New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 135

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

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Mr. Hamilton had for his birthplace County Ty- ronne, Ireland, spending his youth in this country that has fostered so many geniuses. In 1869 he came to the land of opportunity, America, to win success in a new world. He went first to Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania, spending seven years with the Baldwin Locomotive works as a machinist. But Mr. Hamilton had set a high standard for himself, and as soon as the opportunity presented itself he gave up this work and struck out for himself in 1876. His first venture was an ice plant, which he established at San Antonio shortly after his arrival in that city in 1876. This plant was the first ice factory to be built in Texas. After getting the plant on a going basis Mr. Hamilton sold it in 1879 and came to Houston, walking most of the way, as there was no railroad at that time. He began work for the Miller Brewing Company, spending a year with that firm. In the latter part of 1880 he built a five-ton ice plant at Houston, the first to be built in the city, and two years later, in 1882, with the assistance of several friends, he built the large Mag- nolia Brewery and was president of it until the country went dry. He then established the Mag- nolia Dairy Products Company, one of the largest dairy products concerns in this territory. Mr. Ham- ilton also had other large interests in Houston. He took over the old Rice Hotel as leasee, operating it until it was torn down to make way for the fine new hotel that now stands on this site. Later he

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was lessee of the Cotton Hotel and the Bender Ho- tel and half owner of the Brazos Hotel. He organ- ized and controlled the Central Texas Ice, Light and Water Company, which owned and operated ice plants and electric light plants throughout Central Texas, and had numerous other interests. He had an interest in the Galvez Hotel in Galveston, and in ice and cold storage plants in that city. He believed in the future of the Rio Grande Valley country, building ice plants and backing other enterprises there. He was one of the first oil operators at Spindle Top, and later over the entire State and into Louisiana and Oklahoma, also entering the refinery business.

Mr. Hamilton was married at Houston, the nine- teenth of November, 1880, to Miss Mary Wickham, a native of the Lone Star State. Mr. and Mrs. Ham- ilton were the parents of four children, Julia, Mae, wife of Paul Pollock, an attorney of Bloomington, Illinois, and who has two children, Mary Jane and Nancy Hamilton Pollock; Hugh, Jr., whose death oc- curred in 1911, and Agnes.

Mr. Hamilton was one of the most public spirited of Houston's citizens. His influence was a large factor in obtaining for the city the advantages af- forded by the ship channel. He donated the land to build the Franklin and Milam Street bridge across the channel. His generosity was not con- fined to these two things, but extended to every activity that could make for the welfare of his community. Mr. Hamilton also offered assistance to many young men just starting on their business career, and there are today in Houston many suc- cessful and prosperous business men whom he first gave the opportunity that led to this success. He took a prominent part in club and social activities and was a member of the Roman Catholic Church, the Elks, the Irish-American Club and the Turn- verein Lodge. His death was a distinct loss to the entire city, his hosts of friends, drawn from every walk of life, feeling a sincere sorrow.

RANK J. MINOR began his business career as a Printer when fourteen years of age and has been engaged in the various branches of the printing industry since that time. Mr. Minor, with his partner, Mr. W. T. Kru- ger, own and operate the Minor Printing Company, located at 1112-14 Franklin Avenue, where they em- ploy forty experienced people and have one of the largest and best equipped newspaper and job print- ing plants in Houston. Mr. Minor first established a printing shop in this city in 1912 in a very small way, with no employees, doing all the work of his shop himself. They now print the Houston Dis- patch, which is a new daily morning newspaper, and several other newspapers, many weekly and monthly papers and various magazines, and do all classes of job printing.

Mr. Minor was born near Nashville, Tennessee, November 6, 1867. His father, Joseph Minor, was a native of Indiana and served in the Civil War, and died ten years after the close of this conflict from the effects of bullet wounds received while serving his country. His mother (now deceased) was Miss Elizabeth Towsen, a member of a prominent family of Tennessee. Mr. Minor's opportunities for receiv- ing an education were limited and he attended the public schools of his native State for only a short

time, and the liberal education which he obtained in later years was through self help. He began his business career as a printer in a printing establish- ment of Nashville, Tennessee, and remained in this shop for three years, and later worked at this pro- fession in various parts of the United States, and came to Houston thirty years ago, where he worked in various plants until entering business for himself, in which he has met with great success.

