New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 38

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

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A native Houstonian, Mr. Breaker was born on June 13th, 1893. His father, George H. Breaker, a native of South Carolina, came to Texas in 1877. He is the founder of these firms and is still active in the business. His mother (now deceased) was Miss Lillie Trapp, a member of a pioneer Texas family. His early education was obtained in the public schools of Houston, after which he attended Washington and Lee University. Mr. Breaker was married June 24th, 1924, to Miss Margaret Chamber- lain, a native of Houston and daughter of Mr. Cham- berlain, proprietor of the Houston Optical Company and resident of Houston for thirty years.

Mr. Breaker, who is regarded as one of Hous -. ton's most progressive young business men, is inter- ested in many of the city's business projects and is a director in the American Building and Loan Asso- ciation. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. with membership in Holland Lodge No. 1 of Houston. He is also a member of the Exchange Club, the Conopus Club and many of the social organizations of the city. He resides at 3617 Burlington Avenue. Among the business men of Houston, Mr. Breaker is recog- nized as a leader in his particular sphere.

UDGE J. A. PLATT, attorney at law, during his practice of almost a score of years be- fore the Texas bar, has established a place of marked distinction among the people of the state, together with a creditable record in the esteem of the legal fraternity. Judge Platt came to Houston in January, 1921, from Trinity County, and is vice president and general attorney for the West Lumber Company, South Texas Lumber Company, Fort Terrett Ranch Company, West Production Com- pany, South Texas Hardwood Company, West Build- ing Company and the Trinity Valley and Northern Railroad Company. Judge Platt is in charge of the legal department of these companies and this work takes him into the various courts of the state. He devotes his entire time to his own companies.

Judge Platt was born at New Iberia, Louisiana, April 17th, 1884. His father, B. A. Platt, a native of Georgia, was for many years engaged in busi- ness in Trinity County, Texas, but is now a resi- dent of Houston. His mother was Miss Felicia Mignes, a member of a well known family of Louis- iana. Judge Platt's early education was obtained in the public and high schools of Groveton, Trinity County, graduating from the latter in the class of 1900. He then entered the University of Texas and graduated from that institution in 1904 with the L. L. B. degree. Immediately following his grad- uation in law in 1904 Judge Platt established his home and office in Groveton and began the practice of his profession. In 1908 he was elected to the of- fice of county attorney of Trinity County and served in this office until 1912. In 1914 he was elected to the office of district attorney of the Twelfth District and served in this office from 1914 to 1918. In 1919 he was appointed to the office of district judge of the District Court of the Twelfth District, and served in this office in 1919 and 1920 when he resigned in order to come into the present work, to which he has given his entire time.

Judge Platt was married in Groveton, Texas, in October, 23rd, 1913, to Miss Maude Dudley, a native of Trinity County and a daughter of J. E. Q. Dud- ley (deceased) a prominent lumber man of Trinity County and a native of Georgia. They have one son, J. A. Platt, Jr. In fraternal, social and tech- nical organizations, Judge Platt holds membership in the A. F. and A. M. of the Royal Arch degree, Houston Club, Country Estates Club, and the State Bar Association. He is a loyal member of the Methodist Church. Judge Platt is optomistic as to the future of Houston and believes that this city will have attained a population of not less than five hundred thousand within the next decade. Judge Platt is a true type of the southern lawyer and gen- tleman, in which are mixed the southern gallantry, together with the aggressive, purposeful and con- structive business instincts of the modern South.

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MEN OF TEXAS

ORICK D. MATHES began the practice of law in Houston in 1916, and has continued to follow his vocation here to the present time, with the exception of eighteen months, while in the army during the World War. Mr. Mathes is associated with the firm of Baker, Botts, Parker and Garwood, one of the strongest and best known law firms of Texas, both in point of pres- tige and volume of practice. Mr. Mathes began with this firm shortly after being admitted to the bar, at that time handling justice court cases, and like matters. He is now specializing in insurance and tort litigation and some admiralty. The firm occupies a suite of offices in the Commercial Na- tional Bank Building and its members represent some of the finest legal talent in the state.

