New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 112

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

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Mr. McKallip was born at Allegheny, Pennsyl- vania, July 8th, 1892. His father, J. C. McKallip, Sr., a native of Clarion County, Pennsylvania, is one of the leading oil men of Texas, and was for several years a member of the firm of McKallip Bros. His mother was Miss Mary Edna Rhader, a native of Pennsylvania. Mr. McKallip's education was obtained at the Peacock Military School, of San Antonio, Texas, and later was a student of the University of Texas, where he graduated in the class of 1915, with the L. L. B. degree. During the same year of his graduation from college, he en- tered the oil business in an active way, but had been in the business since early boyhood, and had learned the practical end of oil operating, and with his brothers and father pioneered in practically all of the South Texas fields, and, like all other opera- tors, had many difficulties to overcome. When drilling a well at Sour Lake, they experienced a big blow-out, which swallowed up everything; they moved over 150 feet, drilled a well and obtained a good producer. They pioneered at Batson in con- tracting business, and drilled at Humble, where they had several producers, and, as independent op- erator, had nine thousand barrels production, and operated in other South Texas fields and pioneered in Oklahoma. In 1913 he got original leases, with associates at West Columbia, and prior to this in 1907 he had wildcatted there. Mr. McKallip be- came President of the Clarion Oil Company in 1920, one year before the death of his father. Since coming to Houston, Mr. McKallip has been closely connected with the commercial interests of the city, and is interested in many industries aside from the oil business, and is President of the Prudent In- vestment Company, and is the owner of valuable real estate in the city.

Mr. McKallip has been twice married. His first marriage was to Miss Alice Lucille Griffith, a native of Austin, Texas. Of this union, one child was born, Mary Edna, a beautiful and attractive

child, beloved by every one with whom she comes in contact. The mother of this child died in 1918. His second marriage was to Miss Carrie Jones, also a native of Austin. Mr. and Mrs. McKallip reside at 3522 Garrott Avenue. Mr. McKallip is a mem- ber of the University Club, the Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, the American Petroleum In- stitute and the Houston Chamber of Commerce. Mr. McKallip is regarded as one of the most prog- ressive and successful oil men in South Texas, and has a host of friends among all classes. He is in- terested in civic matters of the city and believes that Houston will soon become the largest city in the State. He is one of the leaders in every movement for the good of Houston and is regarded as one of the city's most progressive and public- spirited citizens.

MMETT C. CARR, one of the younger busi- ness men of Houston, since his entrance into the business world has attained the es- teem of his associates, and is regarded as one of the leading electrical contractors and dealers in electric supplies here. Mr. Carr is the owner of the Carr Electric Company, which he established the first of March, 1922, and which has grown to be one of the largest electrical contracting busi- nesses at Houston. Mr. Carr also carries a full and complete line of electrical supplies, and while a large part of his business is in Houston, he handles many contracts throughout Southeast Texas and

sells electrical supplies and equipment in this ter- ritory. Mr. Carr specializes in wiring and electrical equipment for homes, and has done the electrical work in many of the finer homes in Houston. He also contracts for the wiring and electrical work in business buildings and structures of this class, and has handled many important contracts in this field. He installed the lighting system in Luna Park, an installation that has attracted much favorable com- ment. Mr. Carr employs from ten to thirty experi- enced electricians. The shop and display rooms are located at 1918 Mckinney Avenue.

Emmett C. Carr was born at Houston the tenth of September, 1894, son of Henry T. Carr, a native of Louisiana, who, after coming to Houston, was engaged in the mercantile business here until his death. Emmett C. Carr was educated in the schools of Houston, through High School, later spending one year at college. In 1910 he entered the electric business, learning the trade with various local firms, and in the West, where he spent two years. Mr. Carr is familiar with the electrical business from the ground up, and is considered one of the most expert electricians in Houston. In 1922 he went in business for himself, his principal asset being his sound knowledge of the electrical line and a faith in his ability to build up trade through giving the highest class of work. In this he has been very suc- cessful, and today his is one of the leading elec- trical firms in Houston, and has one of the best stocks of lighting fixtures in the city. He is a member of the Association of Electragists Interna- tional, the Electrical Contractors' Association of Houston, the Eagles Lodge and the Catholic Church.

