New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 50

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 50

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).

Dr. Wright was born at Hillsdale, Pennsylvania, and was educated in the Purchase Line Academy of Western Pennsylvania, after which she entered Val- paraiso University, in Indiana, expecting to make pedagogic work her career. She took her B. S. de- gree from that institution in 1895, at which time she had decided upon medicine as her life's voca- tion, and entered Northwestern University, in the medical department, taking her degree in 1900. Dr. Wright then practiced a number of years on the North Side of Chicago and then spent one year abroad, taking post graduate work at the University of Edinburg, Scotland, and in the clinics at Vienna, Berlin, and London, after which she came to Hous- ton, and has since practiced her vocation. Dr. Wright is a physician of high scientific attainments, and she has achieved a place at the head of her profession and won the highest regard of all who know her, and this, without a sacrifice of those feminine qual- ities which have distinguished American women throughout the years. Dr. Wright has an altruistic attitude regarding her duty to humanity, and in regard to public health work, and Houston is greatly indebted to her for her work among the tuberculars and unfortunate of the city.

R. PHILIP B. GREENBERG, one of the recent recruits to the medical fraternity at Beaumont, is particularly well equipped for the practice of medicine and surgery, and is held in high esteem in this city for his professional activities. Dr. Greenberg came to Beaumont in 1920, establishing his practice here at that time, and has since engaged in the general practice of medi- cine, and as a private pratitioner has found favor with the public, building up a large practice. Dr. Greenberg has his offices in the Perlstein Building.

Dr. Greenberg is a native of Russia, his birth oc- curring in that country the thirtieth of April, 1892. His father, Barnett Greenberg, also a native of that country, came to the United States in the nineties, and spent a number of years travelling over the country, but was in Chicago for the greater part of his time. He came to Beaumont in 1892, and real- izing that this city was one offering exceptional advantages, bought real estate here, but only lived here a few years, returning to Chicago, where he now makes his home. As a boy Dr. Greenberg at- tended the schools of Beaumont for around five years, and later the schools of Chicago. Finishing his elementary and high school work he entered the University of Chicago, where he took the B. S. Degree, after which he entered Rush Medical Col- lege, taking his M. D. Degree from that institution. He entered the Annie Durant Hospital for Con- tagious Diseases, and after six months there the Wesley Memorial Hospital, where he spent two years. At the entrance of the United States in the World War he enlisted in service, and in January,

1918 was commissioned Lieutenant in the United States Army, Medical Corps. He was called to ac- tive service in June, 1918, and sent to Camp Green- leaf, and later to Fort Benjamin Harrison, during the flu epidemic, and afterward to Camp Crane, where he remained until January, 1919, when he was sent to Fort Sheridan, where he remained until De- cember, 1919, when he was discharged, as First Lieutenant, U. S. A. He returned to Chicago and took postgraduate courses in that city, after which he came to Beaumont, establishing his practice in this city.

Dr. Greenberg is a member of the American Legion, the Harmony Club, and fraternally is a Knight of Pythias, an Elk, and a Redman. He keeps in close touch with the advancement of modern medical science and is affiliated with the Jeffer- son County Medical Society, the Texas Medical As- sociation and the American Medical Association, and is regarded as a man with an assured future in his profession.

R. L. C. SERAFINO, who has for the past several years been identified with the pro- fessional life at Beaumont, is a leader among the younger medical men of the city, and has attained the reputation of a physician and surgeon, competent in all branches of his calling. Dr. Serafino engages in the general practice of medicine, and surgery, and is particularly success- ful in the latter, building up a substantial practice. He came to Beaumont in August, 1919, and has his offices in the San Jacinto Building. Dr. Serafino is one of the most enthusiastic exponents of modern medicine and surgery, and keeps in close touch with all advancements made in this field.

Dr. Serafino is a native of Beaumont, and is the son of Charles Serafino, a retired capitalist of this city, who owns much property here and is prominent in all civic activities. Mr. Serafino was formerly a tailor here, for around two decades, and was a fac- tor in the commercial development of the city. Dr. Serafino attended the public schools of Beaumont, graduating from the Beaumont High School with the class of 1911. He spent one year at the University of Texas and one year at Southwestern University, prior to entering the University of Texas, in the medical department, at Galveston, where he took his M. D. degree, the thirty-first of May, 1918. The following year he served as interne at John Sealy Hospital, at Galveston, after which he came to Beaumont and began his private practice.

