Galveston County, Texas - The whole text, 1895 (part 22 of 26)

>^UDGE PETER W. GRAY was born f in Fredericksburg, Virginia, on De- /> J ccmber 12, 1819. His father was William Fairfax Gray, who moved to Texas about 1837, and settled at Houston. The father was a lawyer by profession, and a man of good general attainments. He was a clerk of the House of Representatives of the Republic in 1837, and was subsequently elected district attorney, which office he was holding at the time of his death, in I 841.

The son, Peter W., was reared chiefly in Houston, studied law in the office of his father, and succeeded him as District Attorney by appointment from President

Houston. In 1846 he was elected to the fiist State Legislature and served witli distinction in that body, becoming" the author of the practice act, which led to the present excellent systems of pleading" and practice in the Texas courts. In 1854 he was elected Judge of the Houston District, composed then of ten counties, extending from the Sabine to the Brazos, and almost identical with the present First Congressional District. So learned and impartial was the manner in which he performed his judicial duties while holding this position that he was characterized by Chief Justice Roberts as "the very best district judge that ever sat upon the Texas bench." By comparison of his decisions with those of other district judges, a much larger per cent, were affirmed than of any other judge.

As a lawyer Judge Gray attained in early life a high standing at the bar, and was distinguished for his astuteness and vigor and for his solid professional attainments. His knowledge of law was profound, he was proficient and practical in the application of principles, his mind was highly analytical, and he was expert in separating truth from the speciousness of circumstances. Subsidiary to this, his love of justice and abhorrence of wrong prompted his best exertions in the establishment of legal, right and equitable principles. He was ardent in his devotion to duty and conscientious in his professional dealings, which qualities engaged the confidence of his clients and the esteem of the people. He was thoroughly familiar with Texas jurisprudence, and his knowledge of statute law, and of the import and reason of the decisions of the Supreme Court made him a safe counselor and a buccessful lawyer. These qualities, enhanced by habits of self-reliance and independence of thought, responded to the requirements of an eminent judge, and attained for him the distinction upon the bench so generousl)' canonized by the eulogy of the Chief Justice.

Judge Gray represented the Houston District in the Confederate States Congress, and during his service in that body his conduct was such as to commend him to the confidence of President Davis, by whom, in 1864, he was appointed fiscal agent of the Confederate States Government in the Trans-Mississippi Department, retaining this position till the close of the war.

After the war he returned to Houston and resumed the practice of his profession, endeavoring by example and counsel to reestablish the order of peaceful pursuits and ameliorate the condition of his people. In 1873 he took a trip to Europe for the benefit of his health, which had been on the decline for a year or two, and, returning somewhat restored, was appointed by Governor Coke, in February, 1874, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Judge W. P. Ballinger. But he was soon warned by the condition of his health that he could not long endure the labors and responsibilities of his new position, and rather than take a vacation and risk embarrassing the court by an evenly divided judiciary he resigned his seat on April 18, after two months of service. Returning home he died, October 3 following.

Judge Gray married Miss Jane Avery, in Houston, on January 23, 1843, with whom he lived in happy companionship until his death, his widow surviving him until February 3, 1894, when she, too, passed away.

positions of trust and confidence in the churcli and directing liis best energies to advancing" its interests. He repeatedly rejiresented his church in general cmnention, and was often called in (Oiincil as a la\ member on matters of church pulity and general concern. He became a Mason while vet a young man, advancing to the highest degree in the order, - that of Knight Temphir, - serving as Grand Commander in i S68 and C.rand Master in i S69.

In private life judge Ciray was jtleasant and affable, and he was especialh- distinguished ft)r the interest he took in the society and companionship of yemng people. To the young men of his pr(.ifefsii)n he was like a father, always kind and helpful, ready with counsel or otlier assistance, and many have acknowledged their indebtedness to him for the promptings they recei\ed to honorable and successful careers.

'^Y'OHN H. HERNDON -The subject m of this brief memoir was born in /9 f Scott county, Kentucky, in July, 1813. His j)arents were I^oswell and Barbara Herndim, who were among the first settlers of central Kentucky and were well-to-fio people. The father was a fanner, and John H. was brought up on the farm, tb.e pursuits of which occupied his early years. He received his education chiefly at Transylvania University, at Lexington, at which he graduated in both the collegiate and law branches, and upon these credentials received a license to practice his profession in his native State. He ne\er entered (ju the practice thtre, however, but came to Te.xas shoitly after graduation, reaching Houston in januarw 1S38. Here he made a stop of a few months, during which time he met many prominent Texans who were either residents of, or sojourning at, the capital of the new Ivepublic. He made use of the opportunities offered him by association with these gentlemen to acquaint himself with the condition and resources of the country, and at length decided to settle permanently for the practice of his profession at Richmond, in Fort Bend county. He had l^rought with him to the country some money, received from his father's estate, and, investing this in wild lands in the southwestern counties, he was, hy diligence and the exercise of good business judgment, soon in the enjoyment not only of a very respectable law practice, but was the owner of consitlerable land and stock. He seemed to fully foresee the possibilities of the ranching business in Texas at that time, and as fast as his means accumulated he invested them in cheap wild lands, which he stocked with cattle, horses and sheep. So rapid became the growth of this interest in his hands that he found it necessary in a few \ears to give up his law lousiness and devote his attention exclusixely to liis planting, stock and real-estate matters, relinquishing his [profession about the year 1854. By 1 861, the opening of the war, he had acquired title to large bodies of land throughout the State, owning, in addition to his l>ra/:os bottom plantation, three fine stock ranches situated in Matagorda, Cniadalupe and Medina counties, respectively.

Being a Southerner by liirth, and trained in the Democratic school oi politics, Mr. Hcrndon's s\-mpathics were naturally with his section at the outbreak of hostilities between the North and South, and, although he did not take up arms in behalf of the Confederacy, he lent it very substantial aid, drawing upon his auqile resources time and again for equipments and supplies for different military organizations. He had full faith in the ultimate success of Southern arms, and, in such transactions as he continued to carry on during the war, he unhesitatingly accepted notes and bonds issued under the Confederate government. With the fall of the Confederacy, therefore, he found himself, like thousands of others, ruined in fortune and confronted with conditions to which he had hitherto been a stranger. He made an honest and intelligent effort to meet his obligations, and at the same time save something from the wreck; but in this he was only partially successful, since, although he had considerable property left, it was impossible, on account of the unsettled condition of things, to raise money even on the best of securities. For several years after the war Mr. Herndon engaged in straightening up his affairs, never relinquishing the hope of fully regaining his former condition, but at last, overcome by failing health brought on by business cares he died, July, 1878, having only in a measure realized his hopes.

Surviving him Mr. Herndon left a widow and four children. He was married at Richmond, Texas, August, 1S39, to Barbara Calvit, a daughter of Alexander and Barbara . Calvit, who came out as one of Stephen F. Austin's original 300 families. (See biography of Alexander Calvit elsewhere in this work.) Mrs. Herndon survived her husband a number of years, dying in March, 1888. Their sons and daughters who grew to manhood and womanhood were: Joseph Calvit Herndon, who recently died in Brazoria county; Alexander Calvit Herndon, of Houston, further mention of whom will be found in this volume; Cornelia, wife of Dr. J. C. Mayfield, of Alvin,

Texas; and Florence, wife of Dr. L. W. Groce, of Hempstead, this State. One brother of Mr. Herndon, Robert S., came to Texas about 1839 and settled in Brazoria county, where he died in 1S45.

John H. Herndon made his home in Richmond until 1853, when he removed to Brazoria county, and two years later to a place which he had purchased at the mouth of the Brazos, where he erected an elegant home and lived for many years in the splendid style that characterized the better class of Brazos planters. Here he had erected a good school building and maintained, at his own expense, a good school for the benefit of his own and his neighbor's children. While having the air of one greatly devoted to business, Mr. Herndon always took the liveliest interest in his home and family and made every reasonable provision for those dependent on him. He was especially fond of the society of young people, and his house was always open to them, as well as to his friends and associates of more mature years. He was a man of strict morals, temperate habits and chaste conversation, and possessed an unblemished reputation both as a lawyer and man of affairs.

Mr. Herndon's large and varied business interests took him to many parts of Texas, and brought him at one time and another in contact with many of Texas' leading men, the friendship and esteem of most of whom he enjoyed. His position, both as a lawyer and business man, caused him to take part, to some extent, in public matters, but he could never be induced to accept office of any kind, and in consequence he was free throughout his long career from all sorts of political and personal entanglements. He was a Democrat in political faith, favored annexation in 1846 and secession in 1861. He joined the Masonic fraternity at Richmond when a youn>; man, becoming- a member of Morton Lodj^e, and held a membcrsliip in that lodge nntil his death.

In personal appearance and every-da_v intercourse, Mr. Herndon was the type and manner of man more frequently met in aiitc-billum days than in recent years. He was social in disposition, pleasant in address and of clean and wholesome appearance, always maintaining the air of a dignified and cultured gentleman. He weighed, when at the full tide of manhood, about 185 pounds, stood five feet eleven inches in lieight, had dark hair and eyes and a swarthy complexion. He could hardly be said to have been of striking personal appearance, but he was a man who possessed a marked individuality, and throughout life he held a career quite his own.

