Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas, Part 40

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 40

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A. POYNOR, City Engineer, was born in 1854, in Tennessee, and spent his youth in that State. He pursued a course of study at the Nashville University, with the specialty of civil engineering, and graduated in 1874. The next year he eame to Texas and was employed as civil engineer on the Texas Pacific railroad for a number of years, in addition to generał work at his pro- fession throughout the State. In 1890 he was called by the city of Dallas to the office of city engineer, and he entered at once upon the discharge of his duties. Ilis fitness for the place is amply tested by the excellent condition of all the public works under his control,-waterworks, sewers, streets, etc. He employs twelve men, skilled and efficient.

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

Mr. Poynor is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, a Knight of Pythias and a Knight Templar.

The mother of our subject, Mrs. Charlotte T. (Stephens) Poynor, has been a resident of Dallas since 1874, coming here from William- son county, Tennessee. She is now in her eighty-second year, and has powers both of body and mind quite well preserved for that advanced age. Her children are: J. W., re. siding in the Pan Ilandle of this State; Dr. J. S., of Williamson county, Texas; A. M., residing near Lancaster, Dallas county, Texas; and D. A., whose name heads this brief sketch. The entire family are members of the Christian Church.

FAMES M. BRITAIN, a farmer and stock- raiser of Dallas county, Texas, dates his birth in Henry county, Missouri, No- vember 21, 1841. He is the second son and third child of Joseph and Sena (White) Britain, and when seven years of age came with them to Dallas county, Texas, where ho was reared on a farm and educated in the subscription schools of that day. At the age of fourteen he engaged in freighting with ox teams, hanling from ports on the river and lumber from the pine woods. This ocenpation he followed till the breaking out of the late war, when he enlisted, January 1, 1862, in Company C, Sixth Texas Cavalry, and was in active duty in Mississippi, Georgia, Ala- bama,' Arkansas, Tennessee and Missouri, participating in all the battles with his regiment and suffering the many hardships incident to a soldier's life. While they were on the retreat from Corinth he was taken prisoner and confined ten days. lle served till the close of the war, after which he re-

turned to Dallas county and again engaged in freighting, driving horses and continuing the business successfully for five years.

Mr. Britain was married February 9, 1870, to Miss E. Il. Gray, a native of Virginia and daughter of William and Betsey (Alderson) Gray. Her family came to Texas in 1860; her father was killed during the war and her mother resides with her children. Soon after his marriage Mr. Britain bought 160 acres of land and engaged in farming, which, with stock-raising, has since claimed his attention. He now has 227 acres of fine land, under a high state of cultivation, and is raising corn, cotton and oats.

Mr. and Mrs. Britain are the parents of nine children: Otis D. E. married Kate T. Wright, of this county; Freddie J., Eldon W., Osear R., Cland, Elizabeth, Morris A. Ad- die and Blake B. Politically, Mr. Britain is a Democrat. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. They have been partienlarly fortunate in the enjoyment of good health. Only on two occasions have they required the services of a physician in their family on account of sickness.

ENRY MOULARD, a carpenter and builder of Dallas, was born in the De- partment of Loier et Cher, France, in 1862, the sixth of the seven children of Au- gust and Ann (David) Moulard, natives also of France. The father, a carpenter by trade, died in France, in 1882, aged sixty-three years; and the mother died in Dallas, Octo- ber 11, 1891, aged sixty-nine years, a be- liever in the Catholic faith, as are also the family still. Their children are: Engene, who resides in Orleans, France, married to Josephine Forgeat; Camile, who died in Or-

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

leans, France, at the age of twenty-three years, unmarried: he served a year in the French army; Henry, the subject of this sketch; Jule J., unmarried, a resident of Dallas since 1871, and a successful carpenter, having been an employe of the firm of Murphy & Bolas for the past seven years; and Anna, the wife of J. F. Martine of Dal- las: she died in 1877, at the age of twenty- three years.

Mr. Monlard, our subject, was brought to the United States in 1871, by his parents, with three brothers and a sister, arriving at Dallas December 24. He has a brother unmarried, living here in Dallas, Jule J. by name. Henry began learning his trade in 1876, in Dallas, and completed it in Orleans, France, spending two and a half years there, where they both, Henry and Jule J., completed their trade. Not withstanding he has suffered many privations and encountered many ob- staeles, he has been an industrious laborer ever since he was eleven years of age, and his present prosperity is proof of his wisdom. He has taken great interest in the material welfare of the city of Dallas and has seen many changes in its phenomenal growth.

