The encyclopedia of Texas, V.2, Part 35

Author: Davis, Ellis Arthur, ed; Grobe, Edwin H., ed
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Dallas, Texas Development Bureau
Number of Pages: 1328

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On October 9, 1896, Miss Kate Lester Lamar be- came the bride of Col. Crawford; Wm. Lester Craw- ford is their one son. The family residence is at 3709 Ross Avenue.

Col. Crawford has been one of the most active of Texas' citizens, rendering many state services such as chairman of the Bill of Rights in the Constitu- tional Convention of 1877, in call sessions of the legislature of 1893, but principally as the most powerful and eloquent of criminal lawyers of the South and ranking with the foremost in this line any where in his generation. That the name of Crawford in its influence and usefulness in one of the noblest professions will be perpetuated is as- sured for the coming years as Wm. Lester Craw- ford, son of Col. Wm. L. Crawford, is already a successful practising lawyer, having inherited the talents of his father.

ENRY C. COKE, attorney at law, senior member of the law firm, Coke & Coke, American Exchange Bank Building, one of the most successful of the older attorneys of the city is widely known throughout the state through his connection with some of the most im- portant litigation that has been heard in Texas.

Mr. Coke was born in Norfolk, Virginia, May 30, 1856. His parents were William W. and Lucy Corn- ick Coke. He was educated in private schools in William and Mary's College and took his law eourse in the University of Virginia. In 1878, the year of his graduation, he was admitted to the bar in Vir- ginia and practiced for two years in that state. In 1881 he came to Texas and located at Dallas. Hc later helped establish, in company with Alex S. Coke, the law firm of which he is still a member. The practice of some of the largest corporations in Texas is handled, among them being the Texas Land and Mortgage Company, the Texas Portland Cement Company, Sanger Bros., and the Texas Midland Rail- way. In addition to this he represented the state in the first railroad commission case in Texas and defended the Standard Oil Company when they were sucd by the state, these being two of the most cele- brated cases in the history of the state. In addition to his legal interests, Mr. Coke is vice-president of the American Exchange Bank.

Mr. Coke was first married to Miss Roberta Rosser to which union two children were born, Rosser and Roberta. On April 16, 1890, he was married to Miss Margaret Johnson. To them were born four children, Richard Wellesley, Lucy W., Anne B., and Henry C., Jr.

Mr. Coke is a member of the Dallas Golf and Coun- try Club and of the City Club. His far-reaching legal activities have made him one of the most widely known attorneys of Texas and during his long residence in Dallas he has become the center of a group of ardent admirers and close friends.

ILLIAM THOMPSON, of the law firm of Thompson, Knight, Baker & Harris, Dallas, through a law practice of thirty-three years has built up the reputation of being one of the most able insurance lawyers in the State of Texas securing more precedents in insurance de- cisions before Appelate and Supreme Courts than perhaps any other one man in Texas.

Mr. Thompson was born in Austin County, Texas. His parents were William Thompson and Sarah Eliz- abeth (Paine) Thompson. They came from North Carolina to the Lone Star State in 1859. Austin County became their home, later Washington County, Brenham, Texas, was their residence, where their son grew up and was educated first in the public schools and then in the University of Texas. In 1887 Mr. Thompson was admited to the bar and began his practice in 1888 at Dallas, Texas, forming a partner- ship with W. C. Kimbrough. In 1891 he became a member of the firm of Evans, Zorch & Thompson. In 1893 he formed a partnership with Richard Mor- gan ,which association continued until 1896. In 1898 he affiliated with Mr. Wm. Alexander and W. F. Clark under the name of Alexander, Clark & Thomp- son, which firm continued until 1899, when the firm became Alexander & Thompson until 1908. He practiced by himself following this tinie until 1914. when he became associated with the present firm. Hle has been largely interested in litigation in in- surance and perhaps in fire insurance more than any

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other line of litigation. He has had many cases of state interest.

In 1887, Mr. Thompson married Miss Fannie Car- others of Austin, Texas. They have seven children- Wm. Carothers Thompson, an attorney, Helen, who is now Mrs. R. A. Sanderson, Robert Treat Paine Thompson, Francis, Sarah, David, Bomar and Har- old Frederick. The family residence is at 5017 Live Oak Street.

Mr. Thompson is a member of the Sigma Nu Fra- ternity at the University, Upsilon Chapter. He is a member of the Dallas Country Club, the City and State Bar Association, and other organizations.

