New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 131

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

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HARLES WILLIAM DOERING. The name of Charles William Doering has many trib- utes in the railroad world, wherein he served with distinction for more than four decades as a mechanical draftsman and during this time became widely known for his many suggestions and improvements in equipment. Mr. Doering, after receiving excellent training in his vocation, kept apace with modern developments, constantly study- ing and equiping himself for a place of leadership in his chosen career, and much of the equipment in use by the railroads of today bears evidence of his influ- ence. Machinery and rolling stock designed by him was considered by experts to be of excellence and he was regarded as one of the foremost draftsmen in the country.

Charles William Doering was born at Berlin, Ger- many, in 1846 and spent his boyhood in his native country, attending the schools there and taking spe- cial courses in mechanical draftsmanship wherein he displayed marked ability. In 1869 he came to the United States, first arriving in New York and in 1870 coming to Houston. He went with the Hous- ton and Texas Central Railroad shortly after his arrival in the city, as mechanical draftsman, a posi- tion he held until his death.

Mr. Doering was married at Houston, to Miss Helene Carstens, also a native of Germany, who came to the United States as a young girl in com- pany with an aunt. Mr. and Mrs. Doering made their home at Houston throughout an ideal married life and had a family of seven children, five of whom are living. These children are, Miss Paula C. Doer- ing, a school teacher in the Houston schools; Charles A. Doering, chief clerk of the street and bridge de- partment of the city of Houston; Frances, wife of J. H. Suessmuth of Houston, and who has two chil- dren, Frances and Albert; Eleonore F. Doering and Miss Bertha L. Doering, a graduate of the Univer- sity of Texas, 1909, with the B. A. degree and now a teacher in the Central High School of Houston. Mrs. Doering makes her home at 2904 Milam Street, those of her children who are not married residing with her.

Mr. Doering died at Houston the ninth of Sep- tember, 1910, at the age of sixty-four years. He was a man who by his steadfastness of purpose, integ- rity and clear thinking made himself indispensable in his profession, devoting his time to perfecting improvements that would benefit the entire railroad world, and won the highest regard and admiration of his associates. His death was the cause of a deep regret among his friends and a distinct loss to the railroad business.

845

MEN OF TEXAS

R OBERT E. PAINE, pioneer Houston citizen, has been a resident of Houston for nearly five decades, during that time taking an active part in building the city, and iden- tifying himself with many business enterprises of importance. Mr. Paine came to Houston in 1878, three years later, in 1881, going into the hide and wool business, and was one of the organizers of the John Finnigan Company, Incorporated, one of the oldest firms in the Lone Star State engaged in this business. In 1924 Mr. Paine with Mr. E. W. Gruend- ler organized the Finnigan Hide Company, and is liquidating the John Finnigan Company. The com- pany offices are located at 8041/2 Commerce Avenue. The officers are: Mr. R. E. Paine, president; Mr. E. W. Gruendler, vice president, and Mr. L. C. Shan- non, secretary and treasurer.

Mr. Paine is vice president of the Houston Land and Trust Company, president of the Houston Pack- ing Company, president of the John Finnigan Com- pany and vice president of the Standard Rice Com- pany and the Houston Rice Company. The Houston Land and Trust Company is the oldest and largest trust company in Houston. The Houston Packing Company are slaughterers of cattle and hogs and wholesale dealers in dressed meats and packing house products, lard and oil refiners and manufac- turers of vegetable shortening, also ice, with office and plant on the banks of Buffalo Bayou, north end of North Roberts Street. The Standard Rice Com- pany is the largest company of its kind, and handles about one-eighth of the entire rice crop of the United States. Besides the large Houston establishment, it has mills at Stuttgart, Arkansas, Crowley, Louis- iana, and Memphis, Tennessee, with Eastern sales offices in New York and Philadelphia. The com- bined capacity of the four mills runs upward of ten thousand bags daily. Mr. Paine is also financially interested in other firms and corporations in the city. He has taken keen interest in civic activities, and in a business way has done much to further progress, investing in business enterprises that have contributed to the developing of Houston as the metropolis of the Southwest.

Mr. Paine was born in Onondaga County, New York, in 1856, son of Robert and Susan Duncan Paine. He was educated in the public schools of his native county. Coming to Houston in 1878 he was with R. B. Baer, wholesale grocer, for two and one-half years before starting in business.

