Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas, Part 84

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 84

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Mr. Scripture is, in the truest sense of the word, a self-made man. At the close of the

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

war he had thirty cents in silver which he spent for himself and comrades. He borrowed $20, to defray his expenses to Texas, and when he arrived here he had $1.80 left. By hard wor kand good management he has accumulated a fine property and is now in comfort- able eireumstances. His political affiliations are with the Democratic party. Mrs. Serip- ture is a member of the Christian Church.

HARLES E. GILBERT, editor and manager of the Times-Herald, of Dal- las, Texas, is a native of the State of Alabama, and a son of Love E. Gilbert, who was for many years an editor. The mother was Elizabeth Jackson, a native of Connecti- ent, who died in 1861 in Alabama. The paternal and maternal grandfathers are buried in Texas, to which State the former came early in the '40s. After his death Love E. with his mother returned to Alabama. The maternal grandfather came to this State in 1873, and died in Fort Worth. Charles E. Gilbert learned the printer's trade in his boy- hood, entering his father's office at the close of the war, when but ten years old; and after following the fortunes of that career for some time he came to Texas, in October, 1876, as soon as he was twenty-one, and in February, 1877, became the editor of the Tablet, at Navasota, Texas. At that time there were two negroes in the Legislature, one in the Senate, two on the County Commissioners' Court, and in other positions. With the push and enterprise that has ever marked his career he became a warm advocate of white domination, and was largely instru- mental in securing a unity of purpose in that direction, and the negro was soon relegated

to the rear in politics. The Tablet was one of the most fearless and certainly one of the ablest weekly journals of the State.

After disposing of that paper in 1881, he went to Abilene, then a tented frontier town, and there established the Reporter, the first paper of the place, and in its columns he be- came an earnest champion of the develop- ment of the West and the protection of the farmer settler. The famous Land Lease and Enclosure laws were enacted about this time, for the protection of the settlers against the free-grass cattle-men. Mr. Gilbert saw that there was to be a "battle royal" between the small freeholders and the so-called "cattle barons," and he promptly threw his influence on the side of the farmers. It was a battle between a weak minority and the organized brains and capital of the most powerful organization Texas or the Southland ever knew; but notwithstanding these odds the battle raged fiercely and personal encounters were tregnent. The Democratie State plat- form and Legislature were approved by 200,- 000 majority over the State, and the Reporter gained a signal triumph in its seetion, and to-day its editor is held in high esteem, even by his whilom opponents, and in grateful re- membranee by the farmer whose battle he so valiantly fought. Early in 1886 he came to Dallas and formed a connection with the Evening Herald, which in 1888 was consoli- dated with the Evening Times under the name of Times-Herald, which still con- tinues. He directs and controls the poliey of this paper, which is considered one of the best in the State. He is an admirable news- paper man and his progressive ideas are re- fleeted in every corner of his paper and its management. True to his life-long eonvie- tions, he is the tried and able champion of the interests of the masses, especially the

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farming and laboring classes, and he is fear- less in his defense of any principle, what- soever its political creed, that is for the pub- lic good.

He was married in Alabama, in 1877, to Miss Gertrude Wilson, whose father was the first white child born in Pickens county, and was after ward its first Representative in the Legislature. Mr. Gilbert is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and finds time, outside of the duties connected with his paper, to further the moral and educational welfare of the community in which he re- sides.

EDFAREN ROUTH, the senior mem- ber of the firm of Routh & Stewart, is justly entitled to a space in the record of the lives of the leading business men of Dallas county. He is a native of the county, born November 21, 1859, and is the youngest of a family of twelve children. His parents, George W. and Elizabeth (Rankin) Routh, were natives of Tennessee; the father was reared in that State, and emigrated to Texas, settling on Dnek creek, near the present site of the village of Garland. Here he bought the headright to a section of land of Abner Keen, and later added 300 or 400 aeres of what was known as the Chris survey, to the purchase; here he lived until his death, which ocenrred in 1865; the mother passed away in 1860. Mr. Routh began life as a farmer boy, and, when old enough to assume the responsibilities, took charge of the affairs at home. He followed this occupation until the fall of 1887, when he came to Dallas eity and opened a wholesale and retail prod- nee house, under the firm name of Routh & Lewis. In the autumn of 1888 Mr. Lewis retired, and was succeeded by A. L. Simpson,

who remained a member of the firm for two years; he was in turn succeeded by Mr. Stewart, who is the present member of the firm.

