New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 32

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

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Lorita Barnell resides in Park Place, Houston, and is exceedingly popular in the music circles of this city.

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MEN OF TEXAS

NNE S. GIEZENDANNER, teacher of danc- ing and its related arts, has, since coming to Houston in 1910, built up one of the lar- gest classes in Texas, and has established a reputation as a woman of great talent and many accomplishments. Mrs. Giezendanner conducts her classes in her home at 707 Hawthorne Street, and is the leading teacher in Houston and South Texas in the following: dramatic art, expression and the art of dancing, in every department.

Mrs. Giezendanner is opening the first outdoor school of physical education in the South. In fact, there are no such institutions in the country except at Los Angeles and around New York City. For a number of years, Mrs. Giezendanner has devoted much of her time to the physical education of the children of the De Pelchin Faith Home, and recently has given then such instruction out of doors, in the city parks and in her own outdoor studio. She has from two hundred and fifty to three hundred pupils annually and has three able assistants. Her pupils are not confined to Houston but come from many of the towns surrounding the city. Mrs. Giezendanner is regarded as a very thorough and competent teacher, and great care is given to small children at her studio, where she gives instructions in class and private lessons. She does much public work per- sonally, and furnishes pupils for all occasions for public benefits without charge.

Mrs. Giezendanner was born at Greensburg, In- diana. Her father, Russell Sawyer, was a well known stone manufacturer of Indiana, and owned extensive stone quarries in that state. Her mother was Miss Eliza Thayer Stewart, a member of a prominent Indiana family. Mrs. Giezendanner has had unusual educational advantages, particularly in the arts which she teaches. Her early literary edu- cation was obtained at private schools in Indiana. She then graduated from the Teachers College at Indianapolis and in addition was granted a diploma certifying that she was equipped to instruct teachers of dancing. She was a student for four years at the New Orleans College of Oratory at New Orleans, and then entered the School of Natural Education in New York City and was a student there for one season. Mrs. Giezendanner has received instruction in dancing under the masters of this art. Among these instructors are Vernon Castle, Kurylo, Vestoff, Kosloff, Mary Perry King, Mrs. Hubble, Ruth St. Dennis, Ted Shawn, Moscogno, Kobeleff and many others.

Mrs. Giezendanner was married in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Charles J. Giezendanner, who is widely known as an expert accountant and auditor, and is now connected with the Texas Company at Hous- ton. His father, William Giezendanner, is a well known manufacturer of crackers and confections in Indianapolis, Indiana. They have four children, Elizabeth Thayer, Stewart Sawyer, Margaret Hen- dricks and Charles J.

Mrs. Giezendanner occupies a beautiful home at 707 Hawthorne Street in Montrose, where she has a complete studio, modern in every detail, built for the purpose of dancing instruction. In addition to the lessons given in her home, Mrs. Giezendanner has daily classes down town, besides giving lessons at other places. She is a member of the Houston Music Council, the Houston Art League and the Houston

branch of the Theosophical Society, and is very ac- tive in these organizations. She is also active in all denominations of the different churches in Hous- ton and gives her time and talent on all occasions, without regard or thought of the denomination. Mrs. Giezendanner is a great civic worker and does much for the upbuilding of art in the different branches which she teaches. She does much charity work and gives hundreds of lessons free to children who are not able to pay for same. Mrs. Giezendanner never loses an opportunity to speak a good word for Hous- ton, which she believes will soon be at the forefront in every line, in addition to being the leading city of Texas in point of population.

ARY WALDO is well known in the social and educational circles of Houston and of Texas, where prior to devoting her time to the Green Mask Players she, with her two sis- ters, successfully conducted a private school for girls in Houston for more than a decade. For the past year, Miss Waldo has taught French and dramatic art at Kinkaid School, a private school of Houston. Miss Waldo is one of the founders of the Green Mask Players, an organization of upward of three hundred active members in Houston, which is de- voted to the writing, producing and acting of the drama, art and kindred subjects. This organization is financed and supported by the leading men and women of Houston. During their season, the Green Mask Players present three to five plays, which are financial successes and are well supported, and form one of the best entertainments for the citizens of Houston that can be found in the city.

