New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 31

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

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Florence M. Sterling, one of the outstanding champions of the woman's cause in the South, needs no introduction to the womanhood of Texas, where she has been long recognized as one of the leaders in the social, educational and political world. Her arduous labor in behalf of the social welfare has al- ready borne rich fruit in the formulating of char- acter, and in the advancement of the ideals in the communities where her influence has been felt, and a record of her interesting career will make a bright page in the history of American Womanhood. Miss Sterling has for many years been best known in the business world through her activities in the oil industries. For a period of fifteen years she was secretary of the Humble Oil Company, of which her brother, R. S. Sterling, was president, and much of the success of that great oil company was due to her efficient management of her department. The company in 1917 became known as the Humble Oil and Refining Company. She first became inter- ested in business as Secretary of the R. S. Sterling interests in 1906. Later a part of the R. S. Sterl- ing interests became the Humble Oil Company. Miss Sterling terminated her official connections with the Humble Oil Company in order to devote her time fully to the Woman's Viewpoint and the cause of American citizenship.

A native Texan, Miss Sterling was born at Ana- huac, Chambers County, and was one of a family of twelve children, four girls and eight boys. Her parents were Captain Benjamin Franklin Sterling and Mary Jane (Bryan) Sterling. Captain Sterling was a veteran of the Civil War, born in Mississippi in 1831, and died at Houston, Texas, in 1917. Her mother was a native of Texas, born in Liberty Coun- ty, in 1838. Her parents were Scotch-Irish descent, and their ancestors were among the early settlers of Virginia. Captain Sterling had a general mer- chandise store, and was postmaster at Anahuac, also owned a considerable area of farm land. Miss Sterling received her education in the public schools at Anahuac, and gained a general knowledge of business in her father's merchandise establishment. She later went to Galveston and engaged in busi- ness with her brother, John L. Sterling, in the wholesale produce business. In 1906 she came to Houston to engage in business with her brother, R. S. Sterling, and, as stated above, was one of the principal factors in building up the Humble

Oil Company, one of the largest and most success- ful oil companies of America. Throughout her en- tire career Miss Sterling has taken an active in- terest in woman's rights, and was one of the lead- ers in the long fight to secure woman suffrage in Texas. Miss Sterling is treasurer of the Houston Recreation and Community Service. She was pres- ident of the Houston League of Women Voters, vice- president of the Texas League of Women Voters, chairman of the Houston Own Your Home Commit- tee, and is a member and active worker of the D. A. R., and the U. D. C. Miss Sterling takes an interest in every activity for the betterment of women and children, and is intensely interested in educational matters, taking an interest in helping educate a great many children. Although her du- ties, both as Secretary and Treasurer of the great- est oil company of Texas, and later her duties as editor of Texas' leading woman's magazine, re- quires an enormous amount of arduous labor, she has always found time to devote to the welfare move- ments of City, State or Nation. The extent of her philanthropy will never be known, as the work that she has accomplished, and the liberal gifts that she has donated has been given unostentatiously for the pleasure she has received in making them, and not with the hope of publicity or pecuniary reward. Her Church affiliations are with The Christian Church, of which she has been a liberal benefactor. Her personality belies the general supposition that business women become stern and austere, for Miss Sterling's countenance radiates happiness and good cheer, with a smile for every one she meets, and everyone is happier for having known her.

DNA W. SAUNDERS is well known in the music circles of Houston and South Texas, where for the past six years she has been a successful concert manager and through her efforts the people of South Texas have had the opportunity of seeing and hearing many of the great artists. Edna W. Saunders is not only the leading concert manager of Houston, but in the South. About one-third of her time is spent in the North and East, seeing new plays and operas and making contracts with artists to later appear in Houston and South Texas. In addition to the Hous- ton office, located in the Harris-Hahlo Building, she maintains offices in Beaumont and Galveston. Num- bered among the noted artists brought by her to Houston, Beaumont and Galveston are: Caruso, who sang in Houston to one of the largest audiences in his entire career; Rachmaninoff, Schumann- Heink, Heifetz, Louise Homer, Tetrazinni, Pavlowa, Galli Curci, Frieda Hempel, Fritz Kreisler, Chal- iapin, Mary Garden, and many others. She has also brought to Houston the Chicago Grand Opera Company, Scotti Grand Opera Company, the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, John Philip Sousa's Band, the French Army Band and many other lead- ing attractions.

