New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 16

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 16

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and he filled this place with honor and distinction to himself and his State until the inauguration of Gov- ernor W. P. Hobby. Judge Nugent was one of the largest land owners in Texas, besides owing many thousands of acres of land in Sonora, Mexico.

A native Texan, Mr. Nugent was born on a farm near Montgomery on September 19th, 1865. His father, Judge J. L. Nugent, born July 20th, 1827, was one of the brilliant lawyers of his time. The oldest brother of Judge J. L. Nugent, at the age of fifteen years, fought with General Sam Houston at the Battle of San Jacinto, where he was a mem- ber of Lamar's and Sidney Sherman's Cavalry. The great-grandfather of C. W. Nugent, Colonel John Nugent, came to Texas from Mississippi in 1818, but later returned to his native State, and came again to the Lone Star State with Moses Aus- tin, when this distinguished man of early Texas his- tory was on his way to San Antonio to confer with Baron de Bastrop for the first contract of Settle- ment. He returned again to Mississippi, and again came back to Texas with Hayden Edwards and set- tled west of the Angelina River, in the eastern por- tion of what is now Houston County, where the old town of Augusta was built. Judge J. L. Nugent was the first man elected to the office of county judge of Hardin County in 1860, and held this office until 1863, when he resigned in order to enter the Civil War. He entered the Confederate army as a pri- vate and was at the Battle of Mansfield, command- ing the Nugent White Horse Battery, and was com- missioned a lieutenant on the field of battle for bravery, and served throughout the remainder of the Civil War under General Dick Taylor. His mother was a grandniece of General Zachary Taylor, one of the bravest commanders of the Mexican War of 1847. No name, perhaps, in the annals of Texas history figures more prominently than that of Nugent, and continues down the line of statesmen, lawyers and men of prominence in all lines.

Judge Nugent was married to Miss Nettie S. Car- son in 1889, a native of Montgomery, Texas. They had five children-C. W., Jr., of Worcester, Mass .; Olive, now wife of Dr. Jack Bevil of Hull, Texas; Eunice, wife of R. H. Winfre of Galveston; Ruth, wife of J. L. Paul of Galveston, and J. W. Nugent of Galveston. The family residence is at 1804 Ave- nue H, and is one of the most palatial in the Island City. Judge Nugent was a member of the A. F. and A. M. with membership in Harmony Lodge No. 6, and the Chapter of this order at Conroe, Texas. He was a Knight Templar of the Commandery at Huntsville, Texas, and a member of Arabia Temple Shrine of Houston, and was always prominently identified with the Masonic order. He was a mem- ber and past president of the Lions Club. Judge Nugent was a staunch and consistent member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, and served as a member of the Board of Stewards and Finance Con- mittee. He was a teacher of the largest Bible Class of any of the churches of the city, and took an ac- tive part in all church work.

With the death of Judge Nugent on December 19th, 1925, Texas suffered the loss of one of its most beloved citizens and attorneys. Known over the entire State, he was respected and loved wherever he was known, and his place will remain long un- filled.

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NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

R. FRANK HUBERT NEUHAUS-For Many years Dr. Frank Hubert Neuhaus, whose success and prestige in the medical profession was in proportion to his years of practice, was looked upon as one of the leaders in the local fraternity. Dr. Neuhaus came to Hous- ton after a very successful practice in other cities of the state, and soon made himself one of the substantial citizens of his community. He took a deep interest in all civic affairs, particularly those that had to do with the betterment of the com- munity, questions of public health especially appeal- ing to him. He also gave much time to the raising of medical standards, and was in every way worthy the obligations and honors of his profession.

Dr. Frank Hubert Neuhaus was born in Germany, the twenty-second of April, 1869. His father was a government forrester in that country. As a boy, Dr. Neuhaus attended the schools of his native country, and lived there until he was sixteen years of age. He then came to the United States, joining his uncle in East Texas, where a number of the family already lived and were prominent in various affairs. After a short time in East Texas, Dr. Neu- haus went to New York City, entering Bellevue Medical College, where he took his medical degree. He then further fortified himself with post graduate work in New York City and in Europe, taking in all, five different post graduate courses. Returning to the United States and Texas, he began his practice in Hackberry, remaining there a short time. He then went to Schulenberg, Texas, and practiced there for a time prior to coming to Houston in 1903. The first years Dr. Neuhaus practiced in Houston he did a gen- eral practice, later limiting his work to Internal Med- icine and Diagnosis, in which he was exceptionally successful. Dr. Neuhaus always practiced alone, but just prior to his death, when a number of prominent physicians were considering the formation of a clinic for the group practice of medicine and surgery Dr. Neuhaus planned going with them, but his death occurred before the organization was completed.

