New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 18

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

USA > Texas > New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2 > Part 18

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Harry Taylor Kendall was born in Clay Center, Kansas, May 26th, 1882. His father, David A. Ken- dall, is a native of Wisconsin and was engaged in the saw mill business. His mother was Miss Eliza M. Taylor, and is also a native of Wisconsin. The family moved to Lansing, Iowa, and in 1890 to La Crosse, Wisconsin, where the subject of this sketch lived until 1900. His education was obtained in the public and high schools of La Crosse and Kansas City, graduating from the latter in 1902. During the year of his graduation, he entered the lumber busi- ness in St. Louis with the Banner Lumber Com- pany and remained with this company until 1907. From 1907 to 1911 he was employed by the W. R. Pickering Lumber Company, first as salesman on the road, and then in 1909 as sales agent for Texas, with headquarters in Houston. Since coming to Houston, Mr. Kendall has been closely identified with the commercial and civic interests of the city. He is president of the Globe Box Company, manu- facturers of boxes of all kinds with plant located in Houston, and is interested in various other com- mercial enterprises.

Mr. Kendall was married in Temple, November 30th, 1910, to Miss Helen Lucille Pendleton (de- ceased), a native of Temple and a daughter of Hon. George C. Pendleton, former Lieutenant Governor of Texas, and prominent in legal circles throughout the State. They had four children, Harry T. Ken- dall, Jr., George P., Robert A. and Susanne E. (de- ceased). The great sorrow of his life came to Mr. Kendall on September 3rd, 1924, when Mrs. Ken- dall and his little daughter Susanne were killed in an automobile accident.

In fraternal organizations Mr. Kendall is a mem- ber of the A. F. & A. M. and of the Scottish Rite bodies of that order to the eighteenth degree, and is a charter member of Temple Blue Lodge. He also holds membership in the Houston Club, the Houston Country Club, of which he is now serving a second term as president; Lumbermen's Club, River Oaks Country Club, Lumbermen's Club of New Orleans, Rotary Club, the Texas Retail Lumber Dealers Asso-

ciation, of which he is a director, and the Methodist Church. In April, 1925, he was honored by an appointment by the Department of Commerce to its advisory committee to assist the lumber section of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce in working out expert problems. Mr. Kendall is con- sidered one of the outstanding lumber men in Hous- ton, and is one of the most popular men in the city. He is active in civic affairs, and is loved and es- teemed by all with whom he comes in contact, whether it be in a social or business way. He is a friend to everybody he meets, and is called "Harry" by all his friends and associates. His contempo- raries say of him: "Wherever lumber is sold in the world, Harry Kendall is known." He has great faith in his adopted city, and believes the time is close at hand when it will become the leading city of the Southwest, and never loses an opportunity to speak a good word for the South Texas metropolis and Texas in general.

Note: Since the foregoing was written Mr. Ken- dall accepted the position of general sales agent of the Central Coal and Coke Company of Kansas City, where he removed February 1st, 1926.

OHN W. GRAHAM, for a quarter of a cen- tury identified with various phases of hat merchandising, has for the past thirteen years been associated with wholesale mer- cantile activities at Houston. Mr. Graham came to this city in 1910, and shortly after his arrival estab- lished the Graham Hat Company, Incorporated, of which he has since been president and general man- ager. He has under his direction the distribution of Stetson hats, Sure-Fit caps and Tufnut gloves in Texas, representing this well known line since the establishment of his business. Mr. Graham handles wholesale trade exclusively, and has five salesmen on the road, covering this state and Louisiana. The Graham Hat Company, Incorporated, is located at 601 Franklin Avenue, where a modern building, af- fording sixteen thousand feet of floor space, is occupied. Fourteen employees are employed here, in addition to the salesmen on the road. The Gra- ham Hat Company is well and favorably known to hatters throughout the state, and does a large an- nual volume of business. Mr. Graham, as pre- viously stated, is president and general manager of the company, and C. H. Pilney is vice president and secretary.

Mr. Graham was born at Nashville, Tennessee, in 1883, son of John W. Graham, a native of Maryland, who spent many years in Tennessee. His mother before her marriage Miss Margarette Pitts, is also from Tennessee. Mr. Graham was educated in the public schools of his native city, graduating from the Nashville high school and later attending South- west Presbyterian College at Nashville. After fin- ishing school, he went to St. Louis, Missouri, and began with the Boogher-Force and Goodbar Hat company, as stock boy, in 1898, working his way up to buyer and stock manager. He left this firm in 1910 and came to Houston, establishing the present business.

