New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 132

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

USA > Texas > New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2 > Part 132

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The plant, at that time small, has constantly ex- panded, and at present consists of six cold storage rooms, of varying capacities, ranging from twenty by fifty feet up to two hundred and twenty by forty feet. Modern storage rooms are thus provided for eggs, beef for local consumption, including local butchers and farmers who store meat and provisions. There is also a completely equipped packing room and an office where all business is transacted, the entire plant being of modern concrete construction, and one of the finest in the state. At the time the Cuero Packing Company was organized it was the only plant in Texas packing turkeys, but the suc- cess with which it was operated led to the estab- lishment of other plants. In the days when this was the only plant as many as one hundred and twenty-eight cars of turkeys were shipped to mar- kets from this plant, but with the establishment of like plants this number has been lowered, at the present time some twenty cars going to Eastern cities from the Cuero market annually. The egg market is largely export to Cuba and Mexico, and is a well developed trade. David Stahl of Gonzales, is president of the Cuero Packing Company; Jake Stahl, vice president; W. K. Breeden, secretary-treas- urer, and E. Leonard, general manager of all plants, Mr. Hesse manager of Cuero plant.

E. C. Hesse was born at Galveston the twenty- second of November, 1877, son of J. E. Hesse, as- sociated with the Mallory Lines for more than half a century, and at present purchasing agent for the Galveston branch. Mr. Hesse received his edu- cation at the Rosenberg School and Ball High School at Galveston, and the Daniel Baker College of Brownwood, Texas. After leaving school began with the Mallory Lines at Galveston, later going with the Cuero Packing Company, with which he has been associated for a quarter of a century.

Mr. Hesse was married at Galveston, in 1901, to Miss Margaret Spence, daughter of N. A. Spence, retired produce man of Galveston. Mr. and Mrs. Hesse reside at Cuero and have two children, Ashton Hesse and Mrs. Charles Davidson of Victoria. Mr. Hesse belongs to the Cuero Chamber of Commerce, the Mohawk Club and the Texas Poultry Dealers Association, also Presbyterian Church and is re- garded as an authority on turkey dressing and shipping.

HARLES COOK, pioneer automobile dealer of Cuero, has been active in this business since 1908, when he sold the old two cylin- der Reo, to the present time, and the his- tory of the development of the automobile business at Cuero is largely the history of the development of the Cook and Day Motor Company, which he owns. The Cook and Day Motor Company was established in 1908, as the Cook-Richter Company,

at which time the Reo agency was secured. In 1910 the firm took over the Interstate interests, and a year later became local representatives for Henry Ford, selling Ford cars, which they have sold con- tinuously until May, 1912, when the business was sold to a firm incorporated as the Texas Motor Car & Supply Company. This firm, however, ceased to operate in 1914, at which time Mr. Cook, with James S. Day, bought out the business, and reorgan- ized it as the Cook and Day Motor Company. Later Mr. Cook bought Mr. Day's interest in the business, and has since operated it alone. The Cook and Day Motor Company sells Ford and Lincoln cars and Fordson tractors at Cuero and in the Cuero terri- tory, doing an annual business in excess of five hundred thousand dollars. The Cook and Day Motor Company occupies a large and modern building in Cuero, with one hundred and sixty-two by one hun- dred and twenty-five feet of floor space. A complete parts and service department is maintained, this being housed in one of the two adjoining buildings occupied by the firm, while the sales and display rooms are in the other building. Mr. Cook has at various times established or bought out Ford agen- cies in neighboring towns, and has owned within recent years the Cook Motor Company of Yoakum, the Runge Ford Agency and the DeWitt Motor Com- pany at Yorktown. The business at present is con- centrated in the Cuero plant and the Yorktown plant, which is also housed in a modern building. In addition to the sale of Ford and Lincoln cars and parts and Fordson tractors, the Cook and Day Motor Company is agent for the Texaco products, and has a number of sub-agencies in this section, including R. L. Barnes at Cheapside, the Hildebrandt Garage and Roy Carter at Westhoff, W. W. Mc- Cormick & Sons at Concrete, S. O. Woods at Edgar, Louis Smolke at Fordtran, R. V. Shaefer at Mey- ersville and Adolph Kornfuehrer at Shroeder. Mr. Cook has a well organized and high power sales force in the Cuero plant, and all service is in charge of expert mechanics, his force in the main plant numbering more than twenty people. The York- town plant is also well equipped as to sales force and service force, and this plant is giving, on a smaller scale, the same class of service the Cuero plant is rendering in its territory.

