Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas, Part 115

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 115

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Edward C., the sixth of a family of seven children, eame with his parents to Texas at the age of sixteen years, and lived with his father until his marriage. He then began farining for himself on rented land, but after three years bought eighty aeres, paying $10 per aere, which he immediately began in- proving and cultivating. He now has fifty- eight acres in eultivation, which is worth about $40 per aere. Mr. Bechtol started in life with only a common-school education and no money, but has since made rapid progress,

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and since his marriage he has applied him - self to study, and there are few who are bet- ter posted in the matters and politics of his own country.

He was married October 14, 1877, to Miss Sarah Jane Willingham, a daughter of Se- bron D. and Amanda (Florence) Willing- ham. The father was born in Alabama in 1828, and the mother in August, 1839. Mr. Willingham moved to Texas the year of his marriage, settling in Smith county, where he lived until his death in 1866. They were the parents of four children, viz .: Florence E., deceased; J. R .; Saralı and I. J.

Mr. and Mrs. Bechtol are the parents of three children: Sebron D., John L., and Charles Isaac Wesley. The parents are both members of the Baptist Church.

AVID FLORENCE, a farmer of Dal- las county, was born in Lincoln county, Georgia, March 2, 1834, a son of David Florence. Our subject lived in his native State until eight years of age, and then moved with his parents to Benton county, Alabama, and next to Talladega county, where he remained until reaching maturity. He was then employed by James Henderson as overseer for four years, and then, December 24, 1856, he landed in Texas, where he rented land the first year, and then bonglit the farm of 140 acres which he had rented, paying 84 per acre. After one year, he sold this place, after which he again rented land until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted in Company D, Fourteenth Regi- ment, General Walker's division, and com- manded by Colonel Clark. He participated in the battles of Missionary Ridge, Mans- field, Pleasant Hill, James' Ferry, etc., and

was one of seven of his company of fourteen who escaped death or wounds.

After the war Mr. Florence returned home, and later moved his family to Van Zandt county, where he bought a farm of 370 acres for $500. He lived there twenty-two years, and in the meantime bought a farm of 100 acres in Dallas county, after which he sold his 370 acres, and in 1880 moved his family to this county. He immediately improved this place, to which he has since added another 100 acres, and now owns 200 acres of fine land ten miles from the city of Dal- las. Mr. Florence was married in Alabama, December 19, 1852, to Miss J. A. McAffe, a daughter of Henderson and Sarah (Stephens) McAffe. The parents had nine children, viz .: William, Marry, Ky., Samnel, Sarah, Eliza, Henry, Amos and J. A. The latter is the only one of her father's family now liv- ing in Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Florence have had seven children, only three of whom sur- vive: Martha Jane, deceased; Georgia Ann; Eliza, wife of J. H. Somer; Elisha, deceased; Appalton, wife of J. G. Dewberry; Asa C., deceased; and Simon. The parents are both members of the Baptist Church.

W. ALLEN, farmer and stock-raiser, Wheatland, Texas .- Every community is bound to have among her citizens a few men of recognized influence and ability, who by their systematic and careful, thorough manner of work attained to a snecess which is justly deserved. Among this class is Mr. Allen, who has been identified with the in- terests of Dallas county since 1871. He was born in Page county, Virginia, July 11, 1841, and his father, Moses Allen, was also a native of that connty and State. The grand-

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

father, Gilbert Allen, was also a native of the Old Dominion, but the great grandfather, Archie Allen, was a native of Ireland and came to this country in the eighteenth cen- tury. Grandfather Allen participated in the struggle for independence. Our subject's ancestors settled on Gomy Mannon, which is still owned by the Allen family. Moses Allen was a distiller by occupation and married Miss Eliza Mannel, who was of English de- scent and the daughter of John E. Mannel and granddanghter of Wingate Mannel, both natives of Virginia. Wingate Mannel served all through the Revolutionary war as did also his father. To Mr. and Mrs. Moses Allen were born two children,-our subjeet, who is the elder, and Chancey, of Rockwall, Texas. Mrs. Allen now resides with our subject, and although seventy-two years of age is strong and vigorous to a remarkable extent.

