Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas, Part 69

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 69

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

with them until his death, at his daughter's, Mrs. Woody, in Parker county, in 1886.

The subject of this sketch, Mr. T. A. Mor- ris, has been a farmer all his life. In 1860 he was in the State service, in what was known as Texas Rangers in Henry Thomp- son's company.

In 1861 he enlisted in the regular Con- federate service, placed in Company E, com- manded by Captain J. L. Leonard, in the Tenth Texas Infantry, commanded by R. Q. Mills, the brigade being commanded first by A. Nelson, who died in Arkansas, then by Dishler, who was killed in battle at Chicka- mauga, afterward by Granbury of Texas, in Pat. Cleburne's division and Hardee's corps. His first service was on the coast of Texas. In the spring of 1862 he was taken to Ar- kansas, engaging in an active campaign until January 11, 1863, when he was taken prisoner at the battle of Arkansas Post, con- veyed to Camp Douglas and held there for exchange until April following; when ex- changed he was placed in Lee's army during the spring campaign, after which he was placed with the Tennessee army, commanded first by Bragg, second by Joseph E. John- ston and lastly by Hood, passing through all the service of that army. He was captured at the battle of Atlanta, July 22, 1884, and taken to Columbus, Ohio, where he was kept until January 13, 1865.

He then lived in Illinois until December, when he returned to Texas. During his ser- vice he was in a number of military engage- ments, among which were the battles of Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Chancellors- ville and Richmond.

December 24, 1867, he married Miss Aman- da Heath, a native of Iowa and a daughter of Christopher and Patsey (Tucker) Heath, natives of North Carolina who came to Texas

in 1848, buying the farm on which Mr. Mor- ris now lives. Mr. and Mrs. Heath were the parents of nine children who lived to ma- tnrity, six of whom are still living, in differ- ent parts of this State. By his own energy and good management Mr. Morris has ac- quired a considerable amount of property, having now a fine farm of 160 acres, most of which is well improved. The buildings on his place would do credit to many of the best farms in the older States. He has a fine two- story frame residence, a large barn in which to store sufficient grain for his stock the year round, etc. In 1880 he erected upon his farm a small cotton gin, which was operated for several years. In the summer of 1890, owing to the increased demand, he removed his old gin honse and built one of greater proportions and having all the modern improvements.

The children are: Mattie, Ginnia, Byron P., Albert A,, Bouchie, Willie E. and Thomas Heath.

S. BECKLEY, a prosperous farmer, was born in Switzerland county, In-

SA diana, October 4, 1837, the son of Rev. S. L. and Rnth (Mathews) Beckley, natives of Kentucky. The father, a wagonmaker by trade, followed his vocation and farming in Indiana, residing there until 1840, when he moved with his family to Dade county, Mis- souri; and there he continued wagonmak- ing and farming for a few years, and then began preaching the gospel, yet working more or less, managing the affairs of the farm, though his wife and children were doing all possible to advance the work. All his undertakings were crowned with success. When the war broke out he was robbed of nearly all he had, the soldiers at various times taking all his horses and provender.

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Owing to the many trials and troubles he had undergone, his health failed. In 1868 he sold ont what property he had left and moved with his family across the country to Dallas, arriving May 14, purchasing and settling upon a farm near Wheatland, which he oe- cupied until his death, September 14, 1883.

Mr. Beckley, whose name introdnees this sketch, was therefore brought up on a farm. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted in the State Guards, organized to protect the interests of Missouri. He was in the service about a year, under Captain Tucker, when the com- pany disbanded, reorganized and entered the regnlar service of the Confederate army, where he was a member of Company A, Regiment of Colonel Smith, Brigade of Gen- eral Shelby and Division of General Price. His period of service was spent principally in Arkansas. During the skirmish at Forms- ville, Missouri, in Price's raid through that State, he was seriously wounded, having to be lifted on and off his horse; but he scarcely ever failed to be on land for service. He participated in the noted raids of Cockerell, Shelby, Marmaduke and Price, and also in that which was made to Lone Jack, Missouri, on which expedition occurred one of the hardest-fought battles in that State. At one time he was arrested for treason and tried for the burning of the courthouse at Greenfield, Missouri, but he was innocent.

