New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 169

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

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In the year following his graduation, Mr. Mac- Donald came to Houston with the Ford Motor Com- pany, as salesman, and, after two years, was made assistant manager of the Houston branch. In 1917 he was sent to San Antonio as manager of the branch house there, and in July of 1918 he closed the branch at San Antonio and returned to Houston as manager of the local house. He continued as manager of the Houston branch until July, 1921, when he resigned in order to take over his present business. Mr. MacDonald was married in Houston, in 1916, to Miss Mildred Tarr. Mr. and Mrs. Mac- Donald reside at 4716 Montrose Boulevard. He is a member of both the York and Scottish Rite bod- ies of the Masonic fraternity and a Shriner of Arabia Temple. He is also a member of the Uni- versity Club, the Rotary Club, Salesmanship Club, the Houston Launch Club, and River Oaks Country Club. Mr. MacDonald is interested in all agencies working for the greater development and civic im- provement of Houston, whose future he believes to be of unlimited possibilities for continued growth and advancement.

OHNNIE WALKER, one of the younger busi- ness men of Houston, and for the past sev- eral years a factor in the filling station business, has attained a commendable repu- tation for his activities in this business and is re- garded as one of the most progressive filling station men in the city. Mr. Walker is the proprietor of the Johnnie Walker Filling Station, a business es- tablished in September, 1921, and located at 2219 Louisiana Street. Also the Louisiana Service Sta- tion located at 619 Webster Avenue. Mr. Walker owns the corner at Louisiana and Hadley Street, where his business is located, and has erected a modern stucco building, with concrete drives, and providing every facility for the successful conduct-

ing of his business. He has installed four pumps, of the best type, and can handle eight cars at one time. He has a storage capacity of twenty-five hun- dred gallons, and does an exceptionally large busi- ness, supplying a large number of business firms, in addition to his many individual customers. On Saturday, one of the busiest days of the week, he averages around four hundred cars, with the other days running close to this figure. Mr. Walker also handles, in addition to gas and oil, a good line of tires, tubes and accessories, and does a large busi- ness in these lines. He employs seven men at the filling station, which is under his personal super- vision.

Johnnie Walker was born at Houston, the twenty- first of January, 1895, in the same block in which his business is now located. His father, I. W. Walk- er, came to Houston before the Civil War, returning to his native State of Georgia to serve in the Geor- gia Regiment during the struggle, and later returned to Texas, going to Eagle Lake, where he engaged in the cotton, land and investment business for many years. His death occurred at Houston. Mr. Walker's mother, Mrs. Mamie Johns Walker, is still living, and makes her home at the old family home in Hous- ton. Mr. Walker attended the private schools of Houston, first entering Professor Barnett's Private School, and later Texas A. and M. College, where he attended three years. Mr. Walker spent a year and a half with K. E. Womack in the cotton business, two years and a half in the cattle business, in the Mexican border country, and two years prior to col- lege, with an additonal two years afterward, rough- necking and drilling in the Coastal and Mid-Conti- nent oil fields. In September, 1921, he returned to Houston, entering the filling station business, in which he is still engaged.

Mr. Walker was married at Galveston, the fif- teenth of July, 1922, to Miss Inez Hall, a Houston girl, and the daughter of Will Hall, owner of the Four Sevens Garage of Houston, and Mrs. John Rudersdorf. Mr. and Mrs. Walker live at 2616 High Street, and attend the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Walker has many friends in the bsuiness world at Houston and takes a deep pride in civic accomplish- ments.

OHN B. ROFFALL, president and manager of the Roffall-Benson Company, Inc., has, since establishing his present business in 1919, been a factor in the automobile paint- ing, trimming and repairing business in Houston. This firm is well-known for its high-class work, and has one of the finest paint and top shops in the city, where the very finest and highest paid men are employed to turn out the work that has become popular among the automobile owners of Houston and South Texas. This firm occupies large, spa- cious quarters at 3212 Harrisburg Boulevard, and employ twelve people, who are skilled and expe- rienced in their several lines. They do all kinds of truck body woodwork, wire wheel work, limousine upholstering, craftsman leather auto bodies cov- ered, side curtains, body and fender repairing and straightening and all kinds of repairing. They also specialize on remodeling wrecked automobiles. As- sociated with Mr. Roffall in the Roffall-Benson Company, Inc., are A. A. Roffall, vice-president, and Mrs. B. I. Roffall, secretary and treasurer.

