New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 122

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

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J. F. Dyer Moore was born in Fort Bend County, at Richmond, the eighth of February, 1890, the son of John M. Moore and Lottie Dyer Moore. Mr. Moore, Sr., cattleman and land owner of Fort Bend and Wharton Counties, has been active in the de- velopment of this section, and in addition to holding extensive business interests at Richmond, has served in both the State legislature, and as congressman from the Houston district. Mrs. Lottie Dyer Moore, the daughter of J. F. Dyer and the granddaughter of Thomas Barnett and Nancy Spencer Barnett, died the ninth of April, 1924. Mr. Moore attended the schools near his home through the elementary grades, at which time he entered preparatory school

in Washington, D. C., later entering the law depart- ment of the University of Virginia. He left the university before graduation, returning to Fort Bend County, where he began in the cattle business in 1908, following the traditions of his family, who have engaged in the cattle industry for the past century.

Mr. Moore was married at Richmond, Texas, the twenty-eighth of June, 1911, to Miss Lydia Davis, daughter of James Davis, and Emma (Darst) Davis, both of whom died during her childhood. Mr. and Mrs. Moore reside on the ranch, eight miles from Richmond. Mr. Moore is deeply interested in the history of Texas, and has a valuable collection of historical papers, among them the papers of his great-grandfather, Thomas Barnett, twice a mem- ber of the Congress of the Republic of Texas, and chief justice of Austin County in the days of the republic. Among these papers are the original com- mission of Mr. Moore's great-grandfather, Thomas Barnett, and like instruments, of interest not only to the family, but comprising documents of histori- cal value. Mr. Moore represents the modern, pro- gressive type of cattleman, who has the future of the industry at heart, and has done much to insure its development.

ILLIAM T. HANCOCK has for many years been identified with the lumber business at Houston, from a shipping angle, and is re- garded as one of the most expert traffic men here. Mr. Hancock is traffic manager for the Kirby Lumber Company, and has charge of the mov- ing of the vast output of the Kirby Mills, one of the most important and responsible positions in the en- tire organization. Mr. Hancock has been with the Kirby Lumber Company since 1904, when he began as chief clerk in the traffic department, becoming traffic manager in 1909, and holding that position to the present time. The Kirby Lumber Company, of which John Henry Kirby is president, is one of the largest lumber concerns in the country and is known through the lumber using world.

William T. Hancock was born in Alabama, the son of W. H. Hancock, a farmer of that state. He re- ceived his education in the public schools of his native state, and as a young man began in the rail- road business there. Several years later, in 1893, he came to Houston, at that time going with the H. E. and W. T. Railroad, which road later consolidated with the Houston and Texas Central Railroad. He remained with this line until 1904, when he came with the Kirby Lumber Company, with the excep- tion of the years from 1900 to 1902, which he spent in Cincinnati, Ohio, as commercial freight agent for the H. E. and W. T. Railroad. In addition to his position with the Kirby Lumber Company, Mr. Han- cock is vice president and general manager of the Gulf and Northern Railroad.

Mr. Hancock was married at Houston, in 1904, to Miss Mabel C. Windle, a native of Kansas who was reared in Texas. They reside in Houston, at 406 Marshall Avenue, and have one child, William T. Hancock, II., attending Rice Institute. Mr. Han- cock is a member of the Elks Club, the Hoo-Hoo Club, the Houston Club, the Houston Country Club, the Houston Traffic Club, the T. P. A. and the Cham- ber of Commerce, and is one of the highly esteemed business men of the city.

1877

MEN OF TEXAS

OHN M. MOORE, JR., a native of Richmond, and among the most substantial ranchers of this section, owns one of the best devel- oped ranches in Fort Bend County. Mr. Moore's ranch is located near Richmond, on the Nancy Spencer League, a grant of land given to his great-great-grandmother, Nancy Spencer Barnett, wife of Thomas Barnett, whose name figures promi- nently in the early history of Texas, and who was a member of the Congress of the Republic of Texas. This land has been in the family since that time, and is now maintained by Mr. Moore as his home place. The ranch is highly improved, with a modern two- story home, silos, corrals, barns, help quarters, and an elevated water tank providing running water, as well as other modern improvements, all of which are kept in fine condition. Mr. Moore has a fine herd of high grade cattle, of Brahma and Hereford

strain, and also raises corn and other feedstuff. He employs a large force of men, and recently, due to the adaptability of his land for agricultural de- velopment, has been working toward tenant farm- ing. Mr. Moore also is associated with his brother, J. F. D. Moore, in the operation of his father's estate, the land adjoining his own.

