Complex sentence: Maud was born in Galveston, Texas to Adelina Dowdy (or Dowdie) and Norris Wright Cuney on February 16,1874; her father became a leader in the Texas Republican Party and served in the Customs Office and later became Collector of Customs for the port.
Split into simpler sentences: Maud was born in Galveston, Texas to Adelina Dowdy (or Dowdie) and Norris Wright Cuney on February 16,1874. Maud's father was an established leader in the Texas Republican Party and served in the Customs Office and later became Collector of Customs for the port.