New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 105

Author: Davis, Ellis A.
Publication date: 1926
Publisher: Dallas, Tex. : Texas development bureau, [1926?]
Number of Pages: 1416

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During his residence in Waco, Mr. Rotan has been closely identified with other business enterprises and civic associations and has contributed in no incon- siderable degree to the growth and upbuilding of the city. His best work was probably on the board of trustees of the Waco Public Schools. He served in this capacity for twenty-one years, during the latter period of his term being the president of the board.

On the twenty-second of August, 1869, Mr. Rotan was married in Waco to Miss Kate Sturm McCall, a member of a well known Kentucky family, and these two at this writing are making preparations to celebrate their fifty-fifth anniversary. Of the children of this union, five are living: Antoinette, now the wife of Dr. Frederick Peterson of New York City; George V. Rotan of Houston, Texas;

Anne Sturm, now the wife of Thorndike D. Howe of Boston, Massachusetts; Katherine Livingston, now Mrs. C. K. Drinker of Brookline, Mass., and Frances, now Mrs. Winthrop Sargent, Jr.

OBERT J. CALDER for more than a quarter of a century has been a factor in commer- cial circles at Galveston, where he has built up one of the largest creosoting industries in Texas, and as a pioneer in the field of timber preservation has exerted a wide influence in the- lumber industry. Mr. Calder is president and man- ager of the International Creosoting and Construc- tion Company, which was organized the twentieth of January, 1896. The International Creosoting and Construction Company represents an investment of one and a half million dollars, and ranks as the largest business of its kind in the state. The com- pany engages in creosoting and preserving timber, buying the timber and treating it in their plant, after which they market the finished product. The large part of the output of the plant consists of piling, poles, railroad timber and ties, and in addi- tion to the plant at Galveston, plants are also located at Texarkana and Beaumont. There are about six hundred people employed by the company. The com- pany formerly handled a large amount of wharf and dock construction, but of recent years has relin- quished that end of the business, concentrating on the preservation of timbers. The International Creo- soting and Construction Company is located at 22051/2 Avenue B, with Robert J. Calder as president and manager; H. A. West as secretary and treasurer, and John Sealy is chairman of the board of direc- tors. Mr. Calder is vice president of the American Cross Arm and Conduit Company of Texas that was organized in 1924. Its plant is located in Texarkana and head offices in Chicago.

Robert J. Calder was born at Richmond, Texas, the twenty-second of June, 1878, the son of S. D. Calder, a planter and land owner of that section, and Loretto (Lamar) Calder. Both of Mr. Calder's grandfathers, Mirabean B. Lamar and Robert J. Calder, fought in the battle of San Jacinto and it was the latter who brought the news of the victory to Galveston. Mr. Calder was educated in the pub- lic schools of Galveston, graduating from high school, after which he rounded out his education through a year at the University of Texas. Return- ing to Galveston he entered upon his business career as a clerk on the wharves and docks, a year and a half later coming with the International Creosoting and Construction Company. In the years which have followed he has worked in practically every de- partment, both in the office and in the plant, and has served in the various executive offices, becom- ing president in 1922.

Mr. Calder was married at Houston to Miss Wil- leen Groce, daughter of William M. Groce, a planter and land owner. Mr. and Mrs. Calder reside at 2920 Avenue O, and have two children, Kate Willeen and Robert James Calder, Jr. Mr. Calder is a member of the Houston Lumbermen's Club, the Galveston Country Club, and the Sigma Nu college fraternity. His years of experience in the field of lumber con- servation, through treatment to preserve the wood, make an opinion from him of especial weight, and few lumbermen in Texas are better qualified to speak with authority on questions in this line.

646

Edward Rotan

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

ESLIE A. LAYNE, vice president of the Layne and Bowler Company, Inc., of Hous- ton, has through years of study, practical experience and industry become master of every phase of the manufacturing business in which he is engaged. The Layne and Bowler Com- pany, Inc., located at Sixth and Girard Streets, are known throughout the country as "the world's largest water well developers." They are manufacturers of deep well turbine pumps, many types of oil and water well strainers, well packers, well accessories of every kind, and complete well installations. The Layne and Bowler Company have three factories, located at Houston, Los Angeles and Memphis. Their plant in Houston covers one and one-half city blocks on which they have five buildings, where the different kinds of well accessories are made. They have their own railroad trackage and their floor space in buildings is eighteen thousand square feet. Thirty experienced people are employed by this establishment. Other officers of the Layne and Bowler Company are M. E. Layne, president; L. F. Layne and C. A. Layne, vice presidents.

