New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 159

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

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There are two hundred and nine men in the Police Department of Houston, with twenty-six detectives and sixteen motorcycle officers, and the patrolmen in this service work eight hours per day and the de- tectives serve twelve hours. The Police Department are quartered on the third and fourth floors of the splendid, new city jail, where they have well equipped offices, all modern conveniences and con- trivances to be found in a latter day police depart- ment. Mr. Goodson has one of the best organized police departments in the South, and the following well known Houston men are his able assistants: R. J. Martin, assistant superintendent; George Iiams, captain of police; J. J. Kuykendall, captain of traf- fice department; W. F. Kessler, chief of detectives; and Tom Shelly, captain of detectives.

A native Texan, Mr. Goodson was born in Mont- gomery, March 24th, 1887. His father, Thomas J. Goodson (deceased) also a native of the Lone Star State, was engaged in farming in Montgomery Coun- ty during all his life. His mother (now deceased) was Miss Hester Winnie May, a member of a pioneer Texas family. His education was obtained in the public schools of Montgomery County, and in 1908, at the age of nineteen years, he came to Houston, and later went to Mart, Texas, where he served an apprenticeship in the railroad machine shops at that place. He then returned to Houston and for a time was employed in various blacksmith shops of the city, and in 1911 was appointed on the police depart- ment, and for one and one-half years he was police officer No. 1, and he then entered the detective de- partment, and remained in this department until he was appointed superintendent of the Police Depart- ment of Houston. While in the detective depart- ment, Mr. Goodson made a wonderful record, and during this period he paid particular attention to pickpockets, swindlers, bunko men and thieves, and in handling this gentry, Mr. Goodson did not use kid gloves, and established a record that few men have ever attained. Mr. Goodson is the possessor of a magnificent diamond-studded gold badge given to him on March 16th, 1923, by friends and business men of Houston in appreciation of his great service. Mr. Goodson is a member of the B. P. O. E., chief of Police Association, and the Houston Turnverein. He resides at the Cotton Hotel. Mr. Goodson is regarded by the citizens of Houston as one of the best officers the city has ever had, absolutely with- out fear, when any duty was to be done, and since his regime began, this department has been reorganized and is now considered one of the best in the South- west.

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ERBERT C. MAY for a score of years has been identified with the printing industry at Houston, attaining therein an enviable reputation and for a decade operating one of the most modern printeries in the city. Mr. May owns the Herbert C. May Printing Company, which he established in 1913, beginning in a small way and gradually expanding as business conditions war- ranted. In 1919 he built a new business home, a beautiful little brick building with two thousand square feet of floor space, at 814 Milam Street, just at the edge of the business district. This build- ing has been made very attractive by the use of flowers and shrubs around the walls and gives a pleasant atmosphere to the place. The Herbert C. May Printing Company specializes in the better class of printing and advertising matter of the best type. They have an excellent patronage and employ twelve experienced men in the office. Mr. May is the ex- clusive owner of the business.

Mr. May was born in the southern part of Mis- sissippi, in 1884, son of David R. May, a native of Ireland who came to America as a young man. He was educated in the public schools of Mississippi and attended the Mississippi A. and M. College for two years. While still attending school, he began to work in printing shops and in 1905 came to Hous- ton, where he worked in various shops until 1909, when he went in business for himself in a partner- ship shop. In 1913 he established the Herbert C. May Printing Company, which he has since operated.

Mr. May was married at Houston, in 1913, to Miss Ida Emery, a native of the Lone Star State. They have one son, Herbert C. May, Junior, and live at 116 West Hathaway Street. Mr. May is a charter member and the first secretary of the Hous- ton Advertising Club and is state vice chairman of the Near East Relief. Fraternally he is a Mason, Holland Lodge, No. 1.

D. FOREMAN came to Houston in 1911 and since that time has been engaged in the real estate business here. He is the owner of A. D. Foreman and Company, with offices in the Second National Bank Building. In addition to doing a general real estate business the A. D. Fore- man and Company are the managers and exclusive agents for the West University Place addition, which is an exclusive residence section, located near Rice Institute. This addition consists of five hundred acres, and has city conveniences. West University Place is owned by the Houston West End Realty Company, of which Ben W. Hooper, ex-governor of Tennessee, and at present chairman of the U. S. R. R. Labor Board, is the president; in fact the com- pany is entirely composed of Tennessee people. They have spent $200,000.00 in improvements on West University Place. This addition is divided in. to extra large homesites, with building restrictions, wide avenues that are graded and shelled, concrete sidewalks, city water and electricity making it one of the most desirable suburban residence sections in Houston.

