New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 58

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

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Mr. Houx's birthplace was in the town of War- rensburg, in Missouri, on the fifth day of June, 1878. His parents, James Henry and Mary Everett Wilson Houx, were for many years residents of that city. The original Houx family in America were French Hueguenots and settled in Kentucky. Members of the family later moved to Missouri, where they were pioneers. It was in this State that J. H. Houx was born in 1827. The Wilson family was from Virginia. Mary Everett Wilson Houx was born there in 1837. In 1841 she came with her

family to Missouri. Mr. Houx's early education was in the public schools of his native city, and after graduating from the high school there he at- tended the Warrensberg State Normal School, later going to the University of Missouri. During his vacations, in the years from 1898 to 1900, Mr. Houx was with the Engineering Corps of the Mississippi River Commission, and was acquiring at first hand a good working foundation of the construction busi- ness. After his graduation he went with the engi- neering department of the Ritter and Mott Com- pany, of Chicago, and was with that firm from 1902 until 1906. From 1906 until 1908 he was General Superintendent for the W. J. Oliver Company, of Louisville, Kentucky. In 1908 he came to Houston and organized the American Construction Company, acting as Vice-President until 1913, when he was made President, a position he has since held. He He is also a Director of the Second National Bank.

Mr. Houx was married at Chicago, Ill., the four- teenth of October, 1908, to Miss Louise Patterson, daughter of Don Rush Patterson, of Chicago, Gen- eral Coal Traffic Manager of the Chicago and East- ern Illinois Railway. They have two daughters, Betty and Roberta. Mr. and Mrs. Houx make their home at 3318 Mount Vernon Avenue, Houston, Texas. Mr. Houx takes an active part in the social life of his community. He is a member of the Houston Club, the Houston Country Club, and the University Club. He belongs to the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fra- ternity, is President of the Houston Builders Ex- change, Director of the First Texas Joint Stock Land Bank, and a Director of the Associate Gen- eral Contractors of America. Mr. Houx's hobbies are golfing and fishing. The entrance of Mr. Houx into the business world of Houston has meant much to this city, for it can be truthfully said that he has had charge of more construction of importance than any other man in this section. And in these con- struction activities it is significant that above any personal gain he has placed civic worth, visualizing a great city of the future, and then building. A man of purpose and a personality that impresses itself on all with whom he is associated, he has organized and operated successfully an enterprise that places his name among those of Houston's greatest, and this city is proud to accord him that honor.

B ENJAMIN C. ALLIN came to Houston in September, 1917, as Captain 108th Engi- neers, U. S. A., and later was transferred to the staff of the Commanding General of Camp Logan and served in that capacity until he was discharged in March, 1919, and on April 1st, of that year was appointed to the position of the Director of the Port of Houston, and has remained in this position since that time. Although by the ordi- nances of the city of Houston creating this position, the incumbent must be an engineer by profession, the duties are many and varied; among these are channel improvements, channel maintenance, expen- ditures, permits, statistics, port records, tariffs, con- tracts, advertising and collections from port charges, warehouses, compresses, railroads and rentals of various kinds. In other words the duties are equiv- alent to those of general manager, including the supervision of all the activities of the port except the auditing and the legal work, all under the di- rection of the Port Commissioner. During his term of office Mr. Allen has achieved much. His first

