New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 23

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

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in May, 1915, organized and incorporated the present company in a small way, and it has grown by leaps and bounds since its organization. Mr. Crawford is a director in the Houston Poster Advertising Com- pany and is interested in various industries in Hous- ton. Mr. Crawford is a member of the A. F. and A. M., with membership in Chicago, and is a mem- ber of the Scottish Rite body of this order to the 32nd degree and is a Shriner of the Chicago Medina Temple. Mr. Crawford is optimistic as to the future of Houston, which he believes will soon take her place as the leading city of the Southwest.

P. KALB, for upwards of three decades as- sociated with the prosperity and advance- ment of Houston, has been actively identi- fied with enterprises of wide scope, taking a leading part in shaping commercial affairs. Mr. Kalb is now retired, and is not actively represented in any of the companies he formerly directed, but still retains many important investments in oil properties, both developed and undeveloped, and has numerous real estate holdings, handling many deals along this line. He is also a director of the Houston National Bank, one of the strongest financial institu- tions in the city. Mr. Kalb was for many years financially interested in and managed a department of the Houston Ice and Brewing Association as well as serving as chairman of the board. He has done much for Houston in the way of civic development and has always been one of the first to come for- ward and invest in any new enterprise locating here.

Mr. Kalb came to Houston in 1892, as superin- tendent of the Houston Ice and Brewing Company, remaining active in this organization for eighteen years, retiring in 1912. His entire career has been marked by a staunchness of character and an in- tegrity that has come to be associated with his name and has been in a large measure a factor in all his success as a business man.

Mr. Kalb is a native of Germany, in which coun- try he was born in 1865, son of Mr. and Mrs. John P. Kalb. He was educated in the schools of his na- tive country and came to America in 1882. For one year he was with the Pabst Brewing Company in Milwaukee, then going to La Crosse, Wisconsin, where for two years he was in this industry. He then attended the Brewers Academy, in New York City, for one season, coming to San Antonio as plant superintendent, and remaining there for three and a half years before moving to Houston.

Mr. Kalb was married at Houston, in 1893, to Miss Josephine Hauser, daughter of Christian Hauser, an old settler of San Antonio, and a Civil War veteran. Mr. and Mrs. Kalb have three children, Ervin F. Kalb, Elva M. Kalb and Bernard J. Kalb. They have one of the fine homes of the city, at 1415 Rosalie Avenue. Mr. Kalb is a member of the Turnverein Club, an organization that dates back to 1854, and in which he has been an officer since 1893 and at this time is president. Ervin F. Kalb, the eldest son, enlisted in the World War in 1917, serving overseas as lieutenant in the Trench Mortar Division, for six months, his entire service being fifteen months. He is now in the cotton business in New Orleans. Miss Elva M. Kalb is a talented singer and popular in musical and social circles in South Texas. Ber- nard J. Kalb graduated from high school in 1925, and will enter college.

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MEN OF TEXAS

ARD G. ELLIOTT, since coming to Hous- ton in 1917, has represented a number of the leading railway supply manufacturers of the country in this section. Mr. Elliott is President of the G. F. Cotter Supply Company, which was organized in 1913, and which specializes in the selling of railway and industrial materials and supplies. The company is exclusive Southwest- ern representative of the American Steel Foundries, the Duff Manufacturing Company, the Elliot Frog and Switch Works, Ramapo-Ajax Corporation, the Henry Giessel Company, The Heywood-Wakefield Company, Manning, Maxwell and Moore, Inc., The Nathan Manufacturing Company, the Perolin Com- pany of America, the Pollak Steel Company, The Premier Staybolt Company, the Railroad Supply Company, the Rome Iron Mills, Inc., the Simplified Steam Chest Company, the Standard Railway Equip- ment Company and the Union Metal Products Com- pany.

The Houston office of the G. F. Cotter Supply Company is in the Union National Bank Building. Simon M. Dolan is Vice-President.

Card G. Elliott was born in Stark County, Ohio, the third of September, 1877, and was educated in the schools of Ohio and Kansas. At the age of fifteen he entered the railroad business, continuing therein for twenty-three years, during which he was connected with the operating and executive depart- ments of various railroads of the West and South- west. His last railroad service was in the capacity of Assistant to Chief Operating Officer, Missouri Kansas and Texas Lines, which position he resigned in 1917 to accept his present position as President of the G. F. Cotter Supply Company.

