New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 170

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

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Although Mr. Wolfe has only been in business for a short time, he has made rapid strides for a young man, and under his management the Texas Bag and Burlap Company should continue its prosperous career. After leaving school he looked over the country, and after considering a numer of proposi- tions, came to Houston, as offering opportunities. He entered the bag and bagging industry in 1915, with which he has since been associated.

Mr. Wolfe was married in Houston, in 1918, to Miss Levintin, a native of this city. They make their home at 1817 Elgin Avenue, and have one child, Renna. Mr. Wolfe is a member of the Salesmanship Club, and belongs to several fraternal organizations, the Knights of Pythias, the Dokies, the Elks and the I. O. B. B. and Masons.

R. A. H. KUTSCHBACH, D. V. M., Four- teenth and Studewood, has made a special study of the requirements of hog growers in the territory surrounding Houston and his research work in cholera prevention has re- sulted in saving thousands of dollars for the owners of many fine herds near Houston. Dr. Kutschbach does a general practice in veterinary medicine and surgery, but pays special attention to work among fine hogs and is in charge of many of the best herds near Houston besides having an exceptionally fine lot of his own.

It was during the World War that Dr. Kutsch- bach became actively interested in hog cholera work. Dr. Frank Jones, connected with the government veterinary service, obtained the aid of Dr. Kutsch- bach in cleaning up the cholera epidemic at Camp Logan and from there he was called to many places in South Texas while the disease was so prevalent throughout this section of the State. His success in stamping out the disease was phenomenal and all over the Southwest he is recognized as an expert in cholera prevention work. Hogs that are to be fed on garbage are inoculated with anti-cholera se- rum as soon as received and as a rule no further trouble is experienced. An important part of the work done by Dr. Kutschbach is in the education of owners and feeders and getting them to realize the importance of preventative measures. During the war Dr. Kutschbach used annually over one million c.c.'s of anti-cholera serum.

Dr. Kutschbach was born in Houston on July 18, 1890, and is a son of William and Mary (Pretzel) Kutschbach. His mother is the oldest florist in Houston and has resided in one place in the city since she was eighteen years of age. She is now over sixty years of age and was born in Houston.

Her mother, Mrs. Pretzel, owned the first grocery store in Houston, located west of Buffalo Bayou. She was a member of one of the oldest families of this section, her people having emigrated here before the Civil War.

After studying in the public and high schools of Houston, Dr. Kutschbach entered the Kansas City Veterinary College at Kansas City, Missouri, where he graduated with the degree of Doctor of Veteri- nary Medicine in 1913. During his vacation in 1912 Dr. Kutschbach worked in Galveston for Jimmie Rinker and upon the completion of his course lo- cated in Houston.

Dr. Kutschbach was married in Houston to Miss Mattie Lockhart, daughter of F. L. Lockhart, and member of a pioneer family. They have three chil- dren, Anna B., Albert, Jr., and Robert.

In addition to his hog cholera prevention work Dr. Kutschbach has also made some special study of tick eradication and believes that success will come to this movement when it is more generally understood by the cattle owners and the methods in use by the government have been improved. Dr. Kutschbach takes an active interest in all matters pertaining to his profession and is a member of the Texas Veterinary Medical Association. He owns a lovely home on a tract of sixteen lots at Fourteenth and Studewood and in addition has a tract of forty acres, which he expects eventually to develop as city property.

ARRY H. HOLT for nearly two decades has been identified with the drug trade at Hous- ton and has attained the highest regard of his associates for his activities in this line and his interest in civic development. Mr. Holt is the proprietor of Holt's Pharmacy, one of the oldest established drug stores in the city, and located at 2402 Mckinney Avenue. This business was estab- lished by Mr. Holt the twenty-fourth of November, 1906, at that time being located across the street from the present location at 2401 Mckinney Ave- nue. In July, 1923, Mr. Holt moved into his new location in the Holt Building, a modern, fireproof structure erected at a cost of almost twenty thou- sand dollars as a permanent home for his drug store. Mr. Holt has three competent employees who assist him in conducting his business in accordance with the highest business ideals, and he has built up a large trade in his vicinity. A carefully selected and complete stock is carried, and with a well func- tioning prescription department maintained in keep- ing with the highest standards, the store is there- fore able to offer to its patrons a superior drug service.