Y. D. Mathes was born in Tampa, Florida, the fourth of January, 1891, the son of George M. Mathes and Lena Boyce (Mays) Mathes. George M. Mathes, army man and newspaper writer, spent most of his life in travel, and took a part in a num- ber of interesting expeditions. Many accounts of his travels, and stories were a feature of the maga- zines of his day. He was a student at the Naval Academy at Annapolis, but resigned shortly before the Civil War and served as a captain in the Con- federate Army during the Civil War. His death occurred in Florida in 1906. Mrs. Mathes, a native of Tennessee, now resides in Chicago. Y. D. Mathes attended the public schools of Florida, later enter- ing the University of Chicago, where he took the L. L. B. degree in 1916. He came direct to Hous- ton, beginning his law practice at that time. Ill 1917 he enlisted in military service and was sent to the officers training camp at Leon Springs, where he was commissioned second lieutenant and sent to Ellington Field, near Houston, where he was on the staff. He was later made first lieutenant. He was demobilized in February, 1919, and now holds the commission of captain, Reserve Corps, Judge Ad- vocate Department. He re-entered law practice at Houston with the same firm he was with before the war.

Mr. Mathes was married at Houston the second of February, 1918, to Miss Cora Prudence Carr, a native of Illinois, who was reared in Louisiana. Mr. and Mrs. Mathes have one child, Mary Boyce Mathes. Mr. Mathes is a member of the American Legion and is vice commander of the American Legion, De- partment of Texas, to which he devotes a great deal of time, being a member of the district rehabilitation committee of the American Legion, for the 14th district, which embraces Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

ROVER REES, attorney-at-law at Houston, has attained an enviable reputation in his profession since beginning his practice here in 1916. Mr. Rees, who began the practice of law at Houston in the early part of 1916, has his offices in the Scanlan Building. Prior to beginning his practice alone Mr. Rees was with Hutcheson & Hutcheson, a well-known Houston law firm, from the time he was admitted to the bar until February, 1917. At that time he went with the law firm of Baker, Botts, Parker and Garwood, one of the most prominent law firms of the state, and was with this firm until May, 1917, when he enlisted in the service as a private in the field artillery of the regu-

lar army at Fort Sam Houston. Mr. Rees was later sent to the Officers Training School, where he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant, then assigned to the Twenty-first Field Artillery, Fifth Division, and went overseas with this division, serving in France. He was retired in December, 1918, as Captain, and in 1923 was made Major of Artillery in the Reserve Corps. Returning to Houston after leaving service, Mr. Rees again went with the law firm of Baker, Botts, Parker and Garwood, remaining with them until September, 1919, when he became a member of the firm of Hutcheson, Bryan and Dyess, and re- mained with that firm until 1924, when he began practice alone.

Mr. Rees was born at Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, on October 31st, 1891, son of Charles Rees and Ophelia Hardy Rees. He received his early edu- cation in the public schools near his home, later en- tering Louisiana State University, where he ob- tained his B. A. Degree in 1912. In 1912 he entered Harvard Law School, where he attended three years, receiving his LL. B. Degree in the class of 1915. On being admitted to the bar he came to Houston, establishing his first practice in this city, and has so continued to the present, steadily advancing to a position among the leading lawyers of the city.

Mr. Rees was married August 11th, 1924, to Miss Consuelo Broussard, daughter of A. E. Brous- sard, of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. Mr. Rees takes a deep interest in the civic accomplishments of Houston, and is regarded by his associates as one of the most promising of the younger attorneys of this city.

K EMPER W. STEPHENSON, attorney at law, resigned the position of district at- torney in January, 1922, in order to come to Orange, Texas, to become a member of the firm of Dies, Stephenson and Dies, with offices in the Bancroft Building. This law firm was estab- lished in January, 1922, by Martin Dies (deceased), Kemper W. Stephenson and Martin Dies, Jr., and is engaged in a general practice of law. When Mr. Stephenson joined this firm, he brought with him an experience as an attorney extending over a pe- riod of almost a decade, during which time he had handled many noteworthy cases. Following his graduation from the law department of the Univer- sity of Texas in 1913, Mr. Stephenson established his office and began the practice of his profession at Center, Texas. He continued his practice at Center until 1916, when he removed to the historic town of San Augustine, Texas, where he was engaged in a general practice of law until 1919 when he was ap- pointed to the office of district attorney of this dis- trict, which he later resigned.