J. W. Allen remained on the farm and assisted in the arduous duties of the same until twenty years of age, receiving only about seven months of schooling until ten years of age. In June, 1861, he enlisted in a company commanded by Captain L. Brecken- ridge, who was with Colonel Fremont in his western expedition, and remained with the same until the following December, when he was captured at Mount Zion. He was ex- changed three days later, and in March, 1862, he joined the Fourth Missouri Battalion un- der Major MeFarland in sonthwest Missouri, and participated in a fight with the Kansas Jayhawkers, in which our subject's company came out victorions. His battalion was con- solidated with Johnson's battalion on the 1st of May, 1862, making the Fourth Missouri Volunteers. Mr. Allen was made Sergeant Major of the regiment, receiving the pro- motion for meritorious conduct at Spring Creek, where he saved the Major's life, and

he continued in that position until May, 1863. After the battle of Corinth, his and the First Battery were consolidated, forming the First Missouri Infantry. At the siege of Vicks- burg Mr. Allen surrendered with his regi- ment July 4, 1863.

He then left the service and went to St. Charles, Missouri, where his mother was then living, and resided there from August until September 25, when he went to New York city. He took passage at that point for San Francisco, California, and arrived in that city on the 17th of April, 1864. He be- gan mining, followed it for two years, and then superintended a farm for the same length of time. He also operated a threshing machine and hay-presser, and met with much success in the latter. He returned East in December, 1868, and was in Missouri from 1869 to 1870, engaged in farming and deal- ing in beef cattle, and also operated a thresh- ing machine. In May, 1871, he started for Texas, remained in Grayson county one month, and from that time until June, 1872, he was in Ellis county. At the last mentioned date he came to Dallas county, engaged in the lightning-rod business, and followed this for eleven years, when he engaged in the manu- facture of endless-chain pumps and in the gro- cery business. Mr. Allen was married Janu- ary 14, 1873, to Miss Mary Moss, daughter of A. Moss, and shortly afterward settled in Dallas, where he followed his business until November 27, 1884. While a resident of that city his liberality and warm hospitality was well known. At the above mentioned date he moved to his farm, which he had purchased in 1882, and which consisted of 320 acres of wild land, and he now has one of the finest farms in the county. He has a large, square residence, two-stories in height, and the lovely lawn surrounding it is dotted here

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

and there with shrubs and ornamental trees. Mr. Allen is quite deeply interested in stock- raising, horses and cattle, and among the for- mer has some fine trotters. He and Mrs. Allen are members of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Dallas, of which he has been Trustee for ten years.

To this marriage were born nine children, five surviving: James William, Mand Olive, Martam, Sims and Mary Stevens. Effie, the eldest child, died when ten years of age, and three died in infancy. Aside from his exten- sive farm Mr. Allen owns considerable prop- perty in Dallas, land in Johnson county and mineral wells.

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LAUDE A. COUR, secretary of the Dallas Fair and Exposition Association, also Alderman of the Seventhi Ward of Dallas, was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, November 29, 1858, a son of C. T. A. and Ann G. E. (Marshall) Cour, the father a native of the northern part of France, and the mother of Indiana. The parents were married in Piqua, Ohio. The father was a merchant by occupation, but is now retired, and is well and favorably known, being a pioneer of forty years' standing of that city. They are members of the Catholic Church. Twelve children were born to this union, ten boys and two girls, of whom our subject was the third in order of birth. The lives of these good old people tell of the true courage of man and woman, who planted new homes in the land where the savages still roamed; who by the physical vigor of body and of limb felled the forest and subdued it to the plow, and the tireless thrift which would be content with nothing short of the brightest civilization and the broadest enlightenment.

To all such the present generation owes a debt of gratitude which can hardly be com- puted.

The subject of this sketch was educated in the Notre Dame, and also in Fort Wayne, Indiana. After completing his education he was engaged in business with his father several years before coming to Texas, as accountant and stenographer. He came to this city in 1879, being the first stenographer who held an office in this city, and was en- gaged in various business houses until 1886, when the Fair and Exposition was inaugu- rated. Mr. Cour has been with this organi- zation since its conception, and has been its secretary the past four years. He has done much to bring it to its present high standing, being now one of the most phenomenal suc- cesses of all fairs in the State. They have about 300,000 visitors, which speaks of its success and popularity as a growing institu- tion, and an important enterprise of the city. They have a plant which cost, in the way of location, improvement, etc., about $500,000. The president of the company is J. E. Snider; secretary, C. A. Cour; vice-president, J. N. Simpson; and treasurer, J. S. Armstrong. The Fair and Exposition is open from Octo- ber 17 to October 30, inclusive. The author- ized capital of the Dallas Fair and Exposition is $100,000, and is on a solid footing in every particular.