Harry H. Holt was born at Tullahoma, Tennessee, on the twenty-first of April, 1875. His father, Dr. J. D. Holt, a native of Tennessee, came to Bastrop County, Texas, in 1877 and was one of the most prominent physicians here until his death. His mother, before her marriage Miss Eleanor Gilbert, was also a native of Tennessee, and now makes her home in Houston with her son. Mr. Holt attended the public schools of Bastrop County, later entering Baylor Medical College, at Dallas, in the department of pharmacy, where he took his pharmacy degree in 1904. He then went to Velasco where he was a drug clerk for one year, after which he went to Frisco, in Collin County, remaining there also for one year. He then toured South Texas looking for a location

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for a business of his own, and stopped off at Hous- ton, where he met S. C. Randell, of the Southern Drug Company, and decided that his future lay in Houston. Shortly afterward, in November, 1906, he opened his drug store in this city and has continued to operate it until the present time.

Mr. Holt was married at Montgomery, Texas, the fifteenth of November, 1905, to Miss Sallie Binford, a native of Montgomery County, and a cousin of the present sheriff of Harris County. Her father, T. D. Binford, a native of the Lone Star State, was one of the most prominent residents of Montgomery Coun- ty until his death. Mr. and Mrs. Holt have one child, Fay Estelle, a graduate of Houston High School. The family make their home at 1109 Elgin Street. Mr. Holt is a man whose integrity and sound business ability have been vital factors in building up a high class drug store, and he has many friends in this city.

LAN THEODORE COOKE, for more than two decades a resident of Houston, and head of one of the electrical contracting businesses here, has been held in high es- teem for his work in the upbuilding of his commun- ity, as well as for his activities in the business life of the city. Mr. Cooke handles a general electrical contracting business, operating under his own name, and employing a force of highly trained men. He has handled many large and important contracts, doing all the electrical work in such buildings as the Lincoln Theatre, the New Masonic Temple, Y. W. C. A. Dormitory, the Sheppard Estate Apart- ments, the Bailey Motor Sales Company, the Hous- ton Post Building, the Milby Hotel, the Lavielle Apartments, the Hamilton Building, the Catholic Women's Club, the Keisling Building, the fine new homes of Captain C. A. Barbour and J. W. Link, and others. Mr. Cooke also gives special attention to the wiring and installation in smaller homes, and has had the contract for about three hundred homes in Montrose. These represent some of his more re- cent contracts.

Mr. Cooke was born in Manchester, England, in 1887, son of Henry Collier Cooke, and Elizabeth Ann Fenton Cooke, the elder Mr. Cooke being an archi- tect in Houston, Texas, and a member of the firm of Cooke and Company, which firm built many of the important buildings of Houston. Mr. A. T. Cooke came to America in 1890 and received his early schooling in Texas, in 1903 returning to his native country, where he attended Southport Col- lege for two years, returning to America in 1904. He went with the Houston Light and Power Com- pany, spending one year with this corporation, fol- lowed by two years with Albert Cramer, Houston electrical contractor, two years with the Barden Electric Company, and two years with the W. A. Corroa Company, of Saint Louis, after which he es- tablished his present business. During the recent war Mr. Cooke volunteered, in August, 1918, enlist- ing in the air service, and training at Ellington Field. He was discharged in February, 1919.

Mr. Cooke was married in Houston in 1910, to Miss Ellenita Gagne, daughter of Philip Gagne, who was born in Houston, on the lot where the Binz Building now stands, and Elizabeth Lehman Gagne. Mr. and Mrs. Cooke reside at 1415 Kipling Avenue, and have a family of two children, Alan T., Junior, and Elizabeth Barbara. Mr. Cooke is a member of

Gray Lodge No. 329, A. F. and A. M., and Wash- ington Chapter No. 2, R. A. M., a Knight of Py- thias and a member of the Builders Exchange. He supports the Episcopal Church in religious belief. Mr. Cooke has by his policy of careful attention to the interest of his clients built up a successful elec- trical contracting business in the city, and with a rapidly increasing patronage, has an exceptionally bright future.

