Dallas County, Texas - The whole text, 1892 (part 22 of 32)

J. POTTER, one of the pii.neer settlers of Dallas county, was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, August 30, 1858, the sixth of eight children born to William and Catharine (Tolbert) Potter, the father a native of Oswego, Now York, and the mother of Kilkenny, Ireland. The latter came to New York when ten years of age, and afterward removed to Michigan. The parents were married in Niles, Michigan, and afterward settled in Kalamazoo county, Michigan, honored pioneers, and in 1877 they came to Dallas, where the father has been identified with the building interests since that time. They now reside on North Harvard street, this city. He is now seventy years of age, while his wife is sixty-five.

S. J. Potter, our subject, was reared and educated in Kalamazoo until eighteen years of age, when he came to Dallas and engaged in the manufacture of cigars and tobacco. He has been identified with the cigar business since 1877 until a short time ago, and at one time his shop was located on Elm and Live Oak streets, and was the largest manufactory in the State. Mr. Potter was married June 3, 1883, to Anna Spencer, a native of Anna, Illinois, and a daugliter of William and Catharine (Shefley) Spencer, the father a native of county Kildare, Ireland, and the mother of Wiirtteinburg, Germany. The father came to Illinois when a young man, was married near Jonesboro, that State, and in the spring of 1878 he came to Dallas, Texas, and engaged in the livery business, and was also a veterinary surgeon. Both parents still reside in this city, the father now aged sixty-six years and the mother fiftythree. They had four daughters: Fanny, deceased; Mary, Jennie and Anna. Mr. and Mrs. Potter have four children: Lily, Robert, Daisy and Frankie. Mr. Potter takes an active interest in politics, voting with the Democratic party, and is now serving as Alderman from the Eighth Ward, filling the unexpired term of G. C. Cole. Socially, he is a member of Dallas Lodge, No. 70, Knights of Pythias.

V^D. M. PATTERSON, son of Judge "fflL James M. Patterson and Sarah E. Pat- ^^ terson, of whom a sketch appears elsewliere in this work, was born in Dallas, Texas, January 20, 1859. His parents were both natives of Kentucky, - came to Dallas county respectively in 1845 and 1846, - where they afterward married (October 5, 1848). Judge Patterson, associated with John W. Smith, was the first merchant in Dallas. From 1854 to 1866 he was County Judge of Dallas county, giving entire satisfaction. Ed. M. Patterson, the sixth son of their eleven children, was horn, raised and educated in Dallas, where he still resides, commanding the respect and esteem of his fellow-citizens as fully as any man of his age. Possessing a handsome estate in this large and progressing community, and fulfilling in every sense the measure of good citizenship, he is regarded by those who know him most intimately as a model son, brother, husband and father.

On the 27th of August, 1882, he married Antoinette Stoddard, of Comanche county, Kansas, she being a native of Buchanan county, Missouri, daughter of John S. and

Annie E. Stoddard, natives respectively of Maryland and Virginia. Mr. Stoddard was a well-known merchant in St. Joseph, Missouri, where he settled, after his marriage in Virginia, in 1854. He died in Baltimore in 1864, and his widow is now the wife of Mr. C. C Pepperd, of Cleburne, Texas.

Mr. Patterson has for years been engaged in the real-estate business, and has the respect and confidence of the community in which his family has resided for forty- six years, being honored for their integrity and fidelity to all social and religions obligations, and his friends have every right to expect that through life he will continue to reflect credit on the memory of his now venerable parents.

SASHINGTON C. BULLOCK, deceased, was born in Boone county, Kentucky, a son of John C. and Mary (O'Neal) Bullock. The father, a native of Maryland, moved to Kentucky when a young man, where he married Mary O'jSTeal, and a few years later went to Marion county, Missouri, wliere he and his wife both died. Washington C. Bullock was eleven years of age when his parents settled in Missouri, and he remained in that State until 1852, when he took a trip to California, but did not remain long on the Pacific coast. After re. turning to Missouri he came to Texas in 1855, settling on the south line of Dallas county, where he bought 320 acres of land. He sold this place in 1866, and purchased a tract of 480 acres lying between Denton and Grapevine creeks, in the northwest part of the county, fifty acres of which was improved. Mr. Bullock remained on this place until his death, which occurred October 6, 1889, at the age of sixty-eight years, eight months and eight days. He was a successful farmer and stock-raiser, leaving at his death one of the best improved farms in the county, 125 acres of which was under a fine state of cultivation, and the remainder in hay and pasture.

He was married November 28. 1844, to Caroline, a daughter of George and Isabella (Ellis) Hunsaker, natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia respectively. The father settled in Union county, Illinois, in 1811, but moved to Knox county, Missouri, in 1841, wliere he died ten years later, at the age of ninety-seven years. The mother died in that county in 1846, at the age of sixty-four years. Both parents were members of the Dunkard Church. Mrs. Bullock was born in Union county, Illinois, January 10, 1823, but removed with iier parents to Missouri when eighteen years of age. She is the fifth in a family of seven children, viz. : Catherine, the wife of Drake H. Rendleman, of Union county, Illinois; Mary, now Mrs. Samuel White, of Marion county, Missouri; Emma, who died unmarried; Sarah, who became the wife of Mr. Davie, but is now deceased; Ellen, deceased, was the wife of Mr. Imbler; and Susan, now Mrs. Andrew Hunsaker, of Washington county. Mr. and Mrs. Bullock bad the following children: an infant that died unnamed; Mary Isabella, who became the wife of Peter E. Rape, of Dallas county, and died iiere in 1872; Sarah Susanna, who died in September, 1887, was the wife of B. B. Howell, of Dallas county; John C, a resident of Young county, this State; Drake

W., deceased in 1882; George T., a sketch of whom appears iu this work; Emma, the wife of "W. T. Hyder, of Denton county, Texas; Nancy Virginia, now Mrs. John W. Oliphint, of Tarrant county; Martha, wife of Jeff. D. Harrison, of Dallas county. The last mentioned was married October 23, ISS-t, and now resides with her mother at the old lioraestead. Mr. Bullock served his county as a Justice of the Peace for a number of years, and was always interested in everything relating to the good of the county and community. Mrs. Bullock is a consistent member of the Christian Church.

fj. FLNNIGAN is the proprietor of a wall paper, glass, oil and paint estab- ** lishment, and keeps constantly on hand a complete and comprehensive stock of goods, well calculated to suit the most critical taste. His place of business is located at 535 Elm street, and it is his aim to satisfy every customer, and upon tiiis sure basis he has developed a large trade which, with its constant growth, is a reflex of the growth of Dallas. He takes contracts for painting in difl'erent parts of the State, and keeps on an average from twelve to fifteen men employed during the busy season who do their work in a thoroughly artistic maimer. Mr. Finnigan came to Dallas in March, 1877, and after learning the trade of a paper hanger, he entered the employ of K. Shields, and about 1885 began contracting for himself, and the following year opened his present establishment. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1852, to James and Margaret (Con ley) Finnigan, natives of the Emerald Isle, who came to America in an early day, and died when the subject of this sketch was quite young. In the city of St. Louis, J. J. Finnigan was partly reared, many of his youthful days being also spent in Marshall, Missouri, where he obtained a fair knowledge of the common branches. After following farming in Saline county, Missouri, for some time, he came to Dallas, Texas, in 1877, and was here married two years later to Miss Mary Isabelle Trammell, daughter James Trammell, a native of Iowa, who became a resident of Dallas in quite an early day. He and his wife now reside in Millsap, Texas. After his marriage Mr. Finnigan settled on McKinney avenue, where he has a very comfortable home. He and his wife are members of the Catholic Church, in which faith they are rearing their two children, Maggie and Mary J. Although Mr. Finnigan is not very active in politics, he usually votes the Democratic ticket. Socially he belongs to the Catholic Knights of America. Mr. Finnigan came to Dallas when it was only a fourth as large as it is at the present time, and consequently has witnessed the must of its growth and prosperity. He is a wide awake man of business, and is in every sense of the word a self-made man, for in his youth he was left fatherless and motherless and without means, but by his own efforts has successfully fought the battle of life.

M. HURT, a retired farmer of Dallas \ county, was born in Grayson county, I* Texas, in 1859, the eldest of three children born to James M. and Mattie L. (Douglas) Hurt, natives of Tennessee. The father was married in Osceola, Missouri, and about 1857 emigrated to Grayson county, Texas, settling in Sherman, where he was engaged as an attorney. He graduated at the

Law School of Lebanon, Tennessee, and after coming to Sherman he continued the practice of law, and was prominent for many years in Grayson county. During the war he was Captain of a company in that county, and was in the Trans-Mississippi department, and at the close of that struggle he returned to Grayson county. He taught school for a number of mouths, and later resumed the practice of law, was Prosecuting Attorney of that county for seven years, was a noted criminal lawyer, and moved from Sherman to Dallas, in 1876. He is now Appellate J iidge at Tyler, Austin, and Galveston, and he and his estimable wife reside in Dallas city. They reared a family of three children, viz.: R. M., our suitject; E. S., who is editor and and proprietor of the Elgin Times^ also a practicing attorney of Elgin; and Lulu, the wife of P. M. Stine, District Judge of Clay county, Texas.

