New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 140

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

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A native of Colorado County, Texas, Mr. Boett- cher was born on June 3rd, 1871. His father, F. Boettcher, was brought to Texas by his parents when one year old, and grew to manhood, in South Texas, engaged in business here as a young man and had practically the first store in this portion of the state. It was located three miles south of Weimar. He established this store in 1858, and continued in business at this point until 1872 when he removed to Weimar and engaged in the general merchandis- ing business here, which he continued until his death in 1894. The subject of this sketch continued to operate this business, until he decided to close out the retail part of it, and entered his present lines of activity. The experiences of Mr. F. Boettcher in the pioneer days of Texas were very interesting and exciting. After the Civil War, he hauled cot- ton to Mexico, usually with ox teams. Having the only store in the county, he was also the postmaster, and people came for many miles to receive their mail at this country postoffice. The mail, which ar- rived at irregular intervals, many times twenty sacks at a time, was dumped on the floor of the store and postoffice, that portion which was in- tended for the local postoffice was taken out, the remainder, put back in sack and started to the next postoffice. Mr. Boettcher's early education was ob- tained in the public schools of Weimar after which

he attended business college at Poughkeepsie, New York, and while a student in this institution, he would visit New York City and select goods for his father's store here, and this experience was very valuable to him. He worked in his father's store as a boy and was reared in an atmosphere of the mer- chandising business.

Mr. Boettcher was married at Weimar, Texas, on April 25th, 1906, to Miss Agnes Doggett, a na- tive Texan and a daughter of T. S. Doggett, a mem- ber of one of Texas' pioneer families, who came to this state from Virginia, where they date back to colonial times. They have two children, Francis and Agnes. Mr. Boettcher is a member of the Texas Butter, Egg and Produce Dealers Association and also the national organization of this association in which he is a director. He is also a member of the Texas Creamery Men's Association, State and Na- tional Ice Manufacturers Association, State In- surance Men's Association, the local Retail Mer- chants Association. Mr. Boettcher is one of the organizers of the Fair Association here and is vice president of same and one of the directors. He is a member of all organizations of a business, civic or social order of this city, and is a leader in all movements having as their object the betterment and advancement of his community, where he is known as one of Colorado County's most progressive citizens.

OSS BOOTHE, member of the firm of Boothe & Lewis, one of the leading mercantile es- tablishments of Gonzales, has been active in the business world here for many years, and has contributed greatly to the commercial advance- ment of the city. The firm of Boothe & Lewis was established in 1896, by J. H. Boothe, father of Ross Boothe, and Edward Lewis, one of the present mem- bers of the firm. At the death of the elder Mr. Boothe, in 1911, his son, the subject of this sketch, succeeded him. Boothe & Lewis operate a large wholesale and retail hardware business, with a com- plete line of hardware and implements, farm sup- plies, sporting goods, machinery and saddlery. Their wholesale territory includes Gonzales and adjacent counties, and salesmen from the house cover this territory regularly. In connection with the hardware business a manufacturing department is also oper- ated, manufacturing cisterns, tanks and tin products. A large retail store is maintained in Gonzales, with a concrete warehouse with railway frontage, in ad- dition, and a force of ten people is employed.

Ross Boothe was born at Gonzales, the fourteenth of July, 1887, son of J. H. Boothe and Mrs. Jimmie Lea Boothe. J. H. Boothe, his father, a native of North Carolina, came to Texas as a young man of twenty-one years, and practiced law for a time, later teaching school. Still later he bought up land in this section and raised cattle extensively, and after a number of years came to Gonzales and established the firm of Boothe & Lewis. J. H. Boothe held va- rious public offices during the course of his career, serving as county clerk of Gonzales County and later as state legislator, under Governor Ross, and also served several terms as mayor of Gonzales. His death occurred in 1911. Ross Boothe, the subject of this sketch, attended the public schools of Gon- zales, later entering Bingham School for Boys, and then the University of Texas, where he took the B. A. degree in 1909, returning to Gonzales and entering

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the hardware business with his father, and at the latter's death taking his place as a member of the firm. Mr. Boothe is also a director of the Gonzales Cotton Mill Company and has extensive land and cat- tle interests, including a ranch in Nolan County, stocked with full blood Herefords, and one in Live Oak County, also stocked with Herefords, and a five hundred acre farm, where he raises cotton and corn. In November, 1917, Mr. Boothe entered the air ser- vice, and was on duty at Kelly Field, and later at Minneapolis and Mineola He completed his flying training at Kelly Field, and was commissioned sec- ond lieutenant, air service, and later adjutant of the training camp, and was discharged in April, 1919.

