New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 120

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

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Mr. Hastings was married at Olean, New York, the fifteenth of January, 1889, to Miss Catherine T. Malone. Mr. and Mrs. Hastings have one son, William Hastings, Jr., with the sales department of the Vacuum Oil Company, who makes his head- quarters at Dallas. Mr. and Mrs. Hastings reside at Texas City, and are members of the Catholic Church. There has ever been associated with his name a sterling integrity that has influenced his entire career, and has made him known to his many friends and associates as a "mighty square man." He enters heartily into the life at Texas City, and is active in all work for the advancement of this place, both as a residence city and as an industrial center. In the oil business there are few men more highly regarded, and his many years of practical experi- ence, and the fund of practical knowledge he has acquired, make his opinion on petroleum matters of especial weight.

1863

MEN OF TEXAS

OUIS P. TSCHUMY, who has found Gal- veston ripe in business advantages dur- ing his many years of residence here, is one of the leading marine electrical experts here, and has a large and well established electrical business. Mr. Tschumy is the owner of the firm of L. P. Tschumy and Company, operating a large Marine Electrical works, and also dealing in elec- trical machinery and supplies, as well as doing a large house wiring and ship wiring business. Mr. Tschumy specializes in marine work, field to which he has given special study, and in insulation and construction work in the electrical field. He has a fine retail store at 517 Twenty-first Street, where he keeps a large stock of electrical goods, employ- ing some fifteen skilled workers. His is one of the oldest electrical houses in Galveston, and has handled many of the larger and more important con- tracts here for years. Some of the electrical work done by Mr. Tschumy is as follows: Southern Com- press & Warehouse Co., steel building; Tschumy Jewelry Store; "Roosevelt" boat owned by Gal- veston Pilot Association; "Maybell" boat owned by W. L. Jones, Houston Pilot Boat No. 2, and many others. He builds entire radio plants and has been very successful in everything electrical he under- takes. He represents the General Electric Co. in Galveston, in matters pertaining to motors, lamps and electrical apparatus. During the war he did work for the United States government.

Louis P. Tschumy was born in Europe, the sec- ond of May, 1875, the son of Louis Tschumy, who later came to Galveston where he engaged in the jewelry business for many years, until his death in 1911. His son, Louis P. Tschumy, the subject of this sketch, was reared in Galveston, attending the schools here, and after finishing his education went in the machine shops of the Santa Fe Railroad, re- maining there for one year. He spent the next three years in various foundry and machine shops, then went to California, where he remained one year, following this with one year engaged in electrical work in New Mexico, and one year engaged in electrical construction work at Dallas. He then re- turned to Galveston, doing electrical work for the Galveston News for a time, and later working with Clark and Courts. In 1903, he established his present business, the firm at that time being known as Lowe and Tschumy. Two years later this firm was dissolved, and Mr. Tschumy spent three years as United States engineer in fortification work, in charge of all electrical installation in this dis- trict. He then resumed his business, reorganizing the firm as L. P. Tschumy & Co., in which R. J. Murray was a partner. This company was dis- solved in 1912, and the business continued as L. P. Tschumy & Company.

Mr. Tschumy was married at Galveston, in 1909, to Miss Bertha Virginia Seixas, a native of Louisi- ana, and the daughter of DeLeon Seixas, a cotton and hardware dealer of Dallas and Shreveport. Mr. and Mrs. Tschumy have three children: Louis Seixas, DeLeon and Elsie Bertha Tschumy. Mr. Tschumy is a member of the Elks Club, the Cham- ber of Commerce, the Commercial Association and is a charter member of the Houston Builders' Ex- change. For many years he has been particularly active in all work directed toward the commercial development of Galveston.

AYMOND R. RAPP, well known Galveston architect, has been a resident of the Island City for a number of years, having come here in 1917. During this time he has been connected with a number of major building operations and since 1920 has been engaged in gen- eral architectural practise under his own name. Mr. Rapp maintains offices at 417 Guaranty Building, where he has one of the most complete architec- tural establishments to be found in this section of the state.

Among the building operations conducted under the direction of supervision of Mr. Rapp are a num- ber of schools, churches and fine residences in Gal- veston and other South Texas cities. The value of buildings constructed under the supervision of Mr. Rapp and from plans drawn by him, during the year 1924, totaled more than a quarter of a million dol- lars, making the large building program since he began business for himself in 1920.

