New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 29

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

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The business of this concern is growing so rapidly, that plans are now under way to erect a large mod- ern building to care for the expansion. They give employment to eighteen skilled operatives, all of

whom are experts in their line. The success of the Houston Armature Works is due in large measure to the policies of Mr. Kater and Mr. Willson, who maintain that when better methods are used in their line of work, The Houston Armature Works will adopt them. F EORGE B. NELSON, one of the leaders among the younger business men of Hous- ton, Texas, has been engaged in the boat building business all his life and is the third generation of the Nelson family to engage in this field of activity. He has made an enviable record in his business, as his boats hold all records for speed in this portion of the state, also two of his boats hold the 510 hydroplane championship of the Mississippi Valley Power Boat Association; the races of this association include competition from all portions of the United States. Mr. Nelson does not build boats for sale or for market, but on spe- cial orders only, and while he builds all kinds of boats, he specializes in racing boats. His business has grown in volume to the extent that parties de- siring his services have to place their orders much in advance of the time of delivery. He is well known in his chosen line and makes boats for all sections of the country, and his boats have won prizes in the big races wherever they have been en- tered. He has never failed to win in the Mississippi Power Boat Association, which is an association of boat clubs of the United States and the best rac- ers from every club are entered there for his com- petition. The boat building business of which Mr. Nelson is the sole owner is located at 6511 Canal Street. His plant is equipped with all of the mod- ern machinery for the building of his splendid craft.

A native Texan, Mr. Nelson was born at Houston on April 3rd, 1897. His father, L. F. Nelson, a na- tive of New Orleans, Louisiana, was a boat builder during his lifetime and his reputation in this line was well known throughout the country. His moth- er, Mrs. Emma (Moeser) Nelson, was a native Hous- tonian and a member of one of this city's pioneer families. His education was obtained in the schools of Houston, which he left at an early age in order to engage in his life work, which has been inter- rupted only by the period he spent in the World War.

Mr. Nelson was married at Houston on August 2nd, 1922, to Miss Pauline Heinze, a daughter of D. E. Heinze, a native Houstonian and well known in the railroad circles of the Lone Star State. Her mother, Mrs. Antonio (Guy) Heinze (now deceased), was born in this city and was a member of a prom- inent Harris County family. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson reside at 6511 Canal Street. Although Mr. Nelson is one of the city's younger generation of business men, he has made his influence felt in the commer- cial life of this city, and has succeeded in building up a splendid business in his rather unique line of work. He has always been deeply interested in the civic matters of his home city and gives liberally of his time and means to the furtherance of any project for the advancement and progress of Hous- ton. Mr. Nelson inherited his liking for his profes- sion and it is his desire to build better and faster boats than have ever been turned out up to this time from any boat building establishment, and he be- lieves that his will lead the the entire country.

1246

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H. Ureason

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

USSELL A. HEY, of Houston, Texas, has with the exception of two years spent in war work, devoted his entire business life to the various branches of the Baldwin Loco- motive Works. He is the Manager of the Houston Branch of this company, and is also Manager for the Standard Steel Works Company, of Philadelphia.

The latter company manufactures locomotive springs, tire forgings, rolled steel wheels for loco-

motive and passenger cars. The offices of these two companies were established in this city in 1919 in order to handle more efficiently the sales of the Southern States which includes Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Arizona. Two men are employed as traveling salesmen in this territory, traveling out of Houston as headquarters. The Houston office is located at 1109 Second National Bank Building. Mr. Hey began with the Baldwin Locomotive Works at the main office in Philadelphia in 1914 as Secretary to the President of this large company and remained in this position for a period of five years. During this time he was in Washington, D. C., and engaged with the War Industries Board and remained in this work for two years, when he returned to Philadel- phia with the same company. He then went on the road as traveling salesman for the Baldwin Locomo- tive Works, with St. Louis as headquarters, covering the Southern States. He continued in this position until the Houston branch was opened and he was sent here as Manager. Since coming to Houston Mr. Hey has made many friends for his company and for himself.

Mr. Hey was born at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on June 9, 1899. His father, James H. Hey, also a native of Pennsylvania, was well known in the busi- ness circles of that State. His education was ob- tained in the public schools of Philadelphia.

