New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 103

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

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maintains his headquarters at Port Arthur, where he has offices in the Barnes Building, and directs operations from this city. Mr. Pfeiffer employs from twenty-five to seven hundred men, according to the ships in docks to be loaded. The business was first established by Mr. Pfeiffer and George Gute, and operated as a partnership until 1915, when Mr. Pfeiffer bought out Mr. Gute's interest and has since operated the business alone.

Mr. Pfeiffer was born at New Orleans, the sixth of May, 1880, son of J. P. J. Pfeiffer, a resident of Louisiana for many years, and whose death oc- curred there. Mr. Pfeiffer attended the public schools of New Orleans, and is a graduate of the high school there. After finishing school he began work for the Southern Pacific Railroad at New Orleans, and after some time with that road went with the Texas and Pacific, also at New Or- leans, and still later went with the Interna- tional and Great Northern at New Orleans. His railroad experience covered a period of five years, spent in the operating department. In 1901 he went to Houston and was with the Interna- tional and Great Northern there for almost a year, and then went to Palestine, also with that road, remaining in that city for two years. He was then sent to New Orleans, where he remained seven months, after which he was transferred to Galveston. He remained in Galveston only a short time, and then came to Port Arthur, and in 1908 was elected mayor of Port Arthur, holding this office until 1911, and making many municipal im- provements during his administration. After his term of office expired he, with George Gute, estab- lished the contracting stevedore business, in which he has since been active, and of which he has been exclusive owner since 1915.

Mr. Pfeiffer was married at Palestine, Texas, in 1902 to Miss Buna Brown, a Texas girl. Mr. and Mrs. Pfeiffer have one child, Louise, a graduate of the Port Arthur schools and a Ward-Belmont student, class of 1924. The family reside at 1835 Procter Street. Mr. Pfeiffer is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and fraternally is an Elk. He is a thoroughly public spirited citizen, intensely interested in the growth and development of Port Arthur, and active in all public work.

ESSE J. COOK, although a resident of Port Arthur but a few years, has become firmly established as one of the most progressive business men of the city, and has taken a deep interest in civic activities. Mr. Cook is the proprietor and lessee of the Central Hotel, the lead- ing hotel at Port Arthur. This modern hostelry, built in 1917, occupies a fine five-story brick build- ing, with a large lobby, and approximately one hun- dred modern rooms, assuring the visitor in Port Ar- thur with adequate and comfortable hotel accommo- dations. Mr. Cook took over the hotel in 1923, in June, and since that time has made a number of improvements in the hotel, and in the management. He is an experienced hotel man, known throughout the state for the modern and up-to-date hotels in which he has been, or is now interested, among the latter being the Little Texas Hotel, at Mexia.

Mr. Cook was born at Leona, in Leon County, Texas, the eighteenth of October, 1885. His fa- ther, D. J. Cook, a retired Baptist minister, and now a resident of Madisonville, Texas, was a native

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of Alabama, coming to Texas as a young man. Mr. Cook's mother, whose maiden name was Miss Mary Spann, is deceased. Mr. Cook received his educa- tion in the public schools of East Texas, and after leaving school began with the Kirby Lumber Com- pany in 1902, remaining with that organization until 1915, in the lumber mills of East Texas. In that year he entered the hotel business, going to Mineral Wells, where he operated a hotel for three years. He then went to Graham, Texas, where he operated a hotel for eighteen months, afterward going to Mexia, where he built the Little Texas Hotel, man- aging that until coming to Port Arthur in 1923.

Mr. Cook was married the twenty-ninth of April, 1913, to Miss Ada Boyette, a native of East Texas, and a member of a pioneer Texas family. Mrs. Cook has taken an active interest in her husband's busi- ness, assisting him in the management of his hotel interests, and is a real partner in the business. They reside at the hotel and have one child, Jessie Marie. Fraternally Mr. Cook is a Mason, being affiliated with Bronson Blue Lodge No. 873, and Botts Chap- ter, No. 167, R. A. M.