Charles Cook was born in DeWitt County, on a ranch, the eleventh of January, 1874, son of Fred and Henrietta Cook, who settled in DeWitt County in the early days on the Three Mile Coletto, where they engaged in farming and ranching. Charles Cook attended the rural schools at Five Mile and Clinton, later attending grade school at Cuero, after which he entered old Nash College, receiving excel- lent training under Prof. D. W. Nash. He then further equipped himself for his business career with a course in the Alamo Business College, after which he went to Mission Valley, where for a time he was bookkeeper for James Rives, a merchant of that place. Later he came to Cuero and was associated with A. S. Crisp in the publication of the Cuero Star, also dealing in real estate, until 1908, when he entered the automobile business, with Cap- tain H. Richter. Since that time he has been actively engaged in this business, with the exception of a brief interval from 1912 until 1914, when he engaged in the real estate business.

1942

Elellerer

frite finder

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

Mr. Cook was married at Cuero, in 1901, to Miss Melani Spies, daughter of Adolph Spies, pioneer ranchman of the Five Mile community. Mr. and Mrs. Cook have one of the fine residences of Cuero, and are the parents of two children, Raymond Cook, University of Texas student, and Miss Dorothy Cook, a student at Ward Belmont. Mr. Cook is a director of the Buchel National Bank, the Cuero Building & Loan Association and has various bus- iness interests in the mill and gin line. He also owns four fine farms in DeWitt County and a five thousand acre ranch in Jim Wells County. He is a Mason, Blue Lodge, Chapter at Cuero, Command- ery at Yoakum, Scottish Rite, to eighteenth degree, at San Antonio, and a member of Arabia Temple Shrine at Houston. He belongs to the Cuero Cham- ber of Commerce, the Texas Automobile Dealers Association and the Texas Cattle Raisers Associa- tion, and few men have taken a more active part in the commercial development of Cuero or contrib- uted more generously to the welfare of this section than he.

ICTOR J. GRUNDER, who since coming to Cuero in 1890, has been active in industrial affairs, is secretary-treasurer and mana- ger of the Cuero Compress and Warehouse Company, one of the largest industrial enterprises of Cuero and one of the oldest industries here. The Cuero Compress and Warehouse Company had its origin in 1895, when John Stratton, E. Mugge, Louis Keller, and others established the Cuero Compress Company, a compress company with a capacity of compressing one thousand bales of cotton a day. The first officers included Edward Mugge, president, pioneer business man of Texas; Louis Keller, secre- tary and treasurer, who is still with the company, now as president, and others of the business men of that day. In 1915 the company was reorganized, and the name changed to the Cuero Compress and Ware- house Company, and the present company has a storage capacity of twelve thousand bales of cot- ton. The warehouse capacity of ten thousand bales, normal, although an additional five thousand bales can be handled. The trade territory served by the compress extends from San Antonio on the Southern Pacific Railroad and from Kenedy on the Aransas Pass Railroad. Cotton from the compress goes to Galveston and Houston, and is shipped direct to all parts of the world. Present officers of the Cuero Compress and Warehouse Company are, Louis Kel- ler, president; Walter Reiffert, vice president, and Victor Grunder, secretary-treasurer, with Charles L. Grunder and Berthold Schiwetz, additional directors. Mr. Grunder also owns the Victoria Compress and Warehouse Company and controls the Shiner Com- press Company.

Victor J. Grunder was born in Alsace, France, in 1863, coming to the United States ten years later. He received a public school education, and then entered the office of L. Wolfson, where he remained ten years. In 1890 he came to Cuero engaging in the china and house furnishing business until 1910, when he went with the Cuero Compress and Ware- house Company, with which he has since been con- nected.

Mr. Grunder was married at Cuero, in 1887, to Miss Augusta Keller, daughter of Anton Keller, pioneer of this section who came here from Indian-

ola in 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Grunder have three chil- dren, Charles L. Grunder, one of the directors of the Cuero Compress and Warehouse Company and manager of the Victoria Compress and Warehouse Company, Mrs. Geneva Cole, receiving clerk of the Cuero Compress, and Mrs. Gertrude Bell, bookkeeper of the Cuero Compress. Mr. Grunder is a member and ex-president of the Rotary Club, helped in or- ganizing this club at Cuero, and also organizing the Rotary Clubs at Kenedy and Yoakum, and belongs to the Cuero Chamber of Commerce of which he has served as president, vice president and has been a director for many years, although now, due to the exacting demands of his private interests he is not active in Chamber of Commerce work. Mr. Grunder has done much to secure the industrial development of Cuero, working along progressive lines, and with the various organizations that have had civic work as their primary object.

