New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 175

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

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Mr. Roush was born in Dallas County, Iowa, the fifth of June, 1882, the son of Francis Marion Roush, a contractor and bridge builder, and Eliza Jane Roush. He was educated in the public schools of Nebraska, to which State the family had removed, and graduated from the high schools of that State. After leaving school he was engaged in construct- ing and erecting bridges and steel buildings, com- ing to Houston in 1910, where he continued in this industry until 1916. In that year he began to en- gage in fig raising, farming and dairying, giving especial attention to the study of fig culture, and

since 1922 has devoted his entire time to the grow- ing of this fruit.

Mr. Roush was married at Aldine, Texas, in 1911, to Miss Nannie Josephine Johnson, daughter of Victor F. Johnson, a farmer and old settler of the State, and Charlotte Johnson. Mr. and Mrs. Roush have two children, Ida Josephine and Wilbur Albert. They make their home at Friendswood. Mr. Roush has entered actively into all fig growing activities in this section, and has accomplished much of bene- fit to this industry, and is one of the men who are devoting their time to making this industry one of the important ones of the State.

LLEN L. TOWNSEND, of the Townsend- Nash Company, is well known in the auto- mobiles circles of Houston and South Texas, where prior to entering his present busi- ness in August, 1922, he was for thirteen years en- gaged in selling Hudson and Buick automobiles in Houston and adjacent territory. Mr. Townsend is the distributor for the Nash Automobile in the Hous- ton territory and employs seven men in his estab- lishment, which is located at 1302 Lamar Avenue, where the building was constructed especially for this business. He has splendid show rooms, parts and service departments, and the Townsend-Nash Company is known as one of the most progressive firms in the city of Houston, and since becoming dealer for the Nash automobile, have greatly in- creased the sales of this car in their territory.

A native Texan, Mr. Townsend was born at Col- umbus December 4th, 1880. His father, James L. H. Townsend (deceased) was also a native Texan, and was born and reared in Colorado County, and lived there all his life, where he was a well known and es- teemed citizen. His mother was Miss Emily Tooke, also a native of the Lone Star State. Mr. Town- send's education was obtained in various towns in Texas, among them being Wynne, Edna, and Lock- hart and he later studied pharmacy and received his degree in this science in 1905. He then entered on his work as a pharmacist in a drug store at Beaumont, Texas, for a short time, and then came to Houston and was employed by a drug company here for a period of two years, when he returned to Beaumont and remained for three years and then re- moved to San Antonio, where he remained a short time and returned to Houston in 1910 and became associated with Arthur C. Burton and sold Hudson automobiles for him for a period of eight years, and then went with the Buick agency here and sold Buick cars for five years, after which he organized his present business, in which he has met with much suc- cess and has succeeded in making the Nash car one of the most popular cars in this portion of the state.

Mr. Townsend was married in Lufkin, Texas, in 1907 to Miss Agnes Prestridge, a native of Arkan- sas and a daughter of J. W. Prestridge, for many years a well known citizen of Texarkana, Arkansas, but later of Houston, Texas. They have one daugh- ter-Jane Townsend, ten years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Townsend reside at 1615 Holman Street. Mr. Townsend is a member of the A. F. and A. M. with membership in Temple Lodge No. 4, and is also a 32nd degree Scottish Rite of this order and a Shriner of Arabia Temple. Mr. Townsend is a great believer in the future of Houston, and never loses an oppor- tunity to speak a good word for the South Texas metropolis.

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NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

AROLD B. PIERCE came to Houston with an ideal and for that ideal he worked and saved for eight years and now, in 1926, he is well started on his enterprise and success seems inevitable. Mr. Pierce is President of the Par- amount Hosiery Mills of Texas, Inc. The mills were started in 1925 with one knitter, or machine upon which silk hosiery were manufactured. Shortly afterward four more machines were added and the finished product put on the market. Seeing that his product met with a ready sale, Mr. Pierce made plans to increase his output. They now have a battery of fifteen machines, giving the plant a ca- pacity of one hundred dozen pairs of hose daily. More machines have been ordered and the mill ex- pects to have one hundred machines in operation in the very near future. The plant is located at 607 Franklin Avenue and the product is sold under the trade name of "Honey-Girl Hosiery." The en- tire trade territory of Texas will be covered, adding more territory as the mills increase their output.

