USA > Texas > Indian wars and pioneers of Texas, Vol. I > Part 34
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INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
R. Runnels, and was the mother of two children, Sue and Harry G. Stella died near Independence, Texas. Laura died in September, 1876, in New Orleans, La., the place of her residence, and was
interred in Metarie Cemetery in that city. Cora died June 9th, 1889, in Brenham, Texas, and is interred in the family cemetery at Independence, Texas.
CHARLES FOWLER,
GALVESTON.
The late lamented Capt. Charles Fowler, of Galveston, was born in Guilford, Connecticut, in 1824 ; went to sea at the age of fourteen, was mas- ter of a ship at twenty-one and followed that vocation until 1866, when he became agent for the Morgan line of steamers at Galveston, which posi- tion he held from that time until the time of his death, a period of twenty-five years.
He came to Galveston in 1847 as captain of the brig, Mary. Three years later he returned to Con- necticut and was married at Stratford to Miss Mary J. Booth, daughter of Isaac Patterson Booth.
.
Upon the commencement of hostilities between the States he entered the naval branch of the Con- federate service; at the famous engagement at Sabine Pass participated in the capture of the enemy's fleet and was subsequently made prisoner and detained until the close of the war. On returning to Galveston he was made captain of one of the Morgan ships, from which position he was transferred to the Galveston agency. Though . never aspiring to political preferment, he was elected an alderman of Galveston as far back as 1873, afterwards frequently served in that capacity and at the time of his death, March 17th, 1891, was a member of the board, having served continuously since 1885. His last tenure of office began under a system of municipal reform and his discharge of duty was so acceptable to the people at large that they insisted again and again upon his standing for election. As alderman (from 1835 to 1891) he always held the position of honor as chairman of the committee on finance and positions on all other leading committees. He was. in fact, recognized as intellectually and, in a business way, the strong- est man in the council, and his straightforwardness, integrity and devotion to duty easily entitled him to this position.
Thoughi not a civil engineer by profession he was a man possessed of strong and valuable practical ideas upon matters of engineering, and in 1868,
took charge of the work of deepening the water on the inner bar, on which there was a depth of eight feet of water at high tide, all vessels being subject to a pilotage of $3.00 per foot besides the $4.00 per foot over the outer bar. In 1869, as president of the board of pilot commissioners, he handed in a report, showing a depth of fifteen feet over the in- ner bar, and recommended the abolition of pilotage over same, a recommendation that was followed forthwith. Through his long and intimate acquaint- ance with municipal affairs and all classes of the people, no man was better qualified to serve the people of Galveston and foster the best interests of . the city. He was often urged to accept the mayor- alty but declined to become a candidate for the honor. Physically he was a noble specimen of manhood. Hle possessed in full measure solid public and domestic virtues. His wife and three children survive him, viz., a married daughter, Mrs. A. Bornefeld; a son, Charles Fowler, Jr., and a younger daughter, Miss Louise. In reporting the fact of his death, the Galveston News of March 18th. 1891, contained the following: " The friends and acquaintances of Capt. Charles Fowler, and their number in Galveston is legion, have for the past two days been hourly anticipating his death. Some ten days ago he was taken to his bed with a chill to which no particular importance was attached, but as days passed his malady grew more complicated, finally developing into a serious kidney complication, resulting in a fatal case of uremic poisoning. He died last night at 8-30 o'clock, and in his death no ordinary man passed away. Few citizens have died in Galveston who were more universally respected and esteemed by all classes, or whose death will be more universally regretted. Since it has been known that death was inevitable the inquiry upon every lip upon the street has been in regard to Capt. Fowler's condition and if any evi- dence was wanting as to his popularity, it was clearly demonstrated by all classes of citizens over
CHARLES FOWLER.
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INDLIN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
his critical condition. Those of high and low station, rich and poor, displayed an abiding sorrow at the announcement that the life-tide of Charles Fowler was ebbing away and that his death was. but a question of a few short hours. The universal sentiment expressed was that 'in the death of Charles Fowler Galveston will lose one of her best and noblest citizens,' and when the sad news came last night that all was over it fell like a pall upon the busy streets."
