The encyclopedia of Texas, V.2, Part 76

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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LYSSES JULIAN UMBENHOUR was a pioneer contractor and builder of Fort Worth, having located in this city in 1866, and for almost forty years, was one of the leaders in his line.

A native of Kentucky, Mr. Umbenhour was born in Bowling Green, January 16, 1845. His father was a native of Pennsylvania and a con- tractor there and in Kentucky. His education was received in the schools of Kentucky. As a a young man, he started his career with his fath- er in the construction of bridges, assisting in the building of some of the largest bridges in Ken- tucky. He then came to Fort Worth and built many of the largest business houses and resi- dences in this city. During his career, he was active in every movement for the good of his city and did much work toward its development. He was widely known in Fort Worth and North Tex- as and had many friends in that city and section of the state.

Mr. Umbenhour was married in Fort Worth, November 4, 1873, to Miss Eliza Evans, a native of Kentucky, and a member of one of the state's pioneer families, she being the third generation to be born and reared there. Her father, Jesse Evans and mother, Mrs. Rohana ( Withers) Evans, were members of outstanding families of Ken- tucky. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Umbenhour, all of whom are residents of Fort Worth: Julian, Maude, now Mrs. R. L. Parker; Charles, Harry, Lee, Grace, Edna, now Mrs. R. D. Halbower, and Jessie. The Umbenhour home is located at 600 Galveston Avenue.

Mr. Umbenhour died in Fort Worth, February 19. 1903. He was a member of the I. O. O. F. and the Christian Church. He spent his entire life in the contracting business and although many of the buildings he erected here in the early days have been torn away to make room for the progress of business expansion, many still stand as a monument to his skill and experience in this industry. Throughout the long period in which he resided here, he was a constant worker for the "development of Fort Worth, where he was known by the entire population of that time as one of its enterprising and public-spirited citizens.

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ORACE WALTER GREENWAY, of Fort Worth, was one of the leading plumbing and heating engineers of the Southwest, and among the few men of his time who had facilities for handling the largest contracts in building construction. He did much of the plumbing in the largest buildings of Texas and contiguous states, which frequently involved out- lays of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Mr. Greenway was the contractor for the plumbing and heating plants in nine of the ward school build- ings of Fort Worth, for the county jail, the United States government helium plant at Fort Worth, the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, the Stripling department store, the Fakes furniture store, many of the largest and finest residences of this city, and the contract for the plumbing and heating installation in the Texas Hotel, which was the largest contract ever let to one individual in that line in Texas. He supplied the plumbing for Captain B. B. Paddock's palatial residence on Jen- nings Avenue. He installed plumbing and heat- ing plants in all parts of Texas, Louisiana, and elsewhere numbered among which are: the Cotton Exchange Building in Ilouston, and twenty-six buildings for the S. H. Kress Company, in various parts of the United States. During the later years of his career, he put in thirty-six miles of sewer for the city of Fort Worth. In 1924 he put in sewer collector mains at a cost to the city of $450,- 000.00, requiring nine months for the completion of this work. His work usually required the as- sistance of twenty skilled mechanics, but during the building rush of the first months of 1921, he had approximately one hundred and fifty men on his payroll.

A native of New Jersey, Mr. Greenway was born in Belleville, November 18, 1874. His fa- ther, Henry Greenway, was a native of Birming- ham, England. His mother, Mrs. Elizabeth (Hor- ner) Greenway, was a native of London, England. His parents, accompanied by five children, came to America in 1871, and settled in Newark, New Jersey. Mr. Greenway was the ninth of a family of eleven children. In 1885, when eleven years of age, his parents removed to Hutchinson, Kansas, where his father died in 1903. His mother is now a resident of Fort Worth. His early education was received in the schools of Kansas and in 1891 he went to St. Louis, and started his apprentice- ship in the plumbing trade. He worked at his trade in that city for nine years and in 1900 came to Dallas. and four years later moved to Fort Worth. In 1906 he engaged in the plumbing busi- ness for himself and rapidly developed an organi- zation competent to handle every elass of contract.

Mr. Greenway was married in Boston, Massa- chusetts; to Miss Mounette Adams, a native of Boston. Her father. Robert A. Adams and Mrs. Retta (Comerene) Adams, her mother, were among the esteemed citizens of Boston, where she was born and lived until her marriage. One son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Greenway: Horace Wal- ter Jr.

