New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 166

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

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DWARD STOCKING BUSCH is one of those real pioneers of Harris County, whose highly successful efforts in behalf of better farming throughout a period of almost four decades, make him a figure of importance in the agricultural industry. Mr. Busch, whose birth oc- curred on the farm on which he now lives, is one of the large land owners of Harris County, and has more than one thousand acres of land under cul- tivation in his home place. His farming operations are conducted under his direct supervision, and with his wide experience, have been successful. He also takes an interest in cattle raising and has from two to three hundred head of cattle grazing at all times, as well as horses and other live stock. Mr. Busch's farm adjoins that of his brother, Robert Busch, one of the most honored pioneers of Harris County, and, like the subject of this sketch, has engaged in agricultural pursuits throughout his life.

Edward Stocking Busch was born near Cedar Bayou, in Harris County, the seventh of October, 1867, son of Frank and Mariah Busch, who came from Germany in the early days and located here. He was the youngest child of a large family, and reared in a time when the hardships of pioneer days prevented attendance at school for the major part of the time, received but little schooling

When he was eighteen he decided to become a boatman, and went in the boating business, running

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a sail boat from Cedar Bayou to Galveston, and carrying freight, passengers, etc. He owned his own schooner and was captain for almost two dec- ades, his craft being a familiar sight in those days. After eighteen years on the water he came back to the farm, and has lived on his birthplace ever since.

Mr. Busch was married at Galveston to Miss Kate Baker, daughter of Brown and Sallie Baker, her father a farmer and cattle man of the early days. Mr. and Mrs. Busch have made their home on the farm for many years, and have reared their family of five children here. These children are: Mrs. Viola Ruth, Mrs. Georgie Mckinney, Mrs. Ida Alexander, Hance Busch and Richardson Busch. Mr. Busch is known throughout Harris County and the adjoin- ing territory, as well as along the channel, and one of the best liked men in this section. He has found success through hard work, and now, one of the most active men of his years, gives his entire time to the management of his farming interests.

HARLES A. MENKE, while perhaps better known as a stockman whose progressive methods have done much to advance the in- dustry in Waller County, where for four decades he has been one of the leading cattlemen, has for a number of years been recognized as a factor in the lumber industry through his scientific methods of conserving the timber resources on his ranch. Mr. Menke owns one of the finest ranches in Waller County, composed of fifteen thousand acres of deeded land, supplemented by twelve thou- sand acres of leased land. His herd averages around twenty-five hundred head of cattle, all graded Here- ford stock, and including twenty-three registered Hereford bulls. While Mr. Menke has made no ef- fort to enter the blooded stock business, he has for many years recognized the importance of high grade stock and has developed his herds until as strictly range cattle they cannot be surpassed. Mr. Menke raises all his own feedstuff, it being the rule on the Menke ranch not to buy anything which can be raised on the ranch. All buildings on the ranch are of the finest type of modern construction, and with a modern electric lighting plant, an adequate water system and like improvements, offers the conven- ience of the city home. The ranch house is hand- somely finished and furnished, and is surrounded with beautiful trees, and other structures, including barns and corrals, are in keeping. The entire ranch is under fence, all gateways having cement posts, made on the ranch, and all fencing material used being wood, kept whitewashed, and built to last. There are an average of twelve people employed during the year, although this number is often greatly increased by seasonal demands of ranch work. Mr. Menke takes a deep personal interest in the welfare of the men working for him, advising them as to caring for their own small crops and in- terests.

Mr. Menke has valuable timber resources on his ranch, including several varieties of hardwood, and has established saw mills which cut the timber un- der the supervision of an expert in forestation. This timber will eventually, through proper and scien- tific handling, more than pay for the land, instead of being wasted in clearing, as is so often the case.

Mr. Menke has for years been interested in better cattle, breeding up his herds in accordance with this

idea. He has also further increased the profits of his business by keeping in personal touch with the kind of cattle bringing real prices on the market, often visiting the markets at Fort Worth, Kansas City, St. Louis and Chicago to this end. As a re- sult he has seen his ideas for the development of his herd bear fruition in advantageous prices received from the output of the ranch, and has the added sat- isfaction of knowing that this advantage, coming as the result of his knowledge of his business, has further advanced the industry.

