New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 148

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

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Mr. Caswell died the sixth of August, 1883, just at the heighth of a career devoted to civic work, and while serving as mayor, his death being a deep loss to the city. One of the pioneers of the deep water harbor movement, he had for a number of years prior to his death taken an active part in this work, giving generously of his time and means to insure its success. In all other forward looking civic move- ments, Mr. Caswell had also been one of the leaders, and his name will ever be accorded high honor in Beaumont, and he will be looked upon as one of the real builders of this city.

EORGE W. CASWELL, a native of Beau- mont, is well known in South Texas, where he has been closely identified with the com- mercial and civic development of this part of the State. While serving as a public official, he ever had the public interest at heart, and for the twenty-four years that he has served as manager of his father's estate, he has ever had the interest of his city and county in mind as well as that of the owners of the estate when he made improvements, built buildings and co-operated with the best in- terests of his community.

George W. Caswell was born in Beaumont, Oc- tober 1st, 1874, son of Columbus C., and Elizabeth (Kidd) Caswell. His parents were pioneers in Beau- mont, and C. C. Caswell, during his lifetime con- tributed much to the development of Southeast Texas. A sketch of his life will be found in this volume. The Caswell family were early settlers in America, some of whom fought in the Revolutionary War. George W. Caswell received his early educa- tion in the public schools of Beaumont, and then en- tered the Texas A. and M. College, where he was a student for three years. Leaving college he returned to his home and was first employed by the late John C. Ward, who operated the leading ice plant there. After one year Mr. Caswell went with the Texas Tram and Lumber Company, with whom he was as- sociated for fifteen years. When this company changed hands he became city salesman for the new company. After the death of his older brother, W. R., on March 17th, 1902, he assumed the manage- ment of the Caswell estate, which included business, residence and farm property. For about twelve years during this period he planted rice and was one of the pioneers in this crop that has become an important factor to the wealth of Jefferson County. Under his guidance the estate has grown in value many fold. In 1903 he erected the building that is occupied by the Andrus Park Grocery Store, the

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NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

largest of its kind in the city. In 1914 he erected two brick buildings on Fannin, between Pearl and Main. S. L. Adams Hardware and Groceries oc- cupy one of these buildings and several other tenants the other space. Directly through this block, and facing on Main, in 1914, he also erected another brick building that is occupied by a large transfer house. This building has railroad facilities, with railroad siding to facilitate shipping. Part of the Magnolia Refining Company's plant is built on two hundred and forty-seven acres of land bought from the Caswell estate, and the estate still owns one hun- dred acres adjoining the city limits and fronting on the Neches River contiguous to the Magnolia Re- fining Plant.

In September, 1901, Mr. Caswell was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Bucklin, a native of Trinity, Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Caswell reside at 1208 North Street. He is a member of the Beaumont Country, and Neches clubs, and the Elks Lodge. Mr. Caswell has ever been interested in the advancement of the city, and gave eight years of his time to public service, from 1904 to 1912. As county commissioner, during this period, he was instrumental in build- ing one hundred and twenty-five miles of dirt roads, and thirty miles of shell roads in the county. It is said that he was one of the best county commis- sioners that ever served in this county. In the his- tory of Beaumont and Jefferson county, the Caswell family has from one generation to another taken a leading part and George W. Caswell may ever be counted upon to take a live interest in everything pertaining to the further growth of his home city.

ILL T. ELDER, 1112 Magnolia Avenue, dis- tributor for the well known line of the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company, has been actively connected with the business inter- ests of Beaumont for the past seven years, having come here in 1917 to take charge of the local branch of the Case Company. During this period he has sold hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of farm implements in the counties surrounding Beaumont, which make up the trade territory for the local branch.

A complete line of the J. I. Case products are dis- tributed at the local branch. These include tractors, threshers, power disc harrows and power plows and parts for each of these are carried in stock, afford- ing a complete service to users of the J. I. Case im- plements. It is stated that over ninety per cent of the farm implements in use in the Beaumont trade territory have been sold by Mr. Elder. His terri- tory embraces Orange, Jefferson, Chambers, Lib- erty and Hardin Counties. Shipments are made principally direct from the company's factory at Ra- cine, Wisconsin.

