New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 114

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

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H. IVEY, of Galveston started his career in the cotton business at the early age of fourteen years and has been continuously engaged in that industry since that time. Mr. Ivey is the owner of E. H. Ivey and Company, cotton brokers, with office at 21171/2 Avenue B, and is among the largest handlers of the fleecy staple in Galveston. The present firm was organized five years ago, and for two years was operated under the name of Blum and Ivey when Mr. Ivey purchased his partner's interest, and has conducted the busi- ness alone since that time. Seven experienced peo- ple are employed by this firm in their offices at Galveston, Houston and Dallas. During the seven- teen years in which Mr. Ivey has been engaged in the various branches of the cotton industry in this city, he has won the reputation of being an expert and an authority on everything related to the buy- ing and selling of cotton. During the first nine years of his experience he was employed by W. L. Moody and company, after which he was for three years associated with J. St. Mary, and for the past five years has been engaged in business for him- self and has met with unusual success in his deal- ings in cotton.

A native Texan, Mr. Ivey was born at Galveston in 1892. His father, R. Ivey, is well known in the business circles of Galveston, where he has resided for many years. His mother was Miss Florence Blaney, a member of a pioneer Texas family. His education was obtained in the public and high schools of his native city which he left in order to engage in the cotton industry.

Mr. Ivey was married at Galveston in 1915 to Miss Louise Lacorne, a member of a well known and pioneer family of the Island City. They have two children, E. H. Ivey, Jr. and Robert William. Mr. and Mrs. Ivey own their home at 3301 Avenue O. He is a member of the B. P. O. E. and is active in this fraternal organization. He is also a mem- ber of the various cotton exchanges of the state and the New Orleans cotton exchanges, and is a con- sistent member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Ivey is regarded as one of the most progressive cotton

1824

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NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

men of Galveston, and is the executive head and sole owner of one of the largest concerns of its kind owned and operated by one individual in the country. He has always been active in the business, social and general community life of Galveston, and is always interested in all projects tending to the welfare and advancement of his city. Mr. Ivey is optimistic as to the future of the cotton industry of Galveston, and believes that this business will continue to be the greatest in the Southland and that with the establishment of the cotton mills in Texas, that the cotton industry will be greatly encouraged.

OBERT E. KIRK has been a resident of Gal- veston for more than two decades, having come to this city in 1901 following the dis- astrous storm which wrought such havoc in 1900. During most of this time he has been ac- tively identified with law enforcement in the city and county of Galveston and is now serving his first term as Sheriff of Galveston County, a position to which he was elected in November, 1922.

Bringing to the sheriff's office many years of experience as a peace officer, Mr. Kirk has es- tablished an enviable reputation throughout all of South Texas as an able and fearless officer and law enforcement in the territory included in his jurisdiction has not been subject to criticism at any time during his administration, although it is con- ceded that Galveston County is one of the most dif- ficult in all Texas to supervise by peace officers. The many miles of water front and hundreds of acres of swampy, marsh land afford ideal protec- tion to law breakers with consequent added work and perils for the officers of the law.

Service to five different courts is afforded by Sheriff Kirk and his force, including the Fifty-Sixth and Tenth Judicial District Courts, Galveston Coun- ty Court, County Court at Law and the Court of Civil Appeals located at Galveston. Evidencing the efficient manner in which the work of the sheriff's office is handled, during the year 1923 a total of eight thousand seven hundred legal papers and pro- cesses were served by Sheriff Kirk and a force of three deputies.

Mr. Kirk is a native of Georgia and was born at Rome on October 22, 1881, a son of Wm. Hudson and Isabelle (Clemantine) Kirk. When ten years of age he removed with his parents to Temple, Texas, where his father engaged in farming and where Mr. Kirk received his education in the schools.

After completing his studies Mr. Kirk also en- gaged in farming for a short while and then for seven years was engaged in railroad work before removing to Galveston. After coming to this city he was connected with the Galveston Electric Com- pany for four years and then became identified with the Galveston city police force, remaining with the city for fourteen years. He served in various capaci- ties on the police force, including that of sergeant and acting chief. For two years he was a special officer with the Santa Fe Railway Company. Dur- ing his many years work as a peace officer Sheriff Kirk has had many thrilling experiences and has made for himself a host of friends.