On December 18, 1924, Mr. Hey was united in marriage with Miss Gertrude Lucile Guyer, a native of San Antonio. Mr. and Mrs. Hey are popular in social circles of the younger set and reside at 101 West Alabama. He is a member of the Glenbrook Country Club, the Lumberman's Club, the Houston Club and the Rotary Club. Mr. Hey is optimistic as to the future of his company in the Southwest, and believes that this is one of the most fertile fields in the entire country. He is enthusiastic in his praise of Houston, and believes that this city, with its many advantages, will soon lead the entire South- west in population, manufacturing industries, educa- tional advantages and in many other ways. He is ambitious for his firm, with whom he has been asso- ciated for many years, and thinks they made no mistake in establishing an office in this wonderful city. He is ambitious for his firm and his city, and is an ardent worker for the good of both. As a representative of the Standard Steel Works, he has succeeded in building up a large business for them, a business that is growing every month.

OUIS DE SAVOYE, president of L. de Savoye and Co., Inc., cotton merchants and exporters, is well known in the cotton and financial circles, not only in the United States but in practically every country where irregu- lar cotton and linters are used. Mr. de Savoye came to Houston more than a quarter of a century ago and during this period thousands of bales of cotton have been exported and sold to New England and Southern spinners. The present company was or-

ganized in 1920 and same was incorporated in 1923. They have offices in all the principal cities of the United States, Bremen, Germany; Manchester, Eng- land; Lille, France, and maintain offices also in Hol- land and Belgium. This firm handles from ten thousand to twenty-five thousand bales of cotton annually. Mr. E. A. Dent, well known in the busi- ness circles of the country, is the secretary and treasurer of the company and their offices are maintained in the Cotton Exchange. Mr. de Savoye has had a wide and varied experience in the various countries of the world in the cotton business and is known internationally as one of the best posted men in the business and his advice is frequently sought by men of experience, on all matters pertain- ing to the cotton industry and conditions govern- ing same.

Mr. de Savoye was born in Algiers, Africa, a prov- ince of France, on September 22nd, 1863. His father, B. de Savoye, a native of France, was an officer in the French army commanding the arsenal in Algiers, and was killed there. His mother (now deceased) was Miss Marie Marzin, a native of Brest, France, where she was a member of a prominent family. His parents were married in Brest, but Mr. de Sav- oye, with a sister, Marguerite (deceased), were both born in Algiers, Africa. His education was obtained at the Saint Cyr Military Academy in France. When sixteen years of age, Mr. de Savoye entered the French navy as a cadet and remained in the navy for about twenty-two years, after which he entered the German navy and served with this country for a period of two years and then went with the Mer- chant Marine and spent three years in Africa. He came to America in 1894 and settled at Galveston, Texas, where he became associated with the South- ern Pacific navigation department, where he re- mained for several years, after which he entered the cotton business with S. Samuels and Company, and remained with this firm until coming to Hous- ton, where for many years he conducted his cotton business alone and was very successful, but as the business grew, it became necessary to enlarge and accordingly the present company was organized in 1920.

Mr. de Savoye was married at Hamburg, Ger- many, December 8th, 1894, to Miss Johanna Doroty, a native of Hamburg and a member of a prom- inent family of that city. They have four chil- dren, Robert H., Marguerite, Frances and Dorothy, all of whom reside in Houston. Mr. and Mrs. de Savoye reside at 2202 Sumpter Avenue. In frater- nal organizations, he holds membership in the Sons of Hermann and is active in this organization. Mr. de Savoye is enthusiastic as to the future of Hous- ton and believes that this city is destined to soon be- come the leading city and port in the South. With the great developments taking place in the Lone Star State and the millions of acres devoted to the fleecy staple, this port will soon become the leading shipping point of the Southwest. Mr. de Savoye has traveled to all points of the world, and while it is difficult for even his friends to induce him to talk of his travels, it is a known fact among his friends that few men have enjoyed the vast advantages of travel that have fallen to the lot of Mr. de Savoye, and he has profited in every way through his vast experience.

