The encyclopedia of Texas, V.2, Part 74

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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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).

Mr. Griffin died at his home here, March 22, 1927. He was a member of the Woodmen of the World and the First Christian Church. He was avt- ive in church matters and for many years was superintendent of the Union Ridge Sunday School at Forney. Mr. Griffin took an active interest in matters having to do with the upbuilding of his community, and was known as an enterprais and public-spirited citizen. He had a host of friends in Kaufman, Rockwall and Tarrant Cous- ties, who had known him during his entire Life. After his death Mrs. Griffin took over the man- agement of the farm and with her sons, as alis has been successful in its operation.

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MEN OF TEXAS

EORGE WASHINGTON ELSWORTH

SCOTT was one of those sterling charac- ters who earned a creditable place for him- self in history. He was a man with a reso- lute purpose in determination to succeed in what- ever he undertook and took an active interest in all matters that had to do wtih the civic progress of the community in which he lived.

Mr. Scott was a native of Illinois, born at Savoy, September 14, 1860. His father, Edwin Scott, was a native of Kentucky and was a lieutenant in the Confederate army during the Civil war. His mother, was Martha Ann (Anders) Scott, a native of Mississippi. Mr. Scott was educated in the Illinois public schools and attended a business col- lege at Champaign. He then worked on a farm for a number of years after which he went into the restaurant and grocery business which he fol- lowed for thirteen years. Retiring from this oc- cupation he went into the livery business which he continued until his death. While living in Cham- paign, Mr. Scott took an active interest in public life and for two years served as mayor of the city of Champaign.

Mr. Scott was married September 17, 1890, at Urbana, Illinois, to Zella May Burns, of Fairbury, Livingston County, Illinois. Her father, was Aaron Burns, a native of Ohio, who moved to Illinois in his early manhood, first engaging in farming and later becoming a dredging contractor which business he followed for a score of years. Her mother was Mary Ann ( Veatch) Burns, also a native of Ohio who had been a teacher in the public schools for many years. Mrs. Scott, since coming to Texas has taken a very active interest in the public life of Dallas. She is endowed with unusual ability. She began her business career as a graduate nurse, serving as a Red Cross nurse in the Spanish war for one year, stationed in Cali- fornia. In 1894 she moved to El Paso where she followed her profession and in 1900 she came to Dallas where she has made a great many friends. She is a past matron of the Bluebonnet Lodge, Chapter Number 717 of the Eastern Star.

Mr. and Mrs. Scott had one son, Ray Elsworth Scott, who lost his life in a submarine which sank off the California coast while serving in the navy. He graduated from high school at thirteen years and took the four years university course in two and one-half years. He came to Dallas when seven- teen years of age where he remained but a short time when he joined the U. S. Navy for three years. After serving his term he again enlisted for another three year period, serving until he met his death in the sinking of the submarine.

Mr. Scott was a man of unusual ability and had the faculty of making and retaining his friends. He lived an honorable and useful life and left a record well worthy to emulate. His death occurred in 1893.

OSEPH B. SCHMID was a pioneer mill man and carpenter of Dallas, for more than thirty years being associated with some of the largest mill and lumber organizations of this city, where he was regarded as one of the most efficient men of his trade.

A native of Argon, Switzerland, Mr. Schmid was horn June 11, 1841. His father Joseph Schmid, also a native of Switzerland, throughout his life

was engaged in the profession of stone cutter, being one of the best of his part of the country. His mother, Mrs. Rose Schmid, was a niember of a well known family of Argon, Switzerland. His education was received in his native country. After leaving school, he started as a very young man to learn the art of silk weaving and became proficient at this art, which he continued until leaving for America when he was twenty-four years of age. Having friends in Louisville, Kentucky, he settled there and as there was no demand in this country for silk weavers, he learned the carpenter's trade, which he continued for several years in Kentucky. He then came to Texas, locating at Galveston, but atter a short time there he came to Dallas where he continued his trade of carpentering. After two years he became associated with Clark's Mill, located at that time at the corner of Pacific and Pearl streets, and continued with this organization for a period of twenty years. He then went with the Buell Mill & Lumber Company, but after a few years became associated with Boyd's Mill, where he continued to work at his trade until he retired from active business pursuits.

