New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 147

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

USA > Texas > New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2 > Part 147

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 and Houstonian, Mr. Gartner was born March 1st, 1893. His father, George Gartner (deceased since 1906) was a well known contractor and builder of Houston. His mother was Miss Mary Vordenbaum, a member of a well known Texas fam- ily. His education was obtained in the public and high schools of Houston. Soon after leaving school, Mr. Gartner began his business career with the American Construction Company, and later was with the W. L. Pearson Construction Company. In 1914, Mr. Gartner became associated with Horton and Horton, general contractors of Houston, and re- mained with this firm for a period of nine years, and resigned as superintendent of construction of this company in order to enter his present business for himself.

Mr. Gartner was married in Houston, December 23rd, 1916, to Miss Mabel Louise Baker, a native Texan and a daughter of C. W. Baker, who was a well known painting contractor of Fort Worth for many years and who died in 1922. They have one son-Fred W. Gartner, Jr., six years of age. Mr.

and Mrs. Gartner reside at 513 Houston Heights Boulevard. Mr. Gartner is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He is also a member of the various local social clubs and civic organizations, and is always willing and ready to give of his time and means to the civic improvement, advancement and improve- ment of the city of his nativity. Mr. Gartner is regarded as one of the leading business men of his generation, and with the vast experience he has ob- tained through years of association with other con- struction companies, his ability to make friends, and with his large acquaintance in the city, the success of the F. W. Gartner Company is assured.

UNCAN D. McCALL, for the past four de- cades, has taken an important part in the development of the lumber resources of East Texas, and for more than a decade has been one of the sterling citizens of Houston, where his lumber activities have been of vital importance. Mr. McCall is purchasing agent for the West Lum- ber Company, the South Texas Lumber Company, and the South Texas Hardwood Company, as well as all the other West enterprises, which include many smaller companies. Mr. McCall has been as- sociated with the West interests since the first lit- tle saw mill was built and put in operation in East Texas, when he helped Mr. West build the mill, and was foreman of it after it was put in operation. In 1911 he came to Houston to take over the pur- chasing end of the business, a position entailing heavy responsibilities, and requiring an expert knowledge, not only of the lumber business and its requirements, but of a wide range of other sub- jects. The West organization is now one of the largest lumber industries in the United States. The Houston offices are in the West Building.

Duncan D. McCall was born in Cherokee County, Texas, the fifteenth of April, 1864, the son of E. S. and Mary Bowman McCall. Mr. E. S. McCall, a native of Mississippi, and later a large plantation owner of Louisiana, until the Civil War, when he organized the company of men known as the Tin Saw Cavalry, fighting throughout the conflict, and came out as Major, came to Texas at the close of the war and settled in Cherokee County. He oper- ated a cotton gin, saw mill and grist mill in East Texas until he retired from active life. Mrs. Mc- Call, a native of Texas, and the daughter of J. J. Bowman, was reared in Texas. Her father was a commanding office under Sam Houston, at the Bat- tle of San Jacinto. As a boy Duncan D. McCall be- gan in his father's mill, and with the exception of three years spent with J. G. Powell, in the lumber business at Lake Charles, has been in the lumber business of East Texas, since beginning his busi- ness career.

Mr. McCall was married at Crockett, Texas, April 29th, 1891, to Miss Josie Hudson, a native of Crock- ett, and the daughter of S. Hudson, a very promi- nent man of that place. Mr. and Mrs. McCall make their home in Winlow Place, and have one surviv- ing child, Verner McCall, who is manager of the South Texas Lumber Company yard, and who mar- ried Miss Mildred Powell. Mr. McCall has been one of the leaders in all lumber movements in East Texas, and is one of the best known pioneer lum- bermen of the state. He is interested in all con- servation programs, and the advance of the in- dustry along all lines.

2032

Hosartner.

M.B. Sultan

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

B. SALTER, for almost two decades identi- ar fied with building activities at Houston, where he has been engaged as a painting contractor, has built up one of the largest businesses in this line at Houston, and has handled many important contracts. Mr. Salter operates his business under his own name, taking contracts for painting, paper hanging and decorating. His offices are at 1116 North Main Street. A force of from twenty-five to thirty men are employed on the var- ious contracts he has under way, and his business is one of the largest in the city. All work done by him is of recognized quality, and he makes a point of superior workmanship, as well as the best ma- terials. While he handles a great deal of residence work, he also gives careful attention to apartments and business buildings, and has handled the painting and decorating contracts for such important build- ings as the Herman Hospital, the Scottish Rite Ca- thedral, the Chamber of Commerce and the Bankers Mortgage Building.

