New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 125

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

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OBERT A. BURGE was for the two decades of his residence at Houston a leader in com- mercial and manufacturing activities and a citizen who through his highly successful efforts in behalf of civic development attained the reputation of one of the real builders of the city. In the manufacturing world the name of Robert A. Burge stood for the highest achievement in show case manufacturing and he was an acknowledged leader in this field. His especial pride was in the turning out of a superior piece of workmanship and the show cases from the Burge factory are known throughout the Lone Star State for their perfection and excellence. Mr. Burge devoted his entire life to this work, spending much time in training his workmen and developing any talent they might dis- play in this line, and in consequence of this interest was not only a successful manufacturer but beloved by his workmen and fellow citizens.

Mr. Burge was born in Quincy, Illinois, the eight- eenth of December, 1868, son of G. and Josephine Burge. His father spent his entire life in that city, where he engaged in the show case manufacturing business, and it was in his father's shop that Rob- ert A. Burge gained his first insight into the intri- cacies of this field. He attended the schools of his native city, spending much of his time when not in the class room in his father's factory, and when he

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finished his education he entered the business in earnest. He remained in the factory in Quincy until 1903, in which year his father died. Mr. Burge sold his interest in the factory and came to Hous- ton, believing that this city offered an exceptional opportunity in this line.

From 1903 until 1912, Mr. Burge was connected with the Houston Show Case Company as vice pres- ident and general manager, these years being marked by an outstanding success and the display of a real talent as an artisan and as an executive. In 1912, Mr. Burge severed his connection with the Houston Show Case Company and established his own business, the Burge Manufacturing Company, which met with an instantaneous success. This busi- ness, now the largest of its kind in Houston, is an enterprise of which Houston is justly proud and is housed in a modern plant, equipped with the most up-to-date machinery and adequate facilities for turning out the highest class of work, as well as making every provision for the comfort of the em- ployees. The excellence of the product turned out by the Burge Manufacturing Company is well known and the name "Burge" on a show case stamps it as the highest achievement of the show case manufac- turer's art. Mrs. Burge is now president of the company. With the organization built up by Mr. Burge, she is successfully carrying on the business.

Robert A. Burge was married at Quincy, Illinois, the twelfth of May, 1898, to Miss Bessie Palmer, a native of that state and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Palmer. Her father, a native of Penn- sylvania, spent much of his life in Illinois, but is now retired and makes his home in Houston. Her mother, before her marriage Miss Ella St. Clare, was a native of Virginia, and is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Burge had a family of three children, a daughter, Marion, wife of Robert J. Miller, a busi- ness man of Houston, and who has one child, Rob- ert J., Jr .; a son, Robert A. Burge, Jr., a student, and a daughter, Elizabeth Burge, still a school girl.

Mr. Burge was active in the business world at Houston until a short time prior to his death, when failing health forced him to go to Chicago, Illinois, to take a rest cure. His death occurred in that city on the fourth of May, 1922. He was an Elk, a mem- ber of all civic organizations, and one of the most respected and beloved of Houston's citizens. He gave to his business and his city the best that was in him, achieving distinction in his own line, and built up a business of which the city may be justly proud. His death was a distinct loss to the business world in general and to the show case manufactur- ing industry, in particular.

DOLPH GRAUER. Few names connected with the telephone industry in Texas com- mand a greater measure of respect than that of Adolph Grauer, pioneer Texas tele- phone man, and a resident of Houston for twenty- two years. The thirty-four years that Mr. Grauer spent with the Southwestern Bell Telephone Com- pany in Texas were years rife with incident. Dur- ing that time he directed the spreading of the net- work of lines that now cover Texas and the passing of the telephone from the list of luxuries to an every day necessity. Mr. Grauer was the type of man who inspires loyalty from his subordinates, the re-

spect of his superiors, and the genuine admiration of all who came to know him. Although his career in the telephone business was not marked by any one outstanding achievement it is distinctive in that day by day, year by year, he met and solved those problems that came to him, and regardless of the emergency he stood by his guns and met it. Par- ticularly at the time of the Galveston flood of 1915 did his work stand out as an example of the initia- tive that is one of the outstanding attributes of the real telephone man. Through those trying hours he stood by his post and bent every effort to keeping up communication with that stricken city.

