New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 115

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

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cleaned. Its dyeing plant is completely equipped to dye with the latest and most satisfactory processes. Thirty people are regularly employed at this estab- lishment, with an increase in this number during the summer months, as the tourist trade during this season doubles the regular business. It has its own delivery fleet of four large trucks and Mr. Hess makes service one of the main features of the estab- lishment. It also has its own garage and mechanics. The great feature of the Ideal Dry Cleaning and Dyeing Company is the Sales and Training School which is maintained in connection with the Model Laundry and which is free to all the employees. Be- fore coming to Texas, Mr. Hess was for a period of thirteen years in the amusement business, and in this work traveled to every portion of the United States. Prior to coming to Galveston, he was for several years engaged in the general mercantile business at League City, Texas.

A native of Connecticut, Mr. Hess was born on June 20th, 1881. His education was obtained in the public schools of his native state, which he left at an early age in order to enter the business world.

Mr. Hess was married at Galveston on May 19th, 1920, to Mrs. H. Johnson, a member of a pioneer Texas family. Mr. and Mrs. Hess reside at 3724 Avenue R. Mr. Hess is a member of the A. F. and A. M. with membership in the Blue Lodge of this order at League City, Texas, and is a member of the Scottish Rite body and the El Mina Shrine of this city. He is a member of the Rotary Club, in which he takes an active interest. He is also a member of the Retail Merchants Credit Association, and of the Southwestern Dry Cleaners Association and for a period of two years was a director in the latter organization. Mr. Hess is optimistic as to the future business life of Galveston, and believes that this city will lead the Southwest in the various lines of business within a short time.

ONALD N. MCKENZIE, architect, with of- fices at 21071/2 Post Office Street, is recog- nized as the dean of Galveston architects and from the standpoint of continuous practice is the oldest member of the profession in this city. For more than a quarter of a century, Mr. Mckenzie has been designing and superintend- ing the construction of mercantile establishments and residences in the city of Galveston. During his career, however, Mr. Mckenzie designed and built many of the more pretentious establishments of the city, including a number of very fine homes.

A native of Galveston, Mr. Mckenzie was born on November 18th, 1871, a son of Donald and Justine Mckenzie, pioneer residents of the city. His father, who died fifty years ago, was for many years con- nected with the leading lumber yard and planing mill here at that time. Mr. Mckenzie's mother died about seven years ago.

Mr. Mckenzie was given the best educational ad- vantages and after completing the public and high school courses in Galveston, he attended the Univer- sity of Texas at Austin for one year and then en- tered the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at Boston where he specialized in architecture. He attended Massachusetts Tech for three years. He re- turned to Galveston in 1898 and has resided here con- tinuously since then.

For several years he was actively identified with

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Gus. A.amundsenSe.

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

the work of the former Galveston Business League, and served on the organization's advisory board for three years. Mr. Mckenzie has never been married and resides at 1726 Postoffice Street.

