Dallas County, Texas - The whole text, 1892 (part 27 of 32)

His parents were Alexander and Jane (Kyle) Hunter, both of Scotch birth. They were married in their native land in 1822. Both were members of the Presbyterian Cliurch. The father was a gardener, and followed that occupation and farming all his life. He was born August 6, 1793, and died December 6, 1869, aged seventy-six years. His wife, born about the same time, died December 26, 1863, aged seventy years. They were honorable and upright people, and reared a family to occupy useful positions in life. Following are the names of their eight children: William, a resident of Staten Island, New York; Johnston, a blacksmith by trade, died at Halifax, North Carolina, aged thirty-two years; Mary, wife of Michael Mallon, died at the age of twenty-nine years; John, the subject of this article; Alexander, who died at the age of thirty-three years; Margaret Ann, wife of Henry Springer, resides in New Jersey; Eliza J., who died at the age of thirteen months, and Eliza (2), who lived only six months.

The subject of our sketch received his education in the private schools of New Jersey. He learned the trade of blacksmith, and followed that trade nine years.

When the war came on Mr. Hunter was among the first to offer his services to protect the Union. July 16, 1861, he enlisted in Company C, Second New York Fire Zouaves. He entered the service as a private, and after the battle of Antietam was made Captain, his promotion being made for bravery in action at that battle. The first engagement in which he participated was that of Williamsburg, Maryland, and there he was wounded in the thigh, from the effects of which wound he still suffers. He was in all the battles of the army of the Potomac up to and including Gettysburg. There, on July 2, 1863, at four p. m., he lost iiis arm by a shell from the enemy's gun, and was at once taken prisoner from the field. He spent the night in General Lee's headquarters, and it was three days and nights before he received anything to eat. What he suffered at that time can be better imagined than described, lie was fourteen days a prisoner at Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and his arm received no medical attention until July 18, when it was amputated near the shoulder by Dr. Fitch, of the Union army, at Hagerstown, Maryland. He was paroled on the 16th, and as there was no hospital at Williainsport, went with four others to Hagerstown to be treated. Twelve days later he went to Frederick city, Maryland, remained in the general hospital there till October 10, and was then discharged and returned home.

After sufliciently recovering. Captain Hunter engaged in the milk business at Railway, New Jersey, and continued thus employed two years. He was then engaged there as gatekeeper for the Pennsylvania railroad, the duties of which position he faithfully performed for eleven and a third years. After that he was in the cigar and tobacco business six years. His wife dying in 1891, he sold out, and in September of that year came to Dallas, Texas.

Captain Hunter was married, July 8, 1858, to Miss Jane Renton, daughter of Alexander Kenton, of Rahway, New Jersey. They had six children, viz. : Jessie E., wife of Howard Tappan, of Sewaren, New Jersey, their only child being David; Jane I., wife of Benjamfn S. George, of Sewaren; Katie B., wife of D. F. Fields, also of Sewaren; John K., a resident of Dallas, married Lulu Renner and has three children, Ross G., John F. and Susan; Anna J., wife of F. D. Fields, Sewaren; and Olive G., a graduate of the Rahway high school.

The Captain is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Rahway, as also was his worthy companion. He is a member and has been Senior Vice-Commander of the Twenty-seventh Post, Rahway, New Jersey, and is also a member of John A. Dix Post, No. 11, Dallas, Texas. In politics he has never taken an active part, but has always voted with the Republican party.

N. BRYANT, commercial traveler for Marshall Chemical Manufactur- '^ ing Company, of Kansas City, Missouri, and State agent for Texas and Louisiana for the same company, has been a resident of Dallas, Texas, since 1874, and was reared in the Lone Star State.

His father. Major Charles G. Bryant, who was among the earliest settlers of Galveston, Texas, had been one of the inceptors and leaders of the patriot war in Canada, which culminated in 1837. He was captured by the British and sentenced to be shot, but was taken, surreptitiously, from the guards by his sympathizing Canadian friends on the night preceding the day set for his execution, and he escaped into the United States, a large reward being offered for his head by the British Crown. He, with others, immediately chartered a vessel and came to Texas, and was closely identified with the Lone Star Republic from that time until her star was merged into the bright galaxy of the sisterhood of States, participating in her varying fortunes and thrilling scenes. He was killed by the Comanche Indians in 1850, at the age of forty-nine years, while faithfully serving his adopted State in the capacity of Quartermaster and Commissary of a battalion of mounted Texas rangers, and his remains lie buried where he fell in Refugio county, thirty-two miles from Corpus Christi and eight miles from Rockport. He was strictly a military man, his earliest boyish inclinations tending in that direction. It was he who drilled the Texas volunteer troops for the Mexican war, raising for that purpose the first volunteer company on Galveston Island. He was formerly Major General of the militia of the State of Maine, and was first in the boundary question between the United States and Great Britain at the Aroostook, on the Canadian border, in 1836. His marriage took place in Massachusetts about 1801, to Miss Sarah Getchell. They had eight children, the first five being born in Maine and the rest in Texas. The oldest, Andrew Jackson, was midshipman in the Texas navy, and took an important part in all the engagements between the Texas and Mexican fleets off Yucatan in 1842-'44, where he was severely wounded and made a physical wreck for life. The most distinguished honors and highest encomiums were bestowed on him for his dauntless courage and unswerving fidelity to duty by the commanding officer of the Texas navy, Commodore Edwin Moore. He lost his life at sea by the foundering of the brig Galveston in the Gulf of Mexico in 1844, but his name and deeds are written in gold in the imperishable history of his country. One of the most pleasing and talented writers of Texas of those days thus apostrophizes the young hero:

" Poor boy, though thy young days have ended on earth, Though thy grave is deep, deep in the sea, Yet, Bryant, we'll hallow thy name and thy worth, And thy deeds in defense of the free."

The youngest child, sister of the subject of the subject of this sketch, was Mrs. Welthea Leachman, nee Bryant, the wife of John S. Leachman, a prominent resident of Dallas and at present a commercial traveler for a large mercantile establishment of Dallas. Mrs. Leachman died in 1888, at her home in the latter city. She was the pronounced poet laureate of Texas, contributing for many years to the columns of the Galveston News and other publications. A literary critic of the East, who is himself a bright luminary, said of her that "many of her productions should take front rank as being among the brightest gems of American literature." Her poems, which will constitute a brilliant intellectual brochure, will some day be collected by the subject of this sketch and given to her beloved Texas. She was a distant relative of William Cullen Bryant, and the divine afflatus of the poetic muse, as in her illustrious ancestor, conspicuously marked all the emanations of her pen. Unfortunately for the literary world, the notes of this Southern song-bird are hushed, but her melodies still vibrate on numerous sensitized tympanums, and re-echo upon the celestial shores. All of her brothers seem to have been tinctured with the penchant for versification, and three of them have figured at various times as journalists of note. Charles C. Bryant, the veteran printer, who died four years ago in Dallas, published the Nueces Valley in Corpus Christi as long ago as 1851. He was also co-publisher with Mr. W. N. Bryant, of Bryant'' s Commercial Transcript, which was printed in the city of Houston, Texas, in 1865-'66. W. N. Bryant will be remembered as the publisher for fourteen years of Bryant's Texas Almanac and Hallway Guide, a statistical and historical serial, which exerted a widespread and effective influence in favor of immigration to Texas, which labor of love his failing eyesight forced him to resign, with the proud consciousness, however, that his book had probably been as potent a factor in the peopling and upbuilding of Texas as any of the multifarious ax-grinding, State-subsidized institutions, which have blazed up from time to time and flickered with uncertain light. His serial was widely known and recognized as a standard text book on Texas, commanding the attention and admiration of the English-speaking world. Another talented brother of the subject of this sketch was D. C Bryant, whose death occurred in Dallas in 1882. He also was a veteran printer and publisher of Texas, and was largely instrumental in molding a healthy public sentiment within the scope of his influence, tiring his readers with a landable ambition and stimulating an emulative spirit of public enterprise. He published the Democrat South at Corpus Christi in 1857, and at one time published the Acorn, at Oakville, in Live Oak county, Texas, of which the suggestive motto or symbol was, "Tall oaks from little acorns grow," but, although it was a healthy and sprightly Acorn, it never attained the adult proportions of an oak. This paper was a terror to a band of cattle and horse thieves that infested the country in those days, and who committed what might be termed legalized depredations in the spring ''ronnd-ups," as they denominated the general branding occasions. The standard in this country at that time among that class and element for measuring men's worth was established with reference to their bravado in overriding and defying all legal restraints, and their high-handed disregard for all legal and moral rights. D. G. J^ryant undertook the role of reformer, and tried to purge the community of some of the immoral practices of those times. In so doing, however, he came a "little too close" to some of the "prominent men" of that ilk, the consequence being that they constituted themselves a little more than a committee of one to wait on Mr. Bryant and invite him to desist by "looking up a tree." The hint was conveyed to him by Harry Hinton, one of

God's rough-hewn noblemen, an Indian scout and tighter of those days. When the selfstyled "Vigilance Committee" sought for Mr. Bryant in the "wee sma' hours," for the purpose of inducing him to add his quota to the contemplated festivities, he was conspicuous for his absence, having taken French leave. The " Vigilants " destroyed the Acorn, scattering its fragments to the winds, the owner never returning to inquire the manner of its disposition or attempting further reformation. Edwin Moore Bryant, the youngest of the brothers, who resides in Corpus Christi, Texas, is likewise a versatile and prolific writer, and may justly wear the laurel as a composer of pure poetry.

