Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas, Part 110

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 110

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He and his wife are members of the Chris- tian Church.

C. KIMBROUGH, junior member of the firm of Wooten & Kimbrough, one of the leading law firms of Dal- las, Texas, was born in Roane county, Ten- nessee, December 12, 1861.

Ilis parents are William and Rebecca C. (Ellis) Kimbrough, both natives of Tennessee. The father has given attention to agricultural pursnits all his life, first in Tennessee and later in Texas. He came to the latter State in 1868, but, owing to Indian troubles, re- turned to Tennessee. He remained there until 1875, when he came back to Texas and has since been an honored resident here. He is engaged in farming on an extensive scale, and stock-raising as well. He owns over

1,000 acres of productive land, some 700 acres of which are under cultivation and well adapted for corn, cotton, oats, grass, and in fact any kind of produce that can be grown in this latitude. Mr. Kimbrough is a pro- gressive farmer and. is keenly alive to the best farming interests. He is well known in his portion of the State, and is highly re- spected as an honest and worthy citizen, such as gives character to a community. He and his wife have for many years been devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church Sonth, in which he has long been an officer. He is now sixty-eight, and his wife fifty-five years of age. They are the parents of three children, one daughter and two sons. Katie, their daughter, is the wife of N. B. Laughlin, and has two children. They reside in Santa Fé, New Mexico, where Mr. Laughlin is en- gaged in the practice of law, being an attor- ney of more than ordinary qualifications. He served one term as Attorney-General of the Territory, under the appointment of Presi- dent Cleveland, and gave a high degree of satisfaction. Joseph E. Kimbrough married Eunice Ferris. He is a lawyer of Denton county, Texas.

W. C. Kimbrough was educated in the University of Texas, at Austin, receiving his diploma therefrom with the class of 1888. After leaving college he at once established himself in practice at Dallas, since which time he has been engaged in his profession herc.

Mr. Kimbrough is a young man of pleasing address and of well poised intellect and bnsi- ness tact. He is a thorough student, believes in keeping up with the pace of advancement, and has a promising future before him. A fluent speaker and writer, he exerts an influ- ence on those around him, and it is .with pleasure we note this influence is ever directed

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

in a right channel. Articles from his facile pen are found in many of the newspapers and magazines. Mr. Kimbrough is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Chureli and the Ma- sonic order, and in politics is an enthusiastic Democrat.

M AXIME GUILLOT, deceased, was born in Angers, France, December 10, 1824, and on the 20th of Decem- ber, 1849, he bade farewell to the scenes of his boyhood and youth and emigrated to the United States, arriving in the city of New Orleans on the 1st of February, 1850, without a cent. He was possessed of any amount of pluck and enterprise, and, being an accom- plislied artisan, it was not long before he se- eured employment with a Mr. Smith on Canal street, where his thorough skill as a workman enabled him to command a remu- nerative salary.

The yellow fever breaking out a short time afterward, Mr. Guillot left the city of New Orleans with a few friends and went to Shreveport, where, hearing exciting frontier stories, he experienced a longing to view the scenes that had impressed him so foreibly. He and two companions walked about three miles into the country to the residence of a French gentleman, an old settler, received permission of him to cut down a few sassafras trees from which they improvised a rude cart in the construction of which not one particle of iron appeared. They purchased an old horse and set ont for Denton county, Texas. This cart afterwards sold at Fort Worth for $10. Being unable to speak English Mr. Guillot found great difficulty in overcoming the many obstacles that were constantly ap- pearing in his way, and this fact induced him

to leave Benton county and locate at Fort Worth, which he did in the summer of 1850. There he met with Major Arnold, one of the most accomplished gentlemen and popular officers serving the Government in this sec tion of the State. The Major spoke the French language, and, desiring to employ a wagon maker for the Government, engaged Mr. Guillot at a salary of $20 per month. But in consideration of the extraordinary ser- vices he was able to render his salary was in- creased to $40 per month. When the troops were removed from Fort Worth Mr. Guillot left the employ of the Government and came to Dallas, where he embarked in business ou his own account, keeping his shop in the streets. He was not long in building up a good business and had customers seeking him from a distance of 350 miles. In 1853 he returned to France and was married to Mademoiselle Prouard, a sister of one of the gentlemen who bore him company when he first entered Texas. He remained in France one year and then returned to the United States, bringing with him four experieneed workmen. His plans soon took shape and in a short time he established the first manu- facturing enterprise of any kind in northern Texas. His success was almost phenomenal and large profits came to reward him. In 1856 Mrs. Guillot died, leaving as a memento a little boy. Mr. Guillot continned business and was very successful. In 1859 he married Miss Mary Mullen, who bore him several children.