In 1900 Mr. Kirk was married at Rogers, Texas, to Miss Edith Adams, daughter of a well known hotel man of Rogers. Mr. and Mrs. Kirk have two children, Estelle, 22 and Robert, 20.

Sheriff Kirk has always taken an active interest in the work of civic and fraternal organizations and is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Sons of Her- man, Loyal Brotherhood, and the Red Men. A man of splendid personality he is highly popular among his friends and associates and is regarded by all classes as one of the ablest officers Galveston Coun- ty has ever had.

ORTHY BOYD of Galveston, Texas, engaged in the cotton business at an early age and has spent his entire life in the various branches of the cotton industry. Mr. Boyd is one of the state cotton weighers at Galveston and has held this responsible position for more than thirty years, which makes him in point of service, one of the oldest cotton weighers of the Island City. He weighs cotton for buyers and sellers of cotton and works at all the compresses, docks and ware- houses in Galveston. He employs four men regular- ly and additional labor when needed. Mr. Boyd in- herited his liking for the cotton business, and was raised in an atmosphere of this great industry where he is regarded as one of the most accurate and re- liable men engaged in this particular line of work. His office is located at 21091/2 Avenue C. Mr. Boyd came to Galveston with his parents in 1872, and soon after leaving school was employed by local cotton firms in their clerical departments. He con- tinued to work in the various lines of the cotton business until he entered his present work of weigh- ing cotton.

Mr. Boyd was born at New Orleans, Louisiana, on March 14th, 1859. His father, William Boyd, was one of the best known cotton men of his time, in his particular line. His early education was ob- tained in the public schools of Galveston, after which he attended the A. and M. College of Texas.

Mr. Boyd was married at Galveston on December 28th, 1889, to Miss Clare E. Sieling, a member of one of Galveston's oldest and best known families. Her father, who died many years ago, was prominently identified with the business life of Galveston and was one of the builders of this city. He retired from active business pursuits prior to the marriage of Mrs. Boyd. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd reside at 2205 Avenue L. Mr. Boyd is a member of the Galveston Cotton Exchange and has always taken an active interest in this organization. He is also a member of the Galveston Country Club and many other of the city's social and business organizations. He is op- tomistic as to the future of Galveston and the cotton industry of this state, and believes that Texas is yet in its infancy in the production of cotton, and that the fleecy staple will ever be the money crop of the Lone Star State, regardless of diversification. With the improved methods of farming, and the successful destruction of all the cotton pests, which have invaded the fields of the state, more cotton, and better cotton will be produced here in the years that are to come. The high density compresses have worked wonders for the shipping facilities to Euro- pean countries, making it possible to load in one vessel a much greater number of bales than was formerly possible. Mr. Boyd has great faith in the future of Galveston, and never loses an oppor- tunity to say a good word for the city and its people.

1827

MEN OF TEXAS

OBERT A. LYONS, JR., whose home and business headquarters are at Galveston, is a well known merchant of this section, and has taken an active part in the commercial life here for many years. Mr. Lyons and brother are the owners of the Lyons Hardware Company, a business established in 1901, succeeding the Bryan Hardware Company. The Lyons Hardware Com- pany occupies a modern building at 2219 Avenue E, and does a large wholesale and retail business, the wholesale business being limited to Galveston Coun- ty. A complete line of general hardware is carried, with cutlery and sporting goods, the latter line in- cluding guns, ammunition and fishing tackle as well as complete sports outfits.

Mr. Lyons was also the organizer and is the moving spirit of Lyons Hunting Preserve, or Lyon's Camp, a seventy thousand acre preserve in Cham- bers County, leased for a period of twenty years by a small club, established in 1908 largely due to Mr. Lyons efforts. This preserve is fifty miles east of Galveston, in Chambers County, on what is known as White's Ranch, and is easily accessible by rail from Galveston, to Sea Breeze, after which the wagon road of five miles through the marsh country, is followed. The house, a five-room hunt- ing lodge, fully equipped with every facility for the use of hunters, is at the disposal of club mem- bers, and hunting, trapping of muskrats, alligators, coon, mink, and like game, is indulged in. Mr. Lyons has not missed a week-end spent in either hunting or fishing for five years, often going with W. L. Moody on fishing trips or to the camp. Mr. Lyons says that this section is truly the hunters' and fishers' paradise the year round, and has done much to encourage these sports. Fishing is espe- cially good at the jetties, a wall of natural rock, extending out in the ocean eight miles. Every opportunity is offered those who delight in pitting their skill as a fisherman against that gamest of all fish, the tarpon, which are found in the gulf in this particular section. Fishing piers are main- tained which furnish all a fisherman needs and excursion boats make the round trip from Galveston at regular intervals. At White's Ranch the people make a business of caring for the hunters, meeting trains, supplying food and keeping the lodge open, and also furnish guides. Mr. Lyons is one of the best known sportsmen of the state and has hunted with big men from all over the country who come here to visit this territory.

