Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas, Part 98

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 98

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

J. B. Simpson, John E. Myer, and many of less note. Mr. Mann uses the Acme cement, which is the hardest plaster known, and he was the first to use a car-load of lime in Dallas.

IIe was married in Windsor county, Mis- souri, in 1871, to Miss Mary Susan Blanch- ard, a native of Kentucky, and daughter of M. D. and Catharine (Browning) Blanchard, natives of Kentucky. The parents settled at Deep Water, Henry county, Missouri, where they now reside. Mr. and Mrs. Mann have had four children: Bertha; Freddie, who died in 1885, at the age of nine years; Katie Belle, who died at the age of fourteen months; and an infant, deceased at the age of ten months. Mr. Mann votes with the Democratic party, and takes an active in- terest in politics. Socially he is a member of Tannehill Lodge, No. 52, A. F. & A. M .; Dallas Chapter, No. 47, R. A. M .; Cœur de Lion Lodge, No. 8, K. of P., in which he is Past Chancellor; Cœur de Lion Division, No. 5, Uniformed Rank, K. of P.

ENERAL JOHN S. GRIFFITH, the subject of this sketch, was born in Mont- gomery county, Maryland, June 17, 1829, and is a son of Michael B. and Lydia R. (Crabb) Griffith, natives of Maryland. The maternal grandfather was General Jere- miah Crabb of Annapolis, Maryland. The parents of John S. removed to Missouri in 1835, and in 1839 went to San Angustine, Texas. The father was not successful in busi- ness, so that our subject received a limited education, and was early in life thrown upon his own resources. There were six children in the family, of whom he is the third-born, and they received the greater part of their

803

HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

instruction from their mother in the evenings when they were gathered around the pine- knot fire after the day's work was done. John S. was trained to agricultural pursuits, but in 1850 he secured a position as clerk with John A. Winn in San Angustine, Texas, and continued there for twelve months. He was then ready to go into business on his own account, and for five years he carried on a thriving and profitable trade. He then disposed of this business, and invested in a stock ranch in Rockwall county, and removed thence in 1859, which he managed until the begining of the Civil war. In 1861 he en- listed in the Sixth Texas Cavalry, and was made Lieutenant Colonel in the start. In 1863 he returned to his home from ill health, and was elected a member of the Legislature to represent Kaufman, Van Zandt and Hen- derson counties. In the same year he was appointed Brigadier General by Governor Murrah, and organized a brigade of Texas State Troops and held the position until the close of the war. He was again sent to the State Legislature, representing Kaufman, Van Zandt, Rains and Wood counties. In 1876, he removed to Terrell, Kaufman county, Texas. He came to Dallas county in the year 1889 and located in Oak Cliff, where he has since been engaged in farming and the real-estate business. He made large investments in Oak Cliff, and has been one the most stanch supporters in founding this beautiful suburb.

General Griffith was married December 18, 1861, to Miss Emily Simpson, a daughter of John J. and Jane M. Simpson. She was born in Nacogdoches county, November 28, 1834, when Texas was under Mexican rule. Ten children were born of this union, three of whom are living: William C., Augustus B., and Emma, the wife of M. C. Roberts of Ter-

rel. William C. is the father of four chil- dren, and Augustus B. has one child.

General Griffith is a member of Redland Lodge No. 2, A. F. & A. M. and and also belongs to the chapter and commandry; pol- itically he is a Democrat of the most ardent type, and zealously supports all the truc is- sues of Democracy. And as a result of strict business habits, and the expenditure of an energy that acknowledges no failure, he has acquired a large amount of property, and is still residing in Oak Cliff, Dallas county, Texas, and is respected and esteemed by all who know him for his candor and integrity.

D. MOXLEY general agent of the Washington Life Insurance Company, of New York for northern Texas, was born in Jefferson county, Kentucky, August 5, 1855, a son of Richard S. and Mary T. (Davidson) Moxley, natives of Virginia and Baltimore. The father was cashier for many years of the Louisville National Bank, was well known over the entire State, and was a resident of Louisville for about fifty years. He was one of the builders of the First Pres- byterian Church, and later an officer in the College Street Presbyterian Church. His death occured in February, 1887, at the age of sixty-seven years. His widow still resides in Louisville, aged sixty-five years. Mr. Moxley was a man of good business qualifi- cations, of the strictest integrity and was as highly respected as he was widely known. In him the truest and purest type of religious life were united.