Mr. Elliott was married in 1906 to Miss Mary Olive Malone. They reside in Houston, at 912 Col- quitt Avenue, and have two children, Mary Alice and Card G. Elliott, Jr. Mr. Elliott is a member of the Presbyterian Church, the Houston Country Club, the Houston Club, the Lumberman's Club, the Ki- wanis Club, the Traffic Club, the Salesmanship Club and is a Mason, Blue Lodge, Dallas, Thirty-Second degree, Scottish Rite, and belongs to Arabia Temple Shrine at Houston.

ALE C. ROGERS, for the past five years a factor in the development of the adver- tising business at Houston, has during that time been variously identified with phases of this important commercial activity, and for the past two years of the time has been operating one of the biggest advertising agencies here. The Rogers-Gano Advertising Agency, Incorporated, of which Mr. Rogers is president and general mana- ger, was established in December, 1920, by Mr. Rogers and R. C. Gano, vice president and in charge of the Chicago office, in association with Mr. C. S. Johnson, secretary and treasurer. They give their attention to all phases of newspaper and magazine advertising and direct mail advertising, representing newspapers and publishing companies from all over the United States. The Rogers-Gano Advertising Agency has handled many important contracts, and gives careful attention to the business of the large industrial advertisers. This company has estab- lished a reputation for turning out copy and hand- ling contracts that get results. The Rogers-Gano Company maintains their office in the Humble Building, and have five trained men in the office,

working under the direction of Mr. Rogers.

Dale C. Rogers was born in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, near Springfield, the fifteenth of Octo- ber, 1894, son of C. M. Rogers, a native of Arkansas, now living in Houston, and Mary Lee Rogers, also a native of that state. Mr. Rogers attended the public schools of Springfield, Missouri, and later Drury College. He then went to the University of Mis- souri, specializing in journalism and advertising. From this institution Mr. Rogers began on the Springfield Republic, one of the leading newspapers of that city, as advertising man. After a year he came to Houston, and was with the Houston Chron- icle for a short time in the advertising department. He then went with the Hughes Tool Company, as advertising manager, and then to Kansas City, Mis- souri, where he had charge of the advertising of the United Iron Works. After a short time he returned to Houston, with the Reed-Roller Bit Com- pany, as advertising director and sales manager. He resigned this position in 1920 to establish his own agency.

Mr. Rogers was married, first at Springfield, Missouri, in 1916, to Miss Lucile Lovan, now de- ceased, and by whom he had two children, Dale R. Junior, and Babiee. He was married for the second time the twentieth of April, 1920, to Miss Jennie V. Lovan, sister of his first wife. They have one child, Gine. The family make their home at 1601 Minnesota Street. Mr. Rogers is past president of the Houston Advertising Club, a member of the Salesmanship Club and the University Club, and president of the 10th District Associated Advertis- ing Club of the World.

HARLES R. WESTMORELAND of Houston, is well known in the insurance circles of this city and of South Texas, where for the past twelve years he has devoted his entire attention to this business in Houston, and prior to entering this line of endeavor here he was for two years engaged in the insurance business at Eagle Lake. Mr. Westmoreland is the owner of the insurance business conducted under the name of W. H. Kirkland and Company, with office located at First National Bank Building, and is among the largest concerns of its kind in Houston. This busi- ness was organized in 1903 and Mr. Westmoreland purchased the interests of the several partners, and has since conducted the business alone. W. H. Kirk- land and Company are General Agents of the Ocean Accident and Guaranty Corporation and is local agent for the Hartford, Commercial Union, Conti- nental, The Alliance of Philadelphia, and Aetna Underwriters. Fifteen people are employed in the Houston office and about twenty local agents for the Ocean Accident and Guaranty Company are lo- cated in the adjacent counties. This company also handles a large volume of cotton insurance, which alone makes a very large and important business.

A native Texan, Mr. Westmoreland was born at Tyler June 30, 1889. His father, W. Y. Westmore- land, also a native of the Lone Star State, was for many years engaged in the general merchandising business at Eagle Lake, and was well known in the business and financial circles of South Texas. His mother was Miss Beulah Newsome, a member of a pioneer Texas family. His education was obtained in the public schools of Eagle Lake, Texas, after which he attended the Texas A. and M. College, and

1202

Card, Elin

shepherd

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

entered the insurance business soon after leaving school.

