USA > Texas > The encyclopedia of Texas, V.2 > Part 97
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For Pioneer
Family Member
William Perry Overton of Gal- veston, a native of Dallas and member of & pioneer Dallas County family, will be buried in Overton, Cemetery Thursday after 11 a. m. services in South- ern Oaks Baptist Church, 3010 Overton Rd.
Mr. Overton, 52, died at his home in Galveston Monday. Born and reared in Dallas, he was a graduate of old Christian Valley School. He was a farmer and a convoy driver for Kenosha Transport Co. in Dallas before moving to Galveston 12 years ago.
His grandfather, the late Wil- liam Perry Overton, was one of the first settlers in Dallas Coun- ty. Overton Rd. was named for him, and he set aside the land for the family cemetery.
Survivors are his wife. of Gals veston; a son. Joe: a daughter, Wilma, and a sister, Mrs. H. W. Embry, all of Dallas.
Rev. Scott Turner, pastor of Southern Oaks Baptist Church, will officiate. Ed C. Smith &: Bo. Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Funeral Scheduled For Jacl. P
Chapel :
منلا
Jacob Michiger
NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS
ENRY ALBERT CUNNINGHAM of Dallas for many years was one of the foremost educators of the Lone Star State, later en- tering the business world, where during his residence in this city he was associated with the John Deere Plow Company as cashier. Mr. Cun- ningham was also active in the fraternal, social, religious and civic circles of Dallas, where he was well known and regarded as one of the city's most progressive and public-spirited citizens.
A native of Tennessee, Mr. Cunningham was born near Lexington, January 19, 1869. His par- ents Elijah and Elizabeth Harty (Teague) Cun- ningham, were both natives of Tennessee and mem- bers of prominent families of that State. His edu- cation was received in the schools and colleges of his native State, after which he attended a State Normal College of Texas. He started his career as a pedagogue in Tennessee, later moving to Lamar County, Texas, where he taught in several schools of that County. He then went to Pattonville, La- mar County and organized a school district there and taught for two years in this school. He then went to Paris, Texas, where he was employed in the office of the County Clerk serving for two years under W. A. Roach. He then entered the employ of the H. S. Bettes Hardware Company of Paris and managed the office of this firm, later becoming one of the principal stockholders. Mr. Cunningham was associated with the Bettes Hard- ware Company for about ten years and much of the success achieved by this organization was due to his management of its affairs. Later he sold his in- terest in this firm and in 1905 moved to Dallas and associated himself with the John Deere Plow Com- pany.
Mr. Cunningham was married in Blossom, Texas, October 17, 1894, to Miss Mary Elizabeth Roach, a daughter of Rev. William Roach, one of Texas' best known Ministers, who came here from South Carolina. Her mother, Mrs. Mary Louise (Robert- son) Roach, was a member of a prominent family of Tennessee. One child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham: Elijah William Cunningham, who is a sports writer on the Boston Post. The latter was married to Miss Doris Wilde of Attleboro, Mass. They have one daughter, Lydia, two years old. The Cunningham home is located at 300 East Ninth Street, Oak Cliff.
Mr. Cunningham died here June 18, 1908. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Modern Woodmen and the Oak Cliff Methodist Church. He was active in church affairs, being a steward in his church for many years and a teacher of the men's Bible Class and Superintendent of the Oak Cliff Methodist Church Sunday School at the time of his death. Although he resided in Dallas for only three years he made a host of friends. Mrs. Cunningham has been active in church work throughout her life, having been born in an atmos- phere of this laudable work. Her father, the Rev. Roach came to Texas from Kentucky in the pio- neer days of the Lone Star State when churches were few, and organized many churches in the Northeastern part of the State, continuing in this work for almost ten years. Mr. Cunningham was eol- lege trained and equipped with natural talent and a forceful personality, he enjoyed success in the busi- ness world as he had as an educator. In his passing Texas lost a citizen who labored without stint or ceasing for its upbuilding.
EWIS WATSON DOREN for a period of fif- teen years was a potent factor in the busi- ness life of Dallas, Texas, being for twelve years of this time vice-president and gen- eral manager of the Gilbert Manufacturing Com- pany of this city.
