New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 59

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

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A native Texan, Mr. Louis was born in Brenham, Washington County, September 6th, 1875. His father, L. Louis (deceased) was a native of Louisiana and was for many years engaged in the mercantile business in New Orleans and Brenham, and later at Marlin. His mother (now deceased) Miss Bertha Levin, a member of a prominent Louisiana family. While attending the University of Texas, Mr. Louis took both a literary and law course. Tak- ing Bachelor of Literature degree when graduating from this institution in the class of 1895, continu- ing his law studies the following year at the Univer- sity and at the end thereof was admitted to the Bar, and established his home and office in Mar- lin, where he engaged in the practice of his profes- sion in the firm of Patrick and Louis, and came to Houston in 1900. Mr. Louis has been closely con- nected with the commercial interests of the city for many years, and has various interests here, being a director in the following: Second National Bank, American Maid Flour Mills, Reed Roller Bit Com- pany, The Ludowici-Celadon Company, and the Moores Bluff Corporation. Mr. Louis has never offered for political office, but has been the recipient of positions of honor and trust at the hands of his fellow men, among them being the following: Served as City Attorney of Marlin, City Solicitor of Houston and has served as Special Judge on many occasions.

Mr. Louis was married in Chicago, July 12th, 1922, to Miss Lillian Grotte, a member of a well known Omaha family. Mr. and Mrs. Louis are the parents of one son, B. F. Louis, Jr. In fraternal and social organizations, Mr. Louis holds membership in the following: B. P. O. E., American Bar Association, State Bar Association, Harris County Bar Associa- tion, University Club, Houston Country Club and is a Phi Beta Kappa. Mr. Louis considers that Hous- ton has the most promising future of any city of its size in the United States, and is in favor of all harbor developments being made at once, rather than doing a small amount of improvement at in- tervals, as this development means everything to the future Metropolis of the Southwest.

A RTHUR LEFEVRE, whose efforts as editor of one of the leading publications of the Lone Star State have been extensive and important, has since coming to Houston around a decade ago been a factor in the life of this city, and has won the highest esteem of all who know him. Mr. Lefevre is founder and editor

of the Texaco Star, a monthly magazine, with a circulation of more than thirty-two thousand copies, going to The Texas Company organization through- out the world, including employees, stockholders and friends. The Texaco Star is a twenty-four to thirty- two page magazine, gotten up in high class form, and artistically put out. It is well edited, typo- graphically correct, and beautifully illustrated in color, and is among the foremost magazines of its kind in the world, issued by a corporation for its employees and friends. All articles are written by the officers and employees of the various de- partments, concerning topics of interest, and serv- ing to bring together the members of the great Texas Company organization, located in the four corners of the globe. Each issue of the magazine is eagerly looked forward to, both by the employees and officers in America, and those in the foreign offices. The success of this publication has been largely due to the enthusiasm with which it was launched, and has since been edited by Mr. Lefevre.

Arthur Lefevre was born at Baltimore, Maryland, the fourth of June, 1863, the son of the Reverend Jacob Amos Lefevre, and Catherine Louisa (Saur- wein) Lefevre. He graduated from Baltimore City College in 1882, and entered the University of Vir- ginia the following fall, studying civil engineering there until 1885. His degree C. E. was later con- ferred by the University of Texas. In 1890 he removed to Texas, and taught in Ball High School, at Galveston, from 1890 until 1892. He then be- came superintendent of the schools at Gonzales, where he remained until 1894, when he became in- structor in mathematics at the University of Texas. In 1899 he resigned that position to become super- intendent of the schools at Victoria, Texas, and after holding that position two years, resigned to become state superintendent of public instruction, to which position he was appointed in 1901 by Governor Sayers, to fill a vacancy, and to which he was elected in November, 1902. When his term of office expired he returned to Victoria, where he was superintendent of schools until 1908, when he ac- cepted the superintendency of the Dallas schools. In 1911 he became secretary for research of the organization for the Enlargement by the State of Texas, of Its Institutions of Higher Education. He held that position until 1913, when he came to Houston, and went with The Texas Company, im-

mediately afterward founding the Texaco Star, which he has since edited. Mr. Lefevre was a fre- quent contributor to educational journals, and is the author of "Number and Its Algebra," published in 1896, and of "Organization and Administration of Institutions of Higher Education," published in 1913. The foregoing data, taken largely from "Who's Who in America", gives a comprehensive sketch of Mr. Lefevre's life, and brings us up to the time he became editor of the Texaco Star.

