New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 108

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

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Mr. Hamburger was born in Alabama, in 1871, and educated in the public schools of that state. He came to Houston in 1891 and went with Si. Packard in his laundry, five years later going in with Mr. Dreyling and establishing the Model Laun- dry. He has since been with this organization. Mr. Hamburger also has other business interests in Houston, and takes part in all movements for the development and progress of the city.

669

MEN OF TEXAS

W L. PEARSON came to Houston in 1909 and since that time has been prominently iden- tified with the business interests of this city and of South Texas. Mr. Pearson is pres- ident of W. L. Pearson and Company, Inc., highway contractors and builders with office at 827 First Na- tional Bank Building. Most of the work of this firm is in South Texas and they are doing a vast amount of work in the Rio Grande Valley. They have large equipment and are able to handle any size or kind of highway construction. During 1922 this firm completed road construction to the value of $1,500,- 000.00; in 1923, their business was about the same amount, while in 1926 their contracts will likely exceed these other years. Other officers of the W. L. Pearson and Company, Inc. are Sam R. Mer- rill, vice president; H. C. McCall, J. P. Miller and M. B. Trefflich, secretary and treasurer.

Mr. Pearson was born in Bristol, England, Sep- tember 13th, 1884. His father, Samuel Pearson, was a well known Congregational minister and came to America in 1885. His mother was Miss Fannie Paske a member of a prominent English family. His early education was obtained in public and private schools, and in 1901 he entered the University of Michigan and remained a student of that institution until 1905 when he graduated with the B. S. degree, as a civil engineer. After leaving college, Mr. Pear- son entered the employ of the Trussed Concrete Steel Company of Detroit, where he remained from 1906 to 1908 and during this period he was in the engineering department. In 1909 he came to Hous- ton and engaged in building, contracting and gen- eral costruction, and in 1916 he entered the busi- ness of road contracting and highway construction and has continued in this line of work exclusively since that time. Mr. Pearson has a very able and efficient organization and all business is handled under his personal supervision.

Mr. Pearson was married in Grand Rapids, Mich- igan, in April, 1905, to Miss Ruey M. Webster, a daughter of Dr. Morse E. Webster and Hattie Hale Webster, well known citizens of Grand Rapids. They have four children, Morse, seventeen years of age; Ruey Virginia, aged twelve years; and Patricia and Marian (twins) seven years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Pearson reside at 3804 Mount Vernon Street. Mr. Pearson is a member of the A. F. and A. M., Houston Engineers Club, Rotary Club, River Oaks Country Club, Houston Club and the University Club. He has great faith in the future of Houston, and be- lieves it will soon become the leading city of the Southwest. Mr. Pearson is popular in the business circles of the city, and through his pleasing person- ality has made a host of friends in the South Texas country.

L. COAN, for many years one of a group of business men who have taken a lead- ing part in shaping affairs at Houston, and whose development program has been a real factor in civic growth, was until his retire- ment from active business identified with enter- prises of wide scope. Mr. Coan was deeply inter- ested in the expansion and development of Hous- ton and it was his policy to buy large tracts of land, improve and make residence property of it and place the lots on the market, thus becoming one of the constructive builders of the city. Mr. Coan was the

highest type of realtor and during his activity in this business closed some of the largest deals con- summated during that time, making a specialty of ranches and farm lands as well as the develop- ment of acreage tracts. In this latter phase of the business a wide range of expert knowledge is required, for it is not only necessary to have an accurate knowledge of land values and be able to predict the trend of future building operations, but the realtor must know something of development work as applied to engineering, water, light and street car extensions and be able to visualize the completed work. With all these things Mr. Coan was especially familiar and by temperament was essentially a builder. In giving to Houston these additions, made possible by the use of his money for development work, he was a public benefactor and entitled to his profits. He was also a factor in the banking world and was one of the organizers of the Citizens State Bank and a director of that institu- tion until his retirement from active business. He now owns several large plantations and ranches in this section, as well as business and residence prop- erty and spends his time looking after these in- terests.

