New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 36

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

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Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Cotton Exchange Building.

Mr. Hafner yas born at St. Gall, Switzerland. His father, J. H. Hafner, is now retired from active business pursuits. His education was obtained in the public schools, and through travel and practical experience. Soon after leaving school, Mr. Hafner started his business career in the commission bus- iness in his native country, but later went to Bur- gundy, France, then to Paris, and after a few years to Liverpool, where he engaged in the cotton busi- ness and remained there until coming to the United States.

Mr. Hafner was married in London, England, on October 4th, 1907, to Miss Mary Darlington Fisher, a native of Liverpool. Mr. and Mrs. Hafner reside at 1403 Cleburne Avenue. Mr. Hafner is a mem- ber of the Houston Cotton Exchange, in which he is greatly interested. He is a member of the Episcopal Church. He has been successful in his business since coming here and has nothing but words of praise for the South Texas Metropolis and its citizenship.

BERNARD HEROD, one of the younger members of the business fraternity of Hous- ton, has since becoming associated with the Black Bros. Furniture Company, Inc., been active in the business circles here. Mr. Herod has been Secretary and Treasurer of the Black Bros. Furniture Company, Inc., since 1916, and in Jan- uary, 1922, was made Manager of the store located at 710-12 Milam Street; this in addition to the of- fices in the company already held by him. This store has three floors, each 100 by 100 feet, also a large warehouse at 2308 Commerce Street. The Black Bros. Furniture Company began business in Houston in 1913, and in 1919 moved into the present store managed by Mr. Herod. This store ranks among the finest and best furniture stores in Hous- ton, and carries a large and complete stock of all classes of furniture from the average kind to the very finest and most artistic to be purchased. Other officers of the Black Bros. Furniture Company, Inc., are Albert H. Black, President, C. A. Herod, Vice- President and John B. Black, General Manager.

A native of Kansas, Mr. Herod was born at Cha- nute in 1898. His father, H. B. Herod, is a native of Illinois, but lived many years in Missouri previous to coming to Texas in 1913. He is an expert auditor and is now in the employ of the United States Inter- nal Revenue Department. Mr. Herod's education was obtained in the public schools of Joplin, Mo., and the Houston High School.

Mr. Herod began his business career in 1915 when seventeen years of age as bookkeeper for the Black Bros. Furniture Company, Inc., in September, 1916, he was made Secretary and Treasurer of this firm and in January, 1922, was made Manager of their store located at 710-12 Milam Street. Mr. Herod is a nephew of Messrs. Albert H. and John B. Black of the Black Bros. Furniture Company, Inc. Mr. Herod was married in Houston in 1920 to Miss Eileen McNeil, a native of Colorado. They have one child, Elizabeth Eileen. Mr. and Mrs. Herod reside at 1215 Milby Street. Mr. Herod is a member of the A. F. and A. M. with membership in Temple Lodge No. 4 of Houston. He is also a member of the Chapter of this order. Mr. Herod is active in the social organizations of Houston, and is interested in all agencies working for the greater development and civic improvement of his city.

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UDGE PRESLEY K. EWING, Attorney at Law and pioneer among men of his profes- sion, for more than two score of years, has been handling noteworthy civil and crim- inal cases, and besides being one of the leading at- torneys of South Texas Judge Ewing is one of the ranking orators of the country. He is special at- torney for the United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company, the American Sulphur and Royalty Com- pany, and many other corporations of this magni- tude. Judge Ewing is said by his profession to have pioneered or developed more, or as many, great judicial principles as any lawyer of the entire South. He represents very few clients except on special occasions when he is called in for much of the leading litigation of this section of Texas. Judge Ewing came to Houston in 1882 and engaged in a general practice of law, but has made a special rec- ord in litigation over land and commercial interests and in the equity field or jurisprudence. For many years, Judge Ewing was associated with George Goldthwaite in a partnership under the firm name of Goldthwaite and Ewing, and later was in partner- ship with Henry F. Ring as an addition to the firm which was known as Goldthwaithe, Ewing and Ring, and still later was an associate of John Lovejoy.

Judge Ewing was born in La Fourche, Louisiana, July 21, 1860. His father, Dr. Fayette Clay Ewing, was a well known physician of Louisiana. His mother was Miss Eliza Josephine Kittredge, a des- cendent of a prominent New England pioneer fam- ily. Judge Ewing was educated at the University of Mississippi, graduating from that institution in 1881 with the L. L. B. degree, being first honor man of this class and receiving in addition the Ph. B. degree. He is an enrolled attorney of the Su- preme Court of the United States. Judge Ewing represented before the Trans-Mississippi Commer- cial Congress at Wichita, Kansas, in May, 1899, the plan of government appropriation for the deep water Gulf outlet from Houston; this was a turning point in the effort of the progressive citizens of Houston to attain the dream of having the world's commerce brought by ocean-going vessels to her doors, that is today a reality. In 1905 Judge Ewing was commis- sioned and served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, and campaigned in the East in suc- cessive Presidential campaigns for the Democratic National Committee.

