New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 84

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

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Mr. Eckhardt was married at Houston in 1914, to Miss Ura A. Link, daughter of J. W. Link, Presi- dent of the Houston Land Corporation and the Polar Wave Ice and Fuel Company. Mr. and Mrs. Eck- hardt have two children, W. R. Eckhardt, III, and John Link Eckhardt. They make their home at 3317 Montrose Avenue. Mr. Eckhardt is a member of the University Club.

AROLD B. PIERCE has for the past several years been a resident of Houston, con- tributing a constructive laboratory service to the dentists of this city and surrounding territory. Mr. Pierce came to Houston the sixteenth of May, 1918, shortly after his arrival establishing the Pierce Dental Laboratory and Supply Company. This business, started in a small way, found imme- diate favor with the dentists and has developed rapidly, serving dentists in Houston, and in South Texas and Louisiana. Mr. Pierce has established the reputation for careful workmanship with atten- tion to detail and the perfection of the finished product, that makes his laboratory in great demand. He employs only the most expert assistants in his

laboratory, each of the four having had training in the work of being dental experts. The Pierce Dental Laboratory is the most complete in this section of the state and faces a prosperous and assured future. The laboratory is located in the Glidden Building.

Mr. Pierce has had excellent training in this work, which he began in a dental laboratory in Providence, Rhode Island. He later went to New York City where he was in one of the large labo- ratories of that city, and still later was in Massa- chusetts and West Virginia. He came to Houston, seeing in this city a great future for such a business, and established his own laboratory.

Mr. Pierce was born at Providence, Rhode Island, in 1897. His parents were both residents of that city, where his mother still makes her home. He attended the public schools of Providence and later gained his first business experience in that city.

Mr. Pierce was married at Galveston, Texas, in October, 1921, to Miss Rosalie Snyder. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce make their home in Houston, at 1521 Sul Ross Avenue. Mr. Pierce is a Mason, Temple Lodge No. 4, Scottish Rite, and a member of Arabia Temple Shrine.

E. DOUGLAS, of the Builders Specialty Company, one of the fastest growing firms of its kind in Houston, has been a resi- dent of Houston for about ten years and has become well and favorably known in trade

circles. The Builders Specialty Company was established in 1923, with Mr. Douglas, an active member of the firm and later manager and sole owner of the business, and M. C. Parker, and is located at 2012 Magnolia Avenue. The firm special- izes in metal weather strips for windows and doors, door and window screens, wood and metal, also the Athey Perenial Shades and allied lines, represent- ing a number of large Eastern manufacturing com- panies in the Houston district. Mr. Douglas has a well organized office and sales force, and also maintains a service and installation force, most a products handled being installed by contract, feature of the business that has made for satisfac- tion as the installation is one of the most important features of these accessories. Most of the products handled by the company are custom made, Mr. Douglas representing among other manufacturers the oldest screen manufacturing plant in the world, the E. T. Burrows Company, established at Portland, Maine, in 1873.

Y. E. Douglas was born at Kaufman, Texas, the fourth of August, 1884, son of the late Y. A. Doug- las, and Virginia (Brown) Douglas, the former a native of Missouri, the latter of Virginia. Mr. Douglas was educated in the schools of Texas, and for some years was with the National Metal Weather Strip Company of Dallas, prior to coming to Houston as the representative in 1917. He re- mained with this company until 1923, when he estab- lished his own business.

Mr. Douglas was married at Dallas, Texas, the third of December, 1921, to Miss Ethel Haag, daughter of E. Haag and Mattie (Thomas) Haag. Mr. and Mrs. Douglas reside at 617 Ridge Avenue, and have two children, Y. E. Douglas, Jr., and Frank E. Douglas. Mr. Douglas belongs to the Houston Builders Exchange and the First Methodist Church.

485

MEN OF TEXAS

D T. AUSTIN is well known in Houston and South Texas where, before engaging in the road contracting business in this city in 1917, was for almost a quarter of a century engaged in farming and cattle raising. Mr. Austin is a member of the firm of Haden and Austin and is one-half owner of the business, and is engaged in road construction of all kinds, but confine their work almost entirely to big contracts. This firm has a large and complete organization and builds Roads of Quality. They have more than eighty miles now under construction of the inverted pene- tration method of bituminous topping; this firm specializes in this method and are the largest com- pany in Texas doing this class of work. They have two four-wheel trailers with fire boxes for asphalt, and have a full and complete equipment, and a large plant. They also have four power-driven asphalt distributors. Mr. Austin is the patentee of the asphalt distributor now in use by this firm which covers eighteen feet in one operation and is the only one of its kind in use. The other member of the firm is Captain W. D. Haden, who resides in Galveston, and this firm is one of the strongest in South Texas, having large financial backing. Their plant and office is located at Reynolds Street and Belt Railroad tracks. Haden and Austin re- cently purchased some 280 acres of land within six miles of the Houston court house. This land will be developed some time soon.

