Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas, Part 95

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 95

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Our subject and wife's home has been blessed in the birth of six children: Alice, wife of Frank Diekason, of Dallas,-Delphine is their only child; Eugenia, Bessie, Lulie and James are of the home circle; Millie, the second child, died at the age of two years. Mrs. Gurley and daughters are members of the Baptist Church.

Probably there is no other dentist in the South who has had sneh thorough and scien- tific training in his profession as Dr. Gurley. He has been a close and careful student, and takes pride in keeping tully abreast with the times in all the methods of treatment and seientific discoveries.

OHN S. BALLARD, has been a resident of Dallas connty, Texas, since 1857.

Mr. Ballard was born in Charleston, Virginia, in 1823, the youngest in the family of nine children of John and Phebe (Berry) Ballard, natives of Virginia. His father, a farmer by occupation, emigrated in 1825 to Boone county, Kentucky, and settled on a farın. He spent the rest of his days there, and died in 1859. His wife passed away in 1850. John S. was reared in Boone county, Kentucky, and received his education in the subscription schools of that place. In 1846 he went to Shelby county, Indiana, and

was employed as clerk in a store. About 1849 he went to Carthage, Rush county, Indiana, and in 1851 to Henry county (Knightstown); in 1850 was married there, to Miss Sarah Elizabeth Goble, a native of Henry county, Indiana, and a daughter of Ebenezer and Sallie (Ferguson) Goble, natives of Ohio. They lived in Indiana until they came to Dallas, Texas, the father coming in 1856, and the mother in 1857. He died in 1863, and she in 1868.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ballard settled in Henry county, where they lived until 1857, when they came Sonth and located near Lancaster, Dallas county. Mr. Ballard bought prairie land, improved it, and lived on it until coming to Dallas in 1861. IIe settled on Carter street, and engaged in the milling business, being a miller by trade. He also learned the trade of millwright. He erected the Terry Mills in 1863-'64, known as the City Mills. In 1867 he built a large mill in Dallas and continued milling some three or four years longer. After that he turned his attention to carpenter work, contracting and snperintending. He built the first three- story brick building in Dallas. In 1887 Mr. Ballard moved to his present residence at Oak Cliff; he owns eight acres of well improved and valuable property. He has taken an ac- tive interest in political and municipal mat- ters. He is a Democrat; has served as Alder- man for the Second Ward nearly four years. Socially, he is a member of Dallas Lodge. No. 44, 1. O. (). F. He has passed all the chairs in both the Subordinate Lodge and Encampment. He and his wife are both members of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Dallas. Following are the names of the children born to them: George S , who is married and resides at the corner of Seventh and Ewing streets, Oak Cliff, is engaged in

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

the wholesale hat business in Dallas; Butler E., who died in Dallas county at the age of nine years; John M., who died at Oak Cliff in February, 1891, left a widow and two chil- dren; Addie, widow of Beverly L. Stem- mons, has two children: Bessie S., and Beverly E.

Mr. Ballard is one of the representative citizens of Oak Cliff, and is held in high es- teem by all who knew him.

OLONEL MARTIN WILLIAM MANN, one of America's most loyal citizens, was born in Gangrehweiler, Rhein, Bavaria, Germany, in 1830, and is a son of Johan Adam Mann, also a native of Ger- inany. His father was a contractor, and died in the Fatherland, in 1863. There were four sons in the family, and three of them emi- grated to America, namely: Valentine, who resides in Missouri; Philip, in Indiana, and onr subject, in Texas. The Colonel received a good education in Germany, but believing the New World had more in store for him than his native land, at the age of eighteen years he sailed away, leaving the beloved home of his youth and his relatives and friends who were very dear to him. He stopped at New York city for eighteen months, where he worked at the trade of marble cutting, which he had learned in his own country. He then started out from home and for several years traveled extensively over the United States. When the Civil war broke out he enlisted in the Twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, April 17, 1861. He went to Cairo, Illinois, and was mustered out August 1, 1861. August 14, 1861, he re-enlisted, joining Company E, Second Illi- nois Light Artillery, and was soon active 51

in the service. He participated in the bat- tles of Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh and the siege of Corinth. At Shiloh he was wounded. He was in the siege of Vieksburg, and was afterward transferred to the Gulf Department. He saw some fighitng in the last year of his enlistment, and was mastered out at Springfield, Illinois, September 29, 1864, as First Lieutenant. When peace had been declared he engaged in business at Clinton, Missouri, which he continued until 1874. In that year he came to Texas, and located at Brenham, where he established himself in the marble business. He con . ducted this very successfully until August, 1890, when he disposed of his interests at Brenham and removed to Dallas.