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task was to obtain permission to dump dirt from dredges on private land along the channel, and to get the dredges back to work, the Government hav- ing taken all the dredges away during the World War. Conditions of all kinds were bad, the channel was foul, and most of the city docks were in use by the Government to store air service equipment, and it was first necessary to get this material moved and the docks completely cleared, which work was not completed until the end of nine months. Wharf No. 1 was the only one in use at that time and no foreign shipping was being done. In October, 1919, Daniel Ripley succeeded in getting the Government Shipping Board to allow a ship loaded with cotton to move from Houston. The ship, Merry Mount, in November, 1919, took the first cotton shipment out of the Port of Houston, and two more shipments fol- lowed this during the next two months. Following this the Shipping Board declared an embargo on the Port of Houston, declaring that the channel was not safe. After some delay and much negotiation the ship, Montgomery, was allowed to come in, hav- ing first been insured for $1,000,000. Mr. Allin, at this time arranged a conference between the cotton agents and the Harrison and Leyland Ship Line at the Cotton Exchange at Houston, and the officials present agreed to co-operate with this line if the ships would enter the Port of Houston. This was done, resulting in competition which caused the Ship- ping Board thereafter to be generous in furnishing ships with which to load cotton at this port. Throughout this period, organization of a perma- nent nature was going on. The port at that time made no charges for use of the wharves, but Capt. Allin urged the assessing of them and accomplished this purpose without the abatement of any of the port's business. Through his negotiations at that time several steamship lines were brought in to this port, this in turn, through competition, bringing oth- ers. One specific case which might be mentioned was his fight for Pacific Coast business against Galveston, and during this fight he made a trip to the Pacific Coast ports, with the result that in a short time ships were coming into the Port of Hous- ton at regular intervals. The Osage was the first boat to establish regular service between Pacific Coast ports and Houston. Capt. Allin had mechani- cal conveyors installed for the purpose of unloading coffee cargoes. This commodity, which was shipped from South America, had previously been handled almost entirely at New Orleans. During the years 1923 and 1924, three-fourths of all the cotton seed shipped from Texas for export was handled through the Port of Houston. Capt. Allin is a director of the American Association of Port Authorities, and has always been a believer in efficient publicity to bring success to the port's facilities. He laid out the plans for the new improvements in the port, which were later approved by the Chief of Engineers and Cap- tain Chambers of the United States Government, one distinctive feature of which is the railroad trackage arrangement serving the wharfs, a new design and an improvement over that existing at other ports in the country. Capt. Allin wrote a meritorious ar- ticle on Coffee Handling at the Port of Houston, which was published in the World Ports Magazine, of the Association of American Port Authorities. Capt. Allin had quite an interesting career before locating at Houston, and has traveled and adven-

tured in almost every country of the Globe. He was Captain of the Illinois State National Guard, and helped to organize the 108th Engineers, and after the beginning of the World War, he was called into service on July 25th, 1917, and served throughout the war. He also served the United States Govern- ment in an Engineering and Exploring capacity in the Philippines, and wrote a dictionary of the Ve- sayan dialect, which is spoken by more natives than any other dialect in the Philippines, but up to that time they had no English dictionary of this dialect. Capt. Allin was for several years associated with the United States Steel Corporation, was Engineer for the Illinois Central Railroad, the Chicago, Bur- lington and Quincy Railroad, and was in the em- ploy of the Rock Island Railroad when called into military service. The Commissioners of the Port of Houston are: E. A. Peden, Chairman; R. S. Ster- ling, D. S. Cage, R. M. Farrar and R. J. Cummins, all prominently identified with the financial and business interests of the city of Houston.

Capt. Allin was born in Chicago, November 14th, 1886, and comes of a family noted for bravery and love of their country. His father, Benj. C. Allin, was a member of an old Kentucky family, and re- moved to Chicago after the great fire in that city. His great-grandfather, Thomas Allin, was a Major in the Revolutionary War, and laid out the towns of Harrisburg and Lexington, Kentucky. He became County Clerk and descendents have held that office since that time, except that at the present time the descendent, B. C. Allin, holds the position of County Judge, which is perhaps without a parallel in the country for the same public service of one family. His great-grandfather (maternal) Winthrop Sar- gent, was the first Governor of the State of Mis- sissippi. The children of Capt. Allin are eligible Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution on thirteen counts-six on the mother's side and seven on the father's side of their family. Capt. Allin's education was obtained in the public schools of Chi- cago, the University High School and later he at- tended the University of Chicago.

Captain Allin was married in Chicago on May 24th, 1913, to Miss Dorothy May Newell, a daughter of Walter Newell, who is widely known in the rail- road circles of the West, and is Assistant Treasurer of the Illinois Central Railroad. They have two children, Benj. C. Allin 3rd, aged ten years, and Dorothy Jean, eight years of age. Captain Allin is a member of the A. F. and A. M., having joined this order at Manila, P. I., in Lodge Perla del Oriente of the Grand Lodge of Scotland and all work was done in the Spanish language. He is a charter member of Brotherhood Blue Lodge No. 986 of Chi- cago, and of the Oriental Consistory of Chicago, and also a member of Arabia Temple Shrine of Houston. He is a member of the University Club of Houston, the Old River Club of this city and Adventurers Club of Chicago. He is a consistent member of the Trin- ity Episcopal Church of Houston. Since coming to Houston, Capt. Allin has become interested in many of the city's financial and industrial institutions and is interested in all civic matters having to do with the progress and advancement of this city. He is popular in the business and social circles and is regarded as one of the city's most progressive citi- zens. Capt. Allin is enthusiastic as to the future of Houston and the wonderful additions that have been brought to this city through the deep water.