Mr. Paine was married in Houston in 1883 to Miss Minnette E. Hyde, a native of Maryland. Mrs. Paine died April 15th, 1925. There are four children, Mrs. A. L. Hamilton, Mrs. David Daly, Robert E. Paine, Jr. and Miss Minnette Paine. The Paine residence is located at 1505 Mckinney Avenue.

Mr. Paine is a member of the Houston Club, the Houston Country Club, the River Oaks Country Club and fraternally is an Elk. In the growth and development of Houston, Robert E. Paine has played an important part, and is numbered among the hon- ored and loyal citizens of the community.

RS. ROBERT EDWARD PAINE; no history of Houston would be complete without an appropriate account of the life and activi- ties of Mrs. Robert Edward Paine, who for more than two score years was associated with the city's development, and the story of her life work and activities form an interesting page in the me-

moirs of Houstonians whose lives were spent in con- tructive service.

Her most potent influence was with those of the Catholic faith, among whom she was identified as a leader in nearly every charitable, educational, reli- gious or social organization. Her activities, how- ever, were not limited to Catholic organizations, but she was interested in every form of civic and social development in which women were identified.

Mrs. Paine was born in Baltimore, Maryland, Jan- uary 8th, 1860. Her maiden name was Minnette Ellen Hyde. Her parents were Joseph and Ellen No- land Hyde. Her father was a soldier in the Confed- erate Army and died from sickness contracted in the Civil War. Mrs. Paine was educated by the Sisters of Notre Dame at the convent of the Immaculate Conception, Baltimore. After graduation she came with her widowed mother to Houston, Texas, to join her brother, John Hyde, who had preceded them and was engaged in business in Houston.

This was in 1880, when Houston was but a little city, with small buildings and unimproved streets. She met and married Robert E. Paine shortly after her arrival in Houston. Mr. Paine was a native of New York, had come to Houston three years pre- vious and at that time was engaged in the hide and wool business, but who has since been a very promi- nent figure in the business world of South Texas, and identified with many industrial and commercial enterprises.

Mrs. Paine, although ever active in the women's organizations, was not neglectful of her domestic duties. She was the mother of six children, Edith May, now Mrs. Arthur Hamilton of Houston; Ger- trude Hyde, now Mrs. David Daly, formerly of Hous- ton, but now associated with Stone and Webster at Pawtucket, Rhode Island; Robert E. Paine, Jr., who is engaged in the rice industry at Webster, Texas; Harry and Loreta, deceased, and Minnette Ellen, who resides at the old family home.

Mrs. Paine was a woman of unusual refinement, highly educated and intensely interested in every- thing that was for the benefit of Houston. She took a special interest in the affairs of young peo- ple. She was a charter member of the Newman Circle, a Catholic organization. She was president of the Altar Society of the Annunciation Church. She was a prominent figure in many other social and educational organizations and at the time of her death was president of the Catholic Women's Club.

Mrs. Paine had an exceedingly youthful and buoy- ant spirit, was a real pal to her children, played with them and their friends and enjoyed their youthful pastimes, formulated their ideals and took a lively in- terest in their social and personal affairs up to the last. Upon her death, April 15th, 1925, Houston lost one of her most widely known and distinguished citizens and the young people a most beloved asso- ciate and friend.

She had a sympathetic heart, with a soul filled with sunshine, which radiated the warmth of kind- ness to all who knew her, and the inspiration of her affable nature and cheerful personality up to the moment of her passing may well be expressed in the following quatrain:

With buoyant spirit, heart of youth, Her task completed, hopes fulfilled, Her life exemplified the truth:

God in our hearts His temples build.

