New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 73

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

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George F. Arnold was born the thirtieth of Sep- tember, 1846, at Providence, Rhode Island. His father, William Arnold, also a native of that city, was connected with manufacturing interests during his business career. His mother, whose maiden name was Matilda Darling, was also a native of Rhode Island. Mr. Arnold received his education in the schools of Providence. After terminating his service in the Union army during the Civil War, while still in is teens, he went to New York City, where he began work in one of the large meat houses, forerunner of the packeries of today. Having spent six years in that city, he came South to begin anew his business career. He came by water, land- ing at Galveston, Coming on to Houston, he joined the engineering corps here, surveying the railroad from Hempstead to Austin. He soon became inter-

ested in railroad contract work which he continued for a number of years with success. This brought him in touch with the lumber manufacturing busi- ness of East Texas, where he bought timber lands, establishing saw mills, and shipping lumber to for- eign ports until his retirement from active business in 1913. Mr. Arnold came to Houston to reside per- manently in 1886, and was one of the organizers of the Houston Land and Trust Company, serving as a director and one of its vice-presidents until his death. He also had various interests in Houston, and during his active business years owned a great deal of real estate in Texas.

Mr. Arnold was married at Hempstead, Texas, the third of January, 1881 to Miss Ora Nixon. Mrs. Arnold is the daughter of Dr. Barney Nixon, a prac- ticing physician of North Carolina, and Flora Gard- ner Nixon, a member of an honored family of that state. She was born at Caraway, in Randolph Coun- ty, North Carolina, and spent her girlhood in that state, receiving her education in the schools there. Mrs. Arnold is a member of the Society of Friends, commonly called "Quakers" and of a family whose beginning in America dates back to Plymouth. Mr. Arnold also came from sturdy New England stock which had its roots in Wales. In the Tower of Lon- don is preserved the history of the Arnolds before their immigration to America, showing an unbroken line back to the eleventh century. History shows that Mr. Arnold's ancestors were never vanquished by an invading foe, but were absorbed by their kins- man, the English.

It is logical and natural, therefore, that from the union of representatives of the Arnold and Nixon families there should be evolved a plan of devoting the competence which Mr. Arnold acquired under the American system of free institutions that encour- aged individual enterprise, to the preservation of the America which the ancestors of Mr. and Mrs. Arnold assisted in establishing and to the future development of the ideal American of our dreams. The plan of those responsible for the administration of the George F. and Ora Nixon Arnold foundation is to make this a nucleus for a wider organization to be known as a School of Citizenship. "It is the hope and expectation of the Southern Methodist Univer- sity," said President Charles C. Selecman, "to extend the influence of the Arnold Department of American Statesmanship in ways and to an extent which many of us as yet little dream."

It is hoped that other public-spirited citizens will catch the vision which Mrs. Arnold has placed in way of realization and establish coordinate chairs in economics, state and municipal government, con- stitutional and international law, etc. Scholarships to attract meritorious students are also provided.

"Although our contribution to this cause is rela- tively small," said Mrs. Arnold, "yet if even half a dozen young men each year can be inspired to devote themselves to the promotion of true American ideals and even approximate the stature of outstanding American statesmen of the past, I shall feel that our contribution will have been a paying investment." Surely it is a noble conception, possessing infinite possibilities of service to our country, and it will constitute a permanent memorial to the Amer- icanism of George F. Arnold.

400

97 Danala

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

A. MISTROT, for many years one of the leading wholesale and retail dry goods mer- chants of Texas, pioneer in this business, and the first merchant in the State to in- augurate the strictly cash system, retired from ac- tive business pursuits in 1921. Mr. Mistrot has re- sided in Houston for the past thirty years, and is regarded as one of the city's most progressive and public spirited citizens. The firm of Mistrot Bros., which later became a household word in Texas, was established by the subject of this sketch and his brother, S. P. Mistrot. Their first store was located at Marlin in 1883. All business in that section had heretofore been transacted on a credit basis, but their venture along the cash line in Marlin proved a great success and in 1885 their first branch house was established at Bryan. In 1893, Mr. Mistrot removed his residence to Houston, and opened a retail dry goods store and also a wholesale store. These were operated separately. In 1895 a retail and wholesale establishment was opened in Galveston under the name of F. E. Mistrot. After the disastrous storm which swept the Island City in 1900, the Mistrot Bros. discontinued the retail establishment but con- tinued the wholesale house. The plan of establish- ment in the different towns was to finance some young, enterprising business man of small means, to open and conduct a sotre in the name of Mistrot Bros. Besides assisting many young business men, educating the people to the advantages of buying goods on a cash basis, thereby receiving the benefits of the difference in price, the Mistrot Bros. cash stores were a huge success.

