USA > Texas > Past history and present stage of development of Texas. Memorial and biographical history matter of the Lone Star state > Part 10
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COX, John Pinckney
A man who enjoys the confidence, love and respect of the people of Hill county, whom he served as sheriff for sixteen years and county clerk for four years, is Mr. John P. Cox, and though he has retired to a private life and is now in his seventy-fifth
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year, he is hearty, active and would be taken for a man of fifty. Mr. Cox was born on a farm near Brenham, in Washington county, Texas, Oct. 23, 1836, and was named for John Pinckney Henderson, first Governor of Texas. His father, Euelid M. Cox, was born in Bowling Green, Ky., and came to Texas in 1832. He was married to Miss Sarah L. Scott, who was born in Maury county, Middle Tennessee, and came to Washington county, Texas, with her people in 1831, when it was yet dominated as Mexican territory. Her parents were sponsors for nine sons and two daughters, and her grandfather and great- grandfather of the subject whose name heads this article insisted as a promise of the future for so large a family that they should go to Texas and grow up with the new and coming country. He discounted their argument that he was too weak to make the trip overland from Alabama and reluctantly the start was made. His once rugged spirit yielded to the God who gave it, and his remains were buried before the family reached the Mississippi river. Reaching this body of water, the trip was made by boat, south, and when nearing the mouth of the Brazos river, in Texas, lost all, including money, in shipwreck, but all finally landed at their destination in Washington county. Her husband, Euclid M. Cox, was a land surveyor and farmer, and one of the bravest soldiers in Gen. Sam Houston's army. Unfortunately, he was on scout, or detached dnty, when the battle of San Jacinto took place and his name does not appear on the immediate roll of honor. He was a great Indian fighter and was killed by the Kicapoos ou Battle Creek, in what is now Navarro county, in October, 1838. After his death his wife, with her three children, moved to Burleson county, where the family continued farming and stock-raising. She died while residing with her son, ex-Sheriff Cox, in Hillsboro, in 1884, at the age of seventy-two.
Mr. John P. Cox came to Hill county in 1855, and when the civil war came on eulisted in Company D, Nineteenth Texas Cavalry, which brilliant arm of the Confederate army gave a good account of itself through Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri and Texas throughout the period of the fiercest war that was ever waged by the human family. He went in as a private and came out as orderly sergeant, being at Gross Retreat, on the Brazos river, wheu peace was declared. Mr. Cox was first married to Miss Anna M. Anderson (native of Alabama) in Hill county, in May, 1860, and four sons and four danghters were born of this union. He was a second time married to Mrs. Emma Vines (native of Mississippi), of this county, Sept. 17, 1886, and two sons were born of this wedlock. One of Mr. Cox's sons, E. M. Cox, has also served Hill county as sheriff for four years. A Mason, an Odd Fellow and a member of high standing in the Methodist church, Mr. Cox is a man of the keenest sense of honor, and throughout his long and useful career no man ever knew him to violate his integrity or refuse to come to the aid of his friends in time of need. He helped to civilize this country, establish order out of frontier dare-deviltry, and he was sheriff of Hill county in the days that it dealt with savagery, desperadoism, and a man had to be quick on trigger. His cool bravery and absolute fearlessness has made him the idol of Hill county people. Mr. Cox was a great admirer of Gen. Sam Houston, as was his father also, and he today entertains a sacred respect for his memory and his herculean service as the redeemer and Father of Texas. He owns a fine farm twelve miles south of Hillsboro.
CLARK, Judge George
A work of this character would be incomplete withont at least some mention of Judge George Clark, one of the nestors of the bar of Texas. Judge Clark was born in Eutaw, Ala., July 18, 1841, where he was trained for the law under the careful tutelage of his father, Judge James B. Clark, who occupied the chancery bench for fifteen years and was one of the chief promoters of the Chancery Conrt system of Alabama. When the civil war came on he left his class room in school to enlist in the Coufederate army, and his military history is told in a general way in the story of the services of the Army of Northern Virginia, having been in the thickest of the fight from the beginning to that of the slaughter of Gettysburg and Appomattox, and was three times wounded, and promoted to rank of captain. Upon coming to Texas in 1867 Judge Clark first settled
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at Weatherford, aud in Waco in 1868, when it was a town of perhaps two thousand people. Was Secretary of State for a short time in 1874, then Attorney General until 1876, and during the following two years was commissioner to revise the laws of the state. From 1878 to 1880 was judge of the Court of Criminal Appeals, after which he retired to practice law. In 1892 he made the race for governor against Gov. Hogg, which was oue of the most bitter campaigns in the history of Texas. Gov. Hogg carried the rural vote, and Judge Clark carried the larger trade centers, and was defeated by about 50,000. Judge Clark's campaign slogan was "Turn Texas Loose, " and Gov. Hogg's was "Bridle the Railroads." Judge Clark helped to organize the Waco Gas Company in 1885, the . First National Bank of Waco-in both of which he is interested-and is also a director in the Provident National Bank of Waco. Also owns some valuable business and residence property in the city.