Harold B. Pierce was born in Providence, Rhode Island, April 8th, 1897. His father, a resident of that city, is now deceased. His mother, Minnie (Durrell) Pierce, now resides in Canada. He at- tended the public schools of Providence and later gained his first business experience in that city. Coming to Houston in 1918 he established the Pierce Dental Laboratory and Supply Company. This bus- iness, started in a small way, found immediate favor with the dentists and developed rapidly, serving dentists in Houston, South Texas and Louisiana. This work, however, was a means to an end, and in 1925 he gave up the laboratory work to establish the Paramount Hosiery Mills.

Mr. Pierce was married at Galveston, Texas, in October, 1921, to Miss Rosalie L. Snyder, daughter of F. L. Snyder and L. (Beer) Snyder. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce make their home at 1849 West Alabama. He is a Mason, Houston Lodge, Scottish Rite, and a member of Arabia Temple Shrine. He is a mem- ber of the Golfcrest Country Club and takes an active interest in the social and civic affairs of the city.

ARRY FERGUSON of the Ferguson-Bayer Auto Company, has been identified with the business world at Houston for the past several years and is well known in auto- motive circles as the operator of one of the finest auto paint and top shops in the city. The Ferguson- Bayer Auto Company was established by Mr. Fer- guson in June, 1921, and in 1922 Mr. F. B. Bayer, his present associate, came into the firm. The busi- ness is well located, at 2114 North Main Street, where a large and well equipped shop provides adequate facilities for the large business this firm is doing. A complete automobile paint shop is operated and also a top shop that manufactures tops, seat covers, and re-upholsters cars. Equipment is also provided for body repair work, and a large business is handled in that line. A force of ex- perienced workmen is employed in the shop, and all work is done under the personal supervision of Mr. Bayer, and has to conform with his unusually high standards.

Harry Ferguson was born at Fort Worth, Texas, the eighth of September, 1886, the son of the late John W. Ferguson and Mattie (Roberts) Ferguson.

Mr. Ferguson was a native of Missouri, and Mrs. Ferguson of Illinois. Harry Ferguson attended the schools of Fort Worth, and afterward entered rail- road work, working with various railroads for about twenty years. He came to Houston in 1921 and established the auto paint shop that he has since operated.

Mr. Ferguson was married at Fort Worth, on the twenty-second of September, 1909, to Miss Eugenia West, daughter of the late P. J. West and Mrs. Maggie Sue (Bailey) West. Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson reside at 4001 Polk Avenue, and have one child, Jane Lanelle. Mr. Ferguson is a Mason, lodge at Mart, Texas, and belongs to the Order of Railway Con- ductors, and the Methodist Church.

AYLORD H. MILLER is well known to the business element of Houston and Harris County, where he is general manager of the Tel-Electric Company, the largest plant of its kind in the South. The Tel-Electric Company, located at 602 Preston Avenue, was established in 1908 and occupy a fine brick building of six floors, each fifty by one hundred feet in size. They are jobbers, and sell to wholesale trade only. The Tel- Electric Company employ forty people in their establishment, and have six salesmen who cover the entire South Texas territory. The Tel-Electric Company are exclusive agents for the Westinghouse Electric Manufacturing Company, the Westinghouse Lamp Company and the Radio Corporation of Amer- ica. This company sells radio equipment of every kind, all electric equipment, machinery and supplies. Other officers of the Tel-Electric Company are A. J. Binz, Sr., president and J. J. Settegast, Jr., secretary and treasurer.

Mr. Miller was born in Shelby, Illinois, in 1880. His father, O. D. Miller, was a large land owner and extensive farmer of that State. His mother was Miss Rachel Homrighous, a member of a well known Illinois family. Mr. Miller's education was obtained in the public and high schools of Shelby, Illinois, graduating from the latter in 1899. During the same year of his graduation, Mr. Miller entered the employ of the Chicago Telephone Company, Chicago, where he remained for five years and was advanced to the position of superintendent of de- partment at the time he severed his connection with this company. He then went with the Eureka Tel- ephone Company, manufacturers of telephones, as sales manager, where he remained for three years. He then became associated with the United Electric Company at Wichita, Kansas, as secretary and sales manager, remaining with this company for five years. He came to Texas and to Houston in 1912 with the Tel-Electric Company, where for two years he held the position of sales manager, and then was made general manager, which position he has since held.

