New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 129

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

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827

MEN OF TEXAS

HOMAS MANN SCOGGINS-In recounting the history of the development of Houston along commercial lines, the name of Thomas Mann Scoggins, for three decades one of the leading merchants of this city, stands out as a man whose interests in his own private affairs came secondary to his interest in the community. The business success which he built, a success founded on years of square dealing and business policies of the highest order, had a direct influence on the prosperity of the city, and the Krupp and Tuffly Shoe Store, the largest shoe store in South Texas, of which he was for many years vice pres- ident, was regarded as a real Houston institution. Mr. Scoggins was never too busy to do his part toward the advancement of the welfare of the city, and whenever occasion arose he was always ready to help, whether it was a drive for funds to meet some special demand, or a concerted movement to secure for the city some new commercial or indus- trial enterprise.

Thomas Mann Scoggins was born near New Orleans, Louisiana, the seventeenth of June, 1868. His father, James Henry Scoggins, a native of Clarksville, Tennessee, came to Louisiana during his later years, and his death occurred in that state. His mother, whose maiden name was Miss Mary Watson, was reared, married and died in Louisiana. Mr. Scoggins attended the schools of New Orleans as a boy, and after finishing school learned the shoemakers' trade in that city. He came to Hous- ton in 1891 and went to work for G. W. Schultz, in his shoe shop and store, making shoes. A little later he went with the Krupp and Tuffly Shoe Store, at first as an employee, later buying an interest in the store. When the business was in- corporated Mr. Scoggins was made vice president, and when Mr. Louis Tuffly's death occurred he retained that position and was also made general manager, a position he held until his death. To Mr. Scoggins goes a great deal of the credit for making the Krupp and Tuffly Shoe Store the won- derful success that it was, and ranking it as one of the leading retailing establishments in the South. Under his management a steady yearly growth was manifested, and the business developed along pro- gressive lines, keeping pace with the growth of the city.

Mr. Scoggins was married at New Orleans, Louis- iana, the sixth of May, 1889, to Miss Sarah Duggan, daughter of William Duggan, a native of Belfast, Ireland, who came to the United States at the age of twelve years. His death occurred when his daughter, Sarah, was a child of four years of age, at New Orleans. Her mother, who before her mar- riage to Mr. Duggan was Miss Sarah Conroy, a native of Manchester, England, but reared in New Orleans. During the last twenty-five years of her life she made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Scoggins, at Houston, her death occurring in that city on the eighth of September, 1922. Mr. and Mrs. Scoggins lived for many years in the old Scog- gins home, at 1502 LaBranch Street, a home that for many years was one of the most hospitable in Houston, entertaining within its walls some of the most prominent people of the day. Mrs. Scoggins was a true home-maker, delighting in making the home life of the family pleasant and comfortable.

Mr. and Mrs. Scoggins had a family of ten chil-

dren, and also reared two nieces, whom they adopted. These children are-Henry Carroll Scoggins, in the shoe business in Beaumont, who is married and has two children; Thomas Mann Scoggins, Jr., sec- retary of Krupp and Tuffly, and who is married and has two children; James Henry Scoggins, of Krupp and Tuffly, who is married; Ralph S. Scog- gins, of Krupp and Tuffly, who is married and has two children; Robbie, wife of J. E. McHale; Robert Conroy, a graduate of Notre Dame College, a mem- ber of the law firm of Townsend and Scoggins, Columbus, Texas; Miss Mary Lee, who makes her home with her mother; Marie Louise, Sarah Duggan and George Walsh, all students in the Houston Schools. The nieces are Emma May, wife of W. V. Kennedy, and Sadie Louise, wife of W. T. Shannon.

Mr. Scoggins died at his home in Kerrville the eighteenth of January, 1921, his death a real loss to the life of his community. Mr. Scoggins was a member of the Catholic Church, held a very prom- inent position in the Knights of Columbus, and was an Elk. He was one of the best known men of his time, had friends in every walk of life, and his whole life was a succession of deeds that will live in the hearts of his fellow citizens for many years to come.

REDERICK AUGUST GIESEKE, one of the real pioneers of the city of Houston, and veteran in the leather and shoe industry, was for years identified with history mak- ing events and closely associated with the men of his time who were directing and shaping the des- tinies of the young city. Mr. Gieseke took an im- portant part in the development of the Houston of pre-war times, and was one of the outstanding men of that day. As one of the first dealers in shoes and leathers in this territory, he rendered a real service to the pioneers who had come to make their home here, and was widely known throughout this section.