Judge Clar kwas married to Miss Mary Paul Johns, of Austin, Texas, Nov. 4, 1874, Mrs. Clark passing away May 6, 1903, leaving two children, Mrs. Gabriel J. Lee, of Houston, and Erwin Johns Clark, member of his father's law firm.
Judge Clark's career as a citizen, lawyer and public official is a part of the history of Texas, especially in the development of the state. He was a brave soldier, and has been an inspiration to young men, as he has ever been the friend of the young lawyer just beginning life.
CRENSHAW, Edward Hardage
The father of the subject of this sketch, William Crenshaw, was born in Culpeper county, Virginia, reared in Montgomery county, Kentucky, and moved to Missouri in about 1832. With ox-wagon transportation he crossed the Red river into Texas at Old Warren, in Fannin county, July 4, 1844, and, Texas being yet a republic, cast his vote against annexation. At Bonham, the seat of government of Fannin county, he built the first grist mill to be established in that county, for Judge John P. Simpson, first county judge, during which wild frontier days the Indians made raids into Fannin county. In 1857 he moved to Grayson county, and died at Whitesboro Jan. 11, 1870, aged sixty-five years. He was a Mason, Methodist, and was captain of the Home Guards throughout the civil war period. His wife was formerly Miss Amanda Garner, who was born and reared at Palmyra, Mo., and died at Whitesboro, Texas, in 1910, at the age of eighty-six years. Fourteen children were born to them, of which six are now living.
Mr. E. H. Crenshaw (son) was boru in Fannin county, Texas, April 7, 1848, and was attending the Texas Military Institute at Bastrop, where he was preparing to enter the Confederate army, when the war closed. In the meantime he had served as a member of the Home Guard, of which his father was captain. Beginning in 1866, he spent three years in Carlton College, Bonham, in completing a good English education, and in 1869 was married to Miss Matie Oldham, of Bonham, who died iu 1878, leaving one daughter. He was a second time married to Miss Julia Caskey, of Sherman, and they have two sons living, and one son died in childhood. Mr. Creushaw began life as a well qualified book- keeper, which profession he intermittently followed in Bonham and Sherman for a number of years. During his career Mr. Crenshaw was engaged in mercantiling on his own account at Bonham, Sherman, Gainesville, Greenville, Abilene and Fort Worth, closing out in the grain business in the last named city in 1903, when he came to Hillsboro. His place of business in this city is situated on the north side of ceurt square, and is one of the largest and most extensively patrouized retail grocery, wholesale and retail grain and feed stores in Hill county, being operated under the firm name of the Hillsboro Grain & Elevator Company. Though Mr. Crenshaw at all times takes a warm interest in the current public questions of the day, he has ever eschewed official honors at the hands of the people, having once returned home and thwarted plans on the part of his friends to make him Mayor of Greenville. He is a red-hot Prohibitionist, a staunch Democrat, and an elder in the Christian church. He stands for the development of Hillsboro, Hill county and the Lone Star State of Texas.
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CAVEN, Mayor Thomas Scott
The writer in his travels could not well speak of the thriving and prosperous city of Marshall, the metropolis of East Texas, without prominent mention of Mayor Thomas S. Caven, who has long since been linked with its welfare and one of its most enthusiastic citizens. Mayor Caven was born on a farm in Russell county, Alabama, Sept. 11, 1853, and comes of pure Irish blood. His father, David Caven, was boru in Ireland, and was twenty-one years old when he and a brother, Trevor Caven, came to America. They located in Augusta, Ga., as pioneers, and were there associated in business together until 1840, when David Caven moved to Russell county, Alabama. However, before leaving Augusta he was there married to Miss Eliza Jane Scott, in 1829. In 1859 the family came to Texas, and settled on a farm iu this, Harrison county, where the father died in 1882, aged eighty-two years. The mother died in Marion county, Texas, in 1861, aged fifty-two years. There were born of this uuion five sons and five daughters, of whom four died in infancy, and there are now living two sons and three daughters, as follows: Thomas S, Caven; George O. Caveu, contractor, Dallas; , Mrs. Willis Driskell, Marshall; Miss Agnes Caven, Dallas, and Mrs. Dr. John M. Taylor, of Marion county.