A native of Kentucky, Mr. Rapp was born at Louisville on August 1, 1896, a son of H. T. and Theresa Rapp. After receiving his preliminary edu- cation in the parochial and high schools of Louis- ville, Mr. Rapp attended Saint Xavier's College and the University of Louisville, specializing in archi- tectural design.

After completing his University course, Mr. Rapp came to Houston as special architect for the Rus- sell-Brown Company, remaining with this concern for a year before locating in Galveston.

During the World War, Mr. Rapp was connected with the Infantry forces of the United States and attended the officers training camps at Waco and San Antonio, receiving his discharge on December 10, 1918. He was then connected with the United States engineering department for a while, doing special work in the designing of concrete founda- tions and abutments for forts and harbor work.

In 1919 Mr. Rapp was married in Galveston to Miss Edith Reybaud, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Reybaud and a native of Galveston. Mr. Rey- baud is a well known accountant. Mr. and Mrs. Rapp have one son, Raymond, Jr., four years of age. The family home is at 1810 Avenue K.

A man of splendid and engaging personality, Mr. Rapp takes an active interest in civic affairs and is a member of the Galveston Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club and of the Knights of Columbus, fourth degree.

AMILTON R. ANDERSON is one of Gal- veston's younger business men whose ef- forts have been crowned with success. He is the proprietor of the Broadway Cleaners, a modern and scientific cleaning plant located at 2215 Avenue F. Mr. Anderson first came to Gal- veston in 1912 in charge of the cleaning plant in connection with the Rex Laundry. He remained with this concern until the latter part of 1918 at which time he started business for himself in the same line, cleaning and pressing, at 2023 Broadway. His work met with instant favor and in March, 1919, he was able to move his business down-town to its present location at 2215 Avenue F. He bought out- right the lot on which the plant stands and erected the building which he now also owns. This building was specially designed as a cleaning and pressing establishment and is of brick and concrete con- struction. The latest and most modern equipment

1864

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

is used and continually old equipment is being re- placed by more modern appliances. Mr. Anderson believes thoroughly in keeping abreast of the times. He recently installed at great expense the Con- tinuous Flow System of cleaning which is the most recent advance in this art. The plant is equipped to do all forms of cleaning from the sheerest silks to the greasiest of overalls. Associated with Mr. An- derson in the business is Mr. H. E. Spear, as office manager, who has proven to be a decided acquisi- tion to the business because of his experience and an unusual ability to sense the needs of the public. Fifteen people are employed the year around and three automobile wagons are kept constantly on the go. Mr. Anderson is president of the Broadway Cleaners and his wife, Mae Anderson, is secretary and treasurer.

Hamilton R. Anderson was born at St. Paul, Min- nesota, July 13th, 1884, son of Charles B. Anderson, a native of Minnesota, but who was for many years a farmer in Oklahoma. His mother, prior to marriage, was Miss Lusetta Edwards, a native of Indiana. She died when the subject of this sketch was fifteen years old. He received his preliminary education at the public schools of Kingfisher, Okla- homa. After leaving school he engaged in various forms of commercial work until 1908. From 1910 until 1912 he was in the dry goods business at Verdon, Oklahoma. In 1912 he moved to Galves- ton where he laid the foundation for his present business.

On January 16, 1907, he married Miss Mae John at Verdon, Oklahoma. She is a member of a well known Kansas family, her father being well known in rail- road circles. Two children were born of the union: Gerald, a student of Allen Academy, Bryan, Texas, and Christine, a student at Fort Crocket. Frater- nally he is a Mason of Tucker Lodge, Galveston, and is also a member of the Chamber of Commerce. His church association is with the Central Christian Church.

Mr. Anderson has by strict attention to business and a study of scientific methods, built up an or- ganization that is a credit to Galveston, of which city he is an ardent booster.

