Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas, Part 39

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 39

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Mrs. Austin is a member of the Baptist Church of Dallas, and Mr. Austin is a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity. He is a highly esteemed and valued citizen, who, with his wife, a very intelligent, Christian woman, are such people as give character to a community and of whom Dallas is proud. Their blameless lives and many sterling qualities of head and heart have endeared them to a host of friends, both here and in other localities where they havo lived.

We clip the following from one of the leading papers of the day: "Said Major Henry Brown to Round About Town: ' Five years ago at a birthday dinner givon by Henry Boll, a solemn league and covenant was formed by six friends present, which was that annually at the birthday of each they should all meet and break bread together in the bonds of personal friendship. Since then

one of their number, William Werden, died and was buried amid their tears. On the see. ond of this month the reunion was on Frank Austin's sixty-sixth birthday, and all but Judge Burford were present, Mrs. Austin officiated at the dinner, assisted by her daughter-in-law, Fannie Swindells, now the wife of Mr. Benjamin Austin. To these old citizens, some of whom knew her parents before Fannie Swindells was born, it was a sweet souvenir. Each of the old friends, Frank Austin, Dr. A. A. Johnston, Henry Boll, and by inference Nat. M. Burford, left the scene a happier and better man.'"

ERBERT PRICE, Vice-President and General Manager of the Texas Mort- gage and Agency Company, Dallas, Texas, is a man of marked business ability, wide awake to the interests of whatever enterprise with which he identifies himself. Ile was elected to his present position Jann- ary 1, 1892, and with his characteristic push and energy is conducting the business of the company. The above company represents some of the strongest English and Scotch mortgage companies.

Mr. Price was born in Cheshire, England, October 19, 1864, being the youngest son of John and Emily (Marsh) Price, natives of England. His father, a ship merchant, left Liverpool, bound for New York, about Do- cember, 1865, and as the vessel on which he sailed was never heard from or sighted after leaving Queenstown, it is supposed that he was lost with the balance of the crew and passengers. Mr. Price was at that time thirty-eight years of age. Hle and his family were members of the Established Church of England. At the time he was lost his wife

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

was living at Southport, near Liverpool, and was left with three children,-John, Walter and Herbert. John, the eldest, died in En- gland in 1874, aged twenty-one years. Wal- ter, still a resident of his native country, is junior partner of the firm of Montgomery, Jones & Co., of Liverpool, importers of all kinds of grain, shipping from all countries, principally India and South America.

Herbert Price was educated at the Tatten Hall School, England, completing his studies there in 1877. Then as one of the agents of Messrs. Perry, Berry & Co., esparto mer- chants of Liverpool, he went to Africa and thence to Spain, returning to England after a three years' sojourn in those countries. Many features of this trip were not of the most pleasant nature. Until the Tunisian war opened between the French and the Arabs he was stationed principally at Tnnis, Sfax and Tripoli. Then he was recalled, as it was impossible to do further business. This was in 1879. From England Mr. Price came to America, landing in Canada. In Manitoba he was engaged in farming two years. At the expiration of that time he went to Winni- peg and joined the expedition of the Hudson Bay Company, and went to the Northwestern Territory and the Hudson bay. Ile subse- quently returned to Winnipeg, and from there, in 1885, directed his course to New Orleans. We next find him in Abilene, Taylor county, Texas, where he was engaged in sheep-raising two years; thence to Jones county. In 1889 he came to Dallas, where he has since been with the Texas Mortgage and Ageney Company.

Mr. Price was married September 17, 1890, to Miss Florence Flinn, daughter of Alfred Flinn, a ship-owner of Liverpool, England. They were married in that city, and came to America on their bridal tour.

Both he and his wife are members of the Established Church of England.

For one of his age, Mr. Price has had an extensive traveling experience. Although comparatively a recent acquisition to Dallas, he has made many friends here, by all of whom he is held in high csteem.

S D. BOND, who is engaged in the real- estate business in Dallas, has been identified with the interests of this city since 1874.

Mr. Bond was born in Harrison county, Mississippi, in 1854, the third in a family of four children born to Rankin and Charity Josephine (Dale) Bond. His father was a native of Mississippi and a member of one of the prominent early families of the southern part of that State. He was a stock dealer and farmer. His death occurred in Pass Chris- tian, Mississippi, in 1858, of yellow fever. The mother, a native of Georgia, is still living and resides with her son, S. D. Bond. Grandfather Bond was a distinguished poli- tician in southern Mississippi, and served as a member of the Legislature.