ENJAMIN LANATA, for the past several years a factor in the insurance business at Port Arthur, has built up one of the fin- est general agencies in this section, and is known to the insurance world as a real producer. Mr. Lanata is general agent for the Occidental Life Insurance Company, one of the strong American companies that has forged its way to the top, and has a large volume of insurance in force. Mr. Lanata has under his direction eight counties in this section of the state, with a local agent in each county, and has organized a well functioning organ- ization. He is one of the outstanding producers of Port Arthur, and one of the most successful pro- ducers with the Occidental Life Insurance Company. His personal record shows that he has put a record volume of business on the books of the company since opening the Port Arthur office. His policies are constructive, and have been largely reflected in the building up of a star general agency. Mr. La- nata has his office in the New Brinkman Building, and has had charge of the agency here since 1916.

Mr. Lanata was born at New Orleans, Louisiana, the twenty-fourth of September, 1878. His father, the late E. B. Lanata, was also a native of New Orleans, and a factor in the life of his day. His mother, before her marriage Miss Henrietta Du- Bois, was a native of Louisiana. Mr. Lanata re- ceived his education in the public schools of New Orleans, and after finishing his education began his business career in that city. Until 1898 he was a salesman, in that year enlisting in Company L, Second Louisiana Regiment, during the Spanish- American War, and serving throughout that con- flict. After the war he went to San Antonio and went in the grain business, and later in the life insurance business. He has been with the Occidental Life Insurance Company for more than a decade, first in San Antonio, then in Houston, as special agent, and coming to Port Arthur in 1916 to estab- lish the general agency of which he is the head.

Mr. Lanata was married at San Antonio the twen- ty-ninth of November, 1908, to Miss Maye Taylor, a native of Northwest Texas, and the daughter of Thomas P. Taylor, who came to Texas from his native state of North Carolina as a young man, and

Celestine Truax Taylor, both of whom are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Lanata have two children, Ione, wife of T. G. Cordua of Port Arthur, and Mrs. Fay Nell Jacobs. They reside at 1909 Thirteenth Street. Mr. Lanata is a member of the Retail Merchants Asso- ciation, and fraternally is a Knight of Pythias and a Dokey. While primarily an insurance expert, and known to insurance men throughout the state, Mr. Lanata finds time to take an interest in all activi- ties whose purpose is for the growth and advance- ment of the city, and he has done much for the development of Port Arthur.

OUIS H. BRINKMANN, who came to Port Arthur around a decade ago and became identified with the automobile business, has since become one of the leading automobile dealers here, representing one of the better known manufacturers, and has found this city ripe in busi- ness advantages. Mr. Brinkmann is the owner of the Brinkmann Overland Company, which he estab- lished in 1923, and which has since had charge of the distribution of Willys-Knight and Overland cars in this city, and has done much to popularize these dependable automobiles here. At the time of open- ing the business Mr. Brinkmann occupied a modern new building, designed and built especially for the business, by Henry Brinkmann, his father, and owned by him. The building has a number of un- usual features, including a most attractive show room, a complete and carefully designed parts de- partment, and a service department that assures Willys-Knight and Overland owners in this section real service. Mr. Brinkmann has a force of five employees, each representing a highly trained type, and his sales force, under his direction, is of un- usually high caliber, and made up of men who are real producers. Since the establishment of this business there has been a marked increase in the number of Willys-Knight and Overland cars to be seen on the streets here, and the business has been a success in every way.

Louis H. Brinkmann was born at Pittsburgh, Kan- sas, in 1897, the son of Henry Brinkmann, formerly of that city, and now of Port Arthur, where he is one of the foremost capitalists and bankers. He has done much to encourage civic growth here, build- ing several business buildings of the best type of construction, and investing in enterprises of im- portance to the development of the city. His son, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the schools of Pittsburg, and received his early business training there under his father, looking after the sales end of his large truck farming interests. Mr. Brinkmann came to Port Arthur in 1916, at that time going into the automobile business, where he developed into one of the finest salesmen in the city. Later, in 1923, he established his present busi- ness, the Brinkmann Overland Company, capitaliz- ing his sales ability, and his ability as an executive very successfully.

Mr. Brinkmann resides with his parents, at 3500 Procter Street, and takes an active part in the so- cial life of the city. Among the younger business men he takes the lead in all progressive civic work, and he is known to the automotive business, both at Port Arthur and in trade circles elsewhere, as one of the most promising representatives of this business.

