Dallas County, Texas - The whole text, 1892 (part 26 of 32)

Locating then in New Orleans, the home of his parents, he engaged in commercial pursuits until persuaded by an old friend, for whom he was chiefly instrumental in acquiring quite a fortune, to remove to Philadelphia, where he subsequently enlisted on the editorial staff of the Press, until his removal to Galveston in the fall of 187-t. There he once airain launched into mercantile life, but in 1878, losing his wife, whom he married in 1866, he was persuaded to go to Dallas, whither he went in the spring of 1879, to take an interest in and the editorial management of the Dallas Daily Herald, then only a sixteen-column folio. During hisadininis- tratio as editor-in-chief, he was one of the original proposers and founders of the Texas Press Association, and before which now powerfi;! organization he delivered, by unanimous vote, the first annual oration. Tlie subsect was Independent Journalism, and his bold enunciation, although at the time provoking some adverse criticism by the strictly partisan press, was of the first and most effective influence to place journalism in his State on a higher plane; while a subsequent address, on the Amenities of Journalism, contributed vastly to the cultivation of a more fraternal feeling throughout the entire profession in Texas. Within the same five years Colonel Elliott delivered nearly 100 carefully prepared addresses to university and college graduating classes, fraternal and charitable societies, political bodies, mercantile associations, etc. In the meantime his leading editorials on national and State polity on pending questions, equaling a dozen octavo volumes, materially molded the opinions of his constituency. In the summer of 1884, during the annual convention of the State Press Association, just as his name was pro posed for election by acclamation to its presidency, the proceedings were arrested by a telegram from the Governor, that its popular candidate had been, in response to an almost unanimous call of Texas, appointed Commis sioner in Chief, with 200 assistants, prominent citizens of the State, to the New Orleans World's Exposition. This ended his acceptance of the honored headship of his well beloved association The new position was one of pre-eminence and involved an immensity of labor, skill and responsi])ility, as the great Empire State of the South, five times the size of New York, and never before at a fair when nearly all the other States had been, was wholly unprepared in any manner with exhibit or for competition. Yet in less than four months the indefatigable commissioner had gathered in such an array of the agricultural, mineral, timber manufacturing, live-stock and other resources of the imperial domain as not only astonished Texas but also the entire country by the wonderful display presented. But the address which Colonel Elliott delivered on Texas Day to over 7,000 Texans and many thousands of other visitors, still more astonished his hearers when he unfolded in what the New Orleans papers pronounced the best address during the exposition, the most eloquent and the most effective, the imsurpassed resources and dormant possibilities in this land of wonderful and industrial surprises. So universally satisfactory did he discharge the multifarious and arduous duties imposed on his executive ability and tact that many journals throughout tlie State pressed his nomination for the Governorship as a business executive. But absolutely without political aspirations he continued to decline all political preferment and quietly returned to the charge of his paper. The next year that paper, now enlarged to fifty-six column quarto, with enormously extended circulation, was sold at a price commensurate with its influence. Thereupon, for the first time in two decades of unceasing labors. Colonel Elliott rested by a residence of about two years in Washington city, where he made the acquaintance of many of the leading men and women of the nation. He is now at the head of a large foreign and domestic money-loan and a land-title business, both of which he organized a number of 3'ears ago in Dallas. Reared in the banking and general commercial vocations, a journalist of extensive extensive experience, practically acquainted with military life, a scholar thoroughly familiar with the Greek and Latin classics in the original, speaking the French, Spanish, German and Italian languages, from each of which he has translated and published much in prose and poetrv, thoroughly grounded in the schools of political and moral philosophy and the economies of Great Britain, France, Germany and America, with a well stocked library of these several authors in their respective languages, historians, biographers, poets, novelists, scientists and essayists, all of which he has at his tongue's end, and having frequently traveled over the Union and visited often its leading cities, he is one of the best posted men of the country. His main enjoyments now are the newspapers and periodicals. A special lover of the arts and sciences, he has made these a special study and in many instances a practice. As a writer Colonel Elliott is clear in thought, methodical in arrangement, vigorous and classic in style, and uses always the purest of the Queen's English. He is a frequent contributor of articles for the press and the magazines, principally on financial, political and social subiects. He is one of the best known men in Texas, an octavo industrial history of which he recently published and which ran through two editions of 20,000 copies each. He is a recognized, accurate and reliable statistician and informed on all Texas affairs and director of various financial, commercial and literary institutions. As a man of business he is broad-gauged in his views, unflagging in his work, proverbially prompt, successful in his undertakings and trusted the country over for sterling integrity and conscientiousness. Owing to this and his sound judgment and discretion, he is often made the sole arbiter for the adjustment of commercial contestations and personal misunderstandings, and is said to bear the soubriquet of the "great reconciler."

As a social and domestic character there has never been a breath of scandal connected with his untarnished name, while as a friend he is a veritable Pythias. Religiously his youth was enlisted in the Catholic faith, but afiiliations with Masonry and Odd Fellowship, whose chairs he has honorably occupied, severed his connection with the church. Colonel Elliott had the misfortune about a year ago to lose his wife, a woman of superlative merits and varied accomplishments. He now resides with his two sons and two daughters, in an elegant home in the charming little city of Oak Cliff, across the river from

V. McGregor, contractor and builder, at Dallas Texas, came into * eastern Texas, by water, from Tennesse, in 1870, and at once engaged in the business of contracting for building. He has since erected many of the important buildings of Dallas.

He was born in Trigg county, Kentucky, in 1845, the elder of the two children of Harris and Eliza (Ross) McGregor. His father, a native of middle Tennessee, moved to Kentucky in pioneer times, opened up a farm and resided there until his death, in 1854. The mother of the subject of this sketch, a native of North Carolina, came to Dallas with him, and died here in 1885. Mr. McGregor was raised in Kentucky, beginning to learn his trade there. During the war he enlisted in Company C, Fourth Kentucky Infantry, was transferred to the Fourteenth Tennessee Infantry, Confederate States of America, sworn into service at Greenbrier, Virgi nia, and was i n the army nearly f ou r yeai-s, participating in the battles about Richmond and throughout the Peninsular campaign, the

Wilderness and Gettysburg, and was then or dered to Kuoxville, Tennessee, where he took charge of a wagon train. He was once taken prisoner and confined at Ilopkinsville, Kentucky.

After the close of the war he returned to Tennessee, settling near Fort Donelson and engaging in farming. He came to eastern Texas in 1870, and to Dallas in 1872, and shipped the first five cars of lumber on the Texas Pacific railroad to Dallas. He is now the oldest continuous contractor in tlie city of Dallas, having engaged in the business here for nineteen years. He has coTitracted for and erected buildings in many cities of Texas. At present he has a large contract at Lancaster, this State. In reference to politics he is not active, but votes the Democratic ticket. He is a member of Lodge No. 1, Woodmen of the World, also of Indian Mound Lodge, No. 108, F. & A. M., at Indian Mound, Tennessee. Mr. McGregor belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church in Dallas.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. McGregor took place in Stewart county, Tennessee, in 1865. Her maiden name was I'annie Wall, and she was a native of that county. Of their nine children four are living, namely: Minnie, now the wife of S. W. Burgen of Dallas; Ivy, now Mrs. Robert McPhail of Waxahachie, Texas; Kittie, and Willis. Mr. and Mrs. Burgen have one child. Stony by name. Robert and Ivy McPhail have two children : Fannie Lue and Mittie Zuma. John and Mary Wall, the parents of Mrs. McGregor, were natives of Stewart county, Tennessee, where they passed their entire lives. Mr. Wall was a farmer and stock-raiser. He and his wife were prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He died in 1856, at the age of fifty-six years. He was a progressive and public-spirited man, and as a worthy citizen had many warm friends; was prominently identified with the growth and progress of this county. Mrs. Wall died in 1888, aged seventy-two years. William, the oldest brother, died at home, at the age of about fifty years. Jack L. H. Wall was killed at the battle of Cedar Run, October 19, 1864, aged about thirty-five years. Thomas died in Virginia, of erysipelas, while in the sevice of the Confederate army, at the age of twenty-one years. James P. enlisted at Fort Donelson, and was shortly afterward taken prisoner and confined at Camp Douglas, Chicago, and never returned until the war closed. He is now living in Stewart county, Tennessee, in the vicinity of Fort Donelson. Green Marion was also in the Confederate service, when but a boy. He has a family and is living in Colorado. Mrs. McGregor, born May 2, 1848, was next in order of birth. Alice, wife of James Lee, resides on a farm in Stewart county, Tennessee, as does also Emma, the wife of Albert Legbert. Four other children of these parents died in early childhood. The parents were honest, kindhearted and intelligent people, respected by all who knew them.

^DWARD LOITGHEKY, a contractor and builder of Dallas, was born in Oakland county, Michigan, in 1841, the fifth of the seven children of William and Margaret (Grinley) Loughery, natives of Scotland. His father, a stone and brick mason, emigrated by sail vessel to America, settling first in New York and then iti Michigan, in which latter State his death occurred; iiis wife survives. Mr. Edward Loughery learned his trade in Detroit and East Saginaw. Afterward he engaged in contracting, in

Missouri and Kansas, from which latter State he came to Texas in 1875, in tlie employ of the Texas Pacific Railroad Company, in whose service he continued eleven years, in this State. He has now a fine residence, erected in 1889, at the corner of Tevis avenue and Hawkins street.

He was married in Marshall, this State, in March, 1881, to a native of Tennessee. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Lougliery is a Democrat in political action.

