New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 137

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

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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).

A native Texan, Mr. Culver was born at Mata- gorda on January 15th, 1863. His father, J. A. Culver, was a well known contractor and gunsmith, and came to Matagorda in the early days by boat. His mother was prior to her marriage Miss Elese Arance, who came to Galveston, Texas, from Berlin at the age of sixteen years. His education was obtained in the schools of Matagorda County.

Mr. Culver was married at Matagorda on Decem-

ber 24th, 1893, to Miss Lillian Bruce, also a native of Matagorda County and a member of a pioneer family here. Her father was a veteran of the Civil War and was later engaged in cattle raising and ranching in this county. They have four children- Arthur S. Culver, on ranch; Eric G. Culver, em- ployed with the Gulf Sulphur Company; Ned W. Culver, also with this company, and Mrs. Mary Mecklenburg, whose husband is associated with the Gulf Sulphur Company. Mr. Culver is a member of the I. O. O. F. and has held membership in this organization for more than a quarter of a century. He is also a member of the Woodmen of the World, and of the Bay City Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Culver is a consistent member of the Episcopal Church at Matagorda and for six years has been the senior warden of this church, which has the unique distinction of being the first Protestant Church ever established in Texas. Mr. Culver is one of the builders of Matagorda and is largely instrumental in the strides which Matagorda County has made. He is a constant worker for the devel- opment of his county, with his heart and soul in the work. It was through the influence of Mr. Culver that Mr. Eldridge and Mr. Lane were induced to build the Cane Belt Railroad into Matagorda, which reached this city on December 24th, 1892. Prior to the building of this railroad, all outside travel was by sail boats via Galveston. Mr. Culver is truly "a gentleman of the old school" and in his personality are mixed the gallantry and chivalry of the South together with the aggressive, purposeful, and constructive business instincts of the modern Southwest. His mature experience, wise counsel and high ideals have ever been an inspiration to his children and his friends, and in chronicling the records of men who were potent factors in the development of their county and state, there is no name more worthy of note than that of George B. Culver, who for almost half a century has been active in the progress and advancement of his com- munity, county and state.

H. PLOEGER has for more than two de- cades been a potent factor in the business circles of Yoakum, Texas, where he owns and operates the Yoakum Creamery and Bottling Works. He came to this city in 1904, and prior to engaging in his present business he was engaged in the wholesale beer business here. In 1918, Mr. Ploeger started his business here as a bottling plant on a small scale, adding ice cream manufacturing to this established business in 1921. All the butter produced by the Yoakum Creamery is used in the manufarture of ice cream at the plant, and the supply of butter from the creamery is not sufficient, making it necessary to ship in some, but this is now nearly all supplied from local sources. The Yoakum Creamery and Bottling Works bottle soft drinks of practically all kinds and flavors. The territory for the distribution of ice cream particu- larly, and of the bottling plant, extends throughout Lavaca and adjoining counties. Mr. Ploeger owns his own truck delivery system, consisting of three one-ton trucks and several small delivery trucks. Ten people are employed in the operation of this plant. Mr. Ploeger owns the building in which the plant is housed, being a splendid, two-story rein- forced concrete building which was constructed in

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1919 for the plant and is modern in every partic- ular. Mr. Ploeger's original business here was started in a very small space with an investment of about $300.00, and has during six years grown to the magnificent establishment which he now owns and operates.

A native of Germany, Mr. Ploeger was born on November 22nd, 1879. His parents were both born in the Fatherland, where they were members of well known families. His education was obtained in the schools of Germany, which he left at an early age in order to enter the business world, in which he has met with unusual success.

Mr. Ploeger was married at Yoakum, Texas, in 1909, to Miss Clara Witte, a native of the Lone Star State and a daughter of H. J. Witte, for many years a well known peace officer of Lavaca County. They have one son-Marcus Ploeger, who is learning his father's business, as he is growing into manhood, expecting to follow the business established by Mr. Ploeger. Mr. Ploeger is a member of the Yoakum Chamber of Commerce, the Texas Bottlers' Associa- tion, the Texas Ice Cream Manufacturers' Associa- tion, the Retail Merchants' Association, and many other organizations, both business and social. Mr. Ploeger is an example of what can be accomplished by strict attention to business and fair treatment of the public, as he has built up one of the largest establishments of its kind in this portion of the state, and may yet add other units to his plant. He is optimistic as to the future of Yoakum and Lavaca County and believes that this portion of the state is entering on an era of great business prosperity in all lines.

