Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas, Part 77

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 77

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for D. M. Osborne & Co., of Auburn, New York, and remained in their employ until his death, managing their extensive business, covering the territory of Texas, Louisiana, Indian Territory and Mexico. Mr. Hatch was a man of push and energy, and soon built up a large and profitable business. He was interested in and ever ready to lend a helping hand for the up-building and pros- perity of Dallas, his adopted home. By proper management and close attention to business he accumulated considerable prop- erty.

Aside from his home his greatest delight was in visiting his extensive stock-farm in Denton county, where he was engaged in raising fine grades of live-stock, especially Holstein cattle.

Early in January, 1890, his health be- gan failing. Soon after, with his devoted wife, he went to San Antonio, tlience to Boerne, Texas, where he died very suddenly with hemorrhage of the lungs, March 24, 1890. His remains are buried in Trinity cemetery, this city. His widow, Mary J. and married son, Harry J., are now living at the old home at the corner of Ervay and Cadiz streets.

EORGE W. LOOMIS, Dallas, was born in Norwich, Connecticut, in 1845, a son of George and Anna B. (Webb) Loomis, natives of New London county, Connectient. The father was a farmer by ocenpation, and and remained in his native State until his death, which occurred in 1881; the mother died in New London county, in 1887. George W. was reared to farin life, and educated in the schools of Norwich, Connectient. In 1861, he enlisted in Company F, Eighteenth

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

Connecticut Infantry, for three years or dur- ing the war. He was in the battle of Bull Run, Winchester, Harper's Ferry, Piedmont, Cedar Hill, Fisher's Hill, Lynchburg and second battle of Winchester. Mr. Loomis was taken prisoner at the first battle of Win- chester, and was confined as a prisoner of war at Libby and Belle Island prisons for nearly eight months. After his release he joined his company, and served until the close of the war. He received a gun shot wound at the battle of Piedmont and Winchester, and was honorably discharged at Harper's Ferry, in June, 1865, and was mustered out of the State service at Hartford, Connecticut. The same year he came to Galveston, Texas, where he remained until coming to Dallas, in 1874. He has made Loomis addition to the city, situated in the southern part, in addition to which he owns a good farm in Tarrant county, 4,000 acres in Van Zandt county, and land in Hamilton county.

Mr. Loomis was married in New London county, in 1870, to Miss Madeline Austin, a native of New York, and daughter of Dr. Charles Austin, who died many years ago in Connecticut. Mrs. Loomis died in New York city, in 1884. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Loomis, namely-Frank Wells and George Austin: the latter was ac- cidentally killed when two years of age. Mr. Loomis was again married in May, 1885, in Dallas, to Ada Nellie Stone, a native of lowa, and daughter of John and Mary (Morley) Stone, natives of England. They emigrated to Iowa in an early day, in 1871 to Austin, Texas, and in 1873 to Dallas, where the father engaged in the agricultural firm of Stone & Keating. He was elected Mayor of the city of Dallas, but did not serve. His death oc- curred in February, 1890, and the mother still resides in this city. Mr. and Mrs.

Loomis have had two children,-Edgar Webb and Richard Foster. Politically, Mr. Loomis affiliates with the Democratic party, and so- cially, he is a member of Dallas Lodge, No. 70, K. of P., and also of the Uniformed Rank, K. of P .; of Dallas Lodge, No. 44, I. O. O. F .; of Ridgley Encampment, No. 25; and of George H. Thomas Post, No. 8.

B ENJAMIN F. COFFMAN. a rising young business man of Dallas, Texas, was born in Logan county, Kentucky, March 3, 1863, and is a son of W. A. and Agnes (Howard) Coffman. The paternal an- cestors emigrated from Germany and settled in Virginia and Kentucky. The mother of our subject died in Tennessee, in 1878, but the father survives and resides in Tennessee. There were nine children in the family, three of whom are deceased. Four of the brothers came to Texas. Benjamin F. received his education in the school at Cove Spring, Ken- tucky, and at the age of seventeen years came to Texas. He settled in Dallas county and engaged in agriculture, which he pursued three years, coming at the end of that time to Dallas, to open a livery stable; for seven years he conducted this successfully, and then sold out to make another venture; this time it was in the real-estate business, in which he has been very fortunate. A large amount of property has passed through his hands, and he has succeeded in placing it all to advantage. The Coffman addition is a valnable piece of city real estate, a large por- tion of which is still in the original owner's hands.

