New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 102

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

USA > Texas > New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2 > Part 102

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).

AMES R. DENNEY, one of the forceful and progressive business men of Port Arthur, has in the several years of his residence here been a factor in the commercial life of the community, and has given his energies not alone to his private business interests, but for the advancement of his community, and has been iden- tified with all movements that have insured the prosperity and welfare of the city. Mr. Denney is secretary, treasurer and general manager of the Hodges Company, Inc., one of the leading dry goods stores of Port Arthur, and an establishment that has added much to the prestige of the city as a shopping center. The business was established in 1916, since which time it has enjoyed a large pat- ronage, and has filled a long-felt want in the com- munity for a merchandising establishment that made quality and correct style essentials. The Hodges Company is an unusually complete dry goods store, with carefully planned departments in all lines of dry goods, notions, shoes and ready-to-wear. Pa- trons of this store are assured the same correct and exclusive styles that they would find in much larger cities, and shop at this store with absolute confi- dence. Plans are now drawn and contracts let for the construction of a new store which will be much larger, more complete, and have some new depart- ments and all the old ones will be expanded. The stock carried will be larger and fixtures will be the finest obtainable and of the latest type. This will be completed and ready early in 1926. Mr. Denney is a close student of modern merchandising methods, and has built an exceptionally successful estab- lishment through the application of these methods to the business here. He is a man of executive abil- ity, well equipped to meet the diverse problems of a large merchandising business, and as a merchant

1746

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

has exerted a wide influence on the business life of the city.

James R. Denney was born at Sulphur Springs, Texas, the sixth of October, 1893, the son of George W. Denney, a cotton buyer of the Lone Star State for many years, and Sallie (Minter) Denney, both of whom are now residents of Winnsboro. Mr. Den- ney attended the public schools of Winnsboro, and after finishing school went to California, and began work in the oil fields of that state. He was in Bak- ersfield when that field was attracting widespread attention in 1910, and remained there until 1912, when he returned to the Lone Star State. He went to Winnsboro, where he engaged in the drug busi- ness for a time, later going to Palestine, where he became associated with the Hodges Company, of which D. M. Hodges is president, and W. E. Barrett, vice president. Mr. Denney was sent to Port Arthur in 1917 as manager, and later, in 1920, was made secretary and treasurer, in recognition of his mer- chandising ability.

Mr. Denney was married at Caro, Texas, the four- teenth of October, 1915, to Miss Dorris Whiteman, a native of the Lone Star State, and the daughter of W. T. Whiteman and Sallie (Decker) Whiteman. Her father, formerly a lumberman of East Texas, is now a lumber manufacturer of Louisiana, and makes his home in that state. Mr. and Mrs. Den- ney have two children, George Whiteman Denney, and James R. Denney, Jr. The family reside at 3041 Procter Street, and attend the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of which Mr. Denney is a steward. He is president of the Chamber of Com- merce, past president of the Lions Club, and a mem- ber of the Young Men's Business League. Mr. Den- ney has taken an active part in all civic work, and a history of Port Arthur would be incomplete with- out mention of the important part he has played in that development. He was one of the prime fac- tors of the success of the recent Twenty-fifth Birth- day Jubilee, held in Port Arthur, and which at- tracted nation-wide attention, that was of vast im- portance to the city, in that it called the attention of the nation to the progress Port Arthur has made in the twenty-five years of its existence. Mr. Denney is past president of the Retail Merchants Credit Rating Association, and is vice president of the Port Arthur and Port Neches Bus Line Com- pany, all enterprises of importance to the commer- cial advancement of the city. Mr. Denney is also a leader in all civic work, and is one of the men who have, through their unselfish interest, made possible the Port Arthur of today, that is one of the fastest growing cities of the state.

