The encyclopedia of Texas, V.2, Part 56

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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684

N. Virud

النهائى

ـترات ماتتشكلى ايمادة تعليلات بكلداد ماشرب،

دمة

ـمنة محد

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

Mr. Todd has been a member of the Cattle Rais- ers' Association for many years, and also is a mem- ber of the Sheep Raisers' Association. Through- out the long period of his residence in Fort Worth, he has been a constant worker for the upbuilding of this city. Although he has devoted his life to the various branches of the cattle industry, he has been a helpful agent to other industries of the state, where he is known as a valuable citizen, link- ed with all its development projects. He is a real cattleman, a loyal friend and a progressive citizen.

A. NORED, senior member of the Nored- Hutchens Commission Company of Fort Worth, has been active for a quarter of a century in the livestock commission circles of this city and the company which he heads is one of the outstanding firms in this state.

A native of Tennessee, Mr. Nored was born in Paris, May 18, 1881. His father, T. J. Nored, was engaged in farming in Tennessee, and came to Texas in the early '80s locating in Paris, where he remained until 1890, when he moved to Fort Worth. His education was received in the schools of Fort Worth, graduating from high school here. During his school days he worked at various kinds of employment, first being a herder of milk cows around on the south side of the city. During this time he decided to make the cattle industry his life work and when twenty-two years of age he started in the commission business in a small way. By hard work and careful attention to details he has built up one of the strongest organizations in this field. He came to Fort Worth in 1890, and prior to starting in the commission business on a large scale, was engaged in fattening cattle for market and is still active in this industry. He has a ranch in San Saba County, which consists of 4,300 acres, besides some leased land, and an- other in Erath County, with two large silos fifty by twenty feet in size. He also has a large feed lot north of Fort Worth where he feeds cattle throughout the winter months. These interests are personal, but in the commission business Houston P. Hutchens, has been his partner for four years, although associated with the firm for fifteen years. The Nored-Hutchens Commission Company, with offices in the Stock Exchange Build- ing, handles about two hundred cars of live stock each month. Ten people are employed in the operation of this commission business, all of whom are experienced in their respective departments.

Mr. Nored was married in Kentucky, September 14, 1918, to Miss Alberta Hampton, a native of Tennessee, and a member of a well known family of that state. Her father, S. L. Hampton, for many years was one of the best known and most popular railroad conductors of the State of Ten- nessee. Mr. and Mrs. Nored have one child: Mary Martha, six years of age. By a former marriage to Miss Sallie Elizabeth Sloan, a member of an old and honored family of San Saba County, Texas, one child was born: Eugene, now seventeen years of age, The Nored home is located at 1625 West- moreland Place.

Mr. Nored is a member of the Central Methodist Church and the Cattle Raisers' Association and has always been active in matters pertaining to the

welfare of his city, where he has a host of friends and is known as one of Fort Worth's enterprising business men and loyal citizens.

ILLIAM BEN YOUNG, of Fort Worth, has spent his entire life in the livestock business, which he started in a minor position when twenty years of age and since 1926 has been the executive head of one of the largest and best known livestock commis- sion firms of the Southwest. Mr. Young is president of the National Livestock Commission Company which was organized in 1888, by Tom Kelley and his associates in Michigan and moved to Fort Worth when the market opened here. The Com- pany buys and sells livestock on a commission basis, and the amount remitted to shippers during 1927 was opproximately six and one-half million dollars. Two thousand, eight hundred and twenty- nine carloads of cattle, sheep and hogs were han- dled and a great number driven in and hauled by truck. The business extends throughout the South- ern States. Six people are employed in the opera- tion of the National Livestock Commission Com- pany, besides the officials, Mr. Young looking after the selling department. Offices are located in the Livestock Exchange Building. Other offi- cials of the company are: J. B. Young, manager; C. E. Allen and C. G. Hadley, vice presidents, and E. P. Van Zandt, secretary and treasurer.

A native son of Texas, Mr. Young was born July 9, 1885, in Tarrant County, just nine miles from the great Stock Yards of Fort Worth. His father, the late James. B. Young came to Texas in 1848 and was one of the first settlers of this part of the state. He joined the Confederate army at the outbreak of the Civil war and served through- out the conflict. At the close of the war he re- turned to Tarrant County, and for the remainder of his life was active in farming and stock raising. The education of the subject was received in the schools of Tarrant County. He remained on the farm with his father until he was twenty years of age, when he came to Fort Worth and secured a position as yard man for the Crowley-Suther- land Commission Company, remaining with them for six years. He then began as salesman with the National Livestock Commission Company in which he soon commenced to buy stock, and in 1917 was elected vice president. Since 1926 he has been president and to him is given a goodly share of the credit for the success of his firm. Mr. Young has been a resident of Tarrant County all his life and loves his city, county and state as only a native can love his home.

