New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 91

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

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The Humble Oil and Refining Company, through the property which it directly owns and operates, and the pipe line faciilties which it operates through a subsidiary, covers all phases of the oil business, including the production, transportation, refining and distributon of petroleum and its products. The company's production is secured from its properties in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma, and by purchase. The number of producing wells of this company numbers about one thousand, with about one hundred drilling. The company owns all of the stock of the Humble Pipe Line Company which owns a complete pipe line system reaching the Ranger district in West Texas, the Mexia district and the Coastal fields in South Texas. This pipe line, with the gathering lines is about twelve hundred miles in length, and with the pump stations represents an in- vestment of nearly twenty millions of dollars. The pipe line system handles approximately 3,000,000 barrels of crude oil per month. The company owns at Baytown, Texas, a refinery of the most modern type which handles about 25,000 barrels of oil per day. The company distributes directly to the con- sumer throughout the state of Texas and has its own tank wagon stations and a complete marketing and distributing system, including about two thousand tank cars, owned or leased, and also own a tank steamer and several barges for the handling of oil locally in the Houston district.

Mr. Fondren was one of the moving spirits in the erection of the Humble Building, one of the hand- somest office buildings in Houston and modern in every detail.

Mr. Fondren did not reach the office of an ex- ecutive of one of the large oil companies of the United States easily, but has won a place among the outstanding oil men of today by years of hard work and by successfully coping with the many difficult oil problems that arise from day to day. He entered the oil fields of Corsicana in 1897 and worked there until 1901 when he went to Beaumont and began to operate on his own account. As an independent operator, he made an unusual success. He played the oil business as carefully as it is possible for a conservative business man to do, and every year he showed a net profit; a record that is unusual in this line of endeavor.

Mr. Fondren was born at Union City, Tennessee, June 6th, 1877 and when six years of age the fam- ily removed to Arkansas and when seventeen years old, came to Texas. His father, Thomas Fondren, was a well known and successful farmer of Ten- nessee. Opportunities for securing an education were limited and young Fondren applied himself dili- gently to the task through self help and he always has been a keen student in the University of Ex- perience. Although his own schooling was limited, he has always taken a keen interest in education and in 1920 he was made a trustee of the Southern Methodist University of Dallas. He created a fund for a special lectureship in religious thought here.

Since coming to Houston, Mr. Fondren has been closely associated with the business and financial interests of the city and is vice president of the Na- tional Bank of Commerce and associated with other of the city's financial and industrial institutions. Mr. Fondren was married in Corsicana, Texas, on February 14th, 1903, to Miss Ella Cochrum, a native of Kentucky, but her family had removed to Corsi- cana when she was a child and she had been reared there. They have three childrn, Susie, W. W. Fon- dren, Jr., and Katherine. Mr. Fondren is a member of the Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, Amer- ican Petroleum Institute, Houston Club, Houston and River Oaks Country Clubs and the St. Paul's Meth- odist Church. He is considered one of the successful and skillful men connected with the oil industry, and is popular, not only with his associates and executives, but with the men who do the work in the field, as well. During his residence of a score of years in Houston, few men have made more friends and done more for the advancement of Houston as a great oil center and metropolis than Mr. Fondren. He is a great believer in the future of Houston and is glad at all times to further anything for the city's advancement and progress. Houston is fortunate in having him as a citizen, where he is known and recognized as one of the leading oil men of the state.

LFRED ALEXANDER, president of F. Fon- tanills Company, Inc., cotton merchant and exporters, has built up a growing and pros- perous business since this company was or- ganized in 1920. This firm ships cotton all over the world, and upward from 30,000 bales of cotton are handled annually by them. Five men are employed in the Houston offices, which are conveniently located at 1027-8 Cotton Exchange Building.

538

M.W. Foudren

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

G EORGE P. MACATEE has for many years been identified with activities closely asso- ciated with the progress of Houston, giving his time to the management of his ex- tensive business interests in this city and taking an important part in developing this city. Mr. Macatee takes an especial interest in the Macatee Hotel, which he built in 1907 and has since actively man- aged. This hotel, built because Mr. Macatee fore- saw the rapid strides forward that Houston was to make as a business and commercial center, has played an important part in the development of this city. The Macatee is known as the best furnished hotel in Texas, Mr. Macatee taking great pride in introducing special features for the comfort of his guests and expending much effort to make this a real hotel, of which the city is justly proud. The hotel building stands on property that has belonged to the Macatee family since 1860 and is a modern, five-story structure, well arranged and having one hundred and twenty-five rooms. The Macatee is situated on Washington Avenue, just across from the Grand Central depot and is operated on the European plan.