Dr. Neuhaus was married to Miss Adele Boettcher, a native of Weimar, and a member of one of the most prominent families of Texas. In her family there were twelve children, all of whom with one exception, are residents of the Lone Star State. The mother and father are deceased. Mrs. Neuhaus is a sister of F. A. Boettcher, a member of the firm Desel- Boettcher Company, and one of the leading business men of Houston and Texas. Dr. and Mrs. Neuhaus had an ideal married life. Mrs. Neuhaus had the qualities of sympathy and understanding so neces- sary in a physician's wife. and she took a deep in- terest in his career. They had three children, Madeline, wife of Francis M. Semans of Houston, and who has one child, Franna M .; Marguerite, wife of Leonard F. Hilty of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and who has two children, Leonard F. Junior, and Annis Kay, and Vernon Frank Neuhaus, an oil operator of Dallas.

Dr. Neuhaus' death occurred at his home in Hous- ton, the first of May, 1919. His death was a deep loss to the medical profession, in which he had for so many years held a position of leadership. Dr. Neuhaus was a man of many distinctions, in his profession, and took an active part in all medical affairs, being especially interested in any movement for the advancement of the profession and the estab-

lishment of a real medical center at Houston. He was a member of the Harris County Medical Society, the Texas Medical Association, the American Medical Association and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Neuhaus was also a member of the Sons of Hermann, taking a deep interest in the activities of that order. His many benevolences, all entirely without ostentation, made him beloved by the less fortunate of Houston. He was a generous contributor to various funds, from time to time, and any movement touching on the future of the city had his interest. He had hundreds of friends, both in Houston and in other parts of the state, men, women and children from every walk in life, who at his death mourned the loss of a true and sincere friend.

R. CARL WHITE FULBRIGHT has been prominently identified with medical activi- ties at Port Arthur for the past several years and his name carries a prestige in the medical world that is a distinct advantage to the community with which it is associated. Dr. Ful- bright is a physician whose talent and training has resulted in a large and lucrative practice, and while he has no specialty in his profession he has been exceptionally successful. He practices general medicine, with all that term implies, and has com- plete library and laboratory facilities. Dr. Fulbright has his office in the Terminal Realty Building.

Dr. Fulbright was born at Minden, Louisiana, the third of October, 1895. His father, D. R. Fulbright, a native of Paris, Texas, has been a resident of Louisiana for many years, and was formerly in the saw mill and lumber business, but now operates a grocery store. His mother, whose maiden name was Miss Lena Ann Almand, is a native of Louisiana, and a member of a well known family of that state. Dr. Fulbright attended the public schools of Yellow Pine, Louisiana, as a boy, later entering Louisiana Polytechnic College at Ruston, Louisiana, where he took a course in mechanical engineering, which he dropped to take up the study of medicine and for that purpose entered the Baylor University at Waco, where he studied preparatory to entering Baylor Medical College at Dallas, where he received his degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1920. He then spent one year at Baylor Hospital, at the end of which time he went with the Detroit Receiving Hospital and the City Hospital at Detroit, Michigan, spending one year here preparatory to taking up active practice. He then came to Port Arthur, where his father, D. R. Fulbright, was visiting, and after studying the situation decided this city of- fered an exceptional professional opportunity, and remained here. He was connected with the Texas Company for one year as surgeon and has since then engaged in the general practice of medicine and surgery since coming to this city.

Dr. Fulbright is a member of the Civitan Club of Port Arthur and the Jefferson County Medical So- ciety, and takes a deep interest in all that concerns the welfare and advancement of Port Arthur. Fraternally he is a Mason, Trinity Valley Lodge No. 1048, A. F. and A. M., Dallas, Texas. Dr. Ful- bright has the altruistic attitude of his profession, regarding his duty to humanity, and to work in the field of preventive medicine and the advancement of public health standards, and is known and valued as an enthusiastic and progressive representative of the medical profession at Port Arthur.

