USA > Texas > Indian wars and pioneers of Texas, Vol. I > Part 27
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The entire imprisonment of the survivors (some of whom being in advance, were not in the rescue and therefore not in the drawing) covered a period of twenty-two months. They were then re- lessed and reached home about the close of 1814.
In 1845 Col. Fisher married a lady of great
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worth, but soon afterwards died in Galveston. Neither he nor his brother John left a child to bear his name, but the county of Fisher is understood to be a common memorial to them and S. Rhoads Fisher.
There was a fourth man of the name - George Fisher - who figured in Texas before, during and after the revolution, chiefly in the capacity of clerk and translator, but he was a Greek and died in California.
Maj. Richard Roman.
Was born in Fayette County, Ky., in 1810, migrated to Illinois in 1831, and was an officer in the Black Hawk war of 1832. In December, 1835, he landed at Velasco, Texas, and joined Gen. Houston, as Captain of a company, on the Col- orado, during the retreat from Gonzales to San Jacinto, and performed gallant service in that battle. He was next aide-de-camp to Gen. Rusk, . while he was in command of the army on the San Antonio and Guadalupe. He settled in Victoria and several times represented that county in the Texian Congress ; also frequently serving in expe- ditions against the Indians.
By the Congress of 1830-40 he was elected one of the three members composing the traveling board of commissioners for all the country west of the Brazos river, for the detection of fraudulent land certificates by a personal examination of the records of each County Court and hearing proof, a high compliment to both his capacity and integ- rity. He was a senator in the last years of the Republic and participated in all the legislation con- nected with annexation to the United States.
In 1846 he entered the Mexican war as a private soldier in the celebrated scouting company of Capt. Ben McCulloch, in which were a number of men of high character at that time and numerous
others who subsequently won more or less distinc- tion. In this respect it is doubtful if a more remarkable company for talent ever served under the Stars and Stripes. But Private Roman, at the instance of Gen. (then U. S. Senator) Rusk was soon appointed by President Polk, Commissary of Subsistence, with the rank of Major. As such he was in the battle of Monterey, in September, 1846, and Buena Vista in February, 1847. The Amer- ican army evacuated Mexico in June, 1848, and early in 1849 Maj. Roman started to California. Following the admission of that State into the Union in 1850, he was elected for the two first terms, State Treasurer, and then came very near being nominated by the dominant party for Governor. By President Buchanan he was appointed Appraiser General of Merchandise on the Pacific coast. About 1863 he became severely palsied and so deaf as to receive communication from others only through writing. Never having married, his last years were made pleasant in the family of a loving relative in San Francisco till his death in 1877. He was a man of ability, firmness, fidelity in every trust and strong in his attachments and, unlike many men of such characteristics, without bitter- ness or prejudice. The name of " Dick " Roman is cherished wherever it was known in Texas.
HENRY ROSENBERG.
HENRY ROSENBERG,
GALVESTON.
Grotius and Vattel, among the earliest and most erudite of modern writers upon international law, who from the pandects of Justinian, the maritime code of Louis XIV, the laws of Oleron and the Han- seatic League and other sources, with wonderful brilliancy of genius and depth of philosophy, laid the foundation of that science which now regulates the intercourse of the community of nations, en- riched their pages by illustrations drawn from the history of many peoples, and from nonc more than from that of the people of Switzerland, to which they turned for the most striking examples of fidelity to treaty obligations, jealous defense of national honor, humanity, magnanimity and cour- age.
Vattel declares that for more than three centuries prior to his time, Switzerland, although surrounded by nations ahuost constantly at war and eager for the acquisition of new territory, had preserved her independence, and enjoyed the confidence and respect of her neighbors. It is related that in the olden time, fifteen hundred Swiss, acting as the alvance guard of a French army, came suddenly upon the full force of the opposing Austrians ; and, disdaining to retreat, although overwhelmingly out- numbered, charged into the midst of the enemy and, no reinforcements coming up, perished, all save one man, who saved his life by flight and was subsequently driven from his native canton to die " despised wanderer in a foreign land.
Who does not remember the story of Martha Glat? Her country invaded and the men to defend it few in number, she called upon the women to art and strike with them for the liberties of Swit- zerland and, later, fell sword in hand with ber hus- band, sons, daughters, and granddaughters upon a bard contested field. Famous for their valor and love of freedom, the Swiss are no less renowned for their kindliness, justice and simple and unaffected pety. Of this race was the subject of this memoir.
