Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas, Part 90

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 90

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Major Lemmon was married December 21, 1865, at Montevallo, Alabama, to Miss Lonise J. Nabors, a native of that State. and

youngest danghter of the late Colonel James M. and Caroline (Henry) Nabors, natives respectively of North Carolina and Tennessee. Colonel Nabors frequently represented Shelby county, Alabama, in both honses of the Leg- islature; he raised a large family of children, only two, however, are living, Mrs. Lemmon and the eldest brother; John Henry Nabors, an extensive planter near Mansfield, Louisi- ana; the late Rev. Ezekiel Nabors of Pasca- goula, Mississippi; and James M., Jr., wlio died of yellow fever at Shreveport, in 1873, were brothers of Mrs. Lemmon; Mrs. Paro- lee McHenry, a lady of culture and literary talent, late of Mansfield, Louisiana, was a sister, as were the first wives of the Rev. U. B. Philips, pastor of the Methodist church, at Kaufman, Texas, and the Rev. W. G. Perry, of one of the Texas confer- ences. Her father died in 1852, and her mother at Summerfield, Alabama, in 1858. She was a lineal descendant of Patrick Henry, the orator of Revolutionary times. Her grandfather, Captain Henry, died in Chero- kee county, Texas, before the war. Mrs. Lemmon was educated by her kinsman and guardian, French Nabors, of Alabama, at Prof. Samuel's private school, at Talladega, and the Judson Female College, of Marion, Alabama, graduating from the latter in 1865. To Major Lemmon and wife, eight children have been born, two died in infancy, and A. C., Jr., a bright intelligent lad of twelve years, after ten months' severe illness from rheumatic hip-joint trouble, died in great peace on April 11, 1892, since this sketch was written. The living are: William Campbell, the eldest, of the real-estate firm of Mahana & Lemmon, 711 Main street, Dallas; Walter Scott, a lawyer and member of the well-known law firm of Russell, Cooper & Lemmon, 309 Main street, Dallas;

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

Bertie Amanda, and Eulalia Louise, students at the Dallas high school; and James Wil- fred, the youngest, aged ten years.

When he came to Dallas in the fall of 1889, he engaged at once in business with the real estate firm of Leopold & Lemon; after the dissolution of the firm, he continued in business alone until February 23, 1891, when he suffered a partial stroke of paralysis of the right side, which has ever since disabled him from active business.

Socially he is a member of Trinity Lodge, No. 198, and Ridgely Encampment, No. 25; Independent Order of Odd Fellows, with which order he has been connected for a quarter of a century, having held many important posi - tions therein, and represented his lodge in the Grand Lodges of Alabama, Missouri and Texas; he is a Deputy Grand Master of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and a Past Chancellor of Amity Lodge, Knights of Pythias, Dallas. He is a strong believer in religion, and a member of the Southern Methodist Church, and resides at No. 318, Cole avenne. His only sister, Nancy J. Lemmon, a young lady of fine intelligence, died at the age of eighteen, in 1860. Her deathi was a very happy one, and produced a marked effect upon the remaining members of the family ever afterward. His mother, now in her seventy-fifth year lives with him and his only brother, Captain William H. Leminon, corner Lemmon and Cole avenues, in the north part of the city.

B ENJAMIN E. TORBERT, member of the city poliee force of Dallas, settled in this county, January 21, 1872. He was born in Upson county, Georgia, June 17, 1845, the seventh in a family of eleven ehil- dren. His parents were Lemuel and Martha

(Glanston) Torbert. His father, a native of Tennessee and a farmer by occupation, was closely identified with the settling and im- proving of the locality in which he lived. His death occurred in 1870, at the age of sixty-nine years. Mr. Torbert's mother died in 1853, leaving a large family to mnourn her loss.

