New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 164

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

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Mr. Coyle was born on a farm in Alabama, the eighteenth of February, 1888, son of W. J. Coyle, who died when his son was sixteen, and Nancy J. Coyle. When Mr. Coyle was a child of two years the family removed to Texas, and the family of ten children were reared on a farm near Dallas, close to where the present Dallas Country Club is located. Six sisters of Mr. Coyle make their home in Dallas. Mr. Coyle was educated in the

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country school near his home, and remained on the farm, helping his father, until 1901, when he came to Spindle Top, his career thereafter being as given in the first part of this article.

Mr. Coyle was married at Humble, Texas, the sixth of February, 1917, to Miss Winnie C. Holman, a native of Bowie, Texas, where her Grandfather Southerland built the first house. Her father was a native of the Lone Star State and her mother came here as a child. Mr. and Mrs. Coyle have an attractive bungalow home in Houston, at 5709 Sher- man Avenue. They attend the Baptist church. Mr. Coyle takes a constructive interest in the develop- ment of Houston, and is highly esteemed by the business men of this city, who regard his judgment in matters pertaining to the oil industry as espe- cially sound. He is interested in the development of the Coastal fields, and especially in the discovery of the oil domes upon which its future depends.

OHN RAILTON, owner and manager of the Houston Roofing and Supply Company, Houston, Texas, has been engaged in the roofing industry all his life and knows this business as few men know it. This company, which was organized here in August, 1923, are manufac- turers of Devil's Glue, wood preservative, top dress- ing and asphalt expansion joints, all of which are sold on a money back guarantee and this feature coupled with the superior products of the Houston Roofing and Supply Company has caused the busi- ness of the company to grow rapidly. In addition to these, this company sells plastic cement in all colors, boiler and roofing paints, whitewash, tar, automo- bile top dressing and other similar products. These products are sold in Mississippi, Oklahoma and throughout Texas. In Central and North Texas more than seventy large road contractors are customers of this firm. Besides an average of ten people em- ployed at the plant of the company, several sales- men are on the road selling their products. In order to care for their growing business, during the early part of 1926 the Houston Roofing and Supply Com- pany constructed a new building with warehouses, adequate to the company's needs.

A native Texan, Mr. Railton was born at Galves- ton on June 21st, 1874. His father, R. C. Railton (deceased), also a native of the Lone Star State, was throughout his life active in the business circles of Galveston. His mother, Mrs. Emily (Juliff) Railton, was a native of England, and a member of a promi- nent family of that country. His education was ob- tained in the schools of Galveston, Texas, being a graduate of the Ball High School of the Island City. After leaving school, he entered the roofing busi- ness, serving in all the branches of this industry, and has mastered every phase of this business. For many years he was associated with a large roof- ing plant of Galveston prior to locating here in his present business.

Mr. Railton was married at Galveston in 1900 to Miss Nellie Eaton, a native Texan and a daughter of Richard Eaton (deceased), also a native of the Lone Star State, where he resided all his life and was one of Houston's most highly esteemed citizens. Her mother, Mrs. Mary Eaton, was a native of England, but reared in Texas. They have three chil- dren: Alice, now the wife of S. Brett of Houston; Helen and John Railton, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Railton reside at 504 Boundary Street. Mr. Railton is a

member of the Travelers Protective Association, the Lions Club and the Trinity Church of Houston. Since Locating in Houston, Mr. Railton has become an enthusiastic booster for this city and believes that it will soon lead the entire Southwest along all lines and he assists in every way to make it the Metropolis of the Southwest.

ENRY MACKAY came to Algoa, Texas, fourteen years ago, and for the past twelve years has successfully raised Magnolia figs, and has twenty-seven acres of land planted to this delicious fruit. He also raises much hay and other farm products and has one acre planted to Satsuma oranges, and is making prepa- rations to grow the kumquat on a large scale and sees a great future for this fruit. It is very hardy, easily grown and produces for the grower from $700 to $1,000 per acre annually. Mr. Mackay is one of the oldest and most reliable men engaged in the culture of Magnolia figs here. He does not sell his figs to the canning plants, but markets all his product in Houston and Galveston, and cannot as yet supply the vast demand for his fruit. He has three hundred acres of land near the town of Algoa, and his place is one of the most attractive as well as the most valuable in this portion of South Texas. Before entering the fig growing industry, Mr. Mackay had a wide and varied business career. He was for several years a member of the Northwest Mounted Police of Canada, after which he entered the business of farming in the State of Virginia. For a period of twelve years he was associated with the Cabin Creek Coal Mines. He then became general manager of the Hanover Mica Com- pany in East Virginia, where he remained for three years. In 1908 he made a trip to Texas and in 1909 removed to the Lone Star State, where he has since remained.

