Indian Wars and Pioneers of Texas Page: 263 of 894
762 p., [172] leaves of plates : ill., ports. ; 30 cm.View a full description of this book.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
INVDIAS WiARS AND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
235
cured three chronic cases of rheumatism which had
baffled the skill of the regimental physician for
nearly three years. There were three brothers
(their names will be omitted) who had been trying,
almost from the time of their enlistment in the
service, to get discharged on account of feigned
rheumatic troubles, one being afflicted with the
trouble between the shoulders, another with it in
the back, and third in the hips. The doctor had
treated them until he had become satisfied that
there was nothing the matter with them and
lhad tried other means to arouse them to a
sense of decency, but had signally failed, and
finally in the presence of the captain of the company
to which they belonged, said: " Markward,
I am done with those fellows. If you think you
can do anything with them, take charge of their
cases." Mr. Markward replied that he (lid not
know what he could do, but that he would try and
see. Calling the patients up he informed them
that the doctor had turned them over to him for
treatment, and that he proposed to resort to heroic
measures. He told them that cupping was the
thing for rheumatism, and that he was going to
begin to operate on them at once. So, making
each one bare his back, Mr. Markward got out all
the cups he had, heated them, and slapping on
four cups to the patient gave each a first-class
cupping. As a result all of them had sore backs
for several days, and the joke getting out in camp
and the patients, not knowing what next to expect
in case they continued their complaining, concluded
to "give under." They did so with as much
grace as the nature of the case admitted of, and
after that till the close of the war made very good
soldiers. Mr. Markward met one of them some
years afterwards, and the conversation turning on
the incident the latter confessed to the fraud which
he and his brothers had been guilty of, and laughed
heartily over the very effectual way the " pillmixer"
of the regiment had cured the three
chronic cases which had set at defiance the professional
efforts of the regiment's physician.
At the close of the war Mr. Markward embarked
in the mercantile business at Lampasas, the money
which he had made in his Alexandria venture,
about $600, constituting the capital on which he
began. His beginning though unassuming, was
auspicious, and it was not many years until his
establishment came to be one of the first in the
town where he was located, and he took rank as one
of the solid men of the community. That he has
been successful much beyond the average man
is well known to those familiar with bis career
and the manner of his building up equally well
known. It was by the observance of a few simplerules: Employing strict integrity in all his dealings,
living within his means, never leaving to
others what he could do himself, treating all courteously,
and extending aid where he could without
injury to his business, avoiding debts of a speculative
nature and shunning the ruinous pastimes
of youth and early manhood, which destroy first
one's business, and afterwards his character.
Mr. Markward did not marry till late in life.
His marriage took place at Lampasas, and was to
Miss Adelphia Florence White, a daughter of Maj.
Martin White, an old and respected citizen of Lampasas.
Mrs. Markward died, May 22, 1894, leaving
three children, two daughters and a son, two
children having preceded her to the grave.
Of Mr. Markward's public career there is but
little to be said. He has been solicited to run for
office many times but has persistently refused to do
so, and the only public position which he has ever
occupied was that of postmaster at Lampasas, which
he held for eight years, immediately after the war.
But whatever has been suggested as being of public
necessity or public benefit has always found in him
a willing and able supporter, and this is especially
true of all those aids to order, law, morality, education
and good society. Mr. Markward's connection
with one enterprise is especially worthy of
note, that being the railway that now traverses the
county in which he lives. When the Gulf, Colorado
and Santa Fe Railway was projected through that
section of the State it fell to his lot to secure the
right of way for the road through Lampasas County.
He spent the better part of two years in the undertaking,
meeting with many obstacles, but was finally
successful, securing the riglit of way for a distance
of seventy-five miles at the nominal cost of
$2,100.00.
Mr. Markward is a man of considerable individuality
of character. He is thoroughly self-reliant.
He is not a member of any order and, though he
votes and acts with the Democratic party, he is not
in any sense a partisan. He was reared in the
faith of the Lutheran Church, but is a contributor
to all denominations, being bound by none. He
believes in every one enjoying the fullest measure
of individual liberty consistent with the rights of
others.
In (lisposition be is genial and pleasant, full of
life and possessing a keen perception of the humorous
side of things.
In December, 1894, Mr. Markward retired from
active business pursuits, since which time he has
devoted his attention to the training of his children,
all of whom are still small, and to the supervision
of his estate, one of the largest in the county where
he resides.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Related Items
Other items on this site that are directly related to the current book.
Indian Wars and Pioneers of Texas (Book)
A history of pioneers in Texas and their confrontations with local American Indians.
Relationship to this item: (Has Format)
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
Brown, John Henry. Indian Wars and Pioneers of Texas, book, 1880~; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth6725/m1/263/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.