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ON HALL has for a number of years been held in high esteem for his work in the up- building of his community, and his activi- ties in the civic and business life at Hous- ton, where he is well known as an engineer and con- structor. Mr. Hall does a general contracting busi- ness and now has under construction upwards of three million dollars worth of buildings. Among the larger contracts he has handled here are the Cotton Exchange Building, a sixteen-story structure, the Art Museum, the Police and Fire Station, the Keystone Building, a modern ten-story structure, Houston Post-Dispatch Building, Medical Arts Building, Warwick Apartment Building, the new Y. W. C. A., the South Texas Commercial National Bank Building, the Southern Pacific Shops, the Crown Oil Refinery and many other buildings, ware- houses, etc. Mr. Hall is one of the leading, as well as one of the largest contractors in Houston, and undertakes construction projects of any magnitude. He maintains offices in the Cotton Exchange.

Mr. Hall has been actively engaged in construc- tion work since 1908, when he returned from college to Houston and went with the Stone and Webster Engineering Corporation, remaining with this firm until 1917. In 1921 he went into business for him- self.

Mr. Hall was born at Florence, Texas, the sixth of October, 1885, son of the late R. M. Hall, State Land Commissioner of Texas for many years, well known lawyer and at one time a candidate for Governor. The Hall family is well known as pioneers in Texas. Captain Leigh Hall, brother of R. M. Hall, served with honor as Captain of the Texas Rangers. O. Henry, of short story fame, first came to Texas with Dr. James K. Hall, grandfather of Don Hall, and later was employed in R. M. Hall's office at Austin. His mother is Mrs. Bettie Hughes Hall. Her father, Reece Hughes, came to Texas in 1836 from Alabama, coming to the latter State from Virginia. Hughes Springs, Texas, was named for him. He owned and operated one of the earliest iron foundries and owned twenty thousand acres of land in Texas. Judge Wm. P. McLean of Fort Worth is a brother of Bettie Hughes Hall. Mr. Hall was educated in the public schools of Austin and Houston, and after graduating from high school entered the University of Texas, where he spent three years. He then entered Cor- nell University, where he was graduated after two years, with the Mechanical Engineer degree, in 1908. He then returned to Houston and entered upon his career as an engineer and constructor.

Mr. Hall was married in Houston in 1915 to Miss Virginia Dorrance, daughter of John M. and Ada Knapp Dorrance. Mr. Dorrance is a well known cotton man and banker of this city. They have three children, John Dorrance Hall; Bettie Hughes Hall and Don Hall, Jr. They have one of the most at- tractive residences in the city at No. 4 Courtland Place. Mr. Hall is a member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, the Houston Club, the University Club, the Houston Country Club, the Cornell Society of Engineers of New York, and the Kiwanis Club.

A L. PIERSON, JR., whose activities for two decades have identified him with the gar- ment manufacturing industry in the Lone Star State, has, since establishing his busi- ness headquarters at Houston, found this city ripe in business advantages. Mr. Pierson is vice pres-

ident and general manager of the A. L. Pierson Manufacturing Company, Incorporated, a firm es- tablished at Galveston, in 1883, by A. L. Pierson, Sr, now retired. The plant began operations with three employees, since that time developing rapidly along progressive lines, and at the present time has a force of over two hundred employees. In November, 1921, the jobbing department of the firm was moved to Houston, and in January, 1923, the factory was also moved to this city, occupying a modern, fire- proof factory building at 418 Washington Avenue, affording over fifty thousand square feet of floor space. The building, which is five stories and a base- ment, provides adequate space for the efficient con- duction of the extensive business, the factory being a daylight plant, with every provision for the com- fort of the employees. The firm manufactures all classes of men's work clothes, overalls, etc. and also does a large jobbing business in dry goods. Eight men represent the firm on the road, covering South Texas and Southwest Louisiana.

