New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 156

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

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ALPH E. PARKS has been dominant fig- ure in the financial and commercial life of the thriving and prosperous town of Pasa- dena for more than twenty years and is re- garded by his fellow townsmen as its leader in practically all matters pertaining to its growth and development. A resident here for more than two decades has brought Mr. Parks in intimate touch with the personal and financial life of most of the town's inhabitants and his unselfish interest in the welfare of his fellow townsmen has endeared him to old and young alike.

Mr. Parks is president of the Pasadena State Bank, a strong and growing institution. This is the only bank in Pasadena and it has enjoyed a splen- did growth since its organization in 1919. Other officers of the institution are J. M. Jackson, vice president, and A. R. Cruse, cashier. The bank has played an especially important part in financing the berry and fruit crops of the farmers surrounding Pasadena.

Coming to Pasadena in 1901, Mr. Parks has en- gaged in fruit growing and general farming, in addi- tion to his activity in financial affairs. Besides con- siderable business property, he owns a great deal of farm land around Pasadena, on which he raises strawberries, oranges, figs and general farm crops.

Mr. Parks is a native of New York State and was born at Courtland on December 2, 1870, a son of Calvin E. and Carrie (Fuller) Parks. His father was a well known farmer and land owner and Mr. Parks spent his boyhood days on a farm. He at- tended the public schools and high school at De Ruy- ter, New York, and after finishing high school, took a commercial course at a business college. After that he taught school for two years and then was employed in the railroad office for two years.

Coming to Texas in 1894, Mr. Parks located at Deep Water where he engaged in general farming until 1901, when he removed to Pasadena, where he has lived since that time. He has made extensive purchases of farm lands and has been engaged in various lines of activity in an indirect way.

Mr. Parks is quiet and unassuming and a con- servative type of banker and business man whose worth to a community can not be estimated. He has been identified with every movement for the devel-

opment and betterment of Pasadena and surrounding community and much of the prosperity of this local- ity can be directly traced to his influence. He has never sought leadership or in any manner sought to place himself at the head of movements of a civic, political or commercial nature. The town of Pasa- dena was incorporated January, 1924, and Mr. Parks was elected its first mayor.

Mr. Parks is unmarried and is wholly devoted to his financial and farming interests. He is a Mason, a member of the Scottish Rite bodies and of Arabia Temple Shrine at Houston. His church affil- iation is with the Baptist denomination. A big man, capable of occupying a position of leadership in a much larger sphere of activity, Mr. Parks has been content to live his life among the people of Pasa- dena who know and appreciate his sterling worth and who have never been slow in according to him the measure of appreciation that is rightfully and justly his.

HRIS MING of Houston, Texas, has through- out his life had a decided liking for the theatrical and amusement business, and in June, 1921, formed the Chris Ming Pro- duction Company, with headquarters in this city. Mr. Ming is a partner and the active Manager of this company, with offices located at 808 Texas Avenue. Associated with him, but inactive in the management, are Messrs. W. T. Glass and Charles Skains, both well known in the business circles of Houston. The purpose of the Chris Ming Produc- tion Company is promoting superior home talent in putting on shows of various kinds and minstrels for fraternal organizations in all portions of the United States. This organization put on the Salesmanship Club show in Houston, which was a huge success and sold tickets to the amount of $11,000.00. This or- ganization has put on the Policeman's Ball and Min- strels here for the past two years and each year sold more than $10,000.00 in tickets. In 1924, the Policeman's Ball was such a great success that hun- dreds could not be seated on the night of the per- formance, and it was decided ot repeat the produc- tion on the following night for the cattlemen, who were holding their convention in Houston, and more than eighteen thousand people saw the performance on these two days, and it was proclaimed one of the greatest successes ever attained by home talent. This organization has also put on the Shrine show for the past three seasons, and many others. The Chris Ming Production Company carry a large and complete stock of theatrical supplies, costumes and everything for the stage, and all kinds of stage equipment. Mr. Ming began his business career in the clothing business at Springfield, Missouri, which he sold in order to enter the World War. He was in the Air Service branch of the army, and attended the first Ground School at Austin, Texas, after which he was sent to Souther Field, Georgia. While at this field he received a commission as Second Lieu- tenant, after which he was sent to Ellington Field at Houston, and was discharged here after the sign- ing of the Armistice. He then went on the road, putting on amateur shows for clubs, lodges and all other organizations for an Eastern concern. He con- tinued in this work for two years, and then entered the business for himself in Houston, where he has met with phenominal success in his chosen field.