Mr. Graham was married in Illinois, in July, 1908, to Miss Noma Hollowell, a native of that state. They make their home in Houston, at 703 Dallas Avenue. Mr. Graham is a member of the Rotary Club and the Houston Credit Men's Association.

1162

Harry T. Kendal

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

LFRED C. TIEMANN, pioneer produce man of Houston, has engaged in this business here for the past twelve years. Mr. Tie- mann is the owner of the A. C. Tiemann poultry business at 805 Commerce Street, retailing live poultry and eggs, and also has a branch of his business at No. 22 and 25 in the City Market, known as the Peerless Market, where he retails dressed poultry and eggs. In addition to his extensive retail business, Mr. Tiemann makes a specialty of selling to hotels, cafes and dining cars, and has built up a large and profitable business in this field. One of the factors entering into the success of Mr. Tiemann's business has been the maintaining of high standards and all produce offered for sale, either in the Commerce Street shop, or in the City Mar- ket, must conform to this standard.

Alfred C. Tiemann was born in Fayette County, Texas, the third of June, 1883, son of F. A. Tie- mann and Mary (Ahlrich) Tiemann, both of whom are natives of Germany. Mr. Tiemann, Sr., is a cigar manufacturer. Alfred C. Tiemann, the sub- ject of this sketch, was educated in the Texas public schools and began in the produce business as a young man. He has been a resident of Houston since 1904, and during his earlier years in this city was in the employ of W. F. Puls, later establishing his own business.

Mr. Tiemann was married at Houston the twelfth of July, 1919, to Miss Edith Cern. They reside at 1409 Eagle Street, and have one child, Wilma Janice Tiemann. Mr. Tiemann belongs to the Presbyterian Church.

LBERT WARE has for a number of years been a factor in industrial activities at Houston, and for almost a decade has been associated with the electro plating business in this city. Mr. Ware is Manager and 55 per cent owner of the Ware Electro Plating Company, estab- lished in 1916, and one of the best equipped electro plating plants in the Southwest. The plant is lo- cated at 1812 Congress Avenue, where a modern building, with every provision for the efficient handling of a large volume of work, is occupied. All equipment used is modern and the best obtainable and installed with the view of making the work turned out by this plant superior in every respect. The Ware Electro Plating Company refinishes and plates all classes and kinds of metal and metal products, handling a large volume of business for automobile firms, jewelry houses, and other firms. They also refinish and plate surgical instruments and have a large amount of this business. A force of six operatives, all carefully trained and competent, are employed. Mr. Ware's associate in this busi- ness is Mr. J. Earl Whitehead. Mr. Ware also owns a one-third interest in the Houston Japanning Com- pany, and an electro plating plant in Beaumont.

Elbert Ware was born in Gonzales County, Texas, the ninth of October, 1890. His father, J. E. Ware, a native of Georgia, and for a number of years a resident of Texas, now makes his home in Okla- homa. His mother, whose maiden name was Miss Venie Hunt, died when the subject of this sketch was an infant, and at the age of four years he was placed in the Buckner's Orphan Home. Here he re- ceived an excellent education and at the age of seventeen left there to take a position with the Southwestern Telephone Company. He later went

with the Western Electric Company, during this period coming to Houston for a short time at various times, then returning to the Western Electric Com- pany. These visits impressed him with the possi- bilities Houston offered for a modern electro-plating plant and he came to this city to make his per- manent residence. After a short time with the Hous- ton Car Wheel Company, he bought in 1916 the elec- tro-plating plant which he now operates. Later he was joined in this business by his life-long friend, J. Earl Whitehead, his present partner, and the business has since been operated as a partnership.

Mr. Ware makes his home at 1717 Tuam Avenue and is a Blue Lodge Mason, Holland No. 1, and also Washington Chapter No. 2. He has won the highest esteem of his associates in the business world and is considered one of the most experienced electro-plating men in the city.

EARL WHITEHEAD, since coming to Houston several years ago, has built up a successful industrial enterprise, and has become established as one of the leading representatives of the Electro Plating business in the city. Until the latter part of 1923 Mr. White- head was Manager and half owner of the Houston Japanning Company, a partnership business owned by himself and Elbert Ware. Since disposing of his interest in this company he is devoting all of his time to the Ware Electro Plating Company, in which he is a partner. The plant is located in a modern well equipped building at 1812 Congress Avenue, where only first class work is done. Pat- rons include automobile firms, jewelry houses, medi- cal men and others. Six competent operatives are employed here to aid in taking care of growing business.