After the surrender he returned home, where he remained until the father sold out and moved with his family to Texas; in fact, he accompanied the family to this State. A few years afterward he bought and improved a farm of ninety acres, to which he later added seventy acres. At length he exchanged ninety acres of his land for his brother's in- terest in the old homestead, where he has since resided, taking care of his father until

his death, and caring also for his aged mother, who is still living with him, being seventy-seven years of age, still doing ler house work. But the father was never idle while able to do anything. IIe was fond of reading. He was confined to his bed three months before his death. Mr. Beckley, our subject is a member of the Baptist Church at Lancaster.

ILLIS M. LOVING, son of James Loving, is a native of Kentucky, born Jannary 4, 1841. His father was born in the same State in 1810, and when Willis M. was about three years old moved with his family to Texas. He built a flat-boat, and, leaving Kentucky on it, he came down the river and then up to Shreve- port. At that point he landed, bought two ox teams and wagons, loaded his goods and family in them and came across the country to Lamar county. There he raised a erop and remained one year, after which he moved to Dallas. That was before Dallas county was organized. He spent the residue of his days in Dallas, and died there in 1869, at the age of fifty-nine years.

In 1862 Willis M. enlisted in B. Stone's Second Regiment, and remained with the regiment about two years. At the end of that time he was detailed for the purpose of collecting and raising horses for the army, and was at Dallas when the Confederate forces surrendered, at that time having in his charge several hundred horses and mules. While he was with the regiment he par- tieipated in several battles, but was never wounded or captured. After the war he re- turned to the parental home and remained there as long as he was single.

Mr. Loving married Mrs. Mary A. (Fal-

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

coner) Ewing, who was born in Missouri, November 1, 1839, daughter of John C. and Martha M. (Lamison) Falconer. Her father was forty-two years old at the time of his death and her mother passed away at the age of thirty-four. Mrs. Loving moved from Missouri to Texas with her first husband, Robert Ewing. By him she had two ehil- dren: Lidia, who died quite young; and Charles, who is now a resident of this eounty. Following are the names of Mrs. Loving's brothers and sisters: John C .; William; Andrew; Richard; Virginia; Rebecea, wife of Edward White; and Eliza, wife of George Bireh. Mr. Loving is the oldest of his father's family, the other members being Henry D .; W. B .; Lney, wife of W. H. Myers; Susan, wife of C. A. Myers; and Sally, wife of E. A. Davis. All live in Dallas eonnty.

Mr. Loving is engaged in farming and stoek-raising. He owns a farm of 145 aeres near Garland, which is regarded as one of the best in the neighborhood. He has some fine Durham cattle and a number of horses. In the raising of Clyde horses he is in partner- ship with Robert Murphy.

Mr. and Mrs. Loving have one child, Mattie, who is now the wife of W. S. Ram- sey, and lives near her parents. Mrs Lov- ing is a member of the Baptist Church.

ICHARD FLANAGAN, liquor dealer, of Dallas, Texas .- All eities pride them- selves in the possession of popular places of publie resort, where gentlemen ean meet and enjoy the amenities of social life un- trammeled by its conventionalities. One of the finest places in this respect in the city is that of Mr. Flanagan, which is conducted in

a strictly first-elass manner. All its appoint- ments are elegant and no more attractive saloon is to be found. The very choicest of wines, liquors and beers are dispensed over its bar by experieneed and courteous attend- ants, and it is the resort par exeellenee of Dallas. Mr. Flanagan was born in St. Catherine, Canada, in 1854, to Martin and Mary (Kelly) Flanagan, who removed to the Dominion from Roscommon, Ireland, in 1847. They later became residents of Roch- ester, New York, where the father died, at the age of sixty years.

Of their family Richard was the youngest, and npon the death of his mother, which oc- cnrred when he was thirteen years of age, he began to make his own way in the world, and learned the trade of boilermaking at Brook- lyn, New York. Later he worked at Roch- ester, when one day the boilermakers went out on a strike and he adopted barkeeping as his profession, following this in all the prin- cipal cities of the United States. Thus he acquired a thorough knowledge of the re- quirements of the business, and has put that knowledge to a praetieal use. After remain- ing in business in Cineinnati for some time, he sold ont and went to San Francisco, Cali- fornia, where he had charge of the Liek House bar, remaining there nineteen months, leaving there and coming to Fort Worth in 1877, but in 1878 came to Dallas, and after being with L. Craddock for five years, the the firm of Flanagan & Loomis was estab- lished, their place of business being ealled The Office. At the end of one year Mr. Flanagan sold out to Mr. Loomis and went baek to Fort Worth, and with a brother-in- law opened the White Elephant, and dur- ing his residenee in that eity he was elected to the position of Alderman, the duties of which he discharged in a manner highly sat-