Judge Ewing was married in LaFourche, Louis- iana, February 10, 1885, to Miss Mary Ellen Wil- liams (deceased since April 1, 1919). She had won a prominent place in "The Texas Women's Hall of Fame" for her entire life had been filled with deeds of public and philanthropic service, acts of patriotic devotion, and sympathetic helpfulness to the weary of foot and the saddened of heart. She was truly one of Texas' noted women whose life was devoted to welfare work in the interest of mankind. In her death, Houston and Texas lost a great leader for good. Judge Ewing has two daughters, Josie Vesta, now Mrs. Carleton W. Veatch, and Gladys, now Mrs. Albert C. Combes. Both daughters received their early education in the Houston schools, after which they attended the Finch School for Girls in New York City, and are graduates of that institu- tion, with post-graduate diplomas. Both are socially popular in Houston, and in the East and West. On June 12, 1923, Judge Ewing was married at Christ

Church, Houston, to Miss June Throckmorton, a grand-niece of former Governor Throckmorton of Texas.

In 1914, on the death of Justice Lurton, and short- ly after, in 1916, at the death of Justice Lamar, and the resignaiton of Justice Hughes of the United States Supreme Court, Judge Ewing was endorsed for the Justice of that Court. Perhaps no man was ever more strongly or widely indorsed for that po- sition. Among those urging his appointment were Justices from four State Supreme Courts, including that of his own State, and the Senate of Texas was unanimous for his appointment, and he would have received the appointment if the President had given either to the South. At that momentous time, one of Texas' greatest statesmen, who at that time was a member of Congress, said: "He would make one of the illustrious judges on that exalted bench, whose labors would make not only for establishing justice but also for the abiding glory of the Supreme Court, as the finest arbiter under the Constitution of ques- tions affecting or determining the ultimate result of our system of free government." The Houston Post published the following: "He is a man in the prime of life and activity; he is recognized wherever he is known as one of the South's most eminent jurists, and his high personal character would splendidly accord with traditions of the august tribunal which his friends believe he would adorn."

In fraternal and social organizations Judge Ewing is a member of the A. F. and A. M., being affiliated with Holland Lodge No. 1 of Houston, is a Knight Templar and a member of Arabia Temple Shrine; B. P. O. E .; the College fraternity, Beta Theta Pi; American Bar Association; Texas Bar Association, and was President of this organization in 1899. Judge Ewing is an author of note, having written various legal treatises and other articles of merit. Judge Ewing is one of the most progressive and helpful citizens of Houston and of Texas, where his influence is felt and known for the upbuilding of his city and State.

A. ADAMSON, for nearly two decades one of the members of the Houston bar, has enjoyed the esteem of his fellow citizens, and as an attorney has earned distinction in the field of civil law, to which his practice is limited. Mr. Adamson began his law practice in Harris County and Houston, in 1905, since which time he has steadily advanced in his chosen voca- tion, and has a lucrative practice confined to civil law The first year he was associated with his brother, C. H. Adamson, whose health failed at the end of the year, when he left Houston. Later L. A. Adamson formed an association with Lane-Wolters and Story, which lasted until the first of January, 1916, since which time he has practised alone. Mr. Adamson has his offices in the Chronicle Building and is well equipped professionally for any demands on his talent.

L. A. Adamson was born in Boone County, Iowa, fifty miles north of Des Moines, the eighth of March, 1881, the son of Robert Adamson, a native of Ire- land who came to New York City in 1868, three years later coming to Iowa, where he was a farmer and stockman until his retirement in 1905. At that: time the elder Mr. Adamson came to Texas, on account of the fine climate here, and has since made his home in this state, residing at the present time

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at Houston, where he is honored as an octogenarian. L. A. Adamson's mother, whose maiden name was Miss Ruth E. Kerr, is also a native of the Emerald Isle, and like the father, makes her home in Houston. L. A. Adamson spent his boyhood on his father's farm in Iowa, attending the rural schools near his home for a time. Later he studied under his brother, and also took correspondence courses in law, a pro- fession for which he early showed great aptitude. When his father, Robert Adamson, came to Texas in 1905, L. A. Adamson also came to this state, taking the bar examinations here, and was admitted to practice in 1905.

