New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 131

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

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Mr. Bailey is a member of the Yoakum Chamber of Commerce, the Retail Merchants Association and many other of the city's business and social organ- izations in which he takes an active part. He is a member of Yoakum Post American Legion at Yoakum and is keenly interested in the workings of this Post, and lends his aid and encouragement in every way to keep the good work of the legion before the public and the boys who were participants in the World War. While yet a very young man, Mr. Bailey has had a wide and varied career, withal a successful one. As manager of the J. C. Penney store here, he has had an important part in shaping the destinies of this institution, and the success achieved by this establishment is largely due to the efforts of Mr. Bailey as the manager and head of the various departments. He is a consistent booster for Yoakum and believes that this portion of the state is entering on an era of great business pros- perity along all lines.

G. WADE of Yoakum, Texas, has spent his entire business life in the postoffice serv- ice, where he is regarded as one of the most efficient men connected with this branch of the United States government. He has the honor and distinction of standing No. 1 on examination among 300,000 employees in his class. Mr. Wade is a student in all that word implies, in addition to his duties in the postoffice service he finds time for study. Several years ago he took up the study of

Geology, and during his vacation periods made trips of exploration to various parts of Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Kansas in order to study the surface conditions of these states. After much intensive study and close examination, he became thoroughly convinced that this portion of the country contained a new development in oil formation, which he was determined to show conclusively by a test. After several years of effort, he succeeded in getting to- gether about 20,000 acres of leases and in 1918 be- gan active work for a test. Later, he turned the leases all back to the owners in fee of the land, on account of false reports being circulated as to his intentions in regard to the leases. In July, 1923, he again started to work along this same line of activity, with the result that a test well was drilled and in this manner much of his deductions was proved to be correct.

A native Texan, Mr. Wade was born at Weimar, Colorado County, on October 23rd, 1891. His parents also natives of the Lone Star State, were well known and highly esteemed citizens of Colorado County. His education was obtained in the public schools of Weimar, which he left at an early age in or- der to enter the postoffice service, where he has since remained.

Mr. Wade was married at Yoakum, Texas, in October, 1914, to Miss Emma Neumann, a native Texan and a daughter of H. Neumann, a pioneer settler of DeWitt Conuty and who was one of the first county commissioners of this county. He also served for many years as Alderman of Yoakum, and was always actively identified with the lo- cal political affairs, in which he took a deep in- terest. Mr. and Mrs. Wade have two children, L. G. Wade, Jr., and Dorothy Elain. Mr. Wade is a member of the A. F. and A. M. with membership in the Yoakum Lodge of this order. He is also a member of the Association of Postoffice Clerks, and many of the business, social and civic organizations of Yoakum, in which he takes a keen interest. Mr. Wade has accomplished much for Lavaca County and contiguous counties through his studies along geological lines and has succeeded in having some of the foremost promoters of the country interested here, and with this as a beginning great things are expected of Lavaca County as one of the coming oil fields of the state. Practically all of this activ- ity was brought about through the untiring efforts of Mr. Wade.

ONROE E. RINN, of Yoakum, Texas, was reared in an atmosphere of the furniture business and has since 1919 been manager in charge of the Gus Rinn and Son Furni- ture establishment in this city. This firm was established here in 1904 by Mr. Rinn's father, Gus Rinn, who has retired from active business pursuits, content for his business mantle to rest on the shoul- ders of his experienced and capable son. This firm sells at retail only and carry a full and complete stock of furniture, house furnishings, stoves, in fact everything for the complete furnishing of the home. The territory in which the Gus Rinn and Son sell their furniture, etc., includes the towns of Yoakum, Hallettsville, Schulenburg, Shiner and others and the counties of Lavaca, Fayette and contiguous commun- ities. The country business is conducted on a cash basis, while in Yoakum and other towns, goods are

1934

C. T Bailey

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

sold both for cash and on installments. Three people are employed at the Gus Rinn and Son Furniture establishment here, which does a large volume of business.