Mr. Coan was born at Chicago, Illinois, in 1867, the son of Sylvester Coan, a native of Indiana, who spent the latter part of his life in Chicago, and Lottie Coan. After finishing his education, Mr. Coan en- tered the real estate business, selling lands in the Mississippi Valley and maintaining his headquarters in Chicago and Indiana. This developed into a ven- ture on a large scale and Mr. Coan became known as one of the largest land dealers in Illinois and Indiana, handling property all over the United States. During that period he bought and sold lands in almost every state in the Union and owned large tracts of land in the Lone Star State long be- fore he ever thought of coming here. Retiring from that business, he and his family spent two years touring over the United States, locating in Houston in 1909, where he re-entered the real estate business as an independent operator. He was im- pressed with the development opportunities offered in this city and for a decade spent his time in buy- ing and developing tracts of land and in placing these new additions on the market. He has recently retired and devotes his time to looking after his in- terests.

Mr. Coan was married at Chicago, Illinois, to Miss Mary Walker, native of that state, and until her death in 1915, Mr. Coan's constant companion and inspiration. She took a deep interest in his devel- opment projects and was a real partner in every sense of the word. Mr. and Mrs. Coan had three children, Lottie, wife of W. R. Davis, a resident of Houston; Glenn A. Coan and I. W. Coan. Mr. Coan makes his home at 48 Waugh Drive. He is the type of man who made business not only a busi- ness but a hobby and he often says "that his busi- ness was his club, his wife his fraternal society." His activities since becoming a resident of Houston have placed him in the ranks of the real builders of the city, and to him Houston is indebted for new residence districts, for street car extensions and public improvements. He has made many friends here, men who share his enthusiasm and who in their lives and viewpoint are a stimulating lesson in civic pride.

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NTON BRUNNER, a resident of Houston for almost three scores of years, has a life story that reads more like fiction than a story that is founded on actual facts. Mr. Brunner came to America with his parents and three other children; the family landed at Galveston and shortly afterwards, came to a farm near Houston. Both parents died during their first year in Amer- ica, and the children were all separated and taken into the homes of strangers to be raised. Mr. Brun- ner first went to work on a farm with his wife's people and remained there for five years, when he came to Houston, and learned the shoemaker's trade, and together with the time spent in learning the trade, was engaged in this work for fourteen years. At the age of twenty-seven years he entered busi- ness for himself, made and repaired shoes, and later on also sold factory-made shoes, which at that time were scarce and difficult to secure. His business slowly increased until finally he had one of the leading shoe stores in Houston in its day, and he prospered. All of the money he could spare outside of his business, he invested in real estate, acquiring much property, which has become very valuable. Mr. Brunner is the father of the Brunner Addition and has the distinction of being the first man to open an addition and sell city lots, in or around Houston. Mr. Brunner first purchased acreage in the county outside of Houston, and after same had enhanced in value, he sold it and purchased city property, and has been very successful in all his business ventures. Mr. Brunner is regarded as an expert on land values, and his advice along this line is frequently sought by both business men and laymen. Mr. Brunner retired from active business pursuits in 1892.

Mr. Brunner was born in Bavaria, July 16th, 1841. His parents, Joseph Brunner and Katherine Brunner, were well known citizens of Bavaria. His opportuni- ties for securing an education were meager, and the education which he secured later in life, was entirely through self help.

Mr. Brunner was married in Houston, February 25th, 1870, to Miss Bertha Bethje, who was born in 1850. Her father, C. L. Bethje, died in 1876, and her mother, who was Miss Louise Schirman, died in 1867. They have four children, Mrs. A. E. Kiesling, Louis A. Brunner, Mrs. Lillian Harper and Miss Rose Brunner. Mr. and Mrs. Brunner reside at 3616 Gar- rett Street. Mrs. Brunner has had a varied business career, and worked very hard in her early life in order to hold together the property left to her by her parents. She has always been active in a busi- ness way and much of the success achieved, is due to her able business qualifications and constant ap- plication to her work, and now in the evening of her life, she is reaping her reward of her work, by col- lecting rents from more than thirty tenants. Mr. Brunner is a member of the Houston Turnverein, and was President and Treasurer of this organiza- tion in the order named for many years, and is the oldest living member of this organization. He is also a member of the Sangerbund, in which he has always taken an active interest, and is also the oldest living member of this organization. Mr. and Mrs. Brunner have traveled a great deal in this country, and have traveled extensively in Europe, during the several trips they have taken abroad. Mr. Brunner has always found opportunity to give his time and assistance to many movements of a public nature, and having tasted poverty in his

earlier years, he is in sympathy with those who toil. Having risen from the ranks, he has the deepest in- terest in the man who aspires to better his condi- tion, and is at all times ready and willing to render helpful service to his fellow man. His mature ex- perience, wise counsel, sterling qualities of charac- ter and high ideals have always been an inspiration to his children and his friends, and in the evening of his life and in the city where he has achieved his success he can now "draw the drapery of his couch about him and lie down to pleasant dreams."

