New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 119

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

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A native Texan, Mr. Morse was born in Houston December 7th, 1871. His father, Henry A. Morse, was also a native of the Lone Star State, and was born in Houston in the pioneer days of this city; he entered the Civil War as a Confederate soldier, was wounded and died soon after the close of the War from the effects of this wound. Mr. Morse's education was obtained in the Houston schools, but most of it has been obtained in the University of Experience, as he left school when eight years of age and began work in a Main Street dry goods store, and since that time he has had a wide and varied business career. He was for many years engaged in the cotton business, and later entered the laundry business and still later, started in the real estate business, and has continued in this line of work.

Mr. Morse was married in Houston in 1892 to Miss Willie Elnor Henson, a native of Austin, Texas, and a member of a well-known Travis County family. They have three sons: L. A. Morse, H. D. Morse, Jr., and R. Emmett Morse. Mr. Morse and family reside at 1015 Rosedale Avenue. He is a member of the Houston Real Estate Board and the Chamber of Commerce, and Mr. Morse has spent his entire life in Houston, and says that he is proud of the fact that he has been fortunate enough to have lived in such a city as Houston, and to have been able to contribute his efforts to the upbuilding of this thriving, progressive city.

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MEN OF TEXAS

EORGE PRIDE BROWN. For more than a quarter of a century the name of George Pride Brown, one of Houston's most public spirited and prominent citizens, headed every movement directed toward civic development and improvement, and was significant of achieve- ment in lines representing real worth to his com- munity. Mr. Brown was for many years Secretary of the Houston Business League, a position which enabled him to direct and influence the affairs of his city, an influence that made itself felt in in- creased growth and progress, and has been of mate- rial value in the building of the Houston of today. Mr. Brown had intellectual talents of a high order, and much of his success, both in the commercial and civic activities to which he devoted his time, was due to his ready perception of the basic principles of any proposition.

Mr. Brown was a native of St. Louis, Missouri, where he was born the twenty-eighth of August, 1858, son of Aaron B. and Jane Francis (Lamb) Brown. His father, a native of Ohio, came to Texas before the Civil War to build the H. & T. C. Railroad, and was thereafter one of the large property own- ers at Houston and a factor in building the city. Much of the property that he acquired is still owned by the family and represents a value many times over what the elder Mr. Brown purchased it for. The Shotwell Building, at the corner of Main Street and Texas Avenue, and one of the finest pieces of property in the city, is one of the Brown interests that was acquired in the early days and is still owned by the family. Both Mr. Brown's parents died in Houston, his father passing away in the year 1884.

George Pride Brown was educated in the schools of Houston, and many of the leaders in the indus- trial and commercial world at Houston today were his school mates. After completing his work in the Houston schools he entered Keynon College, in Ohio, where he finished, at the age of eighteen, and re- turned to his home in Houston. He began his busi- ness career with one of the railroads, and after some time spent there became Secretary of the Houston Business League, a position he held with distinction for twelve years. At the death of his father in 1884 he took over the management of the estate, looking after the extensive Brown interests until his death, in 1913.

Mr. Brown was married the twenty-sixth of April, 1886, to Miss Bettie Morin, a native of Houston, Texas, and daughter of A. C. Morin, a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who came to Houston as a young man and was one of the most distinguished and prominent pioneers of this city. Mrs. Brown's mother, before her marriage Miss Elizabeth Slocumb, was born in Houston, at the corner of Main Street and Capitol Avenue and where the Bankers Mort- gage Building now stands. Her father came to Houston before the Civil War, and was among the real pioneers of Texas. Her grandmother, Sarah Shoat Slocumb, was one of the best known women of her time and greatly beloved by all who knew her.

Mr. and Mrs. Brown spent their married life in Houston, their beautiful home at 2403 Caroline Street being the seat of a flowing hospitality. They were the parents of two sons, George Pride Brown, Junior, who now has charge of the Brown estate,

and is also active in the real estate and insurance business, and Cleves Morin Brown, who is asso- ciated with his brother. The Brown brothers are men of high standing in Houston, and numbered among the leaders of the younger generation in business, civic and fraternal activities.

