Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas, Part 45

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 45

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

R. A. M. ELMORE, a prominent and highly respected physician and surgeon of Dallas, Texas, is a native of Perry county, Missouri, born August 20, 1837.

His parents were James and Anna (Cosner) Elmore, natives, respectively, of South and North Carolina. In Missouri the father was a farmer and distiller, later a merchant. He came from Missouri to Grayson county, Texas, in 1852, and in this State engaged in milling and mercantile business, and also successfully carried on farming and stock operations. Hc was known far and wide as "Uncle Jimmie," and by all who knew him he was respected and admired for his many estimable qualities. IIe died in Pilot Point, Texas, in 1865, aged fifty-seven years. Ilis worthy companion passed from earth's activities to her reward in 1869, at the age of fifty-six. Of their six children, the Doctor was the third-born. He received his literary education in public and private schools, also attending the Literary

Institute at Clarksville, Texas. He then read medicine under the tutorship of Dr. J. P. Hutchinson at Pilot Point. He attended the McDowell College, St. Louis, Missouri, grad- uating in 1861.

Returning from college, Dr. Elmore opened an office in Cooke county, near the present site of Marysville, and practiced there one year. Then, in 1862, he enlisted in the Twenty-ninth Texas Cavalry, under Colonel Charles DeMorse, and was with the forces that operated in Indian Territory and Arkan- sas. Until the battle of Elk Creck he was a private. At that time he was transferred to general-hospital service, and later was pro- moted to assistant surgeon, under Dr. Crow- dus, in the First Choctaw and Chickasaw Regiment, remaining thus engaged until the war closed.

After the war he came back to Texas and located at Pilot Point, where he engaged in the practice of medicine and sale of drugs. In 1887 he came from there to Dallas, and has since been engaged in practice here. The Doctor is a writer of some distinction. IIe is also engaged as business manager of The Texas Health Journal. This journal is a handsome and well written monthly magazine, devoted to preventive and State medicine, the creation of a State Board of Health, and the exposure of medical frauds, secret remedies and quacks. Following are the names of its officers: J. R. Briggs, M. D., managing editor; J. C. Rucker, M. D., and T. P. Pip- kin, M. D., associate editors; A. M. Elmore, M. D., business manager; and Hon. Dudley G. Wooten, attorney for the company.

Dr. Elmore was married in 1862 at Pilot Point, Texas, to Miss Frances Dirickson, daughter of Isaac and Harriet Dirickson, of Pilot Point, she and her parents being natives of Kentucky. The Doctor and his wife had

409

HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

eight children, viz .: E. E., a elerk in the general freight office of the Texas & Pacific Railroad; Kate, a music teacher in Indian Territory; Ida, wife of John T. Alexander, Ardmore, Indian Territory ; James, a clerk in the office with his brother, E. E .; Helen; Clarence, and two that died in carly child- hood. Mrs. Elmore died in December, 1884. She was a devoted Christian woman and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. February 14, 1886, the Doctor married Mrs. Mattie Clouse, widow of Henry Clouse, of Pilot Point. She is a daughter of Alphonso Wilson, of Shawneetown, Missouri, and she and her first husband were natives of Missouri. She has four children, viz .: Effie, wife of W. II. Vanghn, of St. Louis, Missouri, and Emma, Grace and Alphonso. Her father died in January, 1891, aged seventy-two years, and her mother in May, 1891, at about the same age.

Dr. Elinore is a physician of ability and a man of integrity, and for his many estimable qualities he is held in high esteem by all who know him. He is a Mason of high degree, a member of the Knights of Honor and Knights and Ladies of Honor, and is identi- fied with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a Democrat and takes an interest in politieal matters; has served as a member of the central committee, and as chairman of the county committee in Denton county, Texas.

OLONEL D. A. WILLIAMS, attorney of Dallas county, Texas, was born in Prince Edward county, Virginia, Oceto. ber 19, 1832.

His parents were Royal and Delilah (Gaul- den) Williams, both natives of Virginia, the father being a planter, raising tobacco. He

moved to Livingston county, Missouri, and later two Mercer county, where he followed farming and was also engaged in merchandis- ing. He was one of the prominent men of Mis- souri of his day. He was held in high esteem for his strict integrity and sterling qualities of head and heart. With the Masonic frater- nity he was prominently identified. Ile served as Worshipful Master of his lodge. Ile owned many slaves, and it is a faet worthy of note that while he lived on the border of a free State and often took his slaves with him into Iowa, to assist in driv- ing stock, etc., none of them ever showed the least disposition to leave their master, but always seemed happy and contented. He died in 1865, at about the age of seventy. His wife died in December, 1889, at the home of one of her married daughters in California, she also being seventy at the time of her death. There were seven in her fam- ily, the subject of our sketch being the fifth born, and six are still living, the sisters all in California.