Our subject began life as a farmer boy, and was engaged in agricultural pursuits until he reached his majority. He was united in marriage with Miss Millie Aven, Angust 22, 1866. She was the daughter of James and Rebecca (Rodgers) Aven. Her father was rcared on a farm in Tennessee, and sub- scquently moved to Georgia, becoming one of the pioneers of that State. His death oc- curred there, June 1, 1882, at the advanced age of seventy-two years. Her mother died in 1881, in her sixty-second year. They left a large family. Of their children only five are now living, and all, save Mrs. Torbert, reside in their native State.

When Mr. Torbert arrived in Dallas county, he had only $15 in money. Rent- ing a farm he at once went to work in earnest, but at the end of three years he was driven from the farm by the invasion of grasshop- pers that infested this locality at that time. Moving to the city of Dallas, he was variously employed for some time. In 1882 he ac- cepted a position on the city police force, and has been retained in that capacity ever since.

During the war he served in the Confeder- ate army. In 1862 he enlisted in the six months' service, after which he joined the Woodson Guards of the Thirty-second Geor- gia Regiment, and served until the close of the war. He took part in numerous engage- ments, and was slightly wounded in the left side.

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

Mr. Torbert is a member of the Dallas Lodge, No. 1,570, K. of H. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Their union has been blest with three children, whose names are as fol- lows: Aven J., born July 18, 1867; Jeffer- son J., born February 19, 1869; and Ina M., March 3, 1883.

R. HENSLEY, bookkeeper for T. L. Marsalis, was born in Texas, º Columbia county, September 3, 1849. His parents were Captain W. R. and Mary (Thompson) Hensley, who came to Texas in 1831 from Edinburgh, Johnson county, Indiana. The father was a native of Kentucky, the mother of Tennessee. They were married in 1823. The father was a merchant and trader at Columbia, Texas.

Captain Wm. R. Hensley, then a young man (we get this information from the Hon. John Henry Brown, whose memory serves him well in reference to old settlers), came from Indiana to Texas in 1830 and was an educated surveyor. He settled on the upper Navidad river and was a member of the first convention ever held in Texas, October 1, 1832. This was an important convention and ignored by historians because the records were lost, as were those in 1833; but Mr. Brown, the historian, is in possession of an of- ficial record of its proceedings, as will appear in his history of Texas now in the hands of the publishers. Captain. Hensley was an ac- complished surveyor and did splendid and accurate work between San Antonio and Nueces river. He was also a fighter and often repelled the attacks of roving bands of Indians, in one case killing three Indians and repelling the attack on his camp on the Rio Frio. Travis, the hero of Alamo, was a mem-

ber of Captain Hensley's family at San Felipe in 1834-'35. Captain and Mrs. Hensley were his ardent friends. His last farewell in leaving for the Alamo was always tenderly remembered by them. Travis and his band fell on the 6th of March, 1836. A baby was born to them eleven days later and it was named Travis. In 1874 the baby, Travis Hensley, died in Dallas, leaving a widow and son who yet reside in this city.

Captain Wm. R. Hensley proved himself to be a man of honor, intelligence and patri- otism. As a surveyor in the South and the western wilds he had no superior. When the Mexican war began in 1846 he was patriot- ically engaged in sustaining the American canse. He then became a merchant in Port Lavaca, controlling great wagon trains to Mexico, and 1849 died with cholera in La- vaca, lamented by the whole people as a brave, enlightened and patriotic man. The writer of this knew him through the last twelve years of his life, and now as a man of truth dare not say less, and he might say much more, in his praise. But few died with the cholera at Port Lavacca, but many at Indianola. He had just returned from a trip to New Orleans, where it is thought he con- tracted the disease. His wife died in 1873, at the age of sixty-five years. She was a noble woman and in every way worthy to be the wife of this brave, honored and patriotic inan. These parents had six children, viz .: Alexander, Addie, Alford and Travis, all of whom died in Dallas; Mary, and William, our subject.