R. M. Hurt, our subject, was reared and educated in Sherman, Texas, and at the age of seventeen years he engaged as stock manager for a large stock firiu in the Creek and Cherokee nation, which he represented three years, and also handled ranches for firms in Texas. After his marriage he settled at Choteau, Cherokee nation, and four years later he came to Dallas, where he engaged in the grain business, under the firm name of Everhart & Hurt, and continued the same until 1890. Mr. Hurt affiliates with the Democratic party, and has been a delegate from his ward to the Democratic County Convention, and was one of the judges in his ward on election day. He was married in Cisco, Eastland county, Texas, in 1884, to Lizzie McKee Evans, a native of Canada, and daughter of Dr. David and Elizabeth (Turney) Evans, also natives of Canada. The father was a practicing physician, and his death occurred in Canada. The mother afterward came to Stephens county, Texas, and then to Cisco, Eastland county, where she now resides with her children. Mr. and Mrs. Evans were the parents of five children, viz.: David, book-keeper for a lumber company at Fort Worth; John, a member of the firm of Logan & Evans, of Fort Worth; Belle, who married D. S. Williams, Postmaster at Cisco; Lizzie, the wife of our subject; Henrietta, now Mrs. H. E. Cunningham, of Palo Pinto, Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Hurt have had four children: James Mann, who died in 1889, at the age of three years; Earl E., and Eb D., twins; and R. L.

R. SEARS, a retired farmer and stockraiser of Dallas county, was born in ® Allen county, Kentucky, in 1837, the fourth of nine children born to John and Frances (Hammett) Sears, natives of Virginia and North Carolina. When a young man the father went to Kentucky, and in 1851 to Dallas county, Texas, where he died in 1874, and the mother died about 1870. Mr. Sears took an active part in politics in the early history of the county, was an enterprising citizen, and a member of the Baptist Church. Of their nine children, four are now living, viz.: G. R., our subject; Robert L., a resident of Collin county, Texas; Ann Frances, widow of John Burton, in Henrietta, Clay county, Texas; and Samuel M., a resident of the same place.

The subject of this sketch was reared to farm life, and received his education in the subscription schools of Kentucky, and also in those of Dallas, after which he farmed on the home farm. Li 1861 he enlisted in Company E, Third Texas Cavalry, for twelve months, at the close of his term of service he re-enlisted in the same company and re,a;iineiit. He took part in tlie battles of Wilson's creek, Elk Horn, and the iirst two years served in Arkansas and Missouri, and afterward was east of the Mississippi river. Mr. Sears remained until the close of the war, and was taken prisoner at Holly Springs, Mississippi, and later was paroled and sent home. He returned to Dallas county, where he bought fifty acres of land, which he subsequently improved. In 1872 he moved to Dallas, and took charge of the home farm, and he now owns ten acres just outside of the city limits, having sold the remainder of the farm in acre tracts.

Mr. Sears was married in Dallas county, in 1865, to Alta M. Smith, a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of John W. and Susan Smith, also natives of Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Sears have five children: William, John, Claude, Alta and Georgie. Mr. Sears affiliates with the Democratic party, and takes an active part in politics.

^HARLES H. DURGIN, deceased, was an early pioneer of the Republic of Mexico, settling in 1842 in what is now Jefferson, Marion county, Texas, and later in San Antonio, thence to Dallas county in the spring of 1844. Heat once opened a dry-goods store at this point, which was the second to be opened in the city, and continued in this business until his health failed some four years later, after which he traveled for some time. He was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1821, being the second of seven children, three now living, born to Ezra and Tempa (Walter) Durgin, natives of the Bay State, who afterward became residents of Rock county, Wisconsin. The father died in Beloit, Wisconsin, during the Civil war, and the mother some ten or twelve years before in Rock county, that State. Charles H. Durgin was educated in Springfield, Massachusetts, and in Chicago, Illinois, and when a boy worked on the Illinois Canal, but after attaining his twenty-first year came to Texas.

He was married in Dallas county, this State, in May, 1848, to Miss Elizabeth B. Thomas, their license being tlie first to be issued in that county, and they the first couple to wed. Mrs. Dnrgin's parents, John and Hannah (Andes) Thomas, were born in Tennessee and Virginia respectively, but their union was celebrated in Seviersville, i^'evier county, Tennessee. Isaac Thomas, the grandfather, was a Tennesseean, and a Revolutionary soldier, as well as a soldier in a i.,imber of early Indian wars. John Thomas took an active part in the war of 1812, the Cherokee war, the Black Hawk war, and in the trouble with the Mormons. He was drawing a pension for services rendered in the war of 1812, wlien he died. He was a tiller of the soil, and in 1833, settled at Independence, Jackson county, Missouri, but in 1844 moved to what is now Dallas county, Texas. He took up a headright of 640 acres, which he afterward greatly improved. His daughter, Mrs. Durgin, now owns the part of the farm included in the old homestead, one of the best farms in the county. He took an active part in the political affairs of this section and was the first County Judge of Dallas county. He died about 1878, and his wife in 1875. They reared a family of nine children: Cynthia A., wife of William Juidvins, of this county; Henry, who died in Missouri, about 1841; Ellis E , who died in 1865 while serving in the Confederate army ; Alexander, who died in Dallas county; Elizabeth, (Mrs. Durgin);

John T., who died in Mexico, during the Mexican war; he and Alexander were both soldiers in the Mexican war; Jane, wife of Edward Hunt, died in Dallas, she was born in 1832, and died in 1856; Sarah A., wife of F. A. Sayre, resides at Bowie, Texas, and Eliza Jones, who died in Johnson county, Texas, in June, 1883.

After his marriage Mr. Durgin settled in Dallas, and became the first Postmaster of the place, becoming also the first Deputy Clerk of the county. He always voted with the Democratic party, of which his sound views made him a leader. He was a member of A. F. & A. M., and the Episcopal Church, in which faith he died in 1852, his demise occurring at the age of thii'ty-three years, at New Haven, Connecticut. Since liis death his widow has been a resident of Dallas county, Texas, and is one of its most estimable ladies. She is highly intelligent, and at the present time is vice-president of the Pioneers' Association, a position she has ably filled since its organization. She has seen almost the complete developement of the city and county, for upon locating here Dal - las contained only two small houses, and within what is now the city limits there were only twelve families. She bore her husband one son, Charles M., who died at the untimely age of sixteen years.

fOHN M. MERRELL. - This gentleman is one of the enterprising and prominent farmers of Dallas county. Biographical mention of him is as follows:

Eli Merrell, his father, was born in Buncombe county, North Carolina, October 29, 1787. He arrived with his family in Texas in August, 184-4. Taking a headright under the Peters Colony, he improved a farm and lived on it until the time of his death, December 26, 1849. He was married thrice. By his first wife he had ten children, of whom only one daughter is living - Nancy, who is now the wife of Mr. Horton and resides near Hawthorn, Parker county, Texas. She was the first white settler west of Fort Worth. His last wife was Mary A., nee McKay, daughter of Jeremiah McKay. Her father, a native of Shenandoah valley, Virginia, moved to Missouri at an early day, and died there. By this marriage Mr. Merrell had six children, namely: Oliva J., wife of W. D. Webb; Julia A., wife of John W. Wright; George C; Margarette E., wife of M. J. Dickinson, died in November, 1883; John M.; and Thomas A. Thomas A. was enijao'ed in ranching on the Rio Grande, and both he and his wife met their death there, December 24, 1884, at the hand of Mexicans, who killed them for plunder. The mother of these children was born February 8, 1815, and is still living. She relates in a vivid and interesting manner many incidents of their pioneer days in this State. Eli Merrell served in the war of 1812, being Lieutenant of his company.

John M. Merrell was born and reared in Texas, receiving only a limited education. Arriving at man's estate, he was united in marriage with Susan J. Swetman, daughter of Sidney and Susan (Hardin) Swetman of Kentucky. Her parents moved to Missouri, where they passed the remainder of their lives and died. Mrs. Merrell was born in Missouri, February 2, 1852. Their marriage occurred September 26, 1872. The eight children born to them are all living and are as follows: Mary E., born October 25, 1873; Maggie M., September 19, 1875; Julia T., August 29, 1877; Lucy O., November 3, 1880; Ada M., July 6, 1883; Thomas C,

The land on whicli his father settled was after his death divided among the heirs, and is still all retained in the family. Mr. Merrell owns 222 acres of prairie land and 107 acres of timber, 329 acres in all. Of this he has about 150 acres in cultivation, his products being wheat, oats, corn and cotton. He has never had a total failure of all crops and has always had a plenty and some to spare.

During the war, he enlisted, in 1864, at the age of seventeen, and as a member of the Nineteenth Texas Cavalry served till the war closed. His brother, George C, was all througli the war, was in many battles but was never wounded or captured.

Mr. Merre'l purchased stock in the Alliance mill, and was one of the ten who had to saddle the debts. He was an enthusiastic member of the Alliance, believing as he did that it would promote the interests of the farmer and wage earner. He is, however, opposed to the third-party move of the organization, and thinks it can better promote its interest by keeping out of politics. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and also of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

L. HODGE. - Among the prominent men of Dallas, Texas, figures the * genial host of the Grand Windsor Hotel, of which he has been the proprietor since January, 1891. His father, Lyman Hodge, was a farmer and gave his individual attention to his farm. Both he and his wife, Sarah (Day) Hodge, are nativeb of Connecticut, but removed to Hampden county, Massachusetts, where they still reside, both aged seventy-five. They have been good, hardworking people and raised a family of eight children. The mother has been a member of the Congregational Church for many years.

Our subject is the oldest son, being born in Hartford, Hartford county, Connecticut, August 13, 1842. He was educated in the public schools of Massachusetts and assisted his father on the farm for some years. He learned the cigar business and followed it for nine years, when he went on the road as a commercial traveler and followed that business for twenty-two years, making large sales all the time he sold goods. Although he was very young when he started out, only twentytwo, he was very successful. Part of the time he sold goods for himself and part of the time for others. In 1886 he changed his occupation and engaged in the real-estate business in Dallas, having settled in that place six years before. He continued in that line of work until 1891, when he purchased the before mentioned hotel. It is the most popular hotel in the city, having more tlian its portion of the Eastern travelers who find pleasant quarters with Mr. Hodge.

