New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 136

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

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It is a known fact that Mr. Hamblen practiced his profession of the law in accordance with the highest ethics of the legal brotherhood. Honorable himself, he accorded honor and trustworthiness to . his professional brethren. Kindly, courteous, genial he commanded not only the respect but the sincere and affectionate regard of the entire circle of his acquaintances. Mr. Hamblen died at Houston, Texas, on September 9th, 1924. The death of no member of the Houston Bar ever caused more sincere sor- row than his, and perhaps no man ever lived in Houston who had more friends that did Mr. Hamblen.

AMES ARTHUR GIRAUD. For many years James Arthur Giraud was prominently iden- tified with commercial activities at Hous- ton, and took a leading part in shaping the affairs of his community. His record in the busi- ness world was splendid, and while he was perhaps better known for his activities in the insurance world, he was in his younger years widely known as a railroad man. Mr. Giraud was deeply interested in the welfare of his fellow citizens, and in the de- velopment of his city, and was one of those sterling citizens who can always be counted upon to do their part, and more, in times of civic need.

James Arthur Giraud was born in Houston, the twenty-fourth of November, 1875, son of Richard Theodore Giraud, and spent his boyhood in this city. After finishing school, he went to work as a boy, in a local hardware store, and later went with the Frisco Railroad, spending a number of years in that work. In 1907, he went with the W. H. Kirkland & Company, insurance firm, and in 1908 was made a member of the firm. His advancement in the insur- ance world was rapid, and for consistent production he had few equals. He was a firm believer in agency organization and his enthusiasm and high business ideals, complemented by his constructive policies, were reflected in the esteem in which he was held by all who knew him. At the time of his death, he was senior member of the largest insurance firm in the city and had attained a reputation in this field that made him a figure of state wide prominence in the insurance world.

Mr. Giraud was married at Calvert, Texas, in 1907, to Miss Mildred Wynne Durst, who was born, reared and educated in Calvert. Her father, H. Durst, is now, and has been for many years a resident of Leon County, and is well known there. Her mother, before her marriage Miss Estelle Wynne, was a na- tive of Huntsville, Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Giraud had an ideal married life, and their home, at 3516 Gar- rott Avenue, was the seat of a gracious and flow- ing hospitality, and their many friends found no greater pleasure than when they were guests in that home. Mrs. Giraud is a woman of accomplished in- telligence, and not only took an active interest in her husband's career, but encouraged him and inspired him ever to higher things and to her he often gave the credit for his advancement in the business world. Mr. Giraud was reared in the Catholic faith, and

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Mirs alfred R Humblew

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

throughout his life was a member of this church and actively supported it. He was a Knight of Colum- bus, Fourth Degree, and took a great interest in the activities of this order. He was also a member of the Houston Club and the Houston Country Club.

James Arthur Giraud died at his home in Houston the fifteenth of February, 1923. In the business world, as in his private life, there was ever asso- ciated with his name an integrity which was one of his greatest assets. In his political convictions he was honest and steadfast, and in private and social life congenial, generous and kind hearted. The rec- ord of his life is a page in the history of his city, which stands out by reason of the many noteworthy deeds recorded there, and will not be soon forgotten.

HEOPOLUS JAMES COLLINS. For half a century and more T. James Collins, pioneer of Harrisburg, the prosperous suburban town which is practically a part of Houston, took a leading part in the life there, contributing in many ways to the commercial and civic growth of this suburb and winning friends by the hundreds who admired him for his many outstanding quali- ties. Mr. Collins was that sterling type of business man the dominating characteristic of whose life is a high integrity and with a pioneering determina- tion for seeing things through to a finish, which was a factor in his business success, he was able, as have been few men, to shape and mould business and civic activities at Harrisburg favorable to the highest type of development.

