Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas, Part 101

Author: Lewis publishing company, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 1128

USA > Texas > Dallas County > Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas > Part 101

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As a social and domestic character there has never been a breath of scandal connected with his untarnished name, while as a friend he is a veritable Pythias. Religiously his youth was enlisted in the Catholic faith, but affiliations with Masonry and Odd Fellowship, whose chairs he has honorably occupied, severed his connection with the church. Col- onel Elliott had the misfortune about a year ago to lose his wife, a woman of superlative merits and varied accomplishments. He now resides with his two sons and two daughters, in an elegant home in the charming little city of Oak Cliff, across the river from Dallas.

V. MCGREGOR, contractor and builder, at Dallas Texas, came into eastern Texas, by water, from Ten- nesse, in 1870, and at once engaged in the business of contracting for building. Ile lias since erected many of the important build- ings of Dallas.

He was born in Trigg county, Kentucky, in 1845, the elder of the two children of IIarris and Eliza (Ross) McGregor. His father, a native of middle Tennessee, moved to Kentucky in pioneer times, opened up a farm and resided there until his death, in 1854. The mother of the subject of this sketch, a native of North Carolina, came to Dallas with him, and died here in 1885. Mr. McGregor was raised in Kentucky, beginning to learn his trade there. During the war he enlisted in Company C, Fourth Kentucky Infantry, was transferred to the Fourteenth Tennessee Infantry, Confederate States of America, sworn into service at Greenbrier, Virginia, and was in the army nearly four years, participating in the battles about Richmond and throughout the Peninsular campaign, the

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

Wilderness and Gettysburg, and was then or dered to Knoxville, Tennessee, where he took charge of a wagon train. Ile was once taken prisoner and confined at IIopkinsville, Kentucky.

After the close of the war he returned to Tennessee, settling near Fort Donelson and engaging in farming. He came to eastern Texas in 1870, and to Dallas in 1872, and shipped the first five cars of lumber on the Texas Pacific railroad to Dallas. He is now the oldest continuous contractor in the city of Dallas, having engaged in the business here for nineteen years. He has contracted for and erected buildings in many cities of Texas. At present he has a large contract at Lancaster, this State. In reference to politics he is not active, but votes the Democratic ticket. He is a member of Lodge No. 1, Woodmen of the World, also of Indian Mound Lodge, No. 108, F. & A. M., at Indian Mound, Tennes- see. Mr. McGregor belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church in Dallas.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. McGregor took place in Stewart county, Tennessee, in 1865. Her maiden name was Fannie Wall, and she was a native of that county. Of their nine children four are living, namely: Minnie, now the wife of S. W. Burgen of Dallas; Ivy, now Mrs. Robert McPhail of Waxahachie, Texas; Kittie, and Willis. Mr. and Mrs. Burgen have one child, Stony by name. Robert and Ivy McPhail have two children : Fannie Lue and Mittie Zuma. John and Mary Wall, the parents of Mrs. McGregor, were natives of Stewart county, Tennessee, where they passed their entire lives. Mr. Wall was a farmer and stock-raiser. He and his wife were prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church Sonth. He died in 1856, at the age of fifty-six years. IIe was a pro- gressive and public-spirited man, and as a

worthy citizen had many warm friends; was prominently identified with the growth and progress of this county. Mrs. Wall died in 1888, aged seventy-two years. William, the oldest brother, died at home, at the age of abont fifty years. Jack L. H. Wall was killed at the battle of Cedar Run, October 19, 1864, aged about thirty-five years. Thomas died in Virginia, of erysipelas, while in the sevice of the Confederate ariny, at the age of twenty-one years. James P. eulisted at Fort Donelson, and was shortly afterward taken prisoner and confined at Camp Donglas, Chicago, and never returned until the war closed. Ile is now living in Stewart county, Tennessee, in the vicinity of Fort Donelson. Green Marion was also in the Confederate ser- vice, when but a boy. He has a family and is living in Colorado. Mrs. McGregor, born May 2, 1848, was next in order of birth. Alice, wife of James Lee, resides on a farm in Stewart county, Tennessee, as does also Emma, the wife of Albert Legbert. Four other children of these parents died in early childhood. The parents were honest, kind- hearted and intelligent people, respected by all who knew them.