The hotel is a very large one, having 225 rooms, and is capable of accommodating several huudred guests. During 1891 he ran the McLeod House in connection with the Windsor, but rented the former one in June, 1891, and now gives his entire attention to the (jrrand Windsor. He has a restaurant in connection with his hotel, run on the European plan, and it is presided over by his son, Harry Hodge, who is his only child. The restaurant has twenty-five rooms and is one of the finest in the city. The alile manner in which the son conducts the restaurant indicates that he has iuheriteJ a great deal of his father's push and enei'gy.

Hajes of Granby, Hartford county, Connecticut. Milton died in 1865 and the mother in the same year, both being forty-live at the time of their death. Mrs. Hodge is one of seven children, of whom she is the fifth.

This gentleman, who is the subject of this sketch, is a member of the Elks, K. of H., and Woodmen of the World, having served as Treasurer of the last named lodge for seven years, and tilled all the ofBces in the first named lodge.

Mr. Hodge is a public-spirited man, but has too many business interests of his own to meddle in the political affairs of the town, county, State or Union. This does not, however, prevent his lending his aid, financially and otherwise, to every enterprise calculated to advance the interests of the town. If there were more such men as Mr. Hodge in the State of Texas she would not only be the first in size, but the first in importance in the entire Union.

noted specialist in diseases of the eye, ^^ ear and throat, occupies a leading place in the professional circles of Dallas county, and is entitled to a record in this history of those men who have assisted in developing the country. He was born in Cumberland county, Kentucky, in 1844, and is a son of J. Lewis and Martha (Freeman) Chilton. The parents were born in Virginia, and emigrated to Kentucky in 1838, to engage in the occupation of farming. The mother died in 1857, and the father live.l until 1889. The Doctor received his education in the common schools, and early in life developed remarkable aptitude for all literary and scientific subjects. Before he was twenty-one years of age he had mastered the science of medicine, and was in general practice. He was located in Louisville, Kentucky, and there began making a special study of the eye, ear and throat. While a resident of Louisville he was a member of the staff of the city hospital, also a member of the Kentucky State Medical Society. He devoted himself to this branch of the profession with all characteristic thoi'onghness, and gained such skill in the treatment of the diseases of these organs that he was soon enabled to give his whole time to that specialty. In 1880 he removed to Dallas, Texas, where his success soon brought him a fine practice. There is probably no specialist in the southwest with a more profound knowledge of his subject than Dr. Chilton. Since coming to Dallas he has erected one of the handsomest brown stone business buildings in the place, and has interested himself in the general welfare of the city. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and belongs to the Christian Church; is also a member of the American Medical Association, and of the Texas State Medical Association. He is modest and unassuming in his manners, and has that culture and refinement which contribute so largely to the success of a physician.

Dr. Chilton was married in 1874 to Miss S. A. Harrison, a Kentuckian by birth, and a former student at Hamilton College, Lexington, Kentucky. One child, Bessie, was born to them in August, 1878.

E. BOUCHE, a retired merchant of Dallas, was born in Baton Ronge '* Louisiana, July 17, 1849. He is the youngest in a family of three children, born to Bartholomew and Mary (Legendre) Bouche. his father being a native of France. Mr.

Bouche's paternal ancestors emigrated to America at an early day, and identified themselves with the settlement of the Southern States. His mother died in February, 1860, in her thirty-fifth year, and his father passed away in April, 1860, at the age of fifty-six. Deprived of parental care and training at an early age, the subject of our sketch was cast upon his own resources when quite young. He began life as s newspaper carrier ou the streets of Baton Rouge, and was thus employed for eight months, carefully saving all the money he could in the meantime. He then accepted a position in the United States mail service as clerk in a military postoffice of that city, remaining as such two years. Next he learned the trade of baker, and was employed in that capacity three years. The following two-and-a-half years he was employed in a dry-goods and grocery store. Changing his employment again, he began to learn the trade of a wheelwright, serving a full apprenticeship, after which he engaged in that business for himself. Three years from the time he began his apprenticeship, he came to Texas, arriving in the city of Dallas July 14, 1874, resuming the wheelwright business here until he had accumulated sufficient means to open up a fruit and grocery store. In this enterprise he was successful, and after a reasonable length of time was enabled to retire from active business with an ample fortune.

In 1872, Mr. Bouche was united in marriage with Miss Harriet Eingel. a native of West Baton Bouge. She was the third- born in a family of five children, and was left an orphan when quite young. She was a woman possessing many amiable traits of character, and was loved by all who knew her. Her death occurred January 17, 1879. She left \ one child, a daughter. Mr. Bouche was subsequently married to Miss Jennie E. Kendall, daughter of Elishaand Julia A. (Music) Kendall, her parents being natives of Georgia and Alabama. Her father died in 1879, and her mother is still living, being now a resident of Dallas. By his present companion, Mr. Bouche has one child, Julius E.

Mr. Bouche's education has been gained by actual business experience ratiier than by school advantages. The last day he attended school was in Baton Rouge, and the city was at that time bombarded by Commodore Faragut's fleets. He is a devout Catholic, and his politics are those of the Democratic party. He is an earnest advocate of everything pertaining to the good of Dallas city and county, and is held in high esteem by all who know him.

A. RUSH, one of the largest real-estate dealers in Dallas county, was born ** in the State of Missouri in 1840, and is a son of William and Hattie (Campbell) Rush, natives of Kentucky. The parents removed to Missouri. In 1844 the father concluded to take a trip to Texas, and that journey is shrouded in mystery. His fate is unknown, but it is more than probable that he was murdered by out-laws or slain in the Mexican war. When our subject was seven years of age, he went to Kentucky to make his home with his uncle. He remained there until 1861, when he came to Texas and enlisted in the Eighteenth Texas cavalry. He served until the close of the struggle, but escaped without the grazing of a bullet. However, he was twice taken prisoner, first at Arkansas Post, and then at Atlanta. After the surrender he went to Kentucky, and was engaged in the operation of a sawmill for some time. He then came to Red River county, Texas, and took up the same industry. Dallas county was the next scene of action, and for three years he had the entire management of the sawmill. In 1873 he determined to turn his attention to agriculture, and purchase a tract of land that was destined to be of great value. It lies near the city of Dallas, and was cultivated as a plantation until 1890, when the city had reached such limits that sixty acres were laid out for a suburb of Dallas. It is known as North Oak Cliff, and in time will be one of the most attractive points of the city. The Oak Cliff Elevated Railway furnishes easy access to the city proper, and renders it one of the most convenient places of residence. Mr. Rush afhliates with the Democratic party, and stanchly snpports all the issues of that body He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church South. In 1873 he was married to a native of Kentucky.

fOHN HURST is numbered among the useful and wide- awake men of Dallas and has been identified with her interests since 1879. In that year he came to the city to represent the Waters-Pierce Oil Company of St. Louis, and served in that capacity for seven years, after which he embarked in the same business on his own account. Although he began with limited capital he he has won a patronage which demands tive wagons to supply the retail trade which extends throughout the city of Dallas and Oak Cliff. He has established a reputation for fair dealing and correct business methods which give him rank with the leadincr commercial houses of the place.

Mr. Hurst was horn in "Wayne county, Indiana, January 12, 1888, and is the third of a family of fifteen children of Sanford and Elizabeth (Little) Hurst. The father was also a native of the Hoosier State, and was a farmer and stock-raiser. He was pi-ominently connected with the early settlement of Indiana, and was widely and favorably known as an agriculturist. His death occurred in 1874; his wife survives him, and resides near the old homestead in Indiana. Our subject was reared to the occupation of a farmer, attending the common schools during the winter season. At the age of twenty-two years he left the parental roof, and setting his face toward the setting sun began a journey which ended in his final settlement in Texas; he first went to Christian county, Illinois, where he secured employment as a farm laborer; the following winter he worked at the cooper's trade, and his next move was to Ottumwa, Iowa; there he was engaged in agricultural pursuits, but did not remain long; he then tried his fortunes at Springfield, Illinois, where he worked at his trade; this business however did not meet his desires, and he again started in search of more lucrative employment. We next find him in Kansas City where he secured employment with the Fort Scott & Gulf Railroad Company. After this experience he went to Humboldt, Kansas, and pre-empted a piece of land belonging to the Government; at the end of two years he sold out and went to St. Louis. Missouri, entering the employ of the Waters- Pierce Oil Company. As before stated, he was with this company seventeen years, when he went into business for himself.

Mr. Hurst was united in marriage in 1886, to Miss Theresa Corder, a daughter of Amos T. and Jane (Mansfield) Corder. Mrs. Hurst's father is a native of England and a boilermaker by trade. He is a very fine mechanic and has been employed by the English Government at various times and also by large English syndicates. It was during his residence in Spain, where he was doing an extraordinary piece of work in the shape of a floating dock, that Mrs. Hurst was born, in the year 1865. In 1884 her family emigrated to America; the mother died in 1890, September 8, after which the father removed to Dallas where he has since resided; seven of the children survive.

