New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 144

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

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Judge Overstreet was born at La Grange, Oldham County, Kentucky, October 11th, 1882. His father, I. B. Overstreet (deceased), was also a native of Kentucky, where he was a well known contractor and builder, and spent his entire life in this busi- ness. His mother was Miss Sallie Beckham, also a native of Kentucky, who died thirty days prior to the death of her husband. There was a family of nine children, four girls and five boys, all of whom are residents of Kentucky, except Judge Overstreet. His education was obtained in the public schools of Kentucky, and he left school in order to enter the employ of a railroad, which work he continued for a while and then entered business with his father, where he learned to become a very highly skilled carpenter. He continued in this line of endeavor, and after his marriage continued this work with his father-in-law, who also was a contractor, and who came to Texas a short time before Judge Over- street came to Houston, and it was on the invitation of his father-in-law, Mr. J. W. Scott, that Judge Overstreet came here. Mr. Scott told him of the wonderful opportunities to be found in the South Texas metropolis, and the judge has been satis- fied to remain here since coming and seeing for himself. Mr. Scott secured the contract for the American Brewery Building, where Judge Over- street did his first Texas work, and then the Hous- ton Post Building, the Longfellow School, Rice In- stitute Buildings, and many others. Judge Over- street during this time had made many friends, and was made business manager of the Houston Car- penters' Union, and built that organization up from a membership of 330 to 1643 at the time he re- signed, in order to give his time and attention to his campaign for his present office. uDring the period in which he was manager of the Carpenters' Union, he promoted the building of the Carpenters' Union Building at the corner of Capital Avenue and Caroline Street at a cost of $100,000.00. It is one of the finest union buildings of Texas, and Judge Overstreet was the principal worker to get this building constructed and owned by the union.

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Judge Overstreet was married at Jeffersonville, Indiana, July 28th, 1906, to Miss Nellie Scott, a daughter of J. W. Scott, who came to Houston in the early part of 1911, and since that time has been one of the city's most prominent contractors and builders. Many of the most prominent Houston buildings stand as a monument to the skill and en- ergy of Mr. Scott, who is now practically retired from active business pursuits. They have three children-Lucile, Dorothy and Edna Beckham. Judge and Mrs. Overstreet reside at 221 West 19th Street. Judge Overstreet is a member of the A. F. and A. M., his membership was first in La Grange Forti- tude Lodge No. 47 of Kentucky, but had same trans- ferred to Reagan Lodge No. 1037 of this order of Houston, shortly after coming to this city. He also holds membership in the Red Men, Eagles, Knights of Pythias and Knights and Ladies Se- curities. Judge Overstreet has many friends in Houston, where he is popular with all classes, and never loses an opportunity to speak a good word for the city of his adoption.

ORDON O. McGEHEE, attorney at law, of Houston, Texas, first came to this city during the World War, when he was an of- ficer at Camp Logan. After the close of the War he decided to locate here, and is a recog- nized leader among the younger lawyers of the Houston bar. Mr. McGehee specialized in real es- tate and corporation law, and has built up a very successful business, and numbers among his clients many of Houston's leading business men and large corporations of various kinds. His offices are lo- cated on the seventh floor of the Keystone Building. After receiving his degree from college, Mr. Mc- Gehee began the practice of law in Montgomery, Alabama, where he continued until May, 1917, and had built up a splendid practice, which he gave up in order to enter the World War. He attended the first Officer's Training Camp at Fort McPherson, Atlanta, Georgia, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant, promoted to First Lieutenant, after which he was sent to Camp Perry, Ohio, and later was sent to Camp Logan, Houston, where he re- mained until he received his discharge in the latter part of 1918, and has remained here since that time.

Mr. McGehee was born at Montgomery, Alabama, on November 3rd, 1889. His father, William E. Mc- Gehee (deceased) was a native of Alabama, and one of the State's best-known citizens. His mother, who is also deceased, was Miss Mary C. Boyd, a member of a prominent Alabama family. His early educa- tion was obtained in the public schools of Montgom- ery, Alabama, after which he entered the A. and M. College of his native State, and graduated from that institution in the class of 1909, with the B. S. Degree. He then became a student of Center Col- lege, graduating from the law department of that institution in 1912, and later entered the Law De- partment of the University of Alabama and gradu- ated there in the class of 1913 with the LL. B. de- gree.

