New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 75

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 75

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).

Note: Since this sketch was written Mr. Siewers- sen died, November 5th, 1924.

1542

G.t. Branand.

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

HOMAS PENNINGTON, for a decade asso- ciated with the civic and commercial life of Houston, so used his influence for good that his many activities are recalled with pleasure and the enterprise which he established and built stands a monument to his business acumen. Mr. Pennington came to Houston in 1910 after a decade of experience in the lumber business, a good part of which was under John H. Kirby, the well known Texas lumberman. He opened his office in this city shortly after his arrival here, establish- ing the Thomas Pennington Lumber Company, and engaging in a general lumber commission and brok- erage business. Mr. Pennington gave to the de- velopment of this business an enthusiasm that made it a success from the beginning, and his business methods made quite a favorable impression on the citizens of Houston. He was particularly interested in the development of the lumber business and gave careful study to this industry, becoming known as one of the best informed men on lumber in this city, where lumber activities are especially brisk and many men make lumber their study. With the de- velopment of his business, his responsibilities and opportunities grew, and made possible an enlarged effort in behalf of a greater Houston, and at his death he was recognized not only as a leading lum- berman, but as a leading citizen.

Thomas Pennington was born at old Washing- ton, Texas, the seventeenth of June, 1882, son of A. and Martha Morgan Pennington. His father, A. Pennington, was a native of this state and spent his entire life near Brenham, where he engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. His mother was also a native of the Lone Star State. As a boy, Mr. Pennington at- tended school at Brenham, finishing his education in the public schools there. When he attained his majority he went to Kirbyville, Texas, and went to work for John H. Kirby, and for five years was asso- ciated with the Kirby interests, advancing steadily in the business. He then went to Saron, in Trinity County, Texas, and for one year was with the Wil- liam Cameron Lumber Company. The following year he moved to Glendale, also in Trinity County, and went into business for himself. He engaged in the industry from the angle of the sawmill operator, and in partnership with J. D. Larkin, operated a saw- mill at Glendale. After a successful period of opera- tion his sawmill burned, and he came to Houston as offering bigger business opportunities, and estab- lished the lumber commission and brokerage busi- ness, operating as the Thomas Pennington Lumber Company. This firm became, and still is, one of the - largest of such businesses in the city, and a large volume of business is handled annually, the trade ter- ritory covering the city of Houston and vicinity. Since the death of Mr. Pennington, in 1920, Mrs. Pennington has managed this business, demonstrat- ing marked capability as a business woman. Her brother, R. B. Ridley, is sales manager.

Mr. Pennington was married the twentieth of April, 1910, to Miss Olva Ridley, daughter of J. C. Ridley, a native of Virginia who came to Texas in 1886, and Mary Kent Ridley, also a native of Vir- ginia. Mrs. Pennington was born in Sherman, Texas, and reared in East Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Pennington had two children, Thomas and Mary Kent.

During his life in Houston, Mr. Pennington was an active figure in community affairs. Endowed

by nature with a genius for friendships, he formed many associations in his adopted city, and was the friend of many hundreds of the citizens here. He was a generous contributor to every worthy cause, and gave freely to those civic movements that were directed toward the development of Houston. His business associates found in him a man of high ideals, always ready to help the other fellow, never taking an unfair advantage, and his death, occurring the fourteenth of November, 1920, was sincerely mourned.

LIVER F. BARTINE, who spent practically all his life in Houston, w as one of those substantial citizens who take an interest not only in their own private affairs but in the growth and prosperity of their community. He took an interest in all civic affairs, and as evi- dence of his faith in Houston's growth made fre- quent real estate investments. Mr. Bartine was for three decades associated with the firm of Joseph F. Meyer & Company, and at the time of his death had been head of one of the departments of this estab- lishment for a number of years.

Mr. Bartine was born in New Orleans, on the third day of December, 1871, son of Charles and Josephine Bartine. The family removed to Hous- ton in 1874, and the father's death occurred shortly after their arrival in this city. Mrs. Bartine sur- vived him a number of years. As a boy Mr. Bartine attended the public schools of Houston, and at an early age began work for the J. L. Mitchell Jewelry Store. After a few years with that firm he went with the Joseph F. Meyer Company, and during the three decades spent with the firm worked in all departments. He applied himself closely to mas- tering the details of the business, and his promo- tion was rapid, with the result that he soon became a department head, and at the time of his death held this position. He was always active in the estab- lishment, giving close attention to the details that were under his supervision, and was a real factor in the success of the firm.

