New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 55

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

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258

Jawa F. holtus

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

nounce judgment punishing witness for contempt. The Legislature had been called for other purposes by the governor and General Wolters refused to give the names of those who contributed to the campaign fund, but gave the amount, and added that the campaign was conducted according to law.

A native Texan, General Wolters was born in Aus- tin County, September 2nd, 1871. His father, T. H. Wolters (deceased since 1917), also a native of the Lone Star State, was a well known farmer and busi- ness man and was for many years connected with the feed inspection department of the A. and M. College. Jacob Wolters, the father of T. H. Wolters, came to Austin County, Texas, in 1834, and served in Sam Houston's army. He was selected to carry a message from Sam Houston at San Felipe de Aus- tin to the people of Nacogdoches, namely that in the event of Sam Houston's defeat at San Jacinto, they should fall back gradually and draw the Mex- ican army across the Sabine River into Louisiana, where United States cavalry were stationed to pro- tect them. He was selected to carry this message because he could speak only German at that time and so, in the event of capture by Mexicans, he could not have been forced to divulge this message. This assignment, however, prevented Jacob Wolters from serving in the great battle of San Jacinto.

General Wolters' mother was Miss Margaret Wink. Her father came to Austin County, Texas, in 1848. General Wolters' early education was obtained in the public school at Schulenburg, Texas, and later he attended Add-Ran Christian University, now the Texas Christian University at Fort Worth, Texas. General Wolters studied law in the office of Phelps and Willrich at La Grange, and was admitted to the bar in 1892, before he was twenty-one years of age, and during the same year in which he was ad- mitted to the bar, he was elected county attorney of Fayette County, and served one term, but did not stand for re-election. After leaving the office of county attorney, General Wolters became a member of the law firm of Phelps and Wolters, and con- tinued the general practice of law until 1897, when he became a member of the 25th Legislature. He then entered the Spanish-American War as a lieu- tenant of cavalry and served throughout this war. After returning home, he resumed the practice of law under the firm name of Wolters and Lane, at La Grange, where he continued his practic until 1905, when he came to Houston with the firm of Lane, Wolters and Storey. Mr. Lane died in 1916 but was the firm name remained the same until 1919, when the present firm was formed.

General Wolters was married in Columbus, Texas, April 25th, 1892, to Miss Sallie Drane, a native Texan and a daughter of Robert Drane, a native of Mississippi and a member of an old colonial fam- ily. They have two children, Theodore Drane, an actor of note in stock in Chicago and environs, and Russell F. Wolters, an attorney and associated with his father. General Wolters is a member of the York Rite body of the Masonic fraternity, and a Shriner of Arabia Temple. He is also a member of the University Club, Houston Club, Houston Country Club, American Bar Association and the State and Houston Bar Associations. General Wol- ters is a member of the Military Order of Foreign Wars, and in August, 1921, the president of the United States appointed him brigadier general of the

Officers Reserve Corps. General Wolters is a lead- ing lawyer of the state and has had unusual suc- cess as a military officer in charge of Texas troops. He is fearless when he believes that he is right, and the courts have maintained his stand in every case. In the Galveston case and the De La Fuente case he paved the way and cleared up some new law in Texas and in the United States as these are re- garded as test cases of the different classes. His greatest service to his country, however, was at the very beginning of the United States part in the World War when he used to good advantage his ora- torical ability and personal influence throughout the state in making speeches on the duties of citizen- ship in time of war. He centered his labors in com- munities populated by Texans of German extraction, where he was indeed successful in making for a bet- ter feeling among all the citizens in these districts. He made a great patriotic address before a joint session of the Legislature, which, being published by the press generally, had untold influence.

Houston is proud in having General Wolters as a citizen, and he is regarded as one of the most pro- gressive and public spirited men of the city, always doing something for the advancement of the south- ern metropolis.

L. MICHAEL knows the poster advertising as few people know it, and this knowledge has been developed by more than fifteen years experience in this business. As Pres- ident and General Manager of the Houston Poster Advertising Company, Inc., he has been a factor in building up a profitable business. This company was established and incorporated in 1907 and are engaged in an exclusive poster advertising business and employ fifteen people. The company does al- most all of this line of work within a radius of seventy-five miles of Houston. Other officers of the Houston Poster Advertising Company, Inc., are B. H. Brown, Vice-President, and L. W. Case, Secre- tary and Treasurer.

