USA > Texas > Past history and present stage of development of Texas. Memorial and biographical history matter of the Lone Star state > Part 9
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
a
61
known and most popular men in McLennan county, makes his connect and services with whatever house he may be associated a valuable asset. A man of a hiel order of intelligence, always pleasant and hospitable toward strangers and friends alike, he enjoys life to the limit and seeks to make his friends happy, with the result t .. 't his office quarters have many and frequent callers-especially among the old soldiers.
Mr. Cook's father, Louis Benson Cook, was a merchant, farmer and land-owner on a large scale in Graves county, Ky., and founded the town of Buena Vista. In 1858 he disposed of his interests with a view of coming to Texas, but the approach of the civil war checked this intention, and he died at Boydsville, Ky., in October, 1862. His mother was Miss Mary Jane Simms, who died in April of the same year of her husband, aged thirty, having borne four sons and one daughter, the daughter and one son having since died.
CRAIG, Judge Kossuth R.
Aug. 12, 1900, aged sixty-nine years.
Judge K. R. Craig, of Dallas, and one of the distinguished lawyers and citizens of Texas, was born in Jackson Parish, Louisiana, Nov. 1, 1849. His father, James L. Craig, was born in Montgomery county, Alabama, Dec. 11, 1821, and was a brick-mason, tanner, and during latter part of his active life engaged in saw-mill business in his adopted state of Louisiana. He matured to young manhood in Montgomery county, and was there married to Miss Elizabeth E. Fields Jan. 14, 1847. To them were born three sons and six daughters, and of the living, three daughters and one son now reside in Louisiana, one daughter resides in McCulloch county, Texas, and Judge Craig in Dallas. Soon after marriage the parents moved to Southeastern Arkansas in 1846; to Jackson Parish, Louisiana, in 1849, and to Ouachita Parish later, where the father died Feb. 1, 1871, aged forty-nine years. As a Con- federate soldier he enlisted in Col. Morrison's 31st Louisiana Regiment-though he was exempt from service on account of his age. After his death the mother came to Texas with the chil- dren, but remained only a few years, and returned to Louisiana, and died at Shreveport,
Judge Craig spent his boyhood days in Ouachita Parish, La., where he attended common schools in log-cabin, and read a civil course in law before he left that state. In January, 1870, under advice of Dr. C. G. Young, of early-day history and fame, he came to Texas, and settled in Collin county. Taught country school for six months, and in meantime read law at McKinney under the instruction of firm of Throckmorton, Brown & DeArmond, during which time there developed warm ties of attachment between him and Chief Justice (Thos. J.) Brown of State Supreme Court, and ex-Gov. James W. Throckmorton, who died April 1, 1894. Judge Craig afterwards worked in district clerk's office at Mckinney, and was admitted to the bar in November, 1871. He engaged in general practice in Collin county until 1890, when he came to Dallas, and has since confined his activities to civil practice. On April 3. 1887, he was married to Miss Olivia Allen, daughter of Dr. J. S. Allen of Ennis, and three sons have been born to them-the oldest died in childhood; James Laird, nineteen, is a student in State University at Austin at this writing, and Jack Throckmorton, sixteen, is attending private school in Dallas. Both are exceptionally promising young men. The family residence is at 4303 Main street, while Judge Craig's office is 510 Scollard building, Main street. Judge
62
Craig's paternal grandfather, Nathan Henry Craig of North Carolina, took part in Revolu- tionary war, and Nathan Henry Craig's father was a Scotchman and one of the early-day colonists. Judge Craig's maternal grandfather was a well-known Methodist minister in pioneer and trying days of Alabama. His father had two brothers to participate in second battle of Bull Run, and these two and one other brother were in Siege of Vicksburg, Miss., during civil war, hence it will be seen that Judge Craig's antecedents are replete with inter- esting and historical memories that should inspire the youth of the present day. Personally Judge Craig has spent his life in performing that which was best for his fellows and country, and his name is justly considered among the benefactors of mankind in the advancement and development of Grand Old Texas, being a man of the purest home life, lofty ideals, whole- some integrity and broad culture. An able lawyer, he has also been a successful one. He has served in prosecuting district attorney's office, and a number of times has been called to the bench by appointment, and had never permitted the use of his name as an aspirant for public office until making his formal announcement in September, 1911, as a candidate to occupy the State Supreme Court bench. Judge Craig is in every way admirably qualified for this high and important position, and Texans would honor themselves by honoring him with the same. Judge Craig has in his possession an old family Bible, printed in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1789, which, though having been through a severe fire, is in a comparatively good state of preservation. In it is written the birth dates of his grandfather, Nathan Henry Craig, and his two brothers.