Mr. Carr is a director of the Texa-Cola Company of Houston, and is interested in various other com- mercial enterprises. His faith in the future of Hous- ton is evidenced by investments in Houston realty.

701

MEN OF TEXAS

ARRY L. EDWARDS, for a number of years a factor in the petroleum industry at Hous- ton, is well known to the oil fraternity of the Lone Star State as one of the most expert field men in the industry and one whose years of experience in drilling and oil development have qualified him as a leader in this field. Mr. Edwards is General Superintendent for the Humble Oil and Refining Company, and has charge of all field operations in North Central and West Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas. He has about fifteen hun- dred employees working under him, and his position is one of the most important in the Humble Com- pany. He maintains his headquarters at Houston, with offices in the Humble Building. Mr. Edwards began with the Humble Oil and Refining Company at Breckenridge, in 1919, during the early develop- ment of that field. He began as driller, and was progressively made tool pusher, then Superinten- dent in the field at Ranger, in charge of drilling in Stephens County, and then Division Superintendent with headquarters at Cisco, and in 1922 General Su- perintendent, with headquarters at Houston, which position he now holds.

Mr. Edwards was born in Canada, in 1890, his parents later removing to Pennsylvania, where he was educated, attending the schools of Warren, Pennsylvania. At the age of sixteen he began in the oil fields at Bradford, Pennsylvania, later going to Illinois, where he also worked in the oil fields, and from there to Texas during the North Texas oil boom. In the decade and half of his oil experience Mr. Ed. wards has held practically every position in the de- velopment end of the industry, from roughneck to his present responsible position of General Superin- tendent for the Humble Company, and few men are better qualified, or more experienced in this phase of the oil industry.

Mr. Edwards was married in New York State, the twenty-first of October, 1912, to Miss Blanche Mul- vihill, a native of Pennsylvania. They live at 4705 Travis Street, and take part in the social life of their community. Mr. Edwards is a life member of the Elks Club of Ranger, and a member of the Mid- Continent Oil Association, and the American Petro- leum Institute. Mr. Edwards is known in the var- ious oil fields of the Lone Star State as not only a practical field man, with a sound knowledge of all development operations, but as a capable executive, with a talent for directing the men under him, and is highly regarded by all who know him.

C. HUNT, although a comparatively recent addition to the business fraternity of Hous- ton, has entered into the spirit of the South Texas metropolis, and is well known among the younger men of the city. He came here as gen- eral manager of the General Box Company, when that firm bought the Four-One Box Company plant. After leaving this organization he became associated with the W. J. Aubertin firm, dealers in auto acces- sories, sporting goods, etc.

Mr. Hunt was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana, in 1893. His parents, W. M. Hunt and Mary Hunt, were well known citizens of Crawfordsville, where his father was engaged in business for many years. Mr. Hunt's education was obtained in the public and high schools of Crawfordsville.

Mr. Hunt completed his education in 1913 and im- mediately after became athletic director for the

Y. M. C. A., where he remained until entering the World War in June, 1918. After enlistment, Mr. Hunt was assigned to the Tank Corps at Camp Colt, Gettysburg, where he was later made a non-com- missioned officer. He went overseas in July, 1918, and during his activities two months was spent in the Argonne-Meuse sector. He returned to America in March, 1919, and one month later received his discharge and entered the employ of the General Box Company, and in April, 1922, was sent to Hous- ton as general manager of the Houston plant.

Mr. Hunt was married in Indiana in 1913 to Miss Ruth Ellen Snyder, a member of a well known In- diana family. They have three children, Robert, eleven years of age; John, aged nine, and William, five years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt reside at 4120 Mckinney Avenue. Mr. Hunt is a member of the American Legion, and the Chamber of Com- merce. He likes Texas, and Houston in particular, and believes it will soon become the South's leading city.

