USA > Texas > New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2 > Part 163
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Mr. Levy practices civil law exclusively and specil- izes in real property, admiralty cases, corporation and insurance law and the handling of estates. He is counsel at Galveston for the Western Union Tele- graph Company and many of the larger insurance companies, cotton exporters and other large business and financial institutions. His partner at Galveston is Mr. Owen D. Barker.
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A native of Galveston, Mr. Levy was born Oc- tober 29, 1895, a son of Ben and Flora Levy. His father, who died in 1908, was one of the pioneer business men of Galveston and interested in various activities. He left a large estate which has been handled since his death by his son.
After attending the public and high schools of Galveston Mr. Levy entered the University of Tex- as at Austin, graduating with the class of 1916 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then entered the law department of the university and continued his law studies until the entry of the United States into the World War.
Enlisting as a private in infantry in April, 1917, Mr. Levy later attended the First Officer's Training Camp and was commissioned as second lieutenant and assigned to duty at Camp Sherman. On August 29, 1918, he was given the rank of Captain and dis- charged with this rank in December, 1919.
On November 6, 1918, Mr. Levy was married at Fort Worth to Miss Pearl Kahn, daughter of a well known North Texas family. They have one son, Adrian F., Jr., and one daughter, Gloria Pearl. The family home is at 3111 Avenue O.
Mr. Levy is very active in fraternal and civic circles of Galveston and is a Mason, a member of Harmony Blue Lodge, the Chapter and Scottish Rite bodies and El Mina Temple Shrine. He also is a member of the Elks,, the Chamber of Commerce, Young Men's Progressive League and other civic organizations. Mr. Levy has been very active in the work of the University of Texas Ex-Students Asso- ciation and is past president of the Galveston chap- ter of this organization. He has also served as commander of the local post of the American Legion and is president of the Galveston Lodge of Inde- pendent Order of B'nai Brith.
A very able and aggressive attorney, Mr. Levy combines with his legal knowledge a keen, analytical mind and splendid business acumen which enables him to render his clients service in a far larger field than that usually attempted by the average lawyer.
EORGE L. CHARLTON, lawyer and real es- tate man, is a native of Houston and is thoroughly imbued with the Houston spirit of progress and optimism. The fact that his entire life has been spent here has not in any sense dimmed his perspective of the city's future greatness and he is confident it will far surpass the gigantic strides of the past few years.
Mr. Charlton is president and treasurer of the Park Place Company, owners and developers of the municipality known as Park Place adjoining Hous- ton. The company has offices at 218-220 Keystone Building. H. B. Jewett is secretary of the company and associated with Mr. Charlton in the manage- ment of its affairs.
Organized in 1910 with a capital stock of $125,- 000.00, the company acquired a tract of 875 acres and developed it for home sites, spending enormous sums in improving the property and affording city conveniences for purchasers of lots in the addition. More than three hundred homes have been built in Park Place, averaging in cost about thirty-five hun- dred dollars. Approximately ninety-five per cent of the citizens of Park Place are home owners and living conditions in this suburb are well nigh ideal.
The company sells lots in the addition on easy
terms and has an arrangement for financing home construction when the purchaser has paid a total of one-third of the purchase price of his lot. Park Place is a beautiful section adjoining the Glen- brook Country Club.
Mr. Charlton was born in Houston on August 30. 1882, and is a son of James Charlton, now County Treasurer of Harris County. The elder Charlton's family came to this country from England in 1865.
After receiving his preliminary education in the public and high schools of Houston, Mr. Charlton entered the law department of the University of Texas and graduated with the class of 1906, re- ceiving the degree of bachelor of laws. He was ad- mitted to the bar and began the practice of law in Houston. He purchased a substantial interest in the Park Place Company in 1915 and was made treasurer of the company two years later. In 1921 he assumed the presidency of the company and took active charge of its affairs, continuing in the mean- time to look after his legal work.
Mr. Charlton has served the City of Houston as tax attorney and also as chairman of the City Dem- ocratic Executive Committee. He served as presi- dential elector in 1919.
On September 31, 1907, Mr. Charlton was married at Houston to Miss Marie Albrecht, daughter of C. Albrecht, pioneer Houston business man. They have one daughter, Magdalene.
Besides Park Place, Mr. Charlton also owns a small addition north of the channel, where he is developing home sites for working people. He is a member of the Glenbrook Country Club and the Knights of Pythias.