A native Texan, Miss Waldo was born in Houston, October 11th, 1879. Her father, Jedediah Waldo, was one of the leading railroad builders and execu- tives of the Lone Star State, having been one of the builders of the Houston and Texas Central Rail- road and the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railroad, and vice president of the Missouri, Kan- sas and Texas Railroad. Her mother was Miss Mary Virginia Gentry, a member of a pioneer Texas fam- ily. Miss Waldo has had unusual educational ad- vantages, having attended the Adelphi Academy in Brooklyn, New York, for a period of four years, after which she entered a private school in Cleve- land, Ohio, and remained there for four years. She then went to Paris, France, and made a study of the French language for one year, and returned to Houston where, with her two sisters, Misses Lula and Virginia Waldo, she conducted a private school, Miss Waldo teaching English and French from 1904 to 1915. After the Green Mask Players was organized in Houston, she took the leading parts in acting for two years and for the past two years has been directing and producing in this organization, which has gained much public favor.

During the World War, Miss Waldo was active in various parts of the country, giving readings and various other entertainment features for the sol- diers, and for the Red Cross, in which work she was also very active. She is a leader in the Little Theater movement in Houston and is an active worker in all civic and social organizations for the good of her city and its citizenship. Miss Waldo resides at 201 Westmoreland, where she has one of the most beau- tiful homes to be found in Houston, where she is very popular in the educational and social circles.

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NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

LBERT S. MAIER, although a comparatively recent addition to the business fraternity of Houston, has been a factor in building up a profitable business. Mr. Maier is president of the Public Laundry, Inc., located at 1320 Congress Avenue, and was established and in- corporated in 1921. The Public Laundry, Inc. is equipped with all modern machinery for the purpose of doing the best work, and is sanitary in every detail. It has a dry cleaning plant in connection, in which is installed all modern methods of dry clean- ing. The Public Laundry, Inc. has a floor space of twelve thousand five hundred square feet and employs fifty people. Mr. Max Krost is vice pres- ident, secretary and treasurer, who, with Mr. Maier takes great pride in the work done by them and in the business, which has increased from the day the laundry was started.

A native Texan, Mr. Maier was born at Palestine in 1894. His father, S. Maier, a native of Straus- berg, Germany, came to the United States when a mere boy and was a resident of Palestine for forty- five years. His mother was Miss Lucy Mayes, a na- tive of the Lone Star State, where she was a member of a prominent family of Kyle. Mr. Maier's educa- tion was obtained in the public schools of Pales- tine and he later attended the Ohio State Univer- sity, graduating from that institution in the class of 1917 with the A. B. degree. Immediately fol- lowing his graduation, Mr. Maier returned to Pal- estine and became associated with the Palestine Salt and Coal Company, where he remained for one year. He then enlisted in the World War, and was assigned to the Headquarters Division at Camp Bowie, Fort Worth. He enlisted as a private and was discharged as a sergeant major in July, 1919. All of his period of army service was spent at Camp Bowie. After receiving his discharge, Mr. Maier returned to Pal- estine and entered the employ of the Guaranty State Bank, where he remained for one year. He then went again with the Palestine Salt and Coal Com- pany, but remained only a short time, when he resigned his position in order to come to Houston and organize the Public Laundry Company, Inc.

In fraternal organizations, Mr. Maier is a member of the A. F. and A. M. with membership in the Pal- estine Lodge. He is also a member of the B. P. O. E. Character, perseverance, foresight, efficiency, promptness and punctuality have been dominant fac- tors in the success achieved by this young man, who is still in the morning of life.

LAYTON LEE has for the past thirteen years been identified with the plumbing business of Houston and maintains the plumbing establishment bearing his name, at 706 East 20th Street. Mr. Lee came to Houston in 1910, and eight years later established his present business. He is engaged in general plumbing, has a well established business and confines his work mostly to Houston. Mr. Lee has a splendid location and employs five or six people at all times. He does plumbing in residences, stores and apartments, and during the ten years he has been in business in Houston, has built up a splendid reputation for good work, and is regarded as one of the most reliable men in his line of work.

Mr. Lee was born in Paris, Arkansas, in 1883. His father, A. P. Lee, was a land owner and farmer

of Arkansas, and has established a record by living on the same farm for the past fifty-five years. Mr. Lee's education was obtained in the public schools of Paris, Arkansas. He has been engaged in the plumbing business practically all of his business life. He began as a very young man, and worked in various cities and states, and came to Houston in 1910, and for eight years after coming here, he worked as a journeyman plumber, and then estab- lished his present business, which has grown stead- ily from the beginning, and due to Mr. Lee's ex- perience and close attention to the details of the business, has been a success from a monetary stand- point, as well as that of the satisfaction of his many customers.