Mr. McGehee was married at Houston, Texas, on January 24th, 1924, to Mrs. Marjorie Brown Dan- forth, a native of Maine and a member of a well- known family of that State. Mr. and Mrs. McGehee reside at 4316 Roseland Avenue. In college fraterni- ties he is a member of Alpha-Tau Omega. Mr. Mc- Gehee is a member of the A. F. and A. M., with

membership in Temple Lodge No. 4, of Houston. He has attained to the 32nd degree in the Scottish Rite Body of this Order and is a Shriner of Arabia Temple. He is also a member of the B. P. O. E. and is active in this organization. As one who special- izes in real estate and corporation matters of im- portance, Mr. McGehee is one of the leaders in this phase of legal practice in Houston. Since locating here he has made a host of friends and is popular not only in social circles, but in the business circles of the city as well. Mr. McGehee is enthusiastic in his praise of Houston and South Texas and never loses an opportunity to speak a good word for the city of his adoption, where he is known as one of its most progressive attorneys, ever willing to work for the advancement of his city.

E. HORTON, JR., of Houston, Texas, has spent his entire business life in the field of insurance, having started as a very young man in this industry at Dallas, Texas, re- moving to this city in 1921, where he is special agent for the Hartford Fire Insurance Company of Hartford, Connecticut. The Hartford writes all classes of insurance except life in his territory which includes all of Southeast Texas. There are many agents in this territory under the supervision of Mr. Horton with headquarters at 618 Second Na- tional Bank Building, Houston, Texas.

A native son of Texas, Mr. Horton was born in Dallas County on November 30th, 1890. His father, William E. Horton (deceased), a native of Virginia, was for many years a well known and highly es- teemed citizen of North Texas, serving Dallas County with distinction as tax assessor for many years. His mother, Mrs. Elizabeth (Lewis) Hor- ton, was a member of a prominent family of Ken- tucky. His education was obtained in the schools of Dallas, Texas, which he left at an early age in order to enter the business world. His first exper- ience was with the well known insurance firm of Trezevant and Cochran at Dallas, later becoming associated with other firms in this same line of activity. Mr. Horton served in the army of the United States during the World War, having enlisted in September, 1917, and served until March, 1919. Entering the service as a private, he was discharged as a first lieutenant, A. G. D.

Mr. Horton resides at the Rossonian Apartments on Fannin Street. He is a member of the River Oaks Country Club and various other commercial, fraternal and social organizations of this city, in all of which he takes an active interest. His church affiliation is with the Christian Church, this being the religious belief of his forbears. While Mr. Hor- ton is a comparatively recent addition to the in- surance and business circles of Houston, Texas, he has made his influence felt and has succeeded in building up a large and prosperous business for his insurance company, which has grown to the extent that new agents are constantly being added to the already long list in various parts of his territory. Mr. Horton is a consistent booster for Houston and never loses an opportunity to speak a good word for the city of his adoption, which he believes will soon lead the entire Southwest along all lines. He has made a host of friends in the South Texas terri- tory who regard him as one of the leaders in the field of insurance of his generation, and the future for him in the business world is very bright.

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ALTER H. STEIGERWALD, for a number of years past a resident of Houston, has re- cently established a jobbing house here, and is a factor in wholesale circles. He is Pres- ident and General Manager of W. H. Steigerwald Company, Incorporated, a firm established in 1920, and jobbers of Goodrich Mechanical Rubber Goods. Tannate Leather Belting, Belmont Packing, Crane Metallic Packing, and distributors for Pyrene Fire Extinguishers. A force of ten people are employed in the Houston house, and salesmen represent the company in South Texas. The large volume of busi- ness handled by the Steigerwald Company is very gratifying to the officers of the company, and sug- gests a prosperous future for the business. W. H. Steigerwald Company, Inc., is located at 617 Wash- ington Avenue, and the officers are: Walter H. Steigerwald, President, and George A. Delhomme, Secretary and Treasurer.

Walter H. Steigerwald was born at Streator, Illi- nois, the twenty-eighth of June, 1890, and spent his boyhood in that State, attending the public schools of Joliet. As a young man he was engaged in news- paper work and was on the editorial staff of an engineering journal in Chicago for six years. He then came to Texas, going to Beaumont, where he went with the Wilson Hardware Company, remain- ing with that organization for one year. At that time he removed to Houston, becoming Manager of the Wilson Hardware Company's Houston branch, and remaining with this firm until 1920, when he resigned to establish his present business.

