New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 137

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

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Mr. Lottman died at Houston, the twenty-ninth of October, 1921. His entire life had been devoted to business enterprises of civic importance, and he had given time from his busy life to take an interest in the welfare and progress of his community. While his place in the business world is being filled by his sons, who are carrying on the industry he estab- lished almost half a century ago, he is sincerely missed by his associates and friends and will ever hold a high place in the memory of all who knew him.

K ARL TRESCHWIG. For more than three decades, the name of Karl Treschwig was associated with commercial activities at Houston, and during these years of his business connection here there was ever attached

to his name an integrity which characterized his activities. Mr. Treschwig first came to Houston as a young man, just entering upon his career, and bringing with him as his chief asset an enthusiasm and a genius for making things go which marked his later career and bore rich fruit in business success. While buildng up a commercal enterprise which re- flected credit on Houston, Mr. Treschwig did not neglect his duties as a citizen, entering into all ac- tivities of a civic nature with the same enthusiasm he gave to his business affairs.

Karl Treschwig was a native of Germany, having been born in that country in 1869. His parents, Karl and Cecilia Treschwig, well known citizens of Ger- many, and members of prominent families of that country, spent their entire life there. Mr. Tresch- wig was educated in the schools of Germany, receiv- ing an excellent education there. At the age of twenty years he resolved to come to the United States, feeling that here he would have a greater future than in his native land, and the year 1889 marked his arrival in this country. Three years later, in 1892, he came to Texas and Houston, spend- ing his first three years in this city in the employ of various companies. The following three years he engaged in the mercantile business, and in 1905 he established the Houston Wholesale Confectionery Company, the oldest plant of its kind in Houston, and of which he was president and general man- ager until his death. The business met with a steady growth from its organization, and at the time of Mr. Treschwig's death occupied a modern two-story brick building, of attractive design and affording a floor space of ten thousand square feet. The Houston Wholesale Confectionery Company is the only com- pany south of St. Louis selling supplies and tools used in bakeries and candy making establishments, and in addition to this the company acts as jobber for "Delatour" candy, made by Greenfield & Sons, of New York City, and also handle several other lines of candies, gum and like commodities. This business is a monument to the business ability and the integrity of its founder, Karl Treschwig, and is concrete proof that success is bought by industry.

Karl Treschwig was married at Houston, in 1906, to Miss Lillie Fisher, a member of a pioneer Hous- ton family, and a woman of high accomplishment and charming social grace. Her father, Gustave Fisher, for many years the proprietor of the leading tin shop at Houston, was well and favorably known in the business world here, and had many friends at Houston. Mr. and Mrs. Treschwig had an attrac- tive home at 808 Euclid Avenue, in one of Hous- ton's most beautiful residence sections, and were the parents of three children, Migonnette, Karl and Hugo. Since Mr. Treschwig's death, Mrs. Treschwig continues to reside at this home with her children.

Karl Treschwig died suddenly at his home on the afternoon of Tuesday, March the 20th, 1923, at the age of fifty-three years. His passing was a deep loss to business and civic interests at Houston, where for a quarter of a century and more he had worked for the growth and civic improvement of this city, watching its development along progressive lines and taking an interested part in this development. Mr. Treschwig had many friends here, both in a business and social way, and few men have been more genuinely admired than he.

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Ce F. Lutteurau

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

AMES HERMAN AGEN for a decade and a half was associated with the commercial and civic activities at Houston, during this time attaining distinction in the business world, and winning the esteem of his fellow citizens. Mr. Agen came to Houston in 1905, after an inter- esting and varied career in the North, and there- after was one of the leaders in the real estate busi- ness. He handled many of the larger real estate transactions consummated during this time and took an active part in promoting the development. Mr. Agen had great confidence in the future of Hous- ton, seeing in this city an opportunity for a still greater growth and prosperity, and invested his money in real estate holdings here. His keen busi- ness judgment enabled him to make these invest- ments wisely, and he made a fortune from his trans- actions in this line. He was active in the manage- ment of his business and his land holdings until three months prior to his death, which occurred the fifth of October, 1921. His daughter, Mrs. H. A. Vallas, has since had charge of the estate, displaying marked business ability in this capacity.