A native of Ohio, Mr. Doren was born in Swan- ton, February 1, 1864. His father, John Doren, also a native of Ohio, throughout his life was an active figure in the affairs of his State. His mother, Mrs. Sarah (Foster) Doren, was a member of one of the foremost families of Ohio. His edu- cation was obtained in the schools of Whitehouse, Ohio, which he left at an early age in order to enter the business world. He started his career with the Standard Oil Company at Whiting, Indiana, and for eighteen years was associated with this great organization, progressing to the position of Super- intendent of one of the departments. Mr. Doren then went to St. Louis and entered business for himself, selling and installing fire protection de- vices in buildings of all kinds. He came to Dallas in 1910 as this was a fertile field for this line, in fact the demand for his personal work brought him to this city from St. Louis. Numbered among the buildings in Dallas in which he installed fire pro- tection doors, windows, etc., are : Sanger Bros.'s new building; Majestic Theater, American Exchange Bank Building, Southwestern Life Building, Adol -- phus, Baker, and Hilton Hotels, Palace Theater, and other large and important buildings, also pri- vate residences. Much of the success achieved by the Gilbert Manufacturing Company was due to the efficient management of Mr. Doren. He also was an inventor and many of his noteworthy inven- tions are in use today throughout the country. He also improved many inventions and made them fit for practical application. His inventions were all for fire protection.
Mr. Doren was married in Michigan City, In- diana, June 29, 1892, to Miss Sophie A. Slintz, a native of Michigan City and a member of a well known family of that place. Her father, John Slintz, a native of Germany, came to America as a young man and entered actively into the business life of his community where he achieved success in his various undertakings. Her mother, Mrs. Mary (O'Neil) Slintz, was a native of Ireland, who came to America as a child and was reared and educated here. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Doren, two of whom are living: Irene Marie, now Mrs. Charles P. Sheklon of Dallas and Evangeline, now Mrs. Edward Castle of Garland, Texas. The deceased child was a son. Raymond. The Doren home is located at 6024 Bryan Parkway.
Mr. Doren died in Dallas, Texas, July 27 1925. He wasa member of the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica, the Business Men's Club and various other or- ganizations, in all of which he took a keen interest. His religious faith was with the Methodist denom- ination, although he was not a member of any Church. Mr. Doren had a host of friends here and did his part in the upbuilding of Dallas as there were no large buildings here when he came. His work along fire protection lines has been praised not only throughout America but in'all parts of the world, where many of his devices are in general use. His career brought not only honor to himself but credit to his city and State.
845
MEN OF TEXAS
LLIAM O. SWIFT, for two decades, was a leader in the business life of Dallas, where he was associated with the well known firm of Austin Brothers, and during the greater part of this period he was secretary and treasurer of this organization, and a large stock- holder.
A native of Tennessee, Mr. Swift was born near Cookeville, February 23, 1883. His father, W. C. Swift, also a native of Tennessee, was among the leading farmers of that state and a pioneer citizen of the city of Sparta. His mother, Mrs. Naomi (Phy) Swift, was a member of a well known family of Tennessee, where she was reared and educated. His early education was received in the public schools of Bearcove, Tennessee, and later he became a student of Pleasant Hill Academy, of Pleasant Hill, Tennessee. In 1907 he took a business course in the Metropolitan Business Col- lege of Dallas. In 1909 he entered the employ of Austin Brothers one of the largest organizations of its kind in the Southwest, builders in steel and re- inforced concrete. He saw Dallas grow from a small city into the great metropolis and as a mem- ber of Austin Brothers he had a share in this transformation.
Mr. Swift was married in Dallas, Texas, Septem- ber 5, 1909 to Miss Zora Taylor, a daughter of J. W. Taylor, a well known citizen and business man of Baxter, Tennessee. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Swift: W. O. Swift, Jr., a student of the Southern Methodist University, and Juanita Ruth. The Swift home is located at 1915 North Edgefield Street, Oak Cliff.
Mr. Swift died in Dallas, March 16, 1928. He was a Scottish Rite Mason, affiliated with Tanne- hill Lodge, a member of Hella Temple Shrine, the Praetorians, the Lakewood Country Club, the Dallas Chamber of Commerce, the Dallas Athletic Club and many of the civic organizations of this city. He was a member of the First Baptist Church and for a period of ten years sang in the choir of this church. He was a successful business man and in addition to his interests in the organization of which he was a member of the official family, he was associated with other Dallas business enter- prises. Mr. Swift did not smoke, drink or gamble, his hobbies being fishing, hunting and golf, and to these sports he devoted his leisure time. His per- sonality was such that he inspired the love of all who came into intimate contact with him, and his sterling worth as a citizen won him the esteem of the entire citizenship, and his place will not soon be filled in the life of this city.
