New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 5

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

USA > Texas > New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2 > Part 5

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).

Mr. Westbrook was married at Humble, Texas, to Miss Ida Hankammer, a native Texan, and a member of a pioneer family of the Lone Star State. They have one child-Georgie. Mr. and Mrs. West- brook reside on the lease of The Texas Company at Sour Lake. Mr. Westbrook is a member of the I. O. O. F. and takes an active interest in this organization. Mr. Westbrook is popular in the oil circles of South Texas and is regarded as one of the reliable and valuable men connected with The Texas Company. He gives his presonal attention to all the details of the business, and has built up a reputation as a successful driller, and it is said of him in oil circles that he has never lost a well, where care and experience counted in the bringing in the production.

H. McDANIEL, throughout his business career, has been one of the vital factors of the construction business at Beaumont, and has contributed materially to the ad- vancement and development of this city. Mr. Mc- Daniel is secretary and general manager of the firm of McDaniel and Hartford, one of the leading construction firms here, and one that has taken a prominent part in construction work since its organization. The firm has given special attention to the larger contracts, and concentrate their at- tention largely on work in Beaumont and Port Ar- thur, although they have handled construction throughout Southeast Texas and Western Louisiana. They give particular attention to schools, churches, and office buildings, and fine residences, but in the main they make no effort toward specialization, handling a general contracting business. His office is in the Kyle Building, and officers of McDaniel & Hartford, other than Mr. McDaniel, as secretary and general manager, are Howard McDaniel, vice president, and E. E. Hartford, president, both of Port Arthur.

C. H. McDaniel was born at Trenton, Missouri, the twentieth of March, 1891, son of Warren Mc- Daniel and Emma McDaniel. The elder Mr. Mc- Daniel is well known throughout Southeast Texas for his activities in the construction, lumber and oil business. He was also an oil operator in Spin- dle Top, but has now retired and makes his home in California. C. H. McDaniel attended the public schools of Port Arthur, where he graduated from the high school, after which he entered Ohio State University, where he graduated in 1912 with the degrees M. E. and E. E. He then returned to Texas and Beaumont, and was for two years with the Bell Telephone Company, as manager of the traffic department. He then went with his father and brother in the contracting business, the firm at that time being known as the McDaniel Construction Company. A little later his father retired, selling his interest to E. E. Hartford, and the firm has since continued, and was incorporated in 1920.

Mr. McDaniel was married at Beaumont, in 1916, to Miss Emily Suggs. They have four children- Vernice, Chester, Charles, and Dorothea. The fam- ily reside at 2195 Avenue A, and attend the Bap- tist Church. Mr. McDaniel belongs to the Kiwanis Club, and the Knights of Pythias. As a building contractor he has taken an influential part in the affairs of Beaumont, and has done much, both in a business and private way, for its development.

1061

MEN OF TEXAS

HARLES PAGGI, although a resident of Beaumont but a few years, is well known as an independent oil operator in the coast- al fields, whose years of experience enables him to speak with authority on matters affecting the petroleum industry here. Mr. Paggi came to Beau- mont in 1921, and has taken his place among the progressive business men of the city, maintaining his office in the San Jacinto Building, and is a most valuable addition to the oil fraternity. He di- rects extensive operations in the coastal fields, in which he is interested, and his expert knowledge of oil properties and production has been a factor in his success. In his prospecting and development work he uses gasoline drilling equipment and has al- ready drilled over twelve wells in this way. Mr. Paggi began in the oil business in 1907, with his brother, Edward Paggi, organizing the Paggi Brothers Oil Company, which they operated for some years, with Charles Paggi in charge of the field and operating end of the business, and Edward Paggi handling the office and business end. Since Edward Paggi's death he has had complete charge of this business, directing both office and field work. In 1910 Mr. Paggi organized the Tarver Oil Com- pany, which is now the Tholl Oil Company, and also has full charge of the management of this company. The company has good production, and owns its own equipment, including drilling rigs, and under Mr. Paggi's direction has engaged in active operation in the various fields, bringing in a number of promis- ing wells. Mr. Paggi is the class of independent operator who has made a success of buying acreage in or near the proven fields, and holding this pro- perty to await developments. He finds this a partic- ularly profitable business, and in 1917 sold to the Gulf Company The Tarver Oil Company holdings at Sour Lake, for a million and a half dollars. This was one of Paggi Brothers' first wild cat operations. This method of operation is only possible for those operators, men of expert hnowledge and sound judg- ment, in whom the big companies have confidence, and of this class Mr. Paggi is a conspicuous exam- ple. In addition to his oil interests Mr. Paggi is al- so financially interested in business enterprises in Houston and Beaumont, and owns city property, farming lands, and cattle. He is interested in the Conant Auto Company of Houston, the Lake Arthur Dredging Company, Charles Paggi and Company, Burgess and Whisenant Undertaking Company of Houston, the Oleander Oil Company, oil jobbers, Galveston, and is a director in the Texas National Bank.