US A. AMUNDSEN, JR., is a native of Galveston, Texas, and his activities in the business circles of this city began imme- diately following his school days. Mr. Amundsen is president and general manager of the Rex Steam Laundry Company, Inc., which was estab- lished and incorproated in 1907. In 1909 Mr. Amund- sen took over the active management. The Rex Steam Laundry, like many of the largest institutions of the country, was started in a small way. The loca- tion at that time was at 2415-17 Mechanic Street but grew steadily, and in 1912 the present plant was built at 1901-09 Avenue C. The building is a splendid brick structure, forty-two feet by one hun- dred and twenty feet in size, and equipped with all the latest modern machinery. The power plant, which is used with the motor-driven machinery, is the property of the Rex Steam Laundry. A feature of this laundry is its delivery fleet of fourteen trucks, and Mr. Amundsen makes "quality first" and satisfactory service one of the main features of his establishment. During a portion of the year, about one hundred people are employed by the Rex Steam Laundry, but during the summer months this number is increased to more than one hundred and sixty employees. The salary pay-roll of this establishment during the year 1923 amounted to more than $125,000.00. It used 1,250,000 gallons of water, 4,000 barrels of fuel oil and 15,000 gal- lons of gasoline in the service department. The work done by the Rex Steam Laundry is scientifically accomplished, and this work is in connection with the Mellon Institute and through the National Laun- dry Men's Association. The slogan of the plant is: "Build and Grow in Galveston." Other officers of the Rex Steam Laundry Company, Inc., which is valued at $165,000.00, are Gus A. Amundsen, Sr., vice president, and W. G. Amundsen, secretary and treasurer. Mr. Amundsen's greatest interest in life other than his business is the Playground Associa- tion, which owes the greater part of its success to his efforts. The object of this association is to develop virile manhood and graceful womanhood through properly supervised and equipped play- grounds. Mental stimulus and physical training are made an essential part of the Galveston play- ground work. The Galveston Playground Associa- tion was organized in 1916, and as is the experience of all pioneer institutions, has met with many vicis- situdes, but has accomplished much. A few of its accomplishments are: the acquisition of the Louis Adoue Playgrounds, the Morris Lasker Playgrounds and Menard Park Playgrounds, with graduate super- visors and full equipment, the construction of double tennis courts at Menard Park Playgrounds which compare favorably with any of the kind in the entire country, and many others. The last and greatest achievement was in securing the active interest of the city commissioners and generating a more wholesome and appreciative attitude toward recreational requirements in Galveston. Although a young man, Mr. Amundsen has had a wide and varied business career, which has been uniformly successful. His first activities were in the shipping circles of Galveston and he remained in this line

of endeavor for five years. He then went to Spindle Top, when that great oil field was brought in, and engaged in the several branches of the oil industry. He then returned to Galveston and engaged in the cigar business, and remained in this field of activity until he entered his present business.

Mr. Amundsen was born on June 13th, 1882. His father, Gus A. Amundsen, Sr., came to the United States as a young man, and after a short time spent in Chicago, located at Galveston. His mother was Miss Mollie Brandes, a member of a pioneer Texas family. His education was obtained in the public and high schools of Galveston, after which he at- tended a business college.

Mr. Amundsen is a member of the A. F. and A. M., with membership in Tucker Blue Lodge of this city, and is a member of the Scottish Rite body of this order, a member of both the Chapter and Consistory and is a Shriner of El Mina Temple. He also holds membership in both the B. P. O. E. and the Eagles, and is active in these organizations. He is a member of the Galveston Country Club and is vice president of the Aziola Club. Mr. Amundsen is district trustee of the Kiwanis Club, and a director of the local Kiwanis Club. He is a director in the Red Cross; vice president and director of the Sal- vation Army; a member of the advisory board of the Galveston Chamber of Commerce; a director of the Young Men's Progressive League; chairman of the Red Cross Drive for Japanese Relief; was a director of the Galveston Cotton Carnival for four years; president of the Playgrounds Association, and very active in this organization, and says that while it has accomplished much there is much more to be accomplished, and is ambitious for the follow- ing: More play and better lighting at night for the play grounds; establishing organized play for the schools, lighting school grounds at night and making available school grounds during the summer; secur- ing a full time athletic coach for the Ball High School; securing a recreational director to super- vise the entire city's play in all its phases; promo- tion of inter-organization meets; planning of com- munity festivals; city-wide activities among young people, especially during vacation periods; securing a permanent and equipped athletic field of approx- imately twenty acres, well located, and field houses for child play on the beach. Mr. Amundsen says that he will continue to work along the line of obtaining all of these until they are secured for the children of the Island City. Mr. Amundsen resides at 1803 Broadway. He is a consistent mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church, being president of the business men's club of that church. He is optimistic as to the future business of Galveston, and says that this city is better developed now than at any time in its history. The filling of the East End greatly increases the water front, and the West End filling has helped the growth of the city more than any other improvement during recent years. The work of Mr. Amundsen in the advancement and progress of his city, will ever remain a monument to his progressive spirit, and this added to the fact that for many years he has occupied a place of leadership in the business and civic life of his city on which indelibly he has impressed the seal of his usefulness, confirms the thought of all Galves- ton that he is one of the most public spirited citi- zens to which the Island City has given life and usefulness.