CULBERSON, Senator Charles A.
Senator Culberson, of Dallas, was born in Dadeville, Tallapoosa county, Ala., June 10, 1855; is the eldest son of the late David B. Culberson, for twenty-two years consecutively a member of the House of Representatives from Texas, and Eugenia Kimbal Culberson, daughter of the late Dr. Allen Kimbal, of Alabama; removed with his parents from Alabama to Texas in 1856; resided at Gilmer and Jefferson until 1887, when he moved to Dallas; graduated from the Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, in the class of 1874; studied law under his father and at the University of Vir- ginia in 1876-77 under Professors Minor and Southall; was the final orator of the Jefferson Literary Society and judge of the student law court, University of Virginia, in 1877; was elected attorney-general of Texas in 1890 and 1892; was elected governor of Texas in 1894 and 1896; was a delegate at large to the Democratic national conventions at Chicago in 1896 and at St. Louis in 1904, and was chairman of the Texas delegation at both; was chosen United States Senator Jan. 25, 1899, with only three opposing votes, to suc- ceed Senator Roger Q. Mills, and was unanimously reelected in 1905-11. His present term of office
will expire in March, 1917.
Senator Culberson belongs to that school of politicians and statesmen that are rapidly passing out of the public life of Texas and the Nation, and the fact that he has yet about five years of his present term to serve reflects an archaic system and proves how irresponsive is the body of the United States Senate to progressive public opinion. Contrary to being a leader of men, Senator Culberson belongs to that school of politicians who carefully sound the road- bed of public sentiment in advance of jumping the ditch, and this antiquated custom, once styled "shrewd politics," has lost him much ground of late in progressive Texas. Personally,
63
Senator Culberson is an elegant gentleman-which all men holding power and office can afford to be-but what the people want now is relief, and men that will give us relief now are men of action, absolute and undaunted courage, and whose hearts are positively with the masses- entirely removed from all farcical and thin-veiled conspiracies. Senator Culberson is out of joint with the times in which he is now living.
CATHEY, Jethro Brown
Mr. J. B. Cathey, of DeSoto, Dallas county, was born on his father's farm in Blue Grass section of Middle Tennessee-Maury county, Aug. 26, 1838. His father, William Graham Cathey, was born in Maury county in 1806; lived the life of a farmer and died in the com- munity in which he first saw the light of day June 2, 1856. He also served for a number of years as postmaster at Isom's Store, Maury county, and was otherwise a valuable and morally useful citizen of his neighborhood, being a Democrat and member Christian church. His father and paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, J. B. Cathey-Griffith Cathey -- was born in Rowan county, North Carolina, in 1776, and only missed by a few days being born a British subject. He was a farmer, magistrate, and respected for his high morals and unshakable integrity. Mr. Cathey's mother was nee, Miss Emily A. Brown, who was born in Williamson county, Tenn., in 1819, and was married to William Graham Cathey in July, 1836. There was born to them four sons and two daughters, all of whom are living excepting James A. Cathey, who died in October, 1904, at age of sixty-two years. Those living are the sub- ject of this sketch, J. B., Griffith R. of Coleman county, Texas; Mrs. Olivia Anderson, Hick- man county, Tenn .; Mrs. Sarah J. Dickey, Gail, Borden county, and William Graham, Hunt county, Texas. The family is noted for healthy physique, strong intelligence, and but one of whom weighs less than two hundred pounds.