Mr. Austin was born at Montrose, Missouri, No- vember 27th, 1880. His father was T. W. Austin, deceased, and his mother was Miss Sallie J. Gil- bert, a member of a well known Missouri family. His education was obtained in the public and high schools of Montrose, Missouri.

Mr. Austin came to Texas in 1895 and settled at Velasco where he engaged in farming and cattle raising and remained there in that business for a period of twenty-two years. He came to Houston in 1917 and engaged in the present business in which he has been unusually successful.

Mr. Austin was married in Velasco, Texas, in 1905, to Miss Kate Graham, a daughter of W. D. Graham, who was for many years connected with the Hous- ton and Brazos Valley Railroad. Mr. and Mrs. Austin reside at 518 Hawthorne Avenue .. They have one daughter, Katherine. Mr. Austin is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the "Dok- ies." He has great faith in the future of Houston, which is evidenced by large investments here, and believes it will soon become the leading city of the Southwest. He is a firm believer in the building of good roads, because they are among the greatest assets to cities and counties, and that there is no doubt that Houston and Harris County is becoming the first city and county in this respect.

S F. DIXON has for many years been en- gaged in the packing industry in Houston and is the executive head of one of the leading packing companies of South Texas. Mr. Dixon is the president and manager of the Dixon Packing Company, Inc., located at 106 Milam Street, and are wholesale dealers in packing house products of all kinds. This company was organized in 1914 and since that time has grown to be a business of large proportions with twenty-six employees at the plant and six salesmen in the city, with two sales- men on the road. Other officers of the Dixon Pack-

ing Company, Inc. are A. Charney, vice president, and T. K. Dixon, secretary and treasurer. The com- pany owns the building in which they are located, which recently has been re-fitted to take care of the growing business. It is doing an extensive trade as ship chandlers. Mr. Dixon has been a resident of Houston for more than twenty years. In his early life he was engaged in various branches of the railroad service, in different points in the state.

A native Texan, Mr. Dixon was born at Paige on May 5th, 1876. His father, W. H. Dixon, was for. many years a resident of Paige and was among the pioneer cattle men of the Lone Star State. His mother was Miss Maria Turner, a member of a prom- inent Texas family. His education was obtained in the public schools of different cities of the state.

Mr. Dixon was married at Greenville, Texas, in 1910 to Miss Lillian Goolsby, a native of the Lone Star State and a member of a well known North Texas family. Mrs. Dixon's father, W. H. Goolsby, deceased, was owner of the Goolsby Lumber Com- pany in Greenville. He was one of the leading citi- zens there and prominent in Masonry, loved and honored by his contemporaries.

They have one child, William Frederick. Mr. and Mrs. Dixon reside at 220 Avondale Avenue. Mr. Dixon is a member of the A. F. and A. M., is a Knight Templar and a member of Arabia Temple Shrine of Houston. He is also a member of the Houston Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Club, in both of which he takes an active interest. Mr. Dixon is deeply interested in the progress and advancement of Houston and gives liberally of his time and means to further any project toward this end. He is also interested in the educational ad- vancement of his city and community and is a leader among the business men of the city in this line of endeavor. Mr. Dixon is optimistic as to the future of Houston and South Texas and believes that this city will soon become the metropolis of the entire Southwest and bases this opinion on the opportuni- ties offered through the channel here and the vast increase in the agricultural development. The thou- sands of acres of land, contiguous to Houston, which up to a few years ago was used only for grazing pur- poses, is now among the most productive garden and farm land in the entire state and the marketing facilities of the city of Houston has been one of the encouraging features to the farmers in this vicinity.

C. ANDERSON. The Anderson Lumber Company, of which Mr. Anderson is presi- dent and treasurer, was established and in- corporated in 1922, and operates as a whole- sale and manufacturing enterprise. They make flooring, siding, ceiling and all kinds of mill work, shipping the lumber in the rough from the various mills, and finishing it in the Houston plant. The Anderson Lumber Company is located at Houston Belt and Terminal Railroad and Race Street and occupies an industrial site of five acres, with build- ings covering an area of twenty thousand square feet on the railroad and ship channel.