Mr. Minor was married in Trinity County, Texas, August 2, 1899, to Miss Eva Kelley, a native of the Lone Star State and a member of a well known family of East Texas. They have four children, Elizabeth, now the wife of Roland Welsh, and who has one son; Helen, now the wife of S. Wallace Moore; Frank H. Minor, and Towsen. Mr. and Mrs. Minor reside at 2510 Baldwin Street. Mr. Minor is a member of the B. P. O. E., and takes an active interest in this organization. Mr. Minor, during his long residence in the South Texas Metropolis, has made many friends, and is popular in the business circles of the city. He has always been deeply in- terested in all agencies working for the greater de- velopment and civic improvement of Houston, and believes that with its wonderful opportunities, this city will soon become the greatest of the Southwest.

ICHARD J. ROLLE, has for a number of years, been one of the group of merchants who have taken a large part in shaping commercial activities of Houston, and his name carries a prestige that is an asset to the busi- ness with which he is connected. The progressive firm of Rolle, Jewett & Beck was established in 1919, by Mr. Rolle, in association with Don F. Beck and Harry B. Jewett, men of recognized standing in the mercantile world, and who take an active interest in civic development. Mr. Rolle is mana- ger and buyer for the firm, Mr. Jewett, finance- manager, and Mr. Beck, advertising manager and in charge of all the display. They operate an ex- clusively men's store, catering to men and young men who appreciate the best clothing and furnish- ings. They make a specialty of quality, and the Rolle, Jewett & Beck Label in a garment is suf- ficient to guarantee it to the most discriminating. They occupy a modern store building at 811-13 Main Street that is equipped with beautiful new fixtures. It ranks as one of the best equipped stores in the City.

Mr. Rolle was born at Topeka, Kansas, in Febru- ary, 1885, son of Edward Rolle, a native of Ger- many, who came to the United States as a young man, his death occurring in 1892, shortly after he had moved with his family to Texas. Mr. Rolle was educated in the Houston Public Schools, and, after leaving school in 1903, went with Hutchinson & Mitchell, as a salesman in their clothing depart- ment. In 1912 he was made a member of the firm and manager of the clothing department, holding this position until 1919, when, with Mr. Jewett and Mr. Beck he organized the present firm.

Mr. Rolle was married at Houston, in 1913, to Miss Helen Johnson, a native of Sioux City, Iowa. They have two children, Richard Edward, and Helen Margaret. Mr. Rolle is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Turnverein Club, and the Houston Saengerbund. The family attend the Lutheran Church, of which Mr. Rolle is a director.

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MEN OF TEXAS

ILLIAM WARE, pioneer lumberman of Texas, whose activities in connection with the lumber business brought him in close touch with the entire lumber industry of this section, was well known in this field and had many friends among the lumbermen generally. Mr. Ware was associated with the lumber business from the year 1884 until his death, giving to every phase of this industry his careful and interested attention, and taking part in its progress and development. With the opening of his first mill, lumber became his hobby, and it was his greatest pleasure and pride to watch his business grow, from a small beginning in the little town of Edna to the great enterprise, rank- ing among the leading lumber businesses of Houston.

The story of Mr. Ware's life reads like a book of modern fiction. The son of English parents, born at Kensal-Green, Paddington, in the shrine of the city of London, England, on the twenty-ninth day of July, 1858, he spent his boyhood in his native coun- try. The age of fourteen finds him just out of Saint Mary's College, at Woolhampton, Berkshire, Eng- land, "for some reason unbeknown to himself, placed on board of a ship at Liverpool, that plied between the port of Lisborn on the Mediterranean Sea, the West Indies and New Orleans, in America." The words are Mr. Ware's own, taken from the story of his life, written by himself, shortly before his death. The voyage was evidently not a great pleasure to the young boy, for he speaks of the hardships of the voyage and of his bedraggled appearance when he landed at New Orleans on the first of January, 1872. His stay at that port was of short duration, the sight of a Morgan side wheel steamer catching his fancy, and a few days later he was walking down the streets of Galveston. Here he went to work for the P. H. Hennessy & Brothers Hardware Store, a position which offered a few old clothes and a sal- ary of, to give his own words, "twenty-five cents for a year's work, with something to eat, and sup- pose my tattered appearance deserved nothing more."