Mr. and Mrs. Hurst are the parents of one child: William Sanford, born May 2, 1888. Mr. Hurst affiliates with the Democratic party. He belongs to the I. O. R. M., Lodge No. 8. In all his relations with his fellow men he has followed those precepts which have brought their own reward, a host of stanch friends, and a name honored by all classes of citizens.

fOSEPH A. CRAWFORD was born in Patrick county, Virginia, August 17 1844, a son of Joseph and Ruth (Brad, field) Crawford. His father was born in Rockingham county. North Carolina, January 19, 1808, and his mother, October 27, 1810. They were married there in 1831, subsequently moved to Virginia, and settled in Patrick county. In 1846 they moved to Tennessee, and from there, in 1855, to Alabama. In the latter State the father died, on the 17th of April, 1871, aged sixty-three years. The mother died July 12, 1885, at the age of seventy-live. They had a fatnily of four children: James, deceased; Mary, wife of T. L. Crew; Thomas and Joseph A. When the war broke out the subject of our sketch enlisted, in 1861, in the Thirteenth Georgia Regiment, Jackson's Corps, and served till the war closed. He participated in twelve hard-fought battles, besides numerous skirmishes. The last engagement in which he took part was at Spottsylvania Court House, and there, on the 12th of May, 1864, he was captured and sent to Fort Delaware prison, where he was held until the close of the war, being released on the 4th of May, 1865.

Mr. Crawford returned home, and on September 29, 1866, was united in marriage with Miss E. J. Shelton, who was born in Blount county, Alabama, May 23, 1851. Her father, James Shelton, was born in 1829, and her mother, Mary (Bishop) Shelton, in Madison county, Alabama, in 1881. They were married in 1847, and are still living, in Alabama. They had ten children born to them, two of whom are deceased. Those living are as follows: Pereh; E. J., wife of J. A. Crawford; Criss; Lucinda, wife of William Hood; Lena, wife of J. M. McDaniel; James, Joseph, and Louie.

Mr. Crawford continued to live in Alabama until 1874, when he moved to Texas, and settled in Dallas county, where he now lives, sixteen miles east and south of Dallas. He first bought 160 acres of land, but has since added to his original purchase until he is now the owner of 312^ acres, all under fence. Of this 190 acres are being cultivated, and the rest is in pasture. His farm is well improved, and his property a very desirable one. His cultivated land is in the black prairie, and his house is built on the edge of the post oaks on sandy soil. Mr. Crawford has not only been industrious since he came to Texas but has displayed good judgment in the investment of his earnings, having made most of what he now owns since he came to this State.

In reference to his ancestors, it should be further stated that his paternal grandparents were Peter and Rachel (Christy) Crawford ; that his grandfather was a native of Maryland and served in the Revolutionary war, belonging to the I)e Kalb Command, and taking part in the battle of Camden.

sON. JAMES F. ROWLAND, Representative to the State Legislature of Texas, is well known throughout this section of the country, and it is with pleasure that we present a biography of him on these pages.

Hon. James F. Rowland was born in Trousdale county, Tennessee, in April, 1832. He is a son of Robert M. and Mary Kearby Rowland, natives of Tennessee. His grandfather, John Rowland, was born in North Carolina, of English descent, and his maternal grandsire, James F. Kearby, was a native of Virginia. The latter participated in the Florida war, and died in Tennessee, in 1854, at the age of seventy-two years. Robert M. Rowland moved with his family from Tennessee to Simpson county, Kentucky, and from there in 1854 came to Texas, settling in Dallas county. He was engaged in agricultural pursuits all his life, and died in Texas, July 17, 1881. His wife departed this life April 23, 1875. The following named children were

James F. was reared on a farm, and has ever since given his attention to farming and stock-raising, displaying good judgment in the management of liis affairs and being universally successful in his operations. He has been largely interested in the stock business, buying and selling for the markets. He remained a member of his father's family up to the time the war broke out. In 1861 he enlisted in Company C, Sixth Texas Cavalry. He served with true bravery all through the war; received three flesh wounds, none of them serious, however; was never taken prisoner.

Returning home after the war, Mr. Rowland resumed his farming operations. June 20, 1875, he married Miss Nancy E. Christie, daughter of Sampson and Artemis (Curry) Christie, all of South Carolina. They came to Texas in 1852 and settled in Rusk county; subsequently located in Collin county, where the father died in 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Rowland have had five children: Mary E., born April 28, 1876, died in May, 1876; James F., October 19, 1877; John H., October 13, 1880; William M., December 22, 1882, and Ross L., June 3, 1884.

After his marriage Mr. Rowland settled on his farm of 160 acres. He has since purchased other lands and now owns 430 acres, having 250 acres under cultivation, his chief products being wheat, corn, oats and cotton. He also raises some stock.

Mr. Rowland has always taken an active interest in the political affairs of the country; has sympathized and worked with the Grange and alliance organizations; and has always affiliated with the Democratic party. He is the present Representative of the Twentytir^t Legislature of Texas, and, while not a leader, he has helped to put through several ini])ortant bills, which measures have met with the entire satisfaction of his constituents. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and he and his family are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.

|AVID E. GROVE was born in Paris, Missouri, in 1840, a son of the Rev. Samuel Grove of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, a native of Virginia, who had retired from the itinerant work of the ministry before his death in 1855. The mother, whose maiden name was Paulina E. Camplin, born in Kentucky, is still living, in Los Angeles, California.

He was educated at Central College, Fayette, Missouri. Going to New Orleans when yet a boy, he went on the river. In April, 1861, he enlisted in the Third Louisiana Volunteer Infantry. The first general engagement of his command was at Oak Hills (Wilson's Creek) and at the second Elk Horn (Pea Ridge) he was left a prisoner on the battle field and thought to be mortally wounded. He escaped, returned to Natchitoches parish, Louisiana, and was elected Sergeant-at-Arms of the Louisiana State Senate at Shreveport, the then State capital. Before his wound had healed, he returned to active service as executive officer of the Confederate ram Queen of the West, which had been previously captured from the United States forces. He was again badly wounded and with all other survivors captured at the destruction of the Queen in a gunboat fight near Morgan city, Louisiana, in April, 1863.

1863, Captain Grove for awhile commanded a light battery operating with the cavaliy in lower Louisiana. Later he was assigned to the command of a detail of secret service scouts whose especial object, while in no sense the work of spies, was to secure all the information possible of the enemy's movements, forces, etc., as well as the supervision of securing medical supplies and surgical instruments for the Confederacy. This force operated in a quiet way from Vicksburg to the Gulf to the entire satisfaction of his superiors. In this service Captain Grove was more than once wounded and captured but was each time so fortunate as to escape; never being exchanged during the war.

At the close of the war he returned to the river, and as clerk, pilot or captain, was on the river for seven years. In 1872 he came to Dallas and established the first large planing mill and operated it until it was destroyed by fire in 1875. The fire resulted in his financial embarrassment and assicfnment. but as evidence of the opinion of him held by the business community, his creditors accepted the assignment as two days afterward he was appointed freight contracting agent by the Texas & Pacific Railway with headquarters at Dallas. He remained in railroad service for ten years, filling the positions of freight contracting and traveling agent, claim agent, in charge of fuel and tie department, division and general road master, train master, division superintendent and superintendent.

Seeing no chance of further promotion he left railroad service in 1886 and entered that of the Liverpool & London & Globe Insurance Company as their special agent and adjuster. He now has charge of their interests as State agent for Western Louisiana, Texas, and the border towns of the adjoining States of Mexico.

Captain Grove is a member of the Knights of Honor and the Masonic fraternity. While taking a warm interest in public affiars he has never filled a public office in Texas except serving one term as member of the City Council of Dallas.

He was married in 1871 to Adele E. Waggaman, a native of New Orleans. They have three children living: David E., Jr., Bessie Tompkins and Madeline.

Ifeff Ft. FISHER, merchant, West Dallas, Texas. - It is universally coni* ceded that the distribution of food products constitutes the most important factor in the long list of city's industries, and, such being the case, the grocer must be accorded the palm of the most important contributor to the development of this fact, his wares covering almost every article of daily consumption known to man. This branch of mercantile activity is admirably represented in Dallas by the popular and well known establishment of W. R. Fisher, located in West Dallas. Mr. Fisher was born in Cambria county, Pennsylvania, October 8, 1836, and his parents, Andrew and Mary Margaret Fisher were natives of Germany, where they were reared and married. The parents came to the United States iu 1830, located in Pennsylvania, and of the sixteen children burn to their union, fourteen grew to mature years. The father was a farmer and continued the occupation until his death, when eighty-one years of age. The mother died in 18C>3. at the age of lifty-six years.

W. R. Fisher assisted his father on the farm until fourteen years of age and then learned the cabinetmakers trade, serving an apprenticeship of two and a half years without compensation except his board. After this he worked at the carpenter's trade in Kentucky for one year and then began tilling the soil. About this time the Civil war broke out and Mr. Fisher went to Virginia, where he enlisted in the Fourty-lifth Virginia Battery, and served principally in Virginia and Tennessee. At the second battle of Winchester, Virginia, 1864, he was taken prisoner and confined in the Delaware prison for nine months, and three months after General Lee surrendered. After the war he engaged on the Virginia & Tennessee railroad, repairing bridges, building section houses, etc., until December, 1867, when he came to Texas. He first located at Houston, followed his trade for nine months and then came to Dallas, where he rented land and raised one crop. For three years after this he followed his trade in Dallas, and on the 1st of July, 1869, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ann Coombs, a native of Dallas county and the daughter of J. N. Coombs. Following his marriage Mr. Fisher continued his trade and shortly afterward purchased seventy acres of the old Coombs homestead, giving $5.00 per acre. Less than a year later he sold it for $17.00 per acre and purchased a partially improved farm in Tarrant county, 160 acres for $1,200, which he cultivated for three years. Returning to Dallas county he moved on the farm where a part of West Dallas now stands, it being a part of his wife's estate, began clearing, and farmed the same until 1889, when he engaged in the grocery business, in connection witli his farming and real-estate business. The most of his farm is now cut up into lots.

