New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 147

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

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On November 15th, 1866, Captain Fletcher was united in marriage with Miss Julia Long. Mrs. Fletcher was a sister of James Long for whom Cap- tain Fletcher worked in his youth. Captain and Mrs. Fletcher had four sons and one daughter: Emmett A., Harvey D. (deceased), Marion K., Clyde (de- ceased), and Miss Vallie Fletcher. The home life of Captain and Mrs. Fletcher was ideal in every re- spect. Having practically retired from the cares of a long and successful business career he spent happy years in the charmed circle of his own house- hold. Having risen from obscurity and poverty to affluence and fame as one among the great man- ufacturers of the country he was content to reside near the theater of his achievements and quietly and serenely live out the remnant of his days.

Captain William Andrew Fletcher passed away on January 4th, 1915, and in an address given by Hon. R. A. Greer, the following tribute was paid Captain Fletcher, which will give an insight into the life of this great man: "He was a man among men; he was a man in all the word implies. He was brave, yet timid; he was bold, yet sympathetic; he was positive, yet retiring; he was honest, but looked with leniency on anyone who violated the com-

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mandments; he was truthful and could not tolerate deception; he was generous even to a fault, and yet he was exacting; he was just, but he was merciful; he was charitable, but without ostentation; he fought the battles of his country bravely and with credit to himself, but with no malice to his foe; he was democratic in all of his feelings, but without en- mity toward the select classes; he was a friend of the poor, but with no bitterness toward wealth; he was a champion of labor, but he was broad enough to do justice to the rich." During the funeral ceremonies of Captain Fletcher, all of Beau- mont stood with bowed heads and hearts duly ap- preciative of the great loss which the city sustained in the passing of this worthy citizen, who more than half a century was a loyal and active worker for the upbuilding and development of the town and country.

EINRICH MOSLE-In recounting the his- tory of the development of Galveston, and particularly the development of commercial Galveston and its advancement to a position among the leading ports of the Gulf Coast, few names are accorded more prominence than that of Heinrich Mosle. For nearly four decades this loyal and public-spirited citizen worked indefatigably in the interest of Galveston, among other things estab- lishing trade relations with Cuba and the West In- dies, and building up a steamship line which was itself no small factor in the prosperity of the city. Mr. Mosle represented that type of citizen, all too rare, who make their civic duty their first concern, often to the neglect of private interests, and he gave his support to all important civic measures at Galveston during his lifetime. It is especially sig- nificant of the high esteem in which he was held that he was elected as a director of the International Peace Conference and was made a director of the National Chamber of Commerce, two organizations concerned with the more important questions of the day, the one international in scope, the other na- tional.

Heinrich Mosle was born in Germany, the six- teenth of January, 1864, the son of J. L. Mosle, en- gaged in agricultural pursuits in that country dur- ing his lifetime. Mr. Mosle was educated in Ger- many, attending private schools there, and came to America as a young man of nineteen, landing at Galveston in 1883. The first several years he spent here were with Kaufman & Runge, wholesale gro- cers and cotton factors, after which he went in the cotton business for himself, engaging in this line for around three years. This was followed by a pe- riod in the ship chandlery business, he organizing the firm of Muller, Mosle & Company, which de- veloped into the steamship line which he headed for so many years, and was to become the United Steam- ship Company. Mr. Mosle was president of the steamship company from its organization until his death, operating around twelve or thirteen ships, and establishing trade relations with Cuba and the West Indies, which composed the larger part of the business handled by the United Steamship Company. The ships operated by the United Steamship Company were the largest and only ships going from the Port of Galveston to Cuba and the West Indies. Since Mr. Mosle's death the United Steamship Com- pany has been reorganized and is known as the Lone

Star Steamship Company.

Mr. Mosle was married at Galveston in 1898 to Miss Margaret Focke, daughter of John Focke, an old settler of Galveston and a member of the firm of Focke, Wilkins & Lange, wholesale grocers and cotton factors, and Anna Marckmann Focke. Mrs. Mosle was an ideal wife and mother, creating a real home for her family, and in addition to giving her husband inspiration and sympathy throughout his career, she reared their family of four children, Anna Mosle, J. L. Mosle, Margaret Mosle and Char- lotte Mosle. Mrs. Mosle now resides with her chil- dren at the family home, 1628 Avenue J. The family attend the Lutheran Church. Mr. Mosle was a mem- ber of the Aziola Club and the Garden Verein Club, and was a director in the International Peace Confer- ence and a director in the National Chamber of Com- merce.

