New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 138

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

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R IENZI M. JOHNSTON, whose activities for more than half a century have identified him with the Lone Star State, for up- wards of four decades, has been a factor in the life of Houston, making his influence felt in every walk of life, and as an editor and pub- lisher doing much effective work toward moulding sentiment favorable to civic development. Col. John- ston came to Houston in 1885, having prior to that time been actively engaged in newspaper work, and for some time staff correspondent and political editor of the old Houston Post. On coming to Houston, in association with Mr. Watson, he founded the Houston Post, becoming its editor, a position he retained until 1920, when for a time he retired from active business life. He was also, after the death of Mr. Watson, president of the Houston Post Publishing Company. During the many years of his editorship he took a more than active interest in the betterment of Houston, using his influence as editor for the advancement of his city.

On June 1, 1924, Col. Johnston became president of the American Industrial Investment Company. This company was organized in March, 1923, and has a capital stock of $100,000. The board of directors are leading citizens of Houston. The bus- iness of the company is to make small loans to wage earners at 8 per cent annual interest, repayable in monthly installments within a year. The com- pany is doing a fine work and so it has the hearty co-operation of the people of Houston. The offices are located in the Mason Building.

Col. Johnston's political leadership has made his name known throughout the Lone Star State, where-

in he has for many years been a factor in the Democratic party. For a period of six years he was a member of the state Democratic executive committee, and for twelve years a member of the National Democratic committee of Texas, and while on these committees wielded an influence that was statewide. He was also a member of the Texas state senate, and acted as lieutenant governor and governor for some time, impressing his influence on much of the important legislation enacted during that period. Later he gave up this work to become chairman of the Texas state prison commission, a position which enabled him to give to his state a service that will make his name one long to be remembered. He was appointed to the United States senate, to fill the vacancy created by the resigna- tion of Joseph W. Bailey, receiving this appointment from Governor Colquitt.

Col. Rienzi M. Johnston was born in Washington County, Georgia, on the ninth day of September, 1850, son of Freeman W. and Mary J. Russell John- ston. He attended the public schools of his native state, and graduated from the Bainbridge High School, the family having moved to Bainbridge dur- ing his infancy. During the war Col. Johnston, then a boy of twelve, served in the Confederate Army as drummer boy, seeing much service for two years. All his life has been spent in news- paper work, first at Bainbridge, Georgia, where he was on a weekly paper, becoming its editor at the age of twenty. In 1871, at which time he was twenty-one, he was made city editor of the Savan- nah Morning News, holding this position for one year. After a short rest, on account of his health, he came to Texas, in 1878, locating at Crockett, in Houston County, where he bought and operated a country paper for a year and a half. He then went to Corsicana and edited a paper there for one year, thence to Austin where he was assistant editor of the "Austin Statesman" for one year, resigning this position to become staff correspondent and political editor of the old Houston Post. The fol- lowing year, 1885, he came to Houston.

Col. Johnston was married at Jacksonville, Flor- ida, in 1875, to Miss Mary E. Parsons, daughter of W. T. Parsons. They have a family of three children, Harry M. Johnston, Hariot Russell, and Mrs. Neill T. Masterson. The family make their home on the Telephone Road, at Brookline station. Col. Johnston is a member of various clubs and civic organizations, such as, the Elks, the Turn- verein, the Houston Saengerbund, the Houston Club, honorary member of the Rotary Club, and was for two years first vice president of the Associated Press, and for nine years director of the Associated Press.

Col. Johnston has always been one of the pro- gressive and constructive leaders of his city. One of the greatest editors and publishers of his state, he has had an unusual opportunity to shape the destiny of his city, and the Post, under his editor- ship, was an advocate of progress, of civic devel- opment, of fairness, and square dealing, and in every way a real, vital factor in the life of the community. As a political leader Col. Johnston used his influence unerringly to promote the welfare of his city and his state, and his activities in political circles have won him a distinction that is not only state wide, but extends to other parts of the country.

