USA > Texas > Indian wars and pioneers of Texas, Vol. 2 > Part 49
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
While living in San Patricio County, he and other pioneers were notified by a courier, who rode in hot haste from the settlement (consisting of two families, the Egrys and Waelders), situated near where St. Marys now stands, of an Indian outrage perpetrated at that place.
Jacob Craing, a little orphan boy employed by the Waelders, went out to a corn field (located on the side of a gully, distant only a few hundred yards from where Major Wood's palatial home is now situated), to stake his house and was captured by a party of prowling Comauches. Major Wood and companions knew that it was useless to strike the trail of the Indians and attempt pursuit and accord- ingly eut-in to the Tuscoosa, sixty miles distant, intending to attack the Indians at a crossing, sit- uated at a point on the stream in the present county of Live Oak. The men were on a knoll when, toward the middle of the afternoon, they saw the Indians advancing. The Texians numbered eleven men; the Indians probably a few more. The two parties were nearly evenly matched and the Texians would have intercepted and charged the Indians in the open country had it not been that a number of the men had neglected to fix their guns and some delay was caused in getting ready for the
687
INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
attack. The Indians succeeded in making their way into a dense thicket and separated in parties of two and three. Everything having quickly been placed in readiness, the Texians dashed into the mesquite and chaparral. Major Wood, as the party charged by, called to Jacob Craing: "Stay with the horses ! Stay with the horses!" The little fellow obeyed and stayed with the loose horses at the edge of the timber. Major Wood came upon two Indians in the brush and, when at close quar- ters, they opened on him a hot fire with their bows and arrows, to which he replied by impartially be- stowing upon each of them a load of buckshot from his double-barrel gun. Although badly wounded they continued to fire at him. His gun, like all the fire-arms of that period, was a muzzle-loader and he had no time in which to recharge the piece. He drew one of his holster pistols, intending to fire again, but knowing that the trigger was out of fix and that he would probably miss his aim and the Indians escape, he called to a companion who was passing and the man quickly dispatched the sav- ages. Three Indians were killed in the fight, sev- eral were wounded and forty or fifty stolen horses were recaptured. Two of the Texians were wounded and two of their horses were killed. The Texians who were wounded were in the rear of Major Wood. One of them bad his arm pinned to his side by an arrow and the other was shot in the leg and crippled for life. Jacob Craing, although a boy eleven or twelve years of age, had suffered so intensely from terror while a captive of the Indians that when res- cued he seemed to have forgotten his knowledge of English and only responded with a dazed stare when addressed in that language. When, however, Captain Snively spoke to him in German his face lit up with intelligence and he burst into tears and sobs. The strain on his nervous system had been too much for the little fellow and when the tension was relaxed he became so ill that it was feared he would die on the road to San Patricio. With the exception of those mounted by Major Wood and the boy, the horses of the Texians were broken down with travel and could proceed bat slowly and after consulting with Captain Snively Major Wood determined to push on with the lad to town, where medical assistance could be procured. Turning to Jacob, he said : " Whip up your horse, my little man, and let's ride to San Patricio." The boy obeyed. The excitement of fast riding revived him . and in a few hours he had completely recovered from his indisposition. He is now living in Bee County, where he has accumulated a competency and raised a family.
During the war between Mexico and the United
States Major Wood made frequent trips to Browns- ville for supplies and more than once witnessed the robbing of wagon trains by the soldier-banditti that infested the roads. These men did not hesitate to swoop down on unprotected trains and appropriate horses, wagons and goods, in fact, anything that excited their cupidity, aften despoiling the owners of their entire cargoes. Although he often came in contact with these bands and had experiences more interesting than amusing he was never se- riously molested.
During the war between the States he entered the Confederate army as a volunteer and served in Texas as a soldier and Major in the coast guards.
In politics Major Wood is a Democrat, but has never been a politician in any sense of the word. For fifteen or twenty years he served the people of Refugio as a member of the County Commissioners' Court, and made a faithful and efficient public officer. A few years since he became a member of the Catholic Church. He has donated to Nazareth Convent at Victoria 900 acres of valuable land ad- joining that town.