Mr. Coffman was married in Dallas, Au- gust 4, 1887, to Miss Alice Belle Goble, a native of Texas. They have had born to

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

them two sons, Frank and Lee. Our subject is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and the entire family belong to the Baptist Church. Politieally, he affiliates with the Democratie party; he was elected a member of the City Council, from the Seventh Ward, in May, 1890, although he had strong oppo- sition. He is a man who is entirely above the corruption of party intrigue, and may be depended npon to exert his best efforts in behalf of the city's interests.

BSALOM S. IIUMBARD, a farmer residing in Calhoun township, preeinet No. 1, Dallas county, Texas, dates his birth in Greene county, Tennessee, in April, 1835. Henry Humbard, his father, was also a native of that State. His mother, nee Eliz- abeth Moleck, was born in Germany, and at an early age came to this country, settling in Tennessee. Henry Hnmbard passed his life as a skilled blacksmith. At the outbreak of the Seminole war he laid aside the hammer for the musket, and served under General Jackson during the whole period of hostili- ties. In 1846 he moved to Bradley county, Tennessee, where he died in 1860.

Absalon S. moved from his native State to Jasper county, Missouri, in the fall of 1852, and engaged in farming there. He was married October 6, 1856, to Mary M. Cook, a native of Johnson county, Tennessee. She was the daughter of William and Rachel Cook, also natives of Johnson county. Mrs. Humbard's grandfather was Levi Heath. By the above marriage there were three children, all of whom are now living within a mile of their father's home, namely: Rachel Eliza- beth, wife of John R. Carroll, and has five children; Nancy Jane, wife of Abraham L.

Phillips, has four children; and John W. G. L., aged fifteen years and at home.

In 1859 and 1860 Mr. Hmmbard joined the Minute-men in Jasper county, for protection against the Kansas Jayhawkers. IIis regiment selected Judge John R. Shi- nault as their colonel. When the Federal General Siegel invaded Missouri, Mr. Hum- bard joined the State six-months "Guards," under General Rains; and when the latter was about leaving the State and was at the State line, Mr. Humbard told him that if he intended to leave the State he could do so, but as for him he would fight by his fireside.

Returning to Spring river, he recruited and organized a squadron of thirty-five men and fought through that country until the following spring, when he and Major T. R. Livingston and Captains Rusk and Robertson consolidated their forees and placed Major Livingston in command. By the Federals this body of men was afterward ealled Liv- ingston's Bloody Spikes.

In the spring of 1863 Livingston was killed in a charge upon the Federals at Stockton, Vernon county, Missouri. The command then selected Captain Piekler for their leader, but he, too, was soon afterward killed, in a hand-to-hand fight with a Federal soldier. Next they selected Captain Perey, and he continued to be their leader until they dis- banded at Fort Washita, near Bogy depot, Chickasaw nation. This command was first under General Claiborne Jackson, and after- ward nnder General Price. It was engaged in the battle of Pea Ridge, and many skirmishes, in what was known as guerrilla warfare. In the original muster roll there were 115 men, but at the elose of the war only fifteen men were remaining, 100 having been killed ! Mr. Humbard, who had gen- erally been employed as the recruiting and

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

scouting officer, was wounded five times: once in the head by a pistol shot which frae- tnred his skull, in a hand-to-hand confliet at Greenfield, Missouri; once through his right arın just below the elbow, breaking both bones; once through his hand; and twice he received slighter flesh wounds. Two horses were shot under him, and several shots passed through his elothing. He was taken prisoner on the State line between Missouri and the Indian nation, by Colonel Clayton, and was confined for six weeks in Springfield, Mis- souri-at first in the courthouse and after- ward in a prison camp-but, with others, he made his escape and reached the Confederate line.

In the fall of 1863, when he was in Ar- kansas, Federals ordered all rebel families out of his neighborhood in Missouri. Receiving orders at one o'eloek, he mounted his horse and found his family about twelve miles sonth of where he had left them. He took them to King's river, where sixteen families rendezvoused, of whom Captain Reek Jolmson and sixteen picked men placed themselves in Mr. Humbard's charge, against his protest, and, pledged to him and to each other to ohey, came 300 miles south through the enemy's lines without any loss, the heroic Mrs. Humbard driving the wagon most of the way, reaching Paris, Texas. Mr. Hum- bard kept two men in advance and two men in the rear. They remained at Paris until January 1, 1864, at which time Dallas county was selected for a home.