A native of Yoakum, Texas, Mr. Rinn was born on February 4th, 1892. His father, also a native of the Lone Star State, was born at Industry, Fayette County, in 1867. His father started a blacksmith shop at Hochheim, DeWitt County, which he oper- ated for two years before coming to Yoakum. His father is a member of the Woodmen of the World and the Sons of Herman, in both of which organ- izations he takes an active interest. His mother, Mrs. Sophia (Volkel) Rinn, was a member of a well known and pioneer Texas family. It is a strange coincidence, and unusual as well, that Mr. Rinn's grandfathers, Rinn and Volkel, both came from Ger- many at the age of fourteen years and settled at the same place in Texas. His education was ob- tained in the public schools of Yoakum. Mr. Rinn saw service in the World War. He enlisted on De- cember 13th, 1917, and was sent to Camp Travis, San Antonio, Texas, where he was assigned to the personnel office. He was discharged on January 23rd, 1919. When he came back to Yoakum his father being in poor health, Mr. Rinn took active charge of the business, which has grown in volume since that time.

Mr. Rinn was married at Yoakum, Texas, in June, 1914, to Miss Gladys Smoot, a native Texan and a daughter of Thomas Smoot, well known in the legal circles of the Southwest and a cousin of Senator Smoot of Utah. They have one son, Thomas Munroe Rinn. Mr. Rinn is a member of the A. F. and A. M., with membership in the Yoakum Lodge; is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, being chancellor commander of this lodge. He is a director of the Yoakum Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Retail Merchants' Association, the American Legion Post Shelton Moore No. 112, and many other of the city's business and social organizations. Mr. Rinn is a leader among the younger generation of business men of Yoakum and one of this city's most progressive citizens.

R. DAVIS of Yoakum, Texas, is well known in the business circles of Texas where dur- ing his successful business career he has been engaged in various fields of activity. As vice president and general manager of the Tex- as Wholesale Grocery Company of this city, Mr. Davis has had much to do with the success of this company. The Texas Wholesale Grocery Company, as the firm name indicates, are wholesale grocers, dealing also in produce, vegetables, eggs and cold storage products. In 1923 the produce department shipped three thousand cases of eggs to Cuba and Mexico through their brokers. The business of this grocery firm extends throughout the territory within a radius of sixty miles of Yoakum, with truck delivery at all competitive points. Twenty-one experienced people are employed in the operation of this establishment. The Texas Wholesale Grocery Company also own and operate the South Texas Broom Factory here, selling the products of this factory to jobbers only in East Texas, Houston and South Texas, one salesman tak- ing care of this business on the road. Twenty per cent of the raw material for the broom factory is produced in this territory and the remainder comes

from South Texas points. The quality of the broom corn raised in the vicinity of Yoakum has been im- proving each year and the supply increasing, and the time is close at hand when all the raw material will be produced here for the factory. The demand for the product of the South Texas Broom Factory is increasing rapidly on account of the superior ar- ticle turned out by this factory. Great credit is due Mr. Davis for the success achieved by this in- dustry, as it was taken over by this firm when it was in a bad financial condition, and is now on a paying basis and growing rapidly.

As a young man, Mr. Davis engaged in the un- dertaking business, having become a licensed em- balmer with a good business, before he reached the age of twenty-one years. He had built up a splendid business, handling a jobbing line of various goods, when health failed, and he was forced to seek other lines. He later held several city offices, and his regime in these positions are a part of the history of Yoakum. He traveled much in order to entirely regain his health, and in 1909 went to Houston, Texas, where he worked the city trade for Baldwin and Cargill. Theo. Keller and Company, Gordon Sewell and Company and other large Houston firms. He remained in this line of business until he came to Yoakum to engage in the wholesale grocery business.

A native Texan, Mr. Davis was born at Eagle Lake on January 22nd, 1888. His father, T. W. Davis (deceased since 1918) settled near Alleyton, Colorado County, soon after the close of the Civil War. He later removed to Eagle Lake where for a period of twenty-three years he was a public weigher. Mr. Davis' education was obtained in the public schools of Yoakum, which he left at an early age in order to enter the business world.