Mr. Gieseke was born at Hanover, Germany, the twenty-first of August, 1826, and spent the usual boyhood in that city, receiving a good education in the schools of his native country. His mother died when he was in his teens and his eighteenth year found him on his way to the United States, eager for the opportunities this country had to offer. He landed at New Orleans, where he spent the ensuing year, then came on to Houston and engaged in the shoe and leather business until 1863. At the out- set of the Civil War, Mr. Gieseke contracted to make shoes for the Southern Army, and to carry out this contract, returned to Hanover, Germany, to manufacture them. Before he could ship his first lot over, he was caught in the blockade, and as a consequence was not able to get a single shipment out of Germany. He remained in that country until 1868. He then returned to the United States, to New Orleans, where he remained four months.

Mr. Gieseke then returned to Houston and went in the wholesale leather and retail shoe business, the firm being known as the F. A. Gieseke Company. Several years after the organization of this busi- ness, his plant was destroyed by fire, and his entire business wiped out. He then organized a retail shoe business, known as F. A. Gieseke Company, which was changed years later to F. A. Gieseke and Sons, which he operated until 1895, in which year he re-

828

J. M. Seogginon

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

tired, at the age of sixty-nine, his death occurring two years later.

Mr. Gieseke was married in Germany, during his stay in that country at the time of the Civil War, to Miss Lena Kolshorn, a native of Hanover, Germany, the marriage occurring in 1865. Two chil- dren were born to the young couple during the time spent in Germany, both of these dying in infancy, at New Orleans, shortly after Mr. and Mrs. Gieseke came to America. On arriving at Houston, Mr. Gieseke built a fine old home, at 411 Capitol Ave- nue, where all the five children that were born in this country were born, and where his death occurred. In 1901, Mrs. Gieseke built a beautiful new home, at 2317 Main Street, where she resided until her death, August 7th, 1924, at the age of eighty-five years.

The five living children of Mr. and Mrs. Gieseke are, Frederick A., Junior, in the land business in Harris County, taking a prominent part in the agri- cultural development of this territory, and who is married to Miss Mary E. Parker, and has one child, Frances Sara; Herman Henry, a real estate man of Houston; William F., of Houston, who is married to Miss Ella Stearns; Miss Linda E. and Miss Val- enda D., who with Mr. Herman H., reside in the 2317 Main Street residence.

Mr. Gieseke's memory is honored as that of one of the most venerable of Houston's pioneers, and as one of the real builders of the city. His entire life was devoted to constructive work for his com- munity, and much that he did in a business way directly influenced the prosperity of his city. He was beloved by all who knew him and was one of the most admired and respected men of his time. His death occurred at his home, 411 Capitol Avenue, on the ninth day of January, 1897.

H. LYNE, pioneer oil man, driller, organ- izer and builder of earthern tanks, came to Houston in 1904 and is the president and general manager of the Texas Tool and Oil Corporation, which has to do with oil and kindred activities and marketing an improved fish tail bit attachment, and operating standard well cleaners, and also own inventions for preventing well blowing and catching fire. This firm has done a large busi- ness in the oil territory of Texas, and all of their tools and methods have proved to be entirely satis- factory to the oil fraternity of this state, as they are entirely safe in every way and further all the drilling activities of an oil field. Mr. Lyne began drilling water wells in the vicinity of Dallas in 1891, using at this time a rotary drill which was used in drilling oil wells in Corsicana in 1895. He also was engaged in teaming contracting in Dallas and while so engaged, repaired the reservoir walls at Turtle Creek. He learned the methods of con- structing earthern walls for storage, worked with erection engineers in setting power plants and gained experience in setting up air and compression plants in oil fields, in the various places where he worked in order to get this experience. Mr. Lyne ob- tained his first oil experience at Spindle Top with the Sharp Well Company and later was with the Moonshine Company. Men in the Sharp Company owned stock in the Moonshine Company and the Texas Company owned one-third of the stock of the Moonshine. Through these companies, Mr. Lyne did work for the Texas Company at Sour Lake, and was superintendent of drilling of wells No. one, two