WILLIAM II. ABRAMS, Land and Ta.\ Commissioner of the Texas & Pacific Railway, was born in Peru, LaSalle county, Illinois, January 10, 1843. His parents are Isaac and Ellen (Rittenhouse) Abrams: the latter is a niece of David Rittenhouse, the noted astronomer. Both parents are still living. The father has been a successful business man, - a merchant, land and real estate agent. He is now eighty-four years of age, but his wife is eight years younger, being only seventy-six. They both are members of the Congregational Church. Our subject is the oldest of the family of three children born to his parents, namely: Louise, still of the home circle; and Edwin, the youngest, engaged in the real estate and insurance business in Chicago: the latters wife was Linnie Bullock, and they have one daughter, Louise.

Mr. Abrams has been in the railway service since October 20, 1866. From the time of entering railway work until September 16, 1873, he was connected with the land department of the Kansas Pacific, now part of of the Union Pacific, but.at that date he connected himself with the Texas & Pacific Railway, and has remained with it ever since, as Land Commissioner, since 1875. He had been Assistant Land Commissioner under ex-Governor Throckmorton, who, having been elected to Congress, resigned in the last named year, and Mr. Abrams succeeded him. He, our subject, resided in Marshall, Texas, from 1873 to 1883, but in November of the latter year moved to Dallas, where he has since resided, and is now regarded as one of the enterprising and prominent citizens of the city. He is a man well fitted for his position, and has given a high degree of satisfaction to all concerned. Since 1884 he has represented the Land and Tax interests in Texas of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, and auxiliary lines also.

Mr. Abrams was married, June 16, 1869, to Miss Ella M. Harris, daughter of Hon. W. A. Harris, of Page county, Virginia, now deceased, as is also his wife, Fanny (Murray) Harris, natives of Fauquier county, Virginia, but for a long time of Page county, Virginia, then of Pike county, Missouri, where they died, he in 1864 and his wife in 1889. He was a very prominent member of Congress, representing the Shenandoah valley for eight years. He also was United States Minister to Buenos Ayres under President Pierce, and was for souje time the publisher of tiie Washington Union, which was regarded as tiie administration orgati during President Buchanan's term of office. Mr. Harris and wife had six children, of whom W. A. Harris, of Liuwood, Kansas, a large land owner and stock man and a prominent man, is tlie oldest, and his wife is Mary Lionberger; Murray Harris, the second son, born in Buenos Ayres, is Chief Engineer of the construction of the Pecos Valley Company's system of irrigation canals in Western Texas and New Mexico; Ciiarles H., farmer and stock man near Bowling Ureen, Missouri; May, single and living iu St. Louis, Missouri; Lelia, wife of Elijah Robinson, of Kansas City, Missouri, an ex-judge, and now a very prominent attorney of said city.

Mrs. Abrams was educated at the Convent of the Visitation, at St. Louis, while lier husband is a graduate of Monmouth College, class of 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Abrams have the following children: Lucien, born June 10. 1870, graduated at Princeton College, New Jersey, class of 1892, and expects to study architecture and art for several years; Clarence Albright, born December 27, 1873, educated, first at Dallas schools, then at Beloit College, Wisconsin, for one year, and at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, at Troy, New York; Harold Jefi'erys, born February 4, 1885, in Dallas, is the youngest of this bright and promising family. Both parents attend the Episcopal Church.

fW. MOORE, attorney at law, Dallas, was born in Warren county, Kentucky, * March 23, 1856. His parents were A. E. and Mahala (Bewett) Moore, both natives of Kentucky. Mr. Moore was a farmer, was superintendent of the county school for several years; was Justice of the Peace for many years. He is still a farmer of Warren county, Kentucky. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and Deacon of the same. His wife died in 1875, aged fiftytwo years, a member of the Baptist Church. There were five children of the family, and all living in Kentucky except our subject.

Mr. Moore attended school at Bowling Green, Kentucky, and later attended school for several years at Smith's Grove College. He taught school for three years in Kentucky. After leaving school he came to

Texas in 18S0, and taught in Dallas county for two years; commenced reading law in 1882, in the office of D. H . Morrow, read law two years, was admitted to the bar in 1884, has been engaged in the practice ever since, and been Notary Public, holding the office seven years. Has been quite successful. He was elected City Attorney of Oak Cliff, April 5, 1892.

He was married October 3, 1889, near Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, to Miss Helen Hand, daughter of Jared and Mary J. Hand, of Walworth county, Wisconsin. She is a graduate of a Wisconsin college, and has taught four years in the high school of San Antonio and one year in the Dallas high school. She also taught at Muskegon, Michigan, before coming to Texas. She has been a very successful teacher, giving a high degree of satisfaction; is a thorough scholar and a most efficient, experienced teacher. She has made drawing a specialty, and has some work pronounced very fine by those who are capable of judging.

[HARLES M. ORR, a farmer and stock- M$v» raiser of precinct No. 1, Dallas cjunty,. was born at Tyler, Texas, in 1864, the eldest of five children born to W. W. and A. M. (McQueen) Orr, natives of Ohio and Tennessee. The father came to Texas in an early day, where he was engaged as a railroad contractor, having built part of the Eastern Texas railroad, and also part of the Southern railroad. He was next engaged in the livery business, and furnished teams for the grading of Dallas, and also secured contracts for other parties. In 1880 he engaged exclu- sively in handling buggies and wagons, which he continued ten years, but is now retired from active business. Tlie mother died in the city of Dallas in 1885, and the father is now making a trip to Europe. During the war Mr. Orr was connected with the Quartermaster's Department, under General Kirby, and was engaged in buying provisions in eastern Texas until the close of the struggle. Of Mr. and Mrs. Orr's iive children, three are now living: Charles M., our subject; Annie, wife of D. C. Austin, a jeweler of Dallas; and Joe Kirby, also of Dallas.

Charles M. Orr was reared and educated in Dallas, and was later engaged in a store as clerk until 1888. He then bought out the bnsiuess, and continued in the handling of buggies and carriages until 1891, when he came to the farm the family had opened. He now has si.\ty-one and one-fourth acres under a fine state of cultivation, and also owns real estate in Dallas, Paris and San An tonio. Mr. (Jrr is not active in politics, but votes with the Democratic party. He has witnessed the growth and development of this county and city, and has always taken an active interest in everything pertaining to its

|S|ANIEL JOSEPH ROGERS, who is ImU connected with one of the leading in- ^^ dustries of the state of Te.xas, was born in Newport, Campbell county, Kentucky^ July 27, 1857, and is a son of Willam H. and Mary M. (Morrow) Rogers. The father was a native of Long Island, and came to Kentucky as a pioneer, settling in Newport_ He was engaged in boating on the river until his death, which occurred in 1874. Our subject is the tiftii of a family of si.x children; he grew to maturity in his native place, and received his education in the common schools. Desirous of learning the trade of a stone-ciitter, he entered the Mechanics' Institute, of Ohio, for the purpose of studying drawing. In July, 1877, he started out for himself in the world. He worked for a time in Columbus, Ohio, and then went to Kansas and finally saw the principal cities of the West. He was employed on Government buildings in Des Moines, Iowa, Kansas City, Missouri, and Denver, Colorado. In this occupation he not only had an ample opportunity to irn. prove his trade, but familiarized himself with all the various qualities of stone in the different parts of the country.

After several \'ears he came to Texas, and was engaged in work on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas passenger depot at Dallas. He next went to western Texa« and was located at Pecos city.

He there made the important discovery of a stratum of stone, afterwards known as the Pecos sandstone. He purchased 320 acres from the Government, on which this deposit was discovered, and in order to develop the business, he associated himself with the Hon. Robert McCorth, of Fort Worth, and P. H. Durock, of Minneapolis. The company was incorporated under the laws of Texas, with a capital stock of $100,000, and is known as the Pecos Red Sandstone Company; president, C. F. Thomason, Pecos City; vice-president, Hon. Robert McCorth; secretary, D.J. Rogers; treasurer, C. F. Thomason; general manager, P. H. Durock. By analysis this stone is shown to possess all the qualities desirable for building purposes, and the color is of a fine, rich red. It has been used inall the principal buildings of northern Texas, including the Dallas county courthouse, the Merchants' bank, of Dallas, and all the Government buildings at Texarkana. Through the management of the corporation of experienced men, this industry has grown tq be the largest and most important in the State, and much of the credit is due to Mr. Rogers, who has devoted himself to the work with untiring energy and a zeal that has known no abatement.

lETER J. HEN D RICK, engaged in the -^ real-estate business at Dallas, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1831, the youngest of live children born to John W. and Catharine (Revel) Hendrick, natives of county Wexford, Ireland. At an early day the parents came to Boston, Massacluisetts, where the father was engaged as a seafaring man. His death occurred in Ireland in 1832, and the mother survived him until 1865, dying at the age of sixty- live years. Mr. and Mrs. Hendrick had live cliildren, as follows: John William, of Boston, Massachusetts ; William, of Shreveport, Louisiana; Theresa, wife of Peter Hayes, of Charlestown, Massachusetts; Peter J., our subject; and Catherine Cullen, of Boston.

The subject of this sketch was reared in county Wexford, Ireland, to the age of thirteen years, after which he came to America and followed a seafaring life. He visited all the ports of Europe, also touching points for hides and horns in Africa. Mr. Hendrick subsequently settled in Boston, where he learned the carpenter's trade, and later engaged in the real-estate business. April 20, 1865, lie enlisted in the United State service, and was financier of the carpenter's department. He servpd three months, and was ' honorably discharged at Edgefield, Tennessee, in June, 1865, on account of disability. After the close of his service he returned to Boston and followed the real-estate business until coming to Dallas, in 1877. Mr. Hendrick built and improved a great deal in this city, and now owns eight residences on Commerce street, besides other property in Dallas. He has just returned froin a five-montlis trip to Europe. He has taken an active interest in politics, and socially is a member of George H. Thomas Post, No. 6, Grand Army of the Republic.

