USA > Texas > Indian wars and pioneers of Texas, Vol. 2 > Part 37
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troops were reorganized and his regiment was mustered into the Confederate States' service under Col. Duff, and he was advanced to the rank of Major, his brother, Christobal Benavides, assuming command of his company. As the organization of the Confederate army progressed Maj. Benavides was promoted to the rank of Colonel, and from that time on his regiment was known in military circles as Benavides' Regiment. He served at the head of his command until the close of the war, mainly on the Rio Grande frontier, holding in check the Indians from the north and repelling maranding Mexicans from across the river. His campaigns were at times characterized by thrilling incidents, making, as he did, many aggressive raids and often pursuing lawless Mexicans into their own country. The Confederate army contained no braver or more loyal and efficient officer than Col. Benavides, and, as a graceful and just acknowledgment of his almost invaluable services to his State and the Con- federate cause, the Texas Legislature in 1864 in joint session passed the following resolution of thanks : --
" Be it resolved by the Legislature of the State of Texas, that whereas in the autumn of the past year, our enemy was invading the State from many directions and was exultant in the prospect of success by overpowering armies, by insidious policies, by aid of traitors in our midst, by deser- tions from our army and by fears of the weak in faith, and at times which tried men's souls, when unwavering patriotism and true courage were more
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than ever to be appreciated, the people of this State witnessed with admiration the attitude of Col. Santos Benavides and his handful of men who dared to dispute and did successfully main- tain the possession of an extensive tract of our frontier.
" 2d. That the thanks of this people are due and are hereby tendered to Col. Santos Benavides and the offieers and men under his command for their steadfast opposition to the enemy in the field and the zeal they have shown in the service of their country.
"3d. That the Governor of this State be requested to transmit a copy of these resolutions to Col. Benavides and that they be read to his regiment on dress parade.
" Approved May 24th, 1864. " P. MURRAH, " Governor. " M. D. K. TAYLOR, " Speaker of the House of Representatives. " F. S. STOCKDALE, " President of the Senate."
During the last days of the war, Col. Benavides was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General, but the war closed before he assumed command in that capacity. Col. Benavides was in poor health dur- ing the latter part of the war, but remained in the service until the final surrender and then returned to his home in Laredo. There he regained in a measure his health and almost immediately entered business as a merchant, taking as a eopartner his brother, Capt. Christobal Benavides, under the firm name of S. Benavides & Brother. They did a large retail and wholesale business, the latter ex- tending far into the interior of Mexico. The firm continued business for several years and was then, by mutual consent, dissolved, and Col. Benavides entered trade alone at a stand opposite the city hall and market, continuing therein up to the time of his death, which occurred November 2th, 1891. In civil life he was a polished and courteous gentle- man of plain and easy manners.
In military life he was an aggressive, gallant and skillful officer. Under all circumstances and at all times he exhibited a kindness of heart and consider- ation for the rights and feelings of others that en- deared him to his comrades in arms and to bis thousands of other friends.
He was always cool and deliberate in the forma- tion and expression of his opinions. Hle fully ac- eepted the verdict of the Civil War and gave his best counsel and influence to the cause of reconstruction and, with great hope for and faith in the future,
set vigorously about the building up of his impaired business and estate. He was not a politician in the usual acceptation of the term, and was never an office-seeker; but, at the urgent solicitation of his people and in accordance with what he believed to be the duty of a citizen, served the publie in vari - ous important capacities, notably as Mayor of Laredo, in 1856, and three terms in the Texas State Legislature, during the sessions of which he was a member of various important committees and made his influence felt in the shaping of important legis- lation. He did not speak or write the English lan- guage sufficiently to address that body in the vernacular, and his public utterances were all in- terpreted by a private secretary, who was ever at his side, and was noted for his direetness of state- ment, clear and sound logie, and broad statesman- ship. He was a commissioner from Texas to the World's Cotton Exposition at New Orleans in 1881; he was ever a safe and ready champion of the doe- trine of popular rights and government, therefore at the time of the French invasion of Mexico his influence, which was far-reaching in the border Mexican States, was thrown on the side of the lib- eral party and at critical times and under permissi- ble circumstances he did not fail to exercise it and from the time that Gen. Gonzales and Gen. Diaz were put in power he was a friend and supporter of their government.