Mr. Steigerwald was married in Houston the third of October, 1916, to Miss Bertha M. Gross, a native of St. Louis, Missouri, where she was reared. Mr. and Mrs. Steigerwald reside at 1612 West Alabama Avenue, and have two children, Walter H. Steiger- wald, Jr., and Mary Stella Steigerwald. Mr. Steiger- wald is a Mason, a Knight Templar, a member of the Rotary Club, and is one of the leaders among the younger business men of Houston.

HARLES H. KUHLMANN, through the ex- perience obtained in more than forty years of service, which began as cash boy and extended to every position and department in the store, made him the successful Man- ager of the great wholesale and retail grocery es- tablishment of Henke and Pillot, Houston. Mr. Kuhlmann has a genius for management, and per- haps knows a greater number of people in Houston than does any other man in the city.

A native Texan, Mr. Kuhlmann was born in Har- ris County in 1868. His parents, Henry Kuhlmann and Henrietta Kuhlmann, were large land owners and extensive farmers of Harris County. Mr. Kuhl- mann started to work in the Henke and Pillot store in 1880, and for the past twenty years he has been head buyer and manager of the firm. During this long period of employment, he has been di- rectly and continuously associated with the founders of this great establishment, which was started as a very small grocery store in 1872 by Henry Henke. Ten years later C. G. Pillot came as a partner in this enterprise. These are two of Houston's oldest and most public-spirited citizens, and most prosperous and successful business men. When Mr. Kuhlmann entered the employ of this grocery store, Houston was a village and Texas a pioneer State. The broad Western plains stretched for hundreds of miles over

an empire of open cattle ranges. This was a land of opportunity where every man stood upon his merits, where all had a fighting chance to win in the game of business. As Houston grew, so did the Henke and Pillot establishment, until today it is one of the largest stores of its kind in America, under the care, industry and good management of Charles H. Kuhlmann and a few other faithful men.

Mr. Kuhlmann was married in Houston in 1890 to Miss Agnes Mary Senechal, a member of a pioneer Houston family, where her father, Louis Senechal, was for many years a trusted employe of the United States Government. They have four children, Charles L. Kuhlmann, now manager of the South End Store for the Henke and Pillot firm; Aline A., Ethel E. and Dorothy F. The Kuhlmann home is located at 618 Gray Avenue, where they have re- sided continuously for the past thirty-one years. In fraternal and social organizations Mr. Kuhlmann is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Woodmen of the World, B. P. O. E., Kiwanis Club, of which he is Vice-President, Houston Turnverein, of which he is Past President, and the Glenbrook Country Club. Mr. Kuhlmann, in his daily life, teaches efficiency, promptness and punctuality. This, with character, perseverance and foresight have been dominant factors in the success achieved by this highly respected and progressive citizen of Houston.

H. HUTTON, head of the cotton business conducted under the name of J. H. Hutton and Company, came to Houston in 1916 as agent for M. H. Wolfe and Company and established his present business in 1920. Mr. Hut- ton buys for domestic markets and for export, and exports cotton to England, France, Germany and Belgium; his domestic shipments are mostly to Georgia, North and South Carolina, New York and eastern states. Mr. Hutton has traveling representa- tives scattered throughout the state, who buy for him, and he also buys from interior dealers; he ships practically all his cotton through the port of Houston. Mr. Hutton at times imports cotton from Mexico via the port of New York.

A native Texan, Mr. Hutton was born at Honey Grove, December 3rd, 1883. His father, J. K. Hut- ton, came to Texas from Alabama and was for many years engaged in the grocery business at Honey Grove. Mr. Hutton's education was obtained in the public and high schools of Wolf City, Texas, where he graduated from the latter in 1900, and in 1901 attended the Metropolitan Business College at Dal- las, and finished this course in a few months.

Mr. Hutton began his business career in the cot- ton business in 1903 as a bookkeeper for M. H. Wolfe and Company, and continued with this firm until 1920 when he resigned in order to begin business for himself. When the firm of M. H. Wolfe and Company was incorporated in 1912, Mr. Hutton be- came a stockholder and was made treasurer and later vice president, and opened the Houston branch office for this firm in 1916.