2103.

MEN OF TEXAS

HORNTON C. MORROW, for a number of years identified with industrial activities at Houston, and for the past several years an enthusiastic representative of the auto- mobile repair business, has taken an active part in the development of this business, and an interest in constructive civic affairs. Mr. Morrow operates his business under his own name, as the T. C. Mor- row garage, which he established in January, 1922, as a general auto garage. Mr. Morrow is himself an expert mechanical engineer, and the equipment in his plant easily makes it one of the finest in the city that is open twenty-four hours every day. He specializes in work on the better cars, drawing his patronage largely from owners of high-priced au- tomobiles, and also has a department devoted to giving service to the different makes of trucks. A modern system of washing and greasing makes pos- sible the highest type of work in this line, and spe- cial equipment is provided enabling operatives to do first class work in a minimum of time and expense. A storage department, with capacity for fifty cars, is a popular feature with auto owners desiring down- town storage for their cars. Skilled auto electri- cians correct starting, lighting and ignition trou- bles, and a complete machine shop, with adequate equipment and thoroughly experienced operatives make a specialty of auto machine work, as well as handling all classes of general machine work, in- cluding the re-conditioning and rebuilding of heavy duty gas and oil engines, as well as most modern equipment for cylinder and crankshaft regrinding, oxy-acetylene welding and cutting and airplane re- pairs. The plant, a modern building, at 1220 San Jacinto street and comprising some twenty-two thou- sand square feet of floor space, employs twenty expert automobile mechanics and machinists, trained in repair work, and is one of the largest and most successful plants in the city.

Thornton C. Morrow was born at Bushnell, Illi- nois, the twelfth of March, 1895, son of Dr. W. J. Morrow, a native of Maryland, and Mary Morrow, of Illinois. Dr. Morrow came to Houston in 1904, and has since been one of the leading dentists in this city, with offices in the Carter Building, and he has an extensive and lucrative practice. Mr. Morrow attended the public schools of Houston, later studying electrical engineering for a good many years during his spare time. He began his business career with the Southern Pacific Railway, in the Motive Power Department, and spent eight months there. He then went with the Houston Armature Works, spending nearly a year there, after which he went to Itasca, where he spent six months in a garage. Returning to Houston he went with the Mosehart-Keller Auto Company, and was for the ensuing five and a half years with that company, in all departments, including the manu- facturing, repair and sales departments.

At the entrance of the United States in the World War Mr. Morrow entered the air service as a pri- vate, at Ellington Field, Houston, in the Motor Ma- chine Shop. In October, 1918, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant, and transferred to Love field at Dallas, as Assistant Engineer Officer, remain- ing there until his discharge in March, 1919. He returned to Houston and until May, 1920, was W ... the Thomas Air Craft Company, and built the han- gar on Bellaire road, and bought the ships for the

company. He was then with Captain Drexel, in charge of his Nash Service Department, until 1921, when he organized the Morrow Company, Incorpo- rated, a general repair, garage, storage and wash- ing business. He sold his interest in this company in 1922 and went into business for himself, and has since been a factor in the auto repair business at Houston.

Mr. Morrow was married at Houston, the thirtieth of June, 1915, to Miss Maida Davis, daughter of L. Alger Davis, for many years a resident of this section of the Lone Star State. Mr. and Mrs. Mor- row make their home at 1816 Francis avenue, and have one child, Thornton C. Morrow, Junior. Mr. Morrow is Vice-President of the Houston Auto Trade Association and a member of the American Technical Society and the American Legion. He is one of the most progressive young men in his city, naturally interested in the mechanics of the au- motive business, and his success in this line promises well for his future.