Mr. Young resides at the Westbrook Hotel and is a member of Lodge No. 148 A. F. and A. M., the Travelers' Protective Association, and the Christian Church. Throughout his life he has taken a keen interest in the upbuilding of liis community and is known as one of the most enter- prising citizens of Tarrant County and one of Fort Worth's most public-spirited citizens. He has a host of friends in this eity and throughout North Texas and as a dealer in livestock, he has always been an advocate of the highest standards in business and his reputation in this line is widespread.

685

MEN OF TEXAS

ASWELL OVERTON EDWARDS, a native son of Tarrant County, Texas, is a pioneer of the cattle industry of the Southwest. Reared in the atmosphere of the cattle business, he started his career in this field when barely large enough to sit on a horse and hold a bridle rein, and has spent his entire life in this line.

Mr. Edwards was the first white child born in Tarrant County, son of Lemuel J. and Elizabeth (Overton) Edwards, his birth date being January 29, 1851. His maternal grandfather, Aaron Over- ton, located near Dallas. one of the first flour mills in Texas. He moved a 6000-pound mill by ox team to Dallas County and with the exception of the horse mills was the first in this county. His father came to Tarrant County in 1848 and the following year settled here. With the exception of the time served in the Confederate Army he spent the remainder of his life here, in farming and ranching. He was widely known and highly esteemed by all who knew him. The education of the subject of this sketch was largely received in the School of Experience and through self-help. As a very young man he started in the ranching business, with his father, remaining with him until his death in 1869. After the death of his father. Mr. Edwards managed the farm and ranch for his mother, looking after the cattle on the free range all over North Texas, the main ranch, how- ever, being in Tarrant County. In 1875, with his brother, he moved to Shackelford County, grazing cattle on the free range there until 1883. After operating the Llano Cattle Company, near Post, Texas, for a short time, with others, he purchased a large ranch in Lynn County, and in 1884 moved to this ranch. Later he bought the other interests. This ranch was known all over the Southwest as the T-Ranch. For many years he owned in fee between sixty thousand and seventy thousand acres of ranch land. About eight thousand acres in small parcels have been sold to farmers. He has had about nine thousand head of cattle on the ranch but during recent years the number has been reduced. Mr. Edwards also has a 3500-acre ranch and farm in Tarrant County about five miles southwest of Fort Worth, on the Clear Fork of Trinity River, where his father settled in 1849, coming from his home in Missouri. This property is managed successfully by his son, Crawford Over- ton Edwards, who bids fair to become as great a cattleman as his father and paternal grandfather. For many years Mr. Edwards also has owned val- uable business and other property in Fort Worth.

Mr. Edwards has been married twice. His first marriage was December 24, 1874, to Mrs. Sallie Weddington, (deceased since 1909). She was a member of a pioneer Texas family. One child was born to this union, namely, Crawford Overton. His second marriage was at Benbrook, Texas, Feb- ruary 13, 1918. to Miss Mollie Childers, a daughter of James A. Childers, now retired, who came to Texas about 1877 from Tennessee, and was a farm- er and stockman. The beautiful Edwards home is is located at 556 Summit Avenue.

Mr. Edwards is a member of the Cattle Raisers' Association and the Baptist Church and has always taken an active part in the civic and commercial development of Fort Worth, where his hospitali- ty and charity is known to a host of friends. Al-

though over seventy-nine years of age, because of a temperate and outdoor life, he looks and acts many years younger, sits in a saddle all day, is alert to all activities and gives his personal at- tention to his large ranch properties. When Mr. Edwards first saw Fort Worth, as a child, it was a small settlement of log houses around the square and the business was largely that of a trading post. He has contributed his share in the making of the present magnificent metropolis. Caswell Overton Edwards is one of the few remaining cattlemen who have made history in this great industry.

ATSON HURLEY DONNELL was a pioneer in the construction business of Dallas and some of this city's largest and most important structures were built under his personal supervision. Numbered among these build- ings are the Park Hotel, the Oriental Hotel, St. Paul Sanitarium and many others. Mr. Donnell aided greatly in the early development of Dallas, heading some of the largest projects of his time, having built the first house in the Ross Avenue Heights Addition and was the real promoter of this splendid residential section.