He was married in Boston, in 1854, to Eliza Jane Kelley, and they had six children: Catharine, Theresa, Clarence, Peter Henry, James F. and Mary, - all residents of Boston. Mr. Hendrick was again married in Dallas, September 22, 1889, to Catherine Theresa Terry, a native of Ireland. They have two children: John M. and Agnes Josephine.

fOHN. H. McCLELLAN, a widely known and esteemed public man and a prosperous and influential citizen of Dallas, Texas, was born in Alabama in 1855, and is a son of John R. and Mary J. (Dean) McClellan, natives of Georgia. His maternal grandmother, Eliza Dean, still survives, aged seventy-six years. His father was a farmer by occupation, and a man of excellent traits, ^nd greatly esteemed by all who knew him. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church {or nnore than twenty years. He died in 1886, in his fifty-eighth year, universally lamented. His worthy wife still survives him, at the age of fifty-five years. She has been an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since childhood. This estimable couple were the parents of nine chil- dren, eiglit still living, and, with the exception of the subject of this sketch, are all residents of Alabama, where they occupy positions of honor and trust. Andrew J., the eldest, married Margaret Felley; the second is the subject of this notice; Simeon F. married Susan Carter; Martha Jane is the wife of William Russell, a prosperous farmer; Samuel R. married Miss Bradley; Polly A. is the wife of Mr. Shaw; William J. has recently been elected Justice of the Peace: he is twenty- two years of age, is a prosperous farmer, and a young man of great promise; Thumas J., and George W.

John H., whose name heads this memoir, passed his youth in Tallapoosa county, Alabama, and attended the public school. He was afterward a pupil at the academy in Alexander City, Alabama, and on leaving school commenced farming for himself. After a short experience in this occupation, he engaged in the mercantile business. In 1883, he removed to Texas, settling in Sherman, whence he came to Dallas, where he has since resided. He opened a confectionery and restaurant in the latter place, which he has continued to successfully conduct.

In 1883, he married Miss Allie Chambers, an intelligent lady, a daughter of Albert and Margaret (Windley) Chambers, of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, th« city taking its name from that celebrated family. Her father was a brother of the noted divine. Dr. T. W. Chambers, who was one of the committee who revised the New Testament. Her father's sister, Mrs. Charswood, was the wife of the Chief Justice of Pennsylvania; and the family is related to the late Theodore Frelinghuysen, of the Keystone State. Mrs. McClellan's father died at the age of thirtyfive years, when she was an infant. Her mother still lives, and is an honored resident of Good Water, Alabama. Mrs. McClellan is the only child of this marriage now living. Mr. and Mrs. McClellan have had two children, both now deceased; one died in infancy, and one, Mary Alice, lived to the age of nine months.

Politically, Mr. McClellan is Democratic, and zealously supports all the issues of that body. He has frequently been honored by his constituents with office, and has served on many important committees, where his sound judgment has been of great value. In 1888, he was elected a member of the City Council, to which office he was re-elected in 1890, and again on April 5, 1892, when the council elected him Mayor pro tem., in which capacity he is now serving. Socially, he affiliates with the Knights of Pythias, and is a member of lodge No. 70.

Such universal commendation outweighs any eulogiums we might offer, vehich would be naturally deduced from a survey of his irreproachable life and character, and we can but add our voice to the general applause of his fellow men.

m A. DISBO ROUGH, agent for the A. \jk M. Dalph Company, laundry ma- I'-^Jte*] ® chinery and supplies; agent for the Campbell Cotton Company, office 814 Commerce street, Dallas; also president of the Kansas City & New Orleans Railway Company, located in Bowie county, Texas.

This gentleman was born in Mercer county. New Jersey, in August, 1856, son of Isaiah and Maria (Anmock) Disborough, natives of New Jersey. They trace their ancestors in New Jersey back to the reign of King Charles II. His father was for many years engaged in the fruit business, was finan- cially successful, and is now a resident of Trenton. New Jersey. His mother died July 17, 1885. Mr. Disborongh was reared in his native State and was there educated, spending three years in the New Jersey Collegiate Institute and taking a thorough business course in Philadelphia. He was then engaged as bookkeeper for one year for the Western Telegraph Company, Philadelphia, and from there went to New York city in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad, with whom he was engaged for seven years, until 1885. He then came to Texas, and on September 13 of that year took up his abode in Dallas. Here he was first engaged with the Santa Fe Railroad in the claim department, and afterward with the Texas Pacific in the same line of work. Since 1888 he has been on the road, selling oils and machinery supplies.

Mr. Disborough was married in 1888 to Miss Lilly B. Randall, a native of Louisville, Kentucky, and a daughter of Daniel T. and Sarah A. (Sherburne) Randall, natives of Boston, Massachusetts. Her parents are both of English descent, on her mother's side the ancestry being traced back to the Mayflower, she being a direct descendant of Biglow of Revolutionary fame. Mrs. Disboroiigh's father went to Louisville at an early day, thence to Georgia, and in 188.3 to Dalla»: his death occurred in May, 1888. Her mother is still livino'.

Mr. Disborough is a life member of the Ancient Order of Foresters, Washington Conclave, No. 1, and is First Commander of the Conclave, he having organized the order. He is a member of the Dallas Lodge, No. 70, K. of P., and also of the Knigiits of the Golden Eagle, Alpha Castle, No. 1. Politically, he affiliates with the Democratic party.

Another enterprise with which Mr. Disborough is connected, and of which he was die founder, is the King Manufacturing Company. Of this he served as secretary and treasurer for some time. It was started with small capital, but, being backed by his energy and push, it was not long before a trade of $10,000 yearly was built up, with three men on the road and employment furnished to eight persons.

IfSENRY WETZELL WANDLESS, M. D., Dallas, Texas. - This is an age of specialties, and many members of the medical profession have perceived the necessity of turning their attention to a pirticular branch, if they expect to attain any marked success in the science. The entire field is too broad a territory for this age of research, and must be divided into sections that may, perhaps in a lifetime, be inastered. Dr. Wandless was a student in the Baltiinore Medical College, and in 1885 took the degree of M. D. He took a special course of lectures on operative surgery, and for a short time was engaged in general practice in West Virginia. He then reuTOved to Texas, and soon after began to give much of his time and attention to the treatment of the eye and ear. For the purpose of gaining special instruction on this subject he went to Chicago, Illinois, and studied in the Chicago Eye and Ear Infirmary, where he had also unusual advantao-es in practice. He was offered the position of assistant house surgeon of the institute, but declined the honor and returned to Dallas. He has established a large practice which is constantly increasing, and has won a reputatation that is not confined to the borders of his own county. He is a conscientious and careful operator, and his success is the legit-

Dr. Wandless is a native of Virginia, and is the fourth uf a family of eleven children. His father was David Wandless, and his mother's niaiden name was Bethell. They were both of English extraction, and were enfj;aged in agricultural pursuits all their lives. They gave to each of their eleven children a good education, and thus bequeathed to them a legacy of greater value than gold.

fJWIilLLlAM C. SICKLES, Dallas, Texas, 1^1 /All w'lo fo*" iiany years was prominently C^-^STl identified with the business interests of Dallas, is now living a retired life. He is a native of the State of New York, born in the year 1840. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania, but during his youth they removed to Missouri, where he received a liberal education. His last school-days were spent in the city of New Orleans, where he enjoyed superior advantages. When he left the pursuits of his youth and early manhood, lie embarked in the mercantile trade in Louisiana, which he carried on until the breaking out of the Civil war. During the entire struggle he gave his services to the Southern Confederacy, and when hostilities ceased he resumed the occupations of civilization. He opened a sugar plantation in 1866, which he conducted until 1872. He then disposed of his interest and came to Texas, and after a brief sojourn there he selected Dallas as his future home. He at once engaged in the wholesale dry-goods business, and also carried a heavy line of groceries. As the city increased in population the business grew in volume, and linally became one of the leading commercial interests. Mr. Sickles is a man modest in his demeanor, strictly lionest in all his dealings, and of a genial disposition which wins a friend and keeps him. He has inherited from his maternal ancestors, who were from Scotland, those sturdy traits of character that have been the backbone of much of our American civilization. As his means increased he made investments in real estate, and erected many of the residence and business houses in Dallas. Some of these have been sold, and a portion retained. He built the spacious dwelling now occupied by Mr. C. Gibbs; this was planned for his own residence, and all the details were carried out perfectly; but on account of the death of his wife soon after its completion he sold it. Politically, he affiliates with the Democratic party, but is liberal in his views on all questions. He is one of the foremost thinkers of the State on the subject of political economy, and his opinions carry weight wherever they find expression.

l^ll^ILLIAM ENDERS, President ot the Dallas Club, and a traveling salesman, representing the Simmons hardware establishment of St. Louis, was born in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1851. His parents were Henry and Adelia (Jacobs) Enders, both natives of that State. The father was a drygoods merchant for many years in Paducaii, Kentucky, being the first to open in that line there. He was an old citizen well and favorably known, and a man of good business qualifications. He died in 188-1, aged seventy years. His wife is still living, being seventy-eight years of age, in good health. She is an old settler, well-known and highly respected. They brought up a large family of children, of whom William, our subject,

William Enders was educated in Louisville, Kentucky, and then went into the hardware business for the company by whom he is still employed. This is the second firm he ever worked for, the other being the Shapleigh Hardware Company, of St. Louis. He was with them seventeen years and with the present firm five years. He came in 1879 to Dallas, and has been here ever since, an honored citizen. He is a charter member of the Dallas Club; has been its President since March, 1892, and an officer since he was in it. As a citizen and a business man few persons in the city stands higher than the subject of this sketch.