BYRNE, for more than a quarter of a century one of the leading merchants and cotton factors of Cuero, has taken a deep interest in the development of DeWitt County as a poultry raising and agricultural section. Mr. Byrne is the owner of the firm of M. Byrne and Company, a business established in 1895 by him and his brother, J. J. Byrne, who later left the firm and moved to Fort Worth. Mr. Byrne has a large grocery business and also sells farm implements and buys and sells cotton. He has a modern store building in the Cuero business district, and also has two warehouses on the Southern Pacific Rail- road. The business furnishes employment to some twelve or thirteen people. Mr. Byrne has built his business to its present state largely through an ambition to give customers a real service, and to sell only merchandise that is first class in every particular, and at a fair price. He has given special attention to rural trade, and has a large patronage from farmers and stockmen of DeWitt County. Members of the firm of M. Byrne and Company are Mr. Byrne, the subject of this sketch and founder of the business; Barney Byrne, Jr., head of the cot- ton department, and J. C. Ley, buyer and floor manager.

M. Byrne was born in Ireland in September, 1869, coming to the United States in 1891. His education was received in the schools of Ireland, and after coming to the United States he went to Dallas, where he spent four years. He then came to Cuero, establishing his present business, and has since been actively engaged in this business. Mr. Byrne is also one of the directors of the Breeden-Runge Company, and has extensive farming interests in DeWitt County.

Mr. Byrne was married at Cuero in 1908, to Miss Mary Louise Ott, daughter of S. I. Ott, pioneer settler of DeWitt County. Mr. and Mrs. Byrne reside in Cuero and have one child, M. Byrne, Jr. Mr. Byrne is a member of the Retail Merchants Association and the Cuero Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Byrne takes a deep pride in the civic accom- plishments of Cuero and has a firm belief in the future of this section, and especially in the de- velopment of the turkey and poultry raising busi- ness here. In the public development and growth of this section in recent years Mr. Byrne has taken an active part, and has contributed in every possible way to all organized work toward this end.

1945

MEN OF TEXAS

RANZ HUEBNER, of Bay City, Texas, is one of the most successful ranchmen and diversified farmers of Matagorda County, where for more than forty years he has been engaged in these fields of activity. He is a large ranch owner, and began the purchase of land in fee in Matagorda County in 1883, $1.50 per acre being the price he paid at that time. He has in- creased his holdings since the first purchase, and now owns in fee more than twelve thousand acres of land, the greater part of this was paid for through his share in two crops of rice. Mr. Hueb- ner has done much in the development of this county, and has aided in getting the farmers to di- versify, and he was also one of the first to encourage the rice growing industry here. As an evidence of the increase in the valuation of land in Matagorda County, in 1892 he purchased land here for $10.00 per acre, in 1900 land values here had risen to $15.00 per acre, and in 1919 almost any kind of land here was selling at $32.00 per acre. Mr. Huebner is an example of what can be done by work and ap- plication of the proper farming principles in South Texas. In 1886 he and his brother had a combined capital of $500.00, and today he has on his large farms thirty-one tenant farmer families, and em- ploys cow hands at $2.00 per day, as needed, and field hands at $1.25 per day. Mr. Huebner has one thousand acres planted to cotton, and during dry years has made as much as one and one-half bales per acre. He has two hundred acres in rice, which he considers the safest crop of this portion of the country; seven hundred acres planted to corn, and two hundred acres in hay, from which he cuts three tons per acre and sells at $15.00 per ton. He has twenty-five acres planted to sweet potatoes, and con- siders this a good money crop. He was two thou- sand head of cattle, and has for many years been raising Brahma breeds, but is now breeding his herds into high grade shorthorn. He says that no cattle man in Matagorda County has been forced out of the cattle business, and that good money can be made in cattle if given the proper attention. Mr. Huebner grew up in the cattle and farming industries, and has continued in this line of work throughout his life, and has continued to add to his land holdings.

