New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 136

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

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year later becoming a director, and, in 1921, presi- dent of that institution. Judge Strickland has also been active in developing and cultivating the lands of this section, owning several tracts of farming land near Eagle Lake, and employing negro tenant farmers to cultivate this land, employing several ne- groes who have been with his family for around forty years. Among the land at present cultivated by Judge Strickland is one tract of three hundred acres which has been in constant cultivation for over sixty years and is still highly productive.

Judge Strickland was married at Eagle Lake, the eleventh of November, 1902, to Miss Nellie Little, the daughter of W. W. Little, an early settler at Rich- mond, Texas, and the friend and associate of Stephen F. Austin. Mr. Little's death occurred at the age of eighty-seven years. Judge and Mrs. Strickland re- side at Eagle Lake, where, with the exception of sev- eral years spent in Houston on account of the educa- tional advantages that city offered, they have made their home since their marriage. They have two children, Lena and Annie Strickland. Judge Strick- land is a member of the Bankers' Association, is president of the Chamber of Commerce, a thirty- second degree Mason and Shriner, and a member of the Baptist church. He is regarded as one of the most progressive citizens of Eagle Lake and Colo- rado County, and few men have done more for the development and advancement of this section than has he.

UDGE W. E. McNABB. Perhaps no man in Matagorda County has been the recipient of more positions of honor and trust at the hands of his fellow men than has Judge W. E. McNabb of Bay City, Texas. In 1923, he was elected county judge of Matagorda County, which position, at this time, is of more than usual promi- nence and more responsibilities on account of the large projects of improvements on hand at this time by this county. The work of drainage of the Colo- rado River is under the direction of a board appoint- ed by the County Court, and $685,000.00 is being spent in this county in cleaning the river of rafts and snags. The board of Matagorda County is working with the board from Wharton County, where $600,000.00 is being spent. This work will redeem much land which is now subject to overflow, and safeguard the towns and rural communities which many times in the past have experienced high water, making this county safe and healthy. Mata- gorda County has five hundred miles of graded road and much of this work has been done during the regime of Judge McNabb, while serving as county commissioner and as county judge. He held the office of justice of the peace at Matagorda for twenty years, and was county commissioner for a period of fourteen years. Judge McNabb has for a number of years been interested in the rearing and breeding of Brahma cattle, which he has been able to bring up from range cattle to about 50 per cent by breeding with high class Brahma bulls. The ani- mals in this portion of the country have no trouble in living through the winter, as they are hardy and the winters here are very mild. Judge McNabb owns in fee about two thousand acres of land in this county, the greater portion of which is given over to grazing purposes.

A native of the Lone Star State, Judge McNabb was born in Matagorda County in 1875. His father,

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MEN OF TEXAS

John F. McNabb, was a veteran of the Civil War, and after the close of that conflict returned to South Texas and engaged in the cattle business. His grandfather came to Texas from Scotland in 1837, and was among the very early settlers of this great state. Judge McNabb's education was obtained in the schools of his native county.

Judge McNabb was married at Matagorda, Texas, on June 21st, 1899, to Miss Jenny Baxter, a member of one of Texas' pioneer families. Both the families of Judge and Mrs. McNabb date back to the begin- ning of Matagorda. They have two children-Mrs. Claude Lawhon and Evelyn McNabb. Judge Mc- Nabb is a member of the A. F. and A. M., with membership in Matagorda Lodge No. 7, and has at- tained to the 14th degree in the Scottish Rite body of this order. He has been master of his lodge three times, and is also a member of the Chapter and Consistory and is prominent and active in the Masonic circles of Texas. Judge McNabb is re- garded as one of the builders of Bay City, where he is known as one of the most progressive citizens, ever ready to assist in any project having for its object the advancement of his town, community or state.