Mr. Guillot entered the Confederate army, but being a workman of great skill was as- signed to duty as an artisan, superintending the manufacture of the wagons that were turned out at Lancaster, Texas. After the war he resumed his manufacturing business, which he carried on for four years, and then

nochother

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

retired from active life to enjoy the fruits of his labor. His death. occurred in Dallas, October 23, 1889, and was the occasion of universal sorrow, for all felt what it was to lose such a man. His widow and children now reside in Dallas, Texas.

D. STROTHER, proprietor of the Union Depot Hotel, was born in Saline county, Missouri, in 1854, the fourth of six children born to Isaac and Susan (Gaines) Strother, natives of Kentucky. The parents were married in their native State, and in an early day moved to Saline county, Missouri, where the father engaged in farm- ing and merchandising. His death occurred in Topeka, Kansas, in 1860, and the mother afterward moved to Warren county, Ken- tucky, where she died in February, 1885. Of their six children, three still survive: John W., a resident of Kentucky; R. D., our subject; and Isaac N., a Baptist minister of Nashville, Tennessee.

The subject of this sketch, R. D. Strother, was reared principally in Warren county, Kentucky, and was educated in the district schools of that connty. He commenced life for himself as a newsboy on the Louisville & Nashville railroad, and in this way assisted in supporting his mother and family for two years. He was then appointed as general news agent at Sherman, Texas, by the South- ern News Company at Louisville, Kentucky, and was also publisher of the Southern Rail- way Guide. In 1881 Mr. Strother engaged in the hotel business at Dallas, and is now proprietor of the Union Depot Hotel. Po- litically, he is identified with the Democratic party, and socially, is a member of Dallas Lodge, No. 941, K. of H. He has made 58

what he has by his own efforts, has dealt some in real estate, and now owns consider- able residence property in the city of Dallas.

He was married in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1879, to Miss Mary C. Kamp, a native of Hardin county, Kentucky, and a daughter of William II. and Ellen Kamp, also natives of Kentucky. The father, a merchant of Bards- town, Kentucky, died in that city many years ago, and the mother still resides in her native State. Mr. and Mrs. Strother have no chil- dren of their own, but are rearing and edu- cating their niece, Susan Crabb, who is now attending school at Sherman, Texas.

Mr. Strother has witnessed the substantial growth of Dallas, and has always taken an active part in everything for the good of the city and county. He is an active worker for the Democratic party, and his influence is felt in every election. He has been a dele- gate to the Floatorial, Senatorial, Congres- sional and Gubernatorial conventions, was recently a Clark delegate to the noted Guber- natorial convention at Houston.

Mr. Strother's friends are numbered by his acquaintances, and he is well known to be one of the most generous and charitable of men.

ILLIAM DORAN, Dallas, Texas .- The trade in provisions is undoubt- edly one of the most important of the industries of Dallas, and a review of this city's interests would be manifestly incom- plete without passing mention of the popular and prosperous beef packing-house of the Dallas Packing Company, which was organ. ized and incorporated in 1890. Their plant consists of a four-story brick building cover- ing an area of 262 feet, fronting on Elm street and extending back 120 feet. This

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

was built at a cost of $78,000, and the machinery $75,000, the entire plant costing $175,000. This company is just placing an artesian well, the largest in the country, at a eost of $4,000. The capacity of the plant is 500 cattle and 1,000 each day of ten hours. The plant is now running on one-half eapaeity, and on the pay roll are from seventy-five to 100 men, principally skilled workmen. This plant incorporated J. S. Armstrong president, William Doran secretary and treasurer, and F. H. Doran general manager. The latter sold his interest to the original stockholders. who expeet by 1892 to double the capacity of the plant.

William Doran was born in Ireland in 1847, and it is a recognized fact that among those who have made their home in this county, the men of foreign birth have contributed their full share toward its development and prosperity. Mr. Doran was the fifth in order of birth of ten children born to IIngh and Eliza (Eulett) Doran, natives of the Emerald Isle. The elder Doran came to America in 1849, settled on a farm in Lake county, Ohio, and there his death oeeurred in 1884. The mother is still living and resides on the old homestead in Lake county. Until fifteen years of age William Doran remained in Lake county, but after that he went to New York eity and there learned the marble-eutter's trade, following this for about twelve years in Ohio and New York State.