H. FISHER, a farmer and stock-raiser of precinct No. 1, Dallas county, was ® born in Barren county, Kentucky, in 1836, the fourth of eight children born to John and Margaret (Barbour) Fisher, also natives of Kentucky. The father was a farmer by occupation, and in 1842 they moved to Cole county, Missouri, and in 1844 to Polk county, Missouri, where he took up a claim. They made that county their home until 1866, when he moved to Dallas county, Texas, where his death occurred in 1872; he was born in 1804. His wife died in Polk county, Missouri, about 1851. Mr. Fisher took an active interest in the early history of Polk county, having assisted in organizing the county.

Our subject began farming in Polk county, Missouri, and during the war he lived in Moniteau county, same State. In 1866 he came to Dallas county, and the next year bought thirty-seven and a half acres of partly improved land, where he liuilt a small box house. He has since added to this place until he now owns 250 acres, all of which is under a good state of cultivation, and in 1889 he erected a fine residence. About 1875 Mr. Fisher erected a gin, and has been engaged in ginning every year since. He raises a good grade of stock, and in addition to his other interests he is engaged in general farming.

Mr. Fisher was married in Hickory county, Missouri, April 5, 1860, to Eliza Inglis, a native of that county, and daughter of James and Eliza (Strain) Inglis, natives of Virginia and Kentucky respectively. The father was married in the latter State, and at a very early day moved to Cooper county, Missouri, and a few years later to Hickory county, where he settled among the Indians. He was a farmer and stock-raiser by occupation, and his death occurred in Hickory county about 1844, and the mother survived him until 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher have six children: John E., Margaret, Edna, wife of Kenneth Foree, an attorney of Dallas, Thomas, Wade Hampton and Omer. Politically, Mr. Fisher is a Democrat, and both he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church.

^MStl '^' NEWTON, a general contractor 'fl-Mfflt of Dallas, was born in Tarrant ^^^® county, Texas, in 1862, a son of Anderson and Alsie (Dalton) Newton, natives of Kentucky and Tennessee. The parents were married in Kentucky, but moved at an early date to Missouri, and in 1851 to Dallas county, settling near Cedar Springs. The father took up a headright at Johnston's Station, Tarrant county, which he improved.

Htstort Of Dallas V0Unt7

The subject of this sketch was reared to farm life, and educated in the schools of Tarrant county. After his marriage lie settled in Dallas county, and in 1885 he engaged in his present business, a contractor of ice, wood, railroad and street work. He employs an average of from twenty-five to 100 men, and bis work is confined principally to Dallas city. iVIr. Newton has always taken an active part in politics, voting with the Democratic party, and is interested in every enterprise for the good of his chosen city and county. He owns six good residences in Dallas, and a fine farm in Tarrant county.

He was married in the latter county, March 30, 1882, to Isabella Alford, a native of Hlinois, and a daughter of Robert H. and Elsie (Evans) Alford, natives of Tennessee.

?ILLIAM J. KELLER, a wealthy capitalist and banker of Dallas county, is entitled to the space that has been accorded him in this history of the sturd}' pioneers who have brought the country to its present advanced state of prosperit}'. He was born in Mississippi, June 28, 1832, and is a son of Jacob and Susan (Toole) Keller. The father was born on the Atlantic ocean while his parents were coming to America, whither they were being sent as missionaries. The mother of our subject was a Mississippian by birth. Jacob Keller became a prominent business man, and for many years was Treasurer of his county in Mississippi. He died of yellow fever in 1844. His wife passed away some time afterward. William J. received a limited education, and at an early age was apprenticed to learn the printer's trade. For this purpose he went into the office of the Woodville (Mississippi) Republican. He passed through all the successive steps of devil, compositor, editor, and proprietor. During the time that he was editor of the Repuhlican the principles of the old Whig party were strongly sustained. The paper is still published, and is in its sixtieth volume.

When Mr. Keller retired from the editorship of the paper he began the banking business, which has since attained such an important place in the commercial circles of the county. In 1875 he transferred his business to Dallas county, and with the eye of a true seer he beheld the future of the place. He at once began the construction of the street railway, which has developed into one of the most profitable enterprises of the city. He managed the line for ten years, and when he. had established the system on a paying basis he sold out his interest. He then invested his capital in the Merchants' and Bankers' National Bank of Dallas, and was elected the first president of the organization. He has brought to this corporation the ex])erience of long years of active business life, and the naturally fine business qualifications for which he has won a wide reputation. The paid up capital is $500,000, and the directors are the most solid and reliable men of the county.

Mr. Keller was united in marriage, in 1854, to Miss Cornelia Angell, of Mississippi, and three children have been born to them: Edwin; Lucy, wife of R. B. Howard; and Henry W. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, having connected himself with it forty years ago. He is now president of the Board of Trustees. He has given freely of his time and means in carrying out the various works of the church, and has always supported those enterprises which tended to tlie general welfare. He has been a member of the City Council, and is now chairman of the Finance Committee. He owns one of the elegant residences on Ross avenue, where he is surrounded by his family and all the comforts that wealth and culture

1^ B. JOHNSTON, a farmer and stockraiser of Dallas county, was born in I ® Shelby county, Hlinois, November 16, 1848, the sixth of nine children born to Isaac P. and Thurza (Weaver) Johnston, natives of North Carolina and Tennessee. The father went to Shelby county. Illinois, when a young man, where he was married, and later, in 1854, came with his family to Dallas county, and died in this county in 1863; the mother, born in 1810, is still living, residing with her children. She is, as was her husband, a member of the Christian Church. He was a Douglas Democrat. Of their nine children, eight are still living, viz.: Marion, of Farmers' Branch, Dallas county; Elizabeth, wife of M. De Frest, who resides on the old homestead; John A. and William L., who enlisted in this county, in Allison's company, whici. was captured in February, 1863, and confined at Arkansas Post, where William L. died, at the age of eighteen years; Mary A., who married John Warner, of Dallas county, and is deceased; H. B., the subject of this sketch; A. P., who resides in the West; Isaac W., who resides on part of the homestead; Senia H., wife of G. F. Banowsky, of Hamilton county, Texas. The subject of this sketch was reared in Dallas county, and educated in the subscription schools. Since 1880 he has been engaged as collector for the McCorinick Harvester Company, his field of operation being mostly in Texas. After his marriage he settled on his farm ou Preston road, where he has 415 acres in a good state of cultivation. Mr. Johnston was married in this county, August 31, 1882, to Fannie E. Smith, a native of Dallas county, and a daughter of La Fayette and Margaret S. (Daniel) Smith, natives of Mississippi and Alabama. The father came to Texas at an early day, was married in Dallas county, and afterward settled on a farm near the city of Dallas. He enlisted as Captain of a company in Gurley's regiment, and remained until the surrender, when lie returned to Dallas county, and prior to the war he was Police Magistrate. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston have two children, - - William Earie and Annie Isabella. Politically, Mr. Johnston is a member of the Democratic party, and religiously both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Johnston has a sister, Sophronia, older than herself, and a brother, younger than herself,^Jaraes A., who married Mattie Laytou and resides in Dallas.

fW. SWOR, one of the representative men of Dallas county, was born in * Henry county, Tennessee, May 31, 1834, the youngest of the twelve children of Robert and Sally (Rushin) Swor, natives of South Carolina. His parents, who were married in that State, emigrated to the western part of Tennessee, where the father engaged in farming. They both died in that State, the father in 1872, at the age of about eighty-five years, and the mother in 1878, aged about eighty-three years. The father served as a private two years in the war of 1S12, and drew a pension for that service.

He aided in building Fort Sumter, South Carolina. Of the twelve children in the above family, the only living ones are the subject of this sketch; Lively, who married Richard Granger, and is now a widow, living in Henry county, Tennessee, with her family on a farm; and Mary, the widow of John S. Ray, and now living on a farm in Calloway county, Kentucky.

J. W., the subject of this sketch, was reared in Tennessee, and in 1881 came to Dallas county, settling on a farm in the northern part of the county. He followed that vocation until coming to Dallas City in the fall of 1887, after which he engaged in the hotel business, and in December, 1891, he bought a lot just outside the city limits, which he has improved. Mr. Swor takes an active part in politics, voting with the Democratic party, and both he and his wife are members of the Christian Church.

He was married in western Tennessee in 1855, to Miss Ruth A. Ethridge, a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of David and Lucinda (Ray) Ethridge, natives of South Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. Swor have had eight children, namely: Charles, a resident of the Indian Territory; Betty, wife of William Milne, of Oak Cliff; Mattie, now Mrs. J. W. Wilson, of Kaufman county, Texas; Robert, a grocer of Dallas; Frank, at home; Shelton, who resides in Chicago; Minnie and Holeman, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Swor have six grandchildren living, namely: Charles, who has one child, Eva; Bettie Milne, who has two children, Fred and Willa; Mattie Wilson, who has two children, Oma and Ina; and Robert, who has one child, Randolph. Of the seven children of Mr. Ethridge live are still living: Jane, now Mrs. Brown Venable; Mrs. Swor; Fletcher; Alice, now Mrs. John Booker; John Taylor; Martha, deceased, was the next in order of birth: she married James Venable; and James, deceased. Mr. Ethridge died in 1849, in Memphis, with Asiatic cholera, at the age of twenty-six years. Mrs. Ethridge still survives, living in Calloway county, Kentucky, now aged sixty-seven years.