A native of Canada, Mr. Mackay was born in Ontario, September 2nd, 1861. His father, Dr. J. A. Mackay, was one of the most prominent physi- cians and surgeons of his time and was a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of London, England. His mother was Miss Mary Clark, a member of the well known Englis family. Mr. Mackay, although coming to Virginia when a boy seven years of age, received his early education in Canada, going back to the Dominion for same, and he later was a student for two years at the McGill University.

Mr. Mackay was married in Virginia in 1887, to Miss Miriam Dandridge, a daughter of W. G. Dandridge, one of the most prominent grocery and commission merchants of that State. They have five children: Kenneth, Angus, Garland, Rowland and Angie. Mr. Mackay is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is president of the Galveston Coun- ty Fair Association, and is also a member of the Galveston County Farm Bureau and is past president of this organization. Mr. Mackay has for a hobby the breeding of very fine English setter dogs. He has achieved distinction in this field and is a rec- ognized authority on the subject. Practically every recognized champion setter in the United States, is of the same strain as those bred by Mackay. Mr. Mackay is enthusiastic as the future of the fruit industry, particularly the Magnolia fig of South Texas, believing that this country is the best in the United States for fig culture.

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D. SCHWARZ, for fifteen years identi- fied with activities of commercial import- ance at Houston, has for the past five years been connected with the bag and bag- ging industry in this city. The Lone Star Bag and Bagging Company, of which Mr. Schwarz is a co- partner with M. M. Feld, was established in October, 1921. This firm engages in the manufacture of bur- lap bags, cotton bale covers and acts as jobber of cotton ties. They also buy and sell second-hand bags. The Lone Star Bag and Bagging Company occupies a modern factory at 2102 Brooks Street, where they have 25,000 square feet of floor space. They employ fifty operatives. Since the establish- ment of the business in 1921, development has been rapid and along progressive lines, the firm giving careful attention to the wide opportunities for trade building in this section, and putting out a product that meets existing demands. Mr. Schwarz and Mr. Feld both take an active part in the manage- ment of the business, and are the sole owners. Mr. Schwarz and Mr. Feld own and operate the Beau- mont Bag Company, located at Forsythe and Rail- road Streets, employing about thirty-five employees at this plant. During the year of 1924 the combined sales were approximately $750,000.00.

Mr. Schwarz is a native of the Lone Star State, having been born at Hempstead, Texas, in 1895. His father, George Schwarz, a native of Germany, came to Hempstead many years ago and is now a resident of Houston. Mr. Schwarz was educated in the Hempstead public schools, and after finishing his education came to Houston, where he has since been identified with various business activities. Since 1921 he has been a factor in the bag and bag- ging industry.

Mr. Schwarz was married the second of April, 1922, at Houston, to Miss Leonora Rapheal, a na- tive of Galveston.

J. MONTAGNE of Beaumont, Texas, spent his entire business life, prior to 1920, as a salesman and knows salesmanship from the various angles as few men know it. Mr. Montagne is owner of the Jefferson Motor Company of this city, which was established in 1920 and are the distributors for the Hudson and Essex motor cars for Southeast Texas. Mr. Montagne has dem- onstrated that he is as good in the capacity of man- ager as he has always been as a salesman, and has succeeded in making these cars very popular in this portion of the State. The Jefferson Motor Company occupy a splendid building at 900 Pearl Street, seventy-five feet by one hundred and twenty feet in size, with fine salesroom, office and shops. They also maintain service, sales and parts depart- ments, which are in charge of capable, courteous and efficient people. Thirteen people are employed by this company in the operation of their various de- partments. Salesmanship is regarded by many peo- ple as drudgery, but to Mr. Montagne, through ap- plication and adaptation, it is an art and while he is the executive head of the Jefferson Motor Com- pany, he pays particular attention to this end of the business, and very often closes deals which a salesman of the company has not been able to close with a purchaser.

Mr. Montagne was born in the Southern portion of Louisiana on August 28th, 1890. His parents were both members of well known families of

Louisiana. His education was obtained in the public schools and business schools of his native state, which he left at an early age in order to enter the business world. His first experience was as a sales- man and he came to Beaumont fifteen years ago, and for the past eight years he has been connected with the automobile industry in this city as a traveling salesman for an automobile accessory house, with headquarters here. He continued in this position until the present company was organized.

