New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 54

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

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Dr. Robinson was married at Houston, the twen- ty-ninth of June, 1909, to Miss Neva Robinson. Dr. and Mrs. Robinson have, for many years, resided at 130 West Eighteenth Avenue, and have five chil- dren, Shirley, Tryon, Dean, John, and Billy Bob. Dr. Robinson belongs to the Harris County Medical So- ciety, the Texas Medical Association, and the Amer- ican Medical Association. Fraternally he is a Ma- son, Reagan Lodge, Houston. Dr. Robinson has kept apace with medical advancement, and has worked with the local fraternity to raise medical standards in Houston, and to make this city the medical cen- ter of Southeast Texas. He is interested in the civic development of Houston, particularly of the Houston Heights section, and has done much to aid in all development work in this district.

K. PETERS, M. D., came to Galveston, Texas, in 1900 and on March 1st, 1901, be- gan the practice of his profession in this city, and since that time has been an ac- tive figure in the medical circles here. Dr. Peters confines his work almost entirely to obstetrics, and his practice in this branch is large, but he also does some general practice. Prior to locating in Gal- veston, Dr. Peters had a wide and varied career in his chosen profession. After his graduation from Medical College, he returned to Germany for post- graduate work. He later practiced medicine and surgery in two German cities, but both were in- dustrial centers and the conditions there were not to his liking, and he went with the German-Lloyd Steamship Company as ship's surgeon and in this capacity traveled to practically all parts of the world. Dr. Peters was in China as surgeon on a

German transport during the Boxer rebellion, and his experience there at that time was very inter- esting and exciting.

A native of Germany, Dr. Peters was born in Bremen on August 7th, 1871. His academic edu- cation was obtained in his native country, and after coming to America he attended a medical college at Fort Worth, Texas, and graduated and passed the board of examiners in 1899. He came to Galveston shortly after the disastrous storm of 1900, and located here the following year in the same of- fice which he now occupies at 301 Trust Building, and has earned a place of distinction among the medical fraternity of this city.

Dr. Peters was married at Galveston in 1904, to Miss Elizabeth Hagen, a daughter of Prof. Hagen of the University of Berne, Switzerland. They have two children: Roland O. Peters, now a medical student at the Rice Institute, Houston, Texas, and Erika. Dr. and Mrs. Peters reside at 1202 Broad- way. During his career, Dr. Peters has been a member of the various local, state and national medical associations. During his residence in Gal- veston of a quarter of a century, Dr. Peters has made a host of friends, who are numbered among his large clientele and his business and social asso- ciates of the Island City.

R. H. B. PEDIGO, whose activities for around two decades have identified him with the medical profession at Beaumont, has established one of the largest practices here and has given his best energy and enthusiasm to the improvement of the medical standards of the city. Dr. Pedigo engages in general practice, as a physi- cian and surgeon, and has demonstrated a profes- sional ability that places him among the leading physicians of the city. His record has been credi- table along all lines, and as a practitioner he has found favor with the public, establishing a large patronage. Dr. Pedigo came to Beaumont in October, 1908, and has his offices on the third floor of the San Jacinto Life Building,

Dr. Pedigo was born in Hardin County, Texas, the thirtieth of August, 1877. His father, W. B. Pedigo, a native of Virginia, came to the Lone Star State in 1874, and was a prominent lumberman, taking an active part in the development of this in- dustry until his death. His mother, before her mar- riage Miss Aline McCoy, is a native of Ohio. Dr. Pedigo attended the public schools of Hardin Coun- ty as a boy and after finishing high school there en- tered Tulane University at New Orleans, in the medical department, taking his medical degree the thirty-first of May, 1901. His first practice was at Kountze, Texas, where he remained two years, after which he went to Dearborn, Texas, where after three years he came to Beaumont, as offering a broader future.

Dr. Pedigo was married at Kountze, Texas, the thirtieth of May, 1903, to Miss May Dies, a native of the Lone Star State. They now reside at Beau- mont, at 2130 Hazel Street, and have one child, Maydee, a graduate of the Beaumont high school, and a student at the University of Texas. Dr. Pedigio belongs to the Jefferson County Medical Society, the Texas Medical Association, and the American Medical Association, and keeps in close touch with the developments of modern medicine.

