New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 10

Author: Davis, Ellis A.
Publication date: 1926
Publisher: Dallas, Tex. : Texas development bureau, [1926?]
Number of Pages: 1262

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1098

B. W. Mac Farlane

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

HARLES F. LAW has for around a decade been associated with building activities at Beaumont, and is well known in construc- tion circles for the many important con- tracts he has handled, and his part in the develop- ment and upbuilding of the community. Mr. Law came to this city in 1915, and has since engaged as a building contractor, operating under his own name, and with his offices at 1245 Avenue E. While he handles a general contracting business, his atten- tion for the most part is given to big work, and he has supervised the construction of many of the finer buildings in this city. He gives special atten- tion to residence work of the better class, schools, churches, court houses, office buildings, industrial plants, and like structures, and has attained an enviable reputation for this class of construction. While a large part of his work has been in and around Beaumont, Mr. Law does not confine his activities to work in this city, and has handled many important contracts in surrounding towns, and in Louisiana. Mr. Law has his own equipment, and is prepared to handle the largest contracts efficiently and without loss of time.

Mr. Law was born at Indianola, Iowa, the twenty- second of October, 1875, son of William F. Law, a contractor and builder, and Flora Martin Law. As a boy he attended the public schools near his home, graduating from the high schools at St. Charles, Iowa, after which he entered Simpson College, at Indianola, Iowa, where he spent one year. He then went to work in the planing mill at Des Moines, where he spent two and a half years, after which he started a factory of his own, doing fine cabinet and mill work for the ensuing four years. In 1906 he moved to Lake Charles, Louisiana, where he en- gaged in the contracting and building business until 1915, when he came to Beaumont, establishing the firm of McBride and Law, General Contractors. In 1917 he opened a large shipyard, at Beaumont, build- ing ships for the government, and the first contract let in Texas was handled by him. He completed and launched the first ship built in Texas, and oper- ated the shipyard until the summer of 1919, when the yard was closed, and the partnership between himself and Mr. McBride dissolved. Since that time he has been in business alone.

Mr. Law was married at Des Moines, Iowa, in 1900, to Miss Gertrude M. Hastie, daughter of Alex- ander Hastie, at one time a coal operator in that state, and later in the abstract business, and Mrs. Mary Hastie. Mr. and Mrs. Law live at 1245 Ave- nue E, and have three children-John Wilton, Wil- liam Wallace, and Grace. Mr. Law is a Mason, York and Scottish Rites, and a member of El Mina Temple Shrine at Galveston. His work in construc- tion circles has won him more than local recognition, and Mr. Law is known throughout South Texas for his work in this line.

T. HARRIS, one of the leading ice manu- facturers of Texas, has taken an active part in the development of this industry. Mr. Harris operates the Independent Ice and Refrigerating Company of Abilene, Texas. Prior to coming to Abilene he was for about ten years an outstanding figure in his line of business in Beau- mont and was president of the Crystal Ice Company and was interested in other ice manufacturing plants

in South Texas.

Mr. Harris was born at Decatur, Illinois, the eigli- teenth of January, 1887, son of T. H. Harris, a land- owner, farmer and builder of that State. He was educated in the schools of Illinois and Kansas, and then went in the ice business in Illinois, later moving to Kansas, where after four years he went to Louisiana, and was engaged in rice farming for six years. The following year he operated a garage at Lake Charles, Louisiana, later going with the Union Sulphur Company, as foreman of bat- teries. He then went with the Crystal Ice Company at Jennings, Louisiana, in 1914, as chief engineer, and has been in the ice business ever since, coming to Beaumont as president and general manager of the Crystal Ice Company. He served in this capacity until moving to Abilene.

Mr. Harris was married at Lake Charles, Louis- iana, in 1910, to Miss Grace Drost, daughter of John Drost, a retired business man of that city. Mr. and Mrs. Harris have three children: Leo, Willis and Gene. They attend the Baptist Church and take an active part in church work. Mr. Harris is a Mason, York Rite, a Knight Templar and a mem- ber of El Mina Temple Shrine at Galveston.

HERSCHEL WHITING, for more

than three decades one of the substantial resi- dents of Beaumont, has contributed an es- sential service to community advancement through his large plumbing contracting business. Mr. Whiting operates his business under his own name, maintaining his office, show room and ware- house at 740 Liberty Street, and engaging in a gen- eral plumbing contracting business. He employs a force of competent workmen, supervising all con- struction, and has established a reputation for cor- rect work that has resulted in a large volume of business. Mr. Whiting has made the plumbing in- stallations in hundreds of Beaumont homes. He es- tablished his business in 1908, since which time he has advanced steadily, and has one of the prosper- ous plumbing businesses of the city.

