Fred P. Gibson. In the recent development of the business and general resources of Van Horn and Culberson counties no individual has taken a more active and influential part than Fred P. Gibson who, after a long period of service as a telegraph operator and station agent at different points on the Texas and Pacific, came to Van Horn in 1908 on account of failing health. During the subsequent five years he has not only made a successful position for himself, but has contributed much to the development of his home community. In all this prosperity Mr. Gibson would never omit a large share of credit to his capable wife, who has been his loyal assistant in their mutual work of creating a home and fine property which now represents their joint enterprise.

Fred P. Gibson was born August 17, 1880, a son of William W. and Kate M. (Lewis) Gibson, natives, respectively, of Mississippi and Tennessee. The parents have for many years been residents of Van Zandt county, Texas, where Mr. Gibson was born, in the town of Wills Point. The senior Gibson is now a resident of Grand Saline, where he is engaged in the land and insurance business. In earlier years he was in the cotton business at Galveston, but in 1875, owing to an outbreak of yellow fever, he left that coast city and began the practice of his profession as civil engineer at Wills Point. William W. Gibson made a brilliant record as a Confederate soldier, and his service in the armies of the south deserves special mention in this article. There were four children in the family, the others being named as follows: Walter, who has for twenty years been agent for the Texas and Pacific Railway at Grand Saline; Florence, who is associated with her father in the insurance business, and Williard, who is in the general offices of the Texas & Pacific Railroad at Fort Worth.

Mr. Fred P. Gibson received his education in the public schools of Wills Point, leaving school at the age of seventeen and learning telegraphy. He was an operator in the general offices of the Texas & Pacific at Dallas and other large points. He then became station agent on the same line at Gladewater and at Atlanta, and continued in that work for six years, until failing health compelled him to move in to the extreme west of Texas, so that in 1908 he became agent for the Texas & Pacific at Van Horn. On resigning this office, in 1910, he became a partner in the Beach Mercantile Company, and about the same time acquired ownership of some five thousand acres of land in Culberson county. These lands were located thirty miles from Van Horn. Probably the most interesting feature in his career is the fact that while he continued his work as station agent at Van Horn his young wife was living on this large body of land alone, her experience entitling her to special mention as one of the hardy and courageous women of western Texas. It-

was as a result of these hard labors and self-denials that they laid the corner stone of their success. After selling out his ranch lands at good advantage, Mr. Gibson bought an interest in the firm of Beach & Platt Mercantile Company, buying Mr. Platt's interests, and subsequently others, until he acquired a third interest in one of the largest, oldest, and most practical stores in Van Horn. Mr. Gibson now owns property in Waco and has one of the most attractive homes of Van Horn.

At Dallas in 1905 he married Miss Alma L. Hunter, a native of Wills Point and a daughter of William R. Hunter. Their two children are named Freda, aged six, and Ruth, aged three. When Mr. Gibson came to Van Horn, in 1908, there was little or nothing in the way of entertainment or social life at this point. Since then he has taken a foremost part in organizing many of the wholesome features of social diversion as well as the more valuable institutions of education. Through his efforts and those of Mr. Beach, his partner, was organized the Masonic Lodge, known as Van Horn, No. 1208, A. F. & A. M., Mr. Gibson having become a master maton when twenty-one years of age. He is also prominent in the local Baptist church, being a deacon of the society. He is a member of the Van Horn school board and takes much pride in the general claims that this is one of the best schools in the state. Mr. Gibson is now devoting his spare time to the study of law, not with the purpose of entering the profession, but on the theory that every up-to-date business man should be informed on the fundamentals of law. In Mr. Gibson's opinion, Culberson county is best adapted to stock raising; but he calls attention to the presence in this locality of splendid mineral resources, consisting of copper, silver, lead, zinc, and mica, none of which resources have yet been developed, and, as a public-spirited citizen, he will gladly co-operate with any parties interested in such a field for industrial enterprise.

     Earl A. Roasberry, M. D. With a splendid record as a physician, surgeon, and citizen, Dr. Roasberry is one of the residents of Van Horn whose presence here is due to the fact that a few years ago he suffered ill health and a weakened constitution in the middle western states and came here to recuperate. His period of recuperation was extended into permanent residence, and the community now has no more loyal citizen than Dr. Roasberry.

