New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 134

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

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876

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Who Hloume Powars Cushing

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

highest spirit of civic achievement. This he did, and the C. L. and Theo. Bering, Jr., Inc., since the death of Mr. Bond in 1923, under the management of his son, Edward J., was one of the largest firms of its kind in Houston, and stood highest in public esteem. On August 18, 1924, the store burned.

Mr. Bond was married in New Orleans, the twen- ty-third of April, 1895, to Miss Mary Ellen Flana- gan, a native of New Orleans, daughter of P. J. Flanagan, whose birthplace was in Ireland and who came with his parents to the United States at the age of three years, and has since resided in New Orleans, and is now eighty-four years of age. Mr. Flanagan served during the Civil War, on the side of the Confederacy. Mrs. Bond's mother, before her marriage Miss Johanna Covney, was also a native of the Emerald Isle, coming to America with her parents as an infant.

Mr. and Mrs. Bond had a family of four children, three of whom, Viola, wife of B. J. Heiman, Vice- President of the C. L. and Theo. Bering, Jr., Inc., and who has two children, Mary Ellen and Frances Jane; Edward J. Bond, Secretary-Treasurer and Manager of the C. L. and Theo. Bering, Jr., Inc., and who married Miss Lena Reed; and a daughter, Miss Mary Catherine, survive. One child, Joseph Arthur, deceased.

Mr. Bond died February 21st, 1923, at his home, 801 West Main Street. He was an Elk, a Lion, a member of the T. P. A. of the Turnverein, the Rotary Club, and at the time of his death Commo- dore of the Houston Launch Club.

His activities in the civic life of his city, while of a practical nature, and allied with commercial in- terests, were many. He took pride in civic growth and development, in the bringing of new business to his city, in the fostering of new enterprises, and was active in promoting these activities. Mr. Bond was a member of the Catholic Church. A man of true Christian citizenship, of highest integrity and soundest business principles, his death was a dis- tinct loss to his community, and deeply regretted by the many friends he had made during the quar- ter of a century of his residence here.

REDERICK H. POTTHOFF, veteran bot- tling man of the Lone Star State, and operator of the oldest established bottling plant in Texas, has for upwards of four decades been a leader in the bottling industry at Houston. Mr. Potthoff is partner and manager of the Union Bottling Works at Houston, a business which he established in 1881, and has operated con- tinuously since. The plant is located at 1010 Mc- Kinney Avenue, and has a daily capacity of one thousand cases. Mr. Potthoff manufactures all kinds of soda water and soft beverages, and sells his products in Houston and the Houston trade ter- ritory, where the products marketed under the Union Bottling Works label are of recognized ex- cellence. A force of nine operatives are employed in the plant, and five motor trucks take care of distribution in Houston. The business is a part- nership, composed of Frederick H. Potthoff, the subject of this sketch; George E. Pothoff, and B. H. Vordenbaum.

Mr. Potthoff was born in Prussia, Germany, the first of October, 1856, and spent his boyhood in his native country. At the age of sixteen years he came to the United States, landing at Galveston,

and began in the bottling business in that city. After seven years at Galveston in the bottling bus- iness he came to Houston, starting a bottling busi- ness of his own in a very small way, and gradually growing until his plant here is one of the largest in the Lone Star State.

Mr. Potthoff was married at Houston, the thir- teenth of April, 1882, to Miss Louise Hendricksen, a native of Houston, and the daughter of George Hendricksen, one of the pioneers of this city. The Potthoff family for many years have made their home over the plant, where they have a modern apartment. They have a family of eight children, Garrie, wife of A. E. Konken, of Houston; Annie, wife of B. H. Vordenbaum, a member of the bottling firm; George Potthoff, also a member of the firm, and who is married and has two children, a boy and a girl; Edna, a trained nurse, on duty in the hospital of Monterey, Mexico; Katherine, Ruth, Myrtle and Lillian Potthoff, who are at home. Mr. Potthoff is a member of the Sons of Herman and the Saengerbund, of Houston, and belongs to several fraternal orders, the Knights of Pythias and the Dokies. Mr. Potthoff is known throughout the Lone Star State for his association with the bottling industry, and has done much to place this business on its present plane. His success in the manufac- turing world, achieved entirely by his own efforts, gives him a place among the selfmade men of Houston, and his business associations here have made him a factor in industrial development.

