New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 127

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

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thirty tenant houses, with a cotton gin and a big warehouse, and the improvements are valued at eighty thousand dollars. Mr. Howell developed various other interests, built lumber yards at ten or more points in South Texas, and was regarded as an authority on land values and land titles.

Mr. Howell was one of the best known collectors of paper currency in the South, and had one of the finest collections in this section, which the Univer- sity of Texas and the City Library were very anxious to secure. In this collection is Continental Currency issued by the Continental Congress in 1776, currency of the Colonies before the Declaration of Indepen- dence, New York City currency issued by the city prior to the Revolutionary War, currency of the Texas Republic, and currency from each country, including many rare issues, and to this collection Mr. Howell also added many Revolutionary and Co- lonial relics.

Mr. Howell was married at Houston, the twenty- fifth of July, 1905, to Miss Patricia Hall, daughter of Patrick Andrew Hall, a nephew of Patrick Andrews, former Chief Justice of Texas. Mrs. Howell is a charming woman, combining the domestic and social graces, and has many friends at Houston. Mr. How- ell's death occurred at Houston the third of May, 1924, and in his passing Houston lost one of its most progressive citizens, and a man who had given many years of his life to the constructive develop- ment of this section.

ESSE AVERITT BRYAN. In recounting the history of the early days of Houston, the name of Jesse Averitt Bryan, one of the real pioneers of the city, is deserving of prominent place and a recognition of the honor to which the years of citizenship and many activities for the public weal entitle him. Mr. Bryan, dur- ing these formative years, was a leader in many ac- tivities, both of a civic and industrial nature, and helped materially to lay the foundations of a city such as Houston has come to be. He was embued with highest ideals of conduct, both in the business and social world, and his life was a real inspiration to those who knew him.

Jesse Averitt Bryan was a native of the Blue Grass State, but as an infant of six weeks was brought to New Orleans by his parents, and was reared in that city. His father, Henry Hunter Bry- an, became prominently identified with the life of New Orleans, and is one of the most honored pio- neers of that city. His mother, before her mar- riage Miss Mary Frances Tyler, who came to New Orleans with her husband and infant son, was for many years a resident of that city, and was a real home maker and mother.

As a boy Mr. Bryan attended the schools of New Orleans, later, as a very young man, joining the ranks of the Confederacy, at the beginning of the Civil War, and serving with distinction throughout that struggle. After the close of the war he re- turned to his home in New Orleans, where he mar- ried, and made his home for the ensuing twelve years. In the late seventies he came to Texas, then a part of the frontier, and located at Houston, where he lived the remainder of his life.

Mr. Bryan was married at LaGrange, Tennessee, to Miss Mary E. Phillips, a native of that State, and the daughter of William Phillips, a native of New Jersey, and Susan A. Bartee Phillips. Mrs. Bryan

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is a woman of more than usual intelligence, and highly accomplished. A true daughter of the South, she made her home the seat of a flowing and gra- cious hospitality, and was a constant source of in- spiration to her husband. She was deeply interested in home and children, yet found time to cultivate outside interests, and is well known throughout South Texas for her many contributions to the liter- ature of the Lone Star State. She wrote for the Houston Post for many years, and later for the Chronicle and has also at various times made other contributions of literary value. She is the true type of Southern motherhood, and is greatly beloved by all who know her.

Mr. and Mrs. Bryan had a family of four children, Jesse Averitt Bryan, a well known manufacturers agent, who married Miss Alice Mullins, and who has one child, Mary Alice; William Phillips Bryan, with the Gulf Coast Lines, and who is married to Miss Mamie C. Jones, and has one child, William Edwin; and Henry Hunter Bryan, deceased. Mrs. Bryan makes her home at 1619 LaBranch Street.

Jesse Averitt Bryan died at his home in Houston, his death a real loss to his city and deeply felt by his hundreds of friends from every walk in life. He was a business man of distinction, and he early achieved a place of esteem in the life of his com- munity. In spite of responsibilities in the commer- cial world he found time to take a real interest in the development of his city, and when any call was sent out for aid in civic measures the name of Jesse Averitt Bryan was one of the first to go on the list. Mr. Bryan was a lover of humanity, taking delight in the good fortunes of his friends, sympathizing with them in their sorrows. He was benevolent, al- most to a fault, and no favor within his power to grant, was ever sought in vain. In recalling remin- iscences of his life one is impressed with his spirit of benevolence, of charity toward all, and his en- tire life seems to glow with the light of these deeds. To him the real success was to be beloved, and measured by this standard few men have found a greater success.