Mr. Bartine was married in Houston, the sixth day of June, 1900, to Miss Melissa Miller, a native of Kansas, and the daughter of David H. and Chloe Fisher Miller. Mr. Miller came to Houston from Kansas in 1895 and was for many years a building contractor in this city. He has lately become asso- ciated with the Fidelity Trust Company and is ac- tively interested in the affairs of that corporation. He and Mrs. Miller have made their home with their daughter, Mrs. Bartine, since Mr. Bartine's death in 1920. The married life of Mr. and Mrs. Bartine was especially delightful and their home the scene of many pleasant hospitalities. Four children were born of this union, Irma, married to E. C. Laird, a teacher in the Houston public schools; Olive, a young business woman of the city; Charles David, a student in the Houston public schools, and Ruby, likewise a student. For the past fifteen years the family has made their home at 4012 Austin Avenue, where they have an attractive residence, and have taken an active part in the various social activities of their community.

Mr. Bartine died at his home the twenty-seventh of March, 1920, and was buried in Greenwood Ceme- tery. His death was a distinct loss to the business world of Houston, and to his many friends who admired him for his true Christian character.

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MEN OF TEXAS

OBERT JEROME HILL, artist, has enjoyed a varied and interesting career as a devotee of the brush and palette, and has attained a creditable position in the art circles of Texas. Mr. Hill, or "Bob," as he is familiarly called by his relatives and intimate friends, maintains an attractive studio in Dallas and is engaged in both landscape and portrait painting, either in oil or pastel. He does his portrait work either from life or from photographs, at the pleasure of his pa- trons. While his landscape paintings are mostly from nature studies, many of his creations are from idealistic or imaginary conceptions.

Mr. Hill's whole life since boyhood has been de- voted to his art. A native Texan, he was born in Austin. His parents were Robert Jerome and Kate Easton (Raymond) Hill. His father, who was a prominent attorney at law, came to the Texas cap- ital in 1872. His mother, who was an accomplished musician, was a native of Austin. They were mar- ried in 1875. Robert Jerome was educated in the Austin public schools and the State University. Determining upon a career as an artist, he went to New York City, where he studied in the Art Stu- dents' League, under the tutelage of such well known artists as J. H. Twachtman, Robert Blum, Kenyon Cox, Howard Chandler Christy, Walter Ap- pleton Clark, Louis Loeb, Clifford Carlton and George Bridgeman. He also took a course of lec- tures and criticisms by William M. Chase. This course was later supplemented by two years of study in Dallas under a noted painter, Herr Kunz Meyer of Munich, Germany. Mr. Hill returned to Austin, where he opened his studio, painted portraits and taught drawing and painting.

He later came to Dallas to accept the position of staff artist of the Dallas News. After nearly three years, he resigned to accept a position as instructor of drawing and design in the Bryan Street High School. A year later he returned to New York, where he opened a studio and did maga- zine illustrating and cartooning. While in Gotham, he gave much time to the study of pictures in the various public and private art museums and gal- leries. After a year in New York, he returned to Dallas to illustrate a novel for Holland's Maga- zine. A short time later he opened a studio in Dallas, which he has since maintained.

Mr. Hill has exhibited each year except one at the Texas State Fair at Dallas, since 1920, and at the Fort Worth Art Association's Annual June Exhi- bition every year since 1918, and at the Dallas Woman's Forum Annual Exhibition since 1917. He has also exhibited in New York and other cities.

Among his best known pictures may be men- tioned: "Youth and Old Age," "The House on the Hill," "Apples," "Springtime," "Sleeping Girl," "Cloud Peak," "Abandoned Farm," "Golden Memo- ries," "Sunny Gypsy," "The Old Man," "The Phan- tom Tree," "Cradle of the Brook," and a portrait painting of John H. Kirby of Houston.