R. B. Salter is a native of Stranton, Mississippi, where he was born the twenty-seventh of August, 1879. His father, Loftin C. Salter, was for many years engaged in various contracting businesses and railroad work, and lived at Houston for a num- ber of years. His mother, before her marriage, was Miss Susan Deakle. Mr. Salter attended the public schools of Houston as a boy, beginning in the paint- ing business in this city. He worked for various contractors here, in every kind of painting, until 1905, when he went in business for himself. Since that time he has built up a large and successful business, and is considered one of the best and most reliable painting contractors in the city.

Mr. Salter was married at Houston in 1905 to Miss Mamie C. Kelly, daughter of John C. Kelly, in the hotel business at Morgan, Texas. They have one child, Miss Madeline. The family reside at 2104 Crocker Street, in Houston. Mr. Salter is a Mason, York and Scottish Rite, and a member of Arabia Temple Shrine. He belongs to the Houston Club and the Builders Exchange, of Houston. Mr. Salter has taken a real interest in the development of his city and is ready at any time to do anything that will further the progress of Houston. He has many friends here, both in a business and social way, who regard him as a business man, who through his suc- cessful business methods, is entitled to the respect of all.

RANKLIN O. THOMSON, secretary and manager of the Builders' Exchange of Houston, has had a wide experience in newspaper work and organization work, and has been the motivating factor in the Builders' Exchange since its organization. The Builders' Ex- change of Houston, was organized the seventh of March, 1924, to foster harmonious relations be- tween members of the same and allied branches of construction work. The exchange has also been active in its support of various civic measures and takes an active part in all work for the growth and development of Houston. The membership of the Builders' Exchange includes reliable contractors, subcontractors and material dealers, and the Hous- ton public regards membership in this organization as an assurance of skill, and reliability. Mr. Thom- son has been indefatigable in his efforts to make the organization worth while to its membership, and

of importance to Houston, and to him a large meas- ure of credit goes for the success with which his efforts have met.

Franklin O. Thomson was born in Detroit, Michigan, the nineteenth of August, 1870, son of John L. Thomson and Marian (Lindsay) Thomson, natives of Bathgate, Scotland, who later came to the United States and resided for some years at Detroit. Mr. Thomson attended the schools of De- troit, and afterward spent several years in news- paper work, and during that time was connected with various leading newspapers of the country. He came to Houston in 1905, and has been active in association work in Texas for many years. He spent some time at Dallas as secretary and manager of the Southwestern Open Shop Associa- tion, which had headquarters in that city. Later the name was changed to the Texas Industrial As- sociation and the headquarters of the organization removed to Austin. Still later Mr. Thomson became manager of the Builders' Exchange at San Antonio, as well as the Open Shop Association of that city, and in 1924 organized and has since been secretary and manager of the Builders' Exchange of Houston, as well as the Open Shop Association.

Mr. Thomson resides on the Telephone Road, and has two children, a son, Jack L. Thomson, a student at Rice Institute, and a daughter, Margaret E., a student in a Los Angeles High School. Mr. Thom- son belongs to the Chamber of Commerce and is widely known in open shop and builders' exchanges throughout the country as a leader in this work.

W. PARKE, JR., has for almost two dec- ades been actively identified with industrial activities at Houston, during this time oper- ating one of the finest engraving plants in the city and making a splendid record in this line of work. Mr. Parke came to Houston in 1905, selecting this city after carefully looking over the possible locations in the state as offering greater opportunity for business success. He established the Star Engraving Company, which he operated alone until 1910, when he took in two partners and opened the Park Engraving Company, Incorporated, of which he is president and general manager. This firm does the best work obtainable, specializing in photo engraving of all kinds, copper and zinc cuts, and has a large business. The business is located at 5071/2 Travis Street, where they have a modern engraving plant, equipped to handle the finest work, and employing twelve trained and experienced work- men. The officers of the Park Engraving Company are G. W. Parke, Jr., president; L. E. Brazelton, vice president, and T. J. Baker, secretary and treasurer.