Robert A. Lyons was born at Galveston, the twelfth of August, 1884, the son of Robert A. Lyons, who came to the island as a boy, and whose death occurred just after the storm of 1900. His mother now resides at Pasadena. As a boy Mr. Lyons attended the public schools of Galveston. In 1900 the Galveston storm killed practically all his rela- tives here. His father died shortly after the storm, leaving Mr. Lyons, then a boy of sixteen, to care for his mother and twelve younger brothers and sisters. He began work for Guy M. Bryan, who picked him up after the storm and gave him a posi- tion. Here he worked regardless of hours, deter- mined to get ahead and care for his mother and his brothers and sisters, and his ambition was no small factor in his success, the passing of the years giving him opportunity to care for and give a college education to each of the twelve brothers and sisters who wanted to go to college. Later Mr.

Lyons took over the hardware business of Mr. Bryan, whose friendship he values most highly, and has made a definite success of this business.

Mr. Lyons was married at Ottawa, Illinois, in 1909, to Miss Mayme Feehan, a member of an Illinois family, and whom he met while on a pleasure trip in the north. Mr. and Mrs. Lyons have four chil- dren-Richard, William, Bob and Catherine. Mr. Lyons has given each child a gun on his seventh birthday, and is training them to be real sportsmen. Mr. Lyons is a member of the Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce, and is president of the Bank- ers' Loan and Building Association, a corporation of $10,000,000, and is one of the most highly es- teemed citizens of Galveston, standing for progress and better business methods, and has done much to insure the growth of the city. Fraternally he is an Elk and an Eagle.

F. NAWADNY, for around a decade a resi- dent of Galveston, has for several years past been identified with the laundry busi- ness here and has one of the fastest grow- ing commercial laundries in the city. Mr. Nawadny is the owner of the Uneeda Laundry, which he es- tablished at Galveston in 1919, and which he has since operated. He handles all classes of laundry work, giving the housewife a choice of the various services, and has built up a large and rapidly grow- ing business. The plant of the Uneeda Laundry, which is located at 1908 Avenue "D" is equipped with modern laundry machinery, and has facilities for handling all work in a satisfactory and efficient manner. Mr. Nawadny does work in Galveston only, and has a fleet of five auto trucks covering the city and giving prompt delivery service to his patrons. He maintains a force of around twenty-seven em- ployees at all times and during the summer months increases this number to around forty. Additions to the plant are now under consideration to cope with the increase in business.

A. F. Nawadny was born at New Orleans, Louis- iana, the eighteenth of May, 1877, the son of A. L. Nawadny, a machinist, now of Monroe, Louisiana. Mr. Nawadny obtained his education in the schools of Monroe. He came to Texas in 1896, and after a time spent in looking over the state, returned to Monroe where he had his first laundry experience, as driver, and later in various departments, until he was made plant manager. After fourteen years at Monroe in the laundry business Mr. Nawadny re- turned to Texas, going to Denison, where he spent three years in the laundry business, after which he came to Galveston, and went with the Model Laun- dry here. Three years later he established the Uneeda Laundry, bginning with no capital and no help, and at that time had but one electric washer and three electric irons. In the few short years since the establishment of the Uneeda Laundry in that small way, Mr. Nawadny has developed the business until it is modern and well equipped in every way and is a permanent, substantial business, owned and operated by himself.

Mr. Nawadny was married at Galveston the twelfth of February, 1898, to Miss Willie Hester Clements, of this city. They reside at 2420 K Street, and have one child, Elizabeth Nawadny. Mr. Na- wadny is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Retail Merchants Credit Association, and fraternally is a Woodman of the World.

