New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 1

Author: Davis, Ellis A.
Publication date: 1926
Publisher: Dallas, Tex. : Texas development bureau, [1926?]
Number of Pages: 1262

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HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

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HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

The New ENCYCLOPEDIA TEXAS of

Compiled and Edited by ELLIS A. DAVIS AND EDWIN H. GROBE

Published by TEXAS DEVELOPMENT BUREAU DALLAS, TEXAS

HOUSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

ROLO11 51011

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70 A 60215

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

S. MANLEY, although but recently come to Orange, where he occupies a position of industrial leadership, for many years has been identified with timber preservation enterprises, and few men are better informed as to creosoting methods, and to the value of this treatment in timber conservation. Mr. Manley is president of the Texas Creosoting Company, one of the more recently organized industrial enter- prises of Orange, established in the fall of 1923. The plant of the Texas Creosoting Company is one of the . largest creosoting plants in Texas. This large industrial unit is located on a twenty-three acre tract on the ship channel, and has sixteen hun- dred feet of water frontage, facilitating transporta- tion and eliminating unnecessary delays in the traf- fic department. Some idea of the size of the plant may be gained when it is stated that one cylinder used in its construction required five flat cars to carry, and a freight bill of some thirty-five hundred dollars to transport it to Orange. Its length made it possible for sixty men, hands clasped together at arms length, to stand upon it. The Texas Creosot- ing Company creosotes telegraph and telephone poles, bridge timber, and piling, and all classes of wood where this treatment for preservation is de- sired. The plant has a capacity of four million feet, board measure, per month, and turns out creosoted timber both for domestic and export trade, supplying a large percentage of this class of timber in use in this section. The company has a force of one hundred and fifty employees. Officers are: R. S. Manley, president; W. H. Stark, vice president, and D. E. Roach, secretary, treasurer and purchasing agent.

R. S. Manley was born at Junction City, Kansas, the twenty-seventh of September, 1878, the son of C. H. and Marion I. (Jones) Manley. C. H. Manley, retired, is a pioneer banker of Junction City, Kan- sas. Mr. Manley was educated in the public schools of his native city, and after finishing there was appointed to the Naval Academy, at Annapolis, graduating in 1901, and receiving his ensign's com- mission in 1903. While at Annapolis he took an active part in athletics and played halfback on the navy football team. He served until 1906 as an officer on ships on the North and South Atlantic Ocean, resigning in that year to accept a position as manager of the Gulfport Creosoting Company, at Gulfport, Mississippi. He remained with the Gulfport Company until 1911, resigning to become president and manager of the Creosoted Wood Block Paving Company, which he headed until 1915. At that time the company was reorganized and the name was changed to the Creosoted Material Com- pany, Mr. Manley remaining as president and man- ager of the new company, until August, 1923, when he resigned to come to Orange to take charge of the organization of the Texas Creosoting Company. He built the plant at Orange and has since been active in building up one of the leading enterprises here.

Mr. Manley was married at Pensacola, Florida, the tenth of November, 1906, to Miss Celestine A. Brent, a native of Pennsylvania. They have five children, Rufus S., F. S. Brent, Charles Conrad, James Grant and Donald Manley. Mr. Manley is a member of the Army and Navy Club of Washington, D. C., the Rotary and Country Clubs at Orange. As one of the leading creosoting experts in the country

he has attained a national prominence in this field, and is one of the representatives of this industry, qualified to discuss the industry and its future with authority. Since coming to Orange, a city Mr. Man- ley feels offers unusual opportunities along indus- trial lines, he has taken an active interest in civic work, and has contributed, both through the build- ing of one of the most important enterprises here, and in a general way, through his sponsoring of development measures, to the expansion of Orange as an industrial center.

OHN W. HART, whose activities through- out an active and busy life have identified him with Orange, has been associated with enterprises of important bearing on the prosperity of the city, and for around a decade has been connected with the auto supply business, a field wherein he has established the reputation of a merchant of experience and success. Mr. Hart is the proprietor of the Hart Auto Supply Company, a business he established in April, 1913, and which has since done a large and rapidly increasing busi- ness in wholesale and retail auto supplies. Mr. Hart carries a complete line of supplies and acces- sories, including tires, parts, bearings and auto equipment of all kinds, and has the largest stock of this kind in the city. The Hart Auto Supply Company is well located on Front Street, and has a force of three employees. Mr. Hart has organ- ized his business along progressive lines, keeping in close touch with developments in his field, and makes a point of offering his patrons the best of the many new accessories and equipment on the market.