A native Texan, Edna W. Saunders was born in Houston August 31st, 1880. Her father, John D. Woolford, deceased, was well known in the business circles of Houston and was one of the city's leading citizens, having held many positions of honor and trust at the hands of his fellowmen. He was for

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Florence M. Sterling.

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

many years a public cotton weigher of Houston, and served the city as mayor with distinction from 1900 to 1902; prior to which time he was alderman of the city for several years. Her mother was Miss Ianthe Dealy, a member of an old and prominent Texas family. Mrs. Saunders has had unusual edu- cational advantages, which began in the public and private schools of Houston. Later she was a student of the Stuart School of Washington, D. C., where she took special courses in music, English and reading. After this she became a pupil of the Gardner School, located at Forty-ninth Street and Fifth Avenue, New York City, where she remained for one year and received a diploma from this institution in general courses, music and special branches. She returned to Houston and made her debut in 1900. During the World War, Mrs. Saunders had entire charge of the public concert programs at the City Audi- torium, and during this period almost one hundred thousand people attended these concerts. Some won- derful programs were given and these concerts were entirely free to the public. Edna W. Saunders was for many years a member of the Woman's Choral Club and served in every office of this organization. She became president in 1913 and resigned this office in 1917 in order to start her present business.

Mrs. Saunders resides at 1202 Lamar Avenue and is active in many of the organizations in the city. She is now business manager for the Symphony Orchestra Association, is a member of the Houston Country Club, and holds an honorary life member- ship in both the Salesmanship Club and the Kiwanis Club. She is a charter member and a director of the National Concert Managers Association, and is also district governor for the State of Texas. Mrs. Saunders is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Houston, and takes an active interest in all civic matters and is interested in all projects having to do with the progress, development and advancement of Houston, where she is numbered among the most progressive women, not only of Houston, but of the entire South.

OUIS A. GLOVER, Architect, with office at 623 Binz Building, Houston, has won a name in the Southwest through the beauty of his architectural designing and the ad- vantages and the endurance of his structures. Mr. Glover came to Houston in 1890, when six years of age, grew to manhood here and was for several years associated with his father, who was among the pioneer architects of Housotn. Mr. Glover's principal line of work is schools, office buildings, apartment houses and stores. In association with William Ward Watkins, he is now building the City Library, and at present has more than one and one-half million dollars worth of work under con- struction. Mr. Glover built the following buildings in Houston: Stratford Hotel, Tel-Electric Company's Building, Hermann Building, Herford Apartments, the Houston Drug Company's $300,000 Building, Har- risburg High School, and in association with John Staub, the Heights High School.

A native Texan, Mr. Glover was born at Fort Worth in 1884. His father, F. S. Glover, is one of th oldest architects of Texas, and retired six years ago from active practice of his profession. His mother was Miss Nannie J. Gee, a member of a well known Texas family. His early education was re- ceived in the public schools, and in Prof. Welch's

private school in Houston, and later was a student in the University of Pennsylvania for two years and received from this institution a certificate in archi- tecture. After leaving college he engaged in his chosen profession and during the period of the World War in army camp construction work.

Mr. Glover was married in Galveston in 1916 to Miss Elizabeth Dickson, a daughter of James W. Dickson and Annie (Andrews) Dickson, who were among the oldest residents of Galveston. Mrs. Glover's grandmother, Mrs. Andrews, was the first white child born in Galveston. Mr. and Mrs. Glover reside at 3118 Austin Street. He is a member of the Texas Chapter American Institute of Architects and of the Scottish Rite bodies of the Masonic fra- ternity and is a Shriner of Arabia Temple. Mr. Glover is optimistic as to the future of Houston, and believes it will soon become the leading city of the Southwest.