1149

MEN OF TEXAS

HARLES WILLIAM GILL. In recounting the history of Galveston, the name of Charles William Gill figures prominently as that of a citizen who through an unselfish interest in the growth of the city, was instrumental in secur- ing many advantages, both commercial and civic. Mr. Gill was for around four decades identified with commercial affairs at Galveston, and holding busi- ness interests of wide and varied scope, much that he did in a business way had a direct bearing on the prosperity of the city. He was familiar with and had a working knowledge of a number of different industries, and was a stockholder in many of those enterprises which make up industrial Galveston. Mr. Gill was also a factor in the real estate and in- vestment business, and with his knowledge of busi- ness generally, and his familiarity with land and land values in this section, as well as an unusual ability to foresee the trend of development, he was able to make investments which were profitable to himself, and also suggest like investments for his clients. A business man of vision, as is indicated by his career, Mr. Gill was withal a man of practical attainments, with a sound and well defined business policy, and there was ever attached to his name an integrity which made a statement from him as to land values, future values, or on business problems generally, of special value. His partnership of Gill and League built what is known as the Gill Building at the corner of Twenty-first and Market.

Charles William Gill was born at Wheeling, West Virginia, the twenty-sixth of January, 1858, the son of John Wallace Gill, of English ancestry, and a na- tive of Virginia, who died in 1872, and Rhoda A. Smith Gill, who died in 1908. The elder Mr. Gill established the Crescent Iron Works at Wheeling, West Virginia, the largest industry of its kind in the country at that time. Later he moved to Ohio, where he engaged in the silk manufacturing busi- ness, and was the first to make a United States flag from silk. Charles William Gill obtained his early education in the public schools, and after graduating from the high school, at Springfield, Illi- nois, entered Northwestern University, where he spent two years. He first engaged in business at Springfield, Illinois, where he was in the drug busi- ness for eight years. He came to Galveston in 1882, not, however, remaining here permanently un- til 1886. He entered the real estate business here at that time, and was also in the investment busi- ness for a like time, handling his own property here, and investing in many of the important enterprises at Galveston.

Mr. Gill was twice married, his first wife having been Miss Esther Wells League, of Galveston, whom he married in 1881, and whose death occurred in 1907. He was married for the second time to Miss Tommie V. Hodges at Galveston, the thirty-first of December, 1908. Mrs. Gill, a native of Gonzales County, Texas, is the daughter of Thomas W. Hodges, a prominent business man of Belmont, Texas. The latter is a native of Fayette County, Texas, and his father was also a native Texan. Mrs. Gill was an ideal wife and mother, making a home known in Gal- veston for its charm and hospitality. Mr. and Mrs. Gill had one child, Charles William Gill, Jr., born the thirteenth of December, 1910, and Mrs. Gill has also been a real mother to the five children of Mr.

Gill by his first marriage. These children are John W., David M., Mary D., Esther R. and Anna C. Gill. The family attend the Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church, in which faith Mr. Gill was reared and of which he was a vestryman, and reside at 1818 Avenue J.

Mr. Gill was one of the best known Masons in Texas, and was active in all Masonic work. He was honorary inspector general of the Supreme Council, past commander in chief of Texas Consistory, No. 1, sublime prince of the Royal Secret, past master of Pike Tucker Council, No. 1, Knights of Kadosh, and was identified with San Felipe Lodge of Per- fection No. 1 and L. M. Oppenheimer Rose Croix Chapter 2, in all of which bodies he was a life member. He was a York Rite Mason, Tucker Lodge No. 297, Free and Accepted Masons, San Felipe de Austin, Chapter 1, Knights Templar, of which he was past eminent commander, and was instrumental in organizing El Mina Temple Shrine. He was made a thirty-third degree Mason in 1903. Mr. Gill died at his home in Galveston the thirty-first of January, 1924. His name has many memorials at Galveston, and the memory of his life an inspiration to others to emulate his example.

RAVIS LOGAN SMITH, whose life for more than half a century has been associated with the destinies of West Columbia and Brazoria County, is one of those real pio- neers who, while growing up with the community and prospering as it has prospered, has taken an im- portant part in developing and cultivating the lands of the county, has done his share of public duties, and has, since 1872, been the leading merchant of this section. In that year, one year after coming to Columbia, then known as Bell's Landing, Mr. Smith opened, on the banks of the Brazos River, a general mercantile business, which has been con- tinuously in operation for half a century. This store, now in West Columbia, is unusually complete, and in addition to the general merchandise business Mr. Smith is a cotton buyer and a man of general business affairs, taking an interest in most of the activities that have been of importance to the de- velopment of this section.