Mr. Greenway was accidentally killed while en- gaged in his work, July 8. 1924. He was a men- ber of the A. F. and A. M., the B. P. O. E. and the Kiwanis Club. Besides his large business here .. he had interests in oil and other valuable proper- ties in Texas, where he was widely known and has

host of friends. He knew the plumbing and heating business as few men have known it and in his business dealings he established a reputation for honesty and fair dealing. Few men of the South or the Southwest have contributed more to the advancement of the industry in which he spent his life, than did Horace Walter Greenway. It was unfortunate that he was cut down in what may be said to have been the prime of life, yet he lived a full and rich life and attained heights not often reached by men.

ARRY OSCAR LEDGERWOOD for many years, was one of the leading lawyers of his generation in Fort Worth, where he specialized in bankruptcy matters and established an enviable reputation in this branch of the law.

A native of .Iowa, Mr. Ledgerwood was born in Creston, September 20, 1874. His father, James M. Ledgerwood was a native of North Carolina and his mother, Mrs. Alice (Ohler) Ledgerwood, was a native of Maryland. His early education was received in Iowa, after which he became a student of the schools of Fort Scott, Kansas, graduating from the high school there. He then entered the University of Michigan receiving the L. L. B. degree in 1902. He was admitted to the bar in Fort Scott, Kansas after studying for a time under W. C. Perry, United States district attorney. He did not enter immediately into the practice of law, but was employed in the claim 'department of the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Memphis railroad. After several years in this position he moved to Fort Worth and became claim agent of the St. Louis, San Francisco & Texas. railroad with headquarters in this city, remaining in this position for about two years. In 1903 he started his career in the legal profession in this city, engaging first in a general practice, but later specializing in the administration of estates in bankruptcy.

Mr. Ledgerwood was married in Dublin, Texas, August 17, 1905, to Miss Ella Ray, a native Texan and a member of a pioneer Texas family. Her father, John J. Ray. a native of North Carolina, came to Texas in 1876. and was an esteemed citi- zen of Erath County. for 37 years. Her mother. Mrs. Alice (Lefton) Ray. was a native of Missis- sippi. One child, Alice Elizabeth was born to Mr. and Mrs. Ledgerwood. The Ledgerwood home is located at 2808 Hemphill.

Mr. Ledgerwood died in Fort Worth, November 24, 1915. He was a member of the A. F. and A. M .. the State, County and Fort Worth Bar Associations, and the Unitarian Church.

From October 1912 until his death, he was a member of the legal examiners for this supreme judicial district. Mr. Ledgerwood was one of the most popular lawyers of his time, having hosts of friends he made during his school days and later during his legal career. He was a charitable man, helping the poor in many ways, and in the practice of law, he made no charge to those whom he felt were unable to pay. but took care of their cases just the same as he did for his wealthy clients. He practiced the profession of law in accordance with the highest ethics of the legal brotherhood. Kindly, courteous. genial, he commanded not only the respect, but the sincere and affectionate regard of

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the entire circle of his acquaintances. The death of no member of the Fort Worth bar has ever caused more sincere sorrow than did that of Harry Oscar Ledgerwood, faithful friend, loyal citizen and honored lawyer.

M. (BUD) DAGGETT was a pioneer cat- tleman of Texas, having started his ca- reer when a lad ten years of age, and throughout his life was active in some branch of the industry. In the list of pioneers of the state, no name stands out with greater promi- nence, and none is more worthy of honorable men- tion as a leading spirit in the development of Texas, than is the name of E. M. (Bud) Dag- rett. The name is synonymous with that of Fort Worth, as this pioneer family was associated with the very earliest history and development of this city.

A native Texan, Mr. Daggett was born in Shel- hy County, January 22, 1850. His father, Charles B. Daggett was born near Niagara Falls, Canada. In 1812 his father, due to his American sympathies, left Canada, and his property was confiscated by the British. The United States government, recognizing his services as a volun- teer, gave him other lands in Indiana, where the Daggetts settled about 1820. For about twenty years they lived in the vicinity of Terre Haute, and in the fall of 1839 the family start- ed for Texas, early the next spring locating in Shelby County. His mother was Mary A. Fergu- son. Her maternal grandfather, Maj. Isaac Fer- guson, a soldier in the Black Hawk Indian War, was with the invading army under General Scott in the war with Mexico, and with a United States flag draped around him was buried in the City of Mexico. The Daggett family was in many of the wars fighting for their country from the time they were old enough to hold a musket, until the time of their deaths, as age did not bar them from any of these conflicts.