In Victoria, February 1, 1842, he was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Clark, a noble Christian lady, who, for nearly half a century, was his loved counsellor, friend, companion and devoted wife - rendering his home the abode of domestic happi- ness and love, lightening all his cares and filling his days and years with perennial sunshine.
In March, 1891, she died of heart failure at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Maria Carroll, at Victoria. Her death was a sad blow to her hus- band and children. Her memory is enshrined in the heart of him whose every thought during all their life-journcy concentrated around the desire to render her happy, and it will live and glow with fire supernal as long as the spark of life lingers in his breast and until the golden links of the severed chain are reunited on the shores of the ever beauti- ful river.
Maj. and Mrs. Wood had twelve children : Maria, Catherine, Richard H., Agnes, James, Cora, Tobias D., Ida, John, Willie, Julia and Marian.
Catherine, who was the wife of Henry Sullivan, of San Patricio, died in New Jersey, where she had gone in search of health, in July, 1867.
Marian, who was a nun of the order of the Iu- carnate Word in the convent at Victoria, died in February, 1890.
James died at Goliad, March 15, 1875, leaving a widow (nee Miss Mary Wilder ) and one child.
Agnes is the wife of Albert J. Kennedy of Bee- ville.
Maria is the wife of W. C. Carroll of Victoria.
688
INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
Cora is the wife of Peter Mahon of Victoria.
Julia is the wife of William C. George of Bee- ville.
Ida is a nun of the order of the Incarnate Word in the convent at Victoria.
Richard H. married Miss Cannie Howard at St. Mary's, and is now living at Rockport.
Tobias D., married Miss Mary Mahon of Victo- ria, and is living at that place.
John, living at Beeville, married Miss Milly Sul- livan, of San Patricio, who died in February, 1891.
Willie married Miss Nellie Bowlen, of Victoria, and now resides in that place.
Maj. Wood has twenty-five grandchildren.
By his fine business ability Maj. Wood accumu- lated an immense fortune, the bulk of which he has divided among his children, giving them fine starts in the racc of life. His remaining estate consists of 35,000 acres of fine land in Southwest Texas, 7,000 cattle, 600 or 700 head of horses, a number of fine mules, and valuable real estate in other parts of Texas. His elegant home fronts upon Copano Bay, affording a view unsurpassed in beauty, and is situated somewhat more than a mile from the quaint, sleepy, little fishing village of St.
Marys. It is fitted with every modern convenience, and here, surrounded by an excellent library, and receiving every attention from devoted domestics, he spends the greater part of the time during the autumn and winter months enjoying delightful quietude and in the summer months surrounded by a bevy of welcome guests.
He often visits the homes of his children, where the place of honor is always reserved for him by loving hands and where, seated by the ingleside, prattling grandchildren play about his knees.
HIc is a man of high intellectual force and a gen- tleman of that superb old school that has fow representatives left. He reminds the visitor at his hospitable mansion of the Louisiana planters of the olden time -- Chesterfieldian, generous, hospitable and brave.
As a young man he started without adventitious aids and has succeeded in all those objects, the at- tainment of which are worthy of ambition. He has manfully and successfully run life's race and now, surrounded by loving children and grand- children and hosts of friends and respected for his virtues by all who know him, he is enjoying in ease the calm evening of a useful and well spent life.
B. A. SHEPHERD,
HOUSTON.
The subject of this sketch, Benjamin Armistead Shepherd, was born May 14th, 1814, in Fluvanna County, Va., at the old home place established by his forefathers in the early days of the settlement of this country.
He passed his youth on the paternal cstate, in the meantime acquiring the elements of an educa- tion, till at the age of sixteen he entered a country store as cleik, laying the foundation of that busi- ness knowledge which was afterwards to make bim an accomplished merchant and banker. At the age of nineteen, in order to widen his sphere of ex- perience and usefulness, and to give scope to his budding ambition, he left the paternal home, and mounting horse, made his way to Nashville, Tenn., to seck employment in a new field.
Ile found a place in the establishment of Samuel Morgan & Co., and by close application and great industry succeeded in giving entire satisfaction to his employers. As a token of their esteem, when a
few years later he left them, they presented him with a fine gold watch which he carried till his death, often referring to the gift with the fond con- sciousness that he had, in his early days, as indeed ever after, performed the full measure of his duty.