A native of Texas, Mr. Collins was born at Rich- mond, in Fort Bend County, on the fifteenth of June, 1845. His father, William Collins, a pioneer stockraiser and farmer of Fort Bend County, died when his son was two years of age and responsibility for his rearing fell on the mother, Mary Collins. Mr. Collins was an ambitious youngster and while at- tending the public schools near his home resolved to secure an education, by his own efforts earning suf- ficient money to enable him to spend two years at Saint Mary's College, at San Antonio, where he made the most of every educational opportunity and pre- pared to enter the business world: In 1867 Mr. Col- lins came to Harrisburg, starting a general merchan- dising establishment here which he successfully operated for eight years. Anxious, however, for greater opportunities of advancement, he liquidated the mercantile business and entered the real estate business, where his accurate knowledge of land values and his sound integrity were a factor to years of successful operation in this field and in the hand- ling of investments. A man of keen and discerning business judgment, Mr. Collins, in more than fifty years of business activity, enjoyed the enviable rep- utation of having never lost a dollar for a client for whom he made an investment. As early as the sev- enties, Mr. Collins was appreciative of the future possibilities of Harrisburg, when the long dreamed of ship channel project should be an assured fact. To this end he bought up land along the channel, purchasing some of it for as low as a dollar a lot and five dollars an acre. At one time Mr. Collins owned the land which is now included in Park Place, an addition of Houston, consisting of more than a thousand acres, and he had other holdings in this locality, all of which greatly increased in value and vindicated his faith in the future of Harrisburg.

In 1877 Mr. Collins was married at Harrisburg to Miss Minnie Compton, his faithful companion for nearly half a century, and whose death occurred in 1920. Of this union were born five children, T. J., Jr .; I. S., owner of a drug store at Harrisburg; J. H., engaged in the dairying business at Harrisburg; Mabel, wife of Frank Branson; and William. In 1922 he removed to Houston to spend his declining years and enjoy the fruits of a well earned success.

Mr. Collins died at his home in Houston, 2802 Chartres Street, on the eleventh of November, 1923, his funeral being held on the following Tuesday with his four sons acting as active pallbearers. Mr. Col- lins was in every respect a typical example of the self made man, and in the half a century during which he watched both Harrisburg and Houston grow from small villages to modern cities he forged ahead, always with the determination to win out, and his entire life is a record of achievement well worthy of emulation. While winning success in the business world, Mr. Collins did not win this success at the price of friendship and integrity, but through- out the years of his operations he placed there two things before success, and few men could count more true friendships to their credit or could claim a higher esteem than he.

ERMAN THEODORE KELLER, one of the honored pioneers of Houston, came to this city as a boy of sixteen and grew up in the business life of the city, accounting well for himself in that busy world. Houston can boast of no truer, more generous citizen than this splendid man who gave so freely of his time and means for the development of the resources of his community. Mr. Keller went to work for Mr. Henke, in his gro- cery store, shortly after his arrival in Houston, but he was ambitious to be more than a grocery clerk and took advantage of every opportunity that came his way. After several years with Mr. Henke, he opened a commission brokerage business, at first in a small way, but later, as the city grew and con- ditions warranted, expanding to meet the growing demands. He was one of the most public spirited men of his time, giving as liberally as he received, and taking an active interest in the growth and de- velopment of his community.

Mr. Keller was born at New Orleans the twentieth of November, 1857, son of A. T. and Aimee Vallotte Keller. His father was for many years in the jew- elry business at New Orleans, coming to Houston in 1873, and engaging as a manufacturing jeweler until his death in 1876. His mother was a resident of Houston for many years. Mr. Keller was edu- cated in the public schools of New Orleans, and after coming to Houston, entered directly upon his busi- ness career.

He was married the twelfth of September, 1882, to Miss Julia Wagener, a native of New Orleans.

Mr. and Mrs. Keller had a family of three sons, Edward W., who died at the age of twenty-eight, and two who survive, Herman T., Jr., who married Miss Grace Lendenberg, and who continues his father's business, and Thomas William, who mar- ried Miss Maud Hackney.

Mr. Keller died the twelfth of February, 1911. He will long be remembered for his many liberalities and acts of kindness to his fellowmen, as well as for his active interest in the civic welfare.