Mr. Lefevre was married at Baltimore, Maryland, the first of November, 1887, to Miss Adela Beale Yerby, of that city. Mr. Lefevre is a member of the Southern Presbyterian Church. He is an Ex- Regent of the College of Industrial Arts, at Denton; a Fellow of the Texas Academy of Science, a mem- ber of the Chi Phi college fraternity, and a member of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. A man of high intellectual attainments, his influence has been along lines of progress and development.

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ILLIAM W. WALLACE gave up the study of law for a career in the lumber business and for many years has been actively en- gaged in that industry and is the general sales manager of the following lumber companies, which are numbered among the largest in the state: West Lumber Company, Reynolds-West Lumber Company, South Texas Lumber Company and the South Texas Hardwood Company. Mr. Wallace has been associated with these lumber companies since 1921 and his general sales office is located at 629 West Building, Houston, and all branch offices of these companies are supervised and controlled from the Houston headquarters. About one hundred and eighty million feet of lumber are handled through Mr. Wallace's office each year for the wholesale de- partment, and he also purchases all lumber and materials for all retail departments, which amounts to more than $1,500,000.00 annually. The South Texas Lumber Company operates twenty-five lumber yards in Texas. The West Lumber Company are manufacturers of southern pine and southern hard- woods, and all the mills of this company are located in Texas. The South Texas Hardwood Company are engaged in the manufacture of hardwood only in Texas, and the Reynolds-West Lumber Company are manufacturers of Mississippi timber and are lo- cated at Burnside, Mississippi, making all the lum- ber used by these companies Texas products except the mill at Burnside, Mississippi. Mr. Wallace has a certain supervision over about one hundred em- ployes. There are about three thousand employees in the West organization.

A native Texan, Mr. Wallace was born in the an- cient, historic town of San Augustine, December 17th, 1884. His father, B. R. Wallace, a native of Virginia, at the age of sixteen years joined the Con- federate forces, and after close of the Civil War, located at San Augustine. His mother was Miss Nora Krouch, a native of San Augustine, Texas, and a member of a pioneer Texas family. His edu- ction was obtained in the public and high schools of San Augustine, after which he attended a com- mercial college and began the study of law. He started work in the lumber business after much time had been spent in his study of law, but it is the opin- ion of his friends that the loss of a good lawyer meant the gain of one of the best informed lumber men in Texas. After about six years spent in the various branches of the lumber industry with the Tremont Lumber Company at Rochelle, Louisiana, Mr. Wallace became secretary and manager of this company. He also served as sales manager of the Trinity County Lumber Company for two years. When the sales department of the Trinity County and Tremont Lumber Companies were merged, he became secretary and sales manager of these two companies, holding this position for five years. He then became vice president of the Vaughan Lumber Company for a period of one and one-half years and resigned this position to take up his present work.

Mr. Wallace was married at Conroe, Texas, in 1909 to Miss Lola Ball, a native Texan and a member of a well known family of Cass County. They have one son, William W. Wallace, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Wallace reside at 1505 Sul Ross Avenue. Mr. Wallace is a member of the A. F. and A. M. Chapter and Coun- cil, River Oaks Country Club, Salesmanship Club,

the Lumbermen's Club, and the Methodist Church. He is popular in both the business and social cir- cles of Houston, is a golf enthusiast, and is deeply interested in the progress and advancement of Hous- ton, where he is a factor in the lumber business and one of the city's progressive and public spirited citizens.

HOMAS M. MURRAY has in the several years of his residence at Houston given many evidences of his real interest in the development of this city, and is one of the leading builders of distinctive homes in Houston. Mr. Murray has his office in the Second National Bank Building, operating under his own name, and makes a specialty of constructing fine homes, al- though from time to time he handles some com- mercial work. He is the modern type of builder who believes, and truly, that the contractor holds a very important position, one of trust.and respon- sibility, and his many activities in the building world give evidence of how well he has lived up to this belief. Mr. Murray has built upwards of three score beautiful and distinctive homes in Hous- ton, homes of which the owners are proud, and which add much to the beauty of Houston and its reputation as a city of home owners. Mr. Murray has also received a number of commissions in ad- jacent territory, and in every case the quality of construction work, and the care with which these homes are built, make the title, "home builder", very fitting as applied to him. A feature of his work is his interesting plan of offering deferred payments, making it possible for many who could not otherwise enjoy one of these distinctive homes to become home owners of whom Houston is proud. Mr. Murray keeps a force of around forty men busy on his various contracts, and gives all work his personal supervision.

