New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 66

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

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Thomas H. Monroe is a native son of the Lone Star State, his birthplace being the town of Iola, in Grimes County, on the fourth of December, 1890. His father, John Monroe, was born in Scotland, coming from his native country to America, and Texas, in 1863. He was a cotton gin man at Iola for a number of years and is now retired and living at Houston. His mother, before her marriage Miss Mary De Young, a native of Maryland, and whose people came here from France, came to Texas in 1880. Mr. Monroe came to Houston as a child, in 1895, and was educated in the schools of this city. After finishing his education he went with the Southern Pacific Railway, and was with that line, in the auditors' department, until 1909. He then went with the Thompson-Tucker Lumber Company, as bookkeeper, remaining with that firm for two years, after which he spent two years at Maryville, Louisiana, with the American Lumber Company. Returning to Houston in September, 1914, he entered his present position as secretary and treasurer of the South Texas Hardwood Company, the South Texas Lumber Company, the West Lumber Com- pany, the Fort Terrett Ranch Company, the West Proudction Company, the Trinity Valley & Northern Railway Company and the West Building Company. Mr. Monroe is also secretary and treasurer of the Southwestern Construction Company, a newly organ- ized company, established the latter part of 1922.

Mr. Monroe was married at Houston, Texas, the twelfth of April, 1912, to Miss Willie E. O'Bannon, daughter of Joseph O'Bannon, a native of Ireland, who came to Texas in the early eighties and was a cattleman in East Texas. Mrs. Monroe was born at Groveton. Mr. and Mrs. Monroe have an attrac- tive home at 1308 Branard Street. They have one daughter, Ione H. The family attend the Metho- dist Church and are popular members of various social and civic organizations. Mr. Monroe belongs to the Kiwanis Club, the Lumbermans Club, the Glenbrook Country Club, and the River Oaks Coun- try Club. Although one of the younger men in the lumber business Mr. Monroe has made a record for progress and real business ability that has attracted

attention to his career, and he is well known among lumbermen. The finest type of citizen, a man who is a real booster for his city, Mr. Monroe is actively interested in civic development, and has done much for Houston in this line.

R. BRITTON, City Commissioner of the Street and Bridge Departments of Houston, is particularly fitted for the responsible position he holds, having prior to his elec- tion to this office, been for more than twelve years one of the leading road builders of Texas. Mr. Brit- ton was elected to this office in 1923, and entered office April 16th, 1923, and Mr. Britton is the only new member of the board since 1920, as the other members have been re-elected to their respective offices. The office of City Commissioner of the Street and Bridge Department is considered one of the most important offices of the city, and while Mr. Britton does not always agree with other members of the board, his administration has been successful and has met with the approval of the citizens of Houston. One hundred and seventy-five people are employed in Mr. Britton's departments, and these people range from skilled artisans to common labor.

Mr. Britton was born in the eastern portion of the state of North Carolina on February 21st, 1879. His father, W. H. Britton (deceased) was also a native of North Carolina, and was well known in the business circles of his native state. His mother was Miss Margaret Carson, a member of a promi- nent family of North Carolina (now deceased). His education was obtained in the public schools of his native state. Mr. Britton's brother, Mr. J. L. Brit- ton, came to Houston and saw the wonderful oppor- tunities to be found in the Lone Star State and when nineteen years of age, Mr. Britton joined his brother here, and they formed a partnership, sell- ing city property under the name of J. L. Britton and Company. He later entered the road contracting business on a large scale, having charge of the pro- motional work of one of the largest road building companies in the state. His activities in this con- nection carried him all over the state, but he con- tinued his headquarters in Houston and continued in this line of endeavor for a period of twelve years, and was known as an authority on the various types of construction. Mr. Britton continued in the road building business until he was elected to his present office, when he sold all his interests in road con- struction and has devoted his entire time and atten- tion to the Houston streets and bridges.

Mr. Britton was married in Houston, February 18th, 1907, to Miss Mary L. Straley, a native of Wisconsin. They have one son, W. R. Britton, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Britton reside at 308 Welch Street. Mr. Britton is a member of the A. F. and A. M. with membership in Houston Lodge, No. 1189, and has attained to the 32nd degree in the Scottish Rite Body of this order, having taken to the 18th in Houston and the remainder in Galveston. He is also a member of Arabia Temple Shrine, a Charter Mem- ber of Houston Blue Lodge No. 1189, and a member of the Houston Chapter of the Eastern Star. Under the supervision of Mr. Britton, as Commissioner, the streets and bridges of the city of Houston are being made to reflect the progressive spirit of those hav- ing this important work in charge, and it is his pur- pose and intention to have the streets of Houston second to none in the entire country.

