New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 172

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

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Mr. San Angelo was born in Gibbellina, Italy, on May 8, 1888, and was educated in the schools of his native country. He was married in Houston on January 14, 1917, to Miss Annie Tambarella, daugh- ter of N. J. Tambarella, resident of Houston for forty-five years and for a long time connected with the Rice and Bender hotels of this city. Mr. and Mrs. San Angelo reside at 2320 Travis Street.

An enterprising and successful business man, Mr. San Angelo is a splendid example of the younger type of emigrant who is quick to grasp and develop the limitless opportunities offered the active and ag- gressive man in every line of work in this country. His business has grown until it now occupies four times the space it had at the opening ten years ago and is still constantly increasing in volume. Mr. San Angelo is thoroughly imbued with American ideals of progressiveness and is a staunch booster for Houston and very optimistic concerning the city's fu- ture growth and the expansion of its trade territory. He is a member of the Houston Retail Credit Men's Association and the Texas State Traveling Men's Association.

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H. MeDOUGAL, for a score of years, has been identified with industrial activities at Houston, and since 1910, has been allied with the cleaning and dyeing industry. Mr. McDougal owns and operates the Perfecto Clean- ing and Dye Works, which he established in 1910, and which is now one of the largest of such es- tablishments at Houston. The Perfecto Cleaning and Dye Works has a large, modern establishment, the plant being in a fine building, formerly a church, at 2819 Fannin Street. The entire building is equipped with every provision for all phases of the cleaning and dyeing art, special extractors, and other machinery being installed. The dye room is equipped to do any kind of dyeing, including the most deli- cate fabrics. Twenty-four employees, and five de- livery cars, are used to handle the extensive trade. The Perfecto Cleaning and Dye Works also makes a specialty of out-of-town work and has a large vol- ume of this work, in addition to the local trade. A down-town office is also provided for the conven- ience of the many patrons, this being located at 1114 Preston Avenue. Mr. McDougal began his business in a small way, in 1910, at 810 Preston Avenue, in a small upstairs room, and with two employees. The business met with an instanta- neous success and grew rapidly, it soon being nec- essary to remove to larger quarters. Since that time several other additions to the business have been made, as the rapidly increasing trade de- manded.

Mr. McDougal was born at Hillsboro, Texas, in 1884, son of A. J. McDougal, a native of Mississippi, who came to Texas in the early eighties, and now makes his home at Runge, and Katie Kirkendol Mc- Dougal, a native of Mississippi. He was educated in the schools of Runge, and came to Houston in 1902, at which time he went with the Stude Bakery Company, remaining with this firm until he estab- lished his present business.

Mr. McDougal was married at Runge, Texas, the twenty-sixth of November, 1921, to Miss Beulah Talk, a native of that community. Mr. and Mrs. Mc- Dougal make their home in Houston, living at 1107 Tuam Street. Mr. McDougal is a member of the National Master Cleaners and Dyers Association, the Texas Master Cleaners and Dyers Association, and various civic and social clubs, such as the Ro- tary Club and the Chamber of Commerce, the Turn- verein, the Glendale Country Club, and fraternally is a Dokey and a Knight of Pythias.

ILLIAM BRETSCHNEIDER came to Hous- ton more than a decade ago and since that time has been one of the leading exponents city. of the commercial sign industry in this Mr. Bretschneider is proprietor of the I. X. L. Sign Works, which he established in 1913, three years after his arrival in Houston. This plant is one of the most modern in the city and engages in commercial sign contracting, handling any class of sign work, from the smallest to the largest. They contract for the erection of painted bulletins, wall displays, poster displays, electric signs in both metal and glass, and all kinds of illuminated signs and bulletins. Mr. Bretschneider is a fine com- mercial artist and commercial letterer, and he has offered his customers consistently the best work of which he is capable, it being one of his business principles not to lose a customer once he has gained

him. He makes a point of selling quality in a sign, rather than cheapness, and has done much in an educational way, for the sign business at Houston. The I. X. L. Sign Works has installed many of the most attractive and effective signs in the city, and have negotiated a number of important con- tracts. Mr. Bretschneider employs seven experi- enced sign men in the operation of his business. His office is located at 4021/2 Travis Street, with his plant equipped to handle work of any propor- tions, at the rear of 519 Preston Avenue. He is the sole proprietor of the establishment.