DWARD LOUGHIERY, a contractor and builder of Dallas, was born in Oak- land county, Michigan, in 1841, the fifth of the seven children of William and Margaret (Grinley) Loughery, natives of Scotland. His father, a stone and brick mason, emigrated by sail vessel to America, settling first in New York and then in Mich- igan, in which latter State his death occurred; his wife survives. Mr. Edward Longhery Icarned his trade in Detroit and East Saginaw. Afterward he engaged in contracting, in

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

Missouri and Kansas, from which latter State he came to Texas in 1875, in the em - ploy of the Texas Pacific Railroad Company, in whose service he continued eleven years, in this State. He has now a fine residence, erected in 1889, at the corner of Tevis avenue and Hawkins street.

He was married in Marshall, this State, in March, 1881, to a native of Tennessee. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Loughery is a Democrat in political action.

ILLIAM H. ABRAMS, Land and Tax Commissioner of the Texas & Pacific Railway, was born in Peru, LaSalle county, Illinois, January 10, 1843. His parents are Isaac and Ellen (Rittenhouse) Abrams: the latter is a niece of David Ritten- house, the noted astronomer. Both parents are still living. The father has been a suc- cessful business man,-a merchant, land and real estate agent. He is now eighty-four years of age, but his wife is eight years younger, being only seventy-six. They both are members of the Congregational Church. Our subject is the oldest of the family of three children born to his parents, namely : Louise, still of the home circle; and Edwin, the youngest, engaged in the real-estate and insurance business in Chicago: the latters wife was Linnie Bullock, and they have one daughter, Louisc.

Mr. Abrams has been in the railway ser- viee since October 20, 1866. From the time of entering railway work until September 16, 1873, he was connected with the land de- partment of the Kansas Pacific, now part of of the Union Pacific, but.at that date he con- nected himself with the Texas & Pacific Railway, and has remained with it ever since,

as Land Commissioner, since 1875. He had been Assistant Land Commissioner under ex-Governor Throckmorton, who, having been elected to Congress, resigned in the last named year, and Mr. Abrams succeeded him. He, our subject, resided in Marshall, Texas, from 1873 to 1883, but in November of the latter year moved to Dallas, where he has since resided, and is now regarded as one of the enterprising and prominent citizens of the city. He is a man well fitted for his position, and has given a high degree of satisfaction to all concerned. Since 1884 he has represented the Land and Tax interests in Texas of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, and auxiliary lines also.

Mr. Abrams was married, June 16, 1869, to Miss Ella M. Harris, danghter of Hon. W . A. Harris, of Page county, Virginia, now de- ceased, as is also his wife, Fanny (Murray) Harris, natives of Fauquier county, Virginia, but for a long time of Page county, Virginia, then of Pike county, Missouri, where they died, he in 1864 and his wife in 1889. He was a very prominent member of Congress, representing the Shenandoah valley for eight years. IIe also was United States Minister to Buenos Ayres under President Pierce, and was for some time the publisher of the Wash- ington Union, which was regarded as the administration organ during President Bu- chanan's term of office. Mr. Harris and wife had six children, of whom W. A. Harris, of Linwood, Kansas, a large land owner and stock man and a prominent man, is the old- est, and his wife is Mary Lionberger; Murray Ilarris, the second son, born in Buenos Ayres, is Chief Engineer of the construction of the Pecos Valley Company's system of ir- rigation canals in Western Texas and New Mexico; Charles II., farmer and stock inan near Bowling Green, Missouri; May, single

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

and living in St. Louis, Missouri; Lelia, wife of Elijah Robinson, of Kansas City, Mis- souri, an ex-judge, and now a very promin- ent attorney of said city.

Mrs. Abrams was educated at the Convent of the Visitation, at St. Louis, while her hus- band is a graduate of Monmouth College, class of 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Abrams have the following children: Lucien, born June 10. 1870, graduated at Princeton College, New Jersey, class of 1892, and expects to study architecture and art for several years; Clarence Albright, born December 27, 1873, educated, first at Dallas schools, then at Beloit College, Wisconsin, for one year, and at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, at Troy, New York; Harold Jefferys, born February 4, 1885, in Dallas, is the youngest of this bright and promising family. Both parents attend the Episcopal Church.

W. MOORE, attorney at law, Dallas, was born in Warren county, Kentucky, March 23, 1856. His parents were A. E. and Mahala (Bewett) Moore, both natives of Kentucky. Mr. Moore was a farmer, was superintendent of the county school for several years; was Justice of the Peace for many years. He is still a farmer of Warren county, Kentucky. He is a mem- ber of the Baptist Church, and Deacon of the same. His wife died in 1875, aged fifty- two years, a member of the Baptist Church. There were five children of the family, and all living in Kentucky except our subject.