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MEN OF TEXAS

E. HANSON, one of the progressive ele- ment of business men at Galveston, has for around two decades been a factor in the forwarding and warehouse business, build- ing up an enterprise known in this section for its facilities and for the unusual service rendered its patrons. Mr. Hanson is the owner of Hanson's Sons, a business dating back to the seventies, when Charles Hanson, father of the present owner, estab- lished the business in a small way. Hanson's Sons engages in general transfer and draying operations, their principal business being in handling cotton and heavy machinery transfers. They act as forward- ing agents and distributors, and have a large and modern warehouse at the disposal of those desiring warehouse facilities. The firm also deals in sand, shell and building materials and has built up an extensive business in this line. Hanson's Sons has a fleet of thirty trucks, and employs a force of around fifty experienced forwarding men, this equip- ment and force of trained men making possible the "House of Service" as the business is known at Gal- veston. The warehouse and general offices of Han- son's Sons is located at 1515 Avenue B.

P. E. Hanson was born at Galveston the ninth of August, 1881, the son of Charles Hanson, who founded Hanson's Sons in the early seventies, and Emiline Hanson. He was educated in the public schools of Galveston, and after graduating from high school went to work in his father's business. On the death of the elder Mr. Hanson in 1909, P. E. Hanson assumed entire charge of the business, and has since directed Hanson's Sons along the con- structive policy which has resulted in one of the largest forwarding businesses in the State.

Mr. Hanson was married at Galveston, in 1900, to Miss Celestine Sanderson, daughter of Dave San- derson, a wholesale merchant of Galveston. Mr. and Mrs. Hanson had a family of ten children, eight of whom, Emily, Celestine, Edwin, Harold, Raymond, Dorothy, Elevera and Donald, survive, and two of whom, Lloyd and Rodney, died in 1913. The family reside at 2412 Avenue P1/2. Mr. Hanson is a mem- ber of the Galveston Country Club and is a Mason, Scottish Rite, an a member of El Mina Temple Shrine at Galveston. Mr. Hanson is known in the business world of Galveston as an executive of sound and progressive business policies, and forwarding men all over the State regard him as one of the leading representatives of this business.

OHN W. HOPKINS was for a period of almost thirty-five years actively identified with the public school system of Galveston, Texas. He came to this city in 1890 as principal of the Galveston High School, and was appointed superintendent of the Galveston Public Schools in 1896, and continued in this capacity until March 1st, 1924, except for one year, when he was granted a leave of absence in order to go with the University of Texas as visitor of schools. During his long period as superintendent of the public schools of this city, Mr. Hopkins has seen tangible evidence of his success in the work and accomplish- ments of the hundreds of pupils who obtained their education in the public schools of Galveston.

On March 1st, 1924, Mr. Hopkins became secre- tary-treasurer of the Security Trust Company, and has been a stockholder and director in this company since its organization in 1912. Other officers of

the Security Trust Company are Dr. William Gam- mons, president; W. S. Keenan, vice president; John P. McDonough, vice president, and Terry, Cavin & Mills, general counsel. The Security Trust Company is chartered under the banking laws of the state of Texas, and subject to regular examination by the Banking Department, legally qualified, and author- ied to act in any capacity pertaining to the handling of money or property that can be exercised by the individual. Because of its superior equipment in experience and money, it is able to successfully meet the needs incident to the proper care and protection of estates by providing experts to carry out the plans and purposes of those who entrust their affairs to its management.

A native of Kentucky, Mr. Hopkins was born in November, 1861. His father, John Hopkins, was a well known farmer and land owner of that state. His early education was obtained in the public and high schools of his native state, after which he entered the University of Kentucky and graduated from that institution in the class of 1887 with the A. B. degree. He later studied law at the University of Virginia. Mr. Hopkins is also versed in law, having practiced this profession for a few years in Hen- rietta, Texas.

Mr. Hopkins was married at Burlington, Iowa, on July 6th, 1914, to Miss Grace Branigan, a member of a prominent Iowa family, but she was engaged in teaching at Galveston when they met. They have two children, John, eight years of age, and Brani- gan, six years old. Both children were born at Gal- veston. Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins reside at 1516 Ave- nue H. Mr. Hopkins is a member of the Galves- ton Country Club, and many of the city's civic and educational organizations, in which he takes an ac- tive interest. Mr. Hopkins has built up the system of public schools of Galveston, and they are of a character which reflects the progressive spirits of the superintendent having the welfare of the pub- lic schools at heart.