A native Texan, Mr. Huebner was born in Fayette County on March 8th, 1859. His father, John A. Huebner, came to Texas in 1834, from Germany, and settled at San Felipe, and later removed to New Orleans, but in 1838 he returned to Texas and to Fayette County, where he traded a rifle for two thousand acres of land. He settled on this land and lived there for the remainder of his life. Franz Huebner's education was obtained in the country schools of Fayette County, which at that time were inferior, and lasted only a few months during each year.

Mr. Huebner was married, in Fayette County, in 1889, to Miss Louise Kehner, a member of a pioneer Texas family. They have four children-Otto Hueb- ner assistant paymaster, United States navy; Adolph Huebner; John A. Huebner, associated with the Houston Brick and Tile Company, and one daughter, Pauline, who is connected with the Hous- ton Music Conservatory and is one of the finest musicians of South Texas. The Huebner home is on the ranch, two miles from Bay City. While Mr. Huebner has confined his interests largely to

Matagorda County, he has stock in many banks in various portions of the state, and is a large stock- holder in the Planters Mills at New Braunfels, Texas. Mr. Huebner has always been a leader in any project for the good of his county, and is re- garded as one of the most progressive citizens of Matagorda County, ever ready to assist in any man- ner for the advancement of this section. Perhaps no man in this county has accomplished as much in its development along the various agricultural lines as has Franz Huebner, always known as one of Matagorda County's most public-spirited citizens.

AT THOMPSON came to Bay City, Texas, in 1917 and the following year became asso- ciated with the Bay City Auto and Sales Company as vice president and manager, and this business has grown to large proportions since that time. Associated with Mr. Thompson are his brothers, M. Thompson and F. A. Thompson, who are president, secretary and treasurer, respec- tively. The Bay City Auto and Sales Company are dealers in Ford cars, tractors and farm imple- ments, and their business was established here in 1916, and there is only one other Ford dealer in Matagorda County. This firm owns their building, which is modern in every respect, with splendid salesrooms and garage. Twenty-five people are employed in the sales of tractors, farm implements and Ford motors. After locating here in his present business, Mr. Thompson's business integrity, his broad views and grasp of public affairs, gradually became known to the public, and in 1923 he was elected mayor of Bay City. His administration was one of great accomplishment, and his progressive ideas in regard to city government immediately be- came popular with the citizenship, who aided him in every way in carrying out his plans for the better- ment of this city. He is making an effort to get parties interested in a water power project which is only three miles from this city, with cement basic work already finished. Bay City has a splendid system of water works, a fine depot, good sidewalks, and tentative plans for paving are now under way. The city is operated on a cash basis, which has been worked out during the regime of Mr. Thompson. The bonded indebtedness of the city is $60,000.00, with a sinking fund of $22,000.00, which is in excess now $10,000.00 of the requirements. Mr. Thompson started his business career in the hardware and im- plement business, which he continued successfully until engaging in his present business.

A native Texan, Mr. Thompson was born at Lexington, on August 21st, 1890. His father, N. Thompson, came to Texas from Louisiana when thirty years of age, and settled in South Texas, where he became well known in the business and financial circles of this portion of the state. His education was obtained in the public schools of South Texas.

Mr. Thompson was married, at Canyon City, Texas, on September 25th, 1913, to Miss Winnie Anderson, a native of Illinois. They have two chil- dren, Neal Thompson and Glendine. Mr. Thompson is a member of the A. F. and A. M., with member- ship in the lodge of Bay City, and is also a member of the Chapter here. He is a member of the Bay City Chamber of Commerce, the Advertising Club, State Auto Dealers' Association, in all of which he

1946

Franz Huebner

1.@ Thornhill

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

takes a keen interest. Mr. Thompson has been very active in the affairs of the Chamber of Commerce here, having been for two years president of this organization, later vice president and director, and for many years has been chairman of the industrial committee of this organization. Mr. Thompson is a leader in all matters having to do with the ad- vancement and progress of his city and South Texas. He is ambitious for his city and his business and is an ardent worker for the success of both.