Mr. Moore attended school at Bowling Green, Kentucky, and later attended school for several years at Smith's Grove College. He taught school for three years in Ken- tucky. After leaving school he came to

Texas in 1880, and taught in Dallas county for two years; commenced reading law in 1882, in the office of D. H. Morrow, read law two years, was admitted to the bar in 1884, has been engaged in the prac- tice ever since, and been Notary Public, hold- ing the office seven years. Has been quite successful. He was elected City Attorney of Oak Cliff, April 5, 1892.

He was married October 3, 1889, near Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, to Miss Helen Hand, daughter of Jared and Mary J. Hand, of Walworth county, Wisconsin. She is a graduate of a Wisconsin college, and has taught four years in the high school of San Antonio and one year in the Dallas high school. She also taught at Muskegon, Michigan, before coming to Texas. She has been a very successful teacher, giving a high degree of satisfaction; is a thorough scholar and a most efficient, experienced teacher. She has made drawing a specialty, and has some work pronounced very fine by those who are capable of judging.

Mr. and Mrs. Moore have one child, Hu- bert B. Both parents are members of the church.

HARLES M. ORR, a farmer and stock- raiser of precinct No. 1, Dallas county, was born at Tyler, Texas, in 1864, the eldest of five children born to W. W. and A. M. (McQueen) Orr, natives of Ohio and Tennessee. The father came to Texas in an early day, where he was engaged as a railroad contractor, having built part of the Eastern Texas railroad, and also part of the Southern railroad. IIe was next engaged in the livery business, and furnished teams for the grading of Dallas, and also secured contracts for other parties. In 1880 he engaged exclu-

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

sively in handling buggies and wagons, which he continued ten years, but is now retired from active business. The mother died in the city of Dallas in 1885, and the father is now making a trip to Europe. During the war Mr. Orr was connected with the Quar- termaster's Department. under General Kir- by, and was engaged in buying provisions in eastern Texas until the close of the struggle. Of Mr. and Mrs. Orr's five children, three are now living: Charles M., our subject; Annie, wife of D. C. Austin, a jeweler of Dallas; and Joe Kirby, also of Dallas.

Charles M. Orr was reared and educated in Dallas, and was later engaged in a store as clerk until 1888. He then bought out the business, and continued in the handling of buggies and carriages until 1891, when he came to the farm the family had opened. Ile now has sixty-one and one-fourth acres under a fine state of cultivation, and also owns real estate in Dallas, Paris and San An tonio. · Mr. Orr is not active in politics, but votes with the Democratic party. He has witnessed the growth and development of this county and city, and has always taken au active interest in everything pertaining to its good.

ANIEL JOSEPH ROGERS, who is connected with one of the leading in- dustries of the state of Texas, was born in Newport, Campbell county, Kentucky, July 27, 1857, and is a son of Willam H. and Mary M. (Morrow) Rogers. The father was a native of Long Island, and came to Kentucky as a pioneer, settling in Newport. He was engaged in boating on the river until his death, which occurred in 1874. Our sub- ject is the fifth of a family of six children ; he grew to maturity in his native place, and

received his education in the common schools. Desirons of learning the trade of a stone-cut- ter, he entered the Mechanics' Institute, of Ohio, for the purpose of studying drawing. In July, 1877, he started out for himself in the world. He worked for a time in Colum- bus, Ohio, and then went to Kansas and finally saw the principal cities of the West. He was employed on Government buildings in Des Moines, Iowa, Kansas City, Missouri, and Denver, Colorado. In this occupation he not only had an ample opportunity to im. prove his trade. but familiarized himself with all the various qualities of stone in the different parts of the country.

After several years he came to Texas, and was engaged in work on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas passenger depot at Dallas. He next went to western Texas and was located at Pecos city.

He there made the important discovery of a stratum of stone, afterwards known as the Pecos sandstone. He purchased 320 acres from the Government, on which this deposit was discovered, and in order to develop the business, he associated himself with the IIon. Robert MeCorth, of Fort Worth, and P. HI. Dnrock, of Minneapolis. The company was incorporated under the laws of Texas, with a capital stock of $100,000, and is known as the Pecos Red Sandstone Company; presi- dent, C. F. Thomason, Pecos City ; vice-pres- ident, Hon. Robert McCorth; secretary, D. J. Rogers; treasurer, C. F. Thomason; general manager, P. II. Durock. By analysis this stone is shown to possess all the qualities desirable for building purposes, and the color is of a fine, rich red. It has beer used inall the principal buildings of northern Texas, inelud- ing the Dallas county courthouse, the Mer- chants' bank, of Dallas, and all the Govern- ment buildings at Texarkana. Through the

Do 4 Hendrick

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

management of the corporation of experi- enced men, this industry has grown to be the largest and most important in the State, and much of the credit is due to Mr. Rogers, who has devoted himself to the work with un- tiring energy and a zeal that has known no abatement.

