Galveston County, Texas - The whole text, 1895 (part 15 of 26)

It was during those years that Mr, Brown constructed the bridges spanning White Oak and Buffalo bayous, connecting the Houston & Texas Central and the Galveston, Houston and Henderson Railways, an important step toward linking these two roads and facilitating land and water transportation at this point. The completion of these bridges was an event in the history of the city of Houston and attracted more than passing notice at the time. While so engaged he was taken with a kidney trouble and his health became impaired, in consequence of which he gave up all business pursuits and sought restoration. Besides consulting with the best medical authorities he spent considerable time at different watering places, and finally retired for a year to a farm which he owned in I-iipley county, Indiana, endeavoring in every way to rid himself of the disease; but all in vain. He returned to Houston early in 1884, apparently somewhat iniproN'cd, but after a brief period of suffering, relieved occasionally with some slight hope of recovery, he died, July 7th, that year. News of Mr. Brown's death was received with many manifestations of regret in this city, and was noticed generally by the press of the State. He had been a prominent figure in the railway development of Texas, and had been associated at one time and another and had had dealings with many of Texas' foremost men of finance and industrial development, the respect, good will and friendship of whom he always enjo\'ed. His remains were laid to rest in Glenwood cemetery, where they repose beneath one of the imposing shafts that mark Houston's beautiful rural city of the dead.

Had Mr. Brown chosen a wider field for his energies he might have achieved a greater name, though it is doubtful whether he would have won more real ht)nor. He might have amassed more wealth, but not left a more solid character. As it was, he selected his work \\ith reference to what he felt to be his own fitness for it, and he hewed out his fortune from the hard granite of fact and circumstance b\- virtue of his own industry and native gifts of mind. He was practically self-taught and self-made. He followed the bent of his own intellect, even, from boyhood, and thought out, as they were successively presented to him, the various problems of life. He never assumed the airs of a man of learning, not having made great pretentions to a knowledge of the world; but concerning those things fulling within the limits of his observation, or which had engrossed his thoughts, his information was exact and his ideas clear and well-detined An illustration of the making of his character might be taken from the work w ith which he had to do. Accustomed to the handling of heavy machiner)' and ponderous pieces of iron and timber, his mental processes' moved with slowness but at the same time with precision, and w'hen each fact and principle was put in its place it fitted there like a beam or column, an essential component of the entire structure. His services to the railwayinterests of the State were of far greatec value than it would be appropriate here to say; in fact they were of that kind upon which no definite or adei]uate vahi* can be placed; but that they were fully appreciated by those most competent to pass on them is shown by the fact that he was retained in the employ of one company until he voluntarily retired on account of ill health, and that during the time he was with this company he constructed some of the most imf^ortant work along its line.

Beginning with nothing, Mr. Brown amassed a comfortable fortune b_\' his own industry and good management. He was never ostentatious in his charities, but he gave liberally in accordance with his means, and was always willing to render any sort of assistance he could to one of his fellowmen. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and believed in the broadest possible application of the principles of that order He was never a subscriber to an\' religi(jus faith, but he believed in the fundamental principles of moralit}-, and under the limitations imposed by nature and environment he made his life an acceptable fultillment of the golden rule.

Mr. Brown left surviving him a widow and one son. He had several brothers and sisters, all of \\hom, however, remain at the North or are deceased. One brother, David, was a Captain in the Union army, a gallant soldier now dead, and another is an attorney of Cincinnati, where he is prominent both in politics and in his profQ3sion. Mr. and Mrs. Brown had seven childreii, all but one of whom died jfi infancy and childhood. This one, Ge'efge P., was born at St. Louis, Missouri, dfT August 28, 1859; was educated at Kenyon College, Knox county-i Ohio, and at Farmer's College, Hamilton (*ounty; married Bettie M. Morin, of Houston, Te.xas, and has two children, George P. and Cleve. The junior Mr. Brown is a salesman, and makes his home in Houston, as does his widowed mother. Mrs. Brown, 3S did her husband, comes of the people who fought the battles and laid the foundation of the republic from 'the beginning. She is of Irish extraction. Her father, Michael Lamb, was born in [795, and is still living, being a resident of the town of Napoleon, Ripley county, Indiana. He served in the Seminole war of 1836, but did not consider himself too old for service in the late war, offering himself as a substitute for one of his sons. In his younger davs he was a seafaring man, and he has lived a life crowded with interesting experiences.

vid and Catherine (Curry) Gilbert, natives of the Emerald Isle. In the year 1838, when about nineteen years of age, the father came from Ireland and settled in Galveston, and here met Miss Curry, who emigrated to New York from her native country, and from there to Galveston about the year 1841. Their union occurred in 1842, in New Orleans, Louisana.

In connection with his trade as shoemaker, Mr. Gilbert followed various occupations until 1848, when he was taken with the gold fever, and went to California, undertaking the trip across the plains of Texas and Mexico with five companions. While in the latter country they were joined by a number of others bound for the Pacific coast. Of the six composing the original party only two, Mr. Gilbert and John O'Connor, survived the hardships of the journey. The former remained in the Golden State a little over two years, and met with success. In 1851 he returned to Texas, and in the spring of the following year went again to California, where he disposed of his interests in the State, and in 1853 returned to Galveston. After locating in this city permanently, he engaged in the real-estate business, and continued this with fair success until his death. He was a publicspirited man, and his honorable walk through life points its own moral to the rising generation. His good judgment and capable business methods brought good returns, and at the breaking out of the civil war he was one of the wealthiest men in the city. He was a warm friend of General Sam Houston, and like him, was opposed to secession, but when Texas seceded he cast his lot and fortune with the Confederacy. He became a member of the State militia, but died in 1863, when forty-six years old. Mrs.

Gilbert survived her husband until 1882. Their son, Thomas D. Gilbert, received his scholastic training under the able tutelage of James P. Nash, of Galveston. In 1861 he enlisted in the Lone Star Rifles of General E. B. Nichols' regiment for six months, and at the expiration of that period, in February, 1863, he joined DeBray's regiment of cavalry and served in the Trans-Mississippi Department. He took part in all the engagements incident to the Federal General Banks' Red river campaign, except those of Mansfield and Pleasant Hill, being away from his command on- Leave oi absence when these battles were fought. Through preference he served as a private during the entire war and was discharged on the Brazos above Sandy Point, in May, 1865. Returning home he took charge of his father's business, which he conducted until 1868, and then, for two years was in the lumber business. Following this he was the first to introduce rockpaving and curbing in the city of Galveston. This was in 1872, the first work being that done by him around the old customhouse. Mr. Gilbert continued in this business for two years, and in 1874 sold out and embarked in the drug business.

In 1876 he was elected Justice of the Peace in the second precinct of Galvestoi>, and in 188 1-2 he war elected City Assessor. From 1884 to 1885 he was Assistant City Treasurer, and in 1887 he was made First Deputy, under Sheriff Pat Tiernan, and held that position for twenty-one months. In 1888 he became day clerk of the city Police Department, under Chief Lordan, held that position for two years, and in 1890 was elected Deputy City Assessor under James D. Sherwood, which position he held until June 25, 1892, when he was elected City Collector. In 1893 he was re-elected to that position and is the present incumbent of the same. Mr. Gilbert selected his wife in the person of Miss Annie Young, a native of New Orleans. Her father and mother died when she was only nine months old, and she was taken and raised by George and Rosetta Craycroft, who came to Galveston at an early date. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert have eight living children: Kate, David, Mamie, Thomas, Lizzie, Rosie, Johnnie and William.

<>^ I C H A R D LARRABEE. ^ This I /^ gentleman was born in the parish \ ,P of Point Coupee, Louisiana, March 13, I 858. On the 12th of March, 1867, he came with his parents to Galveston, but after a time moved with them to Clear Creek, Harris county. The father, for whom the subject of this sketch was named, was a native of the State of Maine, and, by trade, was a ship carpenter. Of the four children born to him and his wife, the subject of this sketch was the eldest. Alice is now a resident of Galveston, and Alvin R. and Agnes are still making their home with their parents.

Mr. Larrabee was first engaged in running a schooner at Galveston for a number of years, but in 1888 began dealing in wood, and is now a member of the firm of Larrabee & Gyle, which is doing an extensive fuel business. He was married to Mrs. Mary Ellen, daughter of Bryan Magcean (deceased) and widow of Hugh Rooney. Mrs. Larrabee is a native of Galveston, born July 8, 1850. Her father, with a brother, James Mageean, were natives of Liverpool, England, the biith of the former occurring in 1802. He led a seafaring life, and thus came to New Oreleans, where he followed stevedoring for several years. He and his brother finally came to Galveston, in 1840, and here he followed the same occupation until his death, which occurred on the 24th of January, 1861, his brother, James, continuing the business until his death, August 30, 1885. Bryan Mageean was married in Galveston to Miss Julia Ann Dodridge, whose birth occurred in Mobile, Alabama, December 21, 1825, a daughter of Noah Dodridge. Besides the present Mrs. Larrabee they had one daughter, Sarah, who died at the age of two years. Mrs. Mageean died June 10, 1884. Mrs. Larrabee's first marriage (with Mr. Rooney) took place May 11, 1871, and resulted in the birth of two sons and two daughters: Julia, born November 26, 1872; George, born January 7, 1875; Nellie, born November 27, 1877; and Hugh, born November 20, 1880. Her marriage to Mr. Larrabee took place on the 4th of January, 1889, and two daughters have been born to them: Rachel, born December 15, 1889; and Clara, born August 3, 1892. Mr. Larrabee is a stirring business man, and is a well informed and public-spirited citizen.