A native Texan, Mr. Michael was born at Galves- ton May 4, 1892. His father, M. C. Michael, (de- ceased since 1908) lived for many years in Galves- ton, where he was well known in the business cir- cles. Mr. Michael's education was obtained in the public schools of New York State.

Mr. Michael has spent his entire business life in poster advertising, which he began in New York State when a boy. He worked in different States as a helper in order to thoroughly learn the business, coming with this plant in 1910 and later, when the firm was reorganized, he was made President and General Manager. Mr. Michael has been closely connected with the commercial interests of the city for many years and is Vice President of the Texas Advertising Company and is President of the New- Mex Poster Advertising Company. Mr. Michael was married in Houston in 1910 to Miss Adelle Sparks, a member of a well known family of Kansas City, Missouri. They have one son, James, nine years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Michael reside at 3806 Mt. Vernon Street. In fraternal, social and commercial organizations Mr. Michael is a member of the B. P. O. E., Rotary Club, Advertising Club and Salesman- ship Club. Mr. Michael has great faith in the future of Houston and expects the city to continue its steady, consistent growth and is looking for- ward to an era of great business prosperity in all lines.

261

MEN OF TEXAS

K ENNETH E. WOMACK has been active in the cotton circles of Houston for more than twenty-eight years, and is recognized as one of the leading cotton men of the South. Mr. Womack is a member of the firm of Sanders and Company, a co-partnership. John W. Sanders, the other member of the firm, who has been one of the outstanding cotton men of the state, is now prac- tically retired from active business pursuits, and Mr. Womack has entire charge of the business, which has offices and sample rooms on the fifteenth floor of the Cotton Exchange. Mr. Womack was one of the organizers of the company in 1905, and today is one of the leading cotton companies of Houston and Texas. They export about 250,000 bales of cot- ton annually to various European countries, and han- dle Texas and Oklahoma cotton only, which they ship through the Houston ship channel. Forty. people are employed by the company.

A native Texan, Mr. Womack was born at Cald- well, July 22nd, 1879. His father, M. L. Womack, was for many years a prominent business man of Caldwell, but has retired from active business pur- suits. His mother was Miss Mary Finucane, a mem- ber of a prominent Mississippi family. His educa- tion was obtained in the public schools of Caldwell, Texas. Mr. Womack has been engaged in the cot- ton and cotton seed products business all his busi- ness life. He came to Houston in 1897 and from that time to 1901, he was associated with I. W. Walker and Company, cotton seed products. From 1901 to 1905, he was associated with Mr. J. W. Sanders and became a partner in Sanders and Company in 1905. Since coming to Houston, Mr. Womack has been closely connected with the business and commercial interests of the city, and is a director in the fol- lowing: South Texas Commercial National Bank, Trinity Saw Mill Company, Houston Lighting and Power Company and the Shippers Compress Com- pany and is interested in various other enterprises.

Mr. Womack was married in Houston, May 17th, 1911, to Miss Alma Miller, a daughter of Charles Miller, who came to Houston from Tennessee in 1866 and is among the large planters of the state; he resides in Houston. They have one son, Kenneth E. Womack Jr. Mr. Womack is a member of the B. P. O. E., the Houston Country Club, the Houston Club, River Oaks Country Club, of which he is pres- ident, the Texas Cotton Association, and is an ex- president of the Houston Cotton Exchange, one of the leading organizations of its kind in the United States. It was organized in 1874. Many prominent Houston Cotton men have served as president of the Houston Cotton Exchange, which has grown to be one of the leading organizations of Texas since Hous- ton has become the largest cotton market in the world, with more cotton physically handled than in any other place. The city is still growing very fast as a cotton market and with the new Cotton Ex- change Building, completed in 1924, adequate office and sample room space is available to new firms de- siring to enter the Houston market. This building is sixteen stories in height and was constructed at a cost of $1,600,000.00. Mr. J. W. Sanders was chair- man of the building committee of the Houston Cot- ton Exchange that erected the building. In Mr. Womack's opinion, Houston will become by 1930 the largest city in Texas. He believes the cotton in- dustry, with the deep water shipping facilities, is

helping greatly in the growth of the city, as it has become the cotton concentration center for export and particularly for the cotton raised in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

