ERATH, George Bernard, soldier and legislator, was born in Vienna, Austria, Jan. 1, 1813. His father, a well-to-do tanner, was a native of the Black Forest district of Germany, where his ancestors had plied the same trade for generations; his mother, Barbara Diel, was a native of Vienna. The son's education began under private tutors at home. At the age of ten he was placed in the Santa Anna College, at Vienna, where he devoted particular attention to the study of modern languages, and at '.twelve entered a polytechnic institute school, where he remained about two years, until his father died, leaving his estate involved. Soon after this he was sent by his mother to his father's relatives in Germany, in order to escape conscription—she trusting to some excuse to prolong his absence beyond the year allowed by his passport. When the time expired, however, he emigrated to America. Landing first at New Orleans,- he went thence to Cincinnati, O., and to Florence, Ala., in both places working at the tanning trade. In 1833, at the. age of twenty years, he went to Texas, and was employed at various occupations until July, 1835, when he joined Moore's expedition against the Indians. Upon his return he joined Thomas A. Graves' surveying expedition to the head of the San Gabriel river. Then, being attached to several scouting parties, he was in Capt. Billingsly's company at the battle of San Jacinto, and later in Hill's and Baron's companies of rangers. He especially distinguished himself in 1837, when, with fourteen men under his command, he attacked several hundred Indians, putting them to flight in what has since been known as the Elm Creek light, and prevented threatened raids on the settlements. In 1838, he formed a surveying party, but since the Indians were on the warpath, little was accomplished. Accordingly, in the following year, another ranging expedition was formed, and he was elected captain—from that time until1841, when he took command of the Milan county minutemen, being almost constantly engaged in Indian-fighting. He joined the Mier expedition in 1842, but was so disabled by Illness as to take but little part in its operations, and remained in camp when his comrades entered the town, escaping with others who were left in charge there. His distinguished services caused his election to the congress of Texas, in which he served during 1844— 45; and after the annexation, in 1846, he was returned as a member of the state legislature. In 1848, and again in 1861 and 1878, he was elected to the state senate, being known as one of the most efficient and honored of its members. As agent for Thomas J. Chambers' estate in 1849, he located the town of Waco, at the time predicting its importance as a commercial centre. In 1861. he raised a company, which was attached to the 15th Texas infantry; but continued ill health prevented his entering active service. He was, however, appointed major of the state frontier forces, and despite his physical sufferings won an honorable reputation for bravery and faithfulness. After the war he settled on his farm at South Basque, eight miles from Waco; but his high reputation as a topographist caused him to be far oftener engaged in surveying than in farming. His extraordinary memory of all former surveys caused him to be nicknamed the "walking dictionary of the land office." Erath county. Tex., was named in his honor. Mr. Erath was one of the most representative men of Texas in the days of both republic and state. He excelled as a soldier, scholar and citizen, his faithfulness and pertinacious industry gaining him an enviable reputation in each field of activity. He was married, in December, 1845, at Nashville, Tex., to Lucinda Chalmers, born in Albany, N. Y., and had two sons and three daughters. One son, Edwin Porter Erath. died of fever in the Confederate army ; the other, Walter McLennan Erath, is a fanner, at Bruceville, Tex. Mr. Erath died at Waco, May 13. 1891.

Bruce, William Herschel, educator, mathematician, college president, scientist, was born April 8, 1856, in Troup county, Ga. He was educated at the Alabama polytechnic institute; and at Mercer University. In 1884-93 he was superintendent of schools of Blanco, Texas; in 1893-96 was superintendent of schools at Marble Falls, Texas, and in 1896-99 was superintendent of schools at Athens, Texas. In 1899-1900 he was president of the John Tarleton college of Stephenville, Texas; in 1901-06 was professor of mathematics at the North Texas state normal college; and since 1906 has been president of that institution of learning. In 1896, 1898 and 1900 he was a teacher of mathematics at the University of Texas. In 1905 he was president of the Texas state teachers' association; and since 1904 has been chairman of the state board of examiners of Texas. He is a fellow of the Texas academy of science; and has made valuable researches in mathematics and general geometry.  [Herringshaw' s National Library of American Biography: Contains Thirty-five Thousand Biographies of the Acknowledged Leaders of Life and Thought of the United States, by William Herringshaw, 1909 – Transcribed by Therman Kellar]