New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 142

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

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1994

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

B. ROBERTSON, for around ten years, has been engaged in the manufacturing business at Gonzales, and has built up one of the most successful brick manufacturing plants in this section. Mr. Robertson is president of the Sunset Brick and Tile Company, a business estab- lished around 1880, and which he bought out in 1915. The Sunset Brick and Tile Company has a modern plant, located on a twenty-five acre tract of land, and is manufacturing common and face brick and buff brick. The daily output of the plant is around forty- five thousand brick, and the employees number from forty to seventy-five. The trade territory served by the Sunset Brick and Tile Company includes all of Texas with the exception of the western part of the state. Although this is Mr. Robertson's first experience in the brick manufacturing business, through the application of sound business principles to plant operation and the employment of an expert brick burner, he has built up and is operating a successful plant, and is doing a large and profitable business. Officers of the Sunset Brick and Tile Company are, Mr. Robertson, president, and his sons, J. M. Robertson and R. L. Robertson, as vice presi- dent and secretary and assistant managers.

O. B. Robertson is a native of Mississippi, and the son of L. B. T. Robertson, a native of that state and a farmer and public officer there for many years. The family came to Texas, locating at Waelder, in 1876, where the elder Mr. Robertson acquired farm- ing interests, grazing his herds on the open range in that section. His son, O. B. Robertson, grew up there, living on his father's farm and attending the local schools. Later he engaged in mercantile busi- ness and farming and stock raising for himself, re- maining at Waelder until 1914, when he came to Gonzales and bought out the Sunset Brick and Tile Company, which he has since operated. Mr. Robert- son also has farming and stock interests in Austin, Fayette and Gonzales Counties, and is also inter- ested in the cattle business. He is a director of the Gonzales State Bank and Trust Company and active in business affairs here.

Mr. Robertson was married, at Waelder, Texas, in 1887, to Miss Susan Miller. They reside at Gon- zales and have eight children. Mr. Robertson served as a member of the House in 1913 and 1914, and is well known in political circles. He is vice president of the Gonzales Chamber of Commerce, a director of the Gonzales Fair Association, and a member of the Texas Brick Manufacturers' Association, an or- ganization he has served as president of for two years. He is also a director of the National Brick Manufacturing Association. Mr. Robertson has done much to further the growth and development of Gon- zales, and is a generous contributor to all civic and welfare work.

Following are given the eight children of Mr. and Mrs. Robertson, with brief biographical data con- cerning each. R. L. Robertson, born in 1888, and edu- cated in the public schools and Texas A. & M. Col- lege, where he graduated with the B. S. degree in 1909. During the World War Mr. Robertson served as first lieutenant, and later captain, with the 141st Infantry, Thirty-sixth Division, seeing overseas ser- vice. He is now major, Texas National Guard. Mr. Robertson is vice president and assistant manager of the Sunset Brick and Tile Company. J. M. Rob- ertson, the second son, was born at Waelder, and

during the World War was in naval service, complet- ing his education after the close of the war and graduating from Southwestern University with the B. A. degree, in 1920. He married Miss Agnes Elizabeth Griffith and has one child, James Miller Robertson, Jr. Harper Robertson, the third son of Mr. and Mrs. O. B. Robertson, served in the World War in the air service, in the infantry, depot brigade. He is now assistant cashier of the State Bank and Trust Company of Gonzales, O. B. Robertson, Jr., the fourth son, also saw service during the World War, serving with the Engineering Department, Fifty-fourth C. A. C., overseas. The fifth son, Bur- gess Robertson, is yet a student. The three daugh- ters are, Mrs. Polly Appelt, wife of a local stock- man; Mrs. Willie Dunning, wife of Dr. Dunning, well known physician, and Mrs. Mabelle Beringer, whose husband is engaged in the oil business in Sa- pulpa, Oklahoma, with the Sinclair Refining Com- pany.

A. NORMAN, well known in Lubbock County for his financial and business activi- ties relative to the prosperity of Lubbock, where he resides, is held in high esteem in this section. Mr. Norman is connected with the Citizens State Bank of Lubbock, coming here from Eagle Lake where he was active vice president of the Eagle Lake State Bank.

