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James Lee Martin.
The Foard County News published at Crowell, is not only a medium for the news and public business announcements in this section of the state, but is also the vehicle for the literary expressions of one of the best known authors, writers and thinkers of the state. Entirely as a result of Mr. Martin's editorial connection with the News the paper stands far and away above any country paper of its size that might be named. The News editorials are quoted by metropolitan various dailies throughout Texas, and its influence is correspondingly large. Mr. Martin is a highly educated and talented man, has done much work on the lecture platform, particularly on scientific topics, and is the author of one book at least which clearly establishes his name in a high rank among contemporary American authors.
James Lee Martin represents an old family of Howard county, Missouri, where he was born October 25, 1873. His father John H. Martin, who died at the age of ninety-five years, was one of the pioneer citizens of central Missouri, and served throughout the Civil war in the Confederate army. The maiden name of the mother was Elizabeth F. Martin, whose home is now in Howard county, Missouri. The early years of his career Mr. Martin spent in his native state, with the exception of a few months in California, New York and elsewhere In 1909 he moved to Texas, locating at El Campo, and was connected with newspaper work and literary activities there for three years. In 1913 he came to Crowell and bought the Foard County News. This paper now circulates throughout the county, and may be found in practically eighty per cent of the homes of the county. In connection with the regular issue of the paper, Mr. Martin does a large business in job printing and other publication work. His early education was received in the public schools of Missouri, and after a high school course he entered the Warrensburg State Normal. Since leaving college he has at various times taken special courses and has done much supplementary study at home. Up to the age of twenty-four he followed different occupations, teaching for one year, and in other employment. He then entered the newspaper field as his regular vocation, and for several years taught school and carried on newspaper work at the same time. At one time he was city superintendent of schools at Clifton Hill, and at Tina, Missouri.
In Carroll county, Missouri, June 6, 1901, Mr. Martin married Miss Laura Irick, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Irick of Carroll county. Five children were born to their marriage, two of whom died in infancy, and the two daughters of one son living are: Ila Myrtle and James L., Jr.
The family are devout members of the Methodist church and fraternally he is affiliated with the Masonic Lodge, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Modern Woodmen of America. He takes much interest in national, state and local politics, and is a stanch supporter of the Democratic interests. In outdoor life and athletics in general he has always been an enthusiast and is particularly fond of the national pastime of baseball. At his home he has a fine library, and it is in th«j company of good books that he finds his greatest pleasure.
Mr. Martin is the author of several works that have been published and have had acceptance of the reading public. One in particular is " Delmarree, " a poetical story of love and war, which has received many commendations. Dr. H. M. Skinner, official reader for the American Book Company of Chicago, made a special trip to Mr. Martin 's home in order to induce the latter to publish this book as an American classic. This was a distinction which seldom comes to literary workers, and it indicates the essential beauty and excellence of Mr. Martin 's production. He has received a number of offers from publishers and newspapers during his career, and has contributed many articles to the general press and the magazines. His special talent for literary things is not handicapped in his case by a disinclination for hard work, since Mr. Martin is one of the most strenuous laborers in his particular field. He keeps two typewriters, one at home and one at his office, and spends many hours of his day in general composition and newspaper writing. Outside of business he takes much pleasure in running his private car about the roads of Foard county. [Source: "A history of Texas and Texans", Volume 3 - Francis White Johnson, Ernest William Winkler, 1914 - Submitted by K. Torp]
G. W. Thompson was born in Hart County, Ky., July 22, 1835. He went to Texas in 1853 and settled in Collin County. He enlisted in the Southern army soon after the breaking out of war as a member of Company B, Scantlin's Squadron, and was elected lieutenant in his company, in which capacity he served till the close of the war.
He was married to Miss Margaret Drake in 1861, and to them were born four sons and three daughters, all of whom, with the mother, survive him.Mr. Thompson was among the first settlers in Foard County and took an active part in its organization. He was elected its first county clerk, which office he filled for two consecutive terms. After a gradual decline for several months, he died on the 24th of July, 1915. The funeral services were held at the City Cemetery under the auspices of the Masonic order, of which he was a member, assisted by Camp George G. Dibrell, of which he had been Commander for several terms. He was a good citizen and had a host of friends.