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ILLARD R. COOKE, M. D. is a native of Galveston, Texas, receiving his degree of M. D. from the University of Texas here, and after serving an interneship at John Sealy Hospital of Galveston, began the practice of medicine in this city, specializing in gynecology and obstetrics. He began as instructor in gynecology and obstetrics of the University of Texas in 1910, and was promoted to the chair of professor in these studies following the death of Dr. Lee. He had for several years prior to this promotion been associate professor of gynecolgy and obstetrics. As a physi- cian and instructor, Dr. Cooke has established an en- viable reputation in Galveston. His office is lo- cated at 820 American National Insurance Company Building. Dr Cooke inherited his liking for, and skill in the medical profession from his father, Dr. H. P. Cooke, who is the oldest practicing physician in Galveston. Dr. H. P. Cooke began the practice of his profession in the Island City in 1879 in the Marine Health Service, but after three years spent in this work, resigned in order to enter private prac- tice. He served the city of Galveston with distinc- tion as health officer from 1885 to 1891 and again from 1917 to 1919. For many years the elder Dr. Cooke served as lecturer and professor of pediatrics in the medical department of the University of Texas, and was dean of this institution for three years. He retired from this position in 1901. Dr. H. P. Cooke is a Virginian by birth, having been born in that state on March 21st, 1857. He re- ceived his medical education at the University of Virginia, having graduated from that institution in the class of 1877 with the M. D. degree. He then served by appointment in the New York Hospital for Ruptured and Crippled, until he came to Gal- veston. He was married at Galveston in 1886 to Miss C. L. Richardson and the family still reside in the home where she was born. He is a member of the various medical societies, and is ex-president of the Galveston County Medical Association. Dr. Cooke is one of the best known men in the medical profession of Texas, where his counsel and skill is well known throughout the environs of the Lone Star State. His office is located at 506 Trust Building.

Dr. Willard R. Cooke was born on September 6th, 1888. His early education was obtained in the pub- lic schools and Ball High School of this city, after which he finished his academic education in the Episcopal High School of Virginia, and the Univer- sity of Texas, graduating from the latter institution in the class of 1910 with the B. A. degree. He then entered the medical department of the University of Texas and graduated with the M. D. degree in 1912. Dr. Cooke has spent his entire life in Galves- ton and is true to the customs and traditions of the Lone Star State.

Dr. Cooke was married at Galveston on April 25th, 1914, to Miss Aline Ruth Austin, a daughter of W. T. Austin, who was the first mayor of Galveston under the commission form of government, and who is a direct descendent of the old Austin family of Texas, which has figured prominently in the history of the Lone Star State. They have three children, Henry Austin, Willard R., Jr., and John Roger. Dr. and Mrs. Cooke reside at 805 23rd Street. Dr. Cooke is a member of the Galveston Chamber of Commerce, the Galveston Country Club and many other of the

city's social and commercial organizations. He is a member of the Sigma Chi, Phi Alpha Sigma and the A. O. A. college fraternities. He is an active mem- ber of the County, State and Southern Medical So- cieties and the American Medical Association. He is secretary of the South Texas District Medical Association and is a fellow of the American Col- lege of Surgeons.

ACOB M. JACKSON, M.D., of Port Arthur, Texas, although a comparatively recent ad- dition to the medical fraternity of this city, has since locating here, built up a large practice. Dr. Jackson is engaged in a general prac- tice of medicine, with special attention to surgery. His office is located at 305 Deutser Building. Be- sides his large private practice, Dr. Jackson is on the staff of the Gates Hospital and is the house physician of the Central Hotel. After receiving his degree from college and serving an interneship, he returned to his home at Ratcliff, Texas, to begin the practice of his profession, which he began in 1918. He remained in Ratcliff for one year, when he removed to Lufkin, Texas, and practiced medi- cine and surgery there from 1919 to 1923, when he came to Port Arthur. He is very popular with the Port Arthur people and his practice is growing rapidly, and he is regarded as one of the leaders of his chosen profession in this city.

A native Texan, Dr. Jackson was born at Rat- cliff, Houston County. His father, John Jackson, was a native of Alabama, but for many years has been a resident of Texas, where he is well known in the business circles of the state. His mother was Miss Bettie Elizabeth Steed, a native of the Lone Star State and a member of a pioneer family. Her father served throughout the Civil War, after his en- listment from Texas. His early education was ob- tained in the public and high schools of Ratcliff, where he graduated from the latter in the class of 1908. He then entered the medical department of the University of Tennessee, and graduated from this institution in the class of 1917 with the M.D. degree. He then served an interneship at Erlanger Hospital of Chattanooga, Tennessee, after which he returned to his native state and began the practice of his profession.