Mr. Montagne was married at Beaumont, Texas, on November 19th, 1913, to Miss James Eastham, a member of a well known family of East Texas. They have one son, Paul. Mr. and Mrs. Montagne reside at 1621 College Avenue. Mr. Montagne is a member of the Knights of Columbus, and takes an active interest in this organization. Since locat- ing in this city Mr. Montagne has made a host of friends, who have assisted him in the operation and sales of his popular cars in this portion of the State. He is optimistic as to the future of the automobile industry in the Lone Star State and believes the time is not far distant when many of the largest factories for the manufacturing of cars and trucks will be established in Texas.

ERT HUGHES, for almost a decade iden- tified with the life and progress of Port Arthur, is a well known representative of the automotive business here, and has been a factor in influencing the trend of this business in recent years. Mr. Hughes is president and man- ager of the Bert Hughes Tire Company, incorpor- ated, which he established in 1919, incorporating the business at that time. This is one of the larg- est tire companies here, and since its establishment has met with rapid growth, as is consistent with the progressive policies of Mr. Hughes. The busi- ness is located at the corner of Procter and Waco Streets, and occupies a modern building, seventy- five by one hundred and forty feet. A force of around twenty-five employees is maintained. A good line of tires and tubes, with a tire repair department and well organized road service in con- nection, is supplemented with an auto accessory de- partment, and a modern oil and gas station. The plant, one of the finest of its kind in this sec- tion of the state, does both a wholesale and retail business. Mr. Hughes is also manufacturer of the Hughes Battery, which has made a gratifying sales record in this section, and maintains a battery service station. Mr. Hughes is also president and general manager of the Yellow Cab Company, operating six yellow cabs at Port Arthur, which interest he bought in July of 1923. Miss M. Brewton is secretary and treasurer of both the Yellow Cab Company, and the Bert Hughes Tire Company.

Mr. Hughes was born at Chicago, Illinois, the twelfth of November, 1883, son of the late John T. Hughes, a nationally known portrait painter, and a native of Pennsylvania, who lived in many states, and was for fifteen years a resident of Texas, and Anna Emery Hughes, a native of Maine, and who now makes her home in Texas. Mr. Hughes at- tended the schools of Pennsylvania, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and West Virginia, and after finishing his education held various positions, among them that of engineer for the U. S. Steel Company of Pennsylvania, for six years. With his

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parents he went to Houston in 1911, and was in the auto tire and accessory business there prior to com- ing to Port Arthur to open the Port Arthur Tire and Sporting Goods Company, in 1916. Three years later he disposed of that interest.

Mr. Hughes was married in Pennsylvania, the twelfth of September, 1910, to Miss Ida B. Lorber, a native of that state. They now make their home in Port Arthur. Mr. Hughes is a member of va- rious lodges and civic organizations, and belongs to the Young Men's Business League, the Chamber of Commerce, the Lions Club, and is an Elk, a Knight of Pythias, a Dokey, and a Mason, Blue Lodge Cos- mopolitan, Pennsylvania, Knight Templar, and a member of El Mina Temple Shrine at Galveston. Mr. Hughes is deeply interested in the growth of Port Arthur, and has done much to further progress and development here.

UGH A. THOMPSON, for two decades and upward a resident of Beaumont, is one of those sterling citizens who make civic prog- ress possible, and is a business leader who has done much to advance this city, both in a com- mercial and civic way. Mr. Thompson is a member of the firm of the Thompson-Lockhart Electric Com- pany, a business established in 1909 as the Beaumont Electric Company and continued until that name until 1923, when the name was changed to the Thompson-Lockhart Electric Company, the organ- ization remaining the same in other respects. The company does a general electric contracting business, and has a well appointed shop and display room at Pearl and Wall Streets. They have one of the fin- est electrical stocks in the city, showing an excep- tional line of fixtures and specialties, and also sell radio equipment and complete sets. The firm does a great deal of the electric work in the public schools of Jefferson County and has for many years been awarded a large percentage of the important elec- trical contracts in the city. A force of around twen- ty electricians is employed. The other member of the firm is L. Edmond Lockhart.