John W. Hart is a native of Orange, having been born in this city the third of July, 1883. His father, John T. Hart, came to Orange from his native state of Alabama, in 1876, and was a prominent attorney here until his death. His mother, whose maiden name was Miss Addie Goodman, was also a native of Alabama, and continues to make her home in Orange. John W. Hart received his early education in the public schools of Orange, later attending Texas A. and M. College, where he specialized in mechanical engineering. Later he entered the University of Virginia, in the law department, taking the LL.B. degree from that institution. After a short time spent in legal practice in Virginia he was recalled to Orange on account of his father's health, return- ing here and taking charge of the Hart interests in 1908. He began growing rice on a large scale, and was also head of the Orange County Irrigation Company for around eight years, furnishing water to the rice farmers until 1913, when he quit rice farming, and converted the large rice farm he owned into a ranch, which he still operates. In 1913 he also entered the auto supply business in which he now engages.

Mr. Hart was married at Orange the nineteenth of July, 1915, to Miss Eula Orthmeyer, a native of New Orleans, and the daughter of H. J. Orthmeyer, a prominent funeral director of Orange, where he has resided for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Hart reside on Green Avenue, and have one child, John T. Hart, named for his grandfather. Mr. Hart belongs to the Rotary Club, the Elks Club, and is an Odd Fellow. He is active in all civic work, and one of the best known and liked citizens of Orange.

1033

MEN OF TEXAS

B. DOTY. Ambition and determination, coupled with strict attention to business, and devotion to duty are the characteristics which have marked the successful business career of P. B. Doty, president of the First Na- tional Bank of Beaumont, Texas, whose connection with the banking business dates back to 1896 when he began as a messenger boy of the First National Bank of Burlingame, Kansas. He came to Beau- mont in 1902, at the beginning of the oil boom here, and his life since that time has been interwoven with the history of this city in its growth from a village to the busy, thriving city that it is today. While Mr. Doty has had much to do in the past history of Beaumont, he will continue to be a factor in its fu- ture. The First National Bank of Beaumont, of which Mr. Doty became president in 1919, was or- ganized in 1889 as the First National Bank, and is the oldest institution of its kind in this city. Col. W. S. Davidson was president from the time of its organization up to 1917, and he was followed by John C. Ward as president, who was the chief ex- ecutive from 1917 to 1919. As an evidence of the growth of this bank, the deposits at the beginning amounted to $100,000.00 and at the close of busi- ness April 6, 1925, the deposits amounted to $6,600,- 182.84, and is today one of the largest and strong- est banks in Texas. The capital stock of the First National Bank of Beaumont is $400,000.00 and sur- plus and undivided profits amount to over $400,000. This institution is authorized by the Federal Re- serve Board, Washington, D. C., to act as trustee under wills, mortgages, agreements and reorgani- zations, and in other fiduciary capacities. In addi- tion to his interest in the First National Bank, Mr. Doty is identified with many of the city's financial and business concerns, a large number of which he helped to organize. He is president of the Wall Street Property Company, which has vast holdings in city real estate, and is vice president of the Jef- ferson Securities Company. He is also treasurer and director of the Beaumont Hotel Operating Com- pany. Mr. Doty for several years has been pres- ident of the Beaumont Y. M. C. A. and takes a keen interest in the workings of this organization. Dur- ing the World War, he was a member of the execu- tive committee and chairman of the Three Minute Men. He was active in all the Liberty Loan com- mittees, and in Red Cross and Salvation Army work, and it is known that no man in Jefferson County worked harder for his country during the period of the World War, and in getting the country back to normalcy following it than did P. B. Doty. His entire business life has been devoted to the bank- ing business in its various branches, and after serv- ing two years, at the same time attending school, at Burlingame, Kansas, in 1898 he went with the Colorado Springs Exchange National Bank. The change took place through the fact that the pres- ident of the first bank in which he had been em- ployed went with the Colorado Springs institution and Mr. Doty went with him. He remained with this bank until 1902 and during this period he had been promoted from stenographer to paying teller. In 1902, he came to this city and for about seven months was associated with the Gulf National Bank, after its organization, beginning as collection clerk, and filled every office in the bank in succession up to president, to which office he was promoted in 1913.