Mr. Ronth was united in marriage, August 10, 1880, to Miss Amanda J. Ramsey, a daughter of James Ramsey, of Garland, Texas. Mr. Ramsey has been prominentły identified with various enterprises in the State for a number of years, and now resides near Rose Hill, Texas. March 27, 1885, Mrs. Amanda J. Routh was called from this life, leaving her husband and one child, a daughter, Maggie M., born June 10, 1881. Mr. Routh was married a second time, May 2, 1888, to Miss Lucy A. Early, the fifth of a family of seven children born to John T. and America (Sousley) Early. Mr. Early was a native of Fleming county, Kentucky, and in 1878 removed to Collin county, Texas; here he lived until 1884, and then came to Dallas, where he still resides.

Mr. Routh received his education in the common schools at Duck Creek and in the Lawrence Business College. Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party. He and his wife are members of the First Baptist Church of this city, and have given a liberal support to the society.

S HARP, of the firm of Haralson & Sharp, was born in Tipton county, Ten- nessee, in September, 1853, the second of the five children of J. R. and Mary (Shef- field) Sharp, natives also of Tennessee. His father, a farmer and miller, came to Texas in 1880, with his family of three children. The mother of J. S. died in 1858, in Tennessee. Mr. Sharp came from west Tennessee to Dallas in 1880 and was employed by F. G.

afrin of: Overtan

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Moore as a teamster for about eighteen months, and also delivered goods for a whole- sale store. In 1882 he engaged in general excavation work and in hauling sand and gravel for builders, etc. The firm of Haral- son & Sharp was organized in 1886, and they are engaged in general excavation and team- ing, running from twenty-five to sixty teams. While the Oak Cliff railway was in process of construction they ran a hundred teams, paying ont as much as $18,000 per month.

In July, 1886, Mr. Sharp married Mrs. Domy Whites, the widow of Edward Whites and daughter of Mrs. W. H. H. Brawley. Her father is deceased, and her mother resides in Dallas. Mrs. Sharp's daughter, Ida May, died in 1887, at the age of nine months.

Mr. Sharp has taken an active part in poli- tics, voting with the Democratic party. In society he is a member of Dallas Lodge, Knights of Pythias. He and his wife belong to the Floyd Street Methodist Episcopal Church. They are exemplary members of society and interested in every good work.

ILLIAM PERRY OVERTON .- It is both a privilege and pleasure to the biographer to record the geneal- ogy and career of one who is a source of pride to his county, a credit to his State, and an honor to his parents. Unless preserved by the historian, the hardships and depriva- tions endured by the pioneer, while not equal in interest to the Arabian Nights, may come to seem equally incredible; and the names of those men and women who pushed their way to the frontier, making the way for the advance of civilization, can- not be written too high among the honored of the earth.

In 1844, on the 28th day of November, the seventh actual settler of Dallas county, Texas, arrived in the person of William Perry Overton, a native of Chariton county, Missouri, born February 2, 1822, and a son of Aaron and Rachel (Cameron) Overton. Aaron Overton, a Virginian by birth, was a son of Jesse and Elizabeth Overton, the mother a half-breed Cherokee. The Overton family were of English ancestry, and were members of the early Virginia colonies, tak- ing a prominent part in the Revolutionary war. The maternal grandfather of William P. Overton was John Cameron, of Scotch descent, who also did gallant service in the struggles of the American colonies for inde- pendence, before he was wounded while on conrier duty. Being surrounded by Tories, he threw up his old coon-skin cap, crying, " Hurrah for King George !" and succeeded in galloping through the British lines!

Aaron Overton was reared to the occupa- tion of a farmer in his native State, and was there married; immediately after this event he started with his bride for the West, when the West was still east of the Mississippi river. For a time he resided in East Tennes- see, and then removed to the western part of the State. Not having reached the place he was seeking, he determined to push on to the limits of the frontier, and this he did, going to Chariton county, Missouri. There, in com- pany with his son-in-law, he opened the salt works, and followed the business for some time. About 1824 he disposed of his inter -. est in that place, and moved to what is now Jackson county, Missouri, where he was among the first permanent settlers. He located on a farm which he brought to a high state of cultivation before selling it. He next went to Independence, Missouri, and there built the first steam mill in Jackson

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county ; he followed milling and agricultural pursuits in connection therewith for several years, improving a farm of 4,000 aeres.