As one who has specialized in insurance matters of importance, Mr. Thompson is one of the leaders in this phase of legal practice. He has been a resi- dent of Dallas since 1884, and among the citizen- ship has a host of friends.

OBERT E. LEE KNIGHT, member of the prominent law firm of Thompson, Knight, Baker and Harris, has for over thirty years not only been a most successful practitioner at the Dallas bar but he has gained prominence throughout the state by the wholesome interest he has always taken in public life. As president of the Dallas State Fair Association for three years he was the main factor of the success of that great institu- tion and as a director of the same at the present time he exerts an influence for good in the develop- ment of the greatest state fair in the country. As a lawyer he ranks among the foremost of the state and the firm of which he is a member is considered as one of the strongest in Texas. Its clientele in- cludes many of the largest companies of Texas, among which are: The City National Bank, Sears- Roebuck Company, National Bank of Commerce, Titche-Goettinger, the Westinghouse Company, the National Bank of Commerce of New York, Stone and Webster and many other oil and insurance companies of great magnitude.

Born in 1865, on the old Knight homestead four miles northwest of the present city of Dallas, R. E. L. Knight, is a son of Obadiah W. and Serena C. (Hughes) Knight. The father came to Texas in the late forties, became an extensive farmer and stock- nian and was one of the largest slaveholders in this part of the country. The son received a good ele- mentary education in the public schools of his native county and then attended the Southwestern Univer- sity, Georgetown, from which he graduated in 1886 with the degree of Master of Arts. His legal train- ing was obtained at the University of Texas, from which he graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. Subsequently he took a postgraduate course in law at the University of Virginia under John B. Minor and in 1889 began practice at Dallas. He began practice with J. L. Harris, upon latter's death in 1902 he formed the firm of Finley and Knight, later becoming Finley, Knight and Harris, of which W. R. Harris was the third partner. This firm was dissolved in 1910 by the death of Jno. D. Finley and the firm of Thompson, Knight, Baker and Harris was organized.

In 1890 Mr. Knight married Miss Annie Arm- strong and they are the parents of six children: Thomas A., Mary Watts, R. E. L., Jr., Henry C., Marion A., and Richard Allen. The Knight home is at 2804 Maple Avenue, Dallas.

In civic associations Mr. Knight is a member of the Dallas Club, the City Club, the Dallas Country Club and the Automobile Club. He served as presi-

dent of the State Fair for the years 1916, 1917 and 1918, and is a director of the association at the present time. He is a member of the Texas State Council of Defense, being chairman of he committee on "Co-ordination of Societies." Mr. Knight is a democrat in politics and although he has never run for political office he has been very influential in political circles for the past twenty years. During the war he was very active in aiding the government and besides, like the late Theodore Roosevelt, giving up five of his boys, who enlisted in the army, one of whom was wounded, he was one of the famous "dol- lar a year men."

R. HARRIS, member of the well-known law firm of Thompson, Knight, Baker and Har- ris, 1601 American Exchange National Bank Building, Dallas, gained statewide recognition in the prosecution of the impeachment bills brought by the Legislature of the State of Texas against James E. Ferguson, governor. In that trial he was associated with General M. M. Crane, of Dallas, and by their legal ability and skill they successfully brought about the impeachment of the governor. Thompson, Knight, Baker and Harris have the distinction of possessing one of the largest legal libraries in the state and at the present time enjoy the patronage of a large clientele, which keeps ten lawyers busy in the office of the firm. They are the attorneys for the Stone and Webster Corporation and as such do all of the legal work for the traction, light, power and street railway lines owned by that concern in this city. At the present time Mr. Harris is handling a great part of the court work of the firm and personally looks after all of the litigation of the Stone and Webster Company.

A native son of Dallas County, Will R. Harris was born February 25th, 1877. He is a son of William and Martha Alice (Cochran) Harris, the former having come to Texas one year after the state de- clared her independence. He was a college man and was well known in this county as an extensive land- owner. His wife was born and raised in Dallas County. The son, Will R., was educated in the Dallas public schools, graduating from the high school in 1896. Shortly afterward he entered the newspaper and magazine business, studying law when he could find the time. In 1900 he took the bar examination before the district court and was admitted to the bar. He became associated with Finley, Harris, Etheridge and Knight soon there- after and in 1904 became a member of the firm of Finley, Knight and Harris, which continued until 1909.

In August, 1909, Mr. Harris married Miss Minnie B. Bookhout, a daughter of Judge John Bookhout, of the court of Civil Appeals of Dallas. Mr. and Mrs. Harris are the parents of two children, William R., Jr., and Dorothy M. Harris. The Harris home is located at 5703 Swiss Avenue, Dallas.