Colonel Mann is an active member of the G. A. R., which he joined March 16, 1868. He is a member of Camp Lyon Post, St. Lonis, Missouri, but since coming to Texas has been a member of a post here. He was a delegate to Milwaukee in 1888, and March 5, 1890, he was elected Commander of the Texas Department, G. A. R., by a unanimous vote. He has the oversight of fifty-seven posts, of which 1,695 comrades constitute the membership. He is devoted to this organization, giving it much of his time and attention. He belongs to Graham Lodge, No. 20, A. F. & A. M., in which he has been Worshiptul Master three terms; to Brenham Chapter, No. 5, R. A. M., for which he has been Ifigli Priest two terms; of Brenham Commandery, No. 15, K. T., of which he has been Eminent Commander; of Hellah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Dallas, and he is also an active member of Trinity Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Dallas. He has been a Republican from the organization of the party. Was one of the Trustees of the pub- lie school, is a Trustee of Blinn Memorial

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

Metho dist Episcopal College, and is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Ile was married in 1868, to Miss Annie E. Weiss, a native of Pennsylvania. They have no children.

R. J. S. LETCHIER, one of the leading physicians of Dallas county, and a highly respected citizen of Dallas, dates his birth in Coosa connty, Alabama.

His parents, J. D. and Martha A. (Bozeman) Leteher, natives of Alabama, were married about 1836, are now honored pioneers of that State, and have reached the advanced age of eighty-six and seventy-eight years re- spectively. Mr. Letcher has been engaged in agricultural pursuits all his life, and by his honorable and upright course has won the confidence and respect of all who have known him during these years. The Bozeman family was composed of four sons and three daugh- ters. Of the former, only Nathan, the cele- brated gynecologist of New York, is living. Mrs. Letcher's sisters are Elizabeth, wife of General Bulger, of Alabama; and Martha, widow of a Mr. Mckinney, of Milam county, Texas. Following are the children of Mr. and Mrs. Letcher: Dr. Francis M., of Cross Keys, Alabama, married Claudia Canton, and has seven children: Susie, wife of Dr. W. R. Chapman, resides on a farm in Monroe county, Alabama, two of their four children being doctors; Hattie, wife of Henry Davis, died at the age of fifty years, leaving six chil- dren; Elizabeth, widow of K. King, lives in Rockdale, two of her six children being doctors; Mattie, wife of A. H. Pylant, died, leaving ten children, two of the daughters having married doctors; Nathan G. died at the age of thirty-three years, unmarried; John D., Jr., a large stock-dealer, of Jones county,

Texas, was first married to Miss Neighbors, and after her death to Miss Zellner, having four children by his present wife; Dr. J. S., the subject of our sketch; Lulu, wife of J. H. Hughes, Burnet, Texas; and James Talbert, an attorney at Lampasas, Texas, who died at the age of thirty, unmarried. For fifty-six years Mr. and Mrs. Letcher have traveled life's pathway together, sowing the seeds of kindness that have long since ripened into a fruitful harvest. They are life-long members of the Baptist Church.

The subject of this article received his lit- erary education in Cross Keys, Alabama, and began the study of medicine there under the direction of his brother, Dr. Francis M., a physician of prominence at that place. He then entered the Medical Department of the University of New Orleans in 1870, and grad- uated at the Medical College of Alabama in 1872. He practiced medicine in Milam county, Texas, eleven years, in Lampasas six years, and since 1889 has been at Dallas. In 1882 he atteded Bellevue Hospital Medical College, in 1884 took a post graduate course at the Post Graduate Medical College in New York, and in 1888 attended the Polyclinic in New York, thus further preparing himself for his life work. In the practice of his pro- fession he has been very successful. He is medical examiner and referee for several pro- minent insurance companies of the East. While in Lampasas he was president of the First National Bank, which position he re- signed when he moved to Dallas.

Dr. Letcher was married in 1876 to Miss M. M. Oxsheer, daughter of Honorable W. W. Oxsheer and his wife, nee Martha Kirk, natives of Tennessee and for over fifty years residents of Milam county, Texas, the former seventy-eight and the latter sixty-eight years of age. Mr. Oxsheer has represented his dis-

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

triet in the Legislature several times. He is a surveyor of much experience. He and George Erath and George Green, of Milam county, established most of the county lines west of the Brazos river. The three children of Mr. and Mrs. Oxsheer are F. G., an exten- sive stock-raiser, of Colorado, Texas, who married Mary Beal and has seven children: Viola, wife of H. F. Smith, a merchant of Cameron, Texas, has six children; and Mrs. Letcher. The Doctor and his wife have three children, Oakey, Elma and Ann.