Mr. Westmoreland was married at Eagle Lake, Texas, in 1912, to Miss Cleo Baughman. They have one son, Charles R. Westmoreland, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Westmoreland reside at 419 Colquitt Avenue. Mr. Westmoreland is a member 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 member of Arabia Temple Shrine of Houston. He is also a member of the River Oaks Country Club. His church affiliation is with the Methodist faith and he is an active member of the Men's Bible Class of that church. Mr. Westmoreland is interested in all matters having to do with the civic improvement, progress and advancement of Houston.

IDWIN DALE SHEPHERD, General Agent for the Union Central Life Insurance Com- pany, came to Houston in 1904 and estab- lished his present business in May of that year, and since that time has devoted his attentions exclusively to the life insurance business. As an evidence of his success and the growth of Mr. Shep- herd's business, his increase in business is now upward of $2,500,000.00 each year. Mr. Shepherd opened this agency himself and has built it up to its present large proportions from a very small begin- ning. The business from the Houston office of the Union Central Life Insurance extends to forty coun- ties about Houston, and Mr. Shepherd covers this territory with a staff of thirty trained men. He has District Agents in various counties and sends Special Agents out of the Houston office when oc- casion demands, and has upward of $15,000,000.00 insurance in force in the Houston district. He em- ploys, besides the clerical force and different agents, a secretary, cashier and assistant cashier at the Houston office and has several part-time men in the country districts to look after the vast amount of business. Mr. Shepherd maintains well appointed offices at 701 State National Bank Building, Hous- ton.

Mr. Shepherd was born at Hamilton, Illinois, July 25, 1876. His father, William Harrison Shepherd, was for many years engaged in farming in Illinois. His mother was Miss Ruth Bassett, a native of In- dianapolis, and a member of a well known family of that city. His early education was obtained in the public and high schools of Illinois, after which he attended a business college for a period of one year. After leaving college Mr. Shepherd began his business career in the grocery business and re- mained in this line of endeavor for a short time and then entered the insurance field. His first work in insurance was as Field Agent for the Prudential for a period of eleven months, which time was spent in Keokuk, Iowa. He remained with the Prudential and was advanced to many positions of importance with this company, and for the last six years spent with this company he was Assistant Superintendent in Iowa. In March, 1923, Mr. Shepherd had passed the quarter of a century mark in the insurance busi- ness, and is one of the outstanding men in this line in Texas.

Mr. Shepherd was married at Keoduk, Iowa, De- cember 24, 1901, to Miss Mamie Nagel, a native of Cincinnati, and a daughter of Frank Nagel, well known foundry manufacturer, but now deceased. They have four children, Edwin Dale Shepherd, Jr.,

Mary Alice, Alvin Russell and Henry Harrison. Mr. Shepherd is a member of the Rotary Club, the Glen- brook Country Club, and the Houston Chamber of Commerce. He is a consistent member of the Chris- tion Church. Mr. Shepherd is enthusiastic as to the future of Houston and believes that this city is des- tined to soon become the greatest city in the South.

LFRED J. SHUDDE, of Houston, Texas, has devoted his entire life to the hat business, and has by close application mastered every detail of the business up to the executive end of it. Mr. Shudde, with his three brothers, B. W., J. A. and H. G. Shudde, own and operate Shudde's Southern Hat Company, exclusive dealers in hats and are the largest retail hatters in Texas. This business was established by the Shudde Broth- ers, in a small way in 1907 at 808 Preston Avenue, and at that time were retail hat dealers and clean- ers. The Shudde's Southern Hat Company have a factory in this city, where they manufacture fine felt and Panama hats. They also do a large business in remodeling hats, and only the most skilled men are employed in this work. This is the largest plant of its kind in the State, and is operated in con- nection with their two retail stores. Thirty-five people are employed at this factory. They have two stores, one of which is located at Travis and Preston Streets, where six people are employed and where a large stock is carried at all times. In 1924, their magnificent store located at 616 Main Street was opened, and is one of the show places of Hous- ton, with more than two hundred dozen hats on dis- play. Their splendid fixtures were manufactured in Houston, and are a great advantage in the display of the merchandise of this store, together with all modern lighting equipment. Five people are em- ployed at the magnificent Main Street store of the Shudde's Southern Hat Company, which is an inno- vation in the hat business of Houston, and is due to the enterprise of the Shudde Brothers, who are all active in the business.