Mr. Foreman was born in Ohio in 1873. His father, J. A. Foreman, was a well known Presbyterian Minister of Ohio. His education was obtained in the public and high schools of Nashville, Tennessee, his parents having removed to Nashville when he was a boy and he was reared in that city. Mr. Fore- man started his business career when eighteen years

of age on the road as a traveling representatives out of Louisville, Kentucky, and remained in this travel- ing position for five years. He afterwards was en- gaged in the manufacturing business in Nashville, and manufactured a line of trunks and leather goods, which was sold at retail at the factory. He was en- gaged after disposing of this business, in real estate in Nashville for five years, before coming to Hous- ton in 1911.

Mr. Foreman was married in Nashville, Decem- ber 16th, 1895, to Miss Grace Adams, a member of a prominent Tennessee family. Her father, W. S. Adams, was a member of one of the oldest families in the State of Tennessee, and before the war was a wealthy land and slave owner. The Civil War broke him up and he afterwards became a minister. They have three children-Louise, Celeste and A. D. Foreman, Jr. Mr. Foreman is a member of the A. F. and A. M., with membership in the Blue Lodge of Houston. He also is a member of the Houston Real Estate Board, Houston Civic Council, and is a staunch and consistent member of the Baptist Church. He is vice president of the Baptist Lay- men's Union of Texas; he is a Moderator of the Union Baptist Association; has been for ten years a Deacon of the First Baptist Church, and was for five years superintendent of the Sunday School of that church. He is interested in all matters having to do with the civic improvements, progress and ad- vancement of Houston, which he believes is soon to become the leading city of the Southwest.

EO M. LEVY, a native of Houston, and one of the most progressive of the younger busi- ness men, has been associated with mercan- tile operations during his business career in the city, and is attaining a commendable reputa- tion for the capable manner in which he has launched and managed one of the most up-to-date ladies ready-to-wear stores in the city. Mr. Levy is the Vice-President and Treasurer of the Dollahite-Levy Company, Inc., Ladies' Ready-to-Wear and Milli- nery Store, of which he is one of the organizers, and which has since been one of the largely patron- ized stores of the city, building up an extensive clientele among the elite. Mr. Levy has an exclu- sive line of millinery and ladies ready-to-wear, mak- ing a specialty of new and charming garments for milady, creating an atmosphere of quietness and refinement that is one of his greatest business as- sets. He has chosen his fixtures and fittings with care and the store arrangement accomplished with the idea of affording a suitable background for the display of fine clothing. Mr. Levy has an ex- cellent location, at 801 Main Street, and employing fifteen competent and trained employees.

Mr. Levy was born at Waco, the twenty-seventh of September, 1894, son of I. S. and Carrie Land- man Levy. His father, now deceased, was a native of Houston, and was connected with Levy Brothers Dry Goods Company of this city, also directing his energies to the welfare of his city. His mother is also a native of the Lone Star State. Mr. Levy was educated in the Houston Public Schools, and after his graduation went to Riverview Military Acad- emy, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where he took the straight course. Returning home he entered Levy Bros. Dry Goods Co. store, in 1912, working through all depart- ments, and was in the ladies' ready-to-wear at the time of the entrance of the United States in the

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world war. He enlisted in the Thirty-sixth Divis- ion, One hundred and forty-third Infantry, Texas National Guard, and went to France with this fa- mous division that took such a well-known part in winning the war. Enlisting as a private Mr. Levy was commissioned Second Lieutenant in May, 1918, and First Lieutenant in November of the same year, while in service in France. After the arm- istice he was discharged, the twenty-seventh day of April, 1919, and came back to his home. He spent the ensuing two years in the ready-to-wear depart- ment of Levy Brothers, and then resigned this po- sition to enter business for himself.

Mr. Levy was married in Beaumont, the sixth of December, 1920, to Miss Selma Roos, daughter of Henry Roos, pioneer merchant of that city. They make their home at 1401 Sul Ross Avenue. Mr. Levy takes a keen interest in civic development, and is a member of the various clubs devoted to this interest. Fraternally he is an Elk.