HARLES THOMAS GIRARD was a pioneer in the agricultural and business life of Texas, having started his career in the Lone Star State in 1875 and, for almost forty years, was a factor in the various kinds of business in which he was engaged.
A native of Alabama, Mr. Girard was born near Sand Mountain, July 17, 1857. His parents, Sam- uel Thomas and Mary ( Miller) Girard, were natives of Alabama. His mother was well educated and young Girard received his education largely through her efforts. He also attended the school of which she was the teacher. As a boy he did farm work in Tennessee and when eighteen years of age he came to Cook County, Texas where he engaged in
farming for two or three years. Later, he moved to Ellis County where he owned and operated a blacksmith shop for five years before going to Sny- der, Texas, where for seven years he was active in this trade. He then engaged in the general mer- chandising business in Snyder first on a small scale, but his business grew with the years until his estab- lishment became one of the largest in Scurry Coun- ty. After several years Mr. Girard went to Cali- fornia for the benefit of the health of members of his family, and while sojourning in that State for almost two years he engaged in merchandising. Later, he returned to Texas, locating at Uvalde, where he owned one of the leading implement stores of that part of Texas for six years.
Mr. Girard was married in Ellis, County, Texas, October 22, 1885, to Miss Mary M. Bibbee, a na- tive of Ohio and a member of a well known family of that State. Her father, David Bibbee was a mem- ber of the farming fraternity of Ohio, where he was born and reared. Her mother, Mrs. Mary E. (Chapman) Bibbee, was a member of a pioneer family of Ohio. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Girard, all of whom are living: Blanche, now Mrs. Blanche Rhoads of Ellis County, Texas; Vida Girard of Dallas; Mildred, now Mrs. Mildred Sims of Dallas; Mary, now Mrs. Mary Minter of Uvalde, Texas; C. O., well known in the business life of Dallas; Charlotte Girard of Dallas and Henry Girard of Deaf Smith County, Texas. The Girard home is located at 232 North Ewing Avenue, Oak Cliff.
Mr. Girard died at Uvalde, Texas, May 5, 1913. He was a member of the A. F. and A. M. and the Presbyterian Church. Although Mr. Girard never lived in Dallas he had many friends in this city who knew him as one of Texas' sterling business men, and constructive citizens.
AMES MADISON EARNEST. In the his- tory of the pioneers who took an active part in the development of the Lone Star State, the name of James Madison Earnest will have an honored place. He was a man of sterling qualities and unquestioned integrity and commanded the highest respect of those who knew him. He engaged extensively in the cattle business and became the owner of a large area of West Texas land and became widely known among the cattlemen and also in Austin.
James Madison Earnest was born the 19th of May, 1850. His parents, Wm. and Martha (Williamson) Earnest, both natives of Tennessee, were pioneer Texans who came to the Lone Star State in the early days and located at San Marcos where they were engaged in the mercantile business for many years. Mr. Earnest received his education in the San Marcos public schools. At the age of sixteen he decided to go into the cattle business. He went to West Texas and settled in Howard County. In the course of years he became the owner of many sections of West Texas land on which he drove large herds of cattle. He was joined here by his brothers Joe and Reams Earnest. He maintained his home in Austin and went back and forth to his ranches.
Mr. Earnest was married in Austin in December. 1889, to Miss Fannie Thibault of the Capital City. She was the daughter of Jolin Monroe Thibault a merchant of Austin who came to Texas from Point Coupe Parish, Louisiana. Her mother formerly was
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NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS
Elizabeth Ann Hamilton, a native of Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. 'Earnest were the parents of one child, William Thibault, of Dallas, who married Miss Edna Wingfield of Austin, a descendant of an old pioneer family of Texas. They have two children, Frank Wade and William T. Earnest.
Mr. Earnest lived to the venerable age of three score. He was a member of the Cattlemen's Associ- ation and the family were members of the Method- ist church. His death, Nov. 11, 1911, was a deep loss to the cattlemen of Texas who held him in high regard. The family moved to Dallas and reside at 5501 Reiger Avenue.
JOHN MARTIN ROREX was a pioneer in the commercial life of Dallas, where he was successively engaged in various lines of business, but perhaps was best known as the owner of the Merchants Transfer Company which he operated with marked success for more than twenty years.