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M.P. GEISELMAN

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

ICHAEL PIERCE GEISELMAN, well and favorably known for many years in Hous- ton, was a pioneer Texan whose interesting career is closely interwoven with the his- tory of this city. Mr. Geiselman was a business man of constructive vision, close application to detail, and a man of irreproachable integrity. Be- ginning as a newsboy on a train in the early days, he won his way to success through his own efforts, and at the time of his retirement from active life several years prior to his death, he was vice presi- dent of the Houston National Exchange Bank, and vice president and treasurer of the Joseph F. Meyer Hardware Company, a firm with which he was as- sociated for almost four decades.

Michael Pierce Geiselman was born at Frederick, Maryland, the sixteenth of July, 1852, son of Samuel and Sarah (Spahr) Geiselman. The family moved to Texas in 1856, locating in Houston, where the elder Mr. Geiselman opened a meat market. This pioneer market operator was one of the first in the city to close his shop on Sunday, and in many other ways assisted in raising merchandising standards.

Mr. Geiselman attended private schools in Hous- ton until the outbreak of the Civil War, at which time he began work as a newsboy on the railroad, running from Houston to Alleyton, Texas, and also on the H. & T. C., running from Houston to Millican, Texas. He was also a newsboy on the J. H. Whitelaw passenger boat running from Hous- ton to Galveston. After several years thus em- ployed Mr. Geiselman went to work for the J. R. Morris Hardware store, as bookkeeper, remaining with it about ten years. He then went with Joseph F. Meyer Company, pioneer, hardware dealers, starting as bookkeeper. With this firm he found rapid promotion, and soon held a high and re- sponsible position. He retired in 1919, after thirty-eight years with this firm during which time he rose from bookkeeper to vice president and treasurer.

Mr. Geiselman was married to Miss Mollie Ran- dolph, in Houston, the seventh of February, 1888, at the old Methodist Church, located on the plot of ground where the Palace Theatre now stands. Mrs. Geiselman was a native of Houston, daughter of N. Randolph, who came to Houston from his birthplace of Naples, Italy, as a boy. He was en- gaged in the merchandising business in Houston for three decades, operating one of the pioneer paint and paper stores in the city. Her mother, before her marriage, Miss Henrietta Muller, was a native of Switzerland. Mr. and Mrs. Geiselman had a family of two children, a daughter, Hazel, wife of L. G. Riddell, prominent warehouse man of Houston, and a son, C. C. Geiselman, associated with Mr. Riddell. The Geiselman residence is located at-2504 San Jacinto Street. Mrs. Geiselman continues to make this her home, presiding over it with the charm of Southern hospitality.

Mr. Geiselman was a member of the Knights of Pythias, Lodge Number One, and of the Woodmen of the World. In the early days he belonged to Stonewall, Number Three, of the Volunteer Fire Department. He took an active part in the events of these organizations. As a citizen Mr. Geiselman took a deep interest in the progress of his city, and was a leader in all progressive movements of a civic

nature. The future of Houston was a subject in which he was always interested, and his part in the furtherance of all activities directed toward growth and progress, will long be remembered. As a business man he was known for his sincerity of purpose, his integrity, and ability. He never neg- lected an opportunity to lend a helping hand to his fellowman, and drew to himself hosts of friends, from every walk of life. His death, which occurred the eighth of July, 1921, was deeply felt through- out the city, and his memory will ever be honored by all who knew him as one of Houston's finest citizens.

ACOB BURGHEIM, pioneer druggist of the Lone Star State, and for four decades one of the leading druggists and business men of Houston, lived through, and took part vitally in the progress of this city, and few men attained more honor in their home community than he. Mr. Burgheim came to Houston in the days before this city had attained the greatness of the present, and took an important part in all develop- ment activities, prospering as the city prospered, and gave many years of his industrious and busy life for the advancement of his city. As a business man, as a citizen, and as a friend, he accounted well for himself, and his life was an inspiration to all who knew him.