Mr. Layne was born in Hurley, South Dakota, in 1889. His parents, M. E. Layne and Bertha Layne, were well known citizens of South Dakota, where his father was engaged in the present busi- ness in which he has been continuously engaged for the past forty years. Mr. Layne's education was obtained in the public and high schools of Iowa and in Houston.

Although born in the atmosphere of the well ac- cessory manufacturing business, it was Mr. Layne's desire to first master the details of the business be- fore seeking admission to the firm as a partner, and when eighteen years of age, he entered the establishment, at that time being' conducted by his father. He has worked in every department of the business, and also in the oil fields where their equip- ment is used, thereby gaining the practical and ac- tual experience necessary to thoroughly know a business. Mr. Layne was married in Houston, in 1909, to Miss Lula May Williams. They have three children-Warren Knox, Max Emerson and Billie Dell. Mr. and Mrs. Layne reside at 4412 Eli Ave- nue. Mr. Layne has great faith in the future of Houston and expects the city to continue its steady, consistent growth and is looking forward to an era of great business prosperity in all lines.

J. ROBERTSON has, for more than a score of years, been engaged in the lumber busi- ness and is vice-president and general man- ager of the Robertson-MacDonald Lumber Company, of Houston. This company, with office at 215 Humble Building, was organized in 1916, and Mr. Robertson was one of the organizers. Since 1902, Mr. Robertson has devoted his entire time to the lumber business, and is recognized as an expert in all matters pertaining to lumber. The Robertson- MacDonald Lumber Company have a saw mill at Devers, Texas and saw fifty thousand feet of lumber daily. They also sell pine and hard-wood lumber at wholesale throughout the United States. They spe- cialize in oil field lumber and have lumber yards at West Columbia, Goose Creek and Houston. Be- sides the number of people employed at their sev- eral lumber yards, two hundred are in the saw mill organization. Mr. William A. Robertson is secre- tary and treasurer of the Robertson-MacDonald

Lumber Company.

Mr. Robertson was born in Chicago November 25th, 1880. His father. William A. Robertson is the secretary and treasurer of the company, and has been with the company since its organization. Mr. Robertson's education was obtained in the public and high schools of Chicago. Mr. Robertson started his business career when twenty years of age, with a Plantation Company, in Mexico, where he remained from 1900 to 1902. Returning to the States, he entered the lumber business in Texas as manager of the C. R. Cummings Export Company in Cham- bers County, in 1902, and came to Houston, in 1906, as manager of the Cummings Export Company here, and remained with them until 1916, when he organ- ized the present company. During his long expe- rience in the lumber business Mr. Robertson has handled every end of the business from the saw mill on through every phase of this great industry.

Mr. Robertson was married in Chicago in June, 1904, to Miss Hazel French, a native of Chicago, and a daughter of W. H. French, president of Barnhart Brothers and Spindler, of Chicago; this firm being one of the largest companies engaged in this busi- ness in the United States. They have two children -Charles and Charlotte. Mr. Robertson is a mem- ber of the Houston Country Club, and the Lumber- men's Club. He has always been prominently iden- tified with all movements tending to promote the growth and importance of Houston, and has an abid- ing faith in the future of this city, and is confident that its wonderful opportunities will cause it to become the leading city of the Southwest.

EORGE H. LEWIS has for the past decade been one of the progressive hotel operators at Houston, and for the past eight years has been manager of the Hotel Stratford. The hotel is operated by the Settegast Realty Com- pany, of which firm Mr. Lewis is a member. This hotel, completed in 1912, has one hundred and twenty rooms, all outside rooms, and occupies a four-story, fire-proof structure, one hundred by one hundred and fifty feet. The Hotel Stratford is operated on the European plan, and has a force of fifteen employees. Mr. Lewis has managed this enterprise in a most efficient manner, devoting his energies exclusively to this work, and introducing many modern and progressive features. The Hotel Strat- ford is located at 414 Fannin Street.

Mr. Lewis was born at Houston, the twentieth of August, 1891, son of C. W. Lewis, a native of Penn- sylvania, who came to Houston in the pioneer days and was associated with many events incident to the progress of the city. He was educated in the public schools of Houston, attended Sewanee Mili- tary College at Sewanee, Tennessee, and later the law department of the University of Texas. He finished his education in 1913 and spent the fol- lowing two years as a salesman. The first of Feb- ruary, 1915, he was made manager of the Hotel Stratford, which position he has since held.

