New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 114

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

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Mr. Erwin attended the schools of Bryan and Hempstead, and in 1902 graduated from high school at the latter place. He began his business career in that year, and was for the ensuing three years active in the cattle industry in Waller and Harris Counties, coming to Houston in 1905.

Mr. Erwin was married the twelfth of February, 1907, at Hempstead, Texas, to Miss Harrie Delle Rankin, a native of that city and daughter of H. L. Rankin, prominent merchant and land owner there. Her grandparents were pioneers of Waller County, her grandmother, Mrs. Minnack, now lives in Dob- bin, Texas, at the advanced age of ninety-six. She lived at Houston during the early days of this city's history, her home being where the old Hous- ton Post Building now stands. Mr. Erwin's family was also associated with the early history of the city, his great uncle, S. E. Elliot, digging the first shovelful of dirt for building the H. & T. C. Rail- road. Mr. and Mrs. Erwin have made Houston their home during their entire married life, and have one daughter, Charlotte. They reside at 506 Sul Ross Avenue. He is a member of the Houston Club, and the River Oaks Country Club. Frater- nally he is a member of Holland Lodge Number One, A. F. and A. M., the Scottish and York Rites, and Arabia Temple Shrine.

714

John Gaillard

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

YRUS K. CLARKE, cattleman, banker, pro- gressive citizen and fruit grower of La Porte, Texas, has done much in the develop- ment of the coast country, which he believes equal if not superior to any other portion of the United States in climate and natural advantages. Mr. Clarke began raising cattle in 1914, his stock consisting mostly of range cows from which he sold the offspring. He has three thousand acres leased for pasturage, but foreseeing the changes in cattle conditions, he disposed of all his cattle in 1921 except a few head of mother cows. He expects to return to the cattle business when conditions are right again. His home place, which is one of the most beautiful in the coast country, consists of eighty acres, all of which is well fenced on the bay front, where he has a beautiful, modern home of the bun- galow type, facing the bay. He has a well-kept lawn, tennis courts, shell driveways and beautiful trees. Mr. Clarke has raised oranges successfully for fifteen years and has several acres of this pop- ular fruit on his place. He takes the best of care of his trees, banking them in winter and using smudges in cold weather, and the freeze of 1923 did not injure them for this reason. He has learned by experience that orange growers must be prepared to take care of their trees in all seasons, and under all conditions. Mr. Clarke's orange trees are eight years old, planted one hundred and twenty trees to the acre, and his average crop is worth $5.00 per tree. He sells all his oranges locally to commission men who come to the orchard for them, and take all his crop and he could dispose of twenty times the amount each year locally, if he had the fruit. Mr. Clarke grew figs very successfully for a num- ber of years, but gave up this industry on account of the poor market conditions existing at the time, but the market conditions have changed, and as this fruit grows wonderfully in this section, he and others expect to again devote some time to this de- lightful fruit, which is popular in all parts of the country as a preserved confection.

Mr. Clarke was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, May 8th, 1876. His father, Cyrus Clarke, was a well known banker of Pittsburg, Penn. His early education was obtained in the public and high schools of Pittsburg, after which he entered the Reusselaer Polytechnic Institute of Troy, New York, and grad- uated from this institution in the class of 1902, with the degree of C. E. After leaving college, Mr. Clarke entered the employ of the Pennsylvania rail- road as a civil engineer and continued in this line of endeavor for this railroad until he came to Texas. Mr. Clarke saw service in the Spanish-American War with Battery B, Pennsylvania Artillery, and served in the Porto Rico campaign under General Mills. Mr. Clarke has been school trustee of the Deer Park District for the past eight years, and has always been active in educational matters for the good of his district. He is president of the First National Bank of La Porte and is interested in com- mercial and industrial projects of his town, and is a constant worker for his community.

Mr. Clarke was married at Troy, New York, Oc- tober 18th, 1904, to Miss Lucy A. Burbeck, a mem- ber of a well known family of New York State. They have two daughters-Margaret Dale and Mary Kingsley. He is a member of the Delti Phi fra- ternity. Mr. Clarke is one of the most progressive and enterprising citizens of the Gulf Coast, a con-

stant and conscientious worker for the advancement of this section, and believes that the future of La Porte depends on getting men who will develop its natural advantages and who will in this way become satisfied and substantial citizens.