R. D. Moxley, the eldest of four children, was educated in the public schools of Lonis - ville, and was engaged in the bank with his father for about eight years. He then en-

804

HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

gaged with the insurance company with which he is still connected. His work is al- together in Texas, and he represents one of the best companies in this line of business. Mr. Moxley was married in February, 1892, to Miss Leonard, a danghter of Mr. Leonard of New York city. Mr. and Mrs. Moxley are both members of the Presbyterian Church.

J. A. BROWN, the first Judge of Dal- las city, was born in Marion county, Kentucky, February 2, 1855, the eldest of seven children born to Jerry M. and Lucy J. (Nash) Brown, natives of Kentucky. The parents were married in their native State, and in 1859 came to Dallas, where the father worked at the blacksmith's trade. In 1861 he enlisted in Colonel T. C. Hawpe's regiment, and was with his company nntil 1863, when he was detailed to come to Dallas and take charge of the Government shops, and was so engaged until the close of the war. Jerry Brown was elected Sheriff of this county in 1866, for two years, but after a short service was removed on account of be- ing an obstruction to reconstruction. He was again elected in 1869, for a term of four years. His death occurred in November, 1879, and the mother now resides in Los Angeles county, California. Grandfather T. J. Nash came to this county in 1852, and settled on a farm in Precinct No. 4, which he improved. Ile was a member of the Se- cession Convention in 1860, was County Commissioner eight years; and his death oc- curred about 1881; his wife died in 1873. The father of our subject owned the land where the Windsor hotel is now located, and in 1866 he bought the old Darnell home-

stead on Columbia, between Jefferson and Market streets.

T. J. A. Brown, onr subject, was reared in the city of Dallas, and educated at the Ken- tucky University, at Lexington, Kentucky, two years. After finishing his education he returned to this city and read law under the tutelage of Judge Coombes and John J. Good, and was licensed to practice law March 4, 1876. He formed a partnership with Colo- nel Nat. M. Burford, which continued until about 1887. Mr. Brown served two years as City Judge, two years as City Recorder, one year as Mayor, pro tem. was Alderman from April, 1886, to April, 1887, and from April, 1889 10 1891 as City Judge.

He was married in this city, in 1883, to Miss Ada Smith, and they have two children, -T. J. A. and Mabel. Mr. Brown has always been prominently identified with this county, and has witnessed the growth of Dallas from a population of 250 to its pres- ent magnitnde. Socially he is a member of the order of Red Men at Dallas, and politi- cally is identified with the Democratic party.

ELLIS COOMBES, JR., was born in Johnson county, Texas, November 23, 1863, and is a son of Judge Ellis Coombes. When an infant he was brought to Dallas county and was reared in Dallas, receiving his education in this city and in Ad Ran College, Thorp's Spring, Texas.

Mr. Coombes was married, September 1, 1881, to Miss Susie L. Hudson, a native of Johnson county, Texas, and a daughter of J. B. Hudson, now of Somervell county, this State, who came from Kentucky to Dallas county at an early day. After his marriage Mr. Coombes engaged in farming in Dallas

805

HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

county, where he has continued in agrieult- nral pursuits with the exception of three years spent in Ellis county. He settled on his present farm in 1888. To them five children have been born: Gano, William, Iva, Mina, and Benjamin F. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church, and his political relations are with the Demo- cratic party.

EORGE A. KNIGHT, United States Marshal for the Northern District of Texas, was born in the State of New York, where he passed his childhood and youth. He made the most of his educational opportunities, and what was lacking in train- ing has been made up to him by that less gentle teacher. experience. At a comparative early age he began steamboating on the Ohio river, and continued the business for many. years. He filled the position of clerk and pilot, and was made Captain before leaving the river. IIe became thoroughly familiar with the Ohio from its source to its month, and had many narrow escapes from dangers incident to river life.

At the beginning of the Civil war he en- listed in the One IIundred and Eighty- eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and carried his musket through three years of active service in camp and field. He trod his weary way through long marches, and participated in battles and sieges, passing into dangers and trials that are not met out- side the battlefield. Upon the expiration of his term of enlistment he joined the One Hundred and Eighty-eight Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until the surrender. Hle was never wounded and was never in the hospital. He was promoted

successively to the rank of Captain, and afterwards served on General Van Cleve's Staff as Assistant Adjutant General. After the close of the conflict he returned to steam- boating, but after a brief service he connect- ed himself with the railrords south of the Ohio river, as transportation agent. He then entered upon a career that covered twenty years of active and faithful service; he trav- eled over cvery portion of the United States, gaining an unlimited fund of information on all railroad topies.