A native of Tennessee, Mr. Rorex was born in Newport, July 20, 1857. His father, Addison Rorex, a native of Tennessee, was well known in the business circles of Newport and other cities where he was engaged in business. His mother, was a member of a pioneer Tennessee family. His early education was received in the public schools of Tennessee, after which he attended Emory and Henry College, graduating from the law depart- ment. After his admission to the bar, he practiced law for a short time, preferring a business life where a large part of his time could be spent in the open. When about twenty-one years of age he came to Texas, locating in the western part of the state, where for two years he was engaged in sheep raising. He then went with the Gainesville Gazette, the leading newspaper of North Texas at that time. After a short time in Gainesville, he moved to Montague, Texas, and published the Texas Northwest for about three years. He then moved to Dallas and engaged in the real estate business, for a short time prior to his association with the Red Line Transfer Company, remaining with this organization for about two years. At this time he established the Merchants Transfer Company which became one of the largest and most successful of this city. After he sold his company to the Dallas Transfer Company, he be- came interested in and associated with the latter company.
Mr. Rorex was married in Montague, Texas, November 16, 1887 to Miss Docia Dennis, a native of this state and a member of a pioneer family. Her father, John Dennis, a native of North Carolina, came to Texas in the early days and was a promi- nent figure in the affairs of Montague and con- tiguous counties. Her mother Mrs. Caroline (Dalton) Dennis, was a member of a well known family of North Carolina. Four daughters were born. to Mr. and Mrs. Rorex, two of whom are living: Evangeline, now Mrs. Dr. C. C. Holder, of Dallas, and Margaret, now Mrs. Dr. J. R. Lemmon, of Amarillo, Texas. The deceased children are: Roxie Myrick who had one child, John, now four- teen years old; and Lucille who died in infancy. The other grandchildren are Eugene and Robert Lemmon, ages seven and four.
Mr. Rorex died in Dallas, July 23, 1920. He was a member of the Loyal Order of Moose, the
Trinity Rod and Gun Club and the Methodist Church. Throughout his long residence in Dal- las Mr. Rorex was an earnest worker for the good of his city.
Few did more toward promoting the business welfare of Dallas than did Mr. Rorex, whose pro- gressive spirit helped to raise this city to metro- politan proportions. He had a forceful personality and versatile talents. He has been missed both as a friend and as a business asset to Dallas.
ENRY NUSSBAUMER, of Dallas, was one of the outstanding men of the Lone Star State in the breeding and raising of regis- tered cattle, beef cattle and pedigreed horses, all of his livestock being imported animals of the highest class. He was a pioneer in the registered and pedigreed livestock business and did much in bringing about the change from the "Texas Long Horns" that grazed over the great Empire of prairies of the early days, to the fine breeds to be found in all parts of Texas for the past several years.
A native son of Dallas, Mr. Nussbaumer was born May 28, 1862. His father, Jacob Nuss- baumer, a native of Switzerland, settled in Dallas County in 1855, and became Dallas' pioneer con- tractor, a part of his early day work being the grading of Commerce street when Dallas was a village. His mother, Dorothea (Boll) Nussbaumer, was a member of a prominent Swiss family who settled in Dallas County in 1854, and her family was numbered among the families making up the Old French Colony of Dallas, all of whom came here in the pioneer days. His education was received in private schools and business colleges of his native city. After leaving school he engaged in the livestock business, breeding, raising, buying and selling registered and pedigreed stoek and spent his entire life in this field, becoming one of the most successful here in this line. Mr. Nussbaumer' always had many head of fine cattle and horses on display at the Dallas State Fair and was awarded many prizes and ribbons on his fine animals.
Mr. Nussbaumer was married in Dallas on Decem- ber 4, 1890, to Miss Annie J. Hanna, a native of Sandwich, Ontario, Canada, but reared in Detroit, Michigan. Her father, George Hanna, was an early day settler in Canada, and belonged to a prominent family. Her mother, Mrs. Mary Ann Hanna, be- longed to a family who were old Canadian settlers. One child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Nussbaumer, Henry J., who has been engaged in the service of various railroads throughout his life and is well known and popular with the railroad fraternity of the Southwest. The Nussbaumer home is located at 621 North Marsalis Avenue.
