New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 88

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 88

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. Zuber is a director of the Rosenberg State Bank at Rosenberg, Texas, and also owns the prin- cipal retail dry goods store in that city. He began in the mercantile business as a boy, in his father's dry goods store, later going into the employ of Ed Kiam, Houston, Texas, where he remained seven years before going into business for himself, at Wharton. Later he went to Rosenberg, Texas, es- tablishing a mercantile business, then to Richmond,

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Texas, where he established a branch store, under the name of Zuber Brothers, of which they are still the owners and operators. In 1921 he came to Houston establishing the Zuber-Kaufman Shoe Com- pany, which he now operates.

"Mr. Zuber was born in Russia, in 1886, son of A. Zuber, a native of Russia, who came to the United States, bringing his family, in 1896, locat- ing first at New York City, and later at Houston, where he was in the mercantile business for more than a quarter of a century, and has now retired. His mother, Miss Esther Zaveloff before her mar- riage, is also a native of Russia. Mr. Zuber was educated in the public schools of Houston, later entering his father's dry goods store to gain his mercantile experience before entering business for himself.

Mr. Zuber was married at Houston in 1915, to Miss Lena Cohen, who was raised in New York City, the daughter of J. Cohen, a well known New York manufacturer. They live at 2409 Crawford Street and have two children, Janet Ruth and Selma. Mr. Zuber is a Mason, member of Holland Lodge No. 1, Thirty-second degree Scottish Rite, and a member of Arabia Temple Shrine.

L. KAISER is one of the pioneers of the oil industry of Humble, Texas, having been engaged in this field of activity since oil was discovered here. As a vice president and general manager of the Webb Oil Company he is in charge of the drilling and production, which naturally is one of the most important departments of an oil company. The Webb Oil Company was founded by John E. Webb, pioneer oil operator of the Gulf Coast oil fields, and his associates in 1910. Mr. Webb, who was a son-in-law of C. L. Kaiser, was the active head of this company until his death in 1919, when Mr. Kaiser, who was one of the organizers of this company, took over the active management. The Humble lease of the Webb Oil Company has fourteen producing wells, and many thousand barrels of oil have been produced from the wells on this lease, which is one of the most valuable in the Humble field. Other officers of the Webb Oil Company are: Mrs. John E. Webb, president, and J. H. Nie, secretary and treasurer. Five people are employed by the company. Mr. Kaiser started his business career in the service of a railroad at Galveston in 1880, and later was associated with this same line of railroad at Tem- ple, and Cleburne and remained in their service until he came to Humble and has been active in the de- velopment work of this field since that time. Mr. J. H. Nie, now an executive of the Webb Oil Com- pany, has been Mr. Kaiser's partner since he came here. As contractors, they have drilled upward of one hundred oil wells, and also have drilled many for themselves, and today Mr. Kaiser is one of the most active men in this field, on the job every day, looking after the properties of his company and his own.

Mr. Kaiser was born at New Orleans on Septem- ber 25th, 1863. His father, C. F. Kaiser, a native of Europe, came to America as a young man. His education was obtained in the public schools of New Orleans, which he left when seventeen years of age in order to come to Texas and engage in rail- road work.

Mr. Kaiser has been twice married. His first marriage was at Cleburne, Texas, in 1882 to Miss

Fannie Lott (deceased), a native of Johnson Coun- ty, Texas. Of this union five children were born, two of whom are living: Ida Mae, the widow of John E. Webb, and one of the best known oil operators in Texas during his life. The other daughter, Kath- erine, is at home with her parents. Mr. Kaiser was married again on November 16th, 1922, to Mrs. Jannie Johnson, a member of a well known family of North Texas. Mr. Kaiser has done much in the development of the Humble field and has always had great faith in this territory, even at a time when it looked gloomy to others. Although millions of dollars have been obtained from this field in the form of liquid gold, he believes that the end is not in sight for this field, and many good wells will yet be brought in here. The Humble field is one of the most valuable in the entire country, made so by the life of the wells which produce longer in proportion to their initial production than wells in any other field at a like depth. He is a great be- liever in the future of Humble and is glad at all times to further anything for the town's advance- ment and progress.