When Colonel Davidson retired from the banking business in 1919, the Gulf National Bank and the First National Bank consolidated, and there was a condition extraordinary in banking annals and history here in that for about six months prior to this consolidation, and for about six months follow- ing, there was not a government official here to examine these banks.

Mr. Doty was born at Burlingame, Kansas, on April 9th, 1877. His father, G. W. Doty (deceased since 1915), was a native of New York state and a pioneer of Kansas, where he practiced law all his life and was one of the most prominent law- yers of his time. He took an active interest in politics and served for several terms in the Kan- sas Legislature, and also served with distinction as probate and civil judge. He was a veteran of the Civil War, and served throughout the conflict. His mother was Miss Ella Beverly, a native of Mich- igan, where she was a member of a prominent fam- ily. She came to Kansas at an early age, and her father built and lived for many years in a log house in Kansas, which he built in the pioneer days of that state, and lived to be one hundred and five years old. His education was obtained in the pub- lic and high schools of Burlingame, Kansas.

Mr. Doty was married at Colorado Springs on July 20th, 1900, to Miss Charlotte Griffith, a native of Topeka, Kansas, and a daughter of William H. Griffith, a well known contractor of Topeka. Mr. Doty is a member of the A. F. and A. M. in the Scottish Rite bodies and is a K. C. C. H. of this lodge and is active in putting on the 28th degree. He is assistant Rabban of El Mina Shrine of Galveston, is the imperial representative of the Shrine and is president of the Texas Shrine Council and is also a Knight Templar, and is prominent in the Masonic Circles throughout the country. Mr. Doty is past director of the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce, and is a member of the Beaumont Club, the Rotary Club, of which he is past president, the Beaumont Rotary Club, of which he is past president also, and is a past director of the Neches Club. He is actively identified with all the civic organizations of Beaumont, and is an ardent worker for the advance- ment of his city, and gives liberally of his time and means to further any project having as its ob- ject the improvement of Beaumont. His watchword is "The future of Beaumont never looked brighter than this very day." Mr. Doty has a personality that is strong and benevolent, exerting for more than two decades an influence for good throughout a wide range of the city's activities. He is a leader in the profession of banking and a steadfast ex- ponent of its highest standards.

ILLIAM CARROLL KEITH, identified with the lumber industry at Beaumont since his entrance into the business world, has been instrumental in building up one of the lar- gest lumber enterprises in this district, and has also taken an interest in public affairs. Mr. Keith is president and manager of the Keith Lumber Com- pany, a business established at Beaumont in 1901 by Mr. Keith's father, John Frank Keith, who was president of the corporation until his death in 1921, when his son, W. C. Keith, the subject of this sketch, succeeded him. At the time of its organization, the business was primarily for the manufacture of lum- ber and the business was one of the leading lumber

1034

OB Noty

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

manufacturing enterprises of this section. But with passing years the policy was more and more toward converting the business to a wholesale organiza- tion and divert it from the manufacturing busi- ness. This change has now been effected and the entire business handled by the Keith Lumber Com- pany is of a wholesale nature, in car load lots only. The trade territory is extensive, extending through- out the United States, and in addition including a large export business to Mexico and Porto Rico and other countries. The Keith Lumber Company han- dles yellow pine, hardwoods of all kinds, railroad timbers, and also does a big business in oil derrick patterns. The company owns in fee forty thousand acres of timber lands. The officers are William Car- roll Keith, president and manager; B. R. Norvell, vice president, and T. H. Hunter, Jr., secretary, treasurer and sales manager. A branch office is located in Fort Worth. Mr. Keith is also presi- dent of the Keith Land and Investment Company, holders of city industrial property and farm lands, and is a director of the American National Bank.

Mr. Keith was born at Beaumont, the twenty- eighth of May, 1886, the son of John Frank Keith, who was born in 1857 and in the lumber business at Beaumont throughout his business career, organ- izing the Keith Lumber Company, of which he was president at the time of his death, in 1921, and Alice Carroll Keith, daughter of Frank Carroll, who be- fore his death was president of the Beaumont Lum- ber Company. Mr. Keith spent his boyhood in Beau- mont, attending the public schools, and after his graduation from high school went to a preparatory school at Asheville, North Carolina, and later to Eastman Business School, at Poughkeepsie, New York, where he graduated in 1907. He returned to Beaumont, going with the Keith Lumber Company, and at his own request beginning at the bottom of the business. He gave close attention to the details of the lumber business, and had soon mastered its intricacies. The years that followed he worked in the various departments and in every capacity, in the lumber camps and saw mills, acquiring at first hand the details of their operation, and on up to the general offices. At the time of his father's death he became president and general manager, a position which he is well equipped to hold, and wherein he demonstrates executive ability and a thorough understanding of every detail of the oper- ation of this great industry. At the beginning of the United States participation in the World War, Mr. Keith enlisted in the services of his country in April, 1917, and spent three months at the Officers Training Camp at Leon Springs. He was commis- sioned first lieutenant, and sent to Camp Travis, with the 343rd Machine Gun Batallion, 90th Division, and was instructor there for over a year, being dis- charged in August, 1918.