Leaving his family temporarily on the 1st of May, he returned to Bradley county, Missouri, where he joined his men again. After the war closed he returned to Dallas county, rented a farm of William Caruth, and carried on farming there for two years. He subsequently purchased the farm of 160 acres

where he has since lived. With other lands he has managed to acenmulate property suffi- cient to enable him to live at ease during his declining years; has led an industrious life and contributed means and influence to the best interests of the county, and is one of its most respected citizens. He is a member of the Farmers' Alliance, a Patron of Hus- bandry, and a Knight of Labor; in politics a Democrat, a reformer, believing in a govern- ment by the people and for the people; and in religion he is a Methodist.

A. ROBINSON, a prominent real- estate dealer of Dallas, Texas, a man of enterprise, of marked individuality and natural business ability, hails from one of the leading counties of the old Buckeye State.

D. A. Robinson was born in Belmont county, Ohio, June 10, 1848, son of Thomas and Martha (Kerr) Robinson, natives of Ohio and Maryland respectively. Samuel Robinson, grandfather of D. A., went from Virginia to Ohio about 1810 and settled in Belmont county. He was a soldier in the war of 1812: was by occupation a farmer; died in 1855, aged eighty-two years. His wife was before her marriage a Miss Mary McConnell. In her latter years she was blind, and it is recorded of her that during the four years of the Civil war her time was spent in knitting socks for the soldiers, in whom she took an active and sympathetic in- terest. Samuel and Mary Robinson were the parents of seven children, Thomas being the eldest. Only one of the family, David W., is now living, his home being on a farm in Pottawatomie county, Kansas. Thomas Robinson, also a fariner by ocenpation, died

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

of cholera in 1854, aged forty-two years, and Martha Robinson, his widow, resides with her eldest son in Linn county, Missouri. They had six children, viz .: Samuel M., a farmer of Linn county, Missonri, is married; George W., unmarried, a photographer, re- sides in Denver, Colorado; Rebecca J., widow of Joseph Boggs, resides with her children in Belmont county, Ohio; James W., married Sarah Doane and lives on a farm in Linn county, Missouri; D. A., whose name appears above; and Joseph C., who married Kate McAfee, is pastor of the Presbyterian Church of White Bear Lake, Minnesota. The Rev. Mr. Robinson is a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, and High- land University of Kansas.

The subject of this sketch received his education in the public schools of his native county, and for two or three years was en- gaged in teaching school in Ohio, beginning when he was only sixteen years of age. He went from Ohio to Missouri, where he taught about three years. Then he read law at Brook- field, Missouri, under Myers & Huston, and was admitted to the bar in 1872. He opened an office in Brookfield and was engaged in the practice of his profession there for a number of years. He camne to Dallas county, Texas, in 1876, and was connected with the building and operating (as superintendent) of the Dallas & Wichita Railroad. He was Secretary and one of the charter members of the Texas Trunk Railroad Company. In 1879 he opened a real estate office in Denton. Ile settled in Dallas again in 1888, and since that year has been engaged in his present business. While in Denton he was Mayor of the city two years, being elected in 1882. At Brookfield, Missouri, he was a Justice of the Peace when only twenty-one years of age.

Mr. Robinson was married, in 1880, to

Miss Sarah J. Trimble, daughter of John and Catherine Trimble, of Belmont county, Ohio. Her father, a respected farmer of that place, died in 1876. Her mother is still living in Belmont county, having reached her seventy -fourth year. Mrs. Robinson is one of a family of nine children, seven of whom are still living.

Mr. Robinson takes an active interest in political matters, affiliating with the Repub- lican party. He was a delegate to the State convention that met in Anstin in April, 1880, and has been a delegate to every State Republican convention since that time. At the National Republican Convention in Chicago in 1880 he was one of the 306 dele- gates who voted the thirty-six ballots for U. S. Grant. Mr. Robinson is president of the State Republican League of Texas.

AMES H. BROWNLEE was born in Abbeville, South Carolina, June 1, 1842, a son of George Harvey and Malinda (Barmore) Brownlee, natives of South Caro- lina and of Scotch-Irish ancestry. The great- grandfather, George Brownlee, came from Ireland and settled in South Carolina.

When the subject of our sketch was seven years old his parents moved to Alabama and settled on a farm. There he was reared and was quietly engaged in agricultural pursuits on the home place when the late war came on. He enlisted in Company H, Tenth Alabama Regiment, and served in Virginia under Gen- eral Robert E. Lee. In the seven days' battle, fought at Richmond, he was wounded in the right arm, and was disabled for eight weeks, and at Spottsylvania Courthouse he received a wound through the body, which rendered him unfit for active duty. After the war he

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returned to Alabama and remained there one year.