Mr. and Mrs. Fisher had three interesting children: Edward Lee, of Dallas county; Brillia Alice, of Tarrant county, and Willie L, in Dallas. Mr. Fisher lost his wife by death, July 28, 1873, and his second raarriasje was two years later, to Miss Maggie Proffett, a native of Tennessee who was reared in Missouri by Isaac Boran. This union resulted in the birth of three children, one now living: Harry. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher are members of the Church of Christ. Mr. Fisher is a self-made man and all his property has been obtained hy the sweat of his brow. He deserves much credit for his enterprise and progress.

E. FLirPEN, real-estate dealer and ranchman, was born in Lauderdale ''^ county, Tennessee. Flippen is a depot on the Newport News & Mississippi Valley Railroad, named for Benjamin McFlippen, al)0ut forty miles from Memphis. The date of our subject's birth is March 24, 1846. His parents were Benjamin and Eliza (Caldwell) McFlippen. The father was born in Knox county, Tennessee, January 1, 1819, of good old Virginia parentage; is an extensive farmer and stock-raiser in Tennessee, being the best known man in the county, where he has lived for about lifty years. He furnished four soldier sous in the late war, three under General Forrest and one under General Bragg. This gentleman is now seventy-three years of age, and has been a prominent member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for over fifty years, and has been an Elder in the same for a number of years. His wife, who died in 1873, was born in 1823, in Smithland, Kentucky, and was a member of the same church as her husband. She came from one of the best families in Kentucky. She was a true, good woman, tilling all the relations of life as only a Christian person could, being a true and faithful wife, devoted mother and kind neighbor and friend, and no words can speak her praise too warmly. Her parents were natives of North Carolina. Benjamin McFlippen had nine children, five still living, three sons and two daughters One brother and two sisters of our subject died when quite young. Bird, the oldest member of the family, was in the Tennessee infantry, was wounded and captured at Mission Ridge, and died in Rock Island prison, aged thirty years. He slumbers in an unknown grave that the family have never been able to discover. The next one was Ben, Captain of Company F, Fifteenth Tennessee Cavalry, Steward's regiment, Kneely's Brigade, and Forrest's Division of Cavalry. He served through the war, being First Drill- Master of the First Tennessee Heavy Artillery; was in the siege of Fort Pillow and first siege of Vicksburg. but resigned his command in 1863 at Chickamauga, returned home and raised his company of cavalry, serving through the remainder of the war, surrendering with Forrest at Gainesville, Georgia, in May, 1865. He is still living near Memphis, engaged in the mercantile and niilling business. His wife was a Miss Nelly Keaton, whom he married in 1865, at Buena Vista, Mississippi. They have two children, Robert and Ben; the latter, about twenty-two years of age, is now the cashier of the Newport News & Mississippi Valley Railroad at Memphis. Mrs. Ben Flippen died and her husband married again, this time a sister of the first wife, Miss Keaton. They have no children. The third son of Benjamin Flippen was William H., who participated in the late war as a private in the artillery mentioned above, at Fort Pillow, when he returned home sick, and after recovering joined his brother's cavalry company, in which he served until the close of the war. He is married and has a large family; is residing on his farm, near Ripley, Tennessee. His wife was Miss Callie Campbell, of Chickasaw county, Mississippi. The two living sisters of our subject are Ellen, wife of K. B. Davidson, and Fanny, wife of Mr. Stone, both living in west Tennessee, near where they were reared.

Our subject was reared in the country schools of Tennessee. He enlisted in March, 1863, in his brother's company of cavalry, and served in that company until the close of the war. He was taken prisoner in north Mississippi, and was retained as a prisoner in Memphis, but escaped and returned to his company. His horse was killed under him at Memphis, Tennessee, during the war, and he had some narrow escapes, but never was hit with bullet, wliile his three brothers were all wounded. He now feels that the war is over, and accepts the result as best for our country and times. The black belt of north Texas is his adopted home, the garden spot of the United States, where all the four principal crops of tlie United States - corn, wheat, oats and cotton - grow side by side in the same held, and one can scarcely tell which the country or climate is best adapted to.

After the close of the war he went to Egypt, Mississippi, and engaged in the mercantile business for thirteen years, when he disposed of his business to William Bushaman & Co., and came to Texas, January 5, 1881, landing in Dallas, where he has remained, in and near, ever since, engaged in mercantile pursuits and stock-raising, in which he has been successful in every way.

Mr. Flippen was married in 1878, to Miss Nannie Gates, daughter of J. N. Gates, a planter of Mississippi, who now resides at Huutsville, Alabama.

McNeuton and May Blanche. Mr. jjnd Mrs. Flippen are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and Mr. Flippen was formerly a member of the Tannehill Lodge, Dallas, and was one of the charter members of the Oak Cliff Lodge of Masons. Our subject is a Democrat in politics, as was his father before him, after the dissolution of the Whig party. Mr. Flippen has seen many changes in this part of the country. In 1871 to 1873 he went hunting and killed buffaloes where Wichita Falls now stands; rode horseback from Shreveport, Louisiana, 180 miles, to get into the State of Texas, as there were no railroads then. He has gone by stage from San Antonio to Austin in a day, ninetysix miles. At that time the Indians were in the majority and had matters pretty well under their control from Wise county north and west.

Mr. Flippen has been a useful, thriving citizen of Dallas county, doing all that lay in his power, by the use of money and personal influence, to extend the material interests of the county. He is an extensive landowner, having a large interest in some ranches. He is a typical southern gentle, man in manners, has a pleasing address, and is energetic in all the affairs with which he has become conversant.

fM. B E I L H A R Z, stone contractor, whose yards are located on Hawkins ® street and Pacific avenue, has been in business here fur himself since 1887. He built the Club house and did the stone work for most of the business buildings, as the Scollands building, the Texas bank, Thomas Brothers' building, besides many residences, as those of Simpson M. Dilley, etc. He is now putting in the stone work for the W. J. Temp brewery, and the Security, Mortgage and Trust building. He employs on an average fifteen stone cutters, three setters and fifteen laborers.

Mr. Beilliarz was born in Wlirttembnrg, Germany, in 1860, the second of the eleven children of Jacob and Margaret (Siegway) Beilharz, natives of Wiirttembei-g and still living there. His father has been a teacher by profession. As he grew up young Beilharz learned the trade of a stone cutter in his native city and became the foreman of a stone-yard. He served in the German army about two and one-half years. He came to Dallas in 1883, and was employed as a journeyman stonedresser until 1887, when he embarked in the business on his own account. On political issues he votes independently. He is a member of Dallas Lodge, No. 70, K. of P., and of the Uniformed Rank, Division No. 18, and of the K. of H.

In March, 1888, in Dallas, he married Miss Laura Frichot, a native of Dallas county and a daughter of C. D. and Susan (Ball) Frichot. Her father was a native of France, and mother of Switzerland, and they came to Dallas county about 1861, and are both deceased. Her father was a brick manufacturer. Mr. and Mrs. Beilharz have one child, Theodore.

P. CROSS, contractor, builder and mason, of Dallas, is the pioneer in lay- ing cement walks in this city. From 1883 to 1890 he was a member of the firm of Gill &, Cross. This firm has put down nearly all the pavements in Dallas, and it is also the manufacturer of artificial stone for house trimmings, etc.

two children of Jeremiah and Cecilia (Scott) Cross, natives of Kentucky. His grandparents were natives of Virginia. The family trace their genealogy to General "VVinfield Scott. Jeremiah Scott passed his life in Jefferson county, Kentucky, dying there in 1870, at the age of sixty-five years. His wife, born in 1808, is still living on the old homestead where she was born. Mr. Cross, whose name introduces this sketch, was brought up to farm life in his native State, finishing his schoool days at Louisville, that State, and learning his trade there. In 1859 he went to Memphis, Tennessee, where he worked at his trade.

In March, 1861, he enlisted in the Fourth Tennessee Cavalry as a private, and participated in the battles of Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Missionary Ridge and in the entire campaio-n of Atlanta, Georgia, returning with Hood to Tennessee. December 18, 1864, he was taken prisoner at Nashville, and confined at Fort Delaware until the next year. He was elected Lieutenant of Company C, of the Fourth and Twenty-ninth Regiments, consolidated and called the Fourth Tennessee Infantry.

After the war he returned to Kentucky, and then to Memphis. He was married in the latter city, to Miss Lily Gardner, a native of Kentucky, who afterward died, at Memphis. December 25, 1876, Mr. Cross was again married, this time to Lucy A. Horton, widow of Enoch Horton, a native of Tennessee and a daughter of John C. and Rosa (Clements) Lanier, who were born in Tennessee and came to Dallas county in 1843, and afterward moved into the town of Dallas. Mr. Lanier was Justice of the Peace for many years and also Deputy County Clerk. His death occurred in 1852: his wife had died in 1845, in Dallas. Mr. Cross has occupied his present residence on South Harwood street since 1881, at which time the street was unimproved. He has seen ahnost the entire growth of his chosen city, Dallas, with a sort of paternal interest, and he has taken an active part in every good public enterprise.

Mr. Cross is a Democrat, but takes no active part in the political machinery. In early life he was a Whig. He is the Master of Dallas Lodge, F. & A. M.; was first initiated into Freemasonry at Louisville, Kentucky. He is also a member of the order of the Knights of Pythias. Mrs. Cross is a member of the Lamar Methodist Episcopal Church. She has a daughter by her former husband, now Mrs. Josie (). Horton, of Midland, Texas.

fj. DICKEY, M. D., physician and surgeon, was born in Illinois May 4, ® 1854, in Kidgvvay, Gallatin county. His parents were Finis E. and Lucy A. (Jackson) Dickey, both natives of Illinois. The father, born September 23, 1826, was a farmer and met his death while digging a well, which caved in on him, killing him instantly, as several feet of earth fell upon him and he was smothered. The accident occurred October 31, 1853. His wife was born May 16, 1832, and died in May, 1861. Their marriage occurred July 14, 1853.