In 1902 Mr. Mistrot severed his connection with the Galveston business and returned to Houston. Some time later the Mistrot-Munn Company was organized. Mr. Mistrot was President, and remained in active control until 1909, when he disposed of his interest to Mr. Munn. Mr. Mistrot operated by himself after this, until 1911, when the Mistrot-Cur- tis Company was organized. Mr. Mistrot was iden- tified with this company until 1916, when he retired to open a store at 310 Main Street, under the name of G. A. Mistrot and Company. In 1921 Mr. Mistrot disposed of this store to Mr. Leo M. Levy. Mr. Mis- trot devotes his time now to looking after his per- sonal interests and investments in various enter- prises in Houston and elsewhere.

Mr. Mistrot was born in Louisiana March 4, 1862. His father, J. J. Mistrot, a native of France, came to the United States when seventeen years of age, and settled in Louisiana. He became one of the leading merchants of that State and also conducted a bank- ing business in connection with his mercantile es- tablishment. He was also the owner of vast sugar cane plantations, a sugar refinery, and several ex- tensive sawmills. He removed to Calvert, Texas, in 1876, and later to Marlin. Mr. Mistrot's mother was Miss Malvina Segura, a member of a well known Louisiana family. Mr. Mistrot married Miss May Flora Patout, a daughter of Hypolite Patout, one of the wealthiest men of Louisiana. He was the owner of the largest sugar cane plantation and refinery in the State, which the family still own and has been the property of the Patout family for more than half a century. Mr. and Mrs. Mistrot have four children, B. W. Mistrot, of Dallas, Gus A., Jr., Robert, of San Pedro, Cal., and Vivian, at home with parents. The Mistrot residence is at 1504 Clay Avenue, and the

family have resided in this home for the past twenty- eight years. In fraternal and social organizations, Mr. Mistrot is a member of the Knights of Colum- bus, the B. P. O. E., and the Houston Club. In the personality of Mr. Mistrot is mixed the gallantry and chivalry of the South, together with the aggres- sive, purposeful, and constructive business instincts of the modern Southwest. His mature experience, wise counsel, sterling qualities of character and high ideals have always been an inspiration to his friends and associates. When actively engaged in business, many of his employees looked to him for counsel and advice in matters concerning their private affairs, ad is was seldom that he had not the right solution to offer for their problems. Mr. Mistrot expects to make his home in Houston for the remainder of his life, and believes this city will become the great Metropolis of the Southwest.

AMES G. LEAVELL, business man, has for three decades and upward exerted a vital influence in business activities in Houston, and particularly in the cotton seed and cot- ton seed products business, and in the drug business, has this influence been far reaching. Mr. Leavell is a director of the Houston Drug Company, of which he was formerly vice president, and he was also one of the leading cotton seed and cotton seed pro- ducts men of Houston, and widely known through- out the state as a cotton product man. Mr. Leavell acted as receiver for the General Oil Company, to which office he was appointed in the latter part of 1921, and his good judgment was one of the factors in the successful handling of the affairs of this company during the receivership.

Mr. Leavell was born at Jackson, Mississippi, the third of September, 1875, the son of Rev. W. H. Leavell, who built up the First Presbyterian Church at Houston, and was its pastor for almost twelve years. Mr. Leavell has now retired, and makes his home in Houston. James G. Leavell attended the public schools of Massachusetts, later entering, Roanoke College, Virginia, and still later the Uni- versity of Mississippi, leaving college during the panic of 1893 to enter the business world. Mr. Lea- vell came to Houston, going with the Southern Pa- cific Railway at that time, in the traffic department, where he spent four years. He then went in the cot- ton seed and cotton seed products business, in which he was active for a quarter of a century, building up one of the largest businesses of this kind in Texas. Mr. Leavell has also had other interests from time to time, and was vice president of the Houston Drug Company, and is now one of the directors.