HARLES GUSTAFSON, pioneer photo- grapher and well known citizen of Houston, is the proprietor of the Gray Studio, home of artistic portraiture. The Gray Studio is the oldest establishment of its kind in Houston. Since Mr. Gustafson purchased the business he has maintained a high standard of work, and courtesy and fair treatment is the watchword of his organ- ization.
Charles Gustafson is a native of Michigan, born in Superior, April 1st, 1874, son of Charles and Mary Gustafson, who came to this country from Sweden in 1869. After his graduation from high school in 1892, Mr. Gustafson, at the age of 18, be- gan his apprenticeship in photography. At the age of twenty-three he began operating photographic studios on his own account and has been so engaged since that time. He came to Texas in 1884, and to Houston in 1917.
On November 16th, 1924, Mr. Gustafson was united in marriage with Rosa May Bailey, who was born and reared in Florida. Her parents were Floridans of Scotch-Irish descent. Mrs. Gustafson is a charming and cultured lady, and also of artis- tic tendencies. She frequently assists her husband in his business and does beautiful portrait tinting. To Mr. and Mrs. Gustafson was born one son, Charles Gustafson, Jr. Mr. Gustafson is a member of the Rotary Club, the Maccabees Lodge and the Baptist Church. He is a straightforward type of business man and makes friends readily with those with whom he comes in contact. He has devoted a lifetime to the study of his profession and he is un- excelled in his field of activity in the State of Texas.
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NEWTON RAYZOR, attorney at law, of the firm of Lockhart, Hughes, Lockhart and Rayzor with offices in the Cotton Exchange Building, is numbered among the leading lawyers of the younger generation of Houston.
Mr. Rayzor first began the practice of law at Denton, Texas, in 1921, where he remained for a period of eight months, having as a partner, E. O. Hooper. He came to Galveston in 1922 and formed an association with W. T. Armstrong, well known Galveston attorney. This association continued for eleven months when he made his present connec- tion. The firm does a large volume of admiralty work, practicing in the federal courts mostly and it is in this branch of the profession that Mr. Rayzor specializes. They represent directly the vessels en- tering the Port of Galveston flying the British flag. They also represent French Italian vessels through local underwriters. Mr. Rayzor is in charge of the Houston offices of the firm. Offices are maintained in the Cotton Exchange Building.
Mr. Rayzor received his preliminary education in the public and high schools of Galveston. After leaving high school he entered Rice Institute at Houston, where he graduated with the degree of A. B. After his graduation here he entered the military service during the World War. He attended the Officers Training Camp at Leon Springs, he was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant and assigned to the 156th Depot Brigade at Camp Travis, and later was transferred to the Camp Bullis division target range. He was discharged February 1919 at which time he entered the University of Chicago Law School, where he graduated in 1921 with the degree of J. D.
He was born at Denton, Texas, July 29th, 1895. His father, J. N. Rayzor, is a well known ice manu- facturer of Denton. His mother, prior to marriage, was Miss Eva Tabor, a member of a well known Texas family.
J. Newton Rayzor was married September 5th, 1923, at Austin, Texas, to Miss Eugenia Porter, daughter of Dr. M. B. Porter, for many years a prominent educator of the state and head of the mathematics department of the University of Tex- as. Her mother before marriage was Miss Minnie McGlaughlin, a member of a well known Texas family.
Fraternally Mr. Rayzor is a Mason and a member of El Mina Temple Shrine, Galveston. He is affil- iated with the Kiwanis Club, the Chamber of Com- merce and is a member of the various bar associa- tions. He is of the Baptist faith, being a member of the First Baptist Church of Galveston.
Mr. Rayzor has made many friends in the gulf coast, professionally and socially. He is interested in the development of the Texas ports and believes that an era of expansion in shipping to and from these ports has arrived.
ICHARD R. LEWIS, attorney at law of Houston, Texas, since beginning the prac- tice of his profession in this city in 1919, has specialized in municipal, levy, drainage and irrigation law. His work along this line ex- tends throughout Texas, Louisiana, Florida and Mississippi, but he maintains offices at 609 Stewart Building, Houston. He represents two large firms who are engaged in large developments in these States and his entire time is devoted to their in-
terests. Judge Lewis, prior to engaging in the prac- tice of law alone was a member of the well known firm of McGregor, Burr and Lewis, and withdrew from this firm in 1923, in order to pursue his chosen branch of the profession. He was admitted to the bar in 1906, and immediately began practice at Bay City, Matagorda County, Texas, and continued there until 1908, when he was elected to the office of county attorney. He served with distinction in this office until 1914, when he was elected to the office of county judge, and served in this capacity until 1916, when he resigned his position as county judge in order to enter the army. He went to the Mexi- can border and was commissioned a captain of a machine gun company. Later, his organization was made a part of the 36th Division, where he was captain of the 132nd Battalion Machine Gun Com- pany, and went to France and saw service in this division. He was with the machine gun company during his entire service in France and returned with them and was discharged on April 24th, 1919. He immediately returned to Bay City and removed his law office to Houston.