A native of Illinois, Mr. Elder was born at Dan- ville on July 25th, 1876, a son of Simeon A. and Sarah (Widener) Elder. His father was engaged in the implement business at Danville for more than twenty years and it was but natural that his son should turn his attention to this line.

Mr. Elder received his education in the public and high schools of Illinois and also attended a busi- ness college. After leaving school he engaged in the farm implement business in Illinois and then went on the road for the J. I. Case Company. He traveled for this concern for nine years before re- ceiving his assignment as manager of the local

branch. He is one of the best posted implement men in the state and knows every detail of the oper- ation of every machine handled in his territory. One of the secrets of his large success is the service afforded customers after the machines have been delivered. He is a firm believer in the theory that a successfully operated implement means a satis- fied customer so he sees to it that machines sold by his company operate in an efficient and suc- cessful manner.

In 1919 Mr. Elder was married in Beaumont to Miss Loretta O. Thomas, member of a well known Beaumont family. Their home is at 1112 Magnolia Avenue.

Mr. Elder is a friendly and affable man, a hard worker and one who enjoys the esteem and con- fidence of his customers and all those who know him in a business or social way.

LOYD L. CHIPMAN has for around a decade been associated with the advancement of the lumber business, and as the exporting representative of one of the largest lumber companies of the country has been a factor in the shipping and export business. Mr. Chipman is gen- eral export manager of the Long-Bell Lumber Com- pany, and made his headquarters at Beaumont from 1912 until being transferred to Longview, Washing- ton. The position carries with it heavy responsibil- ities, and is one of the most exacting in the Long- Bell organization. Mr. Chipman as expert manager is thoroughly familiar with all lumber products manufactured in the Long-Bell mills, and with domestic and foreign market conditions. He keeps in touch with these foreign markets through fre- quent trips abroad, and has visited China, Japan, India, and a great many other countries in the in- terests of his firm. As representative of the Long- Bell Company in these countries, Mr. Chipman has established a personal touch that has been reflected in a marked increase in export trade, and it has been largely through his efforts that trade rela- tions have been established with many foreign countries. The Long-Bell Company, the largest lum- ber manufacturing concern in the United States, and one whose products go to every corner of the globe, has two large mills in the Lone Star State, one at Doucette and one at Lufkin. Mr. Chipman main- tains his offices in Longview, Washington, and has working under him a corps of efficient correspond- ents, shipping clerks, and a general office force qualified to handle export business.

Mr. Chipman was born at Minneapolis, Kansas, the tenth of February, 1881, the son of David Chipman, an attorney of that city, and Juritha Berry Chipman. He was educated in the public schools of his native city, and after graduating from the high school there took a commercial course at a business college in Kansas City, Missouri. After two years with one of the railroads, in the transportation department, and two years in the coal mines, Mr. Chipman went with the Long-Bell Company, in the sales department, selling coal in 1901. In 1907 he was made general sales manager, holding that position until 1912, when he came to Beaumont as manager of exports.

Mr. Chipman was married at Beaumont in 1919, to Miss Nora Knuckles. As much of his time is spent in foreign countries, Mr. Chipman has resigned from all clubs and like organizations, and devotes his en- tire time to his business.

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R OME HATCH WOODWORTH. For more than a quarter of a century the name of Rome Hatch Woodworth has been asso- ciated with every movement whose purpose has been the upbuilding of Port Arthur, and he has contributed generously to the development of this city, giving freely of his time and means that Port Arthur might prosper and grow. As a banker Mr. Woodworth was one of the men in his community carrying heavy burdens of responsibility, and his influence was felt in every walk of life. His con- structive banking policy and his genius for finan- cial affairs was reflected not alone in the sound and conservative management of the bank whose destinies he directed for so many years, but in the general prosperity of the community. Few men have been in a position to so largely shape the growth of a city along progressive lines, and cer- tainly few have done more for Port Arthur than this splendid citizen who came here when this city, then a straggling village, was gaining the foothold that was to result a quarter of a century later in one of the most flourishing seaport towns of the coast.