Mr. Daggett's parents came to Fort Worth in 1854. His father, lived to be seventy-four years old and died at the old Daggett homestead known as Mount Olivet, two and one-half miles north of Fort Worth. Mount Olivet cemetery is a part of the old Daggett estate. The first Daggett home was a log cabin, occupying the present site of the sexton's house in Mount Olivet cemetery.

E. M. (Bud) Daggett was the third child in a family of nine children. Almost his first recol- lections concerned themselves with Fort Worth and vicinity, as he was only four years old, when the family came here from Shelby County. These recollections included practically the entire history of Fort Worth as a town and city. He rode a horse before he could climb into the saddle and at the age of ten was in the saddle as part of the daily program, with a regulation six-shooter strap- ped around him. He spent sixty years in hand- ling cattle and other livestock. For many years he was senior member of the Daggett-Keen Com- mission Company of which he was the organizer with A. M. Keen. In earlier years he was an ex- pert bronco-buster, and when a youth he perform- ed that double service always expected of the old- time cowboy, as a civilian-soldier. He spent days and nights in the saddle scouting and warding off Indian raids. He was too young to become a Con-

federate soldier, but even so he did some scouting and helped produce beef for the Confederate army. When the war closed in July, 1865, Mr. Daggett was in Shreveport, when that city was under Federal military rule. He had many memories of odious features of military rule and reconstruction, not only at Shreveport, but in Fort Worth. He became a taxpayer at Fort Worth before he reached his ma- jority and paid taxes on property in and around this city for fifty-five years. He saw five suc- cessive courthouses in the city and witnessed every phase of local politics. Indian raids were fre- quent during this period and Mr. Daggett was a member of a party that trailed the last band of Indian raiders out of this section of the state. This act was the following up of a raid in June, 1871, when the redskins had made their last attack just ten miles from Fort Worth. A few years after this in 1876 he saw the work of construction which carried the Texas & Pacific railroad into Fort Worth. He was conspicuous in a group of cowboys who stood at attention when the first train whistled into Fort Worth, and this city had found a place on the map that had hitherto been denied it.

Mr. Daggett was married on January 14, 1880, to Miss Laura Palmer, a native of Kentucky, but a resident of Texas for two years. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Daggett, six of whom are living: Mary S, now Mrs. William Lake of Fort Worth; Cora J., now Mrs. Khleber Van Zandt Jennings, her husband being a grandson of Major Van Zandt, the veteran Fort Worth banker; Charles W., of Fort Worth, a member of the Dag- gett-Keen Commission Company who married Mary Lilly of Brookhaven, Miss .; John Palmer, a cattle- dealer, of Fort Worth; Helen, now Mrs. Glenn Allen, of Odessa, and Elizabeth Field, now Mrs. D. A. Simmons of Houston. The grandchildren are: Ollie Mae, Chas. Thomas and Mary Daggett Lake; Alice, Florence. Cora and Khleber Jennings; Walter M., Billie Lyon and Alice, children of J. P. Daggett; Helen Daggett Allen; and Elizabeth Daggett Simmons.

While interested in politics, Mr. Daggett had little time to devote to this part of the citys activ- ities, but did serve for a time as road overseer for the district north of Fort Worth, including what is known as Daggett Lane.

Mr. Daggett died in Fort Worth, June 14, 1921. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church. Always a staunch Democrat. his family may take a justifiable pride in his lifelong citizenship at Fort Worth, the influence he exercised in behalf of good government and justice, his charity and honor which was never questioned. He was one of the most familiar figures among Fort Worth's cattlemen and commission dealers and a great number of the later generation of stockmen who frequented the North Fort Worth' market knew him personally or through business dealings.

He was an unusual man in many ways. His vi- tality was the envy of many of the younger men. He was a pioneer, a son of pioneers, and exempli- fied all the hardy qualities of one of the most con- spicuous families of early Texas. Through his progeny, not only is the family name perpetuated. but the characteristics of this great Texan, and they will be prominent among the chief citizens of Texas for the coming generation, as was the father from the days of the Republic.

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NDREW J. WOLCOTT, the subject of this sketch, was a self-made man, possessed of the highest sense of honor, an amiable and lovable disposition and an industry that enabled him to overcome many difficulties.

