USA > Texas > The encyclopedia of Texas, V.2 > Part 69
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OHN T. WITT, of Dallas, was a pioneer surveyor of the Lone Star State and per- haps did more work in the territory con- tiguous to this city than any other man of his profession. His work was largely confined to railroads and he was associated with many of the largest railroad surveying and building projects of his time.
A native of Texas, Mr. Witt was born near Paris, March 28, 1845. His father, A. J. Witt, a mem- ber of a pioneer family of Illinois, born in 1815,
came to Texas in the late '30s and settled near Mckinney, where he engaged in farming, and was a member of the State Legislature from Collin County for three terms. The mother of the subject, Mrs. Harriett (Rattan) Witt, was a native Texan and a member of a prominent family of Collin County, who also were pioneer Texans. Ilis education was received in the private schools of Lamar and Collin Counties, and he studied at night in order to become a civil engineer and surveyor. When seventeen years of age he enlisted in the Confederate army and served the last two years of that conflict under General Gano. As a young man he started his life work as a surveyor, number- ing among his many achievements, the location of and later the building of the Santa Fe railroad from Dallas to Paris. Following this, he located the line of the Cotton Belt railroad, the Weather- ford & Mineral Wells Northwestern railway and the lines of interurban railroads out of Dallas, and his last work was the Southwestern Interurban railway to Irving. Mr. Witt served Dallas County in various capacities, being a faitliful and efficient official in all offices to which he was elected by the people. He was county surveyor in 1880 and sery- ed as tax assessor from 1890 to 1892, and was again elected to this office in 1902. In 1918, he retired from all activities.
Mr. Witt was married in Dallas County, Septem- ber 12, 1880 to Miss Laura Frances Sweet, a native of Montague County and a member of one of its pioneer families. Her father, L. W. Sweet, settled in Red River County, in the early '40s where for several years he was engaged in school teaching, being one of the first school teachers in that county. He later moved to Kaufman County, and was the first county clerk of that county, later going to Mantague County, where he settled and was a captain in the Indian wars of Texas in 1860. Later, he engaged in the manufacture of furniture. Late in life he purchased a farm in Dallas County, and died a few years later. The mother of Mrs. Witt, Mrs. Margaret C. (Barnett) Sweet, was a native of Mississippi, who came to Texas with her parents as a young girl, settling in Lamar County, where her father was a large stock raiser, farmer and plantation owner. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Witt, three of whom are living and are residents of Dallas: Earl L., engineer of the City of Dallas; T. L., (deceased) ; Tinna, now Mrs. A. A. Fischback and Alyne, now Mrs. J. Fred Morris. By a former marriage to Miss Nance Johnson, a sister of Jay Roll Johnson, for many years sheriff of this county, five children were born : Jackson F., a member of Nagel, Witt & Rollins, engineers; Alonzo (deceased) ; Mary Erwin, now Mrs. J. H. Cooke, of Dallas: Lulu M., now Mrs. H. H. Gowins, of Dallas and Nannie, now Mrs. E. A. Smith of Fort Worth. The Witt home constructed in 1893, is located at 1717 Second avenue, and was one of the first to be built in this part of the city. Mrs. Witt now resides at 1727 Second avenue.
Mr. Witt died in Dallas. December 30. 1921. He was a member of the I. O. O. F. for thirty years and received a medal awarded for the twenty- five years of membership. He was a member of the South Dallas Christian Church for forty years and was an elder in this church at the time of his death. Mr. Witt was a Texas product and one of which the state had reason to feel proud.
736
G. S. OTEY
NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS
OHN ALLEN PHILLIPS, for more than thirty years, was a well known figure in the commercial life of Dallas, where he was engaged in the ice and fuel business, being associated with different firms, but the greater part of this time his business was conducted under the firm name of Phillips & Hall.
A native of Missouri, Mr. Phillips was born in :- 68. His father, W. B. Phillips, throughout his .fe, was engaged in farming in the state of Missouri, where he was highly esteemed. His education was received in Missouri and Kansas. As a young man, Mr. Phillips came to Dallas where he became associated with the Independent Ice Company, Mater becoming a member of the firm of the People's ice & Fuel Company, after a few years he formed a partnership with Mr. Hugh M. Hall, and this Arm continued in the ice and fuel business, be- coming one of the leaders.