Col. Benavides married, in 1842, Dona Augustine Vallareal, a native of Laredo. They had no ehil- dren of their own, but adopted and liberally educated four. Of these, Augustina, an acecomplished lady. became the wife of Gen. Garza Ayala, of Monterey, Mexico, once General of Mexican Artillery and ex- Governor of the Mexican State of Nuevo Leon, an intrepid military officer, au able statesman, and eminent lawyer. Dona Augustina died at Mata- moros, Mexico, in 1882. She bore one son, Dr. Frank Garza Benavides.
Santos Benavides, the second of the adopted children, died in 1883, at nineteen years of age, at Monterey, Nuevo Leon.
Juan V. Benavides, the only surviving child, a well-known member of the Webb County bar, lives at Laredo, where he practices law and manages the Santos Benavides estate. He married, in 1877, Miss Laura, daughter of Thomas Allan. She was born in Ohio, but was reared at Corpus Christi, Texas, where her parents for many years resided.
Dr. Frank Garza Benavides, of Monterey, son of Gen. Garza Ayala, before mentioned, is their third adopted son. He was born at Monterey, July 14th. 1874, was edneated in his native city under private tntorship, took a commercial course of study at S :.
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Louis, Mo., later attended Princeton University, N. J., and graduated in medicine at the University of Philadelphia, Pa., taking the degree of M. D.
He married, February 6th, 1895, Miss Lila, daughter of Don Christobal Benavides, of Laredo, Texas.
H. M. COOK,
BELTON.
Henry Mansfield Cook was born in Upson County, Ga., December 29, 1825. His parents were Arthur B. and Mary Cook, early and highly respected pio- neers in that State. In 1840 his father moved to Alabama and in 1814 to Lowndes County, Miss., near the town of Columbus, on the Tombigbee river, where he continued farming.
was elected Lieutenant-Colonel and W. P. Rogers. of Aberdeen, was elected Captain in his stead. The regiment participated in many engagements and took part in the storming and capture of Mon- terey. After the close of the war Mr. Cook re- turned to Mississippi, attended school for a short time, after which he taught a few sessions (intend-
II. M. COOK.
In 1846 the subject of this notice walked thirty miles to Columbus to join a company which was being organized for the Mexican War, by the cele- brated Alex. K. MeClung. The company was known as the Tombigbee Volunteers and, when completed, was marched to Vicksburg, where it was incorporated in the First Mississippi Regiment, more familiarly known as the Mississippi Rifles. This was commanded by the illustrions and gallant Col. Jefferson Davis and covered itself with glory upon the field of Buena Vista. Capt. MeClung
ing to thereafter take a thorough collegiate course). but found it necessary to abandon the latter pui- pose.
In August, 1852, he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret E., daughter of Thomas and Mahala Carr, of Oktibbeha County, Miss. Still having his eyes fixed in a westerly direction, be, with his father-in-law and family, took up the line of march in the spring of 1855 for the Lone Star State and settled in the western portion of Leon County, on the Navasota river, where be opened a farm, built
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INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
a gin-house and blacksmith shop, and, together with stock-raising, entered heartily into agricultural pursuits. But he had not more than gotten the rough places made smooth when he was called upon by the citizens to give a portion of his time to the public weal, and was elected Justice of the Peace and made a member of the County Court, which positions, though unsought (for he always con- tended that the office should seek the man), were filled with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. When the war between the States burst upon the country and a regiment was organized in his military district, he was elected Lieutenant- Colonel; but, as the regiment was not called to the front as soon as he expected, he became impatient, and, fearing that the war would end before he. could take a hand, resigned hiz offices, went to Louisiana, and entered the army as a private, join- ing Carrington's company, in Baylor's cavalry regiment. In a short time he was elected Orderly Sergeant, and subsequently, by gradations, filled the positions of Third, Second and First Lieuten- ants, and rose to the command of the company during the last year of the war.