Mr. Schmid was married in Dallas, September 11, 1880 to Miss Magdalena Forler, a native of Ontario, Canada. Her father, John Forler, was a member of a prominent family of Alsace-Lorraine. Her mother, Mrs. Mary Forler, also a native of Alsace-Lorraine was a member of one of the fore- most musical families of that country. Her grand- father, toured Europe for many years in concert work, and was regarded as one of the most ac- complished musicians of his time. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Schmid: Mamie, now Mrs. L. C. Pellet, whose husband has for many years been employed in various important capaci- ties by the city of Dallas; Rose, now Mrs. Rose Schoenfeld; Mrs. Josephine Ashburn, of Denison, Texas, whose husband is one of the leading ice cream manufacturers of that city; Ben Kaufman, for many years associated with the National Welding Company of Dallas and well known in the business circles of this city; Frank R., associated with the Safety Tire Company, of Dallas and well known among the younger generation of business men of this city; Lawrence T., for several years connected with the Dallas Gas Company; Elizabeth, now Mrs. C. A. Clement and Miss Magdalena; John died in 1925 at the age of 40; and Henry died in 1918 at the age of 29 leaving his widow, Ruby and two children, Henry J., and Rowland B. The Schmidt home is located at 5234 Vanderbilt Avenue.

Mr. Schmid died in Dallas, March 9, 1923. He was a member of the I. O. O. F. having joined this organization in 1872 and not long before he died was presented with a gold medal by this fraternity on becoming a half century member. There were only thirty-five gold medals in Texas at that time. He also was a member of the Swiss Society, since April 9, 1868, being one of the first members of this society in Texas. During the many years in which he was a resident of Dallas Mr. Schmid took an active part in all matters per- taining to the welfare and development of this city. A man of large heart and generous impulse. he gave freely to the endowment of charity as we !! as to individual appeals. United in him were

positiveness and gentleness, heroic courage, tenderness and dignity.

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EVERETTE HILTON SQUIRES, of Dallas, was one of the best known and most popu- lar members of the banking fraternity of his generation and his rise in the banking , tiession of Texas was due to his great ability a. an executive. After several years experience in banking, Mr. Squires came to Dallas in 1919 and soon thereafter became the cashier of the Central State Bank and a little later, active vice president of this organization. The success achieved ty this bank while he was one of its chief execu- tres was due largely to his untiring work, ability and personality, which drew many customers to this bank.

A native son of Texas, Mr. Squires was born In Sherman, August 15, 1875. His father, W. A. Squires, a native of New York, came to Texas as a young man and settled in Sherman in 1877 where he remained until 1889 when he removed to Henrietta, Texas and for several years was the mayor of that city, as well as one of the leaders in its business, civic and social organizations. His mother, Mrs. Alma (Hilton) Squires, a native of Michigan, was a member of a prominent English family, her father having come to America from England as a boy. His education was received in the public schools of Henrietta, after which he attended College at Waco. After leaving college, he was in the U. S. civil service for several years, after which he removed to Vernon, Texas, and engaged in the banking business, after which he became associated with the Terrell State Bank of Oklahoma as one of the executives, remaining there for several years. He then went into the banking department of Texas as a liquidating agent, remain- ing in this position for only one year. In 1916 he was appointed state bank examiner by Commis- sioner Patterson. He served under Commissioners Patterson, Austin and Briggs, being appointed deputy commissioner under the latter. He re- signed the position in 1919 in order to become as- sociated with the Central Bank of Dallas. Mr. Squires also was a director of the Oak Cliff State Bank for many years and had banking interests in other parts of Texas.

Mr. Squires was married in Vernon, Texas July 14, 1904 to Miss Jessie Dodson, a member of a pioneer Texas family. Her father, Dr. J. E. Dodson, a pioneer physician of North Texas, hav- ing removed to Vernon in 1891, where he was a leader in the medical profession up to the time of his death, June 24, 1923. Dr. Dodson was a physician in the employ of the United States Government in the Osage Agency of the Indian Territory in the early days. Her mother, Mrs. Mary Byron (Thomas) Dodson, was a member of a prominent Tennessee family. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Squires, all of whom are students in the schools and colleges of Dallas: James Hilton, a sophomore of Southern Methodist University; Jessie Jean and Fred Allen, students of the public schools. The Squires home is located at 1734 Bennett avenue.

