DR. HENRY J. MCBRIDE AND FAMILY. Smith County, TX ***************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Submitted by Jo Nell Williams - JoNellLOC@aol.com 28 May 2001 ***************************************************************** DR. HENRY J. MCBRIDE AND FAMILY "Some Biographies of Old Settlers." Historical, Personal and Reminiscent. Volume I By Sid S. Johnson, 1900: Sid S. Johnson, Publisher, Tyler, Texas Chapter LIV Pages 232-235 DR. HENRY J. MCBRIDE AND FAMILY, CHAPTER LIV Dr. Henry J. McBride was born in Benton county, Tennessee, April 12, 1838, and removed from that State to Smith county and settled in Tyler, in 1854, landing here the 24th of June, the day the corner stone of the old Methodist church was laid by the Masonic order, the lodge room being in the upper story of the building. His father, Ezekial McBride, was an Alabamian by birth and moved to Tennessee where he married Miss Rebecca Jones, the daughter of Major Isom Jones, a large planter of that State. They both died in Benton county, Tennessee. Dr. Henry J. McBride married Miss Angeline Middleton, of Starrville, Texas, an adopted daughter of Rev. J. M. Gill, a prominent minister of the Methodist church and a leading citizen. Miss Middleton was a direct descendant of the Middletons of South Carolina, of Revolutionary fame. Her father was a near kinsman of Arthur J. Middleton, a signer of the Declaration of American Indepen- dence, whose son was afterwards governor of that state. Her people were noted for their prominence socially, politically, and in business. Mrs. McBride was an accomplished woman and noted for her intelligence and many Christian virtues. They had three children, (one died in infancy) - Mary and James L. are living. Miss Mary McBride married Jeff G. Jones, formerly a leading merchant of Troupe, Texas, now a prominent business man of San Antonio. Four children bless their household - Henry, Bulah, Lamar and Paul. James L. McBride is a well educated young man of this city. He has been licensed to practice law, but is devoting himself to news- paper work, hence, he is the popular correspondent of the Dallas News. He is a ready writer, a very attractive and correct reporter for that great journal. At the outbreak of the civil war, Dr. McBride entered the Confederate army, enlisting in the 15th Texas Infantry. After doing the duties of a soldier in the field for two years, he was transferred to the ordinance department, and then transferred to the office of Col. Hill, doing clerical work in that office till the war closed. Dr. McBride had studied dentistry for two years before his enlistment as a Confederate soldier and, at the close of the war, he went to New Orleans, remaining there for two years, graduating in 1868. Returning to Tyler, he has practiced his profession successfully from that time. He has been a Mason forty-one years, securing all the degrees of the York Right; has been W.M. of St. Lodge, No. 53, Tyler, Texas, for almost a continuous time, only broken by a few terms since 1867; was Deputy District Grand Master from 1870 to 1882; Grand High Priest of the Royal Arch Chapter of Texas; has been a delegate to the State Grand Lodge for the past twenty-five years with very few exceptions; held the position of Eminent Grand Commander of Ascension Commandary, No 24. He is one of the brightest Masons in the State and good authority on Masonic law. Dr. McBride is one of the best dentists in the State; well up in the science of his profession and is a leader along this line. His aim has been to make his profession a success, which he has done, professionally and financially. His Dental Parlors are complete in all departments, up-to-date in all that constitutes a practical and ideal parlor for the profession. He has a large practice, is constantly at work, and is well known throughout the State. He is not only popular professionally, but personally, enjoys the con- fidence of as many friends as any man in this part of the State. Religiously, he is a Methodist. He is a well informed man, stands high socially, always welcome among the best people. As an interest- ing story teller and the relator of amusing incidents, he stands at the head of that class. He is a fine conversationalist, and when interspersed with wit, it is charming in all its parts. He is today of fine physique, and looks much younger than he really is, being an active man, full of business, to the front professionally and socially; a man of universal popularity. His family is along with the best people, intelligent, composing a part of good citizenship. The McBride brothers, James and Henry, were in Tyler, when deer and wild turkeys were killed at the town branch. It is hoped that many more years may be added to their useful lives.