Just about this time the tide of fortune changed for the boy, and he met Mr. Engleke, who also had a hardware store, on Tremont Street, in Galveston, who, out of admiration for his pluck and industry, offered him employment at three dollars a week and board, selling him new clothing, which William Ware agreed to pay out of his salary, but which his employer would never deduct. He remained with Mr. Engleke until the latter's death, then after the storm of 1875 once more shipped, this time on the Diana, and the next day found himself in Houston. For a decade he remained in this city, then in 1884 went to Edna, in Jackson County, Texas, where he opened his first small lumber business. From that time on his advancement in the world of business was rapid, and in 1895 he sold out his interests at Edna, came to Houston and bought out the stock of the Bayou City Lumber Company, establishing the Ware Lum- ber Company on the corner of Eleventh Street and Railroad, in the old First Ward. Mr. Ware continued at the head of this company until his death, at which time it was one of the leading businesses in the city.

William Ware was married to Miss Ida Baring, daughter of Otto Baring, of Columbus, Texas, in 1886, and had three children, Eva, William and Zu- leika Ware. Of these children, the daughter Eva is now deceased, the son William is married, making

his home in Dallas and has three children, Eliza- beth, Mary Lynn and William Jr. Mr. Ware grad- uated from the University of Texas in 1914 with the L. L. B. degree and is a member of the legal depart- ment of the Barrett Roofing Company in Dallas. Miss Zuleika Ware graduated from Rice Institute in 1920 with an A. B. degree and since that time has been engaged in teaching history in the Heights Senior High School. Of his wife, Mr. Ware said in his autobiography, "The success of my business I owe to my wife. She has lived for my promotion, her greatest joy was my success. Her cheering words always gave me strength and hope and made me realize the cherished dreams of my hopes and ambitions."

Mr. Ware's death, occurring in Houston, May 25th, 1922, was sincerely mourned by his many friends and associates in the lumber business who had found him a loyal friend, and by his hosts of friends drawn from every walk in life. A man of sterling char- acter, implacable honesty and integrity, he won suc- cess, and at the same time friends. His outstanding characteristics were kindliness, a sincerity of pur- pose, and Christian citizenship that marked and in- fluenced his entire life, and his memory will be one of the bright spots in the history of the lumber industry.

LAVILLUS NATHANIEL GRAY. In re- counting the history of the development of the rice growing industry in the Lone Star State, the name of Flavillus Nathaniel Gray stands out as a pioneer in this field, who contributed a very material service to his State. As early as 1901 Mr. Gray began to advocate the growing of rice in Texas, and in which he saw a great future. He contributed many articles to the press in general along this line, creating a public opinion favorable to the highest development of the industry. In that same year, 1901, he established a magazine entirely devoted to the interests of rice growing and the rice grower, the first of such magazines, and a medium which proved no small factor in creating an interest in this resource. Passing years did not dim his interest in this industry, and he made many further contributions to the literature of rice grow- ing, also holding the position of United States Cot- ton Statistician, from October 11, 1905, until his death.

Mr. Gray was born on Waterloo Plantation, As- cension Parish, Louisiana, on the twenty-second of November, 1855, son of David Ichabod Gray, a South Carolina, and Sarah Jane Fuqua Gray, a native of Louisiana. As a boy Mr. Gray learned the printing business in his uncle's office, attending school until he was sixteen years of age. At seventeen he as- sumed the management of the large plantation be- longing to his grandfather, and spent a number of years there. Several years after attaining his ma- jority, he went to Baton Rouge, and a year later, at twenty-five, was chosen editor of the Ascension Democrat, at Donaldsonville, Louisiana, editing this paper for four years, at which time he resigned to become the editor of the Houma Courier. In 1889 Mr. Gray came to Texas, bringing his bride, soon locating in Houston, where he took up journalistic work, publishing several papers and periodicals. In 1890 he was elected Secretary of the Houston Manu- facturers Association, holding this position until 1901, when he began his work in behalf of the rice

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growing industry. Four years later he also be- came a special agent in cotton investigation, Bureau of Statistics, United States Department of Agricul- ture, under James Wilson, Secretary.