Mr. Ilensley was educated at Lavaca at common and private schools. He learned to keep books while with his brothers Alex- ander and Travis, and has been in that busi- ness all his life. He came to Dallas in 1873, and returned to southern Texas, returning to

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

Dallas two years since. He was married Janu- ary 10, 1872, to Miss Lizzie Womack, daughter of T. B. Womack of Victoria, Texas. Her par- ents are both living, her father at the age of sixty-six and her mother at the age of sixty. There are three living children, viz .: Mrs. Hensley, Jesse, and Travis, a girl. William died at the age of eighteen years.

Our subject has two children living and two deceased. The living are: Fannie, with the J. B. Watkins Mortgage Company, girl clerk, stenographer and typewriter. She is efficient in her line and is doing good service. Thomas, office boy for Elliott & Price. Mrs. Hensley is a member of the Episcopal Church. Mr. Hensley is a member of the K. of H., and is a worthy and well-to-do citizen, whose friends are as numerous as his acquaintances.

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W. DOOLITTLE, one of the leading merchants and proprietors of the "Arcade" at Dallas, Texas, is a native of Utica, New York. His parents were Lloyd and Sophia (Stowe) Doolittle, the former a native of New York State, the latter of Eng- lish birth and parentage. The father was a wholesale merchant and grocer, dying in 1854, aged forty-two; the mother died some six six years latter, aged forty-threc. She was a devoted, earnest Christian woman, greatly beloved and highly respected for her many virtues. Her membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church dated back to her young womanhood, and she lived a life that left an impression for good on the hearts of many a poor struggler for light. She and her hus- band had seven children, our subject, and Sarah Elizabeth, wife of Lewis W. Land, resi- dent of Cohoes, New York, being the only surviving ones.

Our subject lived in New York city for many years, engaged in the mercantile busi- ness. He then came South, to Memphis, Tennessee, about 1870, and engaged there in the same pursuit for fifteen years. Ile came to Dallas, Texas, and started the Arcade, under the firm name of Doolittle, Simpson & C.)., Nos. 312, 314, 316 Ehn street. They are importers and jobbers of china, pottery, fancy goods and notions. The other partners in the firm arc H. S. Simpson and A. E. Bate- inan. Their building is 50 x 90 feet, with three floors, all filled with goods. They also have an adjoining building, 25 x 80, three stories high. In addition to this they have a warehouse on Pacifie avenue, 50 x 90, one story high. In addition to their china and pottery they always carry a full line of hand- kerchiefs, hosiery, towels, notions, toys, glass- ware, tin-ware, queens- ware, wooden-ware, willow-ware and all kinds of fancy household goods. In all they have ten departments and at present employ forty - one clerks, which number is doubled during the busy season. Their sales amount to over $200,000 an- nnally. They have the largest business of this kind in the city, and they do both a wholesale and retail business.

In 1879 Mr. Doolittle was married to Mary V. McNamara, daughter of John and Elizabeth McNamara of Memphis, Tennessee. Mrs. Doolittle is a member of the Catholic Church and is a devoted mother and wife. She is a woman of many accomplishments and attaiments.

Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle have seven bright and interesting children, namely: Sarah Edna, Anna Burough, Edwin Wallace, Elizabeth Sophia, Albert Lloyd, Edith Marie and Henry Simpson.

Mr. Doolittle is a member of the Masonic order, blne lodge, chapter and commandry.

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

He is one of the most enterprising and public- spirited of the merchants of this city, being in thorough sympathy with the progress of the country in every line of advancement. His life furnishes a good example of what determination and perseverance can accom- plish when joined with strict integrity of character.