Adolph Grauer was born in Alsace-Loraine, on the first of March, 1871, son of David Grauer. He was given the sound education customary at that time and as a boy made several trips in a coastwise steamship with a relative who was captain of the vessel. His travels in and around the Bay of Bis- cay and along the coast of Spain fostered the love for the out of doors that throughout his life re- mained one of his characteristics, and that first found outlet in his coming to America as a boy of seventeen, a trip he made partly because of his mother's objection to the Alsatian boy's enforced service in the German army, and partly through love of adventure. A stranger in a strange land, with little money and no objective, he stayed for a time with a German couple doing odd jobs while he learned English. Then he went to Missouri, working for a time in the mining industry near Jop- lin, and again making his home with a German couple who came to regard him as a son. At the time it happened that a telephone construction gang passed through the section where he lived and he was at once impressed with the opportunities this work offered and joined with them. His construc- tion experience took him through Missouri, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Idaho, Colorado, Mich- igan and finally to Texas, where he became foreman of construction of the South Texas Division and later, when the division began functioning became plant superintendent of that division, a position he held until his death.

Mr. Grauer was married at Carthage, Missouri, the first of December, 1900, to Miss Bertha Brandle, daughter of William Brandle and Bertha (Knuisse) Brandle, natives of Switzerland. Mr. and Mrs. Grauer had three children, Eleanor, Brandle and David Grauer, all three of whom make their home with their mother at 4511 Mckinney Avenue. Mr. Grauer was a Knight of Pythias and a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America, an organization in which only men of twenty-five years service in the telephone business are eligible. Mr. Grauer's death occurred the twenty-first of October, 1924, at which time he was in his fifty-third year. A man who had given the best years of his life to an or- ganization such as the Southwestern Telephone Company, Mr. Grauer knew the meaning of service and loyalty. He knew what it meant to sacrifice his comfort and pleasure for the good of the service he represented, and in the thirty-two years of his connection with the telephone business he was al- ways ready to answer the call of duty, and when his final summons came his passing was mourned sin- cerely by every man connected with his division and men throughout the entire Southwestern organi- zation.

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OM RANDOLPH, JR .- Among the younger men of Houston to achieve success in the banking world, the name of Tom Randolph, Jr., was of special significance. He had a genius for financial affairs, a talent he used to build up a conservative financial institution, and his name carried a prestige that was an asset to the institution and the community with which it was associated. Mr. Randolph was thoroughly con- versant with the principles of modern business op- eration, and was identified with commercial and industrial activities that had an important bearing upon the prosperity of this city. He was also a leader in civic activities and development work, and few men were more prominently identified with the various civic movements of the day.

Tom Randolph, Jr., was born in Sherman, Texas, the first of January, 1890, the only son of Tom Ran- dolph and Fay (Binkley) Randolph, both of whom are deceased. Mr. Randolph, Senior, was for many years president of the Merchants and Planters Bank in Sherman, holding this position until his death, although he had removed with his family to St. Louis. At the age of sixteen years Mr. Randolph, Jr., entered Smith's Academy, at Saint Louis, and, after completing his work there, entered Yale Uni- versity, in 1912. Upon leaving Yale he became as- sociated with the National Bank of Commerce of St. Louis, one of the strong financial institutions of that city, and of which his father was president. During the early part of 1915 he removed to Houston, and became associated with the Kirby-Bonner Lumber Company, acting as assistant treasurer of that com- pany until 1918. In that year he inherited a for- tune from his father. Shortly afterward he founded the San Jacinto Trust Company, of Houston, Texas, of which he was vice-president, and also assisted in the organization of the Lomar Manufacturing Company, of Middletown, Ohio, of which enterprise he was active vice-president. His association with the San Jacinto Trust Company was an important factor in the success of that institution, and while there he revealed the talent for financial affairs that brought him prominently before the banking world. His position in the Lomar Manufacturing Company was likewise distinctive, and he left the imprint of his influence on both these organizations.

