New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 92

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

USA > Texas > New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1 > Part 92

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Arthur A. Sangster was born in Scotland, the twenty-fourth day of February, 1878. In 1888 he came with his father, Alexander Sangster, to Can- ada, where the elder Mr. Sangster was a contractor and builder, engaged in important construction work for many years. Arthur A. Sangster was educated in the schools of Canada, attending a college pre- paratory school there. In 1898 he entered the con- struction business with his father, continuing in Canada until 1908, when he came to the United States. During the quarter of a century in which he engaged in construction work Mr. Sangster was a member of the firm of Larkin and Sangster that executed some of the largest pieces of engineering in this country and Canada. Among these are the hydraulic lift lock at Kirkfield, Ontario, Canada, a three-quarter of a million dollar project; the thou- sand feet of masonry locks at Iroquois, Ontario, Canada, built at a cost of a million and a half dollars; fifty miles of the Canadian Pacific railroad, constructed at a cost of two million dollars; power development work at De Cew Falls, Canada, repre- senting half a million dollar outlay; the power house at Niagara Falls, on the Canada side, also half a million dollar work; the new locks at Lockport, New York, costing a million and a quarter dollars to con- struct, and the new locks at Seneca Falls, New York, a piece of construction representing a like outlay; the bridge across the Mohawk River, at Crescent, New York, a piece of engineering costing a quarter of a million dollars; a similar bridge across the river at Oswego, New York, and the Galveston causeway, one of the most important engineering works in Texas, and representing an investment of two and a half million dollars. Mr. Sangster and his part- ner spent three years on this causeway, and on its

completion Mr. Sangster decided to remain in Gal- veston, establishing the Atlas Engineering Works, with which he was associated until coming to Hous- ton.

Arthur A. Sangster was married in Canada, in 1903, to Miss Victoria Fraser, daughter of Alexander Fraser, a member of an old and prominent family of Kirkfield, Ontario, Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Sang- ster have two children, Maude Isabel and Alexander Fraser Sangster, both students in the University of Texas. The family reside at 105 Avondale. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Houston, the Galves- ton Country Club, the Artillery Club of Galveston, Houston Club, River Oaks Country Club of Houston, and is a Mason, Scottish Rite, and a member of El Mina Temple Shrine at Galveston.

RTHUR GRIGG, for more than two decades associated with the insurance business at Galveston, has made a record for personal production in this field, and his constructive policies have resulted in the development of one of the principal insurance agencies of Galveston. Mr. Grigg conducts his business under the firm name of Arthur Grigg and Company, the firm dating back around a quarter of a century, when it was estab- lished as Charles R. Brown and Company, later be- coming T. J. Benson and Company, and in 1919 changed to its present name. Mr. Grigg occupies offices in the Marine Building, handling a general insurance business, and representing as local agent some nine companies and also is general agent for the Maryland Casualty Company, of Baltimore, Maryland. Mr. Grigg has established a very large business, writing a record volume of insurance an- nually, and has built up an agency that is a credit to Galveston. On May 1st, 1925, Mr. Grigg formed the partnership of Grigg-Knobelsdorf Company and secured the general agency for Southwest Texas for the Maryland Casualty Company of Baltimore, Maryland, and maintains offices at 524 First Na- tional Bank Building, Houston.

Arthur Grigg was born at Galveston the thir- teenth of November, 1885, the night of the big Gal- veston fire, and is the son of Mathew Grigg, for many years in the cotton business in this city, and Elizabeth (Evelt) Grigg. Mathew Grigg was a na- tive of England, coming to Galveston about 1871. He died in 1901. Mrs. Elizabeth Evelt Grigg was born on Galveston Island and still resides here. He was educated in the schools of Galveston, and after leaving high school went with the insurance firm of Charles R. Brown and Company as office boy. Mr. Grigg has been with the firm since that date, 1901, and has continued to advance in the business. Later, on May 1st, 1919, the business was purchased by Mr. Grigg from T. J. Benson.