Our subject commenced the study of homeopathy in May, 1876, with Dr. E. J. Elirman, of Evansville, Indiana. He graduated at Pulte Medical College, of Cincinnati, Ohio, March 4, 1879. Booneville, Indiana, was the place where he first opened an office, in the same month of his graduation. He carried on his practice of medicine and was the leading homeopathic physician of that section until he was obliged to give up the hard work on account of his failing health and seek a milder and more genial climate. After some time spent in Chicago, taking special instruction in oriticial surgery, he located in Dallas, in January, 1885, and began the practice of rectal diseises as a specialty. About three years later he took up the treatment of hernia and has been wonderfully successful in his treatment of these troublesome diseases.

The Doctor was married, August 24, 1876, to Miss A. E. Melvin, daughter of Orrisou Melvin,of Ridgway, Illinois. They have one child, Ernest, born in 1880, a promising lad. Mrs. Dickey is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, but the Doctor has not united himself with any religious denomination. Dr. Dickey takes little interest in politics. He has quite an extensive practice, which comes from many of the distant counties. He is a good citizen and has won many warm and admiring friends for himself in the city of his adoption.

C. DARWIN, contractor and builder, Dallas, Texas, took up his abode in ** Dallas county in 1873. He tii'st settled in precinct No. 7, and engaged in farming and gardening, which he continued until 1886, when he came to Dallas. Since that time he has been engaged in contracting and building.

Mr. Darwin was born in Rhea county, Tennessee, in 1843, the youngest in a family (^f fourteen. His parents, James A. and Bathia W. (Clements) Darwin, were natives of South Carolina and North Carolina respectively. In early childhood they moved with their parents to Tennessee, where they were subsequently married. His father passed his life on a farm in Tennessee, and died there in 1872, aged seventy-six years. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and participated in the battle of New Orleans on the 8th of January, 1815. Mr. Darwin's mother passed away in 1873, aged seventy-five. The subject of our sketch was reared on a farm in his native county, and received his education in the subscription schools. He was making preparations for college when the war came on. He enlisted in the First Tennessee Legion, Sixteenth Battalion, General Pegram's brigade, being on scouting duty most of the time. He participated in several battles and was wounded near Chattanooga, Tennessee. After tlie war closed Mr. Darwin returned to Tennessee and engaged in farming in Rhea county one year, after which he taught school. In 1867 he went to Yell county Arkansas, to attend to his brother's business, who lived there before the war, but died in Texas during the war. That year he was married there to Miss Ellen E. Evans, a native of Neshoba county, Mississippi, and a daughter of Thompson and Hannal) (Wilkinson) Evans, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Coffee county, Tennessee. Her father went to Tennessee when a young man, and there married. He sulisequentlj moved to Mississippi, and in 1866 to Yell county, Arkansas^ having been engaged in farming in these States, He died in Arkansas November 27, 1870. His wife is now a resident of Dardanelle, Arkansas, and is seventy-five years of age. After his marriage Mr. Darwin returned to Rhea county, Tennessee, engaged in farming, and remained there until 1873, when he came to Dallas county, as above stated. Although not an otKce-seeker Mr. Darwin lias taken an active interest in political matters, affiliating vrith the Democratic party. He is a member of the Mountain Creek Lodge, No. 511, A. F. & A. M., having served as Master of that lodge. He is a member of tiie Knights of Labor, and also of the Farmers' Alliance. Both he and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. They have six children: Eunice M.; Mary Jane, wife of J. H. Bishop; Bellela; Ada A.; Alice F. and Pettie E. They also have four children deceased: James A., who died in 1873, aged two years; Jesse B., who died September 13, 1880, when only six weeks old; Willie Clay, January 2, 1883, at the age of seven months; Infantine, died February 25, 1886.

Mr. Darwin is a public-spirited and enterprising citizen, and is deeply interested in the growth and development of Dallas. He is now a candidate for Justice of the Peace in precinct No. 1, Dallas county, which embraces all of the city of Dallas and six voting precincts outside the city limits.

^^TLLIAM YOUNG HUGHES, a fruit \ V V farmer and horticulturist of Dallas 1"=^^ county, was born in Spencer count}', Kentucky, in 1831, the second in a family of twelve children born to Elijah and Permelia (Wells) Hughes, natives cf Kentucky. The parents both died in their native State, the father in May, 1860, and the mother in November, 1865. The Hughes family are of Welsh descent. William, our subject, was reared to farm life and educated in the subscription schools of his native county, and later commenced farming for himself in Kentucky. He came to Collin county, Texas, in 1860, and engaged in distilling at Piano, and in 1877 he came to Dallas, which he has since made his home. He bought a farm of thirty acres, of which ten acres is now devoted to peaches, plums, pears and apples, and one acre to small fruits. In March, 1862, Mr. Hughes enlisted in Company B, Captain E. Gano's squadron, which, after reaching Kentucky, was formed into a regiment called the Third Kentucky Cavalry, commanded by General John Morgan. Mr. Hughes was with that regiment in many raids, was taken prisoner near Syracuse, Ohio, in 1863, and confined as a prisoner of war nineteen months and twenty days at Camps Chase and Douglas. He was afterward transferred to Ross' Brigade, and was at Piano, Texas at the time of the surrender.

Mr. Hughes was married in Kentucky, in 1866, to Mary Ann Wigginton, widow of William T. Wigginton, and daughter of Stephen and Lucinda (Tucker) Bid well, natives of Kentucky. The father was a farmer by occupation, and remained in Kentucky until his death, which occurred in 1874, and his wife died in the same State, in 1872. The Bidwells are of English descent, and early settlers of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Hughes have four children: Jennie L., Thomas Coliiiau, Mattie May and Harrison Gilbert. Socially, Mr. Hughes is a member of the Farmers' Alliance, and in Kentucky was a member of the Masonic order, and the I. O. O. F., Worth Lodge, No. 90. Religiously, both he and his wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church of Pleasant View.

fHOMAS A. SKILES came from Kentucky to Texas in the fall of 1855, making the journey with ox teams and locating near where he now lives. Soon after his arrival he purchased a tract of 420 acres of land and commenced at once the work of improving a farm. He made rails, fenced and broke forty acres of land, and the following season seeded it all to wheat. The first year he paid $1 a bushel for corn for bread and feed for his stock. As the years rolled by he added to his original purchase and extended his farming operations. At one time he owned about 1,000 acres of land. After living on his first farm twelve years he moved from it to his present location. He has sold and given away land until he now has only 240 acres. On this he is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. When he came to this State he had some means, and brought with him eight or ten mares for breeding; is still interested in raising horses, and also raises mules.

Mr. Skiles was born in Warren county, Kentucky, September 2, 1821, was reared on a farm and received a fair education. His father, Henry Skiles, was a native of Pennsylvania, and was of German extraction. He lived and died in Kentucky, departing this life at the age of eighty-four years. His wife, nee Elizabeth Hamilton, also passed jiway in Kentucky. They were the parents of the following named children: John C, Martha, William, Henry, Sarah, Thomas A., Joseph and Andrew. Sarah and Thomas A. are the only ones now living, and they reside near each other.

Thomas A. Skiles was married in Kentucky, April 23, 1851, to Miss Priseilla C. Hamilton, daughter of Samuel and Jane (Edgar) Hamilton, all of Kentucky. A brother of Mrs. Skiles' mother is a noted Presbyterian minister of Nashville, Tennessee. Following are the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Skiles: Everett H., born June 27, 1852; Henry T. and Samuel E. (twins) born April 8, 1854; Mary E., born July 21^ 1855; John W., born July 10, 1858; Em- met A., born January 1, 1860; and Lizzie, born September 4, 1868. Mr. Skiles and his family are all members of the Cnmberland Presbyterian Church.

Durins the late war Mr. Skiles was engaged in teaming two years, hauling provisions. He then bought a steam flouring mill and ran it for the benefit of the war widows. This mill was located near Rockwall. Soon after tl)e war closed he sold it and returned to the farm, since which time he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits. Politically, he is a Democrat.

IfSON. F. N. OLIVER, Mayor elect of Oak Cliff, in one of the most hotly contested elections perhaps ever held in the city, was born in Florence, Alabama, February 17, 1848, a son of Prof. Daniel and Jane (Ross) Oliver, the former a native of Devonshire, England, and the latter of Scotch parentage, of Hickman county, Tennessee. The father was born in 1782, and came with his parents to America when eight years of age. He was a teacher and surveyor by occupation, having taught the high school of Florence, Alabama, prior to the establishment of the Wesleyan University. He was highly educated, was a graduate of Yale College, and for several years filled the chair of mathematics in that institution. General S. A. M. Wood, Colonel W. B. Wood, the latter a Colonel of the Si.xteenth Alabama Regiment in the late war, and the former Brigadier General, and George Karsner of P'lorence, were all pupils of his. His de^th occurred in 1874, and his wife died at the home of our subject in Lewisville, Texas, October 20, 1889, aged seventy-seven years. They were the jiarents of eleven children, seven of whom

