New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 174

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

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into the great churches of Naples with his hands full of clay and there making crude models of the likenesses of the statues of the Saints. The first serious thoughts given to the genius of this boy came through his Godfather, who later became a senator in the Italian Parliament. He was amazed to the extent that he destroyed the miniatures which the boy had made, gave him a new supply of clay, locked him in his room and directed that he should there remain until he had duplicated the work which had been thrown away, numbered among which was a miniature of the Duc d' Aosta, this was the manner in which he wanted the young artist to prove him- self, which he did to the complete satisfaction of his Godfather. Raffaelle Belliazzi, a leading sculp- tor of Italy, was prevailed upon to take young Cerracchio as a pupil, after which followed years of study, with two hours of practice each day in marble art. When Mr. Cerracchio had reached the age of twenty years his tutor told him that he could go no further with his education, and that the young artist's future was entirely in his own hands. In the meantime, Mr. Cerracchio had had dreams of the wonderful America, so packing his tools he set sail for the land of his choice. On his arrival at New York, his hopes of quick employment faded into oblivion and his ambitions to appropriate to himself the laurels of his profession in this awe-inspiring land went glimmering with the passing of time. After a series of hard times, he obtained work with a construction crew where he wielded a pick and shovel, but being too light for this class of work, he was made a timekeeper. He remained with this crew for three months, and he says that he gained enough experience in that line during this period to last through his entire life. In the months follow- ing he worked at many kinds of work and experi- enced many hardships, until one day he modeled a bust for a Pittsburgh banker. That was the start which he had waited and labored for, but he became a victim of asthma and was advised by doctors to move South to get the warm sun, so much like sunny Italy, so he decided to come to the Southwest of which he had heard and read so much. In 1914 he came to Texas and to Houston, arriving here just before the beginning of the World War, and has remained here since that time and is affectionately known by the citizenship here as "Houston's Own Sculptor."

Mr. Cerracchio was married July 27th, 1907, to Miss Marion Kowalski of Shamokin, Pennsylvania. They have two children: Genevieve and Harold. The Cerracchio home is at 3504 Audubon Street. He is enthusiastic as to the future of Houston and be- lieves that within a period of less than ten years this city will be the art center of the South, and that America is soon to lead the entire world in art culture. During his residence here he has been a constant worker to make this city an art center, and has aided in every way in the progress along this line. His absorbing desire is to make the City of Houston and the State of Texas, an art mecca sec- ond to none in the United States. He has been an ardent worker to secure that one thing which makes for continual progress-the whole-hearted co-op- eration of community and State, which has been as- sured through his efforts to awaken the citizens of the Lone Star State to the importance of such a work and what it means to every Texan.

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NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

LARENCE A. HAMMOND came to Houston in 1917 and established the Houston Con .. servatory of Music, which has enjoyed a growth and expansion that has been beyond the expectations of Mr. Hammond and his friends. He has just sold the property at 3717 Main Street and is building a new building, which will be the finest conservatory in Texas when completed. Mr. Hammond employs ten teachers, each of whom is an expert in the subject taught, and these subjects in- clude piano, voice, violin, brass and wood wind in- struments, dancing and expression. In the class of 1923 and 1924 there were more than four hundred pupils, and the idea primarily of the new building is to be able to accommodate more pupils, as many were not able to be cared for until a larger build- ing was constructed. The first unit of the Houston Conservatory of Music will cost $50,000.00 and will be a full block in size and located in the vicinity of the Houston Art Museum and the proposed Sam Houston Monument. The decision to establish the new Conservatory of Music in that district, on Main Boulevard, adds immeasurably to the importance and beauty of that section of the city as an art and educational center.

Mr. Hammond was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, September 27th, 1882. His father, Thomas Wesley Hammond, was for many years engaged in general business in Vicksburg, but is now retired from active business pursuits. His early education was obtained in the public and high schools of Jefferson County, Mississippi, after which he went to Chicago to study piano under Emile Liebling, where he remained for eight years under the tutelage of this famous musi- . cian. He then went to Vienna, where he studied under Lescheztsky for a period of eight years. In 1914, Mr. Hammond returned to America and founded the Hammond School of Music at Montgom- ery, Alabama, where he remained until 1917, when he was induced by the Chamber of Commerce to come to Houston and locate, which he did, and soon thereafter established the Houston Conservatory of Music, which met with the favor of the public immediately.

