USA > Texas > Indian wars and pioneers of Texas, Vol. 2 > Part 32
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61
and soon thereafter out on the Perdenales and com- menced the development of their future home. The mother died August 7th, 1878, aged seventy- six years.
Mr. J. Jacob Weber, subject of this notice, married Miss Matilda Schiandt, in 1853. Her father, a pioneer settler, came to Texas in 1845 from Nassau, Germany, where she was born. Mr. and Mrs, Weber have nine children and thirty-seven grandchildren living.
Mr. Weber is one of the most substantial and prosperous citizens of Gillespie County.
W. R. MILLER,
JACKSONVILLE.
Capt. W. R. Miller, a well-known citizen and financier of Jacksonvile, Texas, was born in Jeffer- son County, Ala., November 27, 1825, and re- ceived a good academic education in that State and completed his studies by a course at Cumberland University, Lebanon, Teun.
His parents were Samuel and Martha Seman Mil- ler, both natives of Alabama, and connected with some of the best families of that grand old com-
monwealth. His father was born in 1798, removed to Texas, and died in Anderson County, this State. in November, 1856. His mother was also born in 1798, and died at the family homestead in _Ander- son County in 1871.
Capt. W. R. Miller, the subject of this notice, is a retired merchant. His first business experience was at Three Creeks, Ark., where he established a store and dealt in general merchandise for four
584
INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
years, after which (in 1853) he came to Texas and located near Kickapoo, in the northeastern portion of Anderson County, where he engaged in the same line of business until 1858, when he re- tired from it until after the close of the war between the States. In the early part of 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate army as a soldier in Company H., commanded by Capt. Rainey, and remained with the company until the fall, when he was sent home on account of sickness. Hle afterwards be- came a Captain in the State troops and served in that capacity and as an officer in the commissary department of the army until the close of hostilities.
The war over, he resumed merchandising and continued therein until 1887, when failing health compelled him to retire and engage in less confining pursuits. In 1886 the business men of Jackson- ville, by unanimous consent, called upon Capt. Mil- ler to establish and operate a banking house in the town for them ; but, still being in feeble health, he was compelled to decline the flattering invitation. He, however, moved to Jacksonville in 1888 and has since resided there. When he located at that place he had $75,000 in cash, to which he has since considerably added. His ample means are princi- pally invested in county, State and United States bonds.
He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for nearly fifty years, and now holds the R. A. M. degree.
He has been a member of the M. E. Church South for forty years, and has been a liberal contributor to the Church financially and an active worker spiritually, as well.
In February, 1854, he was married to Miss Susan Moore, of Arkansas. She was born in Alabama in 1833 and is still living, the loved companion of her husband's declining years. She is a member of the M. E. Church South, an excellent and widely accomplished Christian lady.
They have had one child, a daughter, Miss Alice Jane Miller, born in Arkansas in 1854, and now deceased. She married Mr. William P. Devereaux, a druggist at Jacksonville, and died at that place in 1895.
Capt. Miller started in life without the aid of money or powerful friends and, notwithstanding the reverses that he sustained by the war, which swept away nearly all the fruits of his labors, gar- nered prior to that disastrous event, has met with an almost unbroken series of successes as a finan- cier and is now regarded as one of the wealthy men of the county in which he lives.
HUMPHREY E. WOODHOUSE,
BROWNSVILLE.
Mr. Woodhouse was born in Wethersfield, Conn., in 1822. His father, Humphrey Woodhouse, a seafaring man, native of Wethersfield, was the pilot of the first steamboat that navigated the Connecticut river, and the grandson of Humphrey Woodhouse, whose father was of the first English settlers in Connecticut. The Woodhouse family became numerous and influential throughout the New England States as men of sterling integrity, great force of character and enterprise.