G. TACKABERRY, well known in the oil circles of South Texas, has been Manager of the Land Department of the Vacuum Oil Company since the Houston office of this company was opened in 1920. The Vacuum Oil Company are manufacturers of high grade lubricat- ing oils, and their well known brand of Gargoyle is known throughout the country as one of the best mobile and marine oils. It is made from selected crude oil and is used for every class of machinery. The home office of this company is in New York City, but they are acquiring potential oil acreage and are doing some development work in the Coastal belt of Louisiana and Texas. Offices are maintained on the second floor of the Gulf Building. They have men in the field drilling at the present time, as a start in their development plans.

A native Texan, Mr. Tackaberry was born at Moscow, Polk County, on July 1, 1883. His education was obtained in the public schools of Livingston, Texas and Houston, where he graduated from the high school in the class of 1903. In 1910 Mr. Tack- aberry began his career in the oil business, by trad- ing in leases and went into the different fields in order to see first hand the opportunities for invest- ments, and while thus engaged, gained a good knowledge of the oil business in general. In 1911-12, and part of 1913, he did ground floor work in the fields of Oklahoma and Texas, and also engaged in trading leases, etc., until 1918, when he became associated with the West Production Company at the time this company was organized, and was in charge of production until he came with the present company in 1920.

Mr. Tackaberry was married in Houston, April 17, 1907, to Miss Nelva Brown, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Brown, of Houston. They have two children, Gordon and James. Mr. and Mrs. Tacka- berry reside at 4615 Caroline Street. He is a mem- ber of the A. F. and A. M., Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, American Petroleum Institute and the Houston Club. Mr. Tackaberry is popular in the oil and business circles of Houston. His varied experience in the oil business has proved a valuable asset in his chosen profession. He is enthusiastic as to the future development of Houston and is interested in every movement for the benefit of the city of his adoption.

702

H. L. Edwards.

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

W. BAKER is well known in the financial and real estate circles of Houston, where he has lived all his life and is regarded as one of the city's most substantial and public spirited citizens. Mr. Baker is retired from active business pursuits and until recently lived on and owned seventy-five acres of land in the city limits of Houston. As seventy-five acres was more than he actually needed he disposed of thirty acres to good advantage. He is a large stock holder in the various banks of Houston, and in many of the business and industrial institutions of the city and is the owner of much valuable property. While retired from business Mr. Baker is very active, and prefers to look after his own interests rather than place them in the hands of others. He is a great lover of fancy and fast horses, likes high bred dogs, game chickens and stock of all kinds; all or many of which he has on his farms, and which he sees are cared for in a humane manner. Mr. Baker sold one hundred and sixty-two acres of his valuable holdings for the new Country Club.

A native Texan, Mr. Baker was born in Houston on February 2nd, 1854, and has always lived in Har- ris County. He was born on the old Sam Houston Ranch and now lives within two hundred feet of the spot on which he was born. His father, George F. Baker, was a pioneer cattle man, and was engaged in the cattle and butcher business for many years and was well known in South Texas. His mother was Mrs. Rebecca Spottell, who originally came from Pennsylvania. His education was obtained in the Houston schools.

Mr. Baker has had a wide and varied business career which began when he was seventeen years of age, in the butcher business in Houston with his father. He continued in this for seven years. He then entered the wholesale hay business and re- mained in this line of endeavor for three years, and then entered the market garden and dairy business, which he continued for twenty-four years, when he retired from active business pursuits. He was not tired of the market garden and dairy business, in fact it was to his liking to get close to nature and enjoy all of nature's blessings which are lacking in city life, but it became necessary on account of his having to manage the estate of his father, and other properties, so he moved back to the home at 2101 West Dallas Avenue, which was the old homestead, in 1905, and which was recently dis- posed of.

Mr. Baker was married in Houston in 1883 to Miss Annie M. Graves, a member of a well known Missouri family and a daughter of George M. Graves, who removed to Texas from the State of Missouri, and was a pioneer in the Lone Star State, afterwards becoming a large land owner and was engaged in farming. They had four children-Mrs. Ella Morris, Mrs. Rosa Willifred and E. F. Baker, who is associated with the Humble Pipe Line Com- pany and is well known in the oil circles of South Texas. One daughter, Connie Bammell, died, leav- ing two children. During the almost three score years and ten that Mr. Baker has lived in Houston and Harris County he has seen many great changes in the merging of the village to the busy, thriving city of today and in the county in the way of roads and farming methods. In the old days, good roads were not in existence and required, in rainy weather,