Mr. Squires died in Dallas, October 20, 1921. He had enjoyed a wide acquaintance throughout the state particularly among bankers as he attended all bankers' meetings in Texas during the many years in which he had been engaged in the profes- sion, and had become a central figure. His pleasing personality and ability as a banker won friends

for him everywhere. He received many honors at the hands of Texas bankers from time to time and did some very important work as chairman of the legislative committee of the Texas Bankers As- sociation during 1920. Mr. Squires was a 32nd degree Mason, a Shriner of Hella Temple, a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias with membership at Henrietta, a member of the Texas Bankers As- sociation, being vice chairman of the state bank department of the American Bankers Association. He held membership in the Lakewood Country Club, the Cedar Crest Country Club and Grace Methodist Church. Mr. Squires was a leader in the profession of banking and a steadfast exponent of its highest standards, and in his death the professsion of bank- ing and finance lost one of its most able figures and the City of Dallas a staunch, resolute and con- structive citizen. He possessed ability of a high order and his exalted ideas and ideals were an in- spiration to all who were fortunate enough to come under its influence. His charities were many and unostentatious. He played a leading part in many movements for advancement of society, the growth of Dallas, the upbuilding of his state and assisting in aid to the needy, and the great work he did along these many lines will live after him.

AMES V. McFARLAND, a resident of Texas during the greater part of his life, partici- pated in the business life of several Texas cities, and was well known in the state. Mr. McFarland began his business career in a cler- ical capacity with the Seaman & East Wholesale Grocery Company, at Greenville, Texas, following which he was connected with the Paris Grocery Company, also at Greenville, for three years. He then was with W. E. Killinger, of Oklahoma City, for four years, when he went with Oliver & Finnie of Memphis, with whom he was associated until his death, seven years later. During this time he lived in Greenville and Dallas.

James V. McFarland was born near Nashville, Tennessee, the twenty-fourth day of December, 1879, and was a son of J. J. McFarland, and Sarah (Foster) McFarland. J. J. McFarland, a native of Tennessee, came to Texas in his youth from Ten- nesee, and owned farm lands, and was engaged in the mercantile business in Hunt County. Mrs. Mc- Farland was a native of Tennessee. Mr. James V. McFarland was educated in the public schools of Texas, following which he began his business career.

Mr. McFarland was married in Kaufman, Texas, on the fifteenth day of December, 1901 to Miss Georgia Tippins, a daughter of William Tippins and Lydia Tippins. Mr. Tippins, a native of Georgia, came to Texas in the early eighties and lives in Greenville, where he has been engaged as a mechanic and is an inventor of considerable talent. Mrs. Tippins was a native of Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. McFarland were the parents of four children. three sons and a daughter, they being, Lawton and Mun- ford, employed in Dallas; and Harold and Miss Frances, students.

Mr. McFarland was a member of the United Com- mercial Travelers, and the family are members of the East Dallas Christian Church. His death oe- curred on the thirtieth of May, 1921. Mrs. McFarland and family reside at 4609 Swiss Avenue.

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MEN OF TEXAS

OHN L. BOICOURT for almost twenty years was a leader in the business and manu- facturing circles of Fort Worth, where he owned and operated two of the largest brass manufacturing establishments of this city. He was the inventor of the Boicourt Deep Well Double Stroke Pump, one of the outstanding inventions of water well development, and he manufactured this device and a complete line of well cylinders and brass goods.

A native son of Texas, Mr. Boicourt was born on a farm in Tarrant County, April 21, 1876. His father, George Boicourt, was one of the pioneers of Fort Worth, owning and operating a large farm near Lake Worth, which he sold when the dam was built and removed to Rockport, Texas. His educa- tion was received in the public schools of Tarrant County, after which he attended Polytechnic col- lege in Fort Worth from which he graduated. As a young man, Mr. Boicourt worked as a clerk for the Texas Manufacturing Company of Fort Worth, being under the jurisdiction of Mr. Butler, who also owned the Midland Brass Works. After a few years, Mr. Butler advanced him to the position of manager of the Midland Brass Works and he remained in this position until 1908. In 1909 he engaged in business for himself, establish- ing a machine shop and manufacturing business under the name of the Boicourt Company, which he operated successfully until 1917. He then be- came associated with the Midland Brass Company as manager, but in the meantime he also kept his own business going. After a short time as manager of the Midland Brass Company, he bought this company and changed the name to The Midland Manufacturing Company. He continued to own and operate the two companies, and while the two places are consolidated they still carry the original names.