Dr. Serafino was married at Sour Lake, Texas, the 16th of September, 1919, to Miss Cora Ellen Lloyd, who was born at Bryan, Texas, and is the daughter of D. B. Lloyd, prominent Texan, and a niece of W. D. Lloyd, United States public health officer and head of the public health department at Washing- ton, D. C. Dr. and Mrs. Serafino reside at 1300 Col- lege Avenue, and have one child, L. C. Jr. Dr. Sera- fino is a member of the Phi Bet Phi college frater- nity,the Elks Club, the Redmen, and the Knights of Pythias. He is affiliated with the various medical associations, belonging to the Jefferson County Med- ical Society, and the Texas and American Medical Associations. He has been a leader among the younger physicians of Beaumont, and is active in all civic affairs, taking a deep interest in the ad- vancement of the city.

1387

MEN OF TEXAS

M. F. STEPHEN, M. D., has been active in the medical circles of Galveston, Texas, since 1916, where he has established a creditable record, both in his private prac- tice and in the United States Public Health Service. Throughout his career as a physician and surgeon, Dr. Stephen has been associated with the public health service here, where on April 1st, 1920, he became assistant Surgeon in charge of this branch of the medical service of the United States. The Galveston station is known as relief station No. 245. This station dates back to the early 60's and has been officered by many men who became famous in the medical world as public officers. Eight Coast Guard stations along the coasts of Florida, Louisiana . and Texas report through the Galveston office. Patients, who are in need of hospital treatment are - cared for by contract at the John Sealy Hospital of this city. The Galveston office has three medical · officers, one pharmacist, one clerk, an attendent, and . one interne. As an example of the vast number of patients treated here, during the fiscal year, 1925, there were 4,691 people treated, 14,834 treatments .given, hospital patients numbered 698, surgical - operations numbered 3,450 and physical examina- tions in office by the officers in charge, reached . almost 5,000.

After receiving his academic education, Dr. Stephen taught school for a period of eight years before beginning the study of medicine. After re- ceiving his M. D. degree, he began in the public health service, and has continued in this work since that time. During the World War, Dr. Stephen was on duty at Galveston, doing full time duty and sub- ject to call.

A native Texan, Dr. Stephen was born at Stephen- ville, on December 20th, 1886. His father, M. L. Stephen, also a native of the Lone Star State, re- : sided practically all his life in Erath County, where he was well known and highly esteemed. Dr. Stephen's great-grandfather, came with Stephen F. Austin to Texas from Missouri, located the site where the City of Waco now stands, and built the : first house there-a crude habitation of logs. His _grandfather, William F. Stephen, came to Texas in 1836 with the Austin Colony, being born on the - road while the colony was traveling to this State. His grandfather married a Miss Howard. He and his brother removed to Erath County and settled the town of Stephenville, which is the county seat of that prosperous county. Dr. Stephen's early educa- tion was obtained in the public schools after which " he entered John Tarleton College, and later became - a student of the University of Texas, graduating in the class of 1916 with the M. D. degree. He then - served an interneship at St. Mary's Infirmary of Galveston, and entered his present work, in which " he has met with success. His office is located in · the United States National Bank Building.

Dr. Stephen was married in Erath County, Texas, . on December 20th, 1908, to Miss Beva Wilkerson, a member of a pioneer Texas family. Dr. Stephen is a member of the A. F. and A. M. with membership in Tucker Blue Lodge, Galveston, where he belongs to the Texas Consistory No. 1, and is a Shriner of El Mina Temple. He is a member of the Lion's Club, the Galveston County, State, District and American Medical associations. He was for one term - president of the Galveston County Medical Asso-

ciation. He is also a member of the Association of Military Surgeons, and Kappa Psi College fra- ternity. It is said of Dr. Stephen that he is the hardest working physician and surgeon of the Island City, but in doing so his achievements in both pri- vate practice and in the public health service speak for themselves, and show the results of his work.

R. J. R. FROBESE, physician and surgeon of Cuero, has built up a large practice in this section, and has also taken an active part in the business and civic life here. Dr. Frobese practices general medicine and surgery, a field for which he is particularly well equipped, having received excellent training, perfected by wide and varied experience. Dr. Frobese is connected with the Burns Hospital, a private hospital in which he is associated with Drs. Burns and Dobbs. Dr. Fro- bese is also president of the Cuero Buick Company, which he organized in 1916 to sell Buick automobiles in this territory. He has developed this company from a small agency until it is one of the largest automobile agencies in Southwest Texas, and has proven himself a business man of acumen as well as a physician with a large and successful practice. Dr. Frobese is also vice president of the Yorktown Motor Company.