Heinrich Mosle died at Galveston in January, 1921, his death being a great loss to the city, and sin- cerely mourned by his hundreds of friends here. Few men have served so unselfishly in the interests of their city than did he, and his name will be recalled at Galveston throughout the years to come as one of the real builders of this city.

HULE BROUSSARD, one of the recent re- cruits to the business world at Beaumont, since his arrival in this city has engaged in the drug business, and has attained a commendable reputation for his activities in this line. Mr. Broussard is the owner of the Park Street Drug Store, one of the best suburban drug stores in the city, and located at 2107 Park Street, in the heart of one of the best residence districts. Since the establishment of the business in 1918 the store has been accorded a liberal patronage, and a high class neighborhood trade has been built up. Mr. Brous- sard has a complete stock, including drugs, pro- prietary medicines, drug sundries, candies, and other items, and each department is carefully managed. The prescription department is given special atten- tion and the utmost care is used in the compound- ing of prescriptions. The fountain trade is a second feature of the business, and a fine fountain, in keep- ing with the store fixtures, has been installed. Mr. Broussard is assisted by a corps of competent em- ployees, and the business is operated with service as the keynote.

Mr. Broussard was born at Lake Arthur, Louis- ana, the twenty-sixth of December, 1885, the son of S. D. Broussard, a planter, landowner and farmer. Mr. Broussard was educated in the public schools at Lake Arthur, later attending the New Orleans College of Pharmacy, where he graduated in 1910, after two years. He then went to Lake Arthur, and was in a drug store there for some time prior to going to Jennings, Louisiana, where he was in the drug business for several years. He then came to Beaumont, in 1915, and was with the North End Pharmacy for several years prior to the establish- ment of his present business. ʻ

Mr Broussard was married at Houston, in 1913, to Miss Elizabeth Tilbury. They make their home in Beaumont, at 2129 Park Street, and have two children, Margaret and Courtney. Mr. Broussard is a member of the Kiwanis Club, and takes a deep pride in the civic accomplishments of his city.

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E MMETT A. FLETCHER for many years has been prominently identified with com- mercial and industrial enterprises at Beau- mont, and is firmly established as a busi- ness man whose influence is felt in every walk of life. Mr. Fletcher is president of the Beaumont Building Material Company, one of the large build- ing supply establishments at Beaumont, and one which through the large annual volume of business done contributes materially to the prosperity of Beaumont. Mr. Fletcher is also vice president of the Neches Canal Company, which, like other enter- prises in which he is interested, shows the results of his constructive business policies, and is a sound and capably directed organization, occupying an in- tegral place in the business world. Mr. Fletcher also has numerous other interests, and owns, city and country property. Allied as he is with these various interests of wide scope, few men are bet- ter able to influence civic prosperity, and few have done more to secure business advantages for Beaumont.

Emmett A. Fletcher was born at Beaumont, the tenth of October, 1868, the son of William A. Flet- cher, and Julia Long Fletcher. William A. Fletcher was one of the real pioneers of Beaumont, coming here in the early days and taking a prominent part in the development of the lumber resources of this section, building up a large and prosperous lumber and sawmill business. He also took a deep interest in all that concerned the upbuilding of Beaumont, contributing generously to all movements launched for the development of the rapidly growing city, and his name has many memorials in the Beaumont of today, and is honored as that of one of the real builders of the city.

Emmett A. Fletcher attended the public schools of his native city, after which he began his business career. Like his father, he entered the saw mill business, and later became interested in the various branches of the lumber business, building up ex- tensive interests in this field. These interests he sold in 1901 to the Kirby Lumber Company in the early days of the boom at Spindle Top. From 1902 until 1906 he served the city of Beaumont as al- derman, using his influence while in this office to secure important civic development. In 1906 he was elected mayor of Beaumont and served twelve con- secutive years, elected six times of two years each and then retired of his own accord and under his administration Beaumont enjoyed one of the great- est periods of civic development of its history. Through his efforts the city water works was bought from private ownership and developed into a utility with facilities to serve the growing city, extending water service to all parts of Beaumont. Mr. Fletcher also secured for Beaumont while serving as mayor the property on the ship channel for the municipal ship docks, and began the development of this pro- ject. He was instrumental in laying many miles of pavement, and in securing other public improve- ments, and in outlining a program for expansion which has done much to promote progress.