A native Texan, Judge Lewis was born at Lam- pasas on August 12th, 1885. His father, John Floyd Lewis, a native of Virginia, came to Texas in 1872 where he was engaged in the contracting business in practically all parts of the State and was one of the contractors who put the Houston and Texas Central right of way through the State. The last twenty years of his life was spent in farming. His mother was Miss Emma Hawthorne, a member of a prominent Kentucky family. She is now a resident of Bay City, Texas. Judge Lewis' opportunities for securing an education were limited and the liberal education which he has received was almost entirely secured through self help. He studied law while working in a law office and attended Summer law school, and continued to study in this manner until he was admitted to the bar.
Judge Lewis was married at Houston on April 12th, 1910, to Miss Selma Autrey, a native Hous- tonian, and a daughter of R. L. Autrey, one of the leading citizens and capitalists of this city. They have three children-Carmen, Autrey and Robert Floyd Lewis. Judge Lewis is a member of the A. F. and A. M. with membership in Bay City Blue Lodge. He is also a member of the B. P. O. E., the American Legion and of various civic and social organizations of Houston.
ILLIAM H. WARD has long held a place as one of the leading members of the Har- ris County Bar, and during the two decades of his practice at Houston has been a fac- tor in the life here, and has won high recognition as an attorney. Mr. Ward is head of the law firm of Ward and Ward, a partnership composed of him- self and his wife, Mrs. Hortense Ward, one of the most prominent women in the Houston Bar. Offices are maintained in the First National Bank Building, and the firm enjoys a large general practice of civil cases. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ward are attorneys of fine mental talents and attainments, and the firm has made a splendid professional record. Mr. Ward be- gan his practice in Houston in 1902, practicing alone until his marriage, when Mrs. Ward was admitted to the bar, and the law firm of Ward and Ward was formed.
William H. Ward was born in Houston County,
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Texas, the fourth of April, 1880, the son of Henry P. Ward, a native of Georgia, who came to Texas in the early seventies, and was a merchant until his death, which occurred in 1888, and Mrs. Sophie Butts Ward, a native of Texas, and who has made her home in Houston since shortly after her husband's death. Mr. Ward attended the public schools of Houston, later entering the University of Texas, where he took the L. L. B. degree in 1902, returning to Houston and beginning his practice in this city. Mr. Ward engaged in private practice until 1912, when his prominence in law and affairs brought him his elevation to the office of County Judge of Harris County, which office he held until 1916, administer- ing the duties involved in a manner which won the highest respect of the citizens of Harris County and his associates.
Mr. Ward was married at Houston in 1909 to Mrs. Hortense Malsh, and they have since made Houston their home, residing at 310 Pacific Avenue. Mrs. Ward was admitted to the bar in 1910, at which time she entered into the partnership with her hus- band, with whom she has since practiced. She was the first woman in the South admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Ward was also admitted to practice before this court on the same date, this being the first time in history that a husband and wife were admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court on the same date. Mrs. Ward has demonstrated unusual qualifications, and has enjoyed many distinctions at Houston. She was appointed to the City Judge- ship while Judge Reeves was on his vacation, and is now serving on the Board of Directors of the City and County Hospital Board, and is one of the Di- rectors of the Fair Board.
Mr. Ward is a Mason, thirty-second degree, Scot- tish Rite, and a member of Temple Blue Lodge No. 4, and Arabia Temple Shrine at Houston. As an attorney Mr. Ward won high esteem for his legal ability, poise and enthusiasm in his chosen profes- sion, and has devoted himself not only to his exten- sive private practice, but to the broader interests of his profession in city and state.