M. WILSON, one of the recent recruits to the business world at Elmina, has been a factor in the lumber business since com- ing here, and is regarded as a man whose years of experience in lumber mill operation have made him an authority in this field. Mr. Wilson is general superintendent of the mill of the Walker County Lumber Company, one of the largest indus- trial enterprises at Elmina. The mill is located on the International and Great Northern Railroad at El- mina and is one of the largest and most modern in the state, forming an industrial unit that is a city in itself. A force of two hundred or more opera- tives is employed at the mill, and more than a hun- dred thousand feet of lumber is sawed daily. The mill site covers three hundred acres, whereon are located all buildings comprising the industry. Mr. Wilson has been in charge of the mill since the first of April, 1924.

J. M. Wilson was born in Lafayette County, Ar- kansas, the fifth of February, 1873, the son of W. H. Wilson, a native of Tennessee, who came to Arkansas as a boy and was a planter and county official there until his death. J. M. Wilson was educated in the the schools of Lafayette County, Arkansas, and at the age of sixteen years began in the saw mills operated in that county. Later he spent three years in the railroad business, after which he returned to the lumber mills, and has worked his way from the bottom of that industry to a place of high responsibility. He was manager of a lumber mill at Cotton Valley, Louisiana, for eleven years, leaving there to go with the Cotton Valley Lumber Company at Ouachita, Arkansas,

where he remained for six years. He then spent a year at Hot Springs, Arkansas, in the lumber business, after which he came to Elmina, as super- intendent of the Walker County Lumber Company's mill. Mr. Wilson is also vice president of a lumber company in Louisiana, which was organized in August, 1922.

Mr. Wilson was married in Arkansas, to Miss Laura Meek, a native of that state. They have three children-Odessa, now Mrs. Henry Wheeler, of Shreveport, Louisiana, and John Buford Wilson and Edith Lyle Wilson, students in the Shreveport schools, Mrs. Wilson spending her winters there so that the children may have the educational advan- tages Shreveport offers. Mr. Wilson is a Mason, Blue Lodge, Cotton Valley Lodge No. 335; a Knight of Pythias, a Macabee and a Woodman of the World.

G. RUST, for some years past have been a factor in agricultural activities in Wharton County, where he has charge of the opera- tion of his father's estate, comprising one of the large plantations in this section. The Rust plan- tation, of which Mr. Rust has been manager for around ten years, consists of around fifteen hun- dred acres of land, located near Wharton, and all in a high state of cultivation, devoted largely to the growing of cotton and corn. Mr. Rust employs tenant families to work the plantation, around thirty negro families living on the place. In addi- tion to the plantation an additional fifteen hundred acres of pasture and woodland is included in the Rust estate, and a herd of cattle numbering three hundred head, which has been bred up from na- tive stock until it is three-quarters Brahma.

L. G. Rust was born at Wharton, Texas, the fourth of January, 1891, the son of George Q. Rust and Maggie (Gates) Rust. George Q. Rust, for some years engaged in the mercantile business at Whar- ton, gradually extending his land interests and es- tablishing the estate, eventually quitting the mer- cantile business to spend his entire time managing the plantation. Mr. Rust was born in Wharton, in December, 1856, the son of Jack Rust, a native of Virginia, who came to Wharton around 1850 and was one of the earliest merchants in this section, establishing the mercantile firm of Rust and Betts. Mrs. Rust, a native of Kentucky, was married to George J. Rust in that state, Mr. Rust having met her while she was on a visit in Wharton. In 1913 Mr. Rust suffered a nervous breakdown, his son, L. G. Rust, the subject of this sketch, taking over the management of the estate at that time. L. G. Rust attended the public schools of Wharton County, later entering Texas A. and M. College, where he was a student when called home to take charge of the estate.

L. G. Rust was married at Palestine, Texas, in July, 1917, to Miss Myrtle Breedlove, who taught school at Wharton for several years. Mr. and Mrs. Rust reside in Wharton, where they have a delight- ful home of the fine Southern type, and have one child, L. G. Rust, Jr. Mr. Rust is a stockholder of the Security Bank and Trust Company of Wharton, and while a practical farmer, is a man thoroughly trained in the business field, and applies business principles to plantation operation. He says that the labor problem is one of the most serious facing the farmer, on an extensive scale, and has given much study to this problem.