several yokes of oxen to transport a load of produce or cotton into the city. Now the Harris County roads are the pride of the entire citizenship, and an ox is a curiosity, while the late model automo- bile transports one over the paved roads to any part of the county within a few minutes. The mule on the farm is almost obsolete, the modern tractor having taken its place. Mr. Baker remembers when several mules were required to draw a load of mer- chandise on Main Street, during the rainy season, and if one had voiced the possibility of deep water, he would immediately have been adjudged insane. Mr. Baker, having lived to note all these changes, is still active, and is the true type of Southern gentleman, genial, unselfish and kind. His life has been delicately interwoven into the fabric of the good fellowship of Houston, where he is loved and esteemed by the entire citizenship. His mature experience, wise counsel, sterling qualities of char- acter and high ideals, have always been an inspira- tion to his children and his friends, and now in the evening of life, he can spend his remaining days in the city of his birth and among the friends whom he has known since childhood, except for the num- ber who have passed to their reward, he can rest peacefully in the shade of his past activities and successes.

W. DEDMAN has for more than a decade been active in the real estate circles of Houston, where he is the owner of the Ded- man Realty Company, with offices at 307 Prince Building. Mr. Dedman came to Houston in 1912 and since that time has been engaged in the general real estate business, buying and selling property of all kinds. He has built and sold resi- dences in the Heights and various parts of the city in the residence districts and was especially active in the South End. Mr. Dedman also builds and fur- nishes houses for customers; makes loans on real estate and buys and sells first lien notes, and mort- gages with good security, particularly those secured by good real estate.

Mr. Dedman was born in Kansas City November 16, 1870. His father, W. W. Dedman, Sr., was a physician. Mr. W. W. Dedman, Jr.'s education was obtained in the public school of Kansas City, and through a practical experience. Mr. Dedman started his business career when fourteen years of age, when he began work with carpenters, and in this way developed into the building and selling of houses. He started the selling of homes on terms in Kansas City after the panic there in 1890 and has been in the real estate business since that time. Mr. Ded- man has had some experience in the oil business, in the shallow field at Moran, Shackelford County, where he was active in the development of a sixty- acre lease in that field, and drilling is active there and the prospects for production is very good, as the contiguous territory has producing wells from the shallow sands.

Mr. Dedman was married at Kansas City Decem- ber 9, 1891, to Miss Belle Kinsey, a member of a well known Kansas City family. They have one son, William I. Dedman. Mr. and Mrs. Dedman reside at 406 East 28th Street, Sunset Heights. Mr. Dedman has great faith in the future of Houston and thinks it has the best opportunities of any city in the Southwest to become the leading city, as the popu- lation and industries are growing rapidly every day.

705

MEN OF TEXAS

ARRY FOWLE, pioneer in the petroleum industry in the Lone Star State, and for two decades and more a factor in the de- velopment of the coastal fields, is an ex- pert in the field of pipe line management, and is qualified to speak with authority on any question arising in this department. Mr. Fowle is division superintendent of the Texas Pipe Line Company, a company controlled and owned by the Texas Com- pany, and in charge of the pipe lines of that com- pany in the coastal fields. Mr. Fowle is one of the real pioneers in the oil industry, and knows every field, and all the pioneer operators in the Lone Star State. He came to Texas on the open- ing of the Sour Lake oil field, and began with the Texas Company, around two decades ago, in charge of a pipe line gang, although he had former ex- perience, and was qualified to fill a higher position. But he wanted to get the Texas Company's ideas, from the bottom up, and took charge of the pipe line crew with this in view. A little later he was made engineer, advancing from that position to telegraph operator. He had previously studied tele- graphy, and engineering. He then became district foreman, for the Texas Company, Pipe Line De- partment, and in 1912 became division superin- tendent of the Texas Pipe Line Company, the posi- tion he now holds. He has a pleasing personality that wins the confidence of his men, and it is said that he has developed many capable and efficient employees for his company.

