New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 93

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

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Mr. Cummins was born at Mount Mellick, Ireland, in 1881. His father, James A. Cummins, was well known in the business circles of Mount Mellick. His mother was Miss Mary Douglas Harshaw, a mem- ber of a prominent family of Ireland. His early education was obtained in the public and private schools in Ireland, after which he attended Queen's College at Galway, Ireland. He then became a stu- dent of the Royal University of Ireland and grad- uated from that institution with the degrees of B. E. and B. A. After leaving college, Mr. Cummins en- tered actively into the practice of his profession. He came to America in 1901 and located at Grand Rapids, Michigan, where for five years he was con- nected with the city engineering department. He then went to Detroit, Michigan, where for five years he was associated with the Truscon Steel Company, after which he engaged in private practice in a business partnership under the name of Adams and Cummins, which continued until he came to Hous- ton in 1911.

Mr. Cummins is a member of the Rotary Club, the Houston Engineers Club, Houston Civic Council of which he is past president, a full member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, a member of the Port Commission and is a director of the Gulf

State Bank. Mr. Cummins resides on Bellaire Boulevard. Since coming to Houston he has taken an active interest in civic and charitable under- takings and the history of his activities is synony- mous with the history of engineering developments in Houston and South Texas during the past four- teen years.

A. BREIHAN for more than a decade has been identified with commercial enterprises of importance at Houston, and is recognized as an authority on matters pertaining to navigation and transportation. Mr. Breihan is man- ager of the Gulf District of the Sinclair Navigation Company, a subsidiary of the Sinclair Consolidated Oil Corporation, and engages in the importation of Mexican crude oil, exporting the refined products and the moving of crude. The Sinclair Navigation Company operates twenty-one ships, in and out of the Gulf District, with a gross tonnage of about 160,000 tons. Employees, including ships' crews, number about 1,000. They also have dock facilities, owning their own docks at the Sinclair Refining Company's plant on the Channel. Their export trade goes largely to European and Scandinavian ports, where their trade activities extend over a large area. Since assuming the position of Marine Superintendent in 1917 Mr. Breihan has perfected his organization along all lines, and has seven expert traffic men on his force. In the spring of 1925 he was promoted to his present position.

Mr. Breihan is a native of the Lone Star State, who has made good in the traffic line, and is con- sidered an expert in his field of navigation. He is enthusiastic about the Houston Harbor, and very optimistic over the prospects of the new thirty-foot channel which is now completed. He first came to Houston in 1911 after two years experience in trans- portation with the United Fruit Company, both on board ship and in Central and South America. The first year of his residence in Houston he entered a law office, and engaged in the study of that pro- fession, later returning to Bartlett for a year. In 1916 he went with the Sinclair Company, at Houston, as Dock Master, and the following year became Marine Superintendent.

Mr. Breihan was born at Bartlett, Texas, the fif- teenth of February, 1886, son of H. A. Breihan, who came there in 1858 from Germany, and has since en- gaged in the cattle, farming and banking business, and is one of the large landowners of this section. He is of Welsh ancestry. Mr. Breihan's mother, a native Texan, was before her marriage Miss Sophie Muenzler, whose parents came to Texas about 1846. Mr. Breihan received his education in the public schools at Bartlett, and after graduation began his business career in that city. Later his attention was attracted to traffic work and he made a study, complemented with practical experience, of this ac- tivity, rapidly advancing to his present position in the transportation field.

On January 8th, 1925, he was united in marriage with Miss Bernice Yeagley, native of Houston, and a member of a well known family here. Mr. and Mrs. Breihan reside at 4807 San Jacinto Street. Mr. Brei- han takes an active interest in civic affairs of Hous- ton, especially those that pertain to the Channel, and the advancement of Houston to a deep water harbor. He is a member of the Traffic Club and fraternally is a Mason.

554

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

LLIE L. ANDERSON, fire commissioner of Houston, has been a resident of this city for twenty-eight years and all of this time, with the exception of six months, has been spent in the service of the police and fire de- partments of Houston. Mr. Anderson was elected to the office of fire commissioner of Houston in April, 1919, and re-elected in 1923, and during the period in which he has been the executive head of the fire department, he has re-organized the entire department. The Houston fire department consists of two hundred and thirty-six trained men, and has sixteen stations, with all motor equipment, and is recognized as one of the best organized fire depart- ments in Texas, with all modern methods that are to be found in any of the larger cities of the United States.

