New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 123

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

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Byron Franklin Griffith died at his home in Hous- ton, the thirteenth day of August, 1913, at the age of sixty-three years. His life, from early boyhood, had been spent in useful activities, and in association with the men and events of his time that were mak- ing history. He was a man of many outstanding attributes, a true Christian citizen, and a real friend. To him, to be a friend, to help in the development of his community, to do his full duty, was the greater success, and measured in this light, his life had many successes. Weatherford honors him as one of its most distinguished pioneers and in Houston he is recalled with admiration.

AMES G. HAMBLETT. While a resident of Texas but little more than a year, the name of James G. Hamblett is deserving of recognition among the men who took part in the making of the Lone Star State. Of his sons, Houston claims several as citizens, men who are factors in commercial enterprises, and who take time, in spite of heavy business responsibilities, to serve their community and promote civic welfare and development. Mr. Hamblett came to Houston just at the close of an eventful and useful life, and this fine old man, although past his seventieth year, and in ill health when he came to this city, formed many friendships, impressing his sterling worth on the life of the community, and was one of the most highly regarded men here. Mr. Hamblett was espe- cially honored as a Civil War veteran of distinc- tion, and had served throughout that conflict, and had since, in 1907, when he was made a colonel on the staff of General George W. Gordon, had military honors accorded him.

James G. Hamblett was born at Shreveport, Louisiana, the twenty-sixth of February, 1847, the son of James Hamblett, a native Virginian, and Mary Brown Hamblett, of Tennessee. He was taken

by his parents, at the age of one year, to Tennessee, where, when he was four years old, his father's death occurred. Mr. Hamblett was entered by his mother in the schools of Fayette County, Tennessee, where he attended until he reached the age of sixteen. But in that year patriotism prevailed over schooling, and he left school to enter the Confederate army, in Company B. Forrest Regiment. He served through- out the war, winning recognition for his bravery in action, and after the close of the conflict returned to his farm home and spent the years with his mother, prior to his marriage. He then went in the mercantile business and for forty years was the leading merchant at Mason, Tennessee, operating the largest store in that city, and winning both the patronage, esteem and admiration of his fellow citi- zens. Mr. Hamblett was also a cotton factor, han- dling thousands of bales of cotton each year, and took an active part in all progressive measures in his home community. When advancing years and ill health forced his retirement from active life, he disposed of his interests in Mason and came to Texas and Houston, in 1919, his death occurring here the eleventh of March, 1920. Mrs. Hamblett passed away March 6, 1924. Mrs. Merrell continues to re- side at the family home, living at 909 Marshall Street, in Montrose.

Mr. Hamblett was married the twenty-sixth of February, 1874, which day was also the anniversary of his birth, to Miss Effie Exum, the marriage oc- curring at Hickory Wythe, Tennessee. Mrs. Ham- blett was a native of that place, and the daughter of William Exum, of Virginia, and Martha Ming Exum, of North Carolina, who came to Tennessee in early life and spent their remaining years here. Mr. and Mrs. Hamblett had an ideal and happy mar- ried life, and were the parents of ten children. The living children are: William Exum Hamblett, of Memphis, Tennessee, and who married Miss Dora Waldren, and has two children; B. L. Hamblett, of Memphis, Tennessee, a veteran of the Spanish-Amer- ican War, and who is married to Miss Margaret Greenlee, and has two children: Mary, widow of R. L. Merrell; Bertha, wife of R. C. Russell, of Hous- ton; John L., who married Miss Lucile Wimberly, of Houston; Effie, wife of O. L. Pardue, and who had three children; R. Dale Hamblett, a World War veteran, and who married Miss Muriell Reust of San Antonio; L. C. Hamblett, a World War veteran, and who married Miss Leah Zimmer, and has one child; and T. E. Hamblett, a World War veteran, and who married Mrs. Kate Moore, and makes his home in Memphis, Tennessee. Miss Jimmie Lynn Hamblett, the eldest daughter, died April 6, 1899.