Mr. Roffall was born in Germany, September 6th,

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1891. His father, Paul Roffall, also a native of Germany, came to the United States and direct to Houston in 1893, and in 1894 sent for his family in Germany. He was the founder of the Model Car- riage Company, of Houston, later known as the Model Carriage and Auto Company, which he oper- ated for eighteen years, and was the active head of that firm until his death. He was a charter mem- ber of the Houston Knights of Columbus, and active in this organization until his death; also a member of the Sons of Herman, the Shark's Club, the Eagles, the Houston Turnverein, the Saengerbund and the Chamber of Commerce. His mother was Miss Frances Black, a native of Germany, and now re- siding in Houston. John B. Roffall's early educa- tion was obtained in the public schools of Houston and St. Mary's Seminary, of La Porte, Texas, and his business training was obtained in the Massey Business College.

When a mere boy, Mr. Roffall began work in his father's carriage shop and worked in every depart- ment and became an expert in his line of carriage and wagon building and later learned the trade of auto rebuilding and the art of painting same. For four years prior to his father's death, he was mana- ger of the plant, and continued to manage the busi- ness for two years alone, when he sold out the Model Carriage and Auto Company and organized the present firm, which has grown to be one of the leading firms of its kind in South Texas.

Mr. Roffall was married in Houston, September 11th, 1912, to Miss Beatrice Irene Merrit, a native of Mississippi, but reared at Texas City, Texas. They have four children, John B. Roffall, Jr., Den- nis Andrew, Cecil and Marjorie. Mr. and Mrs. Rof- fall reside at 628 Harvard Street. Mr. Roffall is a member of the Knights of Columbus, also a Fourth Degree, and is a member of the Knights of Colum- bus Luncheon Club. Mr. Roffall has a host of friends in Houston, and has made a great success of his business through his fair business methods, excellent work and good service to his patrons. He has great faith in the future of Houston, and never loses an opportunity to speak a good word for the South Texas Metropolis.

M. McDADE, for many years one of the most progressive business men of Hous- ton, and for more than a decade a factor in the automobile business in this city, has been largely instrumental in popularizing the Gray car in this territory. Mr. McDade is the owner and manager of the J. M. McDade Auto Company, a firm established in 1912, and which has a record of continuous operation since that time. Mr. Mc- Dade is the distributor for the Gray automobile over the Gulf Coast section and operates local deal- erships for these cars in Harris and Galveston Counties. He has an attractive show room in Houston, fronting one hundred and twenty-five feet on Fannin Street, at Leeland Avenue, where he has on exhibition models of these increasingly popular cars and an adequate stock on his floor to insure prompt deliveries. A complete parts and service department is maintained, in charge of competent mechanics, and the management of this department has been no small factor in creating a general feel- ing of satisfaction in regard to Gray cars. Follow- ing a constructive policy of operation Mr. McDade

has introduced and popularized the Gray in this section, and the car is making a record as a small, popularly priced car, well within the reach of the average American family, and of standard make in every detail.

J. M. McDade was born in the Lone Star State, at Brenham, in 1888, son of J. R. McDade, a native Texan and Sarah Alice Curtis McDade, also a na- tive of Texas, both of whom have spent their en- tire life in this state. Mr. McDade attended the public schools of Brenham as a boy, later going to Brenham College, and, after completing the course there, going to Boston, Massachusetts, where he attended college, specializing in engineering for two years. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1904, and was assigned to the Battleship Mis- souri, in the Gunnery Department. In the fall of 1904 he was assigned to the twelve-inch guns and while engaged in practice one of these guns blew up, and of thirty-five men on duty at the time, only two, Mr. McDade and one other, escaped with their lives. He was later appointed Gun Trainer, and in the fall of 1905 made the world's record on twelve- inch guns at two to five miles, and going at full speed, making eighteen perfect bull's eyes in four minutes and forty-eight seconds. He was dis- charged in 1907, when he returned to Boston and completed his engineering course. He then re- turned to Texas, locating at Houston, where he opened a small garage, gradually expanding, and branching out in a sales business, until he has one of the largest automobile distributing businesses in this city.

Mr. McDade was married at Boston, in 1907, to Miss Edna Brown, a native of New England, whose ancestors came over on the "Mayflower," and were the first paper manufacturers in America. Mr. and Mrs. McDade live at 1105 Leeland Avenue, and are popular members of their social set. Mr. McDade takes an interest in civic activities, and is well known in automotive trade circles in this section. He has made friends by the hundreds and won the sincere esteem of his fellow citizens who are glad to hear of his success in the business world.