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E DWIN ALEXANDER ANDERSON. For thirty years and upwards the name of Ed- win Alexander Anderson was of special sig- nificance in business circles at Houston, where he was well known as one of the pioneer drug- gists of the city. Mr. Anderson came to Houston as a young man, just at the beginning of his career purposeful and enthusiastic, and with a determina- tion to succeed which marked his subsequent career and was one of the fundamental factors underlying his success. A conservative business man, whose sound and practical policies were reflected through- out his career, Mr. Anderson was withal a man of vision. When he opened his first small drug store in Houston in partnership with I. Lewyn whose name also stands among the pioneer druggists of the city, he began to plan for the later store, Anderson's Drug Store, as the Houston of today knows it, and which is not only a creditable addition to commercial Hous- ton, but a monument to its founder and concrete evidence of his faith in Houston's future.

Edwin Alexander Anderson was born in Sweden, the seventeenth of July, 1872, the son of Swedish parents, and spent his boyhood there, attending the schools of that country. He came to the United States as a boy of fourteen, going to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he spent the intervening seven years prior to coming to Houston as a young man of twenty-one. Shortly after his arrival in this city he entered the drug business, in partnership with I. Lewyn, the two operating a drug store here for a number of years. Later this partnership was terminated and Mr. Anderson entered into a partner- ship with Sam Rouse, well known pioneer druggist, which lasted seventeen years. At the conclusion of that time Mr. Anderson left the firm and returned to his native country, Sweden, revisiting his old home and his people in that country. After a year spent there he returned to the United States and Houston, a little later buying the drug store at that time operated by Edward Luhn. Mr. Anderson re- organized the store, changing the name to the An- derson Drug Store, operating the establishment under that name for the ensuing fourteen years. During this period he built up the store, making a number of progressive changes, this drug store be- coming under his management one of the leading drug stores in the city, operating in harmony with modern merchandising methods. During these years Mr. Anderson was active in fostering the highest merchandising principles among local druggists, and was a leader among the druggists of the city, who held him in high esteem not alone as a pioneer in the business, but as a progressive merchant whose sterling integrity and business ideals were factors in the progress of the drug business generally. In 1922 Mr. Anderson retired from business due to ill health, and after a year of absence from the store returned in the summer of 1923, his death occurring a year later, the twenty-sixth of May, 1924.

Mr. Anderson was married at Houston, the thir- tieth of October, 1912, to Miss Candace Beryl West, a native of Mississippi, and the daughter of Silas West and Martha (Clark) West. Mr. West, a na- tive of Alabama, was a farmer in Trinity County, Texas, for many years prior to his death, which occurred in 1909. Mrs. West, a native of Mississippi, is also deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson had one

child, Edwin Alexander Anderson, Jr., a student in the Houston public schools. Since Mr. Anderson's death, Mrs. Anderson has continued to reside at 116 Hathaway Avenue, the family home for the past six years. As far as possible she is carrying out the plans and policies of her late husband in whose judg- ment she had implicit faith. Shortly before his death, Mr. Anderson bought fifty acres of land three and one-half miles from League City. This farm he intended to plant to figs. So today Mrs. Anderson is carrying out these plans, and will soon have a forty-acre fig orchard. Mr. Anderson was an Elk, an Odd Fellow and a member of the Salesmanship Club. He was active in all civic work and his death was a deep loss not only to the drug business, but to the city at large.

GBERT O. HAIL came to Houston, Texas, in 1921 to enter the life insurance business and since that time has established him- self as a man of high standing in the community. With several years experience in this field, and a business training received while em- ployed in banking institutions he came well pre- pared to conduct a high class life insurance office. While his organization covers the gulf coast coun- ties Mr. Hail devotes much of his time to personal production. He has won the respect of all who know him, and has made many friends in South Texas. In the comparatively short time of his res- idence here he has rapidly forged ahead in his profession and is now looked upon as a leading factor in life insurance circles and his future is indeed assured. Mr. Hail began his business career in Nashville, Tennessee, where he was employed in one of the banks of that city for a period of four years. He resigned his position in order to enter the army in December, 1917, and was assigned to the 115th Field Artillery of the 30th Division as a private and went overseas with this organization, and served throughout the war with them. He had a certificate for a commission when the armistice was signed, and when he was discharged in 1919, he held the rank of regimental supply sergeant. After the war he returned to Nashville, where he engaged in the insurance business until his removal to Houston.