Mr. Phillips was married in Dallas, November 24, 1892 to Mrs. Lottie (Gillingham) Rucker. Her father, Harvey W. Gillingham, a native of Ohio, throughout his life was one of the leading mer- chants of that state. Her mother, Mrs. Mary (Fultz) Gillingham, was a member of a well known family of Ohio. Mr. and. Mrs. Phillips had no children, but reared and educated five orphans: Clyde B. Gillingham, well known engineer, with the Trinity Cotton Oil Company, of Dallas; Walter J. Gillingham, in the employ of the city of Dallas; Blanche Gillingham, married to Will Clark, (de- ceased) of Dallas; Grace Gillingham, of this city; und Roy W. Gillingham, a graduate of the West Dallas High School, and with the Dallas Power & Light Company. Walter J. saw service during the World War, having volunteered, becoming a member of Company A, 144th Infantry, 36th. Division. He was presented with the distinguished service medal, and the Croix de Guerre by the French Government for distinguished service in battle. The Phillips home is located at 1321 Caldwell street.
Mr. Phillips died in Dallas on March 24, 1924. !le was a member of the K. K. K. and active in this organization. During his early manhood, he was a member of the Missouri National Guard, with headquarters at Emporia, Kansas. Mr. Phillips, in addition to his business, was assistant chief of police under Mr. Ben Brandenburg and his work luring the west Dallas flood in which one man was drowned when the railroad embankment gave way, is remembered by all who were residents of this city at that time. He rescued several families, after which he returned through the dangerous current for his favorite dog, bringing him to safety. While to him it was as naught, it is a noteworthy fact that during this trying time with the turbulent flood waters, Mr. Phillips worked . more than thirty hours without food or rest. As to his kindly, charitable nature, the fact that he Frared and educated five orphan children, tells this part of his life's history, better than words "an toll. While his church membership was with the Baptist Church, his funeral oration was preached by the Rev. A. C. Parker, pastor of the Rosemont Christian Church. His funeral was one of the most largely attended of this city, and it is said by those who attended that it was also one of the most impressive, many men in the large audience being visibly affected.
This great
tribute to Mr. Phillips was due largely to his kind- ness to the orphan and friendless children, and he remarked often to his friends that it was one of the regrets of his life, that he was not able to take care of more. Mr. Phillips was that kind of man, who indelibly left the impression of his character on Dallas and the citizenship.
ENRY TOCKHORN for more than a quarter of a century was one of the enterprising and esteemed merchants of Dallas, Texas, where he owned and operated one of the first dry goods stores established in East Dallas.
A native of Germany, Mr. Tockhorn was born March 13, 1865. His parents, both natives of Germany, died when Mr. Tockhorn was seven years of age and he came to America alone, direct to Kansas City, where he had relatives. His educa- tion was received in public schools of Kansas City, and as a young man, he came to Texas after having heard and read so much of the opportunities offer- ed in this state. In 1900 Mr. Tockhorn came to Dallas and engaged in the tailoring business, which he continued for several years and then started in the mercantile industry, establishing his store in East Dallas, becoming one of the oldest merchants on Second Avenue. Mr. Tockhorn, with two other men, had the first three stores in this locality. His business prospered and being one of the enterpris- ing pioneers of this locality, he kept pace with the growth of Dallas, during the long period in which he was in business on this street.
Mr. Tockhorn was married in Dallas, Texas, September 14, 1922 to Mrs. Susie Staten Wallace, a native of Mississippi, and a member of a well known family of that state. Her father, Madison Franklin Staten, a member of a pioneer family of Mississippi, volunteered his services to the Con- federacy and served throughout the Civil war. Her mother, Mrs. Louise (Pannell) Staten, was a member of a well known family of Mississippi, who had assisted in the making of the history of that state. Her father, Richard Welton Pannell, was a large landowner, and her grandfather, owned many slaves and much land prior to the Civil war. The grandfather was a pioneer of 1783 and was the father of fourteen children, numbered among which were three sets of twins. Mrs. Tockhorn has four children by a former marriage, Lillie Pearl, now Mrs. R. L. Willis; Letamae, now Mrs. J. W. Stokey, with the City of Dallas; James W. Wallace and John Richard Wallace, who are conducting the mercantile business founded by their step-father, are well known among the younger generation of business men of Dallas. The Tockhorn home is located at 2303 Second avenue and the store at 2301 Second avenue
Mr. Tockhorn died in Dallas, April 7, 1926. He was a member of the International Travelers Association. and attended the First Baptist and Lutheran Churches. He played a leading part in many movements for the growth of Dallas and the development of Texas and the amelioration of the condition of the needy. He was a highly esteemed merchant and wisely builded his institution on a foundation that will endure throughout the years. As a resident of Dallas he contributed the leader- ship and standing of an enterprising merchant as well as the influence of a thoroughgoing gentleman in all relationships of life.