LEXANDER W. PERRY landed in Texas with his wife and three children in 1844 and located in Dallas county near where he now lives. He is a man possessing keen observation and good judgment; and to these qualities, combined with his energetic disposition, may be attributed his success in life. He brought with him to this county two teams and three extra horses, and upon his arrival here had $30 in money. Taking a headright under the Peters colony, he at once began the work of developing a farm. This country was then sparsely settled, there being only seven families within a radious of live or six miles. The Indians were numerous and frequently caused much trouble. Mr. Perry, however, was always on his guard, and while others suffered from the depredations of the Red men he did not. In the fall of 1866, the Indians came into the settlement and stole a number of horses. A small company of white men followed them, killing three Indians and recovering four horses. The pioneers always carried their guns when they went to work in the timber. Mr. Perry went after a load of wood one morning and forgot his gun. He was accompanied by his little boy and his dog. The latter treed a bear and three cubs, and Mr. Perry told his boy to stay there while he went for his gun; but the child objected, and accompanied his father to the house. Mr.

Perry secured his gun and returned; he killed the old bear, but the cubs escaped. The year following his arrival hei-e lie raised a good crop, enough tor himself and to spare, and has ever since had plenty. The crop of 1890 vFas the lightest since he carae to Texas. The country then abounded in game and Mr. Perry supplied his larder by the use of his gun. Wolves were plentiful and frequently very annoying. At one time a wolf attacked his dog and was about to make way with the animal when Mr. Perry took off a single-tree and killed the wolf. Bear and buffalo were also plentiful. Ever since he came here Mr. Perry has been engaged in the stock business, raising both cattle and horses. His fancy, however, has been more for horses, and each year he raises and sells a large herd. In all matters pertaining to stock his opinion is frequently sought and always valued. He keeps a line stallion and jack, also a Durham bull.

Some time in 1850 or '52 Mr. Perry sold his headright, and in 1853, bought the farm on which he now lives, comprising at that time 800 acres. He afterward sold portions of it and bought other land; has given farms to eight of his children, and at this writing still owns 800 acres. All of his children are settled around him, within three miles of the home place. Mr. Perry was one of the partners that built the Trinity mills; subsequently disposed of his interest in that property. He was the original owner of the town site of CarroUton; laid off and sold lots, and now owns land all around the town; gave land to the Missouri, Kansas & Te.xas railroad for depot purposes. While he has about 185 acres under cultivation and is engaged in general farming, he gives his chief attention to the raising of horses and mules.

born in Virginia, October 3, 1779. He moved to Kentucky, then to Indiana, and from there to Dlinois. He was called Captain, but how he recived that title is not known. He was by trade a stone-mason; was, however, engaged in agricultural pursuits for many years. Of his ancestors nothing is known more than that they were of English descent. While in Kentucky he married Miss Rebecca Harbeston, who was born in that State, November 15, 1776, and died in Illinois, during the Civil war. The father died there about 1835. Tliuy were the parents of ten children, namely: Sally, born July 6, 1802; Eliza, born December 5, 1803; Malinda, born September 9, 1805; Western, born May 6, 1807, came to Texas in 1846 and diefi about 1870; Mary J., born June 9, 1809; Franklin, February 9. 1811; Rebecca, February 17, 1813; Middleton, December 15, 1814, came to Texas in 1844 and is now residing near Lancaster, Dallas county; Roderick, born August 7, 1817; and Alexander W., the youngest of the family, born in Illinois, November 26, 1819.

9, 1840, in Illinois, to Sarah Pluffman, who was born January 11, 1824, daughter of William Huffman. Her father, a Kentuckian, went from that State to Illinois, where he was engaged in farming and where his death occurred. This happy union resulted in the birth of fourteen children, viz.: Margaret E., born September 25, 1840; Rebecca A., January 7, 1842; William F., December 16, 1843; Mary L., February 23, 1846; Harriet M., August 30, 1848; Alexander, December 25, 1850; Sanford C, November 1, 1852; John H. and Sarah (twins), March 5 and 6, 1855; DeWitt C, January

History Op Dallas Countt

25, 1864; Roxanna, February 15, 1867. Alexaiuler W. died January 29, 1852; Rebecca, January 7, 1860; Mary L., February 7, 1860; Sarah J., November 7, 1863; Commodore Perry was killed December 19, 1875; and Carry H. died November 23, 1881. Eight are yet living, all married and settled near the old homestead.

Mr. Perry lias been a member of the Grange and the Farmers' Alliance. Politically, he is a Democrat. He and his family are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, in which he is a Deacon.

ijAJOR I. B. GIBSON, a prominent attorney at law, Dallas, Texas, was born in county Monaghan, Ireland, May 10, 1827. Although born in a foreign land, be is a thorough American in principle; in time of war fought for her liberty; in time of peace supported her Government and free institutions. He comes from a worthy ancestry, and his life has been such that it entitles him to honorable mention among his contemporaries.

Major Gibson was three years old when he came to America with his parents, who settled on a farm in Oakland county, Michigan. His father was in the British army on the Peninsula, and served in every battle in which Lord Wellington commanded. He was wounded in the thigh at the battle of Waterloo, June 18, 1815. After coming to America his life was uneventfuh He lived to be ninety-four years of age. The Major's mother, nee Mary Lambert, was a daughter of John Lambert, who was killed in the Inburrection in Ireland in 1798. Her greatgrandfather, also named John Lambert, was a General under Cromwell. When Charles II. came to the throne he left England, went to Ireland and settled at Castle Cole. Isaac Gibson, an uncle of the subject of this sketch and the twin brother of his father, was in the British war in 1812, and was wounded and captured at Chippewa. He returned to Ireland after the war closed. William Gibson, the Major's grandfather, was a manufacturer of Irish linen in Monaghan, Ireland, and great-grandfather Robert Gibson, a native of Scotland, was surgeon in a Scotch regiment.

The subject of our sketch received a fair education, graduating at the Rochester Academy in 1847. He and his oldest brother, William, enlisted April 6, 1847, in Company K, Third United States Dragoons, William H. Polk being Major of the battalion. His brother was killed at the battle in the valley of Mexico, August 10, that same year. I. B., however, stood the service well, had several horses shot and killed under him, and at the close of the war received an honorable discbarge.

Returning to Michigan, Mr. Gibson began the study of law in the office of Patterson & Champlin, Grand Rapids, and in April, 1857, was admitted to the bar. He then moved to Olney, Illinois, and opened an office with John M.Wilson, which partnership continued two years. He attended the Democratic National Convention at Baltimore, not as a delegate, however, and after his return home made 100 speeches for Douglas. After Sumter was fired on he helped to raise a company in Olney for the war, and was engaged iu raising other troops, until September, 1861. He then asked Governor Yates for a Captain's commission in the cavalry service, but at that time the Government could not furnish the horses. Mr. Gibson was attorney for the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, and went to Cincinnati on business. From there he wrote to Governor Yates to the effect tliat he would furnish a company that would provide their own horses. This he did, the boys all paying for their outfit with their soldiers' earnings, and did it cheerfully. It should here be mentioned that at this time Mr. Gibson was editor and proprietor of the Richland County Herald, a paper published in the interest of the Democratic party. He entered the service October 8, 1861, as Captain of Company E, Sixth Illinois Cavalry; was promoted to Major of the same regiment, February 13, 1862, and remained in the service until 1863, when on account of inflammatory rheumatism he resigned and returned home. Several months later he joined General Steele, and afterward was with General Reynolds, being in the Mississippi valley all the time. He has never recovered the use of his arm, and now draws a pension for the services he then rendered.

After the war Major Gibson resumed the practice of law in Michigan. He remained in that State until 1884, when he came to Texas. After about a month spent in Galveston, he came to Dallas, and has since been a worthy member of the Dallas bar, practicing in all the courts. While in Michigan he was elected Circuit Court Commissioner, which is much the same as Circuit Judtre in Texas, being elected on the Republican ticket. He has served as Supervisor, and also as a Justice of the Peace, and refused the nomination (which was equivalent to an election) to the State Legislature. He has recently been nominated by the Republican League as Presidential Elector for the Sixth Concrressional District of Texas.

of Jasper Whitlock, of Oakland county, Michigan. They had two children, Ella and Burnett B. The former married Alfred N. Walker, of Newton, Illinois, and has two children, Edith and Cecil. He second marriage occurred October 30, 1886, to Mrs. Rachel A. Gould, a native of Wisconsin, and a daughter of Jacob and Harriet Todhunter, natives of Virginia and New Jersey respectively. Both he and his wife are members ot the Episcopal Church. The Major is Past Commander and one of the charter members of John A. Dix Post, No. 11, Dallas, Texas, and for over thirty years has been a member of the Masonic order.

Mrs. Gibson's first husband, William Pearl Gould, died February 11, 1874, aged thirtysix years. By him she had two children, Alvin J. and Anna A. She is a woman of influence, culture and refinement, and has a large circle of friends. She is an officer in the John A. Dix Woman's Relief Corps.

lEV. R. W. THOMPSON. - This gentleman, after spending many years of his life as an itinerant minister and accomplishing great good in that vocation, is now retired from active labor and is in the enjoyment of the fruits of well spent years, surrounded by the comforts of this world, and the higher and holier pleasures that come of the respect and esteem of those with whom he lias been brought in contact. He can reflect with just pride on the years of service in the Master's work and feel that he has faithfully done the duty that lay nearest to him.

natives of Sonth Carolina and Alabama respectively. The fatlier was a physician and surgeon, and an excellent Christian gentleman, who had an extensive practice in Tennessee, and subsequently in Phillips county, Arkansas. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and never was a slaveholder, although he did not think it wrong to hold slaves. His death, which was a most triumphant Christian one, occurred in 1850. A most noted religious revival started from his death-bed sickness, he having religious converse with every one who visited his sick chamber. He was only fifty-three when he died, but his wife lived to be seventy-six, dying about 1870. She was a noted Christian, and her character was reflected in all her children, whom she was spared to see converted. They were all married and comfortably settled in lite when she died. Our subject is the eighth in a family of nine children. One died in infancy, but the other eight lived to maturity, and two brothers and one sister of our subject are still living. All the boys, four of them, were ministers in the Methodist Episcopal Ciiurch South. The oldest living member of the family is William M., a local preacher, near Sulphur Springs, Texas. The next one is Mary, wife of Augustus Atkins, residing in Cleburne.