Mr. F. A. Norman was born at Harris, Missouri, the twentieth of August, 1881. His father came to Texas, where he engaged in farming a short time, later returning to Missouri. Mr. Norman obtained his education in the public schools, further equip- ping himself for his business career through a course at the Normal at Chillicothe, Missouri. He came to Texas, where he taught school for a short time, and later, when the bank was organized at Rock Island, entered the bank, having been elected to an execu- tive office without his knowing it. He remained in the bank at Rock Island for around a decade and a half, during which time he not only made rapid advancement in the banking world, but taught a sis- ter, Miss Loula Norman, now at Pine Bluff, Ar- kansas, and a brother, Noble N. Norman, now at Harris, Missouri, the banking business. Mr. Nor- man resigned his position with the Rock Island bank to go to Eagle Lake, as cashier of the Eagle Lake State Bank, later becoming vice president, going to the Citizens National Bank of Lubbock, believing that this growing city offered greater opportunities.

Mr. Norman was married at Hallettsville, Texas, the eighth of June, 1910, to Miss Lena K. Peterson, daughter of Judge Peterson, a member of an old Texas family and county auditor for many years, and whose Grandfather Tackington came to Lavaca County from North Carolina in pioneer days. Mr. and Mrs. Norman have three children-Floyd Alvin, Mary Katherine and Gordon Norman. Mr. Norman is a member of the Bankers' Association, the Amer- ican Bankers' Association, and is a Mason, Odd Fel- low, Modern Woodman of America, Woodman of the World, and a Praetorian. Mr. Norman was responsi- ble for the introduction of Darso, a new feed crop, similar to maize, which will not blight and produces well, making a good feed for cattle, horses and mules. In 1924 he shipped in eight thousand bushels of seed Darso, which he sold to the farmers at cost, to assist in introducing this crop and also to en- courage the farmers here to raise their own feed.

1995

MEN OF TEXAS

ALPH WELDON DICKERMAN, portrait photographer and painter, although a young man in years, is one of the out- standing artists in his field of activity in Texas today. He is president and treasurer of the Van Dyke Studio, Inc. The Van Dyke Studio is one of the oldest establishments of its kind in Houston, and photography of the best quality only is made here. Mr. Dickerman is an able operator, and per- sonally supervises the various departments of his organization in which thirty people are employed. For over thirteen years he has been identified with the Van Dyke Studio and in 1922 bought the busi- ness and has since been the sole owner. He was edu- cated as a portrait painter and is naturally talented in this line. He has painted the portraits of promi- nent Houston citizens, and is frequently commis- sioned to execute portraits on canvas of outstanding citizens of this state and elsewhere.

Mr. R. W. Dickerman is a native Texan, born in Gainesville, October 15th, 1897, son of C. L. and Maud (Pelton) Dickerman. Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Dickerman reside in Houston and Mr. Dickerman is a native of Texas, of an old family of this State. Maud (Pelton) Dickerman is also a native of this State. Mr. R. W. Dickerman was educated in the public schools of Dallas and in the Chicago Art In- stitute, where he studied portrait painting and com- position. He continued his studies in New Orleans.

On August 15th, 1918, Mr. Dickerman was married to Miss Geraldine Osborne, a native of Illinois. To them were born three children: Theresa Marie, R. W., Jr., and Billie Charles. He is a member of the Optimists Club and emulates the teachings of this organization. Although his personal attention is given to the Van Dyke Studio, yet Mr. Dickerman has other interests and also is the proprietor of the Hyland Studio where he has opened a new plant for photography and which is located at 8101/2 Main Street. Mr. Dickerman, by a careful attention to his profession and to the interests of his patrons, has built one of the best known and proficient photo- graphic studios in Texas.

EORGE J. MELLINGER, secretary and manager of the J. J. Sweeney Jewelry Com- pany of Houston, since becoming associated with this establishment has had an im- portant part in shaping the destinies of this com- pany. The J. J. Sweeney Jewelry Company, located at 419 Main Street, was established in Houston in 1875, by the late J. J. Sweeney. The J. J. Sweeney Jewelry Company is one of the finest and largest jewelry establishments in the entire Southwest. The store is fifty by ninety feet, with three floors. The first floor is used by the company for display and sales; part of the second floor for stock storage and the third floor the manufacturing and repair departments. This firm employs from thirty to thirty-five men in the manufacturing plant alone, and have the most skilled workmen in the United States. They manufacture and repair anything in the jewelry line; platinum, gold, silver, watches and engraving of all kinds. Every man in this estab- lishment is a skilled artist in his particular line of work; as good or better than any in the United States. It is now an act of the past to send jewelry to the Northern and Eastern cities for repair or special things to be made, as J. J. Sweeney Jewelry

Company has the best workmen, and their manu- facturing department is equipped with all the mod- ern devices in this line of endeavor. This firm employs fifteen experineced people on the first floor and office. Other officers of the J. J. Sweeney Jewelry Company are J. J. Sweeney, president and C. G. Pillot, vice president.

