Robert Bruce McAlpine

b. 25 August 1888, d. 7 December 1950
  • Robert Bruce McAlpine was born on 25 August 1888 in Grimes County, Texas.
  • Willie Cabeen Cameron appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Grimes County, Texas. Other members of the household included Robert Bruce McAlpine, John Gwyn McAlpine, Marcus Randolph McAlpine, Willie Sterrett McAlpine, Ellen Ethridge McAlpine and Bessie Vivian McAlpine.
  • The following appeared on 23 April 1909 in The Liberty Vindicator: At twelve o'clock Wednesday night Liberty was visited by a fire which, within the twinkling of an eye, destroyed what it had taken years to build.
         The loss is between $30,000 and $35,000. The fire started in the Theriot building, occupied by H. C. Wood, and was discovered by the crew on the switch engine, who gave the alarm. The flames, from where they originated, spread into the Goldstein building, occupied by I. Lipstet; then into the Masonic building, occupied by John L. Ellis; onto the Ager building and into the home of Sim DeBlanc on the north. Going south they enveloped the Steusoff building and the Guertin building.
         The losers, and the approximate amounts, together with the insurance carried, are as follows:
         H. C. Wood stock valued at $750; insured for $500.
         Theriot building valued at $1000; partially insured.
         Goldstein building and fixtures valued at $5000; partially insured.
         I. Lipstet, stock valued at $12,000; partially insured.
         Masonic building valued at $1500; insured for $900.
         J. L. Ellis, stock valued at $2500; insured for $1500.
         H. O. Ager, building and stock valued at $5000; partially insured.
         Stevens & Pickett damage to library $750; insured.
         Residence of Mrs. Julia Welder, occupied by Sim DeBlanc, valued at $1250.
         C. F. Steusoff, building and stock, $2000. No insurance.
         Guertin building, vacant, valued at $700.
         On complaint of J. L. Ellis and H. E. Marshall, G. A. Wood and Robert McAlbia, the gentlemen who conducted the H. C. Wood store, at which place the fire originated, have been arrested in connection with the fire, on a charge of arson. Their esamining trials will be heard before Justice McConnell Saturday.
  • The following appeared on 25 April 1909 in The Houston Post: (Navasota, April 24) A bond for $1000 was circulated on the streets of Navasota this morning and in a few minutes had the signature of twenty-one citizens, worth in the aggregate considerably more than a million dollars. It was for Green A. Wood and Robert McAlpine, arrested at Liberty in connection with the recent fire there, in which the store of H. C. Wood and several others were totally destroyed. Messers. Wood and McAlpine, the former as manager and the latter as clerk, had but recently engaged in business at Liberty. The fire was thought to have originated in the Wood store, and both gentlemen being comparative strangers, adverse sentiment was quickly formed connecting them with the disaster. Arrest followed and the bond from Navasota is to take the place of one made by a citizen of Liberty until this one could arrive.
         Both gentlemen are natives of Grimes county and come from as good families as there are in Texas or out of it. The fire was very unfortunate, especially so to Mr. Wood, and the people of Navasota and Grimes county deeply sympathize with all parties concerned.
         The signers to the bond of both Mr. Wood and Mr. McAlpine are: George S. Wood, J. W. Leake, W. L. Steele, H. H. Knox, P. H. Levy, Ed F. Blacksbear, J. W. Brosig, W. H. Brown, E. H. Terrell, Gus Manos, Ward Templeman, M. B. Goodman, Tom M. Owen, J. T. Barry, Oscar Coe, S. J. Walker, J. E. Semple, A. P. Terrell, R. B. Templeman, S. W. Glass and Ewing Norwood.
  • The following appeared on 14 May 1909 in The Liberty Vindicator: After a stubborn fight, beginning Friday morning, the preliminary trials of Green A. Wood and Robert McAlpin, charged with arson, were brought to a close Monday afternoon by Justice McConnell, fixing their bonds at $5000 and $2000, respectively.
         The trial was one of the most sensational that has ever occurred in Liberty county and every inch of ground being closely contested, made same unusually interesting. H. E. Marshall assisted county attorney Dan Harrison in the prosecution and F. F. Stevens of this city and Judge Lewis of Navasota, represented the defendants.
         As has been previously stated in the columns of this paper, the complaints were made against Wood, and his brother-in-law, McAlpin, on the morning after the recent fire in this township. The fire having started in the house occupied by Wood as a gentleman's furnishing establishment. Wood carried insurance amounting to $500.
         The bonds were immediately made by several prominent citizens of Grimes county who had come here to attend the trial.
  • Robert Bruce McAlpine died on 7 December 1950 at age 62 in Navasota, Grimes County, Texas.
  • He was interred at Fairview Cemetery, White Hall, Grimes County, Texas.
  • Last Edited: 18 Jan 2016