USA > Texas > Indian wars and pioneers of Texas, Vol. 2 > Part 39
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John W. Cranford, president pro tempore of the Senate of the Twenty-second Legislature, and chairman of the Committee on Finance in that body, although then scarcely more than thirty-one years of age, ranked as one of the most popular speakers and influential members of the Senate. In 1888 he was nominated and elected by the Democ- racy of the Fifth Distriet (composed of the counties " of Hunt, Hopkins, Delta, Franklin and Camp) to serve in the Twenty-first and Twenty-second Legis- latures. In the Twenty-first Legislature he was chairman of the Senate Committees on State Affairs and Engrossed Bills.
This year he was nominated for election to the House of Representatives of the United States Congress by the Democracy of the District so long represented by Hon. D. B. Culberson, and will be elected, no doubt, by one of the largest majorities ever given a candidate in that district.
In 1865 he came from Alabama to Texas with his father, who settled in Hopkins County, and soon thereafter died, leaving him, at a tender age, an orphan. Early compelled to encounter the stern realities of life, he . bent himself to the task of preparation for future usefulness, with a hopeful and courageous heart, and did well whatever his hands could find to do. As a consequence he had, in due time, both work and friends, and out of his earnings succeeded in securing a thorough classical education. An opportunity offering for him to
study law, he left school before completing the regular curriculum of the graduating class, obtained license, opened a law office in Sulphur Springs (where he still lives), and by devotion to his pro- fession and a determination to fight to the front, has succeeded in building up a fine law practice. Ile is considered a tower of Democratie strength in North Texas. He gratefully attributes his success in life to his noble and accomplished wife, nee Miss Medora Ury, of Sulphur Springs, to whom he was married in 1880.
In the Twenty-second Legislature he resigned the chairmanship of the Committee on Finance to accept the chairmanship of the Committee on Apportion- ment. He took a prominent part in the debates on the Railway Commission Bill, and other important measures, and added new and brighter laurels to his fame. He favored uniformity of text-books, and in a speech strongly advocated the use of Southern histories in the public schools of Texas. He received requests from all over the country for copies of his speech. Mr. Cranford was one of the foremost members of that galaxy of talent that adorned the Senate of the Twenty-second Legis- lature, and in the broader field upon which he is about to enter will no doubt soon take rank among the foremost of his colleagues.
In 1896 he received the nomination for Congress and was elected by & large majority over his oppo- nent.
JAMES W. SWAYNE,
FORT WORTH.
James W. Swayne was born at Lexington, Tenn., October 6th, 1855. His mother's maiden name was Miss Amanda J. Henry. His father, James W. Swayne, was an eminent lawyer and amassed a fine fortune during his years of practice at Lexington and Jackson, Tenn. He died at the latter place in 1856, and Mrs. Swayne moved back to Lexington with her family, where she died the following year. "The subject of this biography was educated at the
Kentucky Military Institute, and, in 1877, also graduated at the Lebanon (Tenn. ) Law School, and was admitted to the bar. He returned to Lex- ington, Tenn., and had a settlement with his guardian. That gentleman, before the war and during the carly part of the struggle, loaned large sums of money belonging to the estate, was com- pelled to receive payment in Confederate money, and little was left of the fortune bequeathed by Mr.
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Swayne's parents to their children. Although the share secured by Mr. Swayne proved barely ade- quate to pay the expenses incurred in securing an education, he refused to hold his guardian respon- sible for the losses sustained, and in January, 1878, went to Fort Worth, Texas, where he located, and commenced, without a dollar, the practice of his profession.
He was elected City Attorney of Fort Worth, and served during the years 1883, 1884 and 1885, and in 1890 was elected to the Twenty-second Legisla- ture from the Thirty-fourth Representative District, Tarrant County. He conceived the idea of build- ing a magnificent natatorium in Fort Worth, and owing to his efforts one was constructed, at a cost of $100,000, that is an ornament to the city and a credit to the State. Ile subscribed liberally in dona- tions to every railroad secured by Fort Worth, gave large amounts to and took stock in every valuable enterprise for years until financial reverses that no foresight could guard against hefell him during the commercial panic of a few years since.