Mr. Boothe is a Mason, York Rite, at Gonzales, Scottish Rite, at San Antonio, Shrine at San Anto- nio. He belongs to the Hardware Dealers' Associa- tion, the Retail Merchants' Association, the Gonzales Chamber of Commerce, a director of the Gonzales County Fair Association, and is a leader among the younger business men.

DWARD A. PALMER is well known in the banking circles of Yoakum and Lavaca County, where prior to 1924, he has been associated with the leading financial insti- tutions of this city during his entire business career. During 1924, Mr. Palmer organized the Fidelity Investment Company, with a capital stock of $100,- 000.00, and occupies the lower floor of the Gray Building, one of the splendid, new buildings of Yoa- kum. The business of this organization consists largely of loans and investment, making loans on real estate, with some loans on automobiles and on other securities. The territory embraced by the company extends throughout Lavaca and De Witt Counties. Mr. Palmer started his career in the banking business as a young man, with the First National Bank of Yoakum and remained with this institution for a period of five years. He then be- came associated with the Yoakum National Bank where he remained for a period of seventeen years, the first four of which he was assistant cashier and during the last thirteen years he was cashier. On January 1st, 1924, he resigned from his position as cashier, in order to engage in his present business. During this entire period, he has been identified with the business, social and financial life of Yoa- kum and is a director of the Yoakum National Bank and is interested in many other of the city's enter- prises and industrial projects. He takes an active interest in the civic life of the city, and is one of the managers of the Yoakum fire department, of which he has been a member for more than two decades.

A native Texan, Mr. Palmer was born at Midland, on March 12th, 1885, but was brought to Yoakum by his parents when six years of age, and has made this city his home since that time. His education was obtained in the public and high schools of Yoakum.

Mr. Palmer was married in Yoakum in December, 1918, to Miss Carmen Schwab, a native Texan and a member of a well known family of Southwest Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer have one child, Lyons Carruth. He is a member of the Yoakum Chamber of Commerce, in which he is active, and which he has served as treasurer. For several years he was also treasurer of the South Texas Fair Association.

He is a member of the State and National Bankers Association, and served as the first president of the DeWitt and Lavaca County Bankers Association. He is president of the Yoakum Rotary Club, of which he is one of the organizers. This club has had a beneficial influence in the community, creating har- mony and interesting itself in everything that is good for the city. During 1924 Mr. Palmer attended the Rotary Convention in Canada and the Bankers National Association Convention, in both of which he is an active and prominent figure. Mr. Palmer is behind the movement of the organization of the Yoakum Country Club, and is one of the staunch supporters of the movement to establish the Student Loan Fund. He is regarded as one of the most progressive and public spirited citizens and as one of the leaders in the business and social life of Yoa- kum and Lavaca County, earnestly working for the good of both.

A. FEIND, vice president and manager of the Victoria plant of the South Texas Cotton Oil Company, for the past several years has maintained his headquarters at Victoria, where his many years of experience in this industry have been a determining factor in the success of the local plant. In 1918 the South Texas Cotton Oil Company bought the plant here formerly operated as the Victoria Manufacturing Company, Mr. Feind coming here a little later to take charge of the plant. The buildings compris- ing the plant are located at the foot of Main Street, and are all of brick construction with the exception of the warehouse. The South Texas Cotton Oil Company manufactures crude cotton seed oil, cake, meal, hulls and linters in the plant here, shipping the crude oil to Houston in tank cars. A large part of the product goes for export, but a small amount is sold to brokers for export trade. The ca- pacity of the Victoria plant is sixty tons of cotton seed per day, and a force of twenty men is employed permanently, which is increased to eighty or more during the busy season. All laboratory work for the local plant is done in the Houston plant, but with that exception the plant is operated as a separate unit.