The A. L. Pierson Manufacturing Company, Inc. has more than doubled their output since 1918, and is now operating one of the largest garment manufac- turing plants in the state. The fifth floor of the big daylight plant is devoted to the cutting rooms and the reserve stock department. Here garments are cut from cloth laid out three hundred and sixty thicknesses, and the length for nine complete suits of overalls, cutting two hundred and seventy dozen overalls or seersucker shirts in one day. The cut garments are sent to the fourth floor where they are sewed, one hundred and thirty-five power ma- chines being operated on this floor, machines that are the last word in garment sewing machines. Here are also two button hole machines, installed at a cost of $1500 each, and the 'only two of their kind in the South. The plant is operated in a most effi- cient manner, there being little or no waste, a use having been devised for even the tiny scraps of cloth.

Mr. Pierson has been familiar with this business since boyhood, much of his time when out of school having been spent here. At the age of twenty, he went in the plant permanently and worked in every department, gaining a first hand knowledge of every operation. In 1913 he was made an official of the company, and in 1918, at the time the business was incorporated, he was made vice president and gen- eral manager. His father, A. L. Pierson, of Gal- veston, is president, and Walter Pierson, secretary and treasurer.

Mr. Pierson was born at Galveston, the tenth of December, 1883, son of A. L. Pierson, founder of the Pierson Manufacturing Company, and who came to this country, locating at Galveston, from Sweden, at the age of nineteen. His mother, Miss Marguerite Williams, prior to her marriage to Mr. Pierson, Sr., was a native of Galveston, and is now deceased. Mr. Pierson was educated in the public schools of his na- tive city, and after finishing his education entered the Pierson Manufacturing Company, with which he has since been connected.

Mr. Pierson was married at Galveston, in 1916, to Miss Rosine C. Glasser, a native of that city. They have two children, A. L. the third, and George Lionel. The family live at 619 West Alabama. Mr. Pierson is a member of the Salesmanship Club, and is a Blue Lodge Mason, Galveston No. 6, Scottish Rite and a member of El Mina Temple Shrine at Galveston.

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H. RANKIN, whose name for more than a decade has been of significance in auditing circles at Houston, has been a factor in the commercial life here, and is one of the most expert certified accountants in the city, being a certified Public Accountant of Texas, 1916. Mr. Rankin is a member of the firm of the Rankin Audit Company, which he established in 1912. This firm maintains offices in the Union National Bank Building, and is one of the foremost firms of certi- fied public accountants in Houston. They have a regular line of commercial work, and handle a large volume of income tax, city and county work. Their service is especially appreciated by the business men of the City, and is managed in accordance with the most modern and approved principles. Mr. Rankin is especially well equipped to conduct a business of this class and has made accounting a special study for many years. He is progressive, especially ac- tive in civic work, and has established a large clien- tele among the business men of Houston. Asso- ciated with him is V. G. Gillingham, a Certified Pub- lic Accountant of New Hampshire. A staff of six trained accountants is also permanently main- tained.

The Rankin Audit Company specialize in income tax matters and have connections in Washington and New York, which enable them to get quick ac- tion and consideration from the Treasury depart- ment because of the direct contact that is obtained.

In addition to being a certified Public Accountant Mr. Rankin is a member of the American Society of C. P. A.'s, and Mr. Gilligham is a member of the American Institute of Accountants. Mr. Gilling- ham has had wide experience in his profession in different sections of the country, and is one of the biggest assets of the company.

Mr. Rankin was born at Hempstead, Texas, the fifth of July, 1883, son of H. W. and Lou Adele Minnock Rankin. His father, a native of the Lone Star State, and a prominent business man of Hemp- stead, is a member of a well-known pioneer Texas family. Mr. Rankin attended the public schools of Hempstead, later going to Allen Academy, at Bryan, after which he entered the University of Texas, where he graduated in 1900. He returned to Hempstead, and until 1907 made his headquarters in that city. He then came to Houston, as account- ant for the Southern Pacific Lines, and, until 1912, held that position. He resigned to organize his present business, and has been actively engaged in auditing work since the establishment of the Rankin Audit Company, in 1912.