I ^T perseverance are leading essentials \ ^ to him who would succeed, and Robert Railton had these attributes in good measure when he left his native country, England, where he was born in Manchester, December 11, 1830, and when a lad of but si.xteen took passage for America. He sailed in the ship United, States and landed in Boston, Massachusetts, where he spent very little time but made his way direct to Lowell, that State. There he found employment and completed the machinist trade, which he had commenced in his native land. His father, WilHam Railton, was a machinist, as were many of his relativs and ancestors, and our subject obtained a partial knowledge of the trade at his heme.

In the United States he completed his trade in the well known Hinckley Locomotive Works. Later he worked at Taunton, Massachusetts, Providence, Rhode Island, and Fall River, Massachusttts, and then traveled through the Northern and Western States, working at his trade in the leading cities. ' Two years after landing in this country, in 1848, he came to Galveston via New York city on board the brig Mary, commanded by Captain Norris. He readily found work with Hiram Close, then the only foundryman, of Galveston, and continued with him until the opening of the Civil war. Early in the conflict Captain Renshaw's flag ship, Westfield, was sunk in Galveston harbor, and as the Southern forces were short of guns, Mr. Railton, under detail, lifted her main shafts out and manufactured them into rifled cannon. These shafts were of hammered iron, thirteen inches in diameter, and as there was no machinery in Galveston capable of swinging and handling them, Mr. Railton designed and superintended the construction of suitable appliances for doing so. He made the tools with which he turned out three guns, five and three-fourth inch bore, ten feet, si.x inches in length, well mounted on trunnions, and wrought-iron breech jackets weighing 7,000 pounds each. One of these guns was mounted at South Battery, one at Fort Point and another at Pelican Spit, - all in the vicinity of Galveston. They were known to throw an eightypound shot a distance of five miles, "standing off" the Federal gunboats. During the last year of the war Mr. Railton ran the blockade as engineer on the "Denbigh." When the war closed he returned to Galveston, and to the employ of Hiram Close, but later was in the employ of the latter's successors, the Lee Iron Works. In 1887 he decided to embark in business for himself, and is now located at igoi Strand. Mr. Railton married, in 1868, Miss Emma juliff, and they have three bright children, John Henry, Alice F. A. and Maud E.

^-w-* EON DURR was born in Wurtem- I j berg, Germany, in i 806, was there I \ reared, and in Stuttgart learned the trade of a cooper, which he followed in his native country for a number of years. He married Marie Batch, of Wurtemberg, and, accompanied by her and their large family of children, emigrated to Texas, in 1846, and settled at Galveston. During the first few years of his residence in Galveston Mr. Durr had a hard struggle to support his family, on account of the scarcity of work at his trade, but by persevering industry, and strict economy, he managed to get along, and in time accumulated some means, being thus enabled to spend his later years in comparative ease. He was a man of strict probity, quiet and unassuming, and for years a consistent member of the German Lutheran Church of Galveston. He and his wife both died in 1872, each aged sixty-seven years.

To Leon and Marie Durr sixteen children were born, fifteen in Germay and one after their removal to this country. Six of these died in German}', in childhood or early youth. The others were Carl, Mary, Alexander, Rose, Caroline, Fredricka, Louis, Gottlieb and William. Carl died in 1890, in Mexico, wliither he went a number of years ago, and wlicre hie accumulated considerable wealth; Mary was married to Max Williams, and resides in Gaudelupe county, Texas; Alexander lived for a number of years in Marlin, I'"alls county, Texas, where he died in iSyi; Rose was married to Alexander Hinkeld}', at Galveston, in 1S52, and after his death, in 1S71, to Ernest Engelke, who died in 1S83; Caroline was three times married, first to Fred Schneider (no children), second to F. Tomeick, by whom she had two children, - Lulu and Fred, - and third to Carl Busch, by whom she had two children, - Rose and Carrie; Fredricka was twice married, first to Albert Groth, and after his death to John Weiler: she died in May, 1S90, at Houston, and is buried at Palestine, where her second husband now Hves; Louis Durr resides in Palestine, fjeing a merchant of that place; and William, the youngest of the family, and the only one born in Texas, died at Galveston during the yellow-fever epidemic of 1867, while yet a youth.

The issue of the marriage of Alexander and Rose Hinkeldy was three children: Julia, who was married to Pi. Limkc; Ivose, who was married to P. Lossow; and Augusta, now Mrs. C. I). Holmes.

Ernest lingelkc, second husliand of Ixose Durr Hinkeldy, was born in Hanover, Germany, in Mav, I 83 I, and resided there until his removal to Texas in 1850 or '51. He was a tinner by trade, and followed his trade for some time after settling in Galveston, later engaging in mercantile pursuits, which he was following at the time of liis death. He was a man of good business and social standing, and met with a fair degree of success. He was quiet and unobtrusive in his ways, never held any public positions.

but was a member of a number of societies, among them the ^fasons. Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, and Gerten Verein. He had been married pre\'ioas to his union with Mrs. Hinkeldy, but left no issue by either marria;.;e.

Mrs. Rose Engclke, now the last member of her father's family residing in Galveston, was born in Wurteinberg, Germany, and was only a girl w hen her jxirents settled in this city in 1846. She has resided in Galveston for nearly fifty }'ears, during which time she has witnessed all, or nearly all, of tlie changes I))- which the Island City has come to be one of the chief cities of this great commonwealth, and the struggle through which it has risen from a straggling village on the salt marshes, to the grand metropolis that it is, not inaptly represents on a large scale what she has seen many of the citv's wealthiest citizens go through with in \ attaining the positions which they occupy. In fact, her own life, controlled somewhat by the conditions with which her father's family were hedged about, has not been all sunshine. Beginning with nothing, left I twice a widow, she brought up a family of j three chihlren of her own, and is now rear- I ing two adopted nieces, all of whom she has educated, has trained oris training to habits of industry and usefulness, meanwhile exercising a motherly care and solicitude. Mrs. Engeike is a woman of sound, practical sense, and possessed of a large amount of executive ability. For her opportunities, she may be said to have met with unqualified success, for she has not only brought up a family upon which she has spent considerable money, but has managed to accumulate some besides, her name appearing on the tax-rolls as one of the substantial taxpayers of Galveston county.

\/^ OBERT KUHNEL, deceased. - In I /"^ the year 1839 the original of this \ .P notice left the land of his birth, Saxony, Germany, and, thinking to better his financial condition, crossed the ocean to America, and settled in Galveston, Texas, where he expected to follow the saddler's trade. However, upon reaching that city, he turned his attention to the upholstering business (carpets and house-furnishing), and continued this with fair success until the year 1876. At that date he became an invalid, and retired from the active duties of life, and died in the year 1877. Having served in the German army, he was well drilled in the military tactics of that country, and, at the beginning of the war in the States, 1S61, drilled many of the first companies that left Galveston for the field of action. Mr. Kuhnel was never in the regular Confederate service, though his sympathies were with the South. Socially he was prominently identified with the Masonic fraternity in this city, and was one of the charter members of the first lodge of that body here. During his entire residence in Galveston, he always took a deep interest in enterprises tending to the progress and development of the city, and was well-known for his integrity and uprightness. Especially was he prominent in church matters, and, though a Lutheran by faith and education, he was an attendant at most of the churches in the city, and held the position of organist in several of them, where he remained for many years. His wife, who came with him to this country, survived him until 1879. They left five children, three sons and two daughters, who were named, in the order of their births, as follows: Richard; Theckla, wife of J. C. Kirchner; H. Clem; Ernest; and Edna; the last is the wife of John Delaney. All these children reside in Galveston, where they are well and favorably known. The third of these, H. Clem Kuhnel, was born in Galveston, March 13, 1861, and graduated at Burgess' Business College, that city, in the j'ear 1878. From that date until 1885 he engaged in the drug business, but since then he has been following the liquor business. On the 8th of April, 1889, he married Miss Ricka Lachmuud, a native of Germany, and two daughters have been given them: Edna Grace, and Hazel Clementine Theckla Camille. Mr. Kuhnel belongs to Oleander Lodge, No. 139, Knights of Pythias, of which he is the father, and a member of the Grand Lodge, and is a member of Oleander Council, No. 27, Chosen Friends, of he held the office of Secretary twelve times, serving until i 894, and in both of which orders he has taken great interest, and maintains a high standing among his associates and co-workers.

