USA > Texas > Past history and present stage of development of Texas. Memorial and biographical history matter of the Lone Star state > Part 29
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29
Mr. F. P. West, President of the Farmers & Merchants National Bank, was born in Columbus, Miss., July 3, 1869. His father, W. L. West, was a Confederate soldier, and served throughout the war period in the Trans-Mississippi Department. The family left their Missis- sij pi home in 1876, and settled at Caddo Grove, this county, where he continued his business as a merchant. The Santa Fe railroad being built through this section of the state, he moved his stock of goods three miles distant to Joshua, on this line, where he was still active as a merchant at the time of his death, Jan. 18, 1908. Mr. West's wife was formerly Miss Cordelia Loftus, native to Mississippi, and to the union were born six sons and two daughters. Mr. F. P. West obtained his education in public schools of Caddo Grove and Joshua, and worked in his father's store from the age of fourteen to twenty-two. He came to Cleburne
187
in 1890 and was for three years identified with the county clerk's office. In 1893 he entered the Farmers & Merchants National Bank as assistant cashier; was elected cashier in 1896, and to the presidency in January, 1905. Mr. West was joined in wedlock to Miss Lulu Nor wood, one of Cleburne's most cultured and accomplished young ladies, March 20, 1895, and their palatial home on North Main street is made the more interesting by one daughter, Miss Hallilu, fifteen years old; and two sons, Francis Sidney, thirteen, and Norwood, eleven years old. In this connection it is appropriate to say that Mr. and Mrs. West have a well-chosen library, live in the atmosphere of their literary influences, and consider the education of their children a thoughful problem. Mr. West belongs to the K. of P., W. O. W. and Elks. His investments are confined to the Farmers & Merchants National Bank of Cleburne and the Citizens Banking Company of Joshua. As a banker he is one of the best known men in the financial circles of the Southwest on account of the enviable record of his administration, in the making of which he very generously explains that he has been materially aided by the strong financial connections and the able advisers that surround him. Personally one of the most congenial of men, the numerous patrons of the Farmers & Merchants National Bank find it a delight to transact business with him, and withal with a banking institution that has done so much to appeal to their pride.
WILSON, Rabe
The frequent remarks on the part of the traveling publie that the "little city of Mart has more beautiful homes and the most prosperous looking business section of any town of its size in Texas" is well sustained by the facts. And still the "buzz of the saw and the click of the hammer" is heard in all directions, which is indisputable evidence that the community continues to develop and expand. The chief factor in this great work is Mr. Rabe Wilson, contractor and builder, who bears the credit and honor of having built most of the structures-nearly all in fact-that have gone up in Mart during the past three years. In this particular he has also played a potent part in educating the people to appreciate the beauties of modern architecture in both business houses and residence dwellings. Mr. Wilson was born at Elkton, Giles county, Tenn., Dec. 14, 1879. His father, John P. Wilson, was also a native Tennessean, and excepting two years spent in North Mississippi resided in the Old Volunteer State until coming to Kosse, Limestone county, Texas, in 1886. At this writing he and his faithful wife reside on their farm near Thornton, Texas, he being a Mason, and the family, generally, are Methodists. The mother before marriage was Miss Josephine Har- grove, also native of Giles county and where they were married, Sept. 24, 1875, and five sons are now living, Kelly, the second son, departing this life Jan. 26, 1909.
Mr. Rabe Wilson, the gentleman whose name initiates this article, was reared on the farm, along the lines with his father, and after finishing school began learning the car- penter's trade in preparation to take up the contracting and building line. In this he received a thorough knowledge by working as a mechanic and journeyman in all parts of the country. His first visit to Mart was nine years ago, at the beginning of the town, but his establish- ment and beginning as a business man began more than three years ago, and it is no empty compliment to him to say that he has been a very material factor for its prosperity and building. He specializes all manner of structure, makes improvements of every character, and employs from ten to forty men. Mr. Wilson was married Sept. 10, 1908, to Miss Maud Garrett, of Mart. He is an Odd Fellow, Pretorian and a Methodist.
WOOD, Frank P.