Mr. Whiting was born in Michigan, the fourth of December, 1865, the son of William Henry Whiting, a blacksmith of that state. As a boy he attended the public schools of his native state, and engaged in business there until 1891, when he came to Texas and Beaumont. Prior to coming to this city, Mr. Whit- ing had had several years experience in railroad work, and continued in this line after coming to Beaumont, working for the Southern Pacific and later for the Santa Fe Railroad. He left this work in 1908 to go in the plumbing business, in which he has since engaged.

Mr. Whiting was married at Beaumont, in 1893, to Miss Margaret Butcher, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Butcher, natives of Michigan, who resided in Beaumont for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Whit- ing have one child, Mrs. Jessie Kerr, and make their home in Beaumont. Mr. Whiting is an Odd- fellow and a Mason, and belongs to the Chamber of Commerce. He has served for several years as president of the Master Plumbers Association, and is active in the work of that body, taking a deep in- terest in the advancement of the craft along modern lines. Mr. Whiting has from time to time invested in Beaumont property, and is greatly interested in the growth and development of this city.

1101

MEN OF TEXAS

ILLIAM McKISSACK CROOK, lawyer of Beaumont, began the practice of his profes- sion in this city January 1st, 1899, and has continued to follow his vocation to the pres- ent time. Mr. Crook is senior member of the law firm time is given to the requirements of corporate in- terests, including locally the W. C. Tyrrell Trust, the Jefferson County Investment & Building Associa- tion, the Uvalde Rock Asphalt Company, Beaumont Iron Works Company, Phoenix Furniture Company, Unity Oil Company, Sanacosa Oil Company, Beau- mont Box Manufacturing Company, Goodell Piano Company, Anahuac Canal Company, Tyrrell Hard- ware Company, etc.

Mr. Crook was the first Texas commissioner to be appointed on uniform State laws, being associated with Hiram Glass of Texarkana, and H. M. Gar- wood of Houston; in 1914 he was made vice presi- dent of this body; he served as vice president of the Commercial Law League of America, is a director of the Texas State Bar Association, a member of the General Council of the American Bar Association, a director and vice president of the Texas Law Re- view. With H. M. Garwood, he was elected to life membership in the American Law Institute, in the organization of which he was invited by Elihu Root, its first president, to participate. He was selected by Dr. William Draper Lewis, director of the Law Institute, as one of his advisors in the Restatement of the Common Law of Business Association. In local civic matters, he was first chairman of the Library Commission of the City of Beaumont. He is a direc- tor of the Tyrrell-Combest Realty Company, the Jefferson County Investment & Building Associa- tion, the Pierce Goodell Piano Company, the Beau- mont Hotel Operating Company, and was one of the organizers of the Texas National Bank.

Mr. Crook was born in Maury County, Tennessee, the twenty-fourth of December, 1874, the son of W. J. Crook, a farmer and confederate captain, and Jennie (Parham) Crook. After attending the pub- lic schools near his home, he finished his prepara- tory work at Spring Hill Academy at Spring Hill, Tennessee, later attending Vanderbilt and George Washington universities, taking his LL. B. degree in the latter in 1877. He taught school in Texas under a permanent teacher's certificate. He engaged in practice in Trinity County, Texas, for one year, coming from there to Beaumont in 1899.

Mr. Crook was born in Maury County, Tennessee, 1897, to Miss Jennie M. Helsel, daughter of S. R. Helsel, a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Crook reside at 395 Seventh Street. They have three children: Theo Helsel Crook, with bachelors and masters de- grees from University of California, is a geologist in Venezuela, South America, with the Standard Oil Company of California, Philip G. Crook, proprietor of the Beaumont Landscape Company, and William McKissack Crook, Jr., a student in Beaumont High School. The family are members of the Methodist Church, of which Mr. Crook is trustee and Steward. Mr. Crook is a member of the Beaumont Club, the Texas State and American Bar associations, is a Mason, York and Scottish Rites, and a member of El Mina Temple Shrine at Galveston.

OHN W. LOCKHART, attorney at law and senior member of the well known law firm of Lockhart Hughes, Lockhart and Rayzor of Galveston, Texas, has during his prac- tice of more than eight years before the Texas bar established a place of marked distinction in the legal profession. This firm was established on July 1st, 1923, and specializes in admiralty law, practices in all the courts and are representatives of Under- writers in Admiralty law cases, and Mr. Lockhart referees in bankruptcy. This firm does a large busi- ness, and number among their clients many of the shipping interests of the Island City. Their offices are located at 718 American National Insurance Company Building. Mr. Lockhart was admitted to the bar in 1917 and immediately joined his father in Galveston in the practice of law under the firm name of Lockhart and Lockhart. This firm continued until the death of his father in 1923, when he form- ed the present firm. The firm opened offices at 517 Cotton Exchange Building, Houston, in January, 1925.