OSEPH H. CHEW has for almost a score of years been a factor in the cotton, business and financial circles of Houston where he is a partner in the firm of Sanders and Company, cotton merchants and exporters, with of- fices on the fifteenth floor of the Cotton Exchange Building. This firm was organized in 1907 and is one of the largest cotton firms in the state and each year ship about 250,000 bales of cotton to all points in Europe where cotton is used. They employ twen- ty-two people in their Houston office. Associated with Mr. Chew in the cotton business of Sanders and Company are J. W. Sanders, Kenneth E. Wom- mack and William J. Schmitz, all well known in the business and financial circles of Houston and South Texas.

A native Texan, Mr. Chew was born at the his- toric town of Jefferson May 10th, 1881. His father, W. B. Chew, a native of Kentucky, came to Texas in the early seventies and settled at Jefferson and was for many years associated with the Red River Steamship Company. In 1881, he came to Houston and became a member of the well known firm of Carson, Sewall and Company, wholesale grocers and cotton dealers, and later became president of the Commercial National Bank of Houston and remained at the head of this institution for a period of twen- ty years, and after the consolidation of this bank into the South Texas Commercial National Bank, he remained as executive head of the new organization until 1918, when he retired from active business of all kinds, and is making his home at the Rice Hotel, in Houston. His mother was Miss Virgilia Schluter, a native of Jefferson and a member of a prom- inent East Texas family. His education was ob- tained in Hills School at Pottstown, Pennsylvania, where he graduated in the class of 1900. After leav- ing college, Mr. Chew immediately entered the cot- ton business in Houston with the well known firm of Inman, Nelms and Company and remained with this firm for three years and then became associated with Jesse H. Jones in the loan business and re- mained in this work for five years. He then went with the firm of W. B. Chew and Company, whole- sale grocers and cotton factors, but remained with this firm five years, when he became associated with the cotton firm of Sanders and Company, where he has since remained. Mr. Chew is interested in many of Houston's industries and financial institutions and is a director of the National Bank of Commerce and many other of the city's larger institutions.

Mr. Chew was married in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1903 to Miss Rebecca Donelson, a member of a well known family of Birmingham. They have one daughter, Virgilia Rebecca Chew. Mr. and Mrs. Chew reside at Inwood Drive, River Oaks Addition. In social organizations of Houston, Mr. Chew holds membership in the Houston Country Club and the River Oaks Country Club. He is a consistent mem- ber of the Episcopal Church. Mr. Chew has always been interested in all matters having to do with the civic improvement, advancement and progress of Houston, which he believes will soon become the leading city of the Southwest.

262

K. E. WOMACK

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

RANK M. BURKHEAD, for many years one of the leading business men, bankers and farmers of Marlin, Texas, came to Houston in 1918 and has been interested in the man- ufacturing business here since that time. Mr. Burk- head is president and general manager of the Burk- head Manufacturing Company, Inc., of this city, which was organized in November, 1923. After hav- ing their large, modern plant constructed, this firm started manufacturing in March, 1924, and have been operating since that time, with from sixty to seventy-five employees on the pay roll. The Burkhead Manufacturing Company, Inc., is engaged in the manufacture of sheet metal containers-such as oil cans, lard cans, lard drums, coffee cans and all classes of sheet metal products. The splendid new building of this company, which was constructed especially for this purpose, occupies a lot one hun- dred feet square, and the equipment is the last word in up-to-date manufacturing machinery. Rail- road switch trackage of the plant is on the Houston East and West Texas Railroad, and this plant is considered the finest of its type in the Southwest. Other officers of this company are: N. D. Naman, vice-president (inactive) and Andrew E. Rutter, secretary and treasurer. The foregoing officers, with T. A. Cheenes, capitalist, Marlin, and Geo. H. Carter, prominent attorney, Marlin, make up the board of directors. The plant and offices of the Burkhead Manufacturing Company, Inc., are located on Harrington Street at the corner of Moffitt Street in the Fifth Ward of this city. Prior to locating in Houston, Mr. Burkhead had lived practically all his life in Falls County, Texas, where he was en- gaged in farming on a large scale and still owns his farming interests there. For many years he lived in Marlin, the county seat of Falls County, where he was very active in the business and finan- cial circles. He was active vice-president of the Marlin National Bank, and had a large interest in the light and power plant and many other business concerns there. He was also a real leader in all civic movements of Marlin and gave liberally of his time and means toward all projects for the advancement and improvement of his city.