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NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

BRADEN, of Columbus, Texas, became as- sociated with the Columbus State Bank in 1921, as active vice president, and in this official capacity has had an important part in shaping the destinies of that institution. The Columbus State Bank, which was organized in 1919, has a capital stock of $50,000.00, with deposits of $300,000.00 and surplus and undivided profits of almost $3,000.00. The building of which the bank occupies the lower floor is owned by the Columbus State Bank and is a modern structure of brick and concrete, and the second floor is rented for office purposes. The bank has splendid, modern fixtures, which are ornate and substantial. Prior to engaging in the banking business, Mr. Braden was for a period of ten years tax collector of Colorado County, and was elected to his present position with this finan- cial institution on account of his large acquaintance and complete knowledge of conditions, which par- ticularly qualified him for this responsible place. Mr. Braden has for many years been identified with the business life of Columbus, and in addition to being vice president of the Columbus State Bank, he is secretary of the Columbus Ice and Cold Storage Company, secretary and treasurer of the Columbus Advertising Club, secretary and treasurer of the White Loyalty Party, and is a member of M. W. A. and of the Praetorians and Sons of Hermann and many other of the city's business and industrial projects. Mr. Braden began his business career when sixteen years of age, as a clerk at Vox Populi, Texas, after which he came to Columbus and for some time was employed in a dry goods store here. He later went to Sealy, where he was employed for some time, and returned here, and in 1912 was elect- ed to the office of county tax collector, which posi- tion he held until he became associated with the Columbus State Bank as active vice president.

A native Texan, Mr. Braden was born in Colorado County, on July 13th, 1877. His father, Joseph Bra- den (deceased since January 7th, 1924), was also born in Colorado County, where he was active in the business and farming circles and was one of this county's most highly esteemed citizens. His mother is still living in this county. His paternal grand- father, Anton Braden, came from Germany and set- tled in South Texas in 1848. His maternal grand- father, Earl Belzung, came from Alsace-Loraine and settled here about 1841, and was a veteran of the Civil War on the Confederate side of this conflict. Mr. Braden's education was obtained in the public schools of his native county, and other portions of South Texas.

Mr. Braden was married at Columbus on Novem- ber 27th, 1900, to Miss Elizabeth Jacobs, who was reared and educated in Colorado County, Texas. They have six children-Hazel, Emily, Marceline, Hermasella, Eveline and Elizabeth. Mr. Braden is a member of the Knights of Columbus, and has at- tained to the fourth degree in this order. He is a member also of the Loyal Order of Moose, the State Bankers' Association and the American Bank- ers' Association. He is a consistent member of the Catholic Church and is active in the workings of this denomination. Mr. Braden is ambitious for his city and his institution and is an ardent worker for both and is regarded as one of the most pro- gressive and public-spirited citizens of Columbus, Texas.

C. WAGNER of Yoakum, Texas, is well known in the railroad circles of the Lone Star State, having been actively engaged in the various branches of the railroad serv- ice since 1901. Mr. Wagner came to Yoakum on June 15th, 1915, as local agent of the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad and the showings of the business handled and the cost of operation of this station since that time has been largely due to the efforts of Mr. Wagner.

Mr. Wagner began his career in the railroad serv- ice as a filing clerk in the San Antonio and Aransas Pass offices at San Antonio, Texas, when nineteen years of age, his salary at that time being $15.00 per month. He soon received a merited promotion in both position and salary, working in the various departments until he came here from the position of chief clerk of the local freight office at San Antonio. Mr. Wagner has thirty-two experienced employees under his supervision as local agent of the San An- tonio and Aransas Pass Railroad at Yoakum.

A native Texan, Mr. Wagner was born at San An- tonio on January 25th, 1887. His father, C. H. Wag- ner, has also been engaged in railroad work through- out his business life. C. H. Wagner was the first paymaster of the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad, and in this capacity brought the first pay car into Yoakum, Texas. He is general agent of the Santa Fe Railroad at San Antonio, having been in this responsible position for several years. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but came to Tex- as as a boy, was raised in the Lone Star State and has remained here throughout his life. Mr. O. C. Wagner's mother, Mrs. Bertha Wagner, was a mem- ber of a pioneer Texas family. His early education was obtained in the public schools of San Antonio after which he became a student of St. Louis Col- lege of that city, and graduated from this insti- tution. He immediately entered railroad service un- der Mr. J. W. Terry, auditor of the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad at San Antonio, Texas.

