Indian wars and pioneers of Texas, Vol. I, Part 52

Author: Brown, John Henry, 1820-1895
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Austin : L.E. Daniel]
Number of Pages: 922

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S. W. SLAYDEN.

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before him, it appears, had taken note of the faet that with railroad extension and the consequent development of the country, these interior lands bad greatly augmented in value. He discussed the sub- jeet with members of the legislature, and believing that the State was being literally robbed through a drowsy indifference on the part of those whose duty it was to look after such matters, at once set to work to put a stop to it. The outcome was a bill drawn up by him and introduced in the legislature by Jack Harris of Galveston, repealing the law. The bill passed and no more lands were sacrificed. Dr. Taylor was strongly opposed to secession. He was family physician to, and a warm personal friend of Gen. Sam Houston, and shared the opin- ions of that hero and statesman on the subject. When secession was attempted and war followed, Dr. Taylor's sympathies, however, were fully with the people of the South and he organized an asso- ciation at Austin, to see to the maintenance of the wives and children of Confederate soldiers, and gave them, besides, his services as a physician freely and without charge. Prior to the war he had accumulated about $100,000. The close of the struggle found him a comparatively poor man. His courage and business acumen did not fail him at this juneture, however. He had great faith in the ultimate rehabilitation of the country and its rapid development, and invested all the means that he could command in Austin city property and realty in other parts of Texas and did not relax his labors as a general practitioner. As a result he is now

one of the wealthiest men in the State. In 1855, he connected himself with the First Presbyterian church at Austin and did much to keep that then feeble organization in existence. The officers of the church early manifested their appreciation of his zeal and liberality and elected him president of the board of trustees. In that capacity he has done faithful service, giving of his means with princely generosity and laboring by day and by night, in season and out of season, in his Master's cause,

As a professional man, Dr. Taylor deservedly ranks very high. His opinion in diagnosis, as well as his aid in prescribing, is valued highly by his colleagues, and in many difficult cases he is called in consultation. There are few families in Austin, or indeed in Travis County, who have not, at some time or other, had the benefit of liis wise counsel and the benefit of his skill at the bedside of some loved one. He is uniformly courteous in social and professional life and in his family is a model husband and father. He loves his home and his children, and what leisure time he has, which is little, he spends with his family. His palatial home, situated in the center of the city, is an ideal man- sion surrounded by all that is bright and attractive or ministers to refined enjoyment. His life is one long record of noble efforts. He is one of the men who have not only achieved success, but deserved it. He is admired and beloved by thousands of people throughout Texas and is a citizen who is an honor to the State.

S. W. SLAYDEN,

WACO.

For the subject of this memoir the author has selected a man who is well known to all Texas, and who has already made his impress, deep and clear, upin the times in which he lives. We refer to Mr. S. W. Slayden, of Waco, president of the State Central Bank, and secretary of the Slayden-Kirksey Woolen Mills of Waeo, Texas; vice-president of the Dallas Cotton Mills of Dallas, Texas, and the Manchester Cotton Mills, of Forth Worth, Texas. Hy was born in Graves County, Ky., July 22, 1839.

His father, Mr. T. A. Slayden, was born in Virginia in 1819, and moved to Kentucky in 1830,

and was a merchant and planter who controlled large business interests.

Mr. T. A. Slayden married Miss Letitia Ellison Beadles, also a native of Virginia, daughter of Mr. William G. Beadles, at the time of her marriage a wealthy planter in Kentucky.

Of this union six children were born, five of whom are now living. Mr. T. A. Slayden died at Mayfield, Ky., in 1869, and his wife in New Orleans, La., in 1874.

The subject of this memoir, S. W. Slayden, was the second of their children ; secured an academic

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education ; studied law under the celebrated practi- tioner, Edward Crossland ; and in 1858 was admit- ted to the bar at Mayfield, Ky., when nineteen years of age.

He continued professional work until the begin- ning of the war between the States, and then enlisted in the Confederate army as a soldier in Company C., First Regiment of Kentucky Infantry, commanded by Col. Blanton Duncan, and was with Stonewall Jackson and, later, with Longstreet in Virginia, until the disbandment of his regiment, when he returned to his home in Kentucky and resumed the practice of law.