Mr. Agen was born in Vermont, the twenty-ninth of April, 1847, son of David Agen, who was reared in the East, and died there when the subject of this sketch was a small boy. Mr. Agen spent his youth at a time when education and public schools were not as common as they are now, and his education was mostly along practical lines. After the death of his father he went to work, at the age of eleven years, learning largely by experience, and acquiring a vast store of knowledge from the world of business.

At the outbreak of the Civil War, Mr. Agen, far below the enlistment age, ran away from home, putting his age up several years, and enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirtieth New York Infantry, Company C. With this company he fought through- out the conflict, was once captured by the enemy, but traded out and returned to the lines. After the close of the war he went to Iowa in the early days when the Indians were harassing the settlers there, and spent a number of years in the lumber camps of that state, and also in grocery stores and other mer- cantile businesses.

He then went to Wisconsin, where he lived for fourteen years, during which time he amassed and lost a fortune. During his residence in Wisconsin he had entered the real estate business, and when he came to Texas, in 1904, he continued in this line. He spent nine months at Texas City, then coming to Houston, which was his home until his death.

Mr. Agen was married at Mitchell, Iowa, in 1869, to Miss Ezilda Hart, a native of Michigan. Her

father, L. S. Hart, moved to Iowa when she was a small girl, and was one of the honored pioneers of that state, helping fight the Indians and taking an active part in settling the state. He owned a great deal of land in the Panhandle of Texas, land that he had purchased in the seventies for fifty cents an acre and later sold at a profit without ever seeing it.

Mr. and Mrs. Agen had a family of five children, Belle, wife of Clarence Griffin, of Superior, Wis- consin, and who has one child, a daughter; Roy J., of Superior, Wisconsin; Mildred, wife of J. A. Brown, of Denver, Colorado; Grace Agen, wife of H. A. Vallas, and E. V., of Denver, Colorado, and who is married and has one child, Marjorie Eleanor.

While the time that Mr. Agen spent in Houston was brief, a period of sixteen years, these years were well and profitably spent. He contributed freely, both of time and money, for the development of the city, and took an active part in all civic move- ments during that time. His death, occuring the fifth of October, 1921, at the age of seventy-four, was a distinct loss to the city in general. He was a man of sterling character, high business ideals, and staunch friendships and his place in the busi- ness world will be hard to fill.

W ALTER S. ENNIS, although a resident of Houston but a few years prior to his death, made many friends in this city, winning the esteem of all who knew him and was one of the best liked railroad men in this section of the country. His superiors in the railroad world found him one of those "old reliables" that are the back- bone of the railway system, and gave many expres- sions of their recognition of his merit and good service. Mr. Ennis was a thoroughly public spirited American, and the type of citizen that reflects credit on any community, his brief residence in Houston resulting favorably on the life there.

Mr. Ennis was a native of Tennessee, his birth- place having been in the city of Memphis, where his parents resided for many years. As a boy he at- tended the schools there, acquiring a good education, well rounded, and with especial attention to those practical subjects of real use in the business world. After leaving school he began his career with one of the railroads, later coming to Texas, a State in which he saw a real future. On his arrival here he went with the Gulf Coast Railroad Company, and remained with this line until his death. A man of strict attention to duty and absolute reliability he was soon made conductor on the train running from Houston to New Orleans. While on this run he made many friends, especially among the travelling men, who came to know and admire this genial, cheerful man, always ready to show them considerations and give them a friendly greeting. Some eight or nine years after coming to Texas Mr. Ennis removed to Houston, in 1913, a year later building an attractive home at 814 Marshall, Montrose. He continued with the Gulf Coast Line until the accident which resulted in his death on the thirty-first day of August, 1917.

Mr. Ennis was married at Memphis, Tennessee, in 1892, to Miss Ida Pelegrim, a native of Tennessee. Mrs. Ennis was the ideal companion to her husband, throughout the years of her married life, making his interests hers, and in addition to creating a real home reared a family of two children. These chil- dren were Walter S. Ennis, Junior, who was killed in an automobile accident in early manhood, in 1916, and just at the beginning of a promising career, and Jeanette, wife of Edward Depperman, well known cotton classer at Houston, and who has one child, Agnes Katherine. Since her husband's death Mrs. Ennis has continued to reside in the home in Montrose, and takes a deep interest in the welfare of her community.