Dr. Letcher is prominently connected with the Masonie fraternity. He has served as Worthy Master of the blue lodge, and is also a member of the Royal Arch Chapter; is a K. of P. as well. In politics, he is a Demo- crat. He and his wife are both meinbers of the Baptist Church.

CRADDOCK, capitalist and real estate dealer, is one of the progressive busi- ness men of Dallas, and is entitled to the following space in this record of the county's leading men. He is a native of Henry county, Alabama, born October 10, 1847, and is a son of Joseph P. and Jane (Byrd) Craddock, natives of New York and Virginia respectively. The father was a planter and owned a number of slaves before the war. He died in 1867, and his wife passed away in 1863. When our subject was sixteen years of age he enlisted in the Con- federate service, and participated in the siege of Atlanta and numerous skirmishes and minor engagements. In the fall of 1864 his company was disbanded, after which he went to Mobile, and was there transferred to the Fourth Tennessee Battalion. April 9, 1865, he was captured and taken to Ship Island,

where he was held three months; he was then taken across the river to Meridian, and thence to Vieksburg, where he was liberated. He returned to his father's farm in Alabama, and remained there until 1870, when he re- moved to Bosque county, Texas. He went into business, but became dissatisfied and sold out, coming to Dallas in 1875. He em- barked in the liquor trade, and later added a wholesale department, which he developed into one of the largest wholesale houses in the city. In 1887 he sold this interest to Mr. Swope and Mr. Mangold, retiring from commercial life. Afterward, however, he opened a real-estate office, and has taken stoek in various corporations in the city. He is ever ready to give a cordial support to those movements which are calculated to benefit the entire community, and has con- tributed his share to all laudable enterprises.

Mr. Craddock received his education in the common schools of Alabama, and the ad- vantages offered in those early days were not by any means equal to those of the present time; he worked on the farm during the sminmer season, and in the winter devoted his time to his books. The breaking out of the Civil war, however, put an end to all such pursuits. In 1872 he was united in marriage to Miss Nannie E. Legg, a daughter of James M. and Mattie (Smith) Legg, na- tives of Alabama. Mr. Legg was a large planter in Alabama, but believing the oppor- tunities greater further west, removed with his family to Arkansas in 1852; he purchased an improved farm in Clark county, and re- sided there until 1868, when he moved to Johnson county, Texas; there he lived a re- tired life until his death, which occurred in February, 1886; his wife survived him only seven days. The wife of our subject was called to her final rest March 8, 1887, leaving

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her husband and three children: two daugli- ters Birdie and Jimmie, and a son, Lawrence. Mr. Craddock was married a second time, December 16, 1891, to Miss Mattie Y. Long, a native of Georgia. Mrs. Craddock is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Politically, Mr. Craddock is identified with the Democratic party. He holds a member- ship in Dallas Lodge, No. 44, I. O. O. F., in Cœur de Lion Lodge, No. 8, Knights of Pythias, and is also a member of the Knights of Honor.

BRAHAM HART, a farmer and stock. raiser of precinct No. 1, was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, in 1822, the eldest of seven children of Jacob and Elizabeth (Huffiance) Hart, natives also of North Carolina. The father emigrated from his native State to Sangamon county Illinois, in 1830, later to Christian county, and in 1844 came to Dallas county, Texas, settling and breaking ground where the city of Dallas is now situated. It is the farmer who must lay the foundation for the thon- sands who later on will leave the farm, and enter the active, pushing, professional and commercial world, and help to move the car of progress in the onward course to greater possibilities. He died in this county in 1847, and the mother survived until 1883.