Mr. Frank P. Wood, Treasurer of Hunt county, was born in Floyd county, North Georgia, May 21, 1856, on the farm. His father, M. N. Wood, was a native of South Carolina, where he matured to manhood. After being joined in wedlock to Miss Elizabeth Leach, in Guerney county. Georgia, he located in Floyd county, of that state, where he lived an industrious life as a farmer and died in 1898, aged eighty-one years. His wife, Elizabeth Leach, was born in Scotland. Her people came to this country when she was six years old, settled in Guerney county, Georgia, and she there grew to young womanhood and was married. Her father, after
188
having served in the Revolutionary war, lived there to the extraordinary age of 115 years. Born to the nmon were six daughters and three sons, one daughter and one son being dead. two daughters and one son live in Texas, one sister resides in Alabama, and the rest of the children remain in Georgia, the sacred home of their nativity.
Mr. Frank P. Wood grew to young manhood on his father's plantation in Floyd county, Georgia, and at the age of twenty-one, in 1876, came to Texas. He first located and spent seme little time in Fannin county, later lived in Collin county, and in 1886 settled in what he classes as the best county in Texas-that of Hunt. Mr. Wood has been twice married, first to Miss Ellen King, of Collin county, July 31, 1882, and of this marriage were born one son and three daughters. She died in 1906, and he was a second time married Sept. 10, 1907, to Mrs. Alice Price, of Greenville. Mr. Wood has been a farmer all his life, and a successful one at that, and at the present time owns a 164-acre black land farm five miles west of Green- ville. In the Democratic primary held in July, 1910, Mr. Wood was made the party nominee for the office of Treasurer of Hunt county, and this selection, of course, was regularized the following November election, having been chosen by about three hundred and fifty majority over his opponent. Before being inducted into office Mr. Wood gave one of the strongest and best bonds ever tendered by a preceding Treasurer in the history of Hunt county. His broad- gauged intelligence, good business qualifications and undeviating courtesy all combine to make of him an acceptable public official, which means that he will at least be favored with the old Democratie custom of a re-election in 1912 as an endorsement of his first administra- tion. Mr. Wood is a Democrat who believes there is only one stamp of Democracy in the world, and that is honest Democracy, and he believes further that Mr. Bryan should more logically be the next President than any other living Democrat, but doubts the wisdom of nominating him this year. Mr. Wood belongs to the First Baptist church, Odd Fellows and W. O. W. secret fraternities.
WORKS, Fountain P.
Hon. Fountain P. Works, attorney, claims the proud distinction of having been born in Texas, on a farm in the splendid black land county of Ellis, July 13, 1868. His father, B. M. Works, was a native of Alabama and a farmer all his life. At the home of the bride he was married to Miss Margaret K. Richardson, in Itawamba county, Mississippi, in 1849, and together they journeyed and settled in Ellis county, Texas, where they lived a long life of industrial usefulness, good neighbors and faithful and consistent members of the Methodist church, of which the husband was an official for more than forty years. At the beginning of internecine strife he entered the civil war as a Confederate soldier in the full vigor of health and manhood, and remained in active service to the close of hostilities, though he sacri- ficed his health for the cause, for which he suf- fered until death relieved him. He died on his farm in Ellis county in 1899, and his loyal wife and faithful helpmeet followed him to the better world one year later, both having lived model examples for the ten children that were born to them, of which at this writing one daughter and four sons are dead and one daughter and four sons are now living.
Mr. Works, the subject who initiates this sketch, alternated in season with farming and school teaching for three years, after which he attended both the Academic and Law Depart- ments of State University, Austin, and was admitted to the bar in Dallas county. In 1893
189
he located in Hillsboro, and has since made this beautiful, prosperons and wealthy little city his home, and where he has a host of warm and loyal friends. On Nov. 11, 1897, Mr. Works was happily married to Miss Nannie Dixon, of Hillsboro, and they have six healthy, robust youngsters in their home-four daughters and two sons, included in which is a set of twins. In the legal profession it is said, "Some men master the law, others are mastered by the law." We are justified in paying Mr. Works the distinction of having mastered the law; he enjoys a wide practice and stands high in the legal fraternity thronghout the state. As a citizen, neighbor and as a man he commands the confidence and respect of a wide circle of friends, to whom he has ever been a tower of strength in time of need, whether it be an individual matter or for the publie welfare. Mr. Works is a director in the First State Bank of Hillsboro, has been a working member of the local school board for the past ten years, is superintendent of the Sunday School and a member of the Board of Trustees of the First Methodist church, in which he is also chairman of the building committee looking to the erection of a new $50,000 building. In connection with active church work he has also served three years as President of the State Epworth League of Texas. At the present time lie is a member of the Hill County Prohibition campaign committee, in which work he has for years been a stalwart factor. Always anxious to advance the development of his local community and the state at large, the fact is appreciated that he is never known to shirk his duty as a progressive, public spirited citizen when duty calls.