V. A. Feind was born in New Jersey, of which state the family have been residents for many years. He attended the public schools there, and later entered Rutgers, where he took the B. S. C. degree in 1901. The following several years he spent in various Northern plants as a chemist, and in 1908 came to Houston, as chemist for the South Texas Cotton Oil Company. He has been with that cor- poration since that time, advancing to the office of vice president, and in 1919 came to Victoria as manager of the plant here. Mr. Feind has city property in Houston, in the Fifth Ward, and also has several pieces of property in different loca- tions and holds acreage near the new Logan Park.

Mr. Feind makes his home at the Denver Hotel, at Victoria, and is a member of the Victoria Cham- ber of Commerce, the Rotary Club and the Texas and Interstate Cotton Seed Crushers Association. He is regarded as one of the most progressive business men at Victoria and as an authority on the cotton seed oil and cotton seed products in- dustry, and has exerted a favorable influence over the trend of this industry here.

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S. FRITZ, a native of Victoria, Texas, has throughout his life been an active figure in the business and financial circles of this city. For more than twelve years Mr. Fritz has been associated with the Magnolia Petroleum Company here as district agent. Victoria, with El Campo and other cities in contiguous counties, belong to the Southern division of the Magnolia Petroleum Company and are under the management of the Houston, Texas, office. The Victoria agency employs five men who have been trained in the business and three trucks in the delivery of the proudcts here. Prior to his association with the Magnolia Petroleum Company, Mr. Fritz was for a period of two years connected with the Waters Pierce Oil Company here. He has for many years been interested in many business and financial insti- tutions here, owning stock in banks, wholesale houses and other enterprises. Mr. Fritz has been chief of the Victoria Fire Department for more than thirteen years, and it has been largely through his efforts that this department has reached its present stage of efficiency. The Victoria Fire Department has nine paid members, with one hundred and seven- ty-five volunteer members. All its equipment is modern in every detail, all motorized and up to date. Fine buildings have been erected during the regime of Mr. Fritz, and the key rate here is the lowest of this class of cities in the Lone Star State. Mr. Fritz's father organized the Victoria Fire De- partment and for a period of fifteen years was chief of this organization. Victoria has a Woman's Auxiliary in connection with its fire department, which has proved to be a great aid in every way. This organization assists in the financing of every- thing relating to the fire department, visits the sick, and is ever ready and able to assist the fire depart- ment when in need of anything. Mr. Fritz's mother was instrumental in organizing this branch, and was its president until her death in 1923. She was one of Victoria's most beloved women, known every- where for her acts of charity. She was in every way a remarkable woman and worker for the good of Victoria and its people, and was a constant worker for charity until her death. It is obvious that Mr. Fritz inherited his liking for the Victoria Fire De- partment, as the Fritz family has done so much to put this organization, with its auxiliary, on the map, and their interest in same has never dimmed.

Mr. Fritz was born on December 31st, 1889. His father, L. A. Fritz, was for many years one of Victoria's leading merchants, and confectionery dealers. He also was born in Victoria, the date of his birth being August 24th, 1854. For several years he was mayor of Victoria, serving also as alderman for several terms. For more than one- half a century he was engaged in the wholesale and retail confectionery business here and has always been active in city affairs. He is now retired from active business pursuits. Mr. Fritz's paternal grand- father was born in France, coming to Texas about 1839. Mr. Fritz's mother, Mrs. Rosa (Sitterle) Fritz, died in this city on December 25th, 1923. His education was obtained in the schools of Victoria. After leaving school, he engaged in business with his father and continued with him until he engaged in the oil business. Mr. Fritz was active in war work during the World War and was appointed chairman of the draft board of Victoria, but resigned

on account of himself being of the draft age. He served for several years as chairman of the board of directors of Victoria Chamber of Commerce and is active in this organization. Mr. Fritz is a member of the Catholic Church. He is popular in all circles here and is regarded as one of Victoria's most enter- prising citizens. No citizen of this city has done more toward the upbuilding of Victoria's Fire De- partment than has Mr. Fritz, and he is chairman of the standardization committee of the State Fire- man's Association of Texas, being chief of this or- ganization in this district. He has for many years occupied a place of leadership in the business and civic life of Victoria on which he has impressed the seal of his usefulness. Mr. Fritz has two hobbies, one is fishing and hunting, the other is volunteer fire service.