Shortly after his arrival in Brazoria County in 1871 Mr. Smith began to buy lands, which he stock- ed with herds of cattle, and in the seventies and eighties he drove many herds to the markets at Kansas City, and also drove some to California. His land holdings now run to more than ten thou- sand acres, including tracts of timber, grazing and farming land, and he has several thousand head of cattle. Mr. Smith also began his activities as a cotton buyer in the early days, and has since con- tinued to be one of the largest cotton buyers of his community. Before the coming of the railroad he owned and operated four or five boats on the river and hauled produce, cotton and cattle to Gal- veston, bringing back merchandise. Mr. Smith has also found time to serve his community in a public office and was county commissioner for a number of years. He also acted as postmaster at one time and has at all times taken an active interest in every progressive and forward movement.

Travis Logan Smith was born in Mathews County, Virginia, the thirtieth of November, 1852, son of Thomas and Nancy Smith, the father a farmer and land owner of that county. Mr. Smith spent his

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Chas H. Gill

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

boyhood on the farm there, attending the rural school, and assisting his father in cultivating the farm. In 1871 he came to Texas, locating in Bra- zoria County, and since that time has been a factor in various activities as previously sketched.

Mr. Smith was married at Columbia, Texas, in 1873, to Miss Nellie Masterson, daughter of Thomas G. Masterson, a lawyer of the early days, and Chris- tiana Masterson. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have reared a large family of nine children-Mrs. Christie Crews, T. L. Smith, Jr., T. M. Smith, Miss Ethel Smith, Mrs. Gladys Parker, William Smith, Ran- dolph Smith, Mrs. Roene Womack, and Miss Jenette Smith. The family has continuously made Columbia their home, and are known throughout this section as one of the sterling pioneer families of Brazoria County. Mr. Smith is a business man of conserva- tive policies, with a sound knowledge of business operation and management. He has been an inde- fatigable worker, personally taking charge of his many activities and investments, and few men have accomplished more than he. While he gives liberal- ly where he deems the cause worthy, in this, as in his business affairs, he is conservative, and indis- criminate benevolences do not appeal to him. In summing up his life it may well be said that he has accounted well for himself, and that Brazoria can boast of no more sterling citizen.

ILLIAM LEE PENNY for a period of more than ten years was actively identified with the public interests of Texas, and since 1917 was numbered among the enterprising citizens of Houston. Mr. Penny was active vice president and general manager of the Kenyon Dredging Company, which operated on big dredging contracts in Houston and South Texas. One of the large operations was on the dredging of Brays Bayou, a very large and difficult job, requiring em- ployment of a considerable number of men and a large amount of expensive machinery. This work came under the personal management of Mr. Penny and at the finish of the job received the highest compliments from the County Commissioners, who passed on the character of the work.

William Lee Penny was born at Mobile, Alabama, October 6, 1886. His parents were Sam and Sophia Ludlow Penny, both natives of Alabama. He re- ceived his education in the public schools of Mobile and University of Alabama. While at the univer- sity he was a prominent athlete and engaged in all of the major sports. He played center on the basket ball team and became widely known throughout the South for his ability as an athlete. After leaving college he played center on the Y. M. C. A. basket ball team at Mobile. This team attained more than a local reputation.

One of Mr. Penny's first business associations was with the Bailey-Reeder Contracting Company, noted road contractors. He came to Texas in 1914 in the interest of this company and had charge of a great deal of construction work. He went to Dallas in 1917 and built the disposal plant and after finishing this job, he came to Houston to accept a position with the Kenyon Dredging Company.

Mr. Penny was married December 1, 1915, at Bay City, Texas, to Miss Mollie Belle Matthews, daugh- ter of Jesse and Sallie Lawson Matthews. Her par- ents were both natives of Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Penny were the parents of two children-William

Matthews and Sallie Belle Penny. Mr. Penny was a member of the Building Exchange and the Trinity Episcopal Church. The premature death of Mr. Penny, December 18, 1925, still in the prime of life, was due to enlargement of the heart which resulted from his vigorous training while a member of the basket ball teams in his younger days. His death was a distinct loss to the building activities of Hous- ton, in which he had a noteworthy part.