737
MEN OF TEXAS
RTHUR MATTHEWS DONNELLY, of Fort Worth, was one of the real veterans of the oil and gas business, starting when the production was in the early Eastern fields, and following the tide of development to the Midcontinent states and to central, and far west Texas. Mr. Donnelly came to Fort Worth in 1922, and was the president of the Eastland Oil Company and the A. M. Donnelly Drilling Com- pany, both of Fort Worth. Upon locating here he operated in Eastland County, calling his company the Eastland Oil Company, from the scene of his activities. He drilled the discovery well of the Martin pool in Eastland County. He also was act- ive in the Westbrook area in Mitchell County, the Blake pool in Brown County and the Artesia pool in New Mexico. His firm, as contractors, not only drilled the discovery well of Eastland County, bringing to the notice of the oil fraternity one of the largest pools of the United States, but took a prominent part in the development of the Univer- sity pool in Crane County, drilling the first "gush- er" in that pool in association with O'Keefe and Collett.
A native of New York State, Mr. Donnelly was born in Dunkirk, August 17, 1862. His father, Patrick Donnelly, a native of Ireland, came to the United States as a young man and settled in New York State, where he was an active figure in various business enterprises of his community. His mother, Mrs. Alice (Murphy) Donnelly, also was a native of Ireland and a member of a well known family of the Emerald Isle. His education was received in the schools of New York State. He started his career in the oil industry in the pipe line construction branch of this business, working with various Standard units in New York State. During his early experience he was associated with T. H. Barnsdall, one of the oil pioneers of Amer- ica, and founder of the Barnsdall Corporation.
Mr. Donnelly put in the first gas line in East Buffalo, New York, being associated with the Roth & Myer Bros., interests. Previously he had been president and general manager of the Phoe- nix Fuel, Light & Water Company. of Phoenix, N. Y. In the early days of the Oklahoma development. Mr. Donnelly moved to Nowata, Oklahoma, and there secured his first production, while engaged as a drilling contractor. Later, he moved to Tulsa where he resided for several years, after which he came to Fort Worth and became one of the leading oil producers and drillers of this part of Texas. Mr. Donnelly was one of the best known oil men of the country, having participated in the development of many of the oil pools of note.
Mr. Donnelly was married in Bradford, Pennsyl- vania, January 12, 1887, to Miss Catherine Green, member of a well known family of Andover. New York. Her father, Garrett Green, a native of Ireland, came to the United States as a young man, and settled in New York State, where he made his influence felt in business circles. Her mother, Mrs. Margaret (McMann) Green. was a member of a pioneer family of New York State. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Donnelly: Alice, now Mrs. T. F. Vickers, of Tulsa; Garrett, of Fort Worth; Edna, now Mrs. J. T. Rudell, of San Antonio; Anna, the widow of T. L. Foster, of Fort Worth, George and Walter of Fort Worth, and Francis, of New Mexico. The sons of Mr.
Donnelly were brought up in an atmosphere of the oil industry and it was natural that they should engage in this business. Since early man- hood they have, each in turn, became associates in their father's enterprises, and have become well known and successful. Their experience was learned by industry, as they started at the foot of the ladder and learned the fundamentals of the business by hard work in the fields. The Donnelly home is located at 2308 Fifth Avenue.
Mr. Donnelly died in Fort Worth, June 15, 1927. He was a member of the Fort Worth Club and of St. Mary's Catholic Church. Mr. Donnelly was one of the most popular oil men of the coun- try, loved and admired by the oil field workers as he was by his associates and executives. His was a nature to bind the souls of men to him, whether they were his associates or his subordinates. Rank and station made little difference to him. A friend was a friend, and he put no limit on his readiness to aid one in distress. His loyalty begot loyalty in return. In that he took simple pride, it was the only wealth he cared about, the only profit he cherished. Mr. Donnelly took an interest in all Texas and all Texas had an interest in him. He possessed the dauntless soul of a pioneer who builded his dreams into actualities. He did much for the Lone Star State and his loss is keenly felt, not only in Texas, but throughout the Southwest.