In 1869 he went to New Orleans and formed a law partnership with Mr. Kerr, the firm name be- ing Slayden & Kerr, a relationship that continued until 1874.

In the latter year Mr. Slayden acquired an in- terest in coal mines near St. Joe, Mo., and removed to that place to look after their development, and entered into partnership with Mr. R. D. Blair. Here also he became a large stockholder in a com- pany organized for the purpose of handling coal.

From this time he entered upon a brilliant and successful career as a financier, and his business interests became so large and varied as to render it inexpedient for him to further continue his pro- fessional career, although his practice had become large and he had won for himself a commanding position as an able and skillful lawyer.

After a residence of four years at St. Joe, he moved to St. Louis, Mo., and in 1882 from that city to Waco, where he has since resided.

Here he engaged in various finaneial operations, and in 1887 purchased a controlling interest in the

State Central Bank, of which, as previously stated, he is the president.

He has been a colaborer with Mr. Wm. Cameron in many important undertakings that have been pushed by them to success. Besides Mr. Slayden's connection with the industrial plants heretofore enumerated, he has various other large investments and business connections in Central Texas.

He was married June 19, 1872, to his first wife, Miss Susan A. Bailey, daughter of Mr. David Bailey, of Champaign, Ill. She died in Waco, Texas, in 1886. Two children were born of this union, of whom one is now living, Bailey Slayden.

At Denver, Colo., November 12th, 1891, Mr. Slayden was united in marriage to Mrs. Emma C. Whitsitt, widow of Mr. R. E. Whitsitt, who was a prominent resident of that city. Mr. Slayden is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He has been a leader in every worthy enterprise inaugu- rated in Waco, and there is not a man in that eity who has contributed more largely to the upbuilding of the city and the development of the resources of the central portion of the State.

His service to Texas at large has been great and invaluable, as he has done much to demonstrate the feasibility of the firm establishment and suc- eessful operation of manufactories within ber borders. While not a politician, in the sense that conveys the idea of an office seeker, he has been a tireless, able and effective worker in the cause of good government, using all the foree of bis influence in that direction. He is a leading spirit in all that pertains to the material welfare of Texas.

H. KEMPNER,

GALVESTON.

Harris Kempner was born in the town of Kisnet- ski, Poland, March 7th, 1837. Ilis educational advantages were limited, hardly, in fact, worth mentioning. At the age of seventeen he came to the United States, making his first stop in New York City, where he found employment as a com- mon laborer, at twenty-five cents a day. Later he picked up some knowledge of the brick-mason's trade and followed this for several months, nutil, baving saved enough from his earnings to buy a

small stoek of merchandise and pay his passage to Texas, he came to this State in 1856. Ile established his headquarters at Cold Springs in San Jacinto County and for about four years pre- ceding the war followed peddling in that section of the State.

With the opening of hostilities between the North and the South in 1861, Mr. Kempner entered the Confederate army, enlisting in Capt. J. Em. Hawkins' Company, from Ellis County, which

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became part of Parsons' Brigade, and with which he served from the date of his enlistment until the close of the war. He took part in all the opera- tions in which this celebrated command partici- pated, including the series of engagements incident to Bank's Red river campaign, in one of which his horse was shot from under him and he was severely wounded, necessitating his transfer to the Quartermaster's department where, in recognition of his gallantry and ability, he was made Quarter- master-Sergeant.

After the war Mr. Kempner returned to Cold Springs, opened a store and engaged in the general mercantile business at that place until 1870, when he moved to Galveston. There he formed a part- nership with M. Marx under the firm name of Marx & Kempner, and for eight years conducted one of the largest wholesale grocery establishments in the city of Galveston. Mr. Kempner began to interest himself in local enterprises in Galveston immediately upon settling there and for a period of more than twenty years his name was connected in some capacity with a number of the city's leading busi- ness concerns. He was a charter member, director and energetic promoter of the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railroad Company, and did much toward building and extending the road and effecting its consolidation with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe. In 1885, after the failure of the Island City Savings Bank, he was made its president on its subsequent reorganization, placed it on a safe basis and was its official head at varying periods until failing health led to his retire-

ment. He was for many years president of the Texas Land and Loan Company, resigning this position also on account of his health. His other investments were large and covered almost every field of legitimate enterprise. Publie enterprises, whatever would elevate, adorn or improve the society in which he moved or the country in which he made his home, met his cordial approbation and received his prompt advocacy and assistance.