B ARNETT GIBBS, attorney at law and capitalist, Dallas, was born in Yazoo, Mississippi, a son of Q. D. Gibbs, --- French and Irish on the paternal side: his father was also a lawyer. His paternal grand- father, General George W. Gibbs, was a well known lawyer and politician in the early days of Tennessee. For a time he was Attorney General of the State. Mr. Gibbs, onr sub- ject, completed his school days at Cumber- land University, and in 1873 settled in Dal- las, for the practice of law, and since then he

has also taken an active part in polities. Was City Attorney six years, from 1876 to 1882; State Senator from 1882 to 1884, from the district composed of Dallas, Kaufman and Rockwell counties, and after serving two years was elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas. His popularity is shown by the faet that he ran far ahead of his ticket. For a time he was acting Governor. Since the close of his official career, he has been en- gaged in the practice of his ehosen profession and in looking after his large landed interests in Texas and New Mexico. He is a leading Odd Fellow, in which order he was once the youngest Grand Master the State ever had; and he is also a Knight of Pythias. It is probably as a public speaker that he is best known. His services on the rostrum are in constant demand, whether there is a cam- paign on hand or not. His views on prohi- bition and finance are clear and sound. Prob- ably no man in the State has had inore to do with molding public sentiment than he. In addressing his fellow citizens his chief de- light is to find them cool and ealm, so that they will follow reason only.

Mr. Gibbs has erected many buildings and spent much money in improving the city of Dallas. He has also a large farm in this county, and is developing Arkansas Pass, on the coast.

Quesney Dibrelle Gibbs, the father of the subject of the foregoing sketeh, was a native of Tennessee, who became a leading lawyer in Mississippi, to which State he moved in the '30s, and finally died in the Confederate ser- vice, in which he was Captain, in the Thir- tieth Mississippi Regiment. He had held the office of Judge of Probate, although he never took kindly to polities. He married Miss Sallie Dorsey, a native of Kentucky and a de- vont member of the Methodist Episcopal

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

Church; she died in 1863, aged fifty-one years.

He was married in 1876, to Miss Sallie Haynes, the daughter and only child of J. W. Haynes, a merchant. She was educated in New York and Virginia, and is a lady of rare culture. They have two sons and one danghter: Sallie Haynes, Wildy and Barney, Jr. The wife's parents, John W. and Maria J. (Plummer) Haynes, came to Texas early in the '50s, perhaps in 1851. Mr. Haynes was a leading eitizen in Mckinney, and later in Dallas, where he died in 1873. Mrs. Haynes was a native of West Virginia, and died in 1888.

EV. J. A. HARTNETT, Rector of St. Patrick's Church, Dallas, is a native of Erin's Isle, county of Limerick, Ireland, and a son of Daniel T. and Hanora (Donongh) Hartnett. The father died in Weatherford, Parker county, Texas, in July, 1890, aged seventy years, and the mother now resides at the homestead in that county, aged sixty- eight years. They were the parents of twelve children, eight of whom are still living: Thomas D., a railroad contractor through Texas, Missouri, Alabama, Mississippi, and is now in Indiana on a contract for a railroad leading from Chicago East; Michael D., a hardware and farm implement merchant of Graceville, Minnesota; Cornelius D., a whole- sale grocer of Weatherford, being the senior member of the firm of C. D. Hartnett & Co .; Bridget, wife of Charles Nolan, a farmer of Ankeny, Iowa; Margaret, wife of John Hartnett, a railroad contractor and farmer near Weatherford; Augustine, an Ursuline nun of Dallas, and known as Madam St. Mary Augustine; J. A., our subject; and Daniel D., a retail grocer of Weatherford.

Our subjeet's father's half- brother, John F. Meagher, is ex-Governor of Minnesota. Daniel T. Hartnett was a man highly re- speeted for his honesty and industry, and his children grew to mature years under the best parental influence, as is evinced by the busi- ness tact and high standing of each. They are all persons of prominence in their line, and are respected by a large circle of ae- quaintanees.

The subject of this sketch came to Amer- iea with his parents in 1863, and to Texas in 1871. He was educated at St. Mary's Col- lege, of St. Mary's Kansas, and his theologi- cal studies were pursued at St. Mary's Semin- ary, of Cincinnati, Ohio. He was ordained July 5, 1891, and first served as assistant at the Pro-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, located at the corner of Bryant and Ervay streets, Dallas. Two months later he was appointed to his present position, which he has filled successfully and satisfactorily. His congregation is increasing rapidly, and in fact, has almost doubled since his pastorate began. Sinee early life Father Hartnett has taken kindly to theology, his reading and studies being directed chiefly to his present work, and his habits and customs being in strict keeping with his high calling. He is a worthy man, an esteemed citizen, and is endowed with both vigor and public spirit.