L. A. Adamson makes his home at 1008 Polk Ave- nue. He is a Mason, 32nd degree Scottish Rite, be- longing to Temple Lodge No. 4 and to Arabia Tem- ple Shrine. Mr. Adamson is one of the younger professional men of Houston, and takes a great interest in the development of this city.

RANK C. JONES, Attorney at Law, has for more than a quarter of a century practiced before the Houston Bar and has a host of clients who have found him a valued and loyal counsellor and champion. Mr. Jones is a member of the law firm of Gill, Jones, Tyler and Potter, which is recognized as one of the leading law firms of South Texas; their office is located at 204 First National Bank Building, and are engaged in a general civil practice. This firm are General Attorneys for the Independent Oil Producers Asso- ciation, and are retained by the Humble Oil and Refining Company and various oil operators, The Fidelity Deposit Company of Maryland, Trezevant and Cochran, Continental Casualty Company, Pierce Oil Corporation, Texas Gulf Sulphur Com- pany, The Guiberson Corporation and many other companies and business people. Mr. Jones began the practice of law in Houston in 1896 under the firm name of Allen, Watkins and Jones, and continued under this name for several years, when Mr. A. C. Allen went on the bench, and the late Governor James S. Hogg came into the firm in 1905, the name was changed at that time to Hogg, Watkins and Jones. In 1907 Governor Hogg died and W. H. Gill came into the firm when Edgar Watkins moved to Atlanta, Georgia, and later went with the Interstate Commerce Commission; the firm was then under the name of Hogg, Gill and Jones. Hugh L. Stone came into the firm and later went to Pittsburg as General Counsel for the Gulf Oil Company. Wal- lace Tyler took Mr. Stone's place, and the firm then became Hogg, Gill, Jones and Tyler. The firm retained the name of Governor Hogg at the request of Mike Hogg, his son, and the other members of his family; Mike Hogg, at that time, worked for the firm on a salary, and when Mike Hogg left, the firm became Gill, Jones and Tyler. Hugh M. Potter, a man of strong personality and a graduate of Har- vard, came into the firm on a salary, and later be- came a member, with name of firm as it is today, Gill, Jones, Tyler and Potter.

Mr. Jones was born at Kingsville, Johnson Coun- ty, Missouri, April 2, 1873, and was brought to Texas by his parents when an infant three months old. His father, Frank Jones, (deceased since 1905) was a well known lumber man of Texas, where for many years he was head man for William Cameron, and later was engaged in the lumber business for himself at Bonham, Texas. His mother was Miss

Nannie E. Hunt, a native of Missouri and a member of a prominent family of that State. His early education was obtained in the Bonham High School, from which he graduated. He later attended Fan- nin College at Bonham for two years, and graduated from this institution; he then became a student of Richmond College, Virginia, and graduated from this college in the class of 1892 with the B. A. de- gree. He then entered the University of Texas and graduated from this institution in the class of 1896 with the L. L. B. degree. During this same year he entered actively into the practice of his profession at Houston, where he has since continued. Mr. Jones, while attending college, was engaged in the lumber business with his father at Bonham during the summer vacations and it was during these pe- riods that he learned every feature of the retail lumber business.

Mr. Jones was married at Bonham, Texas, Novem- ber 26, 1902, to Miss Bessie Baker, a native of the Lone Star State and a daughter of Frank C. Baker, famous as an explorer, and well known as a phy- sician, and who died in South America. They have two children, Margaret, who is a Junior in Wiscon- sin University, and Frank C. Jones, Jr., who grad- uated in June, 1923, at Wentworth Military Acad- emy, Lexington, Missouri. Mr. Jones is one of the leading Masons in Texas, being Past Master of Hol- land Lodge No. 1 of Houston, which is the oldest Masonic Lodge in the State, and Past Master of all Masonic bodies of Houston, both York and Scottish Rites. He is Past Grand Master of Texas and Past Grand Commander of the Knights Templars of Texas, and is Past Potentate of the Shrine of Gal- veston and Houston, and is Imperial Oriental Guide and is expected to become Imperial Potentate in 1928, and has been a 33rd Degree Mason since 1909, and was appointed officer of the Supreme Council, 33rd degree, Washington, D. C. In other organiza- tions he is a member of the Rotary Club, having been Vice-President of this organization; Beta Theta Pi, college fraternity; American Bar Association; State Bar Association and was President of this or- ganization in 1917; Chairman Ninth Region of the Boy Scouts and member of National Council, New York, and is also a local officer of this organiza- tion. Mr. Jones is a member of the Baptist Church, and is one of the Trustees of this church, which is erecting a new building at a cost of $1,000,000.00 when completed; he is a Director of the Baptist Hos- pital, and is one of the building committee, which is erecting a building at a cost of $400,000.00. Mr. Jones does a great deal of civic club and fraternal work, and gives a large portion of his time to helping others. He is one of the most popular men of Texas and is known throughout the United States, where there are Shriners. He looks after the business end of the law firm, employing principles that are used by any other business man. He does a great deal of trial work, in which he is very successful, especially with juries. He is loyal to the city of his adoption, which had a population of less than thirty thousand people when he came here, but he is extremely opti -- mistic as to the future of "The Deep Water City" and believes it will soon become the leading city of the entire Southwest. Mr. Jones has always been a leader in all fraternal and civic work in Houston, where he is regarded as one of the city's most progressive and public spirited citizens.