Abraham, our subject, was reared and educated in Sangamon county, and in 1844 he came to this county and took up 640 acres in his father's name, located near the city. He sold this land in 1853, after which he bought eighty-three acres of unimproved land where he now lives, of which he has improved ninety-nine acres. In 1863 Mr. Hart enlisted in Colonel Stone's regiment, Captain Strat-

ton's company, and served until the close of the war. He was in the Bayou fight, was taken prisoner at Bourbon Bayou, and after- ward was exchanged and sent home. Ile was married in this county, in 1848, to Miss Elizabeth Ray, a native of Illinois, and a daughter of Robert and Mary (Denton) Ray, natives of Kentucky. The parents moved to Illinois in an early day, and in 1846 to Dal- las county, Texas, where the father died in 1883, and the mother in 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Hart have had eleven children, nine of whom survive, namely : Mary Ellen, wife of William Cartwright, of Denton county, Texas; Jane, wife of Robert Bethurum, of Dallas county ; Robert Henry, who resides in this county; Douglas, also of this county; Frank, of Greer county, Texas; Electa Ann, wife of John Curtis, of . Rockwall county; Edward, a resident of this county; John, at home. Politically, Mr. Hart is a Democrat, and so- cially a member of the Farmers' Alliance.

B UTLER COMPANY, manufacturers of brick in Dallas, were organized as a firm in 1883. Their works have a capacity of 30,000 a day, and they run on an average nine months in a year, employing about twenty hands. They make a No. 1 hand- made brick, and keep constantly on hand a full line of all grades.

P. J. Butler, of the above firmn, is also a general contractor. He came to Dallas in the spring of 1873, and at first was foreman for Leonard Brothers, brick manufacturers aud contractors. He was born in Ireland, in 1846, the youngest of eight children of John and Catharine (Minehan) Butler, natives also of the Emerald Isle. His mother died in 1870, and his father in 1874. Mr. Butler

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

grew up to years of maturity in his native land. In 1867, he emigrated to America, the land of opportunity, stopping first at Troy, New York, where he commenced his trade as bricklayer and builder. Then he proceeded to Milwaukee and Sparta, Wiscon- sin, Dubuque and Independence, Iowa, thence with his brother to St. Louis, and to Vicks- burg, Little Rock, and finally to Dallas, where he has since erected many important build- ings, as the Merchants' Exchange, Pacific de- pot, Blankenship & Blake's wholesale honse, five stories, 50 x 200; Schoellkopf's building (same size), the Ursuline Convent Academy, Mr. Gill's building on Elm street, 50 x 200, Sanger Brothers' building, and many others. As to politics, Mr. Butler votes with the Re- publiean party, but is not active in its conn- cils. He and his wife are members of the Catholic Church.

He was married in St. Louis, June 17, 1874, to Catharine Hefferman, a native of that city, and they have six children living, as follows: Mary Theresa, boarding at the convent; Margery, attending the Bryant school; and William Joseph, Ellen, Catha- rine and John.

L. PEACOCK, of the firm of Peacock & Shirley, paint and paper supply store, No. 153 Main street, Dallas, has been engaged in his present business since 1884.

Mr. Peacock was born in Mnscogee county, Georgia, December 31, 1846, the third in a family of seven children of Levi L. and Mary (Lamb) Peacock. His father was a native of England, came with his parents to this coun- try and settled in Virginia, and from there moved to Georgia, where he followed the life of a planter. His mother was of German descent and was born in Georgia. When the

subject of this sketch was a boy his parents moved to Montgomery, Alabama, where, in 1864, they died, their deaths occurring only a day or two apart. In Montgomery Mr. Peacock was roared, receiving his education in the schools of that city. During the war he served as a member of Company G, Sixty- fourth Alabama Regiment, doing provost duty.

At Atlanta, Georgia, in 1871, Mr. Peacock married Miss Sadie Fisher, a native of that State and a daughter of Professor Fisher, who for many years was professor of music in the Macon University. He was a native of Germany. His death occurred in Atlanta abont 1868. After his marriage Mr. Peacock settled in Nashville, Tennessee, from which place he subsequently came to Texas and lo- ated in Dallas. He had learned the painter's trade in Montgomery, and upon his arrival here, in 1875, at once engaged in that busi- ness. He and his partner now employ from ten to twelve men and are doing a thriving business.

Politically, Mr. Peacock is a Democrat. He is a public-spirited citizen, and ever since he took up his residence here has been iden- titied with the best interests of the place. He has been a member of the School Board for two years, and as such has been actively interested in educational matters, and has been closely connected with the building of three new schoolhouses. These were erected in 1891, at a cost of $25,000 cach, are located in the south, east and north parts of Dallas, and are known as Mckinney Avenne, San Jacinto and Cedar Lawn schools. Mr. Pca- cock is prominently associated with the fol- lowing organizations: Tannehill Lodge, No. 52, A. F. & A. M., being Treasurer of the same; Dallas Chapter, No. 47, R. A. M., of which he is Treasurer; Dallas Commandery,

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No. 6; Hella Temple; Dallas Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 44, of which he is a trustee and member of the building committee; and of the Original Encampment of I. O. O. F., being Treasurer of same. He and his wife are both members of the Baptist Church. They are the parents of eight children: Willie L., Eugene, Horace, Jewell, Elva, Jacob, Les- lie, Charlie and Leona.