BERDINAND FLAKE. - In the editorial room of the Galveston News, where the management of that great daily has industriously gathered and carefully preserved files of a number of newspaper publications, are to be found copies of a paper called Flake's Bulletin. These files, not complete, but well preserved as far as they go, are all that is left to tell the story of the life and struggles of the man who was the founder of the first daily newspaper in Galveston, Ferdinand Flake. Though not a pioneer Texan, Mr. Flake was in a sense a pioneer in the field of journalism in this State, and some account of him and his newspaper ventures properly belongs in this volume.

Ferdinand Flake was a native of Gottingen, Germany, a son of a Lutheran minister, Rev. Henry Flake, who gave his son the advantages of a good education and trained him to habits of industry and sobriety. Both of Ferdinand's parents died before he attained his majority, leaving to his care a younger brother and sister. The estate left him was small, if indeed it amounted to anything, so that, to meet his newly acquired responsibilities and earn a livelihood for himself, he had to look to the fruits of his own industry. The immigration to Texas from Germany was very great at that time. Young Flake had heard a good deal of this countr}-, and he made up his mind that the most promising field for him was on this side of the Atlantic. He came to Texas about the early '40s, the exact year not being known. For a time he lived among the German colonists in the interior part of the State and was variously engaged, following whatever he could get to do that would afford him the means of living. But he was not content simply to live, nor indeed to live and accumulate. He desired a career, and as he extended his acquaintance with the language, history, customs and needs of the country, he began to cast about for some settled pursuits and a place where he might reasonably hope to grow into something. He came to Galveston. Here in a short time he engaged in the seed business, at which he met with very good success. Then he turned his attention to newspaper work. His first venture in the field of journalism was as editor and proprietor of a German weekly called the Union, which he purchased in 1855. This paper, then an inconsiderable sheet, was published in a small two-story structure located on Market street, about where the

Bank Exchange now stands. After Mr. Flake bought it he moved the outfit to a building, since torn down, on the corner of Market and Center streets. From there in about a j'car he moved the office to the third ifoor of the Berlocher building on the north side of the Strand, east of Trcmont, since burned, where he had the company of the Civilian and Gazette, and used its press to print his paper. His journalistic duties did not interfere with his mercantile interests, and he carried on a lively seed business on the south side of the Strand, between Twenty-first and Twenty-second streets, where, in fact, he did his editorial work, and finally remoN'ed his printing outfit to this place, dividing off space in the rear of the structure for the use of that part of his business. In 1858 the Union was changed to a tri-weekly.

By 1 860 politics were getting pretty warm and Mr. Flake did his share to furnish the heat. He espoused the Union and opposed secession, and one fine morning, after the publication of a particularly obnoxious communication against secession, he came to the office and found it wrecked, the type scattered over the floor, yard and alley, but the press intact. The job had been done under cover of a false fire alarm. But he was not to be downed so easily. He had a sufficient stock of type in reserve to enable him to proceed with the publication, not missing an issue. This new material had been kept hidden at his residence. The "pied" type was sorted out as time was found and put to good use again. Mr. Flake was a stanch Union man during the whole of war, but like a good politician kept on favorable terms with the Confederate authorities. With the breaking out of actual hostilities the publication of the German paper was discontinued, and a semi-occasional news-sheet under the name of Flake's Bulletin was started, being issued whenever any news was to be had, either by wire, pony express, hand-car or other means. Its size was determined by the amount of news to be had, generally between two and four columns of proportionate length. When the celebrated pony express was established between Shreveport and Houston, news was received with more regularity, was transmitted by wire from Houston, generally received by about eight or nine o'clock in the evening, put in type by a tallow candle or two, and issued next morning; and had a good sale among the few inhabitants left and the many soldiers of the garrison. This was the birth of the morning newspaper in Galveston,set. up by one inexperienced compositor, made up into form, worked on a small Washington hand-press on one side of the paper, and the paper of any color that could be had, white being out of the market. Today it takes ten Mergenthaler machines and presses, that deliver 15,000 copies an hour folded.

After the war the Bulletin assumed larger proportions, regular publication da^'s and white paper, but had up-hill work in gaining a foothold, the lines between the Union and Confederate sentiment being rather sharply drawn. But Mr. Flake was not so blind a partisan as to accept anything offered by the Union side, as is proved by the fact that the military commander of Texas saw fit to send a file of soldiers around to his office at one time to arrest him on a charge of disloyalty. Mr. Flake had by this time bought a lot with a small two-story frame house, on the north side of Mechanic street, cast of Twenty-second, and moved .the printing office into it. Mr. Selim Rinker, his son-in-law, now became his partner, and the paper seemed to be in a prosperous condition. At any rate it was said at the time that it was "nip-and tuck" as to which of the two papers, the News or Bulletin, would get the upper hand in the struggle. The Bulletin was said to have the financial and moral backing of the business element of the city, the banks, and "the Strand."

On March 22, 1872, Mr. Flake transferred his interest in the Bulletin, and the German Union to the Bulletin Publishing Company, of which he was elected president. In the summer of the same j'ear he went East to procure new printing material, and one day a dispatch was received at Galveston that he had been found dead in his hotel in New York city. His death occurred July 19, 1872, and was supposed to be due to sunstroke, though, as was afterward ascertained, he had been a sufferer for some time from a kidney trouble.

The Bulletin, after Mr. Flake's death, lingered awhile longer and finalUy suspended publication, and with it, the German Union, which had been rehabilitated after a fouryears' suspension during the war, and issued daily.

Mr. Flake had a wide political and business acquaintance throughout the State. He interested himself in all public matters, maintained pronounced views on all public questions, and wielded a strong influence. He was high-spirited, clean-handed and aggressive in the promulgation of that which he believed to be right.

At Galveston, on December 27, 1847, he married Mrs. Anna Margaret Buchholtz (maiden name Olichslager), a native of Denbaugh-Auchin, on the Rhine, Germany, who survived him only a few years, dying October 14, 1878. Their family consisted of a number of cliildren, but six of whom became grown: Two daughters, Mary, who was married to Selim Rinker, and is deceased, and Anna, who was married to Herman Teicliman, and is now deceased; and four sons, - Oscar, Otto, Emil M., and Ferdinand, - the eldest son, residing on Bolivar Point, in Galveston county, the other three in the city of Galveston.

After establishing himself at Galveston, Mr. Flake sent for his younger brother, Adolph, then a lad of thirteen, who, settling here, became a substantial citizen of this city, where he recently died. The sister, Lina, was also brought over, and here subsequently lived and died, being twice married, first to August Winkleman, and, after his death, to Antone Billet.

Herman Morwitz received a fair common-school education in his native place, and, after leaving school, served five years as an apprentice to the grocer's business. Then, at the age of twenty, in 185 i, he came, in company with a younger brother, William, to Texas, settling at Galveston. Mr. Morwitz' possession when he reached Galveston consisted of $50. His first employment was as a gardener, at $3 per month. Later he hired to F. W. Schmidt to learn the butcher business, receiving $5 per month.

for about ten months. He then entered the emplo}- of Captain L. M. Hitchcock in the butcher business, and was with him some two years, saving his earnings, which varied from $8 per month at the beginning to $20 later on, the latter being the maximum wages paid butchers in those times. With the money so saved, Mr. Morwitz joined one of his countrymen, Louis Plitt, and, going to Anderson, Grimes county, engaged in the butcher business on his own account. A year and a half spent at this, resulted in but little financial good to the two ambitious 3'oung Germans, and, at the end of that time, they gave up tlie butcher business and turned their attention to the general stock business. Mr. Morwitz was so engaged, buying cattle, sheep and hogs, which he drove from the interior to the Galveston market for several }'ears. In i860, he purchased the grocery business of George Schneider at Galveston, and embarked in the retail grocery trade. This was stopped liy the war in 1862, when he entered the Confederate armj', enlisting in the Sappers and Miners, and served on detail duty until the surrender.

Renewing his business connection after the war with the New Orleans merchants, who had previously furnished him goods, he again embarked in mercantile pursuits, opening a grocery and feed store on Church and Twenty-second streets. This was subsequently merged into a grocery and shipchandlery establishment, and conducted with marked success until Mr. Morwitz's retirement from business in 1891.

Mr. Morwitz's name has been coupled with most of the public enterprises that have been set on foot in Galveston for the past twenty-five years, and he has aided liberally with his means in the de\-elopmcnt of the city's resources and the upbuilding of its various interests. Tlie number of such enterprises and interests would include the Street Railway Company, of which he was for three years president, two or three of the principal banks in which he was not only a stockholder but also a member of the directory, different compress companies, and industrial and financial concerns.

In 1857 Mr. Morwitz married Miss Bertha Plitt, a native of Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, born July 9, 1840, and a daughter of George and Elizabeth Plitt, who came to Texas and settled, with their family, at Galveston, in 1846. Mr. and Mrs. Morwitz have had but one child, Ida Mary, now Mrs. John R. Gross, of Galveston.

Mr. Morwitz, was an active member of the German Benevolent Society during the existence of the association, the object of which was to build up German schools and churches, and to assist German immigrants to secure homes and a start in business in this country. He is now a member of the Garten Verein, and he and his wife both hold a membership in the Lutheran Church of this city.