Mr. Ennis was reared in the Catholic faith and was throughout his lifetime a liberal supporter of his church. He also was a member of the Knights of Pythias, in which order he was active, and of the O. R. C. His death, in 1917, cut short a career of real worth to his community and fellowmen, and was deeply felt in the railway world.

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MEN OF TEXAS

UDGE AUGUSTUS CHAPMAN ALLEN. In recounting the history of the Texas Bar few names are accorded a greater measure of honor that that of Judge Augustus Chap- man Allen, native Houstonian, and for nearly two score years an ornament to the bench and bar of the state. A man of high intellectual attainments, imbued with unusually high ideals, Judge Allen was throughout his career an influential figure in the life of Houston. His judiciary career was marked by a wisdom and fairness, and in the performance of his duties he was governed by a high sense of duty, a desire to interpret the law wisely and render just decisions, and above all by a desire to give every man appearing before him a fair and im- partial trial. His highly trained legal mind gave him an unusual facility to get at the fundamentals of a case on proper presentation of facts, and this, with a desire to interpret the law as he saw it, rather than win popular approval, although he also did this, made his influence on the bench unusually benignant. As a man Judge Allen represented the highest type of Christian citizenship, charitable to- ward all, lending a helping hand wherever he could, and his character was one that built happiness.

Judge Augustus Chapman Allen was born at Hous- ton, the second day of March, 1861, son of Samuel and Margaret Allen, co-founders of Houston, and one of the most historical families of the city. As a boy Judge Allen attended pay schools at Houston and also studied under a private tutor, for a long while after an accident prevented his attendance at school. Later he re-entered the pay schools, and also attended the Academy of Houston, after which he studied law in the office of Colonel Stuart. He then went to Lebanon, Tennessee, where he entered Cumberland University, from which institution he was graduated with the LL. B. degree. Judge Allen then returned to Houston and entered on the prac- tice of his profession, during the course of his ca- reer being associated with, as partners, such men as Judge Watkins, Frank Jones, Governor Hogg and other brilliant men of the Texas Bar. Later Judge Allen was appointed District Judge of the Criminal Courts of Harris and Galveston Counties, receiving his appointment from Governor Sayers. After six years of service on the bench he resigned, due to the failing health of his mother, Mrs. Margaret Allen, and went with her to the Allen Ranch in Bosque County, remaining there until her death. Judge Allen then returned to Houston, resuming his law practice here, and until his retirement, due to his failing health, was one of the most prominent men of the Houston Bar.

Judge Allen was married at Corsicana, Texas, on the ninth of July, 1908, to Miss Claire E. Daley, daughter of M. Daley and Anna J. Hanlon Daley. Mr. Daley, a native of Ireland, came to the United States nearly three-quarters of a century ago, and resided in Missouri until his death. Mrs. Daley, a native of Ohio, is also deceased. Mrs. Allen was reared in Missouri, attending the schools of the Ursuline Nuns, and St. Vincent's Academy of Cape Girardeau. Mrs. Allen was the constant companion and inspiration of her husband throughout his ca- reer, and their married life was one of ideal com- panionship and understanding. In 1914 they moved into their new home at 519 Maplewood Avenue, where Mrs. Allen has continued to reside since her

husband's death. Judge Allen was ever active in support of all measures planned for the advance- ment of Houston, and in recognition of his deep interest in the welfare of the city was chosen King of the first Carnival of Houston, an event which has since been annual. His death, which occurred at Houston the 13th day of July, 1924, was the cause of a deepfelt and sincere regret in the city, and in his passing the Bar lost one of its brilliant members, and the city one of its truest citizens.

NDRAL VANN. The name of Andral Vann represents one of the most honored and prominent names of the Southeast Texas bar. Mr. Vann, one of the most distin- guished residents for Houston for three decades, earned noteworthy prominence as a lawyer, his con- nection with many important cases of his day mak- ing him a familiar figure in all the courts. Mr. Vann had intellectual talents of high order and few lawyers of his time were more expert in determining the merits of a case. His briefs were clear and logical and revealed a patient research which placed to his advantage every legal resource.