Thirteen years ago Mr. Swayne landed in this State without a dollar, and with no hope of financial assistance. He determined to push bis way to the front, and with a buoyant, hopeful spirit at once started about the work of making his life honored and successful. He is engaged in practice with his cousin, ex-Congressman John M. Taylor, of Ten- nessee, under the firm name of Taylor & Swayne.
Mr. Swayne was married to Miss Josie B. Latham, at Terrell, Texas, October 6th, 1887. Richard Philip Latham, her father, was an A. M. of the University of Virginia, and president of the Tuscaloosa College until the beginning of the war, and then entered the Confederate army as a member of a civil engineering corps. He remained in this service until his death, occasioned by pneumonia, brought on by exposure. Her grandfather, Rev.
Joel S. Bacon, was president of Madison College, New York, and afterward, up to the time of his death, president of the Columbian College, Wash- ington City. Mrs. Swayne was a student at Vassar, and afterwards graduated with honor at the Uni- versity of Missouri. Governor Crittenden witnessed the commencement exercises, and Professor Fisher introduced her to him, saying that Miss Josie Latham was the best Latin scholar who ever gradu- ated from the University of Missouri - a high and well deserved compliment. She is one of the most accomplished ladies of Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Swayne have one child, a daughter, Ida Lloyd Swayne. Judge Noah H. Swayne, for years one of the judges of the United States Supreme Court, was an uncle of Mr. Swayne and Wagner Swayne (a member of the law firm of Dillon & Swayne, long chief solicitors for Jay Gould in his corporation properties ) is a cousin.
Mr. Swayne is a Master Mason, Past Chancellor of the Knights of Pythias, and a thorough-going Democrat ; one of the men to whose efforts is due Tarrant County's freedom from " dark lantern " rule.
In 1888 Isaac Duke Parker was nominated and elected to the Twenty-first Legislature on the Demo- cratie ticket. In 1890 we find Mr. Parker running on the Independent ticket (put forward by a branch of the Farmers' Alliance) against the regular Dem- ocratic nominee, Mr. James W. Swayne, who defeated him in Tarrant County by a majority of $,000 votes. In the prime of vigorous manhood, what Mr. Swayne has already accomplished has but tested his mettle and well breathed him for life's race, and no man can tell what goals he will touch before the coming of Nature's distant bed-time. He is one of the men whom difficulties can not discourage and who make their way to and maintain themselves at the front.
P. L. DOWNS,
TEMPLE.
The name of P. L. Downs is closely associated with the history of the founding and growth of Temple. He located there soon after the establish- ment of the town; but, not being able to get a building erected earlier, it was in February, 1882, when he and his brother, F. F. Downs, opened the
first bank in the then straggling village. The bank was known as the " Bell County Bank " - Downs Bros., proprietors. In connection with banking they also conducted an insurance, real estate, loan and rental business, and when, in 1884, the bank was nationalized, P. L. Downs personally assumed
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the management of the insurance, real estate, loan and rental departments and operated the " Down Bros. Ageney," which be conducted for a nauiber of years and placed in the front rank of similar institutions in the State. He had not, however, surrendered his financial interests, or ceased his active connection with the bank as a stockholder and director, so when, several years later, the bank demanded his services, he surrendered the active charge of the insurance, real estate, loan and rental business to others, to take the cashiership of the First National Bank, which position he continues to fill with ability, and with credit and profit to the institution.
The Church finds in him a liberal contributor and staunch friend. As trustee, steward and com- mitteeman, and in other positions, he has been an earnest, religious worker.
While quite prominent in the Grand Lodges of Ancient Order of United Workmen, Knights of Honor, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and other fraternal societies, in the Knights of Pythias, especially, he has always been a leading spirit.
In addition to enjoying all the honors the local lodge could bestow, he has for five successive years been Grand Master of the Exchequer of the Grand Lodge, then served a term as Grand Vice-Chancel- lor, then as Grand Chancellor. He is now ( 1806) Past Grand Chancellor, and a regular attendant upon the biennial sessions of the Supreme Lodge. He also bears a commission as Colonel of the Uni- form Rank K. of P. His administration of these offices marked an cpoch in the history of Pythian- ism in Texas and the growth of the order, and the
reforms and new ideas promulgated have given him a position as a Knight that will live as long as the order survives in Texas.