A. MALLICK, of Bay City, Texas, has since 1921 been active in the business circles of this city, where he is well known, having been a resident of Matagorda County for almost a quarter of a century. Mr. Mallick is the owner of the Lone Star Bottling Works of Bay City, which is the only plant of its kind in Mata- gorda County, and his trade comes from all the other towns and rural communities in this county, which makes it extensive. He deals in bottled goods only, and has his own delivery system of trucks. The best season, naturally, for this product, is during the warmest months-June, July, August and September. Four men are employed at the plant and in the delivery of the bottled soda, but this number is increased as the trade demands. Prior to engaging in his present business, Mr. Mal- lick was for a period of thirty-one years associated with the Southern Pacific Railroad. He began work on the Victoria division in 1888, as a day laborer, and worked himself up until he had complete charge of this district. He came to Matagorda County in 1900, being at that time with the Southern Pacific Railroad bridge and building department. The dis- trict which he had in charge, before leaving the em- ploy of the Southern Pacific, included Fort Bend, Wharton, Jackson and Matagorda Counties. He had saved during the period he spent with the railroad, and decided to settle at Bay City and enter a busi- ness which would bring an income without a great deal of worry and work. As an example of the changes which have taken place in the cost of living and the wage scale, when Mr. Mallick entered the employ of the railroad, his pay was $1.10 per day, which was regarded as very good at that time, on account of the average pay being about 50 cents per day.

A native Texan, Mr. Mallick was born in Lavaca County, on April 1st, 1872. His father, A. Mallick, also a native of the Lone Star State, having been born at Columbus, is still living and active at the advanced age of eighty years. Mr. Mallick's grand- father, A. Mallick, was a native of Germany, and settled in Columbus, Colorado County, in the early

days of Texas. He also was engaged in the cattle business, making the subject of this sketch the third generation to engage in business here. Mr. Mal- lick's education was obtained in the public schools of Jackson County.

He was married, at Wharton, Texas, on April 22nd, 1902, to Miss Helen Slaughter, a member of a pio- neer South Texas family. Mr. and Mrs. Mallick have resided in Bay City since 1921. Mr. Mallick is a member of the A. F. and A. M., with membership in the Blue Lodge of this Order at Edna, Texas, and is a member of the Chapter at Bay City. Mr. and Mrs. Mallick hold membership in the Eastern Star at Bay City. He also holds membership in the I. O. O. F. of Bay City and takes an active interest in this organization. He is a member of the local Chamber of Commerce and the Texas Bottlers' As- sociation. Mr. Mallick is optimistic as to the future of South Texas, and believes that this portion of the state is entering into an era of great prosperity in all lines.

C. MCCLANAHAN for around a quarter of a century has been active in the lumber busi- ness at Eagle Lake and in South Texas, and for some years past has been closely associ- ated with the development of petroleum interests in this section. Mr. McClanahan is president of the Columbus Bernado Oil Company, a company organ- ized in 1922, and which has since been active in the development of the oil fields between Eagle Lake anad Columbus, where they control a large territory. The Columbus Bernado Oil Company has its own rigs and equipment for drilling, and actual work is going forward in this field, with several wells down.

He has also drilled at Lissie, where he was active in 1920 and 1921, and where he organized the Lissie Petroleum Company. He keeps in close touch with development work and oil prospects in the coastal district.

A. C. McClanahan was born at Orange, Texas, in 1873, the son of Captain Tom McClanahan. Captain McClanahan, a native Texan, was born in 1848, and was a typical sea captain of the early days, handling a coastwise trade, and also trading with Mexico, and gradually added to his fleet of boats until he was a factor to be reckoned with in the shipping of those days. Mr. McClanahan's father and "Big Foot" Wal- lace, pioneer Texans, came here together in the early days from Tennessee, later going to California in '49, and afterward returning to this state. After finishing his education, obtained in the public schools near his home, Mr. McClanahan began in the lumber business, spending two years at Yorktown. He then went with the Morgan Company, exporters, at Orange, where he remained one year, after which he came to Eagle Lake, in 1897, and entered the lumber business here. Still later he was eengaged in the lumber business at Garwood, where he was president of the McClanahan & Frnka Lumber Company. For around a decade he has also been active in the oil business and is well known among oil operators in the coastal fields.

Mr. McClanahan was married at Eagle Lake, in 1898, to Miss Josephine Sutton, and they have since made their home here, having one of the finest resi- dences in this section. They have four children, Curtis, in the Lumberman's Bank at Houston, Claire, Mary and Francis.

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NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

RUNGE & COMPANY-The firm of H. Runge & Company, established in 1845, in the last days of the Texas Republic, by Henry Runge, a member of a party of German colonists who came to Texas about that time, has taken an increasingly important part in the commercial history of the state, and is today one of the leading business establishments of Texas. A tent housed the first business, then operated under the name of Runge & Fromme & Company, at Indianola, a port of first importance in the early days. A year later the business was moved into a small frame house of two and one-half stories, and in that year Mr. Fromme retired from the business, and Herman Runge became a member of the firm. In 1855 the town of Indianola was moved from its first site, where Magnolia Beach now stands, to Powder Horn Bayou, where the wharf was located. The new town grew rapidly and with it the business established by Mr. Runge, operated at that time as Runge and Dove, with Andrew Dove as a partner. At that time the business was large- ly forwarding, goods consigned to Runge and Dove being forwarded in ox carts and mule drawn wagons to such far off points as El Paso, Fort Clark, Eagle Pass and Old Mexico. Fort Sam Houston and San Antonio also received most of the supplies from Indianola.