A. PIDGEON, although a comparatively recent addition to the business fraternity of Houston, has entered into the spirit of the South Texas metropolis and has suc- ceeded in building up a profitable business. Mr. Pidgeon is the owner of Pidgeon's Auto Service, for- merly known as the League Electric Company, lo- cated at 1212 Polk Avenue, which he established dur- ing the latter part of 1921. Pidgeon's Auto Service is the Southeast Texas distributor for Philco Batter- ies, and also repair and rebuild old batteries. They are dealers for the Longwear cord tires, and do a general garage business, with gas and oil filling sta- tion, and carry a complete line of automobile acces- sories of all kinds. He has one of the most complete establishments of its kind in the city, giving "com- plete auto service under one roof" and his business is growing daily.

Mr. Pidgeon was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on May 23rd, 1893. His father, H. W. Pidgeon, was born in Canada, but has resided in Chicago for many years, where he is a well known manufacturer of musical instruments, and the Pidgeon family is prominent in Chicago. His mother (deceased) was Miss Nellie Lawrence, a native of Boston, Massachu- setts, where she was a member of an old Massa- chusetts family. His early education was obtained in the public schools of Chicago, after which he at- tended the Lane Technical High School for a num- ber of years. After leaving school, Mr. Pidgeon was for several years associated with his father, and later went with the Chicago and Alton Rail- road as a draftsman. In 1916, he came to Texas with the First Illinois Infantry, of the Illinois National Guard, and was stationed at San Antonio for three months. He then returned to Chicago and through a newspaper friend who knew of the vast opportunities in Texas, was prevailed upon to come to Houston, where he entered the engineering dpartment of the Texas Company, and remained with this oil company for six years, when he resigned in order to establish his present business.

Mr. Pidgeon was married in Houston, August 28th, 1920, to Miss Margaret Sontag, a native of Houston and a daughter of H. Sontag, who for many years has been a resident of Houston and is well known in the business circles of the city. They have one daughter, Nellie Ann Pidgeon. Mr. Pid-

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Carl Me Willian

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

geon is a member of the A. F. and A. M., with mem- bership in Olympia Lodge No. 864 of Chicago, and of the Washington Chapter in the same city, and of the Chicago Commandery No. 19, and is a member of Arabia Temple Shrine, of Houston. He is opti- mistic as to the future of Houston and believes that this city has everything in her favor to become in a few years the leader of the Southwest.

ARL T. McMILLIAN, native Houstonian, and one of the most progressive of the younger representatives of the automotive industry, has since his advent into the busi- ness world become a factor in the automobile busi- ness. Mr. McMillian is connected with the A. C. Burton Company, distributors of the popular Hud- son and Essex cars, and Mr. McMillian has been ac- tive in placing a great many of these cars in the hands of pleased owners. He has had a great deal of experience in the different lines of the auto in- dustry. In 1922 Mr. McMillian established the Earl McMillian Tire Company, and auto supply house which he conducted successfully until making his present connection.

Mr. McMillian was born in Houston on the eighth day of September, 1898. His father, V. O. McMil- lian, a native of Huntsville, and a resident of that city for many years, came to Houston and was in business here a number of years prior to going to San Antonio, where he now resides. His mother, before her marriage, Miss Laura Lieck, was a na- tive of Houston, and a member of one of the pioneer families of this city. Mr. McMillian was educated in the schools of Houston, and after finishing school went with E. A. Peden, of the Peden Iron and Steel Company, remaining with that organization for three years. He then spent a year with the Barden Electric Company, after which he was for a time with the Bob Stadler Auto Supply Company. He re- mained with Mr. Stadler for seven years and was his first and only employee, for a time on the road, and later in charge of city sales and on the inside. He then went in business for himself, organizing the company in which he was active at the time of going with his present company.

Mr. McMillian was married at Houston, the sev- enteenth of September, 1919, to Miss Eva Parker, a native of Houston, and the daughter of J. B. Parker, a resident of this city for many years. Mr. and Mrs. McMillian make their home at 4502 Conner Avenue and have one child, Earl T., Jr. Mr. Mc- Millian is a Mason, member of Gray Lodge No. 329, thirty-second degree, and a member of Arabia Temple Shrine. Mr. McMillian takes an active and progressive interest in civic development, and as a business man has made a record creditable in all lines, and is regarded as one of the coming men in the automotive industry.