In 1882 Mr. Knight came to Texas as the Southwestern representative of the Pennsyl- vania company with headquarters at Dallas. He filled this position until 1887, when he connected himself with the 'Frisco Line in the capacity of Southwestern Passenger Agent with a jurisdiction over Texas, Louisi- ana, New Mexico and Indian Territory. He discharged the duties of this office with the usual zeal and energy that have characterized lis transactions until his appointment as United States Marshal, his commission being signed within ten days of the application, on the 9th day of April, 1889, by President Harrison. His second commission, which is for four years, was signed January 27, 1890. He has 100,000 miles under his control as Marshal, and three federal courts, one at Waco, one at Graham, and one at Dallas. The services of from fifteen to eighteen deputies are required; but so per- fectly are the forces organized that a greater number of criminals has been captured than in all previous administrations. He is mustering officer of the G. A. R., and the rapidly increasing membership is largely ow- ing to his interest in the Post.

In 1865 Mr. Knight was married, and has six surviving children. The eldest son is Postmaster at Pecos City, Texas, and two

806

HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

sons are assisting their father. The Captain is a stanch supporter of Republican prin- ciples. He is a man of the highest sense of honor and commands the respect and entire confidence of the community.

LINY FISK TERNELL, a farmer and breeder of fine stock, is prominent among the substantial men of Dallas county, and his career thus far has been both honorable and successful. He was born in South Boston, Halifax county, Virginia, Oc- tober 22, 1829, and was the seventh son and thirteenth child of sixteen children, born to James and Elizabeth (Talley) Ternell, both natives of the Old Dominion. Our subject's great-grandfather Ternell was an Italian, and his great-grandmother was an English lady; they emigrated to this country during the Revolutionary war. Grandfather Talley came from Scotland and settled in Virginia at a very early day.

Pliny F. Ternell's youth was spent on the farm, and with no opportunity to get an education until he was grown. Then he passed all his spare time in study, and at- tended school after he was thirty-two years of age, thus acquiring a good practical ednca- tion. When twenty years of age, he engaged as a clerk in a boot and shoe store in Caswell county, North Carolina, remained there three years, and six months later embarked in busi- ness for himself, continuing this for eight years. August 9, 1852, he wedded Mrs. Mary Farthing, whose maiden name was Tal- ley. In March, 1857, he united with the Missionary Baptist Church at Marion, Smith county, Virginia, and the same year was li- censed to preach. He followed his minister- ial duties until 1867, and during that time he

went to Independence, Grayson county, Vir- ginia, where he attended the academy for six months. In 1860, he began a course at Al- leghany College, and was engaged in hard study there when the war broke out; he then served two years in the Confederate army. During the war he served under Floyd in the sanitary department for eighteen months, after which he returned to his old home in Virgini» and taught school in connection with his church duties, for three sessions. February 8, 1867. he left his native State and removed to Rutherford county, Tennes- see, where he taught school and preached the gospel for some time. He subsequently started out on foot to engage in missionary work, and on the meeting of the association in the fall of 1868, he was employed at $500 per year to continue his work in Duck river and Concord associations. He continued with that charge one year and then accepted a call at Carrollton, Alabama, where he re- ceived a salary of $800 per year, and where he had charge of three churches. After this he was in William Jewell College, Clay county, Missouri, until sickness prevented him from remaining longer, and in 1871 he accepted an appointment from the Rome Mission Board of New York, to collect money for that mission, his field being the north half of Alabama and Mississippi. He worked at this one year and then sent in his resigna- tion, so that he might come to Texas. He was then offered the same position and Texas as a field. He preached for eight years and managed a farm of 200 acres. His second marriage occurred October 21, 1874, to Miss Aun M. Daniel, a native of Kentucky, and the daughter of Rev. A. E. Daniel. Mr. Ternell retired from the ministry in 1883, after faithful service in the vineyard of the Lord, and after he had baptized several hun-

807

HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

dred persons and married 200 couples. He is now engaged in raising thoroughbred horses, cattle and hogs, and his horses are numbered among the best in the county. Socially, he is a member of the A. F. & A. M., the I. O. O. F., S. of T., the Grange and the Farmers' Alliance. Politically, he is a Democrat. He is a self-made man and what he has accumulated in the way of this world's goods is the result of his good management and energy. He is now in his sixty-third year, still active in person and enjoying good healthı.