E. NORTON, owner of the Norton Realty Company, came to Houston in 1909 and a year later established his present business, which has had a continuous growth since that time. The Norton Realty Company is a per- sonal firm devoted to mortgage loans. Mr. Norton represents the Deming Investment Company of Oswego, Kansas, which has their Texas headquar- ters in Dallas. He makes farm and city loans without fees or commissions, and owns and deals in his own property; also has oil leases in Harris and Walker Counties and some production at West Columbia, Texas. He is president of the Liberty Heights Land and Investment Company, which owns the Liberty Heights Addition, located in East Hous- ton. This addition was started in 1918, land was purchased and houses were built at cost, not con- tracted, and were sold to purchasers at actual cost of construction. Thirty houses were built and dis- posed of in this way, being of first class building materials, splendid construction, well built, and fin- ished inside and outside, and are really beautiful residences. Building and Loan Associations and lumber companies will loan money to build in this addition, where the restrictions are not severe, but no shacks can be built, and no colored owners al- lowed.

Mr. Norton was born at Durand, Illinois, April 29th, 1876. His father, Oscar Norton (deceased since 1920) was a well known business man of Illi- nois. His parents came to Texas after they were seventy years of age and settled on a ranch in Colorado County. His mother, Mrs. Jane Norton, is now residing in Los Angeles, California, at the age of seventy-nine years. His early education was obtained in the public schools of Illinois, and later he attended Beloit College Academy at Beloit, Wisconsin. After leaving college Mr. Norton re- mained for two years on the ranch with his parents in Colorado County, and was before coming to Hous- ton, for eleven years a sales manager in Harvard, Illinois, with a large manufacturing concern.

Mr. Norton was married at Harvard, Illinois, July 4th, 1899, to Miss Nella B. Barbour, a member of a well known Illinois family. They have three children-Barbara, twelve years of age; L. E. Nor- ton, Jr., aged ten years, and Sylvia Joy, an infant; all of the Norton children were born in Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Norton reside at 3306 Crawford Street.

Mr. Norton is a member of the Houston Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Club. He is a mem- ber of the First Methodist Church. Mr. Norton is also president of the Music Council of Houston, organized for the purpose of promoting the best interest of music. Since coming to Houston he has been active in the business, social and general community life of the city, and gives liberally of his time to all projects tending to its welfare and advancement. He expects Houston to continue its steady, consistent growth and is looking forward to an era of great business prosperity in all lines.

OSEPH WEINGARTEN has for more than two decades been associated with merchan- dising activities at Houston, and as an ex- ecutive of one of the largest department grocery corporations in the city has taken an active part in the development of the self-service system. Mr. Weingarten is President and General Manager of J. Weingarten, Incorporated, a firm established in 1902 by Mr. Weingarten and his father, Harris Wein- garten. At that time a small store on Congress Ave- nue was opened, and with the passing of the years business conditions have from time to time demanded expansion until now there are under the direction of the corporation three of the largest department gro- cery stores in Houston. These stores, one at 1502, 1504 and 1506 Main Street, opened in 1912, another at 1009 Texas Avenue, opened in 1920, and the third, at the corner of Washington and Preston Avenues, opened in 1923, form an organization that ranks the J. Weingarten stores among the big mer- chandising ventures of the city. The three stores total thirty thousand square feet of floor space and have a force of more than one hundred employees. In 1919 the self-service plan was adopted, and since that time one of the best functioning self-service systems in this territory has been developed. The stores offer many advantages to patrons, and are the most extensively patronized in the city. The offi- cers of J. Weingarten, Incorporated, are: Joseph Weingarten, President and General Manager, Sid- ney Meyer, Vice-President, Abe Weingarten, Secre- tary, and Solomon Weingarten, Treasurer.

Joseph Weingarten was born in Galacia, Austria, the eighth of October, 1884, son of Harris Wein- garten, and Belle Weingarten. The family came to the United States in 1887, and after spending sev- eral years at Richmond, Texas, came to Houston, where the elder Mr. Weingarten was actively asso- ciated with the merchandising business until his re- tirement. Mr. Weingarten was educated in the pub- lic schools of Richmond and Houston, later attending the Massie Business College. After finishing his education he took a position in the business world, but two weeks were sufficient to convince him that he should be in business for himself. With his father he established the store that was the fore- runner of the present Weingarten stores, on Con- gress Avenue.