Mr. Leavell was married at Houston, the twenty- second of March, 1899, to Miss Ella Norrell, the daughter of C. W. Norrell, for many years a busi- ness man at Bryan, Texas, and later one of the or- ganizers and president of the Houston Drug Com- pany until his death. Mr. and Mrs. Leavell make their home at the Macatee Hotel, and have five children, Grace, wife of A. C. Bayless, and who has two children; Katherine, wife of L. E. Noble; Eliza- beth, wife of R. H. Taylor; James, a student at Allen Academy, at Bryan, Texas, and Ella, a stu- dent at St. Mary's Hall, at San Antonio. Mr. Lea- vell belongs to the Houston Club, the Houston Coun- try Club, Phi Delta Theta fraternity, and is deeply interested in the civic advancement and welfare of Houston.

403

MEN OF TEXAS

OWARD ROBARD HUGHES. The name of Howard Robard Hughes, known throughout the United States as an inventor, manu- facturer, and financier, and accorded the high honor that was his just due, will long stand for signal achievement in his particular field. It is one of the outstanding names of the oil industry. Mr. Hughes, through his important inventions, cov- ering a wide range of oil field tools, several of which have revolutionized oil field work, has ren- dered an invaluable service to this great industry, and his name is known in every oil field in the world. An inventive genius, Mr. Hughes had, at the same time, the necessary business ability to carry his inventions to a successful conclusion. Mr. Hughes was a man of vision, yet he was, withal, a man of practical attainments, a business execu- tive with a well developed sense of values, a man capable not only of dreaming great dreams, but also of making dreams come true. He was widely known as a constructive genius whose work in the field of industrial development was both important and far-reaching. To the world of business at Houston, for many years his home, he brought a wholesome philosophy that was refreshing, and an understand- ing of his fellowman and of human relationships which impressed him on those who knew him as a truly remarkable personality.

Howard R. Hughes was born in Lancaster Mis- souri, the ninth of September, 1869. His parents, Felix Turner Hughes and Jean Amelia (Summer- lin) Hughes, for many years residents of Missouri and Iowa, now reside in Los Angeles, where with the proceeds of a bequest in Howard R. Hughes' will they have bought a beautiful residence. The bequest to them, and to Howard R. Hughes' brother, Felix, exceeded $450,000. Howard R. Hughes' earliest paternal American ancestor was Orlando Hughes, one of four brothers who came from Wales about 1740 and settled in Goochland County, Vir- ginia, where he obtained land grants. From Or- lando Hughes and his wife, Elizabeth, the line of descent is traced through their son, Anthony. His son, Joshua William Hughes, and his wife, Martha Stayton Askins, were the grandparents of Howard Robard Hughes. Joshua William Hughes served as first lieutenant in the Black Hawk War. Felix Turner Hughes, father of the subject of this sketch and a native of St. Clair County, Illinois, served as orderly sergeant in the Federal Army during the Civil War. Later he became a lawyer in Iowa and California. Rupert Hughes, the well known author, playwright, and film director, is a brother of the subject. Howard R. Hughes attended the public schools of Iowa through high school, finish- ing his education at Harvard University in the class of 1897, following which he traveled exten- sively through Germany, England and France. Re- turning to Keokuk, Iowa, by intense study, he fitted himself for the bar, was admitted to practice in the State of Iowa, and immediately began in this profession in Keokuk. He soon tired of the life of a lawyer, and after serving as a telegraph oper- ator in Keokuk, and a newspaper reporter in Den- ver, Colorado, he finally found himself in the zinc mining section of Oklahoma and Missouri. He was at Joplin, Missouri, drilling zinc test holes when the Spindle Top oil field came in, and he went at once to Beaumont, Texas. He made a small for-