RANK MAYO, for many years well known in the drug business at Houston, has for the past several years engaged in the floral business, attaining a reputation among hor- ticulturists as the originator of a special fertilizer that is winning universal recognition. Mayo's Flower Shop, taken over by Mr. Mayo in 1919, is one of the most carefully planned and operated greenhouses in the city, with twenty-five thousand square feet under glass. Mr. Mayo specializes in raising pot plants, but has complete stocks of ferns, palms, hedges, bedding plants, and a general greenhouse stock. He has a good city trade, his plants being in demand among flower lovers of the city who appreciate his sturdy, well cared for stock. Mr. Mayo is the original user of incinerated rice hulls for the growing of pot plants which, in addition to its advantages from the standpoint of a fertilizer, also acts as a ground separator, and is of proven value to the nurserymen. Mr. Mayo has his green- houses at 2610 Washington Avenue, where he em- ploys four helpers, two of whom are experienced gardeners. His Valley Flower Shop at 1902 Main Street takes care of his retail trade.

Mr. Mayo came to Houston as a boy in 1876, and after finishing his education engaged in the drug business for many years, his store at the corner of Main and Leeland Streets being one of the most pop- ular in the city. In 1919, due to failing health, he sold the drug store and turned his attention to the nursery business as a means of regaining his health. After three years in this business, Mr. Mayo has found not only returning health, but an interesting, lucrative business and the Mayo Flower Shop will continue to hold its place among those of first rank.

Mr. Mayo was born at Leeland, Illinois, in 1868, son of the late Dr. Joseph K. Mayo, well known physician of that state, and Martha A. Duke Mayo. The family removed to Texas in his boyhood, and after coming to Houston in 1876, his education was completed in the schools of this city, where he grad- uated from high school.

Mr. Mayo was married at Houston, in 1917, to Miss Mary Hutchison, daughter of Orrie Hutchison, a railroad man of Houston. Mr. and Mrs. Mayo make their home at 1816 Lamar Avenue.

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HARLES G. HOOKS for about two decades has been identified with the development of the petroleum industry in the coastal fields. For many years he was a resident of Beaumont. Recently he has moved his headquarters to Houston, directing his extensive oil operations from this city. Mr. Hooks is one of the best known independent operators, operating exclusively in the coastal fields, and has much good production here, holding valuable leases and royalties. He maintains his offices in the West Building, and has his own rigs and drilling equipment to carry on his opera- tions. Mr. Hooks is financially interested in the Regina Oil Company, but he devotes much of his time to blocking leases that are developed by the major companies. He was active in securing the leases near Lake Charles, Louisiana, and in inter- esting the Vacuum Oil Company in drilling there. With associates he blocked the leases eighteen miles south of Beaumont, where the Gulf Company has found a salt dome. Among other leases secured by Mr. Hooks are those in Hardin County. In his more recent drilling operations Mr. Hooks has de- veloped a new power unit, using a kerosene trac- tor, with a few minor changes, and has found this method very economical. One well, drilled to twen- ty-three hundred feet, was drilled at a total cost of slightly over three thousand dollars, including the derrick, which is less than half of what it would have cost under ordinary steam drilling conditions. This new drilling equipment consists of an ordinary rotary and draw-works, rigged up to a kerosene tractor, which supplies the drilling and transpor- tation power. By placing an extension shaft to the tractor drive shaft, removing the pin which holds the shaft stationary in the wheels of the tractor, and allowing the shaft to turn in the wheels, the power is supplied to the draw-works, directly from the extension shaft, and gives a six speed rotary. In addition to economy of operation the new equip- ment has other decided advantages, among them the ease with which fuel may be procured, especially advantageous when transportation means are lim- ited. While best known for his oil operations, Mr. Hooks is also a factor in financial affairs and is a director of the City National Bank of Beaumont. In 1907 he was one of the organizers of the Sara- toga State Bank, with R. S. Sterling as president and himself as vice president, and was active in the management of that institution for many years. Mr. Sterling has retired from the bank and Mr. Hooks is now its president. In October, 1925, Mr. Hooks bought the Barkers Hill Canal Company, of which he is now president. The company has a 16,- 000 acre irrigating capacity, that is used for rice growing.

Mr. Hooks was born in Hardin County, Texas, the fourth of October, 1887. His father, A. B. Hooks, was one of the old settlers of Hardin County, and for many years a farmer, stock raiser and land owner of this community. His mother, before her marriage, was Miss Zella Knight. Mr. Hooks was educated in the public schools of Hardin County and later, finishing school, began with a drug store, leaving that business four years later as manager of the store. The ensuing two years were spent in the lumber business, during which time he also took an interest in oil development. In 1906 he turned his at-

tention to the oil business exclusively and since that time has been a factor in the development of the coastal fields. He went first to Saratoga, where he was active in oil field work for some time. Mr. Hooks has had practical experience in every field activity, both in drilling and production, and is one of the most versatile men in the business and familiar with the formations in all coastal fields.

