New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 22

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

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Oliver Bryan Sterling was educated in the country schools of Chambers County, working on his father's farm between the short school terms of that day. He remained on the farm until he attained his ma- jority, a little later taking up carpenter work, rice irrigation work, and engineering work, during these years handling all classes of work in these fields, and for a time taking charge of a canal as engineer and superintendent. In 1900 he went to Galveston, where he engaged in the contracting business, re- maining there for four years prior to going to Dayton, where he began a career of building, which resulted in the development of a town which will live throughout the years to come.

Mr. Sterling was married at Dayton, Texas, the twenty-fourth of January, 1912, to Miss Lula Crites, a native of Huntington, Indiana, and the daughter of Jesse F. Crites, also of that State. Mrs. Sterling was educated for the teaching profession and taught school in Michigan and Indiana. She is a cultured lady, possessing a keen business judgment, and has materially aided her husband in his career. Mr. and Mrs. Sterling have five children, Gwendolyn, Oliver Bryan, Jr., Lee F., Mary Lu and Elizabeth Ross Ster- ling. Mr. Sterling, with his family, reside at 107 Hathaway since coming to Houston to make his home and is a member of the Knights of Pythias Lodge of Dayton. Essentially a business and family man, he has found in his business and in his family life his two chief interests, and social life, as typified by lodges and clubs, has made little appeal to him. In the coming of O. B. Sterling and family to Houston to live the city profits by this addition to its citizen- ship and whatever Mr. Sterling undertakes in a busi- ness way will reflect credit to himself because his career has been founded upon fair and honest deal- ings.

1193

MEN OF TEXAS

OHN M. BOYLE, veteran laundry owner of Houston, has been for two decades one of the vital forces for progress in this in- dustry, devoting his energies not alone to the development of his business, but to the raising of laundry operation standards. Mr. Boyle came to Houston in 1889 and after a business experience of ten years, founded the Eureka Laundry and Dry Cleaning Works, in 1902, and has since operated this business. Mr. Boyle began in a small way at 911 Capitol Avenue, the first year employing ten oper- atives. But his methods of operation, his desire to give to the Houston housewives an efficient, high grade service, accomplished much and the business prospered from the start. In 1919 it had grown to such proportions that the Eureka Laundry and Dry Cleaning Works was incorporated and today finds this enterprise one of the biggest and finest com- mercial laundries in the Southwest. Located at 610 Travis Street, the Eureka Laundry and Dry Clean- ing Works, with Mr. Boyle as its president and man- ager, occupies one of the most modernly equipped plants in the Lone Star State, with thirty-five thou- sand square feet of floor space and employing one hundred and fifty-six operatives. Mr. Boyle has at all times, since the first day of operation, kept apace with modern and progressive methods of oper- ation, installing new equipment when he saw where he could raise his standards by so doing, introducing new methods in the wash room when he saw a chance to improve over the old methods and give a better class of work. He has been a leader in every movement for the improvement of the laundry indus- try. His plant stands a monument to John M. Boyle, known throughout the laundry industry as one of the most progressive men in the industry today. Mr. Boyle does all classes of laundry and dry cleaning and makes a specialty of service. Twenty delivery trucks are operated to further facilitate efficient operation and every effort made to give Houston a laundry service second to none. Mr. Boyle, as previously mentioned, is president and general manager of the Eureka Laundry and Dry Cleaning Works, Inc., J. G. Palmer, vice president and C. A. Palmer, secretary and treasurer.

Mr. Boyle was born at Caddo Parish, Louisiana, in 1872, son of J. M. Boyle, a native of Ireland who came to Louisiana as a young man. Mr. Boyle was educated in the Caddo parish schools, and in 1892 came to Houston. Until 1896 he was with an ice company here, in that year beginning his laun- dry experience in one of the Houston laundries. Six years later he launched his own business, which he has since operated.

Mr. Boyle was married at Houston, in 1903, to Miss Rosa Iselt, a native of Waller County, Texas. They have one child, Virginia Rose. Mr. and Mrs. Boyle make their home at 1012 Rosedale Street. Mr. Boyle is a popular member of most of the social and civic organizations at Houston, a Mason, member of Gray Lodge, 32nd Degree, Scottish Rite, and a mem- ber of Arabia Temple Shrine. He is active in the work of the Texas Laundryowners Association, where he is affectionately hailed as "Red Boyle" and of which he is the popular president. He is also identified with the Laundryowners National Asso- ciation and takes an active interest in the work, along progressive lines, that this association plans and carries out.