Mr. Parke was born in Iowa, in 1879, son of G. W. Parke, a native of New York, now retired and liv- ing at Houston, and Mrs. Ella Baker Parke. Mr. Parke spent his boyhood in Chicago, attending the public schools of that city, and later going to col- lege, at Watertown, Wisconsin. As a boy Mr. Parke began work in an engraving plant in Chicago and received excellent training in this work. In 1905 he came to Texas and travelled over the state, final- ly locating at Houston, where he established the Star Engraving Company. He later sold his interest and established the present company.

Mr. Parke was married at Chicago, in 1901, to Miss Belle Thorpe, a native of Illinois. They have

2035

MEN OF TEXAS

made their home in Houston since Mr. Parke's busi- ness activities brought him to this city and now live at 1010 Colquitt Street. They have one child, a daughter, Ruth. Mr. Parke is a Mason, Holland Lodge No. 1, and a member of the Scottish Rite to the eighteenth degree.

S. TILSON, M. S., of the Houston Labora- tories, and an analytical and consulting chemist of national reputation, has made Houston his home for a score of years, dur- ing which time he has attained many distinctions in his profession. In 1904 Mr. Tilson established at Houston the Houston Laboratories, the first com- mercial laboratory to be established in Texas and achieve success. The Houston Laboratories, of which Mr. Tilson is sole owner, occupy the whole third floor of the building at 2151/2 Main Street, where every facility for his work is maintained. Mr. Til- son is Referee Chemist of the American Oil Chem- ists Society, and was formerly Collaborating Chem- ist for the United States Department of Agricul- ture and Associate State Chemist. He makes analy- sis of cotton seed, peanut, copra, soya beans, their products and feed stuffs, and makes reports on eco- nomic geology. Waters, soils, gas, ores, coals, clays, cements, fertilizers, petroleum products, etc., are carefully analyzed and reported upon, requests for these and like reports coming to the laboratory from all parts of the State, as well as other States. Mr. Tilson has two expert assistants, namely: F. R. Robertson, who has been with him seventeen years; Mr. Robertson is a graduate of Northwestern Uni- versity and is also a registered pharmacist; and Mr. W. W. Curtis, who has been with him seven years, and was educated in the University of Illi- nois.

P. S. Tilson was born in Boston, in Bowie County, Texas, the thirtieth of December, 1867, son of W. H. Tilson, and Eunice (Read) Tilson. W. H. Tilson, a native of Virginia, came to Texas prior to 1860, and was a prominent lawyer of the State until his death in 1910. He served Bowie County as State Senator. Mrs. Tilson was a native of Mobile, Ala- bama. P. S. Tilson received his common and high school education in the schools of Texas, and later attended Texas A. and M. College, taking the Mas- ter of Science degree there in 1892. At the Univer- sity of Chicago he took some summer school studies. He taught chemistry at A. and M. for sixteen years, coming to Houston in 1904, to establish the Hous- ton Laboratories. From 1908 until 1915, Mr. Tilson was collaborating chemist for the United States De- partment of Agriculture under the Pure Food and Drug Act. During the recent war, Mr. Tilson, past the draft age, enlisted in government work as a chemist.

Mr. Tilson was married at Bryan, Texas, in 1902, to Miss Frances Parker, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mit Parker. Mr. Parker is a large plantation owner of Brazos and Burleson Counties. Mr. and Mrs. Til- son reside at 1516 McGowen Avenue. Mr. Tilson is an Elk, a Knight of Pythias, belongs to the Rotary Club, the Houston Country Club, the University Club, the A. and M. Club, the American Oil Chem- ists Society, the Interstate Cotton Seed Crushers Association, the Texas Cotton Seed Crushers Asso- ciation, the American Chemical Society, and the Episcopal Church, and is one of the foremost au- thorities of analytical chemistry of Texas.

YLLYS TAYLOR is a leader among the younger printers of Houston and as Presi- dent and Manager of the Taylor-Vann-Pol- lan Company, Inc., has had much to do with the success achieved by this company. Con- veniently located at 1017 Lamar Avenue, this com- pany, established and incorporated in 1917, are en- gaged in a general printing business. They do printing of all kinds, and carry a full and complete line of office furniture, office fixtures, files, sta- tionery and stationery supplies; in fact everything to be used in an office. Other officers of the Tay- lor-Vann-Pollan Company, Inc., are: S. W. Vann, Vice-President, and H. D. Pollan, Secretary and Treasurer.