AMES SYLVESTER ANDERSON, through- out an interesting career covering almost half a century, was a leader in lumber ac- tivities, in civic progress and citizenship, whom the city of Orange is proud to rank among its most honored and distinguished pioneers. A veteran in the lumber business whose activities were di- rected toward progress and higher business ideals, Mr. Anderson left the imprint of his life on this in- dustry. A man of power and prestige he recognized his great responsibilities, and in many respects was one of the most conspicuous successes in his part of the country. But his greatest pride was not in his own success, but in the fact that he helped to build up a lumber business that had a permanent and utilitarian place in the community. From the latter part of the sixties, when he opened his first lumber mill, until his death in 1907, Mr. Anderson worked to develop his business and bring it to the state of magnitude that was its ultimate position. Although he retired from business some ten years before his death, he did not relinquish his active interest in his lumber enterprises, but continued to maintain a position of leadership which even ad- vancing years failed to make him resign.

James Sylvester Anderson was born in Nacog-

doches County, Texas, the thirteenth day of May, 1834, at which place his father was a man of consid- erable prominence during the early days of Texas' history. He received his early education in the schools of Nacogdoches County, and later became a planter in that community, until the beginning of the Civil War. In this conflict he fought with dis- tinction, on the side of the Confederacy, and later, at the end of the struggle, returned to his home. In the late sixties he went to Orange, determined to make the lumber business his life work, and estab- lished a lumber mill, with such success that he be- came one of the foremost lumbermen of the Lone Star State, and an expert in that industry. One of the pioneer companies in the development of the resources of Texas, the lumber business founded by Mr. Anderson occupied a place of highest standing in the annals of the industry, and under his leadership continued to develop and progress.

He took a deep interest in education and for twenty years served as trustee of the Orange schools. One of the ward schools there was named for him. In his will Mr. Anderson gave to the city of Orange what is known today as Anderson Park.

Mr. Anderson was married twice, the first time at Nacogdoches, Texas. Her death occurred a few years later. He was married for the second time at Houston, Texas, the twenty-ninth day of December, to Miss Mary A. Gillespie, daughter of Col. James and Mrs. Susan Farris Gillespie. Col. Gillespie was a native of Virginia, coming to Texas in the early twenties and playing a conspicuous part in the life of frontier days. He participated actively in the frequent Indian wars that menaced the life of the early pioneers, and later, in the war with Mexico, served as Captain in the Battle of San Jacinto, and in the storming of Monterey. When the Civil War broke out Col. Gillespie, too old to actively partici- pate in the fighting, was stationed at Galveston. Later he went back to Huntsville and was Superin- tendent of the State Penitentiary there until his death, which occurred in 1867. Such men as Col. Gillespie, who seeing their duty never faltered in its performance, were the makers of Texas, the men who made possible the great state that we are today so proud of, and to these real pioneers it is a pleas- ure to accord the honor that is their due. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson had one child, a daughter, Mary Gil- lespie, who died at the age of two years. Mrs. An- derson has one brother, W. O. B. Gillespie, of Hous- ton and Huntsville, Texas, and two sisters, Mrs. Susan Gillespie Murrelle, a widow, and who makes her home in Houston with Mrs. Anderson, at 1416 Rosalie Avenue; and Mrs. Elizabeth Gillespie Cor- nell, of Dillon, Montana. A brother, Judge Gilles- pie, of Houston, and prominently known as an at- torney and judge, passed away in 1915.

James Sylvester Anderson died at his home in Orange, Texas, in August, 1907, at the age of sev- enty-three years. A man true to his ideals, genial, and of real Christian spirit, he was greatly loved by all who knew him. His association with the lumber industry was a factor in the development of that great industry, and many of the younger lumber- men of today are proud to point to their association with this veteran lumberman. For half a century a resident of Orange he gave to this community a loyalty that made him beloved by all his fellow citizens, and has inscribed his name for all time as one of the real builders of this city.