Mr. Davis was married at Eagle Lake, Texas, in 1907, to Miss Grace Buffington. They have five children, Jack Ryan, Oliva Roger, Jimmie Daniel, Garner Lloyd and Glen Buffington. Mr. Davis is a member of the A. F. and A. M. with membership in the Yoakum Blue Lodge No. 662, and is also a member of the chapter and commandry here. He is a past master, past district deputy grand master under Johnson. He is a member of the advisory board of the De Molay, is president of the Yoakum Chamber of Commerce, president of the South Tex- as Wholesale Grocers Association and is a member of the Undertakers' Association, American Whole- sale Grocers' Association, National Credit Men's Association and many other of the city's business, fraternal, social and civic organizations. He is chairman of the board of trustees, Municipal Hos- pital (Huth Memorial) and is active in all mat- ters having to do with the advancement and prog- ress of Yoakum and Lavaca County. He has been very active in the campaign sponsored by the Yoa- kum Chamber of Commerce for much needed good roads in Lavaca County. Mr. Davis is profoundly interested in the educational matters of Yoakum, being one of the leading exponents of education, both as to the elementary and higher branches. His interests have not been confined to his work as a wholesale grocer, and he has shown a genuine sym- pathy for all worthy enterprises. Mr. Davis is popular with his business associates and warmly ad- mired by his friends, he has had placed upon him the seal of approval by his adopted city and is making his full contribution to her commercial development and to her civic welfare.

1937

MEN OF TEXAS

ENRY BURTTSCHELL of Alleyton, Texas, has throughout his life been engaged in farming and cattle raising, and is known as one of Colorado County's most success- ful citizens engaged in these industries. He has aided greatly in improving the cattle and hog rais- ing industries in Colorado and contiguous counties by improving the blood of both the cattle and hogs. Instead of the small range cow he has bred his herd into high grade stock and the old "razor back" hog is a matter of history and jest, while in its place is high grade and registered Poland-China hogs. Mr. Burttschell has four hundred and fifty head of cattle which are of the Red Polled variety crossed with Herefords and Brahma, and is breeding away. from the Red Polled stock on account of its small size. He also has one hundred head of sheep and one hundred and fifty head of Poland-China hogs, which he is improving by breeding with registered boars. ] He has twelve hundred acres of land fenced with hog-proof, net wire and his hogs run on this land. Mr. Burttschell also owns 3,500 acres of land which he uses exclusively for grazing pur- poses. He has three hundred acres of farm land planted to cotton and corn, which he cultivates with day labor, and finds this labor more satisfactory than the tenant farmer plan.

A native Texan, Mr. Burttschell was born near Mentz in Colorado County in 1861. His father, Frank Burttschell, came to the United States from Germany about 1844 and settled in Colorado County, Texas, near the little town of Mentz, where he was engaged in farming and stock raising all his life. His education was obtained in the public schools of Colorado County, and he began at an early age to assist on the farm and in the raising and tending of stock. He was raised up in an atmosphere of these industries and could not be happy or satisfied if he should make a change to any other class of business. He has gradually increased his holdings here since he began in the cattle and farming busi- ness until today he is regarded as one of Colorado County's largest farmers and live stock men.

Mr. Burttschell was married near Mentz, Texas, to Miss Rosa Miekow, a native of the Lone Star State and a daughter of William Miekow, who came from Germany about 1844 and settled on the place where Mrs. Burttschell was born and reared. They have the following children, Urban, who was born here on December 26th, 1895, and is associated with his father in business, as is also another son, Reu- ben Burttschell; Lola, Tillie and a son, Dallas, reside in Houston. Mr. and Mrs. Burttschell re- side on the ranch near Alleyton, where they have all the conveniences of a modern ranch home, and are enjoying the free life of the South Texas country. Mr. Burttschell says that the secret of success on the ranch is hard work, and living on the farm, which all farmers can do if they desire, by raising vegetables, fruit, poultry, cows, sheep and hogs, and not purchase these things in town. He is an advo- cate of modern farming methods, intensive cultiva- tion of crops, and the improvement of the blood of the cattle and hogs. The cattle are easily wintered here, which is a great feature in the expense of cat- tle raising. Mr. Burttschell is regarded as one of the most progressive citizens of Colorado County, ever ready to aid in any movement for the good of his county and state.