Mr. Grigg was married at Galveston, the sixth of November, 1912, to Miss Lillian Pillow. They re- side at 2813 P1/2 Street, and have two children, Ar- thur Grigg, Jr. and Robert Dale Grigg. Mr. Grigg is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner, a Kiwanian, serving as district trustee, and is a director of the Young Men's Progressive League. He is a leader among the younger business men of Galveston, taking a deep interest in all commercial and civic activities directed toward the development of Galveston, and is held in high esteem by his asso- ciates in the business world here.

546

Arthur a Gangster

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

RED T. WILSON came to Houston in Jan- uary, 1912, from Nashville, Tennessee, and since that time has been engaged in the practice of law and in attending to his various interests. Mr. Wilson is one of the most versatile citizens of the South Texas metropolis, where he is lawyer, author, lecturer and business man. His office is located at 815 Second National Bank Building, where he specializes in real prop- erty and represents various real estate companies and owners of real estate. He is president of the following companies: Tennessee Land Company, Belle Court Land Company, East Texas Company and the Capital Lumber Company, all well known in the state. Mr. Wilson is successful as a lawyer and is considered an expert in real estate law. He is one of the special title examiners for the Federal Land Bank. He is a well known author. His "Select After Dinner Stories" have been sold all over the United States, and his "Pen Pictures of the Pres- idents" is now in the hands of his publishers.

Mr. Wilson was born at Carthage, Tennessee, on November 10th, 1881. His father, John B. Wilson, also a native of Tennessee, was for many years a well known farmer and stock raiser of that state, until his death in August, 1923. He served as sher- riff of Smith County, Tennessee, for a number of years. His mother was Miss Elenora Kelly, a na- tive of Jackson County, Tennessee, and her fam- ily was related to John Tyler, tenth president of the United States. Mr. Wilson's early education was ob- tained in the country schools of his native state and later he attended Joseph W. Allen College of Car- thage, Tennessee. He also became a student of Bran- ham and Hughes Military Academy of Spring Hill, Tennessee, and graduated from this institution in the class of 1904. He then attended Vanderbilt University, and graduated from this college in the class of 1910 with the degree of B. A. While in col- lege, Mr. Wilson was connected with the Tennessee Legislature, having been an official of that body from 1901 to 1911, where he was assistant sergeant at arms and assistant clerk and later chief clerk of the House of Representatives. From 1905 to 1912, Mr. Wilson was associated with Belmont College of Nashville, Tennessee, as field secretary, and in 1916 he was admitted to the bar in Texas, where he has met with unusual success in his profession. He also fills occasional lecture engagements.

Mr. Wilson was married at Nashville, Tennessee, October 25th, 1911, to Miss Irene Davis, a native of Union City, Tennessee, and a daughter of Hunter Davis, Nashville representative of the Southern Ad- justment Bureau, who is also a native of Tennessee and a member of one of the state's oldest families. They have one son, Fred T. Wilson Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson reside at No. 1 Glover Apartments. Mr. Wil- son is a member of the A. F. and A. M., Knights of Pythias, I. O. O. F., the Houston Rotary Club, of which he was formerly secretary and vice president, the Delta Kappa Epsilon Greek letter fraternity, Tau Kappa Alpha, which is an honorary, oratorical fraternity. Mr. Wilson was the winner of the Foun- der's Medal at Vanderbilt, in oratory, in 1910 and was also a medal winner in the Southern Inter-State Oratorical contest in 1910. While in Branham and Hughes School, he also won several prizes for ora- tory. In the midst of his private work, Mr. Wilson finds opportunity to give his time and assistance

to many affairs of a public nature and to his church| He is a member of the official board of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and is the teach- er of the men's Bible class of that church, which is one of the largest in the city. Mr. Wilson is popular in the business and social circles of Houston, where he is regarded as one of the most progressive and enterprising citizens of the South Texas metropolis.