With that gallant regiment he assisted in escort- ing Banks' army from Brashear City ( now Morgan City ) up through Louisiana to Mansfield. There the Confederates fell short of provisions and con- cluded to utilize Banks' commissary stores - and sent him back to New Orleans. After the war he continued farming up to 1869, and then went into the mercantile business at Centerville and soon built up a good trade. He continued business at. this point until 1876, and then, in connection with otliers, started a new town on the International &
Great Northern Railroad at a point between Jewett and Oakwood, which they called Buffalo, because of its proximity to Buffalo creek. He continued to do business at that place until 1884, when bis accumulated capital necessitated his removal to a point offering better facilities for mercantile enter- prise and investments. Consequently he wound up his business at Buffalo and moved to Belton, where he continued the mercantile business on a larger scale. About this time, however, his health failed suddenly, and, having made his son, T. A. Cook, and a son-in-law, T. W. Cochran, equal partners with himself, he turned the management over to them and retired from active business pursuits. Mr. Cook always conducted his business on a straightforward, conscientious basis, and, although he started with a small capital and a very limited experience, was successful from the beginning, accumulated a handsome fortune and never com- promised a debt for less than one hundred cents on the dollar. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cook. Two of them are married and have families and are prosperous associates with him in his mercantile pursuits. Mr. and Mrs. Cook are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Cook has been an active worker for the upbuilding of he city in which he has so long resided and enjoys the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens of all classes. He has passed his three score years and ten, man's allotted time here, and is patiently awaiting the summons to come up higher and rejoin his sainted wife in the Glory-land, who walked with him along life's rugged pathway as his solace and comforter forty-two years. She departed this life February 6, 1893.
J. A. BONNET,
EAGLE PASS.
The subject of this brief memoir is a Texas pioneer in all that the term implies.
Ilis advent to the Lone Star State dates back to December 31st, 1815. He came from Scharlotten- burg, Dukedom of Nassau, Germany, with his father's family (P. D. Bonnet ) and was then about seven years of age, the youngest of a family of five children. They came as members of the Meusebach colony, landing at Galveston, where they remained for several months with other immi-
grants, housed in what was called "dos Verius Haus," a large, baru-like structure, built for the protection of the colony-immigrants upon their ar- rival, and they were crowded therein to the number of from three to five hundred.
The Bonnet family, with others, finally left Gal- veston by sail-vessel for Indian Point (later knows as Indianola), Texas. Although the distance was comparatively short, they encountered a storm. drifted far out into the Gulf and nine days were
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consumed before they reached their destination. They remained at Indian Point a few months, when a malignant fever broke out, which, in a majority of cases, proved fatal. P. D. Bonnet, our subjeet's father, having a little means, secured transportation by ox-team to New Braunfels, where they safely landed after a tiresome trip of about three weeks. The now lovely little Germau city of New Braun- fels then contained but one honse, an old log-cabin which stood on the hill overlooking the valley, and was used as a commisary.
They remained at New Braunfels until the fall of 1846 and then removed to San Antonio. Through the kindness of some person they were loaned two tents which they pitched on the river bank on the present site of the Sullivan Banking House. The father and the daughter were taken sick and the oldest son, Charles, had joined Col. Jack Hays' Regiment and gone to Mexico, and the support of the family was thrown upon the mother. She sought and found employment in a boarding-house and from the remnants left at the table supplied the family with food, until the sick recovered and the father with his eldest remaining son, Peter, obtained work from the United States Government. This was in the year 1847. San Antonio then contained about 3,000 inhabitants, mostly Mexicans. The marauding Indian was decidedly in evidence in those days and it was by no means safe to venture outside the city limits without protection. The grounds of Fort Sam. Houston were then covered with a fine growth of live oaks and the sportsman could there take his choice of shooting deer, turkeys or Indians. P. D. Bonnet was a miner by trade. He engaged in freighting and accumulated some property. Ile owned the property where Turner Hall now stands and in his deeliuing years lived on the income derived from his rents. He died about the year 1886.
Our subject after many vicissitudes, secured a position in the printing office of the San Antonio Ledger, learned the printer's trade, and later worked in other printing offices in the city. He followed this business until 1859, and then went to Savannah, Ga., from which place he proceeded to Waresboro, Ga., where he enlisted in the Con- federate army, April 18, 1861. He was mustered into the Twenty-sixth Georgia Infantry and fought under Gen. Stonewall Jackson. He was wounded in the leg at Cold Harbor, in the side at Antietam, and again at Spottsylvania Court House, where he suffered the loss of one eye. These wounds were
all very severe. He participated in all of the battles fought by Lee's army, was advaneed to the rank of Sergeant-Major and served as such until finally, on account of disabilities, he received an honorable discharge. He returned to San Antonio in 1868, suffering intensely from his wounds. He states that lic found it " uphill business " to get employment, and was virtually ostraeised because of his having been a " rebel " soldier. Hc em- barked in several enterprises to gain a livelihood, but met with such indifferent success, that he went to Austin in 1870, but returned to San An- tonio to act as tas collector of Bexar County under his brother Daniel, who was sheriff in 1872. He went to Eagle Pass in 1877, and embarked in merchandising on a modest scale, and in due time developed a profitable business. Later he opened a private bank, which he subsequently merged into the Bank of Eagle Pass, with E. L. Walkins as partner. In September, 1888, the institution was reorganized as the Maverick County Bank with a capital of $30,000. As an outgrowth of this. enterprise the present First National Bank of Eagle Pass was organized, with a cash capital of $50,000. Mr. Bonnet served as president of the latter institution until he resigned the position in 1895.