Mr. Miller was married in Genoa, Illinois, in 1907, to Miss Sabrina Leonard, a member of a pioneer Illinois family, where her father was a large land owner. They have two children-Gaylord H. Miller, Jr., and Bettie Jean. Mr. and Mrs. Miller reside at 603 Hawthorne Avenue. Mr. Miller holds mem- bership in the Houston Country Club and the Rotary Club. He is active in all projects having to do with the progress, advancement and civic betterment of Houston.

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MEN OF TEXAS

DWARD M. JOHNSTON, for a number of years past a resident of Houston, has for more than a decade rendered the citizens of the Lone Star State a real service through his work as a statistician, and is one of the best posted men in the state in this field. Mr. Johnston has since 1911 been in the employ of the United States government, in the department of agriculture. He prepares the Texas Livestock Report, contain- ing valuable information regarding range condi- tions in Texas, this being a part of the work under his direction as agricultural statistician of the Unit- ed States Department of Agriculture, and has un- der his direction other activities of like importance. He has been designated by resolution of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers' Association, and the Sheep and Goat Raisers' Association of Texas, as their official statistician. Recently he has also done much work toward perfecting an organization, the Texas Livestock Statistical Bureau, which will be a statistical, economic and research service bureau for the livestock industry, comparable to like bureaus that have been established for cotton, grain and other commercial interests. Mr. Johnston's activi- ties as a statistician have brought him wide recog- nition, and he is one of the best trained and most ex- perienced men in his line in the state.

Edward M. Johnston was born at Caldwell, Kan- sas, the twenty-first of February, 1885. His father, Charles McLean Johnston, a rancher, banker, money- lender, and pioneer of Kansas, is one of the promi- nent men of that state, and well known there. His mother, before her marriage was Miss Annie Cal- vert Hamilton, is a native of New York. Mr. Johns- ton spent his boyhood at Caldwell, attending the public schools there, and graduating from the Cald- well High School. He then entered the Kansas State Agricultural College, taking the four year course, and graduating with the B. S. Degrees. This was followed by two years at Cornell University, where the B. S. A. Degree was conferred on him, and two years at the University of California where he took the M. S. Degree. In 1911 he went with the United States government, as superintendent of the Rice Experiment Station at Beaumont, Texas, holding that position for three years. This was followed by one year with the Bellfourche Experiment Station at Newell, South Dakota, where he engaged in investi- gation work. Then came one year specializing in Animal Husbandry work at the University of Cali- fornia. In 1916 he became field agent for the Bureau of Crop Estimates in California, later trans- ferred to Texas, and was later made agricultural and live stock statistician, which position he holds at present.

Mr. Johnston was married at Manhatten, Kansas, in 1906, to Miss Gertrude Elsa Haulenbeck, daugh- ter of Charles A. and Cassie Glasgow Haulenbeck. Mr. Haulenbeck was formerly in the lumber business in Kansas, but is now located at Portland, Oregon. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston make their home in Hous- ton, living at 4300 San Jacinto Street. They at- tend the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Johnston is a Mason, both York and Scottish Rites, and a mem- ber of Arabia Temple. He belongs to the University Club. Mr. Johnston is a deep student, takes a great interest in all educational activities, and is tho- roughly conversant with statistical science, a subject of which he has made a deep study. His investiga-

tions and activities in the various governmental departments with which he has been identified have been of unusual importance, and he is widely known for his many contributions in his field.

R. L. G. MARSHALL, capitalist, oil and min- ing operator, is numbered among the lead- ing citizens of Houston, although he has been identified with the petroluem indus- try of Texas for a comparatively short time. In January, 1924, he came to Houston to look over his oil interests in this neighborhood. He soon, however, bought the assets of the Blue Bird Oil Company. At that time the company had one hundred barrels production per day. This production increased four- fold by carefold operation and by deeper drilling. He has a two and one-half acre lease in Goose Creek with two producing wells, and where other wells may be drilled. He also secured the Adey lease of two and one-half acres with three wells making a small production. This property is in line for fur- ther development. In addition to these properties, Dr. Marshall has gold and silver mining interests in New Mexico and Mexico, where he spends con- siderable of his time.