W. N. Bryant, although having passed the half-century mile-post of life, has lost none of his accustomed vigor and energy, still possessing an inexhaustible amount of enthusiasm on the possibilities of Te.xas, and casts with untiring delight her future brilliant horoscope. The tablets of his memory contain one vast store of historical data, and, beinc nearly fifty-tive years of age, and possessing a natural inclination and remarkable memory for things covered with the mold of time, can relate many an o'ertrue and thrilling tale of Texas.

He was married, in 1858, at San Antonio, Texas, to Miss Elvira Wilkerson, daughter of E. A. and Mary Wilkerson, her parents having spent their early lives in Alabama. Mrs. Bryant is a lady whose attractions of mind and person render her a joy forever in her domestic world. Every surrounding of their beautiful little home in Dallas indicates the taste, refinement and cultui-e of the occupants.

Mr. Bryant is a member of the Knights of Honor and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He and his wife are earnest members of the First Baptist Church of Dallas.

Mr. and Mrs. W. N. Bryant have had twelve children, seven of whom are still living, namely: Irving H., Helen Elva, Giddie Jiandall, Wolfred Parsons, Jessie Fay, John William and Claude Achilles. Four of their children are grown and two are married. Mrs. Nellie Medders, the oldest daughter now living, resides in Dallas, Texas, whose three children are a source of unceasing comfort to their grandparents. The oldest daughter, who was born during the war, bore the typical name of Secessia, and it is a singular coincidence that, on the very day and hour when the Federal troops landed in Galveston the father, who was fifty miles away witnessing the disembarking of the troops and their occupation of the city, received the sad and heart-rending news of the death of his Secessia, who died simultaneously with the beloved cause of which she bore the hallowed name!

fUDGE LAUGH McLAURIN. - Among the prominent attorneys and judges of this county stands the subject of this sketch. He is a native of Mississippi, having been born there January 18, 1854. His parents were Dr. H. C. and Harriet (Lane) McLaurin, natives of South Carolina and Mississippi respectively The father was a physician and surgeon of good repute, and an Elder in the Presbyterian Church for many years. His wife, a member of the same church, is still living, although her husband died in 1880, aged sixty-seven. His wife is now sixty-three. They had seven children, four yet living.

Our subject was educated and graduated in the University of Mississippi, in the class of 1874:. He began reading law, his preceptors being Governor Robert Lowry and

A. G. Mayers, the firm being Mayers & Lowry. Li October, 1875, our subject was admitted to the bar and began practice the following January, at Port Gibson, Mississippi, with Septun Thrasher, under the firm name of Thrasher & McLaurin. This firm continued one year, when Mr. Thrasher retired, and Mr. McLaurin formed a partnership with J. McC. Martin, which continued until April, 1883, when our subject was made Chancellor of the Tenth Judicial District of Mississippi, being one of the youngest judges Mississippi ever had. He served one term of two years, on the recommendation of the bar of that district. So popular was he that he was again elected and served three years, but resigned in 1890 and came to Dallas, where he has conducted a large practice ever since. He was alone until June, 1891, when he formed a partnership with Mr. John Bookhout, the firm being Bookhout & McLaurin. This firm has been very successful, having all that it can possibly do.

He was married April, 1881, to Ida, daughter of Dr. Joel K. Stevens, late of Sau Antonio, Texas. He was a surgeon in the United States army until he went to San Antonio, Texas, to live, after serving through the Mexican war. He raised a company in the late war, and was killed near Mansfield, Louisiana, in the Banks' expedition. His wife is still living, aged about sixty-seven. She lives with her son. Lieutenant R. R. Stevens, of the United States army, at Hot Springs, Arkansas. Her three children are: Mary, wife of M. T. Alford, of Hot Springs, Arkansas; Lieutenant R. R. Stevens, unmarried, a graduate of Wfest Point, having been on the frontier since his graduation, being very successful in managing the Indians. He had charge of the pioneer party that went to examine the new country among the Ute Indians. The third child is Mrs. McLaurin. Mrs. Margaret Stevens, mother of these three children, is a niece of Colonel McCrea, a Eevolutionary officer.

Both Mr. and Mrs. McLaurin are members of the Presbyterian Church, of which the former is an Elder. Mr. McLaurin is a member of the Masonic order and of the K. of P. He and his charming and accomplished wife are very popular among the people of Dallas, where they are well known and highly respected.

C. ARDREY is a native of "Wilkinson county, Mississippi, and a son of '* James M. and Susan F. Ardrey. His father with his family emigrated to Texas in 1843, locating in San Augustine county. He was a lawyer by profession, practicing in the courts at San Augustine and in the other counties belonging to that judicial district, as well as in the Supreme and Federal courts at Tyler. He was elected to represent his county in the Legislature in 1856. He died in 1857, at the age of forty-five. His widow survived him until 1865. Mr. Ardrey's strict integrity, high sense of honor and marked devotion to truth, and his gentlemanly deportment, attracted the special attention of all who knew him. He was in every way an honorable and upright man.

Mr. Ardrey received an academic education. After leaving school in 1858 he was appointed Deputy Clerk of the District Court of San Augustine county, which position he filled until the fall of 1860, when he accepted a position as clerk of a steamboat called Uncle Ben, on the Sabine river, running from Sabine Pass to Sabine town.

At the beginning of the war, in 1861, Mr. Ardrey was engaged in steamboating on the Mississippi river; and in June, 1861, while his boat was lying at Fort Adams, Mississippi, he enlisted as a private soldier in what was afterward known as Company E, Twentyfirst Regiment Mississippi Infantry. Serving four years in the Army of Northern Virginia, his company and regiment saw as much hard service as any in the Confederate , army, the subject of this sketch being promoted to the position of Second Lieutenant of this company just after the battle of Gettysburg.

After the close of the war, Mr. Ardrey, instead of returning to Texas, his adopted State, located in Woodville, Wilkinson county, Mississippi, and in the fall of 1865 was elected Clerk of the Circuit Court of that county, tilling that position for about three and onehalf years, when the State was placed under military rule and all State and county officials who were ex-Confederates were removed from office.

In November, 1868, Mr. Ardrey married Miss Susie A. Downs, of Wilkinson county, Mississippi, and in January, 1872, returned to Texas, locating in the town of Dallas, and for a short time was engaged in the mercantile business. Disposing of his interest in the business, he was shortly afterward employed as Assistant County Treasurer of Dallas county, which position he tilled about five years, when he engaged in the real-estate business with a partner, under the firm name of Prather & Ardrey. This firm has been one of the most progressive doing business in Dallas. They have laid out and developed several important additions to the city. Mr. Aidrey is a progressive business man, and has been concerned in some of the heaviest real-estate transactions in the city.

Ill religion he is a Baptist, and in politics a Democrat. His daily life characterizes him as a gentleman of manly instincts, of honor, ability, courage, and of deserving popularity.

llglLLlAM H. BEEMAN, a pioneer of Dallas county, Texas, was born in Greene county, Illinois, in May, 1827, the third in a family of ten children born to John and Emily (Honeycutt) Beeman, natives of Georgia and South Carolina respectively. The father moved to Illinois in an early day, settling near Alton, where he was subsequently married. He was a farmer and millwright by trade, and albo ran a ferry and wood yard in Illinois. He emigrated to Texas with horse teams in 1840, having bought 640 acres before starting, of a frontier trader, and located eighty miles from any settlement. The first six months he lived in a fort, and afterward located on land that is now within the city limits. He always made this county his home, and his death occurred in 1850; the mother is still living, residing on Ten Mile creek, Dallas county.

The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in Illinois, and at the age of fourteen years came to Texas and aided in opening np the home farm. He commenced life for himself in Dallas, in the carriage and wagon makers' trade, and in 1851 commenced business for himself on Elm street, which he continued about fifteen years. Mr. Beeman cleared the land where his three-story brick building now stands, known as Deering Block, on Elm street. After the war broke out Mr. Beeman moved to his farm, where he has seventy-seven acres in a good state of cultivation, having given most of his land to his children. He was married in Dallas county, in 1851, to Martha Dye, a native of Virginia, and daughter of Benjamin and Sarah Dye, also natives of Virginia. The parents settled in Kentucky in an early day, and in 1847 came to Dallas, where the father died, in 1852, and the mother a few years later. Mr. and Mrs. Beeman have had ten children. The living are: J. E., in East Dallas; Nevada; Addie, wife of Benjamin Saye, of Dallas county; Hol!y, of East Dallas; L. O., at home; and Roxie, also at home. Mr. Beeman has seen tiie complete development of Dallas county, and rode in the first wagon that ever came into Dallas. Politically, he is a Democrat, has always taken an interest in everything for the good of tiie county, and aids materially in all public enterprises. He assisted in the organization of the county, iiaving ridden 140 miles on horseback to see the judge and get an order to organize.

ffOHN M. LAWS, a farmer and stockraiser of precinct No. 1, Dallas county, was born in Chapel Hill, Tennessee, February 4, 1831, the second in a family of three children born to John and Penelope (Minton) Laws, natives of North Carolina. The father was a farmer by occupation, and moved to Red River county, Texas, in 1845, but two years later returned to Tennessee, where he died in 1875; his wife was deceased in 1834. John M. was reared to farm life and educated in the public schools of Tennessee. He came to Dallas county, Texas, January 6, 1855, going by stage to Memphis, thence by steamer to Shreveport, and again by stage to Dallas. He bougiit property in the city of Dallas, and lived there until 1875, when he purchased his present farm of 194 acres. In 1861, Mr. Laws enlisted in (/orapany C, Sixth Texas Cavalry, and served until the close of the war. He was in the battles of Franklin, Atlanta, Corinth, Holly Springs and in many skirmishes. After the war he returned to Dallas, where he has since resided. Politically, he is a member of the Democratic party, and in 1869 was elected Clerk of his county, and held that office until 1873. Socially, he is a member of James A. Smith Lodge, No. 395, A. F. & A. M., and has held the office of Treasurer of Tannehill Lodge.