345

MEN OF TEXAS

E A. HUDSON, President and General Mana- ger of the E. A. Hudson Furniture Com- pany, Inc., is one of the best known furni- ture men in the State, where for thirty-five years he has been engaged in the furniture busi- ness; the past thirty years of this time has been spent in Houston. The Hudson Furniture Company, a closed corporation, located at the corner of Rusk and Milam Streets, began business in Houston in 1893 in a store with floor space of fifty by sixty feet. They now have a magnificent establishment which covers a space of 100 by 100 feet and four floors, and is recognized as one of the finest furni- ture houses in the State. They carry a large and complete stock, from the ordinary furniture within the reach of all, to the highest priced period furni- ture of rich magnificence. They also have a ware- house which occupies one half a block on the G. H. & S. A. Railroad tracks. The Hudson Furniture Company carry thirty-two employees on their pay- rolls. The capital and surplus is about $300,000, with an annual business of about one half a mil- lion.

A native of Georgia, Mr. Hudson was born in Athens in 1869. His father, Thomas F. Hudson, a native Georgian, was a well known citizen of Ath- ens. The Hudson family originally came from Eng- land to Virginia and later one of the grandfathers of Mr. Hudson moved to Georgia, where he was one of the pioneers. The Hudson River there was named for the family. Thomas F. Hudson was a planter and one of the leading men of his section of the State. Three brothers of Mr. E. A. Hudson also reside in Texas and all are highly successful physi- cians, namely: Dr. C. D. of Waco; Dr. H. H. of Mc- Gregor, and Dr. C. L. of Tyler.

His mother was Miss Anna Yerbey, a member of a prominent Georgia family. Mr. Hudson's education was obtained in the public schools of Georgia. His entire business life has been devoted to the furniture business, in which he is a recognized authority. He came to Texas in 1888 when nineteen years of age and entered the employ of the Stowers Furniture Company of Waco, where he remained for fifteen months. He then went to Tyler in January, 1890, and engaged in the furniture business under the firm name of Kingsbury and Hudson, which was continued for a period of three years. He then came to Houston in 1893, where in addition to his large furniture interests, he is connected with many other enterprises, and is a director in the Second National Bank of Houston. For the past two years he has been President of the Boy Scouts of Houston, and has for many years been a member of the Board of Directors of this organization. Mr. Hudson was for a period of ten years a member of the Houston Light Guard, of which he now is a Trustee. He volunteered and served in the Spanish-American War. Mr. Hudson was married in Houston in 1914 to Miss Nobie Curtis, a member of a well known Texas family. Her father, A. Y. Curtis, was en- gaged in the dry goods business in Texas for over forty years, a part of which time he was a mem- ber of the firm of Mistrot and Curtis at Houston. Mr. and Mrs. Hudson have three children, Thomas Alfred, Jean and Richard Curtis. The Hudson home is located at 2316 Austin Street. Mr. Hudson is a member of Gray Lodge, Houston, of the Masonic fraternity, and 32nd Degree Scottish Rite of that order, a K. C. C. H. and a Shriner of Arabia Temple,

of which he is a member of the Finance Committee. He is also a Past Potentate of El Mina Temple of Galveston and a past Exalted Ruler of the Elks Lodge. During the time of his service in the latter office he assisted materially in financing and se- curing the Elks home in Houston. For several years Mr. Hudson served as President of the Retail Mer- chants Association and for five years he was a member of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce. It was during this period of service with the latter oraanization that many of the prob- lems pertaining to the Houston Ship Channel were worked out. Mr. Hudson is interested in all agencies working for the greater development of Houston, whose growth he has carefully watched during his thirty years residence here. He expects the city to continue its steady, consistent growth, and is look- ing forward to an era of great business prosperity in all lines.