1828

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

C. BOWDEN, pioneer contractor of Galves- ton, who has taken an active part in for- warding the development program of the city, is known throughout the state as a building and construction engineer whose work is characterized by a permanent quality that has been a factor in his success. Mr. Bowden conducts his contracting business under his own name, maintain- ing his office at 1801 Avenue C. While formerly most of his work was in Galveston, and he has con- structed many of the more important buildings here, his work has expanded until he operates as far north as Dallas, and has built many of the larger buildings in this territory, including many of the brick buildings at Alvin and most of the brick build- ings at Texas City. Mr. Bowden operates along the coast as far west as Orange. He builds principally on the cost plus basis for corporations and does not do much competitive bidding work. Mr. Bowden has a crew of from five hundred to one thousand men working for him at all times, and has complete equipment to handle construction work of any size. During the past five or six years he has done some $4,000,000 of construction work. Mr. Bowden also deals in real estate, owning property in Galveston, on the mainland, and in various Texas cities, in New York, and in North Carolina. He also makes build- ing loans, loaning his own capital on Galveston property for building purposes. Mr. Bowden is also president of the Island City Woodworking Company, a business incorporated in 1908, and beginning active business in 1909. This company is located at 1801 Avenue C, and manufactures mill woodwork, and also sells lumber, building materials, roofing, paints and builders' supplies, handling a large volume of business and employing a force of twelve people.

Mr. Bowden was born in North Carolina, the twen- ty-seventh of August, 1867, the son of L. N. Bow- den, and the grandson of Morris Bowden and M. C. Butler, both of North Carolina, and who were large land owners and among the wealthy people of that state before the Civil War. As a boy Mr. Bowden attended school in a log cabin school house seven miles from his home, walking the distance back and forth, and finding a three months term all he was able to afford. As a boy of seven years of age he became interested in Sunday School work, and for the ensuing seven years did not miss but two Sun- days from Sunday School attendance. Forced to ter- minate his public schooling, and yet ambitious to succeed in the business world, Mr. Bowden left home at an early age to learn the woodworking trade, going to Wilmington, North Carolina, where he learned this craft through practical experience. While there he further improved himself through attending night school, studying mechanical and civil engineering, and while he has never entered this profession, he has found the knowledge of me- chanical and civil engineering of practical value in his work as a construction engineer. Mr. Bowden came to Galveston as a young man, and with a cap- ital of but little more than three thousand dollars and a knowledge of woodworking and building engi- neering, from which assets, coupled with a pioneer- ing determination to succeed he has been successful.

Mr. Bowden was married at Galveston the twen- ty-seventh of January, 1897, to Miss Martha Ellen Collins of Galveston. Mr. and Mrs. Bowden reside at 1227 Avenue G, and have four children, Ruth,

Marian, Gladys and Ellen. They attend the Episco- pal Church. Mr. Bowden belongs to the Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Club and fraternally is a Mason, Tucker Blue Lodge, is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite, Mason Chapter, Commandery and a member of El Mina Temple Shrine at Galves- ton. Mr. Bowden is a fine type of the self-made man of the old school, valuing his integrity far above any material success, and as a contractor has stood for the highest type of workmanship. In dis- cussing the future of Galveston he calls attention to the building program, pointing out the many pro- posed improvements in public buildings, construc- tion being planned and started, and remodeling of present construction, all indicative of a prosperous and rapidly growing city.

ETER J. VAUTRIN, although now retired from active business life, was for three decades prominently identified with indus- trial activities at Galveston, and is widely known over the state for the many important con- struction contracts he handled during that time. Mr. Vautrin came to Galveston in 1891, working in var- ious lines until 1904, when he began in the contract- ing business, three years later, in 1907, establishing the firm of Kelso and Vautrin, contractors and builders and construction engineers handling storm drain, sewerage, paving, side walk and like construc- tion work. This firm handled ninety per cent of all sidewalk and drainage work at Galveston from 1907 until 1916 and also constructed all storm drains, sewerage, street paving, curbs and like work, this work being given to the firm through competi- tive bidding. The firm also handled all water works and sewer construction for the government at Fort Crockett, and has handled many other important contracts, including all of the boulevard, with the exception of some two or three blocks. The firm continued as a partnership until Mr. Kelso's death, in 1912, and was then continued by Mr. Vautrin until his retirement in 1916. Mr. Vautrin used his influence and gave his services free to the Automo- bile Club in their work to have the boulevard ex- tended through Fort Crocket to connect direct with West Beach. This has now been consummated.