Jacob Burgheim was born in Germany, the six- teenth of June, 1846, and lived in that country until he was thirteen years of age. His father, Maurice Burgheim, and his mother, Miriam Goldsmith Burg- heim, both spent their entire lives in Germany, and died there. In 1859, Mr. Burgheim, in company with an older brother, came to the United States, landing at New York, and going from there to Clin- ton, Missouri, to make their home with an uncle. Mr. Burgheim lived in Missouri until the outbreak of the Civil War, when he enlisted in the Union Army, serving throughout the conflict. After the close of the war he returned to Missouri for a short time, and then came to Texas, locating at Waxa- hachie, where he went to work in a drug store. He went from there to Waco, opening a drug store for himself, and later going to Galveston, where he was also in the drug business. This was followed by a period at Columbus, Texas, also in the drug business, after which Mr. Burgheim came to Houston, in 1880. He opened the Burgheim Pharmacy in that same year, as a very small store. But with the passing of the years and the growth and development of the city the need for expansion came, and Mr. Burg- heim found real prosperity in his chosen business. At the time of his death, in 1920, the store which he had established four decades previously, was the leading drug store in the city, and its founder known throughout the Lone Star State for his many activi- ties incident to the development of the drug busi- ness. He was active until his death, although he was in bad health for some two years prior to his death, and as he himself would have said, "died in the harness," on the thirtieth of November, 1920.

Mr. Burgheim was married at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1870, to Miss Henrietta Burgheim, a cousin, and the daughter of Jules H. Burkheim, a planter of South Carolina. Mrs. Burgheim was throughout the happy married life of the couple an ideal companion, a real comrade, and at all times the inspiration of her husband in his career. Her home was her pride, and

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she was never happier than when performing the home duties that made home life so delightful for the children and husband. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Burgheim, Miriam, wife of Sol. Braunig of Houston, and who has two children, Sid- ney J. Braunig of Houston, and Julia, wife of Ar- mand Stern, and who has one child, Ruth Miriam, the grand-daughter of Mrs. Braunig, and the great- grand-daughter of Jacob Burgheim; Estelle, wife of Ben Weil, and who has one child, Mrs. Jessie Marco Katz; Julus H. Burgheim, whose death occurred in 1896; Dr. Clarence A. Burgheim, of Nicaragua, and who married Miss Carmen Chamorro, daughter of the late President of Nicaragua, and who has one child, Mary Gretchen Burgheim; Rose, wife of P. J. Burges, of San Francisco, California; Edward Lask- er, and Johanna, whose death occurred in Novem- ber, 1921, and who was married to William Archer Thomas.

Mr. Burgheim was an active eighteenth degree Scottish Rite Mason, member of Gray Blue Lodge, No. 329. At the time of his death he was the oldest living member of the Congregational Beth Israel, and was the leader of the Choir there for twenty years. He served as the Consul for Nicaragua in Houston, receiving his appointment from the late President of that country. He was a member of the National Pharmaceutical Association of America, and in 1896 was elected a life member of the State Pharmaceutical Association. Mr. Burgheim was prominent in various social work, and during his lifetime was one of the most liberal contributors to civic work in Houston.

L. NASH, Oil Operator and Owner of the Houston Hot Wells, has figured prominently in the development of the oil and rice in- dustries of Texas, and, in 1920, he pur- chased the Houston Hot Wells, which he has devel- oped into a popular resort. Mr. Nash entered the oil business in 1901 when the big boom came to Beaumont, and it is a fact that he sold more land than any other firm or member of any firm en- gaged in this business at that time. During this period, he was also engaged in the rice business, and was one of the first men to plant rice in Jef- ferson County, and he has done much to encour- age the cultivation and marketing of rice in the coast country. He formed a partnership in his rice activities known as Price, Nash and Broussard, and his firm built the first rice mill ever constructed in Texas, which was located at Beaumont, and Mr. Broussard still operates the Beaumont Rice Mill. The first step of Mr. Nash in the oil business was when he secured leases at Damon Mound and West Columbia. When Mr. Lucas started the boom at Damon Mound, Mr. Nash and Governor Hogg bought sixty acres there for a cash consideration of $9,000.00 and held this until the Texas Exploration Company developed the field there, and after the first well was brought in, they sold twenty-four acres of their holdings to the Texas Company, and sold parts to other companies for development and still has some of the Damon Mound acreage. At West Columbia, the Equitable Oil Company was formed by Hogg, Bullock, Underwood and Nash, who purchased a ninety-acre lease, where they drilled and found some oil. This lease is less than 2000 feet from the gusher field of later days. Mr. Nash and Mr. Bullock also bought fifty acres in fee in this ter-