Mr. Fletcher was married at Beaumont in 1915, to Miss Gladys Thompson, a native of Louisiana. They have an attractive home at 1203 North Street, and are popular members of the social set of Beau- mont. Mr. Fletcher is a member of the Country Club and fraternally is an Elk. Throughout his busi-

ness career he has occupied a position of leader- ship, encouraging commercial and industrial devel- opment and expansion, and has rendered an impor- tant service to Beaumont in this respect. He has also participated in all civic movements which have had to do with the welfare and upbuilding of Beau- mont and has allied himself with the various or- ganizations of this kind. Few men have done more, or have worked more unselfishly for the good of Beaumont than has Mr. Fletcher, and the high place he occupies in public esteem is but his just due.

C. HAWKINS has been for many years associated with the development of Port Neches, and a leader in the commercial and industrial advancement of this city. Mr. Hawkins is superintendent of the Port Neches Works of the Texas Company, a position he has held since the first of September, 1911. This large plant manufactures all the asphalt and roofing used by the Texas Company, and is one of the finest and is the largest asphalt plant in the world. At the time Mr. Hawkins began with the plant, as super- intendent of roofing manufacturing, the first of January, 1909, this plant was very small and its present status is due to the scientific management of the Texas Company executives, in which Mr. Hawkins has had a definite part. This plant is located on the ship channel, and both grounds and building are unusually attractive and well kept, a feature in which Mr. Hawkins, as the superintendent of this beautiful industrial unit, takes a justifiable pride.

Mr. Hawkins is also president of the First National Bank of Port Neches, of which he was one of the organizers. This banking institution, one of the strong and capably directed institutions of this city, has contributed a conservative banking service to this section, and has assets totaling around three hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

Mr. Hawkins was born at Mitamoro, Indiana, the sixteenth of August, 1879, the son of Wm. R. Haw- kins, a native of Indiana, and Mary J. Hawkins, also a native of Indiana. He was educated in the public schools of Indiana and the high school and University of Cincinnati, graduating with A. B. de- gree April first, 1902, chemistry being his prin- cipal study, and after finishing his education began his active business career with the Chatfield Man- ufacturing Company of Cincinnati, where he re- mained for seven years, coming with the Texas Company at Port Neches in 1909, and has since been with this company, holding one of the responsi- ble positions in the organization.

Mr. Hawkins was married at Beaumont, Texas, the twenty-ninth of August, 1917, to Mrs. Ruth McNeel, a native of the Lone Star State, and a member of a prominent East Texas family. Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins make their home at the plant, in one of the Texas Company's beautiful homes. Mr. Hawkins is a member of the Beaumont Coun- try Club, the Neches Club, and is president of the Port Neches Chamber of Commerce. He takes a special interest in the public school system of Port Neches, being president of the school board, and is active in other civic and public organizations. He has been a leader in all progressive work in this city, and has entered into all movements which have had for their purpose the advancement of Port Neches.

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NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

BE GOLDBERG, pioneer merchant of the Lone Star State, and for a quarter of a century a prime factor in the merchandis- ing world of Port Arthur, has given years of an industrious and busy life to the upbuilding of his community, and is one of the most esteemed residents of this city. Mr. Goldberg is the owner of the Goldberg Department Store, a business dating back to 1900, when a small store twenty-five by eighty feet was opened at the corner of Austin and Procter Streets. He became associated with E. Deutser of Beaumont, early in 1901, when the store was moved from Austin Street to the business house then owned by Best and Hamlin on Procter Street. In 1904 the business had prospered to such an extent that it was necessary to move to larger quarters, and was moved to the Smith brick block, but even this building was soon outgrown, and in 1909 John Gates built the large store on Procter Street, seventy-five by one hundred twenty-five feet, and the first fine building in Port Arthur. This building was later bought by Mr. Goldberg, the lower floor being occupied by the store, and two up- per stories used as a modern office building. Mr. Goldberg operates a complete department store, with the exception of gents furnishings, and has a force of forty employees.

