biography – Page 19 – Texas History Notebook

Naylor Publishing Company

Naylor Publishing Company was founded by Joe Oliver Naylor. Joe was born March 28, 1893 to John Decatur Naylor (1857 – 1902) and Anna Lena Miller Naylor (1866 – 1947) in San Antonio, Texas. Until his death, his father John D. Naylor was a “hackman” which is the name for the driver of a horse or mule drawn vehicle for hire. Joe came from a fairly large family. Joe’s brother Frank followed in a similar line of work. Frank was killed by a known assailant while seated in his car while was working as a San Antonio chauffeur in 1911. Except for Frank who died in his twenties and a sister who died as an infant, the other siblings lived to be adults.

Jane Pattie

Jane Anne Rogers Pattie was born January 15, 1935 in Fort Worth, Texas and died June 8, 2021. She was a writer for over sixty years. In her career, Jane has written over 3,000 articles for more than three dozen different magazines. She has also written several books.

Rev. White Parker

One of Quanah Parker’s sons was White Lewis Parker. He was born in 1887 to Quanah Parker (1846 – 1911) and Maheheet-To-Wook-Ky (1862 – 1914), one of the wives of Quanah Parker. In the Comanche tradition, Quanah Parker had more than one wife.

Rev. Parker was drawn to ministry as a young man, having first served as an interpreter for missionary J. L. Reid who was then a missionary on behalf of the Dutch Reformed Church. Parker attended Cooks Theological school in Phoenix, Arizona. After he completed his studies, he joined the Methodist church. Parker later served as pastor of churches in Broken Bow, Kildare, Ponca City, Kingfisher and various other congregations in and around Comanche County, Oklahoma.

José Francisco Ruiz

José Francisco Ruiz was one of the Signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence. He was one of three Mexicans to do so, with the others being José Antonio Navarro, his uncle, and Lorenzo de Zavala. A total of seven were invited but only these three were able to attend. Navarro and Ruiz were born in what is now Texas whereas de Zavala was born in Mexico. His date of birth is sometime said to be September 1,1780. However, his actual date of birth is not known but he other accounts hold that he was likely born in San Antonio de Bejar around the middle of January, 1783 because he was baptized shortly thereafter. His parents were Juan Manuel Ruiz and María Manuela de la Peña. His family was engaged in ranching. This was during the period in which that area was governed by Spain and José was sent to Spain for his education. Upon his return to the area shortly after 1800, he served as a school teacher. The school was organized in the family home.

Dick Sparks: Early North Texas Cowboy

The Waco News Tribune issue of December 14, 1946 carried a short article about the death of Dick Sparks, a former slave and once said to be the oldest resident of Wichita County at age 117. Dick had been confined to Wichita General Hospital for about six months, the article said, causing him to leave his home and property in Electra for what would be the last time. His Electra residence had been a gift from rancher Tom Burnett for “faithful services rendered” when Dick retired his first time. It was upon his leaving the Burnett Ranch that he was given his home.