While known throughout the Lone Star State as one of the most progressive hotel keepers, this is but one of Mr. Macatee's valuable holdings, and when considered in the light of the management of the Macatee Estate, of which he has charge, might al- most be classed as a side issue. The estate con- sists of large real estate holdings throughout the city, many pieces of property having been acquired as early as 1860, and held until they represent a value many times greater than when originally ac- quired. A four hundred acre tract of land, a short distance from Houston and considered one of the finest in this section, is also listed among the holdings.

Mr. Macatee was born at Houston, the thirteenth of December, 1863, son of W. L. Macatee, who had come here in 1858 and founded the W. L. Macatee and Sons business, a large Texas firm, still in oper- ation, and being one of the largest suppliers of building materials in the state. His mother, prior to her marriage Miss Henrietta Wilson, was a na- tive of Maryland and a member of an old Quaker family, being a direct descendent of William Penn. Mr. Macatee was educated in private schools at Houston, and after finishing his work here, went to Canada where he took a business course, equip- ping himself to look after the extensive business interests of the Macatee estate.

Mr. Macatee was twice married, first to Miss Mamie Denning, at Milwaukee, in 1892, and by whom he had one child, a son, George P., Junior, who has been associated in the managerial department of the Dallas branch of W. L. Macatee and Sons since his graduation from the University of Texas. His second marriage occurred at Chicago, Illinois, to Miss M. L. Creighton.

B ENJAMIN CAMPBELL, pioneer attorney of the Lone Star State, and for three decades one of the most distinguished lawyers of Houston, has attained noteworthy promi- nence in corporation practice, and his name is one of the most honored of the South Texas Bar. Mr. Campbell came to Houston in 1893, after a decade of practice in Walker County, and was associated with

J. C. Hutcheson and W. G. Sears until 1910 under the firm name of Hutcheson, Campbell and Sears. He then went with Sewall Meyer, as senior partner in the firm of Campbell and Meyer. Sterling Meyer joined the firm in 1911 and the name was then changed to Campbell, Meyer and Meyer. In 1912 John H. Freeman was taken into the firm, which was then known as Campbell, Meyer, Meyer and Freeman. In 1918 Sewall Meyer retired from part- nership and it was then known as Campbell, Meyer and Freeman. In January, 1924, it was again chang- ed and is now known as Campbell, Meyer, Simmons and Hawkins, B. A. Simmons and Wallace Hawkins being admitted to partnership. This firm is one of the largest and most successful in Houston, and has a well appointed suite of offices in the First National Bank Building. They handle a general civil practice, and count among their many clients such institutions as the larger banks, oil companies, wholesale mer- chants, lumber dealers and cotton merchants of Houston, Mr. Campbell was admitted to the Bar in 1882, and since that time has steadily advanced in the profession to a place of recognized leadership. He has been active in civic development, and has been a factor in every forward movement at Houston for three decades. From 1913 until 1917 he served as Mayor of Houston, his administration having been marked by a wonderful advancement in public improvement, and the municipal affairs directed in a capable and forceful manner.

Mr. Campbell was born in Maringo County, Ala- bama, the twenty-seventh of July, 1858. His father, Dr. F. Campbell, came to Texas the following year, and settled in that part of Walker County which is now included in the limits of San Jacinto County. Dr. Campbell engaged in active practice here, and was one of the best known physicians of his day, and was also a farmer. His death occurred in his old home in this place. Mr. Campbell's mother, before her marriage Miss Gabriella Singleton, was a native of Alabama. Mr. Campbell attended the schools near his home as a boy, and was one of those earnest young men who do not need a college course to achieve success. He early formed the ambition to become a lawyer, and entered a law office, reading law, and was admitted to the Bar in 1882, practic- ing in Walker County, until coming to Houston in 1893.