Mr. Gray was married the eleventh of March, 1889, to Mrs. Bettie Goode Winder, a widow, and the daughter of Flavillus Sidney Goode, lifelong friend of Mr. Gray's father, and best man at his wedding, and for whom the subject of this sketch was named. Mrs. Gray's mother, before her mar- riage, Miss Sara Donaldson Perry, was a native of Louisiana, and her father, a native of Alabama.

Mr. and Mrs. Gray came directly to Texas after their marriage. Houston being thereafter their home, with the exception of three years spent in other places in Texas. The family residence at 1412 Hawthorne Street, was the scene of many pleasant hospitalities, and was made delightful by the at- mosphere of culture and refinement created by them. Mrs. Gray was the ideal companion for a man of the intellectual talents of Mr. Gray, and she was his inspiration throughout his career. To her two children by her former marriage he proved a real father, sharing with her the problems and pleasures of rearing them. These children are Van P. Winder, of the Humble Oil and Refining Com- pany, and who married Miss Ethel Pitcher and has one son, Van P., Junior; and Sadie, wife of John E. Wickes, of the Texas Company, and who has one daughter, Elbeth Vesta.

Mr. Gray's death was very sudden, occurring at the corner of Yupon and Kensington Avenue, on the morning of March the twentieth, 1923, while he was on his way to the Chamber of Commerce to join other members of the Agricultural Department. Mr. Gray was a man of exceptional mental attainments, occupying a distinguished place, in the life of his city. On questions concerning the rice industry and the cotton industry, he was a foremost authority, and did much to further the interests of these im- portant factors in the prosperity of Texas. A man of distinguished bearing he was respected in any gathering, and with his talents for affairs was often accorded a place of leadership. His powers he used with indefatigable industry, and always to- ward a worthy end, and during the many years of his career accomplished many things which will stand as memorials to his name. A staunch Demo- crat, a true friend and lover of humanity, Flavillus Nathaniel Gray remained true to his standards to the end, and his death has left vacant a place in the life of Houston that will long remain unfilled.

MARTIN. The name of T. Martin, whose career was so closely associated with the history of the cattle industry in the Lone Star State, represents one of the finest types of Texas rancher and cattleman and the achievement, over difficulty, to the pinnacle of suc- cess. A man of vision and determination, who did not know the meaning of the word "failure," Mr. Martin, entirely by his own efforts, won for himself a place among the foremost cattlemen of his sec- tion, in a state that has more than its share of fa- mous ranchmen.

Mr. Martin was born the sixth of November, 1874, in Fort Bend County, Texas, son of D. C. Martin, a native of Mississippi, who came to Texas as a young man and was a cattleman here until his death. While yet in his teens, both of Mr. Martin's parents died,

and at the age of fourteen, he went to work on Mrs. Polly Ryon's ranch for six dollars per month and board. Later he went to the J. H. P. Davis ranch, where he became foreman, and later, in Brazoria County, he went in for himself. His ranch, in Brazoria County, became his pride and delight, and with the real spirit of the West, he gave to the development of his interests there an indefatigable industry that soon made him a figure to be reckoned with in the cattle industry. His ranch lands, at the time of his death, consisted of about forty thousand acres, in the Brazoria ranch, in addition to other ranching interests, in association with J. J. Sette- gast and Bassett Blakely. Mr. Martin owned many thousands of head of cattle.

Mr. Martin was married at Missouri City, Texas, in Fort Bend County, the seventh of November, 1908, to Miss Aline De Walt, a native of that county. Her father, Dan De Walt, also a native of Fort Bend County and a large plantation owner there, came of a prominent pioneer family of Texas, and has spent his entire life in the state, residing in the county of his birth. Mrs. Martin's mother, before her mar- riage Miss Lou Cessna, is also a native Texan and a member of a prominent family here. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have one child, Len De Walt Martin, now in his early teens and a student in the Houston schools.

After the death of Mr. Martin in 1918, Mr. T. W. (Bud) Davis became the executor of the estate with- out bond. He handled the vast ranches as if they were his own and performed a great service for Mrs. Martin and her little son. Mr. Martin and Mr. Davis had been life long friends and business associates. After the death of Mr. Davis in May, 1922, Mrs. Martin assumed the management of her properties and has shown marked aptitude in looking after them. She spends part of her time in Houston, where she has an attractive apartment at 1317 Craw- ford Street, and a part of her time at her country home in Fort Bend County.