Mr. Murray was born at Newport, Tennessee, the eleventh of November, 1893, son of J. G. and Paul- ine M. Murray. His father has been for many years a farmer and landowner of Tennessee, and is well known there. Mr. Murray attended the public schools of his native state as a boy, and later grad- uated from high school there. He then entered Mooney Preparatory School, where he attended three years, after which he went to Vanderbilt University, finishing there in 1914. He then went to Nashville, making that city his home until enlisting in serv- ice in October, 1917. He was in the aviation service as aerial gunner, spending most of his time during the war period at Ellington Field. He was dis- charged, as lieutenant, the eighth of January, 1919, after which he came to Houston.

Mr. Murray was married the 24th of November, 1923, at Houston, to Miss Iva Carter. Mr. and Mrs. Murray make their home at 1316 Castle Court Boule- vard, in Houston, and take an active part in social and civic affairs. Mr. Murray is a Signa Alpha Epsilon, a member of the Houston Club, the Uni- versity Club, the Builders Exchange and the Texas branch of Associated General Contractors of Amer- ica. He is familiar with every phase of the building industry, a man of outstanding business principles, and interested in the welfare of his city. His asso- ciates in the business world are looking forward with interest to his advancement in the construction world, and regard him as one of the coming men of the day.

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M. LAW, whose name has for the past decade been associated with the largest financial institutions at Houston, is promi- nently identified with commercial and in- dustrial enterprises of importance, and is firmly established as a banker whose influence is felt in every walk of life. Mr. Law came to Houston from Beaumont, in 1915, as senior vice president of the First National Bank of Houston. This bank, one of the oldest in the State, was established in Feb- ruary, 1866, and has, since that time, rendered con- servative banking service to the community, at all times directed in a safe, efficient, progressive man- ner, and rapidly taking first place in the financial affairs of the State. The First National Bank of Houston is capitalized at two and one-half million dollars, with a surplus and undivided profits of $890,682.41. The deposits on September 28, 1925, were $34,940,663.42 and total assets were $41,163,- 910.83. The officers are John T. Scott, president; F. M. Law, senior vice president; W. S. Cochran, vice president; Sam R. Lawder, vice president; O. W. Jackson, cashier; H. L. Darton, assistant vice pres- ident, and G. G. Timmins, H. B. Bringhurst, J. W. Hazard, and W. A. Kirkland, assistant cashiers. The directors are: J. T. Scott, F. M. Law, E. A. Peden, E. L. Neville, F. A. Root, W. S. Cochran, Sam R. Lawder, and O. W. Jackson.

While perhaps best known as a banker Mr. Law has many and varied interests, any one of which would place him in the rank of sterling business men and citizens who have at heart the best inter- ests of Houston. He is vice president of the Deep Water Oil Refineries, giving to the direction of this vast industry the same interested attention that has won his success in the field of finance. Mr. Law is also deeply interested in the civic devel- opment of his city, and is one of the directors of the Chamber of Commerce and of the Houston Country Club. He is a director on three hospital boards, the Baptist Hospital, the Municipal Hos- pital and the Tuberculosis Hospital. He is pres- ident of the Board of Directors of A. and M. College and former president of the Alumni Association of A. and M.

Mr. Law was born at Bryan, Texas, the third of January, 1877, son of Dr. F. M. and Mary Jane (Howell) Law. His father, a well known Baptist minister, was president of the Baptist General Con- vention and president of the Board of Trustees of Baylor College. He came to the Lone Star State from South Carolina, in 1865, and lived at Houston, Giddings, and later Bryan. Mr. Law's mother was also a native of South Carolina. He began his education in the public schools of Bryan, and grad- uated from the high school there in 1890. He then went to A. and M. College, graduating from this institution in 1895, with the degree of B. S. He then went to the University of Texas for one year, specializing in law. In 1897 Mr. Law began his banking career in the First National Bank of Bryan, his first position in this bank being that of book- keeper. In 1905 he was made assistant cashier, and in 1908 he went to Beaumont as cashier of the First National Bank of Beaumont, remaining there until 1915 at which time he came to Houston as vice president of the First National Bank of Hous- ton. Mr. Law is a former president of the Texas Bankers Association and is at present a member

of the executive council and of the administrative committee of the American Bankers Association.