AVID C. NANCE .- As a man of busi- ness, Mr. Nance's name is well known in Dallas county, and every step of his business career has been illustrated with acts of liberality and kindness. With each vital interest of his section and his people, lie has been closely identified, and as a result he has the confidence of all who know him.

His father, Allen Q. Nance, was born in Kentucky, in 1813, in Green county, and in 1832 removed to Illinois. He came from Cass county, that State, to Dallas county, Texas, in 1852, settling a mile and a half northwest of De Soto, where he remained un- til his death in 1873. He was a self-made man, for he began the battle of life for him- self with comparatively nothing, and at his death was in very comfortable circumstances. He was a Democrat, and was for many years a member of the Christian Church, in which he was Elder for a time. His wife, Elizabeth W., who was a daughter of Daniel Deeren, a native of Virginia, was born in Green county, Kentucky, in 1826, and in her early girlhood was left an orphan. In 1839 she went to Illinois with a brother-in-law, and there she

married Mr. Nance, January 11, 1841. They had eleven children, viz .: David C .; Mary Jane, who died in 1890, the wife of James Reagan, of Brownwood, Texas; Columbus, who died in infancy; Gustavus A., who re- sides in Dallas county; Ellen, now the wife of George W. Bowman of Palo Pinto county; Anna L., the wife of William Horne of Dal- las county ; Sarah C., the wife of John Cruse of Calloway county, Missouri; Charles P., who resides in this county; Etta, the wife of Benjamin Brandenburg and a resident also of this county; John H., who died in infancy ; and Lee, who died at the age of eight years.

The paternal grandfather, Zachariah Nance, was a Revolutionary soldier and served in the battles of Stony Point on the Hudson, July 15, 1779, and Yorktown from the 9th to the 19th of October following. He witnessed the surrender of Cornwallis at the latter place, secing him hand up his sword. He was married twice,-first to Jane Wilkins of New Kent county, Virginia, in 1785, and lastly to Elizabeth Bingley, nee Morris, of James City county, Virginia, December 15, 1802, who became the paternal grandmother of the subject of this sketch.

The paternal great-grandfather, who also bore the name of Zachariah, and his wife, Susanna Duke Sherman, were early settlers near Jamestown, Virginia.

D. C. Nance was born in Cass county, Illi- nois, February 2, 1843, came to Texas with his parents in 1852, locating on a farm one and one-half miles northwest from De Soto. He remained with his parents until Septem- ber, 1861, at which time he enlisted in the military service of the State, and subsequently of the Confederate States. He was a mem- ber of Company E, Twelfth Texas Dragoons, under command of Colonel W. H. Parsons, a brother of the Chicago anarchist, Albert Par-

808

HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY-

sons. Mr. Nance was in the Cache river bat- tle near the town of Cotton Plant, Arkansas, July 2, 1862, in which engagement his horse was killed under him and he himself sus- tained three severe wounds. He was cap- tured also, and made his escape the same day. A peculiarity of this day's work is the fact that one of his wounds was made by the first ball fired in that battle.

During the winter following, he was en- gaged in the manufacture of gunpowder at Waxahachie, Texas, in answer to a requisi- tion made by the Legislature of this State. In the spring of 1863, there was an explo- sion and the mill was blown to atoms, Mr. Nance being the only one left alive. Subse- quently he returned to the army and was in abont thirty eagagements along Red river in 1864, sustaining no injuries in any until the last, the Yellow bayou battle, on May 10, in which he was wounded again, twice. After his recovery he was appointed First Sergeant of his company.

At the close of the war he returned to his father's house, penniless, and applied his hands to the plow handles. At the age of twenty-five he turned his effects into money and took a course of study in the Bonham schools for two years, after which he turned his attention for a time to teaching. In 1874, he purchased a farm near Bonham, Texas, where he remained sixteen years. In 1889 he purchased the old homestead near De Soto, where he still plies his vocation of farming and cares for his aged and widowed mother; but in connection with this he also owns and operates a general mercantile es- tablishment at De Soto, where his business has made his name familiar to many.

He was married, November 12, 1870, to Miss Sallie M. Hackley of Bonham, who was born in Lincoln county, Kentucky, April 22,

1844, and came with her mother to Texas, in 1857. She was the daughter of James and Susan Hackley, both of whom are now dead. She has borne Mr. Nance four children, viz .: Charles C., who manages his father's farm; James A., his father's store; Quilla, a son, and Anna Laura are yet school children.