That paper said editorially: "The mortal re- mains of Capt. Charles Fowler were yesterday con- signed to the earth, whence they came. In the death of Capt. Fowler this city has lost one of her best and most useful citizens. *
* Trained to the sea, with its dangers and vicissitudes, he was ever ready in emergency and always manly and brave in aet. Yet how loving and kindly in all the relations of life. To the general public he dis- charged his full duty - to his immediate family all that mortal man could do. The tribute paid to his memory yesterday by the citizens of Galveston was worthy of his character. Among the many who accompanied his remains to their last resting-place were those of every degree and station in life -- the
professional man, the merchant, the civic authority and official, the laborer, the domestic. It was not an outpouring of popular curiosity, but a real trib- ute to worth and manhood. The man who worked for his daily wages upon the docks was as sincerely grief-stricken as the man of wealth who may have considered Capt. Fowler his more immediate com- panion or his coadjutor in public affairs. The tribute was beautiful in itself and pleasant to think over, because it demonstrates that human nature has a fine touch of grandeur after all in its recogni- tion and appreciation of the manly virtues. The spotless integrity and loving kindness of Charles Fowler's nature drew from the hearts of the people of Galveston yesterday as fine a poem as ever poet benned."
At a called meeting of the city council held March 20th, 1891, Mayor R. L. Fulton submitted a. message in which lie pronounced an eloquent eulo- gium upon the deceased, and upon motion that body adopted the following resolutions :-
" Whereas, Galveston has just lost by death one of her most eminent, patriotic and distinguished citizens in the person of Capt. Charles Fowler, who
for a great number of years has been prominently identified with the city government as alderman, inember of the Board of Health, chairman of the Committee on Finance and Revenue, and member of many other useful committees, where at all times he manifested the utmost zeal for the public welfare, great ability as a financier, enterprise, energy, a spirit of progress in keeping with the times, and a moral and physical courage which enabled him to stamp his convictions on his associates and thus give to the city of his love the full benefit of his wise counsels, legislative and executive ability and patriotism ; and
" Whereas, He never hesitated to expend his time, energy and great abilities for the benefit of his fellow citizens ; therefore, be it
"Resolved, By the city council of the city of Galveston, that on no more melancholy and regret- table an occasion was this council ever before convened.
" Resolved, Further, That on Saturday, the 21st inst., the day of his interment, as a mark of respect, all the city offices be closed; that the different branches or departments of the city government attend the funeral; that the city hall and council chamber be draped in appropriate emblems of mourning and respect for the loss of this good and useful private citizen and public officer. Be it also
" Resolved, That his chair in the municipal cham- ber be left unoccupied during the remainder of the municipal term, this council pledging itself to his constituents the same careful attention to their interests, and that these resolutions be spread upon the minutes and copies be furnished the members of his immediate family, and that the daily papers be requested to publish same. Be it also
" Resolved, That this council does hereby request the business houses of this city to close during the funeral to-morrow, Saturday, March 21st."
Who would not lead such a life of modest use- fulness? Who would not leave such a memory behind him when he passes from the scenes of life? The cynic and the idler may well draw lessons of profit from this brief chronicle and those who seek for happiness, if not honor, in dubious ways, should lay speedily to heart the truth that: "It is only noble to be good," and that there is no happi- ness aside from duty.
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INDIAN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
R. W. LOUGHERY,
MARSHALL.
In this brief memoir it is the intention of the author to present an outline of the main incidents in the career of a man who, for many years, figured prominently upon the seene of action in this State, and whose memory, though his form has been eon- signed to earth, which at last must receive us all, is still revered by many of the older people of this State, who either knew him personally or by reputation.
His was a truly noble character. He was so slow to think evil of others and unselfish, he failed to ask for, and often refused to accept, the rewards that his serviees had richly earned, and that, at the time, would have been freely accorded him, but which later, when he greatly needed substantial recognition by liis party, was denied him under a system of politics that leads those in power to be- stow their favors not as rewards of merit, but with an eye-single to personal aggrandizement - to pre- fer an obscure cross-roads politician, who ean com- mand one vote in the State convention, to an old veteran, who has grown gray in the service of his country. He saved the frail barques of many politi- cians from disaster and built up the political fortunes of several men who have since held high positions in the councils of the nation, but sought no honors for himself, when (for instance, within a few years after the overthrow of the Military Commission at Jefferson) he could have secured any office within the gift of the people of Texas.
