The encyclopedia of Texas, V.2, Part 96

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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ONWAY CARTER, a pioneer cattleman of Texas, came to Dallas, and made this city his home for many years. Mr. Carter came to Texas in the seventies, and as a young man worked as a cowboy on the large ranches of West Texas, becoming one of the well known cowboys of that period. Later he became fore- man of a large ranch ranging thousands of head of cattle, and had six men working under him. After retiring from the cattle business Mr. Carter came to Dallas and made this city his place of resi- dence until his death.

Conway Carter was born at Richmond, Virginia, on the eighteenth day of January, 1856, and was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Raleigh Carter. Raleigh Carter, one of the early settlers of Virginia, owned a large plantation in that State before the Civil War. Mrs. Carter was a member of the well known Tole family, who took a prominent part in early life in Virginia. Conway Carter the sub- jeet of this sketch, was educated in the schools of Virginia, and after finishing school came to Texas, roing to Cook County, where he spent many years, and later coming to Dallas. Mr. Carter was mar-

ried in Cook County, on the tenth day of Decem- ber. 1885 to Miss Ella Robinson, a daughter of Jonas Robinson and Elizabeth (Jackson) Robin- son. Mr. Robinson, a native of Kentucky, came to Texas in 1872, and operated a large farm, also fattening cattle on his range, which he sold on the different markets. Mrs. Robinson, whose maiden name was Jackson, was a relation of Stonewall Jackson, of Civil War fame. Mrs. Carter was born in Kentucky, and received her early education in that State, finishing in the schools of Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Carter were the parents of nine children, Myrtie, deceased: Gussie, deceased; Kittie Nellie, deceased; Miss Erma Carter, of Dallas; Jimmie, de- ceased; Sterling Carter, of Dallas, Fay, wife of J. J. Perry, of Dallas; Harrie Carter, of Dallas, and Russell, deceased. Mrs. Carter resides at 839 Thomasson Drive, Kessler Park, Oak Cliff, Dallas. She is a member of the Christian Church.

Mr. Carter died on the tenth day of November, 1925. He was a member of the Methodist Church, and widely known among Texas cattlemen as a pioneer West Texas cowboy.

OHN HENRY MILLER was a pioneer in the business life of Dallas where, for almost four decades, he owned the John H. Miller Produce Company, one of the most impor- tant wholesale produce establishments of this city.

A native of Tennessee, Mr. Miller was born near Hillsboro, September 11, 1863. His father, George Miller, a native of Tennessee, was a large land owner of Coffee County, where he was engaged in farming, and his mother, Mrs. Lucy Miller, also was of a Tennessee family. His education was received in the public schools of his native state which he left at the age of seventeen to come to Dallas. For several years he was engaged in various fields of activity befitting a young man with no experience. While working for a produce firm, he conceived the idea of going into this particular business himself, but had no money. Being of a thrifty turn, he saved enough capital to engage in the produce busi- ness on a small scale. After a few years he added fuel to his established produce trade. In 1902 Mr. Miller quit the retail business and engaged in the Wholesale produce business. Mr. Miller was married in Tennessee, September 3, 1902, to Miss Minnie C. Newman, of Tennessee. Her father, G. W. New- man, was a farmer and a Baptist minister. Her mother, Mrs. Nannie J. (Oakley) Newman, also was a daughter of a pioneer Baptist minister of Ten- nessee, where he preached and organized churches in that state. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Miller: William LeRoy, manager of his father's produce business; George Hiram, Arthur Raymond and John Earnest, Jr., all of whom are engaged in the produce business in Dallas; Minnie Edith and Walter Robert are students in colleges of Dallas. The Miller home is located at 1331 North Beckley.

Mr. Miller died in Dallas, April 6, 1927. He was a member of the I. O. O. F. and the K. K. K. and other organizations here. Mr. Miller did much for the poor and needy of Dallas and gave liberally to orphanages in this city and elsewhere. In 1907 and 1908 he served as constable in Oak Cliff. Coming to Dallas in 1879, he lived here for almost half a century and during this period he was a constant worker for the upbuilding of this city, where he was known as one of its most progressive business men and charitable and publie-spirited citizens.

841

MEN OF TEXAS

FREDERICK A. MOHR, of Dallas, spent his entire business life in the service of the Western Union Telegraph Company, where he rose from the humble position of messen- ger boy without pay, to one of the chief executives of this organization.