He was educated in the public schools of Florence, Alabama, and at an early age learned the printing business. In 1874 he issued the first daily in Denton, the county seat of Denton county, called the " Denton Heview." He also founded the " Lewisville Neadliffht," in 1881, which he conducted five years, and while in that city was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace (running both the court and paper together for five years). Eight years later he resigned his position, sold the Headlight, and removed to Pilot Point, to establish a paper there. Mr. Oliver remained in that city two years, and then, with Mr. T. L. Marsalis became to Oak Cliff, which was before the public sale of the Oak Cliff lots. He built an office and founded a paper in a wheatfield. The Oak Cliff Sunday Weekly, opening with an issue of 10,000 copies, and continued the publication three and a half years, until the city had attained a population of 5,000. During this three and a half years Mr. Oliver also traveled for the interests of the Texas State Fair and Dallas Exposition. He has been a member of the Press Association for eleven -years; is a charter member of the National Press Association, which organized in New Orleans at the time of the Centennial Cotton Exposition; has been a member many times of important committees of the Texas Press Association, and at various times a delegate appointed to the National Association. He was one of a commission of three appointed by Governor Ross, to locate the State Orphan Asylum of Texas, in 1887, which was founded at Corsicana and is one of the crowning educational charities of Texas. He has been school trustee, and helped organize the Oak Cliff school community; his associate members being G- M-

Mr. Oliver was married at Cold Springs, Texas, December 13, 1868, to Miss Mary E. Cogburn, a daughter of David and Elizabeth Cogburn, early settlers of Walker county, Texas. Our subject, his vpife and eldest son Ben, organized the first Sunday-school in this city, January 1, 1888, and also the first church of Oak Cliff, the First Methodist Episcopal Chui'ch South, which now numbers 20U members. Mr. and Mrs. Oliver have had eight children: Charlie Lee, deceased, at the age of thi-ee and a half years; Mabel Clair, at the age of one and a half years; Ben F., who is making electricity a special study; Frank Lee, Claudie, Mabel, Coke and Clifton. Our subject and his wife and two sons are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and the parents are also members of the Knights and Ladies of Honor in the Oak Cliff Lodge. Mr. Oliver erected the first business house in Oak Cliff, the oflice of the Sunday Weekly, and printed the first newspaper in Texas ever printed upon paper manufactured in this State. The mill is located in Oak Cliff, and is known as the Texas Taper Mill Company, Lang & Wharton proprietors. Our subject is a hard working man, has done much in the interests of his city, and is one of her public-spirited, enterprising and most valued citizens.

fHOMAS C. COOPER, grain and commission merchant, Dallas, Texas, dates his birth in Mobile, Alabama, October 16, 1854. He landed in Houston, Texas, in November, 1872, and since that time has been a resident of this State.

Mr. Cooper's parents, Ferdinand J. and Julia E. (Wiieeler) Cooper, were born in Louisiana and South Carolina respectively. The father was at one time Sheriff of Mobile county. Subsequently he engaged in the mercantile business. He was well known as an upright citizen in every way worthy of the confidence which was reposed in him repeatedly by the people. He was born in 1813, and died in 1860. The mother was born in 1817, is still living, has her powers of body and mind well preserved, and makes her home with her son, Thomas C. She is the only surviving member of iier father's family. Ot her nine ciiildren only three are living. Her daughter, Mary L., is the wife of Colonel O. C. George, and lives in Pilot Point, Texas. Mrs. Cooper is a member of the Baptist Church, as is also her husband.

Tiie subject of our sketch received his education in Alabama. By the death of his father, he was thrown upon his own resources at an early age. At fourteen he began learning the business of railway agent and telegraph operator and he followed that business for a number of years. For the past fifteen years he has been a lumber dealer and grain and commission merchant, being fairly successful. He came to Dallas in 1886, and has since made his home in this city.

Mr. Cooper was married January 18, 1880, to Miss Emma C. Smith, daughter of W. O. and Mary J. Smith, of Falls county, Texas. Her father died on the day of her marriage, aged fifty-one years, his death resulting from a complication of diseases. Her mother died in 1885, aged forty-six years. Mrs. Cooper and an only brother, James B. Smith, are the only ones of tiie family now living. The latter is a passenger conductor on the Houston & Texas Central Railroad. He resides in Waco. To Mr. and Mrs. Cooper five chil- dreii have been born, two of whom died in early childhood. Those living are Willie May, Lou Eva, and Thomas James, acred respectively twelve years, nine years, and four months. Both he and his wife are members of the Congregational Church.

Mr. Cooper is a member of the Woodmen of the World, Camp No. 1, and is manager of its local board. In his church, in business circles, and in the community at large, Mr. Cooper is higiily regarded. He has been an active worker in the ranks of the Republican party, ever seeking to secure the best men to to serve in official capacity, but has never aspired to political honors himself.

fOHN C. JACOBS, a well known citizen of Dallas county, Texas, was born in Newark, Ohio, May 4, 1835. His father, Dr. E. A. Jacobs, was born in Vermont, December 8, 1811, the youngest of tlie seven sons born to his parents.. They believed in the old adage that the seventh son had to be a doctor. Although he at tirst protested he finally acceded to their wishes, and at the age of sixteen years went to New York city and began the study of medicine under the instructions of Dr. Dudley. While in New York city he was married to Miss Sarah Cowed, a native of London, England. They were married in 1832, and their union was blessed with five children, the subject of our sketch being the oldest. Next came Sarah, who is now tl^g v^ifp of Rev. E. V. Butler and lives ii^ Young county, Texas; Caroline M. is deceased; E. A. Jacobs resides near liis brother John C. Their mother died in March 20, 1848, and after her death Dr. Jacobs took his children East and left them with their uncle and aunt in New

York and Vermont. He returned to Arkansas and the following year, 1849, wedded Miss Susanna J. Robertson, who bore him six children, viz.: Amanda; Mary C, wife of William Mitchell; George, Fred Q., Augustus, and Edwin R. Mary C. and George were drowned during a great storm on the Gulf of Mexico.

John C. Jacobs remained in the East three years, after which, in 1851, he went to Michigan, where he remained two years and learned iiis trade, that of general mechanic. From Michigan he came to Texas, landing at JeflTerson on the 5th of July, 1853. Fie first settled in Hopkins county and lived there one year, then Rockwall county. In the latter county he met Miss Ruth Ann Mills and was united in marriage with her June 25, 1857. In 1859 they moved from thereto Dallas county. He bought ten acres of land and built a house and shop on it, and in this county he has since resided. For thirty-five years he worked at his trades and during that time accumulated considerable means. He has owned about 300 acres, but has now sold ofF all except 200 acres. His farm is well improved with good buildings, etc., and he is in easy circumstances.

On the 12th of March, 1862, Mr. Jacobs enlisted in the Thirty-first Texas Cavalry, and served till the close of the war. From exposure incurred during the war he lost his health, and is still a sufferer.

Mrs. Jacobs' father, E. C. Mills, was born in Ohio in 1805, and her mother, nee Sarah Hunter, was born in 180G, their marriage occuring December 27, 1826, They had seven children born to them, of whom Ruth Ann was the fifth, her birth occurring October 4, 1835. Her father was married to his second wife. Miss Elizabeth Collins, November 3, 1842, and his third marriage occurred in 1854, to Mrs. Martha Stnrdivant, nee Divers. By each of his three companions Mr. Mills had seven children. He died June 22, 1871, at the age of sixty-six years.

Mr. and Mrs. John C. Jacobs have had seven children, namely: Edward A; Lydia C, wife of J. F. Tinsley; J. C, deceased; Charles E. ; Clara Isabell, wife of Henry Smith ; James N.; andPhilia A.

H. H. BRALEY, a prominent and early settler of Dallas county, came ® here in 1871 and located on the line of Dallas and Ellis counties, where he engaged in farming.

Mr. Braley was born in Iredell county, IS'orth Carolina, in 1841, the second in the family of live children of S. S. and Catherine L. (Gouger) Braley, natives of North Carolina. They were married in Rowan county, that State. The father was a blacksmith by trade. At an early day they moved to Bedford county, Tennessee, and a year later to Marshall county, Mississippi, where they remained three years. In December, 1848, they settled in Ouachita county, Arkansas, Mr. Braley following the trade of gunsmith at Camden. From there they moved to La Fayette county, Arkansas, and thence to Fannin county, Texas, in 1856. He bought a farm north of Honey Grove, and on it the family resided until 1871, when they came to Dallas county. The father's death occurred in this county, January 13, 1873. The mother survived him some years, her death occurring in the city of Dallas in 1888.

The subject of our sketch spent his childhood days in Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas, and received his education in the schools of Ouachita county, in the last named State. Fie was fifteen years of age when his parents came to Texas and settled on a farm in Fannin county, and since then he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits.

Mr. Braley was married in Anderson county, Texas, in 1873, to Miss Mary E. Hatter, a native of Lincoln county, Kentucky, and a daughter of John C. and Dorinda (Milligan) Hatter. Her father was born in Virginia in 1817, and her mother in Kentucky in 1816. At the age of six years the former went with his parents to Kentucky, and there, April 11, 1839, he was married. In 1849 he moved to Dallas county, Texas, and settled on a farm in the southern part of the county. He bought land and improved a farm here, and on it he and his wife passed the rest of their lives, she dying July 3, 1872, and he in 1883. Five of their children lived to be grown, and four are still living, namely: George, who is married and lives in Lancaster, Dallas county; John S. is married and settled at Sherman, Texas; Mrs. M. E. Bralej', who is married and resides in Dallas; and James H., married and residing in Lancaster. After the death of her mother, Mrs. Braley's father was married again, and by his second wife had two children, Vere and Samuel, who reside near Milford.