The company specializes in building homes of all kinds in which line they have been more than suc- cessful, inasmuch as the business has increased con- siderably. Mr. J. K. Warren is Vice President of this enterprising concern.

486

D.T. Austin

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

ARDEE W. COLLIER, one of the most progressive of the younger business men of Houston, has for a number of years taken an active interest in the commercial and industrial development of this city, and has recently opened one of the finest garages in the city in the one-block building at Main be- tween Bell and Clay. Mr. Collier has given special attention to light and cleanliness, two things not necessarily associated with garages. The lighting is taken care of by over-sized electric globes and reflectors, and ten vaulted skylights in the roof and glassed walls at either end of the garage, making it the best lighted garage in Houston. The wash racks are extra large, having a capacity of three cars at a time, and representing an investment of $1000.00. An especially designed air spray is used in washing cars instead of a sponge in order that the most delicate finish will not be scratched. Mr. Collier is prepared to furnish automobile service of every description.

Hardee W. Collier was born in Hardin County, Texas, the tenth of April, 1895. His father, Dr. George W. Collier, one of the most prominent men in the Lone Star State, has for the past two de- cades been a leader in agricultural development in South Texas, and is one of the largest rice grow- ers in the entire Southwest, and a recognized au- thority on rice culture and irrigation. He was born at Tyler, Texas, the son of Captain James G. Col- lier, one of the pioneers of Tyler County, and who came there in 1850. Dr. Collier now makes Hous- ton his home, having removed to this city in 1913. Mr. Hardee W. Collier's mother, whose maiden name was Miss Margaret Salter, is the daughter of Dugal Salter, a pioneer lumberman and a fac- tor in the development of this industry. As a boy Mr. Collier attended the public schools of Beau- mont, later going to the University of Texas. He left college before his senior year, returning to Houston to go with his father in the rice industry. He was with the Old River Company, Incorporated, one of the largest irrigation companies in the Lone Star State, with a plant at Mont Belvieu that cov- ers forty thousand acres. This company, of which Dr. Collier is President, owns and cultivates four- teen thousand acres of rice. While with that firm Mr. Collier held the position of general utility man. Later Mr. Collier became General Manager of the Farmers Warehouse Company, of which Dr. Collier is also President, holding this position and still re- taining his position with the rice and irrigation company. In

1923 he became Vice-President, Treasurer and General Manager of the Willys- Knight-Overland Motor Sales Company, with whom he was associated until establishing his present business.

Mr. Collier was married at Houston, the twenty- eighth of February, 1917, to Miss Eleanor Watson, the daughter of J. F. Watson, formerly of Pales- tine, now of Dallas. Mr. and Mrs. Collier live at the Warrington Apartments, and have one child, Eleanor Watson Collier. Mr. Collier is a Mason, Holland Blue Lodge, No. 1, thirty-second degree, Scottish Rite, taking all degrees in San Antonio. He is a member of Arabia Temple Shrine at Hous- ton. Mr. Collier is one of the most public spirited of Houston's citizens, taking an active interest in the advancement of this city along every line, both

as a residence city, and as commercial center, and he has assisted materially in the various organized movements whose purpose has been this advance- ment.

HARLES BOLLFRASS, a native of Hous- ton and one of the younger business men of the city, has since entering the commer- cial world here been a factor in the drug business. Mr. Bollfrass is president, treasurer and manager of Bollfrass, Your Druggist, Incorporated, one of the leading drug firms of the city, and which he established in 1916. Since that time the firm has developed rapidly and has an extensive patronage, drawn from among the better classes. Mr. Boll- frass has his store located on a prominent corner in the residence district at the corner of Fannin and McGowan Avenues. The building is modern in every respect and equipped with the finest fixtures. The fountain is of the best make and in charge of a competent man makes an attractive addition to the store. A complete line of drugs, sundries, toiletries, candies and other commodities for the convenience of their patrons is stocked at all times, and the firm does a large volume of business annually. The prescription department is handled in a most effi- cient manner, the purest drugs and the utmost care being used in filling each prescription. Mr. Boll- frass employs twelve men in the various depart- ments of the store, each well qualified for the work in his charge. C. C. Harris is active vice president and secretary of Bollfrass, Your Druggist, Incor- porated.