A native of Texas and of Houston, Mr. Taylor was born July 4, 1893. His father, E. W. Taylor, (deceased) also a native of Houston, was a pioneer wholesale groceryman and lumberman and founder of the Taylor Lumber Company. His mother was Miss Garretta Farrar, a native of Louisville, Ken- tucky, and a member of a prominent family of that State. Mr. Taylor's early education was obtained in the public schools of Houston and later he was a student of the Engineering Department of the Rice Institute. After leaving school Mr. Taylor started his business career in the employ of the Waddell House Furnishing Company as a salesman, and remained with this company for two years, during which time he had been andvanced to the position of Manager of the Office Furniture de- partment. His next position was with the Cargill Printing Company as a salesman, where he re- mained from 1914 to 1917 and severed his connec- tion with this company in order to organize the present firm, of which he is President and Mana- ger. Mr. Taylor is interested in many of Houston's industries and enterprises and is interested in the H. D. Taylor Lumber Company.

Mr. Taylor was married in Houston in 1917 to Miss Julia Pease, a native of Chicago, and a mem- ber of a well known Illinois family, but raised and educated in Houston. They have one daughter, Julia Taylor. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor reside at 1205 Wheeler Avenue. Mr. Taylor is a member of the B. P. O. E. and takes an active interest in this or- ganization. He is justly proud of the city of his birth, which has developed into a busy, thriving, progressive Metropolis which is destined to soon be- come the leading city of the entire Southwest.

J. SLOANE for about ten years has been identified with various phases of the oil industry in the coastal fields, and for the past few years has operated independently. Mr. Sloane maintains his office in the West build- ing, Houston, and directs his operations from this city. He is associated with C. E. Gates and E. W. Smith, well known oil men. He buys and sells royalties, leases and producing properties, and also deals in oil field machinery. He has for many years held the confidence of the major companies, and it is to them that he sells the larger propor- tion of royalties, leases and oil properties that he handles. Mr. Sloane is one of the best informed men in this section as to oil possibilities, geological formations and the trend of operations, and keeps in close touch with conditions in the coastal fields, dealing only in the most desirable leases and oil properties. Mr. Sloane has attained a reputation

2036

PSsikon

a. Delisle

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

for successfully handling various oil matters, and for sound judgment, and is a creditable addition to the oil fraternity of Houston.

Mr. Sloane was born at Crowley, Louisiana, the fourteenth of May, 1892, the son of P. D. Sloane, for many years engaged in construction work with the Gulf Refining Company. Mr. Sloane received his early education in the public schools near his home, and after graduating from high school, entered Texas A. and M. College, attending that institu- tion from 1912 until 1915. He then went with the Gulf Production Company, by whom he was em- ployed for many years. Mr. Sloane has had con- siderable experience in various branches of oil field work, and is a capable driller, and thoroughly fa- miliar with production problems. Coming to Beau- mont in 1919 he engaged in independent operations and remained here until his removal to Houston.

Mr. Sloane was married at Port Arthur, in 1916, to Miss Anna Lou White, daughter of S. F. White, a retired business man of that city. Mr. and Mrs. Sloane have two children-Elizabeth and Harold- and reside in Houston. Mr. Sloane is a Knight of Pythias and a Mason. He has many friends among the oil men, and his fair dealing has won him a substantial place in the oil fraternity in the gulf coast.

DRIEN DELISLE for upwards of three decades has been one of the vital forces of progress at Houston and as one of the old- est architects in the city, enjoys the esteem of his fellow citizens. Mr. Delisle came to Hous- ton in 1894 and since that time has engaged in gen- eral architectural work and has built around five hundred buildings in this city. Mr. Delisle special- izes in residence and apartment work and has planned some of the most attractive homes in the city, and many of the finer apartment buildings. He has to his credit several beautiful churches as well as commercial buildings. Mr. Delisle is careful and exacting in all his work, each detail being per- fected before he is satisfied. He has had a very successful career, his business growing rapidly as his work won recognition, and has much work now on hand with every indication of a prosperous fu- ture. Mr. Delisle has his office in the Freed Building.