R. BUNCH has, since coming to Houston, been an active figure in the insurance cir- cles of the city and as division manager of the Automobile Underwriters of Amer- ica he has had an important part in shaping the destinies of that insurance company. The Houston office was opened in 1916 and the district includes the city of Houston and their insurance is on auto- mobiles only. . Mr. Bunch took over the manage- ment in 1920 and the business of this company has shown a rapid increase since that time. Three peo- ple are employed in the Houston office, which is conveniently located at 314 Chronicle Building. Much of the business of the Houston office of the Automobile Underwriters of America comes from the large dealers and the increase in business from individuals is growing rapidly since Mr. Bunch took charge of the office here.

Mr. Bunch was born at Poulan, Georgia, August 3rd, 1898. His father, W. L. Bunch, has for many years been engaged in the general merchandise busi- ness in Georgia, where he is well known in the busi- ness and financial circles. His early education was obtained in the public and high schools of Georgia, after which he attended a business college at At- lanta, which furnished him with his early business training. Mr. Bunch grew up in the mercantile establishment of his father and can not remember just how small he was when he sold goods in his father's store. He was later employed in various stores in different places in his native state and some of these were country stores where he was everything up to manager and did all the work that is expected of a man to do in a country store. Through the influence of his uncle, he was induced to come to Houston and to his present position, which he considers offers great possibilities for the future.

Mr. Bunch was married in Houston on June 9th, 1921, to Marie Harrison, a native of Kentucky and whose family resided at Alvin, Texas, for about twelve years. They have one daughter, June Marie, who is an infant. Mr. and Mrs. Bunch reside at Hyde Park. He is a consistent member of the Meth- odist Church. Mr. Bunch is considered one of the leaders among the young business men of Houston and is now getting a good start in the insurance world in his capacity of division manager of the Automobile Underwriters of America.

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MEN OF TEXAS

RS. ANNA ALLEN WRIGHT. In the center of the oil fields at Goose Creek, there lives a little lady, Mrs. Anna Allen Wright, sur- rounded by the derricks and wells which have marked the invasion of the oil industry, who for many years has been associated with the life of this community, and who has taken a keen in- terest in this new world. Mrs. Wright, in number of years of residence, is the oldest resident of Goose Creek, and she knows much of the history of the earlier days, which she recounts in a bright, witty manner. Her small farm of seventy-five acres, was given her just before marriage by Colonel Ashbel Smith, in whose home she had spent all of her girlhood years, and she has spent her life since her marriage on this farm. Even the coming of the oil activities and the drilling of wells on her farm have not made it less her home, and she continues to occu- py the house here that she built so many years ago. A number of wells have been drilled on her land, and she has had many attractive offers for her farm, but she values the gift of her old friend far too highly to sell it.

Mrs. Wright was born in Leon County, the third of December, 1858, the daughter of Robert Allen and Mary Jane Pate Allen. Her father was a farmer and land owner of Leon County and spent most of his life there. As a girl Mrs. Wright went to live in the home of Colonel Ashbel Smith, one of the largest land owners of the Goose Creek neighbor- hood, and one of the big men of his time. She at- tended the schools of Goose Creek, and until her marriage, lived in Colonel Smith's home as one of the family.

Mrs. Wright was married at Houston, Texas, in 1881 to George Wright, a brick maker, farmer and cattleman, whose death occurred in 1922. Mr. and Mrs. Wright had a family of five children: one daughter, Mrs. Caroline Long; and four sons: Allen, William Perkins, Clemmons, and George Eli Wright. These four sons and the daughter now live near their mother, within one or two blocks, and find their greatest pleasure in seeing that she has every wish fulfilled. Mrs. Wright is a member of the Episco- pal Church, where she has been a regular attendant for many years, and has taken an active interest in church work.

At the time of her marriage to Mr. Wright, Colonel Ashbel Smith gave her seventy-five acres of land at Evergreen, one mile from Goose Creek, and this has been her home continuously, since that time. For many years the place was farmed, and kept in a high state of cultivation by Mr. Wright, but since his death, and with the advent of the oil industry in this field, drilling operations have centered here and a number of wells drilled on the land. In all these developments Mrs. Wright has taken a real in- terest. When the first workers came to the field she voluntarily offered to board them, and has since done many things which show the interest she takes in the welfare of her fellowmen.