While his native land may well be proud of suelt " son, she cannot alone lay claim to him. The best years of his ripened manhood were spent in Texas. Such men are true citizens of the world
and the memory of worthy deeds that they leave behind them is the heritage and common property of mankind. Deeply attached to the institutions of the United States and to the people of Texas and of Galveston especially, he never ceased to love the land of his birth and his friends of long ago.
" There is a land, of every land the pride, Beloved by Heaven o'er all the world beside; There is a spot of earth supremely blest, A dearer, sweeter. spot than all the rest.
" ' Where shall that land, that spot of earth be found? ' Art thou a man? - a patriot? - look around ! O! thou shalt find, where'er thy footsteps roam That land thy country and that spot thy home! "
With this love of country was coupled a venera- tion for the great and good of all climes. As will be seen further on in this brief sketch of his life, he has paid the most substantial tribute that has yet been paid to the men who fought for Texas independence, an act peculiarly fitting, as there is a bond of common brotherhood that binds together the hearts of the sons of Switzerland and the defenders of liberty in all lands and that neither time nor distance can affect.
Broad-minded, generous and true-hearted - a genuine lover of his kind - the memory of Henry Rosenberg is dear to the people of Texas. His name will forever be associated with the history of the city of Galveston, a city in which he spent more than fifty of the most active and useful years of his life. He was born at Bilten, Canton Glarus, Switzerland, June 22, 1824. His early educational advantages were restricted. He was apprenticed when a boy and learned a trade which he followed until past eighteen years of age, when he came to America with one of his countrymen, Jolin Hessley, reaching Galveston in February, 1843. Ile was afterwards associated with Mr. Hessley in the mer- cantile business, which he enlarged and carried on for about thirty years, during which time he laid the foundation for the fortune which he afterwards accumulated. llis latter years were devoted chiefly
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to liis banking interests, which were founded in 1874 upon the organization of the Galveston Bank & Trust Co., an incorporated institution of which he was one of the originators and which he bought out in 1882 and replaced with the Rosenberg Bank, of which he was thereafter sole owner. Early in his career he began investing his means in Galveston city property, and, later, in other real estate, im- proved and unimproved, elsewhere in Texas and, as' a consequence, in time became the owner of a large amount of realty, which, gradually appreciating in value, contributed materially to the increase of his wealth. Mr. Rosenberg was prominently identified with many of the important enterprises and under- takings which served to build up and promote the growth of Galveston.
Prominent among these : -
The First National Bank - of which he was one of the organizers and for many years the vice- president ; The Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Rail- way,- of which he was one of the organizers, president from 1875 to and including 1878 (during which period the first fifty miles of the road were constructed), and of whose board of directors he was an active member for ten years thereafter ; the Galveston Wharf Company, -of which he was a director for a long term of years, and for three years vice-president, and the Galveston City Railway Company, of which he was president in 1871. He was tendered re-election to the last named position but declined to accept that honor as other important business interests demanded his attention. He was an active and influential mem- ber of the board of aldermen of the city of Gal- veston in 1871-72 and again in 1885-87. As a result of his industry, strict application to business and superior practical sagacity, aided by circum- stances, he succeeded in amassing a fortune of about $1,200,000.00. Ile contributed to and took stock in nearly every worthy enterprise. He was keenly alive to the interests and especially proud of the city of his adoption, manifesting a deep concern in everything relating to its wel- fare.
Mr. Rosenberg was long known among his more intimate acquaintances as a man of generosity and great kindness of heart, though he often times appeared otherwise to strangers. " Henry Roseu- berg," says an old and prominent citizen of Gal- veston, "was one of the best men I ever knew. Ile was pure, truthful, upright and just. He was strict in business and demanded honesty in others. Ile despised frauds and shams.
