biography – Page 2 – Texas History Notebook

Philip Nolan, Namesake of Nolan County

Philip Nolan was an early mustanger and filibusterer in the area that became Texas when it was under the control of Spain. In historical terms, and in contrast to the current political usage, “filibusterer” referred to a person or group who made unauthorized ventures or expeditions into areas controlled by others. The term originated from Spanish/Dutch words referring to a pirate or a freebooter. The individuals’ filibustering intentions could include a desire to seek income or financial gain by taking resources, a goal of establishing settlements and also to attempt to overcome the prevailing government’s control over the territory.

John M. Hendrix, Cattle Brands Historian

For about a year and a half, selected Texas newspapers carried short articles written by John McDonald Hendrix of Sweetwater, Texas. Mr. Hendrix was the author of hundreds of articles under the headline “Texas Brands.” Each article would begin with an image of a cattle brand followed by the history that he found. His articles covered ranches of all sizes, small to large. Hendrix was respected as an authority on the old West and Texas.

Carrie Marcus Neiman

Carrie Marcus was born in Louisville, Kentucky on May 3, 1883 to Jacob Marcus (1846 – 1929) and Delia A. Bloomfield Marcus (1848 – 1919). Both Delia and Jacob were born in Prussia. Jacob was listed as a merchant in the 1870 federal census and was shown to be a clerk in a store in the 1880 census. The family was still living in Kentucky when Carrie was born. Carrie was the youngest of six children. A few years before 1900, the entire family moved to Hillsboro, Texas and lived near the downtown area on Franklin Street. In 1899, when Carrie was about sixteen years old, she and her older siblings moved to Dallas. Many of them had secured retail jobs. Carrie and her brother Herbert were hired by Max Goettinger to work at A. Harris and Company. Carrie had a good eye for clothing and first worked in the ladies’ blouse department.

Y. A. Tittle

Yelberton Abraham Tittle, Jr. was born in Marshall, Texas on October 24, 1926 to Y. A. Tittle, Sr. and Alma Allen Tittle. He was the fifth of six children. His father was a mail carrier. Y. A. grew up in Marshall and was a natural athlete, participating in several sports. Biographies mention that he wanted to be a football quarterback and tried to emulate Sammy Baugh. When he found out that Baugh practiced passing by throwing a football at a suspended tire, Y. A. did the same.

Henry Sanborn

Henry Bradley Sanborn was born on September 10, 1845 in Parishville, New York to Edmund S. Sanborn and Harriet Rand White Sanborn and was the fourth of five children. His father was a farmer. He left home when he was about 19 years old, relocating to DeKalb, Illinois.