AUL M. CARROLL has for more than a decade been associated with the floral in- dustry in Houston, and the floral establish- ment at 914 Texas Avenue bearing his name is the leading floral store in the city. The Houston Floral Company, Inc., of which Mr. Carroll is treas- urer and general manager, was established about twenty years ago, and taken over by Mr. Carroll in 1915. The "Carroll-Florist" establishment at 914 Texas Avenue is the city retail store where the stock of the Houston Floral Company, Inc., is displayed and sold. Mr. Carroll has an immense trade in funeral, wedding and house decorations, which he furnishes in all quantities and designs. The Houston Floral Company, Inc., sell to both the wholesale and retail trade. This company has thirty thousand square feet of glass, and three acres of plants and flowers grown in the open. Mr. Carroll specializes in roses, but raises Easter lilies, chrysanthemums, ferns and all kinds of shrubs. Mr. Carroll employs eight people in his "Carroll-Florist" store, which is the most centrally located establishment of its kind in the city, and the Houston Floral Company, Inc., employs seven people, and their trade consists al- most entirely of city sales. Other officers of the Houston Floral Company, Inc., are F. R. Carroll, president; L. M. Carroll, vice president, and Judge Albert Roberts, secretary.

A native Texan, Mr. Carroll was born at Waco in 1890. His father, A. B. Carroll, came to Texas from Oklahoma and was a large land owner and farmer. His mother was Miss Martha Borden, a member of a well-known North Carolina family. Mr. Carroll's education was obtained in the public schools of Enid and Guthrie, Oklahoma. When seventeen years of age, Mr. Carroll left Oklahoma and began his business career in Nebraska, where he remained until 1912, when he came to Texas and to Houston. For three years he was associated with various floral establishments of the city, and in 1915 started in business for himself, by establishing the Houston Floral Company, Inc.

Mr. Carroll was married in Houston in 1917 to Miss Lula Bowman, a daughter of Silas Bowman, well known in the dairying industry of Harris Coun- ty. They have three children-Paul M. Carroll, Jr., 5 years of age; Stacey, 3 years old, and Martha Jane, aged 1 year. Mr. and Mrs. Carroll reside at 1219 Dumble Street. Mr. Carroll is a member of the Scottish Rite body of the A. F. & A. M., and is a Shriner of Arabia Temple. In social organiza- tions, he holds membership in the Kiwanis Club, Salesmanship Club and the Glenbrook Country Club. Mr. Carroll has always been interested in every agency having for its object the greater develop- ment and civic improvement of Houston, and he believes the future for this city is one of unlimited possibilities for continued growth and prosperity.

673

MEN OF TEXAS

RANK HEIDELBERG of Houston, Texas, is a pioneer contractor and builder of this city, having been engaged in general con- tracting here since 1889, and many of the buildings constructed in the early days of this city are the result of his handicraft. Mr. Heidelberg heads the partnership firm of F. Heidelberg and Son, with offices located at 3317 San Jacinto Street. He has practically retired from active business pursuits and his son, Mr. F. T. Heidelberg, is the active mem- ber of the firm, taking complete charge of the busi- ness. During the long period in which Mr. Heidel- berg has been engaged in the building industry here, he has built many business houses, hotels, ware- houses and residences in all parts of Houston which will ever remain a monument to his skill as a builder. He built the first real business houses ever con- structed here, long before Houston had become the magnificent city, which it is today and has been for some years.