E. STOUT for the past quarter of a cen- tury has been well known at Friendswood for his activities incident to the develop- ment of this section, and in addition to being a practical horticulturist, has done much ex- perimental work of a scientific nature. Mr. Stout came to Friendswood in 1896, and is not only one of the oldest settlers of this community, but one of the first to give serious attention to figs as a commer- cial crop. Since that time he has been a factor in developing the Magnolia fig in this locality, and has done as much, if not more, development work than any man here. He has twenty acres of Magno- lia figs, carefully cultivated, and yielding a large crop of high class fruit. Mr. Stout was also one of the largest orange growers here some years ago, and had one of the big orange groves in Friends- wood, but has recently been giving his attention to figs, which he finds better adapted to local condi- tions than citrus fruits.

Mr. Stout was born in Chatham County, North Carolina, the twelfth of May, 1849, son of William M. Stout, a farmer and land owner of that state, and Phoebe Stout. He attended the public schools of

North Carolina, and after finishing school turned his attention to farming and horticulture. In 1865 he went went from North Carolina to Kansas, where he engaged in farming and stock raising until 1896, when he bought a farm at Friendswood, and came here. He planted his first figs in 1899, and his first oranges in 1902, getting his first crop in 1906. In 1909 he had six acres of Satsuma oranges, for which he received more than six thousand dollars gross receipts. Heavy frosts, however, have dam- aged his citrus groves. Mr. Stout gives most of his attention to figs and encouraging the Satsuma orange growing in this section.

Mr. Stout was married in Kansas, in 1892, to Mrs. Sarah Mowry, daughter of a farmer of Ohio. They have one of the attractive homes in Friendswood, and are Quakers. Mr. Stout is especially interested in experimental work along horticultural lines, and has done much of importance in this field. He early turned his attention to development work with the Magnolia fig, and through careful selection of stock, has developed a pure stock of proven adaptability, and that can be profitably developed in this locality. Mr. Stout has been a leader in the fig growing in- dustry here, working co-operatively to solve not only his own problems, but those of other growers, and the locality owes much to him for his patient experimental and development work.

ZIEGELMEYER, JR., has for twenty-eight years been engaged in the cotton business in Galveston and is firmly established in this cotton center as one of the leaders in this important industry. His offices are at 20101/2 Avenue B, where he is engaged in the cot- ton brokerage business at this time and has many clients in this field. Mr. Ziegelmeyer is well known, not only in this country but throughout Europe, where for many years he has been active in the cotton markets.

A native Texan, Mr. Ziegelmeyer was born at Richmond, Texas, on August 10th, 1883. His father, A. Ziegelmeyer, a native of Germany, has been a resident of Galveston for many years, and during much of the time he has resided in the Island City, he has been associated with the Merchants Associa- tion as secretary of this organization, and is well known in the business circles of Texas. His mother was prior to her marriage, Miss Antoinette Koschel, a native of Brazoria County, Texas, where she was a member of one of the pioneer families of the Lone Star State. His education was obtained in the public schools of Galveston and at other cities of Texas.

Mr. Ziegelmeyer was married at Galveston in 1911, to Miss Claribel Burch of Galveston, and a member of a well known family of this place. Mr. and Mrs. Ziegelmeyer reside at 2002 31st Street. Mr. Ziegelmeyer is a member of the B. P. O. E., and takes an active interest in this organization. He is a member of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Ziegel- meyer has devoted his entire life to the various branches of the cotton industry and knows cotton, perhaps as few men know it. He has made a com- plete study of cotton, its cultivation, gathering and preparation for market, and this study has been a valuable asset to him in conducting his business, and has had much to do with the success which he has attained along the lines of his chosen pro- fession.

1865

MEN OF TEXAS

B. DAVISON, one of the first residents of Texas City, has been associated with the development of this community from the earliest days, witnessing the progress here from the days of the straggling village of the early nineties, until it has become a prosperous city, the center of a great petroleum area, and in all this development has taken an important part. For about a quarter of a century of this time Mr. Davison has engaged in the merchandising business, building a mercantile establishment that is an integral part of community life, and a distinct addition to the business center. He carries a full line of groceries and general supplies, the business occupying a good location in the Southern Hotel building. In addi- tion to the retail store a large warehouse, centrally and conveniently located, is used for the storage of surplus stock. Mr. Davison is also financially in- terested in several enterprises of importance to the prosperity of the city, and holds stock in the Texas City Ice Plant, and the Texas City National Bank. Although primarily a business man, he has not neglected his public duties, and has held at various times public offices, and has taken a leading part in all civic advancement.

