USA > Texas > Indian wars and pioneers of Texas, Vol. 2 > Part 8
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vested largely in cattle and sheep-raising. By suc- cessful business management he has acquired val- uable property interests in town and country, the latter consisting of many thousand acres of fine farm and ranch lands. In 1894 he erected the handsome stone Lumpkin block at Meridian, the most imposing structure of the kind in the city, and has always been an active and liberal promoter of every enterprise and movement designed to accel- erate the upbuilding of the place and surrounding country. January S, 1878, he was united in mar- riage to Miss Ida E. Fuller, daughter of Moses W.
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Fuller, of Vermont, who settled at Meridian at an early day and was for many years a leading mer- chant there and at other Texas towns. She was edueated at Lockport, N. Y. She is a member of the Episcopal Church and a most elegant and ac- complished lady. Dr. Lumpkin is a member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Knights Templar degrees
in the Masonic fraternity, has held the highest offiees in his lodge and chapter and is now, and has been for many years, master of his lodge. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F. fraternity. He is strictly a self-made man, courteous, gentlemanly, enterprising and progressive, he has been a power for good in his seetion of the State. .
L. DE BONA,
EAGLE PASS.
The State of Texas has two distinet historical epoehs. The pioneers of the first period subdued the Indians and blazed the way for eivilization, and in a measure opened up the country, and later on came foreigners from other lands who took up the line of advancement and gave the wheels of progress another vigorous turn. These latter were the pioneers of the second or modern epoch, and the class to which Mr. De Bona, the subject of our sketel, belongs. The story of his coming and the suecess that has followed his labors in Texas teaches a lesson of thrift and enterprise that the present generation of young men may read with profit. Mr. De Bona was born in the south of Italy, July 6th, 1847. His father, Vincenzo De Bona, was a stock raiser and a thrifty man. When a mere boy our subjeet had a desire to aceomplish something for himself in the world and, accordingly, left home and went to Paris, France, where he learned the shoemaker's trade. This was when he was about fourteen years of age. He remained in Paris about five years, working in a shoe factory where there were about 3,000 operatives. He sailed from Paris to New York City, reaching his destination late in the year 1870. He remained in New York and worked at his trade until 1872 and then went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he stopped about eighteen months. He next went to Detroit, Michigan, and late in 1876 came to Texas and visited Galveston, San Antonio and other points. In 1877 he went to St. Louis, Mo., and from that place to Des Moines, lowa, and remained in Iowa about seven months and then returned to Texas, his health completely restored. He went to San Antonio and decided on a change of occupation, if possible. He had a small amount of money, about $160, with which he pur- chased a small fruit stand at the northeast corner of Main Plaza. It was an humble beginning,
but by close attention and obliging manners his little stock soon found willing purchasers at reason- able profit and the business increased and thrived. Mr. De Bona visited Eagle Pass, which was at that time attracting considerable attention as a rising town. This was in 1881. The iron horse bad not as yet arrived, but track for his coming was being laid. Mr. De Bona opened a small store at the then center of trade, put it in the hands of an acquaintance and returned to his business in San Antonio. Upon his next visit to his store in Eagle Pass his newly acquired partner was gone. He then deeided to loeate in Eagle Pass and acted almost immediately upon his decision. As compared with his now elegant es- tablishment, his first store was a very modest affair, but the same principles of fair dealing and dili- genee were adhered to and he, accordingly, suc- ceeded and gradually extended his business, adding new lines of merchandise as his eapital permitted and the growing wants of the public demanded. As Eagle Pass grew so did the fortunes of De Bona and he was found never sleeping. He has ever evinced a becoming spirit of enterprise and faith in the stability of his adopted town. He invested his money from time to time in Eagle Pass realty and its enterprises. In 1890 he built the most spacious, substantial and attractive business block in the city. He is one of the organizers and a director of the First National Bank of Eagle Pass. He was one of the promoters of the public water works system and to-day is its sole owner. Besides his mammoth grocery and provision store, he owns one of the best and most prosperous dry and fancy goods stores in the city.
Mr. De Bona is essentially a business man, and his success in life is entirely due to his own personal energy, abilities and shrewd financiering. He is a
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self-made man, having never asked or received aid from any one. His system of doing business is quite up to modern ideas.