DWARD F. LOHMAN, business man of Port Arthur for a quarter of a century, and one of the most progressive laundry owners of the Lone Star State, has built up a commer- cial laundry in this city that is a distinct advan- tage to the community. Mr. Lohman is manager of the Home Laundry, and also a member of the firm, with Henry Lohman, the founder of the laundry, as the other member. This laundry, dating back to 1904, when it was established in a small way, employing six people, and using one wagon for delivery purposes, is now one of the finest equipped laundries in the state, and represents an investment of some two hundred thousand dollars. The modern

plant, on Procter Street, is quite in contrast to the first small building occupied back in 1904, and is a large two-story brick structure, with seventy-five foot frontage, and running back one hundred and forty feet. A fleet of thirteen delivery trucks cover Port Arthur and give the housewives of this city a service that is second to none. A force of more than one hundred operatives are in the plant, all working under ideal conditions, and turning out the class of work that only modern equipment and skill can give. In equipping the new plant Mr. Lohman gave special attention to his choice of equipment, taking into consideration local conditions, and the fact that it is impossible to do modern work with- out modern laundry equipment. For instance, he has installed a machine that gives pure rain-soft water, a piece of machinery that is particularly necessary to Port Arthur. Then there are the machines that dry the clothes, regardless of weather, other ma- chines for ironing shirts, and still others that give the correct turn to the cuffs and collars. With this equipment the Home Laundry is prepared to offer the housewife a complete laundry service, and offer a choice of the several services, namely: damp wash, dry wash, rough dry and family finish. In addition to the regular laundry department there is a department where cleaning and pressing is made an art, and that handles efficiently men's clothing, including hats and fine neckwear, women's clothing, children's wear, and such household articles as com- forts, blankets, rugs, curtains, draperies and pillows. The Home Laundry, thus equipped, offers to Port Arthur an unsurpassed service.

Edward F. Lohman is a native of Sedan, Kansas, where he was born the thirtieth of August, 1889, the son of George F. and Elizabeth Lohman, who came to Port Arthur in the early days. The elder Mr. Lohman was a factor in the business life of the community until his retirement, a number of years prior to his death. As a boy Mr. Edward F. Lohman attended the public schools of Port Arthur, and is a graduate of the high school here. He was the in- dustrious type of boy who begins working before finishing school, and while yet a school boy busi- ness men of the city recognized in him a future busi- ness man of more than average ability. After his graduation from high school he began with the Home Laundry, which Henry Lohman had already established, and from wagon driver worked up to plant manager in a period of five years, and has been in charge of the plant for more than a decade.

Mr. Lohman was married at Port Arthur in 1910 to Miss Mattie Vought, a native of the Lone Star State. Mr. and Mrs. Lohman have two chlidren, George L. and Mary, and reside at 2715 Procter Street. Mr. Lohman is a member of the Lions Club, a director of the Retail Merchants Association, and a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Chamber of Commerce. He is that sterling type of business man who forms the backbone of any com- munity, and there has ever been associated with his name an integrity that is an asset to the com- munity in which he lives. In his ambition to give Port Arthur a laundry service the equal of that to be found anywhere in the South he has admirably succeeded, and may well be proud of the modern plant that he has built up. Mr. Lohman is at all times interested in the future of Port Arthur, and has been active in civic work for many years.

1747

MEN OF TEXAS

ILLIAM H. GILLILAND, one of the inde- pendent oil operators in the coastal fields, has been a factor in the petroleum world at Port Arthur for the past several years, and prior to that was a prominent figure in the shipping world, and has been active in all civic work here for many years, taking an important part in the upbuilding of the city. Mr. Gilliland is an in- dependent operator, and is not associated with any company, confining his activities to a few friends and associates. He holds leases in most of the principal pools of the Lone Star State, and in Arkansas, and his operations form an interesting chapter in the history of the petroleum industry, and represent the achievement of a man who has studied the situation closely, and has had the nerve to back his judgments.

Mr. Gilliland was born in Jefferson County, Texas, the 16th of October, 1867. His father, J. J. F. Gilliland, a native of Gettysburg, Pa., came to Texas in 1853, and taught school in Palestine, and later at Beaumont. He then opened a drug store at Beaumont and was also in the drug business at Sabine Pass in the pioneer days. Upon his retire- ment from active business he came to Port Arthur, where his death occurred in 1906. His mother, Annie (Crapster) Gilliland, a native of Maryland, died there in 1872. As a boy Mr. Gilliland was taken back to Maryland and attended the public schools of that state, and of Pennsylvania. He later attended Trinity University at Tehuacana in Lime- stone County, one of the early colleges of the Lone Star State which is now located at Weatherford. Leaving that institution he joined his father at Sabine Pass and was associated with him in the drug and ship chandler business. In 1899, Mr. Gilliland began in the shipping business as steam- ship agent, and loaded the first steamer out of Port Arthur. He was Mexican vice consul from 1903 until 1910. He was city commissioner of Port Arthur from 1911 to 1915, during the administra- tion of Geo. N. Bliss as mayor. He was active as a stevedore contractor and shipper, until 1917, handling stevedoring for foreign shipping com- panies. In that year the entrance of the United States into the World War materially affected foreign shipping, and Mr. Gilliland turned his activities to the oil industry, leasing oil lands, and at present is an independent operator. He is also consul for Panama, and is the local agent for Lloyds.

