New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 17

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

USA > Texas > New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2 > Part 17

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Wiley was married at Galveston, the tenth of February, 1910, to Miss Marguerite Mitchell, a native of Galveston, and the daughter of Thomas R. and Henrietta (Cain) Mitchell, Mr. Mitchell, a long time resident of Galveston, was with the Gal- veston Wharf Company for many years. Mrs. Wiley is a women of many accomplishments, and is one of the most talented singers of Galveston, possess- ing a voice of unusual richness. As a young lady, and as a young matron she has been a leader in so- cial circles, and in the cultural life at Galveston. Mr. and Mrs. Wiley had two children: Florence, and Lee W. Wiley, who reside with their mother at 1811 Thirty-second Street.

Lee Grandison Wiley died in Galveston the nine- teenth of June, 1923, after an illness of six months, during which time he had shown a patience in suf- fering and weakness which gave strong testimony to his Christian faith and fortitude. It is not often that one finds a life of such short duration so thor- oughly worthwhile, and in his passing, Galveston suffered a severe loss. While Mr. Wiley was a leader in commercial circles, it was as a Christian gentle- man that his influence was greatest. He was a mem- ber of the First Presbyterian Church for eleven years and for a good part of that time served on

the diaconate, where his work as secretary to the board was both conscientious and efficient. Mr. Wiley was a Mason, a member of the Scottish Rite bodies and El Mina Temple Shrine. He was laid to rest in the cemetery at Huntsville, and on the following Sunday memorial services were held at Galveston, in the First Presbyterian Church.

RANK ALBERT PETERS. In recording the advancement of the prosperous South Texas oil center of Humble the name of F. A. Peters occupies a place of prominence and honor as a man who was ever ready and willing to offer his best for the good of his city. Mr. Peters probably did more to bring modern con- veniences to Humble than any other man. In 1906 he established the Humble Light and Power Com- pany, which now furnishes light to more than three hundred homes and business houses. In 1912 he added the ice plant, and in 1923 the bottling depart- ment was built and put into active operation, but which was later discontinued. Since the death of Mr. Peters his son, with his associates, have greatly improved and increased the capacity of the plant. To these industries Mr. Peters devoted the principal part of his time, although he was also interested in farming and owned a splendid farm near Hum- ble, where each year he demonstrated that more money could be earned on each acre than is pro- duced in other parts of the state. This he did by intensive farming and the use of modern farm methods. As an evidence of his success along this line, in 1923 he netted $535.00 on one acre of cab- bage, and other farm products in proportion.

Mr. Peters was born at Abilene, Kansas, on May 7th, 1874. His father, F. F. Peters, a native of Pennsylvania, but later of Kansas, was well known in the business circles of these states. His educa- tion was obtained in the public schools of his native state. For fifteen years he was a resident of Hous- ton, where for a number of years he was city in- spector of the Light and Power Company, and from 1897 to 1906 he was electric inspector for the city of Houston, at which time he removed to Humble and took up the work in which he was active at the time of his death.

Mr. Peters was twice married. His first marriage was to Miss Mamie Davis (deceased). Of this union four children were born, three surviving, as follows: Mrs. Ruth Hebert of Palestine, Texas; J. R., treas- urer and general manager of the Humble Power and Ice Company, and Mrs. Nellie Kilpatrick of Mon- roe, Louisiana. Mr. Peters was married the second time at Conroe, Texas, to Miss Blanche Boyett, a native of Bryan, Texas. For many years Mr. Peters was a leader in all civic movements at Humble, giving of his time and means to all projects having to do with the progress and advancement of his town and county. He was president of the Humble Chamber of Commerce, director of the Retail Mer- chants Association, president of the Pure Bred Live Stock Association, and a member of the Refrigerat- ing Engineers Association and the Southern Auto- mobile Association.

Upon the death of Mr. Peters on November 16th, 1924, Humble and adjacent territory lost one of its most highly esteemed citizens, and a leader in all civic, commercial and social movements. It is given to few communities to possess a man of such high ideals and his loss was felt by the entire citizenship.