Rome Hatch Woodworth was a native of the State of Iowa, his birthplace having been the little City of Algona, and the date, the sixteenth of January, 1870. His father, George R. Woodworth, a native of New York State, pioneered to Iowa in the early days, and was a merchant at Algona for many years, his death occurring in that city. His mother, whose maiden name was Gertrude Hatch, was also a

native of New York, and was a graduate of Hanne- man Medical College at Chicago, and a practicing physician for many years before her death. As a boy Rome Hatch Woodworth attended the public schools of Algona, later going to college at Grennel, Iowa, where he studied banking, and further pre- pared for his serious business career through taking a general commercial course. He then went to Chicago, where he began as salesman on the road for the A. W. Stevens Machine Company, the young- est representative of that company. But his ambi- tion was to advance to a real place in the business world, and he was constantly looking for a place that would offer a future that would satisfy this ambi- tion. At this time he began to read about Port Arthur, and going to Kansas City talked this city and its future over with the agent of the Kansas City Southern Railroad, at that time laying its tracks to Port Arthur, and as the result of that talk made the decision to come here.

Shortly after his arrival at Port Arthur, in 1896, Mr. Woodworth became manager of the Townsite Company, and for one year directed the operations of that company which took so important a part in the planning of the young city. He was impressed with the future real estate offered, and went in this business, investing both his own and his clients' money in Port Arthur real estate. A little later he became vice president of the First National Bank, and also head of the Port Arthur Light and Water Company, later selling the water department to the city, and the electric department to the East Texas Electric Company. After the disposal of his public service interests, in 1913, he became president of the First National Bank of Port Arthur, holding that office at the time of his death, although, due to ill health he had for several years delegated all

minor executive duties to subordinates, intervening only when matters of particular importance de- manded his expert judgment and years of experience to settle.

Mr. Woodworth was married in Iowa, the ninth of November, 1898, to Miss Mary Woodworth, daugh- ter of Rome N. Woodworth, a native of New York State, who later removed to Iowa, where he was in the real estate business. He later removed to Chi- cago where he resided until his death at Beaumont, in 1899, while on his way to Mexico on a visit. Mrs. Woodworth's mother, Mrs. Phoebe Thompson Woodworth, a native of New York State, has re- cently sold her Chicago home and come to Port Arthur to make her home with her daughter. Throughout her husband's career Mrs. Woodworth was his constant inspiration, and was an ideal home maker and mother. Two children were born to them, George R. Woodworth, who at the age of fourteen, while yet a school boy, began in his father's bank, and at the time of his death, July 2nd, 1925, was a director and a member of the Loan Committee of the First National Bank, and Phoebe, at home. The Woodworth home, the first fine home to be built at Port Arthur, and one of the most picturesque homes in Southeast Texas, was built in 1907. This beautiful white mansion, overlooking the channel, which runs at the edge of the spacious lawn, is situated on a beautiful tract of sixteen acres, and is at the corner of Lake Shore Drive and Woodworth Boulevard.

Mr. Woodworth died at his home the twenty-third of March, 1923, after several years of declining health. He had been for many years particularly interested in the young men of Port Arthur, and in helping them as they started along the road to suc- cess, and in his passing they lost one of their best friends. His name, enshrined in the hearts of the people, and on the pages of the history of the city, will live as long as Port Arthur stands, and will be accorded highest honors as one of the founders and builders of this city.

EORGE REINICKER WOODWORTH. Dur- ing his short career as a banker, George Reinicker Woodworth was conceded to have a very promising future. By strict attention to his duties, love of his work and industry, he had forged rapidly ahead and his promotion to the posi- tion of vice president of the First National Bank of Port Arthur would have come the first of the year following the time that he was called by death.