A native of Maine, Mr. Donnell was born at Bowdoinham, February 1, 1858. His parents, Samuel and Sarah (Whittemore) Donnell were both na- tives of that State and members of prominent fami- lies. His education was received in the various schools of Maine, mostly in his native town, Bow- doinham. Coming to Texas in 1877, he started work as a carpenter and one year later removed to Dallas where he continued in this work. He associ- ated himself with Theo Beilharz, at that time one of the oldest and best known builders of this city and remained with him for a period of fifteen years, during which time he had mastered all branches of the construction business and built the largest build- ings in Dallas at that time. In 1908 Mr. Donnell retired from active building except the buildings he placed on his own holdings, and dealt some in real estate, handling only his own property.

Mr. Donnell was married in Dallas September 24, 1907, to Miss Mary A. Arnold. Her father, John M. Arnold, a native of Tennessee, was a men- ber of a well known family of that State. Her mother, Mrs. Sarah Ann (McGowan) Arnold, was a native of England, where she was reared and educated. Mr. and Mrs. Donnell had one son- Watson Whittemore Donnell, who is attending Moore's School of Dallas. The Donnell home is located at 5814 Oram Avenue.

Mr. Donnell died in Dallas November 21, 1922. Throughout his residence in this city of forty-five years, he was active in every movement for its progress and welfare. He was a leader in all civic matters and gave liberally of his time and means to every worthy project for the city's upbuilding. He was a member of the Methodist Church and was kind hearted to the extent that no worthy unfortun- ate ever appealed to him without receiving aid. While he owned much valuable property in Dallas, he never waited for the building activities to come to his property and in that way much of the city's urban properties had their first development start- ed. Mr. Donnell was progressive. public-spirited and with a foresight for greater things for Dallas, which he lived to see materialize. He was a man who has been missed both as a friend and as a business asset.

686

---

C. O. Edwards

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

E. COWDEN, JR., of Fort Worth, is widely known in the cattle, banking and real estate circles of the state, but perhaps is best known as a cattleman, having spent practically his entire life in the various branches ! the cattle industry. He inherited a liking for :hr business from his father, the late George E. Cowden, who was a pioneer cattle raiser of the Southwest.

A native Texan, Mr. Cowden was born in Strawn, September 11, 1888. His father started in the cattle industry in Texas in the early days, and drove many herds of cattle into Fort Worth from West Texas before the railroads came, and made many trips up the trail to the Northern markets. He came into the Farmers & Mechanics Bank a: Fort Worth in the early days when it was a small institution. This bank later was consolidated with the Fort Worth National Bank and Mr. Cowden, Sr. was one of the men who were active in the construction of the Farmers & Mechanics Bank Building, now the Fort Worth National Bank Building. This was at a time when faith in the future of Fort Worth was not as great as it has since come to be, but Mr. Cowden foresaw the wonderful future of this city and encouraged the building of this structure. G. E. Cowden, Jr. received his education in the public schools of Midland, Texas and Baylor University. After leaving college, Mr. Cowden went to the ranch at Midland, and did every class of work that is carried on in cattle raising. After the death of his father, Mr. Cowden took charge of the estate and has been handling it with success since that time. During his career on the ranch he went up the trail several times, one trip requiring thirty-eight days in going and returning to Texas. The Cowden estate owns two ranches, one in Erath County, South of Bluffdale, containing fourteen thousand acres on which there are about one thousand head of cattle and the other of about nineteen thous- and acres located in Frio County with about fifteen hundred head of cattle. Mr. Cowden looks after his own cattle and properties as well as his father's estate. G. E. Cowden, Jr. has been a resident of Fort Worth for more than twenty years and during this time has become associated with some of the leading business and financial institutions of this city. He is a director of the Fort Worth National Bank and Fakes & Company, and also deals in real estate, handling mostly his own property.

Mr. Cowden was married in Waco, Texas, De- cember 31, 1908, to Miss Anna Lee Newton, a native of Waco and a member of a well known family of that city. Her father, the late J. D. Newton, was one of the leaders in the insurance business of Waco and Central Texas for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Cowden have one child; Dor- othy Lee, seventeen years of age, a student in Holton Arms, Washington, D. C. The Cowden home is located at 1527 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Mr. Cowden is a member of the Fort Worth Club, the Texas Cattle Raisers' Association and the Broadway Baptist Church. He is active in all movements for the betterment of Fort Worth and gives liberally of his material aid and time to all projects with the welfare of his city as its object. He is known as one of the enterprising cattlemen of the Lone Star State, and has a host of friends throughout the Southwest.