Andral Vann was born the thirty-first of March, 1861, at Elyton, a suburb of Birmingham, Alabama. His father, Dr. James B. Vann, a native of that state, was for many years a prominent physician and surgeon and performed conspicuous service in his community. His mother, before her marriage Miss Neate Wilson, was also a native of Alabama, and made her home in that state until her death. Mr. Vann had excellent training in his profession, and after finishing his public schooling entered the College of Tennessee, of which he was a graduate. He then took the course in the school of law of Washington and Lee University, and received his LL. B. degree from this institution. After taking his degree he returned to Alabama and began the practice of his profession in that state. After a short while there he came to Galveston, in 1890, practicing there until 1893, at which time he came to Houston. Arriving in this city he formed an asso- ciation with A. L. Jackson, later terminating this association and practicing with Judge W. H. Wilson for several years. He then went with Cooper and Merrill, this partnership lasting until Mr. Vann's death, in 1918.

Mr. Vann was married at Chicago, Illinois, the eighteenth of November, 1891, to Miss Linda Layton a native of that city. Her father, W. H. Layton was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, later going to Chicago. He came to Houston in the early eighties and after a number of years in this city went to Galveston. He is now retired and is living in Los Angeles. Her mother, prior to her marriage Miss Carrie Louise Norden, was a native of New York City. Mr. and Mrs. Layton now reside in Los An- geles.

Mr. and Mrs. Vann took an active part in the social life of Houston, and their home, at 4507 Roseland Avenue, was ever the scene of a charming and gra- cious hospitality. Mrs. Vann took an especial de- light in creating a real home, and in addition to being the constant companion of her husband and his inspiration throughout his career, reared a fam- ily of three children. These children are Layton Vann, of Pasadena, California, and who married Miss Ruth Schwartz; Stuart Vann, a member of the firm of Taylor-Vann-Pollan, stationers and printers of

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a. C. aucun thy.

E. P. Ham blen

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

Houston, and Miss Louise Vann, who lives with her mother.

Mr. Vann was a well known Mason, spending the last eighteen years of his life actively engaged in Masonic work. At the time of his death he was a thirty-third degree Mason, having had this degree conferred on him at Dallas, the fifteenth of Decem- ber, 1917. He was one of the principal organizers of the Temple Lodge and was a member of the Gray Lodge. He was a man of highest ideals in his pro- fession, steadily advancing to a position among the foremost attorneys of his day, and commanded the respect of the entire fraternity. As a citizen he was especially interested in public improvements and ad- vancements, and in many ways furthered these im- portant factors of civic growth. His death, which occurred the eleventh of September, 1918, was the cause of a sincere regret by the bench and bar, and his fellow citizens and friends.

UDGE E. P. HAMBLEN, the nestor of the Houston Bar, was born near Camden, in Mississippi, on November 11th, 1845. The society of Camden was excellent and en- joyed the benefit of churches and good schools. Early in July, 1863, Judge Hamblen, with several of his boy friends of Camden, joined an independent cav- alry company. In the fall of 1863, the company was detailed and assigned to Major General Loring as escort, the command then being stationed at Can- ton, Mississippi, and continued to act as Loring's es- cort until after General Hood superseded General Johnson at Atlanta, participating in all the fight- ing that was done at Resaca and between Resaca and Atlanta. After the fall of Atlanta the company was ordered to report to General Wirt Adams' cavalry Brigade, stationed at Jackson, and continued in Adams' brigade until the close of the war. During Wilson's raid on Selma, Adams' brigade was ordered to join General Forrest in defending Alabama. Gen- eral Croxton's brigade of Kentucky cavalry burned the university at Tuscaloosa and other public build- ings and got cut off from Wilson's army and un- expectedly ran into Adams' brigade on April 6th, 1865, and they had a running fight until the Fed- erals, fortunately for them, discovered an old resi- dence in their line of flight surrounded by rock fences, and stationed their men in the farm house and behind the rock fences and put up a bloody fight. There were four of the company that Judge Hamblen belonged to, killed in the fight and several wounded, including Judge Hamblen. The command surrendered with General Forrest at Gainesville, Alabama, on May 9th, 1865, just one month after General Lee had surrendered at Appomattox. In the spring term of 1866, Judge Hamblen entered the University of Mississippi at Oxford and graduated in June, 1868. Shortly thereafter, having received an invitation from Judge W. P. Hamblen to come to Houston and read law in his office, Judge Ham- blen gladly accepted the same, and on May 30th, 1869, the District Court of Harris County granted him a license to practice law. He prospected in Texas before settling down, and was called to his father's residence in Mississippi to adjust some matters there and did not return to Houston until March, 1872, when he formed a partnership with Judge W. P. Hamblen and went into the active practice of law, and has continued in active prac-