Mr. Laws was married in this county, September 9, 1859, to Fannie K. Smith, a native of Alabama, and daughter of Rev. James A. and Ann (Killen) Snjith, natives of Tennessee and Virginia. The father was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and came to Dallas county in 1847, being the pioneer minister of this county. The father died in 1883, and the mother in 1860, both in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Laws have had seven children, only one of whom survives, - Penelope, now Mrs. Samuel T. Sayer. of Montague county, Texas. Mr. Laws lost his excellent wife by death, in 1876. He has seen the full growth and development of this county, and has always taken an active part in everything pertaining to its good.

^HOMAS BOWLES, one of the early settlers of Dallas county, was born in Christian county, Kentucky, in 1841, the third of ten children born to Austin and Ann (Athey) Bowles, natives of Kentucky and Virginia. The father was a farmer by occupation, and remained in Kentucky until his death, which occurred in 1879, and the mother died during the war. Our subject was reared and educated in his native county, where he took up the carpenter's trade, and followed the same about twelve or fifteen years. Mr. Bowles was in the Quartermaster's departtnent with Captain Julien Fields, in Dallas during the war. He came to Dallas county, Texas, in 1860, where he opened up and improved a farm of 175 acres on the waters of "White Rock, and in addition to this he now owns four tenement houses in Dallas, whicli he rents.

Mr. Bowles was married in Christian county, Kentucky, to Susan Pyle, a native of that county, and daughter of Ford Pyle, an early pioneer of Kentucky. Politically, Mr. Bowles is a Democrat, and, religiously, his wife is a member of the Baptist Church.

IHE URSITLINE CONVENT and ACADEMY, Dallas, Texas. - On one of his pastoral visitations through northern Texas, Bishop Dubuis of Galveston conceived the idea of establishing an institution of learning in the new town of Dallas, which then gave promise of a brilliant future. With the zealous prelate to think was to act. He accordingly communicated his design to the Ursuline ladies of his episcopal city, requesting them to assume the undertaking as early as possi])le. The death of a prominent member of that community, who was among those named for the enterprise, delayed for a time its execution, but in the course of a year or two, the subject was again considered, and thus on the 27th of January, 1874, a colony of six professed (Jrsulines, with Mother St. Joseph Holly as Superioress, and Mother St. Paul Kauffinan as Treasurer, arrived in Dallas. Rt. Rev. Bishop Dubuis, who escorted them hither gave them the pos-

Half amused and much surprised at the aspect of their new domain, the ladies wondered where they were to accommodate their young lady pupils. Save the bare apartments and the sympathy of newly made friends, the young community had in the beginning actually no means but the blessing of Heaven and their own feeble exertions. Gifted with no other endowment but that of the accomplished education of its members, based upon a system of training that has withstood the test of centuries, united to the ready tact, which could adapt that experience to the needs of a new and rapidly developing country, they bravely set their brains and hands to work to devise means and ways to prosecute their mission - the instruction and education of young ladies.

It may here be remarked, that the LTrsulines of Dallas seem to have inherited the pioneer spirit of their illustrious religious ancestors; for it is a noted historical fact that the Ursulines were the first religious of their sex to cross the Atlantic and to estab lish an educational institution in the New "World. "We find them in Quebec, Canada, as early as 1639. The oldest community in the United States is likewise an Ursuline convent, of New Orleans, which traces its origin as far back as 1727, when Louisiana was still a province of France. So also were the Ursulines the educational pioneers of Texas.

From their very first introduction into the city, a cordial and generous bond of sympathy was established between the people of Dallas and the Ursulines, which has grown into the identitication of their common interests.

During the first week, the usual cloister was disregarded by episcopal sanction. On the 2d of February the new academy was opened with but seven pupils; before the close of the session the number had increased to fifty. Year by year, every scholastic terra became an improvement on tlie last. Parents in due time hastened to confide their children to the nuns' care, and the number of students soon ran up to the hundreds. These in time became the best advertisements for their school. Additions were hastily constructed to meet the growing demand. Scarce twelve months after their arrival, a large frame building was in course of construction. The Rt. Rev. Bishop advanced a few hundred dollars to aid our pioneer daughters of St. Ursula. This, with the profits of their own industry, defrayed the necessary expenses of the building, which still continues unchano-ed, save in the touches of wear discernible through the lapse of years. The beautiful gardens and shady grove, which soon appeared as if by magic, transformed the hitherto forest wild into a smiling Eden. For years their work continued here, and prospered beyond their most sanguine expectations. Tiie educational labors of the Ursulines in Dallas have been always encouraged and appreciated by all classes and professions of men. Some there were eager to associate their names with the prosperous institution, by obtaining for it a wealthy endowment of landed property, etc., but at that time the ladies deemed it unsafe to venture on certain legal measures that would have thereby resulted, and for this reason they gently withdrew the views of their kind friends from this object, though the names of these friends are still gratefully cherished, and will be handed down in venerated memory within the cloister. In 1878, the institution was chartered under the title of the Ursnline Academy, by the Legislature of the State. A few years afterward, through the advice of their worthy chaplain Rt. Kev. J. Martiniere, negotiations were opened, for the acquisition of a desirable property in the suburbs of the city. This resulted in the purchase of nine acres of the Gaston place in East Dallas. The new location was given the name of St. Joseph's Farm. At the time of the purchase, it was a cotton field, surrounded by a vast waste of country as far as the eye could reach. Within the last eight years, the liitherto almost desolate region has grown into a beautiful, picturesque suburb, dotted here and there with elegant residences and cultivated gardens. In 1881 the present magnificent structure of the Ursnline Academy of Dallas was begun, and the following year completed. It is of purely Gothic design, a marvel of beauty pronounced worthy of any city in the Union. The main building is 150 feet long by 50 wide, and is of cream-colored brick with brown trimmings. The wing to the left was erected within the past two years, and is of very near the same dimensions.

Although the handsome edifice strikes the beholder with delightful gratification, as he views the charming proportions of its graceful arches and curving galleries upheld by granite-clothed pillars and crowned by the Gothic spires of turrets and pinnacled roof. It was not long after its completion that fit surroundings adorned the beautiful structure. Ere many years, smiling gardens and fruit-laden orchards, shady groves and a charming grotto enclosed the majestic buildings. Since its removal from the city, the academy has yearly increased in the number of its boarding students. No day pupils are admitted in this branch of the school. The primitive place on

Bryan street has been reserved for the day pupils, and is known as the parochial school. The attendance numbers some 200. Within the last year the Ursulines have also been induced to open a day school in St. Patrick's parish near the Cedars, which bids fair to rival the older one of the Sacred Heart. Rev. J. Martiniere, who welcomed the Ursulines to Dallas, is the worthy chaplain of the institution. Mother St. Joseph Holly, known and loved far and wide, for her amiable qualities and efficient services, was laid to rest in the quiet convent cemetery on a dreary December day of 1884. She was succeeded in office by her tried friend and companion. Mother St. Paul Ivauffmaii, whose business tact and administrative abilities have done much toward advancing the prosperity of the institution.

I^ARVEY PAGE, a shoemaker by trade, shoe-dealer, etc., was born in New Haven county, Connecticut, December 14, 1822. His parents were Andrew S. and Mary (Hobart) Page, both natives of Connecticut. The father was a farmer and shoemaker, tanner, etc. He raised a family of eight children, six of whom are still living: Henry, the oldest; Sallie, wife of Benjamin Foot, died in the 'BOs; Mary, wife of Lyman Beckley, still living in Connecticut; Frances married Obed T. Frisby, and still living in New Haven; Emily married first Mr. Barnes, and secondly Philo Hall, and is now deceased ; J. Henry, living in Portland, Oregon, married Miss Fannie Holcomb; and William II., residing in Brooklyn, New York, and connected with a life-insurance company, married Miss Allen, of Brooklyn. Our subject's father died in 1865, at the age of sixty-seven years. His mother is living with Williain Harlem, in Brooklyn, New York; her a^e is now about ninety- two. Both parents and children are members of the Congregational Church.

Mr. Page was educated in the academies of Connecticut, has a good common-school education, having gone to school until he was near eighteen years of age. He worked with his father in his business, making and dealing in shoes, and this he has followed, as dealer and manufacturer. He came to Tennessee in 1859, and to DeWitt county, Texas, in 1862, then to another point and iinally to Dallas in 1873, and has lived here ever since. While in Dewitt county he was the County Surveyor for two years.

dren are: Fred H., who has l)een in a larcre shoe house as salesman for the past eighteen years; and Louis H., who is on the road for a Chicago house, and resides in Kansas City: his wife was Ida Stokes: tiieir two children are Ralph and Irene. The mother died in 1858, aged thirty-two years, a member of the Congegational Church.

His second marriage was in 1860, to Miss Cordelia E. Nelson. Ella, their only child, is now the wife of Randie Crntchlield, of Blossom, Texas. Their four children are: Harvey, Mable, Fannie, Ernest.

Our subject has been an officer in the Congregational Church (Deacon) since he was twenty-six years of age. His wife and children are members of the Congregational Church.