Mr. Thompson was born at Leona, in Leon County, Texas, the thirteenth of January, 1878, the son of Dr. H. H. Thompson, a practicing physician and sur- geon of that place, and Anna E. (Lynch) Thompson. He spent his boyhood in his native town, attending the public schools there, and later entered the Uni- versity of Georgetown, where he spent two years. After four years in the general mercantile business, Mr. Thompson went to Hempstead, where he oper- ated a dry goods store for two years, then going to Jacksonville, where he spent two years. He came to Beaumont in 1902, going with the Southern Pa- cific Railroad, in the mechanical department, and after two years went with the Christopher Electric Company, remaining with that firm for four years.

Mr. Thompson was married at Madisonville, Texas, in 1905, to Miss Cora Masterson, daughter of Dr. J. E. Masterson, well known dentist of that place. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson reside at 2027 Park Street, and have two children, John William and Ida May Thompson. The family attend the Methodist Church. Mr. Thompson is a member of the Lions Club and fraternally is a Mason, York and Scottish Rites, and a member of El Mina Temple Shrine at Galveston. Mr. Thompson has for many years taken a deep in- terest in educational matters and in the improvement

of the public school system and as a member of the school board has been able to accomplish much in this line. He is also active in all civic work, and is in every way one of the substantial citizens of his community.

RAVIS LAMBERT of Port Arthur, Texas, is known in the business circles of this city and of South Texas as one of the most active and successful real estate and in- surance men in this portion of the state. Mr. Lam- bert is president and manager of the Home Agency Company which was established in this city in 1912, and is engaged in the handling of real estate, both residential and business property. It is said of Mr. Lambert that he has never lost on any real estate transaction, and in addition to his large business in Port Arthur, he has bought and sold many large tracts of land, contiguous to this city. He is also owner of the Home Insurance Agency, which is one of the largest and best agencies of its kind in Port Arthur, handling insurance of all kinds, life, fire, tornado, etc. Mr. Lambert's offices for these two agencies are located in the First National Bank Building. He came to Port Arthur in 1902, and with the exception of a few years spent on the Pacific Coast, has resided here continuously since that time and is one of the first real estate men of this city.

Mr. Lambert was born at Monticello, Arkansas, on August 25th, 1865. His father, Perry Lambert, a native of Georgia, was well known in the business circles of both Georgia and Arkansas. His education was obtained in the public schools of Monticello, Arkansas. As a very young man, Mr. Lambert went on the road for the Simmons Hardware Company, traveling South Arkansas, East Texas and Lou- isiana, and continued in this line of endeavor for a period of twelve years. In 1902, when Spindle Top came in as a proven oil field, he came to Port Ar- thur on the opening of this port, on account of its great future, which Mr. Lambert foresaw. He re- mained here until 1907, when he went to the Pa- cific Coast on account of his wife's health, and re- turned in 1911 and opened the agencies with which he is now associated, and which he has made great successes, in their different lines of business.

Mr. Lambert was married in Arkansas on Feb- ruary 1st, 1901, to Miss May Cammack, a native of Arkansas, and a member of a well know family of that state. He has retired from active fraternity and club life, but takes a keen interest in the civic organizations of the city, and gives liberally of his time and means to all projects tending to the wel- fare and advancement of Port Arthur. Mr. Lambert is optimistic as to the future of this city, and of South Texas, and believes that Port Arthur is des- tined to become one of the important ports of the Gulf Coast, and that with the wonderful advantages offered by the climate and marketing conditions of the coast country, that it will soon become one of the leading fruit and vegetable raising centers of the entire country. People, from all parts of the country, are attracted here in large numbers, the major portion of whom purchase land and make their future homes here, after seeing this wonderful country, and the products of same. Mr. Lambert for many years has been active in putting Port Arthur on the map, both as a residence and business city, and he is regarded as one of the most pro- gressive citizens of this portion of the state.

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OUG R. DAVIS of Dayton, Texas, inherited his liking for the cattle business from both his paternal and maternal forebears and is the third generation of this family to be engaged in this industry. Mr. Davis owns upward from two thousand head of different kinds and grades of cattle, mostly cows, which run on the open range, although he pastures twelve thousand acres, one pasture located one mile West of Day- ton and one north of Dayton. He also has a pasture south of the town which is exclusively for saddle horses of which he has sixty head. Mr. Davis' home, which is a very attractive country estate, is located on the Liberty Road, about three-fourths of a mile from Dayton. Mr. Davis has been engaged in the cattle business all his life, having worked with his father before finishing school and when leaving school came immediately back to his home and the cattle raising industry. He thinks the dipping of cattle for the purpose of tick eradication has now been successfully worked out. At first the calves were dipped when too young, which caused a heavy loss of calves, and for the older cattle the dipping is not so frequent, and the results are good and all cattle are fat and show no bad results as when this method was first introduced and the cattle were dipped too often. Mr. Davis' herd is not registered cattle, and most of the number are cows which he expects to raise from, and in time will increase his already large herd.