1154

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

JOHAN RASMUSSEN, veteran automobile man of Texas, and for three decades iden- tified with the business life at Galveston, has exerted a favorable influence over the automobile business here and has been a factor in the development of one of the largest Ford agencies in Texas. Mr. Rasmussen is part owner of the firm of John Christensen and Company, which company has the local agency for Fords, Lincolns and Ford- sons, and also has a large and well established bicycle and sporting goods business. This firm dates back to 1897 when it was established by John C. Christensen and Mr. Rasmussen, in a very small way as a bicycle repair shop. The business gradu- ally expanded, and in 1904, the company took the Oldsmobile agency, establishing the first automobile agency in Galveston. A year later they became Ford dealers for Galveston and Brazoria counties, and several years later took the agency for the Marmon car here, later taking over the Mitchell, and still later the Cadillac, Buick, and several others. Since 1912 the company has handled Fords exclu- sively, with the exception of the Lincoln car since the Ford company has taken over that plant, and the Fordson tractor. The company has been especially successful in placing the Fordson on farms in this territory, and in addition to handling the Fordson, they have stocked a good line of plows and tools made especially for this sturdy tractor. John Christensen and Company occupy a modern build- ing, designed especially for them, at 601 to 611 Twenty-third Street, and also have a large ware- house in addition to the sales rooms and service and parts department housed there. The property owned by the company represents an investment of three hundred thousand dollars, and a force of thirty employees is maintained.

A. Johan Rasmussen was born at Horsens, Den- mark, the fourth of November, 1870, of Danish parents, and spent his youth there, obtaining his education in the schools of Denmark, where he studied both English and German. He came to the United States in 1890, landing in New York City, where he remained three years, coming to Galves- ton in February, 1893, to get away from the extreme winters of the North. While here he saw that in this new country a big future awaited the young man with the industry and ambition to work, and decided to remain here. He went to work at com- mon labor, in the meanwhile saving every possible penny so that when the opportunity came he could start in business for himself. In 1897, he, with John C. Christensen, started the bicycle shop which formed the nucleus of the present business, and he has been active in this business since that time.

Mr. Rasmussen was married at Galveston, the twenty-second of December, 1900, to Miss Minnie Olander, a native of Sweden. Mr. and Mrs. Ras- mussen reside at 2024 M 1/2 Street, and have six children: Dorothy, a graduate of Southern Metho- dist University at Dallas; Walter, a cadet at West Texas Military Academy; Helen, John Henry, Harry and Katherine. Mr. Rasmussen is a member of the Galveston Chamber of Commerce and fraternally is a Mason, Scottish Rite, and a member of El Mina Temple Shrine at Galveston. Mr. Rasmussen is secretary of the Crystal Palace, and is a stockholder in various industries at Galveston, taking an active

part in the business world, and much that he has done in a business way has had a vital influence over the prosperity of Galveston. Mr. Rasmussen, like his partner, Mr. Christensen, is a fine example of the self-made man, and is in every way a public- spirited, worth-while citizen of Galveston, and is known to his associates as a man of highest integ- rity and sound executive ability, ready at all times to contribute to any cause that has for its purpose the welfare of Galveston or its advancement as a business center.

D WOODWARD of Galveston became asso- ciated with the firm of Gordon, Sewall and Company, wholesale grocers of Houston, in 1918, beginning at the bottom with that firm, and in 1922 was made manager of the branch house of this firm in this city. Prior to the estab- lishment of the branch house here under the man- agement of Mr. Woodward, Gordon Sewall and Com- pany had a small house operating here as the Gal- veston Mercantile Company, but in 1922 decided to establish the branch house here under the firm name, and Mr. Woodward opened same, which is located at 102 Twenty-fourth Street. The trade territory of Gordon, Sewall and Company extends for twenty- five miles in a circle on the mainland, the city of Galveston, and a growing export business to Mexico and the West Indies. In addition to the wholesale groceries handled by this firm, which includes the famous Rice Hotel brands, they handle ship chand- lers supplies and are sole agents for Patterson and Sargeant Marine Paints. Sixteen experienced peo- ple, which includes salesmen, are employed by this firm at Galveston, and their annual business aver- ages $800,000.00. The officers of the Gordon Sewall Company are Cleveland Sewall, president; W. D. Cooper, secretary and treasurer, and Campbell Sewall, vice president and general manager.

A native Texan, Mr. Woodward was born at Hous- ton on November 19th, 1892. His father, W. H. Woodward, came to Houston as a young man and was engaged in the railroad business practically all his life. His education was obtained in the public schools of Houston. After leaving school, Mr. Wood- ward engaged in the railroad business, and was for a period of eleven years in this line of endeavor, and had been promoted to the position of chief clerk in the International and Great Northern Railroad, when he became acquainted with the firm of Gor- don, Sewall and Company and left the railroad in order to enter the employ of this company.