James G. Hamblett was a man of striking person- ality, genial, kindhearted, and interested in all ex- pressions of goodwill and Christian citizenship. He lived his years to the full, and in recalling the memories of his life, there are many characteristic incidents of true benevolence and greatness, that show clearly the caliber of the man and his place in the life of his community. He achieved leadership in the business world without a sacrifice of friend- ships, the price many great men pay for their great- ness, and was one of the most beloved and admired men in his part of the state. The memory of his life will stand, a bright page in the history of Ten- nessee and Texas, and will be an inspiration to all who read the lessons it contains.

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MEN OF TEXAS

LBERT COLES. For two score years the name of Albert Coles was associated with the life and progress of Houston, and par- ticularly with the cotton business in this section. A pioneer cotton weigher, Mr. Coles spent practically his entire business career in that ca- pacity, and few men enjoyed a wider acquaintance among cotton men, or were more genuinely inter- ested in the development of the cotton business along progressive lines. Underlying his business success was a reputation for fair dealing and integ- rity that was ever associated with his name. One of the governing influences of Mr. Coles' career, both in business and in private life, was an early adopted rule that whatever was worth doing was worth doing well, and whether the work in hand was concerned with the operation of his business, or whether it was the performance of what he felt to be a civic duty, he never departed from that rule. He took a deep interest in all that concerned the welfare and development of Houston, and in spite of the pressing demands of his business he found time to serve as Secretary of the Democratic Executive Committee for many years, and was one of the party leaders in Democratic circles here. Mr. Coles was charitable to a marked degree, con- tributing generously to various welfare organiza- tions, and also giving individually wherever he found the need.

Albert Coles was born at Buckingham, England, on the twenty-sixth of August, 1874, son of Elijah Coles, and Eliza M. (Savage) Coles, both natives of England. He attended the schools of Houston, and as a young man entered the cotton business, and at one time was superintendent of the Standard Cotton Compress Company, one of the largest cot- ton compresses in Houston. For thirty-three years Mr. Coles engaged as a public cotton weigher, be- coming associated with the firm of Woolford and Crane in 1892, and on the death of W. C. Crane became a partner of J. D. Woolford. On August 1st, 1925, R. E. Tankersley was taken into the firm and the name changed to Woolford, Coles and Tan- kersley. Mr. Coles continued with the firm until his death, at which time this was one of the best known cotton weighing firms in the State.

Mr. Coles was married at Houston on the thir- teenth of July, 1897, to Miss Annie G. Burke, daughter of Edward Michael Burke, and Mary Theresa (Kehoe) Burke, both natives of Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Coles had an ideal married life and were the parents of five children, Albert Edward Coles, of Houston; Annie Gertrude, now Mrs. A. Hollmann, of Houston; Mary Catherine, John W., and Eliza Maud Coles. The family home, at 236 Drennan Street, is still occupied by Mrs. Coles and her younger children. Mr. Coles' death occurred in Houston on the twenty-fifth of October, 1925, at his home on Drennan Street, and he was laid to rest in the Holy Cross Cemetery two days later. A man of high ideals, unafraid to do his duty as he saw it, Mr. Coles exerted a benignant influence over his associates, and was the type of man who by nature is given to leadership. He made friends by the hundreds, and to those friends, to his asso- ciates, and to the city of Houston at large, his death is a deep lose and leaves vacant a place that will be hard to fill.

EORGE RUTHVEN BRINGHURST, pioneer resident of Houston, whose many and varied interests were closely allied with the growth and progress of this city, was one of the most highly regarded men of his day. Mr. Bringhurst during his career held positions of public trust, wherein he distinguished himself and demonstrated his devotion to the best interests of the community. Strong, forceful and honest, Mr. Bringhurst brought a clearness of vision, and a keen sense of values, into all his activities, and the results of his work was in every respect creditable.

A native of Houston, he was born the ninth of December, 1850, in a log cabin at the corner of San Jacinto and Congress Streets. His father, George H. Bringhurst, came to Texas just before the battle of San Jacinto, and joining Sam Houston's Army, participated in that famous conflict. His mother, before her marriage, was Miss Nancy Trott, a native of Tennessee. Mr. Bringhurst was educated in the schools of Houston and Galveston, and after fin- ishing his education began his interesting business career as a clerk in the City Bank. After nine years with that institution he went with the Bering Lumber Company, where he spent one year, follow- ing this with one year at Albany in the ranching and cattle business. He then returned to Houston and became City Secretary, a position he held for four years, and wherein he displayed marked abil- ity. This was followed by three years in the real estate business, in association with his brother, after which he became interested in the Water Company of Houston, and was with that company when the city took it over. The next sixteen years he spent in the water department, identifying himself closely with the best interests of his city, and was re- sponsible for many improvements in this depart- ment. He then resumed his activities in the real estate business, taking an active part in develop- ment work of the city.