Mr. Cathey matured to young manhood in his native county of Maury, and was in the civil war from its beginning to its ending. In Maury county he enlisted in Confederate army June 5, 1861, Col. A, Ist Tenn. Reg. of Cavalry, Capt. G. M. V. Kinzer, of Maury county, and Col. James T. Wheeler of Giles county. Campaigned through Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, North and South Carolina. Took part in the engagements at Spring Hill, Chicka- mauga; helped to fight Sherman from Dalton to Atlanta, then back to Franklin and Nash- ville, Tenn., and being at Charlotte, N. C., when the surrender came from Gen. Jos. E. Johnston at Greensboro. He responded to every call, enjoyed splendid health throughout the war period, and was never wounded or captured. The war being over, he returned to his old home in Tennessee and took up the threads of life where he had left off, engaging in mercantile busi- ness at Duck River in Hickman county. Here he was married to Miss Isabelle White Ander- son, of a well-known North Carolina family, March 29, 1866, and to them were born three daughters and two sons. She died in Hickman county in 1883, and the following children are yet living: W. G., Max A. (road commission Dallas county), Mrs. Ada B. Baker, DeSoto, and Mrs. Lizzie Scott, Howard county. Mr. Cathey was a second time joined in wedlock Sept. 22, 1885, to Miss Fannie May Wilhelm of Paducah, Ky., but who was at that time teaching school in Maury county, Tenn., she being of a fine Kentucky family and a lady of culture and intellect. In 1895 Mr. Cathey came to Texas and located at DeSoto, Dallas county, where he has served twelve years as postmaster, and has since been engaged in mercantile business, and in connection with his oldest son, W. G. Cathey, the style of the firm at present is J. B. Cathey & Son. Mr. Cathey has been a member of the Christian church since 1866, and is a high-toned Christian gentleman. He is a Democrat of the old school, and has no patience with the crime of the liquor traffic and corruption in public affairs.
COPELAND, J. Pitt
Texas is proud of her sons of the legal profession. From the day of their necessity in the earliest settlement of this grand old state they have performed well their part in the con- struction of our legal, social and commercial life. In doing so they have manifested them- selves as high-toned and honorable men, of lofty ambitions and moved with patriotic impulses. In this connection it is pleasing to state that the bar of Hunt county is conspicuous for the
64
lustre it has shed upon the state-its citizens especially speaking in the proudest terms of its character and ability. One of its distinguished members is that of Mr. J. Pitt Copeland, County AAttorney, and who is as good a citizen as he is a lawyer. Mr. Copeland was born in Pike county, Ala., Oct. 28, 1876, though his parents were former Georgians. His father, J. T. Copeland, was born in Harris county of that state, as also was his mother, who was, before marriage, Miss Sarah Cox. They were there married; later lived in White county, Ala., and came to Franklin county, Texas, in 1877, when the subject of this sketch was but six months of age, and there died Feb. 18, 1886, at age of sixty-five. A few days later the mother died, aged fifty. The father was a farmer all his life, fought in the Confederate army, was a loyal and ardent Mason, and the couple worshipped in the Baptist church faith. Those of the children now living are: Mrs. I. A. Williams, of Delta county; Mrs. R. C. Pender, of Royse, Rockwell county; Mrs. J. H. Meyrick, ot Wolf City, Hunt county, and Messrs. J. C. W. H. and J. Pitt Copeland, all of this state.
Mr. J. Pitt Copeland obtained his literary education at the Wolf City High School and the Mt. Vernon Institute, and read law under the tutorship of Hon. R. E. Davenport, of Mt. Vernon, where he was admitted to the bar in May, 1901. On Sept. 1, 1901, he "flung his shingle to the breeze" at Wolf City, this county, where he served as city attorney for four years, and where he continued to practice his profession until his election to the office of County Attorney in 1910, his majority over the next best of his three opponents being 240 votes. Hence, at this writing, Mr. Copeland is now in the midst of his first term, and accord- . ing to Democratic custom, making an acceptable official, he will at least be given a second term at the hands of the people. Being now in the flower of his vigor, that of thirty-five years of age. Mr. Copeland is earnest, able and clean, and has a full sense of his social responsi- bilities toward advancing Christian morals and the development of this section of Grand Old Texas. It must be said of him that he made the race to represent Hunt county in the lower house of the state legislature in 1908, in which he was defeated by only twenty votes in this district, and should he have been successful he would have faithfully represented the true sen- timent of his people. Mr. Copeland was married Dec. 23, 1905, to Miss Bessie Hill, who was born and reared in White county, Tenn. They have one son, Jefferson L., four years old.