Mr. Woodward was married at Houston on August 15th, 1915, to Miss Idell Alice Henderson, a native of Galveston and a member of a well known family, who later removed to Houston, and she was reared in the latter city. They have one child, Leah Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Woodward reside at the Broadmoor Apartments. Mr. Woodward is a member of the A. F. and A. M., with membership in Gray Lodge No. 329 of Houston, and has attained to the 14th degree in the Scottish Rite body of this order, having taken these degrees in Houston. He is also a member of the Galveston Chamber of Commerce, the Amer- ican Wholesale Grocers Association and the Young Men's Progressive League and the Optimist Club. Mr. Woodward is regarded as one of the most pro- gressive men among the younger bsuiness men of Galveston, and is popular in the business and social circles of this city.

1157

MEN OF TEXAS

TEPHEN FRANCIS SGITCOVICH. Gal- veston has been the home of many public- spirited men, men who have given gener- ously of their time and means that this city might grow and prosper, and of these few have done more than Stephen Francis Sgitcovich, whose name for many years was significantly associated with every forward and progressive movement. Dur- ing a busy lifetime Mr. Sgitcovich impressed him- self upon the life at Galveston as one of those re- markable personalities, combining breadth of vision, and qualities of leadership, with a practical business sense that enabled him to accomplish much, both in a commercial and a civic way. Mr. Sgitcovich was a veteran steamship man, a keen student of economic and trade conditions throughout the world, and had a special fund of information and constructive ideas on maritime affairs. He used this knowledge to advantage in building up a steamship agency and shipping business known all over the world, and was a factor in the development of Galveston into a city of maritime importance. Mr. Sgitcovich early recog- nized that the need for a national policy encouraging the development of American shipping, and urged the business men of Galveston to take recognition of this vital fact. In this connection he gave close study to the problems foreign trade presented, problems to a large degree of distance and ocean transportation, and through the establishment of his well organized and conducted shipping business, was able to a large extent to help in the solution of these problems.

Stephen Francis Sgitcovich was born at Galves- ton, Texas, the fourteenth of January, 1879, the son of Michael Sgitcovich, a native of Austria, who came to Galveston as a young man and lived here until his death. As a boy "Steve" Sgitcovich, as he was known to his many friends at Galveston, at- tended the public schools here, later entering St. Mary's College at Galveston, where he completed his studies. He then went in the office of the Daniel Ripley Steamship Company, and in the twelve years he spent there became familiar with the require- ments of shipping and through application and a capacity to study and learn above the average, made rapid advancement in the shipping business. In 1907, leaving the Daniel Ripley Steamship Company, Mr. Sgitcovich established the firm of S. Sgitcovich & Company, steamship agents and brokers, of which he was directing head until his death, and which under his management became known all over the world, and was a factor of prime importance in the development of Galveston as a shipping center. The firm was one of the largest shippers of the Gulf Coast and Galveston.

Mr. Sgitcovich was married at Galveston on the second of November, 1902, to Miss Winifred Teller, a native of Iowa, and the daughter of H. R. Teller of Canada, and a contractor in Iowa for many years, and Catherine (Delaney) Teller. Mr. and Mrs. Sgitcovich had two children: Stephen F., a grad- uate of the Galveston schools and Culver Military School, and Lucile, a graduate at St. Mary's Col- lege at Dallas, and Finch, finishing school in New York. Since Mr. Sgitcovich's death, his widow has remarried, and is now Mrs. Thomas R. Han- cock. Mr. Hancock is president of S. Sgitcovich & Company, and has been for many years with the firm and Mrs. Hancock is vice president of the

company. The family reside at 2809 Broadway.

Stephen Francis Sgitcovich died at Galveston in March, 1920. A man of sterling qualities, as a citizen and as a business man, he had for many years given a constructive interest to the development of Galveston, and his name is held in high esteem as that of one of the real builders of this city.