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isfactory to his constituents. After his re- turn to Dallas he began business under the name of Dick Flanagan, but at the end of two years moved to his present elegant quar- ters. He is an authority on sporting matters and his word is considered as good as his bond. Miss Julia, the youngest daughter of Charles and Minnie Hillar, of Dallas, for- merly of Owensboro, Kentucky, became his wife in 1879, and by her he is the father of five children, two of whom are now living, Richard, Jr., and Ray. Mr. Flanagan is a Democrat, and socially belongs to the I. O. O. F., the K. of H., K. of P., the Irish- Ameri- can Society, Liquor Dealers' Association of Texas and the Fat Men's Association. He and his family attend the Catholic Church.

T. MACON, a contractor and builder of Dallas, came here in March, 1889, and has already erected many resi- dences here, as well as the Oak Cliff Hotel and the Christian Church. Besides, he has also put up several business houses, as the Henderson building on Commerce street, etc. In 1890 he employed 250 men.

He was born in Alabama, in 1845, the fifth in order of birth of the ten children of E. J. and Mary Ann (Syler) Macon. His father was born in North Carolina and early in life settled in Alabama. He was at first a saddler, and afterward became a planter and accumu- lated considerable wealth, but the ravages of war swept it mostly away. He died in 1863 and his wife, a native of Alabama, died in 1861-both in Shelby county, Alabama. Mr. Macon was brought up to farm life and educated at Selma. Alabama, and at Cahaba, Dallas county, same State. In 1862, in Shelby county, he enlisted in Company K, 39

Thirty-first Alabama Infantry, as a private, and did service in Tazewell and Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and in the siege of Vicksburg. He was then honorably discharged, but he afterward joined General Forrest's Cavalry, in which he was a Corporal, and was engaged in many skirmishes. The battle of Selma, Alabama, was the last engagement in which he took a part. After the war closed he en- gaged in farming and running a sawmill. He sawed all the lumber that entered the con- strnction of the Shelby Iron Works near Birmingham. After conducting the sawmill four years, in 1880, he came to Texas, set- tling in Ellis county and engaging in farm- ing for two years. After that he went to Corsicana, Texas, and thence he came to Dal- las, in 1889.

He is one of the leading and responsible builders, absolutely responsible and reliable in all transactions We have always found him prompt, reliable and strictly business in all his dealings. Business intrusted to him will have faithful attention and be satisfac- tory. The Gould building is giving excellent satisfaction in every respect, is an ornament to Dallas and a source of pride and comfort to the Texas & Pacific Railway Company. He is universally known as a good contractor and worthy of the confidence which may be placed in him.

In 1864, in Shelby county, Alabama, Mr. Macon was married to M. E. Bassett, a native of that State and brought up in Cahaba. Her parents were Joseph L. and M. A. (Gwin) Bassett. Her father was born in England, and her mother in Alabama. She died in 1845, and the father was killed in a sawmill in Talladega county, that State, in 1865.

Mr. Macon built the general office build- ing in Dallas on the Texas & Pacific line. This is the best railroad office building in the

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State of Texas, a building of which Dallas is justly proud. He has also recently built the Waxahachie National Bank and other build- ings of note at Fort Worth and Honston. He is the leading contractor and builder in the city.

Mr. Macon is a Democrat, and he and his family belong to the Christian Church. He has had five living children, as follows: Thomas C., Alexander W., Cora and Carrie (twins), and John.

Three children are dead, viz : Emma, wife of W. C. Lewis, now a resident of Dallas; she died in the spring of 1892, aged twenty- four years, a devout member of the Christian Church of Dallas; her children are Bassie and Mollie, who are nice, cheery and promis- ing children, and Benjamin who died in 1882, at twelve years of age. The other de- ceased child of Mr. Macon was Willie, who died in 1884.

APTAIN W. F. MORTON, the popu- lar and efficient Constable of Precinct No. 1, of Dallas county, Texas, was born in Montgomery county, North Carolina, February 9, 1838.