Mr. Gilliland was married at Sabine Pass, the 24th of January, 1900, to Miss Clara Broussard, daughter of Moise Broussard, one of the real pio- neers of Jefferson County. Mr. and Mrs. Gilliland have their home at 404 Fourth Street. Mr. Gilli- land is a charter member, organizer and past exalted ruler of the Elks Club, and is a Woodman of the World. He is a man who has achieved distinction in more than one line, and whose success has been reflected in a general way in the prosperity of his city. He has been very active in all civic work, and is one of the builders of Port Arthur.

EORGE N. BLISS, for around two decades associated with the petroleum industry at Port Arthur, and a marine expert whose years of experience qualify him to speak with authority on shipping problems, has taken an active part in the development of this city, and is

interested in enterprises of wide scope and impor- tant bearing on community prosperity. Mr. Bliss is agent for the marine department of the Gulf Refin- ing Company, a position he has held since 1902, when he began with the Gulf Refining Company. At that time the company was a small organization, and in the two decades and more that have passed since that time he has watched the company de- velop until it is one of the major oil companies of the country, and known wherever petroleum prod- ucts are used. Mr. Bliss has charge of all shipping and ships of the Gulf Company in the South, a posi- tion that entails heavy responsibilities and calls for unusual versatility. He maintains his offices in the Gulf Building at the Gulf Refining Company, has thirty employees under him in the Port Arthur department, not including the many ships and men on the water and responsible to him.

Mr. Bliss came to Port Arthur in 1902, after a railroad experience covering many years, and in ad- dition to his position with the Gulf Company has taken an active part in the development of this city, and has acquired many and varied interests here. He has been vice president and a director of the First National Bank of Port Arthur for many years. From 1911 until 1915 he served as mayor of Port Arthur, and under his administration the city saw a wonderful advance in civic improvement and the extension of public utilities and service that was reflected in rapid civic growth. From 1908 until 1910 he was president of the school board, taking a great interest in securing the advance- ment of the educational facilities, and in improving the public school system. He served as president of the Chamber of Commerce for several years, and while in that office urged the development of Port Arthur and sponsored all forward movements. He has for several years been chairman of the deep- water committee of the Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce and Shipping, and was one of the prime factors in securing thirty feet of water for Port Arthur. He made several trips to Wash- ington to secure government aid for the project, and no man, since John W. Gates, has done more for the advancement and development of the city.

George N. Bliss was born at Compton, Canada, in the Province of Quebec, the fifteenth of January, 1866. His father, a native Canadian, spent his en- tire life in that country, and was engaged in rail- road construction. His mother, whose maiden name was Miss Elizabeth Cullen, was also a Canadian. Both are deceased. Mr. Bliss was educated in dif- ferent colleges of Canada, receiving an exceptional commercial education, and began his business career in that country, with the Grand Trunk Railroad. He was later with that road in Portland, Maine, re- maining with the organization until coming to Texas three decades ago. The first years he spent in this state he was also engaged in railroad work.