Mr. Brinkhurst was married the sixteenth of Oc- tober, 1879, in Houston, Texas, to Miss Nettie Burke, also a native of Houston, where she was born in one of the early homes of the city, at the corner of Travis and Rusk. She attended the schools of this city. Her father, Andrew Jackson Burke, was a native of Tennessee, and one of the real pioneers of Texas, coming here in 1936 and taking a promi- nent part in affairs in Houston and in the State until his death. Her mother, whose maiden name was Eloise Lusk, was a native of Alabama and came to Texas during the early days, living here the re- mainder of her life.

Mr. and Mrs. Bringhurst had an ideal married life, and had many friends here. Mrs. Bringhurst took an active and sympathetic interest in her husband's career, and was his inspiration throughout his life. Mr. and Mrs. Bringhurst had a family of four chil- dren, Henry B. Bringhurst, Assistant Cashier of the First National Bank of Houston, and who married Miss Ethel Bocock of Houston, and by whom he has two children, Henry B. Junior and William Lesley Bringhurst; George R. Bringhurst, Junior, in the City Engineering Department of the City of Hous- ton; Miss Fannie E. Bringhurst and Edmund J. Bringhurst, who married Miss Daisy Wiseman of Houston, and who have one child, Daisy Eloise.

Mr. Bringhurst died at Houston on Christmas Day, 1920, just a few weeks after he had celebrated his

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NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

seventieth birthday. Generous, kind-hearted, eager to help others, his life was richly lived, and he had made friends by the hundreds, some of these friend- ships dating back to pioneer days, and was one of the most admired and respected men in the city. He was never too busy to go out of his way to do a kindness for a fellowman less fortunate than him- self, and never too busy to help in any way that would promote the welfare of his community.

OL. JOHN L. WORTHAM, of Houston, Texas, was one of the best known and most successful men of the insurance field of the state and was also well and favorably known as a state official, having served the Lone Star State in many positions of honor and trust. He was a big business brain and rarely missed his ven- ture. There was nothing commonplace about him. His capacity for large views, his self-confidence and his courage made him a leader of men. In politics he sacrificed his own interests for the good of his friends. While he did not occupy the highest places in the state, he was the chief advisor and most powerful friend of governors and of senators and he knowingly and intentionally sacrificed his own ambitions in order to serve others, who were his friends. Nature endowed him generously with a body that was strong and agile and capable of won- derful endurance. His mind was clean and clear, his heart was pure and clean, his purposes were mag- nanimous and his will was unconquerable. He was a born partisan, a defender of personal rights and constitutional liberty, a Southern patriot and a great American. Mr. Wortham was really great in every relation in life. There were many admirable characteristics that charmed his friends and at- tracted his enemies. Among these many character- istics which form a long list was first and foremost the fact that he was intensely honest. Another was his unwavering affection for his friends and an in- tense interest in his native state. Colonel Wortham was regarded throughout Texas with great respect. His unselfish devotion to those in whom he inter- ested himself and to his duties as a citizen won for him profound admiration. While not conspicuously in the foreground, he was always consistently active in politics. He was a lifelong Democrat. During the administration of Governor Lanham he accepted an appointment as financial agent of the state peniten- tiary system, which he held for four years, making his home in Huntsville during this period. Upon his completion of his term as financial agent of the prison system, Colonel Wortham removed to Dallas, where he was for several years engaged in the lum- ber business. Under the administration of Governor O. B. Colquitt, however, he was again called into the state's service and occupied the offices of sec- retary of state and railroad commissioner. He then removed to Lubbock, Texas, where he remained for about two years or until coming to Houston in 1915, where he established the firm of John L. Wortham and Son, which grew into one of the largest general insurance organizations of the Southwest. His son, Gus Wortham, was a partner of this organization, and has aided in the growth and expansion made by same.