RTHUR P. TODD has devoted his entire business life to the clothing business and his experience extends from a clerk as a boy of sixteen years to one of the leading execu- tives of the best gents' furnishing establishments in Houston. Mr. Todd is vice president and treasurer of Leopold-Price, clothiers, which is strictly a man's store, owned and operated by real men, is a very high class store and does a large business. The Leopold-Price establishment is located at 509 Main Street, and is regarded as the finest location in Houston for a store of this kind.

A native Texan, Mr. Todd was born at Richmond on April 25th, 1884. His father, J. Todd, was a na- tive of England and came to the United States and to Texas as a boy, and was well known in the state. His mother (now deceased) was Miss Ruth Phipps, a member of a prominent family of Mis- sissippi. His education was obtained in the public schools of Richmond, Texas, and he began his busi- ness career as a clerk in a clothing store at the age of sixteen years, and continued to work in clothing establishments in various parts of Texas and came to Houston from Wharton in 1906 and began work for the Leopold-Price store as a collector. In 1915, Mr. Todd was made secretary and treasurer of this business and in 1922 became vice president and treasurer and has continued in these positions since that time. In addition to his interests in the Leo- pold-Price store, Mr. Todd has many interests in the city, numbered among these is the Houston Building and Loan Association, of which he is vice president and director, and one of the organizers of this association.

Mr. Todd was married in Houston, in June, 1909, to Miss Mabel Sellers, a native of Edna, Texas, and a daughter of Dr. J. M. Sellers, a prominent physi- cian of Jackson County. They have two children- Maria Mac and Arthur P. Todd Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Todd reside at 1622 Kensington Street. Mr. Todd is a member of the Kiwanis Club, the Advertising Club and the Glenbrook Country Club. Since com- ing to Houston, eighteen years ago, Mr. Todd has been active in the business, social and general com- munity life of Houston and gives liberally of his time and means to all projects tending to the wel- fare and advancement of this city, which he expects to soon become the metropolis of the entire South- west.

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NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

P. WALKER, manager of the G. A. Stowers Furniture Company, Inc., one of the largest furniture establishments in the Southwest, is a recognized factor in the big business of Houston. The G. A. Stowers Furniture Com- pany, Inc., opened their store in Houston in 1902 in a much smaller building than they now occupy, but soon realized that their business was growing in proportion to the growth and progress of Hous- ton. Then the magnificent ten-story building, with a floor space of 128,000 square feet, was constructed in 1912 and has since been the commodious and ornate home of the G. A. Stowers Furniture Com- pany. This building, with the complete line of furniture, ranging from the ordinary kind within the reach of the family of average means to the finest and highest class period furniture, worthy of a king's ransom, is truly one of the show places of Houston. The G. A. Stowers Furniture Company of Houston is a branch of the San Antonio estab- lishment of the same name, but is much larger and better equipped than the San Antonio house of this firm. In addition to the great stock of furniture carried by the G. A. Stowers Furniture Company, they have the largest upholstering and drapery de- partment in the Southwest. All kinds and styles of upholstering is done in this department, and drap- eries and hangings for the stock and to order for the customers are made here by artists in their particular lines. This firm also has a mattress factory and warehouse of two floors, each with a floor space of 200 by 80 feet. The G. A. Stowers Furniture Company, Inc., have one hundred and ten employees; among these are numbered cabinet makers, upholsterers, and many other high class artisans. Other officers of the G. A. Stowers Fur- niture Company, Ine., are M. P. Strickland, presi- dent, San Antonio; H. S. Affleck, vice president, San Antonio, and E. Vogul, secretary and treasurer, also of San Antonio.

A native of Georgia, Mr. Walker was born in Atlanta, October 9th, 1878. His parents were well known citizens of that city. Mr. Walker's educa- tion was obtained in the Atlanta public schools, and he has used the school training he received as the foundation upon which to build throughout the years that have brought him business success and posi- tions of honor and trust at the hands of his fellow- men.

Mr. Walker's entire business life has been spent in the furniture business. He is occupying the third position he has held throughout his long experience in this business. He began his career in Atlanta in 1898, where he remained for twelve years. Dur- ing this period he was employed by only two firms. In 1910 he came to Houston with the G. A. Stowers Furniture Company, Inc., as a salesman. Recogni- tion of his close attention to his employer's business came in 1912 and he was made assistant manager, and in 1915 was made manager of this great estab- lishment. Mr. Walker was the organizer and first president of the Houston Fair Association, and is now director and vice president of this organization.