From Nashville, in 1837, he moved to New Or- leans, where he obtained employment in a large commission house as bookkeeper, and here he remained till 1839.
During these years of commercial distress and ruin to the whole country, when credit was utterly destroyed, Mr. Shepherd gained an experience which made a deep impression on his mind, and which he never forgot. It made a naturally cautious and conservative temperament doubly cautious and prudent. When, in after years, tempting opportu- nities of speculative ventures presented themselves, his mind reverted to the events of the " panic of '37," when old-established and wealthy houses went down before the hurricane of financial disas-
689
INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
ter, and he chose the safer and surer course of building up his fortunes.
Removing to Galveston in 1839, he engaged in business with A. C. Crawford, under the firm name of Crawford & Shepherd, and this continued till 1841, when he moved to Houston, where he founded a business for himself, soon after admitting into partnership Mr. J. A. Burke. Under the firm name of B. A. Shepherd & Burke he continued in the mercantile business till 1855, when, disposing of his interest to his partner, he embarked in the banking business exclusively, thus founding the first house devoted solely to banking in the State.
He bent his energy and ability to building up and extending this business from the period of its incep- tion to the breaking out of the war, when, inviting his customers to withdraw their deposits, he retired from active pursuits until the war should end. But he had not confined his attention to his bank alone. He was largely interested in, and president of, a line of steamboats plying between Houston and Galveston before a railway was thought of between the two cities, and he was one of the projectors of the Houston & Texas Central Railway, and a mem- ber of its first Board of Directors. He also organ- ized a company for the purpose of building a plank road on the old Washington stage road, which had graded some distance when the Central Railroad acquired it and used it as its road-bed.
During the war, Mr. Shepherd's sympathies were aroused and sustained in behalf of the families of the Confederate soldiers left in needy circum- stances, and he contributed liberally of his means to such as he found most needy and deserving. The fact that his oldest son, the only one who was of age to join the army, had enlisted in the Fifth Texas Regiment (Hood's Brigade) strengthened his natural sympathy for the Southern cause, and he availed himself of every opportunity to exhibit it. He used to say that he had no heart to engage in business enterprises while his country was going through that terrible ordeal.
In 1866 he re-established his bank, under the firm name of B. A. Shepherd & Co., having admitted into the partnership A. Wattermack, who had been for many years his confidential clerk, and J. A. Shepherd, a nephew. In 1867, having acquired a large interest in the First National Bank of Houston, he merged the business of his private bank into that of the National Bank, and became its president, in which position he continued for the remainder of his life. But, notwithstanding this merge, the institution was known popularly as " Shepherd's Bank," and this name still clings to it amongst the older residents. Under his able management the
First National Bank of Houston grew and prospered, and was recognized as an important factor in build- ing up the business of Houston. The bank was B. A. Shepherd, and enjoyed the confidence and respect of the public, both at home and abroad. At his death the property passed to his family, who almost entirely own it and continue its successful management.
Besides the bank Mr. Shepherd acquired a large fortune, which he enjoyed modestly and sensibly, without the least ostentation. He was proud of his success in life, but not unduly so, attributing it to the interposition of Providence with becoming thank- fulness. In fact, long before he became a member of the Church he manifested characteristics which are commonly called Christian. Said a partner of his in early days: " Shepherd was the best natural Christian I ever met."
After a long, useful, and honorable life, he died December 24th, 1891, in the seventy-eighth year of his age.
Like the great majority of the pioneers of Texas, Mr. Shepherd was a man of strong character and individuality. Such qualities are necessary to those who, breaking away from the conventionalities of older civilizations, go forth to establish and build upon new foundations.
Perhaps the most pronounced trait of Mr. Shep- herd's character was his independence. He valued his fortune chiefly because it enabled him to feel and be independent. Having decided upon a course of action, because primarily it was right, he per- mitted the interference of no motives of policy in the attainment of the object in view. He pursued his aim careless of what others thought. He was accustomed to do what to him seemed right, or to avoid doing what to him seemed wrong, regardless of adverse criticism. A marked instance of this trait was his refusal to engage in the liquor traffic as a part of his business, when it was the universal custom of merchants in those early days to do so. Though large profits resulted from that character of trade, he was unwilling to avail himself of them. It was not in accordance with his conception of right.