Dr. L. G. Marshall is a native of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, where he was born, October 2nd, 1867, son of James E. and Margaret Dowell Swetland Marshall. The family were engaged in farming in Bradford County, and it was on a farm that Dr. Marshall was reared. He is a descendant of John Marshall, the great chief justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. His mother's grand- father, William Beldon Swetland, discovered coal in the Wyoming Valley, Pennsylvania. Dr. Mar- shall's great-grandfather was killed in the Wyoming Valley Massacre. He was educated in the schools of Pennsylvania, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1904 with the V. S. Degree. He comes from a family famous as veterinary sur- geons. His brother, Lieutenant Colonel C. J. Mar- shall for thirty years, has been a professor of the University of Pennsylvania, and during the late war was in charge of veterinarian work of the United States army, and is past president of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Another brother, Dr. F. A., is one of the twelve veterinary inspectors of Pennsylvania. For eighteen years Dr. L. G. Marshall practiced his profession, and then bought the Jennings Hearst Stock Farm in Pennsyl- vania, which he conducted for two years. This was one of the finest stock farms in Eastern Pennsyl- vania, which he sold before coming to Texas. For some time he served as a United States government inspector in veterinary work.

Dr. Marshall was united in marriage in Ban- croft, Nebraska, in 1894, to Miss Mabel C. Smith, the daughter of Mr. Burton Smith, a well known cattle shipper. Mrs. Smith was an Eastman, and a relative of the founder of the Eastman Kodak Com- pany. Dr. and Mrs. Marshall have two children, Georgianna Robinson, the wife of R. W. Robinson who is assistant county superintendent of schools of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, and Burton J., who is employed in the postoffice in Towanda, Pennsyl- vania. Dr. Marshall is a member of the Masonic lodge and the family are Methodists. He is a firm believer in the future greatness of Houston, and is rapidly becoming a Texas enthusiast.

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NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

ACK O'CONNOR a few years ago became identified with Houston, and has since his arrival been one of the most enterprising men in the merchandising business, oper- ating one of the most exclusive millinery estab- lishments in the Southwest. The Field Exclusive Millinery store, of which Mr. O'Connor is manager, was established in January, 1922, shortly after his arrival in the city, as a branch of an organization having fine millinery stores throughout the United States. The store is well located, at 411 Main Street, and occupies a building affording twenty-five by one hundred and ten feet of floor space. The equipment, manufactured in Houston, is of the very best, and the finest used in any millinery store in the Southwest. They feature Andrea and Field hats, two of the finest makers in the states, and show many exclusive and attractive models. The firm gives careful attention to display, the keynote of the establishment being an exclusive atmosphere, with a quiet blending of soft tones to form a setting best suited to the character of millinery offered. The Field Company has built up an extensive clientele among the highest class women of the city, catering especially to those who appreciate the exclusive fea- tures offered. Mr. O'Connor has had complete charge of the store since its organization, and the progressive manner in which he has operated this establishment is sufficient testimonial to his ability as a merchant.

Mr. O'Connor was born at Kansas City, Missouri, and educated in the schools of his native city. His first business experience was gained with the Field Company, in their Kansas City branch, where he spent several years. He displayed marked talent both as to salesmanship and display and execu- tive ability, and was later sent to the California store, where he spent a number of years. When the decision was taken to open the Houston branch, Mr. O'Connor was put in full charge and has since been located here.

DWIN V. RICHARD, one of the younger members of the oil fraternity, has in the half decade of his business career at Hous- ton become well known in this field. Mr. Richard is identified with the Mills Bennett or- ganization.

Mr. Richard is a native of Louisiana, in which State he was born, at Lake Charles, on the four- teenth of February, 1896. His father, the late C. M. Richard, was parish assessor at Lake Charles for twenty years, and widely known in that section. His mother, before her marriage Miss Beatrice Ros- tett, is a native of Louisiana, and still makes her home at Lake Charles. Mr. Richard attended the public schools of his native city, and after grad- uating from the high school there, in 1914, he en- tered Tulane University at New Orleans, spending two years in the law department. One year before taking his degree he left the university to enter military srvice at the time of the World War. Mr. Richard enlisted in the army in April, 1917, serving until August, 1919, during the period of his enlist- ment being at different times at Little Rock, Hous- ton, San Antonio and New Orleans, and being dis- charged as first lieutenant of the Forty-third In- fantry.