SCAR McVEAN LANDER is a compara- tively recent addition to the oil circles of Victoria, Texas, where for many years he has been actively engaged in farming, cattle raising and county agency work, and is well known in Victoria County. Mr. Lander became manager of the Gulf Refining Company here on December 10th, 1923, and has continued in this capacity since that time. The plant of the Gulf Refining Company is located on the Galveston, Houston and San Antonio Railroad, with a service station operated in this city. Three trucks are used in the delivery service and eight people are employed by this oil company here, under the management of Mr. Lander. His first oil experience was obtained here, where prior to becoming associated with the Gulf Refining Com- pany he was for two years county agent of DeWitt County, and has been active in cattle raising and farming in Victoria County for many years. He owns a farm near Victoria, consisting of six hundred acres, which is planted to cotton and feed stuffs of various kinds. He employs tenant farmers, and has six Mexican families on his farm. His cattle are Brahmas crossed with stock cattle, and he is constantly breeding his herd into better blood. He is greatly interested in organization work and devel- opment of this portion of Texas, and accepted his present position with the Gulf Refining Company largely on account of it bringing him near to his farm and cattle interests. After leaving school, Mr. Lander began his farming operations, and farmed for a period of ten years before going into county agency work. He served as county agent of DeWitt County from December, 1921, to De- cember, 1923, and in this capacity accomplished a great deal of good for the farming interests of that county, where much development was done and much began, which has since been continued.

Mr. Lander was born at California, Missouri, on June 27th, 1890, but was brought to Victoria, Texas, by his parents when four years of age. His father, F. B. Lander, was for many years associated with the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Victoria, and is now in the real estate business at Houston, with his son, Jack Lander, with the Guardian Trust Com- pany of that city. His mother, Mrs. Leila (McVean) Lander (deceased since 1903), was a member of a prominent family of Missouri. His early education was obtained in the public schools of Victoria, after which he became a student of the A. and M. College of Texas, attending this institution during 1909

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and 1910, and during 1911 he was a student of Cor- nell University.

Mr. Lander was married at Victoria, Texas, on August 13th, 1912, to Miss Vivian Holland, a native Texan and a daughter of C. S. E. Holland, for many years a prominent banker of Victoria, and later a leading business man of Houston, Texas. They have three children-Frank, Clarence and Traylor. Mr. Lander is a member of the Rotary Club and many of Victoria's social and business organizations, in which he takes an active part. Mr. Lander has always been active in the civic development of Vic- toria, and has accomplished much in the development of Victoria County, in which he is a constant worker and one of this county's most interested citizens.

EORGE HERDER, JR., has since 1908, been a leading factor in the financial, business, agricultural and political life, not only of Weimar, his home, and Colorado County, but of Southwest Texas. Mr. Herder has always been ac- tive in all matters pertaining to the progress and advancement of his city and state and has an inter- est in practically every institution of importance here, which he has assisted in building up or organ- izing. He is well known as a merchant, banker, cot- ton grower, rice grower and cattle man. The Herder Mercantile Company was established in 1882 by Mr. Herder's father, George Herder, Sr., which he con- tinued until 1911 when George Herder, Jr., pur- chased the business which he has successfully con- ducted since that time. The Herder Mercantile Company carries a large and complete stock of merchandise, consisting of all kinds of hardware, im- plements, dry goods, clothing, saddlery, feed stuffs, etc., in fact, everything to be found in a latter day general merchandise store. He employs nine peo- ple in the store, with whom he is directly and con- tinuously associated in conducting this large busi- ness. Mr. Herder also owns one-third interest in the El Campo Mercantile Company, and directs the business of this establishment from his headquarters here. He is engaged extensively in the cattle busi- ness and owns in fee two ranches, which consist of an acreage of 23,000 acres of land, on which is grazed about 2,000 head of cattle. Mr. Herder buys young animals and raises them until they are mar- ket size, when he sells them. One of his ranches is located in Duval County and consists of 26,000 acres which he leases and the other one at Hines Switch. Four men are always employed to take care of his ranch interests and look after the cattle thereon. He is also engaged in rice farming-his rice farm, containing five hundred acres is located near Bay City. He has three hundred acres planted to cot- ton, which is cultivated by tenant farmers, which number six families-five of which are negroes and one white. He has done much in developing the farming interests here, being an advocate of better farming methods, both in cultivation and fertiliz- ing the land. Mr. Herder is also a cotton buyer, the firm name being George Herder, Jr., with offices located at Houston. This cotton firm is well known and does a large business. He is also a director of the T. A. Hill State Bank of Weimar, and is president of the Ammannsville State Bank of Am- mannsville, Fayette County, in all of these finan- cial institutions he is active. Mr. Herder has al- ways taken an active interest in the educational af- fairs of his city and county and has aided greatly