S. ROBERTS of Alvin, Texas, is taking a progressive part in the commercial life of that city, establishing a commendable rep- utation as a druggist.

Mr. J. S. Roberts was born in Bee County, Texas, the second of April, 1882. His father, W. B. Rob- erts, a native of Georgia, after fighting throughout the Civil War, came to Texas, locating in Bee Coun- ty in 1865 and was an active farmer, on an exten- sive scale, until his retirement several years ago. His mother, whose maiden name was Rena David- son, was born in Missouri, and came to Dallas as an infant with her parents, later removing to Bee County. Mr. Roberts was educated in the schools of Bee County, and after leaving school remained with his father on the farm until 1912. He then began farming operations of his own, and had ex- tensive agricultural interests until 1923, in which year he came to Houston and bought the Quality Pharmacy, which he operated before going to Alvin.

Mr. Roberts was married in Bee County, in 1911, to Miss Erna Richards, a native of Kansas, and reared in Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have two children, Lemoyne and Edith Iola.

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HOMAS H. SWIFT, in the two decades of his residence at Houston, has been a fac- tor in merchandising activities, and is well and favorably known as a druggist. Mr. Swift has had many years' experience in drug store operation.

Mr. Swift came to Houston in 1900, and spent his first year in this city with the Kirkland-Morrison Commission and Grocer Company. This was followed by eleven years with the Heyer Drug Store, at which time he bought out the Heyer Drug Store, and operated it for some time, later buying and then selling the McGowan Avenue Pharmacy. He then operated the Public Drug Company for a time, and, after selling this, established the American Drug Company. Shortly after selling this store, he bought controlling interest of the Majestic Phar- macy, located in the Majestic Theatre Building. This is one of the most popular of the down-town drug stores, and Mr. Swift has contributed his share in making a success of the business.

Mr. Swift was born in the Eastern part of Ar- kansas, the fourteenth of March, 1880, son of W. C. Swift, a native of Tennessee, who, for many years, was a planter and county official for fifty- nine years in Monroe County, Arkansas, and now, at the age of seventy-one has retired. His mother, before her marriage was Miss Ella Bennett, a na- tive of Alabama. Mr. Swift was educated in the public schools of Monroe County, and, after finish- ing his education, came to Texas, locating at Hous- ton.

Mr. Swift was married at Houston, Texas, to Miss Blanche Williams, a native of the Lone Star State, who spent her girlhood at Marlin and Gal- veston, having one child, Charlotte Fay. Mr. Swift resides at 1212 Willard Avenue, and is a member of the Knights of Pythias and D. O. O. K. lodges. He is one of the best known drug men in Houston, and has many friends who go out of their way to see him at his place of business. He is a firm be- liever in the future growth of his adopted city, and expects to see it progress during the next ten years as it has in the past decade.

ALTER W. WALLIS has for a decade been associated with the drug business at Hous- ton, during this time establishing the repu- tation of a druggist of broad experience and success, and a factor in drug circles here. Mr. Wal- lis is the proprietor of the Wallis Drug Store, which he established in 1920, and which has since been one of the leading residence drug stores of the city. The Wallis Drug Store occupies well appointed quarters at 3722 Main Street Boulevard, and has built up an excellent patronage in this vicinity. The building, while not large, is well arranged, and the stock is selected with care, with a view to giving the patrons the best. The fountain is a feature that is greatly appreciated, and makes a specialty of at- tractively served drinks and real service. The pre- scription department, in charge of a registered phar- macist at all times, uses only the purest drugs and the utmost care in the compounding of prescriptions, and meets with the approval of both physicians and customers. Mr. Wallis is personally popular with his patrons, and has many friends in the locality of his store, the future promising an even greater pros- perity than the past has given.