Of his private charities many of the living can, and many of the dead, if living, could, bear witness.
He was accustomed to subscribe liberally to all charitable objects which appealed to his generosity. On his seventy-fifth birthday he endowed a fund, named the B. A. Shepherd Charity Fund, with $20,- 000, the interest on which is to be used for the benefit of the poor of Houston.
His integrity was unquestioned ; it was prover- bial. It is believed that no man who knew him or
44
690
INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
knew of him ever said that his word was not as good as his bond. He was upright and just, and his life was pure and clean. He used to say that he was prouder of his good name than of any suc- cess which he had achieved in other directions.
He was married in Galveston, October 29th,
1840, to Mary Hobson, who was born in Nashville, Tenn., February 28th, 1821, and died in Houston, February 20th, 1888.
The surviving children are: Mrs. A. P. Root, Mrs. O. L. Cochran, Mrs. W. H. Palmer, Mrs. M. L. Roberts, and Frank T Shepherd.
JOHN W. DARLINGTON,
TAYLOR.
One of the very few who participated in the stir- ring events of the Texas Revolution and the period of the Republic of Texas -one of the noblest of the veterans who remain among us - was born in what was then Harrison, Va., but is now Marion County, West Va., February 5th, 1821, of respected parents. He was the sceond child and only son of John W. Darlington, an Irishman, who came to Virginia from his native country when very young ; became an expert penman and successful school- teacher; was a soldier in the War of 1812-15; fought in the battle of New Orleans, and died in the prime of life. The wife of John W. Darling- ton, Sr., was Henrietta Lang, a daughter of Stan- bury Lang, a private in the Continental army during the Revolutionary War, and Lady Lang, a Scottish lady of respectable lineage. Mrs. Dar- lington was left a widow without means, and the little son was by custom and law bound out to earn bis livelihood and make his own way in the world. His master, an avaricious minn, imposed heavy tasks upon the somewhat frail youth and in various ways persecuted him. Young Darlington's proud spirit rebelled, and he left his master, and heard of and started for Texas. Carrying out the purpose he had formed, he traveled sixty miles into West Virginia, where he earned for a time his own living ; but being a minor, the law required that a guardian be appointed for him, and having met Mr. John Webster, he prevailed upon that gentleman to take him to Texas, and in return for that service sold his time to Webster until the expense incurred was repaid. They landed at Matagorda January 14, 1838. Webster located in Travis County, on Gille-
land creek, fourteen miles south of Austin, and was two years later killed by the Indians. Young Dar- lington worked out his debt. After getting his freedom he worked for a time as a laborer in the construction of the first Texas capitol and the de- partment log-houses in Austin, and remained around Austin until January, 1840. He saved some money, but by misplaced confidence lost it all. He took part in many Indian expeditions, was in the battle of Plumn Creek, in 1840, was in the expedition against Vasquez in 1842, and also participated in the battle of Salado, near San Antonio, in the fall of 1842, the Mexican General, Adrian Woll, hav- ing invaded Texas and captured the city of San Antonio. Mr. Darlington lived in Travis County until 1873, since which time he has resided in Will- iamson County.
He married, in 1843, Miss Ellen Love, in Rusk County, Texas. She is still the loved companion of his declining years. They have eight children. Mr. Darlington has passed twenty-three years in Williamson County and is now retired from active pursuits and living in the pleasant little city of Taylor. Successful in his financial affairs, he has aided all of his children to a start in life.
He is one of the venerated and loved citizens of his locality. He knew Gen. Sam Houston, Col. Brown and all of the leading men of early days. A member of the Texas Veterans' Association, it is a pleasure to him to mect at the annual reunions those who remain of his friends of the loved long ago.
May he and others like him be long spared to a grateful country.
691
INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
SAM. BRONSON COOPER,
WOODVILLE.
S. B. Cooper was born in Caldwell County, Ky., May 30th, 1850. His parents, Rev. A. H. and Mrs. Elizabeth Cooper, came to Texas in Decem- ber, 1850, and located at Woodville. His mother is still living. Mr. Cooper attended local schools and secured a common English education.
His father died in 1853, and the subject of this sketch was reared by an uncle, Sam. S. Frazer, who was very kind to him.