Mr. Randolph was married on the third of No- vember, 1915, to Miss Daisy Lucile Ewing, daugh- ter of James A. Ewing and Laura (Kelty) Ewing. Mr. Ewing was a native of the Lone Star State, and one of the best known lumbermen and ranchmen of East Texas. While he now maintains his resi- dence in Houston, he is still active and spends much of his time in East Texas looking after his lumber and ranching interests. Mrs. Ewing, also a native of the Lone Star State, also makes her home in Houston. The Ewing family are of the real pioneers of the Lone Star, and have all been prominently identified with East Texas activities for many years. Both grandfathers of Mrs. Ran- dolph, namely Capt. James L. Ewing and Chas. L. Kelty fought in the Civil War on the side of the South, and her great-grandfather Ewing took part in the Texas Revolution.

Mr. and Mrs. Randolph had one of the attractive small homes in Houston, at 3200 Mount Vernon, in Montrose, and were on many occasions host and

hostess to their many friends. Mrs. Randolph was deeply interested in her husband's career, taking great pride in his accomplishments, and was his constant companion and inspiration. During the past several years Mrs. Randolph has devoted much of her time to the study of art, in New York and abroad, and is a talented portrait painter.

Tom Randolph, Jr., died in Houston the second of November, 1922, at which time the sympathy of the entire city went out to Mrs. Randolph. A man just at the beginning of his career, he had already won achievements and distinctions well worthy a man many years his senior, and his future was un- usually promising. He was one of the popular members of the Houston Country Club, the Univer- sity Club, and of his particular social set. His as- sociates in the business world found in him the spirit of integrity, a man of highest standards, and of sound and constructive policies. As a civic worker he was indefatigable, and few movements directed toward the progress and development of the city but found him in the ranks, and well in the lead. Generous, kind-hearted, and benevolent, he counted his friends by the hundreds, and his life will stand a bright page in the history of the City.

APTAIN CHRISTOPHER CONWAY BEAV- ENS. In speaking of development at Hous- ton during a period covering the past quar- ter of a century, the name of Captain Chris- topher Conway Beavens figures prominently as that of a citizen who ever had the interests of Houston at heart and who unselfishly gave of his best, not alone to his city, but to his country. A veteran of two wars, Captain Beavens took an active part in American Legion work for a number of years prior to his death, and was also deeply interested in all civic work. At one time during his career he served as a member of the state legislature, during those years representing his constituency faithfully and well. As a business man he was active in real estate and insurance for many years, and as one of the leading representatives of these lines did much to encourage development and expansion, both through the investment of his own and his clients' money in Houston property.

Captain Christopher Conway Beavens was born at Houston the twenty-ninth of March, 1874, the son of Christopher Columbus Beavens and Louisa A. (Risley) Beavens. The father, one of the real pioneers of Houston, came here as a small boy with his father before the Civil War, in which conflict he fought, his death occurring in Houston. Mrs. Beav- ens was a native of North Carolina and is also de- ceased. Captain Beavens spent his early years in Houston, attending the public schools of this city. At the age of twenty-one he became a member of the first organization of Texas Rangers, known as the Rutherford Rangers. He joined the army dur- ing the Spanish-American War, seeing service in that conflict as captain of Troop B, Houston Cavalry. During the World War he also saw active service as captain in the thirty-sixth and ninetieth divisions, being on active duty at the front with the Fifty- fifth Pioneers, attached to the Ninetieth Division. Captain Beavens was a member of the thirty-sev- enth and thirty-eighth legislatures, from Harris County and was formerly secretary-treasurer of the Texas Loan and Guaranty Company. After his re-

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turn from overseas he entered the realty and insur- ance business and was actively engaged in this field at the time of his death. Whether as a soldier, as a statesman, as a business man or as a private citizen, Captain Beavens did his duty, as he saw it, and few men have attained to a greater measure of esteem than he. During the World War he spent some months at the front, engaging in some of the worst fighting of the war, and during these trying times was one of those whose coolness and bravery could be relied on. He was loved by all his men, and to them will always be a hero. After his re- turn from overseas Captain Beavens entered into the work of the American Legion, and was particularly active in all the work of this organization in behalf of disabled service men.