AMES PERRIE ALVEY. For more than four decades the name of James Perrie Alvey was of special significance in finan- cial circles at Galveston, and he was throughout this period one of the men of this sec- tion bearing heavy burdens of responsibility, and his name carried a prominence in the banking world that was an asset to the city with which it was con- nected. Aside from his activities in the banking field Mr. Alvey was one of the most public spirited cit- izens of Galveston, taking an active part in civic af- fairs, and supporting all movements directed toward the future growth of Galveston. Mr. Alvey was a keen student of economic conditions throughout the world, and had a special fund of information and constructive ideas on finance, knowledge he used to advantage in building up one of the strongest bank- ing houses at Galveston. His life was one of intense activity, and he impressed himself on the city of Galveston as one of the most remarkable bankers this city has produced, exerting an influence over the trend of commercial growth and civic prosperity.

James Perrie Alvey was born in Maryland, in 1841, and after completing his work in the schools near his home he entered the Catholic College at Georgetown, where he finished. Mr. Alvey made his entrance into the business world in the drug business, he, with Dr. T. C. Thompson, established a large whole- sale drug house at Galveston, shortly after his ar- rival in the early seventies. After the big fire of 1876, when this interest was destroyed, Mr. Alvey went to New Orleans and established a wholesale drug business which he operated some six or seven years. In 1883 he returned to Galveston, entering the field of banking, and was active in this and other businesses until his death. Mr. Alvey was for many years president of the South Texas State Bank, and was also connected with a trust company. He was a stockholder in various business enterprises, and was one of the largest property owners of Gal- veston, during the course of his busy career ac- cumulating much money and property. While pri- marily a business man, Mr. Alvey was at all times active in civic work, and supported generously all civic movements of his day, giving both of his wealth and his time that Galveston might grow and develop along progressive and modern lines.

Mr. Alvey was married at Galveston, in 1885, to Miss Jennie Mccullough, the daughter of the Rev. John McCullough, a pioneer Presbyterian minister who came to Galveston in the early days and or- ganized the first Presbyterian church to be located here. He also organized the first Presbyterian church to be established at San Antonio, and was active in religious work throughout the State until his death, which occurred in 1871. Mrs. Alvey's mother, prior to her marriage to Rev. Mccullough, was Miss Margaret Riddell. Mrs. Alvey was an ideal wife and mother, and created a home life which was delightful, and she has also been closely iden- tified with the cultural life of Galveston, and is a woman combining the social graces with those of

1158

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

the home maker. Mr. and Mrs. Alvey had an at- tractive home at 1228 Avenue I, where Mrs. Alvey continues to reside and were the parents of four children: Richard, J. P., Jr., and John Carroll Alvey, and a daughter, Mrs. Jenny Wilson.

Mr. Alvey was vice president of the Galveston Wharf Company, and was treasurer of the Rosen- berg Library, and was for many years active in public school work, taking a deep interest in educa- tional advancement. His death, which occurred the twenty-first of December, 1916, resulted in a deep loss, not only to the banking and business world, but to the city at large and his hundreds of friends in Galveston and throughout the State.

ENRY C. MOORE was for nearly a score of years prominently associated with the oil development of South Texas and the Gulf Coast oil fields. He was one of the most widely known oil men in South Texas and engaged in all of the departments of the oil industry. He was popular in the oil fraternity and had a wide circle of friends throughout the South Texass fields.

Mr. Moore first began his career in the oil indus- try with the Texas Company at Sour Lake, in the production department. He worked up to the posi- tion as head driller and remained with the Texas Company for eight years. He then withdrew from the Texas Company and organized the Lake Oil Company of which he became vice president and field manager, remaining with this company for two years. He also established the Sour Lake Ma- chine and Supply Company which dealt in oil ma- chinery which, besides the main office at Sour Lake, have branches at Liberty and Rockdale. In 1916 Mr. Moore sold out his interest in the Lake Oil Company and moved to Houston and bought the controlling interest in the Southern Petroleum Com- pany. He continued with this company for five years, during which time he was active in the de- velopment of South Texas fields. In 1921 he sold out his interest in the Southern Petroleum Company and the following year organized the Moore Motor Company, which business he conducted for over a year. In 1923, due to ill health, Mr. Moore sold out his interest in the Moore Motor Company and retired from active business but still retained an interest in the Sour Lake Machine and Supply Company.

Mr. Moore was a native of Louisiana; born in Vermillion parish, September 6, 1876. His parents were James R. and Harriet Ashworth Moore. His father and mother were both native Texans. After receiving a common school education Mr. Moore began his business career working on dredge boats in Louisiana, continuing this occupation until he came to Texas and engaged in the oil business.