Dr. Jackson was married at Ratcliff, Texas, on March 27th, 1910, to Miss Gertrude E. Davison, a native Texan also. Her father, E. W. Davison, a native of Illinois, came to Texas many years ago and settled at Nacogdoches, where he is well known and highly esteemed. They have two children: Lillian A. and Virginia E. Dr. and Mrs. Jackson reside at 528 De Queen Boulevard. Dr. Jackson is a mem- ber of the B. P. O. E. and is active in this organiza- tion. He is also a member of the Jefferson County Medical Society, Texas State Medical Society, and Fellow of the American Medical Association, in all of which he takes a keen interest. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and is interested in all mat- ters having to do with church work and organiza- tions. Dr. Jackson is a booster for Port Arthur, and never loses an opportunity to speak a good word for his city and its people. He expects facilities to be soon provided here that will enable the pro- fession to take advantage of the splendid clinical material of this city, which will greatly aid the profession and the citizenship.

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MEN OF TEXAS

R. L. H. LEDBETTER, whose name for the past several years has been of special sig- nificance in the medical world at Beau- mont, is a leader in the field of Rontgentol- ogy and is one of the foremost professional men of the city. Dr. Ledbetter limits his practice to X-Ray laboratory work, and has one of the most completely equipped X-Ray laboratories in this section of the state. He is a man of high professional attainments, and his work in this field has attracted the atten- tion of his confreres, who regard him as a leader in this field. Dr. Ledbetter came to Beaumont in July, 1920, and took over the hospital and X-Ray equipment, and has also added the latest and best equipment and has at his command every mechan- ical facility of this branch of medicine. His office and laboratory is in the San Jacinto Building, and he has established a very large patronage.

Dr. Ledbetter was born in Cherokee County, Ala- bama, the sixth of August, 1884, the son of Robert Newton Ledbetter, a Methodist minister of North Carolina and Alabama, whose death occurred in Paris, Texas, and Ella Dunn Ledbetter, of Alabama, also deceased. As a boy Dr. Ledbetter attended the schools of Alabama, and after graduating from the high school entered the University of Alabama, where he took his pre-medical work. He then en- tered the University of Louisville, taking his med- ical degree in August, 1907, after which he went to Alexander City, Alabama, where he began his practice. He remained there until June, 1917, when he entered the United States Army, and was com- missioned lieutenant and sent to Fort Riley, Kansas, and later to Fort Sam Houston, Camp Cody, and Camp Pike, Arkansas, where he was discharged as captain, in October, 1919. He then went to Tulane University, at New Orleans, for post-graduate work, and came to Beaumont in July, 1920, since which time he has devoted his time to X-Ray work.

Dr. Ledbetter was married the second of May, 1916, in Alabama, to Miss Neva Marion Fulton, a native of that state. They have two children, Mar- ion Ruth, and William R. Dr. Ledbetter is a Mason, Blue Lodge, Ware No. 173, Alabama. He belongs to the Jefferson County Medical Society, the Texas Medical Association and the American Medical As- sociation. A man of highest standing, professionally, he has given his enthusiasm to the development of his city and its advancement as a medical center, and is a leader in all civic and welfare work along this line.

0. HICKS, M. D., whose activities for the past several years have identified him with the medical profession of Victoria, has established a large practice here, and is regarded as an authority on eye, ear, nose and throat work. Dr. Hicks limits his practice to this field, and is the only eye, ear, nose and throat man at Victoria. He is on the staff of Victoria Hospital, and has a large private practice. Dr. Hicks began the practice of medicine in 1904, in West Virginia, later coming to Texas where he practiced in San Antonio for some years. In 1911 he began special- izing in eye, ear, nose and throat work, and en- listed in military service with the medical corps in 1917. After his return from the army he came to San Antonio, then Victoria, establishing his prac- tice here, and has so continued. He also has a small farm adjoining Victoria, where he is developing a

fruit orchard.

Dr. Hicks was born at Winfield, West Virginia, the twenty-third of April, 1881, son of a farmer in that state. His mother, a highly educated woman, early inspired her sons to seek educational advan- tages, and encouraged them in their ambition to se- cure an education. In spite of the fact that they all had to work their way through college six of her sons became physicians, four of them now being prac- ticing physicians in Texas. Dr. J. O. Hicks com- pleted his public school work, after which he entered Marshall College, in West Virginia, and later the Kentucky School of Medicine, where he took his degree in 1906. While completing his medical train- ing he spent six years engaged in school teaching, and in 1904 began the practice of medicine by cer- tification. From that time until 1917 he was en- gaged in private practice, in that year entering the army, as first lieutenant, United States Medical Corps. Later he was made captain, working in a base hospital, in his specialty. He was offered a major's commission, declining that he might leave the army and resume his private practice.