A native Texan, Colonel Wortham was born at Woodland, Freestone County, July 18th, 1862. He was nobly born of a family that was typical of the best in the old South, and he embodied and exempli-

fied the traditional magnanimity and courage of the old South. In him were resurgent the character- istics of the old Southern gentleman, with courage, generosity and sympathy for those in distress. Born in the turbulent sixties, the atmosphere that he breathed in childhood and youth held a mist of blood. His father, a native of Tennessee, Mr. L. R. Wor- tham, came to Texas many years prior to the Civil War and was throughout his life one of the state's most highly esteemed citizens. His mother belonged to one of the representative families of Kentucky. His early education was obtained in the public schools of his native county and later he became a student of Baylor University. After leaving col- lege, he engaged in farming in Freestone County. Later he became a hardware merchant in Mexia, continuing in this field of activity until he accepted the appointment to the position of financial agent of the prison system of Texas.

In his youth Colonel Wortham wooed and won the heart and hand of Miss Fannie Sessions, a native also of Woodland, Texas, and a daughter of G. A. Sessions, who came to Texas from Alabama as a very young man, being among the pioneer settlers of Central Texas. Mr. Sessions was a member of the committee who wrote the constitution of Texas, and was a leader in development work of all kinds of the Lone Star State. Throughout his life he was engaged in farming, being one of the largest plant- ers and land owners of Central Texas. He was mar- ried in Texas during the late fifties and died when seventy-three years of age. Her mother, Mrs. Mar- tha (Carter) Sessions, a native of Alabama, came to Texas with her parents when a child in the late thirties. The family settled in Freestone County, where they were large land owners, planters and slave owners prior to the Civil War. She died at the age of forty-seven years. Three children were born to Colonel and Mrs. Wortham-Fanetta, now the wife of Dr. James A. Hill, one of Houston's most prominent surgeons; Gus Wortham, the head of the insurance agency and one of the leading young business men here, and Katherine, now the wife of Robert C. Davis, of Greenville, South Carolina. Col- onel and Mrs. Wortham resided at the Rice Hotel, where Colonel Wortham died on November 5th, 1924. In the business world, Colonel Wortham had achieved success. He was known to his most intimate friends as a great burden bearer, having at all times many people in distress who were depending on his bounty. His ability to carry was the only limit that he acknowledged. He gave long, long after "the tenth" had been passed. Colonel Wortham was a member of the A. F. and A. M., with membership in Holland Lodge No. 1, of Houston, Texas, and was also a Knight Templar of this order. He was an illus- trious Texan who in his youth was a militant stan- dard bearer of democracy and in his riper years was honored in the house of elder statesmen. Devoted alike to the causes for which he fought, as well as those whom he honored with his friendship, there was never a doubt or a question as to where he stood upon any issue affecting his state or his country. Colonel Wortham had long wielded an influence for good, both by precept and example, that will live as a healing balm long after the grass shall have grown green upon that earthly part of him which has been surrendered back to the Mother Earth.

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MEN OF TEXAS

R ICHARD RODGERS-The name of Richard children-Marion B., educated at Ward-Belmont Col- Rodgers, accorded a place on the list of Houston's most honored pioneers, and whose career as a business man and city builder .s pointed to with pride, spent his life in the devel- opment of this city, and was in the lead in every forward movement for around a quarter of a cen- tury. He was that sturdy type of citizen who gives of his best to the community in which he lives, and takes pride in the giving. By nature qualified for leadership, he had the extraordinary courage to face grave responsibilities without flinching, and was one of the men in his community carrying heavy responsibilities. Mr. Rodgers came to Houston a young man, bringing with him a fine enthusiasm that actuated his future career and was reflected in his advancement in the business world in the years that followed.