John M. Moore, Jr., was born at Richmond, Texas, the son of John M. Moore and Lottie (Dyer) Moore. The elder Mr. Moore, an ex-congressman, and one of the large land owners and cattle men of Fort Bend County, is a member of a pioneer Texas fam- ily. Thomas Barnett, the great-grandfather of John M. Moore, Jr., was a member of the original Austin Colony, being a member of the Congress of the Texas Republic, and one of the signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence. Mrs. Lottie Dyer Moore, whose death occurred the ninth of April, 1924, was a daughter of J. F. Dyer, also a pioneer of this section. Mr. Moore received his elementary instruction in the Richmond public schools, later attending Dr. Seeley's Academy, at San Antonio, and Austin Academy. He then entered the law department of the University of Texas, and was admitted to the bar in 1915. He then returned to Fort Bend County, and has been engaged in ranch- ing and agricultural activities since.

Mr. Moore was married at San Antonio, Texas, the twenty-fourth of June, 1915, to Miss Dorethea Guenther, a daughter of H. L. Guenther, of San Antonio. Mr. and Mrs. Moore make their home on the ranch, eight miles out of Richmond, and have two children, John M. Moore, III, and Hilmar Guen- ther Moore. Mr. Moore is a Kappa Sigma at Aus- tin, a "Rattler" at Austin, and a member of the Fort Bend County Bar Association.

EORGE W. KELLY, for sixteen years rep- resentative of the J. I. Case Implement Company in South Texas, came to Hous- ton in 1922, and for a time was the distributor for the Case Automobile, for sixty-seven counties of South Texas, with headquarters in Houston.

Mr. Kelly was born in Alabama in 1882. His father died when he was an infant and he was brought to Texas by his mother in 1883, where he has since made his home. His education was ob- tained in the public schools of Navarro and Calhoun counties of Texas, and he began as a boy working with machinery, and later worked in various parts of Texas where he assisted in installing electric

light plants and ice plants. From 1900 to 1903 Mr. Kelly was engaged in railroad work, after which he became associated with the J. I. Case Implement Company as their representative, and during the sixteen years preceding his coming to Houston, he was in business in Bay City, Matagorda County, as the representative of the J. I. Case Implement Company, where he handled only farm implements and machinery and was very successful. In 1922 he sold this business and came to Houston and opened the Kelly Automobile Company, and took over the distributing business of the J. I. Case automobile.

Mr. Kelly was married at Center, Shelby County, Texas, in 1910, to Miss Clara Hughes, a member of a well known family of East Texas. They have one daughter, Mamie. Mr. Kelly is a member of the Woodmen of the World, with membership at Bay City, Texas. He has made many friends since com- ing to Houston.

BLAKELY WINSTON, member of one of the pioneer families of Fort Bend County, and one of the younger business men of Richmond, has extensive cattle and farming interests in this section, and few men here are more familiar with scientific agricultural methods. Mr. Winston has more than three thousand acres of farm land in cultivation in Fort Bend County, farm- ing operations being carried on under his super- vision by tenant farmers, who make cotton their principal crop. He owns some three thousand head of range cattle. Mr. Winston also owns acreage in Brazoria County.

T. Blakely Winston was born at Richmond, Texas, the sixteenth of April, 1894, the son of S. J. Win- ston and Kate Blakely Winston, the latter a native of Richmond, and a sister of Bassett Blakely. The Winston family was established in Fort Bend County in 1819, when General Long came here with his wife, Mrs. Jane H. Long, who was known as one of the most fearless of pioneer times. During General Long's absence in military service Mrs. Long main- tained herself practically alone, and after General Long was killed while on a campaign in Mexico City, she continued to reside on the farm they had settled in 1819, after riding over a good part of Texas to find a location. The family still have the piano Mrs. Long brought to Texas, the first to be brought in the State, and other relics of early Texas history, including an oil portrait of Mrs. Long. A daughter of General and Mrs. Long married Mr. Winston, a native of Alabama, around 1830, her death occurring soon after. The son of the couple, J. E. Winston, a native of Richmond, was the father of S. J. Win- ston, and the grandfather of J. Blakely Winston, the subject of this sketch. S. J. Winston, the father, established a large estate in Fort Bend County, adding to and extending the interests left him by his father, and also served as sheriff for four years.

