USA > Texas > Indian wars and pioneers of Texas, Vol. 2 > Part 9
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He is manager of the Sehmacher _Oil Company and has extensive landed interests; in the Brazos Valley in Grimes County.
Mr. Horloek has been twice married, in 1872 to Miss Ella Lyon, of Evansville, Ind., who died in 1876, leaving one son, Robert, and a daughter,
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Emma, and in 1877 to Miss Agnes White, of New Orleans, who has born him seven children, viz. : Agues, Effie, Ida, Arthur, Gladys, Naniscah and Henry.
Mr. Horlock is a member of the K. of P. Uni- formed Knights and Knights of Honor fraternities and is an officer with the rank of Colonel on the staff of Gen. Hopkins, in the U. R. K. of P.
GEORGE H. DUNN,
WHEELOCK.
His father, Capt. James Dunn, and mother, whose maiden name was Miss Isabella Caufield (natives of Ireland), sailed from Belfast to America early in the present century ; after a brief residence in South Carolina, settled in 1815 in Alabama, where they lived until 1832, when they started for Texas, reaching the Irish settlement in Robertson's Colony known as " Stagger Point " in January, 1833, and shortly afterwards moved to Wheelock's prairie, where the following year Capt. Dunn loca- ted a headright, the first of the kind made in that section. Here he built a log-house which became the nucleus of a frontier settlement. In 1837 his house was fortified and armed, and be- came a place of considerable importance, the land- office, Court of the Alcalde, etc., being located there. During his twenty years residence in Texas, he was engaged mainly in locating lands and became the owner of large bodies of "wild land " and great numbers of cattle. He died in August, 1852. His wife survived him eleven years, dying in August, 1863. They had four children who reached maturity. Mary (twice married, first to Felix Robertson, and after his death, to David Love), James (who served in early days against the Indians and died in Navarro County, in 1865), George HI. (subject of this sketelt). and Catherine A. (who married Joseph Cavitt and is now deceased). George II. Dunn was born in Green County, Ala., September 30, 1824; and was mainly reared in Robertson County, Texas; was brought up in the saddle and at an early date was one of the best known stock-raisers in Eastern or Central Texas; inherited large landed and cattle interests from his parents and through his untiring energy and thorough knowledge of the business soou forged to the front as the leading cattleman in bis
section; was commissioned by the Confederate Government, with the rank of Captain, to purchase cattle and forward them to the soldiers at the front, and during the war between the States disbursed thousands and thousands of dollars in this service ; during his active business career, which continued until a number of years ago, when he sold his cattle and invested all of his means in land and good securities, his cattle roamed over a dozen counties and he effected many large sales, ranging from $20,000.00 in one instance to $90,000 in another. It would have been impossible for him to have handled this volume of business alone, as he had no educational advantages. He found a valuable assistant in his wife; Mrs. Nancy J. Dunn, who took charge of the clerical end of his business affairs. She was a daughter of Judge Samuel B. Killough (mention of whom will be found elsewhere in this volume ) and was born in Robertson County, Texas. She was united in marriage to Capt. George H. Dunn, February 24th, 1861. Thirteen children were born of this union: Mary Ann, James Black- burn, Isabella (who married M. C. Armstrong and died December 9th, 1892) ; Josephine (wife of T. A. Sims of Robertson County ) ; Willie, wife of Rev. John H. Jackson); Sallie E. (wife of Marsh Mitchell of Wheelock ) ; George R. , John C., Annette Woodward (wife of Wm. G. Curry of Wheelock) ; Samuel R. Nancy J., and twins Ida and Ada. Mr. and Mrs. Dunn have twenty grandchildren living.
Both Capt. and Mrs. Dunn are members of the Methodist Church.
Capt. Duun was a member of the Masonic fra- ternity for many years, joining the order in Wheel- ock, where he held a membership as long as the local lodge remained in existence.
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J. Q. YARBOROUGH.
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INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
B. H. AHRENBECK,
NAVASOTA.