A native Texan, Mr. Stephenson was born at Cen- ter on May 22nd, 1886. His father, James Ste- phenson, a native of Georgia, came to Texas as a young man, was admitted to the bar and became one of the leading attorneys of the Lone Star State, and continued to practice his profession until his death, which occurred at Center, Texas. His mother (also deceased) was, prior to her marriage, Miss Donna Rushing, a member of a pioneer Texas fam- ily. His early education was obtained in the public and high schools of Center, Texas, where he grad- uated from the latter. He then entered the Uni- versity of Texas and graduated from that institu- tion in the class of 1913 with the LL.B. degree.

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NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

Mr. Stephenson, being loyal to the traditions of his native state, established his office in the town in which he was born and where he achieved his first successes.

Mr. Stephenson was married at Shelbyville, Texas, on July 31st, 1916, to Miss Marguerite Kenna, a native of Mississippi and a member of a well known family of that state. Mr. and Mrs. Stephenson reside at 910 Seventh Street. They have one son, Ward Stephenson. Mr. Stephenson is a member of the Lions Club and is active in this organization. He also holds membership in the various bar asso- ciations. Mr. Stephenson never loses an opportu- nity to speak a good word for his city and his state and believes there are opportunities for development along every line in Texas. As a leader in one of the most honorable professions of men and as a champion of every worthy civic move, Mr. Stephen- son is one of the foremost citizens of his city.

TANLEY BEARD, in the decade and a half of his law practice at Houston, has secured and maintained a high position in his pro- fession, enjoying the esteem of the bench and bar of Harris County, and has entered into the life and spirit of Houston in a commendable way indicative of the interest he takes in the develop- ment of this city. Mr. Beard has a large and well- established general practice, taking him into all the courts of Harris County, and with excellent profes- sional training is well equipped for any professional demands. He practices alone, maintaining his of- fices in the Republic Building. Mr. Beard was ad- mitted to the bar and began the practice of law at Houston in 1910, engaging in practice here until 1917, when he entered the army. He had been elect- ed to the State legislature in 1914, and re-elected in 1916, and was the first man to resign from that body to enlist in service when the United States entered the world war. Since his discharge from military service, Mr. Beard has returned to Hous- ton, resuming his law practice, and in every way living up to the indications noted at the beginning of his career for a brilliant future in the law.

Stanley Beard was born at Vicksburg, Mississippi, the 26th of April, 1886. His father, T. G. Beard, a native of England, came to the United States in 1885, and to Houston in 1889, and is one of the veteran railroad men of this city, having been with the Southern Pacific Railroad for many years. His mother, whose maiden name was Miss Corinne David, is a native of New Orleans, but has resided in Houston for many years. Stanley Beard attend- ed private schools at Houston and was a student in the Welsh Academy here, and also in Austin Academy, at Austin. He then entered Washington and Lee University, where the LL. B. degree was conferred on him in June, 1909. Mr. Beard then re- turned to Houston, where he was admitted to the bar in August, 1909, beginning his practice here the early part of 1910. In 1914 he was elected to the State legislature, and was serving his second term there when he resigned to enlist with the Unit- ed States Marines the 4th of April, 1914. He was sent to New Orleans, Louisiana, remaining there for six months, when he was sent to Norfolk, Vir- ginia, and later to Quantico, Virginia, where he remained one year. He was commissioned lieuten- ant and sent to Paris Island, South Carolina, and

after three months sent back to Norfolk, Virginia, as judge advocate. Six months later he was sent to Rhode Island, receiving his captain's commis- sion while on duty there, and receiving his discharge from that State, after which he returned to Hous- ton and resumed his law practice.

Mr. Beard is an Elk, and is one of the most public- spirited of the younger professional men of Hous- ton, taking a deep interest in the welfare and ad- vancement of this city, and contributing generous- ly to all organized work toward this end.

ATES F. WILSON, Attorney at Law, al- though a comparatively recent addition to the legal fraternity of Houston, Texas, has established a reputation as one of the lead- ers among the younger lawyers of this city. Mr. Wilson is engaged in a general practice of civil law, the greater portion of his time being devoted to title work and kindred lines for the Damon Wells Real Estate Company of Houston. He began his practice here in 1922, and has been associated with large real estate firms, specializing in title work. He has his office conveniently located at 826 Chron- icle Building. Mr. Wilson inherited his taste and talent for the legal profession from his father, who is regarded as one of the most able lawyers of his State, where he has been identified with many of the most important cases which have come before the courts of Missouri.