J. Blakely Winston attended the public schools of Richmond, later entering a military academy at San Antonio, Texas, and still later the Univer- sity of Texas. He did not finish there on account of poor health, returning from the university to the ranch, where he remained until the outbreak of the World War. In December, 1917, he enlisted in the Air Service, and was commissioned second lieutenant the second of November, 1918. He was at different flying fields, receiving his discharge the fourth of January, 1919, after which he returned

1878

Ano. M. More Jr.

Winston Bandt

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

to Richmond, where he has since looked after his extensive interests.

Mr. Winston was married at Bay City, Texas, the twenty-third of October, 1919, to Miss Cornelia May- field, the daughter of J. S. Mayfield, of Bay City. Mr. and Mrs. Winston reside at Richmond, and have one child, T. Blakely Winston, Jr. Mr. Winston is a member of the Cattle Raisers Association, the University Club at Houston, and Kappa Sigma at Austin.

INSTON BASSETT, one of the younger business men of Richmond, since his en- trance in the business world has been active as a cotton factor and in the cotton gin- ning business, operating one of the largest gins in this section, and also has extensive farming interests in Fort Bend County. Mr. Bassett is man- ager-director and part owner of the Planters Gin Company of Richmond, one of the largest and most modern gins here, employing a force of around twenty operatives. The Planters Gin was estab- lished in 1918 by the late S. J. Winston, J. R. Farmer and Winston Bassett, and since 1919 has been operated by Mr. Bassett, and owned by Mr. Bassett, J. R. Farmer and the Winston estate. Mr. Bassett personally buys cotton at Richmond, han- dling some two thousand bales annually. He man- ages the Clem Bassett estate, one of the large estates here, comprising around three thousand acres of land, of which one-half is in cultivation, and which is operated by tenant farmers. The Bas- sett estate was established by Clem Bassett, who was in the mercantile business at Richmond for many years and a partner of Bassett Blakely, Sr. Mr. Bassett was also interested in the cattle business for some years, and had ranching interests here.

Winston Bassett was born at Richmond, Texas, the fifteenth of September, 1897, the son of Clem and Libbie (Mitchell) Bassett. Clem Bassett, the first white male child born at Richmond, was the son of C. N. Bassett, who came here from Virginia in 1830, and Julia Lee Beal Bassett, the latter a cousin of Robert E. Lee. Clem Bassett served four years in the Confederate Army as a Texas Ranger under Joe Wheeler. He was the first president and the organizer of the Jaybird Democratic Associa- tion, and was the first sheriff of Fort Bend County after the Jaybird fight, and also served four years as tax collector. His death occurred in 1914, at which time he was seventy-two years old. Mrs. Bassett was the daughter of Captain John C. Mitch- ell, a Confederate soldier and noted jurist, prac- ticing law at Richmond and Houston. Winston Bas- sett received his elementary and high school edu- cation at Richmond, then entering Texas A. and M. College. During the World War he enlisted in the United States marine corps, enlisting Friday, the thirteenth of May, 1918, belonging to M. G. Com- pany. He served in the war zone, and was dis- charged in March, 1919. He then returned to Rich- mond, beginning his active business career.

Mr. Bassett was married on August 31st, 1924, to Miss Dorothy Bertrand, daughter of W. T. and Willie Mae (Shelton) Bertrand, a pioneer family of Fort Bend County. Mr. Bassett is a Mason, Blue Lodge at Richmond, Morton, No. 72, and be- longs to the Chamber of Commerce. He is one of the most progressive business men at Richmond,

and his career is being watched with interest by his associates.

UFUS EUGENE SMITH has been a resi- dent of Humble, Texas, for more than twenty years and has been active in the business life of this prosperous oil center during this period. With Mr. N. E. Frolich, well known in the business circles of Harris County, own and operate the Frolich Grain Company here, and do a large volume of business in this line. This feed and grain business was bought from Ross R. Sterling, one of the leaders of the oil industry of Texas, in 1911, by Mr. Smith, and later Mr. Frolich joined him as a partner. In addition to the feed and grain business, Mr. Smith looks after his inter- ests here, which consist of cattle raising, farming activities and oil interests. At the beginning of the oil boom at Sour Lake, Mr. Smith went there as a representative of the American Brewing Com- pany and the Anheiser Busch interests. He later came to Humble and from 1904 to 1918 he repre- sented the Houston Ice and Brewing Company, the American Brewing Company and the Anheiser Busch interests here. He has shown his faith in Humble and Harris County by his large investments here, where he is regarded as one of the most pro- gressive citizens of this little town and of Harris County.