Mr. Hutton was married at Sulphur Springs, Texas, December 8th, 1904, to Miss Lottie L. Wolfe, a niece of M. H. Wolfe, of Dallas, and a daughter of L. P. Wolfe, who was a member of the old Wolfe City, Hunt County, family. They have four children-Fayetta, Mary Elizabeth, Lottie Lee and Lillian. Mr. and Mrs. Hutton reside at 4804 San Jacinto Street. Mr. Hutton is a member of the

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Houston Cotton Exchange and is a member of the traffic committee of this organization. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Hutton sees a bright future for Houston, and believes that the future of this port is limited only by the capa- city of the improvements in the handling facilities of both the port and channel.

E. OLSON, one of the younger members of the business fraternity of Houston, Texas, has been a potent figure in the real estate and building activities for several years and has had a share in the development of this city. Mr. Olson heads the firm of A. E. Olson and Bros., Inc., contractors, designers and home builders, with of- fices located at 1519 Main Street. He has been en- gaged in the various branches of the building busi- ness practically all his life, starting his activities in a small way. A. E. Olson and Bros., Inc., started in 1920 as a partnership, later was incorporated and has developed into one of the largest building and real estate companies of Houston. This organiza- tion are the owners of Rosemont Heights Extension, the West Gray Terrace and much other valuable property in this city. Other officers of A. E. Olson and Bros., Inc., are John Olson, vice presi- dent, and Mrs. A. O. Horn, secretary and treasurer.

A native Texan, Mr. Olson was born at Port La- vaca on April 4th, 1895. His parents, O. A. Olson and Mrs. Christine (Gelin) Olson, were natives of Sweden, and both belonged to well known families of that country. His education was obtained in the public schools of Houston which he left at an early age in order to enter the business world, where he has met with great success.

A. E. Olson and John Olson were members of the United States army during the World War, being assigned to the Air Service, where they spent their entire time in this branch of the army.

Mr. Olson was married at Houston on January 29th, 1922, to Miss Elizabeth Dunnam, a daughter of Dr. E. H. Dunnam, for many years prominent in the medical circles of South Texas. Her mother, Mrs. Stella (Harral) Dunnam, was a member of one of Texas' pioneer families. Mr. and Mrs. Olson have two children, Albert E. Olson, Jr., and Thomas Da- vid. The Olson home is at 705 West Gray Avenue. Mr. Olson is a member of the A. F. and A. M. with membership in Houston Lodge No. 1189. He is also a member of many of Houston's social and commer- cial organizations, in which he takes an active in- terest. His church affiliation is with the Methodist faith.

Mr. John Olson, who is a brother of the subject of this sketch and the vice president of A. E. Ol- son and Bros., Inc., was born at Port Lavaca, Texas, on February 19th, 1897. His education was obtained in the public schools of Houston. He also has been engaged in the building business practically all his life and is regarded as one of the foremost men in his field of activity. Mr. Olson resides at 1116 Peden Street. He is a member of the Methodist Church and many of the social and business organ- izations of Houston, in all of which he takes a keen interest. Both of these men may well be proud of the success which they have achieved in their chosen line. They are numbered among the leaders of their generation in the business life of Houston and are regarded as two of this city's most enterprising citizens.

C. FULTON, president and manager of the Ship Channel Drug Company, Wholesale Drugs, has since coming to Houston in 1906 been an active figure in the business cir- cles of this city. The Ship Channel Drug Company was established in Houston four years ago and now their number of customers has reached to almost one thousand. They have a floor space of fifty thousand square feet, and carry a large and complete line of drugs and druggist's sundries. The trade territory of the Ship Channel Drug Company ex- tends for one hundred and fifty miles around Hous- ton. Their establishment located at the corner of Franklin and San Jacinto Streets is one of the busi- est stores in Houston. Other officers of the Ship Channel Drug Company are Dr. A. L. Miller, first vice president; T. A. Sinclair, second vice president; A. Hutchenrider, secretary, and S. Harding, treas- urer. L. W. Davis, Sewall Meyer, T. B. Reed, F. B. Chambers and B. W. Ferguson well known business men of Houston, together with the president and vice president are the directors of this Wholesale Drug establishment.

Mr. Fulton was born in New Berlin, Illinois, on November 23, 1884. His father, Dr. L. W. Fulton (deceased) was for many years a prominent physi- cian of New Berlin. His mother was Miss Annie King, a member of a well known Illinois family. Mr. Fulton's education was obtained in the schools and colleges of New Berlin and Chicago.