Mr. Anderson was born at Bastrop, Louisiana, on September 29th, 1877. His father, A. L. Anderson, came to Texas in 1890 and first settled in Hunt County where he remained for three years before coming to Houston, where he continued to reside until his death. His mother (now deceased) was Miss Lizzie Temple, a member of a well known fam- ily of Massachusetts. His education was obtained in the public schools of Bastrop, Louisiana, Hunt County, Texas, and later at Jackson, Mississippi. Mr. Anderson started his business career when a very young man in a wholesale grocery house at Green- ville, Texas, where he remained until coming to Houston in 1895. His first employment here was with the William Cleveland Cotton Compress, where he remained for six months, and in 1896 he entered the Houston fire department as a fireman and re- mained in this branch of the municipal service until 1912 when he was made assistant fire chief. During this year he suffered a severe accident and was con- fined in the hospital for one year. After leaving the hospital, he entered the police department, first as ward officer of the Corporation Court, and was later made captain of police. He served the city in this position for a period of four years, when he was elected to the position of fire commissioner, where he has created a new system, which is considered one of the most efficient in the country.

Mr. Anderson was married in Houston, October 2nd, 1902, to Miss Sid Kelly, a native of Victoria, Texas, and a daughter of A. B. Kelly, well known in the business circles of that city. They have two children, Allie L. Anderson Jr. and Marie. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson reside at 3016 Congress Avenue. In fraternal organizations, Mr. Anderson holds mem- bership in the Knights of Pythias, the D. O. K. K.'s, Eagles, B. P. O. E., Woodmen of the World, Knights of Labor, and the Red Rooster Club, of which organ- ization he is a director. Mr. Anderson has made many friends in Houston and is popular with the entire citizenship, where he is regarded as one of the city's most efficient, conscientious and hard working officials.

RNEST COCKRELL, a native Texan, was born in Bastrop County, in 1880. His father, C. W. Cockrell, also a native Texan, is a well known business man of Bastrop County, having established the first residence built in Smithville. Mr. Cockrell's early education was obtained in the public schools of Bastrop County, after which he attended a business college. Soon

after leaving school in 1900, he started his business career in the Spindle Top oil field, near Beau- mont, Texas, and since that time has been active in the development of the Gulf Coast oil fields, and while he is a comparatively young man, is a pioneer in the Texas oil industry. He has been active in every field of the Gulf Coast, and is President of the Producers Oil Company, and the Texas Produc- tion Company, both of which are very active and successful companies in the oil industry.

Mr. Cockrell was married at Marlin, Texas, in 1911, to Miss Lula Dashiell, daughter of W. P. Dashiell, one of the prominent pioneer families of Marlin, Falls County, Texas. Mrs. Cockrell is a niece of Mrs. W. J. Bryan, wife of Senator Bryan, of Abilene, also a niece of L. T. Dashiell, former Speaker of the House of Representatives. Mr. and Mrs. Cockrell reside at 2411 Smith Street, and have one child, Ernest Cockrell, Jr. Mr. Cockrell is a member of the Houston Club and the Elks Club, and takes an active interest in these organizations. He is enthusiastic as to the future of Houston and South Texas, where he is regarded as one of the most progressive and public spirited citizens.

ICTOR H. BORSODI has been actively con- nected with the commercial life of Houston for the past sixteen years and is one of the well known men of the city. For twelve years he has been engaged in the fuel business, and is manager of the V. H. Borsodi and Company, dealers in wholesale coal and coke, with executive offices at 1011 Union National Bank Building. The company handles the following well known products: Norco, Sunbeam, Magic, Sterling Black Creek, Cahaba, Red Ash and others. Mr. Borsodi is also president of the Channel Fuel Company, but is not active in its management. The other officers of this company are: D. M. Picton, Jr., vice president; W. B. Ferguson, secretary-treasurer, and M. K. Whittington, manager. This company does a whole- sale coal and bunkering business, with plant at the Manchester Docks. Mr. Borsodi is considered an authority in fuel matters. For many years he has handled government contracts for fuel and forage in the Southern department comprising Texas, Ari- zona, New Mexico and Oklahoma.

Mr. Borsodi is a native of Austria and was born in Vienna, August 26th, 1885, a son of William and Bertha Borsodi. With his parents he came to Amer- ica when a year old and lived in New York until sixteen years ago, when he located in Houston and engaged in the fuel business. His father is a well known publisher and advertiser in New York City. He received his education in the public and high schools of New York and at Cornell University and New York State University.

