Big Bend Genealogical Society

L. H. Salter, age 84, died at his home on West College avenue Friday afternoon and was buried Saturday afternoon in Elm Grove cemetery following funeral services held at the Baptist Church of which he was a member, with Rev. Buren Sparks officiating. The aged man had been in failing health for some time and his death was not unexpected. Born in Evergreen, Alabama October 18, 1847. Mr. Salter came to Texas many years ago, first residing in Robinson County and later moving to Mitchell County. For a time he was engaged in the grocery business in San Angelo, moving from there to the old Bar S ranch where the town of Barnhart now stands. He was a resident of Stanton for 12 or 15 years and was postmaster there during the Wilson administration. He and Mrs. Salter came to Alpine about eight years ago.

Mr. Salter is survived by his wife, four children and six grandchildren. The children are: F. B. Salter, Amarillo; W. L. Salter, Hollywood, California; Mrs. Ethel Cooper, San Angelo, and Ruby Estelle Yates of Rankin.

(Special note: Early Death records of Brewster County give his parents as Ezekiel Salter of Alabama and Mary Burford of Scotland)

W. M. Sanford, age 90 died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. R. B. Slight, here Sunday night and was buried in Elm Grove cemetery Monday afternoon following funeral services held at the Methodist Church at five o'clock with the Rev. R. F. Davis, pastor, officiating. Despite his advanced years, Mr. Sanford had remained active up to th pas two or three years and had been confined only a short time before his death.

He had been a resident of Alpine since 1904, during which time had been held in the nighest esteem by those who knew him as a fine Christian gentleman and an upright citizen. He was a lifelong member of the Methodist church, having been converted in 1854, under the preaching of Rev. James E. Ferguson, father of the ex-governor of Texas, and up to the time of his health failed a short time ago, was one of the most active and devoted members of the local organization.

Born in Delta, Mississipi, Nov 6, 1844, he came with his parents to Texas in 1850, settling near Texana, Jackson County, where he grew to manhood. He served all during the Civil War with the Confederate army and in 1865 was married to Miss Susan Rogers in Jackson County. Eleven children were born to this union, six of whom survive. Mrs. Sanford died at Rocksprings, Texas where the family later moved, in 1898, and was buried in San Antonio.

After moving to Rocksprings in the early '80's, Mr. Sanford served as county clerk of Edwards county for 10 years. From there the family moved to Alpine in 1904 where he established the Trans-Pecos Abstract Company which he operated until 1920, when he disposed of the business to M. L. Hopson.

He was married a second time in 1915 to Mrs. Mary P. Hall, of Alpine, who survives him. Other survivors are four sons: J. R. Sanford, R. A. Sanford, Eagle Pass; W. M. Jr., San Francisco, Cal; T. S. Oracle, Arizona; two daughters, Mrs. C. F. Annis, Denve, Colo, and Mrs. R.B. Slight, Alpine and a half brother-Lucius Sanford, Ganado, Texas. None of these except Mrs. Slight was able to be here for the funeral on account of either illness or distance.

Pall bearers were L. B. Starns, J. W. Gillett, Matt Smith, Wm. Cotter, T. A. Beard, and T. F. Skevington.

CSA veteran William M. Satathite was born March 8, 1827 and died May 22, 1902 in Brewster County, Texas. He is buried in the Marathon Cemetery. He served with Company A. Rangers for Frontier Protection Texas Confederate Forces. He is buried on the Lemons family lot as his daughter, Winnie Marie married John Henry Lemons.

Better known as R. B. or Bob Slight, was born in England in 1868. Enchanted by Wild West shows, he emigrated to San Antonio, with aspirations of becoming a cowboy. In 1888 he arrived in Alpine to work on Lawrence Haley's Cathedral Mountain Ranch south of town. He walked to the ranch from Alpine, spending one night in the open.

Mr. Slight worked for Mr. Haley until 1898 when he came to Alpine to be employed at the C. H. Larkin general store. Shortly thereafter he married Miss Charlotte Williams who died in 1903. In 1900 he bought the Alpine Drug Store which he operated for 18 years.

In 1910 Mr. Slight married Mary Sanford whose father, W. M. Sanford, was owner of the Trans-Pecos Abstract Company. Beginning about 1915 he assisted the aging Mr. Haley in his business and personal matters. Upon Haley's death, Mr. Slight inherited a large herd of cattle which he ran on the Haley ranch until 1930 when he sold his ranching interests and returned to Alpine.

In 1932, Mr. Slight was elected Brewster County Judge, and he held this office for 14 years. He promoted many worthy causes and was an active Mason until his death in 1953.

In 1914, James L. Sublett, formerly of Sweetwater, moved to southern Brewster County. He was hired by wealthy rancher Clyde Buttrell to work his newly acquired land on the Rio Grande near Castolon. Sublett was a well respected farmer and experienced in irrigation techniques. Due to his past experience with railroad machinery and landscaping, he was well qualified to take on the challenging task of clearing and farming the floodplain of the Rio Grande. After clearing large portions of land, he hired local laborers to plan wheat, corn, alfalfa, Irish and sweet potatoes and peanuts.Sublett is given credit by local historians for having brought mechinized farming to the Big Bend area. The farming business was successful, however, in 1918 Buttrell decided to sell the land.

Sublett formed a new partnership with Albert Dorgan. They purchased land some miles west of Castolon called Rancho Steele and bulit homes. Sublett and Dorgan began in earnest to clear land and construct a new irrigation system on the Rio Grande floodplain.

This efforts proved successful. Mostly vegetables were raised and these were sold to the workers and families now settled in the Terlingua Mining District. About this time, Sublett also opened a mercantile store to serve the district on both sides of the border.