CARDEN, Asa Oliver
One of those men who came to Dallas in earlier years, foresaw its wonderful future, has shown his faith in his investments and thoroughly interested himself in everything which pertained to the progress of the city, is Mr. A. O. Carden. He was born in East Tennessee, which picturesque mountains, pure water and bracing air breeds large bone and muscle, big- brained men and cultured women, and where people go to heaven after they die. Mr. Carden first saw the light of day Sept. 3, 1845, on a farm on famous Clinch river in Roane county, East Tennessee. His father, Geo. W. Carden, was born Feb. 2, 1812, in mountains of Western North Carolina, near Tennessee state line, his parents moving to Kingston, Tenn., in 1821. where he for many years conducted his establishment as a wheelwright, making wagons, buggies, carriages, plows and other farm implements in the good old-fashioned way. He was a soldier in both the Mexican and civil wars and fought in Confederate army, though East Tennessee was a hotbed of Federalism. He was a good neighbor, a man of well-established honesty and steady industry, and died at Kingston Dec. 2, 1892. Mr. A. O. Carden's mother was nee, Miss Tempie Wilson Howard, who was born in 1821 at Clinton, Anderson county, East Tennessee. Of this marriage there was born four sons and five daughters, and those living are as follows: A. O. and D. F. Carden, lawyer, of Dallas, and Mrs. Martha Johnson and Mrs. Margaret Fritts, of Roane county, Tenn. The mother died at the old home in Roane county, Sept. 9, 1867.
When the civil war came on Mr. A. O. Carden chose to cast his lot with the Confederate cause, and joined Capt. Kincaid's Company, Col. J. H. Walker's Regiment of Cavalry, and served with Bragg's army most of the disturbed period. Peace being declared, he returned home, farmed for a few years, mercantiled, took up carpenter's trade and soon afterwards engaged in contracting and building. In 1876 he turned his face to the West, with Fort Worth as his destination, but landing in Dallas he could get no further, believing this the
65
coming metropolis of the Southwest. When he came to Dallas it had about 8,000 people; it now has approximately 125,000 souls. Mr. Carden at once engaged in contracting and build- . ing line, and for many years was very active in the development of Dallas along this line, and a large number of the first buildings erected in this city was the result of his handicraft. In meantime he purchased vacant lots and erected buildings of his own, with result that he is today in easy financial circumstances and retired from active business. While a merchant at Clinton, Tenn., Mr. Carden was married to Miss Della, daughter of Sirus Cox, of Anderson county, in 1875, and she died in Dallas, Jan. 4, 1909, aged sixty-one years. Of the two sons and two daughters born of this union one son and one daughter died young, and living are Mrs. D. E. Britton, whose husband conducts one of the finest drug stores in Dallas, and A. O. Carden, Jr., a graduate of Terrell Business College of Dallas, and in pharmacy from South- western University, Georgetown, Texas. Dating from the early days of Methodism the Carden family have continually worshipped in this faith. While Mr. Carden has never sought political office, he has always took an interest in good government and the advancement of mankind, as becomes all exemplary citizens. He is one of the well-known men about Dallas, and in the sunset of his career is taking life good-naturedly, philosophically and troubles now bear lightly with him.