Mr. Menke was born in Austin County (which is now Waller County), Texas, the eighth of Septem- ber, 1861. His father, J. A. Menke, came to Austin County from Germany, his native country, in 1836, with his parents, and spent the rest of his life here, engaging in agricultural pursuits. His mother, whose maiden name was Miss Charlotte Schluntz, was also a native of Germany, coming to Austin County as a child of nine years old, with her par- ents, and traveling from Virginia Point in a two- wheeled cart. Her death occurred at the age of seventy-two. Mr. Menke was educated in the coun- try schools near his home, and after leaving school pursued his studies alone. As a boy he worked for various cattlemen in Austin County, later leav- ing there and coming to Waller County, which was a part of Austin County at that time, where he set- tled in 1884, securing a section of land, and laying the foundation of his present herd. At that time a good steer brought around fifteen dollars, instead of the sixty-five or seventy of today, and with the nearest neighbor many miles away life on the frontier was further complicated by the outlaw type of bad man.

Mr. Menke was married at San Antonio, Texas, the sixteenth of December, 1884, to Miss Pauline Meyer, daughter of John Meyer, a farmer of Aus- tin County. Mr. and Mrs. Menke make their home at the ranch, and have six sons, J. J., C. H., E. P., L. L., W. M., and T. M. Menke. Mr. Menke has given his sons every advantage in study and train- ing, four of them being graduates in animal hus- bandry at Texas A. and M. College, and one at University of Columbus, Ohio, graduating as a vet- erinary surgeon, a science in which they have estab- lished a high reputation since student days when they were members of the stock-judging teams at the National Stock Shows in Chicago. The younger son, T. M. Menke, is specializing in civil engineer- ing. When the United States entered the World War Mr. Menke's sons promptly volunteered for service, and while some served their country in various military capacities, the others were required by military authorities to help maintain the ranch and herds. Mr. Menke also took an active part in the war, and was in charge of Red Cross work for his district and also a member of the County Coun- cil of Defense. In campaigning for money in con- nection with the Liberty Loans and Red Cross drives in his district, he saw to it that all quotas were promptly subscribed, putting up any necessary funds to insure this himself. Mr. Menke is the fine out- doors type of man, riding, roping, and living the strenuous life of the ranch with men half his age. As a cattleman his influence in Waller County has been extensive, and there have been few men equal- ing him in their work in behalf of the development of this industry.

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IM BOURLAND, known throughout the Southern States as a manufacturer of vet- erinary remedies, came to Houston upwards of a decade ago to establish his headquar- ters and has since found this city ripe in business opportunities and desirable as a residence city. Mr. Bourland is proprietor of the firm of Jim Bourland, Manufacturer of Veterinary Remedies, which he es- tablished at Houston in 1912 and which has since been one of the leading manufacturing businesses in this field in this section. Mr. Bourland has a well equipped plant at 1803 Congress Avenue, and manufactures the well known Jim Bourland line of poultry remedies and stock remedies. He has from time to time bought up various other proprietary medicine manufacturing firms and confined them to his plant. He is the sole owner of the Imperial Med- icine Company, the Park Chemical Company, the Raben Company, the Stacy Chemical Company, the F. T. Hall Company and manufactures the products formerly manufactured by the establishers of these various companies, in his plant on Congress Ave- nue. He also manufactures Cannon's Liniment, Fowler's Stomach Wafers and Fowler's Laxative Wafers. The products of Mr. Bourland's manufac- ture are known throughout the Southern States and are the standard in their line.

Jim Bourland was born in Hunt County, Texas, in 1881, the son of J. P. Bourland, a druggist of Throck- morton County for many years and now a stock farmer of Goodnight, Texas. He studied pharmacy under his father and later with Dr. B. H. Rand, at Higgins, Texas. When Dr. Rand sold out his drug store there, Mr. Bourland bought him out and oper- ated the drug store for the ensuing three years. Then he went on the road, selling a line of veter- inary remedies and proprietary drugs for a number of years. In 1910 he came to Houston with the in- tention of making this city his headquarters and himself engaging in the manufacture of these pro- ducts. He opened his plant in 1912 and has since managed his business along progressive lines and has met with rapid growth.