H. BURR, one of the recent recruits to the Houston Bar, has made a record of professional progress since coming to Houston, and has taken his place among the leading attorneys here. Mr. Burr is a member of the law firm of McGregor and Burr, one of the strongest and most prominent firms of South Texas, with offices both at Houston and at Austin. The law firm is composed of Mr. Burr, and Senator T. H. McGregor. The firm of McGregor and Burr practices both civil and criminal law, and they have been identified with some of the outstanding cases in each of the two lines that have brought them into prominence. Offices in Houston are in the Commercial Bank Building. The firm was estab- lished in 1919 as McGregor, Burr and Lewis, later when Mr. Lewis withdrew from the firm in 1923, becoming McGregor and Burr.

J. H. Burr was born at Conway, Arkansas, the fourth of June, 1893, the son of George Hutchinson Burr, a native of Missouri, who went to Arkansas as a young man and filled the chair of science at Hendrix College, at Conway, Arkansas, from the time this institution was founded until his death, in 1915. Mr. Burr's mother was formerly Miss Ruth Herndon, a native of Missouri. J. H. Burr received his elementary education in the public schools at Conway, Arkansas, then entering Hendrix College, at Conway, where he took the A. B. degree in 1911. Mr. Burr then came to Texas, entering the law department of the University of Texas, and was admitted to the bar at Austin in May, 1915, practicing there for one year. In May, 1917, Mr. Burr enlisted in military service, volunteering as a private in the regular army, and was sent to Fort Benjamin Harrison, in Indiana, remaining there until September, 1917, when he was transferred to Camp Sherman, Ohio, and later sent to Camp Beau- regard, in Louisiana, and still later to the Third Officers' Training Camp, at Leon Springs, Texas, where he was commissioned second lieutenant, in the infantry. From there he was sent to Camp Pike, Arkansas, where he was commissioned First Lieutenant, and assigned to infantry Central Offi- cers' Training Camp, and discharged from there the thirteenth of December, 1918. After leaving service Mr. Burr went to New York City, going with the law firm of Griggs, Baldwin and Baldwin, and remaining with them until September, 1919, when he came to Houston, going with his present firm.

Mr. Burr was married at Houston, Texas, the tenth of December, 1921, to Mrs. Louise Elliott, a native of Austin, Texas, and the daughter of the late H. R. Randig of Austin. Mr. and Mrs. Burr reside in Houston at 2715 Beauchamp Street, and have one child, J. Herndon Burr, Jr. Mr. Burr, already one of the leading young lawyers of Hous- ton, is regarded by his associates as having an assured future in the law, and his career is being watched with interest.

549

MEN OF TEXAS

OHN D. DYER has for the past eight years been identified with banking affairs in the city of Houston, his conservative manage- ment of the Guaranty National Bank, of which he is president, attaining for him the reputa- tion of a banker familiar with the soundest finan- cial principles. The Guaranty National Bank was organized in 1910, with a capital of only $20,000.00, and housed in a small building at Heights Boulevard and Washington Avenue. In March, 1919, the capi- tal was increased to $50,000.00 and the bank moved into its quarters at the present location. Six months later the capital was again increased to $100,000.00, and in December, 1921, the bank was nationalized with the increased capital of $200,000.00. At pres- ent the bank shows deposits of over $500,000.00, with total resources of approximately $2,000,000.00 and with surplus and profits in excess of $70,000.00 with dividends paid quarterly. The growth of the bank's business has been such that it has been necessary to make plans for larger quarters. Con- tracts have been let for equipment and fixtures and the remodeling of the building at 306 Main Street, which the bank owns.

Since Mr. Dyer became president of the Guaranty National Bank, in 1916, two years after he had come to the institution as cashier, the bank has shown a steady, consistent expansion. He has devoted his efforts as president to questions affecting general policy, the production of new business, and mat- ters of internal organization, with the result that the bank enjoys the absolute confidence of the public and has an assured prosperity.