A native of Wisconsin, Mr. Mohr was born in Racine, July 10, 1875. His father, John Mohr, a native of Germany, came to the United States as a young man and settled in Racine in 1867, where until his death in 1914, he was one of the pioneer merchants of that city. His mother, Mrs. Bertha Mohr, was a native of Germany and a member of a well known family of the Fatherland. He attended the public schools of Racine, and in 1891 when six- teen years of age gained employment with the West- ern Union Telegraph Company under J. C. Dor- chester. Mr. Dorchester started him in without pay, but in this lad he saw a future business man and executive. In 1892 he became a student and during this same year was sent to Chicago as a branch manager, and from that time he received merited promotions in rapid succession. From Chi- cago he was sent to Jacksonville, Illinois, June 25, 1895, as manager where he remained until June 27, 1898, when he became manager of the office at Cairo, Illinois. Next he was sent to Davenport, Iowa, in January, 1899, and from there to Sioux City, in May, 1902, as manager. The next change was to Milwaukee in September, 1904, as manager and then to St. Louis, on May 1, 1918, as city super- intendent, serving in that position until January 23, 1920, when he was promoted to general manager of the Gulf Division with headquarters in Dallas.

Mr. Mohr was married in Jackson, Illinois, Octo- ber 26, 1898, to Miss Grace Cassell, a member of one of the outstanding families of Jackson. Her father, Harrison Osborne Cassell, was a well known lawyer of that city, where he practiced his profes- sion until the time of his death. Her mother, Mrs. Maria (Edgerton) Cassell, was a native of Illinois and a member of a prominent family of that state. Her grandfather Urban Curtis Edgerton was a lead- ing contractor of his day and built railroads, canals and buildings in New York State and elsewhere and came west to build the Chicago & Alton railroad. At the time of his death he was one of four Knight Templars in Jacksonville, Illinois. The Mohr home is located at 3313 St. Johns Drive, Dallas, Texas.

Mr. Mohr died in Dallas, January 6, 1928, after 37 years of unbroken service with the West- em Union Telegraph Company. He was a mem- ber of the A. F. and A. M. his membership being in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he also was a mem- ber of the Shrine and a past high priest of the chapter. To be helpful was Mr. Mohr's religion, and his loving character will forever be an inspira- tion and a sweet remembrance to all who knew him. In his youth he was "just boy" and enjoyed all the boyish sports, such as skating, baseball and fishing. Indeed, fishing remained one of his favor- ite recreations, and throughout the years he was fond of telling to his friends how he liked to "put on his easy clothes and go down to the lake with. the boys and sit on the banks in silence and fish and smoke and spit in the lake." He often went on these excursions alone and his friends thought that it was during these reveries that he was thinking of some good deed or act that he could carry into execution. One of the executives of the Western Union Telegraph Company, who had been closely

associated with him for many years said of him: "In the end God smiled on a man who throughout his life had interpreted God with a smile." Mr. Mohr had a standard of living and he lived up to that standard every day. He was happy and high-minded amid the drudgeries of business life, and in early life had learned how to make friends and to keep them. He was a close student of human nature and of wild life as well. He loved the flowers and would hunt birds without a gun. Though Mr. and Mrs. Mohr had no children, their beautiful home on St. John's Drive was a favorite rendezvous for the neighbors' children and their dogs. During his life, Mr. Mohr kept a scrap-book, not of thoughts of others, but of his own thoughts and in one of these, found after his death, was the things reflected in his life: 'The best, and indeed the only good man, is he who exercises the power of thought, of justice or of love, whose life is one great act of perform- ance of duty." In some quiet hour of meditation Mr. Mohr penned these words: "The desire to do something that shall benefit the world, when neither praise nor eulogy will reach us where we sleep soundly in the grave, is the noblest ambition enter- tained by man." Frederick A. Mohr attained this.

JAMES H. BALL. Among the pioneers of Texas who earned a creditable place in the records of men who have served long and well, the name of James H. Ball deserves creditable mention. For more than half a century he was identified with the mercantile interests in the State and was a well beloved and highly respect- ed citizen in the communities in which he lived.