The subject of our sketch was reared and educated in Pass Christian, Mississippi, coming direct from there to Dallas, Texas. For a few years he worked at the carpenter's trade, and then began taking contraets in connection with his building. Then for eight or ten years he was engaged in the mercan- tile business on Main street. He built and sold a brick block on Mckinney avenue. He also erected a number of other buildings, and has been actively engaged in buying and sell- ing property here.

Mr. Bond has taken some interest in the

Mr B. Miller

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

political affairs of the county, voting with the Democratie party. He is a member of the Tannehill Lodge, No. 56, A. F. & A. M. He is a public-spirited man, and takes an active interest in any measure that has for its object the promotion of good.

ILLIAM B. MILLER, a pioneer of Dallas county, was born in Madison county, Kentucky, in 1807, the second of seven children born to John and Mary (Brown) Miller, natives of Kentucky. The father moved to Madison county, Ala- bama, in 1818, and opened up a farm, and his death occurred in that State in 1864; his wife survived him until after the war.

Mr. Miller, whose name introduces this brief sketch, was reared to farm life and edu- cated in the public schools of Madison county, and also at the academy at Huntsville, Ala- bama. He subsequently rented land and engaged in farming, but in 1834 began merchandising at New Market, Alabama, which he followed two years, when, on ac- count of the Henry Clay bankrupt law, he failed in business. He then moved to Ten- nessee and again engaged in farming for ten years, after which, in 1847, he came to Dallas county, settling in Precinct No. 1. In 1856 he bought 562 acres of land where he now resides, but later sold seventy acres for $30 an acre, and afterward bought two acres back, giving therefor $12,500! and he still owns a a part of the original 562 acres.

For forty-five years has Mr. Miller ranked as one of the foremost and most honorable citizens of Dallas county, a model farmer and raiser of fine stock and fruits, with eminent success: and now, at the advanced age of eight-five years, enjoys the esteem of the 25

community as fully as any man living. Un- pretentious, affable and accommodating, he is a model man and citizen. In politics he is a steadfast Democrat.

Ile was married in Madison county, Ala- bama, in 1828, to Elizabeth Waddy, a native of that State, whose ancestry on one side is traceable back to the Cherokee Indians, no- blest specimen of their race. By this mar- riage there was one child, -- Charilans, -- who is married and resides in the Cherokee na- tion, in the Indian Territory. ITe was a gal- lant Colonel in the Confederate army from Texas, has seen much of the world, spent several years in California, and is a very popular man. He is familiarly denominated "Crill." At present he is in very poor health. His mother died in Alabama in 1835, and in 1837 Mr. Miller, Sr., our subject, married Minerva Barnes, also a native of Madison county, Kentucky, and daughter of Jesse and Patsy (Olden) Barnes, also natives of Kentucky. In 1844 Mr. Barnes moved to Jackson county, Missouri, where he subsequently died. This Mrs. Miller died in 1856, after having had five children: Alonzo, who died about 1855; Martha, wife of W. C. Leonard, of Kaufman county; Mary, wife of Mr. Guess; Elizabeth, now Mrs. John Edmonson; and Susan, now Mrs. Dr. Ewing of Dallas. Mr. Miller was again married, in Dallas, in 1860, to Mrs. Emma Miller, widow of Madison M. Miller, and daughter of Silas HI. and Amy (Spencer) Dewey, natives of New York. The parents were married at Cooperstown, New York, and later emigrated to Ohio, where the father engaged in farming. The grandmother Dewey, previously Miss Hyde, was a grand- daughter of Lord Chancellor Ilyde. Tho maternal grandfather, a Wescott, was of In- dian origin, and grandfather Eliphalet Dewey

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

participated in the Revolutionary war. Silas H. Dewey came to Walker county, Texas, in 1855, and his death oeenrred near Bloomfield, Missouri, in 1863; his wife died in Grayson county, Texas, in 1884.

Mr. and Mrs. Miller have had three ehil- dren, viz .: Charles, J. H. and Minnie. The latter is the wife of Barry Miller, of Dallas.