He was married in Lake county, Ohio, in 1875, to Miss Cynthia Hine, a native of that county, the daughter of Homer H. and Juli- ette (Pue) Hine, the father a native of Young- town, Ohio, and the mother of Harrodsburg, Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Hine were married in the Buekeye State and were pioneers of Lake county, that State. The Hine family were originally from Connecticut, but mem-

bers of the family came from Ohio when that State belonged to the Western Reserve. Mr. HIine was a man of education, an attorney of prominence, and was also a sneeessful agri- culturist. He and wife now reside in Paines- ville, Ohio.

The year of his marriage Mr. Doran came to Dallas, Texas, and he has been directly in- terested with the business interests of the eity for sixteen years. He first engaged in the stoek business, buying, feeding and ship- ping, until he embarked in the paeking busi- ness, which brings him in big returns. He has seen the rapid growth of the eity of Dal- las and has ever taken a deep interest in all enterprises for the good of the same. He is not active in polities but votes with the Re- publiean party. To his marriage were born the following children: Homer, Eliza, Jessie (died in 1882 at the age of three years), Esther (died in 1887, when five years of age), William, Robert Clarence and Cynthia, de- eeased.

TOEL B. COOLIDGE .- This gentleman is a son of Aaron Coolidge, wlio was born in Massachusetts April 4, 1793. From his native State the father moved with his parents to Maine when a young man, and was there united in marriage with Polly Bigelow, a native of Worcester, Massachusetts, and a daughter of Joel and Mary Bigelow, also na- tives of that State. Aaron Coolidge eon- tinued to farm in Oxford county, Maine, till 1859, at which time he moved to Illinois and settled in Winnebago county. There he re- mained till his death, which oeeurred in 1879. His wife died in 1890. To them were born eight children, as follows: Sampson A., born December 8, 1818, died October 18, 1874; Mary J., born February 29, 1820, wife

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

of George H. Mariner, resides in La Crosse, Wisconsin ; Joel B .; Cyrus B., born June 19, 1824, died October 3, 1845; Martha B., born August 20, 1826, wife of Monroe Paliner, resides in La Crosse, Wisconsin; Liberty and Freedom, twins, born May 12, 1830, the for- mer being a resident of Haven, Iowa, and the latter having died August 11, 1890; and Ann M., born October 1, 1834, wife of Lorenzo Bradford.

Mr. Coolidge's paternal grandfather was Joseph Coolidge, a native of Watertown, Massachusetts. He served as Lieutenant in the Revolutionary war. The paternal grand- mother was Mary (Adams) Coolidge, a sister of John Quincy Adams.

Joel B. Coolidge was born in Oxford county, Maine, December 27, 1821, and there resided until he was twenty-one years of age. At that time he went to Boston, Massachu- setts, and for three years and a half was there employed in a hardware store; thence to Hallowell, on the Kennebec river, where he was engaged in the general merchandise business two years; and thence to Mason county, Illinois, continuing there the mer- cantile business two years. He then began farming in Winnebago county, Illinois, and remained there until 1876, when he came to Texas and located where he now lives. In 1849 he was married to Mary White, a daughter of Woodson and Nancy White, sketches of whom appears in this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Coolidge have been born eleven children, viz .: Cyrus, born November 14, 1850, died in 1880; John R., December 18, 1852, died October 23, 1854; Mary L., born March 13, 1853, died May 26, 1858; John R., born March 13, 1857, died October 13, 1859, W. P., born March 19, 1859, is now a merchant of Lancaster, Texas; William L., born July 1, 1861, died September 20, 1880;

J. Monroe, born February 15, 1863, is a mem- ber of the firm of W. P. Coolidge & Co., Mary E., born February 23, 1865, ís the wife of Hooper Haynes, of Fisher county, Texas; an infant, the twin of Mary E., died Novem- ber 28, 1865; J. B., born May 29, 1866, is a member of the firm of W. P. Coolidge & Co .; and Alice May, born October 25, 1869, is now at home.