Mr. Weingarten was married at Houston, the sixth of May, 1923, to Miss Malvina Kessler, a native of Europe, who has only been in Houston a short time. Mr. Weingarten is regarded as a business man of sound principles, and in addition to his in- terest in the J. Weingarten corporation, owns and controls the Nut Crystal Company, whose business is the manufacture and distribution of the famous Nut Crystal Fruit Cakes.

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EORGE A. MARTIN has been a foremost figure in the Humble oil field since this field first sprang into prominence and has become known as one of the largest inde- pendent operators in this section. Mr. Martin is a member of the firm of Cezeaux and Martin, of which firm Phil Cezeaux, also a pioneer oil operator of Texas, is the other member. The firm was or- ganized in 1919, since which time it has been ac- tively engaged in production at Humble, owning eight producing wells in this field. A force of ten employees is maintained, all of whom are expert operators and pioneers in the oil business. Mr. Martin came to Humble in 1908, since which time he has drilled upward of one hundred wells in this field, and has had great success as a driller and operator. He has also engaged in operations at Brownwood, where he was active in 1920, and Burk- burnett, where he operated in 1920 and 1921. Mr. Martin came to Texas in 1902, at the time of the boom at Spindle Top, and has been active in the oil industry since that time.

George A. Martin was born in Clarke County, Missouri, the second of August, 1882, the son of Andrew Jackson Martin and Lucy A. (Strosnider) Martin. Andrew Jackson Martin, a native of Mis- souri, and engaged in the real estate business in that State, and as a livestock buyer and shipper for many years, retired in his late years and came to Humble, where his death occurred. Mrs. Martin, also a native of Missouri, is deceased. George A. Martin received his education in the public schools of Clark County, Missouri, and lived there until 1902, when as a young man he came to Texas, going to Spindle Top at the time of the opening of that field. Since then he has operated in many of the fields, and is one of the best known drilling con- tractors in this section.

Mr. Martin was married at Batson, Texas, the twenty-eighth of February, 1906, to Miss Elsie Cath- erine Holloway, a native of Arkansas, who came to Texas at an early age and was reared in this State. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have one child, Lloyd Martin, and reside on the Houston road, a short dis- tance out of Humble. Mr. Martin is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, Knight Templar, and a member of Arabia Temple Shrine.

P. VON ARX of Houston, Texas, has for more than ten years been prominently iden- tified with the real estate industry of this city and has had a share in the develop- ment which has taken place here during this time. Mr. Von Arx is the President of the Englewood Place Company, Inc., which was organized in Oc- tober, 1924. This is a Texas corporation dealing in city and farm properties, and is one of the larg- est concerns of its kind of Houston. The Vice Presi- dent and Secretary of the Englewood Place Com- pany, Inc., is Mr. F. B. Lander. The offices of this company are located at 429 West Building.

A native of Missouri, Mr. Von Arx was born at Swiss on December 4th, 1874. His father, J. Von Arx, a native of Switzerland, although advanced in years, is still active and for many years has been a resident of the United States. His mother, Mrs. Mary (Shreman) Von Arx, a native of Missouri, was a member of a well known family of that State. His early education was obtained in the schools of

his native State, after which he attended the North- ern Illinois Normal and Business College.

While Mr. Von Arx was for many years active in the real estate industry in various sections of the country prior to locating in Houston, his first work after leaving school was in the railroad service. He entered the employ of the Chicago and North- western Railway in a very modest position and re- mained with this railroad for twenty-four years, during which he worked himself up to the position of General Agent of this line of road. After leav- ing the service of the railroad Mr. Von Arx went West to the Dakotas, where he engaged in the real estate business, later going to Wisconsin and still later to California, where he still continued in the real estate industry. He then came to Texas, first locating at Dallas, where he became associated with the Cabel Saving System to Banks, remaining in this position until he came to Houston and engaged in the real estate business, where he has met with signal success.