Our subject was educated in tiie saddle, under the live-oak trees, in Jackson county, Texas, to which place he came with his mother and an orphan cousin, Virginia Thompson, daughter of David Thompson. He was licensed to preach, and was recommended and received into the Texas Annual Conference, held in Waco, in 1857; and was appointed by the Bishop to preach to tiie old Cana African Mission, southwestern Texas. In 1858-'59, he had eighteen appointments in the circuit of Van Zandt and Smith counties. In the following year, he was appointed to Harrison circuit, in Harrison county, Texas. In 1860-'61 he was assigned to the Clarksville and McKinzie College station, consisting of the Arno appointments; and was re-appointed to the same place in 1861-'62.

In the meantime the war broke out, and in the early part of 1862 he enlisted as a private in Company F, Whitfield's Legion, Texas Cavalry. After serving eight months as a private, he was appointed Chaplain, in which capacity he acted until the fall of 1863. He was then transferred to the Trans -Mississippi Department and assigned to duty in the Seventeenth Consolidated Texas Infantry, in which regiment he served until the close of the war. He was captured at Oakland, Mississippi, and was taken to Helena, Arkansas, where he was treated kindly and hospitably and held only five or six days. He then passed down the Mississippi on a transport through the Federal lines to Vicksburg, that city being in the hands of the Confederacy.

At the close of the war, he returned to his pastoral duties, and was stationed for four years, from 1865 to 1869, at Jefferson, Texas, where he was very successful. He was then appointed to Lamar street, Dallas, Texas, the church at that time occupying the present site of the Merchants' Exchange Building. He remained there four years, after which he served one year on the Dallas circuit, filling four appointments. He was then transferred to the East Texas Conference by Bishop Mc Tyeire, and had charge of the station at Marshall, Harrison county, Texas, for two years. He was then made Presiding Elder of Marshall district, which consisted of the following counties: Harrison, part of Panola, Gregg, Rusk, part of Smith, Cherokee and

Van Zandt, in which capacity he served for fonr years. In 1880, he was sent to Beaumont district, in southeastern Texas, which comprised the following counties: Angelina, Polk, Tyler, Hardin, Liberty, Chambers, Jeiferson, Orange, Newton, Jasper, and a part of Cherokee. The Beaumont district reaches down to the Gulf, and is well tilled with alligators, mosquitoes, ticks, horseflies, wasps and many other species of annoying vermin, too numerous to mention. In 1884, he was on the Palestine district, consisting of a half dozen counties. From 1885 to 1889, he served in the same capacity on the Marshall district. From that time to 1890, he was assigned, at his own request, to the Marshall mission. At the close of 1890, he was made supernumerary, which position he still holds. He has been elected alternate to the General Conference at Atlanta, Georgia. He has been a very successful minister, has received hundreds into the church, and has labored most earnestly to disseminate religious knowledge. He has married many couples and pronounced the burial rites at numerous funerals. Altogether, he has been busily employed, and has done as much hard work in the church as an}' minister to be found; has given the best and most active years of his life to its service, and has accomplished much good.

He was married, June 2, 1861, to Miss Mary E. McFarlin, daughter of Dunkin and Zilpha McFarlin, of Caddo parish, Louisiana. She is a native of Madison county, Tennessee, is an earnest, sensible Christian woman, has been a member of the Woman's Missionary Society from its organization, and was president of the Woman's Missionary Society of East Texas Conference as long as they were in that district. She has been a very earnest worker in the missionary tield, and has the reputation of l^eing one of the purest, most zealous and active Christians in the conference. She visits the sick, helps the poor. Ever in the homes of the poor, the ranks of the toilers, in the hearts of all humanity, she is the ideal of honor, truth, gentleness and love.

They have no children of their own, but have adopted several, to whom they have been kind parents. Mr. Thompson has taken all the degrees in Masonry, including the Commandery, has taken three degrees in the \. O. O. F., and has joined all the temperance societies as they have ci>me along. He has made the ministrj the only business of his life. When the war closed he had not a dollar, but as he has always had good livings he has now plenty to support his declining years. He never allowed a fear for to-morrow to disturb the even tenor of his way, for he found that the morrow would take care of itself. He has always made it the rule of iiis life to pay as he went and so has kept out of debt.

[FORGE M. DILLEY, a prominent busi- Ij? ness man of Dallas, was born in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, October 26, 1833, a son of Aaron Chester and Mary (Schurz) Dilley. The family are descendants of old Highland Scotch stock, who were residents of America long previous to the Revolution. His great-grandfather, Aaron Dilley, was in the Revolutionary war, holding the rank of First Lieutenant in Van Skales' company.

Mr. Dilley, whose name heads this sketch, was born on the old homestead that had been occupied by his ancestry for many generations. At the early age of seventeen he went to Ohio and besjan work for himself in railroad construction, in Lorain county. In a short time he went to Frankfort, Indiana, and commenced taking contracts for buildina;. Next he went to Shelbyville, Illinois, where he was telegraph operator and express man. In 1870 he came to this State and took charge of construction on the Houston & Great Northern railroad. Then he becanse interested in foundries at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Palestine and San Antonio, Texas, and Parsons, Kansas. In the meantime he also had charge of lumber interests. Next he was connected with the construction of the Sunset & Southern Pacific railroad in Pecos county, then the Houston & Central Arkansas. He was president of the Reynolds & Henry Construction Company, of Joliet, Illinois, that inaugurated the Houston Central & Northern railroad, constructed and equipped fifty miles of the road, and then sold to Jay Gould, who completed it to Alexander, Louisiana. In fact, scarcely a road has been built in Texas within the last ten years in which Mr. Dilley has not been interested. He is now busy solving that important problem, to wit, irrigation in Nebraska. He settled in Dallas, in 1889, and began the erection of an elegant home on Maple avenue. North Dallas.

Mr. Dilley was a delegate to the Chicago convention, in 1880, - not only a delegate but was one of the immortal 306 that held together in one unbroken column for General Grant; and what he regards as one ot his most valuable possessions is the souvenir medal which was issued in commemoration of that event, and in honor of the fidelity of those who remained true to the great Captain.

Fannie Briggs, and of their five children three are living: Gcorce E., in Palestine; Fred L., living in Tyler; and Fannie who is still at their parental home.

fPINKNEY THOMAS, one of the many enterprising and public-spirited men ^ of Dallas, real estate and loans and secretary of the Trinity Navigation and Improvement Company, was born in North Carolina, at Troutman, a station on their old homestead, on the Air Line railway, Sejjtember 24, 1837. His parents were Jacob and Ellenor Lavina (Murdock) Thomas. His mother was a Witherspoon, of a noted family and well connected in that locality. The father was Deputy Sheriff of that county for some years when only a boy, and later was Sheriff of the county for many years. He was a farmer by occupation, but made his money by trading in real estate, produce, stock, etc. He took good care of those who trusted their ])roperty to his keeping; was scrupulously honest, very accommodating, did business ou good business principles, and retained the good will of all those witli whom he had to do. He was widely ktiown and greatly admired for his honest integrity and sterling worth. He was an exemplary member of the Lutheran Church and an officer in the same from his boyhood days.

He was born in 1808 and died in 1864. His wife was born in 1818 and died in January, 1892. She also was a member of the Lutheran Church from girlhood, was a devout Christian woman, known, loved and held a warm place in the hearts of all who came to know the excellencies of her true Christian character. She was a woman of great will power and was terribly in earnest in what-

Onr subject left home at the age of thirteen years, to attend school at Center Grove Academy in North Carolina; later he attended school at Buena Vista Academy; and subsequently, to humor his feelings, he was sent to Greensboro, North Carolina, where he graduated in music.

lie and several others put their means together and bought 18,000 acres of land, spent a year in prospecting on it for copper, but did not make the enterprise a success. He then clerked for a time to procure money with which to visit his father's youngest brother, Andrew, at McKinley, Alabama, but never got there. He started out witii a train of wagons which were to be shipped to England from Cleveland, Alabama, via Charleston, South Carolina. About this time lie took sick and failed in that. Later he learned the printing business and in that was quite successful. He kept good company, was very temperate in his habits, which made him a valued member of a temperance organization known as the Knights of Jericho. In 1856 he was superintendent of the pay department in car shops, and in 1857 he came West, leaving a salary of $2,500 a year. With Charles Turney and Charles Barnard he established the first trading point with the Indians at Waco, Texas.

Later he went in charge of 1,500 head of cattle to Ciiicago, the only drove he ever knew to be taken from this part of Te.xas to that city the overland route. It took a year to make the trip. The tirst stop was at St. Joseph, Missouri, where they left 400 of their cattle. They sold to Majors & Russells, who bought for the Government. At Nebraska City they sold 300 more. They waded both the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, the latter at Muscatine, Iowa. At the latter they herded the cattle for some time, then drove to Chicago. It is worthy of note that at that date they crossed only one railroad, the Illinois Central.