Mr. Goldberg was born at Zaggarem, Russia, in 1858, and came to the United States at the age of nineteen. He went first to Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, where he spent a short time, after which he came to Hearne, Texas, and began his mercantile career. After four years in that city he removed to Bryan, where he operated one of the principal mercantile establishments of that time. Four years later he moved to Sabine, opening stores in Sabine, and in Sabine Pass, and in 1900 came to Port Arthur, which has since been his home.

Mr. Goldberg was married in New York City, in 1904, to Miss Elsie Loeb, born at Staten Island. Mrs. Goldberg is one of the social leaders of Port Arthur, and has also taken an interest in Mr. Gold- berg's business, and to her he attributes a large measure of the success of his store. Mr. and Mrs. Goldberg have one of the fine homes of the city at 3100 Procter Street, and have one child, Irving, who was born at Port Arthur, and is a graduate of the high school here, and a student at the University of Texas.

Mr. Goldberg is interested in many of the im- portant businesses of the city. He is a director of the Homestead Building and Loan Association, and of the Port Arthur Business College. In this latter institution he is particularly interested, assisting many of the students to obtain their education by furnishing them employment while they are going to school, and otherwise lending a helping hand. There have been few civic movements of the past quarter of a century which Mr. Goldberg has not actively sponsored. He has been instrumental in securing new business enterprises for the city, and when the increasing importance of Port Arthur, as a shipping center demanded better hotel accommo- dations he was one of the first to endorse the move- ment and set to work to secure the hotel. During the three years he served as president of the Cham- ber of Commerce, he was foremost in every devlop- ment activity, using his influence to urge advance- ment, and advocating building for the future, with

a foresight that has since been justified. As a director of that same organization he is still active in carrying forward plans for a greater Port Arthur. Mr. Goldberg is particularly interested in the Boy Scout movement, and was the first to or- ganize a troop of scouts here. For many years he was chairman of the Scout Council, and his work for and among the boys of this city has won him the admiration and respect of the youth of Port Arthur, and he is affectionately called the "Daddy of the Boy Scouts of Port Arthur." Mr. Goldberg is a member of the Rotary Club, and is a Mason, Blue Lodge, Port Arthur, 32nd degree, Scottish Rite, and a member of El Mina Temple Shrine of Gal- veston. Mr. Goldberg is one of the oldest members of the Knights of Pythias in this section, and has been very active in this order for many years, both at Sabine and Port Arthur. He is past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Goldberg is a member of the Country Club, and all civic organizations.

M JORRIS S. WARREN, veteran plumbing and sheet metal contractor of Port Arthur, has for upwards of two decades been a factor in building and construction activities, and is one of the leading representatives of the plumbing business in this city. Mr. Warren operates his business under his own name, and has no associates. The business was established in 1906, since which time it has met with rapid growth, and is not only one of the largest, but one of the oldest plumbing businesses of Port Arthur. Mr. Warren does a general plumbing and sheet metal contracting busi- ness, and also sells retail plumbing supplies. He has his offices and display rooms at 531-33-35 Fifth Street, and maintains a force of twenty employees. Mr. Warren has handled many of the large con- tracts, and has installed plumbing and heating in many of the important buildings of Port Arthur. He makes a specialty of high class residence work, and has made installations in most of the fine homes of the city. His work is of recognized superiority, and his high reputation has been a factor in the growth of his business.

Mr. Warren, a native of the Lone Star State, was born at Bryan, the 28th of February, 1882. His father, John Warren, a railroad contractor, came to Texas with the H. and T. C. Railroad, which he helped build, and lived in Bryan for a number of years, later removing to Texarkana. Mr. Warren was educated in the public schools of Texarkana, and as a boy learned the plumbing business in a plumbing shop in that city. He was in the plumb- ing business in various Texas towns until 1903, when he came to Port Arthur, beginning for himself in a small way. His business developed rapidly, and is now the largest of its kind in the city.