Mr. Bourland was married at Houston, in 1913, to Miss Nannie Hunt, a native of Kentucky. They make their home at 5019 Telephone Road, a very attractive residence. Mr. Bourland is a member of the Houston Launch Club, the Houston Yacht Club and the Glenbrook Country Club. In the busi- ness world he is recognized as a progressive business man, interested in constructive civic development, and is a leader in many activities directed toward civic advancement.

W. GILLESPIE, for three decades identi- fied with the printing business in the Lone Star State, has been a resident of Houston since 1901, taking an active part in the de- velopment of the printer's art in this city, and for the past ten years operating one of the many fine printing establishments here. The Gulfport Print- ing Company, Incorporated, of which Mr. Gillespie is president and manager, was established by him in 1914, and two years later incorporated. The firm does printing and bookbinding of all kinds, operating a high class plant, and specializing in the finest work. The Gulfport Printing Company is located at 2315 Main Street, occupying a modernly equipped building, providing fourteen thousand feet of floor

space and employing many skilled operatives. The company also has three salesmen, representing the firm, and facilitating the sales department of the business. Mr. Gillespie is president and manager of the Gulfport Printing Company and E. M. Bishop, secretary and treasurer.

Mr. Gillespie was born in Kaufman County, Texas, in 1880, son of R. C. Gillespie, pioneer Texan, who came to Fort Worth in 1854, two years later re- moving to Kaufman County, where he spent the rest of his life. Mr. Gillespie was educated in the rural schools of Kaufman County. At the age of thirteen, he began working in a printing shop, at Forney, his home, and after several years spent there, during which time he learned much about the business, he went to Brenham, Texas. He was engaged in the printing business there, and later, in 1901, came to Houston where he was first with the Houston Post and later with the Houston Chronicle. He then be- came associated with the Miller and Orem Typeset- ting Company, of which he was vice president. After a few years he established his own business, which later, in 1916, was incorporated under the firm name of Gulfport Printing Company.

Mr. Gillespie was married at Dallas, Texas, in 1920, to Miss Fleetwood Vinson, a native of the Lone Star State. They make their home at 120 South Seventy-ninth Street, and have two children.

LEWIS OBERT NORTHRUP, popular young business man, has been a resident of Houston for over twenty years, having come here in 1903, when a boy eleven years of age. He has been closely identified with the commercial interests of the city for the past several years, and is the co-proprietor of the Fannin Phar- macy, located on the busy corner of Fannin and Capitol, and one of the popular down-town drug establishments of this city. Modern fixtures are found here, and the prescription department is es- pecially well equipped and stocked and in charge of registered pharmacists who are experts in the preparation and compounding of prescriptions. A beautiful modern soda fountain adds to the store's attractiveness and popularity and serves a complete line of high-class cooling drinks, ice cream and confections.

Mr. Northrup is a native of Texas and was born at Velasco, on October 6th, 1892. He is a son of Dr. S. G. Northrup, prominent physician, a gradu- at of Tulane University at New Orleans, and who has been engaged in the practise of his profession in Houston for more than twenty years. He is now practically retired. Mr. Northrup's mother was formerly Miss Mattie Red Mcclellan, a native of Fayette, Texas.

After attending the public schools of Giddings and Houston, Mr. Northrup entered Southwestern University at Georgetown, Texas, and graduated in 1912. While attending college he worked for Long's Drug Store at Georgetown, and upon completion of his college course returned to Houston and be- came connected with the Hoencke Pharmacy. He later went with the Montrose Pharmacy as a clerk and afterwards purchased the business, disposing of it in 1920 to become identified with the Ander- son Drug Store as assistant manager. On De- cember 6th, 1922, he was promoted to manager. He left this position in order to engage in business, and with Mr. John H. Reeves, who owns and operates the

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Fannin Pharmacy. On December 16th, 1924, Mr. Northrup bought out the Fannin Pharmacy and is owner now.

On October 10th, 1914, Mr. Northrup was mar- ried at Galveston to Miss Annie Vinita Armstrong, daughter of Chas. L. Armstrong, for many years a resident of Houston. They have two sons, Rob- ert Lewis, Jr., seven, and Preston Gaines, four. The family resides at 1409 Welch Avenue.

Mr. Northrup is an energetic, tireless type of business man, devoted to his work, accommodating and ever mindful of the interests of his customers.