along many lines of this work. He served as mayor of Weimar from 1920 to 1924, and his administra- tion was one of great accomplishment. A few of his noteworthy achievements were: the building of the new City Hall, containing an auditorium, which had for many years been so badly needed by the city and community. This City Hall would be a credit to cities of much larger size than Weimar and con- tains also the American Legion Club Rooms, munici- pal offices and the city fire department. The many ways in which he aided the city will remain for many years to come, and will ever be a monument to his great work in the interest of the city which he loves. After leaving school in 1908. Mr. Herder returned to Weimar and entered the business es- tablishment of his father, where he remained for one year. He then engaged in the banking business at Eagle Lake, Texas, where he was cashier of the Farmers and Merchants Bank. In 1911, he returned here and purchased his father's business interests in the Herder Mercantile Company.

A native Texan, Mr. Herder was born at Schulen- burg on June 24th, 1889, but was brought to Weimar by his parents when six months old, and he really considers this city as his home and birthplace. His father, George Herder, Sr., also a native of the Lone Star State, is widely known in the business circles of Texas as a rice miller and capitalist. Mr. Herder's grandfather, George Herder, came to Texas from Germany in 1834 and was a veteran of the historic Battle of San Jacinto. His grand- mother was Miss Minnie Wolters, and came from Germany in 1835, and when twelve years of age, was with the families who marched ahead of the Mexi- can army, and saw the actual fighting in the bloody Battle of San Jacinto, where so many brave Texans laid down their lives in the interest of freedom for themselves and future generations. Mr. Her- der's father, George Herder, Sr., was a member of the State Legislature during the 32nd and 33rd terms of these bodies, and assisted in many of the measures which have become laws and are all in the interest of the citizenship of this great state. His mother was Miss Mary Hefner, a member of a well known South Texas family. His education was obtained in the public schools of Colorado County, after which he attended Texas Christian University at Waco, Texas.

Mr. Herder was married at Weimar, Texas, on May 12th, 1915, to Miss Florence Goethe, a mem- ber of a pioneer Texas family, and a daughter of Ernst Gothe, a well known newspaper man of South Texas. They have four children, George Herder,3rd, Mary Elizabeth, Daniel and Kenneth. Mr. Herder is a member of the A. F. and A. M. with mem- bership in Lodge No. 423 at Weimar, and is a mem- ber of the chapter of this order at Columbus, Tex- as. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F., the Texas Banker's Association, Texas Cattle Raisers Asso- ciation and the Local Retail Merchants Association. Mr. Herder is popular in the business and social circles of South Texas, where he is known as a leader of his generation, and it is safe to say that no citizen of Colorado County has done more in the development along its many lines than has the Herder family, and this great work in latter years has been given over to the untiring loyalty and de- votion of George Herder, Jr., who takes pride in his city, community and state.

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CK MAY, a native of Yoakum, Texas, has spent his entire life in the mercantile busi- ness, occupying positions from clerk to manager and owner. Mr. May has for many years been an active figure in the business circles of Yoakum, where he is a well known and highly esteemed merchant. In 1912, Mr. May started his present business, which consists of gent's furnish- ings, shoes, clothing, etc., and from a comparatively small beginning, his business has grown to be one of the largest of its kind in Lavaca County. Prior to engaging in his present business of which he is the sole owner, Mr. May was a member of the firm of H. C. Koch and Company of this city for many years. He sells to the retail trade only and em- ploys three experienced people in his store, which is a modern and up-to-date establishment, carrying a full and complete line of men's wearables. Mr. May started his business career while in school by clerking in a store after school hours, and later became a full time clerk in the store where he re .. mained for nine years before engaging in businss for himself. During his days as a clerk, he learned every branch of the business and this experience has been his most valuable asset after starting in busi- ness for himself.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 140

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