J. COHN came to Houston thirteen years ago, and since that time has been identi- fied with various commercial activities, centering around the mercantile trade. Since 1918 he has been owner of the H. J. Cohn Furniture Company, which business he established in that year. A period of growth, due in large measure to Mr. Cohn's business policy and integrity, has marked this firm, which is now recognized as one of the most progressive house-furnishing establishments in this city. Mr. Cohn, who handles both wholesale and re- tail furniture trade, has a complete stock of furni- ture, including carpets and rugs, and occupies a modern business building, comprising nearly fifty thousand square feet of floor space, and located in the heart of the city, at 1205-7 Congress Avenue. Mr. Cohn, is the sole owner of the business, and has a force of thirty-two employees.

Mr. Cohn was born in Iowa, in 1879, son of E. Cohn, a retired merchant of that state. He received his education in the public schools of his native state, and his first business venture was a clothing sales- man for an Iowa firm. He was on the road, covering Iowa, Illinois, and South Dakota, until 1910. In this year he came to Houston, on a visit to friends. Mr. Cohn was at once impressed with the future this city offered, and decided to make this his home. He went in business in a short time, opening the National Clothing store, dealing in men's and women's cloth- ing, ready-to-wear, shoes and furnishings. In 1918 he sold this business, and opened his present estab- lishment.

Mr. Cohn was married in Iowa, in 1904, to Miss Etta Sigel, a native of that state. They make their home in Houston at 200 Westmoreland Avenue, and have four children: Ruth, Harold, Celeste, and Aleice.

881

MEN OF TEXAS

OLOMON ELTON BARROW, whose highly successful efforts in behalf of better farm- ing and ranching made him a figure of prominence, was for many years identified with history-making events in Chambers County and closely associated with the men of his time who were directing and shaping public opinion. A native of Chambers County, Mr. Barrow spent his entire life there, engaging extensively in farming and ranching operations, incorporating in these activities the best and most approved methods with an unvarying success. He was a firm believer in diversified agriculture and he demonstrated to his neighbors how agriculture can be made profitable. He planted considerable sugar cane and the products from his sugar mill were of the best. Mr. Barrow, while thus taking an important part in developing and cultivating the lands of the county, and adding materially to its reputation as a stock raising sec- tion, also did his share of public duties and as a public official occupied a place of high confidence, a trust he never betrayed. At the time of his death he was serving as county commissioner of Cham- bers County, a position he filled with distinction, demonstrating his ability and his real devotion to the best interests of his fellow citizens.

Mr. Barrow was born in Chambers County, Texas, on the second day of April, 1868, son of Benjamin Franklin Barrow, also a native of this county, and one of the pioneer stockmen and planters of this section; and Sarah Middleton Barrow, also a native of Texas. Mr. Barrow attended the rural schools of Chambers County, later going to Woodville, where he finished his education. He then returned to his home and entered upon his career as planter and ranchman. To these pursuits he devoted the whole of his life, acquiring both the esteem and respect of his fellowmen, and wealth.

Mr. Barrow was married September the twenty- fourth, 1889, to Miss Annie Leora Sterling, like himself a native of Chambers County. Her father, B. F. Sterling, one of the pioneer planters and business men of this county, came here from his native home in Mississippi with his parents during his boyhood, and after spending some years in Tyler and Liberty Counties, came to Chambers County. He was the father of a family of twelve children, ten of whom are still living, and counted among the most prominent of Texas' citizens. The family is one of whom the state is justly proud, and Mr. Sterling will be remembered as one of the most honored and admired, as well as one of the best read men of his community. Mrs. Barrow's mother, Mrs. Mary Bryan Sterling, was born in Liberty, Texas, the daughter of John Bryan, a native of Louisiana, who came to Texas in the early thir- ties and at one time enjoyed the distinction of owning more land than any other man in Texas. Mrs. Barrow is a charming and lovable lady, typical of the old South, successful as a helpmeet to her late husband, and as a mother to her children. The children have inherited the charm and personality of their parents.