In 1914 Mr. Borsodi was married in Houston to Miss Anna Louise Lindsley Snodgrass, daughter of Tillman Snodgrass, manager for the Pierson inter- ests in Mexico. They have two children, Victor H., Jr., and Fred Austin. The family resides at 3201 Mt. Vernon.

Mr. Borsodi is a capable and energetic business man and possessed of a personality that has con- tributed to his success in business. He takes an active interest in matters of a civic nature and is a member of the Houston Club and the Houston Country Club.

557

MEN OF TEXAS

OHN S. BONNER is probably the pioneer oil man of Texas, becoming active in this in- dustry nearly thirty years ago and has been continuously engaged in this business since that time. In 1919 Mr. Bonner came into the Humble Oil and Refining Company as vice president and sales manager, and his vast experience and executive ability have been valuable assets to this company. Mr. Bonner came to Houston in 1896 from Lufkin, Angelina County, and entered the oil busi- ness with the Joe W. Davis Oil Company, market- ers of oil, and which has the distinction of being one of the oldest active oil businesses in Texas, and Mr. Bonner has been engaged in the marketing of oil since that time, and in this branch of the oil industry is without a peer. The Joe W. Davis Oil Company, after several years, changed its name to the Southwestern Oil Company and Mr. Bonner became vice president of this company. In 1903 the Houston Oil Company purchased the physical prop- erties of the Southwestern, and on May 1st, 1903, the Bonner Oil Company, of which Mr. Bonner was president, was organized, and in July, 1919, the Humble Oil and Refining Company bought some of the physical properties of the Bonner Oil Company, and Mr. Bonner at that time came with the Humble Oil and Refining Company as vice president and sales manager.

A native Texan, Mr. Bonner was born in Ange- lina County on April 25th, 1873. His parents were pioneer settlers of Angelina County, where they were large land owners and farmers. His early education was obtained in the public schools of An- gelina County, and later attended Southwestern Uni- versity at Georgetown, Texas. He began his busi- ness career in 1896, shortly after leaving school, and began in the oil business and has continued in this ever since. Mr. Bonner has since coming to Houston become interested in many of the commer- cial projects of the city, and is connected with many of the financial institutions of Houston, being a director in the Union National Bank and in the Wier Long Leaf Lumber Company.

Mr. Bonner was married in Angelina County to Miss Edna Ewing, a native of that county, and a daughter of James A. Ewing, a well known Texas timberman who now resides in Houston. They have two children-John S. Bonner, Jr., and Louis Frank- lin Bonner, both of whom are in college. Mr. Bon- ner is a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason, and a member of Arabia Temple Shrine, being first po- tentate of this Shrine. He is also a member of the Houston Country Club, the Houston Club, and the Lumberman's Club, and is quite active in the last named. In addition to being the pioneer oil man of the Lone Star State, Mr. Bonner is in all prob- ability the best known man engaged in the oil busi- ness in Texas. He is a very popular man, not only in the oil circles of Houston and of Texas, but with all classes, including the executives of the company, and all the employees. Mr. Bonner has done much in the matter of development of Texas, and is al- ways ready and willing to assist in any way pos- sible toward the progress and advancement of his native State. Since coming to Houston, Mr. Bonner has been active in the work of civic improvement of the city, and is regarded as one of the most sub- stantial, progressive and public spirited citizens of the South Texas metropolis.

OHN, M. LAWRENCE is a native of Bryan, Texas, where throughout his life he has been active in the business, social, political and educational life of this prosperous Brazos County city. Mr. Lawrence is the president and manager of the Lawrence Grocery Company, wholesale grocers, which was organized and estab- lished by Mr. Lawrence in 1912. This firm grew rapidly and is the largest wholesale grocery estab- lishment in this portion of the State. Besides do- ing a large local business, this firm employs three traveling salesmen, who cover seven counties in the best farming district of the Lone Star State. A large and complete stock of staple and fancy gro- ceries is carried at all times by this firm, and in addition to the large grocery business is one of the largest cotton factors of this part of the State. During 1923, the Lawrence Grocery Company handled eighteen thousand bales of cotton. Other officers of this company are: W. S. Mial, vice presi- dent and M. P. Walker, secretary and treasurer. Mr. Lawrence began his business career in Bryan where he was employed in a merchandise establishment, and later he engaged in the retail grocery business for himself, and conducted this retail business for a quarter of a century under the name of John M. Lawrence and Company. After disposing of the retail grocery establishment, he organized the pres- ent wholesale grocery store. Mr. Lawrence has been the recipient of many positions of honor and trust at the hands of his fellowmen, and was the first mayor of Bryan under the commission form of government. He served in this capacity for two terms-from 1917 to 1921, and his administration was one of great accomplishment. He served as alderman for many years under the aldermanic form of government, and was treasurer of Brazos County for about twelve years. He has always been in- terested in the educational matters of the city, and has been a member of the school board of Bryan for many years.