ARRY H. FISHER has been engaged in business in Houston for more than twenty years and has witnessed some of the most important developments in the city's his- tory, including the building and opening of the famous Houston Ship Channel which placed the city in the very forefront of the shipping industry. Mr. Fisher now is engaged in the plumbing and heat- ing business as a contractor, maintaining his shop and work rooms at 2517 Taft Street. The business is operated as Harry H. Fisher, plumbing and heat- ing contractor, and Mr. Fisher is the sole owner. For 19 years he was connected with the Modern Plumbing and Electric Company as partner and half owner of the business.

Devoting his entire time to new contract work, Mr. Fisher has had the contract for some of the most important building jobs completed in Houston during the past few years. Among these jobs were the Butler Perryman new home, Dr. Cox Apartment Building, L. Cabert apartment house, Charles F. Parker home and the residence of Haywood Helms. Mr. Fisher has from eight to ten employes all the time and every man is an expert workman. Mr. Fisher personally superintends a great deal of the work contracted by him and sees to it that the very best of material and workmanship goes into every job.

Mr. Fisher is a native of Texas and was born at Willis, on August 14, 1877. His parents were Charles N. and Mary (Upsher) Fisher. The elder Fisher was engaged for many years in the lumber business and removed to Houston when his son was still a boy. Completing his studies in the public and high schools of Houston, Mr. Fisher worked on a gulf steamboat for five years and then went into the plumbing business in which he has continued for twenty-one years. His business has grown until now. Mr. Fisher is one of the leading plumbing contractors of the city and is highly popular with fellow members of the building trades. He is an active member of the Master Plumbers Association of Texas and also the Society of Sanitary Engi- neers of Houston.

In 1906 Mr. Fisher was married at Houston to Miss Edna Pearl Cortes, a daughter of Henry W. and Mary Cortes of Houston. Mr. Cortes is one of the pioneer hardware merchants of the city. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher have three children, Mildred Ruth, fifteen; Mary Pearl, twelve, and Henry Herbert, ten. Mr. Fisher is a great believer in the future of Hous- ton and predicts a population of half a million people during the coming decade. He believes the further expansion of Houston's shipping will inevitably in- crease the city's prosperity and add materially to the volume of business done here in every line. Mr. Fisher takes an active interest in civic affairs and is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

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RED N. LOGAN, plumbing and heating con- tractor, has during the vast building era in the growth of Houston been a factor in supplying an enormous demand for plumbing and heating material, which has been required. Mr. Logan's shop is located at 1418 Kip- ling Avenue, where, in addition to his contracting business, he handles gas ranges, bath room trim- mings, water heaters, plumbing fixtures, and does general repair work. Mr. Logan has confined his plumbing and heating work to apartment houses, residences and small buildings, and practically all his work is done in the city, where he employs ten experienced people. He has a splendid location and does a fine business.

Mr. Logan was born at Marquette, Kansas, in 1885. His father, A. P. Logan, was a well known building contractor of Kansas. His mother, Mrs. Emily Logan, was widely known as a church and charity worker. Mr. Logan's education was ob- tained in the public schools of Houston. When quite young Mr. Logan entered the building and contract- ing business with his father, and continued in this line of work for several years. In 1910 he engaged in the plumbing business in Houston for himself, and his business has had a steady growth since that time.

Mr. Logan was married in Houston in 1909, to Miss Vada Turvin. Mr. and Mrs. Logan reside at 1418 Kipling Avenue. Mr. Logan is a member of the Scottish Rite body of the Masonic fraternity and is a Shriner of Arabla Temple. He is a mem- ber of the Houston Builders' Exchange and the Master Plumbers' Association of Houston, Texas, and the National body. Mr. Logan has great faith in the future of Houston, and is looking forward to an era of great business prosperity in all lines.

R. ROBERTS has been identified with the business interests of Houston for more than ten years past, having become a resident of the city in 1912. Mr. Roberts is a plumb- ing and heating contractor and has his shop and work rooms at 1607 Main Street, in one of the best locations in the city. Himself a master plumber, he employs only the best mechanics obtainable and personally supervises a great deal of the work entrusted to him. Since going into business for himself, Mr. Roberts has built up a large following in Houston and vicinity and the high character of his work together with his announced policy of a square deal and fair prices, has resulted in his bus- iness showing a substantial increase each year.

After coming to Houston in 1912 he worked as a master plumber and was employed by some of the best concerns in the city until he concluded to establish his own shop. He now does a general contracting business and in addition does a great deal of repairing and general overhauling work. He carries a complete stock of parts, fittings, etc., and has ten regular employes, with extra men during the busy season.