A native of Galveston, Texas, Mr. Lockhart was born on August 2nd, 1892. His father, Judge W. B. Lockhart (deceased since June 17th, 1923), was born at Chapel Hill, Texas, and was one of the most able of Texas' lawyers. He practiced his profession for a period of thirty-seven years and was a recognized authority on admiralty law, and practiced in all the Southern ports. Judge Lockhart was active in the Masonic circles of Texas. He joined Harmony Lodge of this order of Galveston when a young man and served his turn in all elec- tive offices, except that of secretary. He was a member of the Royal Arch Chapter and Commandery in Galveston, and served as eminent commander of

the commandery. He received his Scottish Rite de- grees in Galveston, fourth to thirty-second inclusive, and was elected thirty-third, honorary, by the Su- preme Council in Washington in October, 1909, and crowned in 1910. He was for many years and up to the time of his death one of the three trustees of the Scottish Rite Reserve Fund. He had for a long time served as class director during each suc- cessive reunion, and was past wise master of L. M. Oppenheimer Chapter No. 2, Knights Rose Croix. Judge Lockhart filled a unique place in the life of this community. He was a big man, in all that word implies, and was a true son of the Old South. Mr. Lockhart's mother, Mrs. Esther (Gresham) Lock- hart, is a daughter of the late Colonel Walter Gres- ham of Galveston, and a member of one of Texas' pioneer families, who have done much in the de- velopment of the Lone Star State. His early edu- cation was obtained in the public and high schools of Galveston, after which he attended for one year a preparatory school at Austin. He then became a student of the law department of the University of Virginia, and left that institution at the begin- ning of the World War. He returned to Galveston and was admitted to the bar here and has continued his practice here since that time. Mr. Lockhart is the fourth generation of the Lockhart family in Texas. His great-grandfather, Dr. John W. Lock- hart, came to Texas from Alabama on business, and liked the Lone Star State so well that he returned to Alabama and resigned his seat in the legislature of that State and returned to Texas and located on a plantation near the town of Old Washington.

1102

Womenof

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

Many years later he sold this plantation and pur- chased another at Chapel Hill, Washington County, which is still the property of the Lockhart family. Dr. Lockhart was at the Battle of Galveston, the family having removed to Texas about 1838, during the time the State was a Republic. The Lockhart family have aided greatly in the development of the Lone Star State along many lines, and much of their work will always remain a monument to the enter- prise of the family. Mr. Lockhart has in his col- lection many relics of the early days of Texas; among this collection is a cane which was presented to his great-grandfather by General Sam Houston, and this cane was made from a hickory stick given to General Houston by General Andrew Jackson. This cane is now preserved in the Rosenberg Library of Galveston, but always remains the property of John W. Lockhart.

Mr. Lockhart was married at Navasota, Texas, on November 18th, 1922, to Miss Frances Harris, a native Texan and a daughter of Dr. E. A. Harris, well known physician of Central Texas. They have two children, Frances and Josephine. Mr. and Mrs. Lockhart reside at 1502 Avenue H, which is the house in which Mr. Lockhart was born. Mr. Lock- hart is a member of Harmony Blue Lodge of the Masonic fraternity of Galveston and is a member of both the York and. Scottish Rite bodies, is a K. C. C. H., and a member of El Mina Temple Shrine. He is also a member of the Galveston Chamber of Commerce, Galveston Country Club and the Artillery Club. He is interested in civic affairs and in the general upbuilding of his native city. In the last few years he has built some thirty rent houses here and has other interests in city and farm property.

Mr. Lockhart is devoting his efforts to the prac- tice of maritime law, and is interested in the growth and development of Galveston as a shipping center.

AVID ANDREW SIMMONS, a member of the law firm of Campbell, Myer and Sim- mons, although one of the younger at- torneys of Houston, has made a creditable record as a trial lawyer. The firm was formed the first of January, 1924, and is composed of Judge Ben Campbell, Sterling Myer and David Andrew Simmons, all of whom are lawyers of experience and success. The resulting firm makes one of the strongest legal associations in Houston, and Camp- bell, Myer and Simmons have annexed an enviable list of clients. They handle a general civil and criminal practice, Mr. Simmons giving his time chiefly to trial work, for which he is especially well adapted. Offices are maintained in the First Na- tional Bank Building.