ENNIS P. MAHONEY, Superinten- dent of the City Water Works of Dal- las, was born in Cork, Ireland, in 1846. His father was an extraordinarily fine gentle- man who came to America in 1850, landing at Boston. Mr. Dennis P. Mahoney lived seven years in Boston, attending school. In 1857 he went to New Orleans, where he further pursued his studies, and also learned the trade of boilermaker. At the beginning of the war he enlisted in Company K, Four- teenth Louisiana Infantry, Confederate States of America, and under General Magruder participated in the peninsular campaign. At an engagement at Sharpsburg, Maryland, he was severely wounded and consequently dis- charged from service. He returned home, and after his recovery went to Mexico and joined the Austrian army, as a member of Dupan's band, and had many exciting adven- tures during those perilous times under Maximilian. He left Mexico but a few days prior to Maximilian's capture, went to Phil- adelphia and thence returned to New Or- leans and worked at his trade of boilermak- ing. From 1870 to 1884 he was engaged in the cotton trade, and then came to Dallas, as superintendent for the Dallas Elevator and Compress Company, and continued in their employ until 1890, when he was chosen by the City Council as Superintendent of the City Water Works, the duties of which position

he is now fulfilling with signal ability. The works already comprise forty-nine miles of mains, with a capacity of 6,500,000 gallons in twenty-four hours. He has been Alder- man of the second ward of this city, and dur- ing his term of office he was extremely vigil- ant of the people's riglits. On national questions he is a Democrat, pure and simple. IIas been active in labor organizations, being noted as a cool and sagacious counselor. He has a cosy residence at Oak Cliff.

Mr. Mahoney was married in 1867, to Miss Margaret O'Connor, a native of Savan- nah, Georgia, and they had seven children that are now living. Mrs. Mahoney was a faithful wife and mother and died in 1889. In June, 1891, Mr. Mahoney married Miss Mary C. King, of La Fayette, Indiana. He is a member of the Church of the Sacred Heart, Catholic.

E. BEEMAN, one of the successful citi- zens of Dallas county, was born in this city, in 1854, the eldest child of Will- iam H. and M. E. (Dye) Beeman, natives of Illinois and Kentucky respectively. The father came with his parents, John and Emily Beeman, to Dallas in 1842, where he took up a headright, on a part of which the city of Dallas now stands, and both he and his wife still reside in this city. Our subject was reared and educated in Dallas, where he also learned the blacksmith's trade, which lie followed continuously until 1882. In that year he was elected Marshal of East Dallas, also Assessor and Collector three terins, and in 1886 he was again elected City Marshal, having held that office from 1882 to 1889. In that year the two municipal governments united, making it all the city of Dallas. Mr. Beeman was the first and last City Mar-

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

shal of East Dallas. After his marriage he settled on Elm street, and in 1890 he bought a good residence on the corner of Kentucky and Residence streets, and also owns property on Kentucky street, which he rents.

He was married in this city, in 1876, to Miss Annie E. Russey, a native of Tennessee and a daughter of B. F. and Elizabeth (Par- ker) Russey, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Tennessee. The father fol- lowed farming and stock-raising until after his removal to Dallas, in October, 1874, when he engaged in the manufacture of brick. The mother died in Tennessee, in 1862, and the father died in Dallas city, in March, 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Beeman have had three child- ren: Emmett Martin, Robert Earl and Eva Lena. Mr. Beeman is identified with the Democratic party, and during his adminis- tration as City Marshall he saw hard service, having been in six shooting affrays, and at that time had a large area to look over.

S. RANDALL is the proprietor of Randall's Café and Hotel at Dallas, Texas, which establishment, since its inception in June, 1880, has been the Mecca of the traveling public, for the excellence of its cuisine and its home-like and convenient appointments, make it a most desirable stop- ping place. The entire management of the house indicated the fact that intelligent and careful direction is exercised; and it is to the administrative ability of Mr. Randall that the position maintained by this house as a first- class European hotel is due. Mr. Randall was born in Delaware eity, Delaware connty, Ohio in 1848, the third in a family of twelve children born to Panl and Phœbe Ann (Wat- kins) Randall, the former a native of New

York and the latter of Knox county, Ohio. After his removal to Ohio Paul Randall was married, and engaged in the boot and shore business in Delaware, of which city he and his wife have been residents for over half a . century, and where they still reside.