Mr. Kempner was always known as simply a plain man of business. He never sought office and took but little interest in partisan politics. As the directing spirit of the enterprises with which he was connected he brought to the exercise of his duties a ripe experience, wise foresight and calmness and deliberation of judgment found only in few men. He did his own thinking and acted promptly and vigorously as occasion demanded. He was attrac- tive in presence and hearty and winning in manner. His uprightness and general worth were every- where known and admitted, and his friends were legion.

In 1872, Mr. Kempner married Miss Eliza Sein- sheimer of Cincinnati, Ohio, and the issue of this union was seven sons and four daughters. His home life was charming and pleasant; under his own roof and by his own fire-side he realized the best phases and the truest enjoyments of this life.

On April 13th, 1894, after a brief illness of ten days, Mr. Kempner died, passing away in the prime of manhood, yet leaving a name full of honor and a record of many years spent without shame or blemish.

MARX MARX,

GALVESTON.

Marx Marx is a native of Prussia, born on the Rhine, October 10th, 1837. Ilis father, a Prussian tradesman, a man of good character, was engaged in mercantile pursuits for some years in his native country when he emigrated to the United States and settled at New Orleans. From there he came to Texas and is now a resident of Galveston, making his home with the subject of this sketch, and is in Ins eighty-sixth year. The mother of Marx Marx bore the maiden name of Gertrude Levi and was a native of France. She died several years ago in New Orleans.

The subject of this memoir was chiefly reared in New Orleans, in the schools of which place he received his education. He attended Franklin High School in that city to the age of fourteen, when he entered his father's grocery store as a clerk. After a year of this employment, not liking the confinement, he left New Orleans and went to Central America to seck his fortunes. After spending eight months there and meeting with but little sucecss he determined to go to California where he landed in 1852, a perfect stranger with only ten cents in his pocket. He soon found a

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home with a widow, a former friend of the family in New Orleans, and accepted the first position that was offered him - that of clerk in a butcher's stall at a salary of $25.00 per month.

He saved his earnings and in less than a year was enabled to go into business for himself on a small scale. IIc remained in California until 1856, when he returned to New Orleans, making the trip from San Franeiseo to that city in thirty-one days, the quickest on record at the time. After a short visit to his old home he returned to California and settled at Sacramento. Investing his means in a sinall cigar jobbing trade, he followed this with marked success for some months. He then induced two friends to join him in the purchase of a stoek of goods and the three went to British Columbia, then an attractive field for Western adventurers. The country at that time was mostly in the posses- sion of the Hudson Bay Company, whose agents watched all American enterprises with jealous eyes, and used every mcans except foree to prevent traders from settling in their locality.

Young Marx, however, established himself on the extreme northern line of the United States, and for the first time, planted the Stars and Stripes in that vicinity. He soon acquired a large and lucra- tive trade, bartering bis goods for furs with Indian trappers. After acquiring a considerable amount of money at this, he determined to return to civil- ization, and accordingly, with his two companions, and four friendly Indians, attempted to cross the Gulf of Georgia in a canoe in order to get into what is now Whateom, Washington, but was over- taken by a storm and at night was washed ashore on one of the numerous islands in that bay. Here they were surprised by hostile Indians from neigh- boring islands, who were deadly foes to the Indians of his party. Mr. Marx' presence of mind did not desert him, but meeting them in a friendly manner and addressing them in their own language he told them that hic was not a "King George Man," the name given by the Indians to English- men, but was a " Boston man," meaning a citizen of the United States. The Chief warmly welcomed him, consented to accept as presents several bolts of red ealico and some blankets and permitted the party to proceed unmolested on their way. After

many other trying experiences he reached San Francisco in 1861.