Andrew J. Wolcott was born in Smith County, near Tyler, Texas, November 9, 1854. His father, William Wolcott, a native of England, came to America when only thirteen years of age. After a short time in New York, he went to Alabama, grew to manhood and married Miss Eliza Gallagher, of that state. William Wolcott and his wife moved to Texas in the early '30s, being real pioneers of the Lone Star State. They raised a family of eight children. Andrew Jackson was the seventh child. His early education was received in the country schools of Ellis County. Later he became a student of Add Ran College, now known as Texas Christian University, of Fort Worth. While at- tending Add Ran College, Andrew Wolcott estab- lished a record as an honor student. His family prizes a monthly report dated 1874, carrying six subjects and deportment all graded 100. It was through his own efforts that he had made and saved the money for his college work, having funds for all campus activities and even making a small loan to the college through its president. This same industry and integrity of character dominated Mr. Wolcott's life and enabled him to become the owner of splendid properties, and active in many worthy causes .

On February 24. 1876, Andrew J. Wolcott was married to Miss Ina McCartney, of Ellis County, Texas, a daughter of James McCartney, a pioneer of that part of the state. Her father came from Tennessee in 1853. He was a farmer and ex- tensive landowner in Ellis County. Her mother, Mrs. Susan I. (McClellan) McCartney, was a native of Tennessee and a member of one of the oldest families of that state. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wolcott: Ada Earle, now Mrs. B. F. Whitefield, of Midland, Texas; Miss Eula Wolcott of Dallas; Henrie Lea, now Mrs. T. C. Cole, of Dallas; James Andrew, of Paul's Valley, Oklahoma, and Oscar E. Wolcott, of Dallas. The Wolcott home is located at 837 North Zang's boulevard, in the most beautiful residential section of Oak Cliff.

Andrew J. Wolcott for many years was a promi- nent cattle raiser of West Texas. His early activities were in the Guadalupe mountains near Toyah and Pecos. Later he owned one of the best ranches in Martin County, being headquarters of the old Cross Tie ranch, seven miles south of Midland. The Wolcott cattle brand was JH. Midland, the center of the cattle industry, was known at that time, 1899, as the "Wind Mill City," and the richest little town on the plains. A few years later Mr. Wolcott owned ranch properties near Ozona, Crockett County, Texas.

There was a period when Andrew Wolcott was a successful farmer of Ellis County. He owned the old Manning farm, four miles north of Waxa- hachie. On the four hundred acres he built, in 1894, a large picturesque farm house which stands today as a pride of the farming district. On this farm Mr. Wolcott fed fine Hereford and Durham cattle. Mr. Wolcott was known as a builder of beautiful homes, having built several. His home was always hospitable and his family happy.

Andrew J. Wolcott was an esteemed citizen of Dallas for ten years. He died at his home in Dallas, June 30, 1918. He was a member of the Christian Church, and only a few intimate friends knew of his many charitable deeds. He was modest and entirely without show. He was pro- gressive and public-spirited and his death was a loss to Dallas and this part of Texas.

OHN RUFUS FIGH for many years was one of the leading contractors and builders of Dallas, where he later engaged in the brick manufacturing industry, meeting with the same success, he had experienced in the building business. Mr. Figh inherited the liking for the building and contracting business from his father, who was a pioneer in this field in Texas and from his paternal grandfather, who was one of the lead- ing builders of the State of Alabama.

A native of Alabama, Mr. Figh was born in Montgomery . August 3. 1859. Hs parents, George M. and Georgia (Clark) Figh, were natives of Ala- bama and members of pioneer families of that State. His carly education was received in the schools of Montgomery, Alabama, after which he became a student of the A. and M. College of Ala- bama at Auburn. As a young man he started in the building business with his father, having the ad- vantage of the mature and practical knowledge of this experienced builder. Mr. Figh soon made his influence felt in the world of building. He came to Texas in 1877 and built the first buildings of the A. & M. College of Texas at College Station, later con- structing many of the most important buildings of Dallas where he located about 1880. Numbered among the buildings which were the result of his handiwork are: The Oriental Hotel and the McCloud Hotel. Later, when he engaged in the manufacture of brick, his firm was known as J. M. Harry and Company, Mr. Harry being his associate in this en- terprise, which became one of the largest and most successful of its kind of the Southwest.