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UDGE ANDREW W. DYCUS, for the past decade one of the most interesting figures in the public life of Port Arthur, has in the two decades of his practice in the Lone Star State held a high place in the esteem of the bench and bar. Judge Dycus is senior member of the firm of Dycus and Shivers, one of the foremost legal firms of Port Arthur, and one that has proven itself most advanced in all civic improvement. Judge Dycus is also corporation judge of Port Arthur, and performs with distinction the judicial functions as- sociated with this office. He has established a rec- ord as an authority on the various matters that have come before him for consideration in the course of his judgeship, and has won the approval alike of his associates and the public at large. In addition to dispatching the duties of this office, Judge Dy- cus handles a large private practice, and has been connected with some of the most important and hard fought legal battles to come up in the courts here in the past decade. Robert A. Shivers is junior member of the firm of Dycus and Shivers and of- fices are maintained at 4181/2 Procter Street.

Judge Dycus was born at Liberty Hill, William- son County, Texas, the thirty-first of May, 1879, the son of T. L. Dycus, a native of North Carolina, and later a resident of Georgia, who came to Texas in 1868, and still makes his home in this state, and although well past his eightieth year is active. His mother, before her marriage was Miss Sarah Smith, a native of Tennessee, and a niece of Tay- lor Smith, one of the most historical characters of the United States, and one of the true pioneers of the country. As a boy Judge Dycus attended the country schools at Liberty Hill, and later studied law, and was admitted to the bar in Galveston, in 1908. He began his practice at Beaumont, and dur- ing that year was associated with H. G. Robertson. He came to Port Arthur in 1914, and in 1916 was elected city attorney, holding this office for five years, and is now corporation judge. Judge Dycus is also active in various enterprises, and is a direc- tor of the Seaboard Bank and Trust Company, vice president of the Texas Realty Company, vice presi- dent of the Model Realty Company, Inc., and has other business interests.

Judge Dycus was married at Beaumont, the fifth of November, 1907, to Miss Willie Neadham, a na- tive of Cameron, Texas, and the daughter of W. S. Neadham, who came to Texas as a young man. Judge and Mrs. Dycus reside at 2248 Thomas Boule- vard, and have two children, Lila Catherine, and A. W. Dycus, Jr. Judge Dycus is a member of the I. O. O. F., W. O. W., a charter member of the local Lions Club, which he helped organize, and is chairman of the board of deacons and the board of trustees of the First Baptist Church, and an active church worker. He is commander of the Dick Dow- ling Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, and is active in all civic work. Judge Dycus is in every way an outstanding citizen of his community, wheth- er as lawyer, civic worker, or private citizen, and few men have done more for the community than he.

EORGE M. SIMS was appointed to the posi- tion of Superintendent of Public Instruc- tion of the Public Schools of Port Arthur, Texas, in 1913, and the fact that this city has the finest school system of any city of its size in the state is largely due to the efforts of

Mr. Sims. The public schools of Port Arthur are of a character which reflects the progressive spirit of a superintendent having the welfare of the pub- lic schools at heart. At the present time there are five handsome and well equipped school build- ings designed for the education of the white children of the city, and one equally pretentious building for the use of the colored students. These schools are conducted on a plane of higher education which has placed Port Arthur in the front rank among the progressive educational centers of the country. The white schools are divided four grade schools and one high school. The grade schools are the Franklin, De Queen, Lamar and Griffin. The colored grade school is known as the Lincoln School. The buildings and grounds devoted to school purposes, and now in use are valued at $1,- 600,000.00, $700,000.00 of which was spent during the year 1923 on improvements of various kinds. There were enrolled during the 1923 scholastic year 6,800 pupils. A total of two hundred people are employed at the Port Arthur schools, one hundred and seventy of whom are teachers. The payroll each year amounts to more than $200,000.00. Mr. Sims has devoted his entire life to educational mat- ters, and began his career as a teacher in Brazos County in 1900, and at that time was at Baylor University. He later went to Johnson County and taught in that county for two years, after which he was for two years employed in teaching in Hamil- ton County. He was then made superintendent of the schools of San Marcos, Texas, and remained there in that important position for a period of five years. He was then appointed assistant superintendent of public instruction of the State of Texas, which position he held for one year and then came to Port Arthur in order to accept the postion which he now holds. In addition to his many important duties as superintendent of public instruction here, Mr. Sims finds time for other matters for the good of the city and community. He is a former president of the Rotary Club, and is one of the founders and organizers of the Boy Scouts of Port Arthur, and has devoted much time to this organization, and is a recognized leader of the boys of this city.