In 1844 he determined to make another change, and in company with his sons, C. C. and W. P. Overton, he came to Texas, mak- ing the journey in primitive style with an ox team, and consuming two months' time. He located in Dallas county and took up a head- right where Oak Cliff now stands; there he built a horse mill, having a capacity of one hundred bushels of wheat a day; this was the first mill erected in Dallas county, and customers came a distance of 100 miles. Mr. Overton condueted this mill until 1851, when he built a water mill, and two years later he built that is now known as the Honey Springs Mill; this he owned and operated in connection with agricultural pur- suits until his death. He made a trip to Missouri each fall until 1847, when he brought his family to the Lone Star State. His death occurred in 1860, and at the age of seventy-six years; his wife survived him until 1874, when she, too, passed to the realın beyond; she had attained the age of eighty-seven years. Thus ended the lives of a nseful man and woman; they were posses- sed of many excellent traits of character, and those virtues which win and hold the affee- tions. There were born to them twelve ehil- dren, eleven of whom lived to rear families, and seven of whom still survive.

William P. Overton, the ninth of the family in order of birth, passed his child- hood surrounded by the quiet influenees of nature; his education was gained in the primitive log schoolhouse, where the children of the pioneer settlers were wont to gather to eon the rule of three and trace the English script with the ancient quill pen. In 1844 he came with his father to Dallas county,

Texas, and took up a headright adjoining that of his father; he built a house, made many valuable improvements, and devoted himself to agriculture and milling until 1850. The tide of emigration was still sweeping strongly to the Pacific coast, carrying in its flow thousands of gold-seekers. In the spring of 1850, Mr. Overton joined the earavan eross- ing the plains, California being the destina- tion of the party; he went as far as El Paso with ox teains, and there traded the oxen for mules; the journey was begun April 21, and was completed September 17, the following autumn, the company arriving at San Diego on that date. Mr. Overton at once engaged in the search of the yellow dust, and for eighteen months devoted his energies to min- ing. In 1853, however, he traded his head- right to his father for the Honey Springs, where he still lives. We find him again in Texas, carrying on a milling business at Honey Springs mill; this pursuit occupied him until 1866, when he returned to the voeation of his youth, farming.

Ile was united in the bonds of marriage, July 22, 1847, to Miss Martha Ann Newton, a native of Saline county, Missouri, and a daughter of Williamn Newton; her father was a blacksmith by trade, and was employed in the Indian nation on Kohu river by Richard Cunnings, the Indian agent; he settled in Dallas county, Texas, in 1845. To Mr. and Mrs. Overton were born seven children, three of whom are living: Aubrey L., William W. and Mollie A .; Alonzo died January 22, 1880, at the age of twenty-six years; Cas- well died January 31, 1875, aged seventeen years. The mother of these children passed from the seenes of earth November 10, 1884. Mr. Overton's second marriage occurred July 22, 1885, when he was wedded to Mrs. Jes . sie F. Priee, a daughter of Henry C. Davis.

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Mr. Davis was a native of Hampshire, En- gland, and of a good family, was killed on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railroad, at the age of seventy-three years. No man was more deservedly loved than Grandpa Davis.

The home of this worthy pioneer was in early days the home of the weary traveler, the haven of the foot-sore and the weary. During the late war it was a hospital for sick and disabled soldiers; there a cordial welcome has always been for the needy or oppressed, and the hospitality of the host has only been bounded by the necessity of the occasion. The residence of Mr. Overton was erected in 1853.'54, and the first frame house in the county; the timber was hauled from Pales- tine, Anderson county, Texas, and the entire structure is in an excellent state of preserva- tion. Mr. Overton is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and his wife of the Episcopal Church.

F. WARREN, a fruit grower and gar- dener of Dallas, was born in Houston county, Georgia, in 1837, the fifth of ten children born to Frederick and Mary Ann (McCray) Warren, natives of New Haven, Connecticut, and North Carolina. The father served his time as an apprentice in the North, after which he went South and took a contract for building the court- house at Anson, North Carolina, and a few years later he emigrated to Houston county, Georgia, where he remained until his death, in November, 1867; his wife died in the same State, in 1859. Eight of their children still survive, viz .: William E., a resident of Houston county, Georgia; L. P., also a resi- dent of Georgia; J. N., of the same State,

served two years in the late war; T. D. re- sides on the old farm in Houston county; J. F., onr subject .; Harriet J., now Mrs. H. J. Clark, of Georgia; Julia Ann, now Mrs. Schathergood, of Georgia; Alice, the wife of Mr. Chun, also of Georgia.