In 1861, D. A. Williams enlisted with his brother, William Monroe, in Company G, Gates' regiment-a company he had raised himself-of which he was First Lieutenant. He and his brother remained together till 1863, when the latter was killed while on a raid through Missouri, aged nineteen years. After they had served nine months D. A. was made Captain and William M., First Lientenant. Later, our subject raised a regi- ment, organized the companies, and was elected Colonel, which position he held dur- ing the remainder of the war. For some time previous to the organization of this regiment he commanded the advance guard of the Missouri Cavalry, under JI. O. Shelby. Ile was in all the principal engagements west of the Mississippi river: Lexington, Elk

410

HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

Horn, Prairie Grove, Jenkins' Ferry, Prairie de Ann and all the engagements against General Steele, ever acting the part of a brave soldier and officer. At the battle Mark's Mill he had two horses killed under him.

After the close of the war Colonel Williams went with a number of prominent officers and 400 or 500 private soldiers to Mexico, going through in battle line to the city of Monterey. After remaining there three mouths, the Colonel returned to the United States and joined his family (wife and three children) in Illinois, from whence he went to Arkansas and located in Chico county There he was engaged in cotton planting one year. From there he went to Jefferson county, that State, and continued the same business three years; thence to Desha county, near the mouth of the Arkansas river, where he bought a cotton plantation and also conducted a mercantile business, remaining there till 1876. That year he met with misfortune, caused by the overflow of the river, and moved to Texas. Here, he located in Dallas, and has since been actively engaged in the practice of law. He was elected County Attorney in 1888, re- elected in 1890, and is now elosing his second term in a most satisfactory manner. His office is in the new courthouse, one of the finest buildings in the State. The Colonel is well known as a good citizen and an efficient officer, and his duties and able services are a part of the county's history.

He was married February 24, 1859, to Louisa Wynn, a member of a prominent Virginia family residing in Tazewell county. By her he had four children, viz .: Samuel, of Bonham, Texas, married Josie Williams, by whom he has two children, Harry and Lucile, and at this writing is employed as a commer- cial traveler; Edward G., of Dallas, is his

father's assistant in the practice of law ; Mary is the wife of Joseph Scott, a produce dealer, Gallatin, Missouri; and William M., who died in infancy. The mother died of cholera, near Pine Bluff, Arkansas, in 1866, her youngest child dying of the same disease a few days later. Her deatlı occurred when she was thirty years of age. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and was a most devoted Christian woman. On both sides her ancestry repre- sented people of excellent character, high social influence and great personal worth. In her the truest and purest type of the affec- tionate daughter, the loving wife and the fond mother were united. Her inemory is sanctified by a love as tender as it was sweet.

Colonel Williams is a member of the Elks and has been associated with the Masons and Odd Fellows.

- HOMAS L. MARSALIS, a resident of Dallas, and one of the most enterpris- ing and public-spirited men in the Southwest, has accomplished wonders in de- veloping the resources and promoting the interests of this section of Texas, especially of Dallas. He has succeeded where thon- sands would have failed. The following facts (while we regret that they must be so brief) will serve to show something of his ability, his persistence, and the stupendous results he has accomplished.

Thomas L. Marsalis was born in Mississippi, October 4, 1852. His parents, descendants of Holland ancestry, were Pennsylvanians and Quakers. They went from Pennsylvania to Mississippi at an early day, and when Thom- as L. was a year old they moved to Louisiana. In that State young Marsalis spent his boy- hood days. 1n 1871, at the age of nineteen,

41]

HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

he came to Texas and located in Corsicana, where he engaged in the wholesale grocery business. In the following year he came to Dallas, and here he did a wholesale grocery business for a period of sixteen years. When he was twenty-five he was doing an annual business of 8750,000, at thirty his sales amounted to $1,500,000 annually, and during the seventeen years of his career as a wholesale groceryman his sales amounted to over §20.000,000. During all this time he took great interest in the upbuilding of Dallas, contributing freely of his money and time to the advancement of its best interests. He helped to organize the first fire company of Dallas, also helped to organize the Mer- chants' Exchange, and is a charter member of several of the railroad companies that have built roads to Dallas. He built four grocery stores during the time he was in business, each larger and more commodious than the one that preceded it. The last one he built covered about an acre and had a railroad track running into the building, where seven cars could be loaded and unloaded. In 1881, while the streets of Dallas were in mnd, and the people afraid to experiment, Mr. Marsalis paved the street in front of his store with bois d'arc blocks, thus demonstrating the fact that this kind of pavement was a sue- cess. Ilis example was followed, and to-day the streets of the city are well paved.