Mr. Mellinger was born in New Orleans, Louis- iana, in 1867. His opportunities for securing an education were limited, and young Mellinger devoted himself diligently to home study. The liberal edu- cation which he obtained in later years was through self help.

Mr. Mellinger began his business career as an errand boy in a Houston grocery store when thir- teen years of age. He continued work at the grocery business in different capacities until 1903, when he was the owner of a grocery store-The George J. Mellinger Grocery Company. In 1903 he sold the grocery store and took charge of the J. J. Sweeney Jewelry establishment as secretary and manager, and the business entered upon an era of phenomenal growth and prosperity, necessitating three different enlargements to keep pace with the growing busi- ness. Mr. Mellinger was married in Houston in 1898 to Miss Maggie M. Sweeney (now deceased) a native Houstonian and a daughter of J. J. Sweeney, capitalist, president and founder of the J. J. Sweeney Jewelry Company. He has three children-John, Mishel Jameson and Marion M. Mel- linger. Mr. Mellinger works at all times for the greater development and civic improvement of Hous- ton, having risen from the ranks, he has the deepest interest in the man who aspires to better his con- dition, and is at all times ready and willing to render helpful service to his fellowman.

H. CRAWFORD, well known Houston busi- ness man is popular in business and social circles of this city. He is engaged in the real estate business, and is also manager of the Binz Building. He has other interests in South Texas, and has contributed to the growth and development of his city.

T. H. Crawford was born at Galveston, Texas, June 29th, 1885, the son of Lytle Crawford, a na- tive of Galveston, and the second white child born in that city, who until his death, was a traveling man, and Mrs. Luella Gould Crawford, a native of Maine, and who now makes her home at Houston. Mr. T. H. Crawford was educated in the public schools of Houston. After finishing his education he entered the cotton business, in which he was engaged about a decade. He then entered the real estate businss, also bcoming manager of the Binz Building, and has continued this connection to the present time. He organized the firm of Batterson and Crawford in 1919, which partnership was dis- solved in January, 1924. At this time Mr. Crawford continued the business as the Crawford Rubber Company until June, 1925, when he sold out to the Pace Tire Company.

Mr. Crawford was married at Houston, the seven- teenth of June, 1913, to Miss Noreen Pendley Green, a native of this city. They have two children: T. H., Jr., and Frank Gene Crawford. Mr. Crawford is a member of Temple Lodge No. 4, is a thirty-sec- ond degree Scottish Rite Mason, a Knight Templar and Shriner.

1996

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

H. HOLLAND, attorney at law, Houston, Texas, began the practice of his profession in this city on April 17th, 1905, and has been active in the legal circles here since

that time. During this period, Mr. Holland has formed two or three partnerships, but has practiced alone the greater part of the time until 1920 when he became associated with the Charles and Arthur Heidingsfelders law firm. Later, when Mr. Arthur Heidingsfelder withdrew from that firm and be- came associated with Judge Mathis, the firm became Mathis, Heidingsfelder, Teague and Kahn. This is one of the biggest law firms of Houston, and Mr. Holland became associated with this firm in 1923. The offices of this well known firm are on the tenth floor of the Keystone Building. Mr. Holland was ad- mitted to the bar, in 1901, in Tennessee. Two years later he came to Texas, and was admitted to the Texas bar. He established his home and office at Liberty, Texas, and began the practice there. He removed to Sour Lake during the oil boom there and continued to practice his profession at Sour Lake, where he was city attorney until the City Corporation was abolished, when he removed to Houston, in 1905. Mr. Holland was a member of the thirty-fourth and thirty-fifth Legislatures of Texas, from Harris County, and his accomplish- ments while a member of this body will ever remain a monument to his good judgment toward the citi- zenship of Texas.