A native of Germany, Mr. Heidelberg was born on January 11th, 1858. His father, Charles Heidelberg (deceased), also a native of Germany, was active in the commercial life of his city and country. His mother, Mrs. Susanna (Schmidt) Heidelberg, was a member of a prominent family of the Fatherland. His education was obtained in the schools of Ger- many. Before leaving Germany, Mr. Heidelberg served two years in the army of his native country, from 1879 to 1881. He started his business career in Germany as a cabinet maker, serving his appren- ticeship under some of the most skilled artisans of that country. After coming to America and to Texas, he started in carpenter work, continuing in this line of activity for a few years before engag- ing in the contracting and building business.

Mr. Heidelberg was married at Houston, Texas, on November 6th, 1884, to Miss Lena Behrens, a native of Houston, Texas, and a daughter of F. W. Behrens, who was also a native of Germany. Her mother, Wilhemina Fisher Behrens, was born in Germany and was a member of a well known family of that country. They have four children, two boys and two girls: Fred M., a graduate of the Massa- chusetts Institute of Technology, and is an engi- neer with the American Smelting Company of El Paso, Texas; Frank T., educated in A. and M. Col- lege, engaged in business with his father; Cecil M., at home and Willie L., now wife of L. P. Bessinger of Houston. In addition to being a builder of homes, Mr. Heidelberg has aided in the development of Houston, where his advice and counsel has been sought along the many lines of development which this city has experienced since Mr. Heidelberg saw fit to cast his lot on the banks of Buffalo Bayou. From time to time he has invested in Houston real estate and today he owns considerable property here, some of which is now within the business section. His faith in Houston has grown with each year and it is one of the joys of his life to have lived to see his dreams of the "Magnolia City" come true, the Metropolis of the Southwest.

ILLIAM P. HAMMERSMITH, president, treasurer and manager of the Hammer- smith Bros., Inc., of Houston, is one of the best known shoe men in the state, where he has been engaged in the shoe business all his life. The Hammersmith Bros. was established in

Houston in 1908 and since that time their business has grown steadily. This firm carries a complete line of men's, women's and children's shoes, and has one of the finest and most artistic stores in Houston, where the Hammersmith shoes need no introduction to the public, as they have been known throughout Texas since 1866, when the first Hammersmith shoe house was established in Belton, by Peter Hammer- smith, Mr. Hammersmith's father. Peter Hammer- smith was not only a pioneer settler of Texas but was a pioneer among men of his vocation. When the sons grew to manhood, they joined their father in the business and the firm was known as Peter Ham- mersmith & Sons. In 1899 the Hammersmith Bros. opened a store in Galveston between Twenty-second and Twenty-third on Market Street, which has two floors each with a floor space of 22 by 100 feet. Twelve experienced people are employed in this store. The Houston store of Hammersmith Bros., Inc. is located at 303 Main Street and has two floors, the sales floor, 25 by 100 feet, and the stock floor, 50 by 100 feet. Hammersmith Bros., Inc. employ thirty people in this store. Other officers of the company are J. P. Hammersmith, vice president, and E. Bryan, secretary.

A native Texan, Mr. Hammersmith was born at Belton in 1870. His father, Peter Hammersmith, was born in Mulheim on the Rhine, in Germany, and came to the United States as a boy and settled in Mississippi. He enlisted and served throughout the Civil War in the Army of the Confederacy. In 1866, he came to Belton, Texas, enduring all the privations of the pioneer settlers, and engaged in the shoe busi- ness; making all the shoes he sold, until a few years later when he was able to obtain the manufactured shoes, then he sold the manufactured article instead of "the home made" kind. Later in life, he retired and the sons continued the business. His mother was Miss Minerva Burris, a native of Bell Coun- ty. Mr. Hammersmith's education was obtained in private institutions of Bell Country. No public schools were in existence in Bell County at that time.

Mr. Hammersmith has devoted all the energy and skill of his life to the shoe business which he began as a boy in his father's store, and he knows shoes as few men know them. He was married in New- port, Arkansas, in 1895 to Miss Ida Halstead, a member of a well known Newport family. Mr. Ham- mersmith is a member of the A. F. and A. M. with membership in Belton Lodge. He is also a mem- ber of the B. P. O. E., with membership in Lodge No. 126 of Galveston. In the midst of his private work, Mr. Hammersmith finds opportunity to give his time and assistance to many movements of a public nature, and is interested in all agencies work- ing for the civic betterment of Houston.