He was one of the organizers of the Maverick County Bank, the first banking house established in Eagle Pass, and upon its reorganization as the First National Bank, of Eagle Pass, he became one of its directors and for a time served as its vice- president. He took an active part in the organiza- tion of the Texas & Mexico Electric Light Co., and served as its president for two years. He was foremost in the movement to put the Eagle Pass Telephone Exchange upon its feet, and there has not been a public enterprise of any kind proposed that
Mr. De Bona has not encouraged with his influence and means. He, in fact, might be truthfully called the " Merchant Prince" of Eagle Pass. His in- vestments in Eagle Pass are all of the beneficial kind. He owns the imposing Post-office block, besides several other substantial buildings. Eagle Pass owes her best buildings, her finest stores, her modern enterprises to the efforts, the thrift and the sagacity of Mr. I. De Bona, her popular citizen and in many things her benefactor. At the urgent solicitation of many of the leading citizens of Eagle Pass, we present herewith a lifelike protrait of L. De Bona, as a truly representative man of the town and section of the State in which he resides.
J. K. HELTON,
MERIDIAN.
Judge J. K. Helton, a sterling old-time citizen of Bosque County and the Nestor of the Bosque County bar, was born in White County, Tenn., August 12, 1817. His parents, Edward and Eliza- beth ( Knowles) Helton, were natives of Virginia. His father, although only a boy, served for two years in the Revolutionary War of 1776, under Gen. Anthony Wayne; moved to Tennessee with the early pioneers and there resided until the time of his death in 1846, his wife having preceded him to the grave thirteen years before. Judge IIelton, the subject of this notice, moved from Tennessee to Mississippi in 1835 ; in 1839 married Miss Lucinda Mabray, a native of Tennessee, and in 1842 came to Texas, settling in Harrison County, where he re- mained three years and then moved to Rask County where he engaged in farming until 1853. In the latter year he moved to McLennan County. In 1854 Bosque County was organized from part of Mclennan County, and his property falling within the limits of the new county, he was elected Justice of the Peace of Precinct No. 1 ; beld that office until 1861 and was made Chief Justice of the county ;
served in that capacity for five years and in 1866 was removed from office by Federal authorities ; under the constitution of that year was elected to the newly created office of County Judge ; filled that position for one year and was again ousted by military force ; in 1867 was admitted to the bar and at once began practice ; in 1873 was elected to the lower house of the State Legislature, and at the same election was also elected County Judge (again at that time called Presiding, or Chief, Justice ) and held both offices untll 1876. The constitution adopted by the people that year, changed the title from Presiding Justice to County Justice, and he was again elected to the office and served two terms, and in 1880 voluntarily retired from official life.
He moved to Meridian in 1874 and is engaged in the active practice of his profession here. His wife died January 2, 1880, leaving eight children, six of whom are now living. He is an earnest member of the Masonic fraternity and has belonged to and served as master of a number of lodges.
Hle has been a life-long Democrat and is an active and effective party worker.
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.INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
C. W. TIDWELL.
MERIDIAN.
Charles W. Tidwell, County Clerk of Bosque County, was born in Limestone County in 1863.
His parents, John W. and Frances R. (McGee) Tidwell moved from Mississippi to Texas in 1853 or 1854, settling first in Cherokee and then in Lime- stone County, where they resided until 1875, when the family moved to Bosque and bought a farm in the northern part of the county.
Mr. John W. Tidwell died in 1878. His widow is still living.
Charles W. Tidwell completed his education by a commercial course at Bryant & Stratton's Busi- ness College, at St. Louis, Mo. ; on leaving school,
in 1885, he accepted a position as salesman in a store at Iredell, Texas, which he continued to fill until elected County Clerk of Bosque County, in 1892. He was renominated in 1894 and easily re- elected at the polls, owing to the excellent record he had made as a county official. He was united in marriagein 1886 to Miss Rebecca Mingus, daughter of Mr. J. Mingus, an extensive merchant at Iredell. They have four children : Roberta, Jerry, Ruby and Winnie.
Mr. Tidwell is a member of the M. E. Church South, Masonie f fraternity, and Democratic party.
JAMES M. ROBERTSON,
MERIDIAN.
James M. Robertson, a prominent attorney of Bosque County, Texas, was born in Hunt County, Texas, October 25, 1854, the oldest child born to Eldridge B. and Malinda G. (Dragoo) Robertson. His parents were respectively natives of Tennessee and Missouri. His paternal grandfather moved from North Carolina to Tennessee at an early day, and was one of the first settlers of Nashville. The family is of Seotchi-Irish descent and emigrated to America in Colonial times.