At the age of twenty years Mr. Coolidge began life for himself with a capital of twenty-five cents. He is now in good cir- cuinstances, having a competency for his declining years. In politics he is a Demo- crat. The family, excepting himself, are members of the Baptist Church,

ANSEN MADSEN is the proprietor of the Dallas mills located on East Main street. He was born in Denmark, De- cember 7, 1847, second of three children to Madsen Peterman and Anna K. (Larsdar- ter) Petersen, both natives of Denmark. The father was shoemaker and farmer and was well and favorably known throughout the community in which he lived. After the death of his wife in June, 1872, he survived her until December 17, 1890, dying at the age of seventy-six years.

Hansen Madsen, the subject of this sketch, attended school in his native land until he reached the age of fourteen years, when he was put to work on the farm where he as- sited his father until he attained his twenty- tifth year. Notwithstanding all these years he so quietly spent in assisting his father he was of an adventurous disposition and finding the mother country too unenterprising to suit his tastes, he decided to try his fortune in America. He went to the city of Copenhagen

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

in 1873 and took passage for the United States and landed in New York city a few weeks later. He immediately started for the west and stopped at Sheffield, Illinois, where he obtained employment as a farın hand. At the end of one year he came to Dallas and found himself almost without means, but eagerly embraced all and any opportunities in the way of work, and after a time succeeded in renting a farm, which he conducted for one year, after which followed a very eventful and changeable life. He worked in the wood camps and at teaming on the different rail- roads, taking contracts wherever he could make it pay, and although was a hard and rough experience it taught him self-respect and to rely upon his own resources in every emergency. On December 16, 1884, he was united in marriage to Miss Emma Gilliam, the danghter of Judge Gilliam, of Mexico, Missouri, who was well known throughout that State. He was at one time master of a Mississippi river steamboat, making regular trips to the upper river country. He was elected Judge of the County Court, an office he filled for one term, and he was also County Treasurer one term. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Madsen proved to be very happy one, for Mrs. Madsen proved in every respect a help-mate to her husband, and her advice, when acted upon, always proved to be sound and very advantageous.

In 1884 Mr. Madsen conceived the idea of erecting a mill for the manufacture of feed, but having no capital with which to procure the necessary machinery, he made arrange- ments with a millwright to build a small mill in partnership with him, and this was in time equipped with a small engine and feed-grind. ing machinery, which was afterward utilized to manufacture oat-meal also. A short time after the completion of the mill Mr. Madsen's

partner died, and he was left anything but master of the situation; but, nothing daunted, he set to work to better his knowledge of the business and to improve his facilities, and by perseverance and experimenting, he soon ac- quired a practical knowledge of the calling. In course of time he procured a larger engine and thereby increased his capacity. Up to this time he had been doing his delivering by hand, his want of the necessary fnuds pre- venting the purchase of a horse and wagon, but after some time he was successful in ob- taining an old horse and wagon for delivery purposes, and this greatly lightened his la- bors and the mill at once began to pay a small profit. He then took another partner, but in a short time discovered that the busi- ness was not increasing; so he purchased this partner's interest, and, with the assistance of his worthy wife and one man, succeeded in successfully operating the mill. Many were the difficulties he encountered, but in time he found that his manufacturing capacity was too small, and he disposed of his establish- ment, which was located at 1617 Elm street, and moved to more commodious quarters, purchasing a convenient tract of land; upon this he erected the mill which he now owns. Its capacity has been increased from 60 to 250 bushels per day, and the machin- ery is of the best make and is run by a forty- horse-power engine, the whole plant being now valued at $10,000. Mr. Madsen can well be called one of the busy and useful men of Dallas, for in the midst of many difficul- ties he established himself in business and has built np a useful enterprise.

He has a son, Charley R. who was born September 6, 1885. He and his wife hold membership in the Congregational Church of East Dallas, and in politics he is neutral. It is safe to say that he is always found on

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

the right side of any question pertaining to the advancement and welfare of the city, and in all matters he endeavors to follow the teachings of the Golden Rule.

OIIN HASH, a farmer residing two miles west of Lancaster, was born in Green county, Kentucky, September 25, 1818, and was reared in Sangamon county, near Springfield, Illinois, whither his parents had moved when he was young. The latter removed from that county to Lawrence, then to Berry connty, Missouri, in 1837, where they afterward died. The father, Philip Hash, was a native of Kentucky, a son of a pioneer of that State, and of German descent. He served in the war of 1812, and also in the Black Hawk war; was an old frontiersman and a true patriot. Our sub- ject's mother, nee Sarah Nantz, was a daugh- ter of Zachariah Nantz. She was a native of Virginia, but was reared in Kentucky, where her parents had moved when she was young. Mr. and Mrs. Hash had twelve children, eight boys and four girls, but only five are now living.

