By Dint of
Hard Labor, Good Business Management and Frugality He Has Acquired and
Improved 600 acre farm Saddle Horse and Roan Beef Cattle Breeder Friend of
Several Governors and More Widely Known Over Texas Than Perhaps Any Other
"Real Dirt" Farmer.
Probably there
is no better known farmer in the entire county than is Tom Airhart of New
Life School community and Democratic leader of the Valdasta voting box. He
has been a member of the Democratic County Executive committee for
twenty-five years. While always taking an active part in politics, he has
never held any office other than road overseer or school trustee.
He was the
staunch friend of United State Senator Joseph Weldon Bailey, Governor O. B.
Colquitt, always a friend of Governor Jim Ferguson and Governor Miriam A.
(Ma) Ferguson, having visited in their home in the Governor's Mansion, at
Austin, a staunch friend of former Congressman C. B. Randell and our present
Congressman and Democratic Majority Leader Sam Rayburn.
Through his
political connections has made friends perhaps in every county in Texas.
Tom's full name is Thomas Morgan Airhart, but he says it is too long a name
for him and so he prefers "Tom" for short.
He was born,
at Salem, Indiana, May 2, 1866; came to Texas with his parents, John and
Louisa Airhart, in 1881. His mother was before her marriage, Miss Louisa
Davis, a sister of Alex Davis, who was the grandfather of former District
Clerk Halsell S. Davis.
Mr. Airhart
obtained very little schooling, but being possessed of a bright mind and
plenty of hard, common sense, he has made a success much above the average
man on the farm now owning practically 600 acres of good land in a body.
He has always
been a hard worker and says he has probably cleared more woodland and put it
into cultivation than any other one man in Collin County.
His farm land
is in a good state of cultivation. When many other farmers are buying corn
and oats to feed, they go to Tom's big farm to buy, because he nearly always
has a surplus to sell.
He specializes
in livestock, especially in breeding and training saddle horses and in
raising roan Durham cattle of the best blood.
Mr. Airhart is
a great admirer of Hon. Coke Stevenson, former Speaker of the House of
Representatives of Texas during two legislative sessions and now a candidate
for Lieutenant-Governor.
Mr. Stevenson
recently visited the hospitable home of Mr. and Mrs. Airhart on the farm.
Mr. Airhart has twice introduced Governor James E. Ferguson when the latter
came to McKinney to fill speaking engagements
Mr. Airhart
says that in religion, he is a "chicken-eating" Methodist in belief and
doctrine, including falling from grace. He has four brothers living James
Airhart of Big Spring, Texas; Rev. G. B. Airhart, a Baptist preacher of
McKinney; John V. Airhart of Valdasta and Rev. W. G. Airhart, a minister of
Greenville, Texas, and a noted chicken breeder and fancier of that county.
One of his
several sisters now all deceased, Mrs. Sam Osburn, of McKinney, died a few
years ago. Another sister, Mrs. Will Smith, also lived here.
Tom Airhart is
a man of positive convictions and fearless in their expression, but he is
always willing for the other fellow to likewise think, believe and be what
his conscience may lead him to be.
He is the soul
of hospitality and friendliness. He cleaned off the pretty grove in his
pasture for the annual reunion of his wife's relatives, killed and had
barbecued one of his finest, fat young beef cattle for the occasion and
which all enjoyed to the utmost. He did his best to make all present enjoy
the event to the fullest. Mr. Airhart paid a glowing tribute in his
afternoon talk to the character and integrity of the early settlers and
especially to the parents of his dead wife and helpmate through so many
years.
Surname Index