A native Texan, Mr. Smith was born at Ingle- wood, Robertson County, on August 3rd, 1870. His father, Hugh Smith (deceased), came to Texas in 1845, and throughout the remainder of his life was engaged in farming in Milam and Robertson Coun- ties, where he was well known and highly esteemed. His mother (also deceased), Mrs. Nettie (Rice) Smith, was a native Texan, and a member of a pioneer family of the Lone Star State. Mr. Smith was raised on the farm and ranch of his father in Robertson County and his opportunities to secure an education were limited and the liberal education which he secured later in life was through self help and travel and reading.

Mr. Smith was married on January 28th, 1891, to Miss Phenie Watson, born near Atlanta, Georgia, and is a daughter of Jury Watson, who came to Texas more than thirty-five years ago and is a well known, highly esteemed and prosperous farmer of Milam County. Her mother, Mrs. Laura (Rey- nolds) Watson, was a native of Alabama and a member of a prominent family of that State. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have one son, Calvert Smith, who is the district superintendent of the Orange oil fields for the Humble Oil and Refining Company. Calvert Smith married Miss Mattie Dickinson, a member of a well known Texas family. They also have one daugh- ter-Vivian-now the wife of C. H. King, one of the most prominent citizens of Humble and Harris County where he is well known in the business and social circles, not only of this section, but of the entire State. Mr. Smith is deeply interested in the civic improvement and advancement of Hum- ble and gives liberally of his time and means to further any worthy project for this purpose. He has done much in the building up and advancement of Humble as a business point, and much credit is due him in making it the active, progressive little city it is today.

1881

MEN OF TEXAS

UDGE J. H. P. DAVIS, pioneer banker and cattle man of Fort Bend County, is number- ed among the leading citizens of his sec- tion of the State. During his lifetime of about seventy-five years, not only has he witnessed the development of Texas from a frontier country to a modern industrial, commercial and agricultural State, but has contributed greatly to this transition.

Judge Davis is a native of Fort Bend County, born February 11th, 1851, son of W. K. and Jane (Pick- ens) Davis. His education was received in his home county, and he grew up in the cattle business, which was the leading activity of his youth, and which still plays an important part in the life of South- east Texas. Although he has been identified with other fields of endeavor, yet he has always had in- terests in cattle raising. He is one of the organ- izers of J. H. P. Davis and Company, bankers, at Richmond, and was active in banking for a number of years and until his health failed and he retired from business. He has always taken a live interest in civic affairs, and for a number of years served as County Commissioner of Fort Bend County.

On February 10th, 1875, Judge Davis was united in marriage at the old Ryon place, nine miles from Richmond, to Miss Susan E. Ryon, daughter of Colonel William Ryon, a native of Kentucky, and Mary Moore (Jones) Ryon, a native of Fort Bend County. To this union were born two children, Mamie E., now Mrs. A. P. George, and Thomas W. (Bud) Davis, deceased. After the death of his first wife, Judge Davis was married to Miss Belle Ryon, a cousin of his first wife. J. H. P. Davis today still resides on his old home place in Rich- mond, and although retired from active life, still is interested in all matters that benefit his home County and State. He is particularly interested in the Cattle Raisers Association, of which he is a Vice President. He has always been known as a kindly, charitable and public-spirited gentleman of the old school, and his name will be recorded as a pioneer who helped blaze a trial for the present generation.

W. (BUD) DAVIS, cattleman and financier of Fort Bend County, familiarly known as "Bud" Davis, was one of the best known stockmen in this section of the State. Most of his vast acreage was in Fort Bend County, upon which he pastured some large and very fine herds of cattle. He was formerly associated with T. Mar- tin and after Mr. Martin's death was the administra- tor of the large Martin estate, which he managed successfully together with his own.

Mr. Davis was born in Richmond, Fort Bend Coun- ty, September 7th, 1879, son of J. H. P., and Susan E. (Ryon) Davis. J. H. P. Davis is a native of Fort Bend County, pioneer banker and cattleman, who is now retired and resides in Richmond, on the old home place. Susan E. (Ryon) Davis, deceased, was also a native of Fort Bend County. T. W. (Bud) Davis received his education in the schools of his native State. He started in the cattle business at an early age, which he continued until his health failed, a few months prior to his death.

With the untimely death of Mr. Davis on May 30th, 1922, Fort Bend County lost one of its most beloved citizens, a man with a heart of pure gold, and a nature that was generous to a fault. He was always

liberal with his less fortunate fellows, and his kind- nesses will live long in the hearts of the many whom he aided. His friends were many, and he was known and loved over the entire State. He belonged to the Elks, and was a member of the Cattle Raisers' As- sociation.