Mr. Nussbaumer died in Dallas October 25, 1900. He was a pioneer Dallas County stockman whose advice along the lines of raising better livestock was eagerly sought, not only throughout Texas, but in all parts of the Southwest. He did much to encourage the livestock men of Texas and the Southwest to improve their herds with imported stock and the results of his advice and the example he set is found in all parts of the country. Throughout his life he assisted in the upbuildi. of Dallas where he was known as one of its esteemed citizens and progressive business and livestock men.
847
MEN OF TEXAS
OHN FRANK EDMONDSON, a native son of Dallas County, Texas, had a wide and varied business career, withal a successful one, but the greater part of his life was spent in conducting his father's farming interests and his own farming activities, all of which were in Dallas County near Dallas. Mr. Edmondson started his business career with the Commonwealth Nation- al Bank of Dallas, one of the oldest financial insti- tutions here, but remained only a few years as the banking business did not appeal to him as did other pursuits. During the period in which he was en- gaged in farming Mr. Edmondson married and with his wife, remained for a period of five years on the farm, later removing to Oak Cliff. Some years later, he opened a plumbing establishment in Dallas which he owned and operated for many years and was a pioneer in the sanitary plumbing business of Dallas and surrounding territory.
Mr. Edmondson was born on September 27, 1866. His father, John W. Edmondson, a native of Ten- nessee, came to Texas in the early days, settling in Dallas County when this part of the State was sparsely settled, purchased land and became one of the leading farmers here. His mother, Mrs. Bettie (Miller) Edmondson, was a native of Dallas County and a member of a pioneer family. His early edu- cation was received in the schools of Dallas County, after which he entered Add Ran College from which he graduated with honors.
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Mr. Edmondson was married in Dallas on Feb- ruary 2, 1892, to Miss Lula Moore, who was born in Marshall, Texas and reared in Dallas. Her par- ents, Samuel and Geraldine (Garrison) Moore, were natives of Georgia, but pioneers of East Texas. One child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Ed- mondson: Franklin Earl Edmondson who served overseas in the World War and who now is with the North Texas Bank of Dallas. The Edmondson home is located at 1239 Georgia Street.
Mr. Edmondson died in Dallas September 24, 1904, when only thirty-eight years of age. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias and other or- ganizations and attended the Congregational Church. Although of the younger generation of business men of Dallas County, he made his influ- ence felt in various kinds of business.
It is said of him that no man of his age in Dallas had so many personal friends and admirers. Of an old and honored Texas family, throughout his life he had wielded an influence for good, both by pre- cept and example. While he spent much of his life on the farm adjacent to Dallas he was at all times identified with the social, civic and commercial life of this city, giving his time and aid to every project for its upbuilding and development.
URTON E. WILKES, for more than a B quarter of a century, was a leading figure in the business life of Dallas where dur- ing most of this period he was associated with the B. F. Avery Company of this city. He brought to Dallas an experience gained through a wide and varied business career which he started as a young man by operating a brick yard. Later he became postmaster at Wilkes, Alabama, a town which was named for his paternal grandfather, a pioneer of that state, and one of its prominent cit- izens. He later was associated for five years with the Harry Weisinger Tobacco Company, of Louis- ville Kentucky. Ile then went with the Bitzer
Company, of Louisville, Kentucky, and remained there with this organization for about fourteen years. He then moved to Dallas, remaining with the B. F. Avery Company for twenty-five years. About three years before his death he entered the grocery and feed business.
A native of Kentucky, Mr. Wilkes was born in Louisville, September 24, 1865. His father, Henry W. Wilkes, also a native of Louisville, Kentucky, was one of the leaders in the business life of that city. His mother, Mrs. Mary (Winn) Wilkes, was a native of Kentucky and a member of an old and honored family of that state. His early education was received in the schools of Kentucky, and in the University of St. Louis. He was, for several years, a member of the State militia of Kentucky, serving as a lieutenant.
Mr. Wilkes was married in St. Louis, Missouri, September 4, 1895, to Miss Martha Anita Byrum, a native of New Albany, Indiana, and a member of a well known family of that state. Her father, James Byrum, was a native of Kentucky, and for many years was active in the commercial life of that state. Her mother, Mrs. Mary (McAlister) Byrum, was a member of a pioneer family of Indiana. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilkes, one of whom is living and is a resident of Dallas, namely: Irvin Ernest Wilkes, proprietor of the Crystal Dairy, of Dallas and of Denison.
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