The following clubs have Mr. Harris on their rolls: Dallas Bar Association, the City Club, the Lakewood Country Club and the Chamber of Commerce.

EORGE SPENCER WRIGHT, attorney and member of the well known law firm of Thompson, Knight, Baker and Harris, came to Dallas in 1908 and has been a prominent figure in legal circles of Dallas since that time. He was first associated here with William Thompson and in 1913 became a member of the firm of Spencer, Knight, Baker and Harris. He became

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a member of the present firm of Thompson, Knight, Baker and Harris upon its organization in 1911.

Mr. Wright is a native of California and was born at Stockton, October 16, 1881. He is a son of George S. and Alice Cornelia (Spencer) Wright. He was educated in the public schools and the high school at Brenham, Washington County, Texas. He then attended the University of Texas for five years, graduating with the class of 1904.

Admitted to the bar following his graduation, Mr. Wright began the practice of his profession at Austin and was with the law firm of Gregory and Batts for four years. Judge Gregory, of this firm, was appointed attorney general of the United States by President Wilson.

Mr. Wright is an able lawyer and especially gifted in insurance and corporation law in which he has specialized. In the insurance branch of the law Mr. Wright has come to be considered one of the leaders in the Southwest.

On March 14, 1908, he was married at Austin to Miss Elizabeth Tarlton, daughter of Judge B. D. Tarlton, professor of law in the University of Texas and former chief justice of the court of civil ap- peals. They have three daughters, Nancy T., Eliza- beth C. and Alice T.

Mr. Wright is democratic in his political affilia- tions but has never aspired to public office. He is a Mason and a member of the Golf, Tennis, Ath- letic and University Clubs.

Keenly interested in civic affairs, Mr. Wright believes Dallas has a great future and is one of the cleanest cities in America. During the world war he was at the head of the American Protective League in Texas.

B. MUSE, judge of the Forty-fourth Dis- trict Court, Dallas, in a career dedicated to the law for thirty-nine years, has at- tained a dignity and fame for the justice of his judiciary faculties that easily rank him with the most able of living judges and has endeared him to the heart of a metropolis in which, perhaps, he is as extensively known as any other citizen within its bounds.

South Carolina is the native state of this present- day noted Texan. He was born at Edgefield, on December 6, 1859. His father, J. E. Muse, was a physician and dentist, of French Hugenot descent and later enjoyed the distinction of being the pioneer dentist of the Lone Star State. He came of a family active in Revolutionary service, as did Amelia (Burt) Muse, the mother of E. B. Muse. The mother's grandfather was active personally in the Revolu- tionary War as were also his nine brothers and father of this patriotic family. As the family had yielded to the call of the Lone Star State, Texas gave the youth his education. In 1879 he gradu- ated with an A. B. degree from Baylor University, the oldest educational institution in the Southwest, which was founded during the days of the Republic of Texas. He then studied law in the office of Basset & Muse (J. C.). In 1882 he was admitted to the bar in Brenhaur, Washington County, and practiced with the firm of Basset, Muse & Muse. This affilia- tion lasted for three or four years when it was broken by E. B. Muse who then moved to Cameron in Milan County. Here he remained for six years, two of which he was county judge of Milan County. In 1896 he came to Dallas and established a partner- ship with J. E. Cockrell in a firm known as Cock- rell & Muse. After four years of serving the

public in this capacity, in 1900 Mr. Muse began practise by himself and so continued until 1902 when he was elected as judge of the criminal dis- trict court. He served in this position until 1907 when he resigned to take the judgeship of the Forty- fourth District Court, made vacant by the death of Judge Richard Morgan and to which he was ap- pointed by Governor T. N. Campbell. He has been elected to continue this service, and every time without opposition with the exception of one time.

On May 6, 1884, romance held sway and Miss Elenore Bassett, the oldest daughter of Attorney Bassett, became the bride of Mr. Muse. She comes of a Revolutionary family that claims George Wash- ington as a kinsman. They have two children, Cavin and Willard B.

The public holds his judgeship in the highest esteem and proudly ranks Judge Muse as one of the first citizens.

UDGE ANSON RAINEY. Fifty years of successful service as one of the Southwest's most able judges, in the last twenty of which he has been crowned as occupant of the Chief Justice's Chair for the Fifth District of the Supreme Court of Appeals-is the record of Honorable Anson Rainey, of Dallas. In a half century of daily performance of duty, he has be- come one of the best known and universally esteemed men of his profession.