WEMPLE, John Kimey
To bear the proud distinction of being an ex-Confederate soldier is to at once command respect of all mankind who are familiar with the Civil war of 1861-5. Mr. John K. Wemple was one of those who wore the Gray, and wore it well. His father, A. J. Wemple, was a native of Albany county, N. Y., where he lived as a cabinetmaker, and died when the subject of this sketch was nine years old-his mother dying when he was five. She was Miss Eliza- beth Kimey, and was also born, lived and died in Albany county, N. Y. Mr. Wemple began learning the harnessmakers' trade when a small boy, which he has followed, practically, all his life. His coming west was in 1858, when he spent two years in Choctaw Nation, and beginning in 1860 claimed his home in Paris, Texas, with relatives for four years. On March 15, 1861, Mr. Wemple enlisted in the Confederate army at Paris, Company C, Capt. Welch, and 2d. Texas Regulars, Col. Cooper, and throughout the remaining period of hostilities per- formed skirmish service in the Indian Territories, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and parts of Texas. Was in numerous "brushes" and three important battles, and was wounded in the Clear Fork battle on the Canadian river, in the Creek Nation, with a minnie ball splintering the bone of his right limb just above the shoe top. His regiment was ordered to take part in the battle of Pee Ridge, Mo., but arrived too late, and Gen. Mccullough, of Texas, being among those killed, Mr. Wemple was assigned to escort his remains as far as Fort Smith, Ark., on its journey for burial in Austin. Mr. Wemple was also in a running fight with the Indians near the Texas Panhandle and Indian Territory line.
Mr. Wemple was married Feb. 20, 1867, to Miss Mary Hoskins, of Knoxville, Tenn. To this couple were born one son and five daughters, all of whont have assumed to maturity and married, as follows: Mrs. Lonis Crow, Mrs. John Fall, Mrs. T. Garland Brown, Mrs. Guy Harrison, Mrs. Albert Cates and Charles, whose present wife was formerly Miss Anna Stone- breaker, of Waco. Mr. Wemple has lived in Waco since 1871, and has witnessed its remark- able growth from a village to a city. In the capacity of his trade as a mechanic he worked for seventeen long years with the S. W. Mabrey Harness and Saddlery Company, and has been with the Tom Padgitt Company, one of the largest saddle, harness and vehicle concerns in the country, for the past twenty-four years-a record that is not often equaled and rarely surpassed. At this writing Mr. Wemple is in his 76th year-hail, hearty and working at his bench-and being now in the sunset of his career he can look back with supreme satisfaction of having made a useful citizen to his country, reared an elegant family, and is surrounded with a wide circle of friends. His home is at 805 South Fifth street, and the family worship with the Presbyterian church.