He is a member of Eureka Lodge, No. 7, Knights of Pythias, of Newport, Kentucky, and affiliates with the Democratic party.

ETER J. HENDRICK, engaged in the real-estate business at Dallas, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1831, the youngest of five children born to John W. and Catharine (Revel) Hendrick, natives of county Wexford, Ireland. At an early day the parents came to Boston, Massachusetts, where the father was engaged as a seafaring man. His death occurred in Ireland in 1832, and the mother survived him until 1865, dy- ing at the age of sixty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Hendrick had five children, as follows: Jolın William, of Boston, Massachusetts; Will- iam, of Shreveport, Louisiana; Theresa, wife of Peter Hayes, of Charlestown, Massachu- setts; Peter J., our subject; and Catherine Cullen, of Boston.

The subject of this sketch was reared in county Wexford, Ireland, to the age of thir- teen years, after which he came to America and followed a seafaring life. He visited all the ports of Europe, also touching points for hides and horns in Africa. Mr. Hendrick subsequently settled in Boston, where he learned the carpenter's trade, and later en- gaged in the real-estate business. April 20, 1865, he enlisted in the United State service, and was financier of the carpenter's depart- ment. He served three monthis, and was 54

honorably discharged at Edgefield, Tennessee, in June, 1865, on account of disability. After the close of his service he returned to Boston and followed the real-estate business until coming to Dallas, in 1877. Mr. Hen- drick built and improved a great deal in this city, and now owns eight residences on Con- merce street, besides other property in Dallas. He has just returned from a five-months trip to Europe. He has taken an active interest in politics, and socially is a member of George H. Thomas Post, No. 6, Grand Army of the Republic.

He was married in Boston, in 1854, to Eliza Jane Kelley, and they had six children: Catharine, Theresa, Clarence, Peter Henry, James F. and Mary,-all residents of Boston. Mr. Hendrick was again married in Dallas, September 22, 1889, to Catherine Theresa Terry, a native of Ireland. They have two children: John M. and Agnes Josephine.

OHN. H. MCCLELLAN, a widely known and esteemed public man and a prosper- ous and influential citizen of Dallas, Texas, was born in Alabama in 1855, and is a son of Jolin R. and Mary J. (Dean) McClellan, natives of Georgia. His maternal grandmother, Eliza Dean, still survives, aged seventy-six years. His father was a farmer by occupation, and a man of excellent traits, and greatly esteemed by all who knew him. He was a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church for more than twenty years. He died in 1886, in his fitty-eighth year, univer- sally lamented. llis worthy wife still sur- vives him, at the age of fifty-five years. She has been an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since childhood. This es- timable couple were the parents of nine chil-

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

dren, eight still living, and, with the excep- tion of the subject of this sketch, are all residents of Alabama, where they occupy po- sitions of honor and trust. Andrew J., the eldest, married Margaret Felley; the second is the subject of this notice; Simeon F. mar- ried Susan Carter; Martha Jane is the wife of William Russell, a prosperous farmer; Samnel R. married Miss Bradley; Polly A. is the wife of Mr. Shaw; William J. has re- cently been elected Justice of the Peace: lie is twenty-two years of age, is a prosperous farmer, and a young man of great promise; Thomas J .. and George W.

John H., whose name heads this memoir. passed his youth in Tallapoosa county, Ala- bama, and attended the public school. He was afterward a pupil at the academy in Alexander City, Alabama, and on leaving school commenced farming for himself. After a short experience in this occupation, he en- gaged in the mercantile business. In 1883, he removed to Texas, settling in Sherman, whenee he came to Dallas, where he has since resided. He opened a confectionery and restaurant in the latter place, which he has continued to successfully conduct.

In 1883, he married Miss Allie Chambers, an intelligent lady, a daughter of Albert and Margaret (Windley) Chambers, of Chambers- burg, Pennsylvania, the city taking its name from that celebrated family. Her father was a brother of the noted divine, Dr. T. W. Chambers, who was one of the committee who revised the New Testament. Her father's sister, Mrs. Charswood, was the wife of the Chief Justice of Pennsylvania; and the family is related to the late Theodore Frelinghuysen, of the Keystone State. Mrs. McClellan's father died at the age of thirty- five years, when she was an infant. Her mother still lives, and is an honored resident

of Good Water, Alabama. Mrs. McClellan is the only child of this marriage now living. Mr. and Mrs. McClellan have had two children, both now deccased; one died in infancy, and one, Mary Alice, lived to the age of nine months.