Mr. Marsalis is a born leader. He is one of the very few men who know the wants of a city. In Dallas, at this juncture, his busi- ness tact had a large field for successful oper- ations. In 1887 he conceived the idea of giving Dallas a beautiful, accessible and healthful residence and manufacturing sec- tion, and to carry out this plan he bonght about 2,000 acres of land, just across the river from Dallas, at that time in fields and

rocky cliffs. This he platted, and in paving its streets spent about $200,000. In order to make it accessible to the business portion of Dallas, he built an elevated railway from the courthouse across the river bottom to and through this property, building a nice station house on this road on every alternate block. Hle then built a complete system of water works, covering most of the streets and alleys. He also built an electric light plant and a magnificent hotel, and improved abont 150 acres as a park. This park is the chief at- traction as a place of recreation for the people of northern Texas. The first house that was built on the ground was a school house, in June, 1887. In order to make living in this beautiful locality attractive it was necessary to have first-class railway accommodations. The same plan was adopted as the one used on the elevated roads of New York city. This is the only road of the kind in the South. As has been shown, Mr. Marsalis has invested a large fortnne in this property. People from all parts of Texas soon saw the ad- vantages of this business site at Dallas, com- menced to bny and build here, and by 1890, tlnee years from the date of purchase, it had 2,000 magnificent and commodious residences and a population of 7,000. To-day it is an incorporated city and is known as Oak Cliff. It has seventy-five stores, four or five fac- tories of various kinds, and has recently let the contract for a public high-school build- ing, and in September, 1892, a young ladies' college will be opened for the accommodation of some 300 young ladies. Already the eity of Oak Cliff is becoming the most prominent educational as well as desirable residence loca- tion in the State. For nearly five years Mr. Marsalis has worked from fifteen to eighteen hours a day, expending more labor on the enterprise than could be expected of any one

412

HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

man, and the work he has achieved in so short a time has no parallel in America.

Mr. Marsalis is president of the following companies: Dallas & Oak Cliff Railroad Company, Oak Cliff Crosstown Railway Company, West Dallas Railway Company, Oak Cliff Water Supply Company, Oak Cliff Light & Power Company, and Oak Cliff Hotel Company.

In 1873 Mr. Marsalis was united in mar_ riage with Miss Lizzie J. Crowdus, daughter of Dr. Crowdus. They have had three chil_ dren: Allene, who died at the age of four years, and Lalia and T. L., Jr. Mrs. Marsalis is a lady of culture and refinement, posses- sing rare intellectual and social attainments. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Mr. Marsalis is also promi- nent in fraternal as well as business cireles, being a member of the Masonic order, the I. O. O. F. and the K. of P. He combines with an easy adaptability to circumstances a pleasing presence and has the happy faculty of ingratiating himself with all who are for- tunate enough to know him.

LFRED P. SUMMERS was born in Henry county, Tennessee, August 15, 1839. He has been identified with the interests of Texas from his early manhood, is now one of the prosperons farmers of Dal. laseonnty, and is justly entitled to appropriate mention in this volume. Of his parents and family, we record the following facts:

Charles L. Summers, his father, was born in North Carolina, July 21, 1800. He was first married to Miss Lovelace, who died soon after her marriage. His second marriage ocenrred in North Carolina, to Malinda Chandler. He then moved to Kentucky, and

ere long was again bereft of his companion, who died, leaving one child, Mary Ann, who became the wife of William Gray, and died in December, 1869. After his wife's deatlı Mr. Summers moved to Tennessee, and there, in 1838, wedded Mrs. Elizabeth (Paschall) Key. Mr. Summers was for many years en- gaged in agrienltural pursuits, owning a farın in Tennessee. In 1858 he came to Texas, coming through with wagons and being forty days on the journey. The first year hie rented land, and the second year bought 200 acres near where Mesquite now stands. It was all nnimproved then, and he moved upon it and at once began the work of development. At that time the county was thinly settled, and they had to go to Dallas to do their trading and get their mail Seven children were born to them, Alfred P. being the oldest. The others are: Thomas; Sarah, deceased; John M., who was killed at the battle of Chickamauga; Luther R .; Rebecca E., wife of Stephen Moore; and Frances C., who died young.