Mr. Robertson's father came to Texas in 1815 and settled at Independence, in Washington County; hewed timber for the first cotton gin erected in that section, and shortly thereafter en- gaged in land surveying, which he followed until 1850, when he moved to Hunt County, where be located a headright and began farming, and two years later (June 1, 1852) married Miss Malinda G. Dragoo. He moved from Hunt to Bosque County May 3, 1856, and established himself on Hog creek, where he improved a farm and resided until his death, August 3, 1876. Mrs. Robertson is still living, a loved and honored inmate of the home of her son, James M. Robert-on, at Meridian.
The subject of this memoir was reared and edu- cated in Bosque County ; was elected County Sur-
veyor in 1878, and served one term of two years ; thereafter engaged in the real estate business at Meridian until 1889, and then, having read law at leisure moments, was admitted to the bar, and formed a copartnership with Mr. J. Jenkins. Mr. Jenkins died the following December, since which time Mr. Robertson has practiced alone. He has acquired large landed interests in Bosque County, and now enjoys a large and lucrative eivil and land practice in the various courts of the State. He has for years been an active Democratic worker, and has been a prominent delegate to county, dis- triet and State conventions. He is a Royal Arch Mason (now treasurer of the Masonie Chapter at Meridian), an Odd Fellow, and a member of the M. E. Church, South. October 2, 1879, he was united in marriage to Miss Lula Standifer, a native of Alabama, and a daughter of Mr. John H. Standifer, of Meridian, Texas.
Six children have blessed this union : Mary Ida, John E., James Monroe, Jr., Felix Hilton, Marvin HI., and Joseph Kay Robertson.
Mr. Robertson has already achieved distinction in his profession, and is destined to win fresh laurels in the future. He is the attorney for the largest corporations in his eounty.
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C. H. SILLIMAN.
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INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
CHARLES HERBERT SILLIMAN,
FORT WORTH.
One of Fort Worth's most prominent and influ- ential citizens is Mr. C. H. Silliman, president of the Chamber of Commerce, and manager of the Land Mortgage Bank of Texas (limited). He is a native of Monroe County, N. Y., born on the banks of Lake Ontario, on the 30th- day of January, 1852. His father, La Fayette Silliman, a native of the State of Connecticut, followed farm- ing until 1862, and then engaged in the manufac- ture of agricultural implements, as a member of the firm of Silliman, Bowman & Company, at Brock- port, N. Y. Subsequently he sold his interest in the manufacturing business to the Johnston Harvester Company, and is now a resident of Albion, Mich. He married Miss Caroline, daugh- ter of Samuel Porter, a well-known manufac- turer of Holly, N. Y., who, at his death, in 1880, at the age of ninety years, was one of the oldest Free Masons in the United States.
The father of our subject is a relative of the noted Professor Silliman of Yale College, and both the Silliman and Porter ancestors were Revolution- ary patriots, and among the original settlers of Connecticut.
Mr. Silliman spent much of his time while a boy, in his father's factory, receiving considerable prac- tical instruction in mechanics as applied to motive power. He attended the Brockport Academy dur- ing the school year ; always-spending his summer vacations in the country, on one of his father's farms, where the free, open air and exercise would remove any tendency of the physical system to an unhealthy development, and where his mental faculties could recover their normal vigor after a year of hard study. The Brockport' Academy, in 1865, was converted into a State Normal School, and young Silliman was a member of its second graduating class, delivering the first graduating oration in July, 1869, his subject being: " Men the World Demands." He then went to Albion, Mich., where his parents had removed, and there engaged in teaching in the intermediate department of the public schools. In 1871 he went to New Orleans, where he was appointed first assistant in Bw Fisk Grammar School, and afterward, in a competitive examination, was awarded the pro- frworship of natural sciences in the Boys' High school of that city. After filling the duties of that printou successfully until 1874, he resigned and
went to Santa Barbara, Cal., a desire to see the Pacific Coast country prompting the change.' Here he was for a year engaged as professor of mathemat- ics in Santa Barbara College. The following year he went to Oakland to fill a chair in the California Military Academy, then under the direction of the Reverend David McClure, the founder and proprie- tor. In 1877 he was elected assistant in the Boys' High School of San Francisco, a position he beld for four years, During this time Mr. Silliman took a complete course in Hastings College of the law, and in 1881 was graduated from that department of the University of California with the degree of LL.B., being a member of the first graduating law class of that institution of learning.