HARLES FRANKLIN BARHAM, D. D. S., was born in the State of Ar- kansas in September, 1853, and is a son of J. M. and Luey J. (Greer) Barham, natives of Kentneky and Tennessee respectively. The father emigrated to Arkansas in early days, and was one of the pioneers of that State. He was killed in the late war. The mother was born and reared in Nashville, Tennessee, and now resides in Arkansas. They had born to them eight children, the Doctor being the fifth-born. He passed his youth in his native State, and attended the common schools. He acquired a good education, and began life as a teacher, following this pro- fession for two years. In 1878 he took up the study of dentistry, which he pursued at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee. He was graduated in the spring of 1885, taking the degree of D. D. S. He went to Hope, Arkansas, and there established him- self in a paying practice. In 1886 he came to Texas, and located at Terrell, where he re- mained one year, coming at the end of that time to Dallas. He is a member of the Texas State Dental Association, and has won an enviable standing in professional circles. He is a careful operator, and is well posted on all the improved methods of treatment.

In his political opinions the Doctor is a Demoerat, "dyed in the wool." He is a

member of Amity Lodge, No. 108, Knights of Pythias. He is a man of honor and in- tegrity, and is entirely worthy of the esteem in which he is held.

ILLIAM L. WHITE, deceased, for many years a prominent business man of Lancaster, and at his death probably the wealthiest man in the southern part of Dallas county, was born in White county, Tennessee, November 15, 1824, a son of Woodson P. and Naney White, and a brother of Franeis M. White, a sketch of whom appears in this work and contains their family biography.

William L. was reared in White county, Tennessee. When about thirteen years old he comineneed clerking in his father's store of general merchandise in Sparta and contin- ned in that business until his father's death. He afterward went into the mercantile busi- ness with his unele, J. G. Mitchell, at the same płace.

In about 1846 he was elected elerk of the braneh bank of the Tennessee Bank, located at Sparta, in which capacity he remained about six years. During this time he lived miles in the country, riding horseback each day over rough, mountainous roads, braving all kinds of weather, promptly and faithfully filling his position at the bank, also superintending his farm work at home.

In the spring of 1854 he made his first visit to Texas, remained about three weeks, returned to Tennessee and brought his fam- ily to Texas the following October, bought and improved a 640-acre traet, now owned by J. P. Apperson. After coming to this county Mr. White was for a number of years engaged in the stoek business, buying and

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

selling horses and inles, in which he made considerable money. In 1860 he removed to Lancaster, where, in the fall of that year, he opened a dry-goods store and was so engaged during the war. In 1865 his brother-in-law, John T. Ellis, became a partner, but later Mr. White sold his interest to his brother, Franeis M. White. During the war he was also engaged in the milling business, oper- ating, what was then known as the Keller inill, at Lancaster, which was then the only mill at that place, and during that time he was also Postmaster. After selling his in- terest in the dry-goods business Mr. White began handling cattle, and was actively en- gaged at that for a number of years, buying in western and central Texas and shipping or driving to Junction City and Abilene, Kan- sas, New Orleans and Shreve port, Lonisiana, and other places. When the cattle business went down he began handling cotton, and was also interested in farming. Ilaving considerable money of his own and business connections with parties East, he was en- gaged in the brokerage business, in which he made a great deal of money, and in fact was successful in everything he undertook and at his death left a large estate. He was a man of clear head, good foresight and great adaptability, and was the financier of Lancas- ter and vicinity for many years. He died at Nashville, Tennessee, May 28, 1881, while there for treatment under the celebrated Dr. Briggs, and was buried at the cemetery at Lancaster. Mr. White was always interested in the welfare of the community in which he resided, and took a leading part in every pub- lie enterprise. Five years before his death he made a bright profession of faith in Christ.

He was married in White county, Tennes- see, to Lucinda F., a daughter of Samnel

Turney, a prominent and at that day a well- known lawyer of Sparta, Tennessee. This lady accompanied her husband to Texas, and died a few months later near Wilmer, in the southern part of the county. She had two children, viz: Woodson P., who is now a citi- zen of this county, and Sophronia, who died young.

Six years after the death of his first wife, Mr. White was married, April 17, 1860, to Louisa F., the youngest child of Thomas M. and Mary Ellis, whose sketch appears in this work. To this nuion were born seven children, as follows: Addie HI., the wife of Samuel L. Randlett, of Lancaster; Minnie E .; William L .; Hallie E .; Karl L .; Lula Pearl and Byrd E., twins. The children still reside with their mother. Mrs. White is a member of the Baptist Church and gives of her means to that and other worthy causes. She has aeted as guardian for the six youngest chil- dren, developing a wonderful business woman and a devoted mother, as best she could tilling her own and that of her de- ceased husband.