Mr. Ahrenbeek was born and reared in Hanover, Germany, whence he emigrated to America in 1855, landing at Galveston in November of that year. He settled on Spring Branch in Harris County, where he resided two years, and then moved to Hempstead. In 1867 he moved from Hempstead to Navasota, his present place of residence. Mr. Abrenbeck learned the milling business in Ger- many ; but, on coming to this country, for lack of employment at his trade, worked as a wagon- maker. He built a flour-mill at Navasota in 1877; but, after a short and unprofitable run, shut it down, and resumed work as a wagon-maker. In 1891 he again went into the milling business, which
he has since followed. Mr. Ahrenbeck was accom- panied to this country by his brother Charles, and they were always associated together in business until the latter's death September 23, 1885. Both were competent mechanics, and struggled hard during their early years in Texas to secure a foot- hold. Their efforts were finally rewarded with success. They built up a good trade and secured a first-class standing in the community where they lived. Mr. Abrenbeck is one of the leading citi- zens of Navasota, a man of means and is highly respected.
He married Mrs. Weston, of Grimes County, in 1869, but has no children.
JAMES QUINCY YARBOROUGH,
GRIMES COUNTY.
Col. James Quincy Yarborough, son of Alfred and Mary Yarborough, was born in Coosa County, Ala., September 8, 1827, and was reared in Marengo and Sumter counties in that State, growing up on his father's farm, where his boyhood and youth were divided between the duties and sports of the farm and his attendance at the local schools. His op- portunities for obtaining an education were good and he availed himself of them. At about the age of twenty-one he married and began life as a planter upon his own account. He engaged in planting in his native State until the death of his wife in 1852, when, unsettled by that event and filled with a desire to try his fortunes in the new West, he went to California in 1849 where, however, he remained only a short time, returning thence to Alabama. In 1859 be came to Texas, settling at Apolonia, in Grimes County, where he was residing at the opening of the late war. He entered the Confederate army as a member of Company II., Carter's Regiment, with which he served in Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana until the elose of the strug- gle. Ilis services were rendered in the capacity of a private, but the title of "Colonel," which he subsequently bore, was not a purely honorary dis-
tinction, as he was Colonel of the State Militia in Alabama previous to his removal to Texas, and took an active part in military matters in that State.
After the war, in 1869, Col. Yarborough became associated with Lewis J. Wilson and W. R. Howell, under the firm name of Wilson, Yarborough & Co., and embarked in the mercantile business at Ander- son, Apolonia, and Navasota, in Grimes County, and at Madisonville, in Madison County. This partnership lasted until 1875, when Col. Yarborough disposed of his interest, and subsequently engaged in business on his own account in Navasota. Later he moved his business to the present station of Yarborough, on the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railway, ten miles from Navasota, and there followed merchandising and farming until his death. He met with more than ordinary suc- cess both as a merchant and planter and left a handsome estate. He was entirely devoted to business, never holding any public positions and taking only such interest in politics as good citizen- ship required. When occasion demanded, how- ever, he never hesitated to go to the front in every movement and he always displayed in public mat- ters much of the same spirit, energy, and enterprise
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INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
which brought sueb pronouneed sueeess in his own undertakings. He was especially aetive in securing the extension of the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railway through Grimes County and gave to the company the grounds on which the station of Yar- borough is situated to which he added a bonus of $2,000 in cash to aid in the construction of the road. Whatever tended in any way to stimulate industry, to inerease the value of property or build up the community, found in him an intelligent and cordial supporter. In polities he was a staunch Demoerat, adhering strictly to the principles and traditions of the party. He never asked office for himself but always stood ready to assist with his means and personal efforts those who were honored as standard bearers of the party, and in his quiet but vigorous way did good service for the men and measures of his choice. Col. Yarborough was a man of strong likes and dislikes. There was not the slightest traee of the compromise element in his nature. He always took sides and sought in every legitimate way to carry his point. If he pro- fessed friendship for one he was ready to testify to that friendship in a substantial way, and if any one ineurred his displeasure he did not hesitate to let the faet be known. He was of a retiring disposi- tion but did his own thinking, acting vigorously and promptly as oceasion demanded. He was of genial nature, affable to his friends and easily approsehed
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by strangers. Persistent in what he believed to be right or expedient, he never abandoned his matured opinions at the suggestion, or as the result of the opposition of any one. He joined the Masons in Alabama previous to his removal to Texas, and was a liberal contributor to every worthy purpose.