ALTER H. MYERS is well-known in the business circles of Houston, where, before entering the real estate and investment business, he was for eleven years engaged in the drug business. Mr. Myers is president of the Ship Channel Development Company, which was incorporated in 1919, and deals principally in resi- dential property, and some business sites in Har- risburg, Pasadena and Gloverdale, with sub-divisions in Harrisburg and along the Ship Channel. This Development Company also finances and builds for clients; they also have a sub-division at Bellaire. The office of the Ship Channel Development Com- pany is located at 503-7 West Building.

Mr. Myers was born in West Virginia, January 23rd, 1884. His father, W. H. Myers, was a ma- chinist in West Virginia. His education was ob- tained in the West Virginia public schools, after which he attended the University of West Virginia, and graduated from this Institution in 1906 with the degree of M. D., but never practiced his profession. Mr. Myers worked his way through school as a druggist, and when he had graduated, found him- self the owner of a drug store, but badly in debt, but by close application to his business he soon had this debt paid, and since that time has been en- gaged in the drug business in West Virginia, Cali- fornia, Arizona and Texas, totalling twenty years spent in this line of endeavor. He sold his Houston interests in which he had been engaged since 1912, in January, 1923. Since coming to Houston, Mr. Myers has been closely connected with the com- mercial interests of the city, and is a director in the Harrisburg Drug Company and in the Thomas Land Corporation. He is vice president of the American State Bank at Harrisburg, and is one of the organizers of this institution, and is connect- ed with various other interests in the city and in Harrisburg.

Mr. Myers has been twice married. His first mar- riage was solemnized in West Virginia, and his wife died a few years later in Texas, where he had removed for the benefit of his health. His second marriage was in Harrisburg, Texas, March 31st, 1918, to Miss Ruby Brown, a daughter of G. T. Brown, whose family were among the original set- tlers of Cedar Bayou, and the Brown family origi- nally owned part of the land that comprises the famous Goose Creek oil fields. Two children were born to Mr. Myers and his first wife-Virginia and Woodford Myers. The Myers residence is located in Harrisburg. Mr. Myers is an M. D., also a mem- ber of the State Druggists Association and the Registered Druggists of

Texas. Mr. Myers is also a member of the A. F. and A. M., with membership in Union Lodge No. 4, of Mor- gantown, West Virginia; this Lodge has the name of George Washington on its charter. He is a member of the Chapter and Consistory at that place, a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite at Wheeling, West Vir- ginia, and a member of the Arabia Temple Shrine, of Houston. Mr. Myers has always considered that it was purely an accident that he became a citi- zen of Texas and Houston, but is convinced that accidents are not always disagreeable. He had started to South America, and missed his boat at Galveston, and during the wait of sixty days for another boat, he had made frequent trips to Hous- ton, and when the next boat came, he had decided to remain in the Metropolis of the Lone Star State.

1194

Jam Boyle

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

RANK LOUIS HOLTON, young business man, came to Houston on September 14, 1922, and has been identified since that time with the branch store of Victory Wilson, Inc., in the capacity of local manager. The Houston store is located at 4191/2 Main Street over the J. J. Sweeney Jewelry Store and occupies a floor space of fifty-two by seventy-five feet. Seven people are employed in the local store, which handles a line of high grade clothing for men and young men, spe- cializing in suits and overcoats. James K. Wilson of Dallas is President of the Company.

The Victory Wilson Stores were organized at Dal- las some years ago on a policy of occupying second floor, low-rent quarters and passing the saving in overhead expense on to its customers in the form of reduced prices for high grade merchandise. The first Dallas store was a success from the start and now the company has a chain of stores located in most of the principal cities of Texas, all of them having upstairs locations and featuring the com- pany's slogan of "a short flight to economy." The men employed in the Houston store are all expert clothing people and the volume of business has shown a steady and consistent increase under the manage- ment of Mr. Holton.

A native of Mississippi, Mr. Holton was born at Meridian on August 11, 1890, a son of Frank P. and Lucile Clara (Morrison) Holton. In 1894 the family removed to Cleburne, Texas, and remained there until 1919, when they removed to Dallas.