Mr. Law was married at Galveston, the twentieth of April, 1898, to Miss Frances Mann, daughter of Col. Walter L. Mann, of Galveston, a prominent attorney, and a colonel in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. Mr. and Mrs. Law make their home at the Beaconsfield Apartments. They have two children, a son, F. M., Jr., who is prac- ticing law in the city of Washington, D. C., and a daughter, Elizabeth, who attends St. Timothy School near Baltimore. Mr. Law is a prominent Mason, a charter member of the Blue Lodge at Houston, Galveston Scottish Rite, and belongs to Arabia Tem- ple Shrine at Houston. He in an Elk and a Knight of Pythias. He belongs to the Sigma Chi fra- ternity, and is a member of the Houston Club, the Houston Country Club and the University Club.

S. COCHRAN has since 1898 given his time to the banking profession, and during his service of more than a quarter of a century, he has attained prominence and leadership in his realm. Mr. Cochran is active vice president of the First National Bank of Houston, which is one of the oldest as well as one of the leading institutions of its kind in the State, having been organized in 1866 by Mr. B. A. Shepherd and Mr. T. M. Bagby. The bank has a capital stock of $2,500,000.00 and a surplus fund and undivided profits of over $350,000.00, and deposits on Jan. 1, 1926, of over $32,000,000.00. Other officers of the First National Bank of Houston are J. T. Scott, president; F. M. Law and Sam R. Lawder, vice presidents, and O. W. Jackson, cashier.

A native Houstonian, Mr. Cochran was born August 14th, 1879. His father, O. L. Cochran, a native of Tennessee, was brought to Texas by his parents when four years of age and was reared in Houston, and lived here all his life, where he was prominent in all activities for the good of his city. He was postmaster of Houston during the Civil War, and for a period of forty-five years was engaged in the insurance and cotton business in this city, and was president of the First National Bank at the time of his death, December, 1916, at the age of eighty-one years. Mr. Cochran was one of the builders of the South Texas Metropolis and his faith in this city not only endured but became stronger with his years. His mother was Miss Mary A. Shepherd, a native of Houston and a daughter of Mr. B. A. Shepherd, one of the founders of the financial institution, which stands as a monument to his sound business judgment, the First National Bank, of which he was vice president and director until his death. Mr. Cochran's early education was obtained in the public schools of Houston, after which he attended Preparatory Col- lege at Asheville, North Carolina. He returned to Houston in 1898 and entered the employ of the First National Bank in September of that year as runner and collector. He continued in this posi- tion until 1902, when he was made assistant cashier and director, which positions he held until 1908 when he was made cashier. He continued in the capacity of cashier until 1921 when he was made vice president, and has been active in this official position since that time. Being a man of business capacity, Mr. Cochran has been drawn into many other large enterprises, and in addition to his bank-

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ing interests he is a director in the following: Houston Land and Trust Company, Peden Iron and Steel Company, Houston Drug Company and the Southern Brass and Manufacturing Company. He is also president of the Republic Box Company and is interested in various other business concerns of the city.

Mr. Cochran was married in Houston September 19th, 1908, to Miss Annie Martin, a native of Hous- ton and a daughter of C. B. Martin, a member of a pioneer Texas family and for many years a prom- inent attorney of Houston. They have two chil- dren-Jane and W. S. Cochran, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Cochran reside at 4004 Brandt Street, Montrose. In social organizations Mr. Cochran is a member of the Houston Country, Houston Yacht, Houston Launch and the River Oaks Country Clubs. He is a member of the second generation of prominent Houston families who took a leading part in the upbuilding of his city, which he believes will soon become the metropolis of the entire Southwest.