These traits were a part of his mental and spiritual make-up and bore fruit that, while it did not embitter ( for nothing could embitter ) saddened the later years of his life, until at last he sank into the weleome grave.
He was ambitious, not to secure political pre- ferment, social position, influence or other reward, or to gratify personal vanity by parading the fact that he was patriotic, true, honorable, pious, kindly, generous and charitable; but, ambitious alone to possess, cultivate and practice those vir- tues. The pathetic appealed to him as it does to few men. He wept with those who mourned and rejoiced with those who rejoiced. Ile was above all petty jealousy. . He not only saw but applauded the merits of others, and cheered them ou in efforts that led to distinction. He never permitted a ease of suffering to go unrelieved, that it was in his power to relieve, and he never turned a tramp or
other beggar from his door. When the world cried, "Crucify ! " he was ever found on the side of mercy. Ile never deserted his friends, but was quiek to fly to their defense when they appealed to. him, or when he saw that they needed his aid, and as a result, there are thousands who remember him and sincerely mourn his loss. He never failed to inspire the respect even of his political enemies. He had the rare faculty of doing the right thing at the right time, and was a consummate master of the higher tactics of political warfare. He was an in- domitable and trusted defender of right, and never failed to be the first to throw himself squarely into the breach in time of public danger. He was physically and morally intrepid. He was quick to espouse every worthy cause, and advocate it with might and main. He was not only kind and benev- olent to men and women, both great and small, rich and poor, black and white; but, to God's creatures, the lower animals, not one of whom he ever injured, or permitted to be injured in his presence, without reproof. He turned, instinctively, to the defense of the weak and defenseless. IIe never did an intentional wrong, and never eom- mitted a wrong unintentionally through error aris- ing from mistake of judgment or misrepresentation of facts that he did not sorely repent, and imme- diately scek to atone for. He never sacrificed principle to expediency.
It may be said truthfully of him that he was the "Father of Texas Democracy." When he estab- lished his newspaper at Marshall in 1849 (three years after Texas was admitted to the Union) the two great parties in the United States ( Whigs and Democrats) had no representative local organiza- tions in Texas. Seeing the confusion that prevailed and deprecating the practice of conducting cam- paigns merely on personal and local issues, he, for six years, zealously taught, through the columns of his paper, the tenets of Democratic faith, as to which there were many misconceptions (men run- ning for office who claimed to be Democrats, and who did not understand or believe in the first principles of Democracy) and sought to bring about party alignments, which he at last sue- ceeded in doing, as the State convention of 1855 was the result of his labors and the labor of those who aided him in the work. While he believed in that concerted action in political matters, which can
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INDLIN WARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
alone be secured through perfect party organiza- tions, he was of too manly and independent a spirit and too clear-headed and wise a man to erect party into a fetich, to be bowed down before and wor- shiped. He did not hesitate to criticise platforms, candidates and officials -from the highest to the lowest - when he deemed such criticism necessary to the good of the country or party. He believed in the great cardinal principles upon which rests the school of political economy that claimed his allegiance. If party leaders violated those princi- ples he sought, as far as his influence extended, to whip them back into linc. If his views upon publie questions were not accepted and enunciated in the platform utterances of his party, he did not cease to advocate their adoption, neither did he quit his party, for, with the author of Lacon, he believed " that the violation of correct principles offers no excuse for their abandonment," and was sure that the Democratie masses would in time force their leaders to adopt the correct course and retrace the false and dangerous steps that were being taken. He believed that if the principles enunciated by Mr. Jefferson, Calhoun and their associates were prac- tically applied to the administration of our national . and State affairs, we would have one of the most enduring, freest and happiest governments that it is possible for human genius to construct and human patriotism and wisdom sustain. Party, with him, was merely a necessary means to a desirable end - good government and constitutional integrity and freedom - and he combated every movement, ut- terance, or nomination that promised to impair its strength or usefulness.