Mr. Cour is keenly alive to the benefit of all the important enterprises of the city, and stands well to the front in all such that promises good to the community. He was elected Alderman of the Seventh Ward in 1892, takes an interest in politics, and is in every way a worthy and esteemed citizen. He was married in 1882, to Miss Mary Agnes Andrews, a daughter of Charles and Susan Andrews, of Quincy, Illinois, and originally

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

from Alexandria, Pennsylvania The father was killed in the late war, being a soldier from Illinois, and the mother died in 1868. Mrs. Cour has one sister living, Susan An- drews, a resident of St. Louis. Our subject and wife have had three children: George E., Mary E. and Clande A. Both parents are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Cour is a man of great push and energy, and has ever been one of those public-spirited citizens so necessary to the progress of any com- munity.

EORGE L. McFALL, a planter, Dun- canville, Dallas county, Texas, has re- sided here since 1875. He is a native of Maury county, Tennessee, born February 5, 1816, son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Furge- son) MeFall. His father was a native of Georgia and of Scotch-Irish ancestry, while his mother was born in North Carolina, of Welsh descent. They moved to Tennessee at an early period, and subsequently located in sonthern Kentucky, where they passed the residue of their lives and died at a ripe old age.

George L. spent his youth on the farm and received his education in subscription schools that were held in the primitive log school houses of that period. He remained with his parents till he was eighteen years of age, when he engaged in the mercantile business in Kentucky, which business he followed there for eight years. He was married in July, 1844, to Miss Sally Ann Burnett, a native of Kentucky and a danghter of B. J. and Leslie (Moore) Burnett, natives of Vir- ginia and of English descent. In 1840 Mr. McFall went to Louisiana, where he was em- ployed as agent on a sugar plantation for fif- teen years. In 1861 he enlisted as private

in the army, and served for a time in Louisi- ana. He was subsequently promoted to First Lieutenant of a Texas company and took charge of prisoners that had been captured from General Banks at the battle of Mansfield. He remained in the service until the close of the war, after which he located in Louisiana. From there he came to Dallas county, Texas, and purchased 400 acres of wild land teu miles southwest of Dallas, and went to work in true pioneer style in improving his land and making a home. A visit to his fine farın with its well cultivated acres, its large peach orchard and its beautiful residence and at- tractive grounds, will convince one that his efforts have not been in vain. Indeed, his home is one of the finest in the county.

Mr. and Mrs McFall have had three children. The oldest died at the age of eight years and the other two died in infancy. Mr. McFall is associated with the Farmers' Alliance. He is one of the influential citizens of this com- munity, and is highly respected by all who know him. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

W. OVERTON was born on the old Overton homestead in Dallas county, Texas, April 6, 1859, youngest son of W. P. Overton, of whom mention is made on another page of this volmne. He was reared on the farm and received a common- school education. He remained at home as- sisting his parents on the farm until he at- tained his majority. He was married May 11, 1881, to Miss Polly Willick, a native of Wisconsin aud a daughter of William and Sophia (Weapot) Willick. Her parents were natives of Germany, were married in the old country and came to the United States, first

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

settling in Wisconsin and later in Illinois. After a residence of twelve years in the latter State they came to Texas; subsequently re- turned to Illinois and a short time later came back to Texas. Mr. Willick died in Texas in 1876, and his wife in 1888. After his marriage Mr. Overton settled on his present farm, 100 acres of improved land, all nnder a high state of cultivation, and here he has since been engaged in farming and stock- raising. He and his wife are the parents of of four children, three of whom are living: Carl Perry, Albert Lee and Cassie. Freddie Alvin died when eighteen months old.