Mr. Lawrence was born on June 6th, 1873. His father, James C. Lawrence, was a pioneer settler of Brazos County, where he was engaged in farming, cattle and sheep raising for many years. He later removed to Bryan where he was engaged in the lumber business, and was one of the best known and highly esteemed citizens of Brazos County. Mr. Lawrence's education was obtained in the public schools of Bryan, after which he attended college in the East.

Mr. Lawrence was married at Bryan in 1899, to May Webb a daughter of Dr. W. H. Webb (de- ceased), who for many years was engaged in the drug business in Bryan. They have two children: Guy W. Adriance, who is an instructor in the A. and M. College, and John M. Lawrence, Jr., who is engaged in the automobile business in Bryan. Mr. Lawrence is a member of the B. P. O. E., the Knights of Pythias, the Fin-Feather Club, Bryan Chamber of Commerce and is the president of this organization. He is vice president and director of the City National Bank, vice president of the Bryan Compress Company, director of the Parker-Astin Hardware Company, director of the Bryan-College Interurban and many other business institutions of this city. Mr. Lawrence is active in all projects having as their object the civic improvement and ad- vancement of Bryan.

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JA.Bonn

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

C. BAUGUSS for almost two decades has been connected with the lumber business at Houston, during that time attaining the reputation of a lumberman of experience and success, and for the past decade operating one of the big retail yards in the city. The Steves Lum- ber and Building Company, of which Mr. Bauguss is vice president, is well located at 1400 Maury Street, does an extensive retail business. The firm handles all kinds of lumber and any and all kinds of building materials, the stock on hand being ex- ceptionally complete. The company keeps in step with the advancements demanded by modern con- ditions, and finances home building, as well as sup- plying the necessary materials. It specializes in home building and has taken an active part in build- ing up many of the newer additions to the city. The firm has ample railroad trackage and grounds, with well arranged yards, and an employment force of about ten men. Associated with Mr. Bauguss are A. E. J. Steves, president, and John H. Baber, sec- retary and treasurer.

Mr. Bauguss was born near Spring, Texas, twen- ty-five miles north of Houston, the 20th of Jan- uary, 1880, son of Dr. T. C. and May Belle Glenn Bauguss, his father now a practicing physician of Memphis, Tennessee. Mr. Bauguss was educated in the public schools of Houston, graduating from the high school in this city. Associated with George Mellinger he spent a period of seven years in the grocery business, followed by three years in the fire insurance business. In 1905 he went into the lumber business, and until 1913 was associated with various firms. In this year he organized the Bauguss Lum- ber Company, which he operated until he became associated with his present company.

Mr. Bauguss was married at Houston, in 1907, to Miss Frances Rosaline Sandford of Tyler, Texas. They have two children, Paul L. and Glen Allen, the family residing at 4405 Mckinney Avenue. Mr. Bauguss is a member of the Lumberman's Club, and fraternally is a Mason, York and Scottish Rites, and a member of Arabia Temple Shrine.

AWLE BUCKNER, veteran in the burlap and cotton bag industry, has for the past seventeen years been identified with this important enterprise, at Houston, as man- ager of the Bemis Brother Bag Company, the larg- est bag manufacturers in the Southwest. The Bemis Brother Bag Company, the main office of which is located at Saint Louis, opened the Houston branch in 1906, at which time Mr. Buckner came to this city to assume the management of the plant. This company is one of the largest bag companies in the state, employing a great many people, and since 1913 has occupied a fine building, at the corner of Conti and Moffitt Streets, with three floors and a basement, and aggregating seventy-five thousand square feet of floor space. They manufacture all kinds of burlap and cotton bags, and job twine, press cloth, and like products. Five men are on the road, representing the company throughout the Lone Star State.