David Andrew Simmons was born at Galveston, Texas, the thirty-first day of May, 1897, the son of D. E. Simmons, and Virginia (Finlay) Simmons. D. E. Simmons, a native of Iowa, came to Texas as a baby, and was until his death, which occurred in 1924, one of the most prominent attorneys of Texas. Mrs. Simmons has made her home in Hous- ton since her husband's death. David Andrew Sim- mons attended the public schools of Austin and Houston, later entering the University of Texas, where the LL. B. degree was conferred on him in 1920. He was admitted to the bar in 1919 and be- gan his law practice as a member of the firm of Simmons, Jackson and Peddy. A year and a half later Mr. Simmons was appointed assistant United

States district attorney at Houston, coming here to take this office, which he held until the first of July, 1922, when he resigned to go to Kansas City on special work. After eight months there he re- turned to Houston, practicing alone until the forma- tion of his present firm.

Mr. Simmons was married at Fort Worth, Texas, the seventh of September, 1921, to Miss Elizabeth Daggett, a native of Fort Worth, and a daughter of E. M. Daggett, one of the best known cattle men of Texas. Mr. Simmons is a member of the Harris County Bar Association, the Texas Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.

J. HARRIS, for upwards of a quarter of a est esteem of the bench and bar of Texas, century a lawyer who has enjoyed the high has for many years engaged in practice at Houston, where his special qualifications as coun- sel and trial lawyer have won the admiration and respect of his associates. Mr. Harris is senior mem- ber of the firm of Harris and Painter, one of the leading law firms of Houston, and one which has had a remarkable growth since its organization in 1923. J. H. Painter, also well known as a lawyer of high standing in his profession, is associated with Mr. Harris. The firm of Harris and Painter handle a very large practice, taking both civil and criminal cases, and have their offices on the fourth floor of the Scanlan Building.

T. J. Harris was born in Alabama, the twenty- second of July, 1870, the son of the late R. J. Har- ris, a native of Georgia, and for many years a resident of Alabama, and Fannie Crabb Harris, whose death occurred during her son's infancy. As a boy, Mr. Harris attended the public schools of Palestine, Texas, and after leaving school entered the law office of Judge S. A. McMeans, and later Governor Tom Campbell and Judge W. H. Gill, re- ceiving his legal training under these eminent jur- ists. Mr. Harris was admitted to the bar in 1896, beginning his practice with Judge McMeans and Governor Campbell, and was later associated with Judge Gill. In 1898 he was made city attorney of Palestine, holding that office until 1900, when he was elected county

attorney of Anderson County, and four years later was elected district at- torney, holding that office for four years. At the expiration of that time, Mr. Harris came to Houston, in 1910 forming an association with J. W. Woods, as Woods and Harris. Still later he was associated with George S. King, and in 1914 was appointed assistant district attorney, in charge of the Criminal District Court, holding that office four years. After a short period of prac- tice alone, Mr. Harris became associated with E. A. Berry, forming the law firm of Berry and Harris, which later, on the entrance of Weaver Moore in the firm, became Berry, Harris and Moore. This firm was dissolved in 1923.

Mr. Harris was married at Palestine, Texas, to Miss Nellie Hester, a native of Palestine. Mr. and Mrs. Harris reside at 211 Hawthorne Avenue, and have two children, Nellie, a student at Rice Institute, and Jack. Mr. Harris is a member of the Knights of Pythias, is a Dokey and a member of the Bar Association of Houston. He has for many years been one of the leading trial lawyers at Houston, and is generally regarded as one of the most eminent attorneys here.

1105

MEN OF TEXAS

ARVEY W. GILBERT, one of the business leaders of Beaumont, has through his con- structive business policies been instrumental in securing for this city many permanent improvements and industrial enterprises, and to his energy and ability this city owes much expansion. He has spent a decade of his time, and large sums of his own money to advance Beaumont, and to aid in its development, and it was primarily due to his influence that the Atlantic Refining Company, one of the major refining companies of the city, the Pure Oil Company, the K. C. S. Industrial Belt Terminal Railroad, and other concerns have located here. Mr. Gilbert is also financially interested in many enterprises here, and is one of the large prop- erty owners of the city. Harvey W. Gilbert and Company own a large part of the nine thousand two hundred acres on the ship channel between Beau- mont and Port Arthur, and has taken an active part in developing that district. Mr. Gilbert is president of the High Island Company, Incorporated, one of the larger oil companies, vice president of the Gil- bert Cattle and Pasture Company, manager of the lands of the Nona Mills Company, and a member of the Water Ways Committee, the Industrial Com- mittee, and the First Commission of Pilots. Re- cently Mr. Gilbert organized the Gilbert Home Com- pany, of which he is president. This company owns a patent on aluminum sheets that are made in units for residence construction cheaply. These units are manufactured in the east and shipped by water and will be handled by the various lumber and building material companies. Because of the high cost of lumber this new system of house construction will undoubtedly become very popular with the small home builders. He has his offices in the Gilbert Building. Mr. Gilbert is also a data expert, compiling data and preparing articles for publica- tion.