Mr. Page has ever been alive to church and Sabbath-school work. He was one of the original members and Senior Deacon. He had more to do with it than any other man. He has seen the church grow from six communicants to 400, who had worshiped in thirteen different places before they obtained a house of worship. The first was torn to pieces by a cyclone a week or two after it was dedicated; then they delivered letter missives to the Congres^ationalists of the United States, and obtained money enough to build the second. When that became too small they built the present commodious church.

y^DWIN PRUITT, a promising young architect of Dallas, Texas, was born in the State of Arkansas in the year 1869, and is the son of Dr. John W. and Mary (Williamson) Pruitt. The father is still in active practice in Russsellville, Arkansas, but the mother died in 1889. They were the parents of four sons, of whom Edwin is the third-born. He received his elementary education in the public schools, and at the age of fifteen years went to Little Rock, Arkansas, for the purpose of studying architecture. Although a mere lad he had determined upon this profession, and entered the office of B. J. Bartlett & Co., witli whom he remained two years. Then for a time he was with Orlopp & Kusencr, and then he went to Memphis, where he was with M. H. Baldwin &Co. until 1890. In December of that year he came to Dallas, Texas, and almost immediately began active work. He is architect of two massive and beautiful buildings on Main street that are unexcelled for perfection of proportion. He has a true love of his art, and is a faithfuU student of the laws which iLBEUT W. CHILDRESS, President of the Dallas Cable Railroad Companj', and broker and real-estate dealer, was born near Grenada, Mississippi, a son of Mitchell Childress, a planter, and Julia B., a daughter of Sterling 0. Tarpley, of Big Springs, near Lebanon, Tennessee. Mitchell Childress died at Grenada in 1859, on one of his plantations, and his wife died at their residence in Memphis in 18(33.

At the age of eighteen, in 1871, Mr. Childress came from Memphis, Tennessee, to Texas, as a representative of Eastern financial houses, which, indeed, he still represents; and in visiting Dallas he sagaciously foresaw its boom, and was one of the first to initiate it, being one of the pioneers in erecting large business houses in the city, and interested in some of the heaviest real-estatg deals in the place. He erected a good building on Main street, extending back to Elm street. This is still regarded as one of the most substantial buildings in the city. He j^fterward opened the Fairview Addition to East Dallas, which under his energetic management has rapidly developed.

But it is as the builder and chief owner of the Dallas cable street railway that his business ability is best shown. This enterprise is the first of its kind in the South. The track extends from the river to the Fair grounds, and it is built on the newest and best m.odels. Its cost is |400,000. The offi- cers of the company are: A. W. Childress, president; J. T. Gano, vice-president; Charles W. Guild, secretary; T. J. Wood, assistant secretary, and E. E. Kelley, superintendent. The power-house is one of the finest, and, taken as a whole, no enterprise in the city has a fairer prospect. The track was built in 1890, from April to September inclusive. Mr. Childress has also owned some of the most desirable property in Dallas, and is probably the best business man in this part of the country.

For his wife he married Miss Mary Ruth, erford, in 1881, a daughter of Colonel R. Rutherford, of Brenham, one of the heavy planters of that section, and their children are. Hazel and Olive, - beautiful and inter, esting.

ALHOON KNOX, a merchant of Mesquite, Texas, was born in Carroll parish' Louisiana, in 1857, the seventh in a family of nine children, born to William L. and Emily (McCarroll) Knox, natives of Tennessee and Louisiana. Calhoon received his education in Marion county, this State, and also attended school three months in Dallas county. At the age of twenty- two years he commenced life for himself, his first work being with Wollas & Wagner, of Dallas, in the grocery business. After one year he removed to Mesquite and engaged in the mercantile trade with T. B. Bunnett, and later sold his interest to his partner and engaged in clerking. He was appointed Post, master during Hayes' administration, and held the office six years, or until the electicm of Harrison. Mr. Knox next clerked for R. S. Kimbrough for some time, and January 10, 1891, formed a partnership with William Kimbrough, in the general mercantile busi.

ness, and they are now enjoying a fine trade. Mr. Knox was married March 5, 1887, to Miss Elsie Vanston, a daughter of James T. and Anna A. (Roarke) Vanston, natives of Ireland. This union has been been blessed with two children: Rodger C. and Eveline. Mr. IvDOx is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Scyene Lodge, No. 269.

SO A SPEARS, one of the prominent business men of Dallas, cashier of the Bankers and Merchants' National Bank of Dallas, is a native of Bourbon county, Kentucky, born March 7, 1829. Plis parents were Solomon and Margaret (Kerfoot) Spears, the former a native of Kentucky, the latter of the Shenandoah valley, Clarke county, Virginia. Solomon was a good farmer who was ever alive to the interests of his finely improved farm, which was one of the finest among a number of very good places. He had the satisfaction, as he looked over his broad acres, that all this comfort had been wrought by his own hands. Mr. Spears was a prosperous man and very popular among his neighbors, being most highly esteemed for his business ability, urbanity of character, social qualities and in fact all attainments that are brought into requisition to make a manly character complete. His honor and integrity was such that he became the arbitrater in disputes and even in cases of litigation; and when Solomon Spears gave a decision it was as final, and in many cases more satisfactory than if done by the Supreme Court of the State. He refused office, giving all his attention to his farm and home, in both of which he took more than ordinary interest. This gentleman was a native of Bourbon county, born March 1, 1790, and he departed his life August 21, 1830, aged forty-one years. His life, a native of Brooke county, West Virginia, born September 20, 1796, died of cholera, as did many others of that county, June 30, 1833, aged thirty-six. She entered into the work of her husband with that devotion and sympathy that might be expected of so devoted a wife as she was, putting all the strength and fervor of a warm, loving heart into her work; but she quietly passed, in her life's early morning, to that world where there is no night. The grandfather of our subject was Jacob Spears, who came to Bourbon county from Pennsylvania, being of German and Welsh extraction. He was one of the early pioneers in Kentucky history, and was noted for his quiet perseverance, great industry, integrity and business character. He became the owner of one of the finest farms, near Paris, Kentucky, and was the first man who erected a distillery in Kentucky. Distilling was a very common thing among the farmers of Pennsylvania and later in Kentucky. Butter, whisky, cheese and other home products were to be found at the residence of nearly every farmer in those days. The famous Bourbon whisky received its name and celebrity from this gentleman and his friends. Those were the days of honest men and honest whisky as well.

Our subject is the youngest and only living member of a family of six children. The others reached mature years, had families and then died. Our suhject was orphaned at a tender age, losing father and mother at the age of one and four years respectively. He received his early education in the public schools of Bourbon county and finished his literary course at Bethany College, West Virginia, under the tutelage of the great Alexander Catnpbell, the noted educator and divine. After graduating, in 1848 Mr. Spears em- barked in the merchandise business In Paris, Kentucky. He had not yet attained his ma- ]ority. In two years' time he retired from business and engaged in farming, in Bourbon county, continuing until 1853, when he again enarao-ed in the sale of dry goods, boots and shoes, at Georgetown, Kentucky. This he carried on, successfully, for some time. In 1860 he was appointed clerk in the Farmers' Bank at Georgetown, Kentucky, thus drifting into banking business, and there remained until 1883, when he with others organized the First National Bank of Georgetown, Kentucky, and he was elected cashier. Under his careful management for seven years, the value of the stock of the bank was doubled. In 1890 he was induced to take the position of second vice-president in the Bankers and Merchants' National Bank of Dallas, Texas, a new bank then being organized. In 1891 he was elected cashier, which position he still holds. He was one of the prime movers in the erection of the bank building, which is one that the city of Dallas may well feel proud of.

During the war Mr. Spears felt it iiis duty to support the Union: his sympathies were, neverthless, thoroughly Southern. Being unable to resist the natural course of events he took no active part in the struggle, but was afterward arrested, owing to an overstraining of a Federal order, and was lodged in prison- In a short time he was released, upon the solicitation of friends, who were both numerous and serviceable.

Mr. Spears is a member of the Christian Church and takes ari active interest in church work and religious matters, doing much toward the sprei^ding of the gospel.

also a sister of R. M. Gano, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere. Her death occurred, February 4, 1850. She was born in Bourbon county, March 24, 1832. She was a devoted, earnest member of the Christian Church. Mr. Spears was married for the second time, in 1852, to Miss Georgia Croakelle, born in Scott county, Kentucky. December 12, 1833, daughter of Thomas Croakelle, a native of Kentucky. Two of the children of this marriage were raised to mature years: Sue, wife of Milton Burch, married in 1874, and died in 1888, leaving one ciiild, Nash Spears; she was a devoted and leading member of the Christian Church. Her mother held the same relation in the Baptist Church. Both were model. Christian women. Mrs. Burch was a woman of splendid business qualifications. At the time of her death she was Postmistress under President Cleveland and express agent at Georgetown, Kentucky. The other child of Mr. Spears is Jacob V., resident of Dallas, Texas, and one of the promising young business men of that city. He is the junior member in an insurance firm. He married Miss Julia Bucknerof Paducah, Kentucky. Their five children are: Noa S., Sue Burda, Bessie P., Marie Payue and Miles Bnckner.