CHRISTOPHER, John William
It will be news to many this late day to know that there are today in Texas somewhere between 250,000 and 300,000 Tennesseans-born and descended-and there have been periods in the past when the great body of those from the Old Volunteer State were sufficient in number to hold the turning point of political power, though the question of one's previous statehood has never been permitted to become an issne in Texas politics. One of those to break away from family ties and life-long comrades in his Tennessee home and come to Central West Texas twenty-seven years ago was Mr. J. W. Christopher, Treasurer of Taylor county. Mr. Christopher was born Sept. 19, 1845, at Eagleville, in what was then Williamson, but is now Rutherford county, Middle Tennessee. His father, J. F. M. Christopher, was born in that 'section of the state in 1816, and died at the old home place in Eagleville in 1892, aged seventy-six years. He lived the life of a mechanic, was for many years magistrate, and was a member of the Odd Fellows and Cumberland Presbyterian church. His wife was, nee, Miss Lourena White, who was also born and reared in the Eagleville neighborhood. She died there in 1852, during an epidemic of cholera, after giving birth to five sons and one daughter. Those now living are: Mrs. Adelaide White, of Brownwood, Texas; T. M. Christopher, of East Nashville, and B. F. Christopher, farmer at Rockdale, Rutherford county, Tennessee, and J. W. Christopher, the subject of this sketch,
Mr. J. W. Christopher, Treasurer of Taylor county, received all his boyhood impres- sions and was educated back in his Tennessee home, and where he also taught in the public schools for sixteen years. Upon coming to Texas in 1884 he first located at Buffalo Gap, the first seat of government of this, Taylor, county. Taught in the public schools of this . county for eight years, and was elected tax assessor, in which official capacity he served for eight successive years. Was next City Secretary, Tax Assessor and Collector, covering a period of eight years. Was chosen to the office of County Treasurer in 1906, and is now finishing his third term. Mr. Christopher has been twice married-his first wife being Miss Virgin Low, of Paytonville, Williamson county, Tennessee, to whom he was joined in wedlock in 1872, and of this union two sons were born, to-wit: A. R. and Low W. Christopher. The wife died in February, 1884, and Mr. Christopher was a second time married to Miss Anna M. Moore, of Buffalo Gap, this county, in 1891. Of this marriage there are two daughters and one son, as follows: Misses Willie Mae and Oneita, and
66
J. W. Christopher. When Mr. Christopher first came to this section of the state twenty- seven years ago Abilene was a town of about 1,500 people; today it has about 14,000 population. From the day he came here he was a strong believer in the future greatness of Central West Texas, and time has vindicated his most sanguine expectations. He has never lost an opportunity to sing its praises, and has never failed to contribute of his time, influence and money when it was a question of advancing the general interests of Taylor county and its people. Mr. Christopher belongs to the Knights of Pythias, and has reached the distinction of Grand Patriarch of State of Texas in Odd Fellowdom.
COLQUITT, Gov. Oscar Branch
Gov. Colquitt was born at Camilla, Mitchell county, Ga., Dee. 16, 1861. Came to Dainger- field, Morris county. East Texas, with parents Jan. 8, 1878, and first three years worked on rented farm. Attended public schools and old Daingerfield College, where he was instructed by Rev. E. M. Sweet, now of Georgetown. Hi application for a job of firing or braking on East Line & Red River railroad was turned down, but later was given job as porter at Dainger- field depot. He next turned lathe in furniture factory at Daingerfield at $1.25 per day, which he quit to begin learning printer's trade at $12.50 per month on Morris County Banner. Hc later conducted Pittsburg Gazette, which he dis- posed of to Judge F. A. Lockhart. Served in state senate from 1895 to 1899, eight months as state revenue agent, and was then on tax board revising revenue laws of state. In 1902 was elected railroad commissioner to succeed Gen. John H. Reagan, and held this position for a number of years. Was elected governor of Texas iu 1910, and is now in midst of a stormy, turbulent term. It is not unfair to Gov. Colquitt to say that he preached for peace in Texas as a candidate, but before he was swoim into office he began to embarrass the usefulness of the Attorney-General's Department, and at this writing strained relations exist between him and most all other of the state departments. Instead of considering himself as governor of all the people of Texas he seems determined to punish his enemies at the expense of the state. The people are hopeful that he will show more ballast and do better. In December, 1885, Gov. Colquitt was married to Miss Alice Murrell, of Pittsburg, and they have four sons and one daughter.