Mr. Campbell was married at Huntsville, Texas, in 1893 to Miss Ella Smither, daughter of Captain Smither, a native of the Lone Star State. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have a family of six children, Ben S. Campbell, Farquhar Campbell, Robert Bowles Camp- bell Wilbourn Campbell, all of Houston, Ella Smither Campbell, now wife of Sewall Meyer, and Sue Alice Campbell, now wife of Norman G. Pillot. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell make their home at 1012 Crawford Avenue, their home being known for its gracious hospitality. Mr. Campbell is a Mason, being affili- ated with Holland Lodge No. 1, Trinity Consistory and Arabia Temple Shrine. He belongs to the Hous- ton Club and various social and civic organizations, and attends the First Methodist Church, where he has his membership, and which he actively supports. Mr. Campbell is a man who throughout his life has been steadfast in his political convictions, and in private and social life congenial, generous and kind- hearted, and he is known and admired by hundreds of the citizens of Houston.

541

MEN OF TEXAS

REDERICK THOMAS MANLEY, one of the ablest refining men and executives the petroleum industry has produced, has for many years made his home in Houston, tak- ing an active interest in the civic advancement of the city. Mr. Manley is manager of the refineries of the Texas Company, a position entailing heavy responsibilities and calling for a vast fund of expert knowledge as well as executive ability. He has under his direction some eight thousand employees, four thousand of whom are in the Port Arthur refinery, one of the largest in the world. The other refin- eries are located at Caspar, Wyoming; Lockport, Illinois; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Dallas, Texas, and Port Neches, Texas. Under his supervision are also the twenty-one ocean terminals. Mr. Manley was ap- pointed to fill this position on the first of January, 1923, after two decades spent with the Texas Com- pany, during which time he has risen from a hum- ble position, at the very bottom, to one of the highest positions in the organization, and one of the most important.

Mr. Manley was born in Shinglehouse, Pennsyl- vania, the ninth of September, 1880, and is of Scotch- English descent, his great grandparents having emi- grated to this country in the year 1759, landing at Plymouth, Massachusetts. At the age of nine years he entered the business world as a newsboy, and from that time until he reached the age of twelve years, he engaged, during vacation periods, in var- ious youthful pursuits, among them trapping rats and skunks and working in a printing office at Ceres, New York, where he served as "printer's devil." At about twelve years of age he gained his first knowledge of the oil business, carrying water on the United Natural Gas Company's pipe line, and with the exception of a few months spent as laborer in a heading and stave factory, his vacations, during the ensuing five years, were spent in the employ of the same company, where he held various positions, among them linewalker, pumper, and others. In 1897 he entered the employ of the Acme Oil Works, at Olean, New York, as laborer, still cleaner, helper in the boiler shop and like positions. When he reached nineteen he again returned to the United Natural Gas Company, and worked there for a short time prior to going with the Western New York and Penn- sylvania Railroad, where he served as fireman for two years, after which he accepted a similar posi- tion with the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad. He remained with the last named com- pany but a short time, coming south in the early part of 1902.

At the time he landed in Spindle Top, near Beau- mont, he was en route to Los Angeles, to which place he had purchased a scalper's ticket for around seventeen dollars. On his arrival in Beaumont, where he stopped off for the purpose of looking over the Spindle Top field, he was offered a posi- tion by a Mr. Stribling, of the German-American Oil Company. He accepted this position and re- mained with that company a short time, after which he accepted a position with the Guarantee Oil Re- fining Company, of California, remaining with that company until he entered the employ of the Texas Company, in December, 1902.

Mr. Manley's initial work for the Texas Company consisted of inventorying a lot of mechanical equip- ment in the Spindle Top field. He was then trans-

ferred to Port Arthur, in February, 1903, where he started in at the bottom, as laborer, later working as pipe fitter, and finally being promoted to pumper. He was also in charge of the pleasure yacht, Texas Girl, for three or four years, serving as deck hand and engineer. Early in 1906 he was placed in charge of the electrical equipment, and in addition given a commission as sub foreman in the Port Arthur works. In 1907 he was made general yard fore- man, and then in 1910 he was made assistant gen- eral superintendent. On May 25th, 1915, he was appointed assistant manager of the refining de- partment, with offices in Houston, and held that position until January, 1923, when he became man- ager of the refining department, which position he now holds. Mr. Manley has been instrumental in improving methods and processes in the refining industry. With Mr. R. C. Holmes, vice president of the Texas Company, he invented a new process for treating heavy crude for production of gasoline. The Port Arthur refinery of the Texas Company is one of the largest plants using this process. Mr. Manley has to his credit other inventions that have greatly improved the refining business, the com- pounding greases and lubricating oils.