The local fire department, as well as the State Firemen's Association, owes much to his gener- osity and services.
As a member, officer or director of the Texas Life Insurance Company, Texas Real Estate Asso- ciation, Texas Bankers' Association, Texas Fire Underwriters' Association, and as a member of many other State organizations, he has ever been a strong supporter of home enterprises and local development. As an Alumnus of the State A. & M. College, he has been an industrious advocate of home education. He has at all times been one of Temple's most valuable citizens and a prime mover in legitimate enterprises looking to the advance- ment of the town's interests - a tireless and enthu- siastic worker. It is a well-known fact that this young man of affairs is one of the busiest men in the town, and contributes more of his time and abilities to the public weal and to the many insti- tutions and enterprises with which he is associated, than any other citizen of the place. He is a leading stockholder, director, or officer, in nearly every corporation or worthy enterprise in the city. Every enterprise ever inaugurated in Temple that has promised benefit to the town has received his sup- port. But, while he has occupied such an impor- tant place in the business progress of Temple, he has no less won for himself an enviable position in the estimation of the people of the State, as he has been identified with a number of movements look- ing toward the development of its resources and its upbuilding in various ways.
L. H. PARRISH,
CALVERT.
The Brazos Valley enjoys an almost world-wide reputation for the fertility of its soil and the extent and variety of its agricultural resources. The town of Calvert, county seat of Robertson County, is centrally located in this favored region, and by virtue of its fortunate situation and the enterprise and push of its leading business men has become one of the most prosperous inland towns in the State. There are few of its citizens, if any, who have done more for its upbuilding than L. IT. Par-
ish, the subject of this brief memoir. Ile was scarcely eight years of age when his parents lo- cated in Texas, and his life has since been spent here. Ile is a native of Tennessee, born near the town of Dresden, in Weekly County, that State. October 27, 1816.
ITis father, Isham Parisb, was a North Carolin- ian, born near the city of Raleigh, and a farmer by occupation, who removed to and located in Weekly County, Tenn., where he followed farming until
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1854, when he moved with his family to Texas, and located six miles east of Calvert, in Robertson County. Mr. Isham Harris brought with him a family of seven children, to whom four others were afterward added. He was a man of the old-school type, plain and conservative. He was a successful farmer, an upright and highly esteemed citizen, and one of the founders and chief supporters of the Methodist Episcopal Church in his locality. He relinquished the cares of business and spent the later years of his life in comparative retirement in Calvert. Hle died full of years and good works at his home in that place, in 1887, at sixty-eight years of age. His wife, whose maiden name was Frances Baxter, also a native of North Carolina, died a year later (in 1888), at sixty-five years of age. Of the cleven children born to them eight are now living, of whom L. H. Parish is the oldest. Few men in Texas have lived a more active, frugal and industrious life than L. II. Parish. In boy- hood, as the oldest son of a pioneer farmer, he learned some of the valuable and practical lessons of life. He was a beardless youth of fifteen years at the beginning of the late war between the States, but was among the first who responded to his country's call. JIc joined the Confederate army as a private in the Second Texas Infantry, Company E., and was elected Ser- geant. His regiment was called to the front and engaged in some of the hardest fought battles of the war, notably the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Chickasaw Bayou and hundreds of other minor engagements and skirmishes incident to a four years' service. He was at the long and fearful siege of Vicksburg, where his division of the Con- federate army was disbanded. During his four years of continuous service he received only a few
slight wounds and between the ages of eighteen and nineteen years he returned to Texas, still full of energy, courage and hope for the future and in the enjoyment of comparatively good health. He located at Marshall, in Harrison County, there engaged for five years in farming and then, in 1873, returned to Robertson County.
Since 1882 he has been the senior partner in the well-known firm of Parish & Proctor, doing an extensive and successful merchandising and cotton- shipping business at Calvert. During Mr. Parish's continuous twenty-four years business connection at Calvert he has identified himself with every movement tending to the development and advance- ment of the city and county, giving liberally of his time and means.
He is a stockholder and director in the Calvert Compress Company, President of the Farmers' Cotton Company, and a stockholder in the First National Bank of Calvert. Essentially a business man, he has never taken an aggressive intesest or part in politics. Once, somewhat contrary to bis wishes and tastes, he consented to serve a term as a member of the Board of Aldermen of his town.