At sixteen years of age Mr. Cooper secured a clerkslip in a general store at Woodville, and soon displayed those qualities that have since made his life honored and successful. The war left his uncle old and without means. Mr. Cooper, out of his earnings, supported his uncle and mother. He read law at night for a number of years, was ad- mitted to the bar in January, 1872, and became a member of the law firm of Nicks, Hobby & Cooper. He was a member of this firm until 1876. In 1884 he formed a copartnership with John H. Kirby, now of Houston, Texas, and July, 1890, formed a copartnership with J. A. Mooney, with whom be is now associated in the practice of law at Wood- ville, under the firm name of Cooper & Mooney.
November 15th, 1873, Mr. Cooper was united in marriage to Miss Phoebe Young. They have four children : Willie C., Maggie H., Bird B., and Sam. Bronson Cooper, Jr.
Mr. Cooper was elected County Attorney of Ty- ler County in 1876, and was re-elected in 1878, and in 1880 was elected to the State Senate and re- elected in 1882, from the First District, Tyler County. He was elected president pro tem. of the Senate at the end of the Eighteenth Legislature.
He was appointed by President Cleveland Col- lector of Internal Revenue for the First Texas
District, with headquarters at Galveston. He held this office until 1887, when his district was consoli- dated with the Third District, and the senior Col- lector (Collector for the Third District) succeeded to the office.
Mr. Cooper is the author of the bill, passed by the Seventeenth Legislature, giving Confederate veterans 1,280 acres of land. He gave special attention to legislation affecting the disposition of the public lands. He advocated sales to actual set- tlers only ; the leasing of grazing lands for short terms, and sales of timber for cash, holding the fee in the State. He introduced and advocated a bill embodying these views, and the main features of his measure were enacted into a law.
Senator Cooper took an active and prominent part in all the legislation enacted by the Seven- teenth and Eighteenth Legislatures, and was con- sidered one of the brainiest men in those bodies. The reputation earned in the Legislature led to his nomination and election to the United States Con- gress in 1892. He was renominated and elected in 1894, and this year (1896) has been again honored by renomination and will undoubtedly be re-elected by his Democratic constituents. He has made a splendid record in Congress. Each new session has added to his laurels. His district ( the Second) and the State of Texas have reason to be proud of him. He is a Democrat who has stumped his sec- tion of the State in every campaign for years past. He is a Royal Arch Mason. Mr. Cooper is consid- ered one of the best lawyers at the bar in this State, is in the prime of a vigorous manhood, and will make his influence still more widely felt in the coming sessions of Congress, at which so much legis- lation in the interest of the people is to be enacted.
WILLIAM THOMAS HUDGINS,
TEXARKANA.
Mr. Hudgins was born in Northumberland County, Va., on January 15th, 1859. He comes from Revolutionary families of that State. His grandfather, Col. Thomas Hudgins, of Matth-
ews County, commanded the defense of the Vir- ginia Peninsula during the War of 1812. His maternal grandfather, Dr. William Heath Kirk, of Lancaster County, was a Baptist minister of great
ยท
692
INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
ability, known and loved throughout Virginia and neighboring States. His father, William Philip Hudgins (now of San Antonio, Texas), is a grad- uate of Bethany College and of the University of Virginia, and while a young Sergeant in the Fortieth Virginia Volunteers, was seriously wounded at Gaines' Mill, in 1862. He moved his family to Texas in 1865, and settled at Marshall, in Harrison County, where the subject of this sketch was reared.
Mr. W. T. Hudgins became a telegraph operator in 1873, and held a lucrative position with the Texas & Pacific Railway Company in 1875, when he resigned, at the age of sixteen, and matriculated as a student at Richmond College, Richmond, Va., from which institution he graduated as Master of Arts, with highest honors, in 1879. Upon his mak- ing a publie address at the commencement exer- cises of the College that year, Dr. J. L. M. Curry, then Professor of Moral Philosophy, afterwards president of the College, manager of the Peabody Fund, and United States Minister to Spain, wrote him a personal letter in which on behalf of the faculty of the College, he said: " All of us look forward with hopeful anticipations to your future career. You have wonderful powers of concentra- tion, a quick intellect, and a philosophie mind."
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.