Mrs. Wright often recalls incidents of the early days of this section, and is personally acquainted with the men and women who have made this part of the state what it is. Her friendship with Colonel Smith and his family, and the many pleasant years which she spent under his roof, as a loved member of that family, is especially dear to her, and so high- ly does she regard her home that all offers she has received for it from various oil companies, have

been turned down without consideration. She is, despite her more than six decades, unusually spry and energetic, and one of the most loved women of her community. She takes a real interest in those less fortunate than herself, and delights in a charity as simple and unostentatious as she herself is.

RS. R. E. (PHENIE) SMITH of Humble, Texas, has been an active figure in the oil circles of this city and South Texas since 1912. Mrs. Smith is one of the first stock- holders of the Humble Oil Company, now the Hum- ble Oil and Refining Company, her first purchase in 1911 being ten shares to which she has gradually added at various times. She has made it a rule always to put her earnings back into the company, and in this manner has acquired a large block of stock. For the greater part of her original stock Mrs. Smith paid $175 per share, which is worth many times this amount, and she is a rich woman in her own name. The fact that she has made a fortune from her investments with the Humble Oil and Refining Company, inspired others to purchase stock at higher prices, but which has proved to them also a great investment. In addition to her oil stock Mrs. Smith has proved herself to be a good business woman since she came to Humble with her husband more than twenty years ago. She is also a stockholder in the Humble State Bank.

Mrs. Smith was born near Atlanta, Georgia. Her parents removed to Texas more than thirty-five years ago, and settled first in Grayson County, but later removed to Milam County, where they were engaged in farming for more than thirty years. Her father, J. Watson, was a native of Georgia, and a member of a well known family of that state. Her mother, Mrs. Laura (Reynolds) Watson, was a native of Alabama and belonged to a prominent family of that state. Mrs. Smith's education was obtained in the public schools of Tennessee and Arkansas.

Mrs. Smith was married on January 28th, 1891, to Mr. R. E. Smith, a native of Robertson County, Texas. Mr. Smith has been active in the business life of Humble, Texas, since 1904, where he has been engaged in the hardware and grain business and interested in many other enterprises here. He recently entered the hardware business and owns the building in which the store is located. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have two children, Calvert Smith, who owns an oil filling station at Liberty, Texas, and is one of the leaders among the younger business men of that city. He was married to Miss Mattie Dickinson, a member of a pioneer South Texas family. The other child of Mr. and Mrs. Smith is Vivian, now the wife of Mr. C. H. King, one of the successful young business men of Humble, and a member of a well known family of the Lone Star State. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Baptist Church. Mrs. Smith, in addition to looking after her oil interests here, is active in civic mat- ters of Humble and gives of her time and means to further any project for the betterment of this pros- perous little city. She is enthusiastic in her praise of the Humble Oil and Refining Company, which she helped finance by her stock purchases in the early days. She has done much for the advancement of Humble and its people, and is regarded as one of its most progressive and public spirited citizens.

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Arma Allen Wright

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

ISS AGNES F. KATTMANN, of Houston, is one of the city's best known business women, where she is active president, treasurer and general manager of the A. F. Kattmann Tent and Awning Company. This company are the successors to Kattmann and Kneeland Tent Company, and was incorporated in 1900. They are manufacturers of canvas goods, which includes tents, awnings, wagon covers, tarpaulins, rice and hay cov- ers, horse covers, jail hammocks, coin sacks, cots, flags, banners and badges. They make a specialty of mildew-proof goods for the coast country. The immense business which this firm does is built on the quality and service of their products. They sell in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas and other states. They carry a large and complete stock of about thirty thousand dollars in value at all times. The A. F. Kattmann Tent and Awning Company own the property where their factory is located, and con- sists of two buildings located on a lot one hundred and fifty feet by one hundred and twenty-five feet in size, and a space where power machines are oper- ated, forty-eight by fifty feet in size. Twenty people are employed in the factory and five in the office and sales department. Other officers of the A. F. Kattmann Tent and Awning Company are R. F. Kattman, vice president, and E. S. Phelps, secretary. C. L. Kattmann, now deceased, was formerly presi- dent of the company and greatly assisted Miss Katt- mann for many years.