Mr. Parish married, January 23, 1871, Miss Mattie Wilder, daughter of Judge Wilder, of Rich- mond, Ark. They have one son, S. W. Parish, born at Marshall, Texas, in 1872, and now a mem- ber of the firm of Parish & Proctor and also the owner of one of the best appointed thoroughbred Jersey ranches and dairies in Central Texas, sit- uated one mile east of Calvert.
Mr. Parish, as his father was before him, is a man of quiet and unobtrusive manners and enjoys the confidence and esteem of a wide circle of friends, acquaintances and business associates.
CHARLES M. ROSSER, M. D.
TERRELL.
Dr. Charles M. Rosser, of Terrell, Texas, was born in Randolph County, Ga., December 22. 1862. His parents were Dr. M. F. and Mrs. Julia A. (Smith) Rosser. His mother is a sister of Senator Hampton A. Smith, of Valdoster, Ga. His father was, in early life, a practicing physician, but later devoted his time and energies to the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, doing active work
in this field in Georgia and Texas for forty years, about ten years of this time serving as President of the Northeast Texas Conference. During the war he was Chaplain-Captain of the Georgia Forty-first Infantry for four years. He was taken prisoner at Vicksburg, but was subsequently exchanged. He is now, as he has been for twenty-seven years, au honored resident of Camp County, Texas. He is
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fifty-nine and his wife fifty-eight years of age. Of their eight children, the subject of this notice was the fifth born. Four others are still living.
Dr. Charles M. Rosser received a liberal educa- tion under that distinguished educator, Maj. John M. Richardson, rector of the East Texas Academie Institute. For several years he was engaged in teaching school, and at the same time studied med- icine under the direction of Dr. E. P. Becton, now Superintendent of the State Institution of the Blind at Austin. He attended the medical college at Louisville, Ky., first in 1884-85 and graduated there in 1888, at which time he was awarded Whit- sett Gold Medal by the faculty. Previous to his graduation lie was engaged in practice for three 4 years at Lone Oak, in Hunt County, and at Waxa- hachie, Texas. He went to Dallas in March, 1889, and has sinee been identified with the medical pro- fession in that city. The first year of bis residence at Dallas he was editor of the Courier Record of Medicine at Dallas, and the third year served as
health officer of the city. He is a member of the Dallas County Medical Association, the Northern Texas Medical Association, the Central Texas Medical Association, and the Texas State Medical Association. As a member of the latter, he was elected secretary of the section of practice in 1891, and chairman of the section of State medicine in 1892. Dr. Rosser married, September 11, 1889. Miss Elma Curtice, daughter of Mr. John Curtice, of Louisville, Ky. They have two children, Curtice and Elma. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity. Politically, he has always been an setive Democrat. He was appointed, by Governor C. A. Culberson, Superintendent of the State Asylum for the Insane, located at Terrell, a grace- ful recognition of his abilities and services as a physician, appreciated by himself and by his wide circle of friends in the learned profession of which he is a member.
H. M. HITCHCOCK.
GALVESTON.
Capt. S. M. Hitchcock first came to the island with his father, Capt. S. M. Hitchcock, who com- manded the brig " Potomac," in the year 1828, when there was nothing on the island except an old barge which was used as a Mexican custom-house. He and his father had to move their tent out to the sand hills to procure fresh water by digging.
He returned North with his father in that year and fitted out the schooner " Brutus"for the Texas navy, returned with her to Galveston and remained on her as an officer until 1837, when he resigned from the navy, went to Connecticut. where he was married to Miss E. Clifford, and then returned to the island, where he followed the profession of a pilot on Galveston bar until the time of his death, which oceurred on the 28th of February, 1869. He
was the first American custom-house officer at Gal- veston, served as Harbor Master at various times, and more than once was elected Mayor of Gal- veston. Besides following his calling as a seu pilot and connection with other business enter- prises during his long residence on the island, he owned stock in a number of the banking and insur- ante companies of the city and the Brazos Naviga- tion Company.