" In fact, he was cordial and companionable and full of good nature in his social life. In the ordi-
nary business relations, he was exact and just, but, impatient and aggressive when subjected to unfair, unjust or unreasonable treatment, or de- mands, from others. Hlis superb gift to the chil- dren of Galveston, the Rosenberg Free School Building, erected in 1888, seating 1,000 pupils, his donation to Eaton Memorial Chapel of Trinity Church in that city and his erection of a church in his native village in Switzerland attested bis interest in the cause of education and Christianity and are the best remembered of his more important acts of benevolence in which the public shared a knowledge before his death. It was not, however, until after his death and the provisions of his will became generally known, that his character was fully ap- preciated." After bequeathing to his surviving widow, relatives and friends $450,000.00, he left the remainder, about two-thirds, of his entire for- tune, to educational and charitable purposes, the bulk of it going to the people of Galveston. After remembering his native place with two bequests, one of $30,000.00 and the other of $50,000.00, he made provision for the city of Galveston as fol- lows: The Island City Protestant Orphans' Home, $30,000; Grace Church parish ( Protestant Episco- pal), $30,000; Ladies' Aid Society of the German Lutheran Church, $10,000; for a Women's Home, $30,000; the Young Men's Christian Association, $65,000; for a monument to the memory of the heroes of the Texas Revolution of 1835-6, $50,- 000: for drinking fountains for man and beast, $30,000; and the residue of his estate to the erection and equipment of a great frec public library.
The following extract from the residuary clause in his will providing a large sum for a public library. is pertinent in the latter connection: " In making this bequest I desire to express in practical form my affection for the city of my adoption and for the people among whom I have lived for many years, trusting that it will aid their intellectual and moral development and be a source of pleasure and profit to them and their ebildren and their children's children." The wisdom exercised by him in his bequests is no less worthy of admiration than their inunificence.
Mr. Rosenberg's death occurred May 12th, 1893. Every appropriate mark of respect was shown to his memory in Galveston and his death was taken notice of generally by the press throughout the State. Now that he has laid aside his earthly bur- dens he has left behind him on earth the imperish- able memory of worthy deeds.
No marble monument, stately monolith or princely sareophagus can add to the merits of such a man.
MRS. HENRY ROSENBURG.
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The Galveston News of May 13th, 1893, contained the following editorial :-
" Early yesterday morning the earthly career of Henry Rosenberg closed after a painful illness. In his death Galveston has lost a worthy and re- spected citizen. Elsewhere will be found a sketch of his public life and actions, but the News desires, besides this, to briefly add its testimony to the private virtues and charitable excellence of this . the most distinguished men in Texas), assembled good man who has gone to his reward. In the donation of the school which bears his name, to the youth of Galveston, Mr. Rosenberg associated himself with the city's best interests. He did not leave this act to be performed after he himself had passed away and was himself done with the world's IN HONOR OF HENRY ROSENBERG. means and the world's ways, but in the vigor of his " The freightage of the surf is many kind. own manhood and from means of his own acquiring Both wreck and treasure ride the crested wave; And ever as it frets its force away Against unyielding shores, it builds the strand For men to walk upon and trade and thrive. he saw erected and established an institution that promises to generations yet unborn the opportunities of education perhaps denied himself.
" It was not ostentation upon the part of Henry Rosenberg that prompted the act. He was not an ostentations man. On many an occasion, known to the writer, Henry Rosenberg's purse was placed at the disposal of the needy, but always upon the principle that his left hand should not know what his right hand was doing. Upon an especially large donation to a worthy object some years ago the writer requested of Mr. Rosenberg permission to make known the fact through the columns of the News. 'No;' said Mr. Rosenberg, 'you will offend me if you do. Whatever I do in this way I do because I like to do it, but it would be no source of satisfaction to me to find it paraded before the public.' Such was the man. * *
* Peace to his ashes wherever they may rest."
As the news of his death spread over the city it was followed by a wave of universal sorrow that embraced in its sweep the entire population. The remains laid in state at the Rosenberg Free School building, where they were viewed by thousands wbo loved him well. Impressive funeral services were held in Assembly Hall. The remains were taken from Assembly Hall to Grace Church, where the beautiful and impressive funeral service of the Episcopal Church was read by the rector, Rev. J. R. Carter, after which the body was temporarily deposited in Payne vanlt in the cemetery at Gal- veston, to await removal to Baltimore, Md. Mr. Rosenberg had been consul for Switzerland at Gal- veston for more than thirty years, and at the time of his death wasfirst dean of the consular corps. A message of condolence was received from the Swiss minister at Washington and the consular corps met, passed suitable resolutions and paid the last tribute
of respect to the memory of their friend and col- league.