A native of Kentucky, Egbert O. Hail was born in Christian County on July 20th, 1891. His father, E. A. Hail, also a native of Kentucky, removed to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1900 where he since has been engaged in the banking business, and where he is well known and highly esteemed. His mother was Miss Lizzie Jones, a member of a prominent Kentucky family. His education was obtained in the public schools of Nashville, which he left in order to begin work in the bank.

Mr. Hail was married in Nashville on June 2nd, 1923, to Miss Elizabeth Darden, a native of Ten- nessee, and a daughter of W. W. Darden, well known in the business and financial circles of Nashville. They have one child, Egbert O., Jr., and reside in West Eleventh Place, where they recently built a beautiful residence. Mr. Hail is a member of the Houston Kiwanis Club and the South Texas Under- writers Association, in both of which he takes an active interest. He is enthusiastic as to the future of Houston, and of South Texas, and has entered into the spirit of co-operation with the citizenship here to advance the interest of his adopted city.

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Saanderson

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

ARL L. KATTMANN. For a period of a quarter of a century, the name of Carl L. Kattmann was held in high esteem at Hous- ton as that of a business man whose sound integrity and high ideals were contributory factors in the advancement of business standards, and whose sound business policies were conducive to prosper- ity. During nearly twenty-five years in the manu- facturing business, Mr. Kattmann built up an enter- prise that was of importance from an economic standpoint, and as a manufacturer of tents, awn- ings and like products, having a distribution almost national, he contributed very much to the advance- ment of Houston as a manufacturing center. While primarily a business man, Mr. Kattmann was thor- oughly public spirited and especially during his latter years was active in those movements of civic im+ portance.

Carl L. Kattmann was born in New Orleans, Louis- iana, on the thirteenth of April, 1865, the night President Lincoln was shot. His father, Dr. John Kattmann, a well known physician and surgeon of New Orleans, later came to Houston, in 1873, and continued his practice here until his death. His mother, whose maiden name was Miss Katherine Rubb, was a member of a well known Louisiana fam- ily. Carl L. Kattmann received his education in Houston, attending both private schools and later the public schools of this city. After finishing his edu- cation, he began his business career in Houston, in 1900, establishing the A. F. Kattmann Tent and Awning Company, of which he was president for around a quarter of a century. This large manufac- turing company, located for many years in a modern building, owned by the corporation, at 207 Crawford Street, manufactured a line of goods including tents, awnings, wagon covers, tarpaulins, rice and hay covers, horse covers, jail hammocks, coin sacks, cots, flags, banners and badges. The company features a mildew-proof products, manufactured especially for the coast country, and designed to meet the try- ing conditions prevailing there. The Kattmann Tent and Awning Company furnishes employment to around twenty people in the factory, and has a force of five in the office and sales department. While Mr. Kattmann still held the office of president of this corporation at the time of his death, he had practically retired from active business life, leaving the management of the business largely in younger hands, and only intervening at such times as his maturer judgment and years of experience were needed to solve some question of vital importance.

Mr. Kattmann was married at Chicago, Illinois, in 1892, to Miss Madge Estey, a native of Michigan and a member of a prominent family of that state, her father, Sidney Estey, being prominently identi-

fied with building activities. Mr. and Mrs. Katt- mann had a family of four children, Agnes Eliza, John Estey, Norman and Bruce, the family residing at 1200 Elgin Street for many years. Mr. Kattmann was active in fraternal work for many years, being affiliated with the Masonic order, and was past state president of the Travelers Protec- tive Association. He was also a member of the Ro- tary Club and belonged to several social clubs.

Mr. Kattmann's death occurred at Houston the ninth of November, 1923. Houston, his home for a period of 50 years, profited much from his activities

in the business world here, and his high example of Christian citizenship was an inspiration to all who came in contact with him. His associates in the busi- ness world found in him a man of highest principles, standing for progress as typified by the development of business interests along lines consistent with mod- ern ideals, and his death was a deep loss not alone to the business world, but to the entire city, in whose development he had taken so unselfish an interest.

R. JAMES M. WELLS of Houston, Texas, was for more than thirty years a well known physician of Texas, the last seven years of this period being spent in this city, where he had a host of friends and enjoyed a large practice. With the improvement and exten- sion of its hospital facilities, Dr. Wells had always expected Houston to become a great medical cen- ter, believing this city to be the logical location for centralizing the medical activities of the Southwest. He was always a consistent booster for Houston and ever ready to give aid and encouragement to any movement for the upbuilding of his adopted city.