Mr. Wagner was married at Houston, Texas, on May 2nd, 1920, to Miss Kittie Neeld, a native of Hallettsville, Texas, and a daughter of H. W. Neeld, for many years a prominent ranch owner of this portion of the state. They have two children, Doris Gray and Katherine Mal. Mr. Wagner is a mem- ber of the A. F. and A. M. with membership in Anchor Lodge No. 424 of San Antonio, where he is also a member of the Scottish Rite body of this order and a Shriner of the San Antonio Temple. He is a member of the Shrine Club of Yoakum, the Agents and Operators Association, is a director of the Yoakum Chamber of Commerce, president of the Yoakum Gun Club and many other business and social organizations here and elsewhere. Mr. Wagner is one of the organizers of the Yoakum Gun Club, which was organized in 1924, for the purpose of enabling the man in moderate circumstances to en- joy this outdoor sport, and this is accomplished by limiting each shooter to twenty-five clay pigeons at each meet, costing each shooter, with shells about $1.25. In this manner the ordinary salaried man can easily be a member and enjoy this healthful sport. Mr. Wagner is optimistic as to the future of business in this section of the state, largely on account of the farmers using fertilizers on their lands. In 1923, eighteen cars of fertilizers were used in the vicinity of Yoakum, and land made good cotton

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through the use of these fertilizers that had never before produced anything. Mr. Wagner is one of the leaders in all civic matters for the good of Yoakum, where he is known as one of the most pro- gressive citizens of DeWitt County.

OHN W. NEILL of Yoakum, Texas, started his business career in the lumber industry in which he has been continuously engaged for more than seventeen years, the past ten years of this period being in this city. Mr. Neill came to Yoakum in 1914 as agent of the South Texas Lumber Company, and he has had much to do with the growth and success of this company in this territory since that time. The yard of the South Texas Lumber Company was established here about twenty years ago, and handle everything which enters into the construction of a house. This com- pany sells at retail only, being engaged extensively in contract building, the greater part of which is turnkey job work. Much of the work on such build- ings is sublet contracts. Mr. J. M. West of Houston, Texas, a pioneer in the lumber industry of Texas, is the president of the South Texas Lumber Com- pany. Two white men and several negro laborers are employed at the lumber yard at Yoakum. Prior to locating at Yoakum, Mr. Neill was for one year with the Portland, Oregon, Lumber Mills, later for a period of eight months he was associated with the Thompson Starrett Construction Company, after which he was connected with H. D. Taylor Lumber Company in Rio Grande Valley. He then went to Kaufman, Texas, where for one year he was en- gaged in the lumber business, after which he came to Yoakum, where he has identified himself with the business and social life, and is also active in the civic affairs of this city, where he is popular with the entire citizenship.

A native Texan, Mr. Neill was born at Pearsall, on March 20th, 1887. His father, J. C. Neill (de- ceased since 1920), was a United States marshal along the Texas-Mexican border before there was a railroad as far as San Antonio, Texas. He was engaged in several fights with the Indians in that part of the country, and was on the trail drives during 1870-71. He was born in 1850. Mr. Neill's great-grandfather was Colonel Neill, a hero of the historic and bloody battle of the Alamo, where so many of Texas' brave men perished. His mother, Mrs. Itasca (Perkins) Neill, was a member of a pioneer Texas family. His early education was obtained in the public and high schools, after which he entered Hill's Business College at Waco, Texas, and enjoys the distinction of having finished at this institution a prescribed six months course in the time of three months and eighteen days, making almost perfect records each day he was in attend- ance at this college.

Mr. Neill was married at Kaufman, Texas, on July 26th, 1913, to Miss Rosa V. Hooks, a native Texan and a daughter of T. J. Hooks, a pioneer land owner and business man of Texas, who was prominently identified with the early history and development of Hidalgo County. The town of Donna, Hidalgo County, was named for her sister. They have three children-Vertie, Winford and Elmer Thomas. Mr. Neill is the vice president of the Yoakum Chamber of Commerce, is vice president of the Park Commission at Yoakum, chairman of

the Good Roads Committee of the Chamber of Com- merce, and is a member of the Texas Lumbermen's Association, the Hoo Hoos, and many other of the social, fraternal and business organizations of Yoa- kum, Lavaca County and Texas. Mr. Neill has aided greatly in development work in Lavaca County, and is regarded as one of the most progressive citizens of this portion of the state.