He was devoted to the Democratic flag with a devotion akin to that of a veteran for his flag. His was a bold aggressive personality, fitted for times of storm and struggle.
Comparatively early in his career it was charged tliat Hon. Lewis T. Wigfall wrote the editorials for the Texas Republican, but this piece of malicious whispering was soon forever silenced, as he and Wigfall became engaged in a newspaper controversy, in which Wigfall was placed hors de combat.
Ile was born in Nashville, Tenn., February 2, 1820, and was educated at St. Joseph's College at Birdstown, Ky., to which place his parents, Robert and Sarah Ann Loughery (from the north of Ire- land) removed during his infaney. At ten years of age he was left an orphan and not long after entered a printing office, where he learned the tra le.
News of the revolution in progress in Texas -- the massacres at the Alamo and Goliad and the victory won at the battle of San Jacinto - fired him
with a desire to join the patriot army and strike a blow for liberty and, althoughi but sixteen years of age, he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and there joined a military company and started with it for Texas. A frail, delicate lad, he was taken sick en route to New Odleans and was left in that city, where he remained a year and a half, and then went to Monroe, La., where he remained until 1816, part of the time con- ducting an influential newspaper, and then again went to New Orleans. On the 11th of February, 1841, he married, at Monroc, Miss Sarah Jane Bal- lew, an estimable young lady, the daughter of a leading pioneer settler in Ouachita parish. In 1847, he removed to Texas and during that year edited a paper at Jefferson. He spent 1848 in traveling over the State, often traversing solitudes of forest and prairie for days together. He said in after life that some of the most pleasant hours that he ever spent were in the wilderness in silent and solitary meditation as he rode along, far from the baunts of men.
In May, 1849, he and Judge Trenton J. Patillo established the Texas Republican at Marshall, one of the most famous newspapers ever published in Texas, and certainly the most widely influential and by far the ablest conducted in the State before the war. The paper was named the Texas Republican in honor of the party which advocated the adoption of the American constitution. Judge Patill , sold his interest to his son, Mr. Frank Patillo, in 1850, and in 1851 Col. Loughery obtained sole control of the paper by purchase, and conducted it alone until August, 1869. Tue files of the Texas Repub- lican were purchased a few years since by the State of Texas, and are now preserved in the archives of the State Department of Insurance, Statisties and History. Before the war this paper was the recog- nized organ of the Democratic party in Texas. It led the hosts in every contest. The fiery Know- Nothing campaign of 1835 gave full scope for the exercise of his varied abilities. The Know-Nothing party was a secret, oath-bound organiz ition, hostile. to Catholicism and opposed to immigrants from for- eign lands acquiring right of citizenship in this country. Largely, if not mainly, through the efforts of Col. Loughery, a Democratic State Con- vention was called (the first in the State ), assembled, nominated candidates for State offices, and drew the Democracy up in regular array to contest the State with the opposition. He was bitterly opposed to the methods and tenets of the Know-Nothing party.
The following incident is illustrative of the temper of the times. Hon. Pendleton Murrah, afterwards Governor of the State, was a candidate for Con-
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gress and opened his campaign at Marshall. It was impossible to estimate the strength of the Know-Nothing party, as all its proceedings were held in secret. This strengthi was greatly underesti- mated by Murrah and his friends. They believed that the excitement was of an ephemeral character and was confined to a few individuals who hoped to secure office by playing the roles of political agitators. Mr. Murrah assailed the leaders and principles of Know-Nothingism with all the vigor and venom of which lie was capable, hoping to give the American party, so far as his district was eon- cerned, its coup de grace. One of the leading citizens of the county arose and declared that the gentlemen who composed the American party had been insulted, and called upon all members of the party to follow him from the court room. There was a moment of breathless expectation, succeeded by the audience arising well-nigh en masse and moving toward the door. Soon Mr. Murrah and two or three friends alone remained. They were dumbfounded. The scene they had witnessed was a revelation. They realized that there was no hope of Democratic success in the district and that the Know-Nothing party would sweep it. Mr. Murrah declared his intention to at once withdraw from the raee. At this moment Col. Loughery stepped up to him and urged him to continue the campaign and that with increased vigor, saying, among other things: "If you retire now in the face of the enemy, your politieal career will end to-day. Although defeat is certain, stand up and fight, and when the Know-Nothing party is condemned by the sober second thought of the people, you will be remembered and honored." Mr. Murrah followed Col. Loughery's advice and was afterwards elected Governor. The campaign waxed hotter and hotter. The Texas Republican's philippies, many of them unsurpassed by any written by the author of the letters of Junius or uttered by Sheridan or Burke, fell thicker and faster and party speakers flew swiftly from point to point haranguing the multitude, sometimes alone but more often in fieree joint debate. At last came the fateful day of election, a day of doom for the Know-Nothing party ( but not for its spirit, for that unfortunately is still alive) and of victory to the Democracy.