Mr. Fowle was born at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the 21st of October, 1858, the son of Jacob Fowle, a worker in the steel mills of Bethlehem, who was killed at his work when the son was a small boy, and Margueritte Fowle, who also died during her son's boyhood. Left an orphan, Mr. Fowle had meagre opportunities to attend school, and is largely a self-educated man. Until he was eighteen he worked on a farm in Wood County, Ohio, after which time, he began work in the saw mills of that state, working up until he became head sawyer for Charles D. Dennis, who later became his father-in- law. He came to Texas in the early days, going to Gainesville by stage, and later went to Alabama, where he operated a saw mill and cotton gin for five years, which was the first steam saw mill and cotton gin in Madison County. He then returned to Wood County, Ohio, just as the oil fields of that state were opening up, and went with the Buckeye Oil Company. He was made fireman, and later engineer, remaining with that company for one year, after which he went with the National Transit Com- pany, a pipe line company at Cygnet, Ohio, remain- ing with them eleven years, after which he came to Sour Lake and began with the Texas Company. Mr. Fowle devotes all his time to the Texas Company, but is a partner in the General Machine Works, whose plant is located on Polk Avenue, Houston. This plant manufactures patent windlasses, hatch covers, central swing joints, tank breather arrange- ments to take care of working conditions of steel tanks, pump plungers of all sizes and tank flanges. The firm was organized in December, 1921, by Mr. Fowle and his associates. Mr. George Schmidt is manager and Mr. F. G. Muller is shop foreman and craftsman. From eight to ten men are employed. The plant is well equipped with modern machinery. It has one of the largest lathes in the state and the

only polishers in the state. Everything manufactured at the plant is of special improved design. Repair work is also done here and the patrons include the big oil companies.

Mr. Fowle was married first to Miss Mabel Den- nis, daughter of Charles D. Dennis, a captain dur- ing the Civil War, and a farmer of Wood County, Ohio. There were four children born to this union: Fred, an oil man, who is married and has two chil- dren; Charles, also an oil man and married; Zina, and Harry, Jr., an oil man, and who is married and has two children. Mr. Fowle's first wife died. He was married the second time, in 1908, at Corsicana, Texas, to Miss Judith Dennis, a half sister of his first wife. Mr. and Mrs. Fowle reside at 1400 Chenevert Street. Mr. Fowle is the typical pioneer, proud of the industry, and of his company, and is one of those "old timers" who are the backbone of the industry today. His sons have all followed him in the oil business, and the name of Fowle is one that will live for many years to come in the his- tory of the development of the petroleum industry in the Lone Star State, particularly in the coastal fields.

OE A. MYERS, one of the pioneer oil men of the coastal fields, and for upwards of two decades one of the progressive resi- dents of Beaumont, has taken an active part in the development of the petroleum resources of the Lone Star State. Mr. Myers is vice president, treasurer and general manager of the Unity Oil Company, which he organized in 1906, and which has since been active in oil development. The company has concentrated its attention to taking over pro- ducing properties which have begun to go down and build these properties up through intensive opera- tion. This field of operation calls for an unusually expert knowledge, and is one of the most difficult in the entire field of oil production. Under Mr. Myers' supervision and direction many dry holes have been brought to produce in paying quantities, and he has made an exceptional record. Mr. Myers is considered by the oil fraternity one of the expert drillers in the coastal fields, and while he has operated some in North Texas and Oklahoma, he has devoted the majority of his time to this sec- tion The Unity Oil Company maintains head- quarters at Beaumont, with offices in the Wiess Building. The other officers are, Col. C. H. Moore of Galveston, president, and Walter F. Myers secre- tary.

Mr. Myers was born in Kentucky, the seventeenth of July, 1877, the son of J. F. Myers, one of the pioneer water well drillers of Texas, and who with his sons established the well known firm of Myers and Sons, Water Well Contractors. Mr. Myers was educated in the schools of Texas, to which state the family removed in 1880, and after leaving school was associated with his father in drilling water wells in the northern part of the state, drilling over seven hundred wells, among them the first deep wells to be sunk in Gainesville. In 1901 he became interested in oil drilling, and came to Spindle Top, where he be- gan drilling operations, and shortly with his asso- ciates organized his present company. Mr. Myers is the inventor of the Myers Packer, used exten- sively in this section.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 112

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