tice ever since. During his visit to Mississippi he married Miss Mary Scott, who died April 19th, 1907, leaving two children surviving by said mar- riage, namely, Mrs. Mary Lou Buckner, wife of Mr. Rawle Buckner, and Mr. Otis K. Hamblen, who, having graduated in law at the University of Texas in 1901, formed a partnership with his father under the style of E. P. & Otis K. Hamblen, and they have conducted their business as such ever since. Judge Hamblen, in 1882, was elected county judge of Harris County. After holding the office one term he declined to offer for re-election and has never sought any office, political or judicial. For a great many years he was interested in the poli- tics of the state and county and frequently attended the conventions. He has enjoyed the civil practice and especially land litigation and examination of land titles. He has always found the bar of Hous- ton composed of congenial men and very able law- yers and has enjoyed practicing before the different judges that have held office in the State of Texas. He has practiced law continuously in the City of Houston since March, 1872. All of the members of the bar who were in practice when he formed the partnership with Judge W. P. Hamblen have passed away, leaving him as the nestor of the bar. He joined the Methodist Church at his old home in Mississippi in his early teens and in October, 1868, he had his letter forwarded to him from Mis- sissippi and joined what was then called Shearn Church, now known as the First Methodist Church. He has enjoyed many of the very able preachers as well as the members of said church.

Note: Since the above sketch was written Judge Hamblen died, November 13, 1924.

ERMAN LIVINGSTON STRICKER was for many years a leader in the business circles of Calvert, Texas, and one of Central Texas' best known and esteemed citizens. As a business man he was one of the most progressive; as a citizen he was one of the most loyal, giving his influence and energy to everything that made for the development of his city and state. Mr. Stricker was at all times profoundly interested in the educational progress of the people, and many of Calvert's young merchants of today received all or a part of their business training in Mr. Stricker's business establishment, under his able guidance, and looked to him for counsel and advice concerning their business affairs.

Mr. Stricker was born in New Jersey, December 25th, 1868. His father, Herman Stricker, was well known in the business circles of New Jersey, and later after he had removed to Texas and established his business in this state. His mother was Miss Mary Russell, of English parentage, the Russell family of nobility, but reared and educated in Amer- ica. His early education was obtained in the public schools of Key West, Florida, and later at Gaines- ville, Florida, after which he attended college at La Porte, Indiana. Mr. Stricker's life as a youth was spent at Key West, Florida, and he traveled a great deal when a young man, visiting all portions of the United States, and practically all parts of South America and Europe. When twenty-four years of age, he came to Calvert, Texas, and en- gaged in the general mercantile business. Mr. Stricker was married in Calvert, Texas, on July 31st, 1893, to Miss Katy Hamman, a daughter of

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MEN OF TEXAS

General William H. Hamman, one of the foremost citizens of Texas.

Five children were born to Herman Livingston Stricker and Katy Hamman Stricker-Phil H. of San Antonio, William H. Stricker, engaged in the building and loan business in Corpus Christi; Mary H. Stricker, now Mrs. Arthur Johns of New York City; Katyruth Stricker, a graduate of the Rice Institute, who resides at home, and Josephine, the wife of R. H. Stodder of Houston, Texas. Mr. Stricker was a member of the Episcopal Church, and of the Masonic fraternity of Calvert, Texas.

Herman L. Stricker was a remarkable man in many respects. His mind was unusually alert and brilliant; the charm of his personal manner and bearing was pronounced and impressive; and his conversation, coming from a mind stored with in- formation and reflection, was at all times engaging. He was a musician of rare accomplishment, who, however did not allow the artistic temperament to interfere with the practical affairs of life. He was always the center of the club or group of friends who sought his association. After a brief and bril- liant life, he died March 21st, 1905. His death, in the prime of his life and usefulness, was a loss felt not only by his family and friends, but it was a distinct loss to the State of Texas. Big-hearted, public-spirited, progressive and a leader of all projects of a civic nature for the advancement of his town and state. Mr. Stricker's friends were num- bered by the acquaintances that were fortunate enough to come in contact with a character that was charitable, forgiving, benevolent, and who lived for his family, friends and state.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 137

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