H. WOOTEN, of Columbus, Texas, is a well known educator of this portion of the state, and is also engaged in farming and cattle raising, and is one of the leaders of his generation in the business life of Columbus. Mr. Wooten manages 1650 acres of land in Colorado County, owned by the family, four hundred and fifty of which is cultivated-cotton and corn being grown. The other portion of this acreage is used for grazing, not because it is unsuited for culti- vation, but from the scarcity of farm labor in Colo- rado County. Much of this land is very fertile and well drained, but there is only about one-fourth of the negro population here which cultivated the farms in this county twenty years ago, they having gone to the various cities and towns. Mr. Wooten has sixteen families as tenants, all of whom are well pleased and doing well. He has about two hun- dred and fifty cows which he is breeding toward the Polled Angus blood, from common cows and high grade Polled bulls. He also has about thirty brood mares, and raises many horses and mules in addi- tion to his cattle. The land which Mr. Wooten now manages came into the family through his grand- father, Colonel William Herbert, who came to Texas from Tennessee in 1854, and the old house which he built in that early day is still standing on the place. He wagoned cotton to Brownsville, Texas, during the Civil War, with the aid of his slaves, and died while returninig from one of these trips, at Victoria, Texas. His son brought the body to Columbus and buried it in the local cemetery, but the awful flood which swept this county in 1869 destroyed all traces of the grave. Mr. Wooten was superintendent of the school at Flatonia, Texas, for three years-from 1912 to 1915, and much of the progress made by these schools was largely through the efforts of Mr. Wooten at that time, and reflects the spirit of the superintendent having the welfare of these schools at heart. During 1923 and 1924, he taught history in the public schools of Columbus. In 1925, he was superintendent of the Columbus schools.

A native Texan, Mr. Wooten was born at Eagle Lake, on December 4th, 1883. His father, J. R. Wooten (now deceased), was one of the best known and most progressive citizens of Colorado County. He was a member of the legislature of Texas for one term, beginning in 1903, and while he was a member of the lower house, the subject of this sketch was a page in that body, and some of the most pleasant memories of his life date back to this time when he served as page in the great Texas lawmaking body. J. R. Wooten introduced long staple cotton into Colorado County, and for many years was a prominent cotton seed dealer of Colum- bus. His mother's parents died of yellow fever and she was reared by Jim Herbert, a son of Colonel William Herbert. Her father was a Harcourt, one of the best known lawyers of Texas in his day. His education was obtained in the public schools, University of Texas and Southwestern University.

Mr. Wooten was married at Columbus, Texas, in 1911, to Miss Helen Gordon, a daughter of Dr. E. C. Gordon, who is a physician and surgeon. They have two children-James H. Wooten, Jr., and Helen Gor- don. Mr. Wooten is a member of the Knights of Pythias and is a chancellor commander in this organ- ization. Mr. Wooten is active in all matters per- taining to the good of his community and his county.

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Henry Brothchell

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

During 1923, he was chairman of the centennary celebration, and took an active part in everything pertaining to this event. During the World War he was one of the most active citizens and was chairman of the Colorado County Council of Defense, assistant chairman of all Liberty Loan drives, and was made a major in command of the Colorado County Home Guards, with six hundred members, one hundred being armed with rifles and uniformed. In 1919, he was made captain of Troop H, Seventh Regiment, Texas Cavalry. Mr. Wooten takes a keen interest in the farming conditions and methods used in it, and says that in order to develop the coun- try, that the big farms must be cut up in order that the farmer must live on his land and produce enough for the family to eat there, rather than follow out the present custom of producing little or nothing and buying all foodstuffs in town. He has done much to aid the farmers in Colorado County and is regarded as one of this county's most progressive and public-spirited citizens, ever ready to aid in the upbuilding of his community.

HARLES L. GRUNDER, secretary-treasurer and manager of the Grunder Industries, Inc., with a capital stock of $150,000.00, has been a factor in industrial affairs here for nearly a score of years and has done much to develop Victoria and vicinity as a cotton market. The Victoria Compress and Warehouse Company was established in 1910 by Mr. Grunder and a group of his associates, and at that time was operated as a cotton compress only, the warehouse business having been built up since 1921. On March 24th, 1925, the charter was amended and capital stock increased. The name of the new company being Grunder Indus- tries, Inc., and have extended their operations to Beeville, Texas; Mathis, Texas, and other points in the state. The compress capacity is one thousand bales of cotton daily and the warehouse has a stor- age capacity of eight thousand bales of cotton, and also has facilities for storing general merchandise, in car load lots, and does a large forwarding and shipping business, pooling cars and handling dis- tribution of merchandise in this section. The terri- tory served by the Grunder Industries, Inc., includes Victoria, Refugio, Goliad, Jackson, Wharton, Mata- gorda, DeWitt, Lavaca, Bee and other counties in this section. The permanent employees number fifteen, a number increased to one hundred or more during the busy season. The warehouse is situated on the Gulf Coast Lines and the Southern Pacific Lines and the company owns its own trackage. A new warehouse, of fire-proof construction, and one hundred by one hundred and fifty feet, has just been completed, greatly augmenting the facilities of the company. The Grunder Industries, Inc., is incorpo- rated under state laws, with V. J. Grunder as pres- ident and Charles L. Grunder as secretary and treas- urer.