He was the father of four children, two boys and two girls, of whom the only one now living is L. M. Hitchcock, a prominent business man and highly respected citizen of Galveston. This gentleman still owns the old home, where his father and mother spent so many pleasant hours together, and around which clusters so many sacred memories.
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M. LASKER,
GALVESTON.
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Morris Lasker was born February 19th, 1840, at a small town ealled Jarocin, Province of Posen, in Prussia. His parents were Daniel and Rebeeea Lasker, both of whom died in their native country. Morris Lasker was eighteen months old at the time of his mother's death and lost his father during the cholera epidemic of 1852. Ile attended sehool until he was fifteen years old and at the age of six- teen emigrated to America on a sailing vessel bound for New York. The ship, after encountering storms and adverse winds, arrived at Fortress Monroc, Va., thirteen weeks after she left Hamburg, having been compelled to enter that port to obtain sup- plies, after her commissary was entirely completed. After disembarking he secured employment as a. elerk in a store at Portsmouth, Va., where he re- mained four months, then went from that place to New York. He earned a livelihood there as best he could up to 1857. In the financial panie of that year all of his little earnings were swept away. He was then induced by a distant relative, whom he met, to go to Florida and, after living a few months in Florida, he went to Georgia, where he carried on a mercantile business for three years, Not inceting with any extraordinary success and learning of the possibilities offered in Texas, he concluded to come to this State and arrived at Weatherford in the early part of 1860. At that time Weatherford was an extreme frontier town furnishing ample opportuni- ties for adventure, and there he engaged as a clerk in a dry goods store and participated in various expeditions against the Indians. Hle east his first vote at Weatherford, against seeession; but, after the State was carried for secession, joined a com- pany of rangers raised by Capt. Hamner to serve in Col. John G. Ford's regiment, which, with others, was raised under orders of the secession convention. These regiments first entered into the State service for frontier protection, but were soon mustered into the Confederate army at San Antonio. Ile participated in the battles which resulted in the recapture of Galveston and Sabine Pass from the Federals and in the breaking up of the blockade at both of these ports.
Ile also participated under Gen. Majors in the subsequent engagements in which his regiment took
part during the campaign in Louisiana that resulted in the defeat of Banks' army.
At the close of the war he embarked in mercantile pursuits, comparatively penniless, at Milliean, where he later formed a busi- ness connection with . Sanger Bros., who are now carrying on dry goods business at Dallas and Waco. When the Central Road was extending towards Dallas he entered business at Bryan and subsequently at Calvert, where he remained several years, doing a fairly successful business. He was then taken in as a partner by the wholesale grocers firm of Marx & Kempner, at Galveston, which firm he remained with but one year, entering in July, 1873, into business with Lonis Le Gierse, under the firm name of Le Gierse & Co., a firm which for years, and until the winding up of the business. carried on one of the most successful grocery busi- nesses in the city of Galveston and in the State. At the present time Mr. Lasker is president of the Island City Savings Bank, vice-president of the First National Bank, president of the Lasker Real Estate Association, president of the Galveston and Houston Investment Company, and president of the Citizens' Loan Company. In 1876 he married Miss. Nettie Davis, from Albany, N. Y., who came to Galveston, on a visit to her uncles, the Messrs. Heidenheimer. The marriage resulted in the birth of seven children, six of whom are living now, to wit: Edward, aged nineteen: Albert, sixteen : Harry, fourteen ; Florina, twelve; Etta, eleven ; and Lonla, nine.
Mr. Lasker was elected to fill an nnexpired term in the State Senate in 1895. He introduced and pushed through the Senate the bills regulating fish and oyster culture in this State, and also the bill known as the Drainage Bill. He was one of the chief supporters of Governor Culberson in the extra session called by him to suppress prize-fighting. He rauks as one of the leading and representative citizens of Galveston, and is considered one of the most thorough and successful financiers in the South. He has always believed in the future of Galveston, and few have done as much toward the upbuilding of that important port and Texas at large.
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MATTHEW CARTWRIGHT,
SAN AUGUSTINE.
It is a source of real pleasure to the author to preserve in this volume, containing as it does so many memorials of honored Texians who have passed away, his estimate of the services and worth of Matthew Cartwright, whose memory is revered by thousands of the older people of the State who knew and esteemed him. Texas never had a more upright or useful citizen.
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