Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-07-10

I
| an ally of corporate power to Cypress the
| very class it was intended to benefit. He /:
! ready debater, and while conscientious
4 is bold and fearless in the expression OF MS
! opinion. He is 4 member Of the present
| legislature, which position he has filled with
! credit to himself, and satisfaction TO his
; constituents. He is a free coinage and
tariff for-revenue-only Democrat, and ia,
! vors the abolition OF national banks, and
! the election of United States senators by {
| direct vote of the people.
| THOMAS SMITH.
| In response TO the reporters request fol-
sketch of his life Mr.. Smith said:
I, was born in the town Of Arkadelphia,
| Arkan5aw now laugh ,, Decem Der 10, 1851
attended school at that place, excepting two
/ years during the war, till [ was sixteen
| years OF age L then entered St. John 5
| college at Little Rock by appointment OF
| the grand council of NaSons of that state.
| This is military college and is the prop
! erty of Masons
! Two weeks after my entrance | was ap-
| pointed to the Office of fourth sergeant and
| promoted 10 first sergeant before the close of
| the term. The next session was appointed
captain of company B which position | held
! for three years. On account of declining
/ health ! left college just before graduation,
| (my stand on Latin was 100, Greek 81,
mathematics, 100 philosophy, 80, German
~"
! give this gratis and went 10 work on the
farm where | continued Tor two years and
was completely restored TO health. In 1913
| Joined the Grange, and was soon after
made county lecturer of the Grange of
Clark my native county. have ever since
| retained my connection with the Grange,
believing it to be a noble institution. In
October 1915, came to Texas and settled
near Blooming Grove, and began teaching
school.
In 1879 married Miss Ella Mabry. I
then combined farming and teaching. In
May, 1850, l joined the Alliance. Was
elected president of my sub and county A.
liances. serving two terms in each. in 1887
at Waco l was elC cted vice president of the
State Alliance of Texas. which position
held for two terms, declining third, owing
to deep-Set aversion on my part 10 third
terms. In 1855 l had charge of the state
lecturers bureau of the Alliance, with
twelve Lecturers under my charge. ] was
also on the editorial staff of the Southern
Mercury for twelve months or more. | am
an Alliance man from principle, and can
never give my consent to see the order de-
graded into machine politics TO further The
objects of any man or measure. In 1881 my
wife died, leaving ME three little girls. l
afterwards married Miss Alollie Wall of
WaXahachie. | have four children, and live
on my farm one and one-haf miles south Of
b4OOuiIS tTEONt
Il. {. BRAGG.
f. C. Bragg. who is one of the callers of
the Fort Worth Alliance convention, and
who is county lecturer of the Farmers Al
lance of Fannin county, also district Cr-
ganizer is one of the most prom
incnt Alliance men in that county. To the
request for a short sketch of his life, he
said: Il was born III Sullivan county, East
Tennessee, in 1858. In 1885 my parents left
81
year in what was then Benton county, Mis-
souri,. In 1861 my parents came to Texas
and settled in Red River county. ten miles
north of GAINESVILLE In 1866 we moved
back to Missouri, but owing to the hot po-
litical sentiments we did not unload the
wagons, but returned at once to Texas,
where we settled three miles southwest
from BOnhaIn, in Fannin county. and nv
parents reside there still. l COntinue.t to
live with my parents up to 1885, aiding my
father in the support of his family. My
mother was an invalid eleven years. during
all of which time l was cooker, mixer,
washer and household maiden, all put to-
gether, | suppose that have received as
much as fourteen months schooling. What
little education | have | gained by hard
study during leisure moments. Rainy days
and after working hours, by candle light,
l piled my search for knowledge.
Six years ago | joined the
Farmers Alliance. | Joined it a Demo-
crat, with the understanding that it would
not interfere with my religious or political
views. 1t was pure then aud was doing a
great deal of good for the country and IN
the PRONUNCIATION of the principles of the
Alliance as 1t was then, much and lasting
good will be accomplished toward the relief
of the agricultural and industrial masses OF
our nation. At the July meeting of our
county Alliance in 1890, ! was elected
lecturer for the ensuing year; was also
elected delegate to the state Alliance which
convened in Dallas last August At said
state meeting | was commissioned by
Evan Jones as district lecturer and organ
izer. was member of and participated in
the last Democratic state convention at San
Antonio IN 1890 / was elected justice of
the peace of precinct No. l of this county
on the Democratic ticket. l am a Demo
crat, always have been and ever expect to
be, and am opposed to any third party l |
believe that the Democratic platform en-
bodies principles which, if carried out will !
relieve the agricultural and laboring people |
OF our nation. and that through the Demo |
cratic party lies their only hope for redress |
of their grievances. l believe in the pure |
principles of the Alliance, which originally |
gave 1t birth, but am unalterably opposed |
TO any measure or set of men that would |
convert it into a secret political organiza- |
ton
DANIEL M'CUNSINGHAM.
Daniel McCunningham was born in |
County Donegal, North of ireland, Feb |
ruary %. 1S47. His parents james and |
Ellen McCunningham, are from the fine old |
Irish stock that has made County Donegal |
famous. They We're related TO the O'Don-
aids and McDades, well known in the North
Of Ireland. y part of the O'DoLald family
were banished from Ireland by the English
for taking part i'll the rebellion
headed by Robert Emmett. When twelve
years of age Daniel McCmningham came
to the United States, and lived for num-
Der of years with his uncle, James McDade,
near Allentown. Pa. He next went TO
and served while at the trade of
nachlniSt. July 4, 1870. he came to Texas
and located near Blooming Grove, where
ne remained until 1875, and then removed
o Williamson county and settled on farm
eighteen miles southeast of Taylor He
OWLS 109 acres of fine land, and is pros
porous farmer and Stock-raiser He became
4 member of the Alliance in 1852, and was
made president of the first Alliance Good
lope) organized in Williamson county He
was sent Us delegate to the
tate Alliance in 1888, and was elected
member of the executive commit
ee. In 1889 he was reelected member of
he committee by acclamation From 1855
Until 1890 he served as member of the
commissioners court of Williamson county.
md IN the latter year was elected to the |
louse OF the Twenty-second legislature
rom the Seventy-eighth district, William