OBERT C. KERR is one of the foremost business men of Houston, where for a quar- ter of a century the symbol "Kerr, The Florist" has been known to every resident of the city and in all parts of the state. Mr. Kerr is the owner of the Robert C. Kerr Company, Inc., which is the largest floral company in the South. They have one hundred acres devoted to the grow- ing of flowers and plants from which their cut flow- ers are obtained and stock of plants for market are grown. In order to produce perfect flowers and plants, their roses and ferns are nearly all grown under glass, and Mr. Kerr has fifty thousand square feet of glass and twelve acres of green houses and green house stock. In the beautiful and commodious retail store at 1007 Main Street, where their cut flowers and plants are artistically arranged, Mr. Kerr has four thousand square feet of floor space and employs fifteen people. His immense stocks of tuberoses, cape jessamines, sweet peas and all of the more hardy flowers and shrubs are grown in the open. In addition to the vast amount of all kinds of flowers shipped by the Robert C. Kerr Company, Inc., this company ships annually ten thousand pack- ages of cape jessamines, which is a special parcel post package.

A native Texan, Mr. Kerr was born in Collin Coun- ty in 1878. His parents, A. W. Kerr and Lou T. Kerr, were well known citizens of Texas, where his father established the Kerr floral establishment for- ty-eight years ago in Collin County. He later moved the business to Sherman and still later to Houston. Robert C. Kerr is of the third generation to be en- gaged in the floral business. Mr. Kerr's early educa- tion was obtained in the public schools of Sherman. Later he attended the A. and M. College for a period of four years, during which time he took all the courses in horticulture.

Mr. Kerr has truly been raised in an atmosphere of flowers and the floral business. He came to Hous- ton in 1898 and entered the floral business with his father. He has been very active in all organizations that have for their object the aid of all florists. He organized the Houston Floral Club, and later or- ganized the State Florists Association, and also nine local organizations of this association in different portions of the state. Mr. Kerr has the distinction of being the first president of the National Floral Society in the South, and it was during his regime as president that the slogan, "Say it with Flowers" was created. Mr. Kerr was married at Navasota in 1901 to Miss Cornelia Vance, a daughter of Charles Vance, a large landowner of Grimes County. They have one son, Roy Kerr, twenty years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Kerr reside at their country home near Houston on Rural Route No. 4. Mr. Kerr is a mem-

ber of the park board of Houston, in which civic work he takes a deep interest. In fraternal and social organizations he is a member of the Scottish Rite body of the A. F. and A. M. and is a Shriner of Arabia Temple, the B. P. O. E., University Club, Rotary Club and the Salesmanship Club. In the midst of his private work, Mr. Kerr finds oppor- tunity to give his time and assistance to many move- ments of a public nature, and is interested in all agencies working for the greater development and civic improvement of Houston.

EBB MADING for almost a quarter of a cen- tury has been a resident of Houston, during this time being a factor in the drug business and taking an active part in the commercial life of the city. Mr. Mading operates a chain of drug stores in the city, Mading's Drug Stores Num- ber two, three, four and five, all in excellent loca- tions and doing a large volume of business. His wife is his only partner, taking an active interest in the business, and is a real business woman. Mr. Mading opened his first drug store in 1908, the Magnolia Pharmacy, at the corner of Congress and Jackson Streets, and which he operated for fifteen years. In 1914 he opened Mading Drug Store Number 2, at 1502 Texas Avenue, following this in 1917 with the opening of Store Number 3 at the corner of McKin- ney and Jackson Streets, and in 1923 with Store Number 4 at 1417 Washington Avenue. Store No. 5 at 6701 Harrisburg Boulevard, was opened Feb- ruary 9th, 1924. These stores are all modern, the figures being the best obtainable and every detail of the operation and management of the stores marks them as first class. The stock is exception- ally well selected and handled and the various de- partments, including the prescription and fountain, has the careful attention of either Mr. or Mrs. Mad- ing. The opening of the Mading Drug Store No. 4 will be long remembered in the community, its opening being one of the largest and best attended of such affairs, crowds thronging the store from the opening hour until late that night.