Walter W. Wallis was born at Mckinney, Texas, the twenty-fourth of July, 1882, son of the late W. M. Wallis, a native Texan, who came to Mckinney as a young man and was for many years a cattle. man in this section, and Melissa Hatter Wallis, a native of Kentucky, and who still makes her home at Mckinney. Mr. Wallis was educated in the schools of his native city, and after graduating from the Sam Houston Normal, entered the School of Phar- macy at Galveston, where he took his professional training and was graduated in 1907. He immediate- ly went to Beaumont, with the L. K. Preston Drug Company of that city, and remained there for five years. He later went to Dallas and other Texas cities with a view to finding the location offering the best future for the establishment of his busi- ness. In 1913 he came to Houston, with the Sam Rouse Drug Store, remaining there for two years, and following that with four years with the Rad- ford Drug Company, the last two years as Mana- ger. He then went back with Sam Rouse Drug Store for a short time, after which he established his own store, which he has since operated.

Mr. Wallis was married at Chicago, Illinois, the thirteenth of June, 1912, to Miss Estina McVicker, a native of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Wallis make their home at 3604 Travis Street, where they occupy an attractive apartment. They have one child, Mc- Vicker Wallis, and attend the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Wallis has many friends in Houston, and is well known to the drug trade in general as one of the most progressive residence drug store operators in the city.

EE TYLER, who first came to Houston sev- eral years ago as a soldier, has recently returned to this city to make it his home and business headquarters, and has allied himself with the drug trade here. Mr. Tyler is the proprietor of the Tyler Drug Store, which he es- tablished in September, 1921, and has since operated as a high class residence drug store. The store is well located, at 1401 San Jacinto Street, at the cor- ner of Clay Avenue, and is one of the most popular drug stores in this vicinity. Mr. Tyler has given special attention to trade building and progressive management, and since opening his store has built up a large patronage among those who appreciate the best. A complete line of drugs and drug sun- dries is stocked, with great care given to the selec- tion, and a wide range of choice is offered the cus- tomer. The fountain maintains the highest stan- dards of cleanliness and service and is liberally patronized. These standards also apply to the rest of the store, with especial reference to the pre- scription department, and have been a factor in Mr. Tyler's trade building program. Five employees, all interested in the success of the store, assist Mr. Tyler in its operation.

Lee Tyler was born in Benton County, Iowa, the eighteenth of May, 1894, son of O. P. Tyler, a native of Iowa, and who now makes his home at Van Horn, in that state, and Agnes La Rue Tyler, also of Iowa. Mr. Tyler attended the public schools of Vinton, Iowa, and while still attending school began work in a drug store in that city. After finishing high school, he went to the University of Iowa, where he took the course in pharmacy and chemistry. In 1917 he left the university to enlist in the army, and on the tenth of May of that year joined the Infantry

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and Air Service. He was sent to Fort Snelling, Minnesota, as a cadet and commissioned second lieu- tenant there and sent to Camp Dodge, and later to Camp Logan, Houston, where he spent six months. He then went to Fort Sill where he took his aerial observation work, after which he was sent to Camp Dick, Dallas, then to Mount Clemens, Michigan, for a course in air gunnery. He went overseas the twen- ty-eighth of September, 1918, spending ten months in France, after which he returned to the States and was discharged from Camp Dodge, Iowa, as first lieutenant.

Mr. Tyler came direct to Houston after receiving his discharge and went to work in the West Col- umbia oil fields for nine months, returning to the city at the expiration of that time. He went with the Webb-Mading Drug Store, where he remained for two years, leaving that firm to organize his own store, the Tyler Drug Store.

Mr. Tyler was married at Houston the fifth of June, 1918, to Miss Ida Mae Ollre, daughter of Dr. T. J. Ollre, for many years a dentist of Houston. Mr. and Mrs. Tyler have made their home at 1508 St. Emanuel Street, and take part in many social affairs as well as an interest in civic activities. Mr. Tyler is a Mason, member Gray Lodge, No. 329. His entrance in the business world of Houston has re- sulted in many friendships, and Mr. Tyler is con- sidered by his business associates to have a real future in the drug trade.

AX WIESENTHAL is well known and pop- ular in the drug circles of the State, where he has been engaged in the drug business for the past seventeen years, and since 1919 has been President and General Manager of the Public Drug Company, Inc., of Houston. Mr. Wies- enthal established the first of the Public Drug Stores in Houston in 1919 and now has three stores. The Public Drug Store No. 1 is located at 821 Main Street, at the corner of Walker Avenue, where twelve experienced people are employed. Public Drug Store No. 2 is located at the corner of Preston and Fannin Streets, and employs eight people. Pub- lic Drug Store No. 3 is located at the corner of Con- gress Avenue and San Jacinto Street, where seven people are employed. All of these stores carry a full line of durgs and druggists' sundries, school supplies, toilet articles, cigars, etc. They also main- tain prescription departments, where registered and accurate pharmacists are employed. They also have sanitary soda fountains, where all the popular ices and drinks are served to their many customers.