Peter J. Vautrin was born at Antioch, California, the eleventh of November, 1867. His parents died during his babyhood and he spent his early years in California, where he attended school when opportun- ity presented. His first work was in the mines of California, as a boy, and later he began laying cement sidewalks and handling paving work. He came to Galveston in 1891, his career since that time having been given in the first part of this sketch.

Mr. Vautrin was married at Galveston, in 1908 to Miss Ida Hantsche, a native of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Vautrin have four children, one daughter, Miss Anna Vautrin, and two step daughters, Miss Ruth Vautrin, who is supervisor of domestic science in the schools of Galveston, and Louise, wife of Robert Erwin, dredging engineer at New York City, also a step-son, Harry M. Seelen, in the auto electrical business at Galveston. The family home is at 2518 F Street. Mr. Vautrin is a Mason, Scottish Rite, and a member of El Mina Temple Shrine, and is also a Knight of Pythias, Eagle and Elk. He has been one of the most active exponents of paved streets and good roads in this section, and has attained the highest esteem of his associates in the business world.

1829

MEN OF TEXAS

J. WARREN, 2315 Avenue E, head of the plumbing and heating business which bears his name, has been a resident of Galves- ton all his life and is one of the best known business men here. He has been doing plumbing and heating contracting since 1915 and now has the lar- gest establishment of its kind in Galveston.

The shops and display rooms located at 2315 Ave- nue E are splendidly equipped and one of the lar- gest stocks of plumbing supplies and fixtures in Texas is carried by Mr. Warren. An average of fif- teen expert mechanics are employed and the con- stant increase in business is the best testimonial to the splendid character of their work. The plumb- ing and heating for many of the largest buildings in Galveston was installed under direction of Mr. Warren and his signature to a contract has come to be recognized as an unfailing bond and guarantee that the job will be done according to specifications in the most minute detail. He has never tolerated shoddy or inefficient work and has established a widespread reputation for honesty and fair dealing.

A native of Galveston Mr. Warren was born July 25, 1888, a son of C. F. and Helen (Dunshie) War- ren. His father, who died in 1904, was for more than forty years a painting contractor in Galveston.

Mr. Warren received his education in the public and high schools of Galveston and early in life en- gaged in the plumbing business. He worked for other concerns for a number of years and had a nice business of his own established when the storm of 1915 wiped him out. He soon re-established his busi- ness, however, and now has the largest plumbing and heating establishment in Galveston.

In 1913 Mr. Warren was married in Galveston to Miss Ida H. Mayo, daughter of Martin Mayo, well known Galveston business man. They have three children, C. W., A. J. and Mayo Bruce. The family own their home at 3317 R1/2 Street.

Mr. Warren takes an active interest in civic af- fairs and is a Mason, a member of the Scottish Rite organizations and of El Mina Temple Shine. He is a man of splendid personality and intensely inter- ested in the growth and development of his native city, ready at all times to aid in effort looking to this end.

HARLES M. HESS of Galveston, Texas, has for several years been active in the business and financial circles of this city, where he is regarded as a leader in his chosen line of business. Mr. Hess is manager of and partner in the Ideal Dry Cleaning and Dyeing Company of Galveston which was constructed in 1920 by the Model Laundry Company in order to take care of the increase in their business. It has at all times been operated as an independent concern, but is owned by the same men who own the Model Laundry. Mr. Hess obtained his experience with the Model Laun- dry, of which he is one of the owners. The build- ing of the Ideal Dry Cleaning and Dyeing Company, which is located at 613-619 25th Street, is con- structed entirely of reinforced concrete on the main floor, with a portion of the building containing two stories. This plant is completely equipped with all modern machinery and is the last word in latter day plants of this kind. The Ideal Dry Cleaning and Dyeing Company do all kinds of work in their var- ious branches and clean anything that can be

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 114

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