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ILLIAM L. FOLEY was recognized as dean of the mercantile industry of Houston, where he had for almost half a century been continuously engaged in the dry goods business. Mr. Foley's life typifies the romance of American business, and particularly as it has par- alleled the great expansion and development of Texas during a period covering nearly fifty years. When Mr. Foley came to Houston in 1872 this city unknowingly had within her domains an embryo, great merchant. Mr. Foley established his business in Houston in 1876 and during the first year em- ployed only five people in the store, the store being fifteen by ninety feet in size. Now the magnificent establishment located at 214-16-18 Travis Street, with three floors, each seventy-five by one hundred feet, and employing from fifty to sixty experienced people stands as a monument to his dreams.

William L. Foley was born in Ireland in 1855. He was fifteen years of age when he set out on the great adventure of his life, with America as his destination. In 1870 an Irish lad stepped from a ship at New York, and America had acquired a new citizen in the person of William L. Foley. He began his American career in New York in a wholesale dry goods establishment, where he re- mained for one year. He came to Texas in 1871, during the pioneer days of reconstruction. He set- tled first at Brenham, Washington County, where he was employed as a clerk for almost two years. In 1872 Mr. Foley came to Houston, and for the next four years was employed in different stores as a clerk, and in 1876 opened a store which from the first grew rapidly, and for many years has been one of the leading dry goods establishments of Houston. A few years after coming to Houston, Mr. Foley sent to Ireland for his two nephews: James A. Foley and Pat C. Foley, after the death of their father, and reared them. Both were in the store until 1900. Pat C. Foley had been ad- vanced to the position of general manager, and James A. to the position of manager of the cloth- ing department. In 1900 the two nephews opened Foley Brothers, and built up a large establishment for Houston. In 1917 they retired from active bus- iness pursuits, but later entered the business world again, Pat C. Foley opened a shoe store, and James A. Foley started a clothing business. It is an established fact that nearly all of Houston's dry goods merchants of today received all or a part of their training in Mr. Foley's store, to whom they looked for counsel and advice concerning their business affairs. He took a keen interest in the civic and commercial development of his city, and was a charter member of the Cotton Exchange.

Mr. Foley was married in Houston in 1873 to Miss Mary F. Kennedy, a native of Houston and a daughter of John Kennedy, a pioneer Houston merchant. Mrs. Foley died in Houston, December 22, 1886. They had three children-John Kennedy Foley, who enlisted in the World War and was assigned to the 79th Field Artillery. He went to France with this organization and served through- out the war. The two daughters, Misses Rose and Blanche Foley are both graduates of Sacred Heart Convent, Montreal, Canada, and had post-graduate work in England and France. Both are talented and cultured musicians and Miss Blanche is ex- president of the Girls' Musical Club of Houston, having served in this office for two terms. On two

occasions Miss Blanche was the soloist with the Houston Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Foley was justly proud of these three children, who, since his death have taken charge of the business, carrying it on with the same high ideals which has char- acterized the business since its establishment so many years ago.

William L. Foley died February 22nd, 1925, and with his passing Houston lost one of its most be- loved citizens. In the personality of Mr. Foley was mixed the gallantry and chivalry of the South, together with the aggressive, purposeful and con- structive business instincts of the modern Southwest. Genial, companionable, unselfish and kind, Mr. Fo- ley's life was delicately interwoven into the fabric of the good fellowship of Houston, where he num- bered his friends by the hundreds.

ENJAMIN KIAM. Few men were more ac- tive in the early development of Houston, or took more interest in the future of this city than Benjamin Kiam, for years one of the leading business men here and a man whose efforts have resulted in development on a scale large enough to entitle him to the rank of city builder. Mr. Kiam from the first days of his business career was a man imbued with a purpose, and realizing that success is bought at the price of industry, he set about with determination to win this success. He early made it a policy to purchase large tracts of land, in line for development as the city grew and expanded, and an evidence of his faith in the fu- ture of Houston. These undeveloped tracts, later con- verted by Mr. Kiam into modern additions of homes, have been important factors in the growth of Hous- ton. From time to time Mr. Kiam also ventured into other fields of endeavor and was familiar with gen- eral business procedure as well as with the mer- cantile business, in which he spent some years.