J. KOONTZ, merchant, banker, ginner, cat- tleman and farmer of Inez, Texas, has taken an active part in the development of this section and much that he has done in a business way has been reflected in the general prosperity of Inez. Mr. Koontz operates a general mercantile store at Inez, the store having been established by his father, the late H. C. Koontz, before the railroad came to Inez. The elder Mr. Koontz served as postmaster until his death, when his son, H. C. Koontz, Jr., succeeded him in this office, V. J. Koontz taking charge of the store management. A gin, with a capacity of four hun- dred and seventy bales of cotton is operated by Mr. Koontz, and a force of nine people are em- ployed in the gin during the season. Mr. Koontz has six thousand acres of grazing land near Inez, and has a herd of around two thousand head of cattle, one half of which are cows. Mr. Koontz' interest in the cattle business is largely that of the breeder, although he buys and sells cattle to some extent. Mr. Koontz also has seven hundred acres of farm- ing land in cultivation, growing cotton, corn and other crops adaptable to this section. Seventeen Mexican tenant families are located on the farm and all farm work is done by them.

V. J. Koontz was born at Inez, Texas, the eleventh of March, 1893, son of H. C. and M. A. Koontz, (nee Finnigan) H. C. Koontz, was born in Matagorda County, Texas, where he lived until he was five years old. At that time his parents died of yellow fever, and he was reared by his guardian. When he was eighteen years of age he came to Inez and opened a small country store. Several years later when the railroad came here Mr. Koontz bought the townsite and established the store now operated by his son, V. J. Koontz, the subject of this sketch. He invested heavily in land in this section, and was active in all development work and one of the most prominent men of his time. In 1881 Mr. Koontz was appointed postmaster at Inez, by Thomas L. James, at that time postmaster general. The office has been in the family since that date. Mrs. Koontz, a native of Alabama, who came to Texas as a small girl, is still living, making her home at Inez. Mr. and Mrs. Koontz had a family of eight chil- dren: H. C. Koontz, Jr., V. J. Koontz, the subject of this sketch; W. L. Koontz, Jasper Koontz, whose death occurred in 1918, and who left a son, Jasper, Jr .; John Koontz, Mrs. Beatrice Hasbrooke, Mrs. R. L. Webb of Berclair, Texas, and Mrs. Frank Can- field of San Antonio, Texas, wife of Frank Canfield, owner of the Perfection Bakeries and other interests.

V. J. Koontz, the subject of this sketch, was edu- cated in the public schools at Inez and after finish- ing school entered his father's business. He assisted the elder Mr. Koontz in the management of his various interests until the latter's death, in 1908, when with his brother, H. C., Jr., he took over the management of the entire estate. Mr. Koontz makes his home at Inez, and is a member of the Texas Cat- tle Raisers Association and the Texas Retail Credit Association.

1882

JHD Davis

P. W. Davis.

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

OHN RICH, M. D., pioneer physician of Fort Bend County, and one of the most highly esteemed citizens of Richmond, has for many years owned extensive farming and ranching interests here, and since his retirement from medical practice has given his time largely to the management of these interests. Dr. Rich came to Fort Bend County in August, 1889, estab- lishing a large general practice in the county, and continuing as one of the leading practitioners until 1908, when he retired from the practice of medicine. Shortly after coming to Fort Bend County Dr. Rich began investing in land here, adding to his interests until he held a large acreage in the county. Later he divided this into small farm tracts, which he sold to settlers, and bought up other undeveloped tracts, following the same procedure and converting it into productive farm homes. Dr. Rich also be- came active in the cattle business, and for many years was one of the large cattle owners of this section, grazing many head of range cattle on his pasture lands. Dr. Rich now owns some twenty-one hundred acres of land in Brazoria, located in a proven oil field, and also owns several tracts of land in Fort Bend County, including his well im- proved home place, and his family collectively owns many thousands of acres in Ford Bend County.

In 1898 Dr. Rich was elected county commis- sioner of Fort Bend County, at that time the county having no funds, no bridges, no roads, and county script was worth but thirty-five cents on the dol- lar. Dr. Rich, with Judge Will Masterson and Mr. Doherty, obligated themselves for the county in- debtedness, and a banker, Mr. Beazly, carried the script for them, for which they were personally liable. Money to carry on county work was then obtained at face value and regular funds were es- tablished to carry on road work, build bridges, and the county was placed on a cash basis, against opposition of landed men of the county, and due to the backing Dr. Rich gave the project. There followed a period of great public improvement, roads were built, bridges constructed, and other im- provements made.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 122

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