George Pride Brown, Junior, married Miss Erma Franks, a Houston girl, and they have four children, George Pride Brown the Third, Bettie M., Erma Lee and Ruth Carol Brown; and Cleves Morin Brown married Miss Nina Barbish, a Houston girl, and they have three children, Jane Francis, Cleves Morin Brown, Junior, and Nina May.

Mrs. Brown is a woman of charming personality and high intellectual and cultured attainments. She takes an active interest in welfare and civic work, and has contributed generously to various causes and organizations devoting her energies to this work. Mr. Brown, whose death occurred on the twenty-sixth of July, 1913, was in private and social life congenial, generous and kind-hearted, and the record of his life is a bright page in the history of his city, and is not to be soon forgotten.

DWARD LOCKWOOD DENNIS. Among the names of pioneer Houstonians who have made possible the Houston of today, stands that of Edward Lockwood Dennis, whose ac- tivities in behalf of civic development will long be recalled and who took a prominent part in the com- mercial life of his day. Mr. Dennis had many in- terests here, of important bearing on the prosper- ity of his community and in addition to his business activities was one of those men who took a deep in- terest in all that concerned the welfare of his com- munity. In times of public stress, when action must be quick and men who could be depended upon to do their part and more were in demand, the name of Mr. Dennis would be one of the first thought of, and he was always quick to answer the call, placing his time and means at the disposal of the community. His especial pride was in the growth of Houston, and he was a firm believer in the future greatness of Houston. His many real estate investments were in a way a testimonial to this belief and were all more than justified, as their present worth would indicate.

Edward Lockwood Dennis was a native of the state of Rhode Island, where he spent his boyhood and was educated. Later, as a young man, he went to Virginia and entered the cotton business, gleaning his first business experience there. At that time, near the beginning of the eighties, Texas was being much talked about and was already becoming widely known as a great state. And Mr. Dennis, interested in the cotton business as offering a real future to the earnest young man, decided to come to Texas. He came to Houston in the eighties and spent his first years in this city in the cotton business, an en- terprise in which he was highly successful. As his means increased he began looking around for another source of interest and making a survey of the various propositions offered, became one of the or- ganizers of the Houston Land & Trust Company and was for many years an officer in that institu- tion, never, however, taking an active part in its management. He also made numerous real estate investments and was quick to see the value of a piece of property, as well as size up its possible ad-

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George P. Brown

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

vancement as the growth of the city would tend to increase values. He owned the real estate firms of Lockwood Real Estate Company and the E. L. Den- nis Real Estate Company and also had other large interests here. He retired from active business in 1911 and thereafter spent his time in looking after the interests he retained, and the numerous char- itable institutions in which he was deeply interested and held office as follows: President Houston Ly- ceum and Carnegie Library for nine years, president Harris County Humane Society, president Florence Crittenden Home, president "Emma R." Newsboy's Home, and vice president and trustee of the United Charities and Star of Hope Mission ..

Mr. Dennis was twice married, last to Mrs. Vir- ginia Allen Wilson, a native of Virginia and widow of Leroy M. Wilson, whom he married the twenty- eighth of August, 1912, and who survives him. By his first marriage he had nine children, all now prominent in the life of Houston. These children are Landrum, W. L., Blanche, Walter, DeForest, E. L., Jr., Margaret, wife of Hubert Reichardt, Fran- ces, wife of Wallace O'Leary, and Grace Dennis. The children were reared in the fine old Dennis home at 1817 Fannin Street, built in the eighties, shortly after Mr. Dennis came to Houston, and one of the first fine homes to be built in the city. Mrs. Dennis continues to make this her home and takes a deep pride in the many memorials to the Dennis name in the city. She is a woman of high mental attainments and like her illustrious husband, takes a real interest in civic advancement.

Mr. Dennis died at Houston the 28th of December, 1912, his death marking the passing of one of the most patriotic and honored citizens of this place. His many activities incident to the progress of his city, his real interest in all that concerned Houston and its citizens, are more than sufficient to place his name on the list of the most honored builders of Houston.

AUL FAHLE came to Houston, Texas, in 1922, from St. Louis, Missouri, and im- mediately became a factor in the business and social life of this city. Soon after locating here he established a connection with the Thyssen Steel Works of Dusseldorf, Germany, and began the importing of steel pipe from that coun- try for use in the oil fields contiguous to Houston and became widely known in the steel trade. As executive head of the Fahle Import Company, his business grew and prospered until it had reached large proportions, due to his skill and experience as an executive. During his residence here he took an active interest in the ship channel, realizing at once the vast importance of deep water for this city and the powerful aid it would be in building up a trade for the exportation of the products of this country and the importation of European products.