E. S. Randall was reared and educated in Delaware and in 1864, enlisted from that town in the three-monthis service in Company D, Ohio National Guards, at the end of which time he was honorably discharged. Ile then enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Eighty-sixth Ohio Infantry, and was mustered into service at Columbus, Ohio, being quartered during his three-months service at Arlington Heights, Washington, District of Columbia. During his service in the West he was quar- tered at Columbus, and Nashville, Tennessee, and Dalton, Georgia. He was mustered out of the service at Nashville, September 18, 1865, and returned to Delaware, Ohio. Later he received an appointment to the West Point Military Academy but remained there only a short time. Upon leaving his native State he went to Des Moines, Iowa. in 1867 and for about ten months thereafter kept a restaur- ant, continuing to follow the same ealling at different points along the Union Pacifie railroad as far west as Nevada. In 1869 he came to Mason county, Texas, and joined the Texas frontier force, in protect- ing the frontier from Indian depredations, which calling received his attention for one year. Two years were then spent in Austin, Texas, in the restaurant business, after which he was in Galveston for a short time.

In this city he was married, in 1879, to Miss Lila M. Thackaray, a native of that city, and a daughter of Joseph Thackaray, a Pennsylvanian, his wife being a Texan of Ger- man descent. Mr. Thackaray became a resi- dent of Galveston in 1836, where he success-

Very Sincerely Yours.

Seofacford

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

fully followed merchandising until his death in 1877. His widow is still living in Galves- ton. In 1880 Mr. Randall settled perma- nently in Dallas and has devoted his attention to his present business, in the management of which he has shown excellent judgment. He is a Democrat politically and is a member of John A. Dix Post of the G. A. R. IIe belongs to Dallas Lodge No. 1,570 of the K. of H. and Dallas Lodge No. 71, Order of Elks. He and his wife are the parents of the following children : Irene, Phœbe, Louise. El- wood, Ermer Gray. Mr. Randall has seen a great change in Dallas since locating here, for the growth of the city has been made since that period. He is interested in the progress of the place and aids all enterprises of a worthy nature with influence and money.

ENERAL GEORGE FREDERICK ALFORD .- An eminent historian and statesman of Texas, was born on the west bank of the Mississippi river, in the old Spanish-French town of New Madrid, Mis- sonri, August 4, 1836, and is one of the earliest and most widely known pioneers of Texas, having emigrated to that young Re- public when it was in the throes of revolution with Mexico, in April, 1837, during the darkest days of its desperate struggle for sep- arate nationality. He is a son of Colonel George G. Alford, a native of Cayuga, Sen- eca county, New York, born June 19, 1793, reared on Lakes Champlain and Cayuga, New York, served as Lieutenant of Artillery, under General Winfield Scott, during the second war of independence with Great Brit- ain, in 1811-'13, and participated in the battles of Queenstown Heights, Lundy's Lane and other battles. He was the son of George

Alford, Sr., born March 10, 1763, and Bet- sy Hulbert, born February 12, 1765, to whom were born twelve children : Sally, Heman, Pol- ly, Elijah, George G., Rebecca, Amanda, John Mallory, Ethan Allen, Johnson HI., Lucinda and Fanny. He was a cousin of General Ethan Allen of Revolutionary fame, the hero of Ticonderoga, Colonel Alford's grandmother and General Ethan Allen's mother being sis- ters. They were the daughters of Judge Mal- lory. In 1815 he moved, with his father's family, to Detroit, Michigan, then an obscure and remote frontier Indian village, making the trip in a small sail vessel, which was wrecked at what is now the great city of Cleveland.