I I Long before the good Samaritan /^^_^ dressed the wounds of the )>oor man whom he found on the Jericho road, the healer of diseases was distinguished for his kindness an<.l humanity. Whatever the skill of the jihysician and surgeon, he can never be truly great unless he is tru]\' touched with the spirit of man's infirmities, and moved of a heartfelt purpose to rclie\e suffering for the sake of the race. In the list of those physicians who liave had long and varied experience in practicing the "healing art" stands the name of Dr. John |. Burroughs, now the oldest practitioner in the cit\ of Houstcin.

of Ireland, who emigrated to America early in the present century. After a brief residence in Mar\land his parents settled in Alabama, where thev subsetjucntly lived and died. Of a family of seven children born to them, four are still living, all being residents of this State. Benjamin F. resides in Leon County, being a civil engineer by profession, now engaged in farming pursuits; James M. resides at Galveston, where he ranks as one of that city's men of solid means; and Hardy M. lives at Lam]iasas, l)eing a minister in the Baptist Church.

John |. Burroughs received his early education in private schools, and at the age of twenty-two took up the study of medicine with a view of fitting himself for the practice of it as a profession. In 1S53 he came to Texas and located in Milam, in Sabine countv, where he continued his studies for some time, after which he attended medical lectures at the New Orleans School of Medicine for five consecutive sessions, practicing his jnofcssion bet wet n terms. He graduated at this institution in 1859, and, locating in \\'(Tod\ille, in Txler county, entered regularly on the practice, which he pursued with success until the opjuing of the war.

Responding to the patriotic sentiment of the times he entered the Confederate army in iSfii, enlisting as a pri\'ate; was elected Second Lieutenant a month later; was soon made Surgeon, and within six months was promoted to the position of Surgeon of his regimeut, the Thirteenth Texas Cavalry, commanded by Colonel John H. Burnett. Beginning active service in Arkansas he was successiveh' imder Generals Price, Holmes, Kiiby Smith, and Walker. In July, 1863, he was captured in the fight at Lake Providence, Louisiana, and was held a prisoner during the remainder of the war, ha\ing been an inmate, at different times, of each of those four celebrated Federal prisons: at Alton, Illinois; Johnson's Island, Point Lookout, and Fort Delaware. A sin;L,adar coincidence of Ur. Burroughs' jnison life is that he was a prisoner of war at the same place his maternal grandfather, John Foster, was during the Revolutionary struggle, the latter having been captured wliile serving in the Continental army and imprisoned at Point Lookout.

At the close of hostilities Dr. Burroughs returned to Texas, reaching his home at Woodville, July 4, 1865, without means, or even his professional accoutrements and supplies. Turning his attention to the problems of peace he resumed the practice of his profession. On the ist day of October, 1865, he loaded his family and all his earthly possessions into a wagon drawn by an ox team, and started for Houston, reaching this city after a nine-days journey, with $3 in money. He at once located, and having come with the determination to stay, he hung out his sign and offered his services to the public. This has since been his home, and here he has been actively engaged in professional j)ursuits for the past twentynine years. In this time he has become widely and favorably known, and is respected,not only for his eminent ability as a member of the medicai profession, but also as a citizen who is interested in the general welfare of the community and State.

Dr. Burroughs has of necessity had to give his attention to the general practice, never claiming distinction in any branch, but demonstrating his ability in all. He has a particular fondness for surgery, as being that branch of the art in which scientific principles enter most largely, and he has performed a number of reall\- noteworthy operations in this branch. The Doctor has given his attention e.xclusively to his profession, and has sought in every available way to qualify himself for its successful practice. In 1870 he took a post-graduate course in the Jefferson Medical College at Pniladelphia, from which he received a diploma, and again in 1874 he attended lectures at Bellevae Hospital Medical College of New York from which institution he also holds a diploma. He has been a member of the Texas State Medical Association for thirty years, and has contributed, as occasion has offered, to the different medical journals. His profession has been the ambition of his life and he has at all times pursued its arduous duties with a zeal born of a desire to do good to his suffering fellow-beings.

In former years Dr. Burroughs was a Democrat and had an abiding faith both in the sufficiency of the principles of his party and in the integrity and patriotism of its leaders. He was taught to revere the memory of Jefferson, and has always regarded with admiration the character of Jackson. But in recent times he has seen what he believes to be a departure from the fundamental principles of good government as expounded by these great lights of Democracy, and believing that principles are always the same, men only changing, he has seen fit to sever his connection with his former political associates and cast his fortunes with that organization, - the Populists, - which though comparatively new in the field of politics has made rapid advance in public favor, and which promises much in the way of governmental reform and the ailministration of the public interest in behalf of the public good. On June 30, 1894, he was nominated at Houston by the Populist convention as a candidate for Con- gress from the First Congressional District, the nomination coming to him without having been sought by him and without even his wishes having been consuhcd. He accepted this nomination as a mark of special confidence, and has undertaken to lead the fight in tlie interest of reform in this Democratic stronghold.

On the 3d of June, 1859, Dr. Burroughs married Annie Elizabeth Bush, of Georgia, a daughter of General D. B. Bush, who won his title in the Floritia Indian wars and for jears was commander of the State militia in Georgia. Tlie offspring of this union has been seven children, three of whom died young antl four of whom are living; James M., an attornej' of Houston; Lee, now engaged in clerical pursuits in this city; and John and Zurlcen, still under the paternal roof.

,V^ ENJ.\MIN DOLSON. - The sul)- 1/'*^ jcct of this sketch is a native of JK^_J Norway, having been born in the town of Frederikstad on March 1, 1834. Frederikstad is situated on Bohus bay, a considerable inlet of the North Sea, by which it and all tlie surrounding countrv has easy connnunication b\' water with the outside world. As a result most of the people in that portion of the kingdom follow maritime pursuits (jf one kind or another. Young Dolson became a sailor almost witiiout knowing how or wdiy. He began in the usual way as a helper on local crafts plying along the southern coast of Norway and Sweden and neighboring European ports, and finally, in 1854, made a trip to America, sailing aboard a British vessel from London, England, to Philadelphia. Four \'ears later he came to Galveston, \vhere he took up

He tlien quit the water with tlie intention of settling himself in other business, but, the war coming on tlie folli^wing \ear, his plans Were laid aside, and he enteretl the C(.)nfederate army, enlisting in Cook's regiment, with which, and on detail dut)', he served until the close of hostilities.

After the war he began the stevedore busine.-s at Gaheston, and has successfully followed this since. This important branch (.)f the shipjiing interest of Galveston has iie\'erbeen in more competent hands, and in it Mr. Dolson has succeeded in building up an excellent reputation with the merchants and shippers, and making it the source of an honest and competent li\ing for himself and family.

Mr. Dolson married in Galveston, in 1861, Miss Jane Kelley, a of county Louth, Ireland, who came to this city in 1S59, and the offspring of this union has been nine children: Mary Ellen; Jennie, now Mrs. John C. Christensen; Benjamin, Jr.: Katie, now Mrs Charles Suderman; Anna, Clara, Adolph, Edna, Walter and S^'dne}'.

^y'^AVID WEBER was born October I I -7' ''''^75' '" the Pro\-ince cif War- /^^^ saw, Prussia, Germany, where he sj)ent his boyhood and youth, coming thence, in 1846, to Texas as a member of Fisher & Miller's colony. In 1848 he entered the United States army for service against Mexico, and ser\"ed till the close of that war. He then took up his permanent abode in Galveston, where he went to work at his trade as a moulder in the foundry of Hiram Close, for whom he worked for a period of nineteen years, until February, 1866, when Mr. Close was succeeded in business by the firm of C. B. Lee & Company, of which Mr. Weber became a member, and so continues at this time.

In 1850 Mr. Weber married Miss August Henck, of Galveston, and the issue of this union has been ten children, si.x of whom are living: Robert, Jennie, Harvey, Lillie, Oscar and Gussie, - all married and comfortablv settled in life.

V-t'OHN nelson. - Since the dawn of m civilization in Europe the countries of /- 1 Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the islands of the Baltic sea have furnished a large quota of the world's sailors and those who have, in the various capacities of shipbuilders, ship-owners and ship agents, had to do with the seafaring life. Wherever the white-winged messengers of commerce have touched, there these hardy sons of the North have gone, and as a result many of them are found scattered in all quarters of the globe.

The subject of this brief sketch is a native of the island of Gothland, lying off the east coast of Sweden, in the Baltic sea, and was born December 21, 1S32. His father was a farmer, and John was brought up on the farm. At the age of nineteen he went to sea, engaging in the coastwise trade on the Baltic until 1855, when he made his first trip across the Atlantic on a vessel bound for New York city. Following that date he voyaged to Australia, China, and the western coast of North America, making, in his rounds, the port of Galveston in 1858. He was here again early in 1859, and on the occasion of each trip he was most favorably impressed with the city and its surrounding's. In the fall of the year last named he returned to Galveston to make it his home. For the past thirty-five years, except the period covered by the civil war, he has been connected with the shij)ping interest at this point, during which time he has succeeded in winning a fair reputation and accumulating some means. He is and has been since the war a member of the firm of Nelson & Dolson, stevedores, in which capacity he is well known to the shippers and business men of the city. Mr. Nelson enlisted in the Confederate army, as a member of Cook's regiment of heavy artillery, at the opening of the late war, and served in the vicinity of Galveston until the close of hostilities.

On August 23, 1863, he married Miss Catherine Kelley, who is a native of Ireland, having come to Galveston in 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have a comfortable home at 14 14 Post Office street.

>Y'0HN FALKENHAGEN. - The subm ject of this sketch is one of the early /- 1 acquisitions to the German colony of Galveston. He is a native of Prussia, and, in 1849, came with his parents direct from Germany to Galveston at the age of fourteen. He was born near Berlin, Germany, in the year 1835. Upon his arrival at Galveston he found employment on the sailing vessels and other crafts that plied the Gulf coast, and held various subordinate positions thereon. Later he abandoned the sea, and at Galveston took up the business of draying, which he successfully pursued for several years, - up to about 1858. He then, in company with his father, George

Falkenhagen, engaged in the business of house-moving, being the iirst to take upthis kind of work in Galveston. He followed it successfully about twenty years, doing nearly all the business in that line on the island.