Mr. Woodhouse received a good rudimentary education in his native town, and early exhibited an aptitude for a business rather than a professional career. Upon his own responsibility, he at about fourteen years of age went to New York City and obtained a position in a large wholesale and retail house in South street, that dealt extensively in shipping supplies to foreign countries. He re-
mained with his employers continuously for about six years and, during that period, was advanced to a responsible position. In consequence of over- work and failing health he went to Brazos Santiago, Texas, in 1817, as supercargo of a merchant vessel, laden with valuable merchandise, which he was commissioned to dispose of in that vicinity. HIe lightered his cargo at P't. Isabel, and proceeded with it to what is now the outskirts of Brownsville, and there made satisfactory sales. August 24th, 1848, he located in Brownsville and built the first frame building in the town for a store, and placed therein a stock of merchandise for Charles Stillman & Bro., and sold at wholesale the first goods to leave the place for Mexico. In 1851 he entered into partnership with Mr. Charles Stillman, and the firm built up an extensive business in general merchandise, which not only supplied a vast
585
INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEX.IS.
amount of goods to local merchants, but extended its trade far into the interior of Mexico. In 1859 Mr. Woodhouse withdrew from the firm of Chas. Stillman & Co., and continued importing and ex- porting in his name alone. He established a line of packet ships between Brazos Santiago, Texas, and New York City. These ships were constructed in the ship yards of Fair Haven, Conn., and in many instances designed and built by a brother, James Woodhouse, who was a master shipbuilder. In all there were from time to time about fifty ships of various classes and tonnage mostly designed and built by them espe- ciallly for the New York City and Brazos trade. The vessels were staunchly built, some of them spread about 4,000 yards of canvas and were there- fore of great speed. One of these ships, the "Flora Woodhouse," without ballast carried a cargo of un- compressed cotton from Matamoros to Liverpool, England, without disaster or difficulty as to sea- worthiness. On arrival of the "Flora Woodhouse" at the port of Liverpool, she was visited by many interested business men of the city to see the Yankee schooner from Texas, loaded as she was with cotton in bales that had not been compressed but were direct from the gin. The cargo was bulky and its safe delivery on the Liverpool dock was looked upon as a feat in marine transportation and was viewed also in the light of an innovation. This was during the progress of the great Civil War and, owing to marine complications and restrictions, Mr. Woodhouse, as a precaution against further trouble, changed her name to Flors, simply, registered her under the British flag and sent her on her mission, which on the whole proved a success.
Mr. Woodhouse prospered in business and at this time had extensive interests in New York, Mata- inoros and Brownsville, but, during the progress of the war between the States, his operations were chiefly confined to Matamoros. After the close of the confliet he reopened his business at Browns- ville, at the same time opening branch offices in New Orleans and New York City, and extended his shipping interests, but with the building of rail- roads and the diversion thereby of trade into interior towns of Texas and Mexico, with also the change and obstruction of Brazos and Harbor Bar, shipping suffered a decline and Mr. Woodhouse sold his vessels, and gradually withdrew from the transportation business. In 1865 he married Miss Mary Belknap, a near relative of Secretary of War Belknap, a member of President Garfield's and later President Arthur's Cabinet. They have five sons and two daughters, all of whom are finely educated and amply qualified for the duties of life. The Woodhouse family home is one of the most spacious, elegant and attractive in the city of Brownsville.
Mr. Woodhouse has doubtless transseted more business, handled more money, and been as impor- tant a factor in the history and development of the border country of Texas as any other citizen of Brownsville.
As years advance he is gradually withdrawing from business pursuits. He is now principally engaged in quietly looking after his property inter- ests in Brownsville and Matamoros, and his ranch, which is a fine piece of property lying in the interior of Cameron County, and upon which he has fine stock in cattle, horses and sheep.
B. F. PRITCHETT,
JACKSONVILLE.
B. F. Pritchett, one of the most influential farm- ers and citizens of Cherokee County, Texas, of which he has been a resident since 1870, was born December 18, 1832, at Sontown, Newton County, Ga. His parents were William E. and Mary E. (Greer) Pritebett. His father was born in Butler County, Ga., about the year 1801, and died in 1862 at Dadeville, Ala. His mother was a daughter of Col. Benjamin Greer, of South Carolina. Ilis father was a well-to-do farmer, and both of his
parents connected with some of the best families in the South. Mr. D. F. Pritchett was educated in Atlanta, Ga., in the academic school located at that place, and lived on his father's farm until the com- meneement of the war between the States. At the beginning of the struggle, he enlisted in the Con- federate army as a soldier in Company H. (com- manded by Capt. John Thompson), First Alabama Battalion of Cavalry, commanded by Maj. T. C. Bell. In 1862 the company was united with three
1
586
INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
Mississippi companies to form the Eighth Missis- sippi. After participating in a number of minor engagements, some of which were fieree and san- guinary enough in their way, he had the pleasure of sharing the glory with which his eommand cov- ered itself at Shiloh, one of the greatest pitched battles of the war and one hallowed in the memories of Southern men and women by the fact that the heroic Albert Sydney Johnston there laid down his noble life, a life which he had consecrated to the cause of civil liberty and constitutional freedom many years before upon the plains of Mexico and Texas. After further service, Mr. Pritchett was captured by the Federals at Murfreesboro and tuken to Louisville, Ky., and from thence to Camp Mor- ton, Indianapolis, Ind., where he remained until the elose of the war. He was wounded at Mur- freesboro iu the head and knee, honorable wounds that testify to the fact that he was a good and faithful soldier.