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ILMER SPERRY HUNT, lawyer and busi- ness man of Houston for the past three decades, is a lawyer whose years of ex- perience qualify him to speak with author- ity on legal matters, and especially on surety liti- gation, in which field he and his firm have special- ized for many years. Mr. Hunt is senior member of the firm of Hunt and Teagle, with offices in the Union National Bank Building, and do a general civil practice in the state and federal courts. Mr. Hunt was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States in 1902.

Mr. Hunt was born at Ripley, Mississippi, the son of Dr. E. N. Hunt, a practicing physician of that state and a resident of Mississippi all of his life. His mother, whose maiden name was Katherine Sperry, was a native of Winchester, Virginia, whom Dr. Hunt met and married in Virginia during the Civil War while he was serving as surgeon with the Second Mississippi Regiment. After the war they returned to Mississippi to make their home.

Mr. Hunt, the subject of our sketch, was educated in the public schools of his native state and later entered the University of Texas, where he took his degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1894, immediately moving to Houston to begin the practice.

Mr. Hunt was married in Houston in 1902 to Miss Lucy Sherman Brady, daughter of Col. John T. Brady, an attorney who for fifty years took a prominent part in the professional and financial life of the city. Col. Brady was the first citizen to devote his time and money to the development of the Houston Ship Channel, which is today the greatest asset of the city. Mrs. Hunt is the grand- daughter of General Sidney Sherman, who raised a company in Kentucky in the year 1836 to fight for the indepedence of Texas and led the left wing of the Texas army at the battle of San Jacinto.

Mr. and Mrs. Hunt make their home at 2020 Craw- ford Street and have three children, a son, Wilmer B. Hunt, now a senior at Georgetown University, Washington, D. C., and twin daughters, Lennie Es- telle and Lucy Catherine, also away at school.

Fraternally Mr. Hunt, at college, belonged to the Kappa Sigma fraternity, and is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite, a Knight Templar, and a mem- ber of Arabia Temple Shrine. He belongs to various social and civic clubs, such as the Houston Club, Houston Country Club, University Club and the Shrine Club. He takes an active part in the Harris County Bar Association, of which he is past pres- ident, and is now a member of the Committee on Ethics. He is also a past president of the Lawyers Library Association and is president of the Lawyers Luncheon Club and trustee of the Houston Art Museum.

Mr. Hunt is recognized as one of our leading law- yers and public spirited citizens.

UDGE ROBERT A. JOHN, attorney at law, has for almost two score of years prac- ticed his profession before the Texas bar, where he is regarded as one of the beacon lights of the legal profession. Judge John came to Houston in 1908 and is the general attorney for The Texas Company and president of the Texas Pipe Line Company. He first came with The Texas Company as trial lawyer, and from 1911 to 1914 was chief attorney, and at that time became gen-

eral attorney for The Texas Company and has con- tinued in that capacity, and is regarded as one of the chief authorities on oil matters in the state. Judge John has two assistants in his office and ten lawyers in his department, where the increas- ing complexities of modern business have tended to increase the value and importance of the legal work incident to a large oil company.