His father died in 18S6, having been engaged in active pursuits of one kind and another up to the time of his death. He left a small estate and an honoralile name.

Owing to a partial failure of health and advancing years the subject of this sketch retired from active business some time ago, antl now lives quietly at his home on Broadway, between Thirt)'-first and Thirty-second streets. Galveston.

Mr. Falkenhagen has been three times married. He first married, in 1S56, Dora Laursen. a native of Germany. She died of yellow fever the following \-ear. In 1858 he married I^ouisa Bartold, who died in Januar}', 1878, leaving five children: George, William, Louis, Louisa, and John. In July, 1878, Mr. Falkenhagen married Minnie Traubanis, of Houston, and by this union has one son, Aujjust H.

BR E D E R I C K G I B B E R T . - The name of Frederick Gibbert has long been actively and prominently identifieil with the building up of Galveston, and the erection of many of her largest and most stately edifices. He brings vast practical experience to bear, coupled with sound judgment, and he occupies a high and honored position among the business men of the city. His natal country is Prussia, where he was born January 5, 1833, and the year 185:; dates his arrival in the Lone Star State.

He manifested a mechanical turn of mind when very young, and, accordingly, was apprenticed to the carpenter's trade, the details of which he thoroughly learned. Upon his arrival in Galveston, Texas, at the age of nineteen years, he secured emploj'ment at his trade with Jules Kauffman, and, for about twenty-seven years, or until 1879, was associated with liiin. During the civil wsl\\ howe\-er, lie served in the Confederate army, first enlisting for six months and then re-enlisting for the remainder of the war as a member of Cook's regiment.

After the cause was lost he retnrnrd to his former occupation, to which he has since devoted his attention, with the result that he has accumulated a comfortable competency, and has made a name for himself as an experienceii and reliable contractor and builder, and a substantial, l.iw-abiding citizen. In the latter part of the )-car 1857 he led to the altar Miss Regina Mo.~er, whose birth occurred in \V^iitemberg, Germany, and a family of seven chililrcn, si.x daughters and one son, have bkssed their union; Caroline, widow of Charles Schneider; Pauline, who is the wife of William Meier; Louise, the wife of Robert Bautsch; Bettie, wife of Henry Thomas; Mary, \sho married Henry Rutzel; Frances is now Mrs. William Muller; and Charley, who is now eighteen }-ears of age and stdl lives with his parents.

Berdinand A. Marchand

BERDINAND A. MARCHAND, farmer and fruit-grower of Galveston county, was born in the city of Galveston, August 24, 1852, being a son of Ferdinand and Octavia Marthand, natives of Alsace, France, who settled in Galveston in 1851 (see sketch of Ferdinand Marchand elsewhere in this volume).

ent industrial pursuits until after his father's death, in 1889, when, having settled up the latter's estate, he purchased two ten-acre tracts of land, near Laniarque, on which he took up his residence and began the profitable industry of fruit-growing. Mr. Marchand has a well-located and nicely improved place, and, in his unpretentious way, is adding to the reputation of the Texas coast country as a fruit-growing region. He has tried all the staple fruits which have been found to do well in this section, such as pears, peaches, plums, figs, apricots, grapes , and several varieties of berries, with each of which he has also dune well.

On January 15, 1891, he was united in marriage with Miss Lillie Wrench, a native of New Braunfels, Comal county, and a daughter of Henry and Johanna Wrench, who came to this State about i860. Mr. Marchand has living one daughter, Octavia, and one son, William A., - a daughter, Mary, and a son, Ferdinand H., being deceased.

|f\ subject of this sketch was born in M. ,r Schambeck, Hanover, Germany, October 8, 1845, and came of sturdy and industrious German parentage. When but a boy in years he decided to follow the sea, and about 1870 or 1871 he made his first appearance in Galveston. In 1873 he was united in marriage to Mrs. Speace, who died two years later, in 1875. March 2, 1876, he married Miss Helena Holleroth, a native of Bremen, Germany, and daughter of Fredrick and Annie Holleroth, also natives of that city. Mrs. Ellmers came to Texas alone and settled in Galveston, where she was married.

grocery business on Thirt3'-fifth and North streets, built up a sucsessful trade, and carried it on at that location for some time, when he moved to Thirty-seventh street and O avenue. His death occurred on February 6, 1 88 1. In all his business relations he was an honest, upright man, of large capabilities, extraordinary energy and progressive spirit. In his social relations as a citizen, as a neighbor and as the head of a family, he was alike respected and loved. He was domestic in his tastes, and his pleasure was chiefly with his family. All his acts were open to the public, and those who knew him best respected him the most. He was reared in the Lutheran faith and was an earnest member of that church. Socially he was an Odd Fellow, a member of Harmony Lodge, No. 5. He and his brother, Lewis Ellmers, who now resides' in Galveston, were the only ones of the family to cross the ocean to America. To Mr. and Mrs. Ellmers were born three children, only one of whom survives, Henrietta. Mrs. Ellmers has two sisters and a brother in this couiitr}'. One sister, Mrs. Fritz Wedemyer, makes her home in Galveston; the other, Mrs. Garrett Ripkin, resides in Iowa; and the brother, Fredrick Holleroth, is a resident of Jefferson City, Missouri. Mrs. Ellmers and her daughter hold membership in the Lutheran Church. After the death of her husband Mrs. Ellmers continued the business at Thirty-seventh and O avenue for ten years, and was very successful, her's being the only store in the neighborhood. Although at the time of her husband's death they were considerably in debt, Mrs. Ellmers paid this off, and, by her industr\' and excellent business management, accumulated sufficient means to buy a number of lots, on which she has erected six residences, the rental from which 3'ields her a fair revenue. Mrs. Ellmers is a thorough business woman and deserves much credit for the capable manner in which she has carried on business.

EENRY BEISSNER. - The subject of this brief sketch bears a name long familiar to the people of Galveston island, being a nephew of Charles L. and George W. Beissner, the former of whom settled here in 1842 and the latter in 1S43, and having himself been a resident of the city for a period of forty years. Born in Welsede, Hessen, Germany, June I, 1837, Henry Beissner resided in his native country till he reached his nineteenth year, when, in September, 1S55, he took passage aboard the sailing vessel " Weser " from Bremen to Galveston, at which place he landed two months later. Here he was given employment by his kinsmen, working for his uncle, Charles L. , the pioneer hotel keeper of this city; for his uncle, George W. , then engaged in the liquor business; and for others, - in all, spending some five j'ears in different pursuits. He then married, in 1 86 1, finding a companion in the person of Miss Helena Ivaper, a native of Germany, who had come to Galveston three years before, and, reinforced with her aid and counsel, he settled down to business for himself. His first venture was a coffee-house, opened on the corner of Market and Thirty-second streets, and there he did a small but successful business until the stagnation in trade brought on by the war forced his abandonment of the enterprise. In 1864 he was conscripted into the Confederate army and served until the close of the war. Returning then to Galveston be bought a lot.

erected a small building on it and embarked . in the grocery business, which he followed for about ten years, at the end of which time he engaged in the lumber business, and was so engaged first in partnership with W. F. Stewart and C. H. Moore, and then alone, until March, 1893. Having accumulated an amoinit of this world's goods sufficient for one of moderate tastes like himself, Mr. Beissner disposed of his business at the date just mentioned, and for a year and a half past has devoted his time to winding up his affairs preparatory to retiring altogether from business pursuits.

While the career of Mr. Beissner does not differ in kind from that of many of his countrymen and old-time associates, it does differ materially in degree of success attained. But what is perhaps the most noticeable and most commendable, is his determination, lately expressed, of withdrawing from business, and, during the remainder of years allotted to him on earth, devoting his efforts to the rational enjoyment of what he has earned. This is not only philosophical, but is highly praiseworthy; for it shows in him the existence of something more than the instinct of gain, and also helps to widen the field of effort for the rising generation of business men.

Mr. Beissner holds considerable investments in real estate in Galveston and some stocks in local enterprises, and he has always favored, and, as far as he felt called on, has helped with his means whatever measures have been set on foot for the promotion of the welfare of the community. He has affiliated with no orders and has taken only a nominal interest in politics.

I ^Z many years the name of Mr. David- \ ,P son has been inseparably hnked with the religious history of Texas, whose annals bear testimony to his valuable services as a divine and his deep religious fervor. He has also clearly demonstrated that there is much more goodness, wisdom and love in the world than is generally supposed, has now grown gray in the service of his Master and rests upon the record of a busy and useful life which should inspire the youths of the present and coming generations to lives of usefulness.

He was born in Jefferson county, Mississippi, July 21, 1 8 14, his father being John Alexander Davidson, and his grandfather. General William Davidson. The latter obtained his title in the Revolutionary war and gave his life for the cause of liberty, his death resulting from the gunshot wounds of a Tory. John Alexander Davidson was married to a daughter of Thomas M. Green, who was a conspicuous figure in the early history of Mississippi and son of Hon. Thomas M. Green, who was the first member of Congress from what was then Mississippi Territory.