Mr. Whitehead was born at Oakwood, Texas, the sixteenth of September, 1885, son of Louis White- head, whose death occurred in 1889. After his fath- er's death, Mr. Whitehead was sent to Buckner's Orphan Home, near Dallas, where he remained until he was seventeen. His education in this splen- did institution was of the highest grade and equip- ped him to hold a good position in the business world. At the age of seventeen he went to Waco to work for Tom Padgitt. Later he returned to Dallas and spent fifteen years with the Southwest- ern Telephone Company, and the Western Electric Company there, working in the electrical and repair departments, and gaining a wide knowledge of elec- trical equipment. During the World War he worked with the Houston Car Wheel Company, later return- ing to Dallas, with the Western Electric Company, where he remained until October, 1920. He then came to Houston to join his lifelong friend, Elbert Ware, in the electro plating business, in which he now owns a 45 per cent interest. In June, 1923, he bought out the Houston Japanning Company, sell- ing a one-half interest in same to his friend, Elbert Ware, but later he sold his interest in this concern and now may be found giving service to his cus- tomers at the Ware Electro Plating Plant.

Mr. Whitehead was married at Alvin, Texas, to Mrs. Ruby Gaffney Taylor, a native of Texas, and who had one child, Harold, by a former marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Whitehead make their home at 2304 Lee Street. Mr. Whitehead is a Mason, Blue Lodge, Gray No. 329, and has many friends in the business world at Houston, who regard him as one of the most capable business men here.

1165

MEN OF TEXAS

G EORGE R. CHRISTIE is one of Houston's leading business men and his interests here comprise three separate and distinct com- panies of which he is one of the chief execu- Mr. Christie is general manager of the Lum- tives. berman's Reciprocal Association, which writes workmen's compensation insurance for the lum- ber and woodworking industry; he is attorney-in- fact for the Oilmen's Reciprocal Association, which writes workmen's compensation and public liability insurance for the oil industry. These two organi- zations operate a reciprocal plan and return to policy holders dividends or profits resulting from their operations, and these organizations have enjoyed an exceptional experience since they were organized and are considered the leaders of this particular field. Mr. Christie is also attorney-in-fact for the American Lumber Underwriters writing fire in- surance, principally for saw mills, but includes lum- ber yards and other woodworking plants. These or- ganizations have branch offices in various states ex- tending from those of the South to California, with offices located at San Francisco and Los Angeles, Calif .; Richmond, Va .; Memphis, Tenn .; Alexandria, La., and Fort Worth and Wichita Falls, in Texas, and at present these organizations are covering pay rolls amounting to $85,000,000.00 annually. The advisory committees of these organizations are made up of representative men in the respective lines, and are considered the strongest of their kind in the United States.

A native Texan, Mr. Christie was born at Galves- ton. His father, George A. Christie, (deceased since 1903) was also a native of the Lone Star State and for many years was a well known contractor of tie was a native of Scotland and many years of his the Island City. The father of Mr. George A. Chris- life was spent in the British Government Service, and came to America and to Galveston in 1858. His mother was Miss Dora Hoxie, a native of Houston, Texas, where she belonged to a pioneer family. His education was obtained in public and private schools of Galveston. After leaving school, Mr. Christie entered the cotton business and later was with the North German Lloyd Steamship Company, and re- mained with this company until 1902, when he came to Houston and became associated with the Kirby Lumber Company and for sixteen years was general auditor, secretary and treasurer of this large and well known lumber company. On December 1st, 1917, Mr. Christie organized his present business- concerns and his success along the lines he is pur- suing has been remarkable. Mr. Christie's offices for his different interests are located on the fourth floor of the Great Southern Life Building.