John Hash, our subject, accompanied his parents to Missouri when nineteen years of age, and after reaching maturity he began farming for himself, and was engaged in that occupation at the opening of the Civil war. His sympathies were with the Confederacy, and in the spring of 1861 he enlisted in Company F, Burns' regiment, nnder General Price, and was with that distinguished leader in all his operations in Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas, except his last expedition into Missouri, during which time Mr. Hash was on detached service under Colonel Rains. He came to Texas in 1863, during his term

of service in the army, bringing his family and what property was spared, but did not settle here permanently until the war closed. He bought the farm on which he now lives in 1866, locating there at that time. Mr. Hash was married in January, 1839, to Millie Elkins, a native of Lawrence county, Mis- souri, and they had five children, only three of whom survive: Martha, the wife of L. B. Whaley, of Dallas county; James P. and Guilford, both also of this county. The wife and mother died in 1851, and Mr. Hash was again married, in 1852, to Mrs. Martha Par- rott, and a daughter of Spencer Turrentinc. The latter was of Irish descent, and for many years a citizen of Shelbyville, Tennessee, where Mrs. Hash was born. By her former marriage Mrs. Hash had four children: Sarah, the wife of Caswell Wier, of Indian Terri- tory; Mary E., now Mrs. Benjamin Bowman, of Illinois; William, of Mount Vernon, Missouri; and Victor, of Bell county, Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Hash have had three children: Abraham P., Alfred T. and Jane. The latter is the wife of Dr. E. C. Stuart, of Laneaster. Mr. Hash has a pleasant home, and the latch-string hangs out to all alike, and the best of entertainment awaits those who make his house their temporary abiding place.

HOMAS S. RAMSBY, a successful farmer of Dallas eonnty, was born at Logansport, in what was then called Nacogdoches, now Shelby, county, Texas, Jan- nary 8, 1828, of Scotch and French extrac- tion. His father, Zenor Ramsby, was born in Rapelli parish, Louisiana, where he was also reared and educated. He came to Texas in 1820, taking up his residence at Logansport, where he remained until the revolt of Texas

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

in 1834. He then took his family back to Louisiana for safety, but returned with them in 1855, settling in Nacogdoches county Toward the close of his life Mr. Ramsby re- turned to the State of his birth, where, in De Soto parish, near Keatchie, he died, in 1882. at the age of about eighty years. Our subject's mother, nee Carmalite Palbadeau, was born in Louisiana, and died in De Soto parish, Louisiana, in 1886, at the age of eighty-four years. Mr. and Mrs. Ramsby had twelve children, as follows: York, who served in the Mexican war, and died several years afterward in Louisiana; Salina, who became the wife of Martin Watkins, and when last heard from three years ago was living in Nacogdoches county, this State; Alexander, who died in the latter county, leaving a family; Troy, who was killed in Ellis county, Texas, in a personal difficulty ; Delilah, who became the wife of A. J. Briley, of Nacogdoches, where she died some years ago; Thomas S., our subject; Eli, deceased. when young; Arsanne, deceased, was the wife of James Phillips, of Louisiana; Mary Jane, who died at the age of eighteen years; Constant, deceased in infancy; Cecilia, who died before marriage; and Mitchell, who when last heard from lived in Caddo parish, Louisiana.

Thomas S., the subject of this sketch, was reared on a farm in Louisiana, and came to Texas with his parents in 1855, making his first stop in Nacogdoches county. In 1856 he entered the United States service as a ranger, enlisting in Captain Watt Norman's company, Colonel Bailey's regiment, and was on the frontier two years, mostly in what is now Young county, this State. He returned to Nacogdoches county after the expiration of his year and a half of service, and remained in that county about one year, after which he

returned to Louisiana. In 1858 he came again to Texas, taking up his residence on the north line of Ellis county, and the next year he settled on the place where he now lives, about three miles south of the village of Lancaster. Mr. Ramsby's purchase con- sisted of 320 acres, only forty acres of which was then under cultivation, and the only im- provements was a small log house. IIe has now nearly 100 acres in cultivation, comfort- able buildings, and all needed conveniences. IIe has resided here for thirty-one years, during which time he has been engaged in farming, leading the plain and unpretentious life of his calling.

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Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas, Part 110

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