Alfred P. lived with his father up to the time of the war. He enlisted in the Sixth Texas Cavalry, in September, 1861, and served through the war, participating in the battles of Pea Ridge, Fayetteville, Corinthi, Franklin, Iuka, Peach Tree Ridge, Holly Springs and Thompson Station, and fighting Sherman on his march to the sea. He was detailed and went to Vicksburg with Major Quay, going to Mississippi to gather up mules for the army. He was surrendered at Jack- son, Mississippi, May 13, 1865.

Returning home, he rented land and en- gaged in farming. January 27, 1869, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary F. Elam, who was born in Hickory county, Missouri, April 15, 1842, and came to Texas when she was five years old. Her parents, Isaac and

413

HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

Margaret (Lanham) Elam, were natives of Virginia and Kentucky respectively, the father born in 1803, and her mother in 1811. The names of the twelve children in the Elam family are as follows: Parallee, wife of B. F. Bethurum; Emily, wife of H. Cox; Narcissa, wife of Joseph Cox; B. F. Elam; William C .; Jane, wife of Money Weatherford; Drusilla, wife of Christopher Cox; Mary F., wife of A. P. Summers; Adaline, wife of J. J. Pratt; Thomas B .; Livonia, who died young; and Matilda, who has been blind since she was three months old. Of these, six are now living.

In 1870 Mr. Summers bought 172 acres of land. He now has it all fenced and sixty- five acres under enltivation. Beginning life a poor boy, he has made fair progress and is now the owner of a nice little farm and com- fortable home. Hle and his wife have had six children: Charles E., who died November 29, 1890, at the age of twenty-one years; Alva W .; Mattie and Maggie, twins; and Frank D. Mr. Summers belongs to the A. F. & A. M., Scyene Lodge, No. 295, of which he has served as W. M. for several years. He and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

ILLIAM THOMAS, of Dallas, Texas, was born in Butler county, Ohio, and was reared within the environment of science. His father was a physician and dentist, and from his earliest yonth he was able to use the dental instruments with a care and nicety worthy of an older head. IIe at- tended the publie schools until he reached his twelfth year, when he developed into a young nomad. Ile went away from home, and wan- dered in nearly every portion of the United States. Wherever he remained any length of 28

time he practiced dentistry, and always made an excellent reputation for skillful and sub- stantial work. Early in the '70s he came to Dallas, Texas, and is one of the two pioneers who anchored in this port and remained. IIe now attracts patronage from all parts of the State, and has acenmnlated a competence from his practice.

Dr. Thomas was united in marriage, in 1871, to Miss Sibbil A. Sawyer, and one ehild has been born of this union, Harry Sawyer Thomas. He is a young man of exceptional ability, and has inherited mneh of the me- chanieal genius of his father and grandfather. He has been a student in the Chicago College of Dental Surgery, and while there made an enviable record. Few young men stand so high in the estimation of the business men of the eity. He is associated with his father in practice, the firm being Dr. Thomas & Son. They have a pleasant home on Gastou ave- nue, where they are surrounded with all the comforts of life. The Doctor and his son are intelligent, honorable competitors, and repre- sentative citizens in every sense of the word.

ILLIAM M. JOHNSON, civil engineer and surveyor, is a promi- nent and most higlily esteemed citi- zen of Dallas, Texas. By his scientifie know !- edge and skill he has contributed much to the material benefit of the city and State, having directed numerous improvements, such as railways, roadways, bridges and sewers, besides superintending the laying out of the Fair grounds, City Park, and numerous suburban additions to Dallas.

Mr. Johnson is the eldest son of Colone- Thornton Fitzhugh Johnson, of Barbours- ville, Virginia, and Margaret Louisa (Warl ren) Johnson, of Georgetown, Seott county,

414

HISTORY OF DALLAS OOUNTY.

Kentucky, andwas born March 11, 1833, at Georgetown. Ilis father was educated at the West Point Military Academy, and moved to Kentucky in 1827. He was the founder of Bacon College, a school for civil engineers, which was afterward incorporated into the Kentucky University. In 1847 Colonel T. F. Johnson organized the Western Military Institute, at Georgetown, Kentucky, which in 1850 was removed to Blue Lick Springs, and in 1851 to Drennon Springs, Kentucky. Among the faculty of the institute, as pro- fessor of ancient languages, was the Hon. James G. Blaine, late United States Secre- tary of State, but then a young man of twenty, a recent graduate from Washington College, Pennsylvania.