HOMAS BEGGS, of the firm of Wat- son & Beggs, contractors and builders, came to Dallas in 1885, and were em- ployed by C. A. Gill, general contractor, and formed their partnership in 1838. They have built many fine residences in Dallas and Oak Cliff, as those of J. S. Armstrong, S. E. Wilson, Messrs. Zang and Rich, of Chestnut Hill, Pearce and Cooper, etc.,-buildings costing from $3,000 upward, besides many cottages of $1,500 to $2,000,-and the First Baptist Church of Dallas (all the wood and iron work). During the last year (1890) the firm employed thirty-five men four months,

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and the remainder of the year fifteen to twenty men.

Mr. Beggs was born in Ireland in 1862, the son of William and Mary (Beggs) Beggs, natives also of Ireland, His father died in his native country, and his inother now re- sides in Dallas, Mr, Beggs learned his trade in Belfast, Ireland. In July, 1882, he landed at New York. and soon after went to Pitts- burg and St. Louis, and finally eame to Dal- las, as already stated. He was married here in September, 1887, to Frederica A. Lawther, a native of New Orleans, and a danghter of Colonel R. Lawther, who now resides in Dal- las. They have one child, by name Robert William. They are members of the Second Presbyterian Church of Dallas, On national matters Mr. Beggs is a Democrat.

UDGE ARTHUR THOMAS WATTS is one of the public-spirited and enterpris- ing citizens of Dallas, and one of the leading members of the Dallas bar. Of his life and ancestry we present the following facts:

Judge Arthur Thomas Watts was born in Covington county, Mississippi, Angust 31, 1837. His parents, William and Patience (Lott) Watts, both natives of Georgia, were born near Milledgeville. His father went with his parents to Mississippi abont 1810, at which time the Lott family also settled there. Thomas Watts, the Judge's grand- father, served in both the Revolution and in the war of 1812, being nineteen years of age when he took part in the first war. He died in Smith county, Texas, in 1856, at the age of abont ninety-four years. His grandfather, Arthur Lott, also served through the Revolu- tionary war. In 1810 he started to Missis-

sippi from Georgia, in company with a num- ber of families, and was shot from his horse and killed by Indians in Alabama. Several others of the party were wounded at the same time. His widow with her children went on their sad journey to Mississippi, and in due time the large family spread ont over western Mississippi and Texas.

William Watts, the Judge's father, con- ducted farming operations on a moderate scale, working about thirty hands. He was a good business man, quiet and unassuming in manner, and in every way a worthy and highly respected eitizen. He sold his inter- ests in Mississippi, came to Texas, and set- tled on a farm in Harrison county in 1841. He died there in 1844. For a number of years he was a member of the Baptist Church. He was a man of earnest devotion and great usefulness. His widow is still living, an honored and highly esteemed pioneer of Polk county, Texas. She is an earnest Christian woman. and since her girlhood days has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She is now eighty-five years of age. Of her eight children, five are still living.

The subject of our sketch received his education at Zion Seminary, Mississippi. After completing his conrse there, he began the study of law under the direction of John E. McNair, Circuit Judge of that dis- trict. His marked suceess and high stand- ing in the legal profession show the wisdom of his choice for a life work. He was ad- mitted to the bar at Livingston, Polk county, Texas, in 1859, and at once began practice in partnership with Judge Crosson, now of Ballinger, Texas. This partnership con- tinned a year. Mr. Watts then went to Mis- sissippi on business, and while he was there the war opened. He enlisted on the first of

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

August, 1861, as a private soldier in Com- pany A, Sixteenth Mississippi Regiment, and served through the war in the Army of Northern Virginia, being first under "Stone- wall " Jackson, then under Longstreet, and latterly in A. P. Hill's corps. During the war he received several slight wounds, at one time being disabled for about twenty days, but on the whole he stood the service well.