About this time news was received there of the large silver finds in the territory of Nevada, and Mr. Marx went there, where he engaged in trade. and added considerably to his possessions. In 1863 he went to Utah and established himself at Ameri- can Fork, a small village thirty-five miles south of Salt Lake, where he did a prosperous business for two years. He then went to Virginia City, Mont., at that time the capital of the territory, and estab- lished a wholesale grocery house. Here he took an active part in the affairs of the day and made money rapidly. At the end of three years he left Montana and returned to New Orleans, where, on July 7th, 1868, he married Miss Julia Newman and on the following day set out for Galveston, Texas. On his arrival at that place he engaged in the mer- cantile business and with only one brief interval has been so engaged since. From 1868 to 1871 he was associated with Sampson Heidenheimer in the grocery business. From 1871 to 1886 he was in partnership with Harris Kempner under the firm name of Marx & Kempner, and during this time built up a very large wholesale grocery trade. Since 1890 he has been senior member of the firm of Marx & Blum, wholesale dealers in hats, caps, boots and shoes, one of the largest mercantile establishments in the South.

Mr. Marx has taken stoek in many local enter- prises, in some of which he has held and still holds positions of trust, among the number: The Citi- zers' Loan Company ; The Texas Banking and Im- provement Company ; The Galveston Loan and Im- provement Company, and the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railway Company, besides various banks, both in Galveston and in different parts of the State.

Mr. Marx has been successful in business, and his suecess has come to him in response to the exereise of industry, sagacity and sound business judgment. Ile has never engaged in polities. He is of the Jewish faith in religion, and is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He and his wife have had four children : Fannie, who died at the age of cight, in March, 1878; Nettie, now Mrs. Nat M. Jacobs ; Gertrude, now Mrs. Samuel H. Frankel, and Josetta, now Mrs. A. Blum.

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LEON BLUM,

GALVESTON.

The muse of history, lifting the veil which time has drawn between us and that remote past which fades toward and shades imperceptibly into the night of a still deeper past, discloses a state of so- ciety that, to the careless observer and superficial thinker, has nothing in common with that of the age in which we live, and yet the essential difference is more apparent than actual.

From that dim long-ago to the pearl-white glim- mer of the dawn of modern civilization on down to this time, when the sun of human progress approaches its meridian, the world has been but a vast arena in which all have had to struggle, and in which the strong have ever triumphed and the weak have ever perished. At first, and for many weary centuries, cunning and brute force determined results. Now it is mind that sways the destinies of men and nations. The weapons used are of later make. Now that the moral sense has been more fully de- veloped, the combats are not so revolting, but the ability and skill required are greater and the battles fought equally fierce and unrelenting.

The savage desired to maintain his occupancy of a piece of soil that suited his purpose, to seize the flocks of a neighbor or to reduce an adjoining tribe to slavery - to make others toil for him - deal out destruction at will and to himself enjoy esse, com- fort and security. Such was his idea of power and happiness. The modern ideal is to meet disap- pointments and reverses with fortitude and cour- uge, conquer difficulties, accumulate wealth, be widely useful and helpful, and maintain, from the cradle to the grave, a probity of character that will excite the respect of contemporaries and be a source of just pride to descendants. It is a loftier ideal, truly, and one more difficult to attain, but, many noble-minded men and women have reached it. The youth, when he girds him for the fight, and steps out into the world's great arena, little dreams of what awaits him in the fray. Confidently he rushes into the mass to struggle with competitors. How many are disappointed! How many prove too weak of purpose, of mind, of will! How many listen to the siren songs of the demons of unrest, dissipation, vice and idleness! Out of a hundred, fifty will barely manage to live on to the Anal summons by acting as the agents and in- struments of others, thirty, their early hopes blown aloft like feathers of fancy and whistled

down the chill blasts of Destiny's December, will be moderately successful; nineteen prove a curse to society and only one gains the laurel wreath of victory. These are truths that hold good as to all pursuits, professions and avocations. Not one quality alone, but many are required for the at- tainment of what is worthy to be dignified with the name of success. In commercial pursuits, more, perhaps, that in any other department of human effort, are varicd abilities essential. The dangers that threaten wreck and disaster lic thick upon every hand and the competition is nowlicre more deter- mined, or the clash of mind with mind keener or more constant. -

Natural aptitude, clearness of mental prevision, soundness of judgment, capacity alike for planning and executing and the power to control men and make them faithful, willing and capable instruments for the accomplishment of fixed purposes are some of the prerequisites necessary for the attainment of any considerable eminence as a merchant, financier or in any of the higher commercial walks.