A native Texan, Mr. Shudde was born in Fayette County, on August 14, 1888. His father, H. T. Shudde, is now retired from active business pur- suits, and is living quietly in his home in this city. His education was obtained in the schools of Fay- ette County, and later entered the Houston public schools, and began as a boy in the hat business with his brothers.

Mr. Shudde was married at Houston on January 19, 1918, to Miss Lillie Kluever, a native Texan, and a member of a pioneer family of the Southern por- tion of the State. They have one son, Weldon Glenn. Mr. and Mrs. Shudde reside at 4422 Woodside Avenue. Mr. Shudde is a member of the A. F. and A. M. with membership in Temple Blue Lodge of Houston, and is a member of many of the civic or- ganizations of the city in which he takes an active interest. Mr. Shudde is an enthusiastic booster for Houston and never loses an opportunity to speak a good word for his city, which he believes will soon be- come the metropolis of the Southwest. The Shudde establishment is an example of what can be accom- plished through specializing in one line of business, coupled with modern ideas and thrift. Mr. Shudde is regarded as one of the most enterprising business men of this city, and is always working for the progress and advancement of his institution and of Houston.

1205

MEN OF TEXAS

HARLES S. DROUET has for almost fif- teen years been associated with the Marine industry of Houston and in the meteoric growth of this business, occasioned by the vast increase in water shipping, he has been a fac- tor in supplying boats and towing which has been required in his line. Mr. Drouet is President of the D. W. Ryan Tow Boat Company, Inc., with office located in the Larendon Building, and has spent all of his life in the Marine business. This company was founded by Dan W. Ryan, who died in 1922, and is engaged in a general ocean and harbor towing and sand and shell business. They are well equip- ped for the handling of this business, owning six boats-Orion, Neches, Helen Henderson, Dan Ryan, Edmond Browne and the Ellis. They also have two large oil barges, one dredge boat and six shell and sand barges, and employ about fifty men. The Board of Directors of the D. W. Ryan Tow Boat Company, Inc., are Chas. S. Drouet, Edward Minor, Claude Minor, Elbert Roberts and M. L. Trost.

A native Texan, Mr. Drouet was born in Galves- ton August 18, 1870. His father, Capt. Sebastian Drouet, was a veteran of the seas, his parents having brought him to Galveston at the age of two years, and spent his life on the high seas. He was a pilot on the Confederate Gun Boat, "Bayou City," during the Civil War at the age of twenty-two years, and was a Galveston bar pilot during the last thirty years of his life. Mr. Drouet's education was ob- tained in the public and high schools of Galveston. After finishing school Mr. Drouet began his busi- ness career in steamship building and repairing as a mechanical engineer for large steamship compa- nies, and later was engaged in this business for himself at Galveston. In 1909 he came to Houston as manager of the Buffalo Bayou Company, which was later purchaser by Dan W. Ryan of Port Arthur, Texas, and he remained as manager of the com- pany under the new ownership. After Mr. Ryan's death in 1922, Mr. Drouet had the Port Arthur firm moved to Houston in August, 1922, and consolidated the two firms.

Mr. Drouet was married at Galveston in 1900 to Miss Mary W. Steinhoff, a native of Galveston, and a daughter of Captain Charles Steinhoff, who was for many years a prominent contractor and builder of the upper Bay country. Mr. and Mrs. Drouet re- side at 4630 Walker Avenue. Mr. Drouet was State Pilot Commissioner for five years prior to the city of Houston taking over this department. Mr. Drouet is optimistic as to the future of Houston and be- lieves since the deep water has become a reality, that nothing can prevent this city from becoming the leading city and port of the Southwest.

H. PHELPS, owner of the Houston Planing Mill at 3519 Mckinney Avenue, has been - a resident of Houston for thirty-six years and is regarded as one of the most skilled and best posted men in woodwork of all kinds, in the city. Mr. Phelps started the Houston Planing Mill on a small scale in 1898, and he now has a plant one hundred feet by ninety feet in size, equipped with everything to be found in a modern planing mill. Mr. Phelps does a general milling business, sash and door manufacturing and cabinet work. He also does a large business for the various lumber yards of Houston on special orders and general mill- ing work.