Mr. Hill has taken a very active interest in art circles of North Texas. He is a member of the Dal- las Art Association, American Federation of Arts, and the Texas Fine Arts Society. He lias been called upon to lecture on art subjects on many occa- sions and has been a director in a great many art exhibitions. His services are particularly in de- mand at the various art exhibitions, for he is thor-

oughly familiar with all of the different styles of art and the most important works of all the great painters, both past and present. He can discuss them in a manner that never fails to arouse interest in the observer.

Mr. Hill's whole life is devoted to his art and he is determined that whatever fame and fortune may be in store for him will be through the successful creations of his brush and palette.

OSEPH MOODY DAWSON is one of the leading artists and teachers of the violin, not only of Houston, but of the entire State. Mr. Dawson began teaching in Houston in 1913, where he has continued except for the pe- riod spent in the World War. He has done much public concert work and his services in this line of work are in great demand, and the technique in his playing of the violin is considered remarkable by those who have been fortunate enough to hear him. Mr. Dawson has a large class, and many of his pupils come from points outside of Houston. He teaches the violin only, and has several assistants employed to help him with his large number of pupils. Mr. Dawson has seen evidence of his great success in the work accomplished by the number of pupils who obtained their knowledge of the violin under his able guidance and supervision. He has made a special study of the history of the violin and is considered an authority on this subject, which he has pursued diligently for many years. While not a collector of instruments, Mr. Dawson owns violins and bows that have a monetary value of twenty-five thousand dollars. He maintains his studio, which is considered one of the most beautiful and splendidly appointed in the State, in his at- tractive home, which is located in the best residen- tial section of the city, at 501 West Moreland Boule- vard.

A native Texan, Mr. Dawson was born in Hous- ton December 6, 1886. His father, Joseph Dawson, now retired from active business pursuits, was en- gaged in the wholesale confectionery business in Houston from 1878 to 1908, and was a pioneer in this business. His mother was Miss Mary Jones, a member of a well known Texas family. Mr. Daw- son's literary education was obtained in the public and high schools of Houston, and the University of Chicago, where he was a student for three years, and graduated from this institution with the M. A. degree. He started violin lessons at eight years of age, and continued same during his academic educa- tion and then entered the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, where he remained for four years. He then returned to Chicago, where he attended the Amer- ican Conservatory of Music and the Metropolitan Conservatory of Music for a period of eleven years and was under Harry Dimond, one of the leading violin instructors in the United States. Mr. Dawson gave up his class in October, 1917, and entered the World War, where he was a Lieutenant in the Signal Corps until September, 1919, when he was sent to Washington, D. C., and was on the staff of General George O. Squier, and had charge of the purchase of all photographic supplies. Mr. Dawson is the inventor of a photographic device used in rifle prac- tice which is being used by the United States Goy- ernment. He is now a Captain in the Reserve Corps.

Mr. Dawson was married in Chicago in 1913 to

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MAMONEY

R. Jerome Hill

Ox Howstort

Wilson Fraser.

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

Miss Agnes McCarthy, a member of a well known Illinois family. They have one daughter, Mary Jane, three years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Dawson reside at 501 West Moreland. Mr. Dawson is a member of the Kiwanis Club and the American Legion. He is a consistent member of the Episcopal Church. Mr. Dawson is popular, not only in the music circles of Houston, but in the business and social circles as well. He is a teacher of the violin, and is a stu- dent as well, and great things are in store for this talented young violinist, and Texas and Houston are proud to claim him as their native son.

ILSON FRASER, pianist and teacher of piano, came to Houston in 1919 and since that time has established a reputation sec- ond to none in his chosen field.

A native Texan, Mr. Fraser was born at Fort Worth in 1893. His father, Dr. S. T. Fraser (de- ceased since 1919), was a well know physician and surgeon of Fort Worth and had large cattle inter- ests in North Texas. His mother was, prior to her marriage, Miss Leona Poitevent, a member of a prominent family of Mississippi. His early educa- tion was obtained in the public and high schools of Fort Worth, after which he was for four years a student under Wilbur MacDonald at the Texas Poly- technic College. He then went to Vienna, where he studied for two years under Leopold Godowsky, and returned to America in 1914. Godowsky came to America during the same year, and Mr. Fraser studied under him in New York City for another two years.