Dr. J. R. Frobese was born at Cuero, the thir- teenth of July, 1884, son of William Frobese, a member of the pioneer firm of H. Runge & Com- pany, one of the oldest business houses in the state. William Frobese was one of the most prominent men of his time, and much of the development of Cuero today is due to his early influence over the prosperity of this section. Dr. Frobese attended the public schools of Cuero, later entering the academic department of the University of Texas, where he was a student for two years. He then went to Galveston, taking his medical training in the medical department of the University of Texas, receiving his degree in 1910. He served a one-year interneship at John Sealy Hospital, after which he began his private practice at Cuero, in the fall of 1911. Dr. Frobese has taken frequent post-grad- uate courses, attending the clinics at New York, New Orleans and Rochester, and professionally is one of the best equipped physicians of Cuero.

Dr. Frobese was married on December 16th, 1917, to Miss Mary Valerie Maire, of Houston. Dr. and Mrs. Frobese reside at Cuero and have three chil- dren, Joseph Cade, Alfred Searcy and Mary Valerie Frobese. Dr. Frobese is a member of the Alpha Kappa Kappa medical fraternity, the Delta Tau Delta Academic fraternity, and Blue Lodge and Royal Arch Mason, also a member of the Command- ery at Yoakum and Consistory and Shrine at San Antonio. He belongs to the Rotary Club, the Cham- ber of Commerce, the Baptist Church, of which he is a member of the board of trustees. He is taking an active interest in the organization of the Boy Scouts of America, being chairman of the Cuero Council and one of the directors of the Guadalupe Valley District Council.

He is a member of the DeWitt County Medical Society, the Texas Medical Association, the Southern Medical Association, and the American Medical As- sociation. Dr. Frobese is deeply interested in publc health and welfare work and is a worker for the upbuilding of Cuero and the Cuero section.

1388

Stephen

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

AMES R. BOST, M. D., specialist in surgery of the bones and joints, with offices in the Keystone Building, has been a resident of Houston since February, 1922, and in May of that year began active practice of his profession here. He is a member of the staff of the Municipal and Tuberculosis Hospitals and the Baptist Sani- tarium and is engaged in orthopedic surgery ex- clusively, being the only surgeon in Houston de- voting his entire attention to this line of work. Dr. Bost has been highly trained in orthopedics and since coming to Houston has been retained as con- sultant by many prominent surgeons of South Texas who have been more than glad to welcome a man competent to handle the most difficult cases of this character. He has done considerable operative work on crippled children in the Shrine ward at the Bap- tist Sanitarium, where his knowledge of the proper methods of treatment of cripples has been of great value.

A native of North Carolina, Dr. Bost was born at Newton on August 18, 1882. He is a son of E. R. and Martha (Estes) Bost and received his pre- liminary education in the schools at Newton and at Catawba College at Newton. Entering the med- ical department of the University of Louisville, he graduated there with the class of 1911, receiving the degree of Doctor of Medicine, and began active prac- tice of his profession at Louisville in that year. He remained at Louisville from 1911 until 1915 and then was located at Coyle, Oklahoma, until 1917. During his practice at Louisville, Dr. Bost was assistant to a general surgeon at the Louisville hospitals for two years and later was assistant to an orthopedic surgeon. He also served as assistant professor of anasthesia at the Univerity of Louis- ville during this time.

At the outbreak of the war with Germany, Dr. Bost enlisted in the medical corps of the air service and was commissioned first lieutenant. He was sent overseas on board the ill-fated Tuscania and was on board this vessel when it was sunk. When the ves- sel went under from the blow of a German torpedo he managed to climb aboard a life raft and was on this frail support for several hours before being rescued by a trawler and carried to Scotland. He saw active service with the thirty-second division in Belgium and France and also served a training period with the British forces in England, Ireland and Scotland.