Benjamin Kiam was born in Liberty, Texas, the twelfth of March, 1859, the son of Victor Kiam and Sarah Block Kiam, both natives of Alsace-Lorraine. Victor Kiam came to the United States as a young man, landing in New Orleans, where he spent a few years, and where his marriage occurred. Later he went to Liberty, Texas, going into the mercantile business, and still later moved to Houston, where he was one of the early merchants, operating a store at the corner of Congress and Travis Streets until his death, which occurred several years after moving to Houston. Mrs. Kiam continued to make Houston her home until her death, which occurred in 1910 at which time she was seventy-seven years old.

Benjamin Kiam was brought to Houston by his parents during his infancy and as a boy attended the schools of this city. Later, as a young man, he went into the ice business here with H. Prince, his broth- er-in-law, and still later worked in a local railroad office. At the conclusion of his railroad experience, he, with his brother, Edward Kiam, for many years one of the prominent merchants of Houston, engaged in the clothing business, but after a short time in this field Benjamin Kiam dropped out of the firm and entered the real estate business. During the years which followed he bought and sold much Houston and Harris County property and on the records at the court house involving land transac- tions his name appears more often than that of any other one man. In June, 1892, Mr. Kiam organized the Magnolia Loan and Building Company, taking into

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the firm such men as Edward Newbauer, Myer M. Levy, John P. Irwin, and his brother, Edward Kiam. This firm was organized for the purpose of develop- ing what is now known as the Brunner addition, one of Houston's residence additions and now completely developed. In 1900 Mr. Kiam removed to New Or- leans, where he was interested in the Charles A. Kaufman Department Stores, and while this latter city nominally remained his home for the ensuing sixteen years, he retained his interests in Houston and made many trips to this city. In 1916 he re- turned to Houston, which city was his home until his death, which occurred in 1923.

Benjamin Kiam was married at New Orleans to Miss Cora Kaufman, a native of that city, and the daughter of Charles A. Kaufman, pioneer merchant of New Orleans and operator of the Charles A. Kauf- man Department Store, which today ranks as one of the largest stores in the city. Mr. and Mrs. Kiam had one son, Victor Kiam, who was born in Houston the eleventh of January, 1897. He was a student at the Military Institute at New Orleans, later entering Tulane where he took his A. B. de- gree in 1915 and his L. L. B. degree in 1917. He then began the practice of law in New Orleans, re- maining there until his father's death, when he came to Houston to take charge of the Kiam interests here. He was married in New Orleans in 1924 to Miss Nanon Newman, daughter of Horace Newman, a prominent business man of New Orleans.

Benjamin Kiam's death occurred at Houston the nineteenth of November, 1923, and in his passing Houston lost one of its most valued and public spir- ited citizens.

ILLIAM ROBERT MORIN is well known in the printing circles of Houston, having prior to forming his present partnership been active for many years in this same line of endeavor. Mr. Morin is the senior member of the partnership of Morin & Maes, which was formed in 1914 and their print shop, located at 210-12 San Jacinto Street, is one of the best equipped shops in the city. They do printing of all kinds and are also publishers of the Daily Court Review and "This Week in Houston." Sixteen people are employed in this modern printing establishment. Mr. Tom Maes, well known in the business circles of Houston, is associated with Mr. Morin in the partnership.

A native Texan, Mr. Morin was born in Houston in 1883. His father, A. C. Morin (deceased) was a Pennsylvanian, born in Philadelphia, and came to Texas when it was an independent state. He was a pioneer contractor and builder and some of the oldest business houses of Houston stand as a monu- ment of his handicraft. His mother was Miss Eliza- beth Slocumb, a native of Houston, and born in what is now the heart of the city. Mr. Morin's education was obtained in the public schools of Houston.