Mr. Dyer was born at Lexington, Mississippi, the twenty-second of December, 1885, son of J. M. Dyer, a well known banker of that state, who died in 1912. Mr. Dyer was educated in his native city, attending the Lexington Normal College, and after leaving school entering his father's bank, the Bank of Lex- ington. In 1906 Mr. Dyer, then bookkeeper of the Lexington Bank, resigned this position and went to Dallas, Texas, where he was for one year with the First State Bank of Dallas. In 1907 he went to Santo, in Palo Pinto County, as cashier of the First National Bank of Santo, remaining there until 1914, at which time he came to Houston.

Mr. Dyer makes his home in Houston at the Rice Hotel. He is a member of the various social clubs, such as the Houston Club, and the Houston Country Club, and takes an active part in the various social affairs of the city. Mr. Dyer is also interested in the civic progress of Houston and enters heartily into any movement for the furtherance of this aim.

W ALTER T. SMITH, who has recently es- tablished his business headquarters at Houston, after many years' identification with shipping activities at Galveston, has, since coming to this city, been in control of large shipping interests and is operating one of the largest shipping concerns in the city. Mr. Smith is president of Daniel Ripley Company, Incorpo- rated, for years one of the leading shipping com- panies at Galveston, and recently incorporated for one hundred thousand dollars. The first of Janu- ary, 1924, marked the opening of the Houston of- fice, with offices in the New Cotton Exchange Building. Since that time a large shipping busi- ness has been built up. This business, established

three decades ago, has met with constant growth and expansion to keep pace with the exports in this section, and is one of the largest shipping con- cerns going out of Houston. In addition to Mr. Smith, as president, other officers of the corpora- tion are: R. L. O'Brien, vice-president, in charge of the Galveston office; R. C. Lunsford, secretary, and F. A. Thompson, treasurer.

Walter T. Smith was born in Galveston, and edu- cated in his native city, attending the public schools there. Mr. Smith started in the shipping business, also, in Galveston, and for many years was one of the leading men in this business in that city, and for a period was finance commissioner of Gal- veston, and was also an officer of the Galveston Artillery Club. In 1923 he removed to Houston, and, since that time, has been a factor in all ship- ping activities in this city.

Mr. Smith makes his home at the Houston Club, and is a member of that club, and also of the Cot- ton Exchange, and the Houston Chamber of Com- merce. In shipping circles he is regarded as one of the foremost men in the business, familiar with every phase of this great industry, and his removal to Houston has been of real importance to the shipping interests here. In fraternal circles Mr. Smith is an Elk.

AMAR Q. CATO, Architect of Houston, has demonstrated that he puts more than mere ability into his work, which combines har- mony of constructive beauty and artistic arrangement. Mr. Cato, with an associate architect, Mr. George A. Endress, compose the firm of Endress & Cato, with offices at 831-832 Bankers Mortgage Building. Mr. Cato came to Houston in 1915 and during the years 1919 and 1920 he served as city architect for Houston, building several schools. From 1920 to 1923 Mr. Cato was associated with Jo- seph Fniger, under the firm name of Finger & Cato. Mr. Cato and his associate built the Harris County School for Girls at Bellaire at a cost of $50,000; Eastwood Junior High School, West End Junior High School, Woodrow Wilson school, West Univer- sity Place school, South Texas Teachers College at Kingsville and various commercial buildings and residences.

A native Texan, Mr. Cato was born in Austin in 1888. His father, W. A. Cato, and mother, who was Miss Jennie Havis, were both natives of Missis- sippi, but came to Texas more than forty years ago. Mr. Cato's education was obtained in the public and high schools of Austin, and in 1905 when he was seventeen years of age he entered an archi- tect's office, where he studied and obtained a prac- tical knowledge of architecture. Mr. Cato's asso- ciate, George A. Endress, is a well known archi- tect and served as resident architect for the Uni- versity of Texas from 1914 to 1924.