The vestry of Grace Episcopal Church, of which for many years he had been a mem- ber, City Council, School Board, board of trustees of the Rosenberg Free School, and other civil bodies, took similar action and a great mass meeting (presided over by some of in response to a proclamation issned by the mayor of the city to listen to suitable speeches and pass appropriate resolutions. At this meeting was read the following poem :--
There, bleaching lie, the shells of myriad life That throbbed but briefly in a stifling sea And perished. And some, untimely cast ashore, Lie festering upon the sun-kissed sands,
Abhorred and pestilent; while some are ripe To death and but repose in welcome rest ; And some are puny pygmies, sprawling prone, And rudely cruslied iuto forgetfulness By hurrying heels of eager, searching crowds, And some are of larger growth and stand erect, Majestic emblems of a giant kind, Impacted in the sands of time; behold, Nor wind, uor tide, nor jostling jealousy Can shake their adamantine base - unmoved Of all the mutable that throng the earth.
" And there are those, who, in their speeding day, While youth and strength lent opportunity, With frugal husbandry, wrought hard and fast To garner yellow wealth in honest bins. And when the sun shone golden in the West And shadows deepened to the coming night, They looked upon their stores and smiled to think That Power now was minister to Wish, And straightway loosed the locks and smote the bars That old and young and mind and soul and beast Might share the bleasings of a fruitful life. And they live ou. Along the pebbled way, That stretches from the utmost to the end, They mark the certain progress of mankind And guide us up to Godlier destinies."
"The remains of Henry Rosenberg, the Texas philanthropist," says the Baltimore Sun of June 1st, 1893, " were consigned to their final resting place in Loudon Park Cemetery yesterday after- noon. The body was brought to Baltimore from Galveston, of which city the deceased was an lion- ored citizen. The funeral services held there were elaborate, the whole city testifying to the esteem in which he was held. The pall-bearers were
10
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Judge David Fowler, George French, Howell Gris- wold, Richard G. Macgill, Jervis Spencer, Dr. Guy Hollyday, Jolin Fowler and Patrick HI. Maegill. Among those present were Chas C. Tuvel, secretary of the Swiss legation at Washington, representing the Swiss government ; William Nichols, of Galves- ton; Mr. and Mrs. Peter Cokelet, of New York, who had been close friends of Mr. Rosenberg for more than forty years; Dr. Chas. Macgill, of Catonsville ; Miss Rouskulp, of Hagerstown ; Mrs. Howell Griswold; Mrs. Dr. Gibson; Miss West ; . Miss Bettie Mason Barnes; Mr. and Mrs. George Gibson ; Mrs. Drewry, of Virginia ; Davidge Mac- gill, of Virginia ; Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Gary ; Miss Fowler ; the Misses Carter, of Catonsville ; Miss L. R. Spencer; Mrs. George French, Col. Robert Smith, and others."
Hundreds of editorial notices appeared in lead- ing newspapers throughout the country. The fol- lowing extraets are made from a few that appeared in Texas papers : -
Galveston News: "Trite reflections upon the lives and ends of such men have little foree beyond the circle of their immediate friends, but, many will draw a serious lesson from that of the de- ceased. *
* He was one of several who * accumulated large fortunes in Galveston and were not spoiled by their possessions nor estranged from those who had been less successful by the disparity in their circumstances. He was regarded with tender veneration by young anl old, rich and poor. A stranger on the Market street car line might have frequently observed a ruddy-faced and cheery old gentleman getting on or off at Thirteenth street, and on the outgoing trip the motorman would generally bring the car to a stop on the near side, though the rule would have taken it to the other side. This was quietly done for Mr. Rosen- berg, who always had a smile for the laborer and the poor. Coming down town in the morning he was constantly nodding to his friends."
Waco Duy-Globe: " It was reserved for a Tex- ian by adoption, a citizen who was born on foreign soil, to make the first real practical move towards honoring the memory of the fathers of Texas liberty. In his will the late Henry Rosenberg, of Galveston, born in Switzerland, bequeathed $50,000 for the erection of an appropriate and enduring memorial in honor of the heroes of the Texas revolution. It may also be remarked that this foreign-born citizen placed himself at the head of the all too small list of Texas philanthro- pists. * *
* In the disposition of the accumu- lations of his lifetime Mr. Rosenberg dealt out his benefactions with an impartial hand. He seems
to have lost sight of creed or race. A profound desire to benefit the liuman family was the ideal he strove to reach and so sound was his judgment, so broad and generous his impulses, that the money he has left will bless his fellowmen through cen- turies to come."