Charles Bollfrass was born at Houston the ninth of November, 1895, son of Charles and Minnie Boll- frass. His father, a native of Germany, came to Houston at the age of twelve years, coming up the ship channel in a boat in the days before the rail- road came to Houston and was a merchant here until his death at the age of seventy years. Mr. Bollfrass attended the schools of Houston and at the age of ten years went to work in the drug store operated by Mr. I. Lewyn. He later became front man in this establishment, remaining with the store under several different ownerships, when it was known successively as Lewyn and Anderson Drug Store and the Sam Rouse Drug Store. When he was twenty-one years old Mr. Bollfrass opened the South End Pharmacy in partnership with H. J. Gazin, but later sold his interest in the business and went back with Mr. Rouse for a year and a half. He then bought a half interest in the Grasse Pharmacy at the corner of Crawford and McGowan Streets, later buying out his partner and operating the store for the ensuing three years. The storm of 1915 com- pletely destroyed the store and Mr. Bollfrass opened his present establishment, the Bollfrass "Your Drug- gist, Inc.", which he has since operated.

Charles Bollfrass was married at Houston the twenty-sixth of October, 1910, to Miss Josephine Burwell, a native of this city, and the daughter of J. F. Burwell, secretary of the Houston Cotton Exchange. Mr. and Mrs. Bollfrass have two chil- dren, Charles, Junior, and Dorothy. They live at 3808 Garrott Avenue. Mr. Bollfrass is a member of the Houston Turnverein Club and State Pharma- ceutical Association and takes an active interest in the various civic movements organized to further the growth of his city.

489

MEN OF TEXAS

RIEBER, for more than a score of years engaged in the oil business and widely ex- perienced along practically all lines of this great industry, is the executive head of one of the State's leading oil companies. Mr. Rie- ber is President of the Galena Signal Oil Company of Texas, producers, refiners and marketers of pe- troleum products in general. The Galena Signal Oil Company of Pennsylvania, manufacturers and marketers of railroad lubricants in the United States and some of the European countries, is the parent company, and originally was the railroad end of the Standard Oil Company; and is one of the oldest oil companies in the United States. The refinery of the Galena Signal Oil Company of Tex- as is located about ten miles below the city of Houston on the Ship Channel. It was built in 1918 and began operation in 1919. This refinery has a daily capacity of ten thousand barrels of crude oil and about five hundred people make up the organization. Mr. Rieber is also the Presi- dent of the Galena Pipe Line Company and the Galena Navigation Company. The Navigation Com- pany operates steamers between the refinery lo- cated on the Ship Channel and Eastern ports and to Europe. Two ships are owned by the company and others are chartered, and have producing prop- erties in Humble oil fields and North Texas fields.

Mr. Rieber was born in Bergen, Norway, March 13th, 1882. His father, Hans Rieber, was a well known manufacturer of Norway. His mother was Miss Christie Helland, born, reared and educated in Norway. Mr. Rieber's career began at the age of thirteen years when he went to sea on a sailing vessel; later he attended nautical academies, grad- uated abroad and went back to sea. He served as an officer on sailing vessels and steamships all over the world. He was an officer on sailing ship tankers engaged in transporting oil to France be- fore there were any tankers in the United States. After coming to the United States, Mr. Rieber pass- ed his examination for master in New York City. He has been in Texas at intervals since 1902, and was master of one of the first oil tankers that loaded crude oil from the Spindle Top field. He became associated with and employed by the Texas Company in 1904 when this company purchased the ship of which Mr. Rieber was master. He was with the Texas Company in the marine and refin- ing departments from 1904 to 1919, when he severed his connection with the Texas Company and came with the Galena Signal Oil Company of Texas as Vice President and in July, 1922, was made Presi- dent.

In 1909 Mr. Rieber married Miss Miriam Marbe of New York City. Miss Marbe, up to the time of her marriage, had for several years been secretary to Mr. W. A. Thompson, Jr., Vice President of the Texas Company, New York City, N. Y.

H. POOL, secretary and treasurer of the Ship Channel Drug Company, has been a potent factor in the business circles of Houston and Harris County for nearly fifteen years, where prior to becoming associated with the Ship Channel Drug Company in 1920 he had been for a decade active in the banking circles of Houston.