1249

MEN OF TEXAS

RANK J. WOMACK is a man of big busi- ness. Today he is the chief official of four prosperous lumber concerns, besides having scored a success in a number of others. He is president of the Trinity River Sawmill Company, which owns and operates a sawmill at Leonidas, Montgomery County, and cuts forty thousand feet of lumber per day and employs one hundred and ten peo- ple. This company own the timber on twenty thou- sand acres of land which they have leased. Other of- ficers of the Trinity River Sawmill Company are Harry G. Cern, vice president; I. R. Palmer, secretary and treasurer, and John W. Hobbs, manager. Mr. Wo- mack is manager of the Foster Lumber Company, which has 120,000 acres of land situated in Mont- gomery, Polk, Hardin, Liberty and San Jacinto Coun. ties. Of this acreage 80,000 acres is cut-over land, and 40,000 acres of it is covered with second growth timber. This company has sold 25,000 acres of this land on the ground, without any advertising. Mr. Womack is interested in selling the cut-over lands only to those who can and will go on the land and farm it, thereby stimulating the idea of turning the cut-over lands into producing farms. The Foster Lumber Company operates a large sawmill located at Fostoria, Montgomery County, and they are cutting at this time 55,000 feet per day, and have been cutting more than 100,000 feet per day prior to November of 1922. One hundred and seventy men are employed in this work. This company has sev- enty-three lumber yards, but the business from Kan- sas City to Idaho is handled out of Kansas City. Mr. Womack is manager and vice president of the Trin- ity River Lumber Company, with offices in Hous- ton at 1603 Second National Bank Building. This company sell at wholesale only, and their product is marketed throughout the United States. B. B. Fos- ter, of Kansas City, is president of the Trinity River Lumber Company. Mr. Womack is manager of the Thomas S. Foster Estate, which owns 65,000 acres of timber located in Montgomery, Walker and San Ja- cinto Counties and now being cut by the Walker County Lumber Company, who are cutting under contract.

Mr. Womack was born in Mississippi, in 1871, but was raised in Texas, coming to this state with his parents when an infant. His father, M. L. Womack, also a native of Mississippi, is now living at Cald- well, Texas, at the age of seventy-six years. He is retired from active business pursuits, but up to a few years ago, operated the Caldwell Cotton Oil Com- pany. Mr. Womack's education was obtained in the public schools of Burleson County. He started his business career in September, 1888, with the Wells Fargo Company at Houston. In October, 1889, he went with the legal department of the Santa Fe Railroad at Galveston as chief clerk and steno- grapher. He resigned this position December 31st, 1904, and became associated with the Trinity River Lumber Company at Houston, resigning to go with Sealy and Company, bankers at Galveston in 1906. In 1907 he returned to Houston and has since that time been connected with the lumber interests here- tofore mentioned.

Mr. Womack was married in 1902 to Miss Kate Haynes, a native of Tennessee and a daughter of Rev. W. A. Haynes, a prominent Presbyterian min- ister and president of the Woman's College at Gal- latin, Tennessee. They have two children, M. K.,

who is a student at the University of Virginia, and Charles C., attending the public school in Houston. Mr. and Mrs. Womack reside at 1402 Cleburne Ave- nue. Mr. Womack is a member of the Houston Club and of the Lumbermen's Club of Houston, and is ex-president of this organization. He has always been active in the business, social and general com- munity life of Houston, and gives liberally of his time to all projects tending to the welfare of this city, which he expects to continue growing in the steady, consistent manner which has marked its progress and advancement in the past, and is look- ing forward to an era of great business prosperity in all lines.

KE B. McFARLAND came to Houston more than a decade ago, and since that time has been a prime factor in the lumber industry, operating one of the large retail lumber yards in the city. Mr. McFarland is general man- ager of the yards of the Temple Lumber Company, who owns the Heights Lumber Yard, at 425 West Eighteenth Street, Houston. The Temple Lumber Company occupies a modern yard at 3400 Polk Ave- nue, and employs thirty men in Houston. They have one of the most beautiful plants in the city, all the buildings being built along attractive lines, and the highest type of lumber buildings. The location is especially desirable, and affords opportunity to conduct the business along the most progressive plans. The Temple Lumber Company does both a wholesale and retail business, and also finances building, especially the building of homes. The of- ficers of the company are: T. L. L. Temple, Presi- dent, and H. G. Temple, Vice-President. Mr. McFar- land is the General Manager of the retail yards, the company also operating seven other retail lumber yards and two saw mills. Mr. McFarland is Presi- dent of the Houston Building and Loan Association.