Mr. Lewis was married at Houston in 1914, to Miss Norma Adele Schopmeyer, a native of Gaines- ville, Texas. They make their home in Southland Addition, and have four children, George H. Junior, Gus Dreyling, Norman Francis and Bob Gray. Mr. Lewis is a member of the Texas Hotel Association and the Houston Hoted Association. Fraternally

he is a Mason, Temple No. 4.

649

MEN OF TEXAS

H ERBERT GODWIN has been for more than a quarter of a century a potent factor in the cotton and financial circles of Houston. While he has now retired from the cotton business, he is still active in financial and civic affairs. He was for many years senior member of the firm of Godwin, Humphreys & Co., which was established in 1898 and was well known throughout this country, Mexico and Europe. Mr. Godwin came to Houston in 1900 from Memphis, Tennessee, where one of the two original offices of his old firm is still in existence. In 1922 he organized the Godwin- Jones Company, exporters of cotton, with which he was identified until his retirement from the cotton business.

A native of Tennessee, Mr. Godwin was born on a plantation near Memphis in 1869. His father, David George Godwin, was a well known physician and planter, whose parents came to Tennessee in 1818 from North Carolina and Virginia. His mother was Miss Elizabeth Douglas, a member of a prom- inent Tennessee family which also came from Vir- ginia in 1818. Mr. Godwin received his education at Emory College of Atlanta, Georgia, graduating from that institution at the age of nineteen with the degree of A. B., class of 1889. Following his graduation he filled the Chair of Latin in Bolton College, near Memphis, for four years, which posi- tion he resigned to become secretary of the Ten- nessee Department of Agriculture. At that time his father was commissioner of agriculture for Ten- nessee, and he served as his father's secretary. Since coming to Texas he has been closely connected with the commercial and civic interests of Houston. He is now, or has in recent years been a director in the following enterprises: Godwin-Jones Com- pany, Seaboard Cotton Company, Merchant's Com- press Company, Grant Locomotive Works, South Texas Commercial Nation Bank, Houston Invest- ment Company, Harris County Investment Com- pany, Terminal Investment Company and Broad- moor, Inc. He is chairman of the Houston Park Board, vice chairman of the Houston City Planning Commission, former chairman of the Houston Civil Service Board, was first assistant Federal Food Administrator for Texas during the World War, and as director and acting chairman he organized the Houston Chapter of the American Red Cross upon the entry of America into the war, the mayor of the city being the nominal chairman. In 1919 he established The Godwin Foundation in Public Af- fairs at the Rice Institute. The unusual distinction which this lectureship has attained in such a brief period is no doubt due, at least to some extent, to the good fortune which Mr. Godwin and the university have had in securing as the first three lecturers under the Foundation such eminent states- men and scholars as Ex-President William Howard Taft, Sir Auckland Geddes, British ambassador, and President Lowell of Harvard.

Mr. Godwin was married in Memphis, Tennes- see, in 1896, to Miss Lila Ward Humphreys, a member of a prominent Memphis family, who came originally from Kentucky. They have four chil- dren: Elizabeth Douglas, now Mrs. DeWitt Gordon of Houston; Ann Humphreys, now Mrs. Chas. I. Mc- Lean of Houston; Lila Humphreys and Virginia Car- rington. The Godwin home is at 1112 Holman Ave- nue. Mr. Godwin is a member of the Town and Gown

Club, former vice president of the Houston Philoso - phical Society, past president of The Green Mask Players (Little Theatre) and a director of the Hous- ton Museum of Fine Arts. He is a member of the Houston Cotton Exchange, Houston Club, Univer- sity Club, Houston Country Club, Eagle Lake Rod and Gun Club and Camp Starrett Fishing Club, and is a member and former vestryman of Christ Epis- copal Church. Mr. Godwin's major civic activity in recent years has been as chairman of the Hous- ton Park Board and probably in no other field of endeavor has his constructive and organizing ability shown to better advantage. During his administra- tion about eighty per cent of Houston's 2500 acres of park area has been acquired and almost all the development of the city's splendid park system has taken place under his direction.

J. CARROLL of Houston, Texas, has spent his entire business life in the lumber in- dustry, which he began in a small saw mill, and today he is an executive of one of the leading lumber firms of Texas. Mr. Carroll is the general manager in charge of sales of the W. T. Carter and Bro., and is a member of the firms of W. T. Carter Lumber and Building Com- pany, and the Carter Investment Company. As a young man Mr. Carroll began work for the late W. T. Carter at Camden, Texas, in 1903, and later he had charge of the sales end of the W. T. Carter interests. Mr. Carroll has grown with this company, which today is one of the largest firms of the Southern States. In 1908, he removed to Houston and continued his duties with these three compa- nies, which he has managed successfully.