Mr. Holton was educated in the public schools at Cleburne and graduated at the Cleburne High School, later attending Metropolitan Business College at Dallas for nine months. After completing his high school course, he joined the navy in 1907 and after a training period on the West Coast made a trip around the world, visiting practically every country on the face of the globe during his four years cruise. He received his discharge on his twenty-first birth- day in 1911 and returned to Cleburne, remaining there four months and then going to Dallas, where he entered a business college. After that he pur- chased a tailor shop in the old Metropolitan Hotel at Dallas, operating it for a year and then went with the Robertson, Nash and Robert Clothing Company. Seven months later he decided to take a trip over the United States and upon returning to Dallas in 1914, went with Sears, Roebuck and Company, in their sales department, remaining with this firm until 1917, when he resigned as Assistant Manager of the Sales Department to again enlist in the United States Navy, at the time of the entrance of the United States into the World War, although he was placed in the deferred classification, Mr. Holton felt it was his duty to offer his services to the navy, in which field he was experienced. So he re- entered the navy in July, 1917, and was sent to the East Coast as a yeomen and assigned to duty on a transport, making four trips across the Atlantic. He was then transferred to Newport, Viriginia, as per- sonnel officer in charge of 1,200 men until March 10, 1919, when he was transferred to New Orleans and discharged.

Returning to Dallas he again entered the employ of Sears, Roebuck and Company for a short time and then with A. Harris and Company, and later for two years with the Trivers Clothing Company. In September, 1921, he went with Victory Wilson as

Clothing Salesman and in August, 1922, was trans- ferred to Houston to superintend the remodeling of their local store and upon its completion was placed in charge of this branch.

Mr. Holton was married at Dallas on January 12, 1913, to Miss Bertha Louise Nehermeyer, a daugh- ter of John Nehermeyer, prominent resident of Dal- las for many years.

Mr. Holton is a Thirty-Second degree Mason, a member of the Scottish Rite bodies, Hella Temple Shrine, Chapter, Council and Blue Lodge of Dallas. He is a member of the Salesmanship Club and the Chamber of Commerce of Houston and takes an ac- tive interest in the civic affairs of the city.

A. PALMER, one of the progressive young business men of Houston, has for a number of years taken an active part in the com- mercial laundry industry in this city. Mr. Palmer is secretary, treasurer and assistant man- ager of the Eureka Laundry and Dye Works, one of the largest, as well as one of the oldest, laun- dries in the city. The Eureka Laundry occupies a large, modern, well lighted plant at 610 Travis Street, where they have installed all the most mod- ern and efficient equipment and handle their work under the most approved conditions. They give es- pecial attention to the welfare of the operatives, all of whom work under ideal conditions, and conse- quently are enabled to do much better work. The Eureka Laundry Company was established many years ago by J. M. Boyle, veteran laundry owner of the Lone Star State, and has since been operated by him. Mr. Boyle is president and manager of the company, G. J. Palmer, father of C. A. Palmer, is vice president and C. A. Palmer, secretary and treasurer.

After finishing his education, in 1915, Mr. Palmer was a cotton checker for one season, then went with the Houston Electric Company, working in all de- partments, in the shops, as street car motorman and on up, with the intention of making this his career. But after a year and a half he went with the Hous- ton Post, in the advertising department, and was there until the beginning of the recent war. After trying to enlist in every branch of the service, he was finally accepted for duty in the Infantry, doing recruiting, and was in Houston until 1918 when he was discharged. He then went with the Eureka Laundry and Dye Works, in February, 1919, and in the following April bought an interest in the busi- ness and was made secretary and treasurer.

Mr. Palmer was born at Houston, the nineteenth of October, 1895, son of G. J. Palmer, pioneer news- paper man of this city, who came to Houston as a young man, from Illinois. He is vice president of the Houston Post and special commissioner of the Texas Newspaper Publishers Association, vice pres- ident of the Eureka Laundry and has other large in- terests in Houston. His mother, prior to her mar- riage, was Miss Katherine Ray. Mr. Palmer was educated in the public schools of Houston, and later Sewanee Military Academy, and one year at the University of the South at summer term, after which he entered upon his business career.

Mr. Palmer was married at Houston, the seventh of July, 1917, to Miss Louise Hamilton, daughter of George H. Hamilton, a prominent business man of this city. They have one son, Charles A., Junior.