Mr. Holland was born at Hartwell, Georgia, on February 29th, 1876. His father, W. A. Holland (de- ceased) was a pioneer merchant of Georgia, having engaged in the merchandising business there prior to the Civil War. He served throughout this con- flict, and after the close of the war, was for ten years sheriff of his county. His mother, Mrs. Char- ity Frances (Fulton) Holland, was a member of a well known family of South Carolina and is now a resident of Atlanta, Georgia. His early education was obtained in the public schools of Hartwell, Geor- gia, after which he removed to Little Rock, Arkan- sas, where he worked during the day and attended school at night. He later removed to Redbanks, Mis- sissippi, where he again worked during the day and attended night school. He then went to Hot Springs, Arkansas, where for six months he studied law under a law firm and here was formed the founda- tion for his education in this study, which he con- tinued until he was able to pass an examination entitling him to practice law. During this period, young Holland was handicapped for the lack of funds, and he entered the railroad service and worked in this capacity for four years, but during this per- iod he purchased law books and borrowed many, all of which he studied diligently. He later worked on convict camps in Texas as foreman and steward. He also worked for a time in mining, and on the ranges of Arizona and New Mexico, all his spare time being devoted to study. With sufficient funds to enable him to enter college, he went to Jackson, Ten- nessee, and there became a student of the law de- partment of the Southwestern University, and re- mained at that institution for a period of two years, where he received the degree of L. L. B. and L. L. M. and during the vacation period attended a summer law school, and was admitted to the bar in 1901.

In fraternal organizations, Mr. Holland holds membership in the Knights of Pythias and Dokeys. During the two decades in which Mr. Holland has

practiced law in Houston, he has established a com- mendable record as an attorney and as a citizen.

M. DU CLOS for the past three decades has held various positions of a public nature at Houston and is now serving as district clerk of Harris County, a position he has held for almost a decade and wherein he has demonstrated his devotion to the best interests of the people. Mr. Du Clos acts as district clerk for the four district courts, an office to which he was elected in 1914 and has since been re-elected each two years, each time with a large vote. In the last election, held in 1922, he won by a majority of over ten thousand votes, a real testimonial of the esteem in which he is held by the people of Harris County. He has a force of ten employees in his office. Mr. Du Clos keeps his office in the court house at Houston and has charge of the keeping of records of proceedings, judgments, executions and other dockets and books as may be required by law and in addition makes out various reports, administers oaths and takes depositions and in general has custody of all books and papers of the courts to which he is clerk. Under him this of- fice has maintained a high state of efficiency and he has exercised an unusual care in the dispatch of all his duties, a factor that has entered largely into his popularity with the people.

Mr. Du Clos was born at Cypress, in Harris County, the first of April, 1871, son of Louis Du Clos, a native of Louisiana, who came to Harris County in 1870 and was for the rest of his life a farmer and stockman of this section, and Josephine Mayer Du Clos also a native of Louisiana, who came to Texas with her parents as a girl. Mr. Du Clos was educated in the rural schools near his home and attended the high school at Willis, in Montgomery County, and also went to business college at San Antonio. He then returned to the farm, where he spent four years, after which he came to Houston. Here he went with the Electric Company in motor service, remaining there several years, after which he was transferred to the claim department, where he spent one year. He was then made chief clerk in the street and bridge department of the city of Houston, under Sam H. Brashear, at that time mayor, and also held this office under the two suc- ceeding mayors. He resigned to take a position under Edward F. Dupree, county clerk, and was in that office until his term expired, when he became deputy tax assessor under A. R. Miller. He then served ten years as deputy state and county tax assessor, resigning to run for district clerk, to which office he was first elected in 1914 and which he has since held.

Mr. Du Clos was married at Houston the sixteenth of October, 1907, to Miss Elizabeth Norris, a native of Carlyle, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Du Clos make their home at 3320 Jackson Street. Mr. Du Clos has two children by a former marriage, Louis Du Clos, who is married and has two children, and Marie, wife of Milton Roberts, of Hockley, Texas, and who has three children. Mr. Du Clos is a member of a num- ber of fraternal orders such as the Knights of Pyth- ias, the Dokeys, the Woodmen of the World, the Macabees, the Praetorians, the Knights and Ladies of Security, and belongs to the Houston Turnverein Society. He is one of the best liked men in his com- munity and counts his friends by the thousands.