Mr. Lee was married at Wichita Falls, Texas, in 1910, to Miss Jessie Horry, a daughter of Dan Horry, well known hotel proprietor of Wichita Falls. They have two children-Anna Dorris, seven years of age, and Clayton Lee, Jr., aged two years. Mr. Lee is a member of the A. F. and A. M., with membership in Houston Lodge. He is optimistic as to the future of Houston, and considers that her opportunities to become the leading city of the Southwest are far greater than any other city.

EON DITTMAN for a number of years has operated one of the most modern bakeries at Houston and is highly esteemed for his connection with the business life of the city. Mr. Dittman is the owner of Dittman's Bakery, which he established in 1910 as a small bakery, under the name of the Houston Baking Company. Under his management the plant met with rapid growth, and in August, 1924, was moved into a mod- ern new building, designed especially for the bakery, and the name changed to Dittman's Bakery. The building, a brick and hollow tile structure, when completely equipped, represents an investment of around seventy-five thousand dollars, and is one of the most modern bakeries in the city with all facili- ties for turning out a high class product. Mr. Ditt- man specializes in bread, selling his product whole- sale exclusively, and is turning out around fifteen thousand loaves daily, employing a force of twenty operatives. The plant, located in the eighteen hun- dred block on Washington Avenue, is a two-story building, fifty by two hundred feet.

Leon Dittman was born in Poland the twenty-fifth of September, 1892, the son of J. Dittman, a native of Poland, where he still lives. The elder Mr. Ditt- man, a wholesale baker for a lifetime, has recently retired, and is an octogenarian. Mrs. Dittman is also still living. Leon Dittman was educated in the schools of Poland, and as a boy spent a large part of his time in his father's bakery, learning the baker's trade there. When he was sixteen years of age he came to the United States, alone, coming di- rect to Houston. Here he began in a local bakery, two years later establishing his own small shop. At that time he did the entire work of the shop alone, adding to his equipment, plant and employees as his increasing trade demanded, and today is one of the leading bakers of Houston.

Mr. Dittman was married in Houston, 1919, to Miss Eva Wiener. They reside in Houston. Mr. Dittman belongs to a number of Jewish organiza- tions and has many friends here who regard him as a business man of unusual attainment and a factor in the baking business.

1273

MEN OF TEXAS

RS. LAURA SLAVENS WOOD, president of the Houston Branch of the Theosophical Society, national lecturer, teacher, organ- izer and leader, is probably the best known woman connected with the Theosophical Society in the state of Texas. Mrs. Wood has been a resident of Houston for eighteen years, and has been pres- ident of the Houston Branch of the Theosophical Society for ten years, during which time it has grown from a feeble beginning to a strong organ- ization, removing antagonisms and stimulating the mental and spiritual life of the city. She has held many offices in other organizations, among them being the Christian Temperance Union, Humane So- ciety and several women's clubs.

Mrs. Wood was born in Lexington, Kentucky, on May 24th, 1865 Her father, Rev. Duke Slavens, was a prominent Methodist minister of his time. Her mother was Miss Mary H. Taylor of Winchester, Kentucky, a descendant of General Zachary Tay- lor. Mrs. Wood's early education was obtained in the public and high schools of Carrollton, Illinois, where at the age of fifteen years she graduated from the high school and then taught for a number of years.

Mrs. Wood was married in Nebraska City, Nebras- ka, in 1889 to Edmund Stanford Wood, owner of the Logan Candy Company, of Houston, and well known in the business circles of South Texas. They have one son, Forest Edmund Wood, who is a grad- uate of the University of Texas, and was a major during the World War. Mr. and Mrs. Wood reside at 1245 Courtland Street. Mrs. Wood is one of the few women of the country who have cared to take up studies in college after their marriage, hav- ing entered the University of Texas in 1908 where she graduated in 1912 with the degree of B. A. and was granted the M. A. degree in 1913. She was elected a member of "Phi Beta Kappa," the mem- bership of which is limited to those of extremely high scholarship. Mrs. Wood is a member of the Woman's Club of Houston and the College Woman's Club. She is a staunch member of the Methodist Church. During the World War, Mrs. Wood, as na- tional war secretary of the Theosophical Society, was in charge of Theosophical work in all the army camps in the country, and in this way, through her efforts, many of the soldiers were made acquainted with the wonderful teachings of Theosophy.