A native Texan, Mr. Burkhead was born at Sher- man on November 19th, 1873. His father, S. E. Burkhead, a native of North Carolina, came to Texas about 1870, and since that time has been active in educational work and as a minister. He is well known throughout the state, where he is highly esteemed. S. E. Burkhead is now a resident of Hous- ton, Texas. His mother was Miss Sarah Simpson, a native of Missouri and a member of a prominent family of that state. His early education was ob- tained in the public schools at various places in Texas, after which he became a student of the Southwestern University at Georgetown, Texas, where he pursued a straight academic course. He later attended the Metropolitan Business College at Dallas, after which he took up the various business projects in which he has been successful.

Mr. Burkhead was married at Dallas in 1899 to Miss Annie Clarkson, a native of Falls County, Texas. They have one daughter, Marjorie Clarkson Burkhead, who is at home in Houston with her parents. Miss Burkhead has attended Rice Insti- tute, also college for girls at Ashville, North Car- olina, and in New Jersey, and is regarded as one

of Houston's most accomplished young ladies. Mr. and Mrs. Burkhead reside at 3708 Mount Vernon Street. Mr. Burkhead is a member of the Masonic Blue Lodge No. 152 at Marlin, Texas, and has at- tained to the 32nd degree in the Scottish Rite body of this order, and is a Shriner of Arabia Temple of Houston. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and is Past Chancellor of this organization of Marlin, where he is a member of the Elks Club and is Past Exalted Ruler of this order at that place. During his residence at Marlin, he was Dis- trict Deputy of the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Burk- head is a veteran of the Spanish-American War. His church affiliation is with the Methodist Episco- pal denomination. Since locating in Houston, Mr. Burkhead has become well known in the business circles of this city, where he is known as one of the progressive citizens of the Southwestern me- tropolis.

S. BROUSSARD of Houston, Texas, has for almost a decade been associated with the business interests of Galveston County, Texas, and now of Houston, Texas, where he is the owner of the Investment Company which bears his name. Prior to engaging in his present business Mr. Broussard was for more than five years one of Houston's stock and bond dealers. He has been active in the real estate and stock and bond business practically all his life. Mr. Broussard was one of the builders of Texas City, and one of the founders of the Board of Trade there and served this organization in the past as Secretary and Treasurer. He also promoted several additions ad- joining Texas City, and for many years was one of the leaders in the building activities there. He assisted in several of Texas City's leading enter- prises. He is also a stockholder in some of Hous- ton's leading enterprises, and has land and oil connections in the Gulf Coast territory.

A native Texan, Mr. Broussard was born at Nava- sota, on January 22nd, 1884. His father, D. L. Broussard (now deceased), was a native of Mar- seilles, France, and became one of the business men of Grimes County, after locating in America and at Navasota, Texas. His mother, Mrs. Margaret (Dunn) Broussard, was a native of Ireland. His education was obtained in the schools of the Lone Star State.

Mr. Broussard was married at Galveston, Texas, on April 15th, 1906, to Miss Edna Balcke, a daugh- ter of Charles Balcke (now deceased), who was a native of Hamburg, Germany, and became one of Galveston's business men. Her mother, Mrs. Mary (Vordenbaumen) Balcke, was also a native of Ger- many and a member of a prominent family of the Fatherland. They have one child, Elma Frances Broussard, a student of Baylor College, Belton, Texas. Mr. Broussard is a member of the Houston Turnverein, and an associate member of the Texas Bankers' Association. He attends the Christian Church.

Mr. Broussard is a comparatively young man and he is a consistent booster for this portion of the State, believing that many industries are yet in their infancy here and that Houston is destined to lead the Southwest in the many activities that go to make a great city. Mr. Broussard is a conserva- tive business man.