Captain Beavens was married at San Antonio, Texas, the twelfth of June, 1901, to Miss Helen I. Hambleton, a native of San Antonio, whom he met while in service during the Spanish-American war. Mrs. Beavens is the daughter of John T. Hambleton and Imogene T. (Dignowity) Hambleton. Mr. Ham- bleton, a native of Ohio, was for many years the operator of a steamboat running from Cincinnati to New Orleans. He came to Texas during the early pioneer days and spent some years in San Antonio in the real estate business. Mrs. Hamble- ton was a member of one of the oldest pioneer families of Texas, who came here in a prairie schooner, settling in San Antonio. The land com- prising what is now Fort Sam Houston was formerly held by the family, who sold it to the government. Captain and Mrs. Beavens had two children, Conway A. Beavens and Jane Beavens. .

Captain Beavens died at his home, 1923 Harvard Street, Houston, May 23rd, 1924 at the age of fifty years. He was buried with full military honors under the auspices of the Thomas Dismuke Post, ex- service men of both the Spanish American and World Wars attending the service. Captain Beavens was the type of man who leaves the world better for his having lived in it and the record of his well spent life will ever be a bright page in the history of Houston and his memory will serve as an example to the boyhood of the city.

HARLES WYLEY RIDDICK .- In the his- tory of agricultural development in the Southwest, the name of Charles Wyley Riddick, one of the first to note the need for improvement over existing conditions, and se- riously set about to meet this need, stands out pre- eminently. Mr. Riddick spent his entire life in the interests of better farming, and the results, highly interesting in themselves, have been most grati- fying.

Mr. Riddick's birthplace was in the Southern part of Mississippi, which state also fostered his parents, Jove and Augusta Ballard Riddick, both of whom died in that state while the subject of our sketch was in his early manhood. His education was completed in the schools of his native state, but after the death of his parents he decided to come to Texas, the large plantations of this state offer- ing wide opportunity for him to indulge his inter- est in scientific farming. Shortly after his arrival here he took charge of the large plantation of Col- onel L. A. Ellis, one of the largest plantations in

the Southeastern part of the state, and owned by Colonel L. A. Ellis, one of the prominent and wealthy citizens of Austin. On this plantation, comprising many thousands of acres, State convict labor was used, and in the management of this class of laborer, as well as in the actual management of an agri- cultural venture of so large a scope, Mr. Riddick proved himself especially competent. He had the natural ability to direct both men and affairs, and introduced many improvements materially affect- ing the production of the plantation and its pros- perity. During the fifteen years that he spent as manager of the Ellis interests Mr. Riddick was also employed by the State of Texas, holding both po- sitions efficiently. He also bought for himself some four hundred acres of farming land, adding more with each passing year, until his holdings were around twenty-three hundred acres, all of which he had under cultivation, and in a high state of improvement, at the time of his death. During the ten years which he operated his own plantation he introduced many innovations, always striving to in- crease efficiency and productivity, and was a leader in the development of the agricultural development of the Lone Star State.

Mr. Riddick was married at Lynchburg, Texas, in 1886, to Miss Mary Flora Campbell, a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and the daughter of John Campbell, who went to Louisiana as a young man, later, in 1869, removing to Texas, where he bought what is now the San Jacinto Battle Grounds, and was one of the pioneer cotton farmers of the state, living here until his death, in Fort Bend County, to which place he had removed, in 1881. Mr. Riddick's mother, prior to her marriage Miss Eudora McGim- sey, died in Louisiana before the family came to Texas.