His parents were Dr. J. S. and Sarah A. Morton, both natives of North Carolina. The father was an eminent physician and noted Baptist minister. He was for fifty years a devont member of that church, forty years of which were spent as a missionary in Mis- sissippi and Arkansas, and he died in Lamar county, Texas, in 1887, at the age of seventy- two. None but words of commendation were ever spoken of him. He won all hearts by his devont and Christian character and tire- less work for the reformation of the race. The worthy wife and devoted mother died March 22, 1890, at Dallas, Texas, aged

seventy-six years, having been all her life a consistent Christian, never demonstrative in her religions life, but constant and firm, and eminently fitted to be the wife of a self-re- bouncing and hard-working missionary. This worthy couple were the parents of seven chil- dren, only three of whom now survive: The Captain; and an only brother, James W. Morton, who lives in Fannin county, Texas; and an only sister, Mrs. Annie H. J. Mar- tin, who lives in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

The subject of this sketch was the third child, and was educated in Mississippi, to which State his parents liad moved from North Carolina, in 1838. In that magnifi- cent State his childhood and early manhood days were passed. His first enterprise on his own account was teaching school in Missis- sippi; his next was as a clerk in a drug store at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, continuing in the latter position for four years, or until the war intervened between the South and North.

He, then, enlisted in the Confederate States army, and was made Captain of Company C of the Eleventh Arkansas Regiment of In- fantry. He served in the Army of the Ten- nessee, and participated in a great many hard-fought battles. At the fall of Island No. 10, he was taken prisoner, and removed to Camp Douglas, Chicago, Illinois, where he was held for five months and eighteen days, and then exchanged at Vicksburg, Missis- sippi, after which he again engaged in the war, in which he continued until its close. His brother, Edward C. Morton, was also captured at Island No. 10, at the same time with himself, and died in Camp Douglas, at the age of twenty years.

When the war had closed, Captain Morton returned to Mississippi and farmed for a couple of years in Franklin county, that

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

State, after which he clerked in the drng store of E. L. J. Bowen & Brother, continu- ing to retain his position nnder Dr. R. J. Durr, who bought out his former employers. Being too aspiring to remain a clerk long, he finally bought ont the Doctor, and, tak- ing in a partner by the name of B. F. Kitchen, continued in business at that point for two years. He then removed his drugs and other stock to Natchez, Mississippi, where he formed a partnership with S. L. Guice, under the firm name of Morton, Kitchen & Co., wholesale and retail drug- gists, continuing to do a successful business at that point for two years. He then dis- posed of his interest in the drug business, and removed to Jackson county, Texas, en- gaging in the grocery business in Texanna, the county seat of that county. He remained here nntil 1873, when he sold out and re- moved to Dallas, where he has been ever since. He was employed for six months by a lumber firm in that city; after which he served a year as a regular Policeman; then filled the position as Deputy Marshal for two years; later. serving as City Marshal and Chief of Police, for five years, which latter position he resigned to accept that of special officer on the Texas & Pacific railroad. After six months he returned to Dallas, and was given charge of the Dallas county jail, serving as Jailor for three years. During this time he withstood several mobs, who surrounded the jail, determined to take prisoners out and hang them. During Pre- sident Cleveland's administration he served four years as Deputy United States Marshal of the Northern District of Texas. In 1890 he was elected Constable, and is now a can- didate for re-election, withont opposition. He is honored as a citizen and officer, and has discharged his duty without fear or favor.

While on leave of absence from the army he was married in Franklin county, Missis- sippi, in 1863, to Miss Emma Guice, an es- timable lady, and a daughter of J. M. Gnice, a prosperous farmer of that county. To this union three children have been born: the only daughter and first child being Mrs. May E. Price, aged twenty-five years, who lives in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has one daugh- ter, Lillian Morton Price. The next child is a namesake of the Captain's, W. F. Morton, Jr .; the other son being Edward C. Mor- ton. Both sons are in the confectionery business on Main street, Dallas, and are aged twenty-two and twenty years respec- tively.

The Captain is a prominent member of several societies, he belongs to the Tanne- hill Lodge of Masons, and also to the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, as well as the Knights of Honor and the Legion of Honor.

In religious matters, he naturally belongs to the Missionary Baptist Church, in the in- terests of which his father was such an earn- est worker.

As a citizen the Captain is held in high esteem for his manliness and many other good qualities of head and heart. As a sol- dier and officer in the late struggle, his early enlistment and four years of valiant service attest his devotion to a cause that was dear to the Southern people. He was brave, trne and courageons, and has a splendid re- cord as a citizen, and is a military and civil officer.