Mr. Cato was married at Austin in 1912 to Miss Ella Bohls, a native of Austin and a member of a pioneer Travis County family, where her father, T. C. Bohls, has been engaged in farming for many years. They have two children-Quintus and Doro- thy. Mr. Cato holds membership in the American Institute of Architects, the Texas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the Optimistic Club and Presbyterian Church. He is a Scottish Rite Mason, and a member of Arabia Temple Shrine.

550

thesoyer

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

EORGE F. WEISMANN, although a com- paratively recent addition to the business fraternity of Houston, Texas, has entered into the spirit of the South Texas metropolis and has succeeded in building up a large and profit- able business for his firm. Mr. Weismann is the manager of the Texas district of the Raymond Con- crete Pile Company, engineers and contractors, with headquarters in New York and Chicago. The Ray- mond Concrete Pile Company, which is one of the largest concerns of its kind of the entire country, was established prior to 1907, and have branch of- fices in all parts of the United States, Canada, Europe and the far East. While this firm is en- gaged in a general contracting business, it special- izes in water front improvements and foundations for buildings, and Houston leads the Southwest in this form of activity. The company has built piers for the following: Houston Compress Company, Humble Oil and Refining Company, and the Gulf Refining Company, and foundations for the Esper- son, Petroleum and Houston Grain Elevator Build- ings, Houston; the Sears Roebuck Building, Dallas, and the Imperial Sugar Company, Sugarland. Mr. Weismann has a staff of competent assistants in his office which is located at 1014 Keystone Build- ing. The officials of the Raymond Concrete Pile Company are: Morton D. Hull, Chicago, president; M. M. Upson, vice president and general manager; H. R. Moyer, vice president and treasurer; W. V. McMenimen, vice president; P. D. Case, secretary, and J. W. Taussig, assistant general manager; H. D. Raymond, assistant treasurer, and E. D. Watt, assistant secretary.

A native of New York City, Mr. Weismann was born on February 11th, 1885. His father, E. J. Weismann (now deceased), was a native of New York, also, where he was well known in the business circles. His mother, Mrs. Katherine (O'Keefe) Weismann, was a member of a prominent New York family, and was born, reared and educated in that city. His education was obtained in the schools of New York.

Mr. Weismann was married in New York City on August 6th, 1907, to Miss Estelle Clauss, a member of a well known Eastern family. They have two children, Edna and Doris. Mr. and Mrs. Weismann reside at 414 Stratford Street. He is a member of the Houston Country Club, and the Rotary Club. Although Mr. Weismann has resided in Houston a comparatively short time, having located here in the spring of 1924, he has made a host of friends and has succeeded in popularizing his firm. He is op- timistic as to the future of this city, and believes that with its many commercial features, numbered among which is its deep water and its wonderful railroad facilities, it will become the greatest city of the Southwest. Mr. Weismann is a consistent booster for the South Texas country, believing that this section of Texas can be made the greatest fruit growing portion of the United States. It is only waiting for sufficient advertising to let the outside world know the great things that are in store for them in this promising country. The success of the business of which he is the manager, speaks elo- quently for his ability as an executive, and it is his ambition to help in the development of his adopted city, as well as in the upbuilding of his firm's business.

B. SEWARD, manager of the Glidden Stores Company of Houston, has been en- gaged in the retail paint business since coming to Houston in 1911. The Houston branch of the Glidden Company, which operates re- tail houses all over the United States, was estab- lished a number of years ago, and has been under the management of Mr. Seward since 1924. Since that time there has been noted a marked increase in business, and the volume of sales has mounted high as the result of his well formulated selling plans and his wide personal acquaintance. The Glidden Stores Company occupy a modern and well arranged building at 700 Travis Street, and carry a complete line of Glidden paints, varnishes, enamels and general painters' supplies and a line of wall papers that offers their patrons a wide range of choice.