The secoiul wife died May 13, 1863. She was a relative of David Crockett, famous in Texas history, and our subject was married for the third time, in 1864, to Miss Mary Chapman Steffiee, daughter of George C. and Susan Steftlee. She is a native of Georgetown, Kentucky, born September 26, 1846, and is a half sister of Mr. Spears' second wife. They have had three children, namely: (ieorge M., who is individual Ijookkeejjer at the Merchants and Bankers' National 15 ink, a id is a boy of toiuperate habits, good traits of character and fine business qualifications. He is a graduate of the class of 1890 in the Baptist College of Georgetown, Kentucky. The second child, Edna B., is a graduate of the same college as her brother, and Mary C. is still in the Dallas Academy. The daughters are aged, respectively, twenty and twelve years, and are bright, loving girls, the pride and joy of their parents. The mother and children are members of the Baptist Church.

Mr. Spears, though a Democrat in politics, takes very little interest in political matters. He is a man of very fine traits of character, is of a commanding height and proportions, genial nature and is the embodiment of those qualities which go to make up honorable manhood, energy, probity, tact, perseverance, good nature and zeal. Mr. Spears is an esteemed citizen of Dallas and the results of his labors are most creditable, as a churchman and citizen. He was Mayor, for some years, of the city of Georgetown, Kentucky. At another time he was president of turnpike roads, an important and responsible position, and was also president of several important corporations of Georgetown. He is a well educated man, having graduated with first iionors, with a scholarship of 100 all around in his studies, at Cincinnati Commercial College, in 1848. Combined with Iiis other accomplishments is that of being a fine penman.

fAMES M. GTIOSS, a retired merchant and farmer of Mesquite, Texas, was born in Tennessee, in 1844. He was educated in the county schools of his native county, and at the age of sixteen years joined the Confederate army, Company C, Twenty-sixth East Tennessee Regiment, commanded by Colonel John M. Lillard. He was in the battle of Fort Donelson, where he was captured and sent to Camp Morton, and there retained seven months, after which he was exchanged to Vicksburg, Mississippi. Mr. Gross was then sent to Knoxville, Tennessee, and discharged, and after remaining at home three months he again entered the service, joining Company I, F>fth East Tennessee Cavalry. While serving in this company, he was in the battles of Missionary Ridge and Richmond, Kentucky, and in numerous skirmishes. He was wounded slightly in the foot at Fort Donelson, and also at Missionary Ridge, and was captured in East Tennessee, at a place called London. He was then sent to Camp Chase, Ohio, for three months, thence to Rock Island, Illinois, seven months, where he was afterward paroled. He next joined Company E, Second United States Infantry Volunteers, commanded by A. P. Carrier, then first Colonel of the Ninety-fourth New York. When Mr. Gross joined the United States forces he was sent to the States of Kansas and Colorado, where he was mostly engaged in escort duty, guarding the United States mail. The headquarters for some time was Fort Dodge, and while stationed there the Indians made a raid on the fort and captured all the horses but three, but did not fire on the camp. The first grave dug at P'ort Dodge was while Mr. Gross was there, and was for a German who was supposed to have jumped into the river from the Indians and was drowned. Mr. Gross was discharged in October, 1865, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

At the close of the war he returned to his home in Tennessee, where he engaged in contracting for Chattanooga parties, following this occupation seven or eight immths. October 10, 1866, he landed in this county, and at once engaged in farming on leased land, continuing one year. He next engaged in mercantile business, at a little place nine miles east of Dallas, called Scyene, where he continued successfully two and a half years. He then moved to this place, continuing the same occupation four years, and during the first twelve years here was rated at from $40,000 to 160,000. On coming to this State he had $160, and afterward collected $100 due hiin from home, making in all $260, which was his start. He now owns some of the finest farms in the county, a handsome village residence, and a number of business houses in the village.

Mr. Gross was married in 1869, to Miss Margaret Riggs, a native of Tennessee, and daughter of Martin and Delia (Blake) Riggs. Mr. and Mrs. Gross are the parents of six children, viz.: George M., Charles E., and four who died in childhood. Mrs. Gross is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

fACOB D. WADLEIGH, general agent for the St. Louis & Southern Railroad, is one of the early settlers of Dallas and in every way was an acquisition to the town. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1849. His parents were Elisha and Lydia (Banks) Wadleigh, both natives of Maryland. The father was a contractor and dealer in ship timber, lumber and like goods. He was an industrious, honest, extensively and favorably known citizen, dying in 1866, aged fortynine. His wife, a deserving and popular woman, departed this life in the year 1858. Our subject is the oldest of three children, the others being Frank and Georgia, both of whom reside in San Francisco, California. The latter is the wife of M. T. Chadinan, one of the business men of San Francisco.

Our subject began life for himself in steamboating on the Mississippi river in 1865, filling various positions of trust and responsibility until 1870. At the latter date he took a position on the St. Louis Iron Mountain railroad, filling various positions with this company also, for thirteen years and nine months. His long time in the employ of this road speaks well for the efficient service he rendered the company and shows that tiiey appreciated his work. He was division freight agent of the road wlien he left and located at Little Rock, Arkansas, in the fall of 1883. He had had headquarters at Dallas, in 1876, but there was very little of the prosperous city then in existence. He next engaged with the Cotton Belt Railroad, and later lived at Bine Bluif, but removed to Dallas in 1888, where he has resided ever since. He has rendered excellent service to the roads by whom he has been employed for the past twenty-two and onehalf years, speaking well for the employer and the employed. In every position he filled he gave the most entire satisfaction and fulfilled his duties very successfully. He has gained his present position in life by his own efforts, and he is an example of what patient perseverance will do when it is combined with strict integrity and honesty. Since he was a very small boy he has not wanted for employment, nor been without work for a single day.

In 1870 he was married to Miss Nellie Robbins, whose parents died when she was quite young. Her brother. Edward Robbins, and sister Kate, are the other members of her family. The former resides in Texas and is engaged in railroading: the latter is the wife of Z. T. Knoll of Dallas.

of the Knicrlits and Legion of Honor. He is in thorough sympathy with the progress of the citv and lends his aid to anything calculated to advance the interests of the city of his adoption.

|ROF. W. F. CUMMINS, Assistant 9 State Geologist for Texas, was born in Webster county, Missouri, June 13, 1830. His parents were John and Rebecca (Poper) Cummins, of Missouri and Tennessee, respectively. The father was a physician, farmer and local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. He had a very large country practice as a physician. He died in 1864, over sixty years of age. His wife died in 1849, having been a life-long member of the same church as her husband. They had seven children, five of whom are still living, the others dying in early childhood.

Our subject was educated at St. Charles College and from there came to Texas in 1860, joining the Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, serving nine years in the itinerancy work. He was stationed one year at Waliaceville to take charge of the Wallaceville Mission. He then was given the Van Zandt circuit for one year, the Palestine, St. Augustine and then Liberty circuit for one year each; then to Lampasas circuit for two years, and was then made Presiding Elder over the Lampasas district for one year, in 1869. He was then obliged to resign on account of failing health, and so began to publish a political paper at Waxahachie, called the Waxahachie Argus, and continued it for one year. He was then employed on the Houston & Texas Central railroad as right-of-way agent and land agent as well, remaining with them two years, and then engaged in the real-estate business for one year, in Dallas, locating land certificates as well. This he continued until 1881, when he was employed by the Academy of Sciences of Philadelphia to make scientific collections in Texas. He continued in this position until his employment by the State of Texas, in which position he has continued ever since, that is for the last four years, the appointment having been made in 1888. While in the employ of the Academy of Philadelphia liis business was to collect the fossils, and while thus engaged he discovered both vertebrate and invertebrate specimens by which the fact of the existence of the Permian formation of the United States has been established. Prior to the collection and discovery of these fossils, the existence of the Permian formation in the United States had been disputed by thehighestauthoritiesin thecountry, and it was only after several years of continuous controversy that the fact was finally established. At tlie meeting of the International Congress of Geologists at Washington, District of Columbia, delegates from the Hartz mountains, where the Permian was first discovered, after having examined Prof. Cummins' collection in the national museum at Washington, confirmed his statement and said that tiie fossils from the formations in Texas were identical with those from the original locality in the Hartz mountains. This decision gave the professor a very pleasant notoriety as a geologist and scholar among the members of that body. These specimens came from along the Big and Little Wichita rivers. Prof. Cummins has made greater investigations of coal deposits in Texas than any other person. There is not a mine nor a proposed mine in the Carboniferous formations in the State of Texas that he has not passed judgment upon and made a report to the State in regard to. He has selected the land for all the mines that are being worked at the present time. He has been an expert in the coal regions ever since 1881 and has rendered great service to the State. Since his connection with the geological survey of the State, he has discovered and described leads filling up a hiatus in the Tertiary period. These beds lie between the Loup Fork and Equus beds of the Tertiary, and are desif^nated as the Blanco beds, having been lirst described by hira, our subject, from Blanco caiion in Crosby county, Texas. The Professor's determination of these beds, heretofore unknown to science, has been confirmed by Prof. E. D. Cope of Philadelphia, the most eminent vertebrate palceontologist of the United States. Prof. Cope and our subject have just completed a tour of these beds, taking three months to make investigations in the locality.

Our subject was married in 1870, to Mrs. Minnie C. Darnell, daughter of M. D. Bullion of Dallas, Texas. They were married at Weatherford and they have three children. - Dunkin, Nettie May and Allie Dean. Mrs. Cummins is a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Her father^ M. D. Bullion, is an old resident of Texas, coming here before the war. He was married twice, having three children by the first marriage, to Mrs. Cummins, whose first husband was Captain N. H. Darnell, who died of yellow fever in 1868, at New Orleans. He was Captain in the war of the Rebellion and served from first to last. The second child, Denia, is the wife of S. W. S. Dunkin of Dallas, and the third child was John T. Mrs. Bullion died and her husband was married the second time to Miss S. T. Davis. They had two living children, T. A. and C. A. Mr. Bullion was in the mercantile business for many years and was quite successful. Later engaoed in real estate and located land certificates, but is now retired, and he and his wife are enjoying the comforts of life.