A native of England, Mr. Roberts was born in Birmingham, on January 6, 1871. He is a son of Samuel and Mary Roberts and received his edu- cation in the public and private schools of his native land. His father was also a plumbing contractor and Mr. Roberts learned the first details of the trade in his father's shop in Birmingham. He com- pleted his apprenticeship and was a master plumber

before coming to America. Before coming to the United States Mr. Roberts worked on many famous buildings in Europe and, among many others, was foreman in charge of the plumbing and heating work on the Grand Hotel at Rome, Italy; the Naval Acad- emy at Leghorn, Italy; the Bank of Tuscanat at Florence, the residence of Sir Edgar Vincent and the Grand Hotel at Constantinople. He has been connected with a number of important building jobs since coming to Houston.

In 1911 Mr. Roberts was married in California to Miss Emma Rosenberg. They have one son, Reg- inald. The family home is at 1409 Leeland Avenue.

Mr. Roberts is an interesting talker and his ex- tensive travels have given him a fund of experiences and culture that only travel among the countries of the old world can give. He takes an active in- terest in civic affairs, is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Houston Chamber of Commerce and is secretary of the Master Plumb- ers Association of Houston. He also is secretary of the East Texas League of Master Plumbers. Mr. Roberts is thoroughly imbued with the Houston spirit and is very optimistic regarding the city's future growth and development, believing it will become one of the largest cities of the South. '

H. TAYLOR, well known real estate dealer of Houston has been a factor in the business circles of this city for almost a quarter of a century, having prior to entering the real estate business in 1910, been for eleven years active as a railroad official. Mr. Taylor came to Hous- ton in 1899 from Kansas City, Missouri, and is engaged in a general real estate business, with office located at 906-7 Second National Bank Building. While Mr. Taylor handles business property in the city, he specializes in industrial sites and factory locations. He has achieved a great deal in his ef- forts towards locating many industries here. It was through his efforts that the Deutser Furniture Com- pany located here. They were originally located at Beaumont. Mr. Taylor was instrumental in locat- ing the following plants on the ship channel: Mon- crief-Lenoir Manufacturing Company, Armour Fer- tilizer Company, Houston Milling Company and the Weld and Neville Cotton Company Compress, and many other plants and factories.

Mr. Taylor was born in Tennessee in 1866, and removed to Texas with his parents when four years of age. His parents, Jesse Taylor and Emily S. Taylor, both natives of Tennessee, came to Texas in 1869 and settled in Brazos County, near the town of Bryan and the A. and M. College. His education was obtained in the public schools at various places in the state. When a youth, Mr. Taylor entered the employ of a railroad company at Galveston and has served in practically every capacity in the rail- way system. Mr. Taylor was general freight agent of the Houston and Texas Central Railroad when he came to Houston in 1899, and was later made general agent of the Southern Pacific railroad system, which included the Morgan Steamship Lines.

Mr. Taylor was married in Dallas, November 13th, 1897, to Miss Ida Mae Pittman, a member of a pio- neer Texas family and a sister of George Pittman, vice president of the National Exchange Bank of Dallas. They have one son, William H. Taylor, Jr., who graduated from the A. and M. College with the

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C. E. Degree and is associated with the Houston Electric Company and is a 1st Lieutenant O. R. C. Mr. Taylor is a member of the A. F. & A. M. with membership in Holland Lodge No. 1 of Houston and is an 18th degree Scottish Rite of that order. He is a member of the Houston Chamber of Commerce, and is ex-president of the Houston Real Estate Board, having served that organization as president during the year 1920. He is a loyal member of the Christian Church. Mr. Taylor has great faith in the future of Houston, and believes the time is near at hand when it will become the leading city of the Southwest.

KE KAISER, one of the best known cotton men in Houston, grew up in the cotton busi- ness and knows every detail of its handling from actual experience covering a period of many years. Mr. Kaiser is owner of the firm of Kaiser and Company, cotton merchants, with offices at 311 Westheimer Building. A complete organiza- tion is maintained for the handling of domestic and f. o. b. business and a buying staff of four men is retained for handling interior purchases.