ritory and still own this, which is still producing royalty. Mr. Nash also had interests in oil prop- erties near San Antonio, and was Vice-President and General Manager of the Linn Oil Company, which was developed by the Higgins Oil and Fuel Company, having drilled several small producing wells on the Linn tract there. Mr. Nash was at the head of the company, which brought in two wells in the Somerset field. He remained in the San Antonio territory for sixteen years and then sold his interests there to Jewell B. Lightfoot, At -. torney General of Texas, and returned to Hous- ton. He purchased the Houston Hot Wells, of two hundred acres, in April, 1920, where he has a pri- vate home, rent cottages, bathing facilities of all kinds, dance hall and cafe. Houston Hot Wells has many remarkable cures to its credit. Many peo- ple have been cured here after seeking relief in vain at various places in the United States. They have natural gas there for the purpose of heating the buildings, and for all domestic purposes. Mr. Nash now buys oil land in fee when a good propo- sition appears to him, and besides the holdings in the different well developed fields, he has land in fee at Hockley, Stratton Ridge and many other places that are in line for development, such as Duval County.

A native Texan, Mr. Nash was born at East Co- lumbia, April 16th, 1857. His father, George L. Nash, came to Texas in 1851, and was a well-known blacksmith and machinist. His mother was, prior to her marriage, Miss Elizabeth Gertrude Adriance, a member of a pioneer Texas family. His educa- tion was obtained in the schools at East Columbia, Texas. His first work was in the blacksmith, and machine shop of his father at East Columbia, where he remained until he was twenty-four years of age. In 1881, he went to Beaumont and engaged in the mercantile business, and at that time Beau- mont had only three stores. He later engaged in the real estate business there and remained in this line of endeavor until the oil boom days of 1901, when the call of oil became too strong, and he entered the oil business in which he has been very successful.

Mr. Nash was married on May 30th, 1878, at Harry Landing, Brazoria County, to Miss Eliza Maggie Hart, a native of Little Rock, Arkansas, and a daughter of Major William Hart, well-known in the State, and she was one of twelve children in the Hart family. They have one son, C. H. Nash, who assists his father in the management of the Houston Hot Wells. Mr. Nash is a member of the B. P. O. E., with membership in Houston Lodge No. 151. His family adhere to the Episcopal faith. Mr. Nash is typical of the Old South and of the wide out-doors. He has a host of friends in the South Texas Country, and is loved and respected by two generations. He is regarded as one of the most successful operators in the South Texas oil fields, and his operations have always been along conserv- ative lines, and even in the excitement of the early boom days it was noticeable that he never grew excited or lost his composure. Mr. Nash is the right man to develop the Houston Hot Wells and the citizenship are glad of his foresight in pur- chasing this property.

Note: Since this sketch was written, Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Nash died.

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L Mash

Rufus bagel

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

UFUS CAGE. The insurance industry has given to the Lone Star State many of her great men, men who are real factors in the commercial world, and of these Rufus Cage stands out significantly. Perhaps no man asso- ciated with the industry gave more earnest con- sideration to the many questions involved and surely none attained as eminent a position as an authority on matters in this field. For almost a half century a resident of Houston, he took a deep interest in the growth of this city and his name is accorded a place of honor among the real builders of the city.

Mr. Cage was born at Goose Creek, Texas, on the twenty-third day of October, 1853. His father, Rufus King Cage, was one of the prominent men of his time, a native of Tennessee and a Harvard graduate who came to Texas as a young man and at one time owned much of the land around Goose Creek. Later he removed to Houston, acquiring large tracts of land here, and was one of the sub- stantial citizens of the early days. He married Miss Mary Bodie, a native of Tennessee, who later came to Nacogdoches and then to Houston with her par- ents, for many years prominent residents of this city.

As a boy, Mr. Rufus Cage attended the Houston schools, later, after finishing his education going to Galveston where for several years he was engaged in the insurance business. Returning to Houston in 1879, he spent a short time in this city, then went to Victoria where he was cashier of a local bank for one year. He again returned to Houston, becoming associated with one of the early insurance firms of the day, namely S. O. Cotton and Brothers. After a few years he was sent by the firm to Memphis, Tennessee, as manager of the Round Bale Cotton Company. After the storm of 1900 he returned to Houston, continuing with S. O. Cotton and Brothers. Later, in association with James A. Cravens, he organized the firm of Cravens and Cage, general insurance, in which he was active until his death.