Our subject is a member of the blue lodge, chapter ai\d commandery, A. F. & A. M. He is High Priest of the Chapter and was Prelate of the Dallas Commandery for many years.

It is with a great deal of pride that we mention the great services rendered our State by Prof. Cummins. He has had perseverance in holding to his convictions, as was shown in the International Congress when the discussion arose with regard to the Permian formations. He would not yield one single step, and finally convinced that body that he was right. While in that discussion he established his theory, he also established his own reputation on so firm a basis that nothing can disturb the faith of any scientist in Prof. Cummins, the State Greologist of Texas.

J. ECKFORD, attorney at law in Dallas, was born in Wayne county, Mississippi, March 1, 1861. His parents were Captain William Joseph and Belle (Gates) Eckford, both natives of Mississippi. The father was admitted to practice law at an early age. He raised a company of Mississippi Wayne Rifles, a company in the Thirteenth Regiment of Mississippi Volunteers. He went out and was engaged in the seven days' fight around Richmond and was killed at Malvern Hill. He was leading the regiment at the time in a fierce charge and was shot through the heart, the ball entering tlie left breast and passing through the heart. He died instantly and was buried in Holywood cemetery at Richmond. He was brave and patriotic, an intimate friend of Jeff Davis, was a graduate of Princeton College - class of '52, a schoolniate of Don Cameron, of Pennsylvania, and an intimate friend of his. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. His age was twenty-nine years. He was admitted to the bar, but had intended to be a planter His wife is still an honored and highly respected resident of Atlanta, Georgia, to which place she moved in 1869, with her four boys, viz.: Charles Gates, married a Miss Hill, ot Greene county, Georgia, resides in Atlanta, and is in a hardware firm; William H., who is in the drygoods business with Marsh, Smith & Marsh, one of the largest houses of the kind in Georgia; Marshall T., in the carriage hardware company with his brother, constituting the Atlanta Carriage Hardware Company.

Our subject, the youngest, was educated in Atlanta by a private tutor, studied law under Judge Marshall J. Clark, Judge of the Superior Court of the State. He entered his office when sixteen years of age, and was admitted to the bar of the State when seventeen years of age. He practiced there for a time, and in 1885 came to Dallas, and has been practicing here ever since, and is one of the firm of Watts, Aldredge & Eckford.

He has kept out of otiice, refusing to be a candidate of any kind and has devoted his entire time to his practice. The mother is fifty-six years of age. She was quite a belle in the State of Mississippi. Her parents were Charles and Ruse (Reed) Gates. He was a pioneer of South Carolina, and a native of that State. He is a large planter in Mississippi and very wealthy, a great advocate of home enterprises, and is a very publicspirited man who has made much of opportunity, and is well-known and highly respected throughout the State.

fOHN R. UMRHRESS, a farmer of precinct No. 4, was born in Florida in 1847, the eldest son of Mitchell B. and Martha (Horton) Umphress. John R. came to this State in 1872, settling in Scyene, where he rented land in that neighborhood and engaged in farming. When he came to this county he had but $2 in cash and a wife and two children. In 1875 he bought a portion of his present homestead, for which he paid §6, Tinimproved. He immediately erected iiis residence and opened his land for cultivation, and in 1879 bought forty acres more on White Rock creek, for |10, and later 125 acres for |25 per acre. Besides this he has 160 acres of timber land, for which he paid §5, and all is now under a fine state of cultivation. Mr. Umphress certainly deserves great credit for the energy displayed since coming to this State. The opportunities for an education afforded him in his boyhood days were very limited, he having only attended common schools a short time. His father died when he was small, and being the eldest son the care of the family largely devolved on him. Mr. Umphress joined Company K, of the Florida Reserve, Major Miller's Battalion, and served twelve months, and during this time was in the battles of Natural Bridge, Florida, and several skirmishes. He served until the surrender at Madisonville, Florida, after which he returned home, and in 1866 was married to Miss Louisa Tucker, a daugh- ter of Isaac and Caroline (Turner) Tucker, natives of Florida. The parents had three sons and three daughters, namely: James, who resides in this county; David, also of this county; Aden, deceased ; Elizabeth, wife of M. A. Umphress; Louisa, wife of our subject; Sallie, now Mrs. John Cabot; Laura, wife of Link Morehart. The parents are both now deceased, the father dying in Florida and the mother in this State. Both Mr. and Mrs. Umphress are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

fOIIN T. GANG, now deceased, was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, May 16, 1856. His parents are General R. M. and Mattie T. (Cann) Gano, whose sketch appears elsewhere.

Our subject was educated primarily in Kentucky and completed a course at Bethany College, West Virginia. He came to Dallas with his parents and then returned to college, and after graduating went into real-estate business in Dallas, which he followed the remainder of his life, aithongh he was connected with other enterprises very extensively to the day of his death. He was president of the Bankers and Builders' Bank Building Association, vice-president of the Cable Line Road Company of Dallas city, was director in the Bankers and Merchants' National Bank, secretary and treasurer of Estado Land and Cattle Company at the time of his death. He was one of the most successful surveyors and land locators in the State of Texas, having located several millions of acres of land, in person. He was a worthy and very active member of the Firs Christian Church of Dallas and was actively engaged on the board of missions, was church

Treasurer and was connected with the Sabbathschool. He filled all the positions that were entrusted to his care with great success, honor and due acceptability.

His ancestry on both sides represents people of excellent character, high social importance and great personal worth. His father. General R. M. Gano, took part in seventytwo battles during the late war. The General's paternal grandfather, Ezra Gano, rose to the rank of Brigadier General in the war of 1812. He was born in 1775 and died in 1815. His wife was Elizabeth Ewing, who died of consumption a short time before her husband's enlistment in the war of 1812. Captain William, the maternal grandfather of our subject, also served in the war of 1812. The Rev. John Gano, who was the erreatgreat-grandfatlier of our subject, was a Baptist minister, who established the first Baptist Church in New York city. He had held the position of Chaplain in the colonial army during the Revolution. He was a man of wonderful power and courage, his learning was great and his capability for various literary work was apparent even to a stranger. He was devoted to his work and his interpretation of the sterling elements of large and noble manhood was exceedingly line. He seemed to be without the feeling of fear. At one time he rallied the army when the colonial lines were beginning to waver, thereby exposing himself to the shots of the enemy. He was an intimate friend of General Washington, and the latter chided him for so exposing himself. The good man only replied that he did not think of personal danger when he saw the men in danger of being defeated. Mr. Gano baptized General Washington, who had become dissatistied with the baptism which had been administered to him in his own church, the Established Church of England.

The baptism, by immersion, was performed in tlie presence of about forty persons. Very little was said about this, as Mr. Gano trangressed the rule of his church in baptizing any one who was outside the pale of his own church, but he felt that one could not draw the church lines too close in the army, and so all were baptized by immersion who so desired.

Our subject was married, January 10, 1884, to Miss Clara Bell Helm, daughter of Henry and Emma (Welch) Helm, the latter a daughter of Thomas Welch of Crab Orchard, Kentucky. Mrs. Gano is a granddaughter of Tiiomas Helm, whose brother was Governor of Kentucky. Thomas Helm was the father-inlaw of Jonathan F. Bell, who ran against Magoffin for Governor, just before the war, in 1860. Henry Helm's widow married again and had four children: Edward, Mattie, Lulu and Grace, all of whom reside at Stanford, Kentucky.

John T. Gano died November 3, 1891, near Lorine, Wyoming, while attending to business in that locality. The evening before his death he spoke of feeling a slight rheumatism, and remarked that he was glad that he was so near through his business and that he would leave for home the next day. The next morning he went out to look at a ranch for which he was negotiating a trade, and while riding to take the train to Laramie he was heard to say,"Catch me: I am surely fainting." The team was stopped and the sick man was tenderly lifted out by his anxious companion, but the gentle, loving spirit had fled to the God lie had so faithfully served during his stay on this earth. His trunk was found packed by the hands, then hardly cold. What thoughts he had indulged in as he laid the articles in that his hands were never to touch again! Loving relatives unpacked that trunk and many were the bitter tears shed over it.

His remains were brought home and are now reposing in the cemetery- here. His complaint, heart failure, had been aggravated by the high latitude. The memory of his many acts of Christian kindness serve as a requiem to the indulgent father, the true and lovinor husband, kind neighbor and Christian gentleman.

In all the business enterprises that Mr. Gano was engaged in he was one of the most successful business men of the entire city. So genial and kind was he in disposition that he had the good will of all with whom he ever had dealings. He was a most estimable and worthy Christian whose influence was always felt in support of the educational, financial, social and moral interests of the city.

fUjRS. ISABELLA SCOTT, who resides fM on Highland street, two blocks north -'rt^^ of Payne street, Dallas, is a native of Scotland. Her parents, Alexander and Ann (Lobben) Patterson, live in Banffshire, and her father is a farmer. Of their eight children she is the oldest and the only one in this country.