A native Texan, Mr. Sims was born in Johnson County on July 5, 1875. His father, W. F. Sims, a native of Alabama, came to Texas in 1868, and was a farmer and stock man of Johnson County during the remainder of his life. His mother was Miss Emma Lenoir, a member of a well known family of Louisiana, and is now residing in Johnson County, Texas, on the Sims homestead.

His early education was obtained in the public schools of Johnson County, after which he attended Baylor University at Waco for several terms and then began teaching. He later attended the Uni- versity of Texas, and in 1918 took a post-graduate course at the University of Chicago.

Mr. Sims was married at Waco, Texas, June 28th, 1905, to Miss Ruby Wemyss, a native Texan and a daughter of John Wemyss (deceased), well known business man of Central Texas. They have two children: Wilma and George M. Sims, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Sims reside at Griffin Residential Park, Port Arthur, Texas. Mr. Sims is popular, not only in the educational circles of Port Arthur, but in the busi- ness and social circles as well. Since coming to this city, he has made a host of friends and is one of

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the most highly esteemed citizens of Port Arthur, where he is regarded as one of the leading educa- tors of the present day.

Mr. Sims feels that the teaching profession of- fers many opportunities for rendering service and improving the conditions of juvenile life. He has attempted to make active these two principles throughout the public school system of Port Arthur and his widespread popularity here is an indication of his success.

W. WILLIAMS, one of the attorneys of the Jefferson County bar, began the prac- tice of his profession at Port Arthur, a quarter of a century ago, and has continued to follow his vocation here until the present time. Mr. Williams' practice is of a general civil nature, and he has devoted considerable attention to cor- poration law. He is retained by the First National Bank, the Eastern Texas Electric Company, and other large firms. Mr. Williams began his practice at Port Arthur in 1898, and in 1900 was elected city attorney, which office he held until 1910. Since that time he has devoted all his time to his private practice and he has one of the largest in the city.

Mr. Williams was born in Iowa County, Iowa, the fourteenth of February, 1874, the son of Evan E. Williams, who is now a resident of Iowa. Mr. Wil- liams attended the public schools of his native state, later entering the State University of Iowa, where he received his LL.B. degree, in 1898. At that time he had read much of the development of Port Arthur, and the future that this city offered the professional man, and came here, established his practice, and has continued to make this city his home.

Mr. Williams was married in Kansas City the 26th of November, 1898, to Miss Ina M. Murchison, a native of Iowa, and the daughter of Adam S. Murchison. Mr. and Mrs. Williams reside at 1515 Procter Street, and have five children, Evan Murchi- son, Anna Elizabeth, Ina Josephine, wife of A. W. Walker, Jr., of Dallas, Texas; Irene Hwfa, and J. W., Jr. Mr. Williams is a director of the First Na- tional Bank, and president of the board of trustees of the Port Arthur Business College. Fraternally he is a Mason, being affiliated with Cosmopolitan Blue Lodge, No. 872, and belongs to the Elks Club and the Rotary Club. He is especially foremost in all civic work, taking a deep interest in the ad- vancement of Port Arthur.

M. BARRIER, pioneer realtor of Port Ar- thur, has been for two decades associated with the development of this fast growing Gulf Coast city, and is that type of real estate man who is above all a city builder, and without whom cities could not be built. Mr. Bar- rier operates his business under his own name, and has his offices in the Barrier Building, at 425 Proc- ter Street, occupying the same site that he opened in 1906. He constructed the first brick building in this block, some ten or twelve years ago, and later remodeled the building. Mr. Barrier enjoys the distinction of being the oldest real estate man in business in Port Arthur at the present time. Of the other old timers in the business, who were here when he first came to the city in 1906, some have moved away, and others have died, until he alone is left of those who took so important a part in