George Reinicker Woodworth was born in Port Arthur July 25th, 1901, the son of Rome Hatch and Mary Woodworth. He attended the public and high schools of Port Arthur, and the Port Arthur Busi- ness College, from which he was graduated. In his school work he showed unusual intellectual at- tainments, and he was always found at the head of his classes. During his school days in spare time he worked in the First National Bank where he developed a great liking for this line of work. He was sensitive about being the son of the presi- dent of the bank and so would not ask any favors, did his work like other employees, taking his vaca- tion the same as others. This spirit made him very popular with his fellow employees at the bank and he grew rapidly to be known as one of the finest young men of his city. He was an outdoor type of young man, and was very fond of clean sports. Especially was he fond of hunting, fishing and lawn

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tennis. He was kind to animals, and would not per- mit inhumane treatment to them. He was kindly of disposition, looking on the bright side of everything, seeing the good qualities in all with whom he came in contact, preferring never to speak ill of anyone. By merit, and not because his family were heavily interested in the bank, he became a director of same, and a member of the loan committee. The employees of the bank informed Mrs. Woodworth that they would be glad to work under her son, and would as gladly do this as they did under his late father. So it was about determined that George Reinicker Woodworth was to have become a vice president in January, 1926. It was not to be, however, because he was suddenly taken sick with typhoid fever, and died July 2nd, 1925, at the age of twenty-three years.

Mr. Woodworth was married to Miss Dorothy Watkey, a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of T. L. Watkey, one of the officers of the Gulf Refining Company of Port Arthur. A son, George Rome, was born to this union, July 5th, 1925, three days after the death of the father. Mrs. Woodworth the widow, is a graduate of the high school, and the Port Arthur Business College and is active in Methodist Church work, and resides on Woodworth Boulevard. Mr. Woodworth was a member of the Port Arthur Country Club, the Port Arthur Tarpon Club, various hunting clubs, the Y. M. B. L., and Chamber of Commerce.

In the passing of George Reinicker Woodworth, Port Arthur lost one of its most beloved young bankers and citizens. A young man who had fine business talents, and all the other finer qualities that go to make a great and good man. His keen consideration of the rights of all those with whom he came in contact, endeared him to the community at large, and to his mother he was the most dutiful of sons. His name will ever be remembered among those younger men whom the Supreme Being has seen fit to call prematurely.

ENRY WAPLES LINGO. Few names are of greater significance in the Lone Star State than that of Henry Waples Lingo, the latter part of his life a resident of Houston, and a leader in the lumber business in Texas, as well as taking an active part in civic development, and in the commercial and industrial life of the state. The Lingo family, of which he was a member, has been for years associated with the highest de- velopment of the lumber industry, and there are few sections of the Lone Star State where the name is not known and does not call to mind great lumber interests, and the building of homes. Mr. Lingo, as have other members of his illustrious family, found his greatest joy in helping his fellowman to home ownership, and his association with the city of Houston was throughout the years of his life here, a real factor in civic advancement.

Henry Waples Lingo was born at Chillicothe, Mis- souri, the ninth of July, 1870, the son of Levi Lingo, a native of that state, and Timorah Towner, also a native of Missouri. His father, now deceased, moved to Texas in the nineties, and his mother, over eighty years old, now resides in Fort Worth. His grand- father, Wm. Towner, was a judge on the Supreme Court of Missouri. After graduating from the high school at Denison, Mr. Lingo went to Texas A. & M. College, and after graduating there returned to Denison and began in the lumber business. He later

sold his interest in this business and went in the insurance business, wherein he made a real success, and was for a number of years a leader in insurance and brokerage circles of Denison. He then went in the brokerage business, and after several years suc- cessful operation of a large brokerage business dis- posed of this and moved to Fort Worth, where he ran a lumber business, later opening up yards at Garrison and other oil towns. In 1921 he moved to Houston and began in the lumber business in this city, establishing the Lingo Lumber Company. He was the sole owner of this business and the active manager, until his death. The business grew by leaps and bounds under his capable management, and was prosperous from the start. The Lingo Lumber Company expanded until there were over 100 lumber yards in towns throughout Texas, be- sides a number in Oklahoma. Mr. Lingo was one of the first lumbermen to see the advantage of rendering a home building service to his patrons, and made it the policy of his firm to offer an at- tractive proposition to prospective home owners, enabling many salaried men to own a home, and thus become more substantial citizens of their com- munity. For many years he worked to advance the standards of the lumber business and make the lumberman more than a mere seller of lumber, but an integral part of community life, and a real mer- chant, with an interest in building. To him, and others of his high ideals, we owe the passing of the old-time lumber yard, with its unsightly sheds, and the coming of the modern lumber business, with the many advantages it has to offer the community.