Col. Yarborough was three times married and left surviving him ten children. His first marriage occurred in Alabama and was to Miss Mary A. Parham. a native of that State and a daughter of Mathew Parham, a respectable and well-to-do planter. The issue of this union was one son, the present Mathew Parbam Yarborough, of Navasota. His second marriage oeeurred in Texas and was to Miss Alice Scott, a daughter of Judge James Scott, of Grimes County. Three children were born of this union, viz., Mant, now Mrs. Tom Owen, Alfred, and Jas. L. Yarborough. His last marriage took place in Florida and was to Miss Fannie A. Milton, a native of Marianna, that State, and a daughter of Governor John A. Milton, who served in the Florida Indian wars and was Governor of the State during the war between the States. The six ehil- dren of this union are : Earle II., J. Milton, Martha E., Virgil H., Guy and Huuter.
Col. Yarborough's death occurred December 23, 1890, and called forth many expressions of sorrow from the people of Grimes County, to whom he was well known and by whom he was greatly respected.
LEWIS J. WILSON,
NAVASOTA.
Was born in Harwinton, Litchfield County, Conn., December 12th, 1832. While an infant his parents moved to Marion, Ala., where they resided until he was fourteen years old, when he was sent North to complete his education, where he remained until he was nineteen years of age.
Mr. Wilson came of an old Connectieut family, one that has long been prominent in the history of that State. His father, Samuel Wilson, a merchant of large means, moved from Connecticut to Marion, Ala., in the carly 30's and there engaged in the mercantile business until. 1851, when he eame to Texas and established a business at Ander- son, in Grimes Conuty, in copartnership with Chester M. Case, under the firm name of Case & Wilson. The son, Lewis J., came out to Texas iu Mr. Wilson and his partner, Mr. Yarborough, soon
1852, took the position of bookkeeper and general manager for the firm and, later, acquired a pro- prietary interest in the business. Mr. Lewis J. Wilson served as a member of Capt. J. R. Alston's Company, Twenty-first (Carter's) Regiment of Texas Cavalry for two years during the war between the States, and was then honorably discharged from active service in the field on aceouut of physical disabilities. Returning to Anderson, he was soon after made chief clerk in the ordnance department at that place, remaining nutit the war was over. Immediately after the war he began merchandising in his own name. In 1866 he associated himself with Col. J. Q. Yarborough and, in 1869, Mr. W. R. Howell was admitted to a partnership in the firm.
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INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
after moved to Navasota and opened up a general mercantile business, leaving Mr. Howell in charge of the business at Anderson. In 1875 Mr. Yar- borough withdrew from the firm and the business was continued by Wilson & Howell for six years. Mr. Howell afterwards retired and Mr. Wilson con- tinued the business up to his death. In May, 1890, Mr. Wilson in connection with his son-in-law, Mr. Gibbs, established the Merchants' and Farmers' Bank at Kosse, in Limestone, County, a private concern which has done and still continues to do a good business.
In the year 1858 he was married to Miss Lucy Perkins, of Harwinton, Conn., who still survives him. The result of this union was two children, Lanra and Sam. Miss Laura married Mr. Blake Gibbs, and is now a widow, Mr. Gibbs having died February 1st, 1891. Sam, who was married to Miss May Matthews, of Navasota, Texas, died July 10th, 1893.
Mr. Wilson died at his residence in Navasota, dur- ing the morning of March 8th, 1895, after an ill- ness of only twenty-four hours. For several months . miss his familiar face."
Mr. Wilson had been in bad health, although able to make almost daily visits to his business office. In the morning previous to his decease he was stricken with apoplexy. He remained in an un- conseious state from that time until 4 o'clock a. m., March 8th, when he quietly passed from earth, through the valley of the shadow of death, into the bright beyond. A friend writing of him says : -
" Mr. Wilson was distinguished for his elose application to business and strict integrity. Those who knew him best and were most closely associa- ted with him in business, knew him as an honest man, and unassuming, modest gentleman. Less than a year previous to his death he embraced the religion of Christ and united with the Presbyterian Church of Navasota. The sincerity of that profes- sion is best attested by those who saw his daily life and heard his conversation. His regular attend- ance on all the services of the sanctuary was to his pastor and all true Christians a fitting evidence of his interest in divine things, all of whom will sadly
NORVAL C. WILSON,
COLORADO COUNTY.