Mr. Warren was married at Port Arthur, the sixth day of July, 1903, to Mrs. Mabel Morgan Spencer, widow of M. S. Spencer, by whom she had one child, Walter F. Spencer. Mr. and Mrs. Warren live at 2247 Fourth Street, and have one daughter, Mary, a graduate of the Port Arthur high school, and a student at the College of Industrial Arts at Denton, Texas. Mr. Warren is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, working in harmony with that organization for the growth of the city. He is proud of the accomplishments of Port Arthur, and has done much to further the development, beauti- fication and welfare of this city.

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OLUMBUS C. CASWELL. Of those sturdy pioneers who laid the foundation of the Beaumont of today, few were more zealous in their devotion to the best interests of the young city and few took a more prominent part in its development than Columbus C. Caswell, the story of whose career is an integral part of the history of Beaumont. Coming here at the beginning of his career, and bringing with him an enthusiasm that was to influence his later career, Mr. Caswell en- tered into the life of the city, building up a large mercantile business, and later engaging in the lum- ber business, taking an active part in developing the vast lumber resources of this section. When the Deep Water project first attracted attention, Mr. Caswell became interested in this work, and he was one of those who through his keen interest in, and untiring work for this plan made the present deep water harbor a reality.

Columbus C. Caswell was born in Georgia in 1843, and after his mother's death in that State, he and his brother and sister started to Texas, the father's death occurring on the road to this State. Mr. Cas- well continued on his way, coming here as a young boy, and as a lad of fourteen years coming to Beau- mont. Here he enlisted in Marshes Company, in the Confederate Army, at the age of seventeen years, fighting through the war. Among the battles in which he participated were several in Louisiana and the Battle of Sabine Pass. After his discharge, at the close of the war, he came back to Beaumont and began in the trading and traffic business. Later he went in the mercantile business, establishing the Caswell Store, a general mercantile house which was well known in those days. Mr. Caswell also dealt in cotton and timber, and was one of the first to engage in the hand-made shingle manufacturing business. Later he was associated with Geo. W. Smyth in the Eagle Mill, manufacturing lumber and shingles, which were taken down the Neches River to Galveston to sell. Later they sold the Eagle Mill to the Texas Tram and Lumber Company, and Mr. Caswell at this time also sold his mercantile busi- ness to the same company which was headed by Mr. W. A. Fletcher.

Columbus C. Caswell was married at Beaumont, the twenty-third of November, 1865, to Miss Eliza- beth Kidd. Mrs. Caswell was the daughter of Robert Kidd, one of the real pioneers of the South, who came to Texas before the Civil War and settled on Sabine Lake, where Port Arthur is now located. He made this trip by wagon, and later removed to Grigsby Bluff, locating near where Port Neches is now situated and still later to Smith Bluff, at a point where the Humphreys Pure Oil Company Re- finery is now located. Still later he moved closer to Beaumont, living for a number of years on a tract of land the family later sold to the Magnolia Com- pany, and where the Magnolia Refinery has since been built. Still later Mr. Kidd lived in Beaumont, moving from here to San Felipe, Austin County, where his death occurred at the age of one hundred and sixteen years. Mr. Kidd was married at the age of sixty-four years, rearing a family of seven chil- dren, of whom Mrs. Caswell, whose birth occurred at Nacatosh, Louisiana, was one, and the late George Kidd, prominent business and hotel man of Beaumont, and a thirty-third degree Mason was

another. George Kidd died at Beaumont the twenty- sixth of April, 1921. Her other brother, F. M. Kidd, deceased, was engaged in the rice business, and lived in Beaumont all his life. He was a thirty-sec- ond degree Mason. He died in July, 1923.

Mr. and Mrs. Caswell had a family of seven chil- dren: Emma, widow of the late Dr. A. B. Chamber- lin; Will Caswell, whose death occurred at the age of thirty-four; Columbus C. Caswell, Jr., whose death occurred during infancy; Sadie, wife of Perry M. Wiess; George W. Caswell, a prominent rice farmer of Beaumont, and who married Miss Ruth Bucklin; Elizabeth, wife of J. S. Edwards, and who has three children: Columbus, Elizabeth and Sea- willow, and Seawillow,wife of William F. Keith, and who has two children; Marjorie and Caswell.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 147

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