1197

MEN OF TEXAS

AMES W. TRIMBLE is well known to the business fraternity of Houston, where twen- ty-two years ago he organized the Ineeda Laundry and Cleaning Company, Inc., and has been President of this company since that time. The plant of this company, located at Rusk and Smith Avenue, was established and incorporated in 1903 and is one of the largest laundries and cleaning establishments in South Texas. The Ineeda Laun- dry and Cleaning Company, Inc., has a fine, fire- proof, two-story building, which was erected in 1912, and is equipped with all modern machinery, and is thoroughly sanitary in every respect. The laundry and cleaning plant have thirty trucks in their de- livery department, and at present this department is taxed to capacity. The Ineeda Laundry and Cleaning Company, Inc., take great pride in the work done at their plant, and every detail is looked after by competent help. Over two hundred people are employed at the plant, which has thirty thousand square feet of floor space. Other officers of the company are A. J. Fittger, Vice-President and Man- ager, and B. G. Sydnor, Secretary and Treasurer, which position he has held since 1907. Mr. Fittger has been Vice-President and Manager since 1917.

Mr. Trimble was born in Winchester, Tennessee, May 26, 1869. His father, Aaron Trimble, was a na- tive of Tennessee, but the latter part of his life was spent in Missouri, where he died. Mr. Trimble's education was obtained in the public schools of Ten- nessee. His opportunities for securing an education were limited, and the liberal education which he ob- tained in later years has been through self help.

When Mr. Trimble first came to Houston it was for the purpose of securing work, and he was em- ployed by a laundry on a salary. He saved his money and learned the laundry business at the same time, and soon was able to engage in the laundry business, in a small way, for himself. His establish- ment has grown, under able management, until it is now among the largest plants of its kind in the State. Mr. Trimble has one daughter, Wendla, now the wife of W. H. Black. His home is at La Porte, on the bay. Mr. Trimble is a member of the Elks, the Houston Club, the Houston Turnverein, Holland Lodge No. 1, A. F. and A. M., and of the York and Scottish Rite bodies of that order, and is a Shriner of Arabia Temple.

Having risen from the ranks, Mr. Trimble has the deepest interest in the man who aspires to bet- ter his condition, and is at all times ready and willing to render helpful service to his fellowman. He is an advocate of efficiency, promptness and punctuality, and these characteristics coupled with great industry accounts for the success achieved by this good man.

EE ROGERSON, plumbing and heating con- tractor, has during the vast growth of Houston been a factor in supplying an enormous demand for plumbing and heat- ing material, which has been required in the build- ings of this city. Mr. Rogerson is sole owner of the plumbing and heating business bearing his name, located at 908 Truxillo Avenue, which represents and investment of more than $35,000.00. Among the buildings in which Mr. Rogerson installed the plumbing and heating work are the Great Southern Life Building, the Masonic Temple, Standard San- itary Building, many of the largest apartment

houses, the homes of John T. Crotty and W. W. Moore, two of the finest residences in the city, and hundreds of other homes and buildings. Mr. Roger- son has for more than a decade had his home and business together, in the finest residence section of the city. He employs eighteen people and has a large business.

Mr. Rogerson was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylva- nia, in 1884. His father, John Lee Rogerson, was a well known building contractor of Pittsburg. His mother was Miss Louise Ulrich, a native of Penn- sylvania. Mr. Rogerson's early education was ob- tained in the public schools of Pittsburgh. Later, he was a student for three years at the Carnegie Technical School, and received a diploma from this institution in Sanitary Engineering. Mr. Rogerson has the distinction of being one of three students in a class numbering forty-eight, who passed the required examination. After leaving college, Mr. Rogerson was for a period of six years superin- tendent of the George H. Soffel Company, Plumb- ing Contractors of Pittsburgh. The George H. Sof- fel Company, at the time that Mr. Rogerson was superintendent of their establishment, was the sec- ond largest company of its kind in the United States. He resigned his position with this firm and came to Texas and to Houston in 1912 and engaged in his present business.

Mr. Rogerson was married in Houston in 1915 to Miss Gussie Frederick, a daughter of Herman Fred- erick, well known building contractor of Houston. In fraternal and social organizations Mr. Rogerson is a member of the York Rite body of the A. F. and A. M., and a Shriner of Arabia Temple, and a member of the Houston Launch Club. Mr. Roger- son expects Houston to continue to advance to the first city in the Southwest, and is looking forward to an era of great business prosperity in all lines.