Mr. Wiesenthal was born in Austria in 1889. His father, also a native of Austria, came to America and to Galveston, Texas, in 1896. He was for many years engaged in the mercantile business, but is now retired. His mother was Miss Jennie Kreisler, also born and raised in Austria. His education was obtained in the schools of Austria and the Galves- ton public schools. Later, he attended the State Medical College at Galveston, graduating in phar- macy in 1906. Since leaving college, Mr. Wiesen- thal has been continuously engaged in the drug business. He first came to Houston, where he re- mained for one year. He then went to Beaumont, where he was employed in a drug store for one and one-half years, going from Beaumont to Gal- veston and engaged in business for himself. After

one and one-half years he disposed of this business and went to the Mexican border, where he was en- gaged in the drug business at Falfurrias and Brownsville, for a period of seven years. He then returned to Humble, Harris County, where he re- mained for a short time, and in 1915 returned to Houston. Since he came to Houston, Mr. Wiesenthal has owned ten large drug stores, three of which he still owns, having disposed of the others.

Mr. Wiesenthal was married in Galveston in 1909 to Miss Helen Melcer, a native of Poland; but came to America and to Galveston in 1907. They have two children, Albert and Dorothy. Mr. and Mrs. Wiesenthal reside at 4811 Rusk Avenue. Mr. Wie- senthal is a member of the Chapter and Counsel of the A. F. and A. M., at Brownsville, and the Scot- tish Rite body of that order at San Antonio, and is a Shriner of Arabia Temple, Houston, and is also a member of the Eastern Star. Mr. Wiesenthal has absolute faith in the future of Houston and believes it is destined to be the greatest city in the South- west.

AMES H. WOODS has for twenty years been identified with the drug business of Hous- ton, the past ten years of this time he has been sole proprietor of the Woods Corner Pharmacy. This drug store, located at 901 Main Street, corner of Walker Avenue, is one of the fin- est and most complete drug stores in Houston and employs fourteen experienced people. This drug establishment maintains a prescription department where registered and trustworthy pharmacists are employed. The carefulness and accurateness of this department has made it one of the largest and most popular in the city. The Woods Corner Pharmacy carry a complete line of drugs and druggists sun- dries, toilet goods, school supplies, cigars, etc. Mr. Woods also has an ornate and sanitary soda foun- tain where ice cream and every kind of iced drink is served to their many customers.

A native of Virginia, Mr. Woods was born at Lynchburg in 1871. His father, James T. Woods (deceased), was a native of Virginia. He came to Texas in 1889 as a tobacco salesman, but later re- turned to Virginia. His mother (now deceased) was Miss Laura P. Jones, a member of a prominent Vir- ginia family. His education was obtained in the pub- lic schools of Virginia, and at Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, where he graduated with the Ph. G. degree. After leaving college, Mr. Woods engaged in the drug business and has con- tinued in that business all his life. His first exper- ience was in a drug store at Lynchburg, Virginia. Later, he came to Texas and was associated with the drug store of W. B. Morrison at Waco, where he remained for several years. He then came to Houston with A. E. Kiesling, and remained with this store for a period of ten years. In 1913 he estab- lished his own store, the Woods Corner Pharmacy.

Mr. Woods was married in Houston in 1913 to Miss Maude Yantis, a native of Illinois, but raised and educated in Louisiana. Her father, William Yantis (deceased), was well known in the business circles of Louisiana. They have two children, Carl and Roberta. Mr. and Mrs. Woods reside at 5004 Austin Street. Mr. Woods is a member of the Knights of Pythias and takes an active interest in all agencies working for the greater development and civic im- provement of Houston.

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LIVER WOLFE, whose activities through- out his business career have identified him with industrial management, has become well known at Houston as one of the pro- gressive young men who are taking an active part in industrial and commercial affairs. Mr. Wolfe is president and manager of the Texas Bag and Bur- lap Company, Incorporated, with office and plant at 406 Clark Street. This firm, engaged in the ex- tensive manufacture and sale of burlap bags, cot- ton bags and all classes of bagging, is numbered among the well known firms in this line. Under the direction of Mr. Wolfe, who has had training in the management of affairs, and a keen insight into in- dustrial conditions, the business has made rapid growth.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 169

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