Mr. Paggi was born at Austin, Texas, the thirtieth of December, 1883, the son of M. Paggi, a manufacturer of carriages and wagons at Austin, and Eugenie Paggie. Mr. Paggi was educated in the Austin schools, after which he learned the plumb- ing business, engaging in that work for two years. He then became interested in oil field work, and the opportunities it offered the young man who was ambitious and willing to work, and he began work in the coastal fields, the first four years, until 1903 working for others, and learning at first hand every detail of the work in the field. In 1903 he went to Sour Lake, at first alone, and in 1907 joining his brother, Edward Paggi, with whom he was asso- ciated until the latter's death. During the years that

he has been in the oil business Mr. Paggi has at various times worked in every department of oil field work, and has operated in the Gulf Coast fields exclusively.

Mr. Paggi was married in 1910, at Kountze, Texas, to Miss Gladys Fontaine, daughter of Dr. W. D. Fontaine, a practicing physician of Hardin County. Mr. and Mrs. Paggi have made Beaumont their home for some years, and have an attractive residence, at 2400 Broadway. They have two chil- dren, William Mechel and Charles Edward. They attend the Presbyterian Church, to which denomi- nation they contribute liberally, and take an ac- tive part in the various social activities. Mr. Paggi is a member of the Beaumont Country Club, the Neches Club, and is a Mason, York Rite, and is a charter member of Arabia Temple Shrine at Hous- ton. Mr. Paggi, although primarily interested in petroleum activities, is also active in various busi- ness lines, and a business man of sound and prac- tical judgment. He is a thoroughly public minded citizen, interested in civic welfare and development, and takes an active part in all progressive civic movements.

AUL W. GASOW, one of the younger business men of Beaumont, has taken a constructive interest in the commercial de- velopment of this city since coming here several years ago, and is well known as one of the leading representatives of the automobile business. Mr. Gasow is president and general manager of the Gasow-Howard Motor Company, Incorporated, which he established at Beaumont the first of Au- gust, 1921. This is the authorized Ford, Fordson and Lincoln dealership in Beaumont, and since the organization of the business Mr. Gasgow has sold a record number of Fords, Lincolns, and Fordsons to his many friends and fellow citizens. The plant is one of the best organized and most modern auto- mobile establishments in the city, and has complete sales, parts and service departments, each with a corps of experts in charge. The entire force of employees totals more than thirty. The plant is located at 802-812 Calder Avenue, where is a modern, semi-fireproof building, one hundred by one hun- dred and forty feet, which was completed for the company in the fall of 1922. An addition of sixty by one hundred and sixty feet, steel and brick, was built August, 1925. This building, designed espe- cially for the Gasow-Howard Company, is consid- ered one of the finest automobile buildings in Beau- mont, and combines a number of unusual features. The officers of the Gasow-Howard Motor Company are, Paul W. Gasow, president and manager; George F. Howard, president of the San Jacinto Trust Company of Houston, vice president; C. A. Caskey, treasurer, and W. A. Manning, secretary.

Mr. Gasow was born at Detroit, Michigan, the thirtieth of March, 1893, the son of the late William Gasow. He spent his early years in Michigan, at- tending the public schools there, and after finishing high school began his business career in the Mich- igan Savings Bank at Detroit, remaining there from September, 1912, until April, 1913. He then went with the Ford Motor Company, spending two years in the office at Detroit, after which he became trav- eling auditor for the company, traveling all over the country to the different Ford branches. He resigned this position in 1921, coming to Beaumont

1062

Clas Pagas

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

the twenty-sixth of July of that year, and organ- izing the present business the first of August.