Mrs. Wood is devoting her life to the cause of Theosophy and trying to acquaint the public with the vital necessity of an understanding of the great Theosophical truths and their bearing upon the ideals of the future.

The Theosophical Society is an unsectarian body of seekers after truth. Its main object is to form a nucleus of Universal Brotherhood and apply it along all lines that affect humanity, including re- ligion, philosophy and science. It is composed of students of all races and religions whose bond of union is not a common belief, but a comman search and aspiration for truth. They extend tolerance to all and see every religion as an expression of the Divine Wisdom and prefer its study to its condemna- tion, and its practice to proselytism. Theosophy re- stores to the world the Science of Spirit, teaching man to know the Spirit as himself, and the mind and body as his servants.

ISS CARRIE V. BRADLEY came to Hous- ton, Texas, in 1904 and the following year engaged in the insurance business in this city, first as a partner, but since 1908 has been alone and has met with unusual success. Miss Bradley is the owner and Manager of the C. V. Bradley and Company, Insurance, located at 1109-10 State National Bank Building, having moved from the Stewart Building, where she had her offices for sixteen years. She writes all kinds of insurance except life, and has built up an excellent business. Miss Bradley started her career in the insurance business, which was the beginning of her career in the business world, at Taylor, Texas, and is the third woman in the Lone Star State to engage in this field of activity, and was one of the first to take up commercial life. She is the second woman to engage in the insurance business in this city, and in point of service, is one of the oldest business women of Texas. Miss Bradley has today more years of activity in the insurance business than has any woman of this State. She has built up her business through hard work and fair dealing with the public and holds this business in the same manner, as she says insurance is one of the easiest businesses to lose that there is, and constant work and attention to her clients, with whom she is constantly in touch are the main reasons for her success in her chosen line of work. Miss Bradley is well posted in refer- ence to insurance in the State as she has devoted her entire business life to the study of the different branches of insurance.

Miss Bradley was born at Fayette, Missouri. Her father, George W. Bradley, was a native of Virginia, but lived the greater part of his life in Kentucky and Missouri, and died in Missouri. Her mother, (now deceased), was Miss Dorothy P. Wisdom, a member of a prominent Kentucky family. Her education was obtained in her native State. She came to Texas in 1883 to make her home with a brother who was re- siding at Taylor, Texas, and soon after coming to the Lone Star State, she conceived the idea of en- tering the business world. She is today regarded as one of Texas' best business women, and her advice is frequently sought by women who desire to engage in business, and this advice is freely given, with the injunction that in business much labor is necessary, without which no woman or man can hope to succeed. Her life should indeed be an inspiration to the coming generation of busi- ness women, who if following in her footsteps can not fail. She is highly regarded by the business men of Houston and South Texas who know that she has always been a steadfast exponent of the highest standards of insurance business. She has for more than a score of years occupied a place of leadership in the business and civic life of Houston, on which she has indelibly impressed the seal of her usefulness and worth to the community.

ARY LEE TRAMMELL, although one of the younger members in the educational circles of Houston, has since beginning to give instruction in her art here, built up a large class and established a splendid reputation among the people in the city of her nativity. Miss Trammell is a teacher of expression, and is one of the leading young teachers in Houston where she has about one hundred pupils and a large wait-

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Laura Slavens Wood.

Claire . Sinclair Calabou

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

ing list. She has been teaching in the city for more than three years, and has three well appointed stu- dios, a large acquaintance and her work is sup- ported by the most prominent people of the city, where she is regarded as one of the best instructors in her line in South Texas.

A native Houstonian, Miss Trammell was born September 28th, 1900. Her father, Henry Lee Tram- mell is well known in the cotton and mercantile bus- iness in South Texas. Her mother was Miss Carolyn Leverton, a member of a prominent and pioneer Tex- as family. Her early education was obtained in the public high schools of Houston, after which she en- tered Baylor University at Waco and remained at this institution for two years. She then went to the Anna Morgan School of Chicago, and graduated from this Institution with a diploma. She then at- tended Columbia University for supplementary work in 1920. She then spent one season in New York City under the able tutorage of Henry Gaynes Hawn. Miss Trammell studied violin for one year in the Chicago Music College and one season in the Lyceum Arts Conservatory. She then returned to Houston and began teaching and has been unusually success- ful, and goes to the East and North each summer to study.