Mr. Mading was born at Terrell, Texas, the thir- teenth of April, 1887, son of J. B. Mading, a native of Louisiana who came to Texas in the seventies, later, during the gold rush, going to Alaska and now residing at Seattle, Washington. His mother, be- fore her marriage, was Miss Alice Harvin, a native of Louisiana. Mr. Mading was educated in the pub- lic schools of Velasco, Texas, and began in the drug store there as a boy of ten years old. He worked there until the storm of 1900, at which time J. D. Faubian, for whom he had been working, moved to Houston and he came here also, continuing to work for him until 1908, when he established his first store. Since that time he has been active in the drug business, adding to his stores one at a time, until he now has a chain of stores in operation. His wife has been of real assistance to him during these years and has been a factor in his success.

Mr. Mading was married the twenty-second of May, 1908, in Houston, Texas, to Miss Cora Good, a native of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Mading make their home at 1202 Crawford Street, and are very popular in their social and business circles. Mr. Mading is a Mason, Blue Lodge, Gray 329, 32nd degree Scot- tish Rite and a member of Arabia Temple Shrine. He is also an Elk and a member of Glenbrook Country Club.

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ILLIAM F. HUMPHREY has for upwards of half a decade been associated with the business life of Houston, and is well known for his activities in the drug trade here. Mr. Humphrey is the proprietor of the Transfer Drug Store, located at 6745 Harrisburg Boulevard, and which he bought out in April, 1917, after it had been operated several years under a former management. Mr. Humphrey has organized a drug store, com- plete in every respect, and has an excellent line of drugs and drug sundries. The Transfer Drug Store, located at a transfer point, has every advantage of location, and this element, as well as the superior service and management, has been a contributory cause for its success. Mr. Humphrey is a druggist with a broad experience, and is especially well equipped for the operation of a pharmacy of the high type of the Transfer. He personally super- vises every detail of the operation of his store, giv- ing special attention to the compounding of pre- scriptions, and the maintenance of high standards in the fountain. A force of five employees, all trained drug men, assist him in the operation of the store.

Mr. Humphrey was born at Wells, Texas, the fourth of August, 1888. His father, J. J. Humphrey, a native of Texas, has been for many years a planter at Wells, and still takes and active part in the man- agement of his interests. His mother, whose maid- en name was Miss Lena Leota Sanders, is a native of Tennessee, and came to Texas with her par- ents. Mr. Humphrey attended the public schools of Wells, later entering the University of Sewanee, Tennessee, in the medical department. After fin- ishing there, he went to New Waverly, Texas, and was manager of the Crescent Drug Store, Incorpor- ated, at that place for the ensuing five years. He then came to Houston, and shortly after his arrival, bought out the Transfer Drug Store, which he has since operated.

Mr. Humphrey was married at New Waverly, Texas, the tenth of May, 1914, to Miss Emma Hall, a native of Walker County, and the daughter of J. L. Hall, who now makes his home at New Waverly. Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey make their home at 6726 Ave- nue D, Houston. They have one child, Wilma. Fra- ternally Mr. Humphrey is a Mason, Blue Lodge No. 1153. He is a member of the Tall Cedars Club. Mr. Humphrey is a business man of constructive policies and takes pride in the accomplishments of his city. He has watched the development of Hous- ton closely for a number of years, and considers it ripe in business advantages and opportunities.

A. LEDBETTER, numbered among the younger professional men of Houston, has been identified with the business interests of this city since leaving college. Mr. Led- better is a pharmacist and is identified with the W. M. Fonville Drug Store at 4702 Washington Avenue. The Fonville Drug Stores are modern up-to-date stores, carrying complete lines with the purest of drugs obtainable. Courtesy and service are the watch words of these stores. Mr. W. M. Fonville, the owner is one of the best known druggists in this city.

A native Texan, Mr. Ledbetter was born at Sweet Home, August 11th, 1901. His father, A. A. Led- better, was also a native of the Lone Star State, where he was well known in the business circles of the state during his lifetime, and has been de- ceased since the subject of this sketch was six

months old. His mother was Miss Lillie Veal, a member of a pioneer Texas family, and is now re- siding in Houston with her son. His early education was obtained in the public schools of Sweet Home, Lavaca County, after which he attended high school at Austin, Texas, and later was a student of the schools of Yoakum, Texas, for three years, and then entered the medical department of the State Univers- ity at Galveston, where he was a Pharmacy Student for two years. He then came to The Rice Institute at Houston, and finished his prescribed course in the spring of 1923. In April, 1923, Mr. Ledbetter and J. H. Schoenfelder opened the Prescription House at 813 Fannin Street.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 166

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