Biographies of Atascosa County, Texas

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Biographies

G. W. Key, lawyer and real estate dealer at Pleasanton, was born in Georgia, in 1847, his parents being the Rev. J. N. and Mary E. Key. The father was a native of Jackson county, Georgia, and a member of the family to which belonged the distinguished Francis Scott Key, the author of the "Star Spangled Banner.'' He came to Texas in 1854, locating in Fayette county, where he lived until 1857, when he removed to Gonzales county, which remained his home for several years. About 1877 he became a resident of Burnet county, which was his home to the time of his demise on the 11th of March, 1901. During all his active life he was a Baptist minister and his influence was far-reaching in behalf of the work and the upbuilding of the church. His son, Judge W. M. Key, is a distinguished jurist of this state. He studied law under Judge Posey at Georgetown, Texas, and practiced successfully there for several years. He was appointed judge of the court of civil appeals at Austin by Governor Hogg, when that court was first established and has held the office continuously since by re-election.

G. W. Key was only six years of age on the removal of the family to Texas, so that he was practically reared in Gonzales county, where he acquired his preliminary education. He finished his literary education in Concrete College, in DeWitt county, under Dr. J. E. V. Covey, and while still a young man studied law and made preparation for the legal profession, but later decided to become a Baptist minister and therefore did not engage in active law practice until his more recent years. Although very young, in 1864 he joined Colonel Benavides' Regiment, Captain Pleasant B. Watson's Company, for service in the Confederate army in Texas, and was in that service until the war closed. Having prepared for the Baptist ministry he began his first preaching in a regular charge in Gonzales county in 1879, and subsequently he was the minister in charge successively of the Baptist churches at Stockdale, Wilson county; Ballinger, in Runnels county; and Clarkson, Texas, his last charge being at his present home, Pleasanton, where he preached for two years. He then decided to take up the practice of law and accordingly in April, 1903. he was admitted to the bar, since which time he has been actively engaged in law practice with increasing success. He filled out an unexpired term as attorney of Atascosa county and he has a good clientage, for he is an able lawver of analytical mind, who is logical in his deductions and correct in his conclusions. He also conducts a general real estate business in the town, ranch lands, rentals, etc., and is fully in touch with the present progressive movement that is bringing Atascosa county to the front rank in Texas. He seems specially qualified for success in the law through his mental ability and adaptation and his well known gifts in forensic power.

Mr. Key has had a most interesting life. He was deputy sheriff of DeWitt county during the noted Taylor-Sutton feud. He has been all of his life a strong, uncompromising, unchangeable Democrat, with equal fidelity to the Baptist faith.

Mr. Key was first married in 1869, in Gonzales county, to Mrs. Maggie Hall, who died August 4, 1896, at Stockdale, in Wilson county, and was buried there. She was the mother of Mr. Key's nine children, all of whom are living, namely: Mrs. Jennie Skinner, Mrs. Nettie K. Deacon, J. N., J. G., Edward K., Maggie E. Mrs. Sallie H. Taylor, Jeffie and Kate W. Key. There are also fourteen grandchildren. June 30, 1897, at San Antonio, Mr. Key was married to Miss Sallie Johnson, a native of Mississippi, but reared in Washington county, Texas. She is a graduate of the Baylor Female College. Mrs. Key is of distinguished ancestry of Celtic origin, her father, Edwin Ruthven Johnson, being related to the famous Dr. Johnson, on the Irish side, and to the Ruthvens of Scotland. Her mother, Mrs. M. A. Johnson, was of the fine, old Welsh family "Llewellen," noted for strength of mind, and moral and religious force, of talent as musicians, and brilliancy as writers. The English side was that of the paternal, Elisha Williams, a grandfather being a man of stern integrity, of broad views, and cultivation of mind. He distinguished himself as a patriot and a soldier during the war of the Revolution. Mrs. Key is also related to the Martyns of England, and from them inherits her non-conformist conscience and deep religious ardour. She spent almost two years in Mission work in Brazil under the foreign mission board of the Southern Baptist Convention. Mrs. C. H. Wedemeyer of Belton, Texas, Mrs. T. H. Lipscomb of Temple, Texas; Mrs. R. H. Sommerville of San Antonio, are sisters of Mrs. Key. Mr. and Mrs. Key are widely and favorably known and the hospitality of the best homes in Pleasanton is cordially extended them. In his business career he is conscientious, active, faithful and persevering, and his success is attributable to these qualities. [Source: A Twentieth century history of southwest Texas; Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1907, submitted by K. Torp]