HEODORE BRADLOW, one of the pioneers in the automobile business, has, since com- ing to Houston several years ago, been a factor in automobile activities in this city, and is the local representative for the well known and popular Chevrolet. Mr. Bradlow is vice-pres- ident and general manager of the Edson Motor Company, Incorporated, a firm established a number of years ago, and reorganized and incorporated the twenty-fifth of April, 1923, as successors of the Edson-Feray Motor Company. The Edson Motor

Company operates a complete Chevrolet agency, and occupies the most beautiful automobile building in the city, at 2300 Main Street. This modern build- ing affords a floor space of one hundred and seven- ty-five by one hundred and fifty feet, and is plan- ned to give each department of the business ample quarters. The sales rooms are handsomely ap- pointed and designed to show the models to the best advantage. A parts department, with a full line of parts, and the shops and service departments, where Chevrolet service, no small factor in Chevro- let popularity, may be had, completes the establish- ment, and makes it one of the most attractive in the city. A force of thirty-five employees are in the various departments of the Edson Motor Com- pany. The officers, other than Mr. Bradlow, the vice-president and general manager, are E. G. Ed- son, of Beaumont, Texas, President, and R. G. War- ren, Secretary and Treasurer.

Theodore Bradlow was born at Birkenhead, Eng- land, in 1884, his parents moving to the United States in 1888, where he first attended school in New York, and later in England, to which country his parents removed. He began in the automobile business almost a decade and a half ago, starting with the Chevrolet Company, in the factory at At- lanta, Georgia. In 1912 he became salesman for the Chevrolet Motor Company and in 1916 he was appointed manager of the local branch in Atlanta where he remained until he came to Houston to become vice-president and general manager of the Edson Motor Company, and has since made his home in this city, at 215 Hathaway.

G. MOFFAT of Houston is well and fav- orably known in automobile circles of Southwest Texas, where he is numbered among the pioneers of this great industry. He has witnessed the development of the automo- bile and has been in the midst of the business dur- ing this period and today is considered an authority in his chosen field. As sales representative of the Snelling Motors Company he is is an enviable posi- tion to render his many friends and acquantances a service covering their automobile transportation needs.

A native of Pennsylvania, Mr. Moffat was born in Pittsburgh in 1882. His father, J. M. Moffat (deceased), also a Pennsylvanian, was widely known throughout the state as a distributor of sewing ma- chines. His mother was Miss Jennette Hutchinson, a member of a well known Pennsylvania family. Mr. Moffat's education was obtained in the public schools of Pittsburgh.

Mr. Moffat studied and prepared himself for elec- trical engineering work and in 1902 he entered the wide field of his chosen profession. He has traveled extensively, doing engineering work in almost every country on the globe. In 1908 he decided to settle down, and he began work in Colorado in the differ- ent branches of the automobile industry, and in 1910 came to Houston, and since that time has been engaged in the automobile business. Mr. Moffat was married at New Orleans in 1912 to Mrs. Mary Zapalac, a native of the Lone Star State. They have one child, Clarence Garfield, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Mof- fat reside at 808 Woodrow. Mr. Moffat is a recog- nized authority on automobiles, having spent fif- teen years in the business, devoting to it much thought and intensive study.

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MEN OF TEXAS

ESSE JUDSON FELDER of Navasota, Tex- as, is a pioneer in the financial and busi- ness life of Grimes County, having located in this city soon after the close of the Civil War, and engaged in the mercantile business here at that time. Mr. Felder is vice president of the Citizens National Bank of Navasota, and is the organizer of this institution which has been operat- ing since 1900, and has been a thrifty, growing bank since its organization. He was not active in this bank during the early years of its operations, but of late years has been active in its management, and has had an important part in shaping the desti- nies of this institution. The bank owns the bank building, which is located on one of the principal corners of the city, and during 1924, improved this building to the extent that makes it one of the finest bank buildings in this portion of the state. He is the owner of some property in Navasota, the great- er portion of which he purchased many years ago, besides some acreage property which he made into city lots and sold some of it. He had a part in the development of this city. Mr. Felder gave one hun- dred lots to this city, in order to bring about a bond issue of $15,000.00, which made possible the building of a manual training high school, named Victoria Felder Manual Training School. The build- ing is now finished and is also used as a high school.