ACITUS CLAY THORNHILL of Gulf, Texas, began his career in the business world with his father, in the merchandising business and in 1918 established his own business in this prosperous Gulf town, and has built up a large business. Mr. Thornhill is the owner of the Gulf Mercantile Company, which consists of a large and complete stock of merchandise, and a modern, sani- tary meat market. He uses York's refrigerating sys- tem, which has a capacity of three tons of ice and storage room for twenty-five animals. He leases the ground and building. The trade of Mr. Thorn- hill is from the employees at Gulf, the greater part of which is fifteen-day accounts, which are satisfac- tory and good to all the tradespeople of the town. Mr. Thornhill is associated with his father in the W. G. Thornhill Fish and Oyster Market at Mata- gorda, Texas, which was established in September, 1905, and since that time has had a great business. Fish from this company is shipped as far as St. Paul and Minneapolis, and the larger part of their business is out of the state. For many years this company handled the finest oysters of Texas. Dur- ing 1924 they shipped much shrimp. The W. G. Thornhill Fish and Oyster Market owns four dredges and employs four men on salary at the plant, with thirty-five men on the bay, and during the oyster season from eighteen to thirty men are employed in the oyster house. All money for this business is from the outside and the town makes its living from the fishing industry. Mr. Thornhill obtained good experience at Matagorda in the fish and oyster business, which has been invaluable to him.

A native Texan, Mr. Thornhill was born at Inde- pendence, Texas, on December 16th, 1896. His father, W. G. Thornhill, came to Matagorda as rail- road agent at this point, having been engaged in various branches of the railroad service since he was eighteen years of age. W. G. Thornhill's father, Samuel Fisher Thornhill, came to Texas from South Carolina in 1853, and was among the pioneer set- tlers of this portion of Texas. His mother came to the Lone Star State from South Carolina, in 1848. Mr. T. C. Thornhill, on his mother's side, descended from Nestor Clay, who was his great-grandfather, and his grandfather was Tacitus Clay of Louisville, Kentucky. Nestor Clay came to Texas with Ste- phen F. Austin Colony, in 1823. Mr. Thornhill's early education was obtained in the public schools of Matagorda, after which he became a student of the Douglass Select School of Waco, Texas.

Mr. Thornhill was married at Chapel Hill, Texas, on July 14th, 1920, to Miss Bess Burton Routt, a na- tive Texan also, and a daughter of J. E. Routt, a pioneer stockman of Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Thornhill reside at Gulf, Texas. Mr. Thornhill is a member of the A. F. and A. M., with membership in Blue Lodge No. 7, of Matagorda, and is a member of the Chapter and Consistory at Bay City, and of the Scottish Rite body at Dallas, and also is a Shriner

of Hella Temple of Dallas. He holds membership in the I. O. O. F. at Matagorda. He is a member of the Retail Merchants' Association of Texas and is active in this organization. Mr. Thornhill never loses an opportunity to speak a good word for the Gulf Coast Country, and believes that with a small amount of advertising in order to let the world know about this great country, it can be made the finest fruit and veget ble section of th. world, be- sides the vast fishing industries which are located here, with grazing interests and farming already established. The citrus fruit and fig industry is yet in its innfancy here, but many people are be- coming interested in it and more acreage is devoted to this industry each year.

ERBERT E. LEONARDT has been active in the bottling business at Cuero since his en- trance in the business world here, and is secretary-treasurer and manager of the Cuero Ice and Bottling Works. This enterprise was founded around forty years ago as the South Texas Ice Company, was founded by Dave Cypher, E. Leonardt and Mr. Fenner. Later the business was reorganized and incorporated and has been greatly expanded to meet the increased demands of this rapidly growing city. The Cuero Ice and Bottling Company has a complete ice plant, with a capacity of thirty tons of ice per day, and storage capacity of one hundred tons. Ice is manufactured for local consumption and is also shipped to Westhoff, Port Lavaca and the Cuero trade territory. The bottling department manufacturers a full line of bottled bev- erages, and a large trade in this product has also been established. Around eight people are em- ployed by the Cuero Ice and Bottling Works. E. Leonardt is president and S. C. Lackey, vice presi- dent of the company, with Herbert E. Leonardt as secretary and treasurer.

Herbert E. Leonardt was born at Cuero the twen- ty-ninth of May, 1890, son of E. Leonardt, pioneer business man of this city, and president of the Cuero Ice and Bottling Works. Mr. Leonardt attended the public schools of Cuero later entering the West Tex- as Military Academy where he took preparatory work. He later took a business course at Eastman Business College at Poughkeepsie, New York, after which he returned to Cuero and entered upon his active career, going with the Cuero Ice and Bot- tling Works, where he was active until his enlist- ment in military service. He enlisted the twenty- sixth of April, 1918, with the 343rd Machine Gun Battalion, serving overseas with the Ninetieth Di- vision, and was commissioned sergeant major. He was discharged the twenty sixth of April, 1919, re- turning to Cuero, and resuming his position with the Cuero Ice and Bottling Works.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 132

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