Ike B. McFarland was born at Brenham, Texas, in 1884, son of Bates McFarland, well-known attor- ney, whose death occurred at El Paso in 1919, and Betty Holland McFarland. His great grandfather, John D. Andrews, was one of the pioneer residents of Houston, coming here in 1837, and serving as the second Mayor of Houston. His home, at 410 Aus- tin Street, was the first two-story house built in the city, and was constructed by him shortly after his arrival here. Mr. McFarland was educated in the public schools of Rockport, after finishing there attending the University of Texas for three years. After leaving the university he went to Teague, Texas, engaging in the lumber business and build- ing the first house ever built there. After three years he went to Harlingen, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley, where he spent six years, serving as first Mayor of Harlingen, and as County Commis- sioner of Cameron County. He then went to Tam- pico, Mexico, where he remained one year, in 1914 coming to Houston, with the Texas Lumber Com- pany, later taken over by the Temple Lumber Com- pany, at which time Mr. McFarland was made Gen- eral Manager, a position he has held for the past five years.

Mr. McFarland was married at Huntsville, Texas, in 1914, to Miss Mae Samuella Wynne, daughter of G. A. Wynne, a banker of Huntsville, and Ella Gibbs Wynne. Mr. and Mrs. McFarland make their home in Houston, at 1313 Castle Court. Mr. McFarland is a Mason and a member of the University Club.

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NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

MMET POLK CROW, for more than a decade a resident of Houston, and a factor in commercial and industrial activities in this city, has had a wide influence on the prosperity of his community as the representative of industrial activities incident to the cotton busi- ness. Mr. Crow is assistant manager of Alexander Sprunt & Son, Inc. and vice president of the Ship Channel Compress Company, Inc., two organizations of importance to the business world of Houston. Alexander Sprunt & Son, Inc. is one of the oldest established businesses of the country, having been organized in Wilmington, North Carolina, in 1865. Mr. Crow was with the company there for five years preceding his removal to Houston, in 1910, at which time the Houston office was opened. The Ship Channel Compress Company is of more recent origin, and was established to meet the growing demand for such an industry in this section. The compress, located on the bayou, has storage capacity for fifty thousand bales of cotton and furnishes employment for a force of from seventy to three hundred and fifty operatives, the latter number during the busy season. The Ship Channel Cotton Compress handles their own cotton and is one of the largest of such industries in this section. The office of Alexander Sprunt & Son, at 902-910 Cotton Exchange Building, is under the direction of H. M. Croswell, manager, and Emmet P. Crow, the subject of this sketch, as assistant manager. Mr. Crow has spent his entire business career in the cotton industry, making a deep and thorough study into the conditions this industry involves, and is one of the best informed men in his field in Houston. Emmet P. Crow was born at Wilmington, North Carolina, the first of De- cember, 1886. His father, the late John E. Crow, a native of North Carolina, was for many years in the brokerage business in Wilmington, and one of the most prominent men of that city. His mother, also deceased, was before her marriage Miss Emily Polk Davis, daughter of George Davis, who was attorney general of the Confederate states. Mr. Crow re- ceived his early education in the public schools of his native state, later attending Howell Military School, after which he entered upon his business career. He went with the Atlantic Coast Line Rail- road, remaining with that company for twelve years, after which he became associated with Alexander Sprunt & Son, Inc., first in Wilmington, North Caro- lina, and later, after the opening of the office here, at Houston, and also since coming here has been vice president of the Ship Channel Compress Company, Inc., taking part in the various industrial activities of these enterprises.

Mr. Crow was married at Wilmington, North Caro- lina, in 1909, to Miss Nannie W. Holladay of that city, a granddaughter of Alexander Q. Holladay, a former president of the A. & M. College of North Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. Crow came to Houston in 1910, at which time Mr. Crow was transferred to this city. They make their home at 2601 Travis Street, and take part in the various social activities of the community. Mr. and Mrs. Crow have a fam- ily of four children, Emmet, Jr., Fannie, Nancy and Marguerite. The family support the Presbyterian and Episcopal churches and take an active part in church affairs. Mr. Crow is a member of the Hous- ton Country Club, the Houston Club and the Hous- ton Chamber of Commerce and the Houston Cot-

ton Exchange. Mr. Crow is familiar with the pro- duction of cotton and the conditions prevailing in two great cotton raising centers, as well as with all activities incident to cotton compress operation. He is a business man with keen insight into modern conditions and demands and has taken a leading part in industrial circles at Houston. Mr. Crow is also vitally interested in the development of the city and has been a factor in various civic move- ments since coming to Houston. His business asso- ciates find in him a man of highest integrity, stand- ing for fair methods and principles, and a man in every way an asset to the community in which he lives.