Mr. Manley was married at Bolivar, New York, the sixteenth of November, 1910, to Miss Anna Cam- eron, a native of Pennsylvania, who was reared in New York State. Mr. and Mrs. Manley make their home at the exclusive Savoy Apartments. Mr. Man- ley is a member of the Houston Country Club, the Houston Club, and fraternally is a Mason, Blue Lodge Cosmopolitan, Port Arthur, 32nd degree Scot- tish Rite, and is a member of Arabia Temple Shrine at Houston. He is a director of the National Bank of Commerce of Houston and a director of the First National Bank of Port Arthur. He is the outdoors type of man, finding his chief diversions in swim- ming, automobiling, dancing, golfing and hunting, and is one of the most popular members of the Hous- ton social set. Mr. Manley's position in the busi- ness world, a triumph over difficulties, won entirely by his own efforts, and as the result of his definite ability, has not been at the cost of friendships, and few men are more generally admired, more univer- sally liked by associates and employes, than he. Thoroughly public spirited, he is the type of citi- zen Houston is glad to welcome, and is a leader in all civic and business activities in this city.

H. CARLISLE has for many years been identified with the distribution of petro- leum products, making his headquarters at Houston, and is a sales organizer of high- est ability and unquestioned integrity. Mr. Carlisle is Assistant District Sales Manager for the Gulf Refining Company, and has directed the sales or- ganization of that large company for a number of years. He has his office in the Gulf Building, with a corps of efficient salesmen working under him, and is not only a sales expert of more than usual ability, but is thoroughly familiar with the manu- facture of every product put out by the Gulf Com- pany, and the petroleum industry in general. . Mr. Carlisle has been with the Gulf Company since 1904, when he began as Special Agent, representing this company in that capacity for a number of years, and until his appointment as District Sales Manager, the position he now holds. Mr. Carlisle has a well or- ganized, smooth functioning department, and is one

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NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

of the most valued men in the Gulf Company, and one with heavy responsibilities.

Mr. Carlisle is a native of the Lone Star State, his birthplace being the city of Brenham, where he was born the twenty-first of August, 1880, the son of C. H. Carlisle, a resident of that city for many years. Mr. Carlisle was educated in the public schools of his native city, and after finishing high school in 1898 he entered directly upon his active pany, as Sales Representative, in the Louisiana and business career. He went with the Waters-Pierce Oil Company, as clerk, and after a time with that organization went with the Southwestern Oil Com- South Arkansas territory. After several years in that capacity he left the Southwestern Oil Company, and came with the Gulf Refining Company, in 1904, and has since been with this company.

Mr. Carlisle was married at Houston, to Miss Mar- garet Drumm of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Carlisle have an attractive home at 1632 West Alabama and have one child, Robert Louis Carlisle. Mr. Carlisle is a member of the Houston Country Club, the River Oaks Country Club and the Houston Launch Club. He also belongs to the Houston Yacht Club, of which he is Commodore, and is one of the most en- thusiastic yachtsmen in the city. Mr. Carlisle is a Mason, Houston Blue Lodge, Thirty-Second degree, Scottish Rite, and a life member of Arabia Temple Shrine. He is active in civic advancement, taking a deep pride in the accomplishments of Houston, both along civic and commercial lines, and is one of the substantial and well liked residents of this city.

H. CHRISTY has had a splendid training and experience that admirably fits him for his present position as general manager of the Houston branch of the Oil Well Supply Company, the largest manufacturers of oil well sup- plies in the United States. Headquarters of the company are at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and branch houses are maintained in practically all of the oil centers of the United States, Mexico and South and Central America. Officers of the company are Louis Brown, president; J. F. Hunter, secretary, and H. C. Burns, treasurer.

The company manufactures every kind of tool and equipment used in the oil fields, including complete drilling rigs, pipe, casing, engines, boilers, pumps, etc. Its products are specified as standard equip- ment by many of the largest oil concerns in the country and splendid service is maintained for drill- ers and contractors at all of the companies' branch houses.

Houston has one of the largest branch organiza- tions maintained by the Oil Well Supply Company, located at 1119 Liberty Street, the warehouse alone covering a space seventy by two hundred and fifty feet and the yards covering two entire city blocks. A complete stock of everything required in the coast- al oil fields is carried at the Houston branch and fifteen employees aid in maintaining the high stand- ard of service which is a feature of the Oil Well Supply Company's business.