Mr. Rankin is a popular member of many clubs and civic organizations at Houston, among them the Houston Club, the University Club, the Salesman- ship Club, and the Rotary Club, of which he is Past Military Sergeant-at-Arms. His record in the busi- ness world has been creditable in all lines, and he is regarded as one of the most progressive, as well as most competent representatives of the auditing business.

E. ROGERS for more than a decade has been a factor in the grain industry at Hous- ton, where his activities have brought him in touch with many phases of this enter- prise and its development along lines most consist- ent with progress. The business, established by

Mr. Rogers in 1911, was started in a small way. Since that time it has grown to be one of the largest businesses of its kind in the state. Mr. Rogers has a keen insight into the many-sided phases of the grain industry, and this has been no small fac- tor in his success. The business occupies a modern two-story brick building at 609 Preston Avenue, where the retail trade is handled, and affording fifty by one hundred and twenty-eight feet of floor space. In addition, a large warehouse is also main- tained with railroad frontage. Mr. Rogers directs his attention principally to a retail trade, but also has some wholesale business. He stocks all kinds of grain, hay, mill feeds, stock feeds, chicken feeds and other grain products.

Mr. Rogers was born in Falls County, in 1881, the son of J. E. Rogers, whose death occurred in 1881, and Ella E. Cloy Rogers. Mr. Rogers was educated in Falls County, attending rural schools, but had only a meagre opportunity to secure an education and early left school. His first years after leaving school were spent on the farm, and later in Houston, where he was for some years with the Wells Fargo Express Company. In 1911 he started his present business. Mr. Rogers' career represents the achievement of success over diffi- culties, and has been entirely of his own making. He is the sole owner of the business, president of the Southland Gin Company, and a half owner of the Burress and Rogers Ice Company.

OHN RUHL has probably done more in as- sisting and encouraging development of the fig industry in Texas than any other one man in the state today. Mr. Ruhl is the owner of the John Ruhl Fig Company, preserver and grower of figs, and is president of the Friends- wood Orchards Company, which is about forty-five minutes by auto from Houston. While figs have been grown for family use in the coast country for fifty years or more the planting of the commercial fig orchards is a matter of recent years only and the question of the profitableness of fig culture is one concerning which a large number of people are showing an increasing interest. Statistics gath- ered from among the fig growers of that portion of the State near Friendswood show big profits and with the preserving plants eager to contract for a period of years from one to five at six and one-half cents a pound for all figs grown, this in- dustry is growing rapidly. The John Ruhl Fig Company at Friendswood, Texas, has a modern fig preserving plant of large capacity and is equipped with all machinery of the newest type and is com- plete in every detail. Thirty to forty people are employed in the plant. This preserving plant was moved from another point in South Texas, as the John Ruhl Fig Company considered the Friendswood section superior to any other for the raising of Magnolia figs. The preserved figs are packed in special glass jars in the following sizes, 5 oz., 131/2 oz., 19 oz. and 30 oz., and for the grocery and hotel trade in tins of 1-1b., 2-1b. and 10-lb. sizes and the demand is always greater than the supply.

Mr. Ruhl believes that the Gulf Coast region of Texas will in time surpass the fruit growing sec- tions of California and all that is needed for this is for the public to become acquainted with the wonderful opportunities that are offered in the soil and climate of the South Texas region.

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B F. LOUIS, attorney at law, has since com- ing to Houston in 1900, been identified with many of the most prominent cases which have come before the courts of South Texas. Mr. Louis is engaged in a general civil practice, and represents a large number of important interests in Texas and Houston. He is attorney for the American Maid Flour Mills, Mrs. Niels Esperson interests, and had been attorney for Niels Esper- son, one of the leading men of Houston and one of the builders of the city for many years before his death; the Reed Roller Bit Company and many others. During Mr. Louis' practice in Houston he has been associated as follows: Bullitt and Louis, Louis and Masterson; Louis, Campbell and Nicolson, but in January, 1923, he resumed the practice of his profession alone, with offices at 1001 Union National Bank Building.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 58

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