Mr. Hammond was married at Gulfport, Mis- sissippi, in 1911 to Miss Ora Brewer, a daughter of Leroy and Annie Brewer, prominent citizens of the state of Mississippi. They have one child, Mozart, ten years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Hammond reside at 3101 Main Street. In fraternal organizations, Mr. Hammond holds membership in the Knights of Pythias, Woodmen of the World and the Modern Woodmen. He is a consistent member of the Cath- olic Church. Mr. Hammond has great faith in the future of Houston, and believes that it will not only become the music center of the Southwest, but the largest city. Mr. Hammond expects to occupy the Houston Conservatory of Music in time to begin the season of 1925 there. The instructors will be selected from the very best in this country and some of them will come from Europe. The instructor in violin will come from Prague, Austria. Every particle of the material and equipment for the build- ing, including the musical instruments, will be pur- chased in Houston, where Mr. Hammond believes just as good musical instruments can be purchased as can be obtained from any other point, not only in America, but in the world.

NTONE DIEHL, head of Diehl's Select School of Music, 3906 Fannin Street, has been actively identified with the musical, social and civic life of Houston for the past thirty-six years, and is one of the best known music masters of South Texas. He is a teacher of violin and piano, but the Diehl School in its various de- partments includes comprehensive courses in prac- tically every branch of music. A high class depart- ment for the study of the French language is main- tained under the personal supervision of Mrs. An- tone Diehl, an accomplished linguist and a wonder- fully cultured woman. Altogether, four teachers are employed in the school, which accepts only a limited number of students who are required to show certain ability before admission to the school.

A native of Germany, Mr. Diehl was born in Wies- baden in 1867, a son of George and Marie Diehl. His father was an official in the German government service and gave to his son the best education ob- tainable in the finest German schools and colleges. After completing his literary studies, Mr. Diehl en- tered the violin school operated by Wilhelmj, where he studied the violin for several seasons. Piano and harmony studies were under the famous Kela Bela. In 1884 Mr. Diehl came to America and for a short time was located in Cincinnati. He then removed to New Orleans where he remained for three years, teaching and appearing in public concerts, and in 1886 came to Houston and established his perman- ent studio here. Since coming to Houston he has been almost constantly engaged in teaching and has trained some of the best musicians of the South. During the Spanish-American War he was band master for the First Texas Volunteer Cavalry.

Mr. Diehl was married in Houston in 1903 to Miss Gabrielle M. Lavielle, a highly accomplished young woman now associated with her husband in the con- duct of the Diehl School. Mr. and Mrs. Diehl have four charming daughters, the two eldest, Zelie Marie and Gabrielle, teaching respectively piano and violin, and the two younger girls, Elizabeth and Antoinette, still in school.

From 1892 until 1895 Mr. Diehl was choir master of Christ Church and since that time has been in charge of the music at the Church of the Annuncia- tion, the largest Catholic church in Houston. For a number of years he conducted the leading orchestra in Houston and was in great demand for solo work and public concerts. He organized and was the first director of the original Houston Quartette Society and has done perhaps as much as any other man for the development of interest in music in Houston and South Texas.

From 1905 to 1908 he conducted the Antone Diehl Conservatory of Music, the most complete school of its kind in the South at that time, where instruction was given in all branches of music and art, includ- ing pipe organ and all other musical instruments, by a corps of fifteen teachers. Many of the people now prominent in Houston's musical circles, including teachers and artists, completed courses at the con- servatory.

A man of splendid cultural attainments, Mr. Diehl is not only a master musician and teacher but a man and citizen who is actively interested in the city's welfare and anxious at all times to lend a helping hand in any movement for its advancement.

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MEN OF TEXAS

APTAIN JAY CASHMAN came to Houston in November, 1920, and the following year established "Service Corner" No. 1 at 4400 Main Street, which proved so popular with the public that on May 4th, 1923, he opened "Service Corner" No. 2 at 2710 Mckinney Avenue. In Au- gust he incorporated his affairs, under the laws of Texas, with a capital stock of $15,000, and the vari- ous "Service Corners" the company owns are equip- ped with complete automobile service, gasoline, oil, accessories, tires, tubes, auto repairs and sales. "Service Corner" is a patented name and Captain Cashman plans to extend his business to a chain of these standardized auto service stations.