In 1819 he moved to New Madrid, Mis- souri, the former capitol of the Spanish prov- ince of Louisiana, abont the time of the admnis- sion of the Territory of Missouri into the Federal Union, under the terms of the Mis- souri Compromise Act, which came so near dissolving the Union. Here he successfully engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1821 he married Miss Jeannette Lesieur, a sister of Hon. Godfrey Lesieur, one of the oldest and wealthiest French settlers of that section, who died, leaving him one daughter, Jean- nette. About 1829, Colonel Alford married Miss Ann Barfield, who was born May 9, 1807, daughter of Judge Frederick Barfield, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, born in 1757, and Sarah Castellæ, born Jannary 21, 1738, a descendant of Governor Badger, of North Carolina, and the mother of the subject of this sketch. He accumulated a handsome fortune for that period, served his district in the Legislature of Missouri, and proved him- self a wise and popular law-maker.

In 1835, the revolution against Mexico was inangurated in Texas; and filled with the old martial spirit of 1812, and with the love

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY-

of liberty, which it inspired, Colonel Alford went to Texas, joined the immortal band of patriots, under General Sam Houston, and participated in the heroic struggles, which finally culminated, April 21, 1836, on the historic field of San Jacinto, in the annihila- tion of the Mexican Grand Army of Invasion, and the capture of the Commander-in-Chief and President of Mexico, General Lopez de Santa Ana, self styled the Napoleon of the West.

The far-reaching effects of this extraordi- nary battle were, perhaps, greater than those of any other ever fought on this continent, resulting in the addition of almost one-half of the present territory of the United States (exclusive of Alaska), Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Utah and Colorado.

Soon after the battle of San Jacinto, Colo- nel Altord was sent, by the provisional govern- ment of the embryo republic, to New Or- Jeans, for military supplies for the famishing soldiery of Texas. Here he loaded two ves- sels, and returning on one of them, the brig Julius Cæsar, he was captured by the Mex- ican bloekading fleet, nnder command of Captain José V. Matios of the Mexican brig of war General Teran off Galveston harbor, the two vessels and cargoes were confiscated, and the captives incarcerated in a loathsome dungeon in Matamoras, Mexico; and Colonel Alford and his brother, Major Johnson H. Alford (who was returning to Texas with him), were condemned to be shot, the usual mode of execution in Mexico. During this imprisonment, General George F. Alford, the subject of this sketch, was born. Through the interposition of General Andrew Jackson, then President of the United States, who was a personal friend, the condemned captives were finally liberated. Colonel Alford re- turned to Missouri, settled up his business af-

fairs, and in April, 1837, moved his family and slaves to Texas, first settling in the old Spanish pueblo of Nacogdoches, and later in Crockett, capital of Houston county, on the organization of that county. Here he engaged in planting, in mercantile pursuits, and as Judge of the courts, until his death, which occurred April 1, 1847, his wife hav- ing preceded him on February 10, 1847. His death was universally deplored all over the young State, which he had served with such distinguished Spartan heroism.

General George F. Alford is one of a fam- ily of seven children: Jeannette, Hulbert, Mary, George, Ann, Albert and Emma, two only of whom are now living, the other sur- vivor being Captain Albert Nelson Alford, a prominent merchant of Will's Point, Van Zandt county, Texas, who was born in his father's plantation at Alford's Bluff, Trinity county, Texas, September 6, 1841. The General spent his early school days with children many of whom have since attained the highest eminence in the social and polit- ical world. Among these were Colonel Thomas P. Ochiltree, a former member of Congress from Texas; Rosine Sterne, now Mrs. Ryan, one of the Columbian Exposition Commissioners; Colonel James B. Likens, one of the most illustrious members of the Texas bar; Adelaide McCord, afterward the famous Adah Isaacs Menken, the erratic beauty, wit, poetess, songstress, magnetic actress and Morganatic Queen of one of the small German kingdoms; Marcellite Thorn, the wife of Commodore William Garner, the millionaire merchant prince of New York, both of whom met a tragic death in New York harbor, in 1876, by the capsizing of their splendid yacht, Mohawk, and who left three orphan daughters, the youngest of whom, Florence Josephine, recently became

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Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas, Part 90

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