He returned to Texas with friends, and to Dallas county in 1861, shortly before his enlistment in the Confederate States Army service, which occurred in July, 1861, - Company E, a company organized by John D. Coit, of Sumter, South Carolina.

Enlisting as a private, he was appointed Second Lieutenant when the company was organized, on motion of Mr. Bowser of Dallas. This was Company E, of which John D. Coit was captain.

On the organization of the Eigliteeuth Texas (Cavalry Captain Coit was elected Lieutenant Colonel. This regiment was fortified in the Indian Nation for a time, and then reported to General Holmes at Little Rock. Their next duty was to go on what was known as the Parched-Corn expedition, as they had to subsist seven days on that cereal. On this expedition they drove Steele's division to the other side of White River, had three engagements on Little Red river, and participatep in the noted battle at Cotton Plant, on White river; but the command to which Mr. Thomas belonged saw no real Held service until the battle of Arkansas Post, when the whole command was captured and placed on transports on the Arkansas river. Mr. Thomas, with many others, was put off at Pine Bluflf. While convalescent he was sent down to the lower edge of Louisana and upper edge of Arkansas to buy clothing. In 1863 General Walker again sent him to Texas, to enlist more troops, and in six or eight weeks he enlisted 500, who came in from all sections in the vicinity.

Breckenridge, ten miles north of Dallas, to Miss Sallie Huffman, daughter of Michael L. and Mildred (Clnro) Huffman, and during his six weeks' bridal trip he engaged in recruiting volunteers.

He reported at Shreveport, where General Darnell was relieved, and he met the refugees from Arkansas Post, and formed the Seventeenth Consolidated Dismounted Texas Cavalry, which name was retained to the close of the war. and Lieutenant Thomas also retained the letter E for his company, he continued in the same official relation, vvliile M. W. Dameroa was the Captain.

While with Captain Coit, Mr. Thomas had the advantage of a book of tactics, which he rapidly learned and soon became capalile of drilling both in cavalry and infantry service.

At an engagement at Natchez he took a number of cattle and mules from the enemy; and he also had a three-days fight at Harrisonburg, Louisiana. On his return he met Banks at Fort Deroora, but no battle took place. At Mansfield, April 8, 1864, was the next engagement.

Mr. Thomas commanded the company nearly all the time during the year 1864. April 8, he had fifty-six men in Company E, after making all the details. His company took Nimms' battery and the colors, besides many of the men, of the Nineteenth Kentucky Regiment. At the battle of Pleasant Hill the next day Mr. Thomas was wounded, at nightfall, and taken off the field, leaving to his successor sixteen men. Being reported as permanently disabled for field service, be returned to Dallas; but E. Kirby Smith, commander-in-chief of the Trans-Mississippi Department, ordered him to report to General Henry McCullough, commander of the North Subdistrict of Texas, and he was next ordered to take command of the post at Sherman. He was there during the winter of 1864-'65. Then he went to Jacksboro to investigate the trouble between Colonel James Bowlen's troops and the home deserters. His next business was as commander of the post at Dallas, where he closed iiis military career. He closed his services within sixty feet of where he enlisted when he was sworn into the service in the courthouse square, near the corner of Houston and Main streets, opposite the Crutchfield House.

For several years after the close of the war he came to Dallas, put up a paint shop and carried on painting in all its brandies, supplying all the needs of the city and county. For his next adventure he opened the Texas wagon yard, the first wagon yard ever located in Dallas. He bought the ground located between Main and Elm streets, through which now runs Murphy street. He went from there to the farm in 1878. He farmed two years, then he opened out in the grocery and cotton business, continuing that one year. Then he went into the real-estate business, in which he still continues. He began the Trir.ity navigation enterprise in 1878, and never allowed a wheel to turn, until the date of this writing, without throwing his whole weight for its successful completion. In June, 1891, he had it incorporated, secured a charter, and constructed a boat which has been at work continuously ever since.

The long years of work culminated in educating the masses. They are now well under way, and it is now regarded as a success. No other man has done so mucli to make this enterprise a success as the subject of this sketch.

Our subject was married April 29, 1863, to Miss Sallie Huffman, daughter of M. L. and Mildred Huffman, of Breckenridge, Dallas county, Texas, They have eight children, viz.: Mike Huffman, who is a partner with his f'atiier in the real-estate business. He married Miss Emma Moss, and they reside in Dallas city: Mike is their only cliild. Mr. Thomas' next child is Joseph Pinkney, who is foreman of the gents' furnishing department of E. M. Kahn & Company. He married Miss Maggie Kennedy, and Sallie is their only child; Mildred Eleanor, a graduate of the Dallas high school class of 1892; DeWitt, who is in the audit department of the Texas & Pacific office of Dallas; Enlace Lane, deceased in November, 1880, aged about four years; Mollie Rice, who is a bright pupil and quite proficient in mathamatics and languages; Calvin Holmes, who is quite a bright and businesslike boy, a pupil of the high school; and Fergus Davis, a bright boy of seven summers. Both parents and the tliree oldest children are members of the Central Christian Church.

J. Pink. Thomas is one of the older citizens of Dalllas, and has been identified with the best interests of the city since it was quite a village. He and his good wife are numbered among its worthy and substantial citizens.

l^=y^j in Kussell county, Kentucky, a son of John C. Coe, a farmer. Just before attaining his majority of years he came to Texas, and by the advice of his maternal uncle. Dr. W. F. Wolford - a wealthy and in. fluential pioneer of Collin county, - went to school about three years. Quick and tireless of application, he mastered the rudiments of an education thoroughly and became an excellent bookkeeper. He followed this occupation until 1886, when he entered the emnlov 85 ^ *' of Henry Lewis, Sheriff of Dallas county. He has thus come in contact with men of every condition of life, and exhibited remarkable tact, uniform courtesy and a clear conception of the duties of a public officer; and at the election of County Treasurer in 1890, with four independent Democratic candidates in the field, he was chosen by a handsome plurality. Barely thirty years of age at the time of his election, he is the youngest county treasurer ever elected in the State of Texas. A half million dollars of the people's money pass annually through his hands. He is a stalwart Democrat, being one of the bricrhtest exponents of that jiolitical faith. He is a zealous member of the order of Knights of Pythias. He was married February 5, 1891, to Miss Fannie Cullom, a most estimable lady.

P|EV. A. P. SMITH, D. D., minister of I the First Presbyterian Church of Dallas, was born in Dallas county, Alabama, July 16, 1832. His j.arents were William S. and Louisa (Bowie) Smith, the former from Charleston, tiie latter of Abbeville, South Carolina. The father was an attorney in his early days in Charleston, South Carolina; later was a planter in Alabama, from which State he came to Texas, where he died in May, 1881, at the age of eigiity-four years. He was an elder in the l^resbyterian Church for forty odd years. His wife, Louisa A., was a daughter of Major George Bowie, a prominent attorney of South Carolina. She also wasa member of the Presbyterian Church, earnest and devoted and died more than forty years ago.

ated in a literary course at Oglethorpe College, South Carolina. Dr. Talmadge (uncle of T. DeWitt Talmadge of New York) was the president of Oglethorpe College at that time. Subsequently Dr. Smith graduated in a theological course at the seminary at Columbia, South Carolina. Dr. James Thornwell, Dr. George Howe and Dr. Benjamin Palmer were among the professors of that college at that time. Rev. Smith preached first on Sullivan Island, near Charleston, and during his pastorate there the yellow fever raged violently, but he continued liis work without molestation. After that he filled the Globe Street church in Charleston, South Carolina. He remained there until the war opened, when he was made Chaplain of the First South Carolina Regiment, Ivershaw's brigade. He served in that capacity until near the close of the war, when he was disabled with rheumatism and was discharged from the service. As soon as he was able to preach he filled the pulpit at Spartanburg, South Carolina, until the war closed. He then moved to Aberdeen, Mississippi, where he filled the Presbyterian pulpit and was also president of the Female College in that city for six years. In August, 1873, he moved to Dallas, Texas, and took charge of the First Presbyterian Church, which position he has ever since occupied. His is the oldest pastorate in the city. He began in an old weatherboarded house, with nineteen members. The membership now numbers more than 300. Three mission churches since have gone out from this mother church. Mr. Smith has done an excellent work in Dallas, and has a most worthy and substantial record both as a minister and citizen.

Smith, who were old, prominent and most highly respected residents of Charleston. They raised a large family of children, who remained in the city until the war opened. Mrs. Smith is a lady of culture and has ever been loyal to the best interests of the Presbyterian Church.

f'OSEPH BRITAIN, deceased. , the pioneers of Dallas county, Texas, none were better or more favorably known than this worthy gentleman. He settled here in 1848, and was closely identified with the best interests of the county until the time of his death. Joseph Britain was born in Tennessee, February 29, 1816, a son of Benjamin and Sarah (Mathews) Britain, natives of Tennessee and Virginia respectively, and of Scotch and English origin. The family were among tiie first settlers of Tennessee. When Joseph was about fourteen years of age his parents removed to Illinois and settled in Cass county. There he was married, in 1835, to Miss Marthena White, a native of North Carolina, and a daughter of William R. and Rachel (Cowen) White; she had been taken to Illinois by her parents when a child.