Captain Cashman was born in Springfield, Ohio, May 4th, 1884. His parents, John Cashman and, Katherine Cashman, were both natives of Ohio, where his father was a well known business man. His early education was obtained in the public and high schools of Springfield, Ohio, where he grad- uated from the latter in the class of 1901. He then entered Wittenberg College at Springfield, where he remained for two yars, pursuing the arts course, after which he became a student of the Ohio State University, where he remained for two years in the Engineering College. He was for one year en- gaged in post-graduate work at Massachusetts In- stitute of Technology, where he received the degree of Aero Engineer. After leaving college, Captain Cashman began his business career with the Na- tional Cash Register Company as purchasing agent and was associated with this company in 1906 and 1907, and from the latter part of 1907 and during 1908 he was a salesman for this company. From 1908 to 1914 Captain Cashman was in the newspaper business, being the owner of newspapers in Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio. In 1914 he entered the contracting business, being a contractor for re- inforced concrete building construction and con- tinued in this business until 1917. On April 7th, 1917, Captain Cashman enlisted as a private of in- fantry in the World War, and was discharged after service and promotions in the various grades as a captain and flyer in the air service on November 20th, 1919. He came to Texas first in 1917 as an aero engineer officer of the United States army and was engineer officer of Kelly Field, San Antonio, and later of the air service depot at Dallas until his discharge; between the two Texas assignments Captain Cashman served in the U. S., in England and on the Italian war front.

Captain Cashman was married at Hannibal, Mis- souri, on October 11th, 1911, to Miss Helen Louise Ray, a native of Hannibal and a member of a well known family there. They have three children- John Edgar, eleven years of age; Jay, Jr., nine years old, and Katherine Virginia, three years of age. Captain and Mrs. Cashman reside at 912 Ab- bott Street. Captain Cashman is a member of the Engineers' Society of the Ohio State University, National Association of Aeronautic Engineers, and is an air service officer, on reserve status, in the U. S. army. He is a member of the Roman Catholic Church, with membership in Holy Rosary Parish, Houston. Captain Cashman believes that Houston is destined to become the leading city of the South- west, and that business of every kind under his observation is improving each day.

RANK BRADLEY is widely known in auto- mobile circles, not only of Houston and South Texas, but throughout the State, where for many years he has been engaged in this field of activity. As President and Manager of the Bradley-Voelcker-Grosser Inc., he has had an important part in shaping the destinies of this cor- poration, which was established and incorporated in 1918 and is located at 1117 San Jacinto Street. The Bradley-Voelcker-Grosser Inc., are distributors for the Oldsmobile Trucks for the territory which in- cludes all of Southeast Texas; they are also dis- tributors for the Oldsmobile Automobile and handle the retail sales of Harris County. This is one of the largest automobile firms of Houston; they have a beautiful building, which is further beautified with flowers, plants and giant palms growing all around their splendid building. Their sales department has a floor space of sixty feet by one hundred feet, and on the opposite side of the street are located their shop, parts and service departments, where they also have a floor space of sixty feet by one hundred feet. Twenty-eight experienced men are employed.

Mr. Bradley was born at Washington, Georgia, on April 27th, 1882. His father, F. A. Bradley, also a native of Georgia, has during all his life been a prominent merchant and planter, and is still active and residing at White Plains. His mother was Miss Virginia Goolsby, a member of a well known Georgia family. His early education was obtained in the public schools of Washington, Georgia, after which he attended the Georgia Military Academy, and while a student at this temple of learning, he joined the army during the Spanish-American War, and was a second lieutenant, Company A, of the First Georgia Regiment, and for two years was in this regiment. After his army service, Mr. Bradley came to Texas and engaged in farming and ranch- ing in Williamson County, and later went to San Antonio and engaged in the undertaking business, where he remained for two years. He then went on the road as a salesman, traveling the south- western portion of Texas, and continued in this line of work for six years. He then entered the au- tomobile business at San Marcos, Texas, under the firm name of Bradley and Moore, Inc., and were dealers for the Buick and Ford cars. They later dropped the Ford and continued in this line of busi- ness there for ten years, when he came to Hous- ton. Mr. Bradley came to Houston in 1915 as Presi- dent and General Manager of the Houston Buick Sales Company, and remained in this position until August, 1918, when he disposed of his interests in this firm and established his present business.