tune at Spindle Top, which he increased materially at Sour Lake. He subsequently lost everything he had at Batson, when that field went to water, almost in a night. It was in 1908, after he had spent much time on the invention of a tool that would drill through rock, that he conceived the basic idea which underlies the Hughes cone bit. He se- cured letters patent, and with his friend, W. B. Sharp, organized the Sharp-Hughes Tool Company at Houston, Texas. However, success came slowly. The drillers and operators were not anxious to try out a "new-fangled" bit, although the need for such was apparent. It was not until the Standard Oil Company of California used one of the bits to drill a formation which had successfully resisted a fish- tail bit, and brought in a wonderful field, that the Hughes bit "arrived." In 1915, Howard R. Hughes bought out the interests of those associated with him and, at the time of his death, was sole owner and president of the Hughes Tool Company, man- ufacturers of patent tools for drilling oil, gas and water wells, and mining. Some of the well known products of this company are: Hughes simplex rock bits, Hughes disc bits, Hughes acme tool joints, taps, and weight indicators; also valves and fittings for refineries, pipe lines, and drilling. The Hughes rock bit enables the well-driller to drill with a rotary method through hard rock, and to reach hitherto inaccessible reservoirs of oil and other min- erals. A firm believer in the printed word, Mr. Hughes, through persistent advertising, made his bit known all over the world, and its use is uni- versal wherever hard drilling is encountered. The invention of the Hughes rock bit was in many ways the same to the well-drilling industry as the cotton gin was to the cotton industry. One of the ideals of the founder of the Hughes Tool Company is ex- pressed in the cleanliness and neatness of every- thing at the plant. The establishment is in the midst of beautiful grounds and everything possible is done for the comfort and health of the employees. More than seven hundred persons, most of whom' are supporting families, receive their entire income from the successful operation of the plant of the Hughes Tool Company, which is the largest of its kind in the world. The plant was doubled in 1923 and material increases were made in 1924. During 1925 the expansion included additions to the foundry and machine shops, and the building of a forge plant and large special machine shop for the man- ufacture of valves and fittings. The company main- tains repair shops in Los Angeles and Oklahoma City, and an export office in New York City.

The officers of the Hughes Tool Company today are: Howard R. Hughes, Jr., president; Frank An- drews, vice president; Colonel R. C. Kuldell, general manager, and C. S. Johnson, secretary and treas- urer. These, with H. W. Fletcher, chief engineer, compose the board of directors. Col. Kuldell grad- uated from West Point in 1912, second in standing in his class, and graduated in 1915 from the two- year course of the Army Engineering School. He served twelve years in the United States Army, retiring in 1920 with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He served. as department engineer, Southern de- partment, with headquarters in San Antonio, and later as assistant to the chief of engineers at Wash- ington. After the World War, he served on the general staff at Washington, coming to Houston

404

Howard Hughes

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

from that city. He accepted the position of general manager of the Hughes Tool Company in 1921, and much credit is given him for the remarkable growth, development, and success of this company since that time. The capital stock of the company is $2,- 000,000.00 and the annual sales approximately $5,000,000.00.

Prior to Mr. Hughes' death, the American Mag- azine prepared an article about the early struggles and later success of this great man, and launched into intimate details of his personal adventures. Upon seeing the advance manuscript he made a request that was characteristic of him: "Take some of the brass bands out of it," he said laughingly, "I wasn't quite as bad a boy as the writer has made me out, and I know that I do not deserve all the bouquets he has handed me." The sketch depicted Mr. Hughes as rather pugilistically inclined as a youngster, although he was never accused of being a bully. His fistic ability seems to have caused him to be expelled from several schools.

In later years he extended a helping hand to many deserving young men and women. He never men- tioned these things even to his closest friends, but helping others was the joy of his life. He was a modest man and never catered to others for their friendship, yet his friendships were many and loyal.

When his country entered the World War, he applied his talents in the direction which he hoped would be of immediate assistance at the front. He built a machine to drill horizontally under the enemy's trenches for the purpose of mining them with high explosives. Only the change from trench to active warfare kept this invention from being put into use. The government appreciated his pa- triotism, and he received a letter from the secre- tary of war thanking him for his work in the interest of his country.

Howard R. Hughes was married to Miss Alene Gano, a native of Kentucky, who was reared in Dallas, where her father practiced law. Mrs. Hughes' death occurred two years before that of her husband. One son, Howard R. Hughes, Jr., was born of this union. He is a young man of twenty-one, who finished his education at Rice In- stitute. When his father died he inherited the Hughes Tool Company. His disabilities as a minor were then removed by order of the court, and he took over the management of the company. At that time, he said that it was his desire to build up further the business founded by his father and to carry out his policies and ideals and that he intended to help worthy enterprises and to assist in the edu- cation of deserving young men and women.