190
WORNEL, Davy Crockett
It was back in the Royal Blue Blooded, Blue Grass State of Kentucky that William R. Wornel, father of the subject of this sketch, was born. He was small of stature, and like all thorough- bred Kentuckians, was fond of fine horses, and many years of his life were devoted to the race track as a jockey. He was married to Miss Judith Middleton in the Blue Grass county of Maury, Middle Tennessee, and they were the parents of four- teen children, seven of whom were born in that county. They later lived in Marshall county, Mississippi, for a short time, and in the fall of 1836 the family started for Texas. It was "while on the way"' that the subject of this sketch, D. C. Wornel, was born, March 30, 1837. The family first settled at St. Augustine, in East Texas, which was at that time much inhabited and raided by the Indians. They later settled near the town of New Salem, which territory afterwards became Rusk county, all the while farming. In 1852-3 John M. and D. C. Wornel, the two older sons, preceded the family into this territory, then Navarro county, and purchased 640 acres of what is today the finest black land in Hill county, and most of which is now owned by D. C. Wornel, located five miles southwest of Hillsboro, and on which he makes his home. The brothers also brought with them a stock of goods from New Salem by ox wagon, and were the first to sell merchandise in this county at Lexington, Hillsboro not being in existence at that time. At the beginning of the civil war Mr. Wornel enlisted here in Hillsboro in Co. D., 19th Texas Cavalry, which afterwards distinguished itself so eminently on the roll of honor for its effective service in Missouri, Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas, and remained in the thickest of the fight until peace had been declared. Mr. Wornel was the first constable elected in Hill county, in precinct Nc. 1, in 1857. He was from the beginning completely in the confidence of the people, who afterwards showered upon him many official honors, covering a period of something like fifty-five years. During the approach of the civil war he was deputy under his brother, John M., who was also in the Confederate army, and was sheriff of Hill county following the close of the same, since which time he has served as justice of the peace, tax collector, deputy tax assessor, deputy sheriff and county treasurer. On Oct. 24, 1860, just before the civil war, he was married to Miss America Glass, of Miller county, Texas, and together they have shared their lot of sunshine and shadow for the past fifty-two years. It is a little remarkable that they and all their three children are now living. Retrac- ing to the family's advent into this territory in 1855, the mother died in August of that year and the father died in 1864. Mr. Wornel has been a Mason since 1866, is a K. of P. and an elder in the Church of Christ. He has always aided in local development, the better- ment of labor and the condition and advantages of the farmers, and as one of the most prominent old settlers and Confederate soldiers does all he can to make the meetings of these organizations pleasant and profitable, though he is now in his seventy-fifth year and active. Throughout his long career as a public official and as a citizen Mr. Wornel has never betrayed a trust at the hands of a friend or the public, and coming now to the sunset of his useful life he is not only respected but loved as are but few men in Hill county. His life has been a suc- cess and is an example for young men to follow.
WILLIAMS, Hon. Thomas Bestor
Hon. ("Tony") B. Williams, of Dallas, and one of the best known lawyers and public men of Texas, was born on a farm in Kemper county, Mississippi, Nov. 24, 1861, the year of the beginning of the civil war. His father, Thomas Alexander Williams, was born in Green county, Alabama, where he was married to Miss Ellen Watt, daughter of William Watt, a farmer of that county. Of the children born of this union, one son died at the age of two years, and there are living at the present time W. Bass Williams, Mrs. Luella Moore and Mrs. T. O. Cheatham, Waxahachie, and the subject of this sketch, Mr. T. B. Williams. When the civil war came on the husband enlisted in the Confederate army in Kemper county,
191
11th Regiment, Capt. and Col. Perrin (brothers), and Gen. Fergason, regimental com- mander, and served until peace was declared. The family moved to Texas and settled in Ellis county in 1874, where the mother died in 1884, aged fifty-seven years, and the father's demise took place in the year 1900, aged seventy-four years, having devoted his entire life to farming. He was of the Old Blue Stockin' church faith and was an unreconstructed Democrat.
Mr. T. B. Williams matured to young manhood on the farm in Ellis county. He read law under his own initiative and was admitted to the Ellis county bar in 1887, where he continued to practice until locating in the city of Dallas in 1905. Mr. Williams represented Ellis county in the lower house of the state legislature during 1895-7-the regular and two special sessions. He has a number of times served as chairman of local Democratie and congressional conventions, and has been a delegate to every Democratic state convention smee Gen. Sul Ross was nominated for Governor at Galveston in 1886. He was one of the secre- taries of the famous "Car-Shed Convention" at Houston, which nominated James S. Hogg for Governor in 1892, following which was the stormy campaign between Gov. Hogg and Judge Clark, of Waco. Mr. Williams has a number of times served as special judge in courts, and as a lawyer eujoys a state-wide reputation to an eminent degree, at the present time being attorney for both the Texas Traction Company and the Southern Traction Com- pany, the first named having been in operation between Dallas, Sherman and Denison for several years, and the last named is now being promoted from Dallas to Waco, via Ennis, Corsicana and Hillsboro, with bright prospects of future success. Mr. Williams is one of the most enthusiastie workers for the development of Texas' greatness of resources, legislative and otherwise, and in the development of the interurban proposition has given some of the best years of his life. He belongs to the Odd Fellows, Elks, K. of P., W. O. W., A. O. U. W. and A. D. of S. He was early in the work of organizing, and was one of the first members of the United Sons of Confederate Veterans' Association. A man of fine presence and a strong and impressive speaker, he was chosen the orator of Confederate Veterans' Day at the Texas State Fair, Dallas, Oct. 17, 1911, and the following is a few excerpts of his masterly oration that appeared in the daily press, which received wide notice not only in Texas, but throughout the states: "The speaker paid an eloquent tribute to the mothers and wives of the storm and stress period of the great civil struggle. He pictured the gentle Southern woman kneeling at her bedside and praying for the success of the Confederate arms and the safety of her boyish husband or loved son away on the battlefield. The stern trials from '61 to '65 were portrayed by the orator, who pictured the ragged Confederate veteran sus- tained by sublime faith in the justice of his cause to endure almost superhuman hardships. "The orator dwelt on the struggles of the South in the gloomy reconstruction days after the war and pointed out the fact that the Confederate veteran is not only the hero of the battlefields, but also the force which has produced the South of today.
