USA > Texas > Indian wars and pioneers of Texas, Vol. 2 > Part 33
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
Willis & Bro. Their business steadily prospered and about 1853 the Willis Brothers formed a part- nership with S. K. Mellheny and opened a store in Houston under the firm name of Mellbeny, Willis & Bro. This soon grew to be one of the largest houses in the State, and continued active and suc- cessful operations throughout the entire period of the war.
On the close of hostilities in 1865 Mr. Mellbeny went to Laredo, Mexico, where he died, after which the Willis brothers purchased his interest and, changing the name of the firm to that of P. J. Willis & Bro., concentrated all their interests at Houston, and in 1868 at Galveston purchasing property on the corner of Strand and Twenty- fourth street, where they established quarters suf- ficient for the business then in contemplation. To Peter J. the outside management of their affairs was mainly intrusted and by his untiring industry and ceaseless viligance be made himself master of their large and ever-growing interests. Broad in his views and liberal in his methods, he was con- stantly widening their sphere of activity and ex- tending their patronage. Mr. Willis possessed many of the elements of popularity and easily won and readily retained the friendship of those with whom he came in contact. Ile was genial by nature, kind in disposition and casily ap- proached. He cherished an especially warm feel- ing for his associates of early days and was fond of recounting with them his early experiences in Texas. He was devoted to the State of his adoption and to all of its interests and institutions and lost no opportunity to show bis attachment. He was not a member of any church but was a liberal contributor to all, owned pews in all the churches in the city and, in fact, gave of his ample means to all worthy purposes. He never held s publie office but lent his name and the aid of a strong personal example to the side of the law, order and good government, and occupied a number of positions in connection with the business interests of the several localities of the State in which he was at one time and another a resident.
In December, 1844, at Montgomery, Texas, Mr. Willis married Miss Caroline Womack, a native of Alabama, born July 18th, 1828; and a daughter of John Womack, at one time a wealthy planter of Montgomery. The issue of this union was six chil-
590
INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
dren : William H., who was born at Montgomery, December 7th, 1845, and died at Galveston, May 16th, 1888 ; Peter J. Ella, wife of Joseph G. Gold- thwaite; Tabitha, who died in childhood ; Magnolia, wife of George Sealy; and Carolina, wife of W. F. Ladd; the four that are living being residents of Galveston.
Mr. Willis died November 25th, 1873, at Kansas City, Mo., his death occurring during his temporary
absence from home on business. His remains rest in the family vault at Galveston. Mrs. Willis died September 19th, 1883. She was a woman of most exemplary character, and not a little of the success which her husband achieved was attributable to the inspiration that emanated from her noble life. Mr. Willis' second wife was Miss Harriet E. Aiken, of New York. She still survives -a resident of Westchester County, that State.
CHARLES J. H. MEYER,
COLORADO COUNTY.
Charles J. H. Meyer is a native Texian, born in Fayette County, November 5th, 1854. His parents, John II. and Dora Meyer, emigrated from Germany to the United States a number of years prior to his birth. His father died March 20th, 1892. His mother, aged sixty years, is still living. Mr. Meyer received an excellent education, attending a Catho- lic institution for two years, and completing bis studies by a two years' course at the Military Academy at Austin. October 27th, 1874, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Ehllinger, daughter of
Charles Ehllinger, for whom the thriving town of Ellinger is named, and has five children: Elo, Adita, Lizzie, Henry and Hattie. Mr. Meyer was elected a County Commissioner of Colorado County in 1890, and in 1892 was elected to the State Legis- lature, in which he made an enviable record, both in the committee rooms and on the floor of the House. He owns a fine bottom farm in Colorado County, which he has stocked with thoroughbred Jerseys and other fine cattle. He is also engaged in mer- chandising at the town of Ellinger.
ALEXANDER FITZGERALD,
COLORADO COUNTY.
Alexander Fitzgerald, a prosperous farmer of Southwestern Texas, was born in Madison County, Als., May 22d, 1822, moved to La Grange, Texas, with his parents in 1838, and in 1841 located in Colorado County, where he has since resided. In 1850 he was married to Miss Flora A. Mums and has four children: Anna E., wife of W. H. Griffin, of Eagle Lake, Texas; Carrie, Edward, and Dr. Howard Fitzgerald, also of Eagle Lake. He served in the Texas ranger force for a time; September
19th, 1842, participated in the fight known to history as the "Dawson Massacre " aud eight days later helped to gather together and bury the bones of the dead, and during the war between the United States and Mexico was a soldier in McCulloch's command, participating in a number of engagements.