Dr. Hicks was married at West Virginia, in 1908, to Miss Annie D. Burns. He is a Mason, Blue Lodge, and Elk, and a member of the Rotary Club, and the American Legion. Dr. Hicks keeps apace with medical advancement through frequent clinical work at Chicago, Philadelphia and New York, and is held in high esteem at Victoria, both by laymen and mem- bers of the medical fraternity.

R. JOEL A. GIBSON, acknowledged leader in the field of medicine and surgery at Port Arthur, since coming to this city has devoted his talents the service of humanity along lines that promote the best develop- ment of his vocation, and notwithstanding his ex- acting professional demands has taken an active part in all civic matters. Dr. Gibson has his office in the First National Bank Building, and though he has no specialty in his profession, has been exceptionally successful in surgery, and has a large practice. Shortly after com- ing to Port Arthur in 1918, Dr. Gibson was made assistant county health officer, and was the custodian of the health welfare of south Jeffer- son County from 1920 until 1923. In December, 1923, he was elected president of the Jefferson County Medical Society, an honor that gives testi- monial to the esteem in which he is held by the local fraternity. Dr. Gibson is also director of the Utilities Board of the Chamber of Commerce, and is active in that work, giving particular attention to the relations of utilities to public health.

Dr. Gibson was born at Hackneyville, Alabama, the fourth of June, 1869, the son of the late Laban A. Gibson, a native of Georgia, who came to Ala- bama in 1850, and was a merchant there for many years, and Rebecca Sample Gibson, also deceased. Dr. Gibson attended the country schools of Alabama as a boy, later going to Lineville, where he graduated from high school, after which he entered the Atlanta Medical College at Atlanta, Georgia, where he took his medical degree in 1890. He then engaged in active practice for a period of one year in Alabama, going from there to Olive, Texas, where he remained for one year as surgeon for the Olive Sternenberg Lumber Company. At the end of this period he took

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NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

a post-graduate course at New York Polyclinic dur- ing 1892 and 1893. He then returned to Texas, going to Rocklin, where he engaged in practice un- til 1902. He then went to Beaumont, remaining there six years, during which time he served as city health officer of Beaumont for four years. In 1908, on account of his wife's health, he went to Llano from San Antonio, and while there was county health officer of Llano County for two years. Still later he went to San Antonio, engaging in practice there until he came to Port Arthur. From 1920 until 1922, he was assistant county health officer of Jefferson County, and in January, 1923, became county health officer, a position he now holds, and while dispatching the duties involved in this office has also looked after his extensive pri- vate practice.

Dr. Gibson was married at Franklin, Texas, to Miss Katherine Ellison, a native of the Lone Star State, and a daughter of a pioneer attorney. Dr. and Mrs. Gibson have two children, Joe, who fol- lows the high seas as second mate on a steamship, and John, who has chosen dentistry as his profes- sion. The family reside at 1125 Procter Street. Dr. Gibson is a Mason, Cosmopolitan Blue Lodge, at Port Arthur, Knight Templar. He is a member of the Jefferson County Medical Society, of which he is president, and of the Texas Medical Association, and the American Medical Association. Dr. Gibson takes a deep interest in all, giving freely of his time for the protection of public health and the preven- tion of disease, and the general welfare of the community.

R. THADDEUS ALVIN FEARS, whose name for the past several years has been of special significance in the medical frater- nity of Port Arthur, is one of a group of physicians who have taken a large part in the med- ical advancement of this city, and has attained a position of supremacy in the field of genito-urinary diseases. Dr. Fears is a member of the firm of Mabry and Fears, a partnership established the fifteenth of September, 1923, and composed of Dr. Fears and Dr. Frank D. Mabry, also a specialist in genito-urinary diseases. Drs. Fears and Mabry en- joy a very large practice, and have demonstrated a professional ability in their field that has placed them among the leading physicians of Port Arthur. They have their office in the Deutser Building, and have at their command laboratory and library facil- ities and other aids to the practice of modern medi- cine. Dr. Fears brings to his practice an assured knowledge in his definite line, approaching the most complicated and difficult cases with confidence, and gives a splendid enthusiasm to medical interests.