LIVER S. YORK, attorney and postmaster of the city of Galveston, maintaining offices both at the Federal Building and at 417 City National Bank Building, is one of the best known men in Galveston and is conceded by busi- ness and commercial interests generally to be giving one of the best administrations of local postal af- fairs of any man who has ever served as postmaster here.

Mr. York became postmaster on February 6th, 1923, and the business of the Galveston office in- creased twelve and one-half per cent that year. The office has eighty employes, all engaged in work in the city.

The practice of law has engaged the attention of Mr. York since his admission to the bar in 1888. He practiced at Edna, in Jackson County, until in June, 1907, when he removed to Galveston and accepted the position of assistant United States district attor- ney. He served in this capacity until July, 1014, when he re-entered private practice.

Mr. York has been interested in politics since he was twenty years of age and has had a varied and interesting political career. He has never missed a state Republican convention since he attained his majority and was a delegate to the Republican na- tional convention in 1900 when Roosevelt and Fair-

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NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

banks were nominated. He was a member of the Twenty-eighth Texas Legislature from Jackson County in 1903.

Mr. York is a native of Alabama and was born in October, 1859, but came to Texas with his parents when only five months old and settled first at Port Lavaca, removing a few months later to Jackson County, where his father established a large ranch.

After attending local schools until he was sixteen years of age, Mr. York entered Saint Joseph's Col- lege at Bardstown, Kentucky, remaining there for two years, and then attended Eastman Commercial College at Poughkeepsie, New York. Returning to Texas, he engaged in ranching and ran cattle for fifteen years and later was elected county commis- sioner of Jackson County. During his term as com- missioner, the tax collector of Jackson County died and Mr. York agreed to straighten out the affairs of the office and fill out the unexpired term. Dur- ing this time he read law and was admitted to the bar in 1888.

On June 23, 1907, Mr. York was married at Smith- ville, Texas, to Miss Blanche Buttrill, daughter of J. W. Buttrill, well known stockman. Mr. and Mrs. York have two children, Oliver S. Jr., and a daugh- ter, Miss Xina. The family home is at 2001 Twenty- ninth Street.

Mr. York became interested in Galveston political affairs by being retained as attorney for one side in a local political dispute. He is anxious to see local factional disputes laid aside and petty jeal- ousies disregarded for the betterment of the city as a whole and believes that rapid strides are being made in this direction. He is a staunch booster for Galveston and believes the future possibilities of the city to be unlimited.

APTAIN EDWIN GOUDGE, senior member of the well known maritime firm of Edwin Goudge and Son, with offices at No. 4 Ma- rine Building, is and has been for many years one of the leading figures in maritime circles of Galveston. The captain has been a resident of Galveston since 1902, and during his more than two decades of active business life here has come to be among the city's most widely known business inen. Wher. Captain Goudge established his business in Galveston in 1902 it was known as the Galveston Stevedore Company, and operated under this name until 1921, when the style of the firm was changed to Edwin Goudge and Son, and Albert E. Goudge as- sociated as an active partner.

Goudge and Son operate as special representa- tives in all ports of Texas for the Bureau Veritas, with headquarters in Paris, France. Besides the representation of the Bureau Vertias, Goudge and Son handle the stevedore work for a number of the larger steamship lines calling at the port of Gal- veston. It is one of the biggest concerns engaged in this line of work here and its personnel numbers scores of men with an annual payroll running into many thousands of dollars.

A native of England, Captain Goudge was born in London on November 6th, 1864, a son of Charles William Goudge, well known leather merchant. He received his education in the schools of London and Liverpool and in 1878 took service with J. L. Bowes and Brother, large wool brokers. Remaining with the brokerage firm for two years, he gratified a longing to see the world and went to sea in 1880.

He sailed first to Shanghai and from there to Port- land, Oregon, and during the subsequent twenty-two years, in sail and steam, visited practically every port in the world.