CHOATE, James Rufus
Mr. J. Rufus Choate, Treasurer of Kaufman county and a man of a remarkable family record, was born on a farm in the Wolf Creek neighborhood of Lawrence county, Middle Tennessee, July 27, 1843. His great-grandfather, Thomas Choate, was married to Elizabeth Keeth in Ireland, and came to America-they being among the earliest Virginia colonists. He was killed at Old Fort Dinwiddie by the Tories during the Revolutionary war, and his wife died in Virginia. His grandfather, Thomas K. Choate, was born and reared in Virginia; was in the war of 1812, and was a soldier in Gen. Andrew Jackson's army when he fought and won the battle of New Orleans in 1815 and immortalized the American army. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Renfro, of Virginia, and both died at a ripe age in Lawrence county, Middle Tennessee. Mr. Choate's father, Esq. Edward Choate, was born in Virginia in 1818, but reared in Lawrence county, Tennessee. In the
67
Florida war of 1836, he helped to drive the Indians out of that state. He was married to Miss Nancy Atwill, who was born in Virginia but reared in the same neighborhood of Lawrence county, Tennessee, where she died in 1861. Thirteen children were born to them, eleven of whom lived to maturity, and as a reflection of those healthy days, "only had the doctor with two of them." Just-after the civil war, his wife having died, the father migrated to Johnson county, Arkansas, where he died iu 1882, at the age of seventy-five, and in which neighborhood there still live many of his descendants.
When the time came to test the steel of Southern manhood to cross swords with the North in the civil war, Mr. James Rufus Choate showed the courage that was handed down to him by an ancestry that had never failed to respond to their country's call in time of peril. Enlisting April 16, 1861, at Wayland Springs, Lawrence county, in Company I, Capt. John D. Ives, and Forty-eighth Tennessee Regiment, Col. George H. Nixon, who was a Mexican war veteran and was in the battle of Monterey. Mr. Choate experienced service in Teunessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Virginia, North and South Carolina, and was with Gen. Joseph E. Johnson near Greensboro, N. C., when the surrender came. Was three times wounded, as follows: In the battle of Perryville, Ky., Oct. 8, 1862, in left leg; battle of Chickamauga, Sept. 20, 1863, broken thigh, and laid on the battle field four days and uights without any food and only three drinks-two of water and one of whiskey, the last named given him by Rev. William Qualls, a Baptist minister of Wayne county, Tennessee. Was a third time wounded in the battle of Atlanta, July 28, 1864, and laid out for dead, but he soon afterwards recovered. Mr. Choate fought under Gen. Albert Sidney Johnson in the battle of Shiloh, under Gen. Kirby Smith at Richmond, Ky., Aug. 13, 1862; under Bragg at Stone's River and Bellbuckle, and was in all the battles of the Georgia campaign, and was never out of hearing of the artillery or small arms from battle of Resaca on May 16 to July 28, 1864. In 1871 Mr. Choate left his Tennessee home, and settled iu Kaufmau county March 1 of this same year, where he has spent the greater part of his life as a farmer. On Sept. 19, 1872, he was happily married to Miss Mary Jane French in this, Kaufman, county, but who was born near Florence, North Alabama, and for thirty-nine years they have fought side by side the battle of life, blending their joy and tears. They lost three sons in infancy and have reared four sons and three daughters to strengthen their lives. Mr. Choate never went to school but four months in his life-previous to becoming nine years of age-and never had but one book, that of the old Blue Back Speller, a jewel representative of the good old days. However, he had the greatest God-given gift to man, that of a liberal store of good common sense, and being a close observer and a student of affairs in general, absorbed a useful and sufficient education. He informed the writer that he learned most of his academic education through the method of instructing his children in their school lessons, novel as it may seem. Mr. Choate was elected Treasurer of Kaufman county in November, 1910, for a two years' term, and the efficient manner in which he is conducting his office affairs, and his popularity throughout the county among all classes, insures him a re-election for a second term. Personally Mr. Choate is a gentleman of the highest traits of honor and is one among the most congenial of men, being a full blooded American Irishman. He and his family worship with the Christian church, he is a Past Master Mason, and has been a member of this, father of all orders, since 1872. While attending the national gathering of the United Confederate Veterans at Little Rock in the summer of 1911, Mr. Choate took occasion to attend a family reunion in Johnson county, of that state, where were gathered sixty-four descendants, there being in existence something more than one hundred at present time. Mr. Choate belongs to the J. B. Stewart Camp, C. V. Association, Terrell, and also the Terrell Guards.
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.