ENRY CLAY LAZENBY, of Fort, Worth, for many years was one of this city's enter- prising business men and esteemed citi- zens, and was widely known as a manu -. facturer, having spent more than a quarter of a century in this field.
A native son of Texas, Mr. Lazenby was born in Hood County, February 10, 1869. His father, Henry Lazenby, a Confederate veteran and a native of Virginia, came to Texas in the early days and was a leader in the agricultural and business circles of the northern part of the state. His mother, Mrs. Lucy (Goodwin) Lazenby, was a native of Alabama and a member of a well known family of that state. His education was received in the various schools of Texas. With his brother and some other as- sociates, Mr. Lazenby started his career in the business world as a manufacturer and bottler of soda water at Waco, Texas. where he built up an extensive business, which he continued for twelve years. Realizing the need of a pure drink- ing water, he moved to Fort Worth and founded the Artesia Bottling Company, which he owned and operated for about twelve years, shipping his prod- uct to practically all parts of Texas. He was very successful in this enterprise and his plant grew to large proportions.
Mr. Lazenby was married in Waco, Texas, April 4, 1894, to Miss Georgiana Polster, a native Texan and a member of a pioneer family of the Lone Star State. Her father, George Polster. a native of Maryland was a pioneer settler of Texas, and a Confederate soldier, first with Co. H. Texas Cavalry and later with Hood's Brigade. Her mother, Mrs. Katherine (Koch) Polster, was born near Waco. The Lazenby home is located at 3325 Hemphill.
Mr. Lazenby died in Fort Worth, June 18, 1918. He was a member of the I. O. O. F. and the Methodist Church. He was a pioneer of Fort
738
A. M. DONNELLY
NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS
Worth, having located here about the time the Texas & Pacific railroad was built into this city. He was widely known throughout the state and had a host of friends from every walk of life. He helped in every way in the development and up- building of Fort Worth. Perhaps no man of his time had more civic pride than did Mr. Lazenby and he headed many civic projects that aided in making Fort Worth the city it is today. As a youth he was industrious and ambitious. He was the type of business man whose presence is an asset to any city. Of a strong personality. he was the unusual combination of the efficient business man and the lovable personality.
UNCAN S. ROSS. A pioneer lawyer of Fort Worth, Duncan S. Ross made this city his home for nearly half a century, and during that period became one of the outstanding attorneys of his time and took a prominent part in the upbuilding of his city. Mr. Ross began the practice of law in Memphis, Ten- nessee, remaining there for several years, after which he came to Texas, in 1876, and located at Palo Pinto, and later at Weatherford, where he engaged in practice until 1880, when he came to Fort Worth. For a short time after coming here he engaged in the wholesale grocery business, with J. H. Brown, following which he resumed the practice of law, and formed a partnership with J. C. Terrell, Jr., with whom he was associated for several years. Later, his health failed, and for many years prior to his death he was inactive in his profession, but continued to look after his ex- tensive real estate interests in and around Fort Worth.
Duncan S. Ross was born in Springfield, Ohio, on the twenty-ninth day of June, 1848, and was a son of James Ross and Henrietta (Schmucker) Ross. James Ross, also a lawyer, a native of Scot- land, came to the United States as a young man and lived in Ohio for many years. Mrs. Ross was a native of Springfield, Ohio and Duncan S. Ross was educated in the schools of that state, graduat- ing from Wittenburg University, following which he went to Germany, where he was a student at Bonne University for four years. He then re- turned to his native land, and began his law practice at Memphis, Tennessee.
Mr. Ross was married at Cleburne, Texas, on the twenty-fourth day of December, 1882, to Mrs. Mary A. Crosby Lowry, a daughter of Judge J. F. Crosby and Mary A. (Johnson) Crosby. Judge Crosby was the first district judge for the district of El Paso, Texas, and was a member of the state legislature. During the Civil war he served as a major in the Confederate army, winning dis- tinction as an officer of unquestionable bravery. Mr. and Mrs. Ross were the parents of three chil- dren, a son, Malcolm Schmucker Ross, of Fort Worth, and two daughters, Mabel who married Barry Greenwell, and Louise, both of whom are now deceased. Mrs. Ross has one son; W. B. Lowry, by her first marriage. Her first husband, Colonel W. B. Lowry, had the distinction of being the youngest colonel to serve in the Confederate army, being commissioned colonel when but nine- teen years old.