A native of Germany, Mr. Fahle was born at Witten in Westphalia, on July 11th, 1866, but was a resident and citizen of the United States for more than thirty-eight years. His parents, William and Helene (Grosse) Fahle, were also born in the Fatherland, and lived and died there. His educa- tion was obtained in the schools of Germany and at the University of Moers. His business career had been wide and varied, withal a successful one. For several years he was active in the real estate

circles of Indianapolis, Indiana, handling city prop- erty and land throughout that state, together with large coffee and rubber lands in Mexico. He re- mained in this field of activity for more than twenty years when he removed to St. Louis, Missouri, where for about fifteen years he was one of the leading stock and bond brokers of that city. Leaving St. Louis in 1922, he came to Houston where he was the executive head of the Fahle Import Company at the time of his death. Mr. Fahle was a writer of note and an accomplished and talented musician, also a connoisseur of art. His contributions for the press and magazines dealt largely with conditions in Europe in general and Germany in particular, which he noted at first hand during his various visits to Europe. He wrote many poems of literary value, both in German and English. In music, he performed in an accomplished and masterly man- ner on the piano, violin and flute. He was versatile in art and it was his constant effort to make his home a treasury for the best in art and music.

Mr. Fahle was married at Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1896, to Miss Annabel Schley, a daughter of John Schley, a native of Frederick, Maryland, and one of the best known editors and publishers of news- papers of his day. Her mother, Mrs. Isabella (Smith) Schley, a native of Indianapolis, was a member of one of the most prominent families of that city, and was a lineal descendant of Josiah Bartlett, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and the first governor of the State of New Hampshire. On the paternal side, Mrs. Fahle is a first cousin of Admiral Schley, hero of the naval battle of Santiago, and a member of one of the oldest, most prominent and best known families of the United States. Her grandfather, Judge David Schley, was the founder of the oldest newspaper in the State of Maryland, The Freder- ick Examiner, which was founded about 1825, and is still published under this name. Judge David Schley amassed a fortune and prior to the close of the Civil War was one of the largest slave own- ers of the United States. Mrs. Fahle's grand- mother (Mrs. David Schley) was prior to her mar- riage to Judge Schley, Miss Georgiana Clemm, a sister to the wife of Edgar Allen Poe and also the poet's own cousin. Two sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Fahle, Robert Schley Fahle and Paul Bartlett Fahle, both of whom are students of the Houston High School, and both have inherited the musical genius of their father.

Mr. Fahle died at Houston, Texas, on Novem- ber 17th, 1924. It was his wish that the two sons be educated at the Rice Institute of this city, which he regarded as one of the foremost institutions of its kind of the country. Mr. Fahle was a member of the A. F. and A. M. with membership in Logan Lodge of Indianapolis, Indiana. During the few years in which he had resided in Houston, he had made a host of friends. He loved his family and he loved his friends, placing the comfort and happiness of these above every other consideration. Perhaps no one ever lived in Houston who was more en- thusiastic about the ship channel than was Mr. Fahle, or what it would mean to this city in build- ing up an export and import trade here. Kindly, courteous, genial, he commanded the sincere and affectionate regard of the entire circle of his ac- quaintances.

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MEN OF TEXAS

OBEL ALVA CARLTON. Numbered among the state's most distinguished attorneys, Lobel Alva Carlton practiced before the Texas bar for almost two score years, dur- ing which time he was identified with some of the state's most important oil litigation. Mr. Carlton was associated with his nephew, Otis Meredith, under the firm name of Carlton and Meredith and was a director and counsellor of the Humble Oil and Re- fining Company, in which company he had taken an active interest since its organization. Prior to the company's organization in 1917, Mr. Carlton repre- sented a number of the individuals and corporations which pooled their interests in the formation of the Humble Oil and Refining Company. Mr. E. E. Townes, general counsel for the company, was asso- ciated with Mr. Carlton in Beaumont in 1904 and this association continued until after Mr. Carlton moved to Houston in 1910. He and Mr. Townes wrote the charter for the Humble Oil and Refining Company.