Resigning his position in the high school, he im- mediately entered a wider field of usefulness at San Diego, Cal., by engaging in the practice of the law, but finding that merchandising in that part of the State would afford greater opportunities for acquiring a competency, he temporarily abandoned the law and became managing partner of the firm of Francisco, Silliman & Company, which was succeeded later by that of Gruendike & Company. Mr. Silliman remained in business at San Diego until 1884, and then came to Texas to look after several tracts of land he had previously acquired in his trading enter- prises. While. investigating the inexhaustible re- sources of this State, he concluded that it would be a good field for a land business, and he accord- ingly opened an office in the Masonic Temple in Austin, Texas, being associated with John Mc- Dougall, an old Louisiana friend, who had a branch office at New Orleans. In 1885, Mr. Silliman went to England and succeeded in organizing the com- pany of which he is now the manager. Through his exertions, aided by his wife's relatives, sufficient capital was raised and the company was organized with Mr. Alderman, Benjamin S. Brigg, J. P., of Keighley, England, as chairman. The other direct- ors were the IJon. Harold Finch-Hatton, David MacPherson, Esq., Swire Smith, J. P., Joseph C. Wakefield, Esq., and William Woodall, M. P. Messrs. Smith, Payne & Smiths are the London bankers, and Alfred T. Jay is the London manager. The company organized with a capital of £500,000 of which only £11,000 was paid up when they began operations. The development of the busi- ness was rapid. Ample funds were offered as fast
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INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
as they could be profitably employed, and in four years' time the nominal capital was doubled. The company has confined itself exclusively to advance- ments on first mortgages of freehold real estates, not exceeding fifty per cent of their market value, and has been eminently and uniformly successful, paying satisfactory dividends to its stockholders, besides accumulating a reserve fund of £60,000.
From the inception of the company until the present time Mr. Silliman bas had the management of its affairs in Texas, and its uniform success, and the fact that it went through the panic of 1893 without the slightest inconvenience, refleets great eredit upon his executive ability as a financier. In 1889 Mr. Silliman removed his offices from Austin to Fort Worth, and since his residence there has been closely identified with the advancement of the " Queen City," and to his public spirit and liberal- ity is due to a great extent the reputation Fort Worth enjoys as a commercial and financial center.
In his capacity as president of the Chamber of Commeree he has labored heroically and unceas- ingly to secure for the city factories, railroads and otber industrial enterprises to employ labor, and has proven himself a tower of strength in eneourag- ing and aiding in the development of the city, her industries and institutions.
His interests are many, and he is an extremely busy man. Three times he has visited Europe on business in connection with his company. He is a shareholder in several of the national banks, of the Fort Worth Stock Yards Company, and is largely interested in Texas real estate. His worth as a progressive and enterprising citizen is fully ap- preeiated by his fellow-citizens, and few stand
higher than he in the esteem and admiration of all. He is a member of the various orders of Free Masonry, being a Past Master of Austin Lodge No. 12, and a past officer in the commandery, and the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, having re- ceived the thirty-second degree. He takes great interest in church work, being a deacon of the First Baptist Church.
Mr. Silliman was married on the 15th day of July, 1876, in the Church of the Annunciation at New Orleans, La., to the daughter of Benjamin Jaek- son, of Louisville, Ky. Mrs. Silliman's mother's maiden name was Swire, her people coming from Keigliley, Yorkshire, England.
Mrs. Silliman's home is known as the Somerville Place. It is situated on the bluff overlooking the Trinity river in the western part of Fort Worth, where he has recently erected one of the bandsom- est residences in the city. The residence is modeled after the colonial style of architecture, and is built of granitic pressed-briek, with stone trimmings, and is three stories in height. On the first floor are the parlors, library and dining-room ; on the second the sleeping apartments and billiard room ; while the third floor is almost entirely taken up by the art studio of Mrs. Silliman, who enjoys quite a local reputation as an amateur artist. The entire house is lighted by electricity and is heated by the most approved appliances. Artesian water is supplied by a deep weli located on the premises. The house is furnished in exquisite taste, and all in all is one of the most elegant and liospitable homes in Fort Worth, as will be attested by many at home and abroad who have been entertained within its walls.