Ilis farm consists of somewhat more than one thousand acres of good land. Ile is comfortably fixed in his old age and surrounded by loving children, grandchildren and friends.
INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
591
HENRY LUDWIG,
NEW BRAUNFELS,
Came to America with his brother in January, 1855, landing at the port of Galveston and proceeding from thence almost immediately to Indianola. Ilis father, Julius Ludwig, a farmer by profession, brought five children with him to this country, of whom the subject of this sketch is the oldest now living. Fritz, the second born, died of fever about two weeks after their arrival in Texas; Minnie, who married Henry Hartz, resides about two miles from New Braunfels ; Christiana, who married Fer- dinand Dirks, resides about two miles south of New Braunfels; and William is a citizen of New Braunfels. The parents of Mr. Ludwig were both born in Hanover, Germany. The father was born July 23d, 1806, and died in New
Braunfels, June 20th, 1869. The mother was born July 6th, 1815, and died February 17th, 1886. Mr. Ludwig, the subject of this sketch, was born in Hanover, Germany, November 27th, 1886, and has devoted his energies chiefly to farming, the manu- facture of lime, and contraet work. His industry, thrift and economy have secured for him a comfort- able property and he is regarded as one of the solid citizens of New Braunfels.
October 1st, 1865, he married Miss Matilda Con- fad. She was born in Germany, January 6th, 1843.
Mr. and Mrs. Ludwig have one adopted daugh- ter, Ida, born May 5th, 1876. She is married and lives in New Braunfels.
FRANK B. ARMSTRONG,
BROWNSVILLE,
Was born in St. Johns, New Brunswick, May 10th, 1863. llis father, Richard Sands Armstrong, was for many years a prominent citizen of St. Johns, and died there in the year 1868. The following is from one of the leading newspapers of St. Johns :--
"R. Sands Armstrong, Esq., who has been for many years elerk in the Mayor's office, died last evening after a short illness. Mr. Armstrong was a barrister of many years standing and was for a long time County Auditor. A man of unobtrusive dis- position, a devoted florist, a reader of many books, he interfered little with active affairs and was liked by all who came in contact with him, officially or personally. The flag on the city building is at half-mast to-day out of respect to his memory. Mr. Armstrong leaves a large family. He studied law under the late Hon. R. L. Hazen and was admitted to the bar on June 10th, 1847. Mr. Armstrong retired from setive practice several years ago. While clerk in the Mayor's office he dis- changed the duties of that position most efficiently and acceptably. Hle once eame forward into pub- lic life, having been elected to fill the seat in the llouse of Assembly for this city and county, which
the elevation of Hon. W. J. Richie to the bench of the Supreme Court left vacant. His competitor for the seat was J. W. Cudlip. Mr. Armstrong did not, however, offer at the next general election and never again appeared as a candidate for publie honors. "
Upon the death of the father, the family removed to Medford, Mass., where the children attended school as circumstances permitted, and attained high standing in their studies, and fitted themselves for honorable positions in educational and business circles. Mr. Armstrong, of whom we here write, inherited the taste for the study of Natural History that his father cherished, and studied taxidermy two years at Boston, Mass., with the eminent Prof. C. J. Maynard, and mastered all of the details of that art.
A Brownsville paper says :-
The geographical position of this section, bordering closely upon the torrid zone, makes it the place of sojourn for feathered tribes from both American continents, besides its being the perma- ment home of a very large variety of birds.
Over eight hundred different specimens have
592
INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
been collected in this vicinity by Mr. Frank B. Armstrong, a well-known naturalist, who has con- tributed thousands of valuable and interesting spec- imens to the museums of this country and Europe, and furnished many extremely rare products to private collectors.
Mr. Armstrong has been in business here for several years. He began the study of Natural History at his home in Boston, where he made his first essays in the interesting branches of that sub- ject which have become his specialties, viz. : Ornithology, mammology and oology. He left Boston when a very young man, and after an extensive tour through Mexico, during which he made a complete collection of birds and animals of that country, he settled in Laredo, Texas, where he began a systematic search for specimens in this border section. In pursuance of the latter under- taking he came to Brownsville in March, 1890, and finding it an excellent point for securing the services of hunters and trappers, as well as for his personal excursions, he located his business here and married the following year, 1891, April 2d.