Mr. Christy is a native of Pennsylvania and was born in Mercer County on January 18, 1888. He is a son of Charles C. and Myra (Carnahan) Christy and was educated in the schols of Oil City, Pennsylvania. When eighteen years of age he began work in the oil fields of West Virginia and worked there for four years in various branches of drilling and pro-

duction, obtaining a technical knowledge of the re- quirements of drillers and production men that has proven highly valuable since. In 1911 he came to Texas and worked in the Beaumont fields for a year and afterward was located at Wichita Falls and Elec- tra for a year, returning to Beaumont in 1913 and remaining there until his removal to Houston in 1918. He has been with the Oil Well Supply Co. for thirteen years or more, the past ten years serving as manager of the branch houses at Beaumont and Houston.

Mr. Christy was married in West Virginia in 1914 to Miss Bessie Jones. They have two interest- ing children, Myra, aged eight, and Ralph H., Jr., six. The family home is at 4622 Park Drive.

A thorough, all round business man, Mr. Christy is devoted to the interests of his company and the ever increasing clientele which he serves. He is pos- sessed of a splendid personality and a cordial dis- position and is exceptionally popular among mem- bers of the oil fraternity in Houston and throughout the coastal fields.

HARLES K. LONGAKER for a number of years has been active in the business world at Houston, where he is connected with one of the major oil companies. Mr. Longaker is assistant manager of the refining department of The Texas Company, looking after all shipping, a position he has held since January, 1923. Mr. Longaker began with The Texas Company in the latter part of 1906, as clerk in the office at Beau- mont, when that city was the headquarters of the company. He did not remain there long, however, and was transferred to Port Neches, as chief clerk in the office there. One year later he was sent to Port Arthur, with the refinery at that point, and for the ensuing three years held an important posi- tion in the refinery. He was then sent to Houston, as refining department agent, which position he held until he was made superintendent of shipping, in October, 1920, a position leading up to his ap- pointment as assistant manager of the refining de- partment, in January, 1923.

Mr. Longaker was born at Pottstown, Pennsyl- vania, the fourth of July, 1877. His father, M. S. Longaker, a native of that state, spent many years in the mercantile business there, later taking an active part in the political life of the day, and retiring several years prior to his death, which oc- curred in October, 1923. Mr. Longaker was edu- cated in the schools of his native city, and after completing his school work went to Philadelphia, where he was connected with a wholesale dry goods house for some time, later going to St. Louis, Mis- souri, where he also had various connections with the wholesale dry goods houses of that city. He remained in St. Louis until August, 1906, when he came to Texas to go with The Texas Company.

Mr. Longaker was married at Houston, Texas, the seventh of September, 1916, to Mrs. Mary D. Craft, a native of Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Longaker live at 816 West Main Street. Mr. Longaker is a Mason, Blue Lodge, Stichter Lodge, Number 254, Pottstown, Pa., Consistory No. 1, Galveston, and is a member of Arabia Temple Shrine at Houston. As a business man he is conservative, believing in steady progress, and his opinions represent a close study into the questions of the day and business management in his special field.

545

MEN OF TEXAS

RTHUR A. SANGSTER, since coming to Houston in June, 1924, has taken a place among the business leaders of this city. Mr. Sangster is president and owner of the Irvin Ice and Ice Cream Corporation, one of the largest companies of its kind in South Texas, and has assets of over four hundred thousand dollars. The company is a manufacturer and wholesale dealer of ice cream, and is a manufacturer and wholesale and retail dealer of ice. The plant is located at 1116 Hemphill and is housed in modern four and two- story reinforced concrete buildings. Floor space is about twenty thousand square feet. There are one hundred people employed in the organization. The equipment is of the best, and improvements to the extent of fifteen thousand dollars have been made recently. Twenty-five trucks and automobiles, and twenty ice wagons are used to take care of the trade. The predecessor company was organized in 1912. Since Mr. Sangster bought the business in June, 1924, he has been giving his personal time to it and has been successful in substantially increasing the volume of business. The products are distributed throughout the Houston trade territory, as well as the city of Houston. "Irvin's Hy-grade" ice cream is one of the best, as well as one of the best known ice creams on the market here today. The ice from this plant is made from distilled water, and is known as "Irvin's Hy-grade distilled water ice." Al- though the manufacturing business is somewhat of a new field for Mr. Sangster, yet his many years spent as an engineer and builder have served him well in achieving success in this new activity.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 91

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