The business was established in 1890 and operated at that time as L. Kaiser and Company. The elder Kaiser was an old time cotton man who came to Houston in 1890 from Hempstead, Texas. He was born in Vicksburg, Miss., and came to Texas as a young man following the close of the Civil War. He was a very successful business man and accumulated a large estate, but his principal interest was always the cotton business. Upon his retirement the busi- ness was taken over by his son who continued it as Kaiser and Company.

Ike Kaiser is a native of Texas and was born at Hempstead on June 8, 1883, a son of L. and Jeannette (Lazarous) Kaiser. His parents were married at Marlin, Texas, while his mother was there on a visit to relatives, her former home being in New Orleans. Mrs. Kaiser died in 1917 and the elder Kaiser in 1920.

The family removed to Houston when Ike Kaiser was eight years of age and he received his educa- tion in the public and high schools of this city. He started in the cotton business with his father, work- ing first as office boy and progressing by successive stages until he became the head of the firm. He has bought, sold and classed cotton, handled linters and everything pertaining to the business.

On June 7th, 1905, Mr. Kaiser was married at Houston to Miss Elma Meyer, daughter of B. A. Meyer, for many years a well known merchant of Houston. They have one son, Earl R., who is ap- proaching manhood and who is being trained in the business built up by his father and grandfather.

Besides his cotton business Mr. Kaiser is manager of the large estate left by his father, which includes the Kaiser Apartments built by him. The estate is also interested in a number of other valuable proper- ties in the city.

Mr. Kaiser believes that Houston has just started on the way to leadership among the large cities of the Southwest and that with its commanding position as a shipping center it will eventually outstrip all the cities not only of Texas but of the entire South- west. The extension of the deep water channel, he believes, will add much to Houston's prestige and prosperity.

A progressive and enterprising citizen, Mr. Kaiser takes an active interest in civic affairs and is al- ways ready to aid in any movement for the develop- ment of Houston. He is a member of the Cotton Exchange and Salesmanship Club and also a mem- ber of the Sons of Hermann of Houston.

AX SCHNITZER for many years has been an active figure in the business and man- ufacturing circles of Houston, where he is president and manager of the Magnolia Company, Inc., which is one of Houston's Paper finest manufacturing plants. This business was established by Mr. Schnitzer and Rene S. Levy in 1901 in a very small way and was first a partner- ship and was later incorporated. When first estab- lished, this firm had a floor space of about thirty feet by seventy feet, but their business grew so rapidly until it was necessary to have much more room, and during 1923 their large plant, located at 1805-13 Glaser Place, was constructed. They have a fine, reinforced concrete, fire-proof building of four stories, which occupies an entire city block, with a superior system of lighting for their em- ployees, and more than one hundred people are employed in this manufacturing plant. They have fifteen men on the road, who cover Texas, Louis- iana, New Mexico, Arizona and a part of Colorado. The Magnolia Paper Company, Inc., have the finest paper box factory in the Southwest, and manufac- ture any and all kinds of paper boxes. Mr. Rene S. Levy is secretary of the company.

Mr. Schnitzer was born at Prussia, Germany, and came to the United States with his parents when eleven years of age. His father and mother, both natives of Germany, who came to America when Mr. Schnitzer was a mere boy, died in St. Louis. Mr. Schnitzer attended the schools of Germany be- fore coming to America, and later attended the public schools of St. Louis, where he started his business career as a newsboy and later became a traveling salesman, and was on the road for the Continental Paper Bag Company, covering the southwest part of the United States. He had been visiting Houston at intervals, and in 1901, together with Mr. Levy, opened the business of the Magnolia Paper Company, Inc., which has grown to be one of the largest and most complete establishments of its kind in the Southwest.

Mr. Schnitzer was married in Houston in 1900 to Miss Lilly Rosa Levy, a member of a pioneer Houston family and a niece of Philip House, a prominent business man, well known over Texas. They have two children-Ralph, associated with his father's firm, and Miss Maxine, at home with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Schnitzer reside at 4115 Caroline Street. Mr. Schnitzer is a member of the Masonic fraternity, with membership in Hol- land Lodge No. 1, of Houston, is a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason, and is a Shriner of Arabia Temple. He is also a member of the Rotary Club and of various civic clubs of the city. Mr. Schnitzer has always been an advocate of efficiency, prompt- ness and punctuality among the employees of his large plant, where he is popular, and many of the company employees look to him for counsel and advice in matters concerning their private affairs, and seldom it is that he has not the right solution to offer for their problems.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 170

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