Runnels Co., TX - Newspaper - Winters Brass Band 1956 *********************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: "Jan Pittard" Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenwebarchives.org *********************************************** Articles related to the Winters Brass Band “From Dry Rallies to Weddings Winters Band was in Demand Mar 31, 1956 written by Mrs. George POE, Reporter-News Correspondent. Picture of the band taken between 1904 - 1906, Front row: John CURRY, Albert SPILL, Frank ADAMI, Albert ROBERTS, Charlie ADAMI, and Emil SPILL (moved to San Antonio). Back Row: Charlie GRANT, Ben SPILL, Adolph ERNST, Louis ERNST, Charlie KIEFER of California, Bill KEIVER and J. W. (Bill) PIERCE of Clyde. (The article states the band was organized in 1901, but was actually started in 1899 as per letter by Attie GRANT (CORDILL) (married Asa CORDILL, the jeweler). Attie was Charles younger sister). Excerpts - The late Charlie GRANT organized and directed the band for some 15 years. He had lived in Old Mexico for a time and spoke Spanish fluently. His brother was an early day doctor in Winters and his sister, Miss Attie GRANT played with the band as did Miss Mattie CURRY whom he married. He later moved to Austin where his wife still lives (she passed away ____). Once they played an engagement in San Angelo, staying in the Landon Hotel. About an hour after they left the hotel burned and eight people were killed in the fire. Traveling by bandwagon drawn by four white horses, trips were made to C rews, Wingate, Ballinger, Bronte, Maverick, Robert Lee, fort Chadbourne and other places. The band played for picnics, weddings, box suppers, old settlers reunions, and political rallies. Longer trips were made by wagon to Ballinger, the nearest railroad, and continued by train. Brownwood, San Angelo, Coleman and Big Spring were included in the itinerary. Any trip out of town required at least three days, and the celebration usually lasted that long. John CURRY remembered their uniforms were blue with gold stripes and cost $14.00 each, the finest that could be bought at that time. The most exciting trip made he recalls, was to Brownwood for the first prohibition campaign in Brown County. “We were hired by the pros and the Granbury Band, a third larger than ours was hired by the antis. We were furnished band wagons and each side had parades for three days.” “The father of Cyclone DAVIS was the pro speaker and a man named Anthony spoke for the antis. He announced he would speak at the court house and we broke up the meeting by marching round the courthouse, carrying kerosene torches and yelling at the tops of our voices. Needless to say the pros won the election.” Coming to Runnels County from Tarrant County in 1886, when a small boy, Mr. CURRY farmed until his retirement several years ago. As a young man, he freighted and clerked some for Ben SPILL. He hauled freight from Ballinger, by team, for the General Mercantile store. He was Married to Viola DAVID in 1907. They have a daughter, Mrs. Bill BYRNS, and a son Milburn of Fort Worth; also two small granddaughters. The late Albert SPILL was 17 years old when he came to Winters from Seguin, with his parents, in 1899. He was a charter member of the band. The picture was not taken until several years later when number of young men had joined and they had new uniforms. As a young man, Albert lived in San Antonio for a time where he curried horses for the soldiers at Fort Sam Houston, then called Military Hill, and also worked in the Buckhorn Saloon. Returning to Winters, he worked as a cowhand on the Parramore ranch before buying the furniture and undertaking store from Ed Stone in 1905. New buildings have been erected but the store continues in the same location, being operated by a nephew, Albert AFFLERBACH. Mrs. SPILL, a son Merrick, and daughter Mrs. John GARDNER continue to live in Winters. There are two grandchildren, Gray and Ginger GARDNER. Ben SPILL now deceased, joined his brother a year later when he sold his General Mercantile Store, which is now the Post Office building and background for the band picture. Ben’s wife died in 1918 and he in 1947. His son, Clarence, and daughter Mrs. Bendena DESCHAPMS live in Casa Grande, Arizona. Emil SPILL, the youngest of