A. GRIESENBECK, for more than two de- cades associated with the business life at Houston, is one of the most progressive in- surance men in the city, and represents some of the oldest and strongest insurance com- panies operating in this country. Mr. Griesenbeck is senior member of the firm of B. A. Griesenbeck and Company, and has been in the insurance business in Houston since 1905. The present firm was orga- nized in 1920, and acts as the local agency for the New York Underwriters, the Massachusetts Fire and Marine, the Milwaukee Mechanics, the Travel- lers, and also writes life insurance in the South- western Life Insurance Company. Mr. Giesenbeck is known in insurance circles as a real producer and has written a record amount of business. Mr. Gries- enbeck is associated with R. E. Fones, who has had fourteen years experience in the insurance field. The firm has offices in the Bankers Mortgage Building.

Mr. Griesenbeck was born at Bastrop, Texas, the nineteenth of September, 1885. His father, R. J. Griesenbeck, a native of the Lone Star State, was in the wholesale grocery and insurance business at Bastrop, and was District Clerk for the past two decades. He has recently retired from business life, but still makes his home in Bastrop. His mother, also a native Texan, was before her marriage Miss Mollie Orts. Mr. Griesenbeck attended the schools of Bastrop, and after finishing his education was a stenographer for one year. He then entered the insurance business, with Cravens and Cage, and has

1198

Jw Trimble

W. S. Crawford

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

since continued in this line. He was formerly Spe- cial Agent and Adjuster out of Houston for the Queen Insurance Company, handling the territory in South Texas for about six years. In 1921 he or- ganized his present company, with which he has since been actively associated.

Mr. Griesenbeck was married in Brenham, in 1907, to Miss Alma Miller, of that city. Mr. and Mrs. Griesenbeck now make their home in Houston at 10 Latham Street. They attend the Methodist Church. Mr. Griesenbeck takes a deep interest in civic ac- tivities at Houston, and is active in all lines of public development. He has a constructive view- point, and a keen insight into economic questions, and brings to the insurance business an attitude that makes for a progressive, well organized busi- ness, that is a distinct asset to the commercial life of the city.

ARRY S. CRAWFORD when becoming Pres- ident and General Manager of the Texas Advertising Company brought to this com- pany the knowledge that had been devel- oped through thirty years of experience and which has had an important part in the success of this company. The Texas Advertising Company located at Main Boulevard and Wentworth Avenue, are the builders of the finest and most artistic signs in the entire South, and are known as outdoor advertisers. They are builders of the beautiful de luxe bulletins that are seen on the Houston avenues and highways and are real works of art. Their beautiful new studio, 65x125 feet, in size, is truly a house of glass built for their artists in making theatre curtains and art signs. The Texas Advertising Company employ fifteen skilled artists in their work and have branches at Galveston, Beaumont, and Port Arthur, Texas, and build signs for firms in all portions of Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Other officers of the Texas Advertising Company are P. L. Michael, Vice-President, H. C. Hurd, Secretary, and W. A. McKenna, Art Director and Treasurer. Mr. McKenna is one of the leading artists of this country in this line. All of his business life has been spent in this field. For years he was identified with lead- ing advertising and lithographing firms in New York City. He came to Houston in 1919, joining the Texas Advertising Company's personnel at this time. No little credit is due him for the success of his com- pany. He makes the art signs in miniature so that the advertiser can visualize the value of the finished work.

Mr. Crawford was born at Lexington, Kentucky, in 1877. His father, J. S. Crawford, died when he was a small boy. Mr. Crawford's education was obtained in the public schools of Kentucky and Ohio, but much of his real learning has been attained through self help.

Mr. Crawford, when a mere youth, formed a liking for the sign business and when sixteen years of age, began his business career in a sign shop in Chicago, where he remained for two years, 1893 and 1894. He then went to New York City and was employed in a sign shop there for one year, after which he went to Boston, engaged in the sign business and remained there five years. He went on the road for a large sign and advertising company of the East and trav- eled in practically every state in the Union. Texas was in his itinerary and when he reached Houston he considered this a fertile field for this business and

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 22

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