265

MEN OF TEXAS

M ARCELLUS ELLIOTT FOSTER, whose name is of special significance in the news- paper world, as an editor has been a factor in shaping public opinion favorable to civic growth and development, and as a business execu- tive has taken high place among the business lead- ers of Houston. Mr. Foster is editor and prin- cipal owner of the Houston Chronicle, the leading newspaper of Houston, which he launched about twenty-five years ago, and which now has one of the largest circulations of any Texas newspaper, the Sunday edition running well over eighty-five thou- sand copies. Mr. Foster is that rare combination of news-assembler, writer and business executive, and has not only built a great newspaper, but has built as its home one of the finest newspaper buildings in the South. This building, the Chronicle Building, an imposing ten story building, to which has been added a six story annex, provides an environment in keeping with the paper, and is a distinct asset to the business center of Houston. Recently the Chron- icle acquired the Chamber of Commerce Building Company property, and so today owns a goodly part of the block in which its building is located, namely 125 feet on Travis, 250 feet on Texas, 125 feet on Milam and 50 feet on Prairie.

The Houston Chronicle, although one of the young- est of the big daily newspapers in Texas, leads in local and state influence, and with possibly one or two exceptions, in circulation as well. The Houston Chronicle was established by Mr. Foster in 1901, the first issue appearing on the fourteenth day of October of that year. Since that time the paper has enjoyed an enviable success, and has had a far reaching effect in moulding and shaping public opinion. The Chronicle has been the advocate of many important measures, among them prohibition and woman suffrage during the early days, and waged a vigorous campaign against the Ku Klux Klan more recently. One of the most notable vic- tories to be achieved by this paper, and one at the time deemed almost impossible, was the defeat of the Manchester bond issue, a victory won in opposition to many of the organizations and interests of Houston, and an instance suggestive of its power in Houston. As an editor, Mr. Foster has shown a discrimina- tion and vigorousness that has placed him among the nation's biggest men, and one of the great ed- itors and publishers of his time. He has a fine sense of newspaper ethics, a policy of square dealing, and an unselfish devotion to his paper and the interests of Houston, that has resulted in the outstanding success of the Chronicle and has inspired the say- ing, "As goes the Chronicle, so goes Houston." As an executive Mr. Foster has successfully built up a great newspaper organization and has given care- ful thought to providing for the employees of his organization. His was the first newspaper in Texas to insure its employees, and has been the first in practically every other progressive movement. Mr. Foster has other interests in Houston, including real estate holdings, and is a director in the National Bank of Commerce of Houston.

Mr. Foster was born at Pembroke, Kentucky, the twenty-ninth of November, 1870, the son of Mar- cellus Aurelius and Mariella (Fitzhugh) Foster. His father served with distinction in the Civil War as captain in the Confederate Army. As a child of three Mr. Foster was brought to Texas, the family

locating at Huntsville, where he attended the local schools, later graduating from Sam Houston Normal Institute in 1890, after which he spent one year at the University of Texas. Mr. Foster began his newspaper career as printer's devil on the Hunts- ville Item, also serving as compositor and general utility man, this however being prior to his grad- uation from Sam Houston Normal. After finish- ing his education he went to Houston, beginning as cub reporter on the Houston Post, of which paper he later became financial editor, then Sunday editor, and still later managing editor, probably the young- est managing editor on any paper of like importance in the country. He left the Post to launch the Chron- icle, and has since been editor and owner of that paper.

Mr. Foster was married the ninth of March, 1919, to Miss Claire Collier, daughter of John T. Collier of Meridian, Mississippi. He has two children, Zadie Lee, and Madora Foster. Politically he is a Demo- crat. He is a member of the Elks, the Houston Club, Houston Country Club, the Glenbrook Country Club and the Ad League. He is a past president of the Southern Newspaper Publishers' Association, and in 1923 was elected president of the Texas Ed- itorial Association. M. E. Foster is ever alert to the best interests of his city, and his influence is felt in every matter going to the betterment of his city or state.

BBOTT COCKRELL, veteran druggist of Houston, has for more than three decades maintained a prestige in drug trade activi- ties in this city, devoting his energies to the building up of a business that ranks as one of the biggest in the city, and taking an active part in the advancement of his community. Mr. Cock- rell established the Cockrell Drug Store in 1892, gradually building up from a small retail business of that first year to a volume of business that made it first in the city. The business was incorporated in 1919. The Cockrell Drug Company, doing a whole- sale business, today is located at 509 Preston Ave- nue. Abbott Cockrell is president.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 55

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