After receiving his discharge from the medical corps of the army, Dr. Bost took up an intensive study of orthopedic surgery and in 1920 and 1921 was stationed at the Hospital for Ruptured and Crippled in New York City where he studied with Dr. Royal Whitman and Dr. Virgil P. Gibney, two of the foremost men in America in this line of sur- gery. During a portion of 1921 and 1922 he was located at the J. N. Adam Memorial Hospital at Buf- falo, New York, remaining there until his removal to Houston where he decided to locate permanently.

Dr. Bost is a member of the American Medical Association, Texas Medical Society and of the Har- ris County Medical Society. He is a Mason and a communicant of the Methodist Church.

A man of pleasing personality and splendid pro- fessional attainments, Dr. Bost is popular alike among the laity and members of the medical pro- fession. Among members of the profession he is

counted as one of the rising young surgeons and a brilliant career is predicted for him in his chosen field of orthopedics. Dr. Bost is unmarried and resides at the Houston Club.

IRTO T. VANZANT, M. D., specialist in X-ray work, 439-41-43 Kress Building, began the practice of his profession in Houston in 1912. Prior to locating here, Dr. Vanzant was for several years engaged in the wholesale drug business at Paris, Texas, and later removed to Oklahoma City, where he continued in the drug business until coming to Houston. Dr. Van- zant is one of the pioneer men of Texas in X-ray work and is equipped to do work in his X-ray lab- oratory that is possible for any one in this coun- try to do. He worked for several months with Dr. Martin, of Dallas, and enjoys the distinction of being probably the first man in Texas to take an X-ray photograph. The services of Dr. Vanzant are sought, not only by the people of Houston and other portions of Texas, but many come from other por- tions of the country to avail themselves of his super- ior work along the line in which he is devoting his entire time and attention.

A native Texan, Dr. Vanzant was born at Paris, September 14th, 1875. His father, T. J. Vanzant, came to Texas at the close of the Civil War and has been engaged in farming in Lamar County since that time. His mother was Miss Frances Moore, a member of a well known Texas family. His early education was obtained in the public schools of Paris, Texas, after which he entered the University of Texas, and for three years pursued an academic course at this institution. He then became a stu- dent of the medical department of the Texas Uni- versity at Galveston and graduated in the class of 1899 with the M. D. degree. After graduating, Dr. Vanzant served as an interne at St. Mary's Hospital.

Dr. Vanzant was married at Austin, May 12th, 1897, to Miss Lucile Ralston, a daughter of Captain J. C. Ralston, a member of a prominent pioneer Texas family. They have four children, R. B., a lieutenant in the United States navy and a graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, class of June, 1921; Frances, a B. A., from Rice Institute and a med- ical student at the University of Texas branch at Galveston; Thomas J. and Joseph Courtenay. Dr. and Mrs. Vanzant reside at 627 Hawthorne Street. Dr. Vanzant is a member of the Rotary Club and the County, District, State and American Medical Associations, where he is one of the most active members. He served as secretary of the Harris County Medical Association for two years, has been several times a delegate to the State Medical Con- ventions, and for a period of three years was a mem- ber of the Board of Censors. Dr. Vanzant spends all his time that can be spared away from his duties in hunting and fishing and assisting in beautifying of his beautiful home, which he says are his two hobbies. His home is surrounded on grounds on which are growing tropical and semi-tropical trees, shrubbery and plants of every description and the passer-by involuntarily stops to look and admire, but it would be necessary to have an expert knowledge of plants to be able to fully appreciate it. Mrs. Vanzant is very well versed in plant lore and de- serves the credit for the beautiful gardens sur- rounding the Vanzant home.

1391

MEN OF TEXAS

R. MURFF F. BLEDSOE, one of the most prominent and honored representatives of the medical profession in the Lone Star State, and a surgeon whose name has asso- ciated with it many distinctions, has for a decade and a half been the outstanding figure in the surgi- cal world at Port Arthur, and has a reputation in this field that has brought him national honors, and the conferring of the degree of Fellow in the Amer- ican College of Surgeons. Dr. Bledsoe came to Port Arthur in 1910, and has limited his work to the field of aseptic surgery, with its special technic and diverse professional interests, and has advanced in this field to a place among the leading surgeons of the Lone Star State. As an operative surgeon Dr. Bledsoe is splendidly equipped, and his high at- tainments in this field are the result of an excep- tional training, combined with a talent of high or- der, and perfected by a wide and varied experience, and it is given to few men to fill a more vital place in the life of a community. For a decade Dr. Bled- soe has been one of the leaders of the Texas Medical Association, and has been officially connected with the association since 1915, when he was elected sec- retary, advancing from this position to the highest honor the association can confer, his election to the presidency of the Texas Medical Association, in 1923. Dr. Bledsoe has also been a factor in the South Texas District Medical Association, serving as president of that organization from 1912 until 1914, and has also served on the board of counsel, a part of the time as chairman of the board of this association for many years. He is also active in the American Medical Association and the American College of Surgeons, in which he is a fellow.