Mr. Gasow is a member of the Beaumont Coun- try Club, and is active in all civic work. He is known to the automobile trade as one of the leading Ford men of the country, and has attained a high standing in this field.

ILLIAM A. KIRKPATRICK, for upwards of two decades has been a leader in musical activities at Beaumont, and as a teacher, pianist, and organist has contributed mate- rially to the artistic advancement of this city. Prof. Kirkpatrick is a musician of distinctive and inter- pretive talent whose performance invariably wins the admiration of his hearers, and he displays an en- thusiasm in his chosen domain of art that influences his every activity. One of the leading teachers of Beaumont, his classes, limited to forty talented pu- pils, are inspired by him to seek the highest mu- sical skill and scholarship, and his talents as a teacher are no less distinctive than his talents as per- former. Professor Kirkpatrick is especially active in all musical advancement and has brought to Beau- mont many of the great artists and the finest mu- sical talent of the country. He also promotes mu- sical events of local interests and organized the Beaumont Musical Society in 1905, and was also a director of the Galveston Quartette Society for sev- eral years. He conducts many recitals and displays great generosity by contributing to musical pro- grams on many occasions.

Professor Kirkpatrick was born at Troy, New York, the twenty-ninth of January, 1866, the son of William Alexander Kirkpatrick, a noted artist, and Nellie Van Rensler Kirkpatrick, a singer of unusual distinction. Professor Kirkpatrick attended the pub- lic schools of Boston, and for eight years studied at the Choir School of the Church of the Advent. He then spent two years at the New England Con- servatory fo Music, graduating in voice, piano and organ. The following five years were spent at Troy, New York, where he taught music and was choir master and organist. He then went to St. Louis, where for one year he was in charge of the Trin- ity Church choir and was organist. This was fol- lowed by two years at Memphis, Tennessee, as direc- tor for the first choral society in that city, and as organist and choir master at Grace Church and other churches. He then went to Anniston, Ala- bama, as organist and choir master, and later spent a year at Opelika, Alabama, in a like capacity, mak- ing an exceptional choir leader and organist. Fol- lowing this he went to Birmingham, as organist and choir master at St. Mary's on the Highlands, and as leader of various musical clubs, still later going to Montgomery, where he was in charge of four of the leading choirs, remaining there for seven years, until 1899, during which time he organized many clubs and was a leader in all musical activities. The five following years were spent at Washington, D. C., as choir director and organist at Trinity Church, Ascension Church and St. John's Church, Georgetown, and also as instructor at Ralston In- stitute. Immediately following, in 1904, Professor Kirkpatrick came to Beaumont, and has since made this city his home, and has been organist and choir master for the past twenty years for Saint Mark's Church.

Professor Kirkpatrick was married at Beaumont, to Miss Mary Bertha Woodward, a very gifted and talented artist. Mrs. Kirkpatrick has charge of the choir of the Christian Church and is interested in all musical events. She was formerly of Wash- ington, D. C. Professor and Mrs. Kirkpatrick have a very attractive home at 1700 Avenue E, where Professor Kirkpatrick has his handsomely appointed studio, and meets his classes. They have one child, Willie Francis. The family are members of the Episcopal Church. As an artist, Professor Kirkpat- rick has received the best professional advantages, and is highly accomplished and cultured, splendidly equipped to meet any demands on his talents. He gives his enthusiasm to musical activities and Beau- mont is indeed fortunate that there is in the city so thorough a teacher, and so talented an artist as he. For two decades he has been in the lead in musical advancement, creating a demand for the highest type of musical entertainment and securing artists and entertainments that have made Beaumont a mu- sical center of first rank in this section.

OBERT CORLEY, for a quarter of a cen- tury one of the sterling citizens of Beau- mont, has been a vital force for progress in this community, and is highly esteemed by all who know him. Mr. Corley is sole owner of the real estate and insurance firm of Robert Cor- ley and Company, a firm that has proven itself fore- most in civic advancement, and that has a strong, permanent business, built on years of honest deal- ings. Mr. Corley sells city and country property, and all kinds of insurance and surety bonds of all kinds. Mr. Corley has shown his faith in the growth of Beaumont by making real estate investments from time to time, and holds much city property here. He is familiar with property values, and is able to forecast the direction with future growth will take.