846

A.C. Paina

Annette My del Paine

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

E. DAVIS, for many years a leader in the cattle business in Harris County and familiar with every phase of this great in- dustry, is recognized as one of the foremost authorities on questions concerning cattle matters, and his judgment is accepted generally by cattle- men throughout the Lone Star State. Mr. Davis has been in the cattle business all his life, first begin- ning in Houston in 1877, and since this time has had experience in every phase of the business, as cow- puncher, foreman of an outfit, buyer, seller, commis- sion dealer, exporter and importer of cattle. His first commission business was in Galveston as sales- man, from 1884 until 1889. In that year he began ranching in the lower part of Harris County, con- tinuing there for several years. One of his biggest undertakings was the shipping of cattle to Cuba with S. E. and C. D. Allen. Before the Spanish War he had shipped ten thousand head of cattle to the Span- iards and after the Spanish War he shipped fifty thousand head of cattle to Cuba, under contract to restock the country. The firm name under which the cattle were shipped was Allen and Davis, contracting at Havana, Cuba, with Cevera and Company. In 1898 Mr. Davis established his residence at Harris- burg, remaining there a number of years. He then spent five years in Fort Worth, in the commission business, returning to Harrisburg where he has since lived, and engaged in various phases of the cattle business, principally the commission business and handling the inspection of cattle for a number of Houston banks. He has also been called upon to serve as public service commissioner of Harrisburg, Texas.

Mr. Davis was born in Brazoria County on his father's ranch, the third of July, 1863. His father, Joe Davis, came to Texas in 1849 and married into the Estes family and for many years was a rancher in this part of the state. Mr. Davis' great grand- father, on the maternal side, was Anderson Estes, who fought in the War of Independence and the Mexican War. As a boy, Mr. Davis grew up on the ranch, learning to ride as soon as he could sit in the saddle. He attended the public schools near his home, later entering Texas A. & M. College, where he attended from 1878 until 1879.

Mr. Davis was married at Galveston the sixteenth of October, 1884, to Miss Josephine Deats, daughter of W. S. Deats, a contractor, who built the old Mar- ket House in Houston, where the City Hall now stands. Mr. and Mrs. Davis make their home in Harrisburg, living at the corner of Elm and Medina Streets. They have three children, E. T. Davis, an engineer with the Harbor Commission, Edwin (Ted) Davis, in the milling business at Houston, and Mrs. V. G. Ross. Mr. Davis is a Knight of Pythias. Asso- ciated with the cattle industry from the earliest days, Mr. Davis has roped steers where Rice Insti- tute now stands and seen mule teams on drags bogged down on Main Street. He has watched the progress of this industry and is qualified to speak on any questions concerning cattle. He finds that Brahma stock improves all stock as these cattle are good rustlers, thrifty and have no ticks. He has handlea this strain for almost four decades, his partner, S. W. Allen, bringing the first Brahma bull and cow from the Indies and his father getting the first calf of record in Texas. Mr. Davis has had

many distinctions in the cattle business, shipping, as an experiment, the largest shipment of cattle in the United States, from the southern boundary of Mexico to Fort Worth. He is known to cowmen throughout the state and there are few gatherings of importance in the industry at which he is not present.

SCAR N. WIEL, secretary of the Houston Exporters Association, Cotton Exchange Building, Houston, well known in the bag- ging and cotton circles of the state, came to Houston in 1907 as representative of the McFad- den Company. In 1913 he established the O. N. Wiel and Company, of which he was the owner and which he conducted until he took over the duties of his present office. The Houston Exporters Association was incorporated and chartered in 1915, all stock being owned by members of the Houston Cotton Exchange. This association buys bagging for patch- ing cotton bales and is a facility for shippers and exporters, and is so chartered that it can, when needed, handle any kind of wholesale or retail business.

Mr. Wiel was born in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1875, and came to Texas with his parents when ten years of age. His father, C. K. Wiel (now deceased), was a well known traveling salesman, who for many years traveled for a paper house with Waco head- quarters. His early education was obtained in the public and high schools of Waco, after which he re- turned to the famous old school at Louisville, Ken- tucky, the Bryant and Stratton Business College, and graduated from this institution in 1892. At this col- lege, Mr. Wiel acquired a knowledge of all branches of office business, which has been of great value to him in the years that have followed.

Mr. Wiel began his business career in a Waco cot- ton office as a stenographer when a mere boy, and in this office he gained an experience in the cot- ton business which he probably would not have secured in any other office. He was associated with the Bessonette Round Bale Company, which was the original patentees of the round bale. In 1893 he went with the McFadden Company, and was con- fidential inside man for them, coming to Houston for this company in 1907, and remained with them here until 1909. He was engaged in the cotton busi- ness for himself for many years before becoming secretary of the Houston Exporters Association.