and three, called Texas 1-2-3. He worked for the Texas Company at Sour Lake from 1902 to 1904. He also built the first earthen storage tank at Sour Lake for the Moonshine Company and for the Texas Company at Batson. The Moonshine Company was finally absorbed by the Producers Company, which wound up at Spindle Top with land in fee and tools. At Humble, Mr. Lyne was field superintendent for the Moonshine and the Producers Company, and be- came vice president and general manager of the Producers Company in 1907 and remained with them until 1913, when the Texas Company absorbed this company. When Texas Company absorbed the Producers in 1913, Mr. Lyne became general super- intendent of the South Texas Production Depart- ment, which position he held until January, 1921, when he resigned on account of ill health, after which he organized the present company-Texas Tool and Oil Corporation.

Mr. Lyne was born at Port Hudson, Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, May 14th, 1872, and came to Tex- as with his parents when two years of age. His father, W. H. Lyne, the oldest boy in the family, for several generations carried the same name, came to Texas and settled at Dallas in 1872, where he was first engaged in the cattle business and later in the merchandising business on a large scale. His education was obtained in the public schools of Dallas. Soon after leaving school, Mr. Lyne worked in machine shops and became an expert mechanic, and then became an assistant with Rotary Well Drilling machinery. Mr. Lyne has done much in the development of the South Texas oil fields, and is a student of Geology and has brought out some very valuable facts along this line that have been of great value to the oil fraternity. His theory as to the salt domes that are now being developed in South Texas, is that future development in the coast country will depend on locating the hidden domes, and this is accomplished by locating salt springs or salt in drilling wells. The salt dome theory was developed by W. B. Sharp, and not by Geologists as is generally believed.

Mr. Lyne was married in Dallas on January 26th, 1891, to Miss Viola Cullum, a native Texan and a daughter of W. H. Cullum, for many years deputy tax collector of Dallas County. Her grandfather came to Dallas in about the year 1866. They have seven children-W. H. Lyne, Jr., E. S. Lyne of Corpus Christi, a scout for The Seagraves Company; J. A. Lyne, with the Parkersburg Rig and Reel Com- pany; J. R. S. Lyne, a student at high school; Rhoda, now Mrs. Earl Bellamy of Corpus Christi; Maude, now Mrs. H. S. Moore of Houston, and Charles, at- tending the Houston public schools. Mr. Lyne is a member of the A. F. and A. M. with membership in Blue Lodge No. 760 at Dallas, a Scottish Rite to the 18th degree at Houston, and a 32nd degree Scottish Rite at Galveston, a Shriner of Arabia Temple and a member of Washington Chapter No. 2, Ruthven Commandery No. 1. He is also a member of the Houston Club and the Mid Continent Oil and Gas Association. Mr. and Mrs. Lyne reside at 3419 Burlington Street, Houston. Mr. Lyne is interested in many of the financial and commercial industries of the city, and while all his activities center in the Texas Tool and Oil Corporation, he still owns Tex- as Company stock, and stock in various oil com- panies of the Southwest.

831

MEN OF TEXAS

USTAV ADOLPH STERNENBERG, native of Houston, and for many years promi- nently identified with the business life here, took an important part in developing the lumber industry in this section. Mr. Sternenberg was interested in lumber in an extensive way, oper- ating a large saw mill, and controlling a large acreage of forest lands. He had a talent for affairs, a keen judgment and skill in handling men, and in the accomplishment of large affairs, combined with a deep insight into all phases of the lumber industry, that contributed to his success in this line.

Mr. Sternenberg was born in Houston the twenty- sixth of August, 1869, at the old Sternenberg home at the corner of Dallas and Crawford Street. His father, J. A. Sternenberg, came to Houston from his native country of Germany in the early fifties. For a time after coming to Houston he worked as a furniture repairer, later becoming a millwright. He built many mills in this section, and gradually became interested in the saw mill business. He had a mill at Spring, Texas, and a steam mill at Beau- mont. The firm name under which he operated was Olive & Sternenberg, later the Olive-Sternen- berg Company, and still later the Olive-Sternenberg Lumber Company. Mr. Sternenberg owned much land in Hardin County, and was one of the veteran lumbermen and saw mill owners of the Lone Star State. His associations with this field of activity are recalled by the old-timers, who hold him in high esteem for his many practical and beneficial con- tributions to the industry. During the Civil War Mr. Sternenberg served as bandman throughout the conflict, returning to his home in Houston at the close of the war. His death occurred in Houston the second day of May, 1914. His wife, Mrs. Emilie Vogel Sternenberg, and the mother of Gustav Adolph Sternenberg, the subject of this sketch, was also a native of Germany, coming to the United States at an early age. She met Mr. Sternenberg in this state, and here they were married and spent the many happy years of their married life. She died June 18, 1923, at the age of eighty-one years.