His establishment at the corner of Washington and Eleventh streets is crowded with specimens of natural history, and is well worth the careful atten- tion and examination which the courteous propri- etor freely accords to all who visit it.
The price list of birds' skins bears the names of 275 different species, which he constantly carries in stock and furwishes to naturalists, scientists and dealers.
The proprietor is a skillful taxidermist himself and employs four assistants, all of them constantly employed in selecting and properly treating the numerous subjects found in this vicinity.
The birds of this section are more numerous than those in any other known to Mr. Armstrong. It is owing to that fact that he has found such en- couragement in his chosen field.
He married Miss Marie Isabel Schodts, a daugh- ter of the lamented Michael Schodts, a portrait and biography of whom appears in this volume. Mrs. Armstrong is a lady of superior educational attain- ments and rare social accomplishments.
Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong have two little daugh- ters, Sylvia, age 4 years, 6 months, and Jennie, age 2 years and four months. One daughter, Susie, is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong have one of the most spacious and luxurious homes in the city of Brownsville and a summer seaside home at Point Isabel.
Mr. Armstrong is thoroughly identified with the interests of Brownsville and Southwest Texas, and is highly esteemed by a wide circle of friends throughout all parts of Texas.
CHARLES B. COMBE, M. D.,
BROWNSVILLE,
Is a native of Kentucky. born near the city of Owensboro, in Daviess County, October Ist, 1836. His father, John Combe. was a planter by occhpa- tion, and successful business man ; his mother (nce Helen Berthoud) was of French descent, a native of the Isle of St. Thomas, and a lady of domestic culture and many feminine graces. Dr. Combe received his early education at St. Joseph's Col- lege, Bardstown, Ky., one of the leading educa- tional institutions of that day. He there nearly ended his classical course in the year 1854, when, owing to the untimely death of his father, he re- linquished his studies. Soon after he took up the study of medicine under Dr. Louis Rogers, an eminent physician of Louisville, Ky., with whom he remained nearly three years, at the same time attending lectures at the Louisville University.
Dr. Rogers then sent him to the Charity Hospital at New Orleans, that he might get the clinical ad- vantages which that institution afforded. He then went to the Jefferson College of Medicine at Philadelphia, from which celebrated university he was graduated in the year 1858. The following year he came to Texas and engaged in the practice of his profession at Brownsville, which has since been his home, with exception of a few years resi- dence in the border city of Matamoros, Mexico. and the time he was absent from Texas, on several prolonged visits to different parts of the United States and Mexico. Dr. Combe has seen much of pioneer life ou the Mexican border, and experienced many of its dangers and vicissitudes. He accom- panied Col. John S. Ford on his advance against Juan N. Cortina in 1859-60. IIc also served as a
DR. CHAS. B. COMBE.
591
HARVEY MITCHELL.
593
INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
surgeon in the Confederate army during the war between the States, when Gen. Magruder com- manded in Texas. Among other signal services to the Confederate cause he aided in passing large quantities of arms, ammunition and much needed medical stores into the country.
In the Diaz Revolution in 1876, he espoused that cause, and was a staunch supporter and friend of Gen. Diaz. He was commissioned a surgeon in the Mexican army, and served as chief surgeon of the Military Hospital at Matamoros from 1878 to 1882, under Gen. Servando Canales. During this period he rendered important quarantine services to both the United States and Mexico. He has served Texas as a State health officer, and has also been an officer of the National Board of Health. Ilis eminent and faithful public services ended in 1882, since which time he has quietly practiced his profession, and devoted much of his time to the care of his landed and stock interests.
Dr. Combe is president of the Medical Examin- ing Board of his district, has been president of the Brownsville and Matamoros Medical Association, once an important, useful and prosperons organiza- tion, and has served his city as a member of its board of Aldermen.
He married, May 15th, 1865, Miss K. M. Impey,
a step-daughter of the Hon. Stephen Powers of Brownsville.