Mr. Wiel was married in Houston on March 15th, 1910, to Miss Mamie Abersohn, a native of Manches- ter, Indiana, and a daughter of David Abersohn (de- ceased), a well known business man of Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Wiel reside at 2106 La Branch Street. Mr. Wiel is a member of the Houston Cotton Ex- change and for the past six years has been on the board of appeals of this organization. He is also a member of the Houston Chamber of Commerce, and is active in this organization. Mr. Wiel is a member of the Temple Beth Israel Synagogue, and president of the Jewish Welfare Associtaion, in which he is one of the most ardent workers among the entire membership. Mr. Wiel has great faith in the future of Houston and believes it is destined to be the largest port in the United States outside of New York City, and bases his prediction of the future on what has actually taken place here in the develop- ment of this port during the past few years.

851

MEN OF TEXAS

AJOR MICHAEL LOOSCAN. In the history of the early days of Houston, the name of Major Michael Looscan stands out as one of those stalwart and upstanding pio- neers, who took an interest not alone in his own private affairs, but in the welfare of his community and fellowmen. As a lawyer and jurist, his stand- ing in his profession was in proportion to his years of service, he occupied a high place in the confidence of the people, a faith he never betrayed. At various times he was called on to fill positions of public trust, and while in office he demonstrated his of- ficial and judicial ability and his devotion to the best interests of his community.

Major Looscan was born in Ireland, the twenty- fifth of September, 1838, at a small town called Caher, near Irishtown, County Mayo. His parents were Michael O'Looscan and Mary Walsh O'Looscan, the latter a descendent of the Brehan family, and were among the most successful small farmers of this region. It was a saying there that if Michael O'Looscan should plant a crop in the roadway it would flourish and grow, and this ability to do things and conquer over difficulties he passed on to his son. In his boyhood home, Major Looscan was accustomed to speak the Celtic language. Reared in the simple customs of the peasant farmer, he was sent to the neighboring school where he acquired a good common school education. In 1847 his coun- try was swept by famine, and he witnessed some of the distress of this famine, but through the provi- dence of his father, neither he nor his family ex- perienced any of its sufferings.

On March 8th, 1855, he left Ireland. Arriving in this country his first work was on the Erie Canal, but in a short time he went to Utica, New York, where he was employed in a cotton mill, a few months later coming South, to Mobile, where he found employment on the Mobile Mercury, as press boy. Here he formed a taste for reading and study and began to dream of future greatness and pros- perity. In 1858 he went to New Orleans and thence to Shreveport, on his way to Texas. A few months later found Major Looscan at Earpville, near where the present town of Longview stands, engaged as a school teacher and taking advantage of every op- portunity for self advancement. A year later Judge M. H. Bonner, on a visit to that community, formed the young man's acquaintance and suggested that he make a lawyer of himself, offering his assist- ance toward this end. He remained a law student in the office of Judge Bonner in whose home he re- sided as a member of the family, until the outbreak of the Civil War, assiduously applying himself to study and laying the foundation for his brilliant career as a lawyer.

At the outbreak of the war Major Looscan was one of the first to enlist as a soldier, enlisting on the eighteenth of April, 1861, at Rusk, Cherokee County, as a private in company A., Peter Hardeman, cap- tain, which became a part of the Second Regiment of Texas Mounted Riflemen, one of the two regiments authorized by the Constitutional Convention. From the day of his enlistment Major Looscan applied himself to the study of military tactics and the science of war and was shortly appointed acting adjutant of the battalion under command of Colonel John R. Baylor at Fort Bliss. Later as his battalion moved northward, toward Indian Territory, more

and more responsibility devolved upon him and he was given command of his regiment. Major Looscan, time and again proved himself a distinguished soldier, and his bravery was outstanding. In a general order issued by Major General Samuel Bell Maxey, headquarters at Houston, in 1865, Major Looscan's name is listed as acting inspector general.