OHN E. WEINER has for a number of years been a factor in the development of Houston, and has been identified with en- terprises of wide scope and important bear- ing on the prosperity of the city. Mr. Weiner is the Trustee for the Bell Estate, and has taken an active part in developing the Second Ward, where the holdings of this estate are located. Mr. Weiner looks after all property, real estate and investments for this estate, and builds and sells many houses. As a builder he personally attends to all the details of construction, supervising his own building crews, and has since becoming the trustee for the estate, in 1920, been instrumental in placing in homes in the Second Ward, near the car barns, many families. These homes are sold on time payments and Mr. Weiner has created a desire for home ownership in the car barn district that will be of lasting benefit to the city. The estate also has a great deal of rental property in this district, and Mr. Weiner has charge of this, collecting the rents, looking after the upkeep, and other matters incidental to rental properties. With the exception of one block of business property in Galveston, the entire Bell es- tate holdings are in the Second Ward, at Houston.

Mr. Weiner is the nephew of Mrs. Josie E. Bell, who with her husband came to Houston, from Gal- veston, in 1885. Mr. Bell's death occurred in 1895, and his widow died at Houston in 1917. Mr. Weiner was reared by his aunt from boyhood, and was trained to take charge of the building end of the estate, and in 1920 took over the entire manage- ment. He has proven very efficient, materially in- creasing the value of the property by his manage- ment, as well as correcting an involved condition left by his predecessor.

John E. Weiner was born in New York, the thirty- first of January, 1889, son of Charles W. Weiner, who was a resident of that State until his death, and Mary Weiner, who also spent her entire life in New York. Mr. Weiner came to Houston as a boy of twelve, continuing his education, begun in private schools, in this city. He was a student at various times at St. John's College, at Montreal, Canada, St. Vitus College, at Kankakee, Illinois, St. Thomas College and Houston Academy.

Mr. Weiner was married at Houston, the twelfth of November, 1912, to Miss Mary Hogan, a native of Kentucky, and whose parents died in that State dur- ing her infancy. She was reared by her aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. O. J. Depp, of Dallas. Mr. and Mrs. Weiner make their home at 820 Branard Avenue, and have two children, Lumajoe and Jose- phine. Mr. Weiner takes a real interest in the de- velopment of his city, especially the Second Ward, and sees a future of growth and progress for this city. Mr. Weiner is known as a business man of ability, interested in his work, and thoroughly un- derstanding it, and his contributions to civic im- provement are well recognized.

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MEN OF TEXAS

EE GRANDISON WILEY-The name of Lee Grandison Wiley, one of the younger busi- ness men of Galveston to achieve signal success, stands today in the business world here as that of a progressive, worthwhile and thor- oughly public-spirited man, and withal a man who in his contact with the business world brought a whole- some philosophy of life that inspired confidence and encouraged others to emulate his high example of Christian citizenship. Mr. Wiley exerted an in- fluence that builds character and creates happiness, and this influence reached not only those with whom he came in contact, but indirectly affected many others. He was one of those men who lend his strength to material development, and while his in- terest was largely in the shipping business, he was also vitally concerned with the welfare of his fel- lowmen and was generous in his contributions to benevolent and philanthropic work. One of his chief interests in the commercial world was the development of Galveston into a coffee center, and he accomplished much toward this end, and whether as business man, citizen, or civic worker, his work left its imprint in his city.

Lee Grandison Wiley was born at Huntsville, Tex- as, the twelfth of September, 1885, the son of John Keenan Wiley and Fannie O. (Joseph) Wiley. The family removed to Galveston during his early boy- hood and he obtained his education in the public schools here, graduating from high school. He first went in the office of a large cotton company, where his energy and enthusiasm soon won him the reputa- tion of being a man with a definite future in the field of commerce. After several years during which time he was identified with general business activities, Mr. Wiley entered the freight forward- ing business for himself, later going with the Gal- veston Cotton Concentration Company, in which he was financially interested, and of which he was manager at the time of his death. His work with this company, and his work for the development of Galveston as a coffee center, gave indication of an unusually brilliant future.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 16

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