History of Texas, Together with a Biographical History of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson Counties. Page: 417

HISTORY OF TEXAS. 417~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

county has advanced from a most sparsely
settled to a thickly populated community
of prosperous planters. Captain Bitting's
business has kept pace with the growth of
the country, and as the latter has developed
he has enlarged his supply to meet the demands
of his constantly increasing trade.
When he settled here Manor was simply a
little station out on the prairie on a new
railroad, and he embarked in business in a
small frame building and in a small way.
He now has a large, handsome brick store
house, 75 x100 feet, which would be a credit
to any city in Texas, and he carries a general
stock of merchandise, amounting to
alb:out $20,000, and does a business of from
$50,000 to $60,000 annually, while the town
of Manor has grown to be the second largest
city in Travis county. In connection
with his extensive mercantile pursuits, the
Captain has large agricultural interests, owning
3,000 acres of the best soil in Texas,
1,000 acres of which are under a high state
of cultivation. Besides these various interests,
he is the correspondent in Manor for
all the banks, for which he collects, there
being no bank in the place.
The Captain's prosperity is due to a combination
of causes, among which his affable
disposition, honorable and upright business
principles and courteous, accommodating
treatment of his patrons, play a prominent
part, winning for him the confidence and
esteem of the entire community and the
State at large, while he enjoys a popularity
which is seldom experienced by the prosperous
men of the country. He has been among
the foremost to contribute his means and influence
to aid every laudable enterprise
having for its object the benefit of the community;
and it is undisputed fact that he has
done his full share in the up-building of

Manor and the dlevelopmlelnt of the surrounding
country, which locality lnow has the
reputation of being one of the most (lesirable
places for a lioneo in Texas, owingr to the
educational, religious and moral advantages.
While the Captain has his time and attention
fully occupied bly his various personal
interests, he is not unmindful of his social
obligations as a citizen, as is demonstrated
by his able service in tlie capacity of a nellber
;,f the Board of Directors of the State
Lunatic Asylum, to which position lie was
appointed during the administration of
Governor S. S. Ross. He is an active mletn.
ber of the Masonic fraternity, in which 1'e
has taken all the degrees, and is also an Odd
Fellow of prominence and a Knight of
Honor. While not an aspirant f)r political
preferment, he uses his influence in favor of
the Democratic party.
Captain Bitting was first married in
Yadkin county, North Carolina, September
1, 1865, to Miss Julia E., daughter of Dr.
George Wilson, an eminent professional man
of the 01d North State. To this union were
born ten children, five of whom are now
living: Reuben E., in business with his
father; Eugenia Hampton, wife of William
L. Bitting, a successful druggist of Sherman,
Texas; Lizzie, Leigh and Julia, at home.
Captain Bitting was called upon to mourn
the death of his estimable wife in 1885, in
which bereavement he had the sympathy of
all who knew and appreciated her in many
worthy qualities of mind and heart. August
3, 1893, he suffered another affliction in the
loss of his daughter Florence, a beautiful girl
just blooming into womanhood, who was
called to join her mother in that home which
knows no parting. In Austin, Texas, in
1887, Captain Bitting was again married,
his second wife being Margaret A. Griffin, a

H~ISTOR Y F EXA

417