Mr. Fraser has devoted his whole life to the study of music and as an instructor. He was for three years a member of the faculty of the Kidd-Key Col- lege at Sherman, Texas. On May 8th, 1917, Mr. Fraser entered the World War, and attended an officer's training camp. He was assigned to the machine gun branch of the army and was sent to France with this assignment, where he saw service for fourteen months. He returned to America after the signing of the Armistice, and was discharged from Camp Bowie, at Fort Worth, in 1919, follow- ing which he came to Houston. For three years after coming here, he taught in private classes be- fore starting the Texas College of Music and Art, in which he was active until becoming connected with Thomas Goggan and Brothers. Mr. Fraser has done much concert work and there is a demand for his services at all times in this line. He makes frequent trips to New York, where he is regarded as an artist of great merit.

Mr. Fraser was married in Houston in March, 1922, to Miss Loraine Buchanan, a native Virginian, and a member of one of the State's oldest families. Mr. Fraser holds membership in the Music Council of Houston. He is popular, not only in the music circles of Houston, but in the business and social circles as well, and is the type of man that Houston welcomes, being progressive and public spirited. He is ready at all times to endorse any cause which is conceived for the good of his adopted city, and give it any necessary personal support.

OUISE C. DANIEL, teacher of music and professional accompanist, has been con- nected with the musical life of Houston and South Texas since 1911 and is one of the leading teachers of the piano in this section of the

state. Miss Daniel maintains her studio at 410 Marshall Avenue, where she conducts a large class of advanced pupils. Miss Daniel is building a beau- tiful new home which, when completed will contain a music salon embodying the atmosphere of a studio and a home.

Besides her work as a teacher, Miss Daniel is in great demand as an accompanist and has appeared during the past few years with many of the cele- brated artists who have appeared in Houston and various other cities in Texas and Louisiana.

Miss Daniel is a native of Galveston and is a daughter of Col. Lee S. Daniel, who was one of the first men in the South to take up telegraphy at the beginning of the Civil War. He delivered to Jefferson Davis the telegram notifying him of his nomination as president of the Confederacy. Her mother was formerly Miss Jennie Rockwood, of Vicksburg, Mississippi. Miss Daniel received her literary education in the public and high schools at Victoria, Texas, and studied music at the New Eng- land Conservatory of Music in Boston. Miss Daniel graduated with high honors at the conservatory at the end of two years and then did post graduate work there. During this period she was accom- panist in the vocal studio of William S. Dunham, and also studied organ under Henry Dunham. At this time she began her work as organist at suburban churches near Boston, gaining valuable experience which has been very useful in her further work along this line. After her post graduate work, she spent a number of years in Boston, occupying herself with concert work through New England with members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and singers, pri- vate teaching and as one of the junior instructors in the New England Conservatory of Music. She studied under Madame Szumowska at Boston for four years and during this time she was one of the leaders in the ensemble classes of Joseph Adam- owski. She coached with Frank LaForge of New York, for two summers. After living a few years in Boston she felt the lure of the South and re- turned to Texas and established her studio at Hous- ton where each year she has had more applications from students than she could care for. She was president of the Girls' Musical Club from 1919 to 1921 and is concert accompanist for the Treble Clef Club, two of the leading musical organizations of the city. She was for eleven years organist for the First Presbyterian Church and now holds a similar position in the Temple Beth Israel.

The "Annual Concerto Recital" given in Houston each year by advanced students of Miss Daniel is an unusual event and is looked forward to each year by lovers of music Miss Daniel is the only music teacher in Houston who features this annual con- cert by her pupils. A gifted musician herself, any appearance of Miss Daniel attracts a large and en- thusiastic audience and among her pupils are found some of the best pianists of the city.

Indicative of her popularity as an accompanist, during the past few years Miss Daniel has appeared in concert with such well known artists as Helen Stanley, Carolina Lazzari, Julia Caussen, Helen Ware, Frances Ingram, Bannouci, Ellison Van Hoose, Lambert Murphy and others. She is a woman of rare poise and charming personality and is highly popular in musical, club and social circles of the city.