In 1851 the subject of this sketch gradu- ated at Drennon Springs with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and in 1855 the degree of Master of Arts was conferred on him by the University of Nashville, Tennessee. Pre- vions to the war he was engaged in civil engineering in Kentucky, Tennessee and Ar- kansas, since which time he has followed the same pursuit in Missouri, Nebraska and Texas.

He was married on March 6, 1861, at IIannibal, Missouri, to Miss Anna Buckner Owsley, youngest daughter of William P. and Almora (Robards) Owsley. They have two children living: Margaret, now Mrs. H. C. Coke, and Stoddard P. Johnson.

In September, 1872, Mr. Johnson came to Dallas as resident engineer, in charge of the construction of the Texas & Pacific Railway between Mesquite and Eagleford. In 1873 he had charge of the track-laying on the Texas & Pacific Railway from Dallas to Grand Salina, and again in 1880 and 1881 he was in charge of the track, bridges, depots and telegraph line on the Texas & Pacific

Railway from Fort Worth to Blanco June- tion. In the spring of 1882 he again oceu- pied the same position on the Missouri Pa- citic Railway from Hillsboro to Taylor, thus representing over 1,000 miles of track con- struction in Texas. He was City Engineer of Dallas in 1874, 1875, 1876 and 1877, also in 1882, 1883, 1884 and 1885. While in this capacity he superintended the build- ing of the first brick sewer, the laying of the first pipe sewer, the construction of the first Macadam street, and the putting down of the first bois d'arc street pavement in Dallas, being the patentee of the bois d'arc paving as used in Dallas. In 1889 and 1890 he was engaged by the State of Texas as the engineer in charge of the improvements of the State Capitol grounds at Austin, having served as State Engineer twice before, when he was employed to measure and inspect the con- struction of the Dallas & Wichita Railway from Dallas to Lewisville. He located the present line of the Texas & Pacific Railway from Forney to Dallas, and from Dallas to Fort Worth; and the Dallas & Wichita Rail- way from Dallas to Lewisville; and the Dal- las & Cleburne Railway from Alvarado to Cleburne, in Johnson county. As engineer in charge of track construction, it was his fortune to ride on the first locomotive that crossed the Sabine, Trinity, Brazos, Colorado and Pecos rivers, on the Texas & Pacific rail- way, and the Brazos river at Waco, on the Missouri Pacific railway. As a surveyor he laid out the Trinity Cemetery, the Fair grounds and the City Park, also many suburban additions to Dallas, such as Oak Cliff, Belmont, Chestnut Hill and Monarch.

He and wife are consistent members of the Christian denomination, having both joined that denomination at the same time, when they were immersed in the Royal Spring

415

HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

branch at Georgetown, Kentucky, during the war. They now belong to the Central Chris tian Church on Masten street.

From Mr. Johnson we learn the following interesting facts: The first brick sewer ever built in Dallas was an oval arch, about three feet high and 300 feet long, extending from the northeast corner of Griffith and Elm streets, sontheast (through what was at that. time Pink Thomas' wagon- yard) to the north - west corner of Main and Murphy streets. This sewer was afterward taken out and re- built from Elm to Main street, down Murphy street: Bob James, contractor. The first pipe sewer ever laid in Dallas was the six- inch pipe in Elin street, from Jefferson to Murphy street, and the fifteen-inch pipe down Murphy street from Elin street to the Trinity river at the Rock ford: Captain Ed. Doyle, contractor. The first Macadam street ever construeted in Dallas was on Ross avenue, from Oleander (now Erray) street to the Houston & Texas Central railway: Lanig & Radicam, contractors. The first bois d'arc block street paving ever put down in Dallas, or anywhere else, was a strip ninety-five feet long on the south side of Elm street, east of Murphy street, done at the expense of Mr. Tom Marsalis: Miller & Bell, contractors. To Mr. Marsalis is dne the credit of intro- ducing this valuable improvement into Dallas at a time when its principal business streets were almost impassable. The latitude of Dallas, as determined by a United States seien- tifie party in 1878, is 32° 47' 9", and the longitude is one hour and eighteen minutes west from Washington. The elevation of Dallas above mean tide of the Gulf of Mexico is 436 feet at the courthouse, and 474 feet at the Union depot.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas, Part 45

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