D. BURKE, of the firm of Burke Bros., Cornice Works, Dallas, has been a resident of this city for about nine years.

Boru in New Orleans, he spent his boyhood days and learned the trade of copper, tin and sheet-iron worker there. After working in different cities of the country for some time,

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be settled in Dallas in 1882. In 1888 he and his brother, J. E. Burke, established business for themselves, sinee which time they have been having a thriving trade and employing constantly eight or ten men, their work ex- tending to various towns in the northern part of this State.

Mr. Burke's father, H. D. Burke, was a native of Ireland, was married at Independ- enee, Louisiana, to Miss Mary Taggart, also a native of Ireland, was a grocer for thirty- five years in New Orleans, before and during the war had charge of Rowell, Sons & Wad- leigh's Southern Car Works, was a inember of the Catholic Church, an honest and honor- able man, and died June 30, 1886, at the age of sixty-six years. His widow is still liv- ing, at Houston, Texas, now aged fifty-eight years. Of their eight children five are living, namely: J. E .; W. D., the subject of this brief notice: Agnes, wife of Frank Alcala; Margaret M, unmarried and living with her mother; and Henry D .; the others died in early childhood. J. E. married Mary Men- inger and their children are: Mamie, Lena Bell, Irene and John E. Mr. J. E. Burke is foreman on the Houston & Texas Central steam shovel, which position he has held for eleven years, being an excellent workman. Agnes has one child, John E., and she and her family live at Houston.

W. D. Burke married, in Dallas, in 1886, Miss Angelica Vilbig, daughter of John C. and Barbara Vilbig, natives of Germany and married in Wisconsin. Mr. Vilbig was a shoemaker, and later a farmer; he died in 1880, a Catholic, aged forty-eight years, and his wife is still living, in Dallas. Their chil- dren are: August, who married Kate Cramer, resides in Dallas and has one child, Anna; Sophie, who is the wife of E. A. Lott, re- sides in Dallas and has Teresa, Alfred, John,

Ed. L., Mrs. Burke, John (a contractor in Dallas), Josie, at home, besides four who died in early life.

Mr. Burke's children are William H. and Eleanor Irene. He is a thoroughgoing, earn- est business man, and an enterprising and publie-spirited citizen. Socially, lie is a member of the Dallas Lodge, No. 70, K. of P.

ETH SLOCUM, plaster contractor at Dallas,-the oldest contractor in his line of the city,-was born in Harrison county, West Virginia, in 1839, the third- born of the thirteen children of Elias and Maria (Pitcher) Slocum. His father was a native of Virginia and his mother of Connect- ient. The grandfather, Slocum, a native of New Jersey, settled in Virginia. Elias Slocum, a farmer, died in Virginia, about 1878, at the age of sixty-five years. He was a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years, and of good reputa- tion and extensive influence. At one time lie was president of the agricultural society of Clarksburg, West Virginia. His widow died in the spring of 1892, at the age of about seventy-five years. She had been totally blind for about twelve years before her death, having lost her sight from catarrh. She was a good Christian woman.

Mr. Slocum, our subjeet, was raised on a farm in Virginia. In 1863 he enlisted in Company D, Nineteenth Virginia Cavalry, and served therein until the elose of the war, being engaged in the battles of Droop Mount- ain, Virginia, Fisher's Hill, Champion Hill, Shenandoah Valley, etc. Two horses were killed under him. At Droop Mountain he was wounded. After the war he went to Ohio, and learned his trade at Parkersburg,

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

West Virginia, and in Ohio. In 1872 he came to Dallas, settling near where he now re- sides, and engaged in his trade, in Dallas and surrounding towns. Some of the principal con- traets he has made and filled are those for the building of the North Texas National Bank, Middleton Bros.', Central Bank, Bar- nett C. Gibbs' building, the St. George build- ing, the greatest portion of the Grand Wind- sor, the new Eighth and Seventh Ward school buildings, Exchange Bank, etc. He generally has abont eight skilled men in his employ, and twelve laborers. The Acme Cement Plaster is superior, as it gives a very hard finish. One hundred and one- half tons of Acme plastering was used in the building of the new courthouse. Mr. Slocum was the contractor for the plas- tering of the new courthouse of Dallas and did a most excellent job, costing over $8,000. · His bid was accepted over all others, even while bidding the highest, although plenty low enough. This speaks well of the confidence of the community in him as a finished and thorough workman in his line.