James H. Ball was born in Mississippi, June 10, 1849. His parents were Francis M. and Jane (Pet- tigrew) Ball. His father was a native of Mississippi and was a planter all of his life. His mother was a native of Alabama who moved to Mississippi in her early youth. Mr. Ball received his education in private schools and his first business experience was in the capacity of a clerk in a drug store in Missis- sippi. He came to Texas in 1872 and in company with two brothers, located at Calvert and opened a drygoods store. Mr. Ball later moved to Green- ville, Texas, where he established another drygoods store, remaining in that city for many years.

Mr. Ball was married December 5, 1889, in Mc- Kinney, Texas, to Miss Etta Wiley. Miss Wiley is a daughter of the late Doctor T. W. Wiley and Susan Elizabeth Henderson Wiley. Doctor Wiley was a pioneer physician who came to Texas from Troy, Alabama, in 1860. Mr. and Mrs. Ball were the parents of three children, Francis Wiley of Ok- lahoma City, Benjamin C. Vice-President of North Texas National Bank and James Henry Ball, associ- ated with the American Exchange National Bank of Dallas.

The family residence is located at 5510 Worth Street, Dallas. Mr. Ball was a member of the Bap- tist Church and took a very active part in that de- nomination. He was a Mason and a man of sterling qualities who lived up to the highest precepts of Ma- sonry and the church of which he and his family were members. He was a man of high ideals and was held in the highest esteem by all who knew hin. He had a kindly nature and a charitable disposition and his death on February 8, 1926, was deeply mourned by a large circle of admiring friends.

842

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

DWARD R. FONDA, pioneer Texas cattle- man, was a resident of Texas for half a century, the greater part of which time his home was in Dallas. Mr. Fonda came to Texas in 1876, and went into the cattle business near Cisco. At that time this section was given over to the free range, and Mr. Fonda soon owned three thousand head of cattle. Ten years later he sold his stock and came to Dallas, where he was con- nected with the Schnider & Davis Company for seven years. He then went with the Hubert Adams Company and was a salesman for that company for several years, following which he bought a farm in Dallas County and engaged in farming. Mr. Fonda also owned a one hundred and forty acre farm near Temple, Texas, and a five hundred acre farm in Jefferson County.

Edward R. Fonda was born at Louisville, Ken- tucky, the third day of December. 1859, and was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Fonda. Abraham Fonda, a wholesale grocer at Louisville for many years, operated his business under the name of A. Fonda & Sons. He served in the Civil war, as cap- tain in the New York guards, being appointed by De Witt Clinton, then governor of New York State, where Mr. Fonda was living at that time. He was very active in politics during his residence in that state. Mr. Edward R. Fonda's grandfather served under Admiral De Ruyter, under the Dutch flag.

Edward R. Fonda attended the public schools of New York, Military Academy at Mount Pleasant, and Yale University, following which he came to Texas, and entered the cattle business. During the years he engaged in this business he made sev- eral trips up the old Chisholm trail.

Mr. Fonda was married in Greenville, Missis- sippi, the fourth day of November, 1888, to Miss Marybelle Worthington, a daughter of George P. Worthington, a planter of Mississippi. Mrs. Fonda is a native of Texas. The Fonda residence is lo- cated at 3624 Cedar Springs Road, Dallas.

Mr. Fonda died March 31, 1929, Easter Sunday.

RANK COOLEY BAKER of Dallas spent the greater part of his business life as a spe- cialty salesman and was one of the best known and most popular men of the travel- ing fraternity of Texas and contiguous States.

A native Son of Texas, Mr. Baker was born in Brenham June 9, 1885. His father, Edward Prence Baker, a native of Ohio came to Texas and lived here the remainder of his life. His mother was Mrs. Susan (Clower) Baker. His education was received in the public schools of Dallas which he left at an early age in order to start his career in the world of business. After a few years spent as a salesman in North Texas, he became the traveling representative of the New Orleans Coffee Con- pany, remaining with this organization for several years. IIe then became associated with the Dia- mond Crystal Salt Company remaining as a travel- ing salesman of this Company for more than ten years. Later, Mr. Baker became President of the . Interstate Brokerage Company and was a factor in the success achieved by this organization. He was a resident of Dallas for a period of thirty-five years, during which time he made many friends and was active in every movement for the welfare and upbuilding of his city. He was active in club work, particularly the Rotary Club, being a director in

this club for many years. He was a Mason, active in Masonic work and a member of the Scottish Rite and Hella Temple Shrine. He was also a member of the Automobile Club, the International Travelers Association, the U. C. T., and others.