Mr. Gilbert was born at Beaumont, the eighteenth of February, 1884, the son of John N. and Annie Wilbarger Gilbert. Mr. John N. Gilbert for many years was one of the most prominent men of this city, owner of large land, timber and oil interests, and active in all development work. A pioneer lum- berman, he organized in 1877 the Nona Mills Com- pany of Texas and Louisiana, one of the large lum- ber companies of this section, and was the owner of more than one hundred and twenty-five thousand acres of cut-over timber lands. He was also pres- ident of the Gilbert Company. In 1880 Mr. Gilbert, in association with Congressman S. B. Cooper, W. A. Fletcher, and William Wiess, and with the assistance of others, took the first step toward the development of the ship channel, and it has been largely due to their efforts that this advantage of prime import- ance to the development of Beaumont has ma- terialized. John N. Gilbert died June 5, 1924. Mrs. Gilbert, before her marriage was Miss Annie Wil- barger, also comes of a family that has for years been active in public development, the County of Wilbarger having been named for her grandfather. Harvey W. Gilbert received his elementary edu- cation in the public schools of Beaumont, and after graduating from the high school here entered preparatory school at Ashville, North Carolina, after which he finished at the University of Vir- ginia. He then returned to his home and went with his father in the lumber business, in which he has

engaged for a decade and a half. About ten years ago Mr. Gilbert became interested in the ship chan- nel and its possibilities for development, and since that time has been active in this field of endeavor. He has devoted his time and money to the advance- ment of this important waterway, which has become the greatest oil refining center in the world. In addition to this a good part of the lumber from this section, as well as the sulphur production use the waterway, and it has made possible a period of prosperity that has made Beaumont one of the most important cities in the state.

Mr. Gilbert was married at Houston, in 1914, to Miss Hortense Gibbons. They have since made their home at Beaumont, occupying a fine home at Calder and Seventh Avenues, and have two children-John N. Gilbert, II, and Eleanor Hortense. The family attends the First Church of Christ, Scientist, and are active supporters of this denomination. Mr. Gilbert is a member of the Beaumont Country Club, the Beaumont Club, the Neches Club, and is a Mason, York and Scottish Rites, and a member of El Mina Temple Shrine of Galveston. He combines excep- tional executive ability, with constructive financial talents, and his work for the development of the ship channel is not only one of the most important achievements in Beaumont in recent years, but is a monument to the foresight of Mr. Gilbert.

OHN DOLLINGER, JR., for around two dec- ades has been a factor in the manufactur- ing world at Beaumont, and has built up a plant that ranks among the largest in this Mr. Dollinger is president and manager of section. the John Dollinger, Jr., Incorporated, Company, a manufacturing concern established in a small way in 1906, and since that time a constantly growing business. The Dollinger Company manufactures steel tanks of all kinds, smoke stacks and a general line of flat steel work, and is one of the largest manu- facturers of this line of steel products in this sec- tion. The plant was removed in 1923 to the new location on the Southern Pacific and Santa Fe Rail- roads, where they occupy an industrial site of eleven and a half acres, and have a modern, and com- pletely equipped shop. The main building is sev- enty-five by three hundred feet, and several smaller buildings complete the plant. A force of from forty to fifty operatives are employed, and the business is one of the leading industrial concerns here. From a small beginning, the John D. Dollinger, Jr. plant has grown to be one of the finest in the country engaged in flat steel and steel tank and smoke stack manufacture, and the new plant is the largest in this section. The officers are John Dollinger, Jr., president and manager; Ambrose Rouse, secretary and treasurer; and Andrew Rouse, vice president and superintendent.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 10

Author: Davis, Ellis A. Publication date: 1926 Publisher: Dallas, Tex. : Texas development bureau, [1926?] Number of Pages: 1262

Author: Davis, Ellis A.
Publication date: 1926
Publisher: Dallas, Tex. : Texas development bureau, [1926?]
Number of Pages: 1262