In his political views he is a Democrat.

AVID MACKAY, M. D., was born in Glasgow, Scotland, September 26, 1832, a son of David and Agnes (Cruikshanks) Mackay, natives of the same country. The father was a manufacturer and with his wife came to America in 1870, settling with his son in Louisiana, where he passed the re- mainder of his life, dying in May, 1872. There were seven children in this family, two of whom survive,-a sister living in Scotland and the subject of this notice.

Dr. Maekay was educated in the Univer- sity of Glasgow, graduating in 1855. He

then went as assistant surgeon on one of "Her Majesty's" war-ships, and witnessed many of the engagements of the Crimean war. Upon the cessation of hostilities in that quarter he returned to Scotland, and in 1857 emigrated to America. In 1861 le re- ceived thic degree of Doctor of Medicine from the Hygeio-Therapeutie College of New York.

At the beginning of the Civil war he en- listed in the Seventy-ninth New York Volun- teer Infantry (Highlanders), as Surgeon, and served at Vicksburg, Knoxville, etc., and in the Army of the Potomac under General Burnside. He was field surgeon in many of the most noted battles of the war, serving faithfully until the elose of the national con- test, being honorably discharged at Browns- ville Texas, in November, 1865.

Engaging next in his practice in the city of New Orleans, he was soon appointed Surgeon of the Marine Hospital, and was City Physician of New Orleans for three years, the trying duties of which position he discharged satisfactorily to the public, and with credit to himself. Soon after his re- moval to Texas he was appointed Supervisor of the free schools of Dallas and sixteen other counties, comprising the Fifth Educational District, thus - establishing the first free schools in these counties. The present ex- cellent public-school system is the outgrowth of the efforts of the Doctor at that early day. Hle met with marked snecess in his profes- sional work in this county, and he has won a wide and lasting réputation as a skillful practitioner. IIe has inherited many of the sterling straits characteristic of the Seoteh nation, and he is well known as a fearless advocate of his principles. Under l'resident Harrison he was appointed a member of the Board of Pension Examiners,-an office which

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his experience on the battle-fields fitted him to fill with much more than ordinary ability.

The Doctor was united in marriage to Sa- rah Weir, also a native of Glasgow, whose parents were natives of Scotland; she was their only child. She died in New Orleans, of yellow fever, in 1867, while the Doctor was Surgeon in charge of the Marine los- pital there. He was married a second time, in 1870, to Maggie McDonald, of New Or leans, Lonisiana, also of Scotch birth and par- entage, of Dundee. She has always been an active member in high standing of the Women's Relief Corps, G. A. R., Department of Texas. The Doctor and his wife have had two sons: David, who was born December 14, 1871 and Alexander, July 22, 1875, both in Dallas, Texas.

Politically the Doctor is a pronounced Re- publican, but a free-trader. He is an enthu- siastic member of the Grand Army of the Re- public, and has occupied high official positions in that body. He is a decided vegetarian, a system of dietetics he has practiced since boy- hood.

W. HUNT. - Among the brightest yonng business men of Dallas, Texas, is J. W. Hunt, who was born in the city of Salina, Alabama, November 13, 1863. He was the younger in the family of two chil- dren born to William J. and Mary J. (Smith) Hunt, both natives of Alabama. The father was a blacksmith by trade and was well and favorably known in the city where he lived. His death occurred in 1865 and soon after- ward the mother and family moved to Mon- roe county, Mississippi, where the former now resides. She is the wife of William T. Isbell, a native of Mississippi, and the fruits of the second union were four children:

Priestley, Charlie, Nettie and Emma. J. W. Hunt was reared on a plantation in Mississippi, received his education in the common schools, was united in marriage to Quilla Judon, the only child born to Newton and Amarilla (Miles) Judon, the father a native of North Carolina. Mr. Judon died in the army and his widow afterward married C. M. Jones, a native of South Carolina and a prominent citizen of his county.

In 1883 Mr. IInnt and family moved to Texas and located in Dallas November 20, of that year. He rented a farm near the city and tilled the soil for two years, after which he accepted a position with the Spillman Bros. on their dairy farm, and continued with them three years. After this he embarked in business for himself, starting a dairy of his own, and keeping two milk wagons on the road. He continued business alone for a year and then took a partner to whom he sold his interest some time afterward. He then engaged in his present business and is very popular in trade circles for his integrity, justly meriting the large measure of success achieved by industry and nprightness.