Mr. and Mrs. Riddick lived for many years on their plantation, rearing their children in this healthy and simple environment. Just before Mr. Riddick's death they moved to Houston, at 2518 San Jacinto Street. After his death Mrs. Riddick herself took over the management of the plantation, planted to cotton and sugar cane, and for nine years gave her personal attention to all the details such man- agement involved. During this time she assumed the double role of home maker and plantation mana- ger, dividing her time between home and children and plantation, and displaying marked ability in both roles. The plantation she developed along the lines Mr. Riddick had inaugurated, and became known as one of the most progressive planters in her section.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Riddick, of whom there were six, are: Eudora, wife of Randon Porter, and who has one child; Randon, Junior; Charline, wife of Wallace Tyler, of Houston; Henry Lee Rid- dick, scout for the Marland Oil Company, and has a daughter, Mary Eudora; Campbell Wyley Riddick, a cottonman, of Houston; and twins, Miss Mamye, at home, and Vernon, wife of Julian Sage Burrows, and who has a son, Julian Sage, Jr. Mrs. Riddick makes her home in Houston, living at the family residence, 2518 San Jacinto Street,

Mr. Riddick died at his home in Houston, to which the family had removed just a short time previous- ly, the twentieth of January, 1904. A man of sim- ple tastes, he loved the open and the independent

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life of the planter. Agriculture supplied him with both occupation and hobby, and his many improve- ments over existing methods entitle him to a place among the real benefactors of the farmer and of civilization.

RNEST J. EYRES. In recounting the devel- opment of the lumber industry in South- east Texas the names of a few men stand out above the rest as men of vision and con- structive genius, who anticipating the future of this industry, planned accordingly, and who made possible much of the advancement of today. Ernest J. Eyres, the subject of this sketch, and active in this industry more than twenty years, was such a man.

Ernest J. Eyres was born in Scotland the tenth of September, 1864, of sturdy Scottish parentage. He spent his boyhood on the South Coast of England where his parents later moved, and was educated in the schools there. In 1886 he left England, how- ever, and came to seek his fortunes in the United States, landing at Sabine Pass, Texas, in that year. From Sabine Pass he went directly to Woodville, in Tyler County, and in the heart of the great timber district. While there he formed the acquaintance of John H. Kirby, one of the greatest lumbermen of the present time and they soon became fast friends. For a quarter of a century he was John H. Kirby's right-hand man, filling the office of his assistant, and with a knowledge of the Kirby interests that made him indispensable. The Kirby Lumber Com- pany was as much his pride as it was that of the owner and founder.

Since locating in Houston, Mr. Eyres married Miss Nell Gill of Shreveport, Louisiana, a native of England, and the daughter of Joshua and Maria (Norton) Gill, both of that country. The family came to the United States during Mrs. Eyres' girl- hood, living first in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, later going to Texas and Louisiana, where Mr. and Mrs. Gill now reside.

Ernest J. Eyres died at Houston the twenty-sixth of November, 1921, and besides his wife is survived by a brother, Edward Eyres of Vancouver, B. C. Mr. Eyres was a Mason and an Elk, and had a host of friends at Houston and throughout Texas. Mr. Eyres was a lover of humanity, a sincere friend and irreproachable character. In his business dealings there was ever associated with his name a reputa- tion for integrity that won the admiration and trust and respect of all who knew him. His positive posi- tion and keen insight into the lumber business saved many situations in his years of identification with this industry. His death has brought a sense of irreparable loss not only to the lumber industry but to Houston, and his many friends.

John H. Kirby said of him: "Ernest J. Eyres was one of the sweetest natures and most dependable men I ever knew. For thirty-five years we were close friends and during nearly twenty-five years we were daily associated. I have known him in every walk of life, as youth, bachelor, husband, neighbor, friend. He spoke the truth; he despised hypocrisy. He observed the best standards in all things and was never known to break a promise. To act right, live right, think right was his life purpose. That is why he was so loved and why he is so greatly missed."

TAFFORD SMITH-In the history of the development and progress of any great industry there are always a few names that stand out and have special significance attached to them. Thus in the cattle industry in the southern part of the Lone Star State stands the name of Stafford Smith, one of the real cow men of his day, and a man who gave consideration not only to the prosperity of that day, but who, carefully and with foresight, laid the foundation of a lasting prosperity. Not alone on the cattle indus- try did he leave the imprint of his influence, but Harris County, Houston, and the entire gulf coast district, felt the trace of this influence, and bene- fited by his activities.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 125

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