A native Texan, Mr. Davis was born in Houston on September 11th, 1890, and came to Dayton with his parents when five years of age. His father, Joe W. Davis, also a native of the Lone Star State, was born at Cold Springs and was one of the pioneers of the cattle industry in Texas. His mother was Miss Mattie Day, a native Texan, born near Dayton. Her father, I. C. Day, was a large cattle owner and extensive planter owning large planta- tions, before the Civil War. His cattle had one of the largest brands in South Texas, which could be seen for a long distance, and was noticeably peculiar and attracted much attention. Joe W. Davis (now deceased) organized the Joe W. Davis Oil Company at Houston, which later became the Southwestern Oil Company, and is now the Bonner Oil Company, one of the largest independent oil companies in South Texas. Mr. Frank Bonner was for many years employed in the office by Mr. Davis. On the death of Joe W. Davis, his family moved back to Dayton, where they have since continued to reside. Mr. Davis' maternal grandfather, Day, and his father had been in Texas since the very early pioneer days and their old plantation was located two miles from Dayton. Mr. Davis' education was obtained in the public schools of Dayton, and later he attended college at San Antonio, Texas.

Mr. Davis was married at Liberty, Texas on No- vember 22nd, 1913, to Miss Hilda Pickett, a daughter of Ed Pickett, for more than thirty years county clerk of Liberty County, and again re-elected in 1924. They have four children: three girls and one boy-Ellen Rose, Dorothy, Hilda and Douglas Rice, Jr. Mr. Davis is a member of the Cattlemen's Association and has always taken an active interest in this organization. Mr. Davis is enthusiastic as to the future of the cattle industry in Texas and believes that it will always be one of the leading industries of the Lone Star State.

HESTER A. McDONALD of Port Arthur, al- though one of the younger men of this city, is nevertheless a pioneer here, as he located in this community in 1903. For some time he was engaged in the plumbing busi- ness, and has supplied plumbing and heating equip- ment for many of the large buildings and resi- dences of this city.

Mr. McDonald was born in Illinois on March 9th, 1886. His father, R. McDonald, also born in Illinois, came to Texas in 1893, and settled at Beeville, where he engaged in business and remained there until 1903, when he removed to Port Arthur, and has re- mained here since that time. His education was ob- tained in the public schools of Beeville, Texas.

Mr. McDonald was married at Port Arthur in 1907, to Miss Abbie Clements, a native of the Lone Star State and a member of a pioneer family of South Texas. They have two children: Bernice and Margaret. Mr. and Mrs. McDonald reside at 2525 5th Street. Mr. McDonald is a member of the Civitan Club, the B. P. O. E., and the Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce, in all of which he takes an active interest. He is optimistic as to the future of Port Arthur, and believes the future of Jefferson County is one of unlimited possibilities for continued growth and prosperity.

ORENZ W. STOLZ, for upwards of a half a decade one of the progressive citizens of Beaumont, has established one of the lar- gest marble and granite works here, an in- dustrial enterprise that has materially affected the standing of Beaumont as an industrial center. Mr. Stolz is part owner of the L. W. Stolz Marble and Granite Works, a business owned by himself and his father, an established in Beaumont in 1919. The works is one of the leaders of its kind in the city, working in marble, granite and stone, and making monuments and mausoleums, and also handling a large volume of general building construction work. The plant is located at 1085 Magnolia Street, where a large and complete stock is carried, including a fine stock of imported granite. All equipment is the best and most modern, and all cutting and grinding machines are electrically operated. A force of around twenty workmen are employed, all expert stone workers, and competent to turn out the highest class of work. The company did all the carving on the construction at Rice Institute, at Houston, and has handled many other important contracts since the establishments of the business. Mr. Stolz was the first marble worker in Texas to employ the sand blast process of cutting, engraving, lettering and carving, and has the exclusive rights to use this process in this territory. This method represents the latest improvement in the stone engraving art, and is one of the finest yet adopted, giving the user opportunity to turn out a very superior class of work. In addition to the yard here there is a second plant at La Grange, owned by Mr. Stolz and his father, with the latter in charge of its operation, and where a large part of the stock is carried.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 164

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