"The speaker declared that the fame of the man in Gray would outlive granite and was more precious than gold and silver vessels. Confederate veterans, he declared, have much to be proud of in what they accomplished against overwhelming odds and in the dear memories of glorious days. The speaker referred in reverent terms to the greatness of Lee, Jackson, Joseph E. and Albert Sidney Johnston. Then turning, he pointed to the picture of General Cabell, who has 'passed over the river and is now resting under the shade of the trees. We should reverence the name of our own Gen. Caball,' he said, 'Old Tige who won that great victory at Corinth in a hand to hand combat. The Sons of Veterans should keep afresh in their minds and those of their children the deeds of the heroes of the civil war,' he declared. ' When I heard the strains of Dixie it reminded me of Jackson at the first battle of Manassas,' said the speaker. 'The battle seemed to be going against the Confederates,' said the speaker. 'General Bee rushed to Jackson and said, "General, they are beating us back." "We will give them the bayonet," said Jackson. Bee went back to his men and pointed to the immov- able line Jackson was commanding. 'Look, men,' he said, 'There stands Jackson like a stone wall.' The speaker declared that the South had fought for a greater constitutional principle and for the protection of its homes and that it was right and not wrong in the struggle of fify years ago."
192
Mr. Williams was married Oct. 21, 1885, to Miss Blanche Satterfield, of Ellis county. There was born to them two sons and one daughter, the danghter deceased in childhood. The eldest son, Howard, twenty-two, is teller in the Commonwealth National Bank, Dallas, and Ilorace, eighteen, is attending Terrell's School for Boys. The home is at 1520 Annex avenue.
WILLIS, Nolan Richard
Mr. N. R. Willis, of Pittsburg, and another of the old comrades who wore the uniform of the Gray during the internecine strife of 1861-5, was born on his father's farm in Monroe county, Georgia, Sept. 5, 1844. His father, O. J. Willis, was also born in that county. He was a plantation owner and slaveholder and died there in 1861, aged fifty-five years. His wife before marriage was Miss Anna Johnston, native of Monroe county, and died in 1863, aged fifty-one years. There were born to them eight sons and seven daughters, of which number there are now living the subject of this sketch, N. R. Willis and W. H. Willis, who is now con- nected with the city government of Barnesville, Pike county, Ga.
Mr. Willis tells the writer that he was "fotched up" in Georgia, and was sixteen years old when he enlisted in the Confederate army, at Big Shanty, on the W. & A. railway, May 29, 1861. He joined Co. B., 3rd Ga. Bat., Inf. Sharpshooters, Dr. J. M. McDowell, captain, and M. A. Stovall, colonel. He campaigned through Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, North and South Carolina, and participated in the battles of Murfreesboro, Perryville, Ky., Cumber- land Gap, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, from Dalton, Atlanta and Jonesboro, back to Tennessee, ueder Gen. Hood at Spring Hill, Franklin, Nashville and again at Murfreesboro. He was under Gen. Joseph E. Johnston at Greensboro, N. C., when the surrender came. In second battle of Murfreesboro he fought in Gen. Wm. B. Bates' Division and Cheatham's Corps. He was never wounded or captured, and never failed to answer a call to arms. On Feb. 16, 1865, he was happily married in Bibb county, Ga., to Miss Harrison S. Jones, who was born in Sumter county, Ga. There were born to them seven sons and two daughters, and those now living are as follows: Thos. E. Willis, merchant tailor at Corpus Christi; W. C., decorator and painter, and M. P., sign writer and painter, Pittsburg; Mrs. C. J. Yancey, Fort Worth, and Miss Erin S., at home. Mr. Willis first came to Texas in 1874, and settled on a farm near Simpsonville, Upshur county. Throughout all these years he has been a farmer in that county, and continues to live at the old home-place near Pittsburg, though he has since April, 1911, been engaged in the mercantile business in this little city. His store is located on one of the main business streets and he now enjoys a nice trade. Mr. Willis worships with the Baptist church, belongs to the K. of P. and Odd Fellows, and has been a Mason for the past thirty-two years. When asked by the writer which of the unsurpassed list of Confederate generals he considered the greatest Mr. Willis was quick to say that he considered Gen. Joseph E. Johnston the superior, and that "he was a gentleman with it." Personally Mr. Willis is one of the most substantial citizens in Camp county, and his many commendable traits of heart and mind has endeared him to a wide circle of friends.