Dr. Fears was born at Garrison, Texas, the fourth of March, 1897. He is the son of Dr. J. B. Fears, one of the medical "Old Guard" of the Lone Star State, who came here shortly after the Civil War, from his native state of Georgia, and who practiced at Garrison, Texas, for many years. Dr. Fears, an octogenarian, is now retired. He was married to Miss Lula Bell, a native of Alabama. Their son, Dr. Thaddeus Alvin Fears, the subject of this sketch, received his elementary education in the public schools of Garrison, later entering the University of Texas, where he took two years of pre-medical work, after which he entered Tulane University, receiving his medical degree from that institution in 1920. He

then entered Charity Hospital, at New Orleans, and later the U. S. Emergency Hospital of that city, and further fortified himself by post-graduate work in New Orleans. He then went to Beaumont, estab- lishing his practice in that city in July, 1921, and at the time of leaving there, to come to Port Ar- thur, had established a very large practice. Since coming to Port Arthur he has been associated with Dr. Mabry, through whose influence he came to this city, the firm specializing in the field of genito- urinary diseases.

Dr. Fears is a member of the Neches Club of Beaumont, and the Jefferson County Medical So- ciety, and the Texas Medical Association. He is a man of high intellectual attainments, and splendid discrimination, and is known and valued as an enthusiastic and progressive representative of the medical profession.

R. OTTO ROGERS for around two decades has been identified with agricultural activi- ties in Colorado County, making his home at Eagle Lake, and few men in this section are more familiar with scientific and progressive farm- ing methods. Dr. Rogers has given special attention to potato growing, making this his principal crop, and has done much to encourage the growing of this tuber in Colorado County. He has around eight hun- dred acres in potatoes, planting scattered tracts from Eagle Lake to Wharton, and has had as high as two thousand acres planted to this crop. Dr. Rogers gets an average yield of around a hundred bushels of potatoes to the acre. He gets his seed potatoes from Nebraska, and has his own equipment, including ma- chinery, mules and implements, to care for the large crops he raises annually. Dr. Rogers employs day labor to work his crops, employing on the average one hundred men. He farms bottom land largely, and in addition to the eight hundred acres of potatoes has around four hundred acres of cabbage, a crop re- quiring much water for successful cultivation. Dr. Rogers is known locally as the "Potato King" and since entering this industry has marketed one-fourth of a million dollar crop in a season.

Dr. Otto Rogers was born in Tennessee, the thirty- first of January, 1869, going to Oklahoma as a child, and was reared in that state. He received his early education in the public schools, later entering Louis- ville Medical College, at Louisville, Kentucky, where he took his medical degree in 1892. He spent one year at the City Hospital at Louisville, and then en- gaged in medical practice for several years, later giving up his practice entirely. Dr. Rogers first began potato cultivation in Oklahoma, in 1906, begin- ning with one hundred acres, and gradually increas- ing his acreage until he planted around a thousand acres, but due to climate condition he came to Texas and Eagle Lake, in 1912.

Dr. Otto Rogers was married in Oklahoma, in 1905, to Miss Cora Hicks. Dr. and Mrs. Rogers now reside at Eagle Lake, and have two children, Lucy Kate and John O. Rogers. Dr. Rogers is a Scottish Rite Mason, McAllister, Oklahoma, and a member of Arabia Temple Shrine at Houston. He is held in high esteem for his businesslike farming methods at Eagle Lake, and is one of the most constructive farmers in this section. Dr. Rogers is an authority on all phases of potato culture, and has done much work in this section to advance this as one of the principal crops here.

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MEN OF TEXAS

R. JOHN H. FLORENCE, whose name has been of special significance in the medical world of the Lone Star State for the past three and a half decades, and who has been associated with the medical advancement of Texas and Houston for many years, is one of the best known public health authorities in the state, and is also widely known in the insurance world, as a med- ical director of definite attainments, and an expert knowledge of the medical aspect of insurance. Dr. Florence, who has his office and laboratory in the Mason Building, does special work for twenty dif -. ferent insurance companies, and also looks after his personal investments. He owns city property in Dallas and Houston, and has a number of farms where he raises cotton. Dr. Florence was formerly medical director for the Great Southern Life In- surance Company, holding that position for a num- ber of years prior to his appointment as state health officer, in January, 1922, at which time he resigned as medical director, to give his undivided attention to the duties of his office. He served as state health officer until January, 1923, directing the health pol- icy of the state with an assured knowledge, and mak- ing rapid advancement in the field of preventative medicine and the control of transmissible disease. Dr. Florence also gave his support in infant welfare work, and under his direction the registration area was increased, and Texas brought to a position of high standing among the states in infant mortality rates, and had an exceptionally low death rate. Dr. Florence also supported other important health measures, and was one of the best health officers the state has ever had. He was a member of the legis- lative committee to the State Medical Association from 1912 to 1919 where he rendered a signal serv- ice for better health laws and the advancement of organized medicine.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 54

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