October 24, 1865, Mr. Brownlee married Miss Allie Pyles, a native of Alabama and a daughter of Lewis and Melinda (Blackburn) Pyles, natives of Sonth Carolina. October 10, 1866, he started for Texas, and arrived here January 7, 1867, after having been bed- ridden from the effects of his wound. Here he purchased 205 acres of wild land, which he improved, now having one of the finest farnis in the county, having added to his first pur- chase 200 acres more. He gives his atten- tion to general farming and stock-raising, and in his various undertakings has met with eminent snecess.

Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brownlee, four of whom are living, namely: Jessie, wife of M. F. Winter, of Dallas county; and Pearl, James and Ralph. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. Fraternally, he is an A. F. & A. M .; politically a Democrat.

ALTER R. STOVALL, a prominent physician and surgeon, has been iden- tified with the interests of Dallas county since February, 1882.

Born in Carroll county, Mississippi, March 10, 1853, the Doctor is a son of David G. and Mary (McNeal) Stovall. His father was also a native of that county, born in 1821, son of John Stovall, who was probably of German origin, and who went from Georgia to Mis- sissippi at an early day. David G. Stovall was reared on a farm in Mississippi and was there married to Mary McNeal, a native of South Carolina. Her father died in Georgia while the family were en route from South Carolina to Mississippi when she was a child,

and in the latter State she was reared. To her and her husband were born six children, five of whom are still living. In 1861, abont the time the war begun. Mr. Stovall died, leaving his widow with a family of small children. Her property was soon afterward confiscated, but, notwithstanding her losses, she managed to rear hier children and give them a good education. In February, 1882, she sold her property in Mississippi and came with her family to Dallas county, Texas, where she has since resided. The names of her six children are as follows: Walter R., the subject of this sketch; Engenia, wife of S. H. Gran- thein, of this county; Ella, wife of James Drew, of this county; D. J., a farmer, and also of this county, and Alta G. Effie died in infancy. Mrs. Stovall is a member of the Baptist Church. Her husband was an hon- ored member of the A. F. & A. M.

Dr. Stovall lived on a farm and taught school until he reached his majority. His edu- cation was obtained at the Winona College of Mississipi. At the age of eighteen he began the study of medicine, reading the medical books he obtained from the physi- cians of his town. He took his first course of lectures in the winter of 1874 and '75, at the Atlanta Medical College, Georgia, and grad- uated in the winter of 1877 and '78 at the University of Louisiana, New Orleans, now known as the Tulane University. He began practice in the spring of 1875 at Sidon, Le Flore county, Mississippi, where he remained until the fall of 1876, after which he located in Montgomery county, what was formerly a part of Carroll, where he remained until he came to Texas. Here he first settled at Grand Prairie, continning there until De- cember 3, 1890, when he came to West Dal- las. He has met with eminent success in the practice of his profession, and is recog-

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nized as one of the most skillful physicians in this section of the country.

He was married December 16, 1890, to Miss Mattie A. Watson, a native of Tarrant county, Texas, and a daughter of Alfred Wat- son, a prominent pioneer of this State, who came here from Winchester, North Carolina. The Doctor is a member of the Baptist and his wife of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Fraternally, he is associated with the A. F. & A. M., Mountain Creek Lodge, No. 511, and has filled the chairs of Senior Warden and Master Deacon.

AMUEL C. PHELPS, JR., was born in Licking county, Ohio, November 21, 1822, and raised on a farm where dai- rying was a specialty. March 4, 1849, he married Miss Sybil Baker, a daughter of Ar- temas and Hettie Baker. She was born in 1822, was a lady of education and refinement, and taught school for a number of years. They moved to Texas in 1851, landing in this neighborhood about the 20th of October. He dealt in cattle and made cheese for a year or two, then bought this land, 320 aeres, on which he died. When he made the purchase he paid for it and got a clear title; tlie pay- ment left him without a team and almost penniless. He went to work full of hope, and with industry and economy soon became independent. By his continued industry he kept adding to his property until he died. Ile enjoyed life and took pride in making others who came abont him enjoy themselves. He lived all his life free of debt and owed no man, when he came to die, anything but good will.

