The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-06-01
LEGIsLAEIyE DIRECTORY SRN
ATOHS.
rwrNrY.EreHrH DISTRICT.

Jackson and AttascoSa-
SENATOR WILLIAM H. GRAIN was born
and raised in Texas and gives promise of
| proving a credit TO native Texans. He is
only twenty-seven years old, but has estab-
lshed reputation for ability which is highly
enviable He was born in Calhoun county,
! educated at some of the best institutions of
| learning in the old States, and graduated in
his collegiate course in New York City in
1867 He studied law with Stockdale &
Proctor, at Indianola, and was admitted To
the bar in 1868 He at once took promi
nent stand in his profession, and so gained
upon the confidence of the public that in 1872
| he was elected district attorney of the Six
! teenth Judicial District of Texas, the affairs
of which office he conducted with much abil-
ity and great satisfaction TO his people, who,
recognizing his worth, talents and energy
| have raised him TO the honorable position of
a Senator of the State of Texas. Having
! been a consistent Democrat, he received the
| nomination of the party convention, and was
elected by $500 majority
| In the Senate he has developed into one of
its most active members. He is u fine speak
er, and is possessed of well trained legal
mind. He is an influential member of sew
eral committees, and is chairman of the Com
mittee on Stock and Stockraising.
! Mr.. Grain is of medium size, fair complex
ion, quick IN his movements, possessed of
most agreeable manners, fine personal appear
ance, and has long since learned to wear the
matrimonial harness with becoming depOrt-
ment. He resides in Indianola, where he car
ries on a law business, in which he has much
success Writers of sketches of public men
in the future of Texas will be called upon to
say much more of this gentleman.
TwBNTY-NINTH DISTRICT
| Cdunties-Cameron, Hidalgo, Star, Zapata,
Webb, Maverick, Kinney, Uvalde, Medina,
Nueces, San Patricio, Live Oak, Frio, Duval,
Encinal, McMullen, LaSalle, Dimmitt and
| Zavala. ....
SENATOR JonN S FORD, better known as
| Col. John S. Ford, or "Old Rip" was born
| in Greenvile district, South Carolina, May
26, 1915. His father removed to Tennessee
| in 1917, in which State the subject of this
sketch was raised. Early in 1886 Ford raised
a company to take part in the Texas revolu.
ton. He arrived in Texas in June Of the
same year, in advance of his men, settled in
San Augustine, and soon went into the ser
vice, remaining in active duty during 1886,
1597-S-9. He was surveyor in 1888; surveyed
country around Marshall, Harrison county;
was elected to the Congress of the Republic
of Texas in 1874: introduced resolution in
| 1915 to accept the terms of annexation; ia
vored that measure on the ground that annex
alton was opposed by France and England,
and that Texas ought to throw her weight in
the scale of republicanism in a contest be-
tween monarchies and the United States.
Col. Ford settled at Austin in 1915; edited
| the Ierds Democrat; took part in the Mexican
war; was adiutant of Col. Jack Hayss regi-
ment, and was recommended to the notice of
the Secretary of War for gallant conduct at
| San Juan, Teotihuacan and Zacualtipan.
In 1S49 he went with Major Neighbors to
| explore the route between Austin and FL
| Paso; made report of the trip and pub
| lished map; was mustered into service as
captain of rangers by Lieut.. Wood, in Au-
gust of that year, and stationed between the
Nueces and Rio Grande; fought the Indians
above old Fort Ewell, near old Fort Merrill,
and on the head waters of the Aqua Dulce,
in May, 1850. During the same year Lieut..
Walker, of his company, fought the Indians
| on the Rio Grande, below Laredo, and Lieut..
Highsmith at San Antonio Viejo Wells. In
1851 Lieut.. Walker had fight on the Cato
Creek, and Lieut.. Burleson near old Fort
EweIl Besides these there were other af,
fairs with the Comanches. His company did
good service, and it was complimented in
general orders by Gen. George NJ. Brooke,
then commanding in Texas.
In 1852 he was elected to the State Senate
to fill the unexpired term of Gen. Edward
Burleson, who had Just died The same year
he purchased "7He Southeastern american, 4"
and again assumed the role of editor. In
1858, in conjunction with Capt. 10. Walker,
he established g The State Times" which was
| published until 1857.
In 1853 he was placed in command of the
Texas State troops; made campaign at the
head of one hundred Americans and one hun
dred and eleven friendly Indians; encoun-
| tered the Comanches on the South Canadian,
May IL, routed them in two fights killed rs,
and lost two men; was again on the frontier
in 1852 and in the latter part of the same
year was sent to operate against Cortina on
the Rio Grande; had charge of the advance
Guard, December 27, 1859; engaged Cortina
near Rio Grande City, with a force at least
seven times his own, and routed him before
the main body came up; pursued him fifteen
miles, captured two pieces OF artillery, and
killed q large number of the enemy. He
| again defeated him in February, 1860 at La
| Bolsa, in Mexico. He had fOrty-seven men
under fire, and Cortina between two hundred
and fifty and three hundred Cortina was
covered by fence built Of logs, and by
houses, vet he was disodged and routed
with heavy loss. Capt. Stoneman, now Gen.
Stonenan, and Ford engaged Cortina again
at La Mesa, and finally at his own rancho of
| Magote. The two last affairs drove him from
the Rio Grande, and the Cortina war ended
Col Ford was a member of the Secession
Convention in 1861, to which he was elected
by the voters of Cameron county, of which
he was not even citizen. He had com
mand of an expedition which landed at Bra
zos Santiago in February, 1861, and he stu
diously avoided collision with the United
States troops. He had fifteen hundred men,
| thrown together at moments notice, not
well armed, and unused TO war, and he felt
convinced they would not be sure of success
in attacking regular force with more than
twenty pieces of artillery, and if war was to
ensue he did not feel warranted in precipi-
tating it with the chance of the morale of vic
tory being against the South. He was elected
colonel of the second Texas cavalry by the
Texas convention. He had command of the
military district of the Rio Grande, which
extended from the mouth OF that stream to
Ell Paso, about one'thousand miles, portion
of his force being State troops. Gen. John
r. Baylor as Leutant-colonel of the regi-
ment, did good service on the upper Rio
Grande.
He was made commandant of conscripts in
the latter part of 1862, and discharged the
duties of the position with justice and len
iency He refused to place Union man in
the Confederate ranks a matter of princi-
pie, and he left no resentmeuts behind him.
| Late in 1868 he commenced organizing force
to make campaign against the Federals, then
occupying Brownsville, after having had sew
eral sharp contacts with the enemy. hold
| ing Brazos Island On May 13, 1865, he en-
gagged Col. Barrett, in command of the thirty
fourth Indiana the sixty second colored, and
| a part of two other regiments, near the Pal
mito rancho. He had less than three hun
| dred mounted men, and six pieces of artil-
lery. Col Barrett was defeated with loss
and pursued TO within two miles Of Brazos
Island.
After the surrender he was made parole
commissioner on the part Of the Confederate
Stales, and in that position he did all he could
TO help his companions in miBforune, and TO
keep them in the South, insisting that there
was more chivalTy in sharing the fortunes OF
those who were unable TO leave the South
than in seeking refuge in foreign country,
and that he had no future outside the United
States
In 1868 he was editor of the Brownsville
.Senfis.Sl. and opposed Radical measures with
zeal lie was delegate 10 the Baltimore
convention in 1872; aud a member Of the CON
st!tutionaI convention which met at Austin in
September, 1875. He voted against several
/ articles in the new constitution
Col Ford is now q member Of the Texas
Senate, 70 which position he ptas elected by .