Mr. and Mrs. Barrow had a family of three chil- dren, Gladys Leora, wife of John A. Deering, a well known independent oil operator of Houston, and who has two children, Gladys Marie and Eve- lyn; Graydon Elton Barrow, with the Humble Oil and Refining Company, at Goose Creek, Texas, and who is married and has four children, Dorothy, Lois,

Annie Fay and Sterling Elton; Miss Florence Na- dyne, who resides with her mother at 405 Haw- thorne Street, Houston. Miss Barrow is a beauti- ful and talented young lady, popular in social, music and amateur dramatic circles.

Mr. Barrow died at his home in Chambers County on the twenty-sixth of December, 1907. Of his life it may be truly said that he served well. To his community he gave an untiring devotion, acting at all times for the welfare and progress of his fellowmen. To his business he gave an indefatig- able energy, as a cattleman using his influence for the betterment of the industry, and as a planter endeavoring to raise the agricultural standards of his section. He was genial, a friend to all, and beloved by all, and his death was the cause of a sincere regret on the part of all who knew him.

HOMAS JEFFERSON CARRAWAY-The name of Thomas Jefferson Carraway, one of the most honored of the pioneers of the Lone Star State, has associated with it many triumphs and honors, and will ever hold a prominent place on the list of the real builders of the State. Mr. Carraway was closely associated with men and events that were making the early history of Texas, and in these events took a promi- nent and eager part. A veteran editor, Mr. Carra- way established the first newspaper in the south- east part of the State, and this paper, the Jasper Newsboy, was followed by the establishment of other papers in various cities in this section. As an editor he did much effective work toward mould- ing sentiment favorable to civic development. Mr. Carraway was also a lawyer of note, few lawyers of his time being more expert in determining the merits of a case upon proper statement of facts.

Thomas Jefferson Carraway was born in Cham- bers County, Texas, the 7th of January, 1844. His father, Patrick Henry Carraway, a native of North Carolina, came to Texas in the early forties and was for years a planter and attorney whose name was associated with distinctions. His later years were spent in Nacogdoches. His mother, whose maiden name was Shelton, was a native of the Lone Star State and the daughter of one of the early pioneer families.

Thomas Jefferson Carraway attended the country schools of that day, and as a young man joined the Confederate army, fighting with distinction through- out the conflict. After the close of the war he re- turned to his home, and after a brief visit went to Jasper, where he entered a law office and began the study of this profession. He displayed marked aptitude in his studies and was soon able to take the bar examinations and was admitted to the bar. He then began the practice that was to bring him fame in his profession, and continued to follow this vocation for many years. He also established the first newspaper in this section, the Jasper Newsboy, which he issued from a small press at Jasper. In 1881 he removed to Nacogdoches and bought out the Nacogdoches News and the Nacogdoches Star, com- bining the two as the Star-News, which he issued for many years. Later he took over other papers, among them the Chronicle, at Nacogdoches, the trade name of which his family still owns. These papers he operated until his death. He was also active in procuring for the Bremonds the right of way for their railroad and named most of the sta-

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Imso. D. E. Barrow

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

tions. Many other activities felt the trace of his influence and in and around Nacogdoches are many memorials to his name.

Mr. Carraway was married at Jasper, Texas, the ninth of February, 1871, to Miss Sarah Alice Green, whose death occurred the twenty-seventh of March, 1923. She was a native of Camden, Arkansas, and the daughter of Robert F. Green and Mary Ann Armstrong Green. Her father came to Texas when she was a child of nine years, locating at Sabine Pass, where he lived many years, owning many thousands of acres of land in that section and more than half of the town of Sabine Pass, where he also had a large wholesale mercantile business. Mr. and Mrs. Carraway lived for many years in the old Sam Houston home in Nacogdoches, which Mr. Car- raway purchased in 1881. It was here he died the twelfth of July, 1901. He was buried in the ceme- tery at Nacogdoches. In 1905 Mrs. Carraway moved to Houston, living at 1104 Tuam Avenue until her recent death.

Mr. and Mrs. Carraway had a family of eight children-Thomas Jefferson, Jr., who died in 1885; Lola, wife of R. F. Brown, of Waco, and who has three children; Robert Edgar, Joe Carraway, and Maurine; Miss Ella Carraway; Genie, widow of Giles R. Crane, whose death occurred in 1900; Miss Nina Carraway, Robert Henry Carraway of Mineola, editor of the Mineola Monitor and prominent in the newspaper world, who married Miss Minnie Semple and who has three children, Minnie Alice, Robert H. Junior and Marguretta; Miss Agnes Gertrude Carraway and Joe Kenan Carraway, who married Miss Ethel Cobb, whose death occurred the first of November, 1922, and by whom he had three chil- dren, Josephine, Mary Frances and Joe Kenan, Jr. These children are at the Carraway home, and since the death of their mother, in 1922, and their grand- mother, in 1923, have been cared for by their aunts.