Mr. Pritchett moved to Texas in the fall of 1869, and located in Rusk County, where he remained
four years and then moved to Cherokee County, where he has since resided. His well-improved farm, consisting of 200 aeres in cultivation and 300 well elothed with timber, is situated six and a half miles distant from the pleasant town of Jacksonville. Mr. Pritchett has been a very successful farmer ; has been enabled to care well for his family and has given his children all social and educational advantages and now, in his old age, possesses a competency.
He was married in October, 1857, to Miss Lurana Murphey, daughter of Wiley and Luzina Murphey, of Alabama. She was born December 9th, 1837, and is a most refined and accomplished lady.
They have had ten children, five of whom are now living: L. A. Pritchett, a farmer and ginner, living four miles from Jacksonville ; M. E., now wife of W. B. Clayborn, a farmer living seven miles from Jacksonville; Martha E., wife of E. M. Roundtree, a farmer living six miles from Jackson- ville ; W. L. and Miss Eula Delle, living at home.
FELIX JOHNSON McCORD,
TYLER.
There are few better known, abler or more highly esteemed lawyers and occupants of the district bench, than the subject of this notice, Judge F. J. McCord. Ile was born in Tichimingo County, Miss., and was educated in the Schools at Corinth. His father, C. W. McCord and mother, Mrs. Hannah McCord, were natives of and died in Mississippi.
Judge McCord came to Texas in 1869 and settled in Upshur County, where he worked upon farms and. in saw-mills as a laborer until 1872 and then went to Jefferson, where he entered the office of Hon. D. B. Culberson and began the study of law. A year later he was admitted to the bar after standing an exceptionally ereditable examination and moved to Longview, where he engaged in the practice, and in 1877 formed a connection with Hon. John M. Dan- can, now General Attorney of the I. & G. N. Rail- way, under the firm name of McCord & Duncan, a copartnership that continued until 1879, when Governor O. M. Roberts appointed the subject of this notice District Attorney of the Seventh Judicial District, an office that he beld until 1880, when he was defeated by Hon. James S. Hogg, after-
wards Governor of Texas. Later, Judge MeCord was nominated and elected by the Democracy of Smithand Gregg counties to the Seventeenth Legisla- ture and, while a member of that body, introduced and secured the enactment of a bill reducing rail- way passenger fare from five to three cents per mile and took an active part in all legislation of the session. He declined renomination and, August 17th, 1883, was appointed by Governor Ireland Judge for the Seventh Judicial District, to succeed IIon. J. C. Robertson, resigned. He has since been re-elected at three successive popular elec- tions and is now the incumbent of the office.
In 1894 he was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Congress and led all competitors for six thousand ballots, one of the longest dead- locks ever known to the political history of Texas, and then withdrew his name from before the con- vention. Had he remained in the raee for the nomination, no nomination could have possibly been made as he was the strongest man before the convention. He desired party success more than personal aggrandizement and was determined that
سجم
INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
587
the convention should not adjourn before seleeting a standard bearer to lead the opposition to the enemy. He moved to Tyler November 24, 1885.
In 1873 he was united in marriage to Miss Ga- briella Fuller, daughter of Dr. J. A. Fuller, of Paris, Texas.
WILLIAM STONE,
EAGLE PASS.