Earl A. Roasberry was born January 2, 1883, at Mansfield, Ohio, the son of Dr. William H. and Martha (Au) Roasberry, both natives of Ohio. The father has been actively engaged in the profession of medicine in Ashland, Ohio, for the past thirty years. He is also a prominent Democrat at that point. The mother died in 1904, and she now rests at Mansfield. The doctor was the first of their children, and the others are Maurice E., who is engaged in the practice of medicine at New London, Ohio; Eunice L., who is a graduate nurse and now in the Huron Road Hospital, at Cleveland, Ohio; and Leota, also a nurse and at the same hospital with her sister.

Earl A. Roasberry was excellently educated in literary schools, and attained his medical training in the Cleveland Medical College, where he was graduated with the class of 1906. He had practical experience as an interne in the Huron Road Hospital, at Cleveland, and he then engaged in private practice at New London. Then, owing to poor health, he gave up his practice there and came to western Texas, locating at \ran Horn in the fall of 1910. The doctor is a member of the El Paso County Medical Society and of the Ohio State Medical Society,

and fraternally is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has an attractive home at Van Horn, and he and his wife are valuable members of local society.

On December 20, 1907, Dr. Roasberry married Miss Mary Donnely of Ohio, daughter of William E. and Ella (Ford) Donnely, natives of Ohio and prominent citizens and farming people of that state, her father having been very active in Republican politics. Three children were born to the doctor and wife, one of them being deceased and the other two being Martha E. and Marjory. Dr. Roasberry foresees a great future for this section of Texas, owing to its mineral resources and the cheap price of its lands. Since coming to west Texas he has found opportunity to exercise his taste as a sportsman and spends a large part of his leisure time in hunting excursions. He and his wife both worship at the Presbyterian church. A progressive physician, and always seeking to keep his capabilities apace with the achievements of the profession, Dr. Roasberry during 1913 attended postgraduate studies in New York city.

Elton R. Silliman. Cashier and active manager of the Van Horn State Bank, Mr. Silliman has since 1909 been closely identified with the general commercial enterprise of Culberson county. The successful position of the bank has been largely due to his personality and ability as a financial organizer and manager, and, besides looking after this institution, Mr. Silliman is also owner of considerable property in this section, and is always ready to lend his influence to promote the further upbuilding and development of this section of Texas.

Elton R. Silliman was born on August 17, 1872, at the old capital of Texas when it was the province of Mexico, at San Felipe, in Austin county. His parents were Abram F. and Samantha (Dresser) Silliman, natives, respectively, of Mississippi and Texas. His parents are now deceased, the father passing away in 1891 and the mother in 1874, and both rest side by side in the old cemetery at San Felipe. His father, who for many years was a farmer, was a man of special education and during his early life taught school in Texas. There were in the family eight children, Elton R. being the youngest.

He attained his early education in the public schools of Austin county, and subsequently was a student in the Hills business college. His first employment was that of bookkeeper for a mercantile house of Sonora, Texas, and after a few years he entered the field of local politics and was appointed deputy county and district clerk of Sutton county, Texas, Sonora being the county seat. He served in that capacity for three years. In 1898 he moved to Eldorado, Texas, where he established a mercantile business of his own, and continued successfully in that business until selling out, in 1904. In 1909 be came to Van Horn to take charge of the Van Horn State Bank as its cashier, director and stockholder. He also owns a residence in Culberson county, and his present home at Van Horn. Beginning his career in a clerical capacity, Mr. Silliman, by his thorough ability and by good management, has acquired an independent position in business affairs.

At Van Horn he is an active factor in the community and is now chairman of the school board. Fraternally, he is a Royal Arch Mason and Knight of Pythias, and his politics is Democratic. He and his family worship in the Methodist church. On February 3, 1897, he married Miss Margaret Murcheson, daughter of Robert W. Murcheson, a retired and wealthy ranchman of El Paso. Their two children are Elton Jr., aged ten, and Hazel, aged four. Among his recreations, when he finds time to rest himself from business, Mr. Silliman is especially fond of hunting. He foresees a bright future for Van Horn and Culberson counties, and, owing to the fact that lands are being sold at a reasonable price, and the presence of great mineral resources here, he believes that the locality will bring wealth and happiness to twenty times the number of people who are now inhabitants of the county.