AMES W. RUGELEY of Bay City, Texas, has been actively engaged in cotton gin- ning and buying and selling of cotton in Matagorda County for almost fifteen years and is the leading cotton man here. Mr. Rugeley is the president and owner of the James W. Rugeley Gin Company and gins cotton, buys and sells the fleecy staple and sells cotton seed, etc. The capacity of the James W. Rugeley Gin Company is one hun- dred and fifty bales of cotton for twenty-four hours. As many as forty people are employed at the gin plant during the ginning season when good

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NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

cotton crops are made. Mr. Rugeley grew up in the cotton farming business and the cattle industry. In 1911, he established this firm by himself, and also owns the Sweeney Cotton Company at Sweeney, Texas, the Wadsworth Gin Company and the Mata- gorda Gin Company. Mr. Rugeley owns in fee, three hundred an forty-seven acres of good farm land which he has cultivated by tenants.

A native Texan, Mr. Rugeley was born in Mata- gorda County, in November, 1874. His father, Frank Rugeley, also a native of the Lone Star State, was one of the leading cotton and cattle men of this portion of the State. His grandfather, John Rugeley, came to Texas from Alabama in 1839, and was a pioneer planter and cattle raiser of South Texas. His mother was Miss Fannie Wolcott, a member of an early Texas family, and was reared and educated in this State. His education was obtained in the public schools of South Texas.

Mr. Rugeley was married at Bay City, Texas, on June 6th, 1906, to Miss Kate Sargent, a member of one of Texas' oldest families, who came here in 1836. They have two children: Wolcott Rugeley and Jane. Mr. Rugeley is a member of the A. F. and A. M. with membership in the Scottish Rite body of this order at Galveston and is a member of Arabia Temple Shrine of Houston. Mr. Rugeley is president of the Bay City Chamber of Commerce, and is ac- tive in the interest of this organization, and is a member of the Rotary Club of this city. Mr. Rugeley never loses an opportunity to speak a good word for the Gulf Coast Country, and he is regarded as one of the most progressive men of this community, ever ready to assist in any move for the progress and advancement of his city and State. He has done much in this section of the State to stimulate the growing of cotton, and the use of modern methods in its cultivation. His cotton gins are all equipped with modern machinery, and it is his belief that a convenient cotton gin is a big incentive to the average farmer in growing the fleecy staple, and a good market place for same is the next essential. It is his belief also that cotton will always remain the money crop of Texas regardless of the vast amount of diversification which the State now has in all portions. In the cotton industry of this por- tion of the State, Mr. Rugeley is a leader and is a steadfast exponent of the highest standards of cotton dealing.

D. HARRIS of Bay City, Texas, has for several years been active in the fig grow- ing industry of Matagorda County and South Texas. In 1923, Mr. Harris became connected with the U. S. Bond and Mortgage Com- pany of Dallas, a subsidiary of the Dallas Trust and Savings Bank, which owns approximately 2,400 acres of the rich and fertile Caney Valley soil, lying in and around the town of Pledger. This soil, being es- pecially adapted to the growing of figs, resulted in the planting of a 125-acre orchard in 1923. New preserving plants are to be erected which will ade- quately take care of the increased production, the finished product finding a ready market at very profitable prices. This land was selected for its many advantages, being located on the Southern Pacific Railroad which offers, with its efficient facilities, to co-operate in every way to make this enterprise outstanding from every viewpoint. Fer-

tility of soil and perfect drainage are very valuable assets to this acreage. It is estimated that the orchards at the age of three years, planted in this soil are easily valued at $500.00 per acre. This going enterprise, with its increased acreage, will in the near future, become one of the largest developments of its kind in the entire Gulf Coast section.

Mr. Harris assisted in the organization of the San Leon Fig Orchard Company of Galveston, and is one of its largest stockholders. It now owns ap- proximately 300 acres of growing orchards with much additional acreage to plant. This company is incorporated for $75,000.00 and is owned by a small group of Galveston citizens-being one of the largest privately owned fig enterprises in the Gulf Coast section. A large preserving plant is now be- ing organized to handle the fast increasing produc- tion. The properties of this company are located at San Leon, in Galveston County.

Mr. Harris now has a 100-acre fig orchard of his own, with additional acreage for development, which is located several miles east of Bay City, in the Caney Valley. It is reaching a high state of pro- duction.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 108

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