Mr. Fulton came to Texas and to Houston in 1906 and was engaged in the retail drug business until 1920 when the Ship Channel Drug Company was established. Before coming to Houston, Mr. Fulton had been engaged in the drug business in New Ber- lin, Illinois and in Chicago, making all of his busi- ness life connected with the drug business. Mr. Ful- ton was married in Houston in 1909 to Miss Jeffie Davis of Waco, a member of one of Texas' most prominent families. Mr. and Mrs. Fulton reside at 350 West 22nd Street, Houston Heights. Mr. Fulton is a member of the Scottish Rite body of the Masonic fraternity and Potentate of Arabia Temple Shrine. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Salesmanship Club, the Optimist Club, and is a loyal member of the Baptist Church. He takes an active interest in all civic matters and is regarded as quite an acquisition to the civic, social and commercial life of Houston.

J. WHATLEY is one of the well known men connected with the rice industry in Texas, where prior to becoming vice pres- ident and general manager of the Industrial Rice Mills, Inc., in 1914, he had successfully oper- ated other rice mills in the state for many years. The Industrial Rice Mills, Inc., located at Grayson and Carr Streets, was organized and incorporated in 1914, and is one of the largest rice mills in Texas, having a daily capacity of one thousand barrels and a storage capacity of forty thousand barrels. The plant of the Industrial Rice Mills, Inc., covers an area of fifteen city blocks, and all space is covered with their buildings. This company employs thirty people. More than 40 per cent of the product from this mill is exported to European countries and the other 60 per cent is sold throughout the United States, as the Industrial Rice Mills, Inc., have a constant demand for their product. They sell at

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wholesale only and have their own railroad track- age into their plant from two railroads. Other of- ficers of the Industrial Rice Mills, Inc., are Ed Rand, president, and R. H. Whatley, secretary and treasurer.

A native Texan, Mr. Whatley was born in Atlanta, Cass County, in 1873. His father, L. A. Whatley, was for many years superintendent of the state penitentiary. His mother was Miss Emma Heard, a member of a well known Texas family. Mr. What- ley's early education was obtained in the public and high schools of Cass County, after which he attended the A. and M. College for two years, graduating from that institution in the class of 1894. After leaving college, Mr. Whatley entered the banking business in the T. W. House Bank of Houston, where he was employed for four years. He then removed to Eagle Lake, where he engaged in the general mer- cantile business, and from 1907 to 1914 operated the Lakeside Rice Mills. He came to Houston during the year 1914 and organized the Industrial Rice Mills, and has been the vice president and general manager of this company since that time.

Mr. Whatley was married at Eagle Lake in 1903 to Miss Ella Beard, a member of a prominent Eagle Lake family. Mr. and Mrs. Whatley reside at 1814 Fannin Street. During his residence in Eagle Lake, Mr. Whatley served as president of the First Na- tional Bank there. He is a member of the A. F. and A. M. with membership in the lodge at Eagle Lake and of the Houston Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Whatley takes an active interest in all projects work- ing for the development, progress and improvement of Houston.

ILLIAM E. WOODRUFF has been engaged in the general contracting business in Hous- ton for more than two decades and during this period has had a share in the vast de- velopment that Houston has experienced. Mr. Wood- ruff has splendid equipment, trucks, mixers, ele- vators and everything necessary in the contracting and building business. More than one hundred build- ings in Houston stand as a monument to his skill as a builder. Among these buildings are numbered the Concordia Club, Tennison Hotel, Westheimer Building, Southern Drug Company Building, Texas Portland Cement Company Building, Reagan School, Fannin School, addition to the Lubbock School and many more of the most prominent in the city of Houston, where Mr. Woodruff has confined his build- ing activities. His office is located at 314 Larendon Building.

Mr. Woodruff was born in Blunt County, Alabama, November 22nd, 1865. His father, James P. Wood- ruff, was a large land owner and extensive farmer of Alabama. His mother was Miss Lucy Ellis, a member of a well known Alabama family. His op- portunities for securing an education were limited, and young Woodruff devoted himself diligently to home study, and the liberal education which he ob- tained in later years was through self help.

Mr. Woodruff started his business career in a planing and saw mill, where he remained for seven years. He then entered railroad work and continued in this line of endeavor for about eight years, and in 1902 started in the general contracting business here and has continued since that time and has met with great success, where he is known throughout South Texas, as one of the best and most reliable men en ..

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 144

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