Gustav Adolph Sternenberg was educated in the public schools of Houston, later attending college, after which he began his active business career. He first went to work for the railroad in Houston, after going to Chicago for a short time, during which he was also connected with railroad work. A little later he returned to his native city and began in the lumber business, where by close appli- cation to detail he had soon mastered all the intri- cacies of the industry. He located at Olive, Texas, where he began the operation of a saw mill.

Mr. Sternenberg gradually expanded his lumber activities and had interests in all its branches. In 1907 he returned to Houston to make his home, and expecting to retire. However, he continued very active, looking after his extensive properties in this city, and built the Sternenberg, a family hotel at 808 Walker Avenue, in 1908. This was his last business venture, his death occurring in April, 1908, just a few months prior to the completion of the hotel.

was the daughter of Andrew Sens, who came from his native home in Germany to the United States, at the age of nineteen years, and located at Hous- ton, where he spent the rest of his life. Her mother, before her marriage was Miss Anna Bente, who came with her father to the United States at the age of thirteen and was reared in Houston.

Mr. Sternenberg was an honored member of the Masonic and Woodmen of the World orders, and a citizen of the highest type. His connection with the lumber industry in Texas was that of a pioneer, and he was instrumental in contributing to its ad- vancement along progressive lines. He is regarded by lumbermen as one of the most distinguished of its members, and his death, which occurred the nineteenth of April, 1908, was a distinct loss to the community. As a citizen Mr. Sternenberg took a great interest in the welfare and progress of his city, contributing generously that Houston might develop every possible resource. He was benevolent, kindly toward all, and took a deep interest in his fellowmen, often lending the helping hand that made for success. He took a large part in shaping public opinion of his time, and his life stood for the highest achievement in his line of endeavor.

LPHONSE STUDE .- In glancing over the pages of early Houston history many of the "old timers" will recall, more than a generation ago, the very unassuming, but genial personality of Alphonse Stude, proprietor of Stude's Bakery, which, for a generation, was an in- stitution that was the center of much of the early social and political life of those pioneer days. Stude's Bakery was located in the business center of the old town, across the street from the market, and, in the genial and hospitable atmosphere of this establishment, many of the leading Houston- ians of two-score years ago would meet to discuss politics and other problems of the hour, while they would sip their coffee and munch the sweets that were the products of the Stude Bakery, for, in this modest and unpretentious establishment, was the spirit of good-fellowship, which reflected the good will and genial hospitality of its proprietor, who was born in Houston and reared in the atmos- phere of chivalry and hospitality, and reflected in his personality the finer qualities of good fellowship enshrined in the hearts of men. He knew intimate- ly nearly every Houston politician, and every man in public life, for beneath his hospitable roof many a political campaign was planned and many a mat- ter of great importance to the progress of the City was discussed. And, although he took an interest in all matters which would in any manner effect the community welfare, or the citys' progress, his interest was always from an impersonal point of view, as he never entertained any dreams or am- bitions for political preferment for himself.

Mr. Stude was by nature and temperament an out-of-door man. He was a king of sportsmen. Hunting and fishing were his favorite recreations. He was a member, and liberal supporter of nearly all of the hunting and fishing clubs of the early days. He was a crack marksman, and was ex- tremely popular with the early-day sportsman. He knew where, and when, to go to bag the best game, and he knew where to angle for the best fish, and,

Mr. Sternenberg was married the ninth of June, 1897, to Miss Emma B. Sens, who, like Mr. Sternen- berg, was born in Houston, and has always resided here with the exception of ten years at Olive. She in fact, was a living almanac on the subject of

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G. A. Sternenberg

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

sportsmanship.