Mr. Bretschneider was born at Chicago, Illinois, the twenty-fifth of November, 1876, son of the late L. Bretschneider, who came to Texas thirty-five years ago, and settled in the eastern part of the state. Mr. Bretschneider was educated in the pub- lic schools near his home, and after leaving school went to work in a sign shop, working in various shops up until 1913 when he established his present business.

Mr. Bretschneider was married at Houston, in 1917, to Mrs. Emma Rau, who has two children.

B. THEALL came to Houston from New Or- leans in 1912 and has been engaged in the wholesale Fish business in this city since that time. Mr. Theall is the proprietor of the Fish Market at the City Market, and sells to the wholesale and retail trade, which includes the local restaurants and hotels, and ships to all portions. of the State, doing a large mail order business. Mr. Theall first came to Houston in 1908 from New Or- leans, but remained only a short time, when he went to Dallas, after which he returned to New Orleans, and in 1912 again returned to Houston and entered his present business at another location until establishing himself in the City Market. Throughout his career in the fish business, Mr. Theall has always conducted his business alone.

Mr. Theall was born in Abbeville, Louisiana, on September 12, 1886. His father, J. A. Theall, also a native of Louisiana, was for many years engaged in the general merchandising business at Abbeville, Louisiana, and was well known in the business and financial circles of the State. His mother was Miss Emily Touchy, a member of a well known Louisiana family. His education was obtained in the public schools of Abbeville.

Mr. Theall was married in Houston in 1917 to Miss Marie Stubblefield, a native of the Lone Star State and a member of a prominent South Texas family. Mr. and Mrs. Theall reside at No. 4 Eliza- beth Apartments, 1709 La Branch. Mr. Theall is a member of the Houston Chamber of Commerce and is active in this organization. He is a consistent mem- ber of the Catholic Church. Mr. Theall has always; taken a keen interest in the civic work of the city, and is active in the business and general community life of Houston. He is regarded as one of the lead- ing men engaged in his line of business, and in ad- dition to his large wholesale and retail business, has a very large retail and wholesale business located in the City Market, which is known to all the local customers and housewives as Stall No. 12, where fish of all kinds in season, shrimp, crabs and oysters are to be found in as fresh condition as is possible to keep them. Mr. Theall is optimistic as to the future of Houston and South Texas and believes that this portion of the country is entering on an era of un- precedented prosperity along all lines.

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MEN OF TEXAS

R. STUART is a thorough and conscien- tious believer in the age-old adage that "cleanliness is next to Godliness," and, dur- ing practically his entire business life, has been engaged in demonstrating the truth of this maxim. Mr. Stuart has spent more than three de- cades in the laundry business, and since 1912 has been in business for himself in Houston, and at this time is manager of the Peerless Laundry at 511 Dal- las Avenue.

Commencing in a very modest manner nearly twelve years ago, Mr. Stuart has developed the busi- ness, and, by careful management, has seen an in- crease year by year until now the Peerless is rec- ognized as one of the most modern and up-to-date laundries in South Texas. The plant has twenty-six employees and maintains five delivery cars to serve the business and residential sections of the city. The plant was established originally at 706 Heiner Street, but outgrew this location and in 1922, was removed to 511 Dallas Avenue, where larger quarters were obtained to meet the increasing demands of the business.

Mr. Stuart was born in the Southeastern part of Missouri, but, when very young, removed with his parents to Kansas, and received his education in the public schools of that state. After leaving school he began work in a laundry in Fort Smith, Arkan- sas, and remained there for six years, going then to Memphis, Tennessee, and later to Dallas, where he remained for a short time, and then worked suc- cessively in Hillsboro, Galveston and Beaumont. He was connected with various laundry companies in each of these cities, and, in 1912, removed to Hous- ton, and decided to go in business for himself. His long years of practical experience assured the suc- cess of the enterprise, and from the first the Peer- less Laundry was a profitable business.

Mr. Stuart was married in Houston in 1918, to Mrs. Flora Wolkarte, a native of Missouri. Mrs. Stuart is associated with her husband in the own- ership of the laundry, and aids in the direction of its business policies. They reside at 4917 Brady Street.