Many years ago, realizing the need of another railroad, and particularly one that would enter a hitherto undeveloped region of fine farming coun- try, he was a leader in the movement to get the International and Great Northern Railroad to build their line from Navasota to Madisonville. This rail- road has proved of considerable value to this city, be- sides making for the development of this country through which it runs, and affording a market for the farm products on the line between these two points. Madisonville, one of the oldest towns in this portion of the state, had been without railroad facilities up to the time of the building of this line and the citizenship of this town considerably benefited by this railroad. Mr. Felder has been interested in educational matters and a worker for more schools and better schools for his city and community. He was prompted in the organiza- tion of The Citizens National Bank, through a need for another institution of this kind for his city. The capital stock of this bank is $100,000.00 with a sur- plus of $50,000.00. Other officers of this bank are: W. S. Craig, president, and W. T. Taliaferro, cashier. Mr. Felder is a veteran of the Civil War, and served in the infantry of the Fourth Regulars of South Carolina, and served throughout this con- flict from 1861. He was for a greater portion of the time under General Forrest, and later served under General Sull Ross, who later became one of the greatest governors the Lone Star State ever had. Mr. Felder, during his service, saw much action in practically all parts of the South. After the close of the war, he came to Chapel Hill, Texas, and engaged in the mercantile business, but re- mained there for only a short time when he re- moved to Navasota and first engaged in the mer- cantile business with his uncle, M. M. Felder, and this partnership lasted for a period of two years when he sold his interest in this establishment and remained in this city.

Mr. Felder was born in Lawrence County, South

Carolina, on January 29th, 1839. His father, Rev. Carlos Felder, was one of the Baptist ministers of his day, and received into his churches by immersion more than three thousand members, and was born in South Carolina. His mother, Mrs. Mildred Felder, was also a member of the Baptist Church. Both par- ents lived to a ripe old age-his father dying at the age of eighty-three years and his mother attained the age of ninety-seven years. His education was ob- tained at the Shirley Institute of his native state- South Carolina.

Mr. Felder was married at Union, South Carolina, in 1858, to Miss Victoria Briggs, a daughter of Jesse Briggs, of South Carolina. He is a mem- ber of the Baptist Church. Since locating in Nava- sota more than fifty-eight years ago, Mr. Felder has had the good of his city and community at heart, and has worked for the improvement and advance- ment of both. He has been identified with the social, civic and commercial life of this city.

ALTER BLAKE WESSON has been a resi- dent of Navasota, Texas, for thirty-five years, and during this period has been active in the business life of this city and of Grimes County. Mr. Wesson is vice president of the Schu- macher Oil Works of Navasota, which was estab- lished in 1873, and is the oldest plant of its kind in Texas. The Schumacher Oil Works was founded by Henry Schumacher, one of the builders of Nava- sota, who died here in 1901. The plant, which occu- pies five city blocks and has a capacity of seventy- five tons of cotton seed per day, makes oil hulls, meal, cake, linters, etc., from the cotton seed. Four presses are used in this plant, and from thirty-five to fifty people are employed in its operation during the busy season. Other officers of the Schumacher Oil Works of Navasota are: E. H. Terrell, presi- dent; Ward Templeman, secretary and treasurer, and R. A. Horlock, manager. Prior to his associa- tion with the Schumacher Oil Works, Mr. Wesson had been throughout his business career engaged in the mercantile business, which he started in Nava- sota as a very young man, and worked for several years for others. In 1894 he engaged in the general mercantile business here for himself, as part owner of the George F. Wood and Company, and continued under this firm name for two years, when he sold his interest in this establishment and engaged in business alone, under the name of W. B. Wesson. For six years he continued in this business, and at the death of Mr. Schumacher, in 1901, he came with this company. Mr. Wesson became associated with the Schumacher Oil Works largely on account of the remaining family interests, as he is the first one outside of the immediate family to own interest in the company. Mr. Wesson is keenly interested in the civic matters of his city and during the aldermanic form of government served for several years as alderman, and for fifteen years has been a member of the School Board.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 156

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