^T^OHN MEIER was born in Germany ^ Januarj' 7, 1851. He came to Galf% 1 veston, Texas, without means, but he possessed the native German pluck and energy, attributes which are bound to bring success to the possessor. In his laudable ambition to gain a competency for himself and family he was quite successful, and, as a means to this end, he first labored in various capacities, and, by the exercise of much economy and undeviating industry, he soon accumulated some capital. In 1865 his means enabled him to enter the grocery business, and he continued to follow this useful employment until about 1880, and became well known for his honest business methods, and his desire to please those who patronized him. On the ist of December, 1866, he wedded, for his wife, Mrs. Seigle, whose place of nativity was Wurtemberg, Germany, and who came to this country while still a miss. Some of the experiences passed through by Mr. Meier are exceedingly interesting, and, in illustration of the hard times experienced by people in the South during the progress of the great civil war, he quoted some of the prices of the staple products at that time, in contrast with the present prices. He distinctly remembers having paid $23 per bushel for corn, and at one time paid $407.75, in Confederate money, for one hundred and seven pounds of flour. During the progress of the great strife he served in the local militia for some time, being on duty at Galveston the most of the time. Notwithstanding his long absence from Germany, he recently spent eighteen months there, for he still retains a warm affection for the land that gave him birth; but he returned to his adopted country in 1875, content to here spend the remainder of his days, surrounded by the many friends he has made. He and his worthy wife are now living in retirement at 2827 Church street, Galveston, and their comfortable and pleasant home is the result of many years of active labor.

aL. BIEHLER. - This well-known citizen of Galveston, Texas, was one of the first settlers of the place, and has been one of the most active and industrious of her business men.

He is a product of Freiburg, Baden, Germany, where he first opened his eyes, May 22, 1826, and while growing up, besides receiving the education of the usual German boy, he acquired a thorough knowledge of the butcher's business, an occupation which was followed with reasonable success by his father. Having heard of the opportunities which were afforded young men of energy and pluck, in this country, he determined that in this country he would seek his fortune, and in 1842, arrived in the Crescent City, from the I'atcrlaiid. He followed the butcher's trade in that place about three years, after which he came to the Lone Star State, and the 16th day of April, 1845, found him quartered in the city of Galveston. Knowing no other occupation, he turned to his trade as a means of livelihood, and for a time he operated the first sausage factory in the city of Galveston.

Mr. Biehler has been married twice, first to 'Miss Augusta Vetterman, by whom he has two daughters : Lena, wife of Rudolph Kruger, and Augusta, wife of Anton Heiman. For his second wife Mr. Biehler married Miss Ida Miller, on the 20th of June, 1856. She was born September 3, 1832, and has borne her husband one daughter and two sons : Antoinette, widow of the late Adolph Flake; and Leopold and Rudolph, who are experienced butchers of Galveston.

aAPTAIN ADOLPH DROUET. - The city of Galveston, Te.xas, is now and probably has been the home of as many men who have quietly and persistently, day by day and year by year, wrung practical favors from perverse fortune, as any city in the United States. Though not a native of either this city or State, yet the Captain has resided many years in Te.xas, and, during that time, has won the respect and good will of all with whom he has come in contact.

He is a native of France, and emigrated to America with his father, Nicholas Drouet, of whom mention is made in a sketch of Captain Sebastian Drouet, elsewhere in this volume. His early life was rather uneventful. His education was received in the schools of Galveston, but when about twelve years of age he commenced boating along the Gulf coast. In 1S56, he made his first foreign voyage as a seaman, and the following year he received his first credentials and became the master of the Blazer, a sloop which he, in partnership with his brother, Sebastian Drouet, owned. This vessel he commanded in 1862, during the civil war, being in the Confederate marine service. He ran the first blockade of Galveston harbor, commanding the ship Alma of Vachere, Louisiana, in 1862, and later he was detailed to pilot blockade-runners in and out of Galveston. After the war Captain Drouet resumed his former occupation, doing harbor pilot duty, and this well-known pioneer boatman's face is very familiar in the city. He is now the owner of the frigate Annie Laura, which plies between Galveston and Bolivar Point, and is doing a general business. Although the Captain is a busy man, he is public-spirited and benevolent, and takes a deep interest in the progress and upbuilding of the city of his adoption. He was married, in 1870, to Miss Mary Wathnot, of east Texas, and they have an interesting family of five children, as follows: Adolphus, Jr., born October 12, 1871; Eugenia, born April 25, 1877; Hattie, born August 25, 1880; Walter, born October 2, 1886; and Marie, born February 10, 1889.

*y-» AWRENCE NUSE. - To the early I j annals «f Galveston belongs the I \ history of this venerable citizen. Like many other residents of the city, he came originally from Prussia, Germany, where his birth occurred March 28, 1 82 1, and reached Galveston in the schooner Reform, in 1850.

Mr. Nuse is a cabinet-maker by trade, having learned the same in his native land, and he followed it in Galveston for many years. In 1858 he went to New York city, purchased a large stock of furniture, which he shipped to Galveston, and subsequently opened a store on Strand and Twenty-fourth streets, which he carried on successfall}- until 1 86 1. He then closed his business there, returned to his native country, and remained there until the following year, when he came to New York city. After remaining there about two months, he paid Galveston a visit, but spent the larger portion of his time, up to 1865, with his brother Henry in Pennsylvania. When the civil war closed, he, with his brother, returned to Galveston, and he immediately invested in realestate, which business he has carried on for the most part ever since. He makes occasional trips to Europe, and is a man of more than usual resources, active habits, and pleasing address.

The year following his arrival in this country witnessed his marriage to Miss Elizabeth Barckcnbusch, a native of Germany, who died without issue in 1876. Henry Nuse, the lamented brother of our subject, came to Texas in 1855, and, being a wood turner by trade, followed it in Galveston, with an unusual degree of success. He commanded good wages, and accumulated money enough thereby to embark in the grocery business, in 1S58, at the corner of

Post Office and Twenty-second streets, where he remained until 1862. He then accompanied his brother to Europe. While there he married, and, returning to the United States, settled in Titusville, Pennsylvania, where he embarked quite extensively in the jewelry business. His death occurred in Titusville, in 1882. Quiet and unassuming in his manner, Mr. Lawrence Nuse is, however, one of the substantial men of his section, and is prominently identified with all its interests.

|f\ citizen was born in the province M. ,P of Westphalia, Prussia, June 21, 1837, and when about twentyone years of age, emigrated to Texas and settled at Galveston. His mother died in German)', before the son came to Texas; his father subsequently cauie to Texas and settled at Galveston, where he died of yellow-fever, during the epidemic of 1867. A brother, William, and a sister, Mary, died at the same time and of the same dread disease, Henry, himself being confined with an attack of it which lasted for twenty-one days. During his bo) hood, young Rodefeld's educational advantages were limited, and he had not the benefit of a trade, in consequence of which, upon his arri\al in this country, he became a manual laborer. He was employed in various capacities in and about the cotton-press, and received good wages. Aside from necessary expenditure in rearing his family he managed to lay by some money, which he invested in Galveston property, having improved which, he draws from it a small revenue.

Strieker, who N\as born in Westphalia, Germany. Six children have been given to them, as follows: Minnie (Mrs. August Bridwell), Annie (Mrs. Lloyd P. Criss), Carrie (Mrs. Charles Kishmer), William (who married a Miss Wagner, of Galveston), and Mary (Mrs. P. Brady), all of whom reside in the city of Galveston. Mr. and Mrs. Kodefeld have eight grandchildren.

^^^y^ ILL! AM R. BAKER. - No reader mm I "f the biographical literature of 'Rj^^l this country can have failed to note the fact that the qualities of mind and the training obtained by them in winning the higher grades of success in business, are available for other uses than those of commerce. It is not an unfrequent thing to see a successful merchant become the projector of S(jme enterprise of large proportions, ably fill a position requiring" a high order of executive ability, amassing wealth all the while, and then round out his career by a few terms in the law-making bodies, either of his State or the nation. To thus develop ability with circumstances, and turn one's hand readily to opportunities offered by the tides of fortune, seems to be the especial gift of the American character, and there are examples, in plenty, in all the a\-enues of trade, finance and legislation - in all the departments of industrial development - which go to coniirm and emphasize the truth of this statement.

William Ivobinson Baker, who was for more than a half century a prominent figure in the history of the city of Houston, and who left, in a full measure, the imprint of his talents and character on the industries and interests of this place, was born in Baldwinsville, Onondaga county, New York, on the 2 1st day of May, 1820. His parents were Asa and Hannah Robinson Baker, who were born, the father in Cheshire county. New Hampshire, and the mother in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Asa Baker was a son of Alden S. Baker, a Revolutionary soldier, and himself a Captain in the war of 181 2, the family coming originally of English stock. Asa Baker married Hannah Robinson, a daughter of William Robinson, a prominent merchant and importer of Philadelphia, and settled, sometime between 181 5 and 1820, in Onondaga county. New York, where he followed his calling as a civil engineer for a number of years, and was interested, at different times, in a small way, in the mercantile business. He died in that county in 1 85 I. His \\'idow survived many years, dying at the home of her daughter, Mrs. T. M. Bagby, in the city of Houston, June 24, 1889.