After his marriage Mr. Braley settled in the southern part of the county, and there resided until he came to the city of Dallas. He opened up and improved a farm in the southern part of Dallas county, and also owns land in various other parts of the county. Since 1883 he has made his home in Dallas, and has been engaged in the realestate business, buying, improving and selling property. He improved his home place, and besides this owns valuable property on

Mr. Braley is a public-spirited and enterprising citizen. In his political views he is independent, voting for men and measures rather than party. In the late war he was a soldier in the Confederate army. Enlisting in Craven's company, Robert Taylor's regiment. May 22, 1862, he served until the war closed, participating in a number of important engagements. He received a gunshot wound through the wrist, which disabled him for life. After being in hospital ninety days, he came home on a furlough; was finally put on the retired list, and when the war closed was discharged. He and his wife have both witnessed the growth and development of this part of Texas, and have done their part in helping to advance the best interests of the vicinities in which they have resided. Following are the children born to them: Hardy, who died January 4, 1876, aged ten months and twenty-six days; Henry, born December 20, 1876; Frank, born December 31, 1878, died October 22, 1880; Lem, born September 10, 1881; Nellie, born September 4, 1888. Mrs. Braley is a member of the Christian Church.

p. COCHRAN, of Dallas county, was born in Greene, now Folk, * county, Missouri, in January, 1841, the third in a family of six children born to William M. and Nancy J. (Hughes) Cochran, natives of South and North Carolina respectively. The father went to Murray county, Tennessee, at an early day, where he engaged in the mercantile business, at Columbia, and also clerk in a bank. He moved to Missouri in 1840, and three years later to Dallas county, Texas, whei-e he took up a claim in precinct No. 2, and tilled the first prairie land in this county, also raising the first wheat. He took an active interest in the early history of the county, and was the first County Clerk and Representative of Dallas county. His death occurred April 7, 1853, and his wife survived hira until about 1871. Grandfather John Cochran, a native of the north of Ireland, came to New York and participated in the Revolutionary war, after which he settled in South Carolina, and later in North Carolina, where he subsequently died.

W. P. Cochran, our subject, was reared to farm life and educated at the McKinzie College. He came to this county March 27, 1843, and in 1861 enlisted in Company C, Sixth Texas Cavalry, and served until the close of the war. He was in the battles of Pea Ridge, Corinth, luka, Holly Springs, and in the forty-six days' fight before Atlanta. He was paroled in 1865 and sent to Dallas, Texas. He now owns the old homestead of 420 acres, which is in a good state of cultivation. Mr. Cochran takes an active part in politics, voting with the Democratic party, and has served as a delegate to the county conventions. Socially, he is a member of James A. Smith Lodge, No. 395, which was chartered in 1874, and has held the ofiice of District Deputy Grand Master in his order. Religiously, both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Cochran Chapel, which was named in honor of Mr. Cochran's father, and of which the former is one of the trustees.

Mr. Cochran was married in Hill county, Texas, January 30, 1867, to Miss A. M. Lawrence, a native of Marshall county, Tennessee, and daughter of D. T. and Ann B. (Bachman) Lawrence, natives of North Caro- lina and Tennessee. The parents settled in Hill county, Texas, in 1857, where the father died in February, 1867, and the mother in 1872. Mr. and Mrs. (Jochran have had nine children, seven of whom survive: Nanna A., John D., A.rchelans, Mary A., James P., Willie L. and Ada M. Mr. Cochran has seen the full growth and development of Dallas from a cabin to a city of about 40,000 inhabitants, and has always taken an active interest in everything for its good and aided in all public enterprises.

tH. McDADE, contractor and builder, Dallas, has been in business here since ^'^ 1871. He was born in Richmond county, Georgia, ten miles west of Augusta, on Big Spirit creek, October 9, 1832, the first of thirteen children born to Captain John and Eliza (McTyre) McDade, he having six sisters and six brothers, all natives of Georgia. His father was a planter and proprietor of saw and grist mills on Big Spirit creek, Richmond county, Georgia. His parents passed their lives in Georgia, and were buried on the homestead of Holland McTyre, his grandfather. He was for several years engaged with the Adams and Southern Express companies, till 1861.

From this date to 1865 he was with the Confederate army in Georgia and Florida, then the army of Tennessee from Missionary Ridge to Atlanta, Georgia. He was wounded at Peach-Tree creek (or Jones' Tannery), near Atlanta, Georgia. Disabled by his wound and cut off by the enemy from his command, he attached himself to Captain Robert Allen's command of cavalry, where he remained to the close of hostilities. He then engaged with the National Express Company until its demise; next the Southern

Express Company from Mol)ile, Alabama, to Cairo, Illinois: afterward he carae to Texas. In 1871 he came to Dallas city, his present home, in whose material interest he has ever taken an active part.

PATRICK W. LINSKIE was born in ,!- county Galway, Ireland, in 1848, and ^ when six months of age his parents crossed the sea to America, settling in New Orleans. Here they were both stricken with yellow fever, and died. Patrick received his education in New Orleans and then went to Rapides parish, where he was living at the time of the breaking out of the civil war. He was only fourteen years age, but he enlisted in Texada's Cavalry, and served with marked distinction urtil the surrender. When hostilities ceased he returned to New Orleans and engaged in the undertaking business, which he carried on with success until 1873. He then removed to Dallas, Texas, and embarked in the same line at the corner of Main and Harwood streets; the frame building first occupied has been replaced by a fine brick edifice, and the patronage has grown to immense proportions. Mr. Linskie is the official undertaker for the Hebrew and Roman Catholic population of the city. He has the most complete establishment of the kind in the South, and is well fitted both by native tact and a thorough training for the duties of the business. He is a master of the process of embalming, which he studied in St. Louis and Cincinnati.

souri; she removed to Texas in 1873; they are the parents of two sons, Robert, aged ten years, and Gerald, aged five. Our subject is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Lodge No. 8, and belongs to the Elks and Red Men. He is a member of the Roman Catholic Cluirch, and has occupied the same pew for the past seventeen years. Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party. He has been an Alderman, and was one of the most efficient officers of the Water- Works Company. He has built one of the most elegant homes in the city on Harwood street, and is enjoying the results of many years of honest labor.

HARRISON R. PARKS was born in Ellis county, Texas, in 1849, and is a son of George C. and Christina (Kockett) Parks. His father was a native of Indiana, and emigrated to Texas in 1847. He settled near Red Oak, Ellis county, and pre-empted 640 acres of land, which he converted into a fertile, productive farm. Harrison was the oldest child, and in his childhood was surrounded by rural scenes of more than ordinary beauty. The family continued to live on the homestead until 1874, when they removed to Waxahachie. The father was appointed Judge of Ellis county, and held the position six years. In 1879 he went to California, and died while in that State. He was a local politican of some note, and for a great many years was County Commissioner. For fifty years he was a member of the Masonic order. His wife passed away some years before his death. They had six children, one of whom died in infancy. One son died in Houston, Texas, while in the service of his country.

in the private schools. Later he took a college course, and when he had finished his studies he entered upon his business career as a clerk in Waxahachie. In 1873 the firm that employed him suffered from a disastrous fire, and he was forced into another channel. He took up the insurance business and has since been engaged in active soliciting. He established several agencies, and in 1884 came to Dallas and went into the same business under the firm name of Parks & Sherman; they represent six leading companies, and draw their patronage from Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Indian Territory. They have done an enormous business, and establisiied a reputation for the most honorable dealing. They have very few lawsuits, and conduct their business according to the safest methods.

Mr. Parks was married in 1871, to Miss Laura Patterson, a native of Arkansas. One daughter was born to them, named Minnie. The mother died in 1882, and Mr. Parks was married again to Miss Jettie Patterson, a sister of the first wife. Three children were fN. BAKER, an insurance agent of Dallas, was born in Caldwell county, " Kentucky, August 20, 1862, a son of Owen Ross and Julia (Lindsay) Baker, natives of Kentucky. The mother is a daughter of Lancetot Lindsay of Kentucky, and a niece of the late Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, Levingstone Lind- say of La Grange, who were first cousins of the Honorable Alexander H. Stephens of Georgia. The fatiier is a practical and thorough farmer, has held the office of Sheriff two terms, was Circuit Clerk two terms. County Clerk one term. County Commissioner of public roads three terms, Postmaster eight years, having resigned that position, and is at present one of the Republican delegates from the first Congressional District of Kentucky to the National Republican Convention, Minneapolis. He was a Union man during the war, although he owned a few slaves, which were liberated. For many years he has been a Deacon in the Baptist Church, and his wife is also a lifelong member of that church. Socially, Mr. Raker is a Freemason. The parents reared a family of six children, four of whom still survive, viz.: Peter, of Kentucky; Cora, wife of M. S. Hague, of Tennessee; Gertrude, wife W. A. Samson, of Denton, Texas; J. N., our subject; and Franklin and Eugenia each died at the age of about fourteen years. Mr. Baker enjoys the confidence of all who know him, and is a very popular man. It is a notable fact that, although he has been a pronounced Republican in politics, he has held the county offices above referred in a Democratic county. In each place he won success and accomplished great good, shared the views of advanced thinkers, and was in thorough sympathy with the progress of the county on every line of advancement. A manly character only could have inspired such confidence, and a faithful serviceonly could have resumed its continuance, as is seen by his re-election to each oflice.

J. N. Baker, the subject of this sketch, was educated in what is now known as Princeton Collegiate Institute, then Princeton College, where he completed his course in 1882.

He has been in the insurance business ever since, first with the Equitable, of New York, then the New York of New York, and is now special agent for the State of Texas and Indian Territory. He has succeeded well in this enterprise, and stands among the first in the business. Mr. Baker is also president of the White Republican League Club of Dallas.

fB. LOCJCKS, a retired contractor and builder of Dallas, was born in Louvain, " Belsjium, in 1829, the eldest of three children born to Peter Joseph and Theresa (Pirouet) Loucks, also natives of Belgium. The father, a contractor by occupation, came to Texas in 1856, and in 1858 moved to Fort Worth, Texas, where his death occurred in 1860; the mother died in Belgium.