Mr. Walker was married in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1894, to Miss Annie J. Stafford, a member of a prominent Atlanta family. They have two daugh- ters, Mary and Katherine. Mr. and Mrs. Walker reside at 601 Colquitt Street. Mr. Walker is a mem- ber of the B. P. O. E., Knights of Pythias, Woodmen

of the World, Rotary Club, Luncheon Club and of the various local civic clubs, in which he is very active. He gives liberally of his time to all projects tending to the welfare and advancement of his city, which he expects to continue its steady, consistent growth, and he is looking forward to an era of great business prosperity in all lines.

ILLIAM E. WOOD, manager of the Houston Electric Company, is widely known through- out Texas, where he has successfully man- aged the street car systems owned by the Stone and Webster interests in several cities. The Houston street car system covers a distance of more than eighty-eight miles of streets with its trackage. The Houston Electric Company own two hundred and thirty-five cars; of this number more than two hundred are in daily operation. This company, with offices at 517 Travis Street, have six hundred and fifty employees and manufacture the greater por- tion of their power. Mr. Wood is also manager of the Galveston-Houston Electric Railway Company operating interurban cars between Houston and Gal- veston, a distance of 50.4 miles. Eighteen cars are operated daily over this line. Mr. Wood first came to Houston in 1916 as superintendent of the Hous- ton Street Car System but his services were needed elsewhere and he was sent away, but was returned to Houston in 1920 as manager of the Houston Elec- tric Company. The service given by this company has been materially improved under Mr. Wood's management, also the equipment and tracks have been bettered to a marked degree.

Mr. Wood was born in Aiken, South Carolina, in 1887. His father, E. J. C. Wood, was a native of North Carolina and was a well known citizen of that state, where he spent practically all his life. His mother was Miss Mary Abercrombie, a member of a prominent Georgia family. Mr. Wood's prelim- inary education was obtained in the public schools of Aiken, South Carolina. Later he attended David- son College, after which he was for four years a student in the Georgia Technical College of Elec- trical Engineering.

Mr. Wood began his business career in 1907, when twenty years of age, with Stone and Webster in Jacksonville, Florida, as a motorman where he re- mained for five months. Leaving the place of motor- man, he served through all the departments of the street car industry and was sent to Houston in 1916 as superintendent of the Houston street car system. In July, 1917, he was sent to El Paso as superin- tendent of the system at that place, where he re- mained until September, 1918, when he was sent from El Paso to Galveston as manager of the com- pany's interests there. In April of 1920 Mr. Wood was returned to Houston as manager of the Houston Electric Company. Mr. Wood was married at Ur- bana, Ohio, in 1913 to Miss Ruth Johnson, a mem- ber of a prominent Ohio family. They have two chil- dren, Mary Louise, nine years of age, and Ruth El- leen, aged four years. Mr. and Mrs. Wood own their own home at 812 West Main Street.

In fraternal and social organizations, Mr. Wood is a member of the Elks Club, Houston Club, Country Club, University Club and the Rotary Club. Mr. Wood is an advocate of efficiency, promptness and punctuality, which he carries out in his daily busi- ness life, and no detail is too small to receive his close, personal attention.

349

MEN OF TEXAS

C. ABELL has for a quarter of a century been associated with the lumber industry of Houston and during this period has been a factor in supplying an enormous amount of building material which has been required. Mr. Abell is senior manager and owner of one-half inter- est in the Houston Co-operative Manufacturing Company, which was established in Houston in 1898, and is one of the largest plants of its kind in the city. The Houston Co-operative Manufacturing Company, located at the corner of Conti and Maffit Streets, are manufacturers and dealers in lumber. They are makers of sash, doors, blinds, mouldings, boxes, box shooks and crates. The plant of this company covers a space of one and one-half blocks of ground and has forty thousand square feet of floor space. They have separate departments for each class of work and employ one hundred people in their plant. The Houston Co-operative Manufac- turing Company sell their products in the Houston trade territory. They have a large stock and do an immense business. Mr. Abell's cousin, L. C. Abell, is owner of one-half interest in the company, in which both are actively engaged.