Mr. Bliss was married at Port Arthur, the thir- tieth of October, 1901, to Miss Mina Baker, a native of this city, and the daughter of William Baker, also a native of this section, and a member of one of the real pioneer families of Southeast Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Bliss had two children, a son, Anson, a graduate of the Port Arthur high school, and a student at Stanton Military College, at Stanton, Virginia, at the time of his death, during the in- fluenza epidemic in 1920. He was at that time

1748

MASibland (

Formagel

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

seventeen years of age, and a student whose bril- liance gave every promise of a career of distinction. The daughter, Ada, is a student in the school of Port Arthur. The family reside at 2947 Procter Street, and have one of the fine homes of the city. Mr. Bliss is a member of the Elks Club, the Rotary Club, and is identified with every civic movement. He was a great friend of John W. Gates, and like him, has been active in all development here since the early days of the city's history. It is stated that Mr. Bliss has more friends here than any other two men, and these friends are from every walk of life, rich and poor alike. He is interested in the wel- fare of the entire city, contributing to all benevo- lent organizations with a fine unostentation, and will do anything in his power to secure the advance- ment of Port Arthur.

RED H. DRUNAGEL, whose career for the past quarter of a century has been closely allied with the progress of Port Arthur, has influenced the prosperity of this city to a marked degree, and has taken an active part in its development. Mr. Drunagel, as a building contractor, planned and built many of the business buildings of the city, and although now retired from active business life, has many interests here, includ- ing business and residence property. Mr. Drunagel came to Port Arthur in January, 1900, just a few years after the township was laid out, and began his career as a building contractor. In the years that followed, he built the Realty Building, the Linn Motor Company Building, the Tyrrel Building, Stock Building, Brinkmann Building, the Lutheran Church building, the American Express Company Building, the Telephone Building and many others, very few of the contracts for larger buildings going to any other concern. He also built many homes here, among them twenty-three residences that he owns. Mr. Drunagel has made many real estate invest- ments in Port Arthur, the first building he pur- chased being the Telephone Building, and has the record of never having sold a piece of property that he has bought, holding all residence and business properties as one of the best investments he could make.

Mr. Drunagel was born at Hannibal, Missouri, the fifteenth of October, 1871. His father, Henry Dru- nagel, a native of Ohio, and later a resident of Pitts- burg, Kansas, retired and came to Texas in 1900, his death occurring on September 16th, 1923, at the age of eighty-two years. His mother, whose maiden name was Miss Mary Steghemper, was also a na- tive of Ohio, and now makes her home at Port Ar- thur. Mr. Drunagel was educated in the schools of Pittsburg, Kansas, and in his teens learned the car- penter's trade, following that line in Pittsburg until he came to Texas. He came to this state and to Port Arthur in 1901, because his father was anxious to retire and escape the Northern winters, but would not come South unless his son came with him. After coming to Port Arthur Mr. Drunagel began as a building contractor, specializing in large buildings, and has built more brick buildings in this city than any other contractor, perhaps more than all the others combined.

Mr. Drunagel was married on June 16th, 1908, to Miss Anna Rodenburg, a native of Kansas. Four children have been born to the couple, two, Franklin and Fred, Jr., surviving, and two, Elsie and Anna

Marie, being deceased. The family reside at 3100 Procter Street; this fine brick home, located on a beautiful ten-acre estate having been built in 1918. He is a director of the Port Arthur Building and Loan Association and of the Port Arthur Country Club, and a member of the Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Drunagel is very much inter- ested in his home, preferring the comradeship of his family to clubs and organizations. His family are affiliated with the Lutheran Church. He is one of the sterling residents of Port Arthur, and through his interest in the development of this city has been a factor in its upbuilding.

YDNEY C. COLLIN has been identified with shipping enterprises at Port Arthur for the past decade and a half, and is an authority on all phases of ocean transpor- tation, particularly from the standpoint of the steamship agent and broker. Mr. Collin is owner of the firm of Sydney C. Collin and Company, a busi- ness established by him at Port Arthur in 1915, and which he has since directed. This company is fore- most in the shipping field and Mr. Collin repre- sents some twenty-five of the leading steamship companies of the world. He maintains a suite of offices in the Merchants National Bank Building, at Port Arthur, and has a force of four assistants who look after the routine of the business, leaving to him executive matters, and questions of major impor- tance. Mr. Collin is also a partner in the firm of Collin and Conover, one of the principal freight brokerage concerns of Houston, handling a general freight brokerage business, with Mr. Conover in charge of the Houston office.