Samuel W. White. The first prosecuting attorney elected in the new county of Culberson, Mr. White has been a member of the Texas bar for the past ten

years and has a successful position in professional and business life.

Samuel W. White was born September 20,. 1883, at Dardanelle, Arkansas, son of John W. and Bettie (Byers) White, natives, respectively, of Mississippi and Tennessee. The father is now deceased, and the mother resides with her son at Van Horn. The parents came to Texas in 1887, locating in San Antonio, where the father was engaged in the land business up to the date of his death, in 1899. Samuel W., the only surviving child, received his education- chiefly in the public schools of San Antonio, and subsequently graduated from a San Antonio business college. He began the study of law in the offices of Kellar & Williams, prominent members of the San Antonio bar, and, on completing his preparatory work, was admitted to practice on June 30, 1903. During the following three years he directed his principal attentions to the land business rather than law, and then for four years held the position of manager of the advertisement department of the Denison Herald. At the end of that time he came into west Texas, and at Pecos established a real estate office, and still owns considerable property of his own in that vicinity.

Mr. White was elected county attorney of Culberson county on April 18, 1911, this being prior to his residence at Van Horn. He was re-elected to the office at the general election of November. 1912, his first election coming with the beginning of Culberson county's official existence, its territory having formerly been a part of El Paso county. Mr. White is a very active and popular Democrat and one of the able stump speakers in this county. Aside from his duties as prosecutor, he has built up a nice private practice in the law, and also has a set of abstract books in his office. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is chaplain of the local lodge. A member of the Baptist church by early training, he has, since taking up his residence at Van Horn, worked with the Presbyterians in the Sunday school work and is now superintendent of the Presbyterian Sunday school. In 1904 Mr. White married Miss Elizabeth Martin, daughter of Hon. Judge J. D. Martin, who for many years was district judge at Beaumont. They are the parents of two sons, Samuel Martin and John W. White. The family occupy one of the pleasant homes of Van Horn.

John Henry Feely. A distinction which will always be associated with the name of Mr. Feely in the history of Culberson county is the fact of his being the first sheriff elected after the organization of the county. Mr. Feely has been identified with this section of Texas for a number of years, and Culberson county has no more popular or public-spirited citizen than the present sheriff.

His career is one of exceptional interest, from the viewpoint of its accomplishments against heavy odds. John Henry Feely was born June 20, 1871, in Cole county, Missouri, near Jefferson City, a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Magee) Feely. His father was a native of Indiana and his mother of Missouri, both now being deceased. The father was for many years a farmer and merchant in Cole county, and made a fine record as a soldier, serving in the Mexican war, and later as a Confederate under General Price, with which noted leader he fought in numerous battles. In 1876 he came to Texas, locating in Cooke County, where he was engaged in farming and stock raising until his retirement, attaining to the fine old age of eighty-five years before his death. His remains now rest at Vernon, Texas, while his second wife, the mother of Mr. Feely, died at Pilot Point, where she now is buried.

Sheriff Feely, one of two children, his sister being now deceased, attained his education in the public schools of Pilot Point, and when sixteen years of age was thrown upon his own resources, and has since fought the battle of life by himself. He began work as a farm hand, and, though a mere boy, did a man's work. This was his occupation until 1904, at which time he became a section hand with the Texas & Pacific Railroad. He knew how to work, and was a natural leader of men, and in a short time became foreman of his section. In this work he took great pride, and was frequently complimented by the roadmaster on the condition of his section. This was his regular work up to 1910, in which year he was elected to the office of sheriff of the newly organized county of Culberson on the Democratic ticket.

Probably to Mr. Feely as much as to any other individual is due the fact that the courthouse is now located at Van Horn. He was an earnest advocate of this place as the county seat, and he made a vigorous and successful campaign for this end. He has also been an aggressive factor in securing the new courthouse, which is at this writing rapidly nearing completion and a structure which is a credit to the new county. Fraternally, Mr. Feely is a Mason, and owns a pleasant home in Van Horn, where he is esteemed as one of the leading citizens. In 1894 he married Miss Ida Trammel, a daughter of James Trammel, a native of Dallas. Their six children are named as follows: Ones, Eula, Lorina, Clyde, Dorothy, and Ida' Derrell.