Mr. Cage was married at Galveston, the eleventh of December, 1878, to Miss J. E. Reed, a native of that city, and the daughter of Thomas Reed, also of Galveston and a resident of this city during his en- tire life, and E. M. Rhea Reed, a native of Ten- nessee. Mrs. Cage resides at 310 West Main Street. Mrs. Cage is a woman of accomplishments, a charm- ing personality, and is greatly beloved by her friends in Houston. She made Mr. Cage's home life ideal and was a real companion and inspiration through- out his interesting career.

Mr. and Mrs. Cage were the parents of a family of four children, Captain H. K. Cage, of the United States navy, who married Miss Julia Hubbard; El- liott Cage, a prominent attorney at Houston, who married Miss Roene Masterson and who have two children, Chaille, a graduate of Wellesley College, and Elliott, Jr .; Rufus Cage, Junior, the well known insurance man, and who married Miss Frances Sears; and Mrs. Ella Cage Tourtellot, who makes her home with her mother and who has two children, Dallas M. and Mary Rhea Tourtellot.

Mr. Cage died at his home in Houston the nine- teenth of May, 1918. He was a man whose dignified bearing commanded respect in any gathering, a con- versationalist of rare ability. Mr. Cage had great intellectual powers which he used with indefatigable energy and this, combined with a talent for affairs

and a keen judgment of economic conditions, gave him leadership in the world of big business. One of his most admired characteristics, a strict adher- ence to the simple virtues of his childhood days, which dominated many of his activities, lent color to his entire life and won him many friends. Mr. Cage was a real city builder, quick to see the bene- fit to his community of certain assets and an ener- getic worker to secure these advantages. He had hundreds of friends from every walk of life and his death was deeply felt throughout the South.

OUIS WILES CRAIG. Every city has its list of great and public spirited men, who through devotion to ideals of growth and progress take a definite part in the devel- opment of the city. The name of Louis Wiles Craig has an honored place on such a list in Houston. Mr. Craig was a man of wide and varied experience, a man of vision and constructive ability, and during the years of his association with the life in Houston he rendered a real service in his real estate activities, making possible civic progress. Mr. Craig was able to foresee the growth of Houston, and the resultant demand for homes that this growth would create. He was able to visualize a beautiful residence dis- trict, planned to meet this demand, where a decade and a half ago was an undeveloped territory, and to him, and to his ability, Houston owes in large meas- ure Magnolia Park, that prosperous suburb which has figured so prominently in the history of Hous- ton recently.

Louis Wiles Craig was a native of Kentucky, born in Woodford County the first of March, 1844, the son of Harry H. Craig, a planter of Kentucky, and Mrs. (Cox) Craig, both of whom were natives of the Blue Grass State, residing there until their deaths. Mr. Craig obtained his education in the schools of Woodford County, Kentucky, and as a young man went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he was engaged in the wholesale business some six or eight years. He then went to Colorado, where he established a wholesale dry goods business, of which he made a great success. Later he organized the Continental Divide Bank, of Salida, Colorado, which he later reorganized and it became the First Na- tional Bank. In 1892 Mr. Craig left Colorado and came to Texas, going at that time to Corpus Christi, where he, with his brothers, M. P. and H. H. Craig, went into the real estate business, and for three years was a factor in the development and growth of this city. Then, on the death of his father in Kentucky, he returned to that state, spending the following year settling his father's estate. Conclud- ing his affairs in Kentucky he went to Kansas City, where for a short time he engaged in the real estate business, after which he came to Houston in 1894, residing here until his death. Here he entered the real estate business. One of his important transac- tions was the sale of Magnolia Park, which while in many respects almost a part of Houston, is in reality a city, with its separate municipal government.

Mr. Craig was married in Galveston, Texas, the twenty-fourth of February, 1886, to Miss Lucy Sher- man, a daughter of General Sidney Sherman, one of the most illustrious of Texas' pioneers, and who won distinction as a soldier in the Mexican war and later in the Civil war. At the battle of San Jacinto he commanded the left wing of the Texas forces. Gen- eral Sherman was a resident of Galveston for many

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years, and while that city claims him as a resident, all Texas honors him for his many illustrious acts, and as one of the heroes of the State.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 138

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