Mr. Lingo was married at Memphis, Tennessee, the first of January, 1903, to Miss Florence Dun- lavy, a native of Richmond, Texas, and a young lady of many accomplishments. She was the daughter of Matthew Dunlavy, of Richmond, Texas, and a prominent cattleman of his day, and Clara Dyer Dunlavy, both of whom are now deceased. Mrs. Lingo is known and admired at Houston for her true Christian character, her real interest in the welfare of others, and her generous and delightful hospitality. She was an inspiration to her husband throughout his career, and a real companion and home-maker. Mr. and Mrs. Lingo had one child, Janet Fairfax, wife of Paul E. Brown, traffic man- ager of the Houston Packing Company, to whom she was married the twentieth of August, 1923. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are among the most popular young couples of the younger social set at Houston, and Mrs. Brown is an accomplished young woman, equally at home in the drawing room or in the home. Mrs. Lingo makes her home in the beautiful Lingo residence, at 4630 Bell Avenue, which Mr. Lingo completed and moved into the fifteenth day of May, 1922, less than a year before his death, the sixteenth of March, 1923.

Mr. Lingo was one of the most public-spirited men of his day, always ready to assist in any forward movement, feeling it not only his duty, but his privilege, to aid in the development of his city. His business ideals were high and progressive, and few men contributed more constructively to the ad- vancement of the lumber business. Associated with his name was an integrity that was an asset to his community, and his memory is honored as one of the real builders of Texas.

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ENRY J. LUTCHER. Out of the spirit of the pioneer of yesterday, men of loyal de- votion, energy and progressiveness, has emerged the Lone Star State of today with its immense activities. To these builders of yes- terday, who laid foundations, is due much of the success of the present and future eras. In the list of capable pioneers of the state, no name stands out with greater prominence and none is more worthy of honorable mention, not simply as one of the mak- ers of Texas, but as a leading spirit of the South- west, than is the name of Henry J. Lutcher. He was known and esteemed by three generations as lumber king, financier and Christian philanthropist.

Henry J. Lutcher was born at the Block House, Center County, Pennsylvania, November 4th, 1836, son of Lewis and Barbara Lutcher, natives of Ger- many, who came to America and Center County in 1826, where the wife died in 1883, followed by the death of her husband nine days later. At the age of twenty-one Mr. Lutcher engaged in business for himself, both as a farmer and in managing a meat shop in his native town. Being successful in his first venture he was ambitious for larger fields, and in his twenty-seventh year entered a partnership with John Waltman in the lumber business, under the firm name of Lutcher and Waltman. This part- nership continued for two years, at which time Mr. G. Bedell Moore purchased Mr. Waltman's interest, becoming a partner in the rapidly expanding busi- ness. Mr. Lutcher retained a keen interest in the cattle business, and during the early part of his venture in lumber he purchased and had delivered at Williamsport a large number of cattle which were disposed of by the local meat houses, the transac- tion proving very successful, adding nearly $60,000 to the increasing fortune of the future lumber king.

In January, 1877, Mr. Lutcher came to Texas in search of timber land. Accompanied by his partner they journeyed along the Nueces River, and then along the west side of the Sabine to Burr's Ferry, when they crossed and came down the east bank to Orange, having located the finest belt of long leaf pine timber they had ever seen. Seeing the wonderful opportunity, the firm purchased a vast acreage of these lands, and in 1877 located at Orange one of the largest saw mills in the country. This venture met with success and other mills were built in Texas and Louisiana in later years. Other industrial plants in Orange are the outgrowth of this beginning and are owned and operated by Mr. Lutcher's family or former associates.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 148

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