Mr. Stude was born in Houston, February 16th, 1856. His father, Henry Stude, was a native of Germany, who left the Fatherland during the in- surrection of 1848 and came to America and located in Houston the following year. Henry Stude, be- ing of a frugal nature, saved his earnings and in- vested extensively in Houston real estate, buying tracts of land in different parts of the city and surrounding territory. Upon the growth of the city much of this property, still in the Stude family, has become extremely valuable, and was the foun- dation of the extensive Stude interests. Henry Stude died in 1905 at a very advanced age. Since his death the Stude family have donated to the City of Houston a tract of twenty-one acres in the North- west part of the city, known as the Stude Park. Al- phonse Stude secured his education in the schools that were afforded at that time. This was in the reconstructive period after the Civil War, when opportunities for education were limited and lux- uries were unknown. In 1879, when but twenty- three years of age, he established the Stude Bakery near the old market, which for a score of years became a popular rendezvous for the old Hous- tonians.

Mr. Stude was married January 20th, 1880, to Miss Louise Bertallot, a native of Houston. Her father, Adolph Bertallot, had located in Houston in the early forties. He served in the Confederate army throughout the War, after which he again located in Houston, remaining here until his death. Mr. and Mrs. Stude were the parents of six children, four sons and two daughters, Henry W., Emily N., Alphonse J., Louis S., M. Stokes and Henrietta, wife of Thomas F. Walsh.

Mr. Stude died October 16th, 1895, while still on the sunny side of life, not 'yet having reached the two-score mark. He had not passed, on life's pathway, the stone that marks the highest point, but still in the full vigor of manhood, imbued with the true Houston spirit, which he so typically per- sonified, was called to his reward. Nearly every well-known Houstonian was numbered among his friends, and it can be truthfully said he was without a single enemy. His widow took charge of the bak- ery, which she managed efficiently, and successfully raised the family of children to manhood and wom- anhood, and although retired from business, she still maintains the beautiful family residence at 2210 Fannin Street, and holds a creditable place in the social and business life of the city.

YLVANUS PETER SCHENBERGER, for /more than two decades an influential citi- zen of Houston, was a pioneer oil operator and personally known to hundreds of the "old timers" in that industry. Mr. Schenberger was a developer of constructive vision, directing his op- erations in the Gulf Coast fields in such manner as to reflect credit upon himself. His farsightedness in matters pertaining to oil development was well known and he was always among the first to foresee the possibilities of a field and conduct his activities there with success to himself and his associates. His development projects carried him into the Gulf Coast and Mid-Continent fields.

Mr. Schenberger was born in Kirkwood, Warren County, Illinois, the son of Milton Garrison Schen- berger, a native of Pennsylvania, and Susan Staley

Schenberger, also of that State, who removed later to Illinois, where they spent many years, and where their death occurred. Mr. Schenberger attended the schools of Illinois, taking both his preparatory and college work in that State. After leaving college he went to Clear Lake, Iowa, and went in the cafe business for a short while, later going to Council Grove, Kansas, where he operated a cafe for a de- cade. He disposed of his interests in Council Grove in 1882, coming to Galveston, Texas, where he also opened a cafe, which he managed until 1898, at which time he came to Houston. His first four years in Houston were spent in the furniture busi- ness, his store on Congress Avenue being one of the leading furniture establishments of that day. In 1902 he disposed of this interest and went to Beau- mont as an independent oil operator, handling leases and production. He was thereafter active in oil development and was in all the fields in the Gulf Coast region, where he was well and favorably known. He was active in securing the first leases in the Batson field, as well as securing those in the Mansfield field in Louisiana. To him is given part of the credit for discovering these fields, and for being among the first operators in the Creighton, Louisiana, fields. In Oklahoma he was among the pioneers in the Glenn, Norris and Okmulgee fields, extending his operations into Kansas.

Mr. Schenberger was married the twenty-third of December, 1880, at Council Grove, Kansas, to Miss Cora May Perkins, a native of Kirkwood, Illinois, and one of Mr. Schenberger's childhood playmates and school mates, the romance having begun as a childhood affair and continued throughout the years. Mrs. Schenberger was the daughter of Samuel Dal- ton Perkins, a native of Farmington, Maine, who later removed to Illinois, and Mercy Simpson Knowles Perkins, who was born in Philadelphia and reared in Hampden, Maine. Both Mr. and Mrs. Per- kins came to Houston in 1889, living in this city thereafter until their death.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 129

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