Mr. Richard first came to Houston in 1918, and since that time has been active in the oil business

in this city. He became interested in a syndicate organized by L. F. Benchenstein, and struck oil at Barbers Hill. Since this time Mr. Richard has taken an active part in the development of the oil industry and has made many friends among oil men. He is a member of the Catholic Church, belongs to the University Club at Houston, and the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity at Tulane.

T. GLIOT has for the past decade been a foremost figure in the field of oil enter- prises at Houston, where he has extensive oil interests and has taken a leading part in the development of these resources. Mr. Gliot is president of the Texas Standard Oil Company, which maintains headquarters here, with offices in the Second National Bank Building. The com- pany has production in the Burkburnett field, with and average of about one hundred barrels a day, and holds much acreage in the various fields of the state. The Texas Standard Oil Company was or- ganized in 1916, and has since been considered one of the well directed and sound companies interested in the oil industry. Mr. Gliot became president of the company in 1919, a position he has since held, and wherein he has demonstrated great capability in the handling of operations of the scope involved.

Mr. Gliot was born at Chicago, Illinois, the third of June, 1881, son of the late J. B. Gliot, for many years in the piano business in that city, and Hulda Faulkman Gliot, also deceased. He was educated in the schools of his native city, and after finishing school was for a number of years in the printing and advertising business there, a business with which he has been directly or indirectly connected for a quarter of a century. Mr. Gliot came to Texas, locating at Texas City, in 1910, and for the ensuing four years was advertising manager with the Texas City Company, owners of the townsite there and other interests, and a company represent- ing a capitalization of twelve million dollars. In 1914 Mr. Gliot came to Houston, and from that time until 1919 conducted an advertising agency, and was also interested in the oil business. In 1919 he became president of the Texas Standard Oil Company, and has since given most of his time and attention to developing the properties of this company.

In the latter part of 1923 Mr. Gliot completed the writing of a book on business and success prin- ciples, to which he has given the unique name of "Dynamite." This book is now in process of pub- lication by the Merit Publishing Company of Hous- ton, Texas, another organization in which Mr. Gliot holds a large interest.

Mr. Gliot was married at Texas City, the twenty- fifth of February, 1911, to Miss Dorothy Williams, daughter of J. B. Williams, well known farmer of Cleburne. Mr. and Mrs. Gliot make their home at 2916 Albany Street, and have one son, Edward T. Gliot, Junior. Mr. Gliot is a Mason, Thirty-second Degree Scottish Rite, and a member of Arabia Tem- ple Shrine. He is interested in the rapid growth and development of Houston, and has long held the belief that this city has an even greater future in store. A public spirited citizen, he contributes freely to the various civic and charitable move- ments organized here, and has made a host of friends who wish him the success that he has won and that indications suggest is in store for him.

2181

MEN OF TEXAS

AUL PLAUTZ came to Alvin, Texas, in 1905, where he has ten acres of the most highly cultivated and productive land in this county. He has five acres planted to figs, two acres in strawberries and the remaining acreage in all kinds of vegetables, with particular attention given to tomatoes and peppers. Mr Plautz has one of the finest places in Alvin and makes about $2,000.00 each year gross from his crops grown on this highly developed ten acres of land. He uses modern, scientific methods in growing his various crops, but thinks the Magnoli fig is destined to be the big money making crop in this portion of the State. Mr. Plautz has a wonder- ful place and has demonstrated what can be done with ten acres of land, together with hard work and proper methods of cultivation. Mr. Plautz came to America in 1891 and located in the State of Iowa, where for a period of four years he was engaged in carpenter work. He then came to Texas and settled at Pearland, where he continued to do carpenter work and also farming, until he came to Alvin in 1905. Mr. Plautz is regarded as an authority on horticulture and his crops speak for themselves, showing that he is one of the successful growers of fruit and vegetables in this section.

A native of Germany, Mr. Plautz was born No- vember 1st, 1869. His parents, John and Wil- hemenia Plautz, were well known farmers and land owners in the Fatherland. His education was obtain- ed in the schools of Germany, but his knowledge of the culture of fruits and vegetables was obtained through reading scientific literature on the sub- jects and through practical application of the methods described.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 175

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