Mr. Delisle was born in Paris, France, in 1856, son of Eugene Delisle, a merchant tailor of that city, and Frances Delisle. The family came to America when Mr. Delisle was a boy of ten and he received his rudimentary education in the public schools of Memphis, graduating from the high school there. He then attended college in that city for two years, after which he went with the firm of Jones & Bald- win, leading architects of Memphis, remaining with them for a decade. He then went to Chattanooga and was in business for himself from 1878 until 1894, in which year he came to Houston and has since been in business in this city. Mr. Delisle is known to his many friends and patrons as "one of the old reliables," a reputation won through his care in all work, with no detail slighted. Mr. De- lisle was married at Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1879, to Miss Florence McLeod, daughter of Dr. Norman McLeod, well known physician of that city, and Sal- lie McLeod. Mr. and Mrs. Delisle have four chil- dren, Eugene, Ernest, Albert and Raymond. Eugene

is a prominent dentist in Houston, Ernest is an auditor for the Martin Wright Electric Company, San Antonio; Raymond is a well known optician in Austin and Albert is at home. The family resi- dence is located at 1908 Drew Avenue.

L. GOOCH first came to Houston in 1909 and remained until 1911, and during this time was engaged in the contracting busi- ness of granite construction, and did the granite work on the Harris County Court House. He returned to the South Texas Metropolis in March, 1922, and owns and operates the Gulf Granite Com- pany, which is by far the largest plant of its kind in Houston, where he has a splendid factory, beautiful display rooms, extensive yards and modern equip- ment of every kind. Mr. Gooch has all kinds of granite for monuments and buildings, and marble, both domestic and imported, for monuments only, and employs twenty-five people, many of whom are expert in the marble engraving and granite cutting business. Numbered among the prominent buildings in Houston on which Mr. Gooch did the granite work are: Harris County Court House, Terminal Station, Rice Institute Buildings, the Auditorium and the State National Bank. Mr. Gooch is the third genera- tion to be engaged in the monument and granite business. His office and plant is located at 2614 Washington Avenue, where he does an immense business, and his territory includes all of Texas and Louisiana and parts of the contiguous states, where he ships his products.

Mr. Gooch was born at Madisonville, Kentucky, on August 2, 1884, and was brought to Texas by his parents when only three weeks old, and considers himself a Texan. His father, J. W. Gooch, came to Waco in 1883 and is there now and engaged in the monument business, and his grandfather was also in this same line of work. His mother was Miss Emma Wells, a member of a well known Kentucky family. His early education was obtained in the public and high schools of Waco, and later entered Baylor University at Waco, where he remained for four years and graduated from that institution with the B. B. degree.

After leaving college Mr. Gooch began his busi- ness career in the contracting of granite construction and the first really big work was the Harris County Court House. He removed from Houston to Austin in 1911, where he did all of the marble and granite work on the following buildings of note in Austin: University Library, Educational Building of the University, Blind Institute, Austin Post Office and the Land Office Building. Mr. Gooch has done the granite and marble work on more than thirty post offices in Texas, the City Hall at Dallas and the County Jail at Fort Worth. He returned to Houston in 1922 and purchased the present business, which has grown under his capable guidance.

Mr. Gooch was married in Brazoria in 1909 to Miss Willa Mitchell, a native Texan and a daughter of J. R. Mitchell, a member of a pioneer Brazoria family, where for many years he was engaged in the mer- cantile business. Mr. and Mrs. Gooch reside at 2614 Washington Avenue. Mr. Gooch is a member of the Scottish Rite body of the A. F. and A. M., and is in- terested in all matters having to do with the civic improvement, advancement and progress of Houston, and believes this city will soon become the leading city of the Southwest.

2039

MEN OF TEXAS

ATRICK G. CALLAHAN, in the decade of his residence at Houston, has represented the best principles and progressive ideals that the master plumbers of this city stand for and has been held in high esteem by his fellow citizens. Mr. Callahan is a veteran plumber and has seen a quarter of a century of following this trade, years when he has watched the industry de- velop and has done his part toward furthering this development. Mr. Callahan established the Calla- han Company, plumbing and heating contractors, in February, 1920, and since this time has handled a general plumbing and heating contracting business, specializing in residence work. Mr. Callahan now keeps twelve employees busy at all times and oper- ates a plant that, while small, has the best of equipment and maintains high standards of work. He has several trucks and light cars handling his business in an efficient manner and assuring his customers of rapid service. The Callahan Company is located at 3103 Main Street, the business owned entirely by Mr. Callahan.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 147

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