William R. Baker was reared mainly in his native place, and his educational advantages were of the best for the times, particularly so with respect to his home training, his father being a man of superior mental attainments, the benefits of which were bestowed without stint on the son. At the age of twelve he began the serious duties of life for himself, and his earnings, meagre as they were, formed at this time the basis of his subsistance. He was industrious in habits, and managed, by hard application and the economical use of time, to acquire some knowledge of books, particularly bookkeeping andsurveying. He had a natural turn for mathematics, and the mastery of an}' branch of this science was comparatively easy for him. In 1837 he came to Texas, and located at Houston.

Company. Then, in 1838 he engaged in the mercantile business in a small way, and was so engaged until February, 1841, when he became a candidate for the office of County Clerk, was elected to this office, and held it by successive re-elections for sixteen years. While in this position he began to trade in lands, at which he was very prosperous, acquiring a large amount of real estate and an extensive knowledge of the business. In 1852, when the Houston & Te.xas Central Railway was organized, he interested himself in it, became one of its board of directors, and, in connection with a number of other capitalists of Houston, built that road. This was no unimportant undertaking for those days, for railroad building then was in its infancy in Texas. The obstacles met were great, and to most other men these obstacles would have been insurmountable. Mr. Baker was identified with the road from its inception until its future was assured, and in fact until it became one of the chief railway properties in the State. He served successively as secretary, vice-president, president, and again vice-president and general manager, severing his connection with the road in 1877, only when he sold his interest in it for the purpose of retiring from active business pursuits.

Mr. Baker was always a Democrat, and took active interest in politics. In 1874 his friends saw fit to have him placed in the field as a candidate for the State Senate, and, after a spirited contest, he was elected. His career as a member of that body was marked by his sterling common sense, his broad and liberal views and the businesslike manner in which he dispatched matters falling into his hands for attention. From 1880 to 1886 he served as Mayor of the city of Houston, being called to this position and retained in it by the general consent of the citizens who were anxious for a vigorous administration of the city's affairs. An authority says, "He took hold of Houston when it was in the mud and darkness, and soon inaugurated a system of public improvements which now stand as a monument to his worth. He brought order out of chaos, reduced the city's indebtedness, paved the streets, and set on foot the movement which resulted in the present electric-light system. "

In 1883 he purchased an interest in the Houston Post, which he retained for six years, and while connected with this paper spared neither money nor effort to make it what it really became, one of the best papers in the South. He was also president of the City Bank of Houston at the time of its failure, and on account of the collapse of that institution suffered very heavily in his private means, though justice to his memory requires the statement that he was an innocent victim in that disaster. The bank was in the worst possible condition at the time he was induced, by misrepresentation, to take stock in it.

On the 15th day of December, 1845, Mr. Baker married Miss Hester Eleanor Runnels, a daughter of Hosea R. Runnels, of Mississippi, and a niece of ex-Governor Hiram G. Runnels, of that State, in whose family Mrs. Baker was reared after her father's death. The issue of this union was one child, a daughter, Lucy, born July 13, 1848. She became an accomplished lady, and on the 15th, of June, 1869, was married to Captain E. P. Turner, of Houston. She died June 2, 1873, leaving an infant son, William Baker Turner. On the 14th of February, 1880, Mrs. Baker died.

fellow-citizens b}' his six years' service as their chief executive, with ample means to gratify all his wants, and with a sincere desire to pass the remainder of his life on earth in peace, Mr. Baker retired from active business pursuits and was living in the enjo}'ment of his well-earned re[)ose at the time of his death. He died April 30, 1890, almost without warning, being stricken with cerebral effusion about tlie hoiu- of nine one evening, from the effects of which he expired about the hour of six the next evening. News of his death was received with deep regret not only by the people of this city in which he had so long lived, but also by the people throughout tliis entire section of the State to whom his career was well known and with whom he had had intimate business and social relations.

Mr. Baker was a member of the Masonic fraternity for more than hfty years, and was a devout believer in the teachings and practices of that most ancient and honorable order. His religion was that of the nineteenth century; full faith in the principles of morality as taught by Christianity, but entertaining an honest doubt in the authenticity of the Scriptures as interpreted by the various religious denominations.

Five feet, ten inches in height, and weighing between 170 and i So pounds, of dark complexion, brown eyes, high, intellectual forehead, and a clear, untroubled countenance, he was a man whom one w(.)uld notice in an assembly of a hundred men and would easily remember for his distinct individuality. While he was strong in his likes and dislikes, clear-cut and forceful in the expression of his views, he meant to accord to every one the same privileges which he claimed for himself, and was at lieart kind and affectionate. He is spoken of in terms of sincere affection b\' those who knew him long and intimately. One of the most marked tributes to his memory, as indeed it is one of the most marked tributes that can be paid to the memory of any man, is the oft-rep>eated statement made by his associates, that he was very rarely ever known to speak unkindly of others.

BON. JAMES ROANE MASTERSON - The principal State of the American Union where family influence and the potency of family name have been most strongly felt is undoubtedly Virginia; and frcm this State have come some of the brightest intellects, s:me of the bravest and worthiest men who have ever figured in the history of this country.

To the "Old Dominion" the subject of this sketch makes acknowledgment for the American origin of his ancestry. His parents, Thomas G. Masterson and Christiana Irby Roane, were natives of Tennessee, but their parents were Virginia-born. His maternal grandmother was a Miss Washington, a niece of President George Washington. His mother was a daughter of Dr. James Roane, son of Governor Archibald Roane of Tennessee, in honor of whom a county of that State was named, and a grandniece of Governor Spencer Roane, of Virginia, who was at one time United States Senator from that State, and of David Roane, who was appointed by President Jefferson United States District Judge for the State of Kentucky, and a cousin of Governor John Roane, of Arkansas. The maternal grandmother of James R. Masterson was a Miss Irby, of Virginia, a relative of President John Tyler. One of her sisters was the mother of John

Morgan, United States Senator from Alabama, and another, Mrs. Mary Hooker, of New Orleans, formerly Mrs. Noble, was the mother of John I. Noble, of that city, while two nieces of hers married Thomas Chilton, of the Supreme Court of Alabama. James R. Masterson's paternal uncle, William Masterson, married the eldest daughter of the celebrated Feli.x Grundy, of Tennessee. His brothers. William, Washington, Archibald and Branch T. Masterson, all served in the Confederate army and were gallant soldiers, William and Washington having been officers; and he had another brother, named Harris.

James R. Masterson was born in Lebanon, Wilson county, Tennessee, April 15, 1837. His parents moved to Texas two years later and settled in Brazoria county, where his father was twice Clerk of the County Court, and for many years a practicing lawyer. The boyhood and youth of James R. were passed in the town of Velasco, where he received such educational advantages as were offered the youth of those days, these being very limited, his chief training coming from his mother, a lady of exceptional intelligence and attainments. For four years he was his father's assistant in the office of county clerk, and here he familiarized himself with forms and practice, and became confirmed in his early inclinations for the law. He entered the office of General John A. Wharton and Clinton Terry at Brazoria, in 1856, where he regularly took up the stud}" of law, and where, in 1858, he was admitted to practice, having been made of age for that purpose by an act of the legislature of Texas. As soon as admitted he located in Houston, where his industry and ability won recognition for him, and by the opening of the war he was enjoying a reasonably good practice for a young man. But on the declaration of hostilities between the North and South he saw, for a time at least, his hopes of professional success dissipated. He was opposed to secession, standing with General Houston on the proposition that the South should fight her battles out in the Union; but when Texas withdrew b}- formal vote of her representatives he tendered his services to the Confederacy, enlisting to go with Hood's scouts to Virginia, but was transferred to Elmore's regiment - the Twentyfirst Texas - and served one year, when he was honorably discharged.

On unanimous petition of the Houston bar Mr. Masterson was, in 1870, appointed by Governor E. J.Davis Judge of the Nineteenth Judicial District of Texas, composed of Harris and Montgomery counties. He entered on the duties of tliis office with energy and industry, and soon demonstrated the wisdom of his choice. He served under this appointment until the adoption of the constitution of 1876. By that instrument the office was made elective by the people, and he was the first judge of his district elected under it. He was nominated by the Democrats and chosen Judge of the Twenty-first (old Nineteenth) District, holding the office by successive re-elections until December, 1892, a period of twentytwo years, - one of the longest terms of continuous judiciary service in the history of the State. [udge Masterson made a most acceptable public official, his popularity being frequently attested by endorsements from the bar and by increased majorities at the polls. His rulings and decisions were uniformly just and in accordance with the law, and his entire career while on the bench was marked by a conscientious regard for the duties of his position. Duriiig the tvvent_\'-t\vo years of his service many important cases came before him for trial, and many questions arose which he had to pass on for the first time in this State. Especially was this true of the great bod}' of railroad and other corporation law which has sprung up in Texas since 1S70, the beginning of the era of railway development in this State. That Judge Materson never erred in any of his opinions is something that no one claims for him; but that his opinions were in the main correct and gave good general satisfaction, is fully attested by his long term of service.