[Source: "The Confederate veteran Magazine", Volume 24 By Confederated Southern Memorial Association (U.S.), Sons of Confederate Veterans, 1916 - Transcribed by K. Torp]
William A. Wheeler.
One of the first white settlers of that part of Texas in which Foard County is located, William A. (Uncle Bill) Wheeler has passed through some remarkable and thrilling experiences during a long, adventurous and useful career. Range rider, Texas Ranger, Confederate soldier, Indian fighter, frontiersman and cattle man, and for many years identified with the United States mail service, he has lived a full life, and although now far past the allotted span of "three score and ten years" is still a hale and hearty resident of Austin, where he is living in comfortable retirement, respected and esteemed by all who know him.
Mr. Wheeler was born December 4, 1841, in Alabama, and is a son of Rev. J. M. and Nancy (Rozell) Wheeler. His father, a native of Tennessee, early became a minister of the Methodist faith, and in 1843 moved with his family to Missouri, where he settled on a farm. The greater part of his time, however, was passed in ministerial labors and he became one of the noted preachers of the Methodist Conference. His death occurred at Warsaw, Missouri, in the '50s. Mrs. Wheeler, who was also a native of Tennessee, died in 1864 in Parker County, Texas. She and her husband had three children, of whom two lived to maturity: William A. and Jake N., the latter now deceased.
After the death of his father William A. Wheeler continued to reside in Missouri for five years, but when he was fifteen years of age came to Parker County, Texas, making the trip over-land in a one-horse carriage, accompanied by his brother Jake and his mother, the latter of whom soon married again. He had only a few educational advantages, and when still little more than a lad commenced riding the range. Subsequently he joined that indomitable organization, the Texas Rangers, with which service he remained until the outbreak of the war between the states, when he joined the Confederate army as a member of Colonel Hardeman's Company, Thirty-first Texas Cavalry, Walker's Division. He served through-out the war, seeing much hard service, and at its close joined Capt. L. L. Tackett's Company of Rangers, with which he saw service in the Indian troubles of 1865 and 1866 on the Texas frontier. When that trouble had been settled he again took up range riding, working on some of the famous old cow outfits of the early days, bought and sold cattle and for a number of years was a cattle inspector. He settled in West Texas in 1876, among the first white men, subsequently moving his family to a dugout, although later he hauled lumber from Gainesville and built one of the first frame houses at Vernon, this state. He resided there for a time in order to give his children educational facilities, and entered the mail service, with which he was connected for a quarter of a century, driving first through the wide open country from Vernon to points in Oklahoma long before the advent of the railroads. Later he drove a mail route from Vernon to Crowell, and continued to be identified with the mail service until 1927. In 1907 he had taken up his residence at Crowell, where he lived until August, 1927, moving then to Austin, where he is living retired, being in comfortable circumstances with enough laid aside for the future, including his two pensions, one as a Confederate veteran and the other from the Ranger service. Mr. Wheeler is a charter member of the Blue Lodge of Vernon and Chapter of Masonry at Crowell. He is a Democrat in his political views, but has never sought nor desired public office. He has lived through a wonderful period of development, and his reminiscences of the early days are eagerly sought by those interested in Texas history.
Mr. Wheeler has been married three times. His first wife was Miss E. D. Amos, who passed away in 1892, having borne nine children, all of whom are dead except one daughter, Annie, the wife of James Polk, an agriculturist of Foard County. The second wife of Mr. Wheeler was Mollie Gibson, who died shortly after their marriage without issue. His third wife was Mattie Schooley, who died in 1918, having been the mother of two children: William B., with the Texas Highway Department out of Austin, and Hattie A., who died as a child, September 20, 1899. William B. married Odus Gee, of Crowell, and they have three children: Gladys, J. B. and De Estes, all attending school in Austin. The family home is at 1900 Eva Street, Austin.
[Source: "Texas under Many Flags", Clarence Wharton; pub by American Historical Society, 1930 - Transcribed by K. Torp]
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