Norval C. Wilson was born in Lewisburg, Greenbrier County, Va, October 2, 1837; moved to Texas with his parents, Hugh and Adeline P. Wilson, in 1846, and settled in Colorado County; entered the Virginia Military Institute, at Lexington, Va., in 1851, and graduated from that institution in 1858 ; served in the Confederate army as Lieutenant in Brown's Regiment of Texas Cavalry during the war between the States, and returned to Texas after the surrender; engaged in farming at the old farm-place in Colorado County and now owns a fine farm consisting of three hundred and fifty acres of bottom land and one hundred acres of
upland. Mr. Wilson's father died in June, 1857, and his mother in June, 1885. September 25, 1865, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Miss Mollie E. Sanford, daughter of Maj. John A. San- ford, of Tyler, Texas. Three children have been born to them: Della, wife of B. F. Moore, of Glidden, Texas ; Bessie, wife of W. J. Wright, of Colorado County, Texas, and Hugh, who lives at home with his parents. Mr. Wilson is an enter- prising and public-spirited citizen of Colorado County and few men in that section have so large & number of warm friends and admirers.
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INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
JOHN WAHRENBERGER,
AUSTIN.
If the early settlement of Texas, the final aceom- plishment of her independence, and the founding of a splendid commonwealth is due to only one par- tieular cause, it is certainly due to the resolute and determined character of her pioneers. The real pioneers of Texas were not as a rule adventur- ers, but men and women born and raised amid civilizing influences in law-abiding communities of this and foreign lands, and it was the future possibilities of the Lone Star Republic, the promise of rewards for honest and well-directed labor, that enticed them hither. They came to acquire homes, rear their families and reap for themselves the blessings of free government. The permanent set- tlement of many of the fairest portions of Texas was accomplished by the organized influx of people from the German Empire and kindred peoples. A majority of them were practically without means. Their only capital consisted, in the main, of stout hearts, strong constitutions and a spirit of adapt- ability which collectively proved the very best capital they could possibly have brought with them to a frontier country. After Texas had acquired her independence and assumed the dignity of a Republic, she attracted widespread attention and heavy accessions to her population. Antedating that period, settlements had been made chiefly in the Gulf-Coast country and along the Lower Brazos river ; but, after the location of the permanent seat of government at Austin, the tide of settlement drifted in that direction, and among those who became identified with the young and growing city was the subject of this sketch. John Wahrenberger was of Swiss parentage. He was born in Switzerland, the most romantic and picturesque of all countries, in the month of April, 1812.
Possessed of a restless and ambitious nature, he left his native home when a youth and went to Italy. There he learned the baker's trade. The condition of affairs in that then distracted country did not suit his ambitious purposes, and he, ac- eordingly, in 1836, emigrated to America, landing at New Orleans, where he found employment with a French wine importing house. He remained in New Orleans about five years, and in 1841 came to Austin. This was during the exciting early days of the Republic, and the lively interest with which he entered into local affairs made for him many friends, and he soon became popular with
the people, and familiarly known to them as "Dutch John." Upon his arrival in Austin he engaged on a modest scale in the confectionery, bakery and grocery business. In 1850 he erected a two-story building on the southeast corner of Congress avenue and Seventh street, and two years later occupied it. This was at that time one of the most pretentious buildings in the town. He prospered financially from the time he first opened his establishment.
May 10th, 1818, he was united in marriage by Chief Justice Cummings to Miss Caroline, a daugh- ter of Charles Klein, a Texas pioneer of Swiss nativity, and a citizen of high respectability, who still survives, a venerable resident of Austin.
Mr. Klein reached Texas on Christmas day, 1846, with his family. Placing his two daughters in an English school in Galveston, he, with his wife and son, Arnold, proceeded by ox-teams to Austin. He has been an active and reasonably successful business man. His first wife, the mother of his children, was Barbara Schubiyer, a daughter of a Swiss farmer. Of her children, besides Mrs. Wahrenberger and Arnold, there still survives Albertine, widow of the late Jacob Steussy. Mr. Wahrenberger's early residenec in Austin was fraught with many of the exciting experiences so common to those unsettled times. The country was as yet full of hostile Indians, who took every opportunity to raid the town or lurk in waiting by the roadside to waylay unsus- pecting travelers. On one occasion, when on the way to his home, he narrowly escaped death from an Indian's arrow. A sack of meal which he car- ried on his shoulder received the deadly missile and saved his life. \ second shot crippled his arm, however, for life.