A native Texan, Judge John was born in Bastrop County, September 7th, 1864. His father, Rev. Isaac G. John, (deceased since 1889) was a well known Methodist minister, founder of the Christian Advocate and editor of this magazine for nineteen years, was born in Indiana and came to Galveston, Texas, in 1856. His mother prior to her marriage was Miss Ruth Eblen, a native of Bastrop County, Texas, and a daughter of John Eblen, who came to Texas from Missouri in 1833, but was a native of Germany. His education was obtained in Craw- ford Academy, and the Southwestern University at Georgetown, Texas, where he graduated in 1884, with the A. B. degree. Francis A. Mood was pres- ident of the college during the period when Judge John was a student, and was recognized as a great teacher and a wonderful man, a genius in his line, and left his impression on each student who was for- tunate enough to come in contact with him. After leaving college, Judge John taught school for one year and read law a portion of this time, and then went in the law office of the firm of Fisher and Townes, composed of S. R. Fisher and John C. Townes, who later became professor of law and dean of Texas University. Judge John was admitted to the bar in 1885 and immediately established his home and office in Georgetown, where he continued his practice until 1899, and during this period he was city attorney of Georgetown, and county at- torney of Williamson County for five years. In 1899 Judge John was appointed assistant attorney general of Texas by Governor Joseph D. Sayers, and served in this office during Governor Sayers' administration. In 1903 Judge John removed his practice to Beaumont, Texas, which presented a larger and more promising field, and remained there until 1908, where he succeeded his brother in a law firm there, and was later a member of the firm of Duff and John, and represented the Santa Fe Railroad. While in Beaumont Judge John was a candidate for the office of justice of the court of appeals, but was defeated by Judge John N. Hen- derson, who was on the bench at the time. In addi- tion to being general attorney for The Texas Com- pany, Judge John is president of the Texas Pipe Line Company, which has 2,777.58 miles of pipe lines, 89 per cent of which is in Texas.

Judge John was married at Georgetown, Texas, in 1887, to Miss Margaret Houston Morrow, a daugh- ter of Captain J. C. S. Morrow, who was in the Civil War and now resides at Quanah, Texas. Her mother was Miss Nannie E. Houston, a daughter of General Sam Houston. They have nine children and ten grandchildren. The children are: Alfred M. John, a well known lawyer of Houston; Miss Margaret E. John, a teacher; Mrs. F. F. Baldwin, wife of a well known Houston attorney; Mrs. Ruth J. Seale, a graduate trained nurse; Mrs. Griffith C. Evans, wife of the professor of mathematics at Rice Institute; Miss Roberta A. John, teacher in Houston High School; Edward B. John, with the

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Texas Company; George O'Brien John, a student at the Allen Academy at Bryan, Texas, and Eliza- beth John, at home with her parents. Judge John is a member of the A. F. and A. M., the Knights of Pythias, State Bar Association, Harris County Bar Association and the Glenbrook Country Club. Judge John is truly a dignified lawyer and gentle- man of the old school, and has added an element of strength and purpose of fine capacity, and of judicial ability to the upbuilding legal forces of Houston and of the State of Texas.

UDGE D. EDWARD GREER, during his practice of more than two score of years before the Texas bar, is recognized as one of the outstanding lawyers of this day. Judge Greer is general attorney for the Gulf Com- panies in Texas and Louisiana, and has been iden- tified with much of the important oil litigation that has come before the courts of Texas. Judge Greer came to Houston in 1916 from Beaumont, and has in his Houston organization eleven lawyers, with offices on the 10th floor of the Gulf Building. The Gulf Companies have in their legal department at Fort Worth two lawyers, John G. Gregg and R. E. L. Batts, and in their legal department at Shreve- port two lawyers, J. S. Atkinson and Frederick E. Greer; these offices are under the jurisdiction of the Houston office.

Judge Greer was born in De Sota County, Missis- sippi, April 25, 1856. His birth place was near the Tennessee line, ten miles from Memphis. His father, James Madison Greer, a native of Tennessee, was a great Democrat, a prominent lawyer and politician. His mother was Miss Mary Autry, an aunt of the late Judge James L. Autry, and a daughter of Mica- jah Autry, who was one of the early settlers of Texas, having removed to this State from Jackson, Tennessee, in 1835. He came first to New Orleans and there joined a band of volunteers for service in Texas' revolution against Mexico. He joined Travis' command at the historic town of Nacog- doches, Texas, and marched from that point in East Texas through San Antonio on the old Spanish Trail, and fell at the seige of the Alamo in 1836. He was a lawyer and had planned to practice law in Texas. Judge Greer's education was obtained in the com- mon schools of Mississippi, and after coming to Texas, studied law in the office of Judge Sam R. Frost, of Corsicana. He came to Corsicana in 1875 to look after a large grant of land in Navarro County that was given to Micajah Autry. Judge Greer was admitted to the bar in 1880 and began the practice of his profession in Corsicana and re- mained there until 1888, when he removed to Dallas. He practiced his profession in Dallas until 1904, when he removed to Beaumont, and was retained by the Gulf Company until 1907, since which he has devoted his entire time to their interests.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 36

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