HARLES L. TARLTON, Houston, Texas, is one of the oldest and best known insurance adjusters of Texas, having been engaged in this field of activity since 1906. Mr. Tarl- ton is the owner of the Tarlton Adjustment Com- pany of this city, having removed this business from Fort Worth to Houston in 1913. He attends to in- surance adjustments in all portions of Texas, Louis- iana and other States, also in the Republic of Mex- ico, doing work in this line for all companies de- siring his expert judgment. He began in this line of endeavor at Fort Worth, and his firm was known there as Massie and Tarlton, where for a few years after starting his business he had partners, but for the past several years has been alone. The office of the Tarlton Adjustment Company is lo- cated at 1602 Second National Bank Building. Mr. Tarlton started his career in the business world on steamboats plying from New Orleans up the Missis- sippi, stopping at the various points for passengers and freight. He remained in this work for nine years. After leaving the steamboat business he re- moved to Hillsboro, Texas, where he worked in the office of his uncle, B. D. Tarlton, one of the best known lawyers and statesmen of the Lone Star State, and studied law under the able tutilage of his uncle, but gave up law and in 1889 entered the fire insurance business. He continued in this business at Hillsboro until 1906, when he removed to Fort Worth, and started his present work of insurance adjusting.

Mr. Tarlton was born in St. Mary's Parish, Louis- iana. His father, John B. Tarlton, was a native of Sumpter County, South Carolina. He removed to Louisiana as a young man, and entered the Civil War from this State, serving throughout this con- flict. His mother was Miss Lelia De La Houssaye, a native of Franklin, Louisiana, and a member of a prominent family of that old Southern town. Both parents are deceased; his mother having died when Mr. Tarlton was a mere boy. His education was obtained at St. Charles College, of Louisiana, and he attended this institution for a period of four years.

Mr. Tarlton was married at Hillsboro, Texas, on December 23, 1890, to Miss Margaret Ross Parshall, a native of Tennessee, but was brought to Texas when a child by her parents and was reared and

educated in Hill and Bosque Counties. They have one son, Charles Lawrence Tarlton, born on October 12, 1891. His early education was obtained in the public and high school of Hillsboro and Fort Worth, Texas, where he graduated from the latter and then entered the University of Texas and graduated from that institution in the class of 1916 with the L. L. B. degree. He entered the army of the World War and was assigned to the 90th Division, and was made a First Lieutenant of a machine gun com- pany. He went overseas with his Division and saw active service at the front, and was made a Captain in France. After the signing of the armistice and returning to the United States after his discharge, he entered the law office of Samuels and Brown, Fort Worth, one of the leading firms of lawyers in Fort Worth, in 1919, and is still associated with this firm and has become well known in the legal circles of North Texas. He married Miss Vaulta Marie Storts, a native of Fort Worth, and a member of a well known family there. Mr. and Mrs. Tarlton re- side at the Bender Hotel, and have made this hos- telry their home for almost ten years. Mr. Tarlton finds time to devote to the civic improvement and advancement of his city, and is active in all matters pertaining to the betterment of Houston, where he is regarded as one of the city's most progressive and useful citizens.

HILIP BATTELSTEIN came to Houston, Texas, in 1897 and opened a small tailor shop in this city, from which has grown one of the leading men's clothing and tailor- ing establishments of Texas. Mr. Battelstein is president and general manager of Battelstein, Inc., which is regarded as the highest class men's cloth- ing store of South Texas. Associated with Mr. Battelstein in the business, which was incorporated on February 1st, 1924, are his sons-A. M. Battel- stein and Harry I. Battelstein, who are vice-presi- dent and secretary and treasurer, respectively, and all are active in the business. The other son, Ben D., is also active in the business. During 1924, the firm moved into their splendid new home on Main Street, which is thirty-four by one hundred and twenty feet in size. The fixtures, the finest manufactured in Houston, are of light oak and form an attractive setting for the splendid stock which this firm displays. All suits are made in the shop by tailors who are artists in their line, turning out workmanship of the highest class. Forty-two people are employed, all of whom are experienced in their particular lines. Mr. Battelstein started in the tailoring business when thirteen years of age and has spent his entire life in this work, and is regarded as one of the best tailors and executives in the country, and his men are tailors of real merit. He was reared in an atmosphere of the tailoring business; his father being a tailor in Europe, and he learned the trade while serving in his father's shop. He came to the United States alone, and first settled in Chicago, where he continued his work as a tailor. He later removed to St. Louis, where he worked in tailoring establishments for the sum of three dollars per week. He later opened a small shop in St. Louis, where he remained until coming to Houston. In his first shop in this city he did all his own tailoring, but his reputation as a tailor soon became known, and he has enlarged his place many times since then. Until 1920 Mr.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 59

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