Mr. Keith was married at Beaumont, in 1907, to Miss Blanche Doucette, daughter of A. L. Doucette, one of the finest timber estimators in South Texas, and who worked for all the major companies and was considered an authority, and Louise Harding Doucette. Mr. and Mrs. Keith have one child, Wil- liam Carroll Keith, Jr., born the seventh of Novem- ber, 1909, and now at preparatory school, prepar- ing for Princeton University. Mr. and Mrs. Keith live at 41 Seventh Street, and are popular members of their representative social set. Mr. Keith is a

member of the Beaumont Country Club, the Beau- mont Club, the Neches Club, the Port Arthur Tar- pon Club, and fraternally is an Elk and a Mason, York and Scottish Rites, and a member of El Mina Temple Shrine at Galveston.

DWARD H. GREEN, JR., of Beaumont, Tex- as, has spent his entire life in the various branches of the lumber industry in Louisi- ana and Texas. He has handled and worked in every department of the saw mill business and has made a close study of the selling and manufacturing end of this industry. As secretary-treasurer and manager of the Miller-Vidor Lumber Company of this city, he has been a factor in building up and making a success of this company. The Miller-Vidor Lumber Company mill was established here in 1905, but prior to 1910 was known as the Beaumont Saw Mill Company. This lumber company, located at the end of Madison Avenue, sells both wholesale and retail, and makes and mills all kinds of rough and dressed yellow pine lumber. The plant at Beau- mont, which is located on the ship channel, covers an area of twenty-five acres, and has a daily capacity of sixty thousand feet of lumber. The company owns thirty-eight thousand acres of timber land of pine and hardwood. About two hundred and ten men are employed by this lumber company, in the woods and at the mill. Mr. Green came to this city in 1905 and in addition to his interests with the Miller- Vidor Lumber Company, he is a part owner and manager of the Green, Moore and Company at Starks, Louisiana, which owns a large saw mill and thousands of acres of contract timber, and between thirty-five and forty thousand acres of standing hard- wood and pine. The mill at Starks has a capacity of thirty thousand feet of lumber daily and employs about one hundred and ten men. This is a highly successful lumber concern. Mr. Green started his career in the lumber business at the saw mills of Lake Charles, Louisiana and remained there for a period of sixteen years, before coming to this city. The other officers of the Miller-Vidor Lumber Com- pany of Beaumont are K. Moore and B. D. Moore of Galveston, president and vice president.

Mr. Green was born at Hopkinsville, Kentucky on February 22nd, 1874. His father, E. H. Green came to Texas in the late sixties, and for many years was engaged in mercantile and lumber business. He died at the age of seventy-nine. His mother, Sarah E. Green resides in Lake Charles. His early educa- tion was obtained in the schools of Louisiana, after which he attended Southwestern University at Georgetown, Texas, during 1889 and 1890.

Mr. Green was married at Lake Charles, Louisi- ana, in 1903, to Miss Elizabeth E. Green, a daugh- 'ter of M. Green, deceased, well known in Burlington, Iowa, having been in the train service of C. B. & Q. Ry. Co. for forty years. They have three children, Kathryn, Edward H. Green, 3rd., and John M. Mr. and Mrs. Green resides at 485 Frederick Street. Mr. Green is a member of the Beaumont Country Club, and is a director of the Beaumont Club. He is also a member of the Rotary Club and of the Hoo Hoo Club of which he is a life member of No. 9393. Mr. Green has always been active in the business, so- cial and general community life of Beaumont, and gives liberally of his time and means to all pro- jects tending to the welfare and advancement of this city.