A progressive and enterprising business man, Mr. Stuart takes an active interest in civic affairs, and is an enthusiastic and consistent booster for Hous- ton and expects to continue expanding and develop- ing his business as the needs of the city demand. Mr. Stuart is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Dramatic Order Knights of Khorassan.

ENT H. EASTER, for almost a quarter of a century identified with industrial enter- prises at Houston, has for the past several years conducted a warehouse and forward- ing business in the city.

Mr. Easter gives careful attention to the handling of fine furniture and has built the reputation of a storage and warehouse man who gives his many customers the utmost satisfaction.

The position held by Mr. Easter in the industrial world at Houston represents achievement, step by step, and through careful attention to business. He came to Houston in 1905, and bought the Texas Storage Company, selling this two years later. For the following year and a half he ran on the Hous- ton and Texas Central, from Houston to Denison, after which he returned to Houston and bought one horse-drawn piano wagon, making a specialty of

moving pianos. He gave unusual care to the opera- tion of this business, and his wagon was very much in demand among people and business men who wanted the assurance that their piano would be handled on a move with such care as to insure it from even slight damage. It was not long before he found it necessary to add a second truck, and following that others, until the business has reached its present size.

Mr. Easter was born in Colorado, in 1878, son of William H. Easter, a native of Maryland, and a cattleraiser of Colorado and Kansas. Mr. Easter was educated in the public schools of Michigan and Illinois, coming to Texas in 1900, where he began his business career with the Anchor Fence Company at Fort Worth. After two years he went with the Fort Worth and Denver Railroad as fireman, for eighteen months, then he came to Houston, where he has since made his home.

Mr. Easter was married at Houston, in 1909, to Miss Norma B. White, a native of Illinois. They live at 4510 Mckinney Avenue. Mr. Easter is a member of various fraternal organizations, such as the Wood- men of the World, and the Praetorians. He belongs to the Lions Club and is a member of the American Chain of Warehouses, the State Warehouse Asso- ciation and the Houston Warehouse Association.

EN E. SMITH, for more than three decades allied with the plumbing and heating con- tracting business in South Texas, and for nearly a decade of this time city plumbing inspector and sanitary construction engineer for the City of Corpus Christi, has recently established one of the large plumbing and heating contracting con- cerns in the city, with headquarters at 2411 Main Street. Mr. Smith is qualified by many years of ex- perience to execute a contract carefully and faith- fully and he has made many friends and permanent patrons. He is engaged in a general plumbing and heating business, most of his work being residence and apartment installations. He has to his credit jobs in many of the homes and apartments in this section of the state.

Mr. Smith has been active in the plumbing and heating industry at Houston for more than thirty years, and has a large acquaintance here. He has established the reputation for reliable, high class work, and he takes a pride in giving friendly serv- ice that is combined with the highest workmanship. Mr. Smith was city plumbing inspector for nine years in Corpus Christi, making many radical im- provements over existing plumbing conditions by his consistent endeavor to bring Corpus Christi plumb- ing standards to the highest point. He was also sanitary sewer construction engineer for a like period, and under his supervision many extensions were made to the sewer system of the city.

Mr. Smith was born at Huntsville, Texas, in 1878, son of James H. and Fannie R. Fisher Smith. He was educated in the public schools of Houston, to which city the family removed in 1890, and gradu- ated from the high school here. After leaving school he engaged in plumbing work, which he has since followed.

Mr. Smith was married at Houston, in 1897, to Miss Fairy Biggs. They make their home at 2411 Main Street, and have two children, W. R. Smith and Halton F. Smith. Mr. Smith is a Knight of Pythias.

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OSEPH M. MINTON, for upwards of a de- cade and a half associated with the life in- surance business, has for the past twelve years maintained his headquarters in Hous- ton, where his capable direction of the affairs of his company have made him a factor in the insur- ance circles of his city. Mr. Minton is General Agent for the Volunteer State Life Insurance Com- pany, the agency here having been established in May, 1908, by Warren R. Ellis, who was General Agent for eleven years, until his death in 1919, at which time Mr. Minton succeeded him. The agency covers the Southern half of the Lone Star State, with all business handled through the Houston office. Mr. Minton believes in having a compact, but complete organization, and under his direction has built a well functioning agency system, with district managers and local agents, all working under carefully formu- lated plans. The staff of twenty agents now with the agency, are all carefully selected men, capable of real personal production, and will be increased as ex- pansion of business and agents meeting the high standards set by Mr. Minton justify. All salesmen now with the company, except those of recent ap- pointment, have been with this company around a decade. The insurance now in force in this agency totals near the seven million mark and a large vol- ume is being put on the books annually.