Mrs. Scott came from Edinburgh, Scotland via New York, to Dallas, Texas, in 1878, to be married to Thomas McLeod, their marriage occuring soon after her arrival. Mr. Mc- Leod, a son of George and Jessie (McKenzie) McLeod, natives of the highlands of Scotland, came from that country to this soon after the war of the States, making the journey by way of New York and Mexico. Until 1883 Mr. and Mrs. McLeod resided on North Harwood street, where Daniel Morgan now lives. Mr. McLeod was a stone contractor, and in 1880 purchased a stone quarry, consisting of two acres of land. This he operated until the time of his death. For the past two years nothing has been done to it. Stone from this quarry is to be found in most of the principal buildings in Dallas, the first taken from it having been used in the Norton building. Mr. McLeod died in 1887, leaving two children - George Alexander, born in 1879, and John Duncan, in 1882. He was a most worthy citizen, a member of the Masonic order, and of the First Presbyterian Church of Dallas.

In June, 1890, the subject of our sketch was united in marriage with her present companion, Thomas Duncan Scott, a business man of Dallas, also a native of Scotland. His father is a wine merchant of Perth. He came here from Perthshire about five years ago, coming by Kew York and thence South. He first stopped in Lampasas, then went to Austin, and from there came to Dallas, where he has since been engaged in business.

aLLlAM E. AND WALTEU R. AT- ['I WOOD are among the most prosper- I'^^^l^ ous dairy farmers of Dallas county, Texas. They have a three-acre tract of land adjoining the corporation line of the city of Dallas, in a locality almost unrivaled in this naturally favored region. Here they have built up a business second to none in their line. They have 100 cows and the capacity of the dairy is about 140 gallons of milk daily, chiefly consumed in Dallas. They have managed this place for about nine years, giving their undivided attention to their business. Both young and hardy, full of energy

Jesse L. Atwood, father of these gentlemen, came from near Bowling Green, Kentucky, to Dallas county in 1881, his sons having preceded him to this place by two years, they coming in 1879. Jesse L. Atwood married Susan Anderson, of Bowlino- Green, Kentucky, and has a family of ten children, as follows: William E. and Walter R., whose names head this sketch, are the oldest members of this family. The former married Fannie Brunson, of Kentucky, and has one child, Lizzie. Mary, the third-born, is the wife of John R. Davidson and has seven children. Then there are John H., Samuel J., Maggie, Sallie (wife of Scott Mc- Farland), Jesse L., Jr., Sampson and Elijah. All reside in Dallas county. The Atwood family worship at the Baptist church, and are ranked among the most worthy people in this county.

It should be further stated that Mrs. Jesse L. Atwood is a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Anderson. She has three sisters and one brother, viz.: Mary, wife of Elijah Spillman, who came to this county in 1835. She has three children: Alida, wife of Frank Bowser, also of this county, has two children, Mary E., wife of William A. Watson, has two children; and Warner E., who married Jennie Badgley, has two children, and resides in Dallas. Mr. Watson is also a resident of this county.

R. W. C. CULLOM, of Mesquite, Texas, was born in Tennessee in 1843, a son ot G. F. and Cynthia (Hooper) Cullom, natives of North Carolina and Tennessee respectively. The father came with his father to Texas when only six years of age, and here he subsequently became a fanner. The parents reared a family of eleven children, our subject being the ninth in order of birth, and eight are still living: J. W. is a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in Texas; J. H., a physician of this State; E. M., a merchant at Nashville, Tennessee; Catherine, the wife of J. O. Hooper; Jennie, the wife of T. W. Taylor; Florence, the wife of J. E. Russell, of Tennessee; another is the wife of Sam Larkius. The daughters all reside in Tennessee. The father died in 1879, and the mother in 1888, at the ages of seventy-two and seventy seven years respectively. The mother was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

The subject of this sketch received his literary education in Davidson county, Tennessee, and at the age of twenty-four years commenced life independent of his father. He had three brothers in the Confederate army during the war, who persuaded the Doctor to remain at home with his father, which he did. The father remained neutral and was never molested, and lost but little by either army. At the age of twenty-seven years, our subject entered the Medical Department of the university at Nashville - which is now known as the Vanderbilt University, in 1871, and graduated in the class of 1872. He afterward located at Dixon, Tennessee, where he practiced six years, and in January, 1878, came to this State and located at Haught's Store, the oldest-settled place in the county. The original owner, Samuel Haught, sawed the tirst plank for flooring a house in Dallas county, using a whipsaw. Dr. Cullom practiced there six years and then came to this place, where he has a large and paying practice. He succeeded beyond his expectations financially, and is now the owner of valuable city property and considerable real estate in the county. The Doctor has been three times married, first in 1874, to Miss Sarah Flanavy, of Tennessee, who died in 1875. In 1878 the Doctor was married to a native of Tennessee, and they had one child. Mrs. Cullom died in 1882, and in 1883 the Doctor was united in marriage to Miss Louella Sewell, a daughter of Jesse A. Sewell, of this county, and they have three children: Emmett B., Nannie G. and Fannie. Dr. Cullom is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Scyene Lodge, No. 295, also of the K. of H., Mesquite Lodge, No. 2,996. He is J. W. of the Masonic Lodge and Treasurer of the K. of H.

jEV. WILLIAM C. YOUNG, one of I the early pioneer ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, in Dallas, Texas, came to this section from Columbia county, Arkansas, in August, 1863, and two years later removed his family thither. Dallas at that time was a town of some 600 or 700 inhabitants, and the entire business was confined to the public square. The church of which he became pastor was organized in 1852, with eleven members, and from that time to the close of the Civil war the congregation worshiped in the courthouse. It was by his efforts thut the first church building of the Methodist Episcopal Church South was erected in Dallas, being a frame building of ample proportions, erected on the corner of Lamar and Commerce streets, and dedicated November 1, 1868, and called the Laraar Street Church. A few years later, in October, 1879, the church building was destroyed by fire, and the congregation which had grown rapidly in numbers built a handsome brick church, at the cost of $40,000, at the corner of Commerce and Prather streets. Mr. Yunrg was pastor of this congregation two years, was Presiding Elder of Dallas district four years, and filled for six years the same position in the adjoining districts, which districts included the cities of Corsicana, Weatherford, Fort Worth, Sherman, and Gainesville. He traveled over hisdistricts before the days of railroads by private conveyance, and made as many as 7,000 miles per annum.

He was born in Trigg county, Kentucky, August 7, 1827, being one of four children born to Daniel F. and Marilla Young {iiee liigrain), natives of Kentucky. The paternal grandfather was a South Carolinian, who took part in the Revolutionary war, and afterward settled in Kentucky, and died near Canton, in that State. The maternal grandfather was the first settler at Ingram Shoals, Kentucky, on the Cumberland river, and his death occurred at that place. Daniel F. Young was a tanner by trade, and about 1829 removed to Saint Helena parish, Louisiana, and in 1833 to Port Gibson, Mississippi, and died, and was buried at Brandywine Springs, near that place. His wife, Marilla (Ingram) Young, the mother of the subject of this sketch, died in 1878, was buried at Dallas, Texas, in the Masonic cemetery. Marilla street of Dallas has been named in her honor.

Rev. W. C. Young was partially reared in Mississippi and Louisiana, but the most of his elementary education was obtained in Trigg county, Kentucky. He was strictly self-educated, iiaving lost his father when only six years of age, his mother having been left in straitened circumstances. As the years went on, he, by hard study and close application to business, arose from poverty to affluence, and from comparative obscurity to distinction in his profession. It has been justly said of him tiiat " he is a man of clear head, sound judgment, discriminating mind, independent thought, persevering energy, and superior talents."

Mr. Young entered the ministry January 28, 1849, near Paducah. Kentucky; was for two years a local preacher, and for three years a member of the Memphis Conference. In November, 1853, he moved to Little Rock, Arkansas, and had charge of the first Methodist Episcopal Church South of that city, for one year. He then resided successively in "Washington, Camden, Magnolia and Columbia of the same State, going in 1851 to Bastrop, Louisiana. The following year he went to Monroe, Louisiana, then in 1863 was appointed in charge of Moreau street church. New Orleans, and in 1864 to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In 1865 Mr. Young was appointed Missionary Chaplain for the Arkansas Confederate Cavalry, and for some time was in the field. He was mustered out of the service in General W. L. Cabell's command at close of the war, the same year, at Wildcat Bluff, Texas. He soon after came to Dallas, and immediately became identified with church work here, continuing until November, 1883, when he was put on the retired list. He has since that time devoted some attention to real estate, realizing some handsome profits on investments.

He was married near Camden, Arkansas, October 16, 1857, to Miss Mary S. C. Pipkin, a native of Alabama, a daughter of Rev. John F. and Caroline Pipkin. Mr. Pipkin was a native of South Carolina. When a child his parents moved successively to Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Beaumont, Texas, in 1849. While a resident of the latter place he served three terms as County Judge of Jefferson county, and at the time of his death, October 28, 1890, at the age of eighty- one years, was filling that position. Judge Pipkin was also identified with the local ministerial work of the Methodist Episcopal Church South for fifty-four years. In all his relations he was true and faithful. The wife of his young manhood died in 1842. She was a native of South Carolina.

In his wife Mr. Young ever found a true and faithful companion, " a help-meet" indeed, one who shared with him all the privations and toils of their pioneer life, bearing her part of the burden with unflinching fortitude. She is a lady of cultivated mind, refinement of manner, tine personal appearance, combined with rare graces of character, and lias been a zealous and efficient laborer in church work.

Mr. Young and wife are the parents of the following living children: Lula, wife of J. K. Tillman, late an official of the Texas & Pacific railroad system; John M., Surveyor of Dallas county, who, though a young man, has already acquired distinction in his profession, as well as a reputation of splendid personal character and moral worth. He was for some time Assistant City Engineer, and i.s a member of tiie fraternity of the A. F. & A. M., having been Master of his lodge in 1890. The three younger children are Lena, now in the fresh bloom of young womanhood; Louisa M., whose marriage to James T. Jenkins, a rising young business man of Dallas, was recently solemnized; and William C, Jr., now about twelve years of age.