AVID WATERS is the fortunate pos- sessor of a fine farm of 500 acres and is a progressive, wide-awake farmer and is actively alive to the issues of the day. He is a son of Daniel and Mary (Brown) Waters: the former is a native of Mississippi, who moved to Arkansas in an early day and from there to Texas, where he died, in 1861, at the age of forty years. He was a farmer and stock-raiser by occupation, and in politics was a Democrat. He and his wife became the parents of the following children: David; Mattie, now the wife of Mr. Duncan of An- gelo; and Daniel, who is married and lives on a farm belonging to the subject of this sketch.

The latter was born in Dallas county, Texas, in 1856, but in early childhood was taken to Missouri, and when five years of age his father died. In 1863 his mother married a second time, becoming the wife of Samuel Jones, and David remained with them until he was thirteen years of age. He then re- turned to Dallas county, and when he reached this section he had but 25 cents and was poorly

clothed. He first secured emyloyment with A. Dawdy, and in a few years he had accu- mulated enough means to buy forty acres of land, after which he began farming, stock- raising and trading.

In 1875 he was married to Miss Sarah Sawyer, who was born in Missouri, in 1859, but their union was consummated in Texas, to which State she came to make a home with her uncle, W. Flemming. She has borne her husband seven children : Melvina, Metta, Will- iam, Lee, Fred, Wood and Myrtle. Mr. Waters is identified with the I. O. O. F. He has al- ways been interested in the public welfare and as a farmer is considered thrifty and cap- able. He has 250 head of horses and cattle and has always been interested in stock rais- ing. His wife is an earnest member of the Christian Church.

LFRED BYRON FLOYD, a frugal, en- terprising farmer and one of the county's law-abiding and progessive citizens, was born in Illnois, in 1848, and wbile an in- fant was brought to Texas by his parents, with whom he remained until he was twenty- eight years of age. He then engaged in farm- ing and stock-raising for himself, in which business he has since continued. After the death of his brother David, he purchased his farın of the heirs, at once took possession, and this has been his home ever since. In 1876 he was married to Miss Katie Bass, a a native of Texas and daughter of D. S. and Emeline Bass, who were born in the famous blue grass region of old Kentucky, from which State they moved to Texas, first locating in Freestone county, later in Henderson county and from there to Dallas county, in 1868. Mr. Bass departed this life in 1878, and, hav-

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

ing been a useful citizen, active in his sup- port of charitable enterprises and thoroughly honorable in every particular, his death was a source of deep regret to his family and numerous friends.

His widow now resides near Hutchins. A family of seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Floyd: Lillian E., born Janu- ary 10, 1878; Leslie D. was born December 1, 1878; Lela, born March 5, 1880; the fourth child died in infancy; Essie May was born November 17, 1884; Vera N. was born February 19, 1888; and Stella E., July 16, 1890. Mr. Floyd's industry has been re- warded by the accumulation of a competency for him in his deelining years, notwithstand- ing his having lost heavily by fire a few years since. He is a supporter of the principles of Democracy but gives his preference to the good character of the candidate, at the ex- pense of the party.

ACKSON BELL, a well known farmer and stock-raiser residing in precinct No. 5, has been identified with the interests of Dallas county, Texas, since October 20, 1854.

Mr. Bell dates his birth in Lee county, Virginia, January 28, 1822. He was the seventh son and the ninth child in the family of eleven children of Dalton and Margaret (McCowen) Bell, the former a native of Eng- land and the latter of Scotland. Her parents were married in the old country and a few years afterward emigrated to America and settled in Virginia. The father was a Bap- tist minister, and besides preaching the gos- pel was engaged in the manufacture of spin- ning wheels. In 1824 he moved westward

with his family and settled in Monroe county, Indiana, where he turned lis attention to agricultural pursuits. He died there in 1832, and his wife passed away three years later. The children were all at home and unmarried at the time their parents died, and ten of them lived to be grown, Jackson being the only one now living. After the death of his par- ents he was bound out to learn the carpenter's trade, and served an apprenticeship of nine years and three months. At the end of that time he engaged in business for himself, and continued thus employed in Indiana until 1854.