Mayor Caven was six years old when his parents moved into Harrison county, and he continued to reside on the farm until 1883, when he entered railroad service and performed the duties of express messenger for a period of nine years, ou the Texas & Pacific and other systems. Then followed a period of farming; was Chief Deputy Sheriff for a number of years, and so well did Gov. Sayres think of his Democracy and himself as a man that he appointed him Inspector of the State Penitentiary, which official position he held for four years. From 1903 to 1908 Mayor Caven was engaged in merchandise brokerage business in Marshall. In the meantime, in 1903, he was elected Mayor of Marshall to fill out an unexpired term of six months, and was re-elected in 1904. In 1909 the people of Marshall again called him to this important office, aud he was re-elected again in 1911. In April, 1909, the city of Marshall changed to the commission form of government, aud Mayor Caven, having served under both the old and the new systems, when asked by the writer to summarize his opinion, stated, "One was political, the other is a business administration. " Mayor Caven has been twice married-first to Miss Willie Fair Love, of this county. Dec. 6, 1878, and she died Nov. 12, 1882-one son dying in infancy and one daughter is now living by this marriage. He was a second time married Dec. 1, 1886, to Miss Virginia T. Conway, by whom he has six living children and one dead. Mayor Caven belongs to the Baptist church, Knights of Pythias, W. O. W., Woodmen's Circle, Elks, and the Texas Sheriff's Association. As Mayor of Marshall his administratiou has been decidedly progressive, and most of the city's moderu improve- ments and its greatest growth in population have been brought about under his regime. He is not only a believer in Marshall's future, but has unbounded faith in the progressive development of East Texas' resources, which is now being so rapidly brought about. Mayor Caven comes of a long-lived family from both branches of the tree, and while he is the youngest in rank, he is now fifty-eight years old.
COLLINS, Theo.
Mr. Theodore Collins was born at Indian Creek, Bullock county, Ala., December 7, 1858, his grandparents being natives of South Carolina and coming to this neighborhood during the pioneer days of the Indians. His father, William Collins, was there born, matured to young manhood and was a veteran merchant when he died iu 1858, at the age of forty-five years. His mother before marriage was Miss Adna Coleman, native to South Carolina. After the death of her husband she moved to a farm-during the civil
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war period-near Indian Creek, and lived for ten years. In 1868, with her children, two daughters and two sons, she came to Texas and settled in the Como neighborhood, where she lived to see her offspring ripen to maturity and usefulness, and died in 1880, at the age of sixty years. When the family located in Como Mr. Theo. Collins was ten years of age. He grew up a farmer boy and continued to follow pastoral pursuits until 1887, when he engaged in the mercantile business. On December 4, 1894, Mr. Collins was happily married to Miss Mattie Harlow, of Como, and six children have been born to them, of which one son and four daughters are now living. Mr. and Mrs. Collins are consistent Christians and are active workers in the Baptist church, Mr. Collins being clerk of same, and for a period of fifteen years was superintendent of the Sunday school. He is also a member in good standing of the W. O. W. secret fraternity.
Personally, Mr. Collins is one of the most influential business men of the charming, prosperous and growing town of Como, which has largely gained its 1,500 population during the past two years from the local coal mining, fruit, vegetable and farming devel- opment. He began business on a small scale, and today his furniture and undertaking establishment is noticeably large, well stocked and well equipped, being situated in a handsome new brick building. Mr. Collins believes in high ideals, clean statesmanship and has many warm friends. No man in Hopkins county stands higher.
COMO LIGNITE MINING COMPANY
The most serious need in Texas today is fucl. Indeed, the fuel question is in its embryo state of development, and so far has baffled the minds of all responsible elements tatingly the patronage of all Texans-first, to encourage development; second, as a mat- in its solving. The forests can no longer be depended upon to any great extent and a coal mine in Texas is a curiosity. What few mines do exist should command unhesi- ter of patriotism in patronizing home industries. In this connection it is appropriate to speak of the Como Lignite Mining Company, whose mines are situated near Como in Hopkins county, northeast Texas. This company is incorporated with a capital stock of $10,000, and the following officers: Herman Gieseke, president; T. H. Paul, vice-president, and G. M. Ryan, secretary-treasurer. The mines are located one mile east of Como on Ryan's spur of the "Katy" railway, and go down as deep as fifty-eight to seventy feet from the surface. The vein ranges from four and one-half to six feet, and the quality is pronounced by authorities to be Al lignite. The machinery and other equipment and arrangement of the mine is modern in every particular, affording a capacity of about 500 tons per day and the employment of as many as sixty men. So far the management have experienced no difficulty in marketing all the coal they could produce, it being sold and consumed in all parts of Texas, as far west as Ballinger and southwest as far as Laredo.