Mr. Baker was married in Sherman, October 3, 1901, to Miss Imogene Balthrop, a native of the Lone Star State also. Her father, Neal Robert Bal- throp, a native of Hunt County, Texas, is a well known business man of Texas. Her mother, Mrs. Imogene (Walsh) Balthrop, was a native of Canton, New York. One child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Baker, Catharine, who is at home with her mother at 3410 Dartmouth Avenue.

Mr. Baker died in Dallas, August 14, 1921, after a life of usefulness to his community and fellow man, both of which it was a pleasure for him to serve at all times. He was a man loved by all who knew him. He was a factor in Dallas affairs for so long that his death left a vacancy that is hard to fill, for as a citizen and business man he distin- guished himself in such a way that the loss involved in his death was keenly and widely felt in his city and State.

HARLES D. EARLEY, a pioneer railroad man of Dallas, was engaged in railroad work here for upward of thirty years, during which time he made steady advancement and was connected with many departments. Mr. Earley began his railroad career as a messenger boy for the Sante Fe Railroad, at the age of thirteen years, later advancing to bill clerk, then becoming foreman of the warehouse, and still later rate man. During the war he became agent for the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, and the Greenville, Waco & Wichita Falls Railway, holding that position for some years. Following this he was appointed assistant freight agent for the same road in Dallas which position he held at the time of his death.

Charles D. Earley was born at Waxahachie, Texas. the sixteenth day of February, 1874, and was a son of W. M. Earley, and Mary (Moncrief) Earley. Mr. Earley. Sr. resided at Ennis for a time. and was Mayor of that municipality. He later moved to Waxahachie, and still later to Dallas. He was a traveling man for many years. Charles D. Earley was educated in the Dallas public schools, follow- ing which he began his career in the railroad busi- ness.

Mr. Earley was married in Dallas, the twenty- first day of March, 1892 to Miss Ollie May Jackson, a daughter of Jerry R. Jackson, and Alzadia (Maul- ding) Jackson. Mr. Jerry R. Jackson, a native of Texas, was a son of Thomas Jackson who was born in Texas, and who before the Civil War owned a large farm, on a part of which the suburb of Oak Cliff has been built. Mrs. Alzadia Jackson was a na- tive of Dallas. Mr. and Mrs. Earley had two daugh- ters. Zadia Maude, wife of J. B. Salmon, Jr .. realtor and finance man of Dallas, and Miss Mauryne Ear- ley, of Dallas. There is one grandchild. Joe Charles Salmon three years of age. Mrs. Earley and her daughter, Miss Mauryne reside at 5819 Victor Street, the family home for many years.

Mr. Earley died at his home in Dallas on the fifth day of December, 1920. A pioneer railroad man of this city, he had many friends here, and was well known in railroad circles,

843

MEN OF TEXAS

ACOB METZGER. A pioneer in the dairy business in Dallas and Texas, Jacob Metz- ger came to Dallas in 1873 and established the dairy business now known as Metzger brothers Dairy, and which is one of the largest in the Southwest. Jacob Metzger, a native of Switzerland, left his home there as a young man, and after spending several years in Canada, gradu- ally worked his way south until he came to Dallas. He located eighteen miles northeast of Dallas in 1873, and farmed there for ten years, following which he went in the dairy business, leasing a piece of property seven miles out, on Ross Avenue, and later buying a tract of land south of Dallas, the present location of the dairy. The dairy has met with a conservative growth, and has always had as its policy supplying its customers with high grade dairy products. The plant at present employs more than a hundred operatives, and seventy wagons are required to make deliveries, many of these being large trucks that supply grocery stores with Metz- ger's products. The dairy farm consists of three hundred acres of land, purchased by Jacob Metz- ger. Mr. Metzger's sons, David and Carl, now own and operate the dairy.

Jacob Metzger was born in Weingard, Switzer- land, the twelfth day of October, 1855, and was a son of Joseph and Annie Metzger, natives of that country. He was educated in the public schools of his native land, and took up work in preparation for the priesthood, later giving this up and going to Canada from which place he came to Dallas. During his residence here he was a very popular man and had many friends who called upon him frequently for advice ; he was charitable and helped young men to get a start in life.