Mr. Collin was born at Newcastle on Tyne, Eng- land, the twenty-sixth of February, 1880. His fa- ther, Thomas Collin, who was also born at Newcas- tle on Tyne, has spent his entire life there, retir- ing several years ago after sixty years with Sir W. G. Armstrong-Whitnorth and Company, Ltd., one of the largest shipbuilding and engineering con- cerns in the world. Mr. Collin's mother, before her marriage, Miss Lydie Porter, is deceased. Mr. Col- lin was educated in England, at Rutherford College, and after finishing his education went with the Employers Association in England, a concern inter- ested in shipping and engineering. He was with them from 1905, when through the influence of his brother, T. J. Collin, who had been a resident of Port Arthur several years, he left England, coming to the United States and going to New Orleans, where he was held up on account of yellow fever. He had to go by way of St. Louis to get to Port Arthur, arriving in this city in 1905. He has been connected with the export and shipping business since that time, and is one of the leading shippers of this city.

Mr. Collin was married at Port Arthur, the twen- ty-fifth of September, 1907, to Miss Cora Reid, a native of the Lone Star State, and the daughter of Dr. D. S. Reid, for many years one of the most prominent members of the medical fraternity of the Lone Star State, but who is now an invalid, and makes his home with Mr. and Mrs. Collin, at 640 Stillwell Boulevard. Mr. Collin is a director of the Rotary Club, and a past president of that organiza- tion, a director of the Chamber of Commerce, and a real civic leader, taking an active part in all de- velopment work in the city and port.

1751

MEN OF TEXAS

ENRY E. BRINKMANN, although asso- ciated with the development of Port Arthur from the early days of the city's history, has been a resident here less than a decade, during which time his activities have largely influ- enced civic progress. Mr. Brinkmann owns much property here, some of which he bought as early as 1896, and as he has never disposed of any of the property he has acquired, his interests have mount- ed until he is one of the largest property owners here. He built the Brinkmann Building, one of the most important of the earlier structures, in 1906, and the New Brinkmann Building, one of the finest buildings in Port Arthur, and an important addition to the business center, in 1914. He was one of the organizers of the Seaboard State Bank of Port Arthur, one of the strong and capably directed fi- nancial institutions of this city, and is vice president of the bank. Although he has not engaged actively in business here, looking after his extensive inter- ests, he has been a factor of prime importance in the development of the city, and is one of the most constructive business men here.

Henry E. Brinkmann was born at St. Louis, Mis- souri, the seventeenth of May, 1863, the son of Fred Brinkmann, a planter of Missouri throughout his lifetime. As a boy Mr. Brinkmann attended the Lutheran school at St. Louis, and remained on the farm with his father until he was twenty-four years old. At that time he moved to Pittsburg, Kansas, and went in the truck farming business, engaging in truck farming on a large scale for twenty-eight years. In 1896 he began investing in Port Arthur property, while it was cheap, and his interests here have increased many times in value, and are bring- ing in large rental returns.

Mr. Brinkmann was married at Pittsburg, Kansas, in 1890, to Miss Minnie Wehmyer (deceased since 1916), a native of St. Louis, whom he met and married in Kansas. They have three children, George, a director of the Seaboard State Bank of Port Arthur, and a truck farmer, who is married and has one child; Amanda, who lives with her fa- ther, and Louis H. Brinkmann of the Brinkmann Auto Company, dealers in Port Arthur for Willys- Knight and Overland cars. The Brinkmann home, at 3500 Procter Street, one of the finest homes in the city, was built by Mr. Brinkmann in 1916 at the time he came to Port Arthur to make this city his home. The home is located on a beautifully planned and cared for tract of five acres, and is one of the most attractive houses here. Mr. Brinkmann finds his chief interest in his family and home, and has never cared to join clubs or other organizations. He is interested in Port Arthur's development, aid- ing in civic work, and contributing generously to the general welfare of the community.

ETER C. PFEIFFER, one of the most pro- gressive business men of Port Arthur, and one of the largest contracting stevedores in this section of the coast, has been a factor in the shipping business here for many years, and has taken an active part in the development of Port Arthur. Mr. Pfeiffer is the exclusive owner of P. C. Pfeiffer Company, stevedore contractors for Port Arthur, Beaumont, Orange, Port Neches and Sabine, and has one of the largest stevedore contracting businesses in the gulf water. He

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 2, Part 102

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