C. BROWN was born in Maryland, eighteen miles from Baltimore, August > 23, 1833, son of Josiah and Mary (Hollingsworth) Brown. His father was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, and re-

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

moved to Baltimore when he was six years old, and his mother was a native of Maryland, the Hollingsworths having settled in this country in 1685. Both families were Quakers.

The subject of our sketch was reared on a farm in Harrison county, Ohio, until he reached his sixteenth year. In 1852 he went to California, embarking in a sailing vessel at New Orleans, making the journey via the Nicaragua ronte, and after six months land- ing in San Francisco. For seventeen years he was successfully engaged in mining in that State, and during that time returned to the States and spent one year. In 1869 he eame East, and the following year located in Texas. He then purchased his present farm of 356 acres, which at that time had very few improvements. It was first settled upon by a Mr. Durett, who was killed by light- ning in Parker county. Mr. Brown now has one of the best improved farms in the county, near Eagle Ford, and his residence, an ele- gant, modern structure, is beautifully located on a natural building site.

He was married August 11, 1870, to Miss Emma Z. J. Wood, a native of Jefferson county, Ohio, daughter of Joel and Zerniah (French) Wood, also Quakers. After his marriage he took his bride to Missouri, pur- chased an outfit, and from there drove to Texas. Seven children have been born to them: William T. M., Nellie A., Florence, Maud, Elwood, Emma and Mabel A. Mrs. Brown is a member of the Christian Church.

ILLIAM K. WHEELOCK, a promi- nent eitizen was born in Jefferson county, New York, in 1851. His parents were Rev. Rufus and Hannah B. (Robenson) Wheelock, natives of Vermont

and New York, respectively. The former was a Congregationalist minister for forty- eight years. He was a graduate of the Auburn Theological Seminary. After grad- nating he preached in New York, at Cham- pion for four or five years, at Deer river five years, at Danby, Matt's Corners, Mansville and Pulaski for some time, and his was the best known name in that section of New York or of any in the State. He was con- sidered a man of wonderful ability. His services were sought after by the large churches, but he preferred to remain in the small places, " doing his duty in that state of life unto which it pleased God to call him." His last pulpit was Bristol Center. He had preached, Sunday, while on a visit to his son and felt perfectly well, but in a few hours after the delivery of a powerful sermon he was stricken down with a stroke resembling apoplexy. He was an able, faithful minis- ter, a devoted husband and father and a good Christian man. He was released from liis labors in the eighty-first year of his life. His wife is still living, at Adams, New York, aged seventy-six, and although so old a lady her sweet, Christian piety and pure life exert a religious influence that is felt by every one who comes in contact with her. She is very well preserved in mind and body. She was the mother of one daughter and four sons, one of whom is deceased. One of the sons re- sides in Chicago, our subject in Texas, and the other brother and only sister are residents of New York.

William was educated at Ithaca, New York, where he took an academic course, finishing at Cornell University. He then engaged in the employ of the railroad as chief clerk in the passenger department of the Houston & Central railroad, at Houston, coming there in 1870, and to Dallas in 1871. When he came

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to Dallas he established the first up-town ticket office ever opened in the city. He acted as the passenger and ticket representative for two years, and then was made union ticket agent for all the railroads, continuing in that posi- tion twelve years in all. He was a trusty, efficient official, and gave great satisfaction to the public and to his employers. He resigned his position, however, at the end of the fif- teen years and went into the hotel business, with Mr. Hodge, buying ont the McCloud and later leased the Winsor, and ran them both for some time. He sold his interests in both hotels in March, 1892. Since that time he has been settling up his business. Mr. Wheelock has served the city as Alder- inan for a term of two years, beginning in 1880.

Onr subject was married in 1878, October 8. to Miss Fannie Montagne, daughter of Henry M. and Susan Montagne, of Franklin, Kentucky. Mrs. Wheelock is connected with some of the inost prominent citizens of the city, among which are Dr. J. W. Crowdus, T. L. Marsalis and others. Her father belonged to one of the old and best known families in Kentucky. Her mother is still living, and resides with her daughter. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church Sonth. Mrs. Wheelock is an only child, and is an in- telligent, amiable lady, and is well known and highly respected throughont the city of Dallas.

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Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas, Part 69

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