Judge Stone was one of the pioneers of Texas, a veteran of the Mexican War, an influential and wealthy citizen, and a man of great enterprise. He was a native of the city of New Orleans. He spent his youth in and about New Orleans, acquired a liberal education and in 1847, when a young man, came to Texas. He was'of an adventurous disposi- tion, and upon learning of the war between the United States and Mexico, joined Walker's expedi- tion and started with it for Mexico. The horrible fate of this expedition near Rio Grande City is already recorded in the published works of Col. John Henry Brown. Young Stone only escaped being massaered with the other members by mak- ing his escape through a hole in the stockade or corral, where they were confined. He and one other were the only two who escaped being shot to death. After his eseape lie proceeded into the interior of Mexico where, in a short time, he made the favorable acquaintance of the now venerable Gregory Devine of San Antonio. Mr. Devine was a wealthy inan and sent young Stone and Henry P. Adams to San Antonio to clerk in his store. This was about the year 1850 or 1852. Mr. Stone later clerked for Maj. Colquebon, in San Antonio, and finally at Fort Duncan, now Camp Eagle Pass, Soon thereafter he secured a contract from the United States government for the delivery of a large quantity of hay and wool, and on this con- traet first made his financial start and commenced his first investments in lands, sheep and cattle. In the meantime he made the acquaintance of Gover- nor Madero, an ex-Mexican official, a man of influence, and they engaged together in trade between the United States and Mexico. They bought goods in the United States and traded them in Mexico for horses and mules and, returning with the latter, sold them in this country. About this time they opened a store in Eagle Pass and built up an extensive business. At one time they brought seven hundred head of horses and mules over from Mexico and started with them for St. Louis, Mo.,
but the war between the States had just broken out and they stopped at Austin, Texas, traded them for cotton and freighted the cotton into Mexico. He about this time, took up land near Eagle Pass and engaged in sheep-raising on quite an extended scale. They continued in the cotton business during the war period, from 1861 to 1865, and made money rapidly. He also imported about seventy-five fine graded Merino bueks from the East, and placed them with his sheep on the range he had just previously opened. These are said to be the first high-grade sheep shipped into the State. He brought them to Texas at great expense. During the war between the States he held a commission from the Confed- erate government as Provost Marshal. His sym- pathies were strongly with the Southern cause, in so far as the issues of secession and States' rights were involved. He said little upon the absorbing ques- tion of slavery, however. He never owned slaves, but did not favor emancipation without compensat- ing to their owners by the government.
In 1872 Mr. Stone was elected Justice of the Peace and when the State constitution was changed, providing for the election of and defining the juris- diction and duties of county judge he was, in 1875, elected to that responsible office in his county and presided with dignity, impartiality and with entire satisfaction to his people. Judge Stone was a use- ful and valuable eitizen and enjoyed the unbounded confidence and esteem of all classes, whose trusted friend and confidential adviser he was. It was not an uncommon thing for him to be chosen by parties, involved in disputes and disagreements, to settle their differences as sole arbiter. In all such matters he was a good and patient listener and invariably adjusted them in some equitable way, to the satis- faction of all concerned. Thus, he was a peace- maker, and the Lord has said "blessed are the peacemakers."
He was a man of fine social qualities and keen sensibilities, open-hearted, generous and consider- ate to the poor and unfortunate, and on all occa-
-
-
*588
INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
sions liberal to a fault. In all his dealings and intercourse with his fellow men he was never known to take undue advantage or overreach.
Judge Stone was a good man for his State, his county and his home city. He foresaw the future development of Eagle Pass and prophesied the build- ing of railroads and the effects that their coming would have upon the growth of the country, this, too, at a time when the people of his section regarded such predictions as absurd. While he did not live to see the iron-horse roll into Eagle Pass, and his prophecy consummated in full, the railroad was in course of construction at the time of his death and reached the Rio Grande river soon thereafter. Judge Stone possessed a discriminating business mind and held pronounced views upon all questions agitated in his day. He was not given to aggres- sive argument, but was always ready to state his position, give his reasons therefor, and there will- ing to let argument end, according others the privileges of mental freedom that he claimed for himself.
Judge Stone married Senorita Josepha Martinez, a daughter of Don Severo Martinez, of Eagle Pass. She was born in Rio Grande, Mexico. Judge Stone
loved his wife and his children, lavishly provided them with all that heart could wish, and sent his children away for the best of school advantages. At the time of his death he was a very wealthy man, owning upwards of 100,000 acres of land and 30,000 head of sheep, besides a large quantity of real and personal property in Eagle Pass.
His acquaintance extended throughout Southwest Texas and Eastern and Central Mexico, and his death was widely mourned.