After the troops were disbanded, nearly a month after the surrender of General Lee at Appomattox, he spent a short time in Colorado County, near Eagle Lake, and taught school there for a few months and from there to Lampasas County, where for a few months he taught school at the home of Dr. Robert McAnally of McAnally's Bend. In 1866 he had suc- ceeded in saving two hundred dollars, and, having been admitted to the bar shortly before the outbreak of hostilities, decided to go to Houston and begin the practice of his profession. Judge William S. Oldham offered him desk space in his office and the young lawyer was launched on his career. Later, at the death of Judge Oldham, in 1868, he rented an office in the old Pillot Building, Congress and Fan- nin Streets, where he remained for many years. These first years, with the country undergoing the severe period of reconstruction, required persistence and optimism, but his name was becoming known as that of one of the most promising young men of the Bar.

In 1870 when the republican legislature created the office of county attorney, Major Looscan was elected to this office by the commissioners court, representing Harris County in various suits, and six years later was again elected to this office, this time by vote of the people. During the "Carpet Bag Period," Major Looscan distinguished himself by his integrity and his faithfulness to the duties of his office, and by his close adherence to this duty, saved to the citizens of Harris County hundreds of thou- sands of dollars. He continued to hold this office for ten years, always guarding the interests of the people with watchfulness and defending them with vigor. During this time political enemies tried un- successfully to defeat his nomination, the matter finally coming before the Supreme Court of the State of Texas, with a decision in his favor, but not until too late to secure his nomination in 1880.

Having made a large acquaintance and acquired a lucrative practice, and free from the interruptions incident to holding public office, he now applied himself assiduously to his private practice, greatly adding to the already favorable impression he had made. From this time on his progress was rapid, and while he did not again hold office he had a wide influence on much of the legislation of the day, and in political activities. He was instrumental in the election of Governor Hogg, at which time his opposition to the assumption of power by corpora- tions was attracting wide attention. Governor Hogg offered him any position within his gift, which he declined, but later consented to serve on the board of managers of the Confederate Home, an office "of large honors but small emoluments." Soon after this, he refused the office of brigadier general of the State Militia, but accepted a commission as aide- de-camp on the governor's staff.

Major Looscan was a Christian of abounding faith, a true Southern gentleman, and a citizen of highest order. The prosperity of his State and fellowmen meant far more to him than his own prosperity, and

852

Alsouseau

Adile

B. Broseau.

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

he was a staunch advocate of every movement put forward to hasten the re-construction of the land he loved. The later years of his career, were character- ized by this same adherence to high ideals, and he won to him friends by the hundreds. His death, which occurred the seventh of September, 1897, was not only a distinct loss to his city, but to the State as well, and was cause for sincere regret to those many who had known and come in contact with the man.

Major Looscan was married in Houston on Sep- tember 13, 1881, to Miss Adele Lubbock Briscoe. She was born at Harrisburg, Harris County, Texas. Her parents were Andrew Briscoe, and Mary Jane Harris. Her father was prominent in the Texas Revolution and in the movements of the citizens which led up to it. Her grandfather was one of "The Old Three Hundred" of Austin's first colonists. He was the founder of Harrisburg and the town, as well as the County of Harris, was named in his honor.

The County of Briscoe was named in honor of Judge Andrew Briscoe, he having been a signer of the Declaration of Texas Independence, and a cap- tain of regulars in the Battle of San Jacinto, and first chief justice of Harris County. Mrs. Looscan's family names are thus linked closely with the history of Texas.

Mrs. Looscan was educated at Miss Mary B. Browne's Young Ladies School at Houston. During her life she has been very active in the social and literary circles of Houston. She was one of the organizers and the first president of the Ladies Reading Club; and was one of the organizers and for nine years chairman of the executive board of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas.

She contributed three articles to "A Comprehen- sive History of Texas," edited by Dudley G. Wooten and published by W. G. Scarff, viz: "Noted Women, and Social Life in the Days of the Colonies, the Revolution and the Republic," "The Evolution of the Texas Flag" and "Tombs and Monuments Erected to Noted Texans." She was a charter member of the Texas State Historical Association and since 1915 has been president of this organization. Since the death of her husband in 1897, she has lived in her mother's home, on the same block with her own former home. Here are clustered many mementos, pictures of family homes in England and the other States, the old Harris Mansion at Harrisburg, Penn- sylvania, and the equally historic one of Texas, the Birdsall home of Western New York, and the first Briscoe home of Houston, tell the tale of pioneer life running through many generations.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 131

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