WALTERS, Addison Davis
In every town or community there is to be found at least one individual who overshadows his fellow-citizens for his intelligence and progressive prosperity, and but for this class of men all communities would remain dormant and undeveloped. Mr. A. D. Walters is accorded this distinction in Piekton, Hopkins county. This gentleman was born in Deshoba county, Miss., June 13, 1861, and remained there until coming to Pickton in 1892. Born on a farm, this attractive and profitable pursuit has monopolized the greater part of his life, though he was successfully engaged in mercantiling at Pickton for seventeen years, the misfortune of fire putting him out of business April 4, 1909. Mr. Walters owns three farms in the neigh- borhood, and on the one near town has twenty acres devoted to peaches and five acres to that of apples, specializing Elbertas, Mamie Ross, Sneeds, Arp's Beauty, Dewey's and Augberta peaches. His orchard interests are the largest in this section of the state. Mr. Walters is also an admirer of all kinds of fine stock, having on his place the Lexington, Hamilton and Hal breed of horses, Black Mammoth Tennessee Jack, Jersey cattle and Poland-China hogs. Mr. Walters has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Mary Frances Lovelady, of
193
his native county of Neshoba in Mississippi, who died Oct. 27, 1907, and by whom he had three sons and six daughters. His second wife was Miss Georgia Frances Isbelle, of Rockwell county, Texas, and to whom he was joined in wedlock Dec. 15, 1910.
Mr. Walters is handsomely pleased with his change from Mississippi to East Texas, and it is this character of men that is doing so much toward developing this section of the state. He believes the East Texas country is the finest fruit and vegetable part of the universe- Michigan not excepted-and for diversified production and expense thereof is the best farming section of Texas and has no equal in the United States. During the fruit aud vegetable ship- ping season Mr. Walters is a heavy dealer, and is one of the influential factors in the Truck & Fruit Growers' Association. He belongs to the Baptist church and W. O. W. lodge.
YEAGER, Judge James E.
Judge Yeager can claim the proud distinction of having been born in the aristocratic state of Mississippi, on his father's planta- tion in Grenada county, Nov. 6, 1859. His father, Elijah R. Yeager, was a native of West Ten- nessee, and lived forty years in Grenada county, Miss., where he died at the age of fifty-seven. His mother was a Miss Riley, of Tus- caloosa, Ala., and to this union eleven children were born-eight sons and three daughters-the oldest son, John, being killed in the Confederate army at the age of seventeen. Judge Yeager grew up on the farm, attended the common schools of his native neighborhood, and finished his literary education at Bethel Col- lege. Mckenzie, west Tennessee. Taught three years in public schools of Mississippi, after which he decided that Grand Old Texas was the best place for a young man to better his condition. Came to Houston in 1882, to Waco in 1883, and here took a course in Hill's Business College. . In the meantime he was in the book publishing business, and in 1885 went to St. Louis, where he was for three years connected with one of the largest book publish- ing concerns in the west. In 1888 he returned to the city of Waco, and for several years afterwards conducted a book publishing house on Austin avenue. Becoming fascinated with the legal profession, he studied law under the preceptorship of Maj. Peare, Chas. A. Boynton, 'Esq., and Judge Eugene Williams, and was admitted to the McLennan county bar in 1897, since which time he has practiced that which Blackstone styled "Anything that was stoutly affirmed and ingeniously defended." Only once in his lifetime has Judge Yeager sought public office. In 1900 he was a candidate for city alderman in a warm contest, his plat- form pleading for a commissiou form of government, clean and paved streets, concrete side- walks, and the purchase of the Bell Water Company's plant as the only feasible plan for the future benefit of the city, all of which were immediately brought about by the administration that caused his defeat, so strong was the demand of the people for these reforms and improve- ments. Judge Yeager was also largely responsible for the changing of Waco's public school
194