The war over, he came to Livingston and began anew the practice of law. In 1872 he was elected to a seat in the lower honse of the State Legislature, and served in the session of 1873. He was instrumental in the passage of an election law, and also in securing a compromise with the Texas & Pacific Railroad for a boud grant of $6,000,- 000, besides rendering other efficient services. January 1, 1874, he moved to Weatherford, Texas, and with Mr. Lanham, now a Con- gressman, practiced law there until 1878. In October of that year he settled in Dallas. Here he conducted a successful practice un- til December, 1880. At that time he was appointed one of the Commissioners of Ap- peals for the State of Texas, receiving his ap- pointment from Governor Roberts, and in that capacity he served till October, 1885, since which time he has been in the prae- tice of his profession. The work of the Commissioners of Appeals, with which he was connected, will be found in the Texas Re- ports, volumes fifty-four to sixty-four iu- elusive,

Judge Watts was married in June, 1869, to Miss Mary Vietery, daughter of Jolin Vietery, of Polk county, Texas. Her father, a farmer by ocenpation, has been dead for a number of years. Mrs. Watts died October 7. 1890, aged forty years. She was an Episcopalian and a most estimable woman,

loved by all who knew her. She left four children, viz .: Ella, a former student of Dr. Wheat's school, Winchester, Virginia; Sam- uel, a stenographer and typist in his father's office, reading law at intervals; and Arthur and Rosa, attending school.

The Judge is a member of the Episcopal Church and of the Masonic fraternity.

ILLIAM J. OWEN was born near the city of Rochester, New York, and inherited from his father the genius of handling stock. He was educated in the high school of Rochester and in that State learned the trade of a butcher, master- ing all its details-practical and theoretical -with great aptness. After some years spent in business on his own account he re- moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas, then to Waco, Texas, and finally drifted to Dallas in 1883, and at once began business at his pres- ent location on Elm street, his establishment being in a very flourishing condition, owing to his upright and honorable business meth- ods. Although he began in a modest way his business has increased very rapidly, and at his market the largest business in the city is done. Two thousand beeves are disposed of each year and other meats in proportion. Ile is one of the organizers of the Texas Butchers and Drovers' Association and is vice-president of the National Association and president of the local branch. Ile is an enthusiastic and influential member and at- tends all the national associations. He also belongs to the order of Red Men and the Fat Men's Association. ITis present position is dne to his own industry and integrity and he is probably one of the most universally popular men among all classes in the city

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IIe is kind-hearted and generous, and his purse has been many times opened to the calls of suffering humanity. He has built him a cozy home on Oak street and lives in a manner becoming his position and influence.

On the 22d of March, 1872, he was married to Miss Lillie Ward of Grand Rapids, Michi- gan, by whom he has one son, William J., Jr.

V. COLE, a retired farmer of Dallas county, was born near Fay- etteville, Washington county, Ar- kansas, January 2, 1837, the tenth child of John and Polly (McDonald) Cole, natives of Virginia. The father moved to Tennessee in an early day, where he opened up a farm, and later removed to Arkansas, and in 1843 to Dallas county, spending many years of his life on the frontier. He took up a claim of 640 acres in Precinct No. 1, where his death occurred in 1850, and his wife's death occur- red there also, in 1869. The subject of this sketch was reared to farm life and was edu- cated in the subscription schools of the county and also attended the Hudson Academy, near Dallas. He came to this county at the age of six years, and, after reaching manhood, com- menced farming and stock-raising. In 1862 he enlisted in Scott's Battalion, which was attached to Darnell's regiment, and was con- fined mostly in Arkansas. He was discharged in the latter part of 1862, after which he re- turned to Dallas and engaged in farming. Mr. Cole has since added to his original pur- chase, one and a-half miles from Dallas, until now he owns 300 acres, all of which is well improved. He also owns a fine residence and six acres in the city. Mr. Cole affiliates with the Democratie party, and in 1873 was elected County Treasurer serving three terms,

and 1884 served one year as County Com- missioner of Precinct No. 1. He is a mem- ber of the School Board from the Ninth Ward, and was active in securing the ereetion of a fine school building, costing $20,000. So- cially, Mr. Cole is a member of Tannehill Lodge, No. 52, A. F. & A. M., at Dallas, and religiously both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Missionary Baptist Church.

Ile was married in this county, in 1862, to Margaret Preston, a native of Tennessee, and daughter of George and Anna (Roddy) Preston, natives of Virginia. The parents moved to Tennessee in an early day, thence to Cass county, Missouri, and thence to Dallas county, where the father died in 1868, and the mother a short time previous. Mr. and Mrs. Cole have four chil- dren: Georgie, now Mrs. John F. Irwin, of Dallas; Edwin L., reporter for the Herald, of Dallas; Birdie May, at home, and Marshall V., also at home.

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Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas, Part 39

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