The active management of the Como Lignite Mining Co.'s plant is in charge of Mr. T. H. Paul, a practical mining expert of wide experience. Mr. Paul was born in Hardeman county, west Tennessee, and for a number of years lived in north Arkansas. In 1885 he came to Texas and settled at Rockdale-south Texas-where for a number of years he was prominently associated with the lignite mining interests of that section. Mr. Paul has a profound faith in the future development of the Como mining district to large and pros- perous proportions, and we shall in the future expect the people of Texas to buy Como lignite coal. Mr. Paul is a Baptist and W. O. W.
COMO STATE BANK
Two years ago at this writing there were standing only two dwelling houses where the principal part of Como stands today. Today this prosperous and growing town has 1,500 souls; two strong banks, weekly newspaper, numerous large and well stocked mer- cantile houses, gins, five lignite coal mines, grist mill, two lumber yards, livery stables, hotels, etc., etc. Some of the larger business houses are constructed of brick, and the substantial character of both business houses and residences speaks volumes for the future-and what is better, new buildings are still going up in every direction at this
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writing. Como is the most prosperous town of its size in northeast Texas, and it is appropriate to speak of the Como State Bank in this connection. Housed in a new brick building, this bank threw its doors and books open for business July 7, 1910, after having secured its charter from the secretary of state. It has a capital stock of $20,000, and the following gentlemen comprise its officers: L. Carroll, president; C. B. Lynch, and E. W. Russell, vice-presidents, and W. L. Walker, cashier. Adding the name of Mr. P. N. Brumley to that of the list of officers makes up the board of directors. All these gen- tlemen are substantial property owners, successful in business and the moral force of their character is sufficient to give confidence and stability to any institution. It is a well established fact in the mind of the nation that Texas has the most ideal guarantee banking law of any of the few states that enjoy such wonderful advantages, and the Como State Bank is conducted under the guardianship of this law. It is needless to say that its prosperity has met the most sanguine expectation of its customers and friends.
Mr. W. L. Walker, cashier, was born in Winnsboro, Tex., March 19, 1887. After graduating in the Tyler Commercial College in 1908, he was for more than a year asso- ciated with the Merchants' & Planters', now the First National Bank. He conceived the idea of founding the Como State Bank, and with the aid of associates experienced no difficulty in doing so. Progressive, quick to solve a business proposition, and enjoying the undivided confidence of all who know him, Mr. Walker is doing his share toward the development of Como and the surrounding country. He belongs to the Masons.
CLINTON, Chief John James
Besides being a noted gov- ernment seout and Indian fighter, Mr. John J. Clinton, ex-Confed- erate soldier and for the past twenty-five years Chief of Abi- lene's Police and Fire Depart- ments, is one of the best known peace officers in the middle Southwest - truthfully told, his life has been an eventful one. He was born Augugst 12, 1848, in Dublin, Ireland, where his father, Henry Clinton, was mar- ried to Miss Mary Byrne. The family came to America in 1853 and settled at Grand Rapids, Wis., where the father conducted a lumber business on a respect- able scale until his death in 1862, aged forty-five years. Of the children born of this union a daughter, as a Sister of Charity, perished in the Chicago fire in 1872; last heard of Warren Henry Clinton, peace officer, Deputy U. S. Marshal in Montana, he was chief of police of Miles City, of that state; and the subject of this sketch completes the trio. Leaving his boyhood scenes in Wisconsin, Mr. John J. Clinton was sent to St. John's Military School at Little Rock, Ark., from which he enlisted in the Confederate army at the age of fifteen. The immediate country being threatened with disaster, the cadets of this institution were enlisted as