Following the Civil War Mr. Runge took Emil Reiffert and Walter Frobese in the firm in 1866, and in 1867 disposed of his interests to these two men and went to Galveston where he went in business. In 1886 the port of Indianola was de- stroyed by storm, and the fire which accompanied the storm, the building occupied by H. Runge being one of the few buildings left standing. At that time headquarters of the buisness were moved to Cuero where the firm of H. Runge & Company has continued to the present time. During the same year a branch opened at Runge, under the name of Runge & Tips, subsequently becoming Reiffert & Frobese, which is still in existence. After mov- ing to Cuero the business of H. Runge & Company began a definite period of expansion. A small building served for the grocery and banking busi- ness of the firm, and a branch store was also opened. A furniture store was also established and a gin and mill was purchased. In 1886 a machinery de- partment was also added, now one of the important branches of the business. A store and gin were also opened at Whitsett and extensive land holdings acquired by the firm, as well as an interest in many of Cuero's leading industrial enterprises. Of the three partners Edward Mugge, Emil Reiffert and William Frobese, who guided the destinies of the firm during these formative years, Mr. Mugge was the first to cross the "Great Divide" his death occurring in 1897. His son represented him for a time, until the liquidation of the Mugge interests. Mr. Reiffert's death occurred in 1910 and Mr. Frobese's a year later, in 1911.

Emil Reiffert was succeeded by his son, Walter Reiffert, the present senior partner, and at Mr. Frobese's death William Frobese, Jr., became jun- ior partner, and is at the present time associated with Mr. Walter Reiffert in the active management of H. Runge & Company. Today the firm, bear- ing the name of its founder, stands as one of the most successful business enterprises in South

Texas. During the three quarters of a century of continuous operation the firm has rendered con- tinuous service to its patrons throughout South Texas, building and holding the esteem and good will of this entire section. For a half century the firm has been the leading business enterprise at Cuero, and its history has been closely interwoven with the history of the development of this sec- tion. H. Runge & Company has been associated with every movement for the advancement of Cuero and has contributed liberally to all worthy causes, not only at Cuero, but throughout the terri- tory it serves, and has been a factor in the develop- ment of this territory.

OUTHERN MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY; SOUTHERN LLOYDS AT YOAKUM, FIRE UNDERWRITERS; SE- CURITY FINANCE CORPORATION. The home office of the foregoing institutions is in the City of Yoakum, Texas. Under the active and energetic management of Green & Shall they have been most successful.

William E. Green, senior partner, organized the Southern Mutual Fire Insurance Company in August, 1916, under the name of the South Texas Gin- ners Mutual Fire Insurance Company, originally to insure cotton gins against loss by fire and windstorm and to give this class of risk fre- quent expert and careful inspection. In 1921 the name was changed to the Southern Mutual. The annual report to the Commissioner of Insurance showed practically $7,000,000.00 insurance in force and that a total of $63,000.00 had been returned to policy holders of the premiums paid, as of Decem- ber 31st, 1924.

David J. Shall joined Mr. Green in June, 1918, and together they organized and launched the South- ern Lloyds Fire Underwriters the following month. The Southern Lloyds' annual report to the commis- sioner of insurance discloses over $8,000,000 insur- ance in force December 31st, 1924. All risks writ- ten in the Southern Lloyds are subjected to the same careful inspection that is given to the business of the Southern Mutual.

The two organizations are operating principally in South-Central and South Texas, and constantly extending and widening the limits of activity.

In January, 1923, the Security Finance Corpora- tion was organized, also by Green & Shall, Mr. Green being first vice president and Mr. Shall, secretary, and their business associates for the purpose of assisting dealers to finance sales of automobiles with Green & Shall managers.

Mr. Green was born near Yoakum, and has resided in and near Yoakum all his life. He was manager of the Yoakum Gin and Mill Company for seven years, and is a thoroughly practical cotton ginner. He, as Mr. Shall also, have been very active in the insurance business for the past seventeen years.