Captain Goudge established an enviable record during the twenty-two years he sailed the seas. Dur- ing this entire time he was in the service of James Chambers and Company, original founders and own- ers of the famous White Star Line of ships. He rose to a captaincy with this line and happened to be with his vessel, the Kendall Castle, at Galveston, during the disastrous storm of 1900. The Kendall Castle, of six thousand tons burden, was moored at Pier 33 on the morning of September 8th, which was the day of the storm. As the water rose and the intensity of the hurricane increased, the steam- er drifted away from Pier 33, which was rapidly breaking up, drifted across the bay and eventually stranded at Texas City, two hundred feet from the shore line. When the water subsided, the vessel was hard aground, with only three feet of water around it. The Kendall Castle was eventually dredged off, and after minor repairs resumed her regular Galveston Antwerp direct service. Two years later the captain surrendered his master's berth and re- turned to Galveston to engage in business for him- self. While a staunch lover of the sea, and a devotee of all its time honored traditions, he has never re- gretted the decision to settle down at Galveston where he might be with his family and establish a business of a permanent character and devoid of many of the hazards incident to deep sea ship- ping. In 1912 he obtained his full American citi- zenship papers.

In 1894 Captain Goudge was married in Liverpool to Miss Marion Agatha, daughter of James Ellison, commissioner of the Sunderabund District, India. They have five children, Albert Edwin, associated with his father in the business of Goudge and Son; Doris Marion, physical director in the Galveston High School; Mavis Agatha, assistant physical instructor at the Dallas Y. W. C. A .; Maurice Ellis- son, a student at the Naval Academy at Annapolis, and Marjorie Ellen. The family home is at 3128 Avenue J.

Captain Goudge, during his entire residence in Galveston, has been an active participant in the civic affairs of the city. He is an enthusiastic mem- ber of the Rotary Club and second vice president of the Galveston organization. He is vice president of the local Boy Scouts Council and a great friend and benefactor of the Boy Scout movement. He is pres- ident of the Master Stevedore's Association of Texas and for many years has been prominent in the work of this organization. Captain Goudge is a member of the Galveston Country Club and his church affil- iation is with Grace Episcopal, where he is a war- den and a member of the vestry.

A big hearted, public spirited man, Captain Goudge is a splendid representative of the type of citizenship that has made Galveston one of the lead- ing ports of the world. Forgetfulness of selfish in- terests, with a desire to promote first of all the common good, has been characteristic of the life of Captain Goudge, and as a result he has woven into his business and into the civic fabric of the city of Galveston and impress of his character that can never be effaced.

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MEN OF TEXAS

E. LEOPOLD has for more than a quarter of a century been actively identified with the business life of Galveston, Texas, where he is one of the Island City's leading mer- chants. Mr. Leopold is the owner of the Leopold, Shafer and Company, 2309 Avenue D, which was established in September, 1909, and are dealers in men's and boys' clothing, furnishings, hats, shoes and everything carried by a first class men's fur- nishings store. A feature of this store is the Kiddy Barber Shop, which is one of the most pop- ular places in the city for the juvenile population. A specialty is made of bobbing ladies' hair in this department. Sixteen experienced people are em- ployed at the Leopold, Shafer and Company estab- lishment, where courteous treatment and service are the watch words. Mr. Leopold began his career in the clothing business with Ed Kiam of Houston, where he remained for two years. He then came to Galveston and for a period of thirteen years was associated with the E. S. Levy Company, where he developed into an energetic salesman, with won- derful salesmanship ability. Leaving this firm, he established his own business, where he has been very successful and has built up a trained organ- ization which functions properly and readily with the executive head of this large establishment. The interests of Mr. Leopold have been many and varied and his business activities have covered a wide territory. His life has been of that ample kind which overflowed the confines of a great business, and he has been compelled by the resistless urge of his vibrant mentality to seek other fields in order to keep him and his keen business mind properly occupied. Hence among his many activities, he took over the Galveston Baseball Franchise in 1920, where he found a run-down organization, owning few play- ers, and some worn-out bats and balls for equip- ment, besides owing debts for players purchased as far back as 1913. Today this organization is on its feet, with all debts paid, and every player on the 1924 team owned by the Galveston Club, which is as good as a AA Class Club. Splendid improve- ments have been made on the club grounds, and the Galveston organization is the only minor league team in the Texas Baseball Club which really owns its players in entirety. Mr. Leopold is the presi- dent of the club, and takes a keen interest in all its workings and successes, from which he obtains much pleasure.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 115

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