Dr. Bledsoe was born in Vozier Parish, Louisiana, the twenty-fourth of September, 1879, the son of W. H. Bledsoe, a native of Georgia, who came to Louisiana in 1840, and was a planter until his death, and Sallie Arnold Bledsoe, of Louisiana. Dr. Bled- soe attended the public schools of his native state, later entering the medical department of the Univer- sity of Tennessee, where he received his medical de- gree in 1902 and came to Rocklin, Texas, where he practiced for around a decade. He then came to Port Arthur, a city of which he had heard favorable re- ports, and which he felt offered an exceptional fu- ture in the field of surgery. During the recent World War Dr. Bledsoe entered military service and was chief surgeon at Prescott, Arizona. He was in service for a period of six months, receiving his discharge the thirty-first of December, 1918, return- ing to Port Arthur, and assuming his professional interests.

Dr. Bledsoe was married at Rocklin, Texas, the twenty-third of February, 1903, to Miss Ella Jack- son, a native of the Lone Star State, and the daugh- ter of Thomas F. and Jennie Cline Jackson. Dr. Bledsoe is the owner of the home built by John W. Gates, builder of Port Arthur, and a one time resi- dent here. This home, the finest in Port Arthur, and one of the finest in this section of the state, is at 2100 Lake Shore Drive. Dr. and Mrs. Bledsoe have four children, Beulah Floy, a graduate of the Port Arthur high school, and of the National Park Seminary, class of '23, where she specialized in Eng- lish and music; Murff F., Jr., a graduate of the Port Arthur high school, and a pre-medical student at Texas A. and M. College, and Elizabeth and Lu-

cille. Dr. Bledsoe is a Mason, Blue Lodge, Port Arthur, a Knight of Pythias, a member of the Ro- tary Club, of which he is a past president, an as- sistant director of the Chamber of Commerce, and a. member of the school board, of which he was for- merly president. Dr. Bledsoe has been especially interested in educational matters, and it is largely due to his interest that Port Arthur owes the splen- did school system that ranks it as one of the first. cities of the state, and the fine business schools that offer unusual opportunities in the field of com- mercial education. Dr. Bledsoe is active in all civic work, especially along lines of public health and the beautification of the city, and is a member of all the medical associations, and one of the best. known surgeons in the Lone Star State.

R. H. A. BARR, acknowledged leader in the field of surgery at Beaumont, and one of the most prominent surgeons in the med- ical fraternity of Jefferson County, has dignified his profession by a quarter of a century of practice and service in this city. Dr. Barr came to Beaumont some twenty-five years ago, and for the first five years practiced general medicine, de- monstrating a professional ability that placed him at the head of the local fraternity. He soon found his surgical practice making such demands on his time that he was forced to drop his general prac- tice, and for two decades has limited his work to surgery, bringing to bear an assured knowledge in this field, and approaching the most difficult cases with confidence. Dr. Barr has his office in the Perlstein Building.

Dr. Barr was born at San Felipe, in Austin County, Texas, the third of August, 1868. His father, Elija Barr, one of the real pioneers of the Lone Star State, came to Texas in 1856, settling first in Austin County, and later going to Coryell County, where he was a farmer for many years. He is now retired and lives at Gatesville. Dr. Barr's mother, whose maiden name was Mary McDougal, is a na- tive of Scotland, and came to Texas as a girl with relatives. Dr. Barr attended the public schools of Coryell County as a boy, later entering the Uni- versity of Texas, in the medical department, at Galveston, and took his medical degree from that institution in 1896, serving the following year as interne at the John Sealy Hospital in Galveston. At the conclusion of his interneship he came to Beaumont, establishing his practice in this city, and has so continued to the present time. Dr. Barr has had the advantage of a number of excellent post-graduate courses, and has taken all the major post-graduate work offered in this country, and has also done post-graduate work in London, England.

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 50

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