A native Texan, Mr. Phelps was born at La Grange in 1872. His father, E. C. Phelps (deceased), a na- tive of Virginia, came to Texas soon after the close of the Civil War and spent the remainder of his life in the Lone Star State. His mother (now de- ceased) was Miss Fannie Louise Blanton, a member of a well known Virginia family. His education was obtained in the public and high schools of La Grange, Texas, and Mr. Phelps left his native town at the age of sixteen years and learned the trade of a carpenter by working as an apprentice in various parts of Texas, Louisiana and other states, and came to Houston and was employed by the South- ern Pacific Railroad Company for a period of ten years in their Houston shops. At the ends of that period, Mr. Phelps suffered a serious accident and was unable to pursue his vocation for a period of one and one-half years, when he opened the Hous- ton Planing Mill and has been active in this work since that time and has met with great success in this business.

Mr. Phelps was married in Houston in 1910 to Miss Lola Hardesty, a native Texan and a daugther of R. T. Hardesty, a pioneer in the lumber business of the state. Mr. and Mrs. Phelps reside at 1402 Ver- mont Street. Mr. Phelps has always been active in the business 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. During his thirty-six years of residence in Houston, Mr. Phelps has noted many changes, and he believes that the future of this city is one of un- limited possibilities for continued growth and ad- vancement, and with thirty feet of water in the chan- nel, the bonds for which have been issued, will give to Houston a great harbor, and it will become the leading city of the Southwest.

AMES B. EARTHMAN has for almost two decades been allied with the funeral direct- ing and embalming profession at Houston. He is the owner of the Earthman-McCarty Company, Funeral Directors and Embalmers, a firm which was established in 1907 as a partnership, by Mr. Earthman and J. L. McCarty. After the death of Mr. McCarty, which occurred in 1921, Mr. Earth- man has operated the business alone. The establish- ment is located at 1011 Milam Street, where they have their chapel, show rooms, and other of the usual departments incident to this profession. The Earthman-McCarty Company has two motor ambu- lances, motor hearse and other equipment, offering quiet, careful and courteous service to their patrons. They have four assistants, also well trained in the work.

Mr. Earthman was born at Winchester, Fayette County, Texas, the eighteenth of August, 1866, son of I. Y. Earthman, a native of Missouri, who came to Fayette County in 1836, and was a farmer there and in Williamson County all his life, and Sarah Mitchell Earthman, a native of the Lone Star State. Mr. Earthman attended the public schools of Fay- ette County and at the age of eighteen left home and went on a ranch in Jones County, and later on a ranch in Haskell County. He then returned to Williamson County and went in the transfer and storage business, then in the undertaking business at Taylor, Texas, where he spent fifteen years. He came to Houston in 1905 and went with the Stowers Furniture Company for two years, after which he,

1206

Chas Provet

a amubuste

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

with Mr. McCarty, established his present business.

Mr. Earthman was married at Taylor, Texas, the twenty-third of November, 1892, to Miss May Mc- Cool, a native of Kentucky, who was reared at Tay- lor, where he mother, Mrs. Ella McCool, was en- gaged in business. Mr. and Mrs. Earthman have four children, a daughter, Sister M. Perpetua, a Catholic Sister, now at Beaumont, Texas, a daughter, Jamie, at home, a daughter, Addie, at Rice Institute, and a son, J. B., Junior, also a student at Rice Institute. The family live at 1011 Milam Street, and attend the Catholic Church. Mr. Earthman is a Knight of Co- lumbus.

NTHONY ARMBRUSTER, pioneer resident of Houston, and veteran laundry owner of this city, has for upwards of two score years been associated with the prosperity of his community, and has spent three decades active- ly engaged in the laundry industry. Mr. Armbruster is the proprietor of the American Laundry, which he established in 1894, in a small way, growing with the city and prospering as it prospered, until the American Laundry is now one of the largest here. Mr. Armbruster has a modern plant at 1302 and 1304 Washington Avenue, with sixty by one hundred and eighty feet of floor space. His plant is equipped with modern power machinery and special equipment for handling various services offered his patronage. He operates a complete laundry service, giving the housewife a wide range of choice and also has a complete dry cleaning and dyeing department. In this department, as in the laundry proper, all equip- ment is of the best and most approved type and assures the customer the best work possible. Mr. Armbruster employs around seventy-five operatives, who work under the best conditions and in whom he takes an active interest. Twelve cars are used to expedite delivery service. Mr. Armbruster has no partnership affiliations, operating the business as sole proprietor.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 23

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