To his marriage has been born two chil- dren: Amanda Lon, whose birth occurred August 10, 1889, and Miunie Lee, who was born December 11, 1891. Mr. Hunt is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Dallas Lodge No. 70, and in politics he is Demo- crat.

HILIP LINDSLEY comes of distin- gnished lineage, both social and literary. His descent is directly traceable, through nine generations, to Colonel Francis Linds- ley, who left England in 1680, on account of religious persecution, emigrating to America and settling in New Jersey. His grandfather,

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

Philip Lindsley, LL. D., D. D., was one of the most philosophical and accomplished minds of this country, and one of the leading spirits of his time. So says the eminent Dr. Leroy J. Halsey, now of the McCormick Theological Institute, of Chicago, in his pref- ace to "The Life and Writings of Philip Lindsley, Theological, Edneational and Mis- cellaneous:" 3 volumes. Here will be found the richest treasures of thought, concentrated into a single discourse. A man of impet- nous and imperious energy, his sermons, lec- tures, and orations, wielded a vast influence for good throughout the whole country. His great life work was as President of the University of Nashville, Tennessee, for which undeveloped field of labor, (and that he might develope it), he left the Presidency of Prince- ton College, New Jersey. Indeed, he was elected to, and declined, the presidency of moro American colleges than any other man of his age.

The father of the subject of onr sketch, Dr. N. Lawrence Lindsley, an educator and scholar of national reputation, added lustre to the literary life of Tennessee, and was a man of singular beauty of character, blended with ability and erndition rarely equaled. He had in preparation, but which his death left undone, a noble work, sneh, indeed, under the same name and of similar scope, as the dietionary recently published by the Cen- tury Company. After helping largely to build up Cumberland University, at Lebanon, Tennessee, while professor of Ancient and Modern Languages, and of Mathematics, he founded, at his own elegant residence, near by, a school for young ladies, the Greenwood Seminary, which became known as one of the foremost schools of the South. After his death, his accomplished widow, Mrs. Julia M. Lindsley, carried it on with signal ability

and success. This lady's excellence of mind and heart won the strong affection of pupil and friend. Her father, Moses Stevens, was an eminent educator at Nashville, Tennessee. So that Mr. Lindsley comes of an educated race, and a family of educators, whose stud- ents are now scattered over Texas and the Southwest, filling posts of honor and useful- ness.

The subject of this sketch was born in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1872 he was Pres- ident of the City Council of Nashville, and at the same time was a member of the Ten- nessee Legislature, from the old Hermitagedis- trict. His wife, Mrs. Lonise D. Lindsley, is a daughter of the late Chancellor, Henry Diekin- son, of Columbus, Mississippi. Their chil- dren are Henry D., now in business with his father; Annie Louise; MeGavock; and twin danghters, Julia and Kate. On her mother's side, Mrs. Lindsley is a great-granddaughter of Felix Grundy, the invincible advocate and lawyer, and Attorney General of the United States, whose wonderful achievements at the bar, will always live in American traditions. Her maternal grandfather was Jacob Me- Gavock, who moved to Tennessee from Wytheville, Virginia, where his immediate relatives of the same name still live. ITis name was a synonyme in Nashville, for more than fifty years, for all that was good and noble. Mr. and Mrs. Lindsley, of Dallas, are thus directly descended from the noblest families of the land.

Mr. Lindsley removed to Dallas in 1875, and tor twelve years after settling here, he was engaged in a large and successful law practice. He has numbered among his eli- ents, three Dallas banks, the Pacific Express Company, Wells, Fargo & Company's Ex- press, Bradstreet Company, and leading banks and mercantile firms of the East and West,

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in their Texas business. IIe found time, in the midst of these multifarious duties, to write some able legal papers, the publication of which attracted much attention and com- mendation from the bar of Texas. Some years ago, he retired from the active practice of the law, since which he has established a lucrative business, as an investment banker, with which is connected an admirably con- ducted real-estate department, the latter of which is under the charge of his son and brother.

By impartial critics, Mr. Lindsley is pro- nounced a writer of rare wit, and of the choicest diction. Some of his writings, pub- lished in the Round Table and Dallas News, have been widely copied by the press of the country. Ile has also written some little poems, which editors of noted journals have commended as gems of beauty. He has found recognition in leading periodicals of the East, where his productions appear by the side of those of the world's greatest writers. Successful and conservative in business, both in his own matters, and in those entrusted to him, possessed of a beautiful home and a happy family, Mr. Lindsley enjoys life, and the fruits of his carlier labors.

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Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas, Part 40

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