Rev. John H. Davidson spent the days of his youth and early manhood on the plantation owned by his father in Mississippi, and was wisely brought up under religious influences. In 1839 he presented an application to the Mississippi Methodist Episcopal Conference as a probationer, and was, two years later, received into full membership. He traveled several years in the Conference, and was then sent as a missionary to the colored people on the Louisiana side of the Mississippi river. In 1852 he came to Texas and worked as a missionary under the direction of Rev James W. Wesson until his final transfer from the Mississippi Conference, which official transfer had suffered some unavoidable delay, and upon its formal accomplishment he was stationed about twelve miles below San Felipe, in Austin county, in the service of the Texas Conference, in which portion of the State he labored until 1866, when became to Galveston. He was a minister of this city until about 1888, when he was superannuated.

Mr. Davidson was first married in eastern Louisiana, in St. Helena parish, to Miss Martha Higganbotham, but was left a widower with five children in 1853. Two years later he again married, his second wife being Mrs. Louise S. Tousley. Three of Mr. Davidson's children reached maturity: Thomas G. , a successful lawyer, who became criminal Prosecuting Attorney for the district embracing Washington, Fayette and Burleson counties; William W., who died at Brenham; and John G., who died at Galveston in December, 1886. Besides these children, Mr. and Mrs. Davidson adopted, reared and educated two orphan children of the late I\ev. |. W. Shipman, a pioneer divine of Texas and' a strong personal friend of Mr. Davidson. Their names are James W. and Ida May, the latter being the wife of Bernard M. Temple, a successful civil engineer of Galveston. During their declining years Mr. and Mrs. Davidson are surrounded with every comfort, and are happy in the confidence, love and respect of a wide circle of friends.

aOLONEL N. B," YARD. - Nahor Biggs Yard was born in Trenton, New Jersey, March 12, i 8 16 He was descended from \\''illiam Yard, who came from Yorkshire, England, long before the American Revolution and settled at Trenton in the then Pro\ince of Jersey. His ancestors \\'ere loyal to the principles for which the Colonists contended and bore an honorable part in the struggle for independence. One of them, Benjamin Yard, a gunsmith by trade, made many of the firearms which were carried by Washington's army and also erected, in the city of Trenton, the ironwork of the triumphal arch under which the "Father of His Country" passed on his way to be inaugurated first President of the United States.

Nahor B. Yard was reared in his native place, in the schools of which he received a common English education, leaving home at the age of twelve and going to Philadelphia, where he entered the employ of a clothing merchant, Jacob S. Brinley. He remained there until he reached his twentyfirst year, when, having contracted a cold which left him a severe cough, he was advised by his phj'sician to seek a warmer climate, and in the fall or early winter of 1837 started for Texas. He left Philadelphia with a small schooner, the "Texas," purchased by himself and adventurous friend named Thomas Gilroy,- and aboard this vessel the}' placed the material for a house, ready to be erected, and a few articles of furniture, with necessary supplies for bachelor housekeeping. They coasted along the Atlantic and the Gulf, and finally sailed into Galveston bay, landing on the island January 18, 1S38. When he reached this place Colonel Yard found a few settlers, living mostly in tents, no city organization having yet been effected and there being as yet no wharf or public buildings. The only place of rest or refreshment was the brig "Elbe," kept by Captain Joseph Taylor, who had converted the wreck of the "Elbe" into a restaurant, hotel and place of general resort. The custom house of the Republic of Texas was the wreck of another vessel, the "Perseverance." Colonel Yard and his friend landed their cargo, and, after paying tribute to Gail Borden, Jr., first collector of customs, proceeded to erect their building on the east bank of a bayou, near the site of H. M. Trueheart & Company's offices, it being the ninth house erected on the island after the gale of 1837.

The partnership between Colonel Yard and Gilroy was dissolved by mutual consent, Gilroy taking the schooner and proceeding on his career of adventure, while Colonel Yard retained the house and its contents as his portion of the joint property. Among the effects brought by Colonel Yard was a stove, which was probably the only one at that time in all Texas, and which was regarded by its owner as a treasure. In transferring this from the vessel to the shore the apron was broken off in some way, which, in the opinion of Colonel Yard, injured it considerably, and he demanded damages from the captain, who had undertaken the job of unloading the schooner. The captain refused to allow anything in the wa}- of damages, and Colonel Yard sued him. This suit, filed before John N. Reed, Justice of the Peace of Galveston county, was the first action at law ever brought in the county.

Having been engaged in the clothing business, Colonel Yard hoped to find something to do here in that line, but on account of the sparsely settled condition of the island, there was no opening of that sort, and he turned his attention in another direction. He and John Jackson built a row-boat and put it in trade to ply between vessels in the channel and the shore, and for some months they did a profitable business in conveying freight and passengers back and forth.

On the organization of the city government, in August, 1839, Colonel Yard was elected Alderman, helped to put the machiner_v of the new government in motion, and served for a time as City Secretary. The same year he assisted in organizing the Galveston Guards, of \\hich he was elected First Lieutenant, this being the first military organization on the island, and remaining one of the chief sources of reliance against Mexican invasion until annexation, in 1846. From 1839 to 1841 he served at intervals as a ranger and helped to protect the settlers on the frontier against the Indians and marauding Mexicans.

About 1 84 1 Colonel Yard opened a clothing house in Galveston, and continued this alone until 1845, when he formed a partnership with Jacob L. Briggs, which association continued until the death of Mr. Briggs, who, with many other old Galvestonians, went down on the ill-fated steamship, "Verona," October 19, 1870. After that Colonel Yard was in business alone until his retirement in 1876.

During his forty years' active career in Galveston Colonel Yard was connected with many of the business enterprises of the city, and, from first to last, held numerous positions of public trust. He assisted in organizing Hook and Ladder Company No. I, said to be the first fire company ever organized in Texas. He was one of the projectors of the Galveston, Houston & Henderson Railroad, a pioneer line of the State, and of the Brazos Canal & Navigation Company, serving as a member of the board of directors of each. He was one of the originators of the Union Fire & Marine Insurance Company, of which he was for many }'ears a director. From its organization, in 1855, to 1879 he was director and president of the Galveston Gas Company. In 1853 he was appointed Superintendent of the Public Schools of Galveston county and aided materially in building up the county's public-school system. He was foreman of the first grand jury ever empaneled in the county, and always lent his influence to the maintenance of order and good government. He was a member of the Howard Association from its organization until his death, and from 1857 to 1879 was its president. In 1861 he was elected First Lieutenant of the Galveston Rifles, the first Confederate company organized in the city, was subsequently elected Captain of the same, and was commissioned Colonel, serving throughout the war in the Trans-Mississippi Department. He was one of the most prominent Masons in Texas, being a Knight Templar and having taken all the degrees in the Ancient York rite, up to and including the thirty-third, and was probably the only man in Texas during his day who held the diploma of the " Aulac Honoris Equiti Magistri," an intermediate degree between the thirty-second and thirtythird degrees of the Ancient Scottish rite. He held every office in the gift of his brethren, from that of T}lerto Grand Commander of the Knights Templar, San Felipe de Austin Commanderv, Past Grand Commander of the Commandery of the State. He became a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, Galveston, in 1841. He sang in the choir, "God Moves in a Mysterious Way," for the Rev. Benjamin Eaton at his first sermon, and for him at his last sermon, "Nearer, My God, to Thee," when Mr. Eaton, while dismissing his congregation was stricken with death, after a service of thirty years for the same people.

On February 15, 1846, at Galveston, Colonel Yard married Miss Caroline, daughter of William B. and Caroline Nichols, Mrs. Nichols beinj,' a native of New York, born October 4, 1827. Her parents came to Galveston in 1838, her father .^oing thence, in 1849, to California, where he died in 1877. T<j Colonel Yard and wife were born six children: Elizabeth Caroline, born December 3, 1846; William Nahor, born November 29, 1847; Hitty Jane, born Jaiuiary 15, 1849; Mary Hamilton, born January 10, 1851; Edward Jacob, born Jannar}' 12, i860; and George Nichols, born September 17, 1863. Of these three are deceased, - William Nahor, who died April 7, 1848; Mary Hamilton, who died May 12, 1853; and Hitty Jane, who died February 27, 1870. Elizabeth Caroline was married to Fred A. Smith, and resides at Ah'in, Texas; Edward Jacob is chief engineer of the Rio Grande Western Railway, with headquarters at Salt Lake City, Utah; and George Nichols is assistant cashier and paymaster of the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railway, at Galveston, Texas.

aOLONEL J. H. BURNETT, Galveston. - John H. liurnett was born in the t(jwn of Greeneville, Greene county, Tennessee, July 8, 1830. His parents were Silas E. and Malinda (Howell) Burnett, natives of \'irginia, who settled early in the present century in Tennessee, whence, after a residence of some years, they moved to Georgia, where they subsequently lived and died. John H. was reared in Greeneville, Tennessee, and in Somerville, Georgia, in each of which

! and Mexico, in 1846, he volunteered in Colonel Callioun's regiment, with which he joined Scott's army and took part in all the engagements in which that army particijiated, being attracted to the State by the favorable opinion formed of it during his service in the Mexican war. He settled at Crockett, in Houston county, where he engaged in mercantile and farming jHirsuits. In 1857 he was elected to the Legislature and represented Houston ciumty in the lower branch of that body two terms. He was then elected to the Senate from the Senatorial district in which Houston county was at that time located, but resij^netl his seat to enter the Confederate army. He raised a regiment composed of sixteen companies, intending to join Joseph E. Johnston's army, but, failing to secure transportation, subsequently joined the Confederate forces operating under General Ben McCulloch in Arkansas. His regiment was knnwu as the Thirteenth Texas Cavalry and took part in most of the campaigns and engagements in Arkansas and Louisiana, including Jenkins' I'erry, Milliken's Bend, anil all of the engagements incident to Ilanks' Red river campaign, beginning \\ith Pleasant Hill. Colonel Burnett was with his connnand and shared its fortunes from the date of its organization to the close of hostilities.

and again took up business pursuits, and, with the era of prosperity following that date, reaped good fruits from his industry and business-like management. In the fall of 1866 he opened a commission house in Galveston, in partnership with W. B. ^^'all, under the firm name of Burnett & Wall, which was continued under that name and under the name of J. H. Burnett & Company until I 87S.