Mr. Morin has been engaged in the printing busi- ness all his life, which began in the printing shop of John Brown, pioneer printer of Houston, and learned the trade in his shop. He then engaged in the printing business for himself, which he continued, sometimes alone and again with partners until 1914, when the present partnership was formed. Mr. Maes looks after the Court Review and Mr. Morin attends to the printing end of the business. Mr. Morin was married in Houston in 1904 to Miss Desdemona

Wheelock, a native Texan and a member of a well known Calvert family. They have four children, Elinor, now the wife of Jack Carlton Moore, business manager of "This Week in Houston"; William Rob- ert, Jr .; Earl Milton, and Jesse Albert. The Morin home is located at 2902 Morrison Avenue. In frater- nal organizations, Mr. Morin is a member of the A. F. and A. M. with membership in Woodlawn Lodge No. 1157. He is also a Knight Templar and a Shriner of Arabia Temple, I. O. O. F., Knights of Pythias, Dokeys and the B. P. O. E. Mr. Morin is interested in all projects having to do with the civic improvement, progress and advancement of the city of his birth, which he believes is destined to soon become the metropolis of the Southwest. Mr. Morin has seen Houston grow from a small town on the banks of Buffalo Bayou to a busy, thriving city of today, with the world's commerce brought to her very doors by ocean-going liners and he con- siders her future to be one of unlimited possibilities for continued growth.

J. MILLER, Secretary, Treasurer and Man- ager of The Grand Leader Company, Inc., is well known in Houston, having prior to the establishing of this company in 1917 been for several years associated with various Hous- ton firms. The Grand Leader Company, Inc., located at 901-3 Congress Avenue, occupies a modern, fire- proof building of three floors, each fifty by one hun- dred feet. This firm carries a complete line of every- thing in women's and children's wear, and is up-to- date in every respect. They sell to the retail trade only and strictly for cash. The Grand Leader Com- pany, Inc., employ eighty experienced people in their establishment. Other officers of the firm are Jacob Wolfenstein, President, and Haskell Levy, Vice-Pres- ident.

A native Texan, Mr. Miller was born in Dallas in 1889. His father, Sam Miller, was a pioneer mer- chant of Dallas, having located there more than fifty years ago. His mother is Mrs. Sophia Miller, a native of Dallas. The Dallas public schools supplied the foundation for Mr. Miller's education, and a course in a Dallas Business College provided him with his early business training.

Mr. Miller has had a rather varied business career, which began in the store of his father in Dallas. He then went with the T. and P. R. R., in the ac- counting department. Later he came to Houston, and was for a while in the employ of the I. and G. N. R. R., in the yard master's office, and later went with the Hartwell Iron Works, where he remained for a short while, then went with Levy Bros., where he learned the rudiments of the dry goods business, and in 1917, on the organization of the Grand Leader Company, Inc., came with that firm as Assistant Secretary and Treasurer and in 1920 was made Sec- retary, Treasurer and Manager of this large estab- lishment. Mr. Miller was married in Houston in 1910 to Miss Rosa Harris, a native of Houston. They have two children, Harris and Bettie. Mr. and Mrs. Miller reside at 807 Anita Avenue. Mr. Miller is a member of the I. O. O. F., in which he takes an active interest. He is interested in all agencies working for the civic improvement and greater de- velopment of Houston, the future of which he con- siders to be one of unlimited possibilities and con- tinued growth.

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P AT C. FOLEY'S life has been firmly inter- woven into the business fabric of Houston and Harris County, in which he had taken a leading part throughout the last thirty-five years. Mr. Foley during his life time, was one of the most progressive and successful business men in the city, and at the time of his death, November 28th, 1923, owned one of the leading shoe stores in the city, located at 307 Main Street.

Mr. Foley was born in Glenfern, County Leitrim, Ireland, in 1872. His father died when he was still a small child, and at the age of twelve his uncle, William L. Foley, pioneer merchant of Houston, brought him to America, and Houston. After fin- ishing his education in the public schools of this city Mr. Foley entered the employ of his uncle, where his exceptional ability was demonstrated very early and he soon advanced to the position of man- ager of this large establishment. In 1900 Mr. Foley decided to go into business for himself and together with his brother, James A. Foley, established the Foley Brothers Store, which, through their untiring efforts, is now one of the leading stores in Houston, and stands as a monument to these two fine bus- iness men. In 1917 they sold the Foley Brothers Store to Robert I. Cohen and retired from active business, but after the lapse of one year the inac- tivity began to pall on Mr. Foley and in 1918 he opened an exclusive shoe establishment, known as Foley-Baehr, in which he was senior partner. In 1922 this store was incorporated under the name of Pat C. Foley, Inc. On January 1st, 1923, he went into business for himself, in which he was en- gaged at the time of his death.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 127

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