While on the bench he was more than once solicited to offer iiimself for other positions, but uniformly declined all such solicitations. One of these pt.isitions, for which he recieved fiattering endorsements, was that of member of the Court of Commission of Appeals, equal in dignity to a place on the Supreme Bench. Judge Masterson now has a petition signed l^y tvventysi.x of the thirty State senators, the lieutenant-governor and a large number of the representatives of the Seventeenth Session of the legislature, asking the governor to appoint him a member of the above court, which petition he declined to present.

Judge Masterson married, in Galveston, Texas, January 17, 1865, Miss Sallie Wood, a native of Galveston and a daughter of E. S. Wood, the well-known hardware merchant of that city. She graduated at Miss Cobb's seminary in her native city, and was a lady of great refinement and most amiable character. She died December 21, 1890, leaving four children, two sons and tv\'o daughters, - James Roane, Annie Wood, Lawrence Washington and Mary Heard. The younger son, Lawrence Washington,

Judge Masterson is a Knight Templar, and Past Master of Holland Lodge, No. i, Ancient Order of Free and Accepted Masons, Houston, of which Presidents Houston and Anson Jones had been Masters. He has been Captain-General and Generalissimo of Ruthven Commandery, No. 2, chairman of the committee of foreign correspondence of the Grand Commandery and Grand Lodge A. F. & A. ^^. , and is a member of the committee of grievances and appeals of the Grand Lodge of Texas. He is a member of the I-Inights of Honor and of the German Turn Verein. He was baptized and reared in the Episcopal Church, of which Mrs. Atasterson was also a member.

He is a man of spare build, being only five feet seven inches in height and weighing only about i 56 pounds. His eyes are grayish-blue, and he has a high, intellectual forehead and fair complexion. He is quickspoken and his manner is frank and affable.

HNTONE MULLER. - No class of people who have settled upon her shores have done more to build up America's interests, or contributed more to her commercial importance and national prosperity than the sturdy, honesthearted and industrious Germans. Among them may be mentioned Antone Muller, who was born in Lehesten, October 9, 1825, and there grew to manhood and learned the brewer's trade. Six months prior to leaving the land of his birth he served in the Prussian army, and in 1846, with his parents came to this country. His father, Wdliam Muller, was a wide-awake, stirring business man, and after settling in Galveston engaged in merchandising, at which he accumulated a considerable amount of wealth. This worthy citizen was twice married, the wife who was the mother of our subject dying in 1848. Late in life he went to Germany, married again, and there died, in 1887. There were two children born to the second union: Emil and Caroline, and to the first union four sons: Antone, our subject; Gustave; Adolph; and E. Otto; and two daughters, Mrs. Leopold C. Beihler and Mrs. Jacob Ritzier. Upon locating in Galveston Antone Muller became a manufacturer of soda-water at the corner of Tremont and Market streets, but later, from 1850 to 1859, was engaged in draying. He served the Confederacy in the quartermaster's department, under Captain Story, during the civil war, and afterwards engaged quite e.xten-' sively in draying and also carried the Government mail from Galveston to Matagorda. Aside from this he took charge of the mail transfer in Galveston city, and is still engaged in this. In the year 1848 he married Miss Mary Gose, a native of Hanover, Germany, and the children born to this union, seven in number, were named as follows: Henry, Emil, Charles, Otto, William, Ida, who is now Mrs. William Mattis, and Caroline, who is the wife of Ephraim Moore. Mrs. Muller died January 20, 1892. Mr. Muller's life has been a most active one, and in all matters of public enterprise and improvement he takes a prominent part.

BREDERICK D. SCHMIDT is a native of Prussia, born March 19, 183S. He was reared in the place of his birth, where he learned the trade of a blacksmith and carriage-maker.

In 1856 he married Dorathea Kuchwert, of Schlesvvig-Holstein, by whom he has had four children: Ernest, Amelia, Hans, and Frederick. In 1859 Mr. Schmidt emigrated to Te.xas, and settled at Galveston, where he worked at his trade, with Walter Bennison, for five years. He then engaged in business for himself, opening a small shop on the site of his present establishment. By industry and good management, he has met with a fair degree of success, being now the proprietor of one of the most flourishing blacksmith shops and carriage factories in Galveston, situated at the corner of Church and Twenty-fourth streets. Mr. Schmidt is an excellent type of the thrifty, practical German, and, by his industry, integrity and straightforward business methods, has attained a good standing among the business men of the community, and won many friends among those with whom he has been thrown in contact. He is a member of the Garten Verein, and other social organizations of Galveston.

>^ULIUS LOBENSTEIN. - Thishonm est and frugal German has been a /- J resident of the Lone Star State for many years, having come hither as a member of the Noble colon}', which first located in the vicinity of New Braunfels. He was born in Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Germany, "three hours from Alvord," October 25, 1828, a son of Godda-help Lobenstein, who was a gardener by occupation. Upon his removal from the land of his birth, with the Noble colony, to this country, he was accompanied by his only son, Julius. After a time they left the colony and made their way to Galveston; Julias being at that time about eighteen years of age. He joined his fatlier in the purchase of a piece of land, amounting to fourteen acres, on Galveston island, near where the Orphans' Home now stands, and they at once began market gardening, and finding this occupation reasonably remunerati\e, they continued it for some two years. However, as young Julius was ambitious and energetic, he determined to seek fresh fields of labor, and, accortlingly, entered the employ of Gilbert Winnie, receiving, at first, $15 per month for his services as stable hand and mail carrier, which sum was afterward increased to $30. He remained with Mr. Winnie about eleven years, or until the opening of the great civil war, being engaged in carryrying the United States mail between Galveston, St. Louis, Texas, and Matagorda. While the civil war was in progress, he worked for the Confederacy in the same capacity, and was also ferryman at St. Louis, Texas, ^^'hen hostilities ceased, he once more turned his attention to agricultural pursuits on Galveston Island, about twentysix miles west of the city, but later changed his location to within sixteeir miles of town, taking up his residence on what is known as the old Delesdernier place, one of the oldest stations on the island. In 1881 he disposed of all his farming interests, removed to the city of Galveston, where he has since resided, in the enjoyment of a very comfortable and pleasant home. In 1852, he led to the altar Miss Pauline Werner, of Galveston. She was born in Silicia, Germany, February 13, 1830, but came to America with friends in 1848. She proved a true helpmate, in ever}- sense of the word, to Mr. Lobenstein, and a faithful and affectionate mother to the following children, which she bore her husband: Louis; Jules; Fritz; Bertha, wifeof Morris Bautsch; Julia, wife of Charles G. Schmidt; Wilhelmina, wife of William Bauhens, and Pauline. The life of Mr Lobenstein has been characterized by the strictest integrity, well known German industry, and the result has been the accumulation of a competency, and the acquiring of a comfortable home in Galveston.

>^OHN FORESTER, the subject of ^ tliis sketch, has lived on Texas soil A for fifty-se\en years. He has taken part in five Indian campaigns, and has served in both the regular and volunteer armies against Mexico. He knows what it is to submit to the insolence of Mexican soldier)', and has languished in Mexican prisons. Technically, therefore, his case meets all the conditions necessary to entitle him t(j the designation of a Texas veteran of the first rank, while in actual services and sacrifices, few have done more, or suffered more, than he has. Mr. Forester is really one of the " old-timers," who has seen much of Texas, and has taken part in the making of much of its history. He has never sought notoriety, and is, perhaps, as little known as any man in the State who has li\'ed here as long as he has, and who has taken the part he has in its history. He has reached that age when no suspicion of self-seeking can possibly attach to his giving a narrative of his early life, and the following brief account of the circumstances attending his coming to Texas, and of some of his experiences here in an early day, is therefore submitted, almost in the language in which he spoke to the writer:

"My parents were William and Mary Forester, who died when I was young. I grew up in my native county to the age of seventeen or eighteen, making my home most of the time with an older brother. While at my brother's, about the year 1835, two strolling Yankee mechanics came along one day on their way to Mississippi, and induced me to join them to go to the lower country, where they said work was plentiful and wages good. I consented, and the three of us drifted along down to the vicinity of Vicksburg, then the principal town in that part of the country. By the time we reached this place our money was all gone and I found it necessary to look up a job. I went to work on a plantation, picking cotton, and in a short time had the good fortune to be promoted to the position of overseer. One of my Yankee friends also got work at his trade, - that of a carpenter, - in the same locality, and I remained there, working as an overseer, and later, with him at the carpenter's business, for some months. While here I was taken with the fever, and being conveyed to Monroe, Louisiana, I lay sick at that place for several weeks, not being e.xpected to live. Recovering, however, sufficiently to travel, I drifted down to New Orleans, and here I began to hear a great deal about Te.xas. I had been in New Orleans some two or three weeks when, walking along the streets one day behind two soldiers, I heard one ask the other, 'What sort of a country is Texas, anyway.'' The other answered, 'One of the finest countries you ever saw; but is overrun with loafers and worthless characters.' I then quickened my gait, and, catching up with the soldiers, told them that I had been thinking of going to Texas, and asked them if they could tell me how to get there. They kindly offered their services, and, taking me around to where a lot of soldiers were camped, introduced nie to an officer who seemed to be in command, and told him I wanted to go to Texas. I was enlisted in Captain Veal's company, and instructed to wait about camp until a vessel arrived.

