and esteemed settler of Robertson County, residing at Calvert, son of Joseph and Delilah Har- lan (mention of whom will be found elsewhere in this work), is a native of Lourens District, S. C., where he was born January 1, 1829. He was in his ninth year when his parents came to Texas in 1837 and settled in the Brazos bottom, five miles from where he now lives. He has resided in this immediate locality for the past fifty-eight years. Mr. Harlan is probably the oldest settler living in the western part of Robertson County, and with two or three exceptions, the oldest in the county. That the great length of his residence has not be-
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