Ile was elected County Judge of Maverick County and served two terms. He has always worked and voted with the Democratic party, but could not indorse the tariff policy of the Cleve- land administration, and has of late years voted with the Republicans. Judge Bonnet has been an active, enterprising and useful citizen. Viewing the adverse circumstances under which he came to this country, the difficulties that he had to over- come as a boy and young man, and considering the fact that he came out of the war ruined in health and pocket, too much credit cannot be given him for the prominent position he has attained in the professional and business world. As a soldier he did his inll duty; as the incumbent of a respon- sible office in San Antonio be acquitted himself with credit and superior ability ; as a merchant and business man he attained prominence and success ; as County Judge he was impartial, and served his people with fidelity ; and as a citizen he is highly esteemed. Ile was born at Scharlottenburg, Ger- many, March 23, 1838, and married in Georgia. His wife died in 1875 in San Antonio, leaving four children. He married again in 1877, wedding, in San Antonio, Mrs. Gesell Alejandro, a widow.
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GUSTAV SCHMIDT,
BULVERDE.
One of the well- known pioneers of Comal County, was born September 20th, 1839, on a farm in Nassay, Germany. His father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Schmidt, and their children, three in number, came to America in 1845, with a por- tion of the Prince Solis' Colony, and located near New Braunfels in the latter part of the year and engaged in farming. At twenty-one years of age "Gustav married Miss Caroline Ucker, daughter of William Ucker, of New Braunfels. They have bine children : William, Emma, Edna, Anna, Gustav, Henry, Theresa, Edward, and Otto.
Mr. Schmidt, subject of this notice, settled
upon his present farm very near Bulverde in 1875; but, has however, lived in the moun- tain district of Comal County since 1859. Mr. Schmidt's sympathies were with the Union cause during the war between the States. He went to Mexico shortly after the beginning of hostilities and remained there until 1863. He then went to New Orleans, where he enlisted in the Federal army, August 8th of that year, as a soldier in the First Texas Cavalry, with which he served until houorably discharged, October 31, 1865. He was with Gen. Banks and took part in the battles of Brownsville, Sabine Pass and Mobile.
CHARLES L. McGEHEE, SR.,
SAN MARCOS.
Mr. McGchee, the subject of this brief memoir, is one of the well-known citizens of San Marcos, and a son of one of Texas' early pioneers, his father also, Charles L. McGehee, having come to the State as early as 1836. He was an Alabamian and was born at McDavid's Mills in the year 1810. IIc married Miss Sarah Vanee Acklin, a member of one of the oldest and most noted families of Huntsville, Ala. He was an ambitious a and enterprising man and engaged extensively and successfully in the local stone trade, in Alabama and adjoining States, accumulating thereby a large fortune. He lived in the meantime at Yazoo, on the Mississippi river, and also engaged in the steamboat business, owning several steamers. Besides, he owned and conducted several planta- tions. He met with business reverses and, coming to Texas, east his fortunes with those of the Loue Star commonwealth. ITis first trip was a prelim- inary one and he returned East, settled up his business and with his family located near Bastrop ou the east bank of the Colorado river about 1848. Ile possessed great industry and mechanical genius and, besides farming, owned and conducted a wagon shop. ITe also traded in stock and lands and made a second comfortable fortune. In 1851
he secured a contract with the State of Texas for the construction of a capitol building at Austin and entered upon the prosecution of the work. He did not live to finish the structure, however, and Q. J. Nichols completed the contract. He died in 1852. He left two daughters and one son ; of these, Mary, married D. A. Wood and located in Guadalupe County, and Sarah, married C. H. Wood, a brother of D. A. Wood; located in Hays County and died in 1894.