J. F. Warren was reared to farm life, and educated in the subscription schools of Honston county, Georgia. In December, 1858, he went to Mobile, Alabama, where he was connected with the Mobile & Ohio Rail- road as conductor until 1872, and afterward, in 1873, he came to Dallas. Since 1874 he has been engaged in farming and fruit-rais- ing, having purchased a farm of thirty-three acres. He has since bonght and sold land, but still retains the original thirty-three acres, which is in good state of cultivation. Mr. Warren was married in Sumter county, Alabama, in 1865, to Bettie C. Patton, a na- tive of that State and daughter of William A. and Harriet M. (Browning) Patton, the father a native of Morgan county, Georgia, and the mother of Kentucky. The parents were married in Greene county, Alabama, now Hale county, and in 1871 moved to Dallas county, where the father died the same year, and the mother now resides at Oak Lawn. Grandfather Browning came to Dallas connty, in 1871, where he died in March, 1891, at the age of ninety-two years and two months; liis wife died in March, 1885. Mrs. Warren died July 27, 1882, and was the mother of five children: Clara McCray, born August 24, 1866, married W. T. Harper, and died in Georgia, Jannary 1, 1889, at the age of twenty-two years, four months and seven days; William F., born Angust 29, 1868; Mamie S., born May 8, 1875; Katie Elizabetlı, November 15, 1881; and an infant now deceased. Mr. Warren was married in Dallas, December 19, 1889,

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to Mrs. M. A. Camp, a native of Alabama, and widow of Aaron C. Camp. Mr. and Mrs. Camp were married in Palestine, Texas, and in 1869 came to Dallas county., where he was engaged in farming and real-estate spec- ulations. He settled on land where the Texas Pacific now stands, was County Clerk of Anderson county several years, and died in January, 1881. They had a family of four children: Thomas L., an attorney of Dallas; Aaron, attending school; Aleck, also attend- ing school, and Mattie, at home. Mr. War- ren affiliates with the Democratic party, but is not active in politics. Socially, he is a member of the Masonic order, and relig- iously has been a member of the Baptist Church since 1863.

C. WOLFF, attorney, Dallas, Texas, and one of the foremost real estate men of that city, is a native of Charleston, South Carolina, his birth oceur- ring there in 1832, on the lot at the corner of Meeting and Wentworth streets, on which is the artesian well. He is the youngest of four children born to Francis Anthony and Isabelle (McKay) Wolff. The father was a native of the Grand Duchy of Baden, Ger- many, but was educated in France. He served ten years under the first Napoleon. He left that country for America when a young man, first settled in New York, but subsequently moved to South Carolina, where he was married.

Settling in Charleston, he carried on the saddler trade nntil his death, in August, 1837. Ile was a member of the Masonic order, demitted from Summit Lodge, Paris, France. The mother survived him a number of years, her death occurring in Tippah county,

Mississippi, in 1859. W. C. Wolff was reared on a farm after coming to Tippah county and received his education in the common schools of the same, and in the Bon- ham Academy of Texas. He came to Texas in April, 1854, and taught school for many years. In 1855, while teaching in Fannin county, Texas, he borrowed books and began the study of law, and was admitted to the bar at Paris, Lamar county, Texas, in 1859, beginning to practice the same year in that county. He read law in the office of Wm. H. Johnson, in Paris, Texas, about one year. In 1860 he came to Dallas county, locating at Cedar Hill, and in connection with his practice taught school for some time.

In 1861 he enlisted in Company D, the Third Texas Cavalry, Ross' brigade, for twelve months, but served through the entire war. He was in the battle of Oak Hill, Elk Horn or Pea Ridge and after that crossed the Mis- sissippi in the battle of Inka. He was also in the battles, Corinth, Holly Springs, Hatchee bridge, those around Viekburg and in the Georgia campaign. He was in the battle of Murfreesboro and was in Forrest's corps. He received a gunshot wound at Rome, Georgia. From Tennessee Mr. Wolff went to Mississippi, near Yazoo city, where the brigade was furlonghed and he came home, being there at the time of the surrender. Afterward he taught school at Cedar Hill, Texas, and in 1867 moved to the city of Dal- las, which at that time had a population of perhaps 1,000, and here began practicing law. He formed a partnership in the Fed- eral Court with J. C. McCoy and they con- tinned together until 1871. Since then Mr. Wolff has been alone and is one of the oldest practicing lawyers in the the city.

