Throughout
the research on my paternal ancestors, there has been a theme of mercantile businessmen. My great grandfather, Thomas Chittim Knight, after returning from the 1st
Regiment Texas Calvary in the Spanish American War, dabbled in the laundry
business.[1] He placed advertisements
in the Southwest Texas State Normal Star School Newspaper from December 1911 through
April 1912.[2] My second great grandfather, George
Washington Knight, started a mercantile business in Bladon Springs, Choctaw County, Alabama for boots & shoes as
described in an advertisement published 6 October 1880.[3] Later he expanded his
business endeavors by purchasing a drug store.[4] George moved to
San Marcos, Texas circa 1886 and opened a jewelry business. He furthered his business acumen
to include eye glasses, music instruments, sewing machines, razors, typewriters
and china.[5]
After serving as a Texas Ranger in the Frontier Forces,
my second great grandfather, Emil Huffmeyer, settled in Bandera, Texas.[6] He established the
Huffmeyer Store in 1873 and later his brother joined him on this venture. This
property is now a historical landmark.[7] He later relocated to San
Marcos, Texas and again opened a mercantile business circa 1895 and then added a
partner in 1899; the business known as Huffmeyer and Fourqurean.[8]
Henry Huffmeyer, my third great grandfather emigrated from Germany to the United States and settled in San Antonio, Texas. He was recorded as the first shoemaker of San Antonio.[9] Lastly, my third great grandfather, William “Bill” Jernigin settled in Cow Hill, Texas in the 1840s and served in the 2nd Regiment, Texas Calvary State Troops during the Civil War.[10] He built a store with his sons in 1873 in the area that became Commerce, Texas.[11] The Jernigin’s Store was designated a historical landmark in 1982.[12] Bill also donated land for the Commerce Town Square and property for the local Masonic Lodge.[13]
The mercantile entrepreneurial spirit raged within my paternal ancestors’
hearts and souls resulting in multiple successful businesses. In all their
efforts, each one gave back to the community in the form of service or support driving
economic growth and expansion for the benefit of the people in the area.
[1]
U.S., National Cemetery Interment Control Forms, 1928-1962, A1 2110-B; online
database with images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2590/images/40479_2421401574_0447-01496?pId=2054417
: accessed 5 February 2024); citing Records of the Office of the Quartermaster
General, 1774-1985, Record Group 92; National Archives, College Park, MD.
[2] Knight,
Thos. C., Laundry Advertisement; Normal Star Newspaper, San Marcos, Texas; 19
April 1912; Vol.2, Ed.1, Page 4 of 4; online database with images, The Portal
of Texas History (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth614536/m1/4/?q=%22Thos%20C%20Knight%22
: accessed 5 February 2024).
[3] Knight,
George Washington, Advertisement, Choctaw County News, Butler, Choctaw County, Alabama,
6 October, 1880, Vol. IV, No. 37, Page 2 of 2; online database with images, Newspapers.com
(https://www.newspapers.com/article/choctaw-county-news/112839541/
: accessed 5 February 2024).
[4] The
Courier Newspaper, Butler, Choctaw County, Alabama, 7 December 1881, Vol. 1,
No. 6, Page 3 of 4; online database with images, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/575967659/
: accessed 5 February 2024).
[5]
Knight, George Washington, Christmas Advertisement; Normal Star Newspaper, San
Marcos, Texas, 15 December 1916; Vol. 6, Ed. 1 Page 2 of 4; online database
with images, The Portal of Texas History (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth614592/m1/2/
: accessed 5 February 2024).
[6] Stephens,
Robert W., Texas Ranger Indian War Pensions, Nortex Press, 1975.
[7]
Texas Historical Commission application, Old Huffmeyer Store, Bandera, Texas;
online database with images, The Portal of Texas History (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth488953/?q=Huffmeyer
: accessed 5 February 2024).
[8] Huffmeyer
& Fourqurean, Advertisement; The Hays County Times and Farmers Journal, 28
April 1899, Vol. 12, Page 4 of 8; online database with images, San Marcos
Public Library, Community History Archive, (http://ttwc.advantage-preservation.com/viewer/?k=huffmeyer&i=f&by=1899&bdd=1890&d=01011873-12312020&m=between&ord=k1&fn=the_hays_county_times_and_farmers%27_journal_usa_texas_san_marcos_18990428_english_4&df=1&dt=9&cid=2852
: accessed 5 February 2024).
[9] Huffmeyer,
Henry, Record ID No. LCJY-MNT; Memoranda by A Pioneer Family, unknown author;
unknown publication; online database with images, FamilySearch (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth488953/?q=Huffmeyer
: accessed 5 February 2024); contributed by TimHuffmeyer.
[10]
U.S., Civil War Solider Records and Profiles, 1861-1865; online database with
images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/4172900:1555?ssrc=pt&tid=58937643&pid=132362941033
: accessed 5 February 2024); citing American Civil War Research Database,
Historical Data Systems, Inc.; Duxbury, Massachusetts.
[11]
Welcome to Commerce, About Page; online database, CommerceTx.org (https://commercetx.org/contact-form/
: accessed 5 February 2024).
[12]
Texas Historical Commission Marker, The Jernigin’s Store; online database with
images, HMdb.org (https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=119793
: accessed 5 February 2024).
[13] Masonic Lodge marks 81st Anniversary Here; Commerce Journal, Commerce, Hunt County, Texas, 7 June 1956, Vol. 87, No. 23, Page 1; Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/37173123/?clipping_id=105870529&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjM3MTczMTIzLCJpYXQiOjE3MDcxNTMyNTAsImV4cCI6MTcwNzIzOTY1MH0.v-AbwshQc2elh8JBtEdbcGwHdZU_p0KK-D8tyjehHIw : accessed 5 February 2024).
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All primary source information referenced was gathered from historic newspapers, U.S. census schedules, vital records, probate files, and land documents, accessed through leading genealogical platforms such as Newspapers.com, Ancestry, FamilySearch, Find a Grave, and federal archival repositories. Interpretive narrative may also include Carol Anna Meyer Brooks' personal experiences or family stories shared with her throughout her lifetime.
©2025 Unfolding the Story Genealogy
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