Mr. Buckner began in the bag manufacturing in- dustry, at New Orleans, in 1902, as a bookkeeper for Bemis Brother Bag Company. Later he was made assistant manager of the plant at Memphis, Tennessee, where he remained four years. When

the Houston plant was opened he was sent to this city as manager, which position he has since held. Mr. Buckner has made a record for growth and progress here, the business showing an advancement of five hundred per cent since the opening, a growth directly due to Mr. Buckner's efficient management and his keen insight into the business.

Rawle Buckner was born in Kentucky, in 1876, son of James Buckner, a cotton factor of Louisiana for many years. He was educated in the public schools of New Orleans.

Mr. Buckner was married at Houston, in 1908, to Miss Mary Lou Hamblen, a native of the Lone Star State. They make their home at 2204 Louis- iana Street. Mr. Buckner takes an active interest in the welfare of his community, giving his time freely for the civic development of Houston. He is a director of the Chamber of Commerce, president of the Houston Open Shop Association, a director of the Texas Development Association, and a mem- ber of the Houston Club and the Houston Country Club.

S. CURTIS, president and manager of the Curtis Company and native Houstonian, has been a factor in the business circles of this city for several years prior to the estab- lishment of his present business in 1922. The Cur- tis Company are distributors and dealers for the India tires and tubes and carry a complete line of auto supplies. They also have a gas and oil sta- tion which is one of the largest in Houston; have progressive men in charge of their business and have splendid show rooms and office at 1422-24-26 Main Street at Polk Avenue. The growth of the Curtis Company, due to the wide acquaintance and pop- ularity of Mr. Curtis, has been phenomenal. He started this business in 1922 with one employee and now has eleven men in the service and his business is growing rapidly all the time.

Mr. Curtis was born in Houston in 1884. His father, James Curtis, a native of England, came to the United States and to Houston in the early eighties. His education was obtained in the public schools of Houston. Shortly after leaving school, Mr. Curtis began his business career in offices of various kinds in Houston, after which he went to the Panama Canal and engaged in office work for a railroad and remained there for a period of seven years. He then returned to Houston and for four years was engaged in the office of a large plumbing establishment, and remained in this line of endeavor until he started his present business, which has grown to be one of the largest and best supply houses of its kind in Houston.

Mr. Curtis was married in Houston in 1915 to Miss Ellen Margaret Sorensen, a native of Houston, and a member of a pioneer family of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis reside at 4606 Woodside Street. Mr. Curtis is a member of the A. F. & A. M. with mem- bership in Gray Lodge, Houston. He is also a mem- ber of the Scottish Rite body of this order and a Shriner of Arabia Temple and a member of Arabia Patrol since 1919. He is also a member of the Salesmanship Club, the Civitan Club and the Auto Trade Association. Mr. Curtis has seen many changes take place in the city of his nativity in the way of progress and advancement and he believes that Houston is soon to become the leading city of the entire Southwest.

561

MEN OF TEXAS

B. GRANBURY, of Houston, one of the leading lumber men of Texas, whose career in this field dates back twenty years, when he entered the lumber business as a clerk, is today the President of one large lumber company, the South Texas Hardwood Company, Vice-President of two other companies, the South Texas Lumber Company and the West Lumber Company; Vice- President of the West Production Company, and Vice-President of the Trinity Valley and Northern Railway Company, a line of railroad extending from Dayton, Liberty County, in a northerly direction, crossing the Gulf Coast Lines at Fullerton, thence about eighteen miles to its northern terminus at Lumm. The South Texas Hardwood Company are manufacturers of hardwood lumber, with a large sawmill at Dayton, Liberty County. This mill has a capacity of forty thousand feet per day and one hundred and forty men are included in the organi- zation of this mill. The output of this mill is handled by the South Texas Lumber Company. Dur- ing the four-year period extending from January 1, 1916, to January 1, 1920, the West Lumber Company sold in small tracts more than fifty thousand acres of cutover land in Trinity and Polk Counties, which was mostly sold to Northern people who expected to settle on this land and produce crops. During the period extending from November 1, 1922, to Jan- uary 31, 1923, twelve thousand acres of this land was sold in small tracts. The South Texas Lumber Company has a large yard in Houston, and twenty- three branch yards in South and Southwest Texas, which do a retail business in excess of $1,500,000.00 annually. They also build apartment houses and residences which they sell, both for cash and on the easy payment plan. The West Lumber Company are manufacturers of pine and hardwood lumber.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 93

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