In 1 8/ 5 Colonel Burnett began to interest himself in railroad construction, taking the contract that year to build sixty-five miles of the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railroad. After completing this contract he took others, and built a considerable portion of each of the roads, - the Texas & St. Louis, the Houston, East & West Texas and the Sabine & East Texas. He was also one of the original projectors of the International Railroad, helped to secure its charter and to effect its consolidation with the Houston & Great Northern, and also to float the bonds in New York, from which each was built.

Purchasing property in Galveston as early as 1870, Colonel Burnett moved his residence to this city and at once began to take an active part in its business and social affairs. For twenty years past he has had to do, in some capacity, with almost every public enterprise in the city. As contractor he did $350,000 worth of street paving and filling; he built the Gulf City Street Railway, the Galveston & Western Railway; the two compresses (the Gulf City and the Shippers') and the present Tremont hotel, in all of which he took stock, owning at one time a majority of the stock in the two railways mentioned. His investments in the cities of Galveston and Houston, and in the Gulf coast country generally, easily run into the hundreds of

At sixty-four Colonel Burnett is still hale, and is actively engaged in business affairs, interesting himself in everything around him. He has never held public office since the war, being too much absorbed with business pursuits to devote any time to office-seeking. He is a Democrat in politics, well grounded in the principles of his party, widely read in its history and capable of making, when occasion demands, a clear, logical and convincing presentation of his views.

In 1 85 1 Colonel Burnett married Miss Catherine Beavers, a native of Somerville, Georgia, and a daughter of General John F. Beavers, who served his country with distinction in the Indian wars of the earlier part of this century. The issue of this union was two children, - a son, Oscar H. Burnett, now a Brazos valley planter; and a daughter, Mrs. Ellen B. Ross, of Galveston. Colonel Burnett's wife died in 1886.

>^OHN DERRICK. - Turning to the m oldest official documents of a local A J nature to be found in the city of Galveston, - the proceedings of the City Council for 1839, - the name of John Derrick is there found dul}' enrolled as a member of the first board of Aldermen ever elected for this place.

Mr. Derrick came to Galveston in 1838. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he was also reared, coming thence south and marrying Eupheniea E. Walker, of Louisville, Kentucky, who accompanied him to Texas. When Mr. Derrick settled in Galveston there were only a few houses here, and scarcely any facilities whatever for landing passengers, wares and merchandise. He took the contract to drive the piHng for the first wharf, which was put in by McKinney & Williams, the pioneer merchants; and he also built the old Tremont Hotel, the first hostelry in the place, which stood on the site occupied by the present buikling of that name. Mr. Derrick resided in Galveston only a few j-ears.

Having conceived the idea of making a fortune out of the stock business he sold his city property, tlT.e principal piece of which was a house and lot on the corner of Tremont and Strand, for $300, and moved, in I 84 1, to the head of Clear lake, across the bay in Galveston county, where he embarked in stock-raising. He ne\-er succeeded in winning his fortune, but made a comfortable living, and died in the enjoyment of the esteem of those by whom he was surrounded. His death occurred in 1S57, and his widow survived him some years, dying in 1865. Mr. Derrick was literally a pioneer of Galveston county. When he settled at Clear Lake there was but one other family in that general vicinity, - that of Leander Wescott, and but one other on the bay shore north of the channel, that of a Mr. Edwards, father of M(_)nroe Edwards, living at Edwards' Point. To Mr. Derrick and his wife seven children were born in the order of their ages, as follows: Irene, the deceased wife of Emil Alstaten; Henr}', now also deceased; Ella, widow of John F. Talbot; John W. ; Althea, widow of F"red Duff; Mary, deceased; and George, a stock-raiser, residing in Brazoria county.

John W. Derrick was born April 3, 1842, on Clear lake, Galveston county, being one of the oldest native-born citizens now residing in the county. He learned the trades of house carpenter and boat-builder

1862, to Captain H. B. Andrews' company, and subsequently detailed as baggage-master on the Galveston, Houston & Henderson Railroad. From this position he went to the marine department, where he became a blockade runner, in which capacity he had some thrilling experiences, making several trips from Galveston to the Rio Grande country, to Mexico and to Havana, passing and repassing United States gunboats, being once captured and held for about three months in the State prison of New Orleans.

May 9, 1866, he married Miss Mary Gordy, a native of St. Landry parish, Louisiana, who accompanied her father, Archie Gordy, to Texas the same year, her mother dying in Louisiana before the removal of the family to this State. Mr. and Mrs. Derrick ha\e had twelve children, seven of whom are living: Florence, now Mrs. Oscar Johnson; Willie, Mary I., Cora, Asa, Edna and Oscar.

*-m ^ ENRY O. BERGSTROM. - This I'^^V gentleman, \\-ho has held the posil ^P tion of delivery clerk on the International & Great Northern Railroad for the past seventeen years, and who has discharged the duties of that position in a very creditable manner, is a native of Texas, born at Quintana, September 4, 1854, of Swedish extraction, bearing in many traits of his character the impress of the sterhng virtues of that race. His father, Swen Bergstrom, who was born in Sweden, was a watchmaker by trade and followed the same near the city of Stockholm. His birth occurred March 23, 1S04, and about thirtyeight years from that time, in 1842, became to America, where he spent about three years in and around the city of Charleston, South Carolina. From there he came to Texas and carried on his trade, but in connection was also engaged in a seafaring life in consequence of ill-health. He became well off, owned shares in various sailing vessels, and became well versed in all the arts of navigation, having been quite a seaman in his youthful as well as his latter days. His death occurred in February, 1862, when fifty-eight years old. His wife, whose maiden name was Eva Treaccar, was a daughter of Franz William Treaccar, one of the well-known pioneers of Galveston (see sketch). She was born April 20, 1832, in Germany, and when but a child came with her parents to this countr}-. After the death of Mr. Bergstrom she remained a widowuntil 1872, when she married Thomas Young, and had one child, who is now Mrs. William Smith, of Galveston.

Henry Bergstrom, the original of this notice, started out in life for himself as an employe of the Galveston, Houston & Henderson Railroad, now a portion of the International & Great Northern system, and for the past seventeen years has held the position of delivery clerk, as before mentioned. On the 27th of August, 1879, he married Miss Mary Simson, daughter of Henr\- Simson, who was a German by birth, born in Prussia, in 1S26, and was a carpenter by trade. In 1865 the latter came to Galveston and remained there until 1872, following his trade, after which he went back to visit the old country. On the return trip he died at sea. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Schumacker, and who was also born in Prussia, Germany, August 13, 1828, still survives and finds a comfortable home with her daughter, Mrs. Bergstrom. After the death of her husband she married Charles Buckland, who died in March, 1S91. Mr. and Mrs. Bergstpom have three interesting children living: Walter, born May 23, 1882; Jennie, born September 4, 1888; and Mabel Ethel, born January 23, 1891. Mr. Bergstrom is a gentleman of good business ability, having been for a number of years connected with the shipping and transportation interests of Galveston, first in the employ of the Pilots' Association and latterly with the International & Great Northern Railway.

aAPTAIN PETER COLLINS, a retired seaman of Galveston, is a native of Ireland, born May 12, 1830. His parents were John and Margaret (Darby) Collins, both of Irish parentage. ' The father was a sailor, and his son, the subject of this sketch, was sent to sea at the age of thirteen, and for a period of forty-si.x years followed the life of a sailor in various capacities. During his long term of service on the waters he visited all the important seaports of the world and had an active, varied and interesting career.

His first trip to America was in 1847, and for some time following that date he sailed out of New York to the chief cities of the Atlantic coast, the West Indies and the Gulf of Mexico. From 1849 to 1851, inclusive, he engaged in the cotton transport trade in the vicinity of Mobile, Alabama, running on the Alabama, Tombigbee and tributary inland streains, and on the Mississippi in the \icinity of Vicksbur;;-. In the latter part of icS^ahe went to CabfurniLi, and thence, a year or so hiter, to Austraha, in each of whicii places he was engaged in mining. In 1857 he returned to America and resumed steamboat ing at New Orleans. From that cit\-, in the fall of the same year, he came to Galveston as a passenger on board the steamship "Mexico." He at once settled in Gah'estoa an:l began operating in the coast-wise trade on the Gulf and along the Bra/os and Trinit}' rivers. He followed this until the opening <_)f the civil war, when he offered his services to the Confederac)', and, entering the Marine Department, wascngaged mostly in running the blockade from 1S61 to 1S65. After the war he again took up the occupation of a local navigator, and, as owner of various craft at different times, was engaged in local trade and transportation until iS-So. At that date he retired from all active pursuits.

Captain Collins has be^ui three times married, but has children by c>nly two of his marriages. By his marriage with Julia Fl_\nn he has one daughter, Maggie, and by his marriage with Mrs. Rose Ann Farndale, a native of Li\'erpool, England, whose m.iiden name was Clark, he has two sons, Peter and John.