W. McNABB is a native of Matagorda, the Volunteer State Life Insurance Com- Texas, and is active in the business life of this Gulf Coast City. He is agent for pany, and has been associated with this company for more than twenty years. Mr. McNabb has the unique distinction of being the biggest producer in the State, and is allowed the privilege of going to any portion of the State that he may desire, but from choice confines his work largely to his old home territory. He has always lived at Matagorda and says that he never intends to live elsewhere, as his friends and several generations of his family's friends reside here. As proof of his loyalty and love for Matagorda, the Volunteer State Life Insurance Company has offered him any general agency with the company which he might desire, but he has steadfastly re- fused to leave Matagorda. He is also a ranch owner and cattle man, and has succeeded in breeding grade cattle from the common range cow and Brahma bulls up to 50 per cent. Mr. McNabb has always been a worker for the advancement and progress of his community, and he built the first telephone line in Matagorda County at his own expense and main- tained and operated this line in this manner for many years. He has for a period of more than twenty years been associated with the banks of Matagorda, and is active in many other of this city's business institutions.

Mr. McNabb was born on October 27th, 1879, at Matagorda. His father, John F. McNabb, was also a native of Matagorda County. His grandfather came to this county in 1839, and was one of the early settlers of this portion of the State, where he was subjected to all the dangers and hardships of pioneer life in Texas. Mr. McNabb's education was obtained in the public schools of Matagorda. He is a member of the A. F. and A. M. and is one of the most active members of this order in the Lone Star State. His membership is with Matagorda Blue Lodge No. 7, and is a member of the Chapter and Consistory at Bay City, the Scottish Rite body of this order at Galveston and is also a member of the Shrine at the latter place. He also is a mem- ber of the K. C. C. H. The first Texas Chapter of the A. F. and A. M. was established at Matagorda, and Matagorda Blue Lodge No. 7 of this order was the first lodge in Texas to make application for a charter. Mr. McNabb is a member of the Episcopal Church at Matagorda and is a warden of this church and is active in all church work. It is an im- portant item in church history that the Episcopal Church at Matagorda was the first Protestant Church of the Lone Star State. This church was established in December, 1838, by Rev. Caleb S. Ives, and it has been maintained through many vicissitudes since that time. Mr. McNabb is opti- mistic as to the future of Matagorda and Matagorda County and believes that this city and county are entering on an era of great business prosperity along all lines.

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NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

MIL REIFFERT-Among those pioneers to whom Cuero owes in large measure the prosperity of today, Emil Reiffert stands out as a man representative of the highest business ideals and citizenship, and as a leader with the vision to lay the foundation of a business which has stood the test of time and is today one of the oldest and strongest business establishments of Cuero and South Texas. H. Runge & Company, founded in the year 1845, and at that time located at Indianola, was re-established at Cuero following the storm of 1886, and since that time has formed an integril part of the life of this section. And of no less importance than the firm, from the stand- point of development and prosperity, has been the influence of the two men, Emil Reiffert and his associate for years, William Forbese, Sr., who guided the destinies of the firm through those formative years when it was taking root in the business world of the South. Mr. Reiffert was a business man of vision, capable of directing large endeavors, and of foreseeing the future and building for this future. He was a man of sound and constructive policies, establishing fundamental business princi- ples which today are traceable in the policy of this firm, and have been through the years govern- ing factors in its success.

Emil Reiffert was a native of Germany, where he spent his early years, and from which country he set sail, a boy of fourteen years from the port of Bremen. After weeks at sea he landed at Galves- ton, and in that city was stopped by Henry Runge who questioned him and became interested in him. As the result of this chance encounter, Mr. Runge, who had come from Indianola on a business trip, took the boy home with him, treating him as a son, and later taking him into the business. Mr. Reiffert spent his first years in America on Mr. Runge's farm on Carancahua Bay, across from Indianola. In 1855 Mr. Runge took him into the store, then located at Indianola, where he remained until the Civil War. At that time he, with Will- iam Frobese and others of the employees of the firm, enlisted on the side of the Confederacy, serv- ing under Capt. J. M. Reuss until the close of the war. Re-entering the service of Mr. Runge at the close of the war Mr. Reiffert became one of his con- fidential men, making trips inland to buy cotton, hides and wool. In 1866, on the twenty-sixth of September, Mr. Reiffert, together with Mr. Frobese, was taken into the firm, and a year later, in 1867, Mr. Runge sold his interest to them and moved to Galveston, where he spent his declining years. The firm remained at Indianola until the storm of '86, which destroyed that port, and at that time the business was removed to Cuero, where Mr. Reiffert and his associates guided its destinies until his death.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 137

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