H. (BOB) BROWN, of Fort Worth, has spent his entire life in the various branches of the cattle industry, his activities ranging from a cowpuncher on a Texas ranch to the presidency of the oldest and one of the largest livestock commission firms of this city. Mr. Brown is the president and buyer of the Evans-Snider- Buel Company, which was established here in 1872. It does a general livestock commission business, dealing in cattle, hogs and sheep, covering in its activities all of Texas and parts of Oklahoma, Ar- kansas and Louisiana. They handle about 8,000 head of livestock per month. Other officers of the company are: C. E. Stetler, vice president and R. B. Mayo, secretary and treasurer.

A native Texan, Mr. Brown was born in Gal- veston, April 8, 1869. His father, R. A. Brown, a Confederate veteran, for thirty-five years was a prominent figure in the commercial life of Galves- ton, where he was engaged in the cotton business, also handling coffee and sugar on a large scale. The early education of the subject of this sketch was received in the schools of Galveston and in a business college. He started his career in the cattle industry as a cowboy on a ranch in Limestone County, where he remained for three years. In 1890 he engaged in the mule business in Sherman, and for six years was active in this line. He then went into the cattle business for himself at Calvert, Texas, buying an interest in an oil mill and fed cattle at that place. He used the output of the oil mill, consisting of hulls and cotton seed meal in the feeding business which he continued for about eleven years. Later, he became associated with the Evans-Snider-Buel Company, but carried on his own business at the same time. In 1900 he bought a 10,000-acre ranch in Throckmorton Coun- ty, on which he has 1000 head of registered stock.

He came with his present company as solicitor at $60 per month. After seven years he became order buyer, and was the first man to buy cattle on the yard on orders. In 1905 he was made manager, which position he held until 1916. The men who were working for the company, purchased all the stock in 1919. J. S. Todd, was president until Dec. 31. 1927, when he resigned and Mr. Brown became president. He makes frequent trips into the coun- try to purchase cattle, and is regarded as one of the best cattle buyers of the country. The Evans- Snider-Buel company handles more registered cattle than all other commission houses of Fort Worth combined. They also buy from two hun- dred to three hundred registered bulls each year for their customers.

Mr. Brown was married in Hearne, Texas, in 1890, to Miss Belle Scott. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Brown: Alabelle, now Mrs. James R. Record; Dorothy, now Mrs. E. T. Mor- ris, of Austin; Betsy, now Mrs. Charles E. Clowe, and R. A. Brown, manager of his father's ranch. Mr. Brown was married a second time, in January, 1920, to Miss Emily Hellman of St. Louis, Missouri. The Brown home is located at 1921 Hillerest Avenue.

Mr. Brown, since coming to Fort Worth, has been interested in civic betterment, and in up- building Fort Worth. He is known as one of the enterprising business men, and has many friends in all parts of the state. He has seen the cattle industry grow from the trail-driving days, to the modern methods of handling livestock, and has been a factor in its progress.

687

MEN OF TEXAS

UDGE JOSEPH ELMORE COCKRELL, a leading Texas jurist, well known lawyer, exponent of education, prominent Mason, loyal and progressive citizen, was for sixty- three years a resident of Dallas where he was the senior member of the widely known law firm of Cockrell, McBride, O'Donnell and Hamilton.

A native of Missouri, Judge Cockrell was born near Warrensburg, Johnson County, December 27, 1859. His father, Jeremiah Vardeman Cockrell was a native of Missouri, and a leader in the busi- ness circles of his community and State. His mother, Mrs. Jane (Douglass) Cockrell, was a member of a prominent family of Kentucky. Judge Cockrell came to Texas with his father with General Ster- ling Price's Army on its retreat in the autumn of 1864, coming direct to Dallas, where they remained until the Spring of 1865 when they removed to Grayson County, remaining there until 1883. As a boy, he received his education at Captain J. H. LeTellier's private school at Sherman, later gradu- ating from Washington and Lee University at Lexington, Kentucky, with the degree of Master of Arts. A year later, he received his degree of bachelor of law and was admitted to the bar at Sherman, but he did not enter actively into the practice of his profession at once, instead, he taught Latin and Greek at Austin College for one year. He then went to Abilene, Texas, where he estab- lished .his home and office and started in the prac- tice of law in 1883. He entered a partnership there with H. A. Tillett under the firm name of Cockrell and Tillett and soon built up a large prac- tice. A few years later he formed a partnership with his brother Fred Cockrell, the firm then be- coming Cockrell and Cockrell. In 1895, Judge Cockrell returned to Dallas and continued the prac- tice of law, where he soon became known as one of the beacon lights of the legal profession of Texas, and during his practice of more than thirty years in this city he was associated with many of the important cases which came before the Courts of this State.