Thomas Jefferson Carraway was a charter mem- ber of Holland Lodge, Houston, and one of the very first thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Masons in Texas. He was also an honored member of El Mina Temple Shrine at Galveston, and the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Carraway was an interesting and clever speaker, conversant with all the questions of the day, and a keen student of modern life. He was honest and steadfast in political convictions, a pub- lic-spirited citizen who used his influence as editor to the advantage of his community, and a real Chris- tian who in his daily life gave evidence of the sin- cerity of his convictions. His life, so richly lived, and of such wide influence in his community, is an inspiration to those who knew him, and he will long live in the hearts of his many friends.

EORGE HENRY PENDARVIS .- Prominent on the list of the pioneers of Houston stands the name of George Henry Pen- darvis, who, during an unusually useful and busy life, did much effective work toward building his city, and who, as a lawyer, made a splen- did record, winning many distinctions in his pro- fession. Mr. Pendarvis was a member of the school board for twelve years, serving on this board under five mayors, and always took a deep interest in edu- cational measures. During the almost half a cen- tury of his residence at Houston he was connected with many enterprises of civic importance, and was

always especially devoted to the best interests of his community. Mr. Pendarvis was for thirty-five years, one of the leading attorneys of the City, dur- ing this time handling many important legal matters, and holding the highest esteem of all who knew him.

George Henry Pendarvis was born in Louisiana, the twelfth of July, 1854. He spent his boyhood there, attending the schools near his home, and came to Houston as a young man, in 1876. He be- gan work with the Morgan lines as telegraph oper- ator, and later became a train dispatcher, during which time he studied law. He was admitted to the Bar in 1887, and began his practice in Houston, in association with Captain James A. Baker. A little later he organized the Houston Abstract Com- pany, one of the old abstract firms of this City, and was with it for a number of years. Later, when the Houston Abstract Company, was merged with the Houston Land & Trust Company, Mr. Pendarvis be- came general attorney for the corporation and held this position until his death. He was a leading au- thority on all matters pertaining to land titles and land litigation. Mr. Pendarvis also engaged in gen- eral practice, and had a large clientele. His activi- ties in civic matters were especially noteworthy, and he always took a leading part in any movement di- rected toward the welfare of Houston. While on the school board he gave his earnest attention to raising the standards of education in the public schools and was instrumental in having many meas- ures adopted that materially affected the welfare of the student body. In all the activities of the Bar Association he took a leading and interested part, and in this, as in his work on the school board, used his influence to raise the standards of the associa- tion.

Mr. Pendarvis was married at Gibson, Louisiana, the seventh of May, 1877, to Miss Mary Gaffney. Ten children were born of the union, eight of whom are living. These children are: George H. Jr., Mar- garet, Charles D., whose death occurred in 1920; Frank A., who married Miss Vera Rutlege; Harry L., Thomas A., who is married to Miss Margaret Leh- man, and has one child, Frances; John B., Sylvester C, of Hammond, Louisiana, who married Miss Helen Babington, and who has two children, George H., the Third, and James B .; Joseph Edwin, and James A., who died in infancy. Mrs. Pendarvis was a de- voted wife and mother, happy in her home and fam- ily, and taking an interest in the various social ac- tivities of her community.

George Henry Pendarvis died at his home in Hous- ton, at 1910 Walker Avenue, the thirtieth of August, 1923, at the age of sixty-nine years. Funeral serv- ices were held from the Annunciation Church, with burial in Holy Cross Cemetery. Mr. Pendarvis was a member of the Knights of Columbus, and the Harris County Bar Association, both of which lost an enthusiastic, devoted member. To his many friends in the City his death was a distinct loss, and sincerely mourned. These friendships, many of them dated back almost half a century, and all were those real friendships that only death can sever. Steadfast in all his relations with his fellowmen, Mr. Pendarvis served his community faithfully and well, and the history of his life will always be a bright page in the history of his city, and an inspira- tion to those who knew him.