Mr. Shall came to Yoakum in the summer of 1892 from St. Edwards College near Austin, Texas, worked for the S. A. & A. P. Railway Company until 1906, resigning as assistant superintendent of main- tenance of way, and has been in the fire insurance business since then, except for the five years pre- ceding his partnership with Mr. Green, during which he was an attorney at law. Mr. Shall is also sec- retary of the Yoakum Building & Loan Association.

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MEN OF TEXAS

S. DOUGLASS, of Gonzales, Texas, is well known in the banking circles of Gonzales and continguous counties, having been as- sociated with the Farmer's National Bank of Gonzales since its organization in 1906. In 1920, Mr. Douglass became president of this institution, which is regarded as one of the strongest of its kind in this portion of Texas. With a capital of $100,000.00, surplus of $100,000.00 and undivided profits of $25,000.00, this bank has deposits of $1,000,000.00. The Farmer's National Bank of Gon- zales has a wonderful following among its farmer customers and depositors and has proved to be a real friend to the farmers of this portion of the state. It also has a large number of customers among the live business element of Gonzales and Gonzales County. Other officers of this bank are C. T. Rather and R. C. Botts, vice presidents, and J. H. Daniels, cashier. Mr. Douglass is the third president of this bank. He is well known in the railroad circles of Texas, having prior to engaging in the banking business been for fifteen years in the service of the railroads, in which field of activity he began his business career. He entered the railroad service as a boy at Lexington, Texas, and was agent at Gonzales when he resigned in order to become associated with this bank when it was organized in 1906. This is his first banking ex- perience, and he has proved to be one of the best executives ever associated with this institution. In addition to his banking interests, Mr. Douglass is associated with many other of Gonzales' institutions. He is a director of the Gonzales Cotton Oil and Manufacturing Company, and owns interest in other industries in Gonzales. He is also interested in farm- ing here and in Live Oak County, where he owns in fee some splendid farming land, which he rents to tenants and raises cotton and corn. On his Live Oak County farm, a bale of cotton to the acre was pro- duced by the tenants in 1924.

A native Texan, Mr. Douglass was born at Lex- ington, Lee County, on March 10th, 1874. His father, I. C. Douglass (deceased since February, 1924), came to Texas from Tennessee and settled in Orange County in 1852. In 1856 he removed to Lee County, where he lived for the remainder of his life, being engaged in farming. He was a Confederate Veteran and highly esteemed by all who knew him. Mr. Douglass' mother, Mrs. Sophia (Shaw) Douglass (deceased since 1905), was a native of the Lone Star State. Her father, Captain James Shaw, was a pio- neer Texan and an officer at the capture of General Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto. His edu- cation was obtained in the public schools of Texas.

Mr. Douglass was married, at Giddings, Texas, in 1896, to Miss Frances Perkins, a member of a well known Texas family. They have one son-Arthur James Douglass, a student at the University of Texas, working in the bank at Gonzales during his vacation periods, in this manner becoming familiar with the banking business. Mr. Douglass is a mem- ber of the A. F. and A. M., with membership in the lodge at Gonzales, and a member of the Scottish Rite body of this order of San Antonio, Texas. He is also a member of the Texas and American Bank- ers' Associations and the Gonzales Chamber of Com- merce, in all of which he takes an active interest. Mr. Douglass is a leader in all matters having to do with the civic improvement and advancement of Gon- zales, where he is known as one of this city's most enterprising and public-spirited citizens.

0. BARNETT of Yoakum, Texas, has been active in the insurance circles of this por- tion of the state since April, 1920, when he became general agent of the Amicable Life Insurance Company, with offices in this city. On December 15th, 1921, he associated himself with Mr. Aubrey H. Frazer of San Antonio, Texas, under the firm name of Barnett and Frazer, as general agents of the Amicable Life Insurance Company here. This agency, with headquarters at San An- tonio where Mr. Frazer resides, with offices located at 717-19 Russell Building, covers forty-two coun- ties, with offices located at Yoakum, Corpus Christi and Laredo, Texas. As general agents, this firm has built up one of the largest businesses in the insurance circles of this portion of Texas. Sixteen full time men are employed by this firm and forty people are working part time for them. This com- pany has business in force in their territory amount- ing to more than $35,000,000.00, this agency in 1923 produced $2,000,000.00 and in 1924 showed $3,000,- 000.00.

