Palfrey Family

Born into a prominent Franklin, Louisiana, family on 1863 July 17, Thomas Bisland Palfrey came to San Antonio in 1891 as an employee of the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway Co. He later moved to the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad, where he served as chief clerk until 1907. Palfrey was involved in a number of business ventures, including several banks in south-central Texas and the San Antonio Sewer Pipe and Manufacturing Co.

He was also one of the organizers of a concern which resulted in the construction of Medina Dam in 1912. He was serving as business manager of the Medina Valley Irrigation Company at the time of his death on 1914 August 20.

Thomas B. Palfrey married Lee Upson (1872-1941), the daughter of San Antonio attorney Christopher Columbus Upson, on 1894 April 3. Mrs. Palfrey was active in the management of family property after her husband's death and was a prominent member of the San Antonio Conservation Society. The couple had one son, Frank Upson Palfrey (1895-1975).

References

Kuehne, Cyril Matthew. Ripples from Medina Lake . San Antonio: The Naylor Company, 1966.

Palfrey Family Papers, 1881-1974, Col 6814, Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library, San Antonio, Texas.