A native Texan, Mr. Carroll was born in Burle- son County on December 27th, 1876. His father, Rev. F. W. Carroll, a native of Mississippi, came to Texas as a young man before the Civil War, and was one of the best known, and most highly es- teemed Baptist ministers of his time in the Lone Star State. Rev. Carroll died when the subject of this sketch was five years of age. His mother was, prior to her marriage, Miss Sarah Womble, a native of Alabama and a member of a well known family of that State. She is now a resident of San Antonio, Texas. J. J. Carroll was reared by his uncle, Rev. J. N. Carroll, a Baptist minister, and on account of the many changes made in the pas- torate of his uncle, his education in the early part of his life was obtained at various places in Texas. He later attended Baylor University of Waco, where he specialized in natural science, but left this institution in order to engage in the lumber industry.

Mr. Carroll was married at Houston to Miss Lena Carter, a daughter of the late W. T. Carter, who was the founder of these large lumber companies, and was a leader in Texas development throughout his life. He was one of the builders of Houston, and his heart interests were centered in this city, and he never lost an opportunity to do a deed for the progress and advancement of this city. They have three children: Frankie, Mary and Lena. Mr. and Mrs. Carroll reside at 16 Courtland Place, and their home is one of the most beautiful in Houston. Mr. Carroll is regarded as one of the leading young business men of the city and is a member of the Eagle Rod and Gun Club, the Houston Club, the Houston Country Club and of other social and civic organizations.

650

Herbert Godine

stress

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

ARRY C. WIESS is well known in the oil circles of South Texas as an executive, operator and organizer. He is vice presi- dent of the Humble Oil and Refining Com- pany, in charge of the refining, marketing and traf- fic departments of the company. Mr. Wiess was one of the organizers of the Humble Oil and Re- fining Company and has served as an officer and director since that time, becoming an active execu- tive in 1919. The Humble Oil and Refining Com- pany's principal refinery is located at Baytown on the Houston Ship Channel. It has another refining plant at Burkburnett and a fifteen-hundred barrel casinghead plant at Burkburnett and one at Desde- mona. He had supervision of the building of the company's refinery at Baytown, the construction of which began in April, 1919. Operations started in 1920, on a small scale, and today the plant has a capacity of about 60,000 barrels per day.

A native Texan, Mr. Wiess was born at Beau- mont, July 30th, 1887. His father, Capt. William Wiess (deceased since 1914), was a pioneer lumber and oil man of Beaumont. He was also a native of the Lone Star State, his father, Simon Wiess, came to Texas in 1835. Mr. Wiess' mother was, prior to her marriage, Miss Elizabeth Carothers, a native Texan; her father, S. D. Carothers, came to this State in the early forties. His early education was received in the public and high schools of Beau- mont, after which he entered Princeton University, graduating in 1909 with the C. E. degree.

Soon after graduating from college, Mr. Wiess entered the oil business, and maintained headquar- ters in Beaumont until 1919. At this time he was president of the Paraffine Oil Company and others. Some properties of these companies were sold to the Humble Oil and Refining Company. The Paraf- fine Oil Company were discoverers of the Batson oil field, and had substantial production in Humble and Goose Creek in Texas, and in the fields of De- Sota Parish in Louisiana, and Healdton and other fields in Oklahoma.

Mr. Wiess was married at Beaumont, Texas, on September 29th, 1909, to Miss Olga Keith, a native Texan and a daughter of the late J. Frank Keith, prominent in the lumber and business circles of Beaumont. They have three daughters: Elizabeth, Caroline and Margaret. The Wiess residence, one of the most beautiful in Houston, is located in Shady- side. Mr. Wiess is a member of the Houston Coun- try, Houston and University clubs, Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association and the American Petroleum Institute.

DWIN KIRKE DILLINGHAM for many years has been a prominent figure in the financial and commercial life of Houston, Texas, where he has been identified with various successful enterprises. For the last few years he has largely confined his attention to his own investments and those of his immediate family. He is president of the Conservative Securities Com- pany, is a director of the South Texas Commercial National Bank and is financially interested in va- rious other business concerns here.