Hempstead News: " His name will go down to after times as one of the best and noblest men of his day. Oh! if there were more like him, this world would be a better world."
Surviving him he left a widow, but no children. He had been twiee married - marrying first, June 11th, 1851, Miss Letitia Cooper, then of Galveston, but a native of Virginia. This estimable lady died June 4th, 1888, and November 13th, 1889, he married Miss Mollie R. Macgill, daughter of Dr. Charles Maegill. She was born at Hagerstown, Md., February 28th, 1839. At the time of Miss Macgill's birth Mr. Rosenberg's first wife was visiting the family of Dr. Macgill and in- duced the doctor to promise the child to her and afterwards made several offers to adopt her, which, however, were not accepted, as the parents would not agree to part with her entirely even to please so dear a friend. In September, 1856, Mr. Rosenberg brought Miss Maegill to Texas, where she remained eleven months as a guest of Mrs. Rosenberg. In the fall of 1860 Mrs. Rosenberg again sent for Miss Macgill, who arrived in Galves- ton in September expecting to remain two years, but returned to her parents in April, 1861, on account of the war, and remained with them until the close of the struggle. Returning to Galveston in March, 1866, she joined the family permanently and, Mrs. Rosenberg, becoming an invalid, Miss Maegill, who reciprocated the deep affection she felt for her, assumed full management of the house- hold and continned her tender ministrations until Mrs. Rosenberg's last illness, and was present at her bedside when she quietly fell " asleep in Jesus."
Mr. and Mrs. Rosenberg, with Miss Macgill, paid annual visits to Miss Macgill's parents in Richmond, Va. Miss Macgill's niece, Miss Minnie Drewry, of Virginia, was with her during the latter part of Mrs. Rosenberg's illness. The two remained with Mr. Rosenberg, traveling during the summer, and in the fall Miss Macgill and niece re- turned with him to Galveston, where they remained until the following July and then with him visited Miss Macgill's mothier in Richmond and from there went to the Springs and New York City, returning to Rielimond in the fall, where Mr. Rosenberg and Miss Macgill were united in marriage November 13th, 1889, at Grace Episcopal Church by Rev. Hartly Carmichael of St. Paul's Church, assisted by
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Rev. H. Melville Jackson of Grace Church, present assistant Bishop of Alabama. Dr. Charles Macgill was a native of Baltimore, Md. His grandfather on the maternal side was Thomas Jennings, who filled the position of King's Attorney under the Colonial government of Maryland, and on the paternal side, Rev. James Macgill, of Perth, Scotland, who settled in Maryland in 1728 and was the first rector of Queen Caroline Parish, Elkridge, Anne Arundel County, Md. Dr. Maegill served as full surgeon in the Confederate army during the war between the States; and was one of President Jefferson Davis' family physicians. Dr. Macgill died in Chesterfield County, Va., May 5th, 1881. Mrs. Rosenberg's mother, now eighty-eight years of age, lives with lier at Galveston. Of Mrs. Rosen- berg's brothers, Wm. D. enlisted at Palestine, Texas, in Company A., Second Cavalry, and, after the battle of Sharpsburg, was transferred to the First Maryland Cavalry, Company C., and died in Baltimore, Md., August 25, 1890; Davidge en- listed in the First Maryland Cavalry, Company C., under Col. Brown in 1861, and served throughout the war. Dr. Chas. G. W. Maegill was a surgeon in Stonewall Jackson's brigade and James enlisted in the Confederate army at sixteen years of age and served in the same commands with his brother Wm. D. until the close of hostilities. Dr. Chas. G. W. Macgill and James Macgill surrendered with the troops in Virginia as did their father Dr. Chas. Macgill ; but Wm. D. and Davidge Macgill did not surrender until April 20, 1865, as they managed to get through the Federal lines and tried to make their way to Johnston, who surrendered before they reached him. A reader of the Birmingham Age- IIerald, living at Childersburg, Ala., in an interest- ing and lengthy communication to that paper, under date of October 11, 1890, contributes the following :-
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