ILLIAM L. HELLER came to Alvin, Texas, in 1909 and established the Alvin Cape Jessamine and Floral Company, which he owns and operates and has the distinction of being the largest grower and shipper of tube roses and cape jessamines in or near Alvin. Alvin is the largest cape jessamine center in the world, and during normal seasons no less than five million buds of this waxy white, fragrant flower are shipped from this point; Alvin is also a large ship- ping center for tube roses. Mr. Heller has thirty acres planted to floral and nursery stock, twelve acres in cape jessamines and ten acres in tube roses. From this large acreage, he ships the cut flowers all over the United States; both the cape jessamine and the tube rose are splendid flowers for ship- ping. The cape jessamine is cut when the bud shows the first signs of opening, these are carefully packed and when reaching their destination they are unwrapped and are usually found to be in full bloom. The tube rose is an excellent shipper on account of the large, long stems, which retain their vitality for many days, and this gives to the already opened flowers a continuance of bloom, and gives to the unopened buds sufficient strength and vitality for them to reach perfection in bloom, after being cut. Mr. Heller also grows for market, camphor trees, Magnolia figs, umbrella china trees, well known for their beauty and symmetry, regarded as the best shade trees grown, and are of rapid growth. Amoor Rives privet and California privet, in general use for hedge purposes and all kinds of ornamental shrubbery. One hundred people are employed at the Alvin Cape Jessamine and Floral Company dur- ing the picking, packing and shipping season. Soon after leaving college, Mr. Heller, who had specialized in horticulture and floriculture, established this wonderful garden, which has been a complete suc- cess from a monetary standpoint. He devotes his entire attention to the work and does a great amount of the various kinds of work himself, as it cannot be trusted to the hands of others, and this, in a measure, accounts for his big success in his chosen line of work.

A native Texan, Mr. Heller was born at Buda on March 26th, 1884. His father, Louis Heller, was an extensive farmer and land owner of Hays County. His mother was Miss Amelia Mater, a member of a pioneer Texas family. His early education was ob- tained in the public schools of Buda, and the high school at Kyle, after which he attended the A. and M. College from 1904 to 1918, when he graduated from this institution with the degree of B. S.

Mr. Heller was married at Alvin, Texas, in 1911, to Miss Ruth Gertrude Holloway, a daughter of David Z. Holloway, well know florist of Alvin. They have two children: Grace, eight years of age, and William, aged five years. Mr. Heller is a member of the Masonic fraternity, to the 18th degree, with intention of taking complete work, and is active in all civic and educational work of Alvin, where he is regarded as one of the leading business men and progressive citizens, who has put Alvin on the map of the floral world.

717

MEN OF TEXAS

OHN WARREN, prominently identified with stock raising activities in Southeast Texas, where he is well known for his extensive ranch holdings and his progressive ranching methods, has for more than three decades maintain- ed his headquarters near Hockley, and is one of the pioneer ranchmen of this section who have taken an active part in the advancement of the cattle in- dustry. Mr. Warren has one of the largest ranches in Harris County, some four miles south of Hockley, where he has twenty thousand acres of land in one body. This ranch, with its modern ranch house, barns, corrals and other equipment, is one of the show places of the State, and one of the best im- proved ranches in Southeast Texas. Mr. Warren has one of the finest dipping tanks in the State as part of his equipment and employs an outfit of around ten people. There are now around two thou- sand head of cattle on the ranch, Herefords and Brahmas, the latter as near full blood as can be obtained. Mr. Warren's herd is in fine shape, with the exception of occasional losses caused by back disease, and shows the result of scientific care and methods. There are around fifty gentle horses on the ranch, and three hundred head of stock horses.