She was a lady of broad intellectual culture and social accomplishments. She was a daughter of Frederick Impey, a merchant of New Orleans, where she was born. Five sons have been born of this union, viz. : Frederick J. Combe, M. D., Charles B., Jr. ; Frank B., Dr. Joseph K., and Emile B. Combe.
The life of Dr. Combe has been a busy and nse- ful one and connected with many incidents that have largely made up the most thrilling part of the history of the southwestern portion of the State. He is quiet and unassuming in manner and is esteemed as one of Brownsville's most worthy citizens. During the yellow fever epidemic of 1882, Dr. Combe distinguished himself by the promptitude with which he diagnosed the early cases, and his heroic conduct generally throughout the epidemie. He was in constant communication with Surgeon-Gen. J. B. Hamilton, of the United States Marine Hospital Service, Washington, D. C., who complimented him for his services. Dr. Combe enjoys not only the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens of Brownsville and the members of his profession, but has thousands of friends and admirers throughout Texas and Mexico.
HARVEY MITCHELL,
BRYAN,
Was born April 9th, 1821, near Cornersville, Mid- dle Tennessee, and was brought up on a farm. His education was limited to a common school course, as his father was not able to send him off to college. At the age of eighteen he joined a company of young men and came to Texas overland with emi- grant wagons, reaching old Tinninville, Robertson County, in the fall of 1839, where he joined Capt. Eli Chandler's company of " Minute Men " and remained in the frontier military service under Capts. Chandler and Wm. M. Love, until January Ist, 1842.
When not in the woods on duty during this period, he was employed by the few families at Tinninville, to teach school during 1840, and was similarly employed by Maj. Eli Seales and neighbors on Cedar creek (now Brazos County ), during 1841.
Tinninville at that time was headquarters for
all military operations between the Trinity and Brazos rivers, and, being on the extreme northern boundary of the settlements, there was not a single civilized human habitation north of it in Texas. It was the place of rendezvous and starting-point for all the company's expeditions. The service of the company to which Mr. Mitchell belonged consisted in periodical excursions from river to river in search of Indian marauders and in the pursuit of them when they succeeded in getting into the settlements and stealing horses, which they frequently did, sometimes killing and scalping a lone man and carrying off his wife and children.
In this service the company had numerous skir- mishes, but no pitched battle of note.
Brazos County having been created and organized by invitation Mr. Mitchell moved his residence to old Boonville, January 1st, 1812, to take charge of
العدد
594
INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
the County Clerk's office as deputy and act as amanuensis, and do all the office work for all the eounty officials.
This was a necessity at that time, as the perqui- sites of all the offices were not sufficient to support one man, and no one could be found willing to leave their farms and move to town to fill an office, and to save the county organization from disso- lution this plan was adopted, and to augment his earnings Mr. Mitchell hired out to the Carter family to teach school at $20.00 per month and board, attending to all official duties at leisure hours (at night, evenings, mornings, etc. ).
In 1845 he turned over the school to Miss Carter, whom he had educated, and he engaged in merchandising and, there being no other stores in the county, and having the confidence and patron- age of the people, he was successful and prosperous.
Having fallen desperately in love with Miss A. J. Foley, who had finished her education in 1847, under the tutelage of the Hon. John Sayles, at Brenham, Texas, and finding that his affections were reciprocated, they were married April 6th, 1848, and being Clerk of the County Court at that time, he had to issue his own marriage license - a rare occurence, it is to be presumed.