June 11, 1843, Mr. Bell was married to Miss Esther J. Patton, a native of Wythe county, Virginia, and a daughter of Henry and Katy (Grub) Patton. She went to In- diana with her parents wlien a child, and before she was grown her mother died and her father was subsequently married to a second wife, the children by his first marriage finding homes for themselves elsewhere. On the 11th day of September, 1854, Mr. Bell, accompanied by his wife and three chil- dren, started for Texas, and made the journey in a wagon drawn by horses, arriving in Dallas county on the 20th of October. While en route to this State they lost their eldest daughter and buried her at Preston, on the Red river. At first Mr. Bell rented a farm near Hutchins and afterward one near where he has since lived. In 1869 he purchased forty-two acres of wild land and has since cultivated it. Besides this he has 1,200 acres in Buchel county, which he pre-empted as a stoek ranch. All these years he has been extensively engaged in stock-raising, and for fifteen years has been raising sheep, which industry has proved a profitable one. During the war Mr. Bell served in the Confederate army for nearly a year. In June, 1863, he

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was taken with a spinal disease and was thus disabled from active duty.

Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Bell, seven are still living. Margaret Eliza- beth died at the age of ten years; Joseph Henry is a resident of Brown county, Texas; James Simon resides in this county; the others are, Mary Catherine, Indiana, Jane, Esther Lanra and Robert Ephraim.

Mr. Bell is in polities a Democrat, and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

HARLES S. SWINDELLS, notary and and book-keeper for Pitman & Harri- sou, is a native of Dallas county. born August 25, 1865. His parents were John and Minerva H. (Crutchfield) Swindells, na- tives of New York and Kentucky, respect- ively. The father, who was a printer all his life, came from Norfolk, Virginia, to Dallas, Texas, in 1852, and bought an interest in the Dallas Herald, buying it for Mr. Latimer. He was connected with this paper, having several successive partners until 1875, when lie sold his interest to Messrs. Fox, John F. Elliott and Hall, and then traveled for the Herald for some time. In 1876 he was elected to carry the electoral vote of Texas to Washington. He had several opponents, but defeated them. During the war he served as Adjutant of the regiment for a time. Ile was Executive Clerk in the office under Governor Hubbard, of Texas, serving dur- ing his term of office. He was Assistant Secretary of the Fifteenth Legislature; and was Calendar Clerk of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Legislatures. He was in the Comptroller's (State) office for two years; and later on was appointed Chief Clerk

of the Insurance Statistics and History Department of the State, dying while serving in this capacity in October, 1884, aged fitty- nine. He was a member of the Episcopal Church. The parents of his wife were Thomas F. and Francis Crutchfield, of Ken- tueky, most worthy people, and many of their virtues are transmitted to their grandchildren who were nine in number, as follows: Eugene W., resident of Dallas, traveler for Dorsey & Company, dealers in printers' supplies. He had the contract for State printing for a nun- ber of years, and had the largest printing office in the State at that time. He is a man of good business qualifications. The next child is Fannie B., wife of Ben W. Austin; our subjeet; Archie K., connected with the Crescent News Company; Lollie Nellson, a school girl of Dallas. The remainder died in infaney. The mother is still living, aged fifty-two, is an accomplished lady and a mein- ber of the Episcopal Church.

Onr subject was educated, for the most part, in the printing office, attending business college several terms, at Austin and Dallas. He worked in the printing office most of the time until he was twenty-three years of age, except during two sessions of the Legislature, the Sixteenth and Seventeenth, when he was page in the Senate. He was a special favor- ite with many of the leading Senators.

Leaving the printing office he engaged in the real-estate business until January, 1892, when he began keeping books for the firm of Pitman & Harrison, and has continued at this business ever since.

He was married in April, 1888, to Miss Mamie T. Snodgrass, whose parents died when she was quite young. She was reared by her aunt, Mrs. Jennie Blair, of Dallas. Mr. and Mrs. Swindells have two children,

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY .!

the pride and joy of their parents' lives, viz .: Minnie H. and Marguerite Annis.

Mr. Swindells is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Dallas. He takes a warm interest in Democratic politics. IIe is a man who is largely self-educated, but is most thorough and competent in business and cal- culations. He occupies a high position in the community. His father was a celebrated man before him, as the publisher of the Herald, which had the largest circulation of all papers in the State for years. He was ever keenly alive to the interests of Dallas, and had much to do in the shaping of the legislation of the city; and what the city of Dallas is to-day is mainly due to his efforts. It would not stand to reason that a son of so intelligent a man, who was noted for his business ability, would not occupy a prominent place in the history of Dallas; and that he is destined to do, to judge by present indications.

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Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas, Part 115

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