Miss Kattmann was born in New Orleans. Her father, Dr. John Kattmann, was a well known physi- cian in New Orleans, where he practiced his pro- fession for many years and afterward in Houston, where he died in 1883. Her mother was Miss Kath- erine Rubb, a member of a well known Louisiana family. Miss Kattmann's education was obtained in the public and high schools of New Orleans.

Miss Kattmann has had a wide experience in the line in which she is now engaged. She was manager of the Repsdorph Tent and Awning Company for a number of years and during this period of exper- ience decided that she would enter business for her- self, which she started with a small amount of money, but with a great fund of valuable exper- ience. She has had the management of this business since its establishment, and has made it the leading establishment of its kind in Houston; with much money invested and valuable property, all due to the efforts of Miss Kattmann, who is a thorough busi- ness woman, and who is known and esteemed throughout the city of Houston and South Texas.

ORA H. NELSON has for more than a decade been prominent in Houston as a Teacher of Piano, Harmony and Theory, and is recognized as one of the best in- structors in the city. Mrs. Nelson has a large class and a waiting list, and many pupils come from near- by towns in order to obtain instructions from her. Her studio is located at 2912 La Branch Street. Mrs. Nelson is considered a very accomplished woman, and one that is able to instruct others, which ac- complishment is not always given to the best edu- cated people of the country.

Mrs. Nelson was born in Minnesota. Her early education was obtained in the public and high schools of Albert Lea, Minnesota, and she com- menced the study of music at eight years of age. She later became a pupil of W. H. Sherwood in the

Sherwood School of Music, Chicago, where she re- mained for one year, and then for several years she studied under Miss Blanche Strong, of Minneap- olis. She then went to Berlin, Germany, where she continued her studies for several years, and while there was a pupil of Arthur Schnabel, Marta Mala- testa and other teachers of note.

Mrs. Nelson has done much public work, and her services in this line are in constant demand, but she has little time that she may devote to this work, desiring to give her time to her large class. She has a daughter, Olive, who graduated from the Hous- ton High School in the class of 1923, and she is a very accomplished girl, and gives promise of be- ing a wonderful musician. She is at present acting as assistant to her mother, and is preparing to be- come a concert organist. Mrs. Nelson is a member of the Christ Episcopal Church, and has played the pipe organ at this Church at the early service for the past seven years. She has seen tangible evi- dence of her success in the work accomplished by the many students who obtained their musical train- ing under her able supervision. Mrs. Nelson has never advertised in newspapers, as her many pleased and accomplished pupils are the best advertisement that a teacher may have. She is popular, not alone in the music circles of Houston, but with all classes, where she is regarded as one of South Texas' most accomplished and successful teachers.

ORITA BARNELL, although a recent addi- tion to the music circles of Houston, was well known to Houstonians before locating here in 1922, through the fact that for the past decade she had entertained Houston audiences as a violinist and is regarded as one of the best artists of this generation. She was at the head of the violin department of the Texas College of Music and Art. Lorita Barnell is regarded as a thorough and accomplished teacher as well as talented concert artist. She has been on several continental tours and has appeared in most of the leading cities of the United States and Canada, and is particularly popular in New York City where there is a constant demand for her talent. She has appeared in con- cert in Berlin, Paris, London, Brussels, Antwerp and many of the other large, music-loving cities of Europe. Lorita Barnell was soloist with the Johnesque Italian Band for two years, during which time she appeared in practically all of the larger cities of the United States and Canada.

Lorita Barnell was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1888. Her father, H. G. Elstro, was a well known building contractor of Cincinnati. Her mother was Miss Anna Harmon, a member of a well known Ohio family. Lorita Barnell has had unusual edu- cational advantages. Her literary education was obtained in the public and high schools of Cincin- nati. Before she had finished public school, she was well advanced in her study of music, and en- tered Notre Dame Academy, where she remained for five years, and then entered the Cincinnati Con- servatory of Music, where she continued her studies there for four years. She then went to Berlin, Germany, and became a student of the Royal Acad- emy, where she remained for two years, and then to De Vohr at Paris, France.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 31

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