Mr. Davison was born in Michigan, the second of October, 1854, the son of Oliver Perry Davison, who was named for Commodore Perry, and Mary Clarke Davison, a native of Yorke, England. His grandfather, Colonel Davison, was an officer in Washington's army during the Revolutionary War, and was later sent to Western New York to handle Indian trouble there, and after leaving the army settled near Rochester, New York. The family has been identified with the history of the United States since the early colonial days, and is among the old- est American families. As a boy F. B. Davison at- tended the public schools of Michigan, and later went into the grocery business in that State, spend- ing a number of years in that business at various points in the State. He first came to Texas in 1891, locating at Galveston, where he made his home and engaged in business at Texas City in April, 1893, when he was appointed postmaster here, serving four years, until 1897, and resigning upon the election of President Mckinley. Mr. Davison was the first postmaster to serve at Texas City, and he saw the early beginning of the town, being in the employ of the land company that laid out Texas City, and established the townsite. In 1900 he established a grocery store, in a small way, this store growing and prospering to keep pace with the rapidly growing community, and is now one of the largest merchandising establishments here. Mr. Davison also served one term as city commissioner.

Mr. Davison was married at Howell, Michigan, the twenty-sixth of February, 1884, to Miss Florence Haven. They have a family of eight children -- Mary, Gene, George and Dan, born in Michigan, and Christine, Margaret, Perry and Florence, born in Texas City. Two of the sons, Dan C. and George O., are associated with their father in the mercantile business. Mr. Davison has been for many years a Mason, and belongs to Lodge No. 1118, Texas City. One son, Dan, is a thirty-second degree Mason, and a member of El Mina Temple Shrine of Galveston, and the other, George, is a member of the Blue Lodge, and to the eighteenth degree in the Consis- tory of Galveston. The daughters are all members of the Eastern Star.

T. SMITH came to Texas in 1909 from Pearl River County, Mississippi, and located at Friendswood, where he engaged in the raising of oranges, which he still continues to do. After a short while at Friendswood he turned his attention to fig growing, which was already started here by others. At that time the pre- serving plants had not been established, and while the climate and soil were admirably adapted to this industry, there was no market for the large crops of figs produced. He next engaged in farming, having his land planted to cotton, corn, peanuts and other farm products in which he was very success- ful. In 1920 he purchased his present homesite which had at the time splendid fig acreage, which is now twenty acres. The four acres of the oldest trees produced in 1922 an average of $500.00 per acre in revenue, and after the freeze and cutting back in 1923, produced approximately $200.00 per acre. During this same year, from two acres of nursery stock, Mr. Smith sold $3,200.00 worth of trees which were transplanted, and in fine condi- tion. Mr. Smith owns thirty-five acres of very fine land in the Friendswood area, all of which he has planted to various fruits and nursery stock. In 1919 he took charge of the N. E. Stout place here on working interest plans and has made a success of this farm, which he operated from 1919 to 1923 in- clusive, and it was here that he became known for his successful fig culture. During these years he purchased his present farm, and began the develop- ment on same. He plans to have here in the near future, a model, modern orchard home, in every re- spect in keeping with his modern horticultural meth- ods. His land would produce good crops for many years without fertilizers, but he fertilizes his trees by modern, scientific methods, and is regarded as an authority on fig growing, orange breeding and modern horticultural methods in this portion of Tex- as, all of which he has gained through experiments and practical application. Mr. Smith is active in the affairs of his county and State and in July, 1922, was elected to the office of justice of the peace of Precinct No. 6, and established a reputation in this office. In July, 1924, he was nominated for the of- fice of county commissioner, Mainland Precinct No. 6, Galveston County and carried this election over two other strong candidates.

Mr. Smith was born in Pearl River County, Mis- sissippi, on June 14th, 1888. His father, Ira Smith, was engaged in farming in Mississippi. His educa- tion was obtained in the public schools of his na- tive State.