Mr. Boicourt was married in Dallas, December 12, 1906, to Mrs. Georgie Heyer Westhoff, a native of the Lone Star State and a member of a pioneer family. Her father, George Heyer, came to Texas at the age of eighteen years, and settled in Lavaca County, later moving to Victoria, where the re- mainder of his life, was engaged in the hardware business and in government work of various kinds. Mr. Boicourt had three step-children: E. W. Westhoff, for many years engaged in the feed busi- ness in Fort Worth; Rosa, now Mrs. J. W. Mc- Cauley, and George O. Westhoff, well known in the commercial life of Fort Worth. The Boicourt home is located at 1915 May Street.

Mr. Boicourt died in Fort Worth, December 16, 1925. He was a member of the A. F. and A. M., the Christian Science Church and a charter men- ber of the Rotary Club. After the death of Mr. Boicourt, his step-son, George O. Westhoff became president and manager of the Midland Manufactur- ing Company, Mrs. J. L. Boicourt, secretary, and W. E. Mayes, treasurer. The Company is incorporated for $25,000.00 and the equipment has a valuation of approximately $50,000.00. All of Mr. Boicourt's business experience was in Fort Worth, where per- haps no man of his time was better or more. favorably known. He was a man of sterling quali- ties, esteemed alike by customer and competitor. He loved Fort Worth and Tarrant County as only a native born son can love his home, and gave liberally of his material aid and time toward the upbuilding and development of both.

ROVER CLEVELAND MAYNE. A native Texan, Grover Cleveland Mayne pursued his business career in this state, making his headquarters in various cities prior to coming to Fort Worth in 1916. He was en- gaged in the real estate business in San Antonio for a short time at the beginning of his career, following which he became connected with the Burroughs' Adding Machine Company, and was with that company for sixteen years. During that period he was located, first in San Antonio, and later in Amarillo, from which place he came to Fort Worth to take charge of the Burroughs' Agency here. He did much to popularize the Burroughs' adding machine in Texas, installing these reliable calculators in many large offices, and was regarded as one of the most valuable men in the Burroughs' personnel.

Grover Cleveland Mayne was born near Austin, Texas, at Dripping Springs, on the fourth day of February, 1885. He was a son of William A., and Sallie (Cavett) Mayne, the former being a native of Alabama, and the latter of Louisiana. They were long time residents of Texas however, and their son, the subject of this sketch, was reared in this state. Mr. Mayne was educated in the public schools of Texas and Texas University, following which he went to San Antonio and began his business career.

Mr. Mayne was married in Amarillo, on the tenth day of February, 1915, to Miss Carlie Curtis, a native of Henrietta, Texas, and the daughter of J. O., and Carlie (Higgins) Curtis, both native Texans. Mr. and Mrs. Mayne had one child, Carlie Louise, who, with her mother, lives at 104 Penn street, Fort Worth.

Mr. Mayne died in Wichita Falls, the twenty- sixth day of January, 1925. He was a member of the Rotary Club, the Fort Worth Club, the River Crest Country Club and Treasurer of the Welfare Association. Thoroughly public spirited, Mr. Mayne was one of the real boosters of his city, and during his residence in Fort Worth gave his support to all charitable and civic work.

ARCUS LAFAYETTE MEEK was a pio- neer in the farming activities of Tarrant County Texas, where he came in 1867, and settled on a farm which he purchased four miles from the town of Arlington. At that tinie Arlington could hardly be called a village and the country between Fort Worth and Dallas was sparsely settled, and these two cities were mere villages without a single line of railroad. Nearly everybody lived in log houses and the log cabin school house was to be found in every com- munity. The settlers were still using the old muz- zle-loading shotguns and rifles to fight the Indians. Mr. Meek was one of the leaders of that group of far-visioned men whose hardihood and public spirit laid the foundation for what has come to be the great agricultural section of Texas.

A native of Missouri, Mr. Meek was born Jan- uary 2, 1832. His father and mother were natives of Missouri. His education was received in the schools of Missouri. As a young man, Mr. Meek worked on a farm, and continued this work until the start of the Civil War, when he enlisted in the Confederate army and served throughout the war. After its close he came to Texas, and the old home, which was built more than sixty years

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ago, housed the Meek family during this period and is still standing.