the brothers, farmed and ran a dairy until moving to San Antonio in 1937 where he became night watchman for one of the colleges. He is now retired. He was married to Annie ZAPPEIN 1910 at Halletxville. They have three daughters, Helen and Rose who live in San Antonio, and Dolores in Korea. All are married and there are seven grandchildren. Albert ROBERTS who died in San Antonion in 1949 played a baritone in the band was also a charter member. After operating a drug store and later a light plant, he ran the ROBERTS Mill and Elevator business until he retired in 1934. Inters had its first paving and sewage system while he was mayor for two consecutive terms. His wife and daughter Mrs. P. A. NEILAN, live in Oakland, California. Another daughter, Mrs. C. M. BARTHOLOMEW, lived in Menlo Park, California, A grandson, Robert NEELY and great grandson also live in Calif. Frank and Charlie ADAMI came to Runnels with their parents, Mr. And Mrs. F. C. ADAMI from DeWitt County in 1904, settling on the SMILEY place where John HORD now lives. Frank was married to Rosa SPILL in 1907. He died in 1918, and she in 1943. Three children survive, Walter, Herbert of California, and Mrs. Clarence KEELE of Lovington, N.M. There are four grandchildren. Charlie (ADAMI) has continued farming and lived in the Dale community east of town. He was married to Nora HENNINGER in 1911. The ADAMIs have three children, O.C. of Seagraves, Mrs. J.S. NESLONEY, and Edwina of San Antonio. There are four grandchildren. G. R. TUCKER operated a drug business which he bought from Albert ROBERTS. He continued in the same business after moving to An Angelo. He and Mrs. TUCKER are both deceased. Adolph and Louis (Louie) ERNST came from Travis County in the fall of 1897 with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Carl ERNST. Both have continued farming in the same location, four miles west of town. Adolph’s son, Gaston, lives in Abilene. Louis was married to Lena KEIFER in 1908. Mrs. ERNST remembers the band playing for a wedding in Ballinger one winter when it was so cold the horns froze. Also she recalls the band playing for the celebration at the coming of the railroad. The ERNSTs have three daughters, Mrs. Awrence JACOBS, Mrs. Robert SIMPSON, Wilmeth, and Mrs. Herbert GERHART of Wilcos, Arizona. There are eight grandchildren and one great-granchild. J.W. (Bill) PIERCE came to Runnels from Ellis County in 1889 and moved to Winters in 1900. He was a charter member of the band and says, “I played a cornet, trombone, or most anything.” He was married to Rosie WHITE in 1906. He was a contractor and builder until his retirement when he moved to Cyde in 1950. Mrs. PIERCE died in 1954. There are two sons, William of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Roland of Fort Worth; also five grandchildren. Charles and Bill KEIFER were born in Baden, West Germany and came to America with their parents, settling in Seguin in 1888. In 1900 they moved to Winters, and farmed two miles west of town until moving to Valley Creek in 1906. “Charlie traveled around a lot, “ says Bill. “He went to Old Mexico for a while, came back to Seguin, and now lives in Johannasberg California. Three of his children, Fritz, Carl and Mrs. W.J. YATES live in San angelo. The other daughter, Eula B., who is married lives in Austin.” Bill continued living on the farm until 1924, but has followed the trade of painting since 1903 and learned paper-hanging in 1914. He was married to Emma HAUPT in 1909. They have three children, Mrs. J.B. TEMPLETON, Albert of Kerrville and Norman of Hamilton, also nin grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Mr. KEIFER says, “Norman didn’t know it at the time, but he dropped a bom on the hold hom in Germany during World War II. I hope non of the folks still lived there.” Almost making a profession of band music, Bill played wherever he had the opportunity. He remembers being hired by the Waco and San Saba bands, playing three days at the San Saba Fair in 1910 or 11. He played with the Ballinger Band in 1924. His son, Albert was first clarinetist, and he was second. The daughter, Mrs. TEMPLETON, believes that Gus HARTMAN was the first director to introduce band music in the school. He collected instruments in town and loaned them to the children.