1549

MEN OF TEXAS

MILES ABELL, although one of the young- er members of the business fraternity of Houston, Texas, has made his influence felt in the commercial life of this city, where he is the executive head of the motor com- pany bearing his name. While the Abell Motor Company is a comparatively recent addition to the city's ranks of automobile dealers, it has made ex- ceptional progress since the enterprise was launched here in December, 1925. The Abell Motor Company, 1015 Caroline Street, are dealers in Star Automo- biles, with sales and service departments, which are numbered among the largest in Houston. Other officers of this company are: B. F. Wilkinson, vice president and treasurer; Rawle Buckner, chairman of the board of directors, both of whom are well known in the financial and commercial circles of South Texas. As an evidence of the vast increase in the sales of this company, during the second month after their organization had started in busi- ness here, they sold seventy-eight cars, which is a record for the month in this territory for gear shift ars. This company started with four employees, and in less than three months it was necessary to increase this number to twenty-seven in order to take care of the business, which is showing a vast increase each month.

Mr. Abell was born at Ridge, Maryland, in Jan- uary, 1901. His father, H. F. Abell, and his mother, Mrs. Cora (Crane) Abell, were both natives of Mary- land and both were members of well known families of that State, where Mr. Abell was prominently identified with the business life of Ridge and com- munity, and is now active in the business life of Houston. The education of J. Miles Abell was ob- tained in the public schools of Houston and at the Rice Institute of this city. He started as a very young man with the Texas Company, and for three years was employed in various capacities by this company, leaving its employ in order to engage in business for himself. His first venture for himself was in the garage business, under the name of the J. M. Abell Garage, which he continued to operate until he organized the present successful automo- bile company.

Mr. Abell resides at 1101 West Gray Avenue. He is a member of various commercial and social or- ganizations of this city, in all of which he takes an active interest. His church affiliation is with the Catholic faith. Mr. Abell is a leader among the younger generation in Houston and his friends predict a brilliant future for this enterprising young man of business. The Abell Motor Company, through its executives and personnel, have succeeded in popularizing an automobile in this territory that is far ahead of anything of the kind ever attempted here, and the Star Automobile is on the map of South Texas to stay. Perhaps to no young man of the Lone Star State is the future more bright in the business world than it is to J. Miles Abell of Houston.

H. FREDERICKSON, district manager for Jos. Stewart and Company, contractors and builders, has had a share in the vast amount of building and development work which has taken place in the Southwest. The headquarters of the Jos. Stewart and Company is in New York City, and although Mr. Frederickson has been the district manager for the past few years, the com-

pany has been represented in Texas for more than seventeen years. Among the buildings constructed by the Jos. Stewart Company in Texas are the fol- lowing: Residential Hall and Physical Laboratory of the Rice Institute, Houston; two university build- ings at Austin; Galvez Hotel at Galveston; First National Bank Building, Humble Building, Queen Theater, Magnolia Paper Company Building and the Franklin Memorial Bridge at Houston. Also the fol- lowing buildings in other portions of the State: San Jacinto Life Insurance Building at Beaumont, Con- crete Wharf for the Gulf Refining Company at Port Arthur; Can Factory and Grease Plant for same company at Port Arthur; Masonic Cathedral at Guthrie, Oklahoma, costing more than $2,000,000.00; Army Cantonment at Leon Springs, Texas; Inter- national and Great Northern Depot at San Antonio. Mr. Frederickson has the unique distinction of being the only man who ever succeeded in securing con- tracts of this kind for three State Capitals, which he personally secured for the States of Idaho, Utah and Oklahoma and handled the construction of same.

Mr. Frederickson was born at Champagne, Illi- nois. His parents, E. Frederickson and Johanna Frederickson were large land owners and farmers of Illinois. His early education was obtained at the public and high schools in Illinois and later he at- tended for a period of four years the University of Illinois and graduated from that institution with the B. S. degree. After leaving college, Mr. Freder- ickson entered the employ of the Illinois Central Railroad in the bridge and building department and remained with this railroad for a period of seven years, and then entered the employ of the present company, and has been associated with them in various capacities for twenty-one years. Mr. Freder- ickson was in Europe for eighteen months for his company supervising work in the building of canton- ments, hospitals, and all kinds of buildings, ships, barges and transports. He took with him from the United States, one thousand skilled mechanics in the various lines which were employed in the vast amount of building done in Europe under the per- sonal supervision of Mr. Frederickson.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 75

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