Mr. Meek was'married at Johnson Station, near Arlington, in 1885, to Miss Katie Smith, a native .! Tennessee. Her parents, Drury and Mrs. Mar- .Ma (Miller) Smith, were natives of Tennessee and members of pioneer families. Two children were torn to Mr. and Mrs. Meek, both of whom are residents of Arlington: Mark Drury Meek, farm- .ng the home place, and Bessie, now Mrs. Frank Moore, whose husband is farming near Arlington. fy a former marriage, three sons were born to Mr. Meek and his wife: James LaFayette Meek, { Arlington; Frank Meek, of Decatur, Texas, and Toni Meek, of Fort Worth. The Mcek home is lo- cated four miles south of Arlington, on the site of the farm where they have lived since coming :o Texas, and where Mr. Meek died June 5, 1913.

Hle was a member of the I. O. O. F., and the Presbyterian Church, in which he had been an elder for many years. Few men have ever served their community as nobly as did Mr. Meek. He was a man loved by all who knew him, and a factor in the affairs of his community for so long that his death left a vacancy that has not been filled.

ANIEL WELDON ODELL. Few lawyers of Texas were more highly esteemed by their associates, or were more eminent in the legal profession than Daniel Weldon Odell, former state senator and widely known jurist of Texas. During his twenty-five years of practice, the greater part of which was in Cleburne, Mr. Odell figured in many prominent legal battles, either as defense counsel, or as prosecutor, his presentation of his case being marked by a bril- liance without parallel. Perhaps the outstanding event in his practice was his brilliant defense of Joseph W. Bailey, in 1907, when the then United States senator was haled before the Texas Legis- lature for investigation in regard to his connection with the Standard Oil Company. It is generally conceded that the masterful cross examination of witnesses by Mr. Odell broke their testimony, and his client was vindicated. It is interesting to note that throughout his career, Mr. Odell was credited with accepting only those cases that made a per- sonal appeal to him, and he had no thought of accumulating a fortune. He had a brilliant mind, and had at his command a fund of general infor- mation that made him one of the exceptional conversationalists of his time. Mr. Odell was a striking personality, of imposing appearance, and vasily one of the outstanding men of his time, not only as a jurist, but as an individual citizen.

Daniel Weldon Odell was born in Crockett, Houston County, Texas, the thirtieth day of Decem- ter. 1867, and was a son of James Mitchell and Arabella (Murchison) Odell, the former a native rf Bledsoe County Tennessee, the latter of Mar- shall County, Mississippi. Daniel Weldon Odell apent his boyhood days at Cleburne, Texas, to which place the family moved during his early "wars, and he was educated in the schools of that rity. He was employed as a telegraph operator during the eight or ten years just following. and andlied law during that period, being admitted to "" bar at Cleburne in 1892, following which he `wran his practice. His ability and his earnestness of purpose soon made him remarked by his as-

sociates, who at once predicted a real future for him in his chosen profession, and that brought about his election as county attorney for Johnson County in 1894. From that time onward his rise was rapid, and he not only built up a very large private practice, but was elected to the state senate from Johnson County several times, and was appointed by Governor Hobby as chairman of the accident insurance board of the State of Texas. Ile was associated with the late Judge W. F. Ram- sey in the firm of Ramsey, Brown & Odell and Ramsey & Odell, his other partnership being Odell, Phillips & Johnson. Mr. Odell remained in Cle- burne until 1914, when he removed to Fort Worth, making that city his home thereafter.

Mr. Odell was married in Crockett, Texas, on the twenty-first day of December, 1893, to Miss Birdie Gertrude Murchison, a native of Crockett, and a daughter of Daniel McIntosh Murchison and Gertrude (Lipscomb) Murchison, both of Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Odell were the parents of four children : three daughters, and one son, they being, Arabella Gertrude Odell, Frances Murchison Odell, Mary Elizabeth Odell, deceased, and Daniel Weldon Odell, also deceased. Mrs. Odell and her two surviving daughters reside at 1306 West Rio Grande avenue.

Mr. Odell's death occurred in Fort Worth, on the twelfth day of December, 1924. He was a member of the Elks, the Odd Fellows, the Johnson County Bar Association and the Texas Bar As- sociation. Characterized by a one-time associate justice of the State Supreme Court as "the most resourceful lawyer in Texas" Mr. Odell likewise was of the most brilliant, and was an ornament to the Texas bar, wherein his prestige was in just proportion to his years of practice.

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The encyclopedia of Texas, V.2, Part 74

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