Miss Trammell resides at 204 Hawthorne. She is a member of the Baptist Church, and is an active worker in this church. Miss Trammell has a large family connection in Houston, which belongs to the pioneers of the Lone Star State. She has enjoyed unusual educational advantages, has a fine personality, and is altogether a very charming young woman, and her friends predict a wonderful future for her in her chosen field.

LAIRE J. SINCLAIR CALAHAN, a resident of Houston for a quarter of a century has for the past ten years owned and operated the Sinclair Select Business School, and during this period has started many young men and women on the high road to success. Mrs. Calahan has seen tangible evidence of her success in the work accomplished by the many students who have obtained their business training in her school. In the Sinclair Select Business School, all branches are included in the curriculum for a thorough business course. Each department is under the direction of capable, expert instructors who are especially versed in the subject taught, and personal attention is given each pupil. The rooms are especially well lighted and ventilated and constructed throughout with a view of facilitating the work of teachers and pupils. The limit of the number of pupils is fifty and Mrs. Calahan has a large waiting list at all times. Thirty- two typewriters, including all makes, are in use in the school, which is located at 946 Arlington Street, Houston Heights, Houston, and has modern equip- ment throughout.

Mrs. Calahan was born at Meringo, Ohio on May 30th, 1886. Her father, Ezra L. Whitehead, was a resident of that part of Ohio for almost forty years where he was a land owner and farmer. Her mother was Miss Hattie Clark, a member of a prominent Ohio family. Her early education was obtained in the public and high schools of Meringo, Ohio, after which she came to Austin, Texas and entered the high school there, and later attended the University of Texas for a period of three years. She then went to Chicago where she was a student of the University

of Chicago for a period of four seasons, and obtained a teacher's certificate, and also a teacher's certifi- cate from the Gregg University of Chicago. She returned to Texas and began teaching and has had experience in teaching in both public and private schools of the state, which she continued until she established the Sinclair Select Business School, which is considered one of the best schools of its kind in South Texas and has grown rapidly from the beginning, and has had a waiting list since its es- tablishment by Mrs. Calahan.

Mrs. Calahan has been twice married. The first marriage was in Fort Smith, Arkansas, in 1904, to L. B. Sinclair, who was for many years a promi- nent merchant tailor, and who died in 1912. They had one son-L. Burton Sinclair, Jr., who is eighteen years of age, and gives promise of a wonderful busi- ness man. She was married the second time in 1920 to James Allen Calahan, who was for many years a well known cattle man of Texas, but who is now a member of the faculty of the Sinclair Select Business School. A branch under the same name is operated in Mexia, Texas, and is under the able management of Mrs. Pearl Terrell, and this school like the Sinclair school of Houston, is at all times filled to capacity. Mrs. Calahan is an exceptional teacher, in that she possesses the great art of im- parting her knowledge to her pupils and is a won- derful disciplinarian, and has unusual influence over her pupils. In addition to her other accomplish- ments, Mrs. Calahan is a thorough business woman, and has succeeded in establishing and maintaining one of the best business schools in South Texas.

RS. LAURA F. BROUSSARD has been as- sociated with the floral business at Houston for the past decade, since 1920 operating one of the most distinctive flower shops in the city. The California Flower Shop, which Mrs. Broussard established in 1920, and which she has since operated, is attractive in every way, and she has given careful attention to each detail of this establishment. All the flowers sold in the California Flower Shop are grown by Mrs. Broussard, many of them in her beautiful gardens, and others in her greenhouses. She gives special attention to flowers grown in the open and has been exceptionally suc- cessful in this branch of horticulture. Her green- houses are most complete, and while small, are used to grow all kinds of flowers under glass. Mrs. Brous- sard gives careful attention to supplying flowers for funerals and weddings and supplies decorations for all occasions. Flowers from the California Flower Shop are featured at many of Houston's social func- tions and her customers are drawn from the best trade in the city. The shop also has a complete line of hedges and shrubbery and an extensive trade in these two items. The greenhouses are located at 2523 Washington Avenue.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 32

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