HLEXANDER CALVIT H1':RND0N was born in Fort Bend county, Texas, December 15, 1846, and comes of the pioneer stock of that pioneer section of the State, being a son of John H. and Barb.ira Calvit Herndon, the former of whom came to Texas in 1838, and the latter in 1824. (See sketches of John

A. C. Herndon was reared in Fort Bend and Brazoria counties and received his elementary education in a private school in Velasco. At the opening of the war he was sent to EurojK- witli a view of completing his education there, and spent two years in an institution at Brussels ; Init at the end of that time he returned home, and, entering the Confederate army as a member of Captain Terry's scouts, was in the service until the close of hostilities. He engaged in planting in Brazoria county for a year after the war, and then purchased a farm two miles east of Richmond, in Fort Bend county, on which he settled and embarked on a large scale in agricultural pursuits. About 1871 he began giving his attention to the real-estate business, moving to Houston at that date and there opening an office, where he took up operations in this line in all its branches. But he g.ive the business up before he got fairly under way, and it was not until 1886 that he again resumed it, this time, as before, in Houston, where he has steadil}' anil successfully pursued it since. The tirin of A. C. Herndon & Son is nowone of the well-established agencies of Houston, and does its full share of the business in handling realty in that city and vicinity. The senior Mr. Herndon has made the land business a study, and he knows it thoroughly from beginning to end. He gives his attention chiefly to this branch of the business, while his son takes care of that branch relating to suburban and city property. Whatever measures have been set on foot to direct attention to the eligibility of Houston as a commercial, manufacturing and shipping point, or place of in\estment, or to place before the outside worUi the resources and value of the lands of Harris county, and south Texas generally, ha\'e found in Mr. Herndon a stanch advocate and willing and able assistant. He has originated many such measures himself, having spent good round sums of money in advertising the city and county abroad, showing their advantages for all classes of settlers. Mr. Herndon is one man who has quietly, but presistently and intelligently, helped to keep' the Bayou City well to the front, and thus indirectly aided in building it up to a stature which, to so many, seems a marvel of growth in recent years.

He is only a plain business man, claiming no recognition for his services, being content with the rapidly expanding conditions and other evidences of prosperity which he sees around him as a reward for whatever effort he may have made in behalf of the public good. He is not a politician in any sense, never having held office of any kind, but he is a Democrat "even after the most straightest of that sect," and can always be counted on to support his party's ticket.

Mr. Herndon has been twice married, marrying first in November, 1865, Miss Mary Robinson, a native of Louisiana, but at the time of her marriage a resident of Fort Bend county, this State. This lad)' died in 1879, leaving one son, Boswell, now junior member of the firm of A. C. Herndon & Son. Mr. Herndon's second marriage occurred also in Fort Bend county, and was to Miss Sarah Weston, a native of that county and a daughter of John M. Weston, who settled there at an early date. The offspring of this union has been four children: Alexander C, Jr., Barbara, John M., and Robert S. Mr. Herndon and family belong to the Episcopal Church, and he holds a membership in the Elks and Knights of Honor.

^^w** ALTER BENNISON. - This MM I sturdy old citizen of Galveston, mJ^^J now deceased, was born in Stockport, Cheshire, England, March 29, 18 19. He was of English parentage and thoroughly English in every fiber of his nature. He learned the trade of silkweaver in his youth and followed it for a while, but subsequently took up blacksmithing, which formed the principal occupation of his life.

In his native country he married Sarah Hibbert, who was born in Loudoth, Derbyshire, England, January 19, 1 819. In 1846 Hugh Bennison, a brother of Walter, came to Texas and settled at Galveston. A year later he was joined by the subject of this sketch, and the two brothers were for thirty years engaged in blacksmithing in partnership at Galveston. Walter Bennison follows, d his trade in this city for nearly forty years, - up to his death, which occurred October 29, 1884. His wife died May 9, of the same year; and both are buried in the Episcopal cemetery at Galveston. Mr. Bennison was a man of great industry and the strictest integrity. He was devoted unreservedly to his business and his home. He possessed some peculiarities, but in all the essentials of good citizenship he fairly filled the measure, and to the end of his days he held the confidence and esteem of those with whom he was associated. He could rarely ever be induced to put his name to an obligation calling for money, avoiding debt as he would a plague. He never speculated, but, investing his means from time to time in real estate in the city of Galveston, he came to be the owner of considerable property, leaving an estate which, ac ording to the inventory, was worth at his deaih between $60,000 and $70,000. He and his wife were the parents of several children, but four of whom, - Emanuel and John, born in En<^land; and Elizabeth and Samuel, born in Galveston, - became j^rown. Emanuel died at the ap;e of thirtj'-one, unmarried. John, born in 1846, served in Nichols' rej^inient during the late war; married Mrs. Mary Tarrant, widow of Dr. T. \V. Tarrant, of New \oyk, March 17, 1 8S0, and now resides in this city. Eli/alx'th is the wife of George Fu.\, of Galvcstun. Samuel, born December 14, 1859, married Mattie Yeager, of Galveston, in 1885, and lias the following children: Waltt-r, Samuel, Maud, Sarah and Georsre A.

iiOMAS H. EDGAR. - This wellknown r,.'sideat of G;d\-eston county, Te.xas, comes of good old fightuig stock, for not only did his father ti,L;Iit for the independ nc of Te.xas, and his matt-rnal grandfather for the iiuiependence of America during the Kevolution, leaving a leg on the bloody battlefield of Bunker Hill, but he himself was a soldier of the Confederate army durirg the great civil \\ ar. He is distinguished for being the first N\hite male child burn on Galveston island, his natal da\' being June 27, 1837.

His father, Alexander Edgar, was a Scotchman, born on the Grairipian Hills, June 22, 1799, and his early life was devoted to tilling the soil, which continut d to be his occupation throughout life. In 1827 he emigrated to America, and the following jear settled at Hartford, Connecticut, where he formed the acquaintance and became a warm personal friend of Stephen F. Austin, li) 1 83 1 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Rogers, a daughter of John Rogers, of Hartford, and two years later, with his young wife, came to Te.xas as a member of Austin's first colony, and temporarily located in Brazoria Count)-, but April 5, 1834, settled on Galveston island, where he ever afterward made his home. When Texas began her struggle for independence, he joined the Texas forces and was one of the brave little band at the blood\- battle of the Alamo, being under the command of General Milam, and stood by the hitter's side when he fell, the bullet which caused his death having first passed through the crown of Mr. Edgar's hat. Later, when the Mexican officers capitulated, Mr. I^dgar received the flag of truce from them. After the surrender he returned to his home and family, and took up his residence on the east end of Galveston island, which he proceeded to legally designate as his "headright," due him from the Government for services rendered as a soldier. Owing to the close of the land ofhce h\ the continuance of the war, Mr. Edgar was unable to complete the filing of his papers for some time, but later on succeeded in doing so, and pushed his claim in the coiuts to a tract of a league and labor of land, covering what is known as Galveston Cit\- league The litigation extended over a p riod of nearly fort}' years, but at last was decided against the claimants. Mr. Edgar was exceedingly patriotic to the land of his adoption, and was especially devoted to and a believer in Texas, to whose future greatness he looked forward with the greatest confidence and pleasure He was a very useful pioneer, his memory is still cherished by those who knew the noble work he had done, and his name will ever be inseparably linked with her past romantic and glorious history. He was not an office-seeking politician, but his sound sense made him a valu- able counselor and his advice was often sought, and, wherever followed, proved excellent. His death occurred December 12, 1875, and that of his wife February 12, of the same year. The children born to them were Mrs. Wright S. Andrews and Mrs. Virgil Patrick, both now deceased; Thomas H., whose name heads this sketch; Mary Calder, who married John Wescott and is now deceased; Thomas M.,died in youth; Mary R. , also died young.

Thomas H. grew up under the educational and social influences of Galveston, and on the 22d of June, 1S59, when twenty-two years of age, was united in the bonds of matrimony with Miss Sarah E., daughter of Hon. William Fields, an eminent newspaper man and author of I'ields' Scrap Book, which was published in 1851 and reached a second edition a*; a later period. Mr. Fields came to Te.xas in 183S, therefore was one of its pioneers, and took an active part in the political affairs of his da\-, serving several terms in the State Legislature. He finally received the appointment of State Engineer, which office he held at the time of his death, in September, 1858. He was married to Miss Minerva H. Mayes, a native of Nashville, Tennessee, and a daughter of Garner Mayes, a farmer. She died in Chambers county, at the age of eight}' years. When the civil war opened, Thomas H. Edgar entered the Confederate service, becoming a member of the Twenty-sixth Texas Cavalry, commanded by Colonel X. B. De Bray. He was in the Trans-Mississippi Department, and his was one of the regiments regularly discharged. He then returned to his home and has since devoted himself to civil pursuits, and for many years very acceptably filled the position of Deputy Postmaster of Galveston.