Mr. Warren was born at Hockley, Texas, the seventeenth of February, 1861. His father, John Warren, a native of Cumberland, England, came here in 1840. He ran a stage, and also the famous eating house and hotel at Hockley when the railroad ended there. Although his early life here was dur- ing the perilous days of the early frontier, Mr. Warren managed to maintain friendship with all classes and there were few men of the early rail- road building days who were better liked or who had more friends in this section. The elder Mr. Warren later entered the cattle business, and his son, the subject of our sketch, grew up in this busi- ness, spending most of his time assisting around the ranch, and attending the rural schools near his home. In 1889 Mr. Warren, with his father, came to the present location, near Hockley, and estab- lished the ranch which Mr. Warren still operates. In those days, the days of the open range, it was not uncommon to brand five thousand head of cattle in a year, and the Warren ranch was known through- out this section. Mr. Warren also supplied the mules for the street cars in Houston in those days. Mr. Warren was the first man to locate oil in this local- ity, but lacked means to carry out exploration work. At the present time this work is being carried for- ward by the Texas Exploration Company, which has some production and is engaged in active develop- ment work in this section. The indications are that the Warren ranch will soon be the location of one of the new fields of the coast, and at the present time such companies as the Gulf Company, the Sun Company, and others are holding land under lease.

Mr. Warren was married at Hockley, Texas, the first of January, 1902, to Miss Nannie Roberts, daughter of Elbert Roberts, a farmer living at Hock- ley, and who came here as a boy from his native State of Alabama. Mr. and Mrs. Warren make their home at the ranch, south of Hockley, and have six children-Lenora, wife of Tom Jordan; W. B., who is active on the ranch with his father; Ruth, Winnie, John, Jr., and Nannie. Each of these children have cattle of their own, each using his own brand, and having varying numbers of cattle. This gives them

a definite interest in the ranch, and Mr. Warren has found it an ideal way in which to keep them on the ranch. Mr. Warren is that fine type of cattle man who has for his creed justice to all, and is justly proud of the fact that in more than three decades of ranch operation he has never at any time found it necessary to resort to law to settle any question. Few men are better liked, and few have done more for the promotion of the best interests of their com- munity or the cattle industry, than has Mr. Warren, and Hockley is proud to claim him as a resident.

REDERICK W. WITT, for many years as- sociated with public life at Houston, and for upwards of three decades a factor in the progress of this city, has made a record creditable along all lines and is one of the most highly esteemed men in the public eye. Mr. Witt is now serving as County Tax Assessor of Harris County, an office to which he was elected by a good majority in November, 1922, and which he entered in January, 1923. Since assuming the duties of this office Mr. Witt has devoted his energies to estab- lishing high standards of efficiency, and has demon- strated his accurate knowledge of properties and property valuations. Under his guidance many im- provements have been inaugurated, and his force has been carefully built up with due regard for the best interests of his constituents.

Frederick W. Witt was born in Harris County, the twenty-third of December, 1871. His father, Fritz Witt, a native of Germany, came to the United States at the age of twelve years with his father, Henry Witt, and resided in the northern part of Harris County until his death in 1889. He was a blacksmith until 1880, when he became a merchant and postmaster in his town, holding this position until his death. His mother, also deceased, was a native of Harris County, and before her marriage was Miss Wilheima Fries. Mr. Witt attended the public schools near his home as a boy, and later attended Blinn Memorial College, at Brenham. After leaving college he further prepared himself for his business career by a course in the Massey Business College at Houston. He then began with the Tre- mont Hotel, remaining there until 1891, after which he went in the mercantile business and until 1908 was one of the leading merchants of the city. In 1908 he entered the County Clerk's office, where he remained until 1920, when he ran for the office of County Tax Assessor of Harris County, when he was defeated in a close race. He again ran for the office in the 1922 elections, and was elected, enter- ing office in January, 1923.

Mr. Witt was married at Houston the fourteenth of September, 1890, to Miss Bertha Schachtrupp, a native of Houston, and the daughter of Louis Schachtrupp, who came to this city as a young man. Mr. and Mrs. Witt make their home at 3306 Morri- son Avenue, and have two children, Fred L. Witt, and Bertha Witt. The family attend the Lutheran Church. Mr. Witt is a Mason, Blue Lodge, Wood- land No. 1156, to the Thirty-Second degree. As a public official Mr. Witt has made a record for his strict adherence to the duties of his office, and the sound and constructive policies under which he op- erates. He has many friends, both in Houston and throughout the county, and holds the highest est eem of all who know him.