" I remained some two or three weeks, waiting for transportation, and finally, after waiting for the organization of another company, - that of Captain Hall, - which was made up in the meantime, I sailed for this countrv. We reached the coast near Dimmitt's during the last day of February or the 1st of March, 1837, and came ashore. In a day or so we joined the main army, then camped on the Lavaca, my company becoming part of the Second Regiment of Volunteers, commanded by Colonel Wigginton. We spent the spring and summer of 1837 at Red Bluff, on the Navidad. There was a general lull in hostilities that summer, and the more adventurous spirits in the army, becoming impatient, secured furloughs and went away. My company was made into one of artillery and moved to Texana, to occupy that place, while the main body of the army was continued on the Lavaca. By September more than half of my company had died from disease of one kind and another, and from insufficient food and medical attention; many of the officers had got furloughs and gone away, so that we were reduced to only a handful, and these, chiefly such as could not get away, or who did not know where to go if they could.

"During the fall of 1S37 we camped on the Colorado, - sometimes east of it and sometimes west, - and finally we were stationed for some time at a place called "Mercer's," on the Colorado, whence we went to West Menard. While camped here, bein<; of those who had not succumbed to disease, I was selected by the commanding officer to go with a team of mules and wagon to Houston for supplies. I made the trip, and then, for the first time (I think it was in October or November, 1837) I saw this place. I was told that the town had been laid out the year before, and it certainly had every appearance of a new place. Most of the population was living in tents, what houses there were, being small onestory cabins constructed of fioles or split timbers,

"The country west of the tcjwn, along the road I came in on, was covered with grass as high as a man's head, and this extended up even to the tents and houses, except where it had been cut or burnt. The State-house was then being finished on Capitol Square, and was the only structure of any consequence in the town, it being nothing to speak of. Main and Travis streets had not yet been cleared of the stumps and undergrowth, and there were large pine trees still standing in both thoroughfares. The market square had never been touched with an ax, being covered with a dense growth of bushes and small pines, running back to the bayou. The town was full of all sorts and conditions of people, bent on various schemes, including a large sprinkling who did not seem to know exactly what the}' were here for.

' ' I got the supplies for which I came, and slowly toiled back o\'er the bad roads to camp. Soon after my return I was taken with the fever. In less than a month I was reduced to skin and bones, and there being no prospect of my recovering in camp, I was furloughed, and started for Houston. I was almost destitute of clothing, and was absolutely barefooted. In this condition, and weak from the ravages of disease, the fever still on me, I took the road leading to Houston. The country was then practically unsettled, and what few settlers were there were, unfortunately, in no condition to help the sick and destitute. I was overtaken on the road the first day by a man carrying the mail, who took me up behind him on his horse, and helped me along a considerable distance, being put down, at my own request, some six or eight miles west of Richmond, at a big water hole, where freighters and movers were accustomed to stop. I spent the night at that place, and it was a night of fearful suffering.

"I rose the next morning and resumed my journey. I did not reach Richmond till late in the evening of that day, having spent most of the day in the timber, being too weak, and my fe\-er too high to allow me to travel. When I got to Richmond I lay down by a trail leading through the place, and in a short time a man named Warren, who had belonged to my compau}', came along and, recognizing me, told me he had a job as a cook in a tavern, and said he would bring me something to eat. He brought me two biscuits, and, being refreshed with these and a night's rest, I took up the line of travel next morning for Houston. I made several stops that day and sought assistance once or twice froni parties whom I chanced to see, but this was denied me until I reached the house of Ur. Johnson Hunter. This gentleman proved the good Samaritan, though I found him, instead of his finding me. He gave ine medicine and food, and invited me to stay over night, which I did. I started early the next morning, and my fever came on about ten o'clock as usual; and I sought a mot of timber, where I was lying, on the roadside, when two wagons loaded with corn came along going to Houston. The teamsters refused at first to let me ride, but one of them finally consented to let me put my blanket on his wagon, while I walked behind and held on, so as to keep from falling, for I was then too weak to keep on my feet very long without assistance. After awhile I got on the wagon, and by walking some and riding some, I finally got to Houston. On reaching this place I slept the first night under a tree. The next day, while wandering around the town, I met two men who had formerly belonged to my company, and by them I was told where the hospital was. I went out to it and found it a rude log affair, located not far from where the old cemetery now is, on San Felipe street. It was in charge of Dr. Ashbel Smith, and I was taken in and cared for as well as could be expected with the limited means then at the command of this branch of the public service, for it must be remembered that the Republic of Texas at that time was very poor in purse. I mention the circumstances of this, my first hard experience in Texas, with considerable minuteness, because, although I have seen and suffered much for Texas, I cannot say that I ever endured more real physical pain or mental anguish, than during those fall and winter months of 1837 and 1838, and especially during the time here referred to. "After I recovered I left the hospital, and, getting my discharge from the army, I went out on the frontier to locate my claims, and pick up a livlihood at whatever I could find to do. But there was very little going on, and I spent the time, for several months, running around in company with young fellows, who, like myself, were in Texas waiting for something to turn up. I worked some on ranches, and was in the ranging

"In the summer of 1842, I found myself again in Houston, and, mentioning one day to a friend, who had been on the Southwestern frontier a great deal, that I could have no health in this part of the country, he advised me to go out about San Antonio, and join the rangers. There happened to be a demand just at that time for soldiers to help repel an anticipated attack on the part of the Mexicans, and the idea of entering the service again took hold of me. Going to San Antonio, I enlisted in Captain Jack Hays' company, then operating in that vicinity. I had seen a good deal of the primitive ways of Texas in the three or four previous years spent in the country, but the sight of Hays' company of rangers was still something new. The men were, in physical make-up, as fine a body of men as I ever saw, but the uniform was altogether new, unique and picturesque. Most of them were dressed in skins, some wearing parts of buffalo robes, deer skins and bear skins, and some entirely naked to the waist, but having heavy leggings and necessary breechclouts. All were well armed and well mounted. I understood, and learned for a certainty afterward, that they subsisted mostly on buffalo meat and venison, rarely ever using bread, and still more rarely ever getting any coffee. I had scarcely entered the command, when San Antonio was marched on and captured by General Woll, and, being part of my company left in the town, while our commander, with a few of his men, were out reconnoitering, I was taken in charge by the Mexicans. This is the occasion on which the judges of the court, lawyers and civil officials were captured, of which most people have read. The judges and lawyers were released in a few days, and the soldiers entertained some hopes of being turned loose also, but in this w^e were mistaken. After Woll had made such demonstrations in the vicinity of San Antonio, as he designed to, he suddenly gathered up his traps, and, taking some sixty or seventy of us soldiers, whom he had captured, he started back to Mexico. We were conveyed to the town of Perote, and were there held for about eleven months, during which time we met with the usual treatment accorded Texas prisoners. How long I would have been kept, if I had not, fortunately, made my escape, I have no idea. Some of us had been meditating an escape, for some time, when, finally, we got access to a lot of tools, and then began work in earnest. We were six weeks picking through the walls of our prison, during which time the utmost secrecy as to our purposes and movements was maintained. Exactly how many were in the plot, I do not know, but, I think, some sixteen or eighteen. Most of us saved a part of our rations each day for about thirty days befose we finally got out, so as to have something to go on.

"When we at last secured our liberty we divided, going in pairs and by threes, so as to better escape detection. Tom Hancock, who had been a member of the Santa Fe expedition, and Captain E. C. Ogden, who was for some years afterward a resident of Houston, and myself, made up the party with whom I undertook to get away. We directed our course from the prison immediately to the mountains overlooking the town of Perote. ^Ve then started to the town of Jalapa, traveling by night and lying up during the day. We were frequently in hearing distance of the Mexicans, but managed to keep from being seen by them. Finally, our pro\'isions ha\'ing run out, Ogden and Hancock, both failing to provide themselves with more than a few days' supply, we found that heroic measures had to be adopted to prevent our starving. One morning, after having slept all night close to a Mexican village, I gave Hancock $2 in money, being half I had, and one of my blankets and my hat, to go into the the village and procure something to eat. It was an unfortunate venture; for Hancock was captured, and with him went nearly all our earthly possessions having any purchasing power.