Mr. Ross died in Fort Worth on the twenty-fourth day of December, 1924, this being the forty-second
anniversary of his marriage to Mrs. Ross. A leader in civic affairs, Mr. Ross contributed much to the upbuilding of Fort Worth, and among other things was instrumental in bringing several new railroads here. He was, at all times, a supporter of every progressive civic movement, and Fort Worth is proud to claim him as one of its pioneers and one of the builders of the city.
NDERSON HUNTER, of Fort Worth. a pioneer farmer and stock raiser of Tarrant County, located here in 1891 and was one of the leaders among the farming fra- ternity of this part of the state. He settled at Saginaw, north of this city, and farmed with one hundred and eighty-seven acres of land. From time to time, he added to his acreage until he owned 2,400 acres of the finest farm land in the county. In 1906 he moved to Fort Worth in order that his children might attend better schools.
A native of Ohio, Mr. Hunter was born in Fair- field, March 6, 1834. His father, John Hunter, was a carriage maker in Ohio, where he owned a carriage factory and also farmed. His mother was Mrs. Elizabeth (Turner) Hunter, of Ohio. His education was received in the schools of his native state. While attending school and after leaving school, he worked on his father's farm until he had reached the age of eighteen years. He then worked in his father's carriage factory nine years. He then went to Illinois, where for a short time he engaged in carriage making, later starting in the farming and stock raising business in Shelby County, Illinois where he remained for thirty years. By hard work and good business he accumulated more than twelve thousand acres of land. Mr. Hunter was married in Illinois, to Miss Sarah A. Allen, who later died and left five children, with whom he divided his farms, share and share alike. He then came to Texas and was as successful here as he had been in Illinois.
Mr. Hunter was married in Shelby County, Illinois, December 31, 1889, to Mrs. Lucia (Jones) Bechtel, a native of that county. Her father, John C. Jones, was a farmer and teacher, of Shelby County. Mr. Jones was one of the best educated and most accomplished men in his community. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hunter: Sarah A., now the wife of George W. Dupree, a well known lawyer of Hillsboro, Texas; Elizabeth. the wife of Karl C. Young with the Fort Worth Na- tional Bank; Mildred, at home, and Grace deceased. All the daughters graduated from college. Mrs. Hunter has one son by a former marriage: J. A. Bechtel, who owns a farm at Riverside, Tarrant County. The Hunter home is located at 1100 West Central Avenue.
Mr. Hunter died in Fort Worth, December 17, 1923. He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church for many years. He never sold any of his land and prior to his death he divided it among his children and wife. Mr. Hunter had many friends in this part of the state and was a type of man whose presence is an asset to any city. Although he was an old man in years. he seemed a young man be- cause of his optimistic liberal mental attitude. His ideas were always to do something for the living, and he gave liberally to al charity, Mr. Hunte: left his community richer by his having lived in it. and no better monument can be placed to the memory of a citizen than his good deeds.
739
MEN OF TEXAS
JOHN GRAVES WAPLES, for more than thirty-five years, was a prominent figure in the business life of Texas, where he was associated with some of the outstand- ing enterprises. He was a pioneer in the lumber industry of Texas, to which state he came in 1876, and started a chain of lumber yards which, in a few years, numbered sixteen. He was one of the organizers of the Burton-Lingo Lumber Company, one of the largest lumber organizations of the state, and of which he was president for seven years, besides having an interest in fifteen other lumber concerns. He was vice president of the Waples-Platter Grocer Company, of Fort Worth, and had a share in the success achieved by this or- ganization, which is one of the outstanding gro- cery concerns of the United States, with a chain of wholesale houses in the Southwest. He came to Fort Worth in 1902, and thereafter was a pow- er in the business and financial life of the city.
A native of Missouri, Mr. Waples was born in Chillicothe, April 28, 1848. His father, Edward B. Waples, was a native of Delaware, and a mem- ber of a prominent family. His mother, Mrs. Nancy (Graves) Waples, was a native of Missouri, and a member of a pioneer family of that state. His education was received in the University of Missouri, from which he graduated, and in the University of Michigan, from which he received a law degree. After leaving college, Mr. Waples practiced law in St. Louis for about three years, during which time he established an enviable rep- utation in this field .. He then came to Denison, Texas, where he engaged in the lumber business. With his brother, the late Paul Waples, he organ- ized the Waples-Platter
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