Mr. Carlton was born in Brundridge, Alabama, October 15th, 1860, son of S. M. Carlton and Nancy (Satterwhite) Carlton. His father was a prominent physician of his time and practiced for many years at Henderson and later at Thornton, Texas, and died at the age of eighty-three years; he came to Texas in 1872 with is family. Mr. Carlton's early education was obtained in the public schools of Henderson and later attended the University of Texas and grad- uated from that institution in the class of 1887 with the degree of B. Lit. During this same year, through an examination before the Supreme Court of Texas, he was admitted to the bar and immediately estab- lished his home and office at Hillsboro and began the practice of his profession, where he remained for ten years. In 1897, he removed to Beaumont and remained there until 1911, and naturally during that period spent in Beaumont, under the circumstances of this city becoming the center of the great Texas oil field, the greater part of the practice of Mr. Carlton was interwoven with the oil industry and men engaged therein. He represented the Gulf Com- pany for a time and for a period of twenty years represented some of the men who are in the organ- ization today and others for a shorter period. After coming to Houston, the firm for a while was Carl- ton, Townes and Townes. He did not do a general practice but handled important matters for old clients and was considered one of the leading oil lawyers of Texas, and an authority on all matters pertaining to oil and minerals. During his prac- tice of law in Beaumont he was connected with much of the litigation that is important to the oil fraternity of Texas. These early cases paving the way for the oil men in later years, as oil law was new at the time Mr. Carlton began his work along this line and his counsel was sought by many men who are leaders in the oil industry. Mr. Carlton was a director and vice president of the Unity Oil Com- pany of Beaumont and was personally interested in oil lands in the coastal fields. He resided with his sisters, Mrs. Lena Meredith and Miss Ada Carlton, at 4007 Montrose Boulevard. He was a member of the Houston Country Club, the Houston Club, State Bar Association, Harris County Bar Associa- tion, American Petroleum Institute, Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association and various hunting and fishing clubs, this form of recreation and pleasure

being more or less of a hobby with him, and he en- joyed some very interesting hunting and fishing expeditions in the coast country and Mexico.

With the passing of L. A. Carlton on July 22nd, 1925, the Texas bar lost one of its most distin- guished members and Houston one of its most be- loved citizens. The Houston Chronicle of July 23rd carried the following, written by Jesse H. Jones, which so well expresses the feeling of love felt by all who knew him:

"How worth while it is to live if your life can be lived so that all who know you love you, and all with whom you come in contact have faith and con- fidence in you. Such a man was L. A. Carlton, known to all as Lobe, and affectionately as Uncle Lobe. Graduating from the University of Texas with the first graduating class of that great institu- tion, he numbered among his intimate friends many of the prominent and influential men of two inter- esting generations in the history of Texas. A con- temporary of Wat Gregory, Albert Burleson and Charlie Culberson, a good lawyer, a wise counselor, a true friend, an upright citizen in every sense, the embodiment of truth, the personfication of courage and gentility, an honor code worth emulating. A sweeter, gentler-natured man never lived than Lobe Carlton. Ever outspoken for the right and the worthwhile. The bulwark of his family, a life lived largely for others, an influence always for the best. Such was the life of Lobe Carlton. May he find everlasting rest and peace."

LEX THOMPSON for nearly 20 years was active in the lumber industry of Texas and was the chief executive of some of the leading lumber companies of the state. Numbered among the lumber companies in which Mr. Thompson was interested and of which he was an officer are the following: President, Thompson & Tucker Lumber Company; president, Foster-Buh- man Lumber Company; vice president of the Thomp- son Brothers Lumber Company; vice president of the Polk County, Texas Long Leaf Lumber Com- pany; vice president of the Kirby Creek Lumber Co., and of the Rock Creek Lumber Co. The Thompson interests, besides shipping their product to all parts of the United States, are large exporters of lumber. Associated with Mr. Thompson in many of his lumber activities was his brother, Mr. H. H. Thompson.