Joseph M. Minton was born at Geneva, Texas, the ninth of February, 1887. His father, W. H. Minton, a farmer, came to Texas from Nashville, Tennessee, in 1852, in which time his father, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, came to Texas. His mother, before her marriage, Miss Margaret Lu- cenia Maddox, was born near San Augustine, Texas, and is the daughter of an old Alabama family. Mr. Minton was educated in the public schools near his home, later attending the North Texas State Nor- mal, at Denton, where he graduated in 1907, with a diploma giving him a life certificate as a teacher. The following two years were spent in educational work, after which he entered the life insurance busi- ness with the intention of making it his life's work. He came with the Volunteer State Life Insurance Company in 1909, as local salesman at Brookeland, Texas, a few years later moving to Houston and traveling out of here until 1919, when he succeeded Mr. Ellis as General Agent. His entire insurance experience has been with this company, and he has a record for real production that few insurance men can equal.

Mr. Minton was married at Houston, Texas, on the thirtieth of November, 1917, to Miss Stella R. Fite. They have one child, Ruth, and make their home at 1704 Ruth Street. Mr. Minton is a mem- ber of the Temple Lodge A. F. and A. M., and the Rose Croix, eighteenth degree, at Houston. He has been President of the South Texas Life Underwriters for two years, is a member of the Executive Com- mittee of the National Association of Life Under- writers, and takes an active part in the work of the Kiwanis Club, the Houston Chamber of Commerce, and he is Chairman of the Alexander Hamilton In- stitute group. Mr. Minton takes a deep interest in all civic activities and is ready to assist in any movement directed toward the welfare and future growth of his city. In insurance circles he is re- garded as one of the foremost men in the State, and has established a record as builder of a real star agency.

M. NUSSBAUM, owner and manager of the Metal Products Company, of Houston, has been identified with industrial activities here for a score of years. The Metal Prod- ucts Company was organized in December, 1924, and has offices in the First National Bank Building. It specializes in Grand and Rawlings Door Holding devices, Automatic Window Locks, and the demand for these products has been especially gratifying, practically all new buildings now going up in Hous- ton being equipped with these specialties, as well as installations having been made on buildings al- ready constructed. Branches are also maintained in New Orleans, La .; Dallas and San Antonio, Tex. In addition to these branches the products are na- tionally sold by various hardware dealers and dis- tributors throughout the country, and have met with the instant approval of architects and engi- neers everywhere. They are used as standard equip- ment on all government and practically all state and county buildings, also educational, hospital and other public buildings.

H. M. Nussbaum was born at Houston, Texas, the thirtieth of June, 1884, son of the late P. S. Nuss- baum, and Mrs. Augusta (Cohen) Nussbaum, both natives of Alsace-Lorraine, who resided in Houston for many years. Mr. Nussbaum was educated in the schools of Texas, and as a young man went with the Magnolia Paper Company, remaining with that firm twenty years, and resigning to establish his present business.

Mr. Nussbaum was married at Galveston, on the twenty-sixth of June, 1910, to Miss Sara D. Blum, daughter of Ben Blum and Rose (Mehrbach) Blum, natives of France. Mr. and Mrs. Nussbaum reside in the Humphreys Apartments, at the corner of La Branch and Francis Streets, and have one child, Augusta. Mr. Nussbaum is a Mason, Dallas 760, and belongs to the Houston Chamber of Commerce and Temple Beth Israel.