Anson Rainey was born at Eldred, Arkansas, on March the 1st, 1848. He is the son of Columbus and Nancy (Baker) Rainey. His father was a busi- ness man of ability. After completing the common and high school system of his state, young Rainey answered the call of the South and entered the Civil War in August of 1863. He served through the remainder of that awful conflict, coming out a faith- ful private. He was with Co. A of the 16th Con- federate Cavalry, under Captain J. M. Winston, serv- ing under Lee and Wheeler. At the end of the war, a youth of eighteen but a veteran of the two hardest years of the war, Anson Rainey returned to the old home place in Green County whither the family had moved at the father's death. He took up the mercantile business in Alabama where he clerked for a while but came to Texas in January of 1867, the state which he has since served so ef- fectively and which has honored him. He removed from Crockett, where he had first located, to Bryan. After a two-year-and-nine-months residence in Texas, he moved to Delhi, La., where he resided one and a half years. In that state he was licensed to practice law on July 6, 1871. In 1873 he returned to Texas, locating at Waxahachie where he prac- tised until he was promoted to the bench on July 6, 1885, on the fourteen anniversary of his admission to the bar. In August of 1893 he was appointed Chief Justice of the Fifth District Supreme Court of Appeals in which service he is today.

Judge Rainey married Miss Fannie I. Meriwether, of this union there is one daughter, Edna, now Mrs. A. E. Fenn.

Judge Rainey is a Democrat, a member of the Christian Church of Disciples, a Mason. He is a Knight Templar, with all the degrees. He served as Grand Master of Texas for the year 1888. Judge Rainey does not hesitate to pronounce Texas the greatest state in the Union and Dallas one of the greatest cities of the Southwest, and in this great district he is one of the most highly esteemed of his calling.

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UDGE TRUMAN H. CONNER, Chief Justice of the Court of Civil Appeals, Fort Worth, Texas, has for more than a score of years, upheld the dignity of the bench in that judicial district over which he has presided. Prior to his election to the bench he practiced before the North Texas Bar for nearly a quarter of a century.

Judge Conner came to Texas from the Hoosier State. He was born in Peru, Indiana. His father, Samuel S. Conner, a contractor and builder, was a Virginian. His mother, Margueretta Holman Conner, was a Kentuckian. As the family came to Texas in 1855, he received his education here. He graduated from Mason College of Waxahachie and from the Law Department of Trinity University. In 1876 he was admitted to the Bar and began his prac- tice at Waxahachie. The following year he located at Eastland, Texas, where he remained for eleven years. He was County Attorney for a year or so, a United States Commissioner for several years, and from 1877 to 1888 District Judge. In July of 1887, he was appointed by Governor Ross as District Judge for the Eastland District and served in this eapacity until January of 1898. At this time he was elected Supreme Justice and is chosen again at each successive election ever since.

In 1882, Mrs. Sallie Jones of Cook County, Texas, became the bride of Mr. Conner. To them were born six children-Margaret, Annie, George who is an attorney in Ft. Worth, Francis, Truman Jr., and Elsie. After the decease of his first wife, Judge Conner married Ophelia Brigham of Abilene, Texas.

Judge Conner holds a membership in the Masons, Knights Templar, and the Knights of Pythias and the Methodist Church. No man of his calling has enjoyed the honor and respect of the people more than has Judge Truman H. Conner.

H. BURNEY, Attorney-at-law, of the legal firm of Cowan and Burney, Reynolds Bldg., Ft. Worth, Tex., has the prestige that comes from practicing under the same firm name for more than twenty years in one of Texas' leading eities. This, with his native ability, has given him acquaintance and a large usefulness that is surpassed by none in his city today.

Mr. Burney is a native Texan, having been born on the banks of the Gaudalupe River in Kerr County on April 16, 1859. His father, Judge H. M. Burney, was a well known pioneer Judge of Kerr County. His mother, Mary A. Tatum Burney, still lives to this day in the home where her lawyer son was born. He has six brothers one of whom, R. H. Burney, has been District Judge for a quarter of a century. Kerr County public schools started the youth's edueation. From Southwestern University, in 1880, he received his A. B. degree. In 1882, he graduated from the Law Department of Vanderbilt University. This same year he was admitted to the Bar in Tennessee, but instantly eame to Texas where he began his praetice at Colorado. Twelve years later, in 1892, he moved to San Antonio where he practiced as Mayfield, Ball & Burney for two years. In 1896, he located at Ft. Worth and has ever since practiced in this city under the firm name of Cowan & Burney.