Mr. Smith was married at Houston to Miss Elsie Marie Allen, a native Texan and a member of a well known family of Friendswood. Her father, S. V. Allen, resides with Mr. and Mrs. Smith, her mother having died when she was an infant. They have one daughter, Velma. Mr. and Mrs. Smith reside at their country home at Friendswood. Mr. Smith is a member of the A. F. and A. M. with membership in League City Blue Lodge No. 1053, and is a member of the I. O. O. F. at Pearland, Texas. He is ex-president of the Farm Bureau and is very active in this organization. He is very in- terested in all organizations, for the betterment of the fig growing industry in this portion of the State, and is known as an authority on horticulture, and is very popular in his own and contiguous counties.

1866

Fraux B. Savison

Mrs Florence H. Dawson

&D alemus

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

DGAR DAVID ALTEMUS has for more than a decade been one of a group of hor- ticulturists who have taken an important part in the development of Friendswood, and his name is of special significance in the fig- growing industry. Mr. Altemus has the largest individually owned fig orchard in this section, with three hundred acres planted in figs. He has spent many years studying this branch of horticulture, and this, with years of practical experience, has been a factor in his success. Mr. Altemus uses tractors to handle the work of cultivating his or- chards, and employs modern methods in all his oper- ations. His stock is unusually good, and in addition to raising figs for the market, he also sells nursery stock. Mr. Altemus gets exceptionally good yields, as a result of his strict censorship of figs planted, and his scientific management of the orchard. The soil is admirably adapted to fig growing, being of the black waxy, or buck-shot type, and this, with the favorable climate and other conditions, make this one of the most important fig growing sections of the State. Mr. Altemus is vice president and director of the Fig Growers' Association, organized in 1924, as a subsidiary of the Texas Farm Bureau. This is a marketing association planned along the same lines as the California Citrus Growers Asso- ciation.

Mr. Altemus was born at Stoughton, Wisconsin, the nineteenth of November, 1869, the son of Nich- olas Altemus, a farmer and land owner, who came to Wisconsin from Pennsylvania, and Sallie Anne Altemus. He was educated in the public schools of his native State, attending high school there, and after finishing his education engaged in farm- ing. He came to Texas in 1910, locating at Friends- wood, and planted an orange grove of fifty-five acres. This was one of the best groves of citrus fruit here, and until the hard freeze of 1917, which destroyed it, produced fine flavored fruit which found a ready market. In 1914 Mr. Altemus first began planting his fig orchards, and after the orange grove was destroyed, gave his entire atten- tion to this crop.

Mr. Altemus was married in Wisconsin, in 1894, to Miss Myrtle Eva Robb, daughter of Nelson Robb, a dairyman of that State, and Corinda Robb. Mr. and Mrs. Altemus make their home in Friendswood, and have three children-Nicholas Nelson, Hazel Zeo and Merle Laverne. The family attend the Methodist Church. Fraternally Mr. Altemus is an Odd Fellow. Since coming to Friendswood Mr. Alte- mus has taken a deep interest in the development of this section, and has done much in a material way for its advancement. He is a member of the Texas Farm Bureau, working with that organiza- tion for the improvement of agricultural and horti- cultural conditions, and in 1923 was asked to make a talk on fig culture at Texas A. and M. College. In this latter field he is regarded as one of the foremost authorities in the State, and few men have done more to develop the fig orchards of this sec- tion than he.

E. MILLER, one of the recent recruits to the petroleum industry at Texas City, since coming here has been active in this field, and as an authority on exports is exerting an influence that is materially affecting the petro- leum industry generally, when viewed from an ex-

porting angle, and is of vital importance to the prosperity of the city. Mr. Miller is manager of the Marland Refining Company, coming here from New York City in July, 1923, to take charge of opera- tions. Mr. Miller is concentrating his attentions on building up the terminal facilities in barreling plant operations along with the bulk station. The Mar- land Refining Company has built a large foreign market for the products, and is gradually reorganiz- ing the export shipping end of the business so that all export shipments, formerly being made through New York, are being diverted through Texas City, and all export shipments are made direct from this point to all parts of the world. Mr. Miller's work in this line is attracting the attention of the busi- ness world at Texas City, and is one of the most important steps forward that has been taken in the Marland plant since its establishment, and marks a new era. As an export terminal manager Mr. Miller is well equipped, both by education and ex- perience, and fills this most difficult position in a capable manner.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 120

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