Mr. Bradley was married at San Marcos, Texas, on May 7th, 1907, to Miss Mary Cuthbert, a native of San Marcos, and a member of a pioneer Texas family. They have one daughter, Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Bradley reside at 3519 Graustark Street, which is in the most beautiful section of Montrose. In fraternal and social organizations, Mr. Bradley holds membership in the B. P. O. E., I. O. O. F., the Houston Country Club and the Auto Trade As- sociation, of which organization he is Vice President. Mr. Bradley is optimistic as to the future of Hous- ton and believes that this city will soon lead the entire Southwest.

Note: Since this sketch was written Mr. Bradley has moved to Dallas.

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NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

B ARNEY SCHOLL, for more than a decade one of the progressive citizens of Houston, has for a number of years been connected with some of the finest cafes of Southwest Texas. He is now managing the cafe at Baytown for the Humble Oil and Refining Company, with his many years of experience making it one of the really good cafes of the country.

Barney Scholl was born in Austria, the twenty- first of April, 1881, son of Jake Scholl, a native of that country and who lived there until his death. Mr. Scholl attended the schools of his native coun- try until coming to America, after which time he continued his studies alone. He came to Chicago where he began in the cafe business, as night cashier in the Izard Cafe. Three years later he left this cafe, at that time being manager. Coming to Texas, of which state he had heard much as a land of op- portunity, he located at Galveston in 1902, opening a cafe on the beach which he operated until 1911. In this year he came to Houston, going into the saloon business, until 1916, when he opened the Milwaukee Cafe, which he operated until taking the position with the Humble Oil and Refining Company at Baytown to operate their cafe.

Mr. Scholl was married at Houston, in 1915 to Miss Janet Leiser, native of Marshall and daughter of one of the pioneer residents of that city. Mr. Scholl is interested in many Houston projects, and is one of the directors of the Gulf State Bank. Mr. and Mrs. Scholl are popular mem- bers of their respective social set, and are ever ready to aid in any good cause for their community. Mr. Scholl is an Elk.

LEAK PAGE, active and energetic young business man, is president and treasurer of Swedman and Page, Inc., designers and builders of high class homes. The com- pany maintains offices at 4510 Main Street, Hous- ton, and employes a force of from seventy-five to one hundred people. Other officers of the company are Perry L. Page, vice president, and Ralph Soape, secretary.

Swedman and Page, Inc., specialize in designing and constructing high class homes and apartment buildings, and is one of the leading firms doing this character of work in South Texas. Organized in 1922 as a partnership and incorporated in October, 1923, the business has grown steadily and fifty buildings were erected by the firm during 1923, their aggregate value being well over a half million dollars. The firm obtains it contracts on a basis of merit only and is building a splendid reputation for high class workmanship and close attention to the minutest details of every job entrusted to them. Swedman and Page, Inc., are now building some of the nicest homes in Houston, ranging in cost from five thousand to fifty thousand dollars, and are also handling several big jobs out of the city. They have just completed one sixty thousand dollar home at Orange, Texas.

Mr. Page is a native of Texas and was born at Kountze on September 4, 1887. He is a son of Dr. J. A. T. and Julia Isabella (Pounds) Page and re- ceived his education in the public schools and high school at Lott, in Falls County, Texas. His father is a well known physician and surgeon of North Texas.

After leaving school Mr. Page did general office work for two or three years and then went to Pasa- dena, California, where he remained until 1906, when he removed to Louisiana, where he was made gen- eral manager for a large lumber company. In 1907 he came to Houston as business secretary for the Young Men's Christian Association and after two years of work with the Y. M. C. A. returned to Pasa- dena, where he bought a half interest in the Pasa- dena Business College. He remained with this school as manager and teacher for one and a half years and then again engaged in the lumber busi- ness. In 1913 he came back to Houston and be- came connected with the Eicke Sash and Door Com- pany as secretary-treasurer. Leaving this company at the end of five years he was connected with the Houston Land Corporation for a year and then for two years was general office manager and associate supervisor for George T. Brown.