Mr. Wabrenberger was in the " Archive War." While on a business trip down the country about sixty miles he overheard a discussion about the contemplated removal of the archives. He had no horse or conveyance and therefore walked back to Austin to give the alarm. When he reached town the deed had been accomplished and he, with others, pursued the party intrusted by Gen. Houston with the task of removal and compelled it to return the archives to their old place in the public build- ings at the capital.
He was a busy, industrious, frugal man, pos-
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MRS. WAHRENBERGER.
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INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
sessed a warm heart and benevolent nature, and many are the quiet and becoming charities that, in his modest way, he dispensed.
Ile died March 9, 1864, on his farm, whither he had retired with the hope of renewing his impaired health.
Mrs. Wahrenberger took up the reins of business and has distinguished herself in Austin for her executive ability. She has done more in the way of substantially building up the business streets of Austin than any other woman, besides improving some niee pieces of residence property. After the death of her husband, she, with her family, so- journed in Europe about four years for the pur- pose, chiefly, of finishing the education of her chil- dren. Her son, now a prosperous architeet at San Antonio, was graduated from a polytechnic insti- tute at Carls Rhue, Baden, Germany, and the daughters attended a private seminary at Zurich.
To Mr. and Mrs. Wahrenberger were born five children : Elizabeth, deceased ; James, before men- tioned; Bertha, deceased; Josephine, wife of William Cullen; and Mary, widow of the late Ernest Leuferman.
Mrs. Wahrenberger has, to a very great extent, carved out her own fortunes. She is possessed of keen business discrimination and abilities and, withal, finds time for much charitable and benevo- lent work. She was one of the first promoters and organizers of the German Relief Society and has for many years served as its president and execu- tive head. The benefactions of this organization are legion and have had a wonderfully uplifting influence in Austin among the poor.
Mrs. Wahrenberger is esteemed throughout the community for her many excellent qualities.
She is rightfully regarded as one of the mothers of Austin.
FELIX G. ROBERTS,
NAVASOTA,
Is a son of Elisha and Patsy (Gill) Roberts, the former of whom was born on the Holston river in East Tennessee in 1775 and the latter in Bedford County, Va., some time near 1780. Both went to Kentucky after attaining their majority and there met and in 1800 were married. In 1801 Elisha Roberts visited Texas, then a dependency of the Spanish Crown, making his way as far as the Trinity river. Returning to Kentucky he settled in Barren County, where he lived until 1811, when he moved to Washington Parish, La. There he resided until 1822, when becoming again smitten with the "Texas fever," he came out and took a second look at the country and this time decided to settle in it. He prospected in the vicinity of Ayish bayou, in the eastern part of the State, and, having purchased what was known as an improvement from William Elam, about four miles from San Augustine, moved and settled there in 1823. As time passed he bought other "improvements " as they were offered for sale, and finally, when the lands came into market under the Mexican colonization laws, located a headright and established a considerable plantation, for that day, four hundred aeres being put under cultivation. His house, fronting on the public highway coming into Texas, was frequented by
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many overland travelers, and was known far and wide. He died there October 4, 1844, and his widow in December, 1845. He never performed any military service in Texas, but was a soldier in the War of 1812-14, between the United States and Great Britain ; held some minor civil offices while residing in Louisiana and served for a number of years as Alcalde under the Mexican government after coming to Texas.
Nine children, six daughters and three sons, were ยท born to him and his beloved wife, viz. : Annie, who married Bryan Daugherty and settled on Mill creek, in Austin County, this State, where she died and her descendants now live ; Elizabeth, who married William D. Smith, settled in Sabine County and died in the town of San Augustine ; Easter J., who married Philip A. Sublett, and lived in San Augustine until the time of her death; Matilda F., who was three times married, her second hus- band, Sam. T. Allen, was murdered by Indians in the famous "Surveyors' Fight," in Navarro County ) ; William G., who died at Miami Univer- sity, Oxford, Ohio, when a young man ; Noel G., who settled six miles from San Augustine, where he died ; Mahala L., who married a Mr. Sharp and, after his death, a Mr. Hall, and died in Houston
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County ; Felix G., the subject of this memoir, and Margaret S., who married Alexander S. MeDoland, of Huntsville, and died in Houston of cholera.
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