Meixner Family History #18 - Epilogue - Part 1

My first project was to write about Frank and Theresia Meixner and their journey from Bohemia in the Austrian Empire to Texas in the United States.  That journey was brought to a close with the death of Theresia.  But before I move on to chronicle other lines of my family tree I want to spend a few weeks writing about my grandfather Harmon Meixner.  I will end all my lines at the grandparent level because I do not want to get into talking about anyone that is still living.  At some point I also want to write about my father, maybe in conjunction with quoting from his book about his life.  That will be down the line however.

I'm going to back track a little with Harmon.  I've already talked about his early years but I'm going to go back and add some stories from that time.

You read about Harmon's battle with the big catfish at the age of 7 or 8 in an earlier post.  Another story dad remembered about granddad at around this age was as follows:  "My Dad occasionally visited in the little town of Belton.  I am sure that he went for haircuts, on errands and for other reasons.  He said that there was a large boy that made it a practice to shove any young boy off the sidewalk that came down his way.  Dad said that he was walking down the sidewalk and the big boy gave him a terrific shove and he went sailing out into the street.  He said that his hand happened to fall on a right smooth rock about the size of a hen egg.  He said that he grasped the rock in this hand, rose up, and hurled the rock at the big boy.  He hit him right square between the eyes and knocked him cold.  Pa said that it broke the young rascal from shoving people off the sidewalk."

In my post on Oct 22nd I mentioned Harmon worked for a wealthy family that lived near Little River, TX by the name of Wallace.  Harmon had to work for other people to help contribute to the livelihood of the family.    Most likely he was 10 or 11.  Joseph and Eliza Wallace had a daughter, Miriam, born in 1875.  In his book Dad said that granddad rocked Miriam on his knee when she was little and granddad worked for the Wallaces.  However, it turns out Miriam was actually older than Harmon so that probably didn't happen.  I don't know what work Harmon preformed but probably worked helping do odd jobs around the house.  Eventually Miriam would go on to Salado College and Baylor Female College.  A future husband, fame and prestige in the state of Texas were in her future. (1)(2)

Several years later, after Harmon and the family had moved to Salado, Harmon met a man named Jim Ferguson.  My dad stated in his book that Harmon "palled with Jim. They often went hunting together.  Jim was a rough and tumble type of fellow.  I guess that is the reason my Dad liked him."  Jim was several years older than Harmon having been born in 1871 near Salado, TX.  He left home at 16 and traveled around several states in the far west before returning to Bell County to farm and work with a railroad-bridge gang.  He also studied law and was admitted to the Bar in 1897.  Around this same time Jim Ferguson and Miriam Wallace's paths crossed in Bell County.  It is said that it took a couple of years of pursuit by Jim, before they were finally married in 1899.  (Their first child was born in 1900.  Dad remembered in his book that Harmon rocked little Miriam on his knee but I think it was probably Miriam's baby that Harmon rocked.)

After a number of successful years in banking, Jim Ferguson became involved in politics.  He was elected governor of Texas in 1914.  He won a second term but was impeached in 1917, well before his second term was completed.  Several years of near poverty followed before they decided Miriam should run for governor.  In 1925 she became the second female governor but the first woman to actually be elected as governor in the United States and the first female governor of Texas.  They became known as "Ma" and "Pa" Ferguson.  Miriam would serve a second terms as governor from 1933-1935.  My dad said in his book that granddad Harmon was "a staunch supporter of the Fergusons during their campaigns an during their terms in office."  It is interesting to think of granddad hanging out with two future governors of Texas. (3)

"Ma" and "Pa" Ferguson.  Former Governors of Texas.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miriam_A._Ferguson
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_E._Ferguson

I posted this family picture once before of the Meixner-Schleede family.  It was probably taken at the end of 1896.  Standing in the center of the family, between his mom and step-dad, is Harmon Meixner.  Probably at the age of 17.  Certainly a grown man in those days.  This would also be about the time he was "palling around" with Jim Ferguson.

My dad remembered another story about granddad from around the late 1890s.  It goes like this:  "Dad told me of an incident that was rather funny.  He was plowing with a double shovel hooked behind a mule.  Every time that Dad went to turn the mule around on the turn row the old mule would come right back down the row that they had come up on.  That means he came back over the row that my Dad was standing on.  Dad finally got mad and when the mule came back over him he hit the mule up beside the head with his fist.  The mule fell to the ground as though he were dead.  The step-dad was watching, so he came running to give my Dad a dressing down.  He accused Dad of hitting the mule with a club.  The fact was that no sticks, clubs or anything of that kind could be found in the area."  Strong enough to stun a mule!  That's pretty strong.

Double Shovel Plow
http://n5tjt.tripod.com/yesteryear.html

Granddad Harmon Meixner made a couple of trips from his home in Bell County west out to Concho County to work on ranches in the area.  He returned home each time and was listed as living with the family in the census of 1900.  But by 1901 it was time for Harmon to strike out on his own for good.

Next time:  Harmon moves west to Concho County.

References:
(1)  http://www.bellcountytx.com/about_us/county_history/index.php

(2)  John D. Huddleston, "FERGUSON, MIRIAM AMANDA WALLACE [MA]," Handbook of Texas Online(http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ffe06), accessed December 17, 2012. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.

(3)  Ralph W. Steen, "FERGUSON, JAMES EDWARD," Handbook of Texas Online(http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ffe05), accessed December 17, 2012. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.