Mr. Figh was married in Waxahachie October 25, 1883, to Miss Minnie Moore, a native of Atlanta, Georgia, and a member of a prominent family of that State. Her father, W. C. Moore, was a native of Tennessee and for many years a leader in the business circles there. Her mother, Mrs. Mary Jane (Neal) Moore, was a native of Kentucky. Two child- ren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Figh: Jean (Mrs. M. C. Crawford) deceased, and John R. Figh, Jr .. engaged in business at Memphis. Texas. M. C. Crawford was a construction engineer and for years was with the Callahan Construction Co. He died February 10, 1928, and his widow. Jean, died March 4, 1928. Two children survive; Jean and Patricia. John R. Figh, Jr., has one daughter. Peggy. The Figh home is located at 3420 Drexel Drive.

Mr. Figh died in Colorado, Texas, on June 16, 1895. He was a member of various commercial and social organizations and the Baptist Church. . Perhaps no man of his years ever did more lasting and prominent work in the field of contracting than did Mr. Figh, although he was only thirty-six years of age at the time of his death. Of a pleasing per- sonality, he had hosts of friends throughout the Southwest, who came from every walk of life. As a citizen of Dallas he put forth his every effort to- ward the upbuilding of this eity, where he was known as one of its most loyal and constructive citi- zens.

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D FOY of Dallas, Texas, was the father of the neighborhood moving picture theater business in this city, establishing his first show house, the Columbia in 1913, in eon- inction with the American Sales Book Company of Magara Falls.

A native son of Texas, Mr. Foy was born in Greenville, November 3, 1870. His father, Dr. James Foy, a native of Mississippi, praticed medi- eine in that State for several years, after which he came to Elysian Fields, Harrison County, Texas, Mater removing to Greenville where he remained for years and after a short stay in Baird, in 1896, he came to Dallas, where he remained untu the :. me of his death. His mother, Mrs. Elizabeth ( Trotter) Foy, was a member of a prominent Mis- xissippi family. She died when the subject of this sietch was a small boy. After his father married again, young Foy left home when about eight or nine years of age, and found employment taking care of a herd of sheep, living alone in a dugout and pursuing his studies at night. Once each week he would go to the farm house where the old man who owned the sheep resided and went over his lessons with him. At eleven years of age, he went to Baird, Texas, to an aunt, but remained only six months. He then joined a horse trading camp and traveled with its members through California, Col- prado, and other parts of the West during which period his party experienced mueh trouble with In- dians but none was killed. Selling the animals in California, young Foy returned to Baird, Texas, and entered the public schools, but after a few weeks he left and going to Waco, Texas, beeame a student of Baylor University, where he pursued . s business eourse and graduated. After leaving Baylor, Mr. Foy, with Judge Hiram Lively, es- tablished a business eollege at Brownwood. This venture was sueeessful but after two years in edu- cational work Mr. Foy came to Dallas, and beeame associated with the American Salesbook Company. He established his first theater in Dallas in 1913, and the following year he started the Ideal Theater. In 1915 he was operating four moving picture shows in this eity and in 1916 eight show houses were in the group. Soon thereafter, on aecount of failing health he sold all but the Columbia, Ideal and Rialto, which are still suecessfully operated by his son, Ed Foy, Jr.

Mr. Foy was married in Dallas, Texas, on Novem- her 3, 1894, to Miss Hattie Clemmons, a native of Marshall, Texas, where she was reared and edueat- (3. Her father, A. E. Clemmons, D. D., a native of Ireland, came to Ameriea as a child and was Teared in Tennessee. He preached in Marshall for more than thirty years, built many churches and opened the First National Bank at Longview, Texas. Her mother, Mrs. Luey (Rainey) Clemmons, was a native of Alabama and a member of a prominent family of that State, her father, A. Rainey, being for many years a judge of one of the higher eourts "! Alabama. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Foy: Ed Foy Jr., well known in the business and social cireles of Dallas, particularly as a sue- resaful theater manager; Lucy, now Mrs. G. I. Dor-

.Mr. Brown died in Tyler, Texas, in 1888. Throughout the years in which G. W. Baird was a resident of Texas he was active in every move- ment for the upbuilding and development of his man of Dallas, has one daughter, Harriett Louise; . State. A man of large heart and generous impulses. !!: Reeves, now Mrs. O. E. Long of Dallas, has one hild. Edwin Osborne Long; James Foy, well known " urance man of Dallas, is married to Miss Kather- Stovall of Dallas, has two children. Yvonne, and Howell, a student of the Dallas schools. Mrs. Foy

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The encyclopedia of Texas, V.2, Part 76

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