Mr. and Mrs. Hughes were prominent in social circles in Houston. Mr. Hughes had memberships in the Houston Country Club, the Houston Club, and was a life member of the Harvard Club of New York City. He also held membership in the Amer- ican Petroleum Institute, of which he was a counsellor.

Howard R. Hughes' death occurred in Houston. He was stricken while in conference with S. P. Brown, sales manager of his company, on January 14th, 1924. Howard R. Hughes, in his role as bus- iness man, as in his private life, exerted an influ- ence which built character, inspired confidence, and created happiness. His death left vacant a place in the life of Houston that will long go unfilled.

The editor of a leading oil journal said of him: "To me, who knew Mr. Hughes personally, and who respected and loved him, he has left in Houston a monument that will always be an inspiration, the huge manufacturing plant which bears his name and which grew from simply an idea; an idea de- veloped by a man who had the faith and the stamina to see it through. After all, it isn't the estate nor the fame that a man leaves behind that counts; it's the friends who stand over the open grave with bowed heads and compressed lips and with a chok- ing in the throat that prevents words. Howard R. Hughes was that kind of a man."

EORGE T. CRAIG. Among the prominent names of Port Arthur and Jefferson Coun- ty, none stands out with more dignity and honor than that of George T. Craig. While still in the morning of life, yet he had been for the past ten years or more actively identified with bank- ing affairs and at the time of his death, May 31st, 1924, he was an executive in one of the largest fi- nancial institutions of Port Arthur, his name carry- ing a prestige that was an asset to the institution with which it was connected. Mr. Craig was active vice president of the Merchants National Bank of Port Arthur, one of the strong and conservative banking institutions of this city, which was estab- lished in 1910 by Mr. Craig's father.

George T. Craig was born at Bentonville, Arkan- sas, the twenty-sixth of October, 1892, the son of George M. Craig. As a boy of six years he came to Texas with his father, who has been a resident of Port Arthur for about a quarter of a century, taking an active part in the growth and develop- ment of his adopted city, making his influence for good evident in the social, as well as the business life of the community.

The education of Mr. Craig started in the public schools of Port Arthur, where he graduated from high school. He then went to Andover for about a year and then he entered the University of Vir- ginia and spent two years studying mechanical en- gineering. He then returned to Port Arthur and for two years held a responsible position with the Texas Company in the refining department. In 1912 Mr. Craig was employed as a clerk by the Mer- chants National Bank, there being at the time only two other employees. In 1914 he became assistant cashier, being promoted to the position of cashier the following year, and in 1920 he was made active vice president, which position he held at the time of his death.

Mr. Craig was married at Buffalo, New York, the thirtieth of October, 1919, to Miss Martha Haese, a native of that city, and the daughter of William Haese. One child, Jack, was born of the union. Mr. Craig was a member of the Elks Club, the Country Club, and various other social and civic clubs and organizations, being a director of the Chamber of Commerce since its organization, serv- ing as first vice president. As a banker Mr. Craig was an executive of definite ability, directing the affairs of the bank along constructive and conserva- tive policies, winning the highest regard of his business associates. He was regarded as a young man with an exceptionally brilliant future, loved and respected by all who knew him, and the social, as well as the business life in his community feel the loss of his influence.

407

MEN OF TEXAS

ILLIAM T. CARTER-In the history of the City of Houston, and of the lumber in- dustry of the Lone Star State, there is perhaps no name which stands higher than that of William T. Carter, for more than half a century a leader in development and civic work, and one of the best known lumbermen in the South- west. Mr. Carter had little of the idealist in his make up, but was rather of that practical type that conquered over difficulties, and his friends often said of him that he could build a saw mill with a pocket knife if necessary. This talent for rising to the emergency influenced his entire life, shaping his career from the day he opened his first saw mill, until the owner of a vast, perfectly organized lum- ber mill, his name was known and respected wher- ever yellow pine lumber is used.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 73

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