1037

MEN OF TEXAS

ILLIAM M. CARROLL, the record of whose life forms an essential part of the history of Beaumont and Jefferson County, has throughout a busy career been prominently identified with commercial and industrial enterprises of wide scope and important bearing on community prosperity, and has taken an active part in the devel- opment of the resources of this section of the state. Mr. Carroll is that sturdy type of citizen, qualified by nature to take a position of leadership and as- sume responsibilities, who gives his best to his home community, and without whom progress would be impossible. Although Beaumont has claimed him as a citizen, his influence has been felt through- out Southeast Texas, and he has taken a vital and important part in the agricultural, industrial and commercial development of this section. Allied with large rice, irrigation and milling interests, his influ- ence in this line has resulted in increased produc- tion, and in the placing of this crop among the im- portant coastal agricultural products. One of the largest owners and breeders of thoroughbred Big Bone Brahma cattle, his part in the development of this breed would be hard to estimate. He is pres- ident and general manager of the Neches Canal Company, president and general manager of the Atlantic Rice Mills Company, receiver for the San Jacinto Rice Company, a director of the American National Bank of Beaumont, and is interested finan- cially in other enterprises in this section. While Mr. Carroll is a rice grower, his chief interest in the rice industry is furnishing water to the growers of this grain. The Neches Canal Company, one of the largest irrigation companies in this section, can supply water to from thirty-five to forty thousand acres of land. Mr. Carroll is the only exclusive breeder of Brahma cattle in Texas, and for more than a decade has given this breed his exclusive attention. He owns three of the finest Brahma bulls in the country, and nine cows and several calves of pure bred stock. His entire herd includes around seven hundred head, and is one of the most impor- tant Brahma herds in this section.

William M. Carroll was born in Louisiana, the third of July, 1867. His father, the late Frank L. Carroll, was one of the pioneer lumber men in the southeast part of Texas, and was one of the most prominent men and business leaders in this section. At the time of his death, in 1906, he was president of the Nona Mills Company, and owned many im- portant interests in this section. His mother, prior to her marriage, was Miss Sarah Long. Mr. Carroll attended the public schools of Beaumont as a boy, and was at Baylor University, at Waco, from 1882, until 1885. He then went in the lumber business with his father, and was in various branches of the manufacturing lumber business until 1901, when he sold his lumber interests to the Kirby Lumber Com- pany. From that time until 1903 he engaged in the oil business in a small way, and in 1903 turned his attention to rice farming, beginning in a big way, and constantly expanding and developing his in- terests until he is one of the leading rice irrigators in the state. From time to time, Mr. Carroll has added other interests to the list of enterprises in which he is interested, and is one of the most ac- tive business men in this part of the state.

Mr. Carroll was married at Waco, to Miss Vannie Carter, who is his second wife. He and Mrs. Car-

roll have one of the fine homes of Beaumont, at 2120 Calder Avenue, and are prominent and pop- ular socially. Mr. Carroll has one daughter, Mrs. Clytie Allen, by his first marriage. He is a mem- ber of the Beaumont Country Club, the Beaumont Club, and fraternally is an Elk and a Woodman of the World. He has contributed generously to every movement for the advancement of Beaumont, taking an active part in all development work for more than a quarter of a century. He has also been ac- tive in public life serving as county commissioner from 1914 until 1916, and as county judge from 1916 until 1920. Whether as public official, private citi- zen or business leader, Mr. Carroll has given his best to his community, and is one of the most high- ly esteemed and honored builders of Beaumont.

W. PIPKIN, for more than a half a century has been a dominating figure in the history of Beaumont, and during these years there have been few enterprises of importance to the prosperity of the community in which he has not been interested, and few civic movements which he has not actively supported. Although he has for the past decade practically retired from the active management of his many interests, he is frequently consulted when matters of unusual im- portance arise, and he still retains the keen interest in commercial and civic activities that has signifi- cantly marked his career. Among the enterprises in which he is still interested are the Paraffine Oil Company, of which he is vice president, and the American National Bank, the Neches Canal Com- pany, and the Norvell-Wilder Hardware Company, in all of which he is director. He also holds stock in a number of other concerns, and owns much valuable city and country property.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 1

Author: Davis, Ellis A. Publication date: 1926 Publisher: Dallas, Tex. : Texas development bureau, [1926?] Number of Pages: 1262

Author: Davis, Ellis A.
Publication date: 1926
Publisher: Dallas, Tex. : Texas development bureau, [1926?]
Number of Pages: 1262