Mr. McGehee was a man of strict integrity, a consistent member of the Methodist Church in later years and left an honorable name and an estate valued at about $40,000 as an inheritance to his surviving family.
Charles L. McGehee, the subject of this sketch was the only son. Ile inherited from his father a natural love of adventure. Ile was born in Ala- bama, December 21st, 1837, and was brought to Texas upon his father's second trip with the family, being then about six years of age. Ile spent his childhood and youth, up to about fourteen years of age, on the farm in Bastrop County. Farm life was, however, too tame for him and, after traveling for about a couple of years, he went to San Marcos and offered his services to Maj. Ed. Burleson, who
: صدى التام دئية ١٥٠ متر قطع هنا الدا
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INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
was recruiting a company of Texas rangers for operations against the Indians. McGehee being only seventeen years of age, Maj. Burleson informed him that he was too young, by law, to draw pay. Thereupon, McGehee informed him that pay was no object and that he owned his own horse and gun and wanted to go to the frontier. The Major ad- mired the boy's pluck and enthusiasm and admitted him to membership and made special provisions for the payment of his salary. He served as a ranger about one year, rendezvousing at Hi Smith's camp in Gillespie County, making also a raid into Mexico with Capt. Callahan. After a campaign of one year, Mr. McGehee went to Austin and became inter- ested in a farm near that city. In 1858 he mar- ried Miss Sarah, a daughter of Joseph Humphreys, Esq. She is a native of Texas and was reared in Caldwell County, on the San Marcos river. After marriage Mr. McGehee pursued farming and spec-
ulating in cattle, horses and mules and dealt in lands. He has become one of the most substantial property owners in Hays County. He owns a val- uable estate at San Marcos, fronting for a mile and a half on the San Marcos river, and a chartered water power. He has splendid improvements thereon and an excellent irrigating system that he is developing.
Mr. and Mrs. McGehce have five sons: Walter A., Hugh W., Charles L., Jr., Miles II., and Wade B.
At the breaking out of the war between the States Mr. McGehee enlisted in Col. Wood's regiment at San Marcos; but, having served as a ranger, the discipline of the army was not satisfactory and he secured a transfer to Capt. Carrington's independ- ent company of Texas rangers and served on the Mexican frontier in the Rio Grande Valley about fourteen months and then returned to his home.
A. J. HAMILTON,
AUSTIN.
The late ex-Governor A. J. Hamilton, of Texas, was born in Madison County, Ala., on the 28th of January, 1815, and was admitted to the bar of that State in 1841.
In 1846 he emigrated to Texas and located at La Grange. In 1849 he was appointed, by Governor Bell, Attorney-General of the State, and from that time made Austin his permanent home. He served as a representative from Travis County in the Leg- islature in 1851 and again in 1858. In 1856 he was a presidential elector on the Buchanan ticket and in 1859 was elected to a seat in the United States Con- gress, as an independent candidate, in opposition to Gen. T. N. Waul, the regular nominee of the Demo- cratic party. He was a strenuous opponent of the policy of secession and retained his seat in Congress after the other members from the seceding States had returned to their constituencies. He returned to Austin in the latter part of 1861 and was made the Union candidate for the State Senate, to which he was elected, but Texas had now cast her lot with the Confederacy and he declined to take the required oath of office.
In 1862, being still opposed to the purposes and progress of the war on the part of the South, he left the State and, making his way through Mexico, re-
paired to the city of Washington and was immedi- ately appointed Brigadier-General of the Texas troops in the Union service.
In 1865 he was made provisional Governor of Texas by President Johnson, as the most suitable person he could find in the State to effect his con- servative plan of reconstruction. In this position he greatly endeared himself to the people of the State irrespective of party affiliations. Crushed down in the dust of defeat and disfranchised they had reason to expect that they would be subjected to misgovernment and to such outrages as a knowl- edge of history taught them that a conquered people might expect. Some remarks contained in a speech delivered by Mr. Hamilton on landing in Galveston still further intensified their apprehensions, but to their surprise and to his lasting honor, he seemed to lose sight, upon assuming the duties of the Gover- nor's office, of the fact that he had been compelled to leave the State for opinion's sake and only to re- member that he had sworn to faithfully discharge the duties of the trust confided to him and to as specdily as possible bring about the complete rehabilitation of Texas as a State of the American Union. His administration was charac- terized by honesty, ability and patriotism, and even
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