Mr. Wilson was born at St. Charles, Missouri, on December 20, 1893. His father, C. W. Wilson, also a native of Missouri, has been a leader in the pro- fession of law of St. Charles for many years. His mother was Miss Julia Prayser, also a native Mis sourian, and a member of a well known family of that State. His early education was obtained in the schools of St. Charles, Missouri, and Westminister College, Fulton, Missouri, after which he pursued the study of law in his father's office for a brief per- iod, when he moved to Houston, where he again took up the study of law in his spare time until he was ad- mitted to the bar. He first began a general prac- tice of the profession, but since removing to Hous- ton, has devoted practically all his time to title and kindred work.

Mr. Wilson was married at Houston on Novem- ber 15, 1922, to Miss Margaret Gillespie, a native of Houston and a daughter of J. J. Gillespie, one of the city's old and well known citizens. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson reside at 2205 Rosewood Avenue. Since coming to Houston Mr. Wilson has become imbued with the Houston spirit and at all times wields his influence for a greater and better Houston. Mr. Wilson has made a host of friends here, and is popular, not only in the legal circles of the city, but in the business and social circles as well. In his work as a lawyer, along his chosen branch of the profession, although he is among the younger men who have specialized in this particular line, he is regarded as an authority on title and kindred law. He has done a great deal of this work for non-resi- dents and in this way he has become well known outside of the Lone Star State, as well as within its bounds. Mr. Wilson is a firm believer in the ethics of the profession, and is a worker for and a stead- fast exponent of its highest standards, and is re- garded as one of the most progressive young lawyers of the State.

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MEN OF TEXAS

DWARD S. BOYLES has for a number of years past been identified with legal activi- ties at Houston, where his masterly hand. ling of corporation problems and his legal ability have won the highest esteem of bench and bar. Mr. Boyles is senior member of the firm of Boyles, Brown and Scott, succeeding Moody, Boyles, Walker and Scott. Mr. Boyles' practice is of a general civil nature, largely corporation work, and he is retained by many of the large firms of Hous- ton. He personally handles all work for the First National Bank of Houston and was during the lat- ter part of the war general attorney for the Texas food administration. Mr. Boyles concentrates his attention on civil work, especially in corporation matters, in which he has shown talents of a special order. Mr. Boyles has his offices in the First Na- tional Bank Building and is associated with L. D. Brown, J. T. Scott, Jr., Russell Scott, E. F. Gibbons and Pat N. Fahey, under the name of Boyles, Brown and Scott.

Edward S. Boyles was born at Houston the eight- eenth of April, 1889, the son of Dr. J. M. Boyles, for three decades one of the outstanding medical men of Houston, and Margaret Campbell Boyles. Mr. Boyles was educated in Houston, attending Prof. Welch's Academy and the Houston high school. After a three years' academic course at the Univer- sity of Texas he entered the law school there and took his LL. B. degree in 1911, since which time he has practiced in Houston.

Mr. Boyles was married at Yorktown, in De Witt County, Texas, the thirtieth of October, 1918, to Miss Constance Weldon, daughter of S. E. Weldon, a cattleman and rancher of that county. Mr. and Mrs. Boyles reside at the Burlington Apartments. Mr. Boyles is active in commercial enterprises, con- trolling the A. B. C. Stores of Houston. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, of which Dr. Jacobs, well known divine, is pastor, and was for many years chairman of the board of trustees. The legal firm of which he is a member belongs to the Chamber of Commerce and the Real Estate Board and is active in civic advancement. Mr. Boyles is a member of the Houston Country Club, the Glen- brook Country Club and the University Club and belongs to the Delta Chi college fraternity, Austin chapter. Notwithstanding the exacting demands of his professional career, Mr. Boyles takes a deep interest in the development of Houston and has con- tributed to the success of most of the civic move- ments in recent years.

UDGE CLAUDE POLLARD, Ex-President of the Texas Bar Association, and formerly Assistant Attorney General, has practiced before the Texar Bar for a period of over thirty years. He is a member of the firm of Pol- lard, Fisher and Gaines, who have offices on the 8th floor of the State National Bank Building, Hous- ton, Texas. Other members of the firm are Judge Lewis Fisher and George C. Gaines, Jr., all three members of the firm having had a long experience in practicing before the bar of Houston. The firm engage in a general civil practice, and number among their clients many of the large corporations and representative citizens of Houston.