Mr. Page was married in Houston in 1909 to Miss Norma E. Eicke, daughter of Herman and Lena Eicke, well known residents of Texas for many years. Mr. Page is active in church and civic work is a prominent Bible student and well known as a Bible teacher. Of splendid personality, he has a large and ever-increasing circle of friends and is doing his part in the building of a better com- munity.

ERRELL HARVEY of Humble, Texas, started in the hardware business when a mere boy and has been engaged in this field of activity since that time. Mr. Har- vey came to Humble in 1915 and the store bearing his name here is the popular headquarters for hard- ware, oil field supplies and furniture buyers in Humble. Mr. Harvey has been the sole proprietor of M. Harvey and Company since 1921, when he pur- chased the stock of the Hall Hardware Company and changed the name to M. Harvey and Company. He carries a large and complete stock of hardware, light and heavy oil field supplies, oil well equip- ment, furniture and household supplies. His store is fifty feet by ninety feet in size, and his stock of goods is conveniently arranged for the public to see and purchase. He has two warehouses, one of which is located on the railroad track, for unloading and shipping. Mr. Harvey also maintains a branch house at Goose Creek, known as the M. Harvey and Company, which was opened in 1923. This store is thirty feet by eighty-five feet in size and carries a large and complete stock of hardware and sport- ing goods. A large volume of business is done each month at both of these stores. Mr. Harvey started his career in the hardware business at Naples, Texas, where he remained for several years and then removed to Wharton, Texas, and later to Hum- ble, where he became associated with the Hall Hard- ware Company, and after six years with this com- pany, he purchased their stock and engaged in business for himself.

A native of Georgia, Mr. Harvey was born in Mar- ion County, but was brought to Texas by his parents when a boy, and he was reared in this state. His early education was obtained in the schools of Marion County, Georgia, and later in the schools of the Lone Star State.

Mr. Harvey was married at Galveston on May 27th, 1923, to Miss Edna Kurr, a native Texan and a member of a well known family of this state.

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MEN OF TEXAS

Mr. Harvey is a member of the Masonic Lodge and is a civic leader in Humble and in the midst of his business projects, he finds opportunity to give his time and assistance to any matter having to do with the improvement and advancement of Humble. Mr. Harvey is a real live merchant, us- ing in his business all modern methods to improve same. He keeps his stock clean and up-to-date, and gives service to his many customers, knowing that the purchasers at this day and time demand service as well as good merchandise. He has always been a leader in the business circles of Humble, and as a merchant has been an exponent of the highest standards of business dealings. He is esteemed alike by customer and competitor, and is regarded as one of the most progressive citizens of Harris County. He is optimistic as to the future of Hum- ble and vicinity, and believes that the oil and farming industries for this part of South Texas will remain for many years the leading money makers.

A. ROUSH, one of the progressive citizens of Friendswood, has been a factor in the fig growing industry in this section, and is well known as an expert on all matters pertaining to the planting, cultivating and harvest- ing of figs. Mr. Roush is superintendent of the Dixie Orchards, the large fig orchards belonging to the Dixie Orchards Company. These orchards, with around four hundred acres now in figs, have as- sumed a place of importance commercially. Located in the heart of one of the largest fig producing sections of their State, where climate, soil, drainage, and other natural conditions are nearly perfect, the orchards have been unusually successful. Other advantages, such as transportation, are favorable to the development of the fig industry around Friendswood, and have been factors in the success of the Dixie Orchards. Mr. Roush took charge of the orchards in 1922, since which time he has been in exclusive control of the cultivation and manage- ment of the industry, and has done much to develop the orchards. He employs five tractors in the cul- tivation of the figs, and maintains a force of around twenty men at all times, increasing the workers to fifty or more during the picking season. He is an authority on fig culture, and directs all planting of new acreage, cultivating of the present orchards, and the harvesting of the crop. The orchards are well improved, and special attention has been given to making provision for the comfort of the workers, for whom five modern cottages have been construct- ed. These cottages have five rooms each, and are furnished the employees by the company. Mr. R. D. McDonald is president of the Dixie Orchards Company.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 174

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