The next momentous epoch in the history of Col. Loughery was that marked by the secession movement. As to the right of revolution, it is necessarily inherent in every people. The time when it shall be exercised rests alone in their dis- cretion. The right of secession was of an entirely different nature. It was in the nature of that right which a party claims when he withdraws from a
contract, the terms of which have been violated or the consideration for which has been withdrawn. and identical with that which nations who are parties to a treaty of alliance, offensive and de- fensive, reserve to themselves (although the com- pact may in its terms provide for a perpetual union) to consider the treaty annulled when its terms are departed from or the connection no longer continues to be pleasant or profitable. Withdrawal may, or may not, give offense and lead to a declara- tion of war. If it does lead to hostilities, the resulting struggle is one carried on by equals in which heavy artillery and big battalions will settle the fate of the quarrel. The question of moral right must be left to the decision of the public conscienee of the world, or, if that conseienee fails to assert itself at the time, to posterity and the impartial historians of a later period. At one time in the history of the English race, the trial by battle was a part of legal procedure by which issues, both civil and eriminal, were judicially determined. But in course of time men came to see that skill, strength and courage were the sole faetors that controlled the issue of such contests and that wrong was as often successful as right. As a consequence the trial by battle fell gradually into disuse and at last became extinet and is now only remembered as a eurious custom incident to the evolution of our system of jurisprudence. What. has been said of the trial by battle may be said with equal truth of war and the fate of war. The fact that the Southern States were defeated, con- sequently, has no bearing upon the question of their right to secede. The States bound themselves together to seeure certain benefits and to remain so associated so long as the connection proved desir- able. He believed that every essential guarantee contained in the constitution had been grossly vio- lated and that the Southern States could no longer either expect peace or security to their rights, or any benefit whatever by continuing under the same governmental roof with the States north of Mason and Dixon's line. He was in favor of a peacefu! withdrawal, if possible.
During the progress of the war Col. Longhery opposed the passage of the conscript laws and the invasion of the jurisdiction of civil authority by military commanders. With all his powers of per- suasion he sought to keep up the waning hopes of the people as the months passed on into years. Knowing that many of the families of Confederate soldiers then in the field were in need, he inaugu- rated a movement that resulted in a mass meeting at the Court House in Marshall, Texas, at which : committee was appointed to solicit subscriptions (f
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money and provisions for the establishment of a depot of supplies, at which sueh families could ob- tain what they needed. He continued to publish bis paper throughout the war, never missing an issue. The final result of the struggle did not un- nerve him as it did many other public men, some of whom, among the number the brilliant and lamented Pendleton Murrah, fled the country to find graves in alien lands. Those were dark days that followed the surrender, and the establishment of military rule. Some of those who boasted that they would submit to no indignities, not only tamely submitted but went entirely over to the Radieals, accepted office under them and seemed to delight in oppressing a defenseless people. This class found no merey at his hands. His course was characterized by eminent good sense and was re- markable for its fearlessness. Owing to the stand that he took the iniquities that were perpetrated fell far short in atrocity to what they would other- wise have done, as he unhesitatingly not only venti- lated, but denouneed what was going on and his papers found their way to Washington.
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