ROBERT A. LOTT,
WASHINGTON,
Came to Texas in 1836, and crossed the Brazos river into the town of Old Washington, in Wash- ington County, December 25, of that year. He came hither from Mississippi but was a native of Florida, where he was born near the city of Talla- hasse, October 10, 1797. Two brothers, John and Jesse Lott, preceded him to Texas. John lost his life (killed by Indians) near Killum Springs, in Grimes County, about the year 1838. Jesse located at San Antonio, where he died late in the 60's.
Robert A. Lott located in Washington County, about four miles southwest of Washington, and in 1854 returned to the old town of Washington, where he kept a hotel and did a general merchandising business until the breaking out of the late Civil War, when he closed out his business. He took part in the Somervell expedition and was one of the Tex- ains captured at Mier. He drew a white bean at the hacienda of Salado and thereby escaped death at that place. Those who drew black beans were
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shot, pursuant to orders received from Santa Anna. He died January 3, 1861, at sixty-three years of age. He doubtless grew up in Florida in the stock- raising business, as he brought a band of fine horses with him to Texas. He married Susan C. Belin, January 17, 1828, who survived until February 28, 1895. She was eighty-four years of age at the time of her death. She was born May 29, 1812, and was the mother of eleven children, five of whom, at this writing (1895), are living, viz. : William R., Jesse B., James F., Laura L. (who is now Mrs. John C. MeKinney ), and Phrandius K.
Jesse B. Lott, son of Robert A. Lott, is a well-
known merchant of Navasota. He was born in Washington County, near the old town of Washing- ton, on his father's farm, April 1, 1842, and there grew to manhood. He learned merchandising in his father's store at Old Washington and there fol- lowed same until 1889, when he engaged in busi- ness for himself in Navasota, where he now resides and owns a large mercantile establishment. He married in Washington County, Miss Augusta L., daugliter of Col. Henry A. Lockett, a Texas pioneer of 1856.
Mr. and Mrs. Lott have three children : Jessie, Alice and Edward T.
ROBERT ALEXANDER HORLOCK,
NAVASOTA.
The subject of this sketch is one of Navasota's most enterprising citizens. He is a native of Alabama, born January 5th, 1849, in the city of Mobile, in that State. His father was of English and his mother of German birth. His father, John Horlock, was a ship-chandler by occupation ; estab- lished himself in Mobile in 1840 and came from that city to Texas in 1860 and located at Galveston, where he engaged in ship-chandelery at the corner of Twentieth and Market streets. IIis store was Que of the very few that kept open for business during the prolonged period covered by the war between the States, sustaining serious losses. He, in 1865, returned to England and opened a store in the city of Liverpool, taking his family with him. He, however, came again to Galveston and soon after his return there died in 1868. His wife sur- vived him until 1892. She died in Navasota. She reared seven children, three of whom are now living, viz. : Robert A., Mrs. T. C. Ogilvy and William, all of whom are living at Navasota. Mr. Robert A. Horlock was about twelve years of age when his parents moved from Mobile to Galveston The war broke out about this time, sebicols were closed and business disorganized. Young Hor- luck. although a mere lad, absorbed the spirit of the times, boarded a blockade runner in Galveston barbor, presented himself to the commander for duty and was enlisted as Captain's boy. He re- mained in service in this capacity until the fall of
Richmond and Lee's surrender and experienced all the excitements and adventure incident to this most hazardous feature of warfare.
The old blockade runner, the steamer Denbiegh, happened to be lying in Galveston harbor when the closing event of the war took place. News of Lee's surrender reached Galveston several days before the arrival of Federal anthorities at that port, but was immediately abandoned and her hull and boilers have since lain off Bolliver point, a land-mark often visited by local fishermen, who make large catches from its ruins.
Mr. Horlock went to England with his parents and returned to Galveston with them, where he was employed as buyer for a firm of hide and wool, deal- er's until 1870. He then spent one year in the bard- ware business on the Strand, and late in 1871, moved to Navasota, in Grimes County,"since which time he has been a conspicuous figure in the busi- ness development of that place. He is at the head of the firm of Horlock & Hawley (cotton ginners and manufacturers of ice), and is, also, senior member of the firm of Horlock & Schumacher, jewelers.
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