"After satisfying ourselves that Hancock had been taken, Ogden and I pushed on as well as we could, hoping that a favorable turn of fortune would deliver us from what seemed certain death from starvation, or, worse than death, in a Mexican prison. We traveled all day through the mountains, and came to a creek, in the early part of the night, which, however, we could not see, but could hear. It became a problem how we were to get across this stream, as it ran through a wild, precipitous canon, and was, as we supposed, quite deep. Crawling along the mountain sides, and letting ourselves down from place to place by holding ing on to the bushes and sprigs of vegetation, we finally came to a place where there was no undergrowth, but where all around were rocks and crags. It was pitch dark; I could hear the stream roaring below, but how far I had no idea. To get back was impossible, for I had gone too far to retreat. At last, in desperaticn, I decided to give a leap, in hopes of falling in the stream where it would be deep enough to protect me from boulders, and then take my chances on swimming out. The canon was somewhat slanting, and instead of jumping, I rolled down the side of the mountain, - how far I never knew, but I have always beheved a hundred feet or more, and ht on my feet in the water, between two projecting rocks. The water was not deep, and I soon secured a soHd footing. I called to Ogden, but could get no answer, the water making so much noise falling over the rocks in the bed of the stream, that one could scarcely have heard- a gunshot a few feet away. The water was dreadfully cold, coming from the melted snows in the mountain, and I knew I must soon get out of it or perish. I could see no way out, but started up the stream. After wading some distance I finally found a place where I could crawl out on the side opposite that on which I had entered. Scrambling up, I found myself again on dry land, but had lost my other companion, my hat, and my last blanket! It was a solemn moment for me. I knew it was a turning point, and, after standing for a few minutes, I saw a light in the distance, and I at once made up my mind to go to it, whether it belonged to friend or foe. I found that the light was in a jackal, and around it were two Mexican men and two or three Mexican women. After some conversation with them, I became satisfied that they had heard nothing of the escape of the prisoners from Perote, and as they showed a friendly disposition, my prospects began to brighten.

' 'Being there, so far from any settlement, and in the half naked condition I \\'as, in order to allay any suspicion they might have as to who I was, it became necesssary for me to manufacture a story. I told them that I was a spinner, and belonged at Jalapa, where the big English cotton mills were; that I had got on a 'spree' and wandered away on a hunt, and had lost my hat and clothes, and nearly everything else except about two dollars in money. I offered them this to take nje to Jalapa, and urged them to take me at one, but they refused, saying, however, that they would take me in the morning. I remained with them that night, and set out early the next morning afoot, with one of the Mexicans, as my guide. We traveled all day and in the evening reached one of the factories, some four miles from Jalapa. I made a pretense to my guide that I did not want to appear among my fellow workmen in the condition I was in, more than half naked, and sent him ahead to the factory, to bring the foreman out to where I was. The foreman came and I found him to be a Portuguese. I made known my condition to him as well as I could and asked his assistance, which he kindly gave. Paying my guide, I dismissed him, and I went with the Portuguese to his house. I was given a bath, and he assisted me to cut my hair and shave off my beard, after which he gave me a linen round-about, a pair of shoes and a cap. He then took me to another factory, run by some Scotchmen, and introduced me to them.

' 'I accompanied a party of them to Jalapa that day, and on the streets of that place I saw several Mexicans who had guarded me at one time or another during my imprisonment, but they did not recognize me. I went with my Scotch friends to the principal hotel in the place, run by an American, and they told him in a few words who I was. The communication seemed to half frighten the wits out of my countryman ;for he immediately asked me not to speak and, taking me by the arm, he led me to the rear into a dark alley, where a few words were exchanged, he cautioning me to keep quiet and keep out of the way of the Mexicans as much as possible. I took dinner at the hotel that day; saw several Mexican officers who were stopping at the same hotel, but I was not molested by them, and did not, so far as I know, excite any suspicion. In the evening a number of Englishmen from another factory, near Jalapa, came into town, and I was introduced to them by the landlord, who acquainted them W'ith my recent experience. American citizenship being below par in Mexico at that time, the Englishmen agreed to adopt me as one of their number and extended to me, figuratively speaking, the protection of the British lion. I will remark, in passing, that I have never been ashamed of being an American, but I will confess that on that particular occasion I was not at all reluctant to scraping up a sort of kinship with my English cousins, and I gladly accepted their proffered protection. I accompanied these Englishmen home that night and was treated most royally by them. They had plenty to eat, and, not having had a square meal for more than a year, and, since my escape, having had little or nothing to eat, I was in prime condition to enjoy all the substantials they put before me. I remained with them a week; and while there Captain Ogden, my comrade, whom I had lost the night I had fallen into the stream, was brought into Jalapa a prisoner, having been captured by the Indians. My English friends went to see him, and told him that I was at their place, safe and all right. In the meantime two other prisoners, who had escaped from Perote when I did, made their way into Jalapa, and were found by my English friends. It was fixed up that these two and myself, should be sent Vera Cruz, where we would probably catch a boat coming home. The Englishmen employed a Mexican bandit to pilot us to Vera Cruz, and he took us about half way, when he turned us over to an American stage driver, who agreed to see us safely deposited at our destination. One of the Englishmen gave me a pass, and as it was made out in his name and duly attested by the English authorities, I made the trip with a feeling of considerable more security.

' ' When we reached Vera Cruz I saw that the three of us going about the streets together was attracting some attention, and suggested that we separate. I went away, and, strolling into the market plar-e, was standing there watching the crowd, when I caught sight of a large, well-formed man whom I at once took to be an American. I think he saw me about the same time; for when I started toward him he began to make his way out of the crowd. The faster I pushed on the more he quickened his pace to get away. When I got in speaking distance I called to him. 'You are an American. ' He did not say he was, or was not, but simply answered, 'The /\[nerican Consul lives up there,' pointing to a house at some distance. I gave up the chase after him an(i turned my steps toward the residence of the American Consul. Reaching the place I hesitated a good while before knocking, but finally made my presence known. My rap at the door was answered by the Consul himself, and, introducing myself to him, I brietly told him my story. He did not say much, but, excusing himself for a minute or two, soon reappeared, dressed for the street, and, telling me to follow him, we went to an English boarding-house. Here I was joined by three or four Englishmen, who at once took an interest in me, and we all went out and had dinner together. The American Consul did not seem able to do much for me, but his services were not needed after I got in with the Englishmen. It was fixed up that

I should leave the country by the first boat going out, and as there were five or six others in Vera Cruz who had escaped like myself, we were formed into a party, and, all got aboard the same vessel. General Thomas J. Green was one of our number, and I understood that he made the arrangements about the ship passage, paying that of each. But without knowing this I had scraped up an acquaintance with Captain Loyd, the commander of the vessel on which we were to sail, having known him when he was a mate on Captain Wright's steamship, running out of Galveston, and I had engaged to work my passage by firing in the hold. I did pay my own way in this manner, and General Green had returned to him the amount he had paid for me

" We were eleven days going from Vera Cruz to Velasco. We were landed at this place, and I here was furnished by a Mr. Twohigwith a letter of introduction to Colonel Love, a lawyer of Galveston, and went from Velasco to that place. After a pleasant interview with Colonel Love I came on to Houston, hoping to find something to do here; but I reached this place in December and there was but little going on.

"I was back among my countrymen once more, but I was confronted with a condition of things that was calculated to try my patience and courage quite as much as anything I had encountered during my previous twelve months' imprisonment. I was almost naked. To tell the plain truth, I hadn't clothes enough to keep me warm, and I was entirely barefooted. It may sound strange for one to speak of walking the streets of Houston barefooted in mid-winter, hungry and unable to procure either food or clothing; but I have done that very thing, and it is one of the most painful of all the very painful recollections of that trying period of my life. Becoming acquainted with a number of people, mostly what you would call helpers around restaurants, who had previously lived in New Orleans, I was induced by them to go to that city in search of employment. From there I went up through Illinois and Wisconson, working in the mines in those States, but in something like eighteen months I returned to Texas, and settling at Houston I have since made this place my home. I saved a little money from my earnings in the mining districts, and when I took up my residence here in Houston I engaged in a small way in the restaurant business. I made some money and afterward acquired an interest in a grocery, and from that time on gradually laid up some money. I have since purchased and traded a good deal in lands, and now own some farm and timber land in this county, and some business and residence property in Houston. What f own I have made by my own efforts, though I do not pretend to say that I am a man of means. I have never asked for a public office in my life, .and have never been asked to accept one. I have tried to discharge my duties as a citizen ; have never sought notoriety, and have, perhaps, received - as little from the State of Texas as any man who has served her as I have. Yet I have no word of complaint to make. I like Texas and Texas people, and had I the strength, and my services were again in demand, I would cheerfully take up arms in her behalf. "

November 30, 1854, Mr. Forester married Miss Gertrude L. Digler, in Houston, Mrs. Forester being a daughter of Adrian Digler, who came to Texas in 1836, after the battle of San Jacinto, and died in Burleson county in 1849, her mother dying in Houston in 1839. The offspring of this un- ion has been five daughters, all of whom are livinfif, namely : Emma J., now Mrs. Robert Hanna, of Harrisburg; Josepliine Ellen, wife of T. F. Coffey, of San Antonio; Marj- E., unmarried; Gertrude E , wife of Ira T. Keeney, of Houston, and Texana M., wife of J. H. Stahl, of Houston. Mr. Forester was made a Mason forty-odd years ago, in Holland Lodge, No. I, of Houston, and he has since been a member of this lodge.