Few men are so widely known in Texas or have done more for the development of the agricultural, industrial and trade resources of the State than Leon Blum, the subject of this brief memoir. He is a member of the great importing and mercantile house of Leon & H. Blum, of Galveston, whose business, through its agents and correspondents, ramnifies Texas and the Southwestern States and extends to many distant lands.

He was born in the year 1837, in Gunderschoffer, Alsace, at one time a department of France, and since the Franco-Prussian War a part of the German Empire. Ilis parents were Isaac and Julie Blum. The law requiring all males, without distinction of rank or social position, to learn some useful trade, he was apprenticed to a tinsmith; but, the pursuit not being congenial, he ceased to follow it after serving his time. Believing himself capable of suc- ceeding in mercantile life, for which he had apti- tude, he at once embarked in it. Believing that wider and better fields were to be found in the United States, he set sail for this country in the spring of 1854, and, arriving in Texas, established himself in the town of Richmond. The author of " Triumphant Democracy " never uttered a greater truth than when he said that the timid, unenter- prising and indolent of foreign countries are con-

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tent to live at home, however harsh the social and political institutions, or meager the opportunities of acquiring financial independence, and that it is the aspiring, active, energetic, able and liberty-loving young men who go across scas, mountains and deserts to improve their fortunes, and that America owes as much to the latter class of her citi- zenship as to any other for the wonderful progress she has made over other nations. This truth is amply demonstrated by the lives of such men as Leon Blum. His ventures, being earefully watebed and managed, lic largely increased his capital at Richmond and, having now become thoroughly acquainted with the people and require- ments of trade in the new country, felt the nced of a basis to operate from that would enable him to extend his transactions and, accordingly, moved to Galveston in 1869. He became at once the largest importer of dry goods in Texas, supplying the merchants of this and adjoining States, receiv- ing in return, immense shipments of cotton and developing an export trade in that staple. He has invested largely in lands in Texas, and engaged in cultivating them with considerable profit. He has been a liberal contributor to every worthy public, and many private, enterprises, giving liberally of his time and means. His faith in the future of Galveston and Texas is strong and abiding and he has shown it by his works, few men having made larger investments in realty and in enterprises of a permanent nature. His business has grown from year to year until for many years past he has ranked among the foremost and wealthiest of the merchants and financiers of the South- west.

The firm of Leon & II. Blum was formed in 1865, by the admission of his cousin, Mr. H. Blum, a gentleman of wide business experience and capac- ity, to a copartnership. Mr. Lcon Blum was married to Miss Henrietta Levy, of Corpus Christi, in 1862 and has two children: Ceeile, now Mrs. Aaron Blum, and Leonora, the wife of F. St. Goar, Esq., of New York. The soldier is said to become stcelcd to carnage, the surgeon indifferent to human suffering and the man, who has by long years of toil acquired wealth, indifferent to the mis-

fortuncs, misery and destitution of his fellow-men, yet there have been soldiers, great ones, too, who have been just and merciful and slow in shedding blood ; surgeons with hearts as gentle as a woman's, and rich men, who have carned their riches, who have performed noble acts of charity. Such men, and such alone, are really deserving of respect and among such the subject of this biographical notice · deserves a worthy place. He has never been un- mindful of the merits of the deserving but unsuc- eessful, nor deaf to the appeals of the unfortunate, for he has been aliberal giver from his store to the worthy and a generous friend to those in distress, irrespective of their religion or nationality. His private charities have been innumerable and are of almost daily occurrence. To such benevolent institutions as the Baylor Orphan Home it has been a pleasure to him to make contributions and, being an ardent advocate of popular cducation, he has donated large sums for school purposes. While he

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Indian wars and pioneers of Texas, Vol. I, Part 52

Author: Brown, John Henry, 1820-1895 Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Austin : L.E. Daniel] Number of Pages: 922

Author: Brown, John Henry, 1820-1895
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Austin : L.E. Daniel]
Number of Pages: 922