Mr. Young is a member of the fraternity of Freemasons, and has been Worshipful Master of live different Masonic lodges, and is now Past High Priest of Dallas Chapter, No. 47. Pie is Past Eminent Commander of Dallas Commandery, No. 6, and for four years was Grand Visitor of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Texas, and is Past Grand

Prelate of the Grand Commandery of the State; is also Past Grand of Dallas Lodee, I. O. O. F. As a Mason he, in the words of a co-worker in the order, "is recognized as the highest type of the gentleman and scholar, a true and worthy exponent in hia life and conduct of the sublime principles of the venerable order. He exemplifles the secret work in its purity, and dispenses instruction in a style attractive in its simplicity, convincing in its eloquence, and thrilling in its sublimity." It has been written of him, " No one is better qualiiied than he is to present the simple grandeur of the capitulary degrees in all the wisdom of their construction, the truth of their traditional loi'e, and the beauty of their tenets." It has gone into the history of the order in Texas, that " to him the Masons of many localities are indebted for all the true Masonic light they enjoy; and the example he affords has been the means of raising the order in the scale of holy and profane public opinion. He is a Christian gentleman, possessed of those qualities which constitute man a noble being, and to say that he is the father of intelligent and satisfactory chapter, council and commandery Masonry in this State would not be amiss." When he entered the field as an itinerant lecturer, the esoteric ritual of Masonry, especially in the cryptic work, in consequence of the ravages of the Civil war, had been almost completely lost to tlie order, and it was through his faithful labors that the work was restored.

In early manhood. Mr. Young read the entire course of text-books in the curriculuin of allopathic medicine. He also afterward read the Napoleonic code of civil law and text books of the common law, but he never entered the practice of either of these professions, choosine rather to devote his life to the woi"k, principally, of the Christian ministry. As an educator he has now some distinction, having been at the head of three different institutions of learning: the Magnolia Female Institute, the Columbia High School at Point Chicot, and the Concord High School at Eudora, - all in the State of Arkansas.

Mr. Young has always taken quite an interest in the ])olitics of his country, and votes with the Democratic party. He was District Clerk of Columbia county, Arkansas, in 1858- '59, and of Dallas county, Texas, in 1867-'68, and was considered a competent official; and for three terms has been Alderman of the Fourth ward of the city of Dallas.

He is one of the few remaining pioneers of Dallas, and it may be said of him that his life has all along been one of usefulness. He was secretary of the Little Rock Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, for one year; of the Louisiana Conference one year; of the North Texas Conference five years; and of the Northwest Texas Conference one year. As Secretary, he won the highest approval bestowed upon any of the conference secretaries, at the quadrennial inspection of Annual Conference journals, held at the General Conference of his church, in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1870, this approval being pronounced upon his work because of the perspicuity of his chirography, accuracy of forms, and neatness of his records.

He has been an untiring worker for the cause of Christianity, and his efforts have been rewarded with great success. In the pulpit, as an expositor of the tenets of his church, he was considered, in the meridian of his ministerial career, the peer of any man in the country. In the chair, as an executive officer in the councils of his church, he is said to have had no superior. He is blessed with a robust constitution, and is a man of fine intellectual endowments indeed. He may be said to possess a versatility of genius that is much above the average. He has always displayed indomitable energy in the pursuit of duty in all the positions of honor and trust to which he has been called, his rare qualifications of mind and body fitting him well for usefulness in his day and generation.

EORGE L. DOYLE, a retired merchant of Dallas, Texas, was born in Chicago, February 22, 1851. His parents, Lawrence and Margaret (Maxey) Doyle, both natives of Ireland, were married in Chicago. The former was exiled from the Emerald Isle during the insurrection in 1798. He first landed in Virginia, thence went to Kentucky, and from there to Chicago. By trade he was a ship-bnilder and carpenter. He helped to build one of the first houses in that city, where the Sherman House row stands, and in that primitive structure his son, George L., was born. The father died in 1857. The mother subsequently married Richard Powers, who died in 1859. She is still living, now being a resident of Springfield, Illinois. Of her seven children, the subject of our sketch is the only soa. Five of the family are still living.

In 1861 young Doyle enlisted as a fifer in the ninety days' service, and at the end of that time re-enlisted for three years in the United States army. He was with the forces that operated in the Southwest, participated in a number of important engagements, being with Grant at Corinth, and continued in the service until May 28, 1866. At Lexington he was wounded in the center of the forehead by a piece of shell which knocked him sense- leas and caused liiiu to remain so for three days. The wound then received he will carry to his grave. He also received a musket ball over the left eye, which ball he still carries. At Lexington he was taken prisoner, but was paroled and sent hoine. On the whole, he stood the service well.

The war over, our young friend directed his steps toward the West, and from 1866 to 1870 was engaged in prospecting and mining in Colorado and Wyoming Territory, being very siiccessful. In 1870 he came to Texas. The work of building railroads was at that time being pushed forward here, and he at once identified himself with it. He helped to build the first railroad into Dallas, havinoa portion of the contract for grading. Then he went to Palestine and did some of the heaviest work on the road between Crawford and Palestine, on the Great Northern Railroad. Locating in Dallas in 1871, he engaged in the grain business in the fall of that year, continuing the same till February, 1890. He is probably the oldest grain merchant in Texas. At the time he began business here much of the grain was hauled to him in wagons, often for a distance of 200 miles or more. He has handled as high as 10,000 bushels a day. Mr. Doyle is a man of natural business ability, and in this enterprise met with marked success. In the ci'owth and development of this city he has been an important factor. To him belongs the distinction of having built the tirst race track in Dallas.

Mr. Doyle was married, September 20, 1875, to Miss Maggie Gilroy, daughter of Stephen II. and Celia Gilroy, both natives of Ireland. Iler parents were married in Ireland, and of their thirteen children seven are now living. Mr. and Mrs. Gilroy came from Kansas City, Missouri, to Dallas in 1871, and are now residents of San Antonio, his age being eighty-three and hers sixty-five. Mr. Gilroy has been identified with the stock interests of Texas ever since he came to the State. He is an old Government contractor, being now the oldest freighter alive on the road. Mr. and Mrs. Doyle have one child, Rosa Valentine, now entering her sixteenth year. She is a pupil at the Episcopal College, has developed marked talent for music and drawing, and her amiable disposition and winning ways have endeared her not only to her fond parents but also to her teachers and schoolmates and to all who know her. Mr. Doyle attributes much of his success in life to the connsel and companionship of his devoted wife and loving daughter.

^ L. McLAURIN, M. D., physician and surgeon, is a native of Mississippi, * being born in Rankin county, that State, August 13, 1861. His parents were Hugh C. and Harriet (Lane) McLaurin, the former a native of South Carolina, the latter of Mississippi. Mr. McLaurin, Sr., was a prominent physician and surgeon of Mississippi. He was a graduate of the literary course in the schools of Charleston, South Carolina, a like course at Hanover College, Indiana, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. He was a son of one of the old Scotch Presbyters and Elders of the Presbyterian Church, and he himself was an Elder in the same. His parents, Daniel and Catherine (Colqnhoun), McLaurin were natives of Palquidder, Scotland. The former held the chair of Professor of Mathematics at the University of Edinburg. Our subject's father was a man of great business ability and he acquired a great many negroes and other prop- erty, but all this was lost during the war. He was sixty-seven when he died, in 1880, as he was born in September, 1813. He had an immense practice, being called in consultation from all parts of the country. He practiced for over forty years, servinjr in the war as a surgeon. He was prominent in politics and educational matters and was a devout church member. His wife is a daughter of. Judge Robert Lane, of Mississippi. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Her family is one of the old Southern families of Mississippi, and she shows her good blood. She is in good health and lives with her son, our subject.

Our subject is the second in a family of live children, namely: Judge Lauch McLaurin, the oldest, a successful Judge and attorney of this county, also Judge in Mississippi; Sallie has charge of a chair of art in the Mississippi Industrial and Art College, a State art college of Mississippi. She is a ripe scholar, is one of the original faculty of that school, and has held her present position four years; Robert, an attorney at Rolling Fork, Mississippi, where he has a large practice; and Luella, who died at the age of twentythree.

The Doctor graduated at the University of Mississippi at the age of nineteen, in 1881, in the literary course. He studied medicine under his father and attended the Medical College at the University of Louisiana, from which he graduated in 1884. The next year he was made Assistant Surgeon of the Mississippi State Hospital at Vicksburg, which position he held one year, then resigned and can:(e to Ds^llas, Texas, in 1886. Since tlien J;e has built up an excellent practice here. He is surgeon for the Santa Fe Railroad and for a number of insurance companies, is Vice- Prpsident of the Dallas County Medical As-

Dr. McLaurin was married April 23, 1890, to Miss Katie Gano, daughter of General R. M. Gano, of whom we have a history elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. McLaurin is a graduate of Hamilton College, Lexington, Kentucky. Slie is a cultivated lady and displays considerable talent in the direction of painting, music and dancing. They have one child, John Gano, a bright, promising babe.

The Doctor is a member of the Knights of Pythias. He is a well-read man in his profescion, has a veA' large practice for so young a man and is well liked, and his opinion is respected in all severe cases.

Mr. McLaurin is a member of the Presbyterian Church, while his wife is a member of the Christian Church. These two are among the most popular young people of Dallas and have a host of friends.