Mr. Pool went with the Sherwood and Company,

Brokerage-Stock, Bonds and Cotton and was with this company until August, 1925. Mr. George B. Williams and Mr. Pool started the Williams Co., Inc., Burlap Bags and Ties, located at 312 Smith Street. Mr. Williams was one of the organizers of the Southern Bag and Burlap Co., selling out his interest there, and he and Mr. Pool going in same business under name of Williams and Com- pany, Inc.,-Geo. B. Williams, president; Chas. F. Schultz, vice president, and H. H. Pool, secretary and treasurer.

A native Texan, Mr. Pool was born in Jones County in 1892. His father, Eber H. Pool, was a well known hardware merchant of that county. Mr. Pool's education was obtained in the public schools of Taylor County and the Houston High School, from which he graduated in 1910.

In the same year that Mr. Pool graduated from high school, he entered the employ of the Com- mercial National Bank of Houston, where he re- mained for one year. He then went to the Houston Title and Guaranty Company, remaining with this firm for a period of one year, at which time he again entered the banking business, the South Texas Commercial National Bank, where he remained for five years. He then became collection teller for the Houston National Exchange Bank, where he re- mained until entering the drug business with the Ship Channel Drug Company. In July, 1917, Mr. Pool volunteered for service in the World War, and went to Camp Travis as a non-commissioned officer and instructor, where he was discharged in Feb- ruary, 1919. Mr. Pool is affiliated with the A. F. and A. M. of Houston with membership in Reagan Lodge No. 1037. He is a consistent member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Pool is active in the social and civic organizations of Houston and is interested in all agencies working for the progress and development of his city.

OHN A. EMBRY is one of the realtors who is deeply interested in the expansion and development of his city. Mr. Embry is a member of the firm of Embry and Gillette, established in 1919, and which is one of the largest firms of realtors in Houston. Since the establish- ment of this firm they have built several hundred homes, selling these to citizens who appreciate home owning as a factor of good citizenship. They have also opened and sold several large additions, this especial phase of development appealing to the firm. Associated with Mr. Embry is R. W. Gillette.

John A. Embry was born in Mississippi in 1884. He first came to Texas in 1900 and was in Houston until 1904. From 1904 to 1911 Mr. Embry was in South and Central America. He returned to Hous- ton in 1911 and in 1919 organized the firm of Embry and Gillette.

Mr. Embry was married the fourteenth of April, 1911, at Houston, to Miss Pearl Hardesty, a native of the Lone Star State. They have three children, Doris, John A., Junior, and David R. The family reside at 1501 West Alabama Street. Mr. Embry takes an active interest in civic activities, was Pres- ident of the Rotary Club, a Trustee of the Sales- manship Club Orphanage, and a member of the Houston Club and is President of the Houston Real Estate Board. He is a Mason, Blue and Gray lodge, Thirty-Second degree Scottish Rite and a member of Arabia Temple Shrine.

490

T. Reicher

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

ILLIAM CARL JOHN MARQUART, one of the younger progressive business men who are taking an active part in the commercial life of Houston, has been, during the seven- teen years of his residence here, associated with drug trade activities. Mr. Marquart is manager of the Marquart Drug Company, formerly the Smith Drug Store, Inc., a firm established thirty-eight years ago, and with which Mr. Marquart has been associated since the first of July, 1916. Since this time the store has met with a rapid growth, many improvements in both equipment and service having marked Mr. Marquart's period of ownership. The store, located at 802 Preston Avenue, at the corner of Milam Street, occupies a building twenty-five by seventy feet, and has the finest of drug store fix- tures, with a stock that is complete in every respect. There are thirteen employees in the store, each an expert in his line, and the store operates in a smooth efficient manner. Associated with Mr. Marquart are W. F. Marquart, vice president, and W. R. Karn, secretary-treasurer.

William Carl John Marquart came to Houston in April, 1906, after a number of years spent in learn- ing the drug business by actual experience at Gal- veston. Shortly after coming to Houston he took the state examination in pharmacy, received his state certificate at Houston, and went with the T. E. Smith Drug Store, where he was a clerk until March, 1911. He then went a LaGrange and bought the Corner Drug Store, operating that establishment un- til 1913, when he returned to Houston and again went with the T. E. Smith Drug Store. In July, 1915, he, with others, bought the store and was made secretary, treasurer and general manager. In Feb- ruary, 1921, he bought out the interests of the other stockholders, selling a small amount of the stock to his father in order to retain the incorporation. At this time he became president and general man- ager.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 84

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