Mr. Abell was born in Saint Mary's County, Mary- land, in 1868. His parents, William C. Abell and Martha Abell both died when he was a small boy. His education was obtained in the public schools of Maryland. He came to Texas when sixteen years of age and started on his business career, which has been wide and varied. He engaged first in farming for one year and then worked for one year at the blacksmith trade. He then went with the Southern Pacific Railroad as a carpenter where he remained for almost four years, and then entered the lumber business.

Mr. Abell as married in Houston in 1889 to Miss Annee M. Leverton, a member of a well known Houston family. They have one son, John Curthbert Abell, now associated with his father in the Hous- ton Co-operative Manufacturing Company. The Abell home is at 439 Hawthorne Avenue. Mr. Abell has been closely connected with the commercial interests of the city for many years, and is a director in the Second National Bank, the Carter Building Company, the First Texas Joint Land Bank, and the Chester Carbon Company of Monroe, Louisiana. He has served as school trustee and is a member of the Woodmen of the World. Mr. Abell is active in the business and general community life of Houston, and gives liberally of his time to all projects tending to the betterment and advancement of his city.

AMES G. BRANSFORD, district manager of a large industrial insurance company, with headquarters at Houston, has in the years that he has directed the business manage- ment of this company become recognized as a fac- tor in the insurance circles of the State. Mr. Brans- ford is District Manager for the Texas Employes' Insurance Association and Employers' Casualty Company, in charge of the south half of the state, with the exception of Beaumont, Port Arthur and Orange, where branch offices have been established. He has held this position since 1915, and operating under a definite policy, has built up a large busi- ness. Mr. Bransford has written for his company the insurance business of many large industrial con- cerns, employing many people, and has been instru-

mental in placing on the books of the company a record volume of insurance. He is a real business getter, a firm believer in agency organization, and with his enthusiasm and high business ideals, has won a place of recognition in insurance circles. Mr. Bransford has a staff of eight people in his office, and in addition a resident representative at Galves- ton, who settles claims at that place. Since taking over this district Mr. Bransford has doubled the business four times.

James G. Bransford was born in Louisiana, the eleventh of November, 1881, son of J. R. Bransford, a farmer of that state. He was educated in the. public schools near his home, and after graduating from high school entered the University of Louis- iana, which he attended until his senior year. He then entered Eastmen Business College, at Pough- keepsie, New York, where he took a business course. After finishing there he engaged in banking for two years, following this with eight years in the insur- ance business in Louisiana. He then came to Texas, locating at Houston after a period of two years at Fort Worth, as manager of the Texas Employers Insurance Association, and has been District Mana- ger here since 1918.

Mr. Bransford was married in Louisiana, in 1908, to Miss Carrie Manning. They have one child, Doro- thy, born in the Lone Star State. Mr. and Mrs. Bransford live at 2717 Chenevert Street, Houston. Mr. Bransford takes an active interest in civic af- fairs and is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, in the Young Men's section. He is a Mason, a mem- ber of the York and Scottish Rite bodies in Louis- iana, Saint Mathews Conclave No. 24, at Shreveport, and of Arabia Temple Shrine at Houston. He is a great believer in the future of his city, which he thinks destined to become the greatest city in the South.

B H. CHRISTIAN, of the younger generation of well known Houston business men, after many years spent as a lumber man is be- coming especially prominent in his present field as a forwarding agent with offices in the Cotton Exchange Building.

A native Texan, Mr. Christian was born at Se- guin in 1888. His father, James Russell Christian, was well known in railroad circles throughout the country and was for many years general freight agent of the Southern Pacific Railroad. His mother was Miss Mattie Humphreys, a member of a pioneer Texas family. Mr. Christian's early education was obtained in the public schools of Seguin, after which he attended the A. & M. College of Texas for four years. After leaving college, Mr. Christian en- gaged in the lumber business until entering his present field of activity.

Mr. Christian was married in Houston in 1915 to Miss Ruth Porter, a daughter of J. E. Porter, well known in the business circles of Houston, where he is a dealer in stocks and bonds. They have three daughters, Ethel, Margaret and Ruth (twins). Mr. and Mrs. Christian reside at 702 Harold Avenue in Montrose. In fraternal and social organizations, Mr. Christian is a member of the A. F. & A. M. and the Rotary Club. He is an advocate of efficiency, punc- tuality and promptness. These virtues, with char- acter, perseverance and foresight are the dom- inant factors in his success.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 66

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