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a body into the Second Arkansas Cavalry in 1863, and afterwards experienced very active service. Fought under Gen. Joseph E. Johnston against Sherman from Dalton to Atlanta, and was captured at Chapel Hill, N. C., one of the last battles fought by Johnston's army before the surrender, and one week later escaped from Federal prison at Newburn and had made his way to San Antonio, Tex., when peace was declared. Being appointed to the frontier scout service under the federal government in 1865, he was thus more or less identified until 1884, in the meantime serving at intervals as deputy U. S. marshal, and was at one time chief of police of Dodge City, Kan., then the rendezvous of the frontier elements and considered the most hazardous position extant during those times. As a government scout, his duty was that of guarding U. S. mails, escorting troops, etc. The two most noted and more frequently traveled trails in the southern part of west Texas were from Fort Dodge, Kan., to Fort Stockton, Texas, and from San Antonio to Fort Stockton, where the two routes became one and continued to Fort Bliss, near El Paso. From Fort Davis, the first of the line of forts west of Fort Stockton, the mail was conveyed to Fort Bliss on horse-back, accompanied by a guard of scouts-all this for the benefit of the reader. The country was one of continuous desolation, and but few watering holes. While Mr. Clinton engaged in numerous skirmishes and battles with the Indians, we will only mention three in particular, which history says were the hardest fought of any of like character in the country, viz: "Water Hole," "Adobe Walls" and "Lone Tree Crossing." In August, 1868, an outfit of eight men, in charge of Big Foot Wallace, noted scout and Indian fighter, was detailed to guard U. S. mails from Fort Davis to Fort Bliss, via Fort Hancock. At 4 o'clock on the afternoon of August 12th Big Foot Wallace, with glass in hand, informed his men that Comanche Indians were coming and that they had better beat them to the "Water Hole." The battle raged for three days and nights, the government scouts retreating in good order during a violent storm and making their way back to Fort Davis. Of those who were in the fight, Sam Gibson was killed, Geo. Clark, now a lawyer in Georgia, was twice wounded, and John J. Clinton was shot in the shoulder. Ed. Russell is now a miner in Colorado, Doc Joy died at Fort Clark, Mo., in 1888, Dave Harrington is now an able minister of the gospel in Iowa, Pat Dean died at Brownsville, Tex., and Big Foot Wallace died at his ranch in Frio river in Texas. The "Adobe Walls" was a trading post and headquarters for buffalo hunters, cow-men, etc., of the panhandle of Texas, and this battle with the Comanche and Apache Indians, numbered among which was Quannah Parker, was fought in October, 1874. The Indians were advised by a medicine man that if attacked the walls of the adobe houses would crumble, and being well armed with guns, bows and arrows, etc., their attack began just before day, there being twenty-eight white men inside of the walls, well armed and supplied with ammunition. The Indians held siege for six days and nights at a heavy loss, and their medicine man and negro bugler being killed, they withdrew and were soon afterwards captured by Gen. Nelson A. Miles and his army. The battle of "Lone Tree Crossing,"' fought on the Arkansas river near Dodge City, Kan., in June, 1878, was with a force of several hundred Comanche Indians, commanded by Dull Knight, chief of the Comanches. Mr. Clinton was in charge of a herd of cattle from the famous King Ranch in south Texas, being driven to Dodge City market, and had under him eleven Mexicans, only two of whom had been tried in battle. Mr. Clinton was fortunate in selecting his location for battle; the cattle had been thrown off the trail, and he maintained a grimaced and perfect control of his men, who acquitted them- selves nobly, and lost only one Mexican. All day the battle raged, with continuous heavy losses to the Indians, who withdrew at dark. This same company of Indians later killed all of a company of U. S. infantry dispatched from Fort Dodge, Kan. Mr. Clinton served in scout duty under Gen. Nelson A. Miles, Gen. Mckenzie and Gen. Crook, and was personally acquainted with Wild Bill Hickok, Buffalo Bill, Jack Stilwell, Big Foot Wal- lace, Bat Masterson, Luke Short and the Erp boys.
Chief Clinton became a permanent citizen of Abilene in 1884, and soon afterwards was elected chief of both the police and fire departments, and having since continuously held same, we doubt if any man in the world has been so flatteringly honored by his
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home people. his moral and elevating influence always being directed toward the better ment of the community. When he first took charge of Abilene it was headquarters for "bad men, " many of whom he conquered, but now women and children do not hesitate to travel the highways, day or night. He has witnessed the growth of Abilene from a town of 2,000 to a city of 14,000 people, and he has been prominent in bringing about this wonderful development. Well preserved in age and a man of fine physique and presence, he is dignified, modest, and people of Abilene are justifiably proud of him. While in Kansas Chief Clinton was married in 1881 to Miss Mary Phillips, who was born in Cleve- land, Ohio, and previous to losing her health Mrs. Clinton was for many years the leader in charity work among the poor in Abilene. Chief Clinton belongs to the Odd Fellows, Elks, K. of P., Red Men, Foresters and Catholic church.
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