F. B. Seward was born at Russiaville, Indiana, on the twenty-sixth of July, 1882, and is the son of Melvin Seward and Frances (Jones) Seward, the former a native of Ohio, the latter of Indiana. Mr. Seward was educated in the schools of Indiana, and has been engaged in the retail paint business since leaving school. He came to Houston in 1911, go- ing with the Randolph Paint Company, with whom he remained until 1916, when he engaged in busi- ness for himself at Taylor, Texas, returning to Houston in June, 1922, and was with Sherwin-Wil- liams Company until December, 1924, when he as- sumed his present position.

Mr. Seward was married at Fort Worth, Texas, in 1906, to Miss Lena Gamble, daughter of the late . S. A. Gamble. Mrs. S. A. Gamble resides in Wichita Falls. Mr. and Mrs. Seward reside at 4715 Fannin Street. Mr. Seward is a member of the First Methodist Church.

YLVAN BEACH, Houston's most popular summer resort and playgrounds, located about an hour's drive from the city, is one of the most popular places of its kind along the Gulf Coast. The operator of the resort is the Sylvan Beach bath and Hotel Company. Twenty- five acres of beautiful park grounds are fully de- veloped to pleasure seekers. A pier runs out into the water for the length of about four city blocks, and the bathing capacity is over 5,000 people. Chil- dren and those who cannot swim are safe here, be- cause the water is shallow for a long distance out into the bay. The dancing and bathing pavilion is the largest under one roof in Texas. The dancing floor proper is one hundred and twenty-five feet square. For those who wish to spend their vacations, or even the summer here, the company has provided over one hundred furnished cottages of one, two, three, four and five rooms each. Electric lights, water and sew- erage plants are complete. For those picnic bound, spacious picnic grounds with tables and chairs, are provided. The usual amusement features, such as the merry-go-round, Ferris wheel, etc., furnish pleasure to thousands of people each season. A great many corporations and companies take advantage of this beautiful resort for holding their annual picnics here. Each year finds Sylvan Beach further devel- oped and improved and is growing rapidly in popu- larity. John Edwin Eisemann, Sr., and John Edwin Eisemann, Jr., are the principal owners and mana- gers of Sylvan Beach.

553

MEN OF TEXAS

R OBERT J. CUMMINS, civil engineer with offices in the Bankers Mortgage Building, since coming to Houston in 1911 has been engaged in some of the largest and most important engineering achievements of Houston and South Texas. He is engaged in a general practice of consulting engineer and is one of the leaders among men of his profession and does most of the outstanding work in his line here. He is associated with the Corpus Christi port development work, which will cost $2,500,000.00 when completed. For five years he has worked on the Guadalupe Water Power Company's project at Seguin, Texas. Mr. Cummins has been engineer on the following Hous- ton buildings: Weld-Neville five-story cotton ware- house at a cost of $350,000.00, the Cotton Hotel, Stowers Building, W. C. Munn Company Building, Anderson Clayton warehouses in the Fifth Ward at a cost of $1,250,000.00, Anderson-Clayton warehouses and wharves on the ship channel at a cost of more than $1,000,000.00, Chamber of Commerce Building, Bankers Mortgage Company Building, Y. W. C. A. Building, Electric Building, Gulf Building, Foster Building, Houston Post-Dispatch twenty-two story building, Alexander Sprunt $300,000.00. compress and warehouse on the ship channel, the twenty-story Rice Hotel Annex and others. Mr. Cummins was appointed to do all of the structural engineering work for the Houston public schools to be erected under the 1925 bond issue of $3,000,000.00 Num- bered among the buildings outside of Houston of which Mr. Cummins was engineer, are the follow- ing: Shippers Warehouse and Compress Company, Dallas, at a cost of $750,000.00; shops and foundry for the Beaumont Iron Works at Beaumont at a cost of $250,000.00, Brake-Water at Corpus Christi at a cost of $700,000.000, Anderson-Clayton Building in New Orleans at a cost of $750,000.00, Crespi and Company Building at Galveston at a cost of more than $250,000.00 and many others in almost every part of the Southwest. Mr. Cummins has to his credit more than $20,000,000.00 in buildings erected under his supervision.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 92

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