Mr. Moore was first married at Beaumont, Feb- ruary 27th, 1905, to Miss Fannie Mae Mooney of Sour Lake. From this union there are three chil- dren: Charles C., Marguerite and Jennie Mae. Mr. Moore was again married on September 6th, 1917, at Temple, Texas, to Miss Mayme Morgan, daughter of Henry and Tempa Eaton Morgan. Mrs. Moore was a native of Texas, where her mother was also born, while her father was a native of Georgia.

Mr. Moore took a very active interest in the civic and social life of Texas. He held a life mem- bership in the Elks Lodge at Beaumont and was

a prominent Odd Fellow. He was thoroughly fa- miliar with all of the different departments of the oil industry, in which he had spent a greater part of his business life and was an extremely popular man in the oil fraternity.

He was a self-made man, who had by constancy of purpose and strict devotion to his business, at- tained his success through tireless industry. His death on December 25, 1925, was a distinct loss to the oil fraternity of Texas.

ULIUS GROSSMANN. For more than twenty years Julius Grossmann was known in Humble and Harris County as a leader in commercial circles, and a man whom all loved and honored. As the owner of "The Store Ahead" he set the standard for the entire commu- nity, and the store, a complete department store, carrying a full line of dry goods, notions, shoes for men and women and ready-to-wear for men and women, would have been a credit to a town many times the size of Humble. Mr. Grossmann's busi- ness career was wide and varied. As a boy he started his business experience with the William Foley Dry Goods Store of Houston, at the end of six months he became associated with the Thomas R. Franklin Department Store, where he remained for nine years. He then became connected with J. T. Mason, remaining with this firm for a period of eight years. He spent seven years in the employ of Tilbrook and Clay Department Store, after which he went with Brown Brothers Company for two years. For three years he traveled East Texas as traveling salesman for a shoe house. He went to Sour Lake during the boom days and became associated with an oil company which was operating there. He was associated with the Producers Com- pany at Humble as timekeeper at the time he engaged in his venture as owner of "The Store Ahead."

A native Texan, Mr. Grossmann was born at Houston on January 12th, 1865, at 2013 Commerce Street. The old house in which Mr. Grossmann was born still stands, and in those days this was regarded as the finest residence district of Hous- ton. His father, August Grossmann, came to the United States from Europe in 1852 and for a few years remained in the East, when he came to Hous- ton, and was one of the best known painting and decorating contractors of his time. He remained in Houston until his death in 1885. Mr. Grossmann's mother, Mrs. Charlotte (Vollers) Grossmann, was a native of Germany and came to the United States and to Galveston in 1855. His education was ob- tained in private institutions of Houston, Texas.

Mr. Grossmann was married at Houston, Texas, on January 23rd, 1895, to Miss Margaret Van Ben- thuysen, a native of Houston, and a member of a pioneer family of this city. Her father, G. E. Van Benthuysen, was born in Albany, N. Y., and came to Galveston about 1848 and in 1869 to Hous- ton, where he resided until his death. Mrs. Gross- mann still conducts the store which she helped build up from the very beginning. Mr. Grossmann was a member of the Woodmen of the World, in which organization he was active. He was buried in the Forest Hill Cemetery, Houston. Upon the passing of Mr. Grossmann on December 7th, 1924, Humble suffered the loss of one of its best loved and hon- ored citizens, and one of its most progressive and public spirited merchants.

1161

MEN OF TEXAS

ARRY TAYLOR KENDALL has spent all of his business life in the lumber industry, knows lumber as few men know it, and is one of the leading executives among lumber men of this generation. Mr. Kendall is general sales agent and a member of the board of directors of the Kirby Lumber Company, one of the leading lumber companies of the world. He came to Hous- ton in 1909 with the W. R. Pickering Lumber Com- pany of Kansas City as sales agent, and continued in this position until 1911, when he became associated with the Kirby Lumber Company as assistant sales agent, being promoted to general sales agent in 1913. He has charge of the sales of this company, both foreign and domestic, and fifty people are em- ployed in his department. Branch sales offices are maintained at the following points: New York, Chi- cago, Cleveland, St. Louis, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Dallas, New Orleans, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Havana, Cuba, with sales representatives in various other cities. The Kirby Lumber Company manufac- tures 300,000,000 feet of yellow pine lumber and Southern hardwoods annually, and it is Mr. Ken- dall's job to market this product; this in a measure indicates the magnitude of his duties.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 17

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