718

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

H. ROSS, one of the most progressive busi- ness leaders at League City, and for many years associated with the advancement of this community, has been prominently iden- tified with business enterprises of wide scope, and is well known for his activities in the real estate business, and as a cattle man, rice grower and orchardist. Mr. Ross came to League City in 1913, and in the decade and more which has followed his influence has been widely felt in the life of the com- munity, and his activities, whether as a business man or as a citizen, have had an important bearing on the prosperity of the city and have been no small factor in the growth and development this period has witnessed.

Mr. Ross, a native of the Lone Star State, was born at Mexia, the ninth day of December, 1880, the son of J. E. Ross, for many years a resident of that city, and a well known stock raiser and farmer on an extensive scale. Mr. Ross spent his boyhood in Mexia, attending the public schools there and after leaving high school, where he graduated under Dr. Cousins, well known Texas educator, he began his business career. His first business experience, how- ever, came several years earlier, when as a school boy he began buying and selling cattle, an occupa- tion he began in Limestone County during his va- cations. At the age of fifteen he began to devote his full time to trading in cattle, and even at this age he evidenced an unusual ability to judge live- stock that won for him no small comment among cattle men. In 1902 Mr. Ross' father, J. E. Ross, came to Deepwater, now on the ship channel, to engage in the rice industry, and the following year was joined by his son, J. H. Ross, the subject of this sketch. They operated the property now owned by Tilford Jones, Jr., and put in the first irrigation plant to be used in this section for the cultivation of rice. They remained in Deepwater until 1908, when they left there and came to Galveston County to operate the B. W. Camp plantation, an eleven hundred acre rice plantation, which they operated under lease until the property was sold in 1919. At the same time they owned and operated a smaller tract of around two hundred and fifty acres, across the line in Harris County, planting this acreage to rice. In 1913 Mr. Ross sold out all his rice interests and came to League City, where he began dealing in cattle and lands, and became interested in the development of the orange industry. At one time Mr. Ross had around eight thousand orange trees, but many of these were killed by freezes, and he did not replant, because of the uncertainty of this crop, but rather turned his attention to other forms of agriculture, particularly truck farming and strawberry growing. Mr. Ross has recently begun the development of a pecan grove of some twenty- two and one-half acres, planted to paper shell pecans, this grove being located near League City. For many years he has been active in the cattle business, with a tendency toward Brahma stock, and his herd at present numbers around five hundred head of grade cows and Brahma bulls. His herds range be- tween Clear Creek and Dickinson Bayou, in Galves- ton County, on land either owned or leased. Mr. Ross owns a great deal of land in this section, hold- ing tracts of from ten to three hundred acres, and is one of the large land owners of League City.

Mr. Ross was married at New London, Missouri,

the sixteenth of March, 1914, to Miss Nell McGown, a native of Missouri, who spent some years in Texas with her family, and later returned to her native State. Mr. and Mrs. Ross have one child, Luella Elizabeth, who is known and loved at League City as Betsy Ross. Mr. Ross is active in all civic work, and helped organize the League City Progressive League, and is also vice president of the Galveston County Business League, which is affiliated with the Galveston Commercial Association. Fraternally he is a Mason, past master of Blue Lodge, League City, No. 1053; Scottish Rite at Galveston, and a member of El Mina Temple Shrine at Galveston.

O. SMITH for thirty-five years has been engaged in the dairying business at Alvin, Texas, where he has succeeded in building up the finest herd of Holstein cattle in the State. His Holstein cattle number forty-five and he has one hundred and fifty-five head of Jerseys, fifty of which are registered animals. Mr. Smith owns the finest Holstein bull in Texas and some of the finest cows in the entire South. In the opinion of experts these are the best bred animals of their kind in the entire country. He ships his milk to Houston and Galveston where he finds a ready mar- ket for all his products. Mr. Smith's dairy is modern and sanitary in every detail, and all latter day methods are employed about his place, which is one of the finest in South Texas. He established the first dairy in Alvin and has one of the finest herds of dairy cattle in the State and the finest in or near Alvin. Mr. Smith has been engaged in the dairying business all his life, and knows this in- dustry as few men know it, and the products of his dairy are among the best to be purchased, as sani- tation has always been his watchword.