Mr. Christie was married in Galveston to Miss Mary E. Walker, a daughter of John B. Walker, one of the leading merchants of the Island City. They have one daughter, Nezzell, now the wife of Robert R. Dennis, one of the leaders among the younger business men of Houston, where he is engaged in the insurance business. Mr. and Mrs. Christie re- side at 2816 Milam Street. Mr. Christie is a mem- ber of the A. F. and A. M. and has attained to the 32nd degree in the Scottish Rite body of this order and is a Shriner of Arabia Temple. He is also a member of the Houston Club, the Houston Country Club, River Oaks Country Club, Beaumont Country Club, Lumbermen's Club and the Rotary Club. Since

coming to Houston more than a decade ago, Mr. Christie has become associated with many of the city's financial and industrial institutions and is a director of the Union National Bank. He is regarded as one of the most progressive men in Houston and in Texas, ever ready to assist his city and state in any way possible. Mr. Christie has done much for the furtherance of education in Texas and gives liberally of his time and means to any matter hav- ing to do with the education of the youth of the Lone Star State, where he is known as one of the most progressive and public spirited citizens.

LI MARKS, well known in the banking and business circles of the state, became asso- ciated with the Gulf State Bank as active vice president and director at the time of the reorganization of this institution, on March 1st, 1921. The Gulf State Bank is a guaranty fund bank with a capital stock of $100,000.00, with undivided profits of $9,062.29 and deposits amounting to $728,181.07. Other officers of the Gulf State Bank are D. S. Cage, president; W. H. Irvin, M. Schwarz and J. R. Kubena, vice presidents, and F. E. Hood, cashier. The directors are composed of the officers named and several of the representative business men of Houston and South Texas. The Gulf State Bank is located at 817 Main Street and invite ac- counts of individuals, firms and corporations on a basis of mutual co-operation and observance of the proper banking principles.

A native Texan, Mr. Marks was born at Hillsboro, October 15th, 1891. His father, Sam Marks, now a resident of Waco, Texas, was for many years a leading merchant of Central Texas, but is now re- tired from active business pursuits. His mother was Miss Fannie Greenstone, a native of Waco, where she belonged to a well known pioneer fam- ily. His education was obtained in the public and high schools of Waco, Texas.

Soon after leaving school, and when a very young man, Mr. Marks began his business career with the Exchange National Bank of Waco, where he re- mained as a clerk for six years. He then went with the State of Texas as a state bank examiner and occupied this important position for a period of five years, and in 1919 came to Houston and became as- sociated with the People's State Bank as cashier, where he remained until 1920, when he entered the bond business for himself, and remained in this line of endeavor until the reorganization of the Gulf State Bank, when he became active vice president and director of this institution. In addition to his banking interests, Mr. Marks has other large and varied interests in Houston, among which is the Gibraltar Savings and Building Association, with an authorized capital of $5,000,000.00, of which he is vice president. This association deals in and en- courages savings accounts, installment certificates and prepaid certificates.

Mr. Marks was married at Waco, Texas, on Octo- ber 23rd, 1912, to Miss Sadie Friedlander, a native of Waco and a member of a pioneer family of Cen- tral Texas. They have two children, Adolph and Maynard. Mr. and Mrs. Marks reside at 1320 West Alabama Avenue. Mr. Marks is a member of the Houston Club, and all the city's civic associations, in which he takes an active interest. Mr. Marks has shown his faith in the future of Houston by the

1166

ARcheck

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

many investments he has made here, and believes that this city will soon lead the entire Southwest in commercial, financial and educational lines.

AMES R. CHEEK, president and treasurer of the Magnolia Park Land Company, has been actively identified with Houston real estate since coming to this city in 1909, in which year the Magnolia Park Land Company was organized. One thousand acres of land on the east end of the city was developed by this company into what is now Magnolia Park. The city of Magnolia Park is a separately incorporated city with a popu- lation of over twelve thousand, and located on Har- risburg Boulevard, running from the Belt and Ter- minal to Brays Bayou bridge on the east. The Mag- nolia Land Company has been very active in pro- moting new additions in different parts of the city. Some of the more important ones are, Engle Addi- tion, School Addition, Central Park Annex and Daly Place, all residential additions. Manchester Addition was also promoted by this company. This addition, adjoining Houston, consists of industrial sites, being located on the ship channel. The Houston Mill and Elevator Company, Texas Portland Cement Com- pany, Magnolia Petroleum Company, Deepwater Re- fineries and Texas Chemical Company are some of the industries located here. The company handles only their own property. J. R. Cheek is interested in various other enterprises and is president of the Manchester Corporation and president of the Citi- zens Loan and Land Company. He is a member of the Elks and W. O. W. Lodges, the Turnverein, Houston and Houston Country Clubs.