Politically, Mr. McClellan is Democratic, and zealonsly supports all the issues of that body. He has frequently been honored by his constituents with office, and has served on many important committees, where his sound judgment has been of great value. In 1888, he was elected a member of the City Coun- cil, to which office he was re-elected in 1890, and again on April 5, 1892, when the coun- cil elected him Mayor pro tem., in which capacity lie is now serving. Socially, he affiliates with the Knights of Pythias, and is a member of lodge No. 70.

Such universal commendation outweighs any enloginms we might offer, which would be naturally deduced from a survey of his irreproachable life and character, and we can but add our voice to the general applause of his fellow men.

A. DISBOROUGH, agent for the A. M. Dalph Company, laundry ma- chinery and supplies; agent for the Campbell Cotton Company, office 314 Com- merce street, Dallas; also president of tlie Kansas City & New Orleans Railway Com- pany, located in Bowie county, Texas.

This gentleman was born in Mercer county, New Jersey, in August, 1856, son of Isaiah and Maria (Anmock) Disborough, natives of New Jersey. They trace their ancestors in New Jersey back to the reign of King Charles II. His father was for many years engaged in the fruit business, was finan-

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

cially successful, and is now a resident of Trenton, New Jersey. His mother died July 17, 1885. Mr. Disborough was reared in his native State and was there educated, spending three years in the New Jersey Collegiate Institute and taking a thorough business course in Philadelphia. He was then en- gaged as bookkeeper for one year for the Western Telegraph Company, Philadelphia, and from there went to New York city in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad, with whom he was engaged for seven years, until 1885. He then came to Texas, and on September 13 of that year took up his abode in Dallas. Here he was first engaged with the Santa Fe Railroad in the claim de- partment, and afterward with the Texas Pa- cifie in the same line of work. Since 1888 he has been on the road, selling oils and ma- chinery supplies.

Mr. Disborough was married in 1888 to Miss Lilly B. Randall, a native of Louisville, Kentucky, and a daughter of Daniel T. and Sarah A. (Sherburne) Randall, natives of Boston, Massachusetts. Iler parents are both of English descent, on her mother's side the ancestry being traced back to the Mayflower, she being a direct descendant of Biglow of Revolutionary fame. Mrs. Disborough's father went to Louisville at an early day, thence to Georgia, and in 1883 to Dallas: his death occurred in May, 1888. Her mother is still living.

Mr. Disborough is a life member of the Ancient Order of Foresters, Washington Conclave, No. 1, and is First Commander of the Conclave, he having organized the order. He is a member of the Dallas Lodge, No. 70, K. of P., and also of the Knights of the Gol- den Eagle, Alpha Castle, No. 1. Politically, he affiliates with the Democratie party.

Another enterprise with which Mr. Dis-

borough is connected, and of which he was the founder, is the King Manufacturing Com - pany. Of this he served as secretary and treasurer for some time. It was started with small capital, but, being backed by his energy and push, it was not long before a trade of $10,000 yearly was built up, with three nien on the road and employment furnished to eight persons.

ENRY WETZELL WANDLESS, M. D., Dallas, Texas .- This is an age of specialties, and many members of the medical profession have perceived the neces- sity of turning their attention to a particular branch, if they expect to attain any marked snecess in the science. The entire field is too broad a territory for this age of research, and must be divided into sections that may, per- haps in a lifetime, be mastered. Dr. Wand- less was a student in the Baltimore Medical College, and in 1885 took the degree of M. D. He took a special course of lectures on operative surgery, and for a short time was engaged in general practice in West Virginia. He then removed to Texas, and soon after began to give much of his time and attention to the treatment of the eye and ear. For the purpose of gaining special instruction on this subject he went to Chicago, Illinois, and studied in the Chicago Eye and Ear In- firmary, where he had also nnusual advantages in practice. He was offered the position of assistant honse surgeon of the institute, but declined the honor and returned to Dallas. He has established a large practice which is constantly increasing, and has won a reputa- tation that is not confined to the borders of his own county. He is a conscientions and careful operator, and his success is the legit-

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Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas, Part 101

Author: Lewis publishing company, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 1128

Author: Lewis publishing company, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 1128