In politics, Mr. Nance is a high-tariff Democrat, and is the present Postmaster of De Soto. Up to 1880 he was identified with the Christian or Campbellite Church, but since that time he has been a Restitutionist, having discarded many of the popular doc- trines of the Spiritnalists or Immaterialists. Prominent among these are the doctrines of heaven and hell, of immortal souls and of endless punishment. He believes there is a God and a Christ; that the Bible reveals something of their character and intentions; and that one of these intentions is that all men shall live again, on the earth, though not in pain as now. Ile also believes there will be in that day one universal, unending kingdom over all the nations, present, past and future; that this kingdom was foretold by the prophets and proclaimed by the apos- tles of our Lord as the kingdom of God, --- which proclamation they called the Gospel.

ILLIAM J. McCONNELL, a prom- inent business man and popular citi- zen of Dallas, Texas, was born in St. Charles county, Missouri, in 1850.

He is descended from a well known and highly respected family of Kentucky. His grandfather, John McConnell, when but sev- enteen years of age, forced his way to the frontier, in 1790, settling in what is now St. Charles county, Missouri, where he found a race of hardy farmers and stock-raisers. Old

809

HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

Missourians will remember the tavern and stage stand kept by this sturdy pioneer on the Boone's Lick road, eight miles west of St. Charles.

James McConnell, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Missouri in 1804, and was an honest, hard working pioneer, devoted to agricultural pursuits and stock- raising. He married Mary Ann Voegtle, a native of Rottweil on the Rhine, Germany, who emigrated with her parents to America, and located near the MeConnells. She came of an excellent family of High Germans, was well educated and very intelligent, and proved a helpmeet in the fullest acceptation of the term. The father of our subject was a strong Union man at the time of the war, but after its close he made peace with those of his neighbors who held an opposite view, and passed to the life beyond in June, 1865, mourned by all who knew him.

The subject of this sketch was next to the youngest of seven children-six sons and one daughter-and inherited that energy and in- tegrity of character so conspicuous in his an- cestry. His early life was spent in his native connty, where he was educated at the district schools and reared to farm life. In 1881 he came to Texas, and, in 1885, engaged in the real-estate business, in which he has been a successful operator ever since. His methods are liberal and he deals strictly in facts, which is as rare among real-estate men as is an honest lawyer in the legal fraternity, for which reason he is entitled to all the more credit.

Mr McConnell was married June 15, 1876, to Miss Letta Vassallo, an estimable lady and a native of Lonisiana, the only child of Fran- cesco N. and Sarah (Dye) Vassallo. Her father was a native of Genoa, Italy, and was an artist; he died in Memphis, Tennessee, in

1860. The widowed mother afterward mar- ried Dr. J. H. Mitchell, and, in 1865, moved to Illinois, where Mrs. McConnell was edu- cated. The mother is a native of Kentucky, and moved to Texas about 1837

Mr. McConnell belongs to no church or secret society, but is one of the initiated members of the First Spiritualist Society of Dallas, and, after years of careful investiga- tion, is thoroughly convinced that spirit re- turn and communication is a fact in nature.

Although deeply cherishing the memories of his native State, Missouri, yet he has grown to regard his adopted State with sin- cere affection. He is a fixture in Dallas, and his heart swells with pride at being a citizen of the largest State in this glorious Union.

OHN T. CORCORAN, a planter residing in precinct No. 3, Dallas county, Texas, forms the subject of this biography. IIe was born in Tennessee, January 20, 1820, a son of Thomas V. Corcoran, whose father was a native of Ireland and a first cousin of the great philanthropist, Washington D. Cor- coran. Thomas V. Corcoran was a native of Maryland, and was a hatter by trade, dividing his time between working at that trade and teaching school. His father was also a teacher. Mr. Corcoran's mother was a daughter of James and Anna (Wallen) Keen. Of the four children born to his parents he is the oldest. The others are: Mary A., widow of John McKinzie, of Tennessee; Erastus D., a resident of Simpson county. Kentucky; Nancy Ann, who became the wife of Jubal Paine, is now deceased. Thomas V. Corcoran died about 1829, at the age of twenty-nine years. His wife lived until 1882, and passed away in her eighty-fourth year.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas, Part 98

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