Richard Rodgers was born in County Down, Ire- land, the twenty-first of July, 1868, the son of George Rodgers, a native of the Emerald Isle, who spent his entire life there. As a boy Richard Rodgers attended the schools of Ireland, and at the age of fourteen, imbued with the spirit of adven- ture, left his home there and went to Australia to seek his fortune. By the time he was eighteen years old he was manager of one of the largest wholesale grocery businesses in Australia, but again felt the call of adventure and went to Toronto, Canada. Before leaving Australia, however, he demonstrated his business sagacity by making a fortune of $50,- 000; this he lost in other ventures. A short time in Canada was sufficient to convince him that this country did not offer the desired future, and he came to the United States, going first to Chicago, where he went to work, and after saving four hun- dred dollars came to Houston, which city he felt would offer a broader future. He arrived in this city in 1895, and opened a grocery store, beginning in a small way, occupying a store room on Travis Street, back of the old Levy home on Main Street. This venture proved successful, but did not offer the future Mr. Rodgers was seeking, and he opened a rooming house that gradually developed into a hotel. Later he bought a lease on the Capitol Hotel property and several other hotels, and still later went in the real estate business on a large scale. He organized the Sunset Realty Company and was president of that company until his death. This company took a foremost part in civic development, opening and developing Sunset Heights Addition, and encouraging building activities in every way. Mr. Rodgers was also interested in other enter- prises, and was vice president of the Hardin Lumber Company and owned the leases on the Woods Hotel and the Windsor Hotel in this city and also other valuable property here. He was also the owner of a twenty-two thousand acre ranch, which is still owned by his widow. The last large business ac- complishment of Mr. Rodgers was the erection of the two-story Rodgers Building on land owned by him at Capitol Avenue and Caroline Street.

Mr. Rodgers was married at Houston, the twenty- fourth of April, 1901, to Miss Blanche G. Klotz, of Victoria, and the daughter of G. A. Klotz, also a native of that city. Mrs. Rodgers' mother was Miss Kaufman, a member of a pioneer Victoria family. Mr. and Mrs. Rodgers had a family of five

lege; Richard, a student at Washington Lee Uni- versity; Dorothy; George H., and James, students in the Houston schools. Mrs. Rodgers, who was an ideal wife and mother, and was her husband's constant companion during his lifetime, and his in- spiration in his career, has since his death looked after his business interests, and has proven no less capable as a business woman than as a wife and mother. She, with her family, reside at the beau- tiful Rodgers home, at 205 Avondale Avenue.

Mr. Rodgers' death occurred at his Houston home, the twenty-fifth of June, 1922, at the age of fifty- four years. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge, this being his only lodge affiliation, his family and companionship with them being his highest pleasure. His life, which was so vital a part of Houston's progress, was richly lived, and it is given to few men to so largely influence the prosper- ity of a community. Imbued with the highest quali- ties of Christian citizenship, he left the imprint of his life on the city whose destinies were so closely entwined with his own, and he will be recalled through the years to come for his many activities, both of benevolent and civic character. He took a great interest in helping young men to advance in business and otherwise, and many men in Texas owe their success to his encouragement and as- sistance. Those who came in contact with him felt the force of his character, and through his influ- ence were inspired to seek higher success and to emulate the example he set as a citizen.

ESTER THOMPSON HUBBELL, for about ten years was a resident of Houston, dur- ing which time he exerted a wide influence on the commercial life of the city and was known as one of the foremost authorities on the cotton industry in Texas. Mr. Hubbell was quali- fied by nature to conduct affairs of magnitude, and had for many years concentrated his attention on questions concerning the development of the cot- ton industry, and was thoroughly conversant with every phase of this major industry of this State. He was an executive of real ability, with a talent for affairs and had a keen judgment as to business conditions that made him one of the leading business men of his day, and one upon whom great responsi- bility rested.

Lester Thompson Hubbell was born at Unadilla, New York, the nineteenth of September, 1872, at the summer home of his parents. His father, Lester Hubbell, a native of New York State, was a whole- sale groceryman of Savannah, Georgia, for many years, and the family spent their winters in that State, coming to the summer home at Unadilla for the rest of the year. During his later years he was a banker and made many investments, holding large interests in various enterprises of that day. Mr. Hubbell's mother, before her marriage, was Miss Mary Thompson, a native of New York. Mr. Hub- bell attended the schools of Savannah and Unadilla, New York, graduating from Chatham Academy, Sa- vannah, with the highest honors in his class. Anx- ious to get an early business start he did not go to college, but went with one of the foremost cotton firms of Savannah, to learn the cotton business. With his natural ability and his close attention to detail he had soon mastered the intricacies of this busi-

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 123

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