system from the control of the city council to that of the trustee system-another modern reform. For twenty years the city of Waco had issued licenses to "Inmates of the Reserva- tion." After the people had petitioned the city administration in vain, Judge Yeager took the matter up, established its legal status, and had the heathenish custom discontinued. He was the first man in Texas to advocate the commission form of government-even before the Galveston cyclone calamity-and can now view with pleas- ant equilibrium its growing popularity through- out the nation. A born Southern Democrat, Judge Yeager is progressive and independent in his political views, and is unalterably opposed to bad morals and corruption in office, whether in the city, the county, the state or the nation, of which the vicious trust systems are among the offspring, and his relentless fight against exorbitant fees, salaries and mileage within the confines of the W. O. W. lodge but reflects his absolute fearlessness once he decided a propo- sition needs the "third degree of purification." As a progressive citizen Judge Yeager can always be depended upon to do his share toward the local welfare and civic development, he being an ex- tensive property owner. As a profound lawyer his practice was a success from the beginning, and he is generally retained in important cases. As a citizen he is one of the best known in Central Texas. For five years Judge Yeager was secretary of the local K. & L. of H., ten years clerk of the W. O. W., and is also a member of the Woodmen Circle, Pretorians and First Baptist church, of Waco. He was married April 3, 1884, to Miss Addie Chambers, of Bellville, Texas. It is our pleasure to produce a portrait in connection with that of her husband, from the fact that she is one of this city's noblest church, lodge and charity workers. For a long time she was secretary of No. 2 Society, First Baptist church, of Waco; was guardian of the Woodmen Circle, and served among the chief officers in the K. & L. of H., and a number of other organizations. Judge Yeager's law office is Room 14, Chambers Block.
YORK, Rev. H. G.
Alabama, which splendid state is fast growing to be a progres. sive empire within itself, has contributed a liberal share of citizen- ship to the populating and development of Texas, and especially is this sprinkling of numbers considerable in Hopkins county. Having a high standing in the army of ex-Alabamians is Rev. H. G. York, Treasurer of Hopkins county. This gentleman was born on a farm in Calhoun county, Ala., March 27, 1845, and there matured to young manhood. Mr. York comes of a family who have accepted the gauge of battle in life and promptly met every emergency of good citizenship in the community in which they resided. His grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier under Gen. George Washington; he had one uncle in the Mexican war, two brothers and many other relatives in the civil strife, and lumself and two brothers are ministers of the Gospel, he being a Baptist, they Methodists. At an early stage of the civil war, in August, 1861, when but sixteen years old, Mr. York enlisted in the Confederate army,
195
Co. K., 18th Ala. Infantry; was in numerous engagements, among which were the battles of Corinth, Chicakamauga, and being taken prisoner at Missionary Ridge was kept in the Rock Island (Illinois) prison for eighteen months, where he was mustered out at the close of hostilities. The war being over, he went to the western plains country and spent three years helping to build the Union Pacific railway, after which he returned to his native Alabama and married Miss Katie Dison, of St. Claire county, July 27, 1869, seven children being born to them, three daughters and one son deceased. Nine years later, with his family, he came to Paris, Texas, later lived at Cooper, Delta county, and Pickton and Como, this county, moving to Sulphur Springs last year upon being inducted into the county treasurer's office. Brother York has been a minister of the Gospel, Baptist denomination, for the past forty years, his first charges beginning in Alabama and continuing along his career since coming to Texas, having charge of the Cooper church for three years, the Como church eight out of the ten years he resided at that place. Held in the highest esteem for his exalted Chris- tian character and practical citizenship wherever he has lived, his has been a model in the light of those to follow him, and no better citizen lives within the confines of Hopkins county. He also keeps apace with the current thought of the day, and occasionally indulges his literary taste in the public prints. Mr. York is a Mason, an Odd Fellow and is making an accept- able county officer. Politically he is a staunch Democrat with all its embellishments.
1951
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.