A native of Mississippi, Dr. Wells was born at Bankston, on May 18th, 1861, but came to Texas when seventeen years of age and remained in the Lone Star State throughout the remainder of his life. His father, William Monroe Wells, was a well known and prosperous farmer from Bardwell, Ken- tucky. His mother, Mrs. Mary Ellen (Drane) Wells, was a member of a prominent Mississippi family. His early education was obtained in the public schools of Columbus, Texas, after which he became a student of the Tulane Medical College of New Orleans, graduating from that institution with the M. D. degree. Dr. Wells was throughout life a student and a constant worker, being in every sense a self-made physician, withal a successful one.

Dr. Wells was married at Eagle Lake, Texas, on September 27th, 1892, to Miss Minnie Damon of Damon Mound, Texas, and a direct descendant of Samuel Damon, one of the first settlers of this portion of the state, and for whom the well known Damon Mound was named. Her father, S. W. Damon, also born and reared at Damon Mound, was throughout his life a successful stock raiser and rancher of that place. Her mother, Mrs. Jane A. (Smith) Damon, was a member of a well known family of Grimes County, Texas, and figured in the early history of the Lone Star State. Two sons were born to Dr. and Mrs. Wells: Shearer Wells (deceased), and Damon Wells, who is well known in the business circles of Houston. The Wells home is located at 2906 Fannin Street. Dr. Wells was a member of the Woodmen of the World and other fraternal organizations, the State Medical Associa- tion and the Harris County Medical Association and many other of the fraternal, professional and busi- ness organizations of this city. He was a consist- ent member of the Baptist Church. Dr. Wells died at Houston, on November 2nd, 1924, aged sixty-two years. During his residence in Houston, Dr. Wells was active in all movements for the advancement of his city and of the medical profession, always ready to give aid and encourage- ment to both. Dr. Wells' unselfish friendship was a benefaction to all who knew him, his kindly charac- ter appealing to all alike.

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MEN OF TEXAS

HARLES F. LOTTMAN, pioneer manufac- turer of Houston and citizen of high order, was for many years a familiar figure in the commercial world, giving his time and using his influence for the creation of better business standards, and the progress and development of his community. Mr. Lottman operated one of the first mattress factories in the city, building this industry from a small beginning, until his plant was one of the largest mattress manufactories in the city, and one of the leading industries of the city.

Mr. Lottman was born the sixth of April, 1862, at Bastrop, Texas, where he spent his youth and received his education. His father died during his boyhood, and he was thrown on his own resources at an early age. After working in various parts of the state, he, with his two brothers, came to Houston in 1882, and opened a mattress factory, which was known as Lottman Brothers. He oper- ated this business until 1904, at which time he sold the plant to the Myer-Spalti Manufacturing Com- pany, now the largest furniture manufacturing con- cern in the Lone Star State. In the same year Mr. Lottman organized and opened up alone the C. F. Lottman Mattress Factory, later changing the name to C. F. Lottman and Sons. Mr. Lottman continued to operate this enterprise, constantly adding to his equipment and extending the scope of the industry until the year before his death, when he retired from the business world, turning the management of the factory over to his sons. They have since continued the operation of the factory, along the same progressive lines laid down by their father, and this firm is now one of the largest of Houston's many industries.

Mr. Lottman was twice married. The first wife was Miss Sophia Proetzel, a native of Houston and a daughter of August and Julia Proetzel, pioneer residents of the city. Mr. Proetzel was active in real estate operations in the early days. Four chil- dren were born of this union, namely: C. A. Lott- man, Edwin J. Lottman, Otto J. Lottman, all of whom are active in the operation of the factory, and a daughter, Sophia, wife of John H. Schudde of Houston. On October 8th, 1900, he was united in marriage with Miss Louise Kutschbach, a native of Houston. She is the daughter of William and Mary Proetzel Kutschbach, who were married in Houston, to which city Mr. Kutschbach came a half century ago. Mr. and Mrs. Lottman had one child, a daughter, Mary Louise. The Lottman family re- side at 4614 Montrose Boulevard.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 136

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