Stonewall County Texas Biographies

Stonewall County, Texas

Biographies

Samuel R. Dickey
During thirty-five years of residence in Texas, Mr. Dickey has been specially prominent in public life, and since 1900 has been engaged in the practice of law at Aspermont, the county seat of Stonewall county. He is now serving as county treasurer of that county. Mr. Dickey has a long and varied career, spent chiefly in the states of Arkansas and Texas, and though his advantages as a boy were limited, he has made himself useful to himself and his community, and by his industry and hard study fitted himself for the profession of law.

Samuel R. Dickey was born in Tishomingo county, Mississippi, January 28, 1844. When he was a small boy his parents moved to Arkansas, and he lived there until 1877, in which year he moved to Texas. The little schooling which he received was obtained in Mississippi and in Arkansas, and between terms of schools he worked on the home farm. He continued that method of life until he was about twenty-one years of age, when he qualified as a teacher and took up that work for several years, both in Arkansas and in Texas. In Brown county he served as deputy tax assessor for two years, and in Eastland county served six years as district clerk. While in the office of district clerk he studied law, and was admitted to the bar during the last term of his office. He began the practice of his profession in Eastland county, which continued to be his home until 1900 when he moved out to Aspermont, and has since been more or less in active and continuous practice, and is one of the senior members of the Stonewall county bar. In 1904 Mr. Dickey was appointed county attorney to fill out an unexpired term, and in the fall of 1905 was elected county attorney, serving two years. Then resuming private practice he so continued until 1910, when he was chosen county treasurer. In November, 1912, his position in office was again confirmed, so that he is now in his second term. During the Civil war Mr. Dickey endeavored to enlist in a Texas regiment, but his ill health was an obstacle to his desires, and he was not accepted. He then organized a local company, and worked in conjunction with Watkins' Brigade in suppressing lawlessness, and keeping order during the turbulous conditions of the war times.
On Indian Creek in Comanche county, Texas, November 9, 1880, Mr. Dickey married Emma Lee Henderson, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. W. Henderson, and a native of the state of Arkansas. Eleven children, six sons and five daughters have been born to their marriage. Ernie deceased; Ira, unmarried and living at home; Hettie Bob, who married Mat Osborne and lives in Aspermont; Clyde C., who is married and living in Aspermont; Lake C., who is studying for the ministry at Wichita Falls; Sina, Ruth, Travis, Glenn E., Wayne and Norval, all at home. The family have membership in the Christian church, and Mr. Dickey for many years has taken a very devout interest in church affairs, and it has pleased him very much that one of his sons is studying for the ministry. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Masonic Order and has filled nearly every chair in the lodge. He is a Democrat in politics. Mr. Dickey enjoys many of the lighter things of life, and is particularly fond of baseball, fishing and hunting.
[Source: "A History of Texas and Texans", Vol. 3, by Francis White Johnson, Ernest William Winkler, 1911. Transcribed by Brenda Wiesner]

Thomas M. Holcomb
The oldest land office in Stonewall county was established by T. M. Holcomb, January 1, 1900. Mr. Holcomb is not only the oldest but in every way the most reliable and successful land and loan agent in this county. He has built up his big business through his reputation for fair and square dealings, and it is a common remark among his associates that any promise or representations that he makes will surely be fulfilled. He is the holder personally of a large amount of farm and town property in Stonewall county, and deals both in his own property and on a brokerage basis. His references are first-class, and he has proved a valuable factor in promoting the growth and development of one of Texas's most resourceful western counties.

Thomas M. Holcomb is a native of Georgia, born at Fairmount, August 1, 1862. His father was Dr. Bird W. Holcomb, who was born in North Carolina, and lived in Georgia and Alabama and in 1870 moved to Texas. He was a physician of much ability, and had a large practice in all these different states. During the war he served for four years with the Confederate army, and saw much active and arduous duty. His death occurred at Aspermont, in 1910, at the age of eighty-six. Dr. Holcomb married Mollie Dudley, who was born in Georgia, where they were married. Both doctor and his wife were devout members of the Methodist church. The mother died in 1912 at the age of seventy-six, and they are buried side by side at Aspermont. There were only two sons and the brother of Thomas M. is Frank, who was born in Georgia, February 14, 1860, and is a citizen of Aspermont.

When Thomas M. Holcomb was a small boy his parents moved to Alabama, and after about. three years in that state came to Texas in 1870. He has been a resident of Texas for more than forty years, and all his active career has been identified with this southwestern country. His early education was received through private schools in Georgia, afterwards in Alabama, and he finished his public school course in Texas. Later he took three years in the Methodist college at Granbury, Texas. When he was fourteen years old his real battle with the world began, and during the first two years he worked with a freighting outfit and his earnings went to his parents. Later he took up farming and ranching, and was prosperously connected with that line of work for eighteen years. He lived and operated in a number of different counties in Texas, and in 1900 came to Aspermont and established his present business.

At Acme, Texas, February 14, 1900, Mr. Holcomb married Miss Minnie Jacobs, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Jacobs of San Antonio. Four children, two sons and two daughters, were born to their marriage named Merle, Edwin, Bonnie and Madie. The church at which the family worships is the Methodist. Mr. Holcomb takes an active interest in the Commercial Club, and is a Democratic voter, but no politician. His diversions consist in fishing and hunting and he is especially fond of flowers and his flower garden at his home in Aspermont is his special pride and delight. [Source: "A History of Texas and Texans", Vol. 3, by Francis White Johnson, Ernest William Winkler, 1911.]