Mr. Burney's positions have been many. He was eity attorney at Colorado; he has served as Special District Judge; he is Representative for the Matador Land & Cattle Co., for thirty years, with ranches covering 1,000,000 acres, for the Cattle Raisers Asso- ciation of Texas for twenty years, Representative for

the T. & P. Ry. while at Colorado, and is a director of the F. & M. National Bank of his own city. For one term he served on the Ft. Worth Park Board. He is a trustee of Texas Women's College, Ft. Worth, Texas.

In 1896, at Ft. Worth, Miss Belle L. Stonemets of Colorado, Texas, became the bride of Mr. Burney. They have no children. Mr. Burney is a Mason, a Knight Templar, a Knight of Pythias, and a member of the Rivercrest Country Club. He is a leader among the men of his profession.

OBERT E. LEE SANER, senior member of the law firm of Saner, Saner, Turner and Rogers, Dallas, as a past president of the Texas Bar Association and as former vice- president of the American Bar Association, has be- eome well established in the legal fraternity of this county and has gained a substantial reputation as a lawyer throughout the Southwest. His twenty-five years of practice have been interwoven with a eon- tinuous business and public activity and today he is associated with many of the large business con- eerns of Texas. The firm of Saner and Saner was organized in 1897 and continued under that name until 1916 when Mr. Chas. D. Turner was admitted to it, and in 1920 Major J. W. Rodgers was also ad- mitted as a partner. In civil and corporate practice it has become well known not only in its honie city but also throughout the state.

Born on a farm near Washington, Arkansas, August 9, 1871, R. E. L. Saner is a son of John Franklin and Susan Crawford (Webb) Saner. His father served as a Confederate soldier throughout the war between the states and after the war re- turned to his former home and renewed his planting activity. Mr. Saner was educated in the publie and high schools of Washington and Hope, Arkansas, from which he graduated in 1887. During the fol- lowing year he taught school and in 1888 entered Searcy College. In 1889, being short of funds, he was forced to engage in the newspaper business and became editor of the Searcy Morning Call, which permitted him to attend school in the morning and devote the evenings to the editing of the paper. In 1890 he became the general agent of the Searey and West Point Railroad and after two years had saved enough money to resume his studies. He entered Vanderbilt University in 1892 and while there was prominent in oratorical and debating work. In 1895 he moved to Dallas and in the same year entered the University of Texas at Austin, graduating the next year with the degree of LL. B., after which he returned to Dallas and opened his offices. In 1899 Mr. Saner was made secretary of the State Democratic Executive Committee, and eon- tinued in that position until the latter part of the same year when he resigned to become the attorney for the Landed Endowment of the University of Texas, which place he still retains. In 1901 he was elected a director of the Texas Bar Association, having served as chairman five times. In 1911 he was elected vice-president and in 1912 he became president of the association. In 1908 and 1909 he was vice-president of the American Bar Association for Texas and was a member of a special committee of that body on judicial reform in the Federal Courts. In 1910 he was elected to the Grand Coun- eil and was chairman of the Grand Council in 1918, 1919 and 1920. He is at present one of the editors of the American Bar Journal. Mr. Saner is also

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president of the United Securities Company, vice- president of the Provident Loan Company and was for several years vice-chairman of the executive committee of the Texas Electric Railway. He is a director of the Security National Bank.

On March 31, 1903, Mr. Saner married Miss Ileaine Smith, of Brenham. Mr. and Mrs. Saner and their daughter, Dorothy Lee, live at 4625 Bryan Street. In fraternal relations Mr. Saner is a mem- ber of the Alpha Tau Omega College Fraternity and is now worthy high chancellor of that organization. Ile is also a life member in all the Masonic Bodies, Knight Templar, 32d degree K. C. C. H. Shrine and Red Cross of Constantine. Ile was one of the or- ganizers of the Lakewood Country Club and the Cedar Crest Country Club, is a member of the Uni- versity Club and the Dallas Chamber of Commerce.

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The encyclopedia of Texas, V.2, Part 35

Author: Davis, Ellis Arthur, ed; Grobe, Edwin H., ed Publication date: 1922 Publisher: Dallas, Texas Development Bureau Number of Pages: 1328

Author: Davis, Ellis Arthur, ed; Grobe, Edwin H., ed
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Dallas, Texas Development Bureau
Number of Pages: 1328