OYAL A. FERRIS is one of the live, energetic business men of Dallas, Texas, promising well for the future. For many years he was well known as a success- ful banker, and is one of the directors, as well as second vice-president of the National Exchange Bank of this city.

He was born on the 8th day of August, A. D. 1851, in Jefferson, Texas, then a flourish- ing town, situated at the head of navigation on the lakes which lead into Red river, near Shreveport, Louisiana. He is the eldest son of Judge J. W. Ferris, of Waxahachie, Texas, who has been a leading and prominent law- yer of north Texas for over forty years. Judge Ferris, the father, is known as having creditably occupied several important posi- tions in the State, such as member of the Legislature, Judge of the District Court, member of the Constitutional Convention of 1875, and Commissioner with four others, to revise and codify the laws of the State. The mother of Royal A. Ferris is a native of the State of Kentucky; her maiden name was Mattie J. Crow; she was born and reared In Floydsburg, Oldham county, Kentucky. Her father, Andrew D. Crow, was one of the Kentucky volunteers who fought against the British army, under General Jackson at New Orleans, and aided in securing the great vie-

tory which ended the war of 1812. After the battle he was honorably discharged, and as a footman he sought his way, as best he could, through a vast wilderness, inhabited by Indi- ans, back to his old Kentucky home. He was prosperous and prominent among his neigh- bors, living to the good old age of eighty- four years, loved and honored by all who knew him. His name, Andrew, was trans- mitted to the grandson, the subject of this sketch.

In the fall of 1854, Judge Ferris removed with his family from Jefferson to Waxaha- chie, Texas, then a small town, located near the clear, crystal waters of Waxahachie creek, and in the heart of a rich agricultural prai- rie country. Ilere health came back to the family, followed by continued and increasing prosperity. It was here that Royal A. was principally reared and educated. In the school room he was apt and quick to learn, standing generally at the head of his classes. His education was completed at the Kentucky Military Institute, located at Farmdale, near Frankfort, Kentneky, which was then under the skillful superintendence of Colonel R. T. P. Allen. His advancement and proficiency as a student was very marked, especially in mathematics, bookkeeping and the sciences. He left the institute quite a favorite with the teachers and his associates.

Returning to his home in Texas in 1870, he took employment at once in the private banking house of Ferris & Getzendaner, his father being the senior member of the firm. For a time, he there discharged the duties of both cashier and bookkeeper. In 1875, the father retired from the bank in favor of his son, Royal A., whereupon the name of the firm was changed to Getzendaner & Fer- ris, the son becoming the junior member. From 1875 to 1885, a period of ten years,

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this banking house, under the skillful man- agement of W. H. Getzendaner and Royal A. Ferris, as well as by honest and fair dealing with all persons, grew and prospered beyond expectation. It commanded the confidence of the entire business public, and its finan- cial standing was unsurpassed by any other bank in the State.

It so happened that the track of the Hous- ton & Texas Central railroad in Ellis county was located eleven miles east of Waxahachie, the county seat; and there began to be agi- tatcd the question of moving the courthouse and jail to some point on the railroad. It became necessary, therefore, to put on foot at once the construction of a tap railroad from Waxahachie. A charter for the purpose was obtained from the Legislature, and Royal A. Ferris was principally instrumental in bring- ing to a successful termination the building, equipping and running of the Waxahachie Tap railroad, which was made to connect the town of Waxahachie with the Houston & Texas Central railroad at Garrett. He went to the Eastern cities, taking with him the subsidy bonds granted by the city to the amount of $63,000, and sought to enlist rail- road capitalists in the enterprise. Failing in this, he, together with Jeremiah Riorden, took the contract to build, equip, and operate the road upon the same terms offered to others. By the skillful management of Royal A., all financial difficulties were overcome, and the road was completely equipped and operated to the satisfaction of all parties, a complete triumph for Waxahachie. The Tap railroad proving to be a success, it very soon, by purchase, went into the hands of the Hons- ton & Texas Central Railroad Company.

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Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas, Part 95

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