To him and his good wife were born three children: Artemas, Elizabeth E. and Samuel

C. Artemas was born in Licking county, Ohio, January 2, 1850, and is now living with his stepmother on the old homestead. His health has never been good, and has been declining for the past few years. Elizabeth was born in Dallas county, Texas, October 29, 1851, is now a stout, healthy woman, the mother of ten children. She is the wife of W. S. Lewis, a prosperous fariner and stock- raiser of Tarrant county. Samnel C. was born here on the old homestead, on Septem- ber 10, 1854; was raised on the old farm, a farmer; is now married, has one child and is now with his family living in Greer county, Texas. He is a stont, healthy man, and a dealer in general merchandise. Mrs. Phelps, the mother of Artemas, Elizabetli and Sam- nel C., was a refined, educated woman, and taught school for some years before she was united with Mr. Phelps in marriage. She lived and died an honored member of the Christian Church. Her death occurred in March, 1859.

Mr. Phelps, for a second wife, married Jane Christian, the widow of T. J. Christian and daughter of I. W. and Amy Tuttle. Mrs. Christian, when she married Mr. Phelps, was the mother of one daughter, who was born Angust 24, 1853, in Harrison county, Texas; she is now the wife of Thomas J. Parks, who is a prosperous farmer in this county, owning 300 acres of land. She is the mother of six children. T. J. Christian, the first husband of Mrs. Phelps, died in Grimes connty, Texas, October 7, 1858, of pneumonia. Mr. Phelps and Jane Christian were married February 27. 1860, and they had two children: Aliee, born February 6, 1861, on the old homestead, is now the wife of Tell Perry, of Greer county, Texas. Her husband is a farmer and dealer in general merchandise. Aliee re- ceived a good cominon-school education, then

- Myten

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

attended a State normal school, after which she taught school for some years before she was married. Nancy, the second daughter, was born January 3, 1863, on the old home- stead, and died January 1, 1865.

Mr. Phelps was married to his second wife, Jane, on the eve of the great trouble between the States. Ilis sympathies were with the Union cause. Under force of circminstances he went into a company of home guards, marched to Bonham and was there, with other Union sympathizers, detailed to go home and thrash grain for the people, in which capacity he remained during the war. He never was treated badly by the Confed- erate element of the country.

At the close of the war he served as County Commissioner, under appointment. From that time to the day of his death he was among the foremost in all the labor and po- litical reforms. He depended on his good actions toward his fellow men for his happi- ness, both here and hereafter. He lived and died without enemies, because he took pains not to interfere with other people's business. Samnel C. Phelps died February 25, 1891.

the family were: Samuel B. Wylic, who was president of the Pennsylvania University, and Rev. Dr. Andrew Wylie, president of Washington College, Pennsylvania, and later, of the Indiana State University at Blooming- ton; J. S. Wylie, his only brother, who is president of the Iowa Northern Railroad Company and of the Northwestern Coal Dealers' Association at Davenport, Iowa. His only sister, Mrs. E. W. Cushing, resides in Atlantic, Iowa. Other ancestors and rela- tives also have been prominent in the educa- tional or business world. His mother, whose maiden name was Miss Hester Moore, was a daughter of David Moore, one of the early pioneers of Ohio, who inaugurated iron manu- facturing in that State, and who built the fur- nace known as the Mary Ann furnace in Lick- ing county, Ohio; was born at Newark, Licking county, Ohio, of a family of long American ancestry, some of whom have been in Govern- inent employ for half a century. She died in Atlantic, Iowa, in 1889, aged cighity-six years.

Mr. Wylie, studious in his younger days, enjoyed a terin at Jefferson College, Can- nonsburg, Pennsylvania. In 1852 he went to lowa, with his guardian, S. C. Bever, president of the First National Bank of Ce- dar Rapids, that State. In 1858, he was clerk of the United States District Court, under Buchanan, when Judge Love was pre- siding in the western district of Iowa, at Des Moines. In the meantime Mr. Wylie was studying law, and in 1860 he was ad- Initted to the bar.

D. WYLIE, one of the most promi- nent citizens of northern Texas, was born in Coshocton, Ohio, in 1838, but passed his early youth in Pennsyl- vania, and West Virginia. His grandfather, Rev. William Wylie, D. D., was for forty years pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Wheeling, West Virginia, and finally died At the first note of war he joined the Capi- tal Gnards at Des Moines, and afterward the Second lowa Infantry, under Captain Crocker and afterward Colonel Curtis, from Keokuk, Iowa. Though a boy, he took an active there in that city, aged ninety years. His father, Rev. Joseph S. Wylie, was born in Wheeling, and educated at Washington Col- lege, Pennsylvania, and Princeton College, New Jersey. Other eminent members of | part in the election when Douglas was a can- 43

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Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas, Part 77

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