Some early mayors of Mineola – Part II

Lorenza Dow Callaway.

Mr. Callaway was born in the Oak Grover Community in Wood County on October 18th, 1869. When he was very young, his family moved to Mineola. After observing some problems around several saloons in downtown Mineola, his father, J.A. Callaway, said they had moved to “a wicked city.”

His father opened a general merchandise business and in 1892, he built the family home at 512 Sycamore. Today, this is the home of Larry and Sue Wisdom. His son built an addition to the home where teachers could live free of charge. In addition to his mercantile business, in 1908, Callaway operated the first jitney (or bus) service out of Mineola. He charged $2 for a round trip to Quitman.
 

L.D. Callaway served as alderman under three mayors. On April 4th, 1905, he was elected mayor of Mineola and served until 1909. After he left office, he remained active in civic affairs and his church. He died on October 14tj, 1918 at the age of 48.
 

W.D. Williams
Mr. Williams was born in Troup County, Georgia, on August 8th, 1866. The family moved to Texas when he was a small boy and settled near the Oak Grove Community in Wood County. Williams came to Mineola in 1887 and worked in a general store. He later went into the grocery business for himself.
 

Williams was the father of Vivian Lott and the grandfather of David Lott. Williams and his family lived at 311 East Kilpatrick Street, an address that later became known as the Lott House.
 

Williams served as alderman, and tax assessor/collector for the City of Mineola and he also served as tax assessor/collector for Wood County from 1936 to 1940. On April 4th, 1916, he was elected mayor and served until 1920 when he decided to step down. Mr. Williams died in Dallas on September 22nd, 1944.
 

Walter Kelly Thompson.
Mr. Thompson was born in the new Hope Community east of Mineola on October 24th, 1879. After the death of his mother when he was about six years old, he and his brother lived with their grandparents in Louisiana. When he was almost 18 years old, the family returned to Texas where he attended the New Hope School and worked on a farm. At the age of 20, he went to work for the Texas & Pacific Railroad.

In 1922, Thompson was elected mayor. In 1923, the city of Mineola went from having dirt streets to paved streets. They were paved with red brick sealed with asphalt. Also an American LaFrance fire engine and a supply of fire hose were purchased, vastly improving the city’s fire-fighting capabilities. Thompson served just a two-year term due to ill health and died on June 14th, 1924.
 

W.C. DuBose
W.C. DuBose was born on August 20th, 1881 in Pensacola, Florida. Due to an epidemic of yellow fever, the family moved to Alabama. Both parents died shortly after. W.C. was sent to Mineola to live with his sister, Eugenia DuBose Coleman and her husband, Dr. Walter Coleman.
 

After his marriage and the completion of a course at Draughn’s College, he opened a used furniture business in Mineola. Later he went into partnership with J.W. Cage in the same business and they added new furniture and hardware, plus funeral supplies and service. Mr. DuBose had attended the Dallas School of Embalming.
 

He served for a number of years as fire chief and became mayor on August 15th, 1924. He served two terms until 1928. Mr. DuBose died on November 9th, 1929.