Charles L. Grunder was born at San Antonio, Texas, the twenty-ninth of November, 1889, son of V. J. Grunder, now in the compress business at Cuero. He was educated in the public schools of Texas, later attending Eastman College, in Virginia, where he took the B. A. degree in 1911. He returned home and went in the compress business with his father, having gained a practical knowledge of compress operation through previous work in his father's plant, dating from his eighteenth year.

Mr. Grunder was married at Victoria, the seventh of September, 1913, to Miss Wilhelmina Schmidt, a native of San Antonio. They have two children, Armine Louise, and Charles L. Grunder, Jr. Mr. Grunder is a member of the American Chain Ware- houses, the Texas Transfer and Warehousemen's Association, the Victoria Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club, and the Victoria Country Club, a club with one hundred acres of land and a nine hole golf course, of which he was one of the organizers and is secretary and treasurer.

ENRY W. MAYER, since coming to Cuero several years ago, has been a factor in in- dustrial circles, and under his management the Cuero Coca Cola Bottling Company has become one of the largest manufacturing enter- prises here. Mr. Mayer is general manager of the Cuero Coca Cola Bottling Company, one of the best and most modernly equipped bottling plants in this section, representing an investment of thirty- five thousand dollars. The plant occupies an es- pecially designed and built building on West Main Street, and furnishes employment to eleven people. The daily output of the plant is six hundred cases of bottled beverages, the products including bottled Coca Cola, a full line of bottled soft drinks. Bever- ages bottled by the Cuero Coca Cola Company are distributed in three counties, DeWitt, Calhoun and Victoria Counties, and several branch distributing stations are maintained. The Cuero Coca Cola Bottling Company was established in a small way, in 1915, by W. E. Brogard and operated by him until 1919, when H. C. and R. A. Randow of York- town bought the plant, placing Mr. Mayer, who has had a score of years in the bottling business, here as manager. Under Mr. Mayer's management the business has grown and expanded annually, much new machinery has been installed, and the plant has been developed into one of the leading bottling industrial enterprises in this section.

Henry W. Mayer was born at Wied, Texas, the twelfth of September, 1896, son of H. A. Mayer, for many years engaged in the bottling business. Mr. Mayer attended the schools of DeWitt County, and as a boy helped his father in the bottling plant after school hours, learning the business from ac- tual experience. After leaving school he continued in the bottling business, and up until 1919, when he came to Cuero, was in plants at various cities of Texas. Since coming to Cuero he has been general manager of the Cuero Coco Cola Bottling Company.

Mr. Mayer was married at Cuero, Texas, the six- teenth of June, 1923, to Miss Erna Le Sage, daugh- ter of Archie Le Sage, pioneer of this section, and was justice of peace at Cuero, and now living at Graham, Texas. Mr. Le Sage also has farming in- terests here. Mr. and Mrs. Mayer reside at Cuero. Mr. Mayer is a member of the Cuero Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club, the Odd Fellows at Cuero, the State Bottlers Association and the Coca Cola Bottlers' Association. He is past post com- mander of American Legion, Dintor Post No. 3, serving in the World War as sargeant, stationed at Dijon, France, until his discharge the sixth of August, 1919. Since coming to Cuero Mr. Mayer has taken a deep interest in the development of this section, and through his work in building up the Coca Cola bottling plant here has contributed materially to the industrial advancement of Cuero.

1941

MEN OF TEXAS

C. HESSE for around a score of years has been actively engaged in the cold storage and packing business at Cuero and has done much to make this one of the greatest turkey markets in the state. Mr. Hesse is man- ager of the Cuero Packing Company, pioneer turkey dressers of Texas turkeys, and one of the leading cold storage plants in this section. This business, established in Houston in 1903 and three years later, in 1906, was moved to Cuero as this district is one of the greatest turkey raising sections of the state.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 131

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