the development of the young city. Mr. Barrier has watched the development of Port Arthur from the time when lots in the business district could be bought for around three thousand dollars, to the present, when they would bring ten times that, if indeed, they should be placed on the market at all. Through his personal activities development has been encouraged, and he has advocated real estate investment in Port Arthur from the early days. The city is also indebted to him for real estate subdivision development, and he has encouraged the buying and developing of outlying tracts, cutting this undeveloped acreage into city lots, and making attractive residential sections that add much to the beauty of Port Arthur. Mr. Barrier has an ac- curate knowledge of land values in this section, and few men here are better informed as to land titles, conveyances and the ownership of various proper- ties. Mr. Barrier also handles a general insur- ance business, and writes a large amount of insur- ance annually.

Mr. Barrier was born in Philadelphia, Mississippi, the fifteenth of November, 1869, the son of Foster Barrier, a native of Mississippi, and a member of a family whose history has been identified with that state for the past hundred and fifty years, and Fannie (Kelly) Barrier. Mr. Barrier attended the public schools of Mississippi for a time, later con- tinuing his studies alone, and eventually became an educator, teaching school in Mississippi for a short time. He then became a railroad man, and for twelve years was associated with transportation activities. The next quarter of a century he was a merchant and saw mill operator of Mississippi and Louisiana. It was while engaged in those industries that he became attracted to Port Arthur, a city then in its infancy, and came here from Mississippi in 1904. He began with C. Flanagan, stevedore con- tractor, and was with him for around a year and a half, employed as bookkeeper, and handled real estate on the side. In 1906 he made the decision to open a real estate office, and secured a small building on Procter Street, that occupied the site of his present building. His partner in this under- taking was E. A. Lockland. In addition to his real estate business, Mr. Barrier has other business in- terests here, and owns city property, both business and residence.

Mr. Barrier was married at New Orleans the twenty-eighth of January, 1897, to Miss J. Eva Holden. Mr. and Mrs. Barrier have three children, N. M., Jr., associated with his father in business, Joseph McVea, a University of Texas graduate, and who has chosen law as his vocation, and Leona Mariam, a University of Texas student. Since com- ing to Port Arthur Mr. Barrier has taken an active interest in the development of the public school system, and was elected a member of the school board in 1905. He was then appointed and served five years as school tax assessor and collector, this office being filled from the board's membership. He has been active in all development work, and has taken a place of leadership in the business world. He is a member of the Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce, one of the organizers of the Port Ar- thur Country Club, and a member of the First Meth- odist Episcopal Church, South. Mr. Barrier is hon- ored as one of the builders of Port Arthur, and is in every way a substantial resident of the city.

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ILAM R. KLEAS, for almost two decades identified with business enterprises of com- mercial importance at Port Arthur, and for the past several years one of the most pro- gressive automotive merchants of this city, has given his best energy to the business and civic ad- vancement of the community, and has won the high- est respect of all who know him. Mr. Kleas is vice president and manager of the Linn Motor Com- pany, distributors in Port Arthur for America's two best known cars, the Ford and the Lincoln, and for the sturdy Fordson. The business was estab- lished and incorporated in 1921, in October of that year moving into their new home, at 846 Procter Street. This building, a modern structure, one hundred by one hundred and forty feet, is not only the finest automobile building in the city, but is one of the finest buildings in Port Arthur, and is a distinct asset to the business center. This building is well arranged, the attractive display rooms allowing am- ple room for the display of the popular Ford, and the Lincoln, and providing for them an environ- ment that shows the cars to advantage. The parts department, which is kept open during the day and until nine o'clock at night for the convenience of the motoring public, and the repair shop, render a service distinctly in keeping with the service policy of the Ford Motor Company, and the local reputa- tion of the Linn Motor Company. In these two departments every effort is made to give all patrons, and Ford and Lincoln drivers, a service that will eliminate any cause of friction, and make their ownership of these cars a pleasure. The company also handles Michelin and Seiberling tires, and is one of the most complete automobile merchandising businesses in the city. The officers of the Linn Motor Company are: Edward Linn, president; M. R. Kleas, vice president and manager; Harry Single- tary, secretary and treasurer.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 103

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