>Y*OHN A. HARRINGTON, secretary f and manager of the Island City Ab- /- 1 stract & Loan Company, was born in Montgomery county, Alabama, October 11, 1840. His parents were Edward Hampton Harrington and Ann, ncc Bradshaw, the former a native of Sumter district. South Carolina, the latter a native of Buncombe county, North Carolina. His parents were married in Alabama and resided there some years, when, in 1849, they moved to Texas and settled in Harrison county. After a year's residence in that county they mioved to Waco, where the youth of the subject of this sketch was passed. He was educated at Baylor University, then located at Independence, W^ashington county, and at Georgetown College, Georgetown, Kentucky, at which latter institution he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, in 1859. Returning home he took up the study of medicine, and was engaged in preparing himself for entry to the medical profession when the war came on between the States. He entered the Confederate service in May, 1861, enlisting in Company E, Fourth Texas Infantry (Hood's origade), with which he joined the Army of Virginia. He took part in all the engagements in which Hood's brigade participated, up to September 29, 1864, when he received a severe wound in a skirmish before Richmond, being shot through the right lung, from the effects of which he was sent to the hospital, where he was detained until June, 1865. Returning to Texas he located at Houston, where he became a clerk in the stationery house of Gushing & Cave, and was with them one year, when he began traveling for A. S. Barnes & Company, publishers, of New York. He traveled for that house two years, and then settled at Kosse, in Lime- stone county, this State, and engaged in the i settled about the close of the war and where mercantile business. He followed mercan- he was for a number of \ears engaged in tile pursuits until 1S73, and in the mean- , the lumber business, ha\iiig now retired, time read law, was admitted to the bar, and The ]udge's mnther died in Mcl^eiman in 1876 was elected County Judge of Lime- ' county, Texas, in Jnl\-, 1856. He was the stone county, a position which he filled for only child of his parents, but his father subfive j'ears, resigning the office at the e.xpira- seqiiently marr\ ing again he has a halftion of his last term to remove to Dallas and 1 brother, Edward Hugh Harringtim, of San engage in the abstract business. He resided 1 Antonio, and a lialf-sisti'r, Isabclle Nelson in that city nine years, until April, i8go, I Heffernan, wife of Edward Heffernan, of when he moved to Galveston, where he now I Houston.

ized the Island City Abstract & Loan Com- i stanch friend and an unflinching adversary, pany, of which he was made manager, a ' modest and unassuming, yet faithful where position he now holds. In October, 1894, duty calls. He has seen his young State he was elected an Alderman ^A the city to , grow from beneath the rule of barbarity to fill the unexpired term of Thomas W. Jack- i its present prcjud place among the brilhant son, resigned, and is serving in this capa- | sisterhood of States. He has served her city. Judge Harrington is regarded as a ; faithfully, without seeking preferment, in sound, capable man, ddigent in business, 1 both civil and military capacities, with the faithful in all things. He is a Democrat in | full confidence and respect of his fellow men. politics and lias done his party good service in the past. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, Groesbeck Lodge, No. 358, at ' ^^y ii''lLLI.\M MEGSON. - The sub- married Miss Mary Josephine Horner, of April 14, 1829, of English ancestry and Warrenton, Virginia, a daughter of Joseph j comes from the industrial walks of life, and Eliza Baylor Horner, each of old Vir- 1 Going to sea in youth, he served as a sailor ginia families, the father formerly a prom- j before the mast until 1856, when, having inent lawyer of the Fauquier county bar. married, he settl(>d in New Orleans, where ludse Harrington and wife have had seven he engaged in stevedoring, which formed children: Joseph, now a stockman, residing 1 his chief pursuit during the next tinrty in Eastland c<nmt_\', in this State; xA.nnie 1 years. He was engaged in this business at Bradshaw, wife of John \V. Bennett, a I New Orleans and at Bagdad, Mexico, before farmer of Limestone count)-; Eliza Baylor, I coming to Galveston. He followed it for wife of T. W. Beck, of San Antimio; Fannie, ' more than twenty years in this city, retir- William E., Mary Horner and John, - the , ing about 1 887. last four residing still with their parents. ' Mr. Megson married Miss Annie White,

Judge Harrington's father, now eighty I at New Orleans, in 1856, she being a nayears of age, resides in Houston, where he ! tive of Ireland. The offspring of this union was five children, none of whom are now Hving. Having invested his means mostly in real estate in Galveston, Mr. Megson derives sufficient from his rentals to keep him and his wife in the modest style in which they wish to live, and he is spending his declining days in peace and comfort.

aA K L B R I N K H O F F arrived in Galveston April 7, 1846, from Westphalen, Germany, where he was born November 29, 1821. He came as a member of the German Colony then under the leadership of Prince Golms, intending to settle in the interior part of the State. But on reaching Galveston he went to work at his trade, that of cigarmaker, and finding wages good he remained here and soon engaged in business for himself. In 1854 he went to Houston and embarked in the furniture business, at which he met with very good success until his establishment was destroyed by fire in i860. Having no insurance, he lost practically all he had made during the preceding ten or twelve years; but, not disheartened by this, he returned to Galveston and again started a cigar factory on a small scale, soon adding to it a small line of groceries, in which business he has since been engaged.

APTAIN R. C. JENNETT. - One of the honored citizens of Galveston, Texas, is Captain R. C. Jennett, who was born in Mobile, Ala- August 15, 1S44, in which city he grew up and received a practical education.

In 1 86 1 he espoused the cause of his section by becoming a member of Company A, of the Lone Star Rifles, and assisted in the capture of the United States troops and national stores at Brownsville, Indianola, and other points, in which special service he was engaged about four months. In the latter part of 1 86 1 he returned to his native city and joined Company H, of the Second Alabama Infantry, and while serving in the Army of Tennessee participated in the battles fought by that army, including the memorable engagements at Shiloh, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Resaca, New Hope Church and Atlanta. He was wounded in the left foot at Chickamauga and again at Atlanta, and fell into the hands of the Federals at the last named place, by whom he was sent to Camp Chase July 22, 1864, from which he was paroled in April, 1865. He joined the army as a private, but was soon promoted as First Lieutenant, and prior to i attaining his eighteenth year he, in 1S62, was made Captain of his company.

After the war closed he remained in Alabama until 1866, when he returned to Galveston and again entered the cotton brokerage business, which has since occupied his attention in connection wich other matters of local intei'est. He was Alderman from the Eighth ward in 1879, but after serving a short time resigned, and from 1882 to 1885 was on the School Board. In 1894 he was elected Sheriff of Galveston county, but, b\' h. technical clause or misconstruction of the law, was never qualified. He was elected City Assessor in 1893, which office he now holds. He has been twice married, first in 1865, in Mobile, Alabama, to Miss Alice Poitevin, a daughter of Dr. A. and Marcia

(Polmos) Poitevin, natives of France and Spain, respectively. Dr. Poitevin was a surgeon in the French navy during the reign of Louis PhiUp. \\'hile tlie civil war was in progress in this country Dr. Poitexin served the French Government as Consul at Mobile to the Confederate States, having filled the same position to the United States previous to the war. Captain Jennett's wife died at Galveston in October, 1875, ^"d was buried at her old home at Mobile, Alabama. Six children were born to this union, only two of whom survive: Louise, wife of Remond Drouilhet; and Alice, wife of Leo Gravenberg. In 1 879 Captain Jennett married Miss Leontine Drouilhet, who was born at Castries, France, and to them six children were given, four of whom are living: Russell, Gaston, Adrienne and Leontine. The father of Captain Jennett was Captain Albert H. Jennett, a native of North Carolina, and a midshipman of the Texas navy under Commodore James W. Moore, with whom he was serving when the latter was declared an outlaw and pirate by Presiilcnt Sam Houston. Captain Albert H. Jennett was married in 1S39 or 1840, in Mobile, Alabama, to Miss Mary Russell, a nati\e of that city, whose father, Gilbert C. Russell, a \'irginian by birth, \\-as a Colonel of the United States armv and served during the war of 181 2, under General Jackson. The Russells went from Normandy to England with William the Conqueror, representatives of the family settling several generations later in Ireland, whence the ancestors of the subject of this sketch emigrated to America before the Revolution, taking up their abode in \'irginia. General Sam Houston, of Texas, and Colonel Russell were old and intimate friends, slept under the shelter of the same tent, (ought side by side in their country's battles and enjoyed many social pleasures together. Captain Albert H. Jennett served in the Confederate army, and assisted in raising the Second regiment of Alabama Infantry, and became the first Captain of Company H. He resigned in 1862 and joined the navy, and served under Admiral I5achanan. His death occurred in 1S94, at seventy-five jears of age. His widow resides in Mobile, Alabama. Of fifteen children born to them, ten were reared to maturity: Robert C, Frank, Albert, Augusta, Margaret, Mar}', Henr\-, John W., Inneraritx' and Eliza.

a ARE G. ROEMER. - The subject of this sketch is a native of Germany, born in the Uderslebon of Thueringen, on the 2d day of Jul\-, 1822. He was reared in his native place and there learned the trade of tailor. At the age of twenty-five he came to America, reaching New York city June I, 1847. After a short stay in New York he drifted to Cincinnati, Ohio, and thence in a \'ear or so to New Orleans. At the last named place he became a citizen of the United States, recei\'ing his naturalization papers from the Sixth District Court of New Orleans, June 8, 1854. On the 1 8th of May, 1856, he married Miss \\'ilhelmina Meineke, and the same year came to Texas and settled at Galveston. From 185610 1861 he worked at his trade in Galveston; he then went to Houston and resided there till 1S72, wlien he returned to Galveston, which has since been his home, and where he was engaged in the tailoring business up t(j 1894, the date of his retirement. Mr. Roemer has met With fair success, and is thus enabled to pass his declining years in comfort and ease. He and his wife have had three children, all of whom are grown: Eliza, now Mrs. Louis Alberti; Albert C. ; and Wilhelmina.

Mrs. Roemer was born in Brunswick, German}', February 14, 1829, and came with her parents, John and Dorathea Meineke, to Te.xas in 1846. Her parents belonged to one of the early German colonies that came to Texas about the time that Texas was admitted to the Union. After a short residence at Galveston they moved, in 1847, to Grimes county, and settled six miles from Fanthrop, now Anderson, the county seat. The hardships endured by this pioneer family were many and often trying, even to as hardy people as they were. Mrs. Roemer relates that for some time, until her father was able to build a house, they lived under a black-jack tree, the projecting limbs of which were their only shelter. Provisions soon running short, they made coffee from parched acorns and resorted to all kinds of make-shifts to get bread and the other necessaries of life. The family had some means, but articles of food were not to be had, the country being very sparsely settled, and but little as yet having been raised. Mr. Meineke's family consisted of seven children, nearly all of whom now are deceased. The eldest was a son, Albert, who was married in Germany before coming to Texas; his wife died in Houston in 1847; the others were Christian, August, Caroline (who was married to Charles Weiss), Wilhelmina (Mrs. Roemer), Charlotte (who was married to John High), and Leopold. The parents died in 1856, the father at Hallettsville, Lavaca county, and the mother at Anderson, Grimes county, their deaths occurring within six hours of each other.