Mr. Corley was born at Terrell, Texas, the twenty- first of February, 1878. His father, J. H. Corley, whose death occurred in 1913, was a pioneer banker, entering the banking business in 1875, and con- tinuing therein until his death. His mother, before her marriage was Miss Martha Kuykendall. Mr. Corley was educated in the public schools of Ter- rell, and after graduating from the high school there took special business courses, equipping himself for his business career. Mr. Corley spent one year in Houston, where he engaged in the cotton business, and came to Beaumont in 1899. Mr. Corley is a director in the First National Bank.

Mr. Corley is a member of the Rotary Club, the Beaumont Country Club, the Beaumont Club, the Neches Club, and is a Scottish Rite Mason, a Knight Templar and a member of El Mina Temple Shrine at Galveston. Mr. Corley is a past president of the Beaumont Real Estate Board, and is one of those sterling realtors whose business, founded on in- tegrity and square dealing, is more than a mere es- tablishment for the sale of property, but is an insti- tution of which the community is proud, and which is a factor for civic progress. Mr. Corley is one of the best liked men in his community, with those qualities of Christian citizenship which make for friendships. He has been identified with all pro- gressive movements for a quarter of a century, and few men have done more for the advancement of Beaumont than he.

1065

MEN OF TEXAS

DWARD PAGGI. Few men were more prominently associated with the develop- ment of the petroleum resources of South- east Texas, particularly in that district near Beaumont, of which city he was a resident, than Edward Paggi, who was one of the pioneer operators in the coastal field, and active in its development for about two decades. Mr. Paggi was typical of the oil man with vision, and with the courage to back his judgment, and his development activities were highly successful not only bringing him a fortune, but adding materially to the petro- leum wealth of the State. Mr. Paggi also took an interest in civic activities, co-operating with the various organizations in the plans for the social and commercial development of Beaumont. While he was an oil operator primarily, yet he was interested in various other business enterprises.

Edward Paggi was born at Austin, Texas, the twelfth of October, 1876, the son of Mechel Paggi, pioneer of Texas and prominent in affairs for many years. He attended the schools of Austin, receiv- ing his education in that city, and as a young man began to build boats, which he operated on the Colorado River at Austin. This venture proving successful, Mr. Paggi next went to Mexico, where he began building boats on a larger scale, and for a number of years was a ship builder and contractor, and became well known in ship building circles. After several years in Mexico he returned to Texas, coming to Beaumont at the beginning of the oil boom. He worked in the oil fields up until 1907, but in that year began in the oil business for himself, organizing the Cole Oil Company. He operated this company for a time, later selling it and organizing the Paggi Brothers Oil Company, of which he was president and manager until his death. Associated with him was his brother, Charles Paggi, promi- nently known in petroleum circles. This was one of the really successful independent oil companies, and Mr. Paggi made a fortune from the develop- ment of its interests. He was also one of the or- ganizers of the Tarver Oil Company, of which he was the head until his death, and which was also successful. Mr. Paggi bought a great deal of valua- ble real estate in Beaumont, and was one of the large property owners of this city. In matters per- taining to the oil development of this district, Mr. Paggi was regarded as one of the best informed men in the State, and his opinion carried weight with the members of the oil fraternity.

Edward Paggi was married at Lampasas, Texas, the thirtieth of December, 1903, to Miss Bertha D. Spreen, a native of Brenham, Texas. Mrs. Paggi is the daughter of Henry Spreen, a native of Ger- many, who came to the United States as a young man, locating in Washington County, Texas, and later going to Lampasas, which was his home for many years. He now resides at Austin. Her mother was Miss Louise Freitag, prior to her marriage to Mr. Spreen, she also being a native of Germany, coming to Texas as a young lady. Mr. and Mrs. Paggi were the parents of two children: Louise, a graduate of Loretta Heights Academy of Denver, Colorado, and Ruth, a student in the Beaumont schools. Mrs. Paggi is a woman of accomplished intelligence, and during her husband's lifetime was his constant inspiration and a charming wife and mother. She is a good business woman and has

learned much about the oil industry. At this time she is president of the Paggi Brothers Oil Company and vice president of the Tholl Oil Company. The family has continued to reside in the beautiful Paggi home at 230 Seventh Street.