O. LOVEJOY, attorney at law, has prac- ticed before the Houston bar since 1920 and has built up a large practice in this city, and numbers among his clientele many of Houston's representative business men and large business institutions of various kinds. Prior to locating in Houston he had been engaged in the practice of his profession at Fort Worth, Texas, for about eight years, where he had built up a large practice, but realizing the vast opportunities offered to a lawyer in Houston, he accordingly removed his home and office to the Metropolis of the South- west. Mr. Lovejoy's law offices are located at. 306 Keystone Building, where he is engaged in a general practice of law alone, and has never had an associate. Mr. Lovejoy started his career in the business world as an electrician, which line of endeavor he started in 1902 in Fort Worth, but during the period in which he worked at his trade, he was engaged in the study of law at night and during his spare moments during the day. He was successful as an electrician, and was chief electri- cian of a Texas railroad, when he decided to devote his entire time to the study of law. Mr. Lovejoy was admitted to the bar in 1912, and has been successful in his chosen line of endeavor, and is re-
garded as one of Houston's leading attorneys.
A native son of Texas, Mr. Lovejoy was born on a ranch in Coryell County, on February 24th, 1878. His father, R. E. Lovejoy, a native of Ala- bama, came to Texas in 1869, during the recon- struction days following the Civil War, and took land in Coryell County, which he still owns and which has since been added to. R. E. Lovejoy was born in 1841, has spent his entire life as a farmer and stockman, and is retired from active business pursuits. His mother was Miss Lucinda Hornsby, also a native of Alabama, where she was a member of a prominent family. She is now deceased. Mr. Lovejoy's education was obtained in the schools of Coryell County and Thomas Arnold School at Saledo, Texas, and his legal education was obtained entirely through self help as was also the liberal education along various lines, which he later receiv- ed, through close application to details.
Mr. Lovejoy was married at Houston, Texas, in February, 1923, to Mrs. Nina Parks Hardin, a native of Georgia, and a member of a well known family of that state. Mr. and Mrs. Lovejoy reside at 911 Hamilton Street. Since locating in Houston, Mr. Lovejoy has become active in the social and busi- ness life of the city, and is very popular in all circles. He is an enthusiastic booster for Houston, and is keenly interested in all matters having to do with the advancement of his adopted city, and aids in every way any project having as its object the betterment of same. Among the Texas lawyers who have sought their fortune in Houston, there are none to whom the future seems more full of promise and prosperity, than to S. O. Lovejoy, who is at all times loyal to the customs and traditions of the Lone Star State.
HELLEY MONTGOMERY is well known in the business circles of Houston and of Texas, where for many years he has been known as a successful salesman for retail and wholesale establishments, both in the city and on the road. He is a sales representative of the De- Witt Montgomery Sales Company, merchandise brokers with headquarters in the First National Bank Building, Houston. Prior to going with this firm and for several years, he was president of the Montgomery Company, dealers in feed.
A native Texan, Mr. Montgomery was born at Columbus, November 7th, 1881. His father, J. J. Montgomery, a native of Kentucky, came to Texas as a young man, and for many years was engaged in the cotton business here. His mother was a mem- ber of a pioneer Texas family. His education was obtained in the public schools. Mr. Montgomery began his business career as a salesman, which he has continued for several years, and sold various lines of merchandise, both in Houston and on the road.
Mr. Montgomery was married in Houston on December 30th, 1914, to Miss Kittie Lee Palmer, a native of the Lone Star State and a member of a well known family of South Texas. They have one daughter, Emilee Katherine. Mr. and Mrs. Mont- gomery reside at 1510 Marshall Street. He is a member of the A. F. and A. M., with membership in the Blue Lodge of Columbus, Texas, where he also belongs to the Royal Arch Chapter No. 46. Since coming to Houston, in 1906, Mr. Montgomery has made a host of friends and is popular in both the business and social circles of the city.
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ILLIAM F. MARTIN, oil operator of Texas, and one of the best known oil men of the State, has recently come to Humble to look after his interests in this section, after an absence of a number of years during which he was active in developing his holdings in other parts of the State. Mr. Martin is familiar with the his- tory of the oil business from the time oil was first discovered at Corsicana, to the present day, having engaged in active operations in all the important fields of the State from that time, and few men, as individuals, have done more for the development of the oil fields of Texas. At present Mr. Martin is engaged in looking after his interests in the Humble field, and for some time past has not en- gaged in active operations, dealing in leases and royalties.