@EORGE SCHNEIDER, the subject of this skecth, is a native of Germany, born in Prussia, in 1826. He came to Texas in company with his parents, W'illiam and Julia Schneider, who brought their children, consisting of four sons and three daughters, to this new country, where they might enjoy better advantages than were open to them in their native land. The vessel aboard which they sailed landed at Galveston December 31, 1845. The senior Mr. Schneider settled in this city, but subsequently moved to Austin count)-, where he died in 1 S66, followed several years later by his widow. George accompanied his parents to Austin county, but remained there onl}' a vear, when he came back to this city to make it his home. He had no means on which to begin business, and like hundreds of others he had to do whatever he could get to do that would yield him an honest dollar. Dra3'ing was a paying business then, as it is now, where industriously followed, and he invested what money he had in an outfit and began the work. He followed this with success some fi\'e or six years, doing a great deal of heavy, hard work, but receiving fair compensation, and getting his share of the business until, overtaken b\- rheumatic troubles, he concluded to turn his efforts in another direction, and in 1855 opened a small grocery store. He did well at this, continuing it until the outbreak of the Civil war, when, with the general paralysis of trade which followed, he disposed of his business, and from 1 861 to 1865 was inactive, save for such military duty as he did in guarding property on the isla'id during its investment b)' the Federal forces, and in assisting to look after the families of soldiers at the front and providing public supplies.

In 1865, after the return to peace and trade had somewhat assumed its normal condition, Mr. Schneider again embarked in the mercantile business, opening a wholesale grocer}- house, afterward merged into a wholesale liquor and cigar store, which he carried on with marked success for a period of several years, severing his active connection with it in 1882, when ho turned it o\er to his sons. In addition to this Mr. Schneider has helped, to some e.xtent, to build up local industries and contributed in a general way to the progress and prosperity of the city of Gah'cston. He has served two terms as Alderman of the city and six years as Count}' Commissioner. He is one of the oldest members now li\'ing of the German American Benevolent Association of Galveston, and he has been man}' years a member of, and liberal contributor to, the German Lutheran Church of this city.

On October 22, 1848, Mr. Schneider married Miss Mary Plitt, a daughter of George and Elizabeth Plitt, who emigrated from Darmstadt, Germany, and settled with their family at Gah'eston, in 1S46. Mr. and Mrs. Schneider have had si.x sons and one daughter, all of whom have grown to maturity and are now living, these being; Louis, of the firm of George Schneider & Compan}', of Gah'eston; George, a merchant of Hitchcock; William, of George Schneider & Company; Bertha, wife of H. O. Stein, of Galveston; Charles, of the firm of Schneider Brothers, of Galveston; Fred, of the firm of George Schneider & Company; and Rudolph, of Schneider Brothers.

Few men of Mr. Schneider's age are in a condition to enjoy the remaining j'ears allotted to them on this earth with greater satisfaction, and few can look back on a life spent to a better purpose. Beginning his career in this city, now nearly fifty years ago, with nothing sa\'e the counsel and assistance of a good wife, he has succeeded in accumulating sufficient means to enable him to settle all of his sons in liusiness and still ha\'e plent}' left to keep himself and those immediately dejiendent on him in comfort. Preserved to him also are all of his mental and bodily powers, so that he can with interest and profit turn his attention to whatever pursuits or diversions his necessities may require or his inclinations prompt him to.

>Y*AMESG HURD, for forty-five years a f resident of Galveston, was born in /- 1 Middle Haddam, Connecticut, in the year 1813. His father was Captain Norman Hurd, and his mother bore the maiden name of Ann Gardner, both parents being descendants of early settled New England fan-lilies. Captain Norman Hurd, a sailor in the merchant marine for many years, came to Texas in 1835 and settled at L}'nchburg, on Gah'eston bay, where he became associated with Da\'id G. Burnet in the erection and operation of the first steam sawmill ever brought to Texas. He was not in the country during the Revolution of 1835-6, but joining the Texas navy in 1838 he was in the naval service of the Republic, latterly as purser to the flag-ship "Brutus," till 1845. After annexation he was a customs officer for some years, first at Gaheston and then at Sabine. He died at Galveston, November 22, 1S70, in the eighty-fourth year of his age, having been preceded \owx }ears by his wife, who died in 1866, in her seventyfourth year.

in his native place, where he received the best educational advantages then to be had. He came to Texas in 1837; was in the naval service of the Republic under his father after the hitter's arrival in 1838; then with him in the custom-house, and later engaged in private enterprises until after the late war. He was confidential clerk to Captain Charles Fowler, manager of the Morgan steamship interest at Galveston, a number of years, the duties of which he discharged with credit to himself and satisfactorily as to condition of detail. He was very little in public office, being a man entirely destitute of desire for public preferment. He was a member of the City Council, one of the original stockholders in the Galveston Fire & Marine Insurance Company, and generally exhibited a proper interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the city. He opposed secession in 1861, but remained on the island during the period of the war, an helped to protect public and private property and to care for the families of soldiers at the front. He passed through every yellowfe\'er epidemic from the first in 1S39 to the last in 1867, and ne\'er failed in any of the duties of manly firmness or humanity.

In 1S46, at Gah'eston, Mr. Hurd married Miss Julia A. Day, a nati\X'of New York, born in the town of Troy, April 13, 1833, whence she came in 1839 to Galveston as a member of the family of her uncle, William F. Mead. The issue of this union was three children, - a son, Norman, who died at the age of five; and two daughters, Florence, who died at the age of twenty-four, unmarried; and Ella E., now Mrs, R. W. Shaw, of Galveston. Mr. Hurd died March 14, 1SS3. His widow is still living, and is now one of the oldest settlers on Galveston island, having lived here continuously for a period of fifty-six years.

For a number of years before his death, Mr. Hurd was in delicate health, but had continued to give his attention to his business affairs and official duties (being inspector of vessels at this port). His demise, though not without some warning, was a great bereavement to his many friends, for he was justly held in high esteem, especially by the old settlers in the city. He has been described to the writer as a " man without a fault." He was domestic in his tastes and habits, quiet and unassuming, intelligent and judicious. To Texas, the State of his adoption, and to Galveston, with x^hose social and material interests his own had been interwoven, he was devoted with unyielding constancy.

'NTONE HEIMAN was born in Westphalen, Prussia, February 20, 1824, being a son of John and Elizabeth Heiman, who were natives of the same place, emigrating thence in 1835 to the United States. The elder Mr. Heiman first settled, after coming to this countrv, in New York, but resided there only about three years, when, in 1838, he came to Texas and settled in Galveston. At the time the family settled in this place Antone was a mere lad, and his pursuit for several years were of a desultory and boyish kind, ending in his becoming a hunter of some local note.

On June 15, 1847, Mr. Heiman married Ottelia Burttchell, of Colorado county, this State, and settling in Galveston began the dairy business in a small way, which, with his wife's aid, he followed very successfully for a number of years. By his industry and thrift he accumulated, with the assistance of his wife, a considerable amount of prop-

Mr. Heiman died January i, 1888. He was reared a Catholic and maintained membership in the church all his life, but never joined any secular organizations and did not generally manifest much interest in such organizations. Mr. Heiman's widow survives him, and he has two sons and two daughters living, these being: Antone and John, of Galveston; Mrs. Amelia Franz, wife of Andrew Franz, of Colorado countv; and Mrs. Lizzie Treaceer, of Galveston. One daughter, Mrs. Mary Fowler, wife of James Fowler (being the second in age), died some years ago.

Mr. Heiman's parents both died in Galveston, the father about 1840 and the mother in 1876. Of his brothers and sisters, Casper, who came to Texas in 1835 and served in the Revolution, died in Colorado county, Texas; Bernhard and John died in Flatonia, where they had lived for man}' years; He^iry resides on Smith's Point in Galveston county; Mrs. Sarah E. Allen is a resident of Galveston, where the two remaining sisters, Mrs. Eliza Taub and Mrs. Mary Bierman, died, the former in 1886 and the latter in 1S88.

Mrs. Heiman is also a representative of an old Texas family, her father, Lucas Burttchell, emigrating from Germany to this State in 1846. He settled in Colorado county, where he died the year following (August, 1847J, the mother also dying there in 1876. They had a family of ten children, all of whom became grown, married and raised families. At the time of Mrs. Burttchell's death, in 1876, the progeny of this pioneer couple numbered over a hundred souls, there being ninety-four grandchildren

Antone Heiman, eldest son of Antone and Ottelia Heiman, was born in the city of Galveston on March 5, 1848. He was reared in this city and here learned the trade of butcher, which he followed during his earlier years and until within a recent date. Mr. Heiman is a man of quiet life and impretentious ways, but possessed of good sound sense and sturdy independence of character. He has served two years as a member of the Board of Aldermen of GalvestcMi, during which time he took an active part in the municipal affairs of the city and attracted a jonsiderable measure of public attention. As a member of the committees on Fire Department, Streets and Alleys and Public Lights he exercised a \\ide influence on the departments with which these committees had to deal, helping to raise the grade of public service in the same and to place on a business-like basis all the work thereunder. He was particularly aggressive in forcing measures of public improvement respecting the streets and alleys and the sanitary condition of the city.