Judge Cockrell was married in Homer, Louisiana, January 27, 1885, to Miss Emma Lee Meadors, a member of one of Louisiana's best known families. Her father, Dr. J. E. Meadors, was one of the lead- ing physicians and planters of Claiborne and con- tiguous Parishes. Her mother, Mrs. Mary Anne (Traylor) Meadors, was a member of a pioneer family of LaGrange, Georgia. Four children. all of whom are girls, were born to Judge and Mrs. Cockrell: Mary, now Mrs. A. V. Cockrell of Dallas; Jane, now Mrs. Wade H. Adams of Richmond, Vir- ginia; Josephine, now Mrs. Josephine Cockrell Wat- kin of Dallas and Anne. now Mrs. Edward G. Stew- art of Dallas. The Cockrell home is located at 4107 Gaston Avenue which has always been a great social center.

Judge Cockrell died in Dallas, April 7, 1927. He was a 33rd degree Mason, Past Master of the Dallas Lodge and when the Trinity Valley Lodge was formed became its first master. He was a life member of the University Club, a member of the Critic's Club, was President of the Dallas Bar As- sociation, was Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Southern Methodist University of Dallas, and was President of the Dallas National Bank from the time of its organization until his death. He was a member of Grace Methodist Church and

was active in religious circles of his denomination, not only of Texas and the Southwest, but of the entire country and was Chairman of the Building Committee which built Grace Methodist Church of Dallas. Judge Cockrell, although active in political matters of his State and Nation, was never a seeker for office, but during the regime of Governor L. S. Ross, he was appointed by this beloved executive to the bench as a special district judge. Emory Uni- versity honored Judge Cockrell with the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws. Southern Methodist University was closed in honor of the deceased jur- ist and the campus flag lowered to half mast on the day of his death. As a citizen, a lawyer and a friend, Judge Cockrell distinguished himself in such a way that the loss involved in his death was keenly felt. As a resident of Dallas he contributed the leadership and standing of a respected member of the bar as well as the influence of a thorough- going gentleman in all relationships of life. He practiced his profession of law in accordance with the highest ethics of the legal brotherhood. Hon- orable himself, he accorded honor and trustworthi- ness to his professional brethren. Kindly, cour- teous, genial, he commanded not only the respect but the sincere and affectionate regard of the en- tire circle of his acquaintances. A gentleman of the old school, his sort are missed keenly and their places in the community and State will not be filled, and the death of no member of the Dallas bar ever caused more sincere sorrow than did that of Judge Joseph Elmore Cockrell, pioneer lawyer, honored jurist, and loyal friend to the poor and rich alike.

UDGE JAMES GORDON RUSSELL, of Dallas, prominent lawyer, distinguished jurist, law-maker of a nation, for more than forty years was an illustrious Texas citizen who, in his early life, was a militant stand- ard bearer of Democracy, and in his riper years, honored in the house of elder statesmen.

Judge Russell was born in Alabama, December 23, 1856, but was reared in Georgia. His father, Henry Russell, was a native of Georgia, and his mother, Mrs. Mary (Gordon) Russell, of Georgia, was a close relative of General Gordon. His edu- cation was received in the public schools of Georgia, and in the University of Georgia, from which he graduated at the age of nineteen years. Soon after leaving college, young Russell started his career as a school teacher, reading law during his leisure moments and was admitted to the bar of Georgia before he reached the age of twenty- one. In 1877 he came to Texas and began the practice of law, which he continued, with the ex- ception of the time he was in office, for more than thirty years. He was the first county judge of Van Zandt County and served with distinction in this office for several years He then served two terms as district attorney of Smith County, and two ternis as state district judge, after which he was elected to Congress serving four terms. Dur- ing his last term in Congress he was appointed by President Taft, to the Federal judgeship of the eastern district of Texas, and served in this im- portant office for ten years.

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The encyclopedia of Texas, V.2, Part 56

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