William F. Martin was born in Caffee County, Tennessee, the fifth of February, 1875, the son of William Henry Martin and Betty Floyd Martin, both of whom are deceased. William Henry Martin, a native of Tennessee, came to Texas in 1882, locating in Navarro County, where he engaged in farming until his death. William F. Martin attended the schools of Navarro County, working on his father's farm when not in school, until he was twenty years old. At that time oil was first discovered at Cor- sicana, and Mr. Martin began to work in the oil fields, beginning as roughneck, and later advancing to driller. During these years he gained an insight into oil field work that has been a factor in his subsequent success, learning through practical ex- perience much that has been of advantage to him in later years. When the Spindle Top field first came in he left Corsicana and went there, engaging as driller in that field during the early stages of its development. At the time the Humble field first began to attract attention Mr. Martin trans- ferred his interests here, working first as driller, and later as a drilling contractor, in this field. Fol- lowing his Humble experience he went to Wichita Falls, where as a drilling contractor he was active in opening up and developing that field. The years 1919 and 1920 he spent in the Burkburnett field, carrying on large development projects with success to himself and his associates. The year 1918 Mr. Martin spent in the Louisiana oil fields, the only time that he engaged in operations outside of Texas. At the conclusion of his Burkburnett ex- perience he returned to Wichita Falls where he spent a short time, leaving the Wichita Falls district to go to Mexia, where he was active for a time as drilling contractor. Following the period spent at Mexia Mr. Martin returned to Humble, after an absence of nearly seventeen years, re-entering the oil business here from the angle of the operator who deals in leases and royalties, and looking after his extensive interests in this section.
William F. Martin was married at Houston, Texas, in August, 1906, to Miss Minnie Law, a native of Louisiana who was reared in Texas, the family com- ing here during her childhood. Mr. and Mrs. Martin reside on the Houston road, one mile from Humble. Mr. Martin is an Elk, a Modern Woodman of the World, and a Royal Neighbor. Mr. Martin, as a pioneer operator, has been connected and worked with all the oldtimers and big oil men of Texas, and is personally known to practically every opera- tor in the State. He probably knows more about
the history of the development of the oil fields of Texas than any other operator, and has himself been active in bringing in many of the Texas fields. Mr. Martin as an operator is far sighted, and has the ability to carry on large development projects in such a manner that he and his associates have prospered by his vision. As a developer he has a constructive vision that has been a factor in the successful conclusion of his projects, and operators of the State watch his movements with interest.
ENJAMIN COYLE, perhaps better known to the oil fraternity as Bud Coyle, is one of the pioneers in the oil business in the Lone Star State, and while Houston has claimed him as a resident since 1906, he has had interests in most of the fields in the State and is one of the best known oil men of Texas. Mr. Coyle began his career as an oil man as a driller at Spin- dle Top, soon after the discovery of this field in January, 1901. He was with Sharp Brothers, as their first tool pusher, and after one year at Spindle Top went to Sour Lake as night driller for The Texas Company, helping bring in the first good well, Cap Rock Well, Texas No. 3, in this field. He remained at Sour Lake for about one year, and then went to the Batson field in 1904, drilling five gushers for the Drillers Oil Company. This was followed by the drilling of a well at Saratoga, after which he went to Humble, with the Drillers Oil Company, remaining there for eighteen months. In 1907 and 1908 he drilled four wells for himself, in association with Ed Prather and others. Then he went to Bryan Heights, drilling the first pros- pect for Ed Symons, when he got sulphur. The deal was made from the core his bits brought up. He then went with The Texas Company, at Oil City, Louisiana, and later to Caddo field, where after a period of six months he returned to Humble, and after an interval there, to Sour Lake. A period of wildcatting at Baton Rouge followed this return to the Texas fields, and was in turn followed by a return to Texas, when he drilled, in Young Coun- ty, with a rotary drill, two wells, to the depth of twenty-five hundred feet, for The Texas Company. In 1913 he again returned to Humble, bringing in the first deep wells there for The Texas Company, and later bringing in the Farmer's Wells. He re- mained in this field until 1914, spending the next few years in various fields. In 1918 he brought in the Hull field, for the Republic Company, fol- lowing this by another wildcatting experience. In 1921 he began contracting for himself, drilling a dry hole at La Porte, then drilling four wells at Mexia, three for the Republic and one for J. A. Jones. His operations have recently been centered in the Hull field, where he has drilled eight wells. His principal work is for the Mackham Oil Com- pany, in which he has an interest. He also has some production in the El Dorado field, which he brought in in conjunction with Ed Prather.
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