Mr. Barnett started his career in the business world as a school teacher, following the profession of pedagogy for a period of three years, after which he engaged in the railway mail service and remained in this field of activity for twelve years. During the time he was serving in this line of work, he began writing life insurance as a side line and grad- ually worked himself into this business. He became general agent of the Amicable Life Insurance Com- pany in April, 1920, and joined with Mr. Frazer in December, 1921. Since locating in Yoakum, Mr. Barnett has identified himself with the business and financial life of this city, where he is a director of Southern Memorial Monument Company and the Farmers and Merchants State Bank.

A native Texan, Mr. Barnett was born at Llano, Llano County, on February 16th, 1884. His father, J. F. Barnett, also a native of the Lone Star State, is well known and highly esteemed by the citizen- ship of Southwest Texas where he has resided all his life. His mother, Mrs. Sarah E. Barnett (de- ceased), was a member of a pioneer Texas family. His paternal grandfather, James Barnett, came from Alabama to Texas in 1830, his maternal grand- father, Poe, removed to Texas from Mississippi in 1845, making his forbears among the very early settlers of the Lone Star State. His education was obtained in the public and high schools of Texas.

Mr. Barnett was married at Lexington, Texas, in January, 1906, to Miss Janet Copeland, a member of a well known family of Lee County. They have five children-Lucille, Gladys, Irene, Maurine and Corine-the last two being twins, which so closely resemble that they can not easily be distinguished one from the other. Mr. Barnett is a member of the Yoakum Chamber of Commerce, the Southwest- ern Underwriter's Association, the Amicable $1,000,- 000.00 Club and many of this city's business, social and civic organizations, in which he takes an active interest. Mr. Barnett is regarded as one of the leading insurance men of Texas, and it is a fact that with his partner, Mr. Frazer, they were largely instrumental in putting the Amicable Life Insurance Company on the Texas map. He is also a leader in the business circles of Yoakum, where he is known as one of Southwest Texas' most enterprising cit- izens.

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NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

EORGE B. CULVER, of Matagorda, Texas, has always been active in the business life of his city and a leader in every worthwhile project or improvement which has become a reality here. Mr. Culver is a ranch owner, cattle- man, and president and owner of the Culver Shell Dredging Company of Matagorda, which Was organ- ized in February, 1922, as a corporation, by Mr. Culver. The shell which this company handles, ob- tained from Dog Island and Tiger Island Reef, is of very fine quality and an almost inexhaustible sup- ply. This shell is gotten out with dredges, tow boats and barges. A great amount of it is being used in the construction of the state highways, the company delivering it on cars at their hopper in Matagorda. The Culver Shell Dredging Company produces about five hundred cubic yards per day, with a capacity of seven hundred cubic yards daily. This is regarded by people who are experienced in such matters as being the best shell on the Gulf Coast for cement and binding purposes. Seventeen men are employed at the plant of this company; all of whom are local men. Mr. Culver owns two thou- sand acres of land in Matagorda County in fee, which he leases to rice growers, and he has about one hundred and fifty acres planted to cotton and corn. He has two ranches-one known as the Faris, Simpson and Culver ranch and the other one is his alone, and is known as the George B. Culver ranch. He has high grade Brahma cattle, which he has successfully crossed with the Herefords, and raising each year between fifteen hundred and two thousand head. The dipping of the cattle in this county has been a success, rendering more than 90 per cent clear of ticks and infection. The Faris, Simpson and Culver ranch consists of 4,500 acres and the George B. Culver ranch contains an acreage of 6,000. Mr. Culver moves his cattle on the Matagorda Penin- sula for the winter months, where they range and breed and in the spring following he sells the calves. He has about one hundred head of horses on his ranch, besides many mules. Mr. Culver grew up in the cattle business and was on the trail drive to Dodge City, Kansas, during 1884-85. Mr. Culver was for many years a holder of public office in Matagorda County, in which he established an envia- ble reputation. He served with distinction as deputy sheriff for six years and that was during the time that the real "Texas bad men" existed and it required a nerve of steel, besides being "quick on the trigger" to hold the office of sheriff or deputy. He also served for a period of six years as county assessor. He is also one of the two original mem- bers of the Intercoastal Canal, and is a director in same and has always been a worker and booster for this project. He says that he expects to again see boats at Matagorda and when the canal is built, expects to start work to deepen the channel, with the aid of the United States government in this work.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 136

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