A native of Ohio, Mr. Dillingham was born in Cleveland on November 13th, 1868. He is the son of the late Charles Dillingham and Frances (Cutter) Dillingham. Charles Dillingham was a native of Vermont, and a member of one of its leading fam-

ilies. He came to Houston in 1885 as receiver of the Houston and Texas Central Railroad. At the time of his death he was chairman of the board of directors of the South Texas Commercial Na- tional Bank. Frances (Cutter) Dillingham is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, and a daughter of one of the pioneers of that great manufacturing city. Edwin Kirke Dillingham prepared for college at Phillips Andover, and entered Yale, from which he graduated in 1889 with a Ph. B. degree. In 1890 he returned to Houston, which has been his head- quarters since, although some of his business ven- tures have taken him to other cities.

Mr. Dillingham was married in Houston, Texas, on April 3rd, 1896, to Miss Charlotte Rice Porter, a native Texan, and a daughter of the late George L. Porter, a native of Tennessee and for many years one of the leading citizens and business men of Houston. Mr. and Mrs. Dillingham have two children, Elizabeth R., and Charles, and reside at 3214 Austin Street. During his residence in Hous- ton, Mr. Dillingham has taken a part in the growth and advancement of the city, and is popular in social and commercial circles. He has been honored by election to the presidency of the following organ- izations: Houston Golf Club, Thalian Club and the Houston Country Club. At this time he is a mem- ber of various civic and social organizations, among which are the Houston Country Club, River Oaks Country Club and the Houston Club.

RTHUR F. FISHER, well known banker and cashier of the National Bank of Commerce, Houston, Texas, became associated with this bank in 1912 where he has served as book- keeper, teller, assistant cashier, and on January 12th, 1923, was made cashier. The National Bank of Commerce has a capital stock of $500,000.00 and their statement made at the close of business Sep- tember 28th, 1925, shows a surplus of $500,000.00 and undivided profits of $181,045.67 with deposits of over $9,700,000. Other officers of the National Bank of Commerce are Jesse H. Jones, president; N. E. Meador, Sam Taub, A. D. Simpson, and W. W. Fondren, vice presidents, and I. C. Griffith and R. P. Doherty, assistant vice presidents. The direc- tors of this bank, which is one of the strongest in South Texas, are composed of staunch business men and keen financiers of Texas. Mr. Fisher is also treasurer of the Modern Plumbing and Electric Com- pany of Houston, secretary and treasurer of the Micolithic Company of Texas, which owns immense mica deposits in West Texas.

A native Texan, Mr. Fisher was born at Liv- ingston, Polk County. His father, Charles N. Fisher, a native of London, England, came to Canada as a young man and later came to Texas where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred in Houston. His mother was Miss Elizabeth Up- shur, also a native of London, England. His early education was obtained in the public schools of Houston, after which he took a private business course and later studied law at the Y. M. C. A. during a night course while he was employed during the day. His first work was as a bookkeeper in a hardware store, after which he was in business for a time with his father, and then entered the em- ploy of the Commercial National Bank, where he remained for a period of six years, leaving that bank just prior to its merging with the South Texas Com-

653

MEN OF TEXAS

mercial Bank. He then went to Colorado, Texas, where he was assistant cashier in a local bank for one year, after which he returned to Houston and became associated with the National Bank of Com- merce as a bookkeeper in 1912, this being six months after this bank was organized. Later Mr. Fisher was made teller and held this position for three years, after which he became assistant cashier, and re- mained in this position until he was made cashier in January, 1923, the position which he still holds.

Mr. Fisher was married in Houston, May 16, 1911, to Miss Loraine Hansen, who came to Hous- ton with her parents when a child and was reared and educated here. They have one daughter, Dorothy. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher reside at 416 Mc- Kinney Avenue. Mr. Fisher is a member of the B. P. O. E., which for two terms he has served as exalted ruler of Houston Lodge No. 151 and is now serving as trustee; and the Glenbrook Country Club.

Since first coming to Houston in 1890, Mr. Fisher has seen the growth from a town to the busy, thriving city of today, and he has at all times taken a keen interest in the improvement, advancement and progress of the city which he believes will soon become the financial, industrial and educational center of the Southwest.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 105

Author: Davis, Ellis A. Publication date: 1926 Publisher: Dallas, Tex. : Texas development bureau, [1926?] Number of Pages: 1416

Author: Davis, Ellis A.
Publication date: 1926
Publisher: Dallas, Tex. : Texas development bureau, [1926?]
Number of Pages: 1416