Mr. Martin died the twenty-fourth of August, 1918, a young man, in his prime, who was destined to have gone far in the cattle industry. While a man of vision, he was not a dreamer, dreaming dreams and letting opportunity slip. But toward a realization of his dreams he devoted himself with the energy and determination that was character- istic of his life, and in a small way, as a member of a ranching outfit, in a very humble capacity, he began his career. At the age of fourteen he could handle a gun or a horse as well as a man, and was taking a man's place in the world. His advancement was rapid and a few years later found him foreman of large ranching interests and holding down the job in an exceptional manner. But even this was not enough. Mr. Martin aspired to own such a ranch for himself, and to one of his determination that was sufficient. He launched his ranching enterprise, won out, expanded and in a few short years had become known throughout his section as one of the most successful ranchers in Brazoria County. He had the genial character, the true spirit of the West, that has distinguished so many of the cattlemen of the state and won friends by the hundreds. His death was a loss to the cattle industry, to his coun- ty, to his state, yet his life will stand, an inspiration to the youth of his community to higher achievement and endeavor.

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LFRED ROBERT HAMBLEN, attorney at law and native Houstonian, was for many years prominent in the practice of his profession here, which he began immedi- ately after his admission to the bar in 1897, when twenty years of age. During his practice in Hous- ton, which extended over a period of more than a quarter of a century, Mr. Hamblen was known as one of the beacon lights of the legal profession, and was associated with many of the most prominent cases which came before the courts of South Texas. He was the second generation of Hamblens to make their mark as leading lawyers of the Lone Star State. His father, William Pascal Hamblen, was one of the pioneer lawyers of Texas, where during his time, he was regarded as one of the Southwest's most prominent attorneys. He came to Texas from his native state of Indiana in the spring of 1848. As a very young man, he began the study of law and in 1855 was admitted to the bar, where he imme- diately took his place among the men who had years before established their reputation as lawyers, soon becoming one of the leaders of the legal fraternity of the Southwest. William Pascal Hamblen served with distinction as district judge of Harris County for several years, and practiced law in Houston until his death in 1902. The mother of Alfred Robert Hamblen was Mrs. Isabel Terry (Milner) Hamblen, a native of England, but was brought to America as a child and was reared and educated here, where she became known as one of the Lone Star State's representative women and philanthropists.

Mr. Hamblen's early education was obtained in the public schools of Houston, which he left as a very young man in order to study law. He entered the law offices of Hutchinson and Sears, at that time one of the best known law firms of the South- west. He continued the study of law with this well known firm until his admission to the bar, when he began his practice here with his father, Judge W. P. Hamblen, who was elected judge at that time and turned his practice over to the son. When his brother, W. P. Hamblen, Jr., graduated from the University of Texas and was admitted to the bar, he took him in as a partner in the firm. This partner- ship continued for a score of years until the death of Alfred R. Hamblen.

Mr. Hamblen was married in Houston, Texas, on August 8th, 1916, to Mrs. Mary Northam Warner, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of W. P. Northam, who was brought to the United States by his par- ents when five years of age. He is a resident of Cleveland, Ohio, and is well past four score years of age. Mr. Northam is widely known throughout Ohio and is one of that state's most highly es- teemed citizens and business men, having been throughout his life engaged in the building of boulevards, and many of the finest boulevards of the East are the result of Mr. Northam's skill and ability. Mrs. Hamblen's mother was before her marriage Miss Margaret Morrow, a native of Ohio. Mrs. Hamblen's first husband was Mr. W. C. War- ner, of the Warner Electric Company of Cleveland. She has one son, William C. Warner, now a student of the Rice Institute of Houston.

Mr. Hamblen had built up a wonderful practice in Houston and in South Texas, where he was one of the best known lawyers of this portion of the state. Mr. Hamblen had been appointed as special judge of

many court of South Texas, and was special judge of the District Court here for four times, and was ap- pointed as special judge of the County Court of Har- ris County three times. Mr. Hamblen was twice Exalted Ruler of the B. P. O. Elks. He was Dis- trict Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler for South Texas of that order. He was a member of the Turnverein, and the Red Rooster.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 135

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