MINCHEN has for eleven years been en- gaged in the real estate business in Hous- ton and during this period has successfully developed several additions to the city, be- sides doing a large business in the selling and buy- ing of real estate. Mr. Minchen is president and manager of the Fidelity Realty Corporation, with office located at 408 Union National Bank Building. The Fidelity Addition, consisting of two hundred and forty-two acres, is being sold by Mr. Minchen and is building up rapidly. This property is about mid- way between the turning basin and the Galena Re- finery, and is across the channel from Manchester. When this property is settled, it will be a great aid to the industrial plants of every character on the ship channel, in furnishing help for all this work, as they will be living in contiguous territory to all plants on the ship channel. Mr. Minchen is de- veloping an addition at the end of San Felipe Street for colored people. This addition is a private ven- ture of his own and it has proved a success.

A native Texan, Mr. Minchen was born at Austin May 18th, 1886. His father, Meyer Minchen, was engaged all his life in the investment business at Austin. Mr. Minchen attended the public schools at Austin until he was thirteen years of age, and has made his way in the world since that time, obtaining, through self help, a good, practical edu- cation, and has helped other members of his fam-

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NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

ily. He learned the real estate business while in the employ of the Magnolia Park Land Company, where he remained for several years and then en- tered business for himself. Mr. Minchen's brother, Maurice Minchen, began the study of law during his service in the army and afterward graduated from the law department of the University of Texas. He studied law at the Mexico School of Jurisprudence, and received the degree of Licen- ciado, and is the only American in Mexico prac- ticing law with the title of Licenciado. He is now practicing his profession at 211 Cook Building, San Juan de Letran 24, Mexico City, Mexico.

Mr. Minchen was married in Houston, January 14th, 1922, to Miss Mayme Pesses, a native Texan and a daughter of A. M. Pesses, well known Hous- ton business man. Mr. and Mrs. Minchen reside at 815 Colquitt Street. Mr. Minchen is a member of the A. F. and A. M. with membership in Hol- land Lodge No. 1 of Houston, and is a Shriner of Arabia Temple and a member of the Consistory of Galveston. He also holds membership in the I. O. O. F., the Twentieth Century No. 510 and the Houston Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Minchen has always been active in the busi- ness, social and general community life of Hous- ton, and gives liberally of his time and means to all projects tending to the welfare and advancement of this city, which he believes will continue its steady, consistent growth, and will soon become the metropolis of the Southwest.

S. H. MINCHEN, actively identified with the real estate business at Houston for a decade and a half, has been a factor in com- munity affairs, and an integral part of home building progress in the city. In 1914 Mr. Minchen established the Minchen Realty and Investment Company, which he has since operated as sole owner, with offices in the West Building. The success which has marked the operation of this firm is large- ly a reflection of the ideals and business acumen of Mr. Minchen. He devotes a large part of his time to the development of unimproved property, and has opened up various subdivisions, one of these being Woodland Park Addition, which have built up rapidly. Mr. Minchen finances these building op- erations, takes charge of the construction work, using his own workmen, and has been instrumental in placing a large number of home owners in homes. He has the keen business judgment to foresee the trend of the city's growth, buying property wherever the demand is greatest, and building homes. Every addition that he has stamped with his approval has been successful and he has located home owners in all parts of the city. He is familiar with the plan and operation of financing homes, and with his business ability combines fidelity and conscientious responsibility.

Mr. Minchen was born at Austin, Texas, the twen- ty-first of April, 1892, son of M. Minchen, member of an old Austin family, and well known investment and real estate man of that city. Mr. Minchen at- tended the public schools of his city, graduating into his father's business, which career he has since fol- lowed. He came to Houston in 1909, establishing his present business, his activities having wide scope since he is also interested in the Bay Front Corpora- tion and the Woodlawn Park Company.

Mr. Minchen was married at San Antonio, Texas,

in 1918, to Miss Winnie Craft, whose parents, well known Houston residents, came to Texas from Mis- sissippi. Mr. and Mrs. Minchen have an attractive home at 103 Maplewood Avenue, in one of the best residential districts of the city.

During the recent war Mr. Minchen enlisted in service, as Sergeant of the 360th Infantry, of the 90th Division, serving with this famous division throughout the conflict. He is a member of the American Legion, and fraternally is a Modern Wood- men of America and a Praetorian. From the stand- point of ability and integrity there are few young business men in Houston who stand higher, and he has friends by the hundreds who wish him the suc- cess that seems assured, a success founded upon his assistance in aiding his fellow citizens to own homes and thus become better citizens.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 172

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