Judge and Mrs. Stone had four children. Of these, James, born March 14th, 1865, married Miss Susie, daughter of Judge James T. Burks, of Eagle Pass, and has four children: Josephinc, Elvira, James, Jr., and Lucretia.
Griffith, born December 14th, 1872, married Miss Martha, daughter of Theodor Gonzales, of Rio Grande; William, born April 15th, 1874, married Miss Stella Burni, daughter of A. Burni, of San Antonio; and Richard born April 24th, 1877, remains single.
All of Judge Stone's large estate was left to his wife and children, with the invaluable inheri- tance to the latter of an honored and honorable name.
JOHN SCHANDNA,
FREDERICKSBURG,
Is a well-known and prosperous merchant of the historic town of Fredericksburg, Texas, where he was born September 10, 1851.
His father, Peter Schandna, was born in Prussia, July 20, 1816, and at this writing is seventy-nine years of age, but, notwithstanding the fact that he is somewhat physically infirm, has a keen, un- clouded intellect and takes great interest in all that surrounds him. Peter Schandna and his young wife and daughter, Margaret, now deceased, sailed from Bremen for Texas in 1845, aboard the " Wash- ington " with the first party of immigrants sent out by the German Emigration Company, at that time under the direction of Prince Solms; landed in Galveston in the fall of 1845; proceeded thenec in another vessel to Indianola; and from the latter place overland in ox-wagons to New Braunfels and his destination at Fredericksburg, reaching the latter place in the early part of 1816. In Freder- icksburg he found steady employment at his trade
that of a carpenter, which he continued to follow during his active life. Eight children were borne him at Fredericksburg by his first wife, only three of whom (John, the subject of this brief sketch), Joseph and Henry, are now living. No children were borne him by his second or third wife.
John Schandna learned the carpenter trade under his father during his boyhood and the tinner trade in 1883 and in the latter year embarked in the hardware business upon his own account, suc- cecding his brother in that line. He now controls a large hardware, tinware and sheet-iron jobbing trade, in connection with his flourishing retail busi- ness. In 1884 he married Miss Bertha Kline (a daughter of Christian Kline) born in Gillespie County, Texas, an estimable and lovable lady. Mr. and Mrs. Schandna have six children born to them : Olga, Alfred, and Amelia now living, aud Ida, an infant (not named) and Charles, now deceased.
589
INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
P. J. WILLIS,
GALVESTON.
This old and respected citizen was born in Caro- line County, Md., March 26th, 1815, where he spent his boyhood days. His father was Short A. Willis, a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, who was bronght to this country by his parents before the struggle of the colonies for independence. Several members of the family took part in the revolution against the English Crown, two of his brothers yielding up their lives on the battle-field of Brandywine. Short A. Willis settled on the eastern shore of Chesapeake Bay, in Maryland, and began the battle of life, stern and rugged as it was in those early days, in what was almost a wil- derness. There his five sons were born and were chiefly reared, the eldest, Arthur J., passing his entire life there, dying March 27th, 1889. The four younger sons came to Texas, with the history of which they became connected, and here spent their subsequent lives. The first of the four who came was Peter J., who made his advent into the State in January, 1836. He remained in the coun- try until the following June, when he returned to Maryland. In October, 1887, accompanied by his two younger brothers, William H. and Richard S., he came back, and the three settling on Buffalo Bayou, near the then newly laid out town of Hous- ton, there bravely began the battle of life with no capital bnt indomitable will and the buoyancy of youth. They early displayed those characteristics which, in the harvest of years that followed, reaped them such handsome returns. Their early labors were of the character incident to aggressive pio- neering in a new country, and by industry and strict economy they saved, in a short time, suffi- cient means to purchase a tract of land known as the " Ringold Farm," lying on the road from Navasota to Washington, and there they settled themselves to agricultural pursuits. After a year or two of hard labor at farming Peter J. made his first entry into the mercantile world, buying a stock of goods and opening a store at Washington. The other two brothers remained on the farm until the death of William H., when Richard S. joined Peter J. in business, the brothers locating their joint mercantile venture at Montgomery. The enterprise was successful and a branch establish- inent was afterwards started at Anderson in Grimes County in partnership with E. W. Cawthon, a brother-in-law, under the firm name of Cawthon,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.