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MEN OF TEXAS

LMON COTTON-American civilization oc- casionally develops a leader qualified by nature to direct with unerring hand great industries and activities, and such a man was Almon Cotton, whose life for more than a decade in Houston had wide influence on the pros- perity of the city. Not to one activity, but to many enterprises, he gave his interest, and with a keen judgment of business and men built up a success in all. Interests as varied as mining, hotel build- ing, merchandising, appealed to him, found him eager and ready to put his hand to the helm, and yet he was distinctly human, a man to whom hu- manity appealed even more than the fascination of directing large endeavors. At no time in his life did he neglect his duties as a citizen and place the welfare of his fellowmen under that of his busi- ness, and it was perhaps this trait, rather than his real business ability, that won him hosts of friends from every station in life, and the admiration of all who came in contact with him.

Mr. Cotton had for his birthplace the town of Watertown, New York, where he was born on the thirteenth of July, 1857, the son of John Cotton, a native of New York, and Betsy Ann Brookway Cotton, also a native of New York. Mr. Cotton at- tended the schools of Michigan, and after finish- ing his education went to Denver, Colorado, and engaged in the mercantile business, operating two stores, a furniture store and a piano store. He also took an active interest in the development of the mineral resources of that state and had large in-' terests in various mines there. After two decades in Colorado Mr. Cotton came to Texas, spending a year and a half in Fort Worth and a like period in Dallas, where he engaged in the loan and investment business, operating a business that had offices in all parts of Texas. In 1911 he began the erection of the Cotton Hotel at Houston, finishing this in 1913, and operating it with special reference to the needs of the traveling man, to whom the enterprise was dedicated. While his hotel interests were in the nature of a hobby, Mr. Cotton had been him- self a traveling man and appreciated what influ- ence a hotel could have in his life. He gave the enterprise the same attention that had marked his success in other lines, and the Cotton Hotel was a success from the start. This hotel, one of the finest small hotels in Houston, is a ten-story struc- ture and modern in every detail. Mr. Cotton also bought a lot at the corner of Walker and Main Streets and was planning for a second hotel at the time of his death. During the World War Mr. Cotton was one of the largest buyers of Liberty Bonds at Houston, and also a liberal contributor to the Red Cross and other like organizations. At this period of his life much of his time was spent at Hot Springs, Arkansas, to which place his in- terest in Arkansas mines had taken him. He spent a great deal of money in development work there, especially in the Kellogg Mine near Little Rock, and at the time of his death it was down four hundred and fifty feet.

Mr. Cotton was married July 5th, 1877, to Miss Anna Shaner, a native of Ohio, and daughter of George and Mary E. Houck Shaner, the former a native of Maryland, and the latter a native of Penn- sylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Cotton had an ideal married life, taking great pride in their home life and in

their family of six children. These children are: Orville Cotton, a business man of New Orleans, who is married and has one child; George E. Cotton of Hot Springs, Arkansas, who is married and has five children; Dorothy, wife of the late P. M. Dobbs of Houston, and who has three children; Mildred, wife of DeWitt T. Ware of Washington, D. C .; Marguerite, wife of S. D. Skeen of Denver, Colorado, and who has four children; and Dixie Lee, wife of William K. Herrin, Jr., of Mississippi, and who has one child. Mrs. Cotton makes her home at the Cotton Hotel at Houston.

Mr. Cotton was a thirty-second degree Mason, a member of the Consistory of Little Rock, and a Shriner of the Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Temple. A man whose career spelled "progress," Mr. Cotton made his way to the top of the ladder of success, and while building a success endeared himself to all who knew him by his sterling qualities and genuine manhood. His death, on the fifth of March, 1922, was the cause of sincere regret wherever he had been associated, and was a loss to commercial and industrial enterprises.

UGH HAMILTON, whose unusual and va- ried career was associated with the history of Houston, from his arrival in the city in 1879 until his death, nearly four decades later, was one of those safe, sane, sensible men, capable of bearing burdens, and imbued with pur- pose, that are invariably leaders in their commu- nities. Mr. Hamilton had a genius for making things go, for organization, that found outlet in a business career as varied as it was interesting. His life policy was to establish an industry, start some enterprise, take some business, and reorganize it, develop it and make of it a going concern, that stood as a triumph not alone to his genius, but to his city.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 134

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