A native of Missouri, Mr. Smith was born Sep- tember 10th, 1871, but was brought to Texas by his parents when an infant, and was reared to man- hood in Hood County, where he resided until he came to Alvin. His parents, S. L. and Lucretia Smith, both natives of Missouri, were engaged in farming both in their native State and after re- moving to Texas. His education was obtained in the Granbury College of Hood County, Texas.

Mr. Smith was married at Brandon, Mississippi, in 1893, to Miss Kate Meadows, a member of a prominent Mississippi family, and whose father was engaged in the general merchandising business in her native State. They have two children: Mrs. Helen Davis and S. O. Smith, Jr. Mr. Smith is a member of the Knights of Pythias and is active in this organization. He is enthusiastic as to the future of the dairying industry in South Texas and believes that this will soon become one of the greatest industries of this part of the State. This industry has already reached considerable propor- tions, approximately ten thousand gallons of milk being shipped every day from Alvin and adjacent towns to Houston and Galveston. He encourages the movement to improve the herds of the State and thinks the people are awakening to the fact that fine cattle must take the place of the common kind and that this is the only way in which the dairying business can be made to pay. On account of the mild winters of South Texas and a grazing season which extends practically through the whole year; he believes that South Texas has an added advantage in dairying over any other parts of the country.

721

MEN OF TEXAS

R M. CALDWELL, for many years one of the well known cattlemen in South Texas, and for more than two decades one of the the ranch owners of Brazoria County, has taken an important part in developing the cattle resources of this part of the state, and is one of the generous and public spirited citizens of his com- munity. Mr. Caldwell owns a well equipped and managed ranch, comprising one thousand acres, in Brazoria County, near the Fort Bend County line, and has under lease several hundred acres additional. The ranch is located on Oyster Creek, and is all fenced and has the usual ranch buildings to be found on the South Texas ranch. Seven hundred acres are in grass, with three hundred acres in farming land. At present some six hundred head of stock cattle, of mixed breeds, including some Brahma and Here- ford bulls, with a few Durham bulls, are in Mr. Caldwell's herd.

Mr. Caldwell is a native of the Lone Star State, and the representative of one of the oldest families of Texas. His birth occurred on a ranch, in Hays County, the twentieth of May, 1875. His father, R. M. Caldwell, was born in Austin's Colony, and went as a boy to Comal County, with his father, Major J. P. Caldwell, in 1858. His death occurred after the family removed to Hays County, when his son, R. M. Caldwell, the subject of this sketch, was a boy of eight years. Major Caldwell came to Texas to rebuild a fortune lost in business in Baltimore, and lived in this state until his death. R. M. Caldwell's mother, was before her marriage Miss Mary House, daughter of T. W. House, one of the most honored pioneers of the Lone Star State. After the death of his father he, with the other children, were brought to Houston by his mother's brother, and were reared in this city. Mr. Caldwell attended the Houston public schools, and after finishing his work there took a business course and also attended Aus- tin College at Sherman, Texas, for three years. As a boy he started buying cattle, buying a single horse or cow, which his brother cared for, and by the time he had finished his education he had a fair start in the cattle business. Leaving school he work- ed for some time for his uncle, T. W. House, in the bank, but this did not apeal to him, as he wanted the life in the open the ranch would afford. With the fifty odd head of cattle he had accumulated he started out, running them on the open range of Fort Bend County, buying and selling, until his herd numbered more than two thousand head. In 1905 he bought the ranch in Brazoria County, from J. M. Frost, acquiring at the same time the brand, Figure four (4) which he has since used. His first brand, used as a boy (D-) is also still used by Mr. Caldwell.

Mr. Caldwell was married twice, first to Miss Effie Frost, daughter of J. M. Frost, pioneer cattle- man, and still living at Houston. By this marriage he had one daughter, Effie Caldwell. After the death of his first wife he was married to Miss Sarah Munson, daughter of G. P. Munson, of an old Austin Colony family, and a cattleman throughout his life. By this marriage Mr. Caldwell had five children, T. W. Caldwell, Miss Della Caldwell, R. M. Caldwell, Jr., George Caldwell and John H. Caldwell. Mr. Caldwell and his family have resided in Houston for the past several years, so the children can have the advantages of the schools here, and make their home

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 114

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