He continued selling goods, trading in land and stock, and running all the county - offices until 1853 - when others became eligible and willing to take his place, and in 1855 he moved to " Red Top " ( now Beuehly) and engaged extensively in the land business and merchandising. Being per- sonally familiar with all the original surveys in Brazos and with many in Robertson County, and also with most of the non-resident owners, he sue- eeeded in acquiring a large landed property ; but, having been appointed Assessor of Confederate State Taxes for Brazos County, for convenience he moved back to Boonville in 1863, and after the close of the war built a new and beautiful home a mile out of town, where he lived until 1879, in which year, having previously voluntarily surrendered all the earnings of his forty years' life of toil to the creditors of friends, so-called, in whom he had misplaced confidence, not reserving even his beauti- ful homestead, he bought a cheap shanty in Bryan on credit, and, disposing of surplus furniture, moved into it and hired out his baby boy, James E. Mitchell, now of Fort Worth, Texas, to a jeweler in Bryan at $10.00 per month, to aid in making a new start. His other living children, Jefferson P. Mitchell, Mrs. R. L. Weddington and Mrs. Wm. II. Dean, now of Bryan, and Mrs. E. R. Nash, now of Waco, were all grown and providing for themselves, but were, not able at that time
to aid him financially. In 1880 he bought a small farm on the Navasota river and, with the assistance of friends, mainly Guy M. Bryan, Jr., purchased other adjoining lands, and improved them and now has a farm of 1,000 acres, well im- proved and stocked, under cultivation, but resides at his home in the town of Bryan. But he is now old and feeble and realizes that his life-work is about finished. His time is mainly spent now in reviewing the past, in which he finds some comfort. His living children are all engaged in useful pur- suits and are well thought of by the people who know them and are kind to him, and he feels some pride in the consciousness of having been efficient in helping to convert what was an unbroken wil- derness in 1841, with isolated settlements at long distanees apart and without any of the luxuries and conveniences of enlightened civilization, into one among the most prosperous and populous counties in Texas; that his own beloved county ( Brazos) to-day abounds in churches and schools ; is the home of the A. and M. College of Texas, has railroads, commodious and substantial build- ings, good highways, a number of factories and many palatial residences, and possesses a large and prosperous population engaged in commercial and agricultural pursuits. As a soldier, he did his full share toward its protection while it needed protec- tion as a border county. The duty was assigned to him to build three of the courthouses the county has bad, the first in 1846 ("the Board Shanty Court House ") ; the second in 1853, a more pre- tentious structure, and the third, the " brick court- house " in Bryan, in 1878. He served, either un- der commission or an amanuensis, in all the county offices for a term of years when no other plan could preserve the county's autonomy. He never sought any office, but was elected at different times to that of Chief Justice, County Clerk and County Sur- veyor as the occasion required for the public good, and from 1842 until 1853 had the custody and con- trol of all the archives of the county and, there being no resident lawyer in the county, was the man upon whom the people depended to write deeds, bonds, contracts, petitions and reports for administrators and guardians, and to officiate as preacher at weddings, etc., all of which he did gratuitously. He built the Methodist Church now in Bryan, donating $500 of its cost and lending $500 more to finish and seat it. He built Alexan- der Chapel ( the first church edifice ever built in the county ) for the Methodists and Union Chapel for the Presbyterians, and donated liberally to all the: churches in Bryan when first built, and also to other public buildings as well. But his crowning joy is
.
595
INDLIN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
over his successful effort in securing the location in his county of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. It was the highest ambition of his life. He was fully impressed with its impor- tanee as a source of revenue to his people, for all time to come, as thousands of dollars would annu- ally be brought into the country and disbursed among the people for labor and supplies.
The commissioners authorized by law to select and secure a suitable location for this institution, had visited and examined many competing points in the State, that offered by Brazos County among the rest, and advertised for bids, in the way of bo- nuses, to be opened and the location awarded on a given day in Houston. The State Senator from the district in which Brazos County is situated, Hon. W. A. Saylor, Judge Spencer Ford and Mr. Mitchell, were selected at a large mass meeting hield in Bryan to meet the commissioners on the day fixed and, if possible, secure the award. Ac- cordingly Senator Saylor and Mr. Mitchell went down to Houston a few days in advance. Judge Ford did not go and Mr. Saylor went on to Galves- ton, leaving Mr. Mitchell alone to wrestle with powerful competitors for the award -- San Antonio, Austin, Waco and other prominent and wealthy points.
But he managed to learn what bonus his people would bave to raise to secure the prize, which was so great that he feared it was beyond their reach. He wired Mayor Downward for instructions, and waited for a reply, but none came; and, nerved with the excitement of desperation, he resolved to act on his own responsibility, and proceeded to write out a bid offering the necessary bonus, which was accepted on condition that be would have per- fect titles to the land (2250 acres which he had pre- viously shown them ) presented within forty-eight hours.
lle was then en route for New York to spend the summer, but boarded the first train back to Bryan, reported what he had done and, with the help of other citizens, mainly that of Hon. John N. Hen- derson, now Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, and M. W. McCraw, now deceased, the money was raised, the lands bought and deeds to same secured and delivered to the commissioners
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.