Judge Pollard has long held a noteworthy place in the legal fraternity of Texas. He was admitted to the bar in 1895, when he was twenty-one years

of age. He immediately began the practice of law at Carthage, and was shortly after elected County Attorney of Panola County, holding this position for four years until 1899. In 1901 he was elected Dis- trict Attorney of the Fourth Judicial District, com- prising four counties, of which Carthage was the headquarters. He held this position until 1905, when he was appointed Assistant Attorney General by R. V. Davidson, who was Attorney General at that time, and served as the Counsel for the Railroad Commission, also handling tax matters and pros- ecuting important cases against the railroads, retir- ing from the office of Assistant Attorney General he accepted the appointment as General Attorney for the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railroad Company, with headquarters at Kingsville, Texas, serving in this capacity until 1917, when he came to Houston and became a member of the firm of McMeans, Garrison and Pollard. In 1925 he organ- ized the present firm. Throughout his legal career Judge Pollard has taken a potent interest in public matters, and has contributed a great deal to mat- ters pertaining to civic progress. Judge Pollard was the organizer of Kleburg County and wrote the bill, which was enacted into a law by the Legislature, making it a county. He also wrote the bill creating the South Texas State Teachers College at Kings- ville, Texas. He has contributed articles of merit to many of the law journals, and among interesting articles from his pen is a history of the Texas Bar Association for the Encyclopedia of Texas.

A native of Texas, Judge Pollard was born at Carthage, Panola County, February 14, 1874. His father, Hamilton Pollard, a native of South Caro- lina, came to Texas in 1854, and was for a period of twenty-five years County Clerk of Panola County. His mother was before her marriage, Miss Sarah Jane Davis, a native of Alabama, and came to Texas with her parents before the Civil War and was among the pioneer settlers of Texas. Judge Pol- lard received his education in the schools of Car- thage, and when but eighteen years of age began the study of law, while he was working on a farm and in a country store, and later teaching the coun- try school until he took the law examination and was admitted to the bar.

Judge Pollard was married in Fannin County De- cember 27, 1897, to Miss Julia Newton, a daughter of S. M. Newton, a native of Tennessee, who came to Texas before the Civil War, and was a well known farmer, ginner and business man of Panola County. Mr. and Mrs. Pollard have two children, Loraine and Claude Pollard, Jr. Judge Pollard is a Scottish Rite Mason, Knight Templar, and member of the Arabia Temple Shrine. He also holds membership in the Houston Club, Conopus Club, Traffic Club, the Harris County Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the Texas Bar Association, having served as President of the Texas Bar Asso- ciation during 1920 and 1921, and Vice-President and member of Board of Directors for several terms prior to that date. Judge Pollard has taken a keen interest in educational matters and during his resi- dence at Kingsville was on the Board of Education, serving for a period as President of that body, and a member of the Board of Education of the city of Houston. Since coming to Houston he has kept his hand on the pulse of public matters, and has taken an active interest in local, political and civic affairs.

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NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

OHN T. SCOTT, JR., native Houstonian, be- gan his professional career in Houston in June, 1920, as a member of the firm of Moody, Boyles, Walker and Scott. Jan- uary 1, 1922, Mr. Edward S. Boyles and Mr. Scott, of this firm, together with Mr. L. D. Brown, of La Grange, Texas, organized the present firm of Boyles, Brown and Scott, with whom are also associated at this time Mr. Russell Scott, Mr. E. F. Gibbons and Pat N. Fahey, This firm enjoys an extensive general civil practice, representing the First Na- tional Bank and numerous other institutions.

Mr. Scott, in the several years of his practice in this city, has won the respect of the bench and bar and has attained a splendid reputation as a general practitioner.

John T. Scott, Jr., was born at Houston the 13th day of June, 1894. He is the only son of John T. Scott, well known banker of this city, and Mattie Campbell Scott. He received his early education at the Houston Academy, after which he entered the University of Texas, graduating in 1916 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then entered the Law School of the University of Texas, receiving his L. L. B. degree in 1920, after an absence from the University of two years, while in military service.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 38

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