Mr. Von Arx was married at Brookings, South Da- kota, on June 23rd, 1905, to Miss Gertrude Rexford, a daughter of Homer Rexford, a native of Canada, and who is well known in the business circles of Quebec. Her mother, Mrs. Retta Rexford, was a na- tive of Janesville, Wisconsin, and a member of a prominent family of that city. They have one child- Ruth Rexford-who is a student of Sophia Newcomb College of New Orleans, Louisiana. Mr. and Mrs. Von Arx reside at 418 West Alabama Avenue. Mr. Von Arx is a member of the B. P. O. E., the A. F. and A. M., the Moose, the Houston Chamber of Commerce and other fraternal and commercial or- ganizations of Houston, in all of which he takes a keen interest.

A. HORLOCK, manager of the H. Schu- macher Oil Works, and pioneer oil mill man of Texas, has spent a half century at Nava- sota, engaged in oil mill operation, and there is no man in Texas today more familiar with every phase of the development of this important industry. Mr. Horlock has been connected with the Schumacher Oil Works since the organization of that plant in 1873, receiving his training under the late H. Schumacher, founder of the first oil mill to be established in Texas, and a man whose name will ever be linked with the history of this industry. Mr. Horlock has held every position in a cotton seed oil mill, and in his present position as manager, an office he has held for many years, he brings this practical knowledge to bear in a way that enhances the smooth functioning of the mill. The H. Schu- macher Oil Works is not only one of the oldest cot- ton seed oil mills in Texas, but is one of the largest, and since the death of the founder has been operated by a group of men who are well known in oil mill circles as progressive business men. These men are, E. H. Terrell, president; W. B. Wesson, vice presi- dent, and W. B. Templeton, secretary and treasurer.

R. A. Horlock was born at Mobile, Alabama, the fifth of January, 1849, son of John Horlock, and Lucette Barley Horlock, the father of London, Eng- land, the mother from Pennsylvania. When the Civil War came Mr. Horlock, then but a boy, en- listed in the Confederate Army, and his education was completed as a soldier, enduring hardship and

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danger, rather than in the colleges of that day. Dur- ing the last year and a half of the war he ran the blockade, a particularly hazardous service, and many times over, proved his bravery and daring. After the close of the struggle he came to Texas, engaging in the hide and wool business at Galveston from 1867 until 1870, after which he came to Navasota, where he has since made his home, and three years later entering the oil mill business, with the H. Schu- macher Oil Works, with the operation of which he has since been identified.

Mr. Horlock was married at Navasota, to Miss Ellan Lyon, of Evansville, and after her death to Miss Agnes Mason White of Vicksburg, Mississippi. He has ten children, two: R. W. and Emma, by his first wife, and eight: Agnes, Effie, Ida, Nan, Iscah, Arthur, Gladys, and Edwin, by his second wife. Mr. Horlock is an Elk, and a Knight of Pythias, and a senior warden of the Navasota Episcopal Church. He is one of the outstanding figures in the oil mill business in Texas, and is known and honored by every oil mill man in the state.

OHN THOMAS BROWNE is well known in the financial and political circles of Hous- ton, where he has lived for the past seventy- three years. Coming here in 1853 when the city was but a small village along the bayou, he has proven himself to be one of the most substan- tial and public-spirited citizens, and has done much to make of it the city it is today. While retired from business, Mr. Browne is interested in all pro- gressive movements and in the further growth of his adopted city.

A native of Ireland, Mr. Browne was born in Coun- ty Limerick on March 23rd, 1845. His father, Michael Browne (deceased), and his mother, Winifred (Hen- nessy) Browne, were also natives of Ireland. Com- ing to Texas in 1852 he attended the public schools here, but his school days were short and his vast store of practical knowledge was mostly gained in the school of experience. His first work was for the H. & T. C. Railroad, for whom he worked for several years. Leaving the railroad he entered the grocery business under the firm name of Browne & Boll- frass, doing both wholesale and retail business. He continued in this business for twenty-two years. This firm built the structure on the corner of Pres- ton and Milam that is standing today, and Mr. Brown .. personally owns the building at this time, as well as other real estate in Houston. In 1888 he was induced to enter politics, being elected Alderman. He served the term, but would not accept a second term. Two years later he was elected Mayor of Houston, serving the city faith- fully for two terms. At the expiration of this time he represented Harris County three terms in the Legislature. During the war he was a member of the Confederate Army and is now a member of the United Confederate Veterans.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 159

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