A native Texan, Alex Thompson was born in Kilgore, Gregg County, January 6, 1883. His father, J. M. Thompson, a native of Georgia, came to Texas in 1845 and had resided at Kilgore since 1852, and was one of the real pioneers of the lumber industry in this state. The Thompson and Tucker Lumber Company was established by Mr. J. M. Thompson in Kilgore in 1852, and this firm at that time owned and operated a string of eight or ten saw mills and lumber yards in East Texas, and amassed a large fortune in this great industry. He was a close per- sonal friend of two men whose names will ever be associated with the lumber industry of Texas-Wil- liam Cameron and W. T. Carter. Alex Thompson's mother was Miss Emma Holt, a member of a promi- nent Tennessee family, but was reared and educated in Texas. His education was obtained in the Aus- tin College of Sherman, Texas, where he was a student for a period of five years, after which he entered Cornell University and graduated from

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L.a. Carlton

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

that institution in the class of 1905, with the LL.B. Degree. He then attended and graduated from the Eastman College at Poughkeepsie, November, 1905. After finishing college, he could have chosen the easier way, but he preferred to be the architect of his own future, and with a desire to learn the lumber business from the ground up, he went to work for his father in one of his saw mills, and for several years was his father's saw mill and timber man, and by close attention to the details of every branch of the lumber business, he grew to be one of Texas' lead- ing lumber men. During his life he looked back with pride to the valuable lessons he learned in the prac- tical side of the lumber industry while serving as a saw mill hand in his father's mill. In addition to his vast lumber interests. Mr. Thompson was vice president of the State National Bank of Houston, and was a large stockholder and director in the state banks located at the following points in East Texas, Trinity, Weldon, Alto, Leggett, Shepherd, Cold Springs, Corrigan, Chester, Woodville and Colmesneil. These financial centers are in a very important section of the Lone Star State and through them a large service is being done in developing that part of the state. East Texas honors Alex Thompson for the great good he did for this section of Texas. His heart was interested here and his banks were a means whereby he could help the people to help themselves.

Mr. Thompson was married at Sherman in 1905 to Miss Gladys Walsh, a native of Grayson County, and a daughter of R. Walsh, for many years a promi- nent Hardware Merchant of Sherman. They have one daughter, Mozelle. The Thompson residence was erected recently. Mr. Thompson 'was a member of the A. F. and A. M., the Houston Country Club, the Houston Club, the University Club, the Lumber- mens Club and the Presbyterian Church. During the six years in which Mr. Thompson resided in Houston, he was identified with, and took an active interest in all agencies working for the greater development of Houston and was largely interested in and did much for the furtherence of education, both in Hous- ton and in other portions of the state. Mr. Thomp- son was regarded as one of the most progressive citizens of the South Texas Metropolis and was high- ly esteemed and respected by all who knew him.

In the passing of Alex Thompson, February 2nd, 1925, Texas lost one of its outstanding citizens who while still in the prime of his life had accomplished much for his native state.

DOLF ALEXANDER SZABO, whose life was closely associated with the development of Houston from the early fifties until his death, in 1905, is one of the most honored pioneers of the Lone Star State, and one who was a potent factor in moulding the destinies of the growing village until it became a city that is prov- ing a magnet of untold financial possibilities. Mr. Szabo was of that sturdy pioneer stock, the van- guard of civilization, which conquers over difficulties and paves the way for future generations. When he came to Houston he at once entered into the various activities being directed toward the up- building of the place and was thereafter a factor in all progress.

Adolf Alexander Szabo was born in Hungary in 1831, and spent his boyhood in his native country.

At the age of eighteen he fought under Kossuth in the rebellion of Hungary against Austria. He was taken prisoner by the Austrian army, but es- caped into Switzerland, from which point he emi- grated to America. Arriving in New York without a cent in his pocket and unable to speak a word of English. Mr. Szabo remained there for a short time and went to Massachusetts, later going to Charleston, South Carolina, remaining in these places but a short time. From South Carolina he went to Mississippi, then came on to Texas, in 1853. He went first to Henderson, then to Hockley, in Harris County, and put up the first telegraph poles from Houston to Dallas, in the early fifties. After assisting in this important work he returned to Har- ris County, this time coming to Houston, where he became superintendent of the first cotton compress in Houston, and later ran a cotton gin. Mr. Szabo was then elected city treasurer, a position he held for sixteen years, and gained a wide personal esteem by his service, showing marked capability in filling such an important public position, and greatly in- creasing the efficiency of the office. Mr. Szabo held the position of city treasurer until his death, the sixth day of August, 1905.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 119

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