Ile was married in 1874 to Miss Elizabeth St. Clair, danghter of Rev. Michael and

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Nancy St. Clair. Mr. and Mrs. St. Clair came to Fannin county, Texas, in 1853, and the father followed his ministerial duties in the Baptist Church of this State. His death occurred in Hunt county, Texas, and his wife followed him to the grave in the same county a few years later. Mr. Wolff lost his excel- lent wife in December, 1876. His second marriage occurred in 1877, to Miss Dona Dealvero Bozarth, a native of Missouri and the daughter of John and Nancy H. (Roy) Bozarth, natives of Kentucky. Her parents came to Bosque county, Texas, in 1860, and subsequently moved to Dallas county, where the father followed the trade of miller. He died in Falls county, Texas; his wife died in Laneaster, Dallas county, Texas, in 1891. To Mr. and Mrs. Wolff have been born five children: Orienta, Dealvero, O. S. Fowler, Wirt McCoy and Roscoe.

Mr. Wolff takes some interest in politics and formerly voted with the Democratie party, but now has joined the People's party. He is the prime leader of the navigation of Trinity river and is one of the foremost in aiding all landable enterprises. He is one of the early pioneers of Dallas city and Dallas county, and is the author of the famous book entitled “ Magnitude in Order," which em- braces original and reform thoughts.

DWARD P. TURNER is the ticket agent at Dallas, Texas, for the Texas & Pacific railroad, bnt was born in Ot- tumwa, Iowa, in 1855, a son of Samuel B. and Susan B. (Inskeep) Turner, both natives of Ohio and removed to Iowa in 1850 and in 1869 to Texas, being pioneers of two States. The father has been a merchant throughout the greater part of his life and is still living. He and his wife became the parents of seven

children, four sons and three daughters, of whom Edward P. was the youngest.

He grew up in Ottumwa, Iowa, and in the public schools of that place he obtained a fair English education and at the early age of thirteen years began learning the trade of a telegraph operator, and after thoroughly learning the business secured a position at Cuba, Missouri, with the old Atlantic & Pacific Railroad. Later he came to Texas and became chief operator for H. M. Iloxie and still later served in the same capacity for the International, Gulf & Northern Railroad at Honston, in which capacity he continued for some time. Since that time he has acted as a ticket agent and has been with the Texas & Pacific Railroad at Dallas since 1880, in charge of three offices, one at East Dallas de- pot, one at Lamar street depot, and the city office on Main street. He has four assistants. He is well qualified for the position and is a courteons and obliging official, one of the most popular employees on the road. He adopted the motto, "No tronble to answer questions," in 1876, on his return from the Centennial at Philadelphia. He is known throughout the country as the originator of this motto in the ticket business. He also sells steamship tickets to all parts of the world, having the agency for twelve European lines, and has proven himself a wide-awake business man, keenly alive to his own in- terests, and well qualified to successfully fight the battle of life. He has been the owner of valuable real estate in the eity since 1880, and has an elegant and comfortable home in Oak Cliff.

Miss Adella Kelsey, a native of Jefferson, Texas, became his wife in 1879 and by her he had four sons: Karl; Waldso, and Ralph and E. P., Jr. He lost Karl at the age of one year.

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Mr. Tnmer was brought up in the Method- ist Episcopal Church, but is not an active member. He is independant in politics and supports the man whom he considers best qualified for the position. He belongs to the order of Elks, the Dallas Club and the Fra- ternal Mystic Circle.

OSEPH H. STEWART, Clerk of the District Courts, and also of the Four- teenth and Forty-fourth Judicial Courts, was elected to his present position in 1888, and re-elected without opposition in 1890. Prior to that time he served four years as Deputy Distriet Clerk.

Mr. Stewart was born in Orange (now Ala- mance) county, North Carolina, in 1846, the third of the family of John A. and Nancy (Thompson) Stewart, natives of North Caro- lina. Ilis father was a farmer by occupation. He moved to Hempstead connty, Arkansas, in 1851, and settled on a farm near Columbus, where he passed the remainder of his life, and died in 1876. His wife died about 1874. Joseph H. was reared to farm life and was educated in the schools of Arkansas In 1863 he enlisted in the Confederate army, and served until the war elosed, being at Alexandria, Lonisiana, at the time of the surrender.

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Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas, Part 84

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