Mr. Metzger was married in Dallas, on the twen- ty-sixth day of August, 1878, to Miss Bertha Tho- fern, a daughter of August Thofern and Louisa (Rohlfink) Thofern. Mr. Thofern, a native of Germany, was brought to the United States as an infant, his parents settling at Hermann, Missouri. He farmed there for many years after reaching manhood, and later came to Texas, where his death occurred in 1881. Mrs. Thofern was born in Price- Minden Germany, and was brought to America by her parents as a child ten years old, settling near Hermann, Missouri. Mrs. Thofern lived to a very advanced age, her death occurring in 1924. Mrs. Metzger was born in Hermann, Missouri, fifty miles from St. Louis, both her parents having been reared there. She was educated in the schools there, and later came to Texas, her parents moving to this state during her girlhood.

Mr. and Mrs. Metzger were parents of five child- ren: Willie, whose death occurred in 1899; Lena, wife of Perry Brown. of Dallas, they having two children, Robert and Dorothy; David. a member of Metzger Brothers, and who married Miss Nora O'Leary, they having three children, Catherine, Jacob, and. Cecelia Jane: Miss Bertha Metzger, and Carl, a member of Metzger Brothers, and who mar- ried Miss Rebecca Schepps of Dallas, they having two children. Mildred and Beatrice. Mr. and Mrs. Metzger also reared Gretchen Metzger, whom they took as a small infant. She married Granville Moore, of Dallas. they having three children, Gene, Gwendolyn, and Geraldine.

Mrs. Metzger was one of a family of six children, she having three sisters and two brothers, all younger than she. They are: David Thofern, of

Dallas; Carrie Tinsley, of Dallas; Henry Thofern, of Wickenberg, Arizona; Miss Louisa Thofern, of Dallas, and Mrs. Gussie Eimicke of Dallas.

Mr. Metzger was a member of the Dallas Cham- ber of Commerce and the Presbyterian Church. His death occurred on the seventeenth day of April, 1910, being fifty-four years old at that time. Dur- ing his many years of participation in the dairy business Mr. Metzger did much to advance the standards of dairy operation, and Dallas owes hini a very real debt for his work in giving to this city the high quality of milk that he always produced, and for his activities in behalf of the dairy industry generally.

IDGAR JOHNSON, for many years, was as- sociated with various kinds of improve- ments made by the city of Dallas, being superintendent of much of the important work of this municipality including the cementing of the bottom of the Turtle Creek Reservoir, which was considered a remarkable feat in engineering circles. Prior to entering the employ of the city of Dallas Mr. Johnson had a wide and varied busi- ness career, withal a successful one which he started as a cowboy.

A native of Missouri, Mr. Johnson was born Sep- tember 26, 1864. His father, James C. Johnson, was a native of Kentucky and for many years of his life was a leader in the business circles of his community. His mother, Mrs. Millie (Barnes) John- son, was a member of one of the outstanding fami- lies of Missouri. His education was received in the schools of Pike County, Illinois.

In a spirit of adventure Mr. Johnson went to Kansas as a young man and for several years was employed as a cowboy on a large ranch in that state. In 1889 he came to Dallas where he did some of the most efficient work for this city. Later, he became foreman of the building of the Dallas elec- tric light plant at the foot of Griffin street. He then engaged in the grocery business, conducting one of the leading grocery stores of this city. He continued in this field for a period of sixteen years, or until he was forced to retire from active busi- ness on account of failing health.

Mr. Johnson was married September 9, 1890, to Miss Mary E. Berry, a member of a pioneer Texas family. Her father, George S. Berry, was a native of England, who came to America as a young man and soon made his influence felt in the business life of his community. Her mother, Mrs. Catherine (Foley) Berry was a native of Ireland and a mem- ber of one of the foremost families of that country. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, six of whom are living: Mildred, now Mrs. C. C. Gannaway of Dallas; George B., with the M. K. & T. R. R. in Denison, Texas; Clifford C., and Frank X., in business in Dallas; Catherine, now Mrs. Cath- erine Thurmon of Dallas; Marion E., with the Union Pacific Railroad in Los Angeles, and James (de- ceased). The Johnson home is located at 2825 Bir- mingham Avenue.

Mr. Johnson died in Dallas September 6, 1910. He was a member of the Knights and Ladies of HIonor and active in movements for the upbuilding of Dallas where he was known as one of its enter- prising business men and public spirited citizens, loved by all who knew him. His charities were many, giving to the poor and needy to the extent of his means, without regard to the crecd or color.

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The encyclopedia of Texas, V.2, Part 96

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