ILKES A. DOWDY, during the decade of his professional career at Houston, has established a reputation in the field of municipal architecture that has brought his appointment to an important civic position. Mr. Dowdy is city architect of Houston, a position to which he was appointed in April, 1921. Since that time he has planned and supervised the construction of all the public buildings to be erected, such as the new Central Police and Fire Department Building, the Southmore School, the Barnice School, the Coun- ty and City Hospital and many other smaller build- ings. Mr. Dowdy has for many years made a special study of public buildings from an architectural standpoint, and these new buildings, erected in accordance with his plans and under his direct super- vision, are perfect examples of municipal architec- ture. The new County and City Hospital, one of the finest buildings of its kind in the state, is per- fectly planned, each detail being the result of care- ful study on the part of Mr. Dowdy, and provides every hospital facility, as well as makes every pro- vision for the comfort of the patients. Mr. Dowdy's work as city architect has established the importance of this office and has proven no small factor in add- ing to the attractiveness of Houston as a city.

Wilkes A. Dowdy was born at Marksville, Louis- iana, the twelfth of June, 1890, the son of R. O. Dowdy, a native of Tennessee, whose death occurred in Louisiana when his son was a small boy and Cecile Shoze Dowdy, of Louisiana, who now makes her home in Houston. Mr. Dowdy attended the public schools in different cities of the Lone Star State, finishing his education in the Mckinley High School at St. Louis. He then went to Denver, Colorado, where he began work in an architect's office and where he spent two years. He came to Houston in 1908 and went with a local firm of architects, later going with Sanguinet and Staats, also of this city, and with whom he remained a number of years. He then went in business for himself and for the ensu- ing five years did much construction work in this city, specializing in public buildings. He was appointed city architect in April, 1921, and now holds this position.

Mr. Dowdy was married at Houston the twenty- fifth of October, 1922, to Miss Ruth Evelyn Lyles, a native of this city, who was reared and educated here. Mr. and Mrs. Dowdy reside at 402 Euclid Avenue. Mr. Dowdy is active in architectural cir- cles at Houston and has for many years taken a deep interest in civic improvement, especially in the beautification of the city through raising the stan- dards of construction of public buildings.

1253

MEN OF TEXAS

B C. BUKOWSKI has been actively associated with the business life of Houston for the past several years, and is now devoting his entire attention to the Labor Bank and Trust Company of Houston, of which he is vice president and trust officer. The Labor Bank and Trust Company, "Bank of the Masses", recently or- ganized in Houston, is the first of its kind to be established south of St. Louis, and west of Birming- ham. It is capitalized at $110,000, and more than 85 per cent of the stock is owned by laboring people. There are about two hundred and twenty-five stock- holders. Other officers of the bank are, State Sen- ator Charles Murphy, president; C. L. Killingsworth, vice president and cashier; Norman Beard, George L. Edwards, S. H. Lewis and Mrs. Mary M. Wise, vice presidents. Directors are, Norman Beard, C. E. Belk, B. C. Bukowski, George L. Edwards, Murray B. Jones, Dr. Horace C. Feagin, Will F. Miller, H. McBroom, C. L. Killingsworth, Jackson Stanley, S. H. Lewis, L. B. Ryon, Jr., W. H. Lighthouse, Frank B. McCurdy and Charles Murphy. The bank is located at San Jacinto and Prairie Avenue. The labor bank idea is a new one, but wonderful success is predicted for the Houston institution. Houston alone has a labor payroll of more than $15,000,000 a year, and the bank will attract business from other points throughout the state.

Mr. Bukowski was born in Walker County, Texas, the nineteenth of December, 1894, son of John Bukowski, a native of German Poland, who came to Texas at the age of twenty-one and has been a merchant of Walker County for a quarter of a cen- tury, and May (Fosson) Bukowski, a native of Texas. Mr. Bukowski attended the schools of Walker Coun- ty, later attending the University of Texas. He entered into the mercantile business with his father, being in charge of same for two years. After the entrance of the United States in the World War, Mr. Bukowski enlisted in the latter part of 1917 and served until discharged in March, 1919. He then came to Houston and accepted a position with the White Oil Corporation for eight months, after which he went into the drug business, and established the Main Street Pharmacy of Houston, Texas, to which he devoted his time until going with the Labor Bank and Trust Company of Houston.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 29

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