About the year 1840, Mr. Britain and his wife removed to Henry county, Missouri, being followed soon afterward by his father's family; his father and mother passed the remainder of their days in that county. He was engaged in farming in Missouri until 1848, when he removed to Texas. He was accompanied by his wife, their five children and a nephew, B. L. Cowand; they made the journey to the borderland of civilization with a team of horses, being a month on the way. Mr. Britain first settled on what was known as the Haney farm, now known as the Petty place; there he lived with his family in a shanty until he could build a better house, and raised one crop. He afterward went to Navarro county and lived there one year, at the end of which time he returned to Dallas county, and for five years rented the Robertson farm. He then pnrcliased 100 acres of wild land, six miles southwest of the city of Dallas, and began the task of making a home for himself and family. He added to the first purchase in later years until he became the owner of 700 acres of Dallas county's best soil, where he followed agriculture and stock-raising until his death.

By his first wife, Marthena, Mr. Britain had twelve children, seven of whom are living, and six of whom were born in Texas: Mrs. L. J. Fleming, the eldest daughter, is fifty-four years of age; she has three children and six grandchildi-en, four of whom are living; D. L., the eldest son is engaged in the real-estate business in Henrietta, Clay county, Texas; he is the father of fourteen children, ten of whom are living; his eldest son, J. W., was a most estimable young man; he had reached the age of twenty- two years, and was Marshal of Henrietta at the time of his death; James M., the second son of Joseph, resides six miles southwest from the the city of Dallas; he has eight children, six of whom are boys, engaged in farming; Nancy M., the second daughter, is the wife of H. L. Fleming; she is the mother of eight children, six of whom survive, all boys; she has one grandchild; her home is in Dallas connty near the old homestead; Sarah M., twin sister to Nancy M., died in Missouri at the age of four years; Joseph B., the third son, lived on a farm in Dallas county until the time of his murder, which occurred May 2, 1889, at four o'clock, a. m.; he was the father of three daughters and one son; Benjamin M., the fourth son, is living at Seymour, Baylor county, Texas, engaged in the grain trade; he is the father of seven children, five of whom are living, two sons and three daughters; Martha E., the wife of J. W. Collier; she lived in Dallas county until the time of her death in September, 1889; she was the mother of eight children, six of whom are living, four sons and two daughters; her husl)and was murdered November 1, 1887, while returning from Dallas; Annie, the fifth daughter, died January 4, 1864, at the age of eleven years; Frank H. lives in Swisher couTity, Texas, follows farming and stock-raising, the father of eight daughters, six of whom are living; George B., the sixth son, is living on the old homestead; he is the father of two daughters and a son; one daughter is deceased; Rachel C. died in Texas, in 1869, at the age of eight years.

Mrs. Marthena Britain died of small-pox, November 28, 1863, at the age of forty-three years, one month and nine days; her daughter Annie was the next to follow, stricken by the same dr^ad disease, five weeks later.

In the spring of 1864, Mr. Britain was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Strader, and six children were born to this union, five of whom were living: Ida, the oldest child and only daughter, died in 1867, at the age of two years; Adam W. resides in Wilbarger county, where he is engaged in farming; he is the father of one child; Edgar C. was one of the first settlers in Swisher county, Texas; Bert also lives in Swisher county; Wallace B. lives in Coleman county, Texas, where he is employed on a cattle ranch; Oiis B. is a resident of Wilbarger county. In 1875, Mr. Britain was again bereft of his companion. Late in the aututnn of 1876. he was united in marriage to Miss Amanda Shackelford, who bore him one daughter, the nineteenth child ; she is named Alice, and was two years old at the time of Mr. Britain's death, March 8, 1880. He was sixty-four years and eight days old; his wife died in September, 1890; she was at the time living in Johnson county, where her daughter still resides. Mr. Britain and his first two wives were active members of the Baptist Church.

In early days he served as Constable, and in politics affiliated with the Democratic party. He was possessed of many excellent traits of character, and by his honorable and upright course in life won the confidence of the entire community. The father of nineteen children, he had sixty-four grandchildren, forty-nine of whom are living, and eleven great-grandchildren, nine of whom are living.

fOHN J. CONROY, one of the staunch and reliable sons of Erin, was born in Ireland March 24, 1846, and is the son of Patrick and Nora (Ward) Conroy. His parents emigrated to America during his infancy, and settled in Baltimore, Maryland, where the father died. The mother is still living and resides in Baltimore. The father was a tanner by trade, and later followed the occupation of dairyman, which continued until bis death. He died in 1886, aged sixtyeight years.

John J. passed his youth in Baltimore and received his education in St. Vincent's College. In 1861 he enlisted in the First Maryland Infantry Regiment, as First Lieutenant of Company B, and was at that time fifteen years of age. (We doubt if this has a parallel on the Federal side during that long and bloody cantest.) He served until the close of the war. He was promoted and came home as Major of their regiment, although serving on many occasions as Colonel. He participated in many of the most noted battles, such as the first and second battles of Bull Run, Chancellorsville, the two battles of Fredericksburg, battle of the Wilderness, Slaughter Mountain, several minor engagements, and finally the battle of Gettysburg, where he was wounded seriously, though not fatally, five times. He was out of the service on account of wounds, all told about one year during the war. After the surrender he was apprenticed to learn the blacksmith's trade, serving for three years. In 1868 he went to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where he was employed until 1876. In that yeai' he went West, and was one of the first prospecting in the Black Hills. He purchased a claim at Deadwood, Dakota, adjoining the Hidden Treasure. He found nothing there, however, and after remaining there four months, he started for the Big Horn mountain, prospecting as he proceeded, at one time being within hearing of the guns which killed Custer. The day following, a band of thirty-five Sioux Indians attacked his party of nine, killed two and wounded three or four others, including Mr. Conroy. His party held the Indians at bay for seven hours, when they were relieved by the Hayden survey party, employed by the Government. The wounded were taken by them to the Crow Indian reservation. This accounts for the fact that Mr. Conroy was thrown among the Crow Indians. He made friends with these Indians, learnino- their lanffuatje and to a certain extent adopting their customs. He traveled extensively over this section, and bought the first claim at Deadwood, or Dakota Terrify. After four years of prospectiug on the frontier he went to Florida, where he resuiqed his trade. He was a partner there of P. Me- Murray who was Mayor of the city of Jack- sonville, Florida. He remained there until the vell<Jw fever broke out. Leaving Jacksonville he went to Greenville, Mississippi; but did not escape that dread disease, yellow fever. However, the use of a very simple remedy saved his life. From Mississippi he moved to Arkansas, where lie engaged in the manufacture of carriages until 1881. In that year he came to Dallas county, where he established himself in his early trade. As a workman in this line he has few equals and perhaps no superiors. He has also dealt largely in real estate, and has made considerable money in this way. In 1890 he was elected Alderman by an overwhelming ma jority, George T. Lack being the opposing candidate. He has made an efficient officer and has assisted very materially in the growth and development of the city. In the council he is now chairman of the Committee on Streets and Bridges. He was elected April 2, 1892, by the largest vote of any councilman in the city of Dallas; also from the largest ward in the city. He has always been alive to the business interests of the city of Dallas. He is progressive in his views and believes in keeping abreast of latter-day, nineteenth-century progress.

Mr. Conroy was married in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1872, and three children were the result of this union. The wife died and he was married the second time in 1883 in Dallas, Texas. Two daughters and one son were born in the last marriage. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Knights of the Golden Eagle, of the Red Men, and also of the A. O. U. "W. He is a member of the Roman Catholic Church and is an ardent Jeffersonian Democrat. He has been the main advocate of some of the best ordinances now in force in the city of Dallas. In all his intercourse with his fellow citizens, both private and public, he has been found true to every trust, competent and faithful in every position to which he has been called, and always an upright, honorable man and a thoroughgoing and enterprising citizen.

B. TAYLOR, a dairyman of Precinct No. 1, Dallas county, was ® born in Spartanburgh district, South Carolina, May 16, 1844, the second in a family of five children born to Stephen and Matilda (Jones) Taylor, natives of South Carolina. The parents both died in 1857, in less than three months of each other. W. B., our subject, was reared and educated in his native State, and in May, 1866, he came to Dallas county. He and his brother drove a team through Illinois to Missouri by way of Georgia, northern Alabama, a corner of Mississippi, west Tennessee and Kentucky, taking a steamboat to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and thence came to this county.

Here, in 1866, Mr. Taylor bought 550 acres of land, to which he has since added until he now owns 610 acres, all under a good state of cultivation. He has always taken an active interest in politics, voting with the Democratic party. Socially, he is a member of James A. Smith Lodge, No. 395, A. F. & A. M. ; and religiously, of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Cochran Chapel.

April 16, 1861, Mr. Taylor enlisted in Company D, Third South Carolina Infantry, for one year in the State service. He went first to Columbia, was drilled two months, next re-enlisted for one year in the Confederate array, and at the expiration of that time an order came for all men between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years to be pressed into service. Mr. Taylor was in the first battle of Manassas, seven days' tight before Richmond, where he received a gunshot wound in the shoulder, was contined in the hospital at Richmond some time, and after his recovery returned to his regiment, just after the battle of Sharpsburg. He was also in the battles of Fredricksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Chickamauga, in the siege of Knox vi lie, battle of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor and Petersburg at the mine explosion, and was in the Shenandoah valley under General Early. After the battle of the 19th of October, Mr. Taylor went to Richmond, then joined Lee's array. He was the only man in General Keshow's command to escape, and at the close of the war he returned to South Carolina, where he remained until he came to Dallas county.

Mr. Taylor was married in this county, in December, 1876, to Miss Z. Bachman, a native of Tennessee, and daughter of John and Margaret (Hughes) Bachman, also natives of Tennessee. The parents came to Texas in 185U, and settled in Dallas county, where the father died in 1867, and the mother now resides with our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have had five children, namely: Maggie, Fletcher, Alice, Willie, Charles.