Mr. Cheek was born in White County, Tennessee, April 7th, 1869, son of Elijah and Sarah (Moss) Cheek. He attended school but thirteen months. At the age of twelve he began work at one dollar and twenty-five cents per week in a newspaper office and learned the printers trade. He came to Texas in 1880 and located in Denison and was employed in a newspaper office there until 1883, with excep- tion of six months spent in school in Fort Scott, Kan- sas. He paid his way in school by working in the Wilder House Hotel. In 1883 he came to Galveston and worked first for Shaw and Blaylock and then the Evening Print. The name was changed to the Record and then the Tribune in 1894. For one year he was in the butter, eggs and cheese business. In 1895 he entered the real estate business, remaining in this line until the storm in 1900. From then up to the time of organizing his present company he was in the oil business, operating in various coastal fields.

Mr. Cheek was married April 22nd, 1891 in Gal- veston to Miss Sallie Lee. Two sons were born to this union, James Lee, with his father in business, and Richard Edwards, with the E. N. Mills real es- tate office. Mr. Cheek is a man of vision and fore- sight, a man who was able to look over an area of undeveloped woodland, low and marshy, and visu- alize a city of beautiful homes and thriving business establishments, and along with this gift of vision he had the business knowledge to carry out the prac- tical side and make it a reality. He saw the great possibilities of deep water and the turning basin, and to Mr. Cheek is due no small part in the develop- ment of the ship channel. He is a man of pleasing personality, makes and keeps friends and is num- bered among the leading citizens of Houston.

KE L. FREED has for more than a quarter of a century been a merchandise broker of Houston and during that period has built up a business which amounts to more than a million dollars a year. Mr. Freed started this busi- ness in a small way in 1896 representing a neckwear manufacturer. His business has grown steadily until now he represents several of the largest manu- facturers of men's furnishings in the United States. He has six men on the road covering Texas, Louis- iana, Mississippi and part of Alabama. Among the firms represented by Mr. Freed are: H. C. Cohns and Company, Rochester, New York, manufacturers of the Superba Cravats; Rauh and Mack Shirt Com- pany of Cincinnati, makes of popular priced shirts. Notaseme Hosiery Company of Philadelphia, Crawn Suspender and Belt Company of New York, Regatta Manufacturing Company of Baltimore, manufactur- ers of summer underwear; Hall, Wolffe and Park, Inc., manufacturers of linen and cotton handker- chiefs; Superior Knitwear Corporation of Philadel- phia, makers of knitted neckwear; Tuxedo Shirt Company, manufacturers of silk shirts exclusively; Steiner and Son, New York, manufacturing Univer- sal Sleeping garments.

Mr. Freed has splendidly equipped offices and sample rooms occupying a floor space of 27x85 feet over the Peoples' State Bank at 908 1-2 Congress Avenue. The elegant and ornate fixtures of artistic design in Mr. Freed's offices and sample rooms were all manufactured in Houston.

A native Texan, Mr. Freed was born at Hemp- stead, April 20th, 1877. His father Abe Freed died when Mr. Freed was a small boy. His mother was Miss Theresa Kaiser, a native of Vicksburg, Missis- sippi, but came to Texas fifty-five years ago and now, at the age of seventy-three years is residing in Houston. Mr. Freed's education was obtained in the public schools of Hempstead, Texas.

Mr. Freed came to Houston when fifteen years of age and went to work as a clerk for a local whole- sale dry goods firm. After remaining in the employ of this firm for two years he resigned and started his present business, going on the road as a sales- man when nineteen years old. From time to time he added to his line until now he has the finest lines of any merchandise broker in the Southwest. Mr. Freed is interested in many of the commercial and industrial institutions of Houston and is a di- rector of the Marine Bank and Trust Co. Mr. Freed has been twice married: his first marriage was in Houston in 1898 to Miss Louise Lipper (deceased since 1907) a member of the prominent Houston family. One son was born of this union, Abbye L. Freed, who is associated with his father in business. His second marriage was to Miss Sybil Dellheim, a member of a well known family of Birmingham, Alabama. They have two children, Jean and Louis. Mr. Freed is a member of the A. F. and A. M. with membership in Holland Lodge No. 1 of Houston. He is a 32nd degree member of the Scottish Rite body of this organization and a Shriner of Arabia Temple. He holds a life membership in both Holland Lodge and Arabia Temple. Mr. Freed has always been ac- tive in the business, social and general community life of Houston and gives liberally of his time and means to all projects tending to the welfare and advancement of this city, where he is regarded as one of the most progressive and public spirited citizens.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 18

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