Mr. Paggi was prominent in Masonic circles, a member of the Saratoga Blue Lodge, Knight Temp- lar and a member of El Mina Temple Shrine at Galveston, and also of the Eastern Star. He took a deep interest in all civic work, contributing to welfare work with a fine generosity that was en- tirely without ostentation, and was ever ready to lend a helping hand to those less fortunate than himself. His death, which occurred in Beaumont on the thirtieth of January, 1921, was a deep loss to his city, and was the cause of a sincere regret on the part of his many friends, both at Beaumont and in other parts of the State.

OUIS J. BARNES, for two decades a resi- dent of Houston, Texas, was one of the pioneers in the field of railroad building of the Lone Star State, having started in this work in 1871, when Texas was a vast empire of prairies over which myriads of cattle and wild game roamed unmolested. Mr. Barnes was for about fifty years active in the various branches of railroad con- struction-his entire business career being spent in this field of activity, which he started as a very young man. His first work was on the construc- tion of the Texas and Pacific Railroad between Long- view and Dallas, where he was the superintendent in charge of laying and building the road bed and work for the various Texas railroads, in the con- struction end, besides furnishing the materials for same. During the greater part of his activities Mr. Barnes made Longview, Texas, his home and for a period of eight years served Gregg County as its tax assessor, carrying on his railroad work at the same time.

Mr. Barnes was born in Mississippi on December bridges. Later he went with the International and Great Northern Railroad, doing this same class of work. Later still, he formed a partnership with the late George W. Burkett, one of the best known men of the railroad fraternity of Texas, this firm en- gaged in the sale of material for railroads and bridges, which they obtained from the vast forests of East Texas. This firm also did a great deal of 12th, 1851. His father, Bryant Barnes, was a native of Georgia and a member of a well known family of that State. His mother, Mrs. (Harris) Barnes, was a member of a prominent Mississippi family. His education was obtained in the schools of Texas, which he left at an early age in order to en- ter the construction business, choosing the railroad branch of this industry, in which he was a signal success throughout his life.

Mr. Barnes was married at Longview, Texas, on October 4th, 1874, to Miss Mary Brown, a native of Longview, Texas, and a daughter of Horatio Brown, who was a member of a well known family of Alabama. Her mother, Mrs. Annie (Turner) Brown, was a member of a leading Georgia family. Mrs. Barnes, during her married life, was more than an ordinary helpmeet, for she was able to handle various business and farming undertakings during the absence of her husband. Today she resides at 204 Lenox Avenue and is interested in church work, teaching a Sunday School class of

the Baptist

1066

Od Gaggi

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

Church, near her home. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Barnes, two boys and one girl, now deceased, but all of whom lived to reach manhood and womanhood and the only surviving child is John L. Barnes of Houston, Texas, who is prominently identified with the commercial life of this city. Horatio died at the age of thirty-two, Maude, who married R. A. McLain, died at the age of twenty- eight, leaving two children, and Oliver P. died at the age of thirty-five. The grandchildren are: Mary Bess McLain Prall of Fort Worth, Maude Mc- Lain of Longview, and John L. Barnes, Jr. The great-grandchild is Robert Dana Prall. Mr. Barnes was a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Left- Handed Fishing Club of Houston, and various other organizations of this city and of the State. He was a member of the Baptist Church, this being the religion of his forbears. Mr. Barnes died in Hous- ton, Texas, January 12th, 1919. Besides being a pioneer in the railroad building of Texas, he assisted greatly in the upbuilding of many of Texas' towns and communities. Many of the younger generation of Texas' construction men received their training under the able guidance of this splendid man, who was indeed a gentleman of the old school. He was one of nature's noblemen, who loved the trees and flowers of Texas as much as if they were children of the human parents. During his residence in Hous- ton he made a host of friends and his place in the city and community will be a difficult one to fill.

AM WESTON FOSTER, for more than two decades has been actively identified with the printing business at Beaumont, and has established a printery that has contributed materially to the standing of Beaumont as a com- mercial center. Mr. Foster is the owner of Foster' Print Shop, and a business which he established in 1913, and which has since enjoyed a large and profit- able business. He specializes in commercial print- ing, and gives careful attention to the printing needs of the business man, offering him a service in this field that has no equal in the city. His shop, at 249 Bowie Street, is housed in a modern building and the plant is equipped throughout with the finest and most modern equipment, with every facility for turning out high class work. Mr. Foster maintains a force of around ten trained helpers, and personally supervises all work done in his shop.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 5

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