1999

MEN OF TEXAS

GOREE ASHFORD, for more than thirty years one of the leading merchants of Huntsville, is also directing head of one of the largest banks here and is connected with various other enterprises. Mr. Ashford is the owner of the J. G. Ashford Furniture store, which he established in 1890, and which has since been the leading furniture store here. A complete line of furniture and builders' hardware is carried and a funeral directing and undertaking business is also run in connection with the furniture store. The building occupied by the Ashford Furniture store was built by Mr. Ashford in 1896, and provided eighty by one hundred feet of floor space. Three employees are in the store. Mr. Ashford is also president of the Huntsville State Bank, and was one of the organizers of this bank. The Huntsville State Bank is capitalized at fifty thousand dollars, with twenty-five thousand dollars surplus, and has made a splendid record since its establishment. Mr. Ashford is a part owner of the Huntsville Gin and Wharf Company, and has various other interests in Huntsville.

J. Goree Ashford was born in Madison County, Texas, the eleventh of October, 1858, the son of Dr. J. G. Ashford and Mrs. Cornelia (Spivey) Ashford. Dr. Ashford, a native of Alabama, came to Texas in the early days and was a pioneer physician of Walker County. Mrs. Ashford was also from Ala- bama. Both Dr. and Mrs. Ashford died when their son was a small boy and he was reared by his grandmother, Mrs. Ashford, in Grimes County, at- tending the schools there. As a young man he began clerking in David White's store in Grimes County, and later went to Washington County, where he was a clerk in the Baldridge store. In 1879 he came to Huntsville and was connected with the state penitentiary for ten years, during which time he invested his money in a mercantile business, and in 1890 organized the furniture store which he has since operated.

Mr. Ashford was married in Cuero, De Witt Coun- ty, Texas, in 1889, to Miss Ella Claire Woodworth, a native of Texas. Mrs. Ashford's death occurred the twentieth of November, 1923. Mr. and Mrs. Ashford had a family of four children-J. G. Ash- ford, Jr., with the firm, and who is married and has one child; J. G., III; Mary, now Mrs. A. M. Barton, of Palestine, and who has one child, Claire Barton; Claire, now Mrs. Erwin Ernst, of Huntsville; Nan North, now Mrs. J. P. Manning of Livingston, and who has one child, Mary Nan. Mr. Ashford is a Mason, Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery at Huntsville; Knight Templar and a member of Arabia Temple Shrine at Houston, and is a charter member of the Knight Templar organization at Huntsville.

C. JONES has been for the past ten years more actively identified with local banking affairs at Huntsville, and is held in high esteem here for his connection with banking opment. affairs and the interest he has taken in civic devel- Mr. Jones is cashier of the Huntsville State Bank, which was organized in 1907 under state charter and capitalized at fifty thousand dollars, with a surplus of twenty-five thousand dollars. The bank occupies a modern banking home and offers a conservative banking service to this section. The officers are: J. G. Ashford, pioneer furniture mer-

chant of Huntsville, president; J. A. Elkins, promi- nent attorney of Houston, vice president; S. S. Fel- der, dry goods merchant of Huntsville, vice presi- dent, and W. C. Jones, cashier. The directors are: J. G. Ashford, E. L. Engier, M. D .; Tom Ball, L. C. Eastham, Luther Eastham, Jr .; J. A. Elkins, S. S. Felder, J. Wince Smith, W. C. Jones, J. W. Keeland, C. B. Oliphint, and S. C. Wilson.

W. C. Jones was born in Hawkins County, Ten- nessee, the sixth of December, 1863, the son of John Jones, and Martha Kenner Jones, the former a native of Virginia, who came to Tennessee as a young man and was a farmer there until his death, and the latter a native of Tennessee. Mr. Jones was educated in the public schools of Tennessee, coming to Texas as a young man and locating in Dallas County in 1885. He remained there until 1892, teaching school and working on a ranch. He then went to Walker County, where he engaged in farming near New Waverly for a time, later estab- lishing a mercantile business at New Waverly. He also began his banking career there, in 1907, going with the New Waverly State Bank as cashier, and remaining there until 1914, when he came to Hunts- ville as cashier of the Huntsville State Bank.

Mr. Jones was married at New Waverly the fourth of October, 1893, to Miss Mary Scott Hill, a native of New Waverly. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have seven children-Will C. Jones, Jr., Mrs. Ellen Pope, Jim- mie Hill Jones, Franklin Albert Jones, Dixon H. Jones, Edward Lewis Jones, and Mrs. Julia Avery, wife of Herman Avery of Groveton. All of Mr. Jones' sons hold responsible positions, most of them being engaged in banking in various Texas cities. Mr. Jones is a Blue Lodge, Scottish Rite Mason, New Waverly. He is treasurer of the city of Hunts- ville, and has been a leader in all civic movements since coming here.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 142

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