Mr. Hooks was married at Beaumont in 1908 to Miss Aurora Coleman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. N. Coleman. Mr. Coleman has been in the lumber business at Beaumont for many years, and has taken an active part in the development of the lumber re- sources of the State. Mr. and Mrs. Hooks have one child, Charles C. Hooks, Jr. Mr. Hooks is a mem- ber of the Beaumont Club, and fraternally is an Odd Fellow and a Woodman of the World. He is held in highest esteem by the oil fraternity, and his recent introduction of the kerosene tractor as a power unit for drilling oil wells is of vital impor- tance to the development of the industry. This equipment, with its possibilities of cost reduction and the elimination of the fuel handicap, might be said to be one of the most radical advancements in drilling equipment in years.

OHN H. HILL came to Houston a decade ago, and since that time has been one of a group of merchants who have taken an ac- tive part in shaping commercial affairs here. Mr. Hill is Vice-President and General Mana- ger of the W. C. Munn Company, Incorporated, the largest department store in Houston. The W. C. Munn Company was established in 1913 and incor- porated in 1915, at which time Mr. Hill became a member of the firm. The store occupies almost an entire block, in the heart of the shopping district, and is a complete department store, with one hun- dred and thirty-nine departments, selling everything, with the exception of foods. The W. C. Munn Com- pany has four hundred employees, in whom they take an especial interest. A feature of the store is the morning song service, held each morning, and attended by the entire force. At this time the flag is unfurled, flying the entire day, and taken down each night at closing time.

During the recent war the W. C. Munn Company received a citation from the United States Govern- ment for their great services and the help rendered their employees, many of whom enlisted, knowing that the store would take care of the families they were leaving behind. Sixty-one men out of approxi- mately one hundred enlisted, and of these, four did not come back. Each Armistice Day the store holds a memorial service, and remains closed the entire day.

Mr. Hill is a native of Ireland, where he was edu- cated and married. He came to American as a young man, bringing his wife, going direct to Chicago with Marshall Fields, where he spent a good many years, leaving as buyer of dress goods and fabrics. He then became associated with a firm operating a chain of department stores, as manager of branch stores in various cities, until 1915, when he came to Houston as Vice-President and General Manager of the W. C. Munn Company.

Mr. Hill was married in Ireland to Miss Emma Graham, also a native of that country. They have three children, two sons, Arthur and Ray, both of

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whom are with the W. C. Munn Company, and a daughter, Dorothy. Mr. Hill is an honorary member of Rajah Temple, of Pennsylvania, and is a Thirty- Second Degree, Scottish Rite Mason, Blue Lodge, Union Park 610, Chicago, and also a member of Arabia Temple at Houston. He is also an Elk, New Jersey Lodge, No. 21. Mr. Hill received a citation from the United States Government for his services during the war. This was delivered to him by a representative of the Government November 11, 1920.

Note: Since the above sketch was written Mr. Hill has moved to Jacksonville, Florida.

ARRY S. CAMERON is one of the most popular men in South Texas among mem- bers of the oil fraternity operating in the coastal oil fields. He has on many oc- casions by prompt and efficient service saved the day for drilling contractors by rushing to him the special tools or equipment needed to finish a well on time or save a hole from total loss. For several years Mr. Cameron has been located at Houston where he has maintained a machine shop for mak- ing repairs to oil field equipment and for manu- facturing tools for special purposes incident to drill- ing and other oil field operations.

Since July 1, 1920, Mr. Cameron has been vice president and general manager of the Cameron Iron Works, located at 711 Milby Street. Other officers of the company are J. S. Abercrombie, president, and Edmond L. Lorehn, secretary and treasurer. The company was incorporated and began active business in July, 1920, and the business has grown until the plant and yards now occupy an entire half block. Located on one of the principal railroads of Houston, excellent shipping facilities enable the company to give exceptionally good service in dispatching tools and equipment to any part of the oil fields surround- ing Houston.

The Cameron Iron Works besides a general repair business manufactures oil well supplies and special- ties, including fishing tools of all kinds, tool joints, fish tail bits, drill collars and drive shoes, and pump repair parts. A complete stock of practically every- thing used in an oil field is carried at all times in addition the company gives prompt attention to orders for any special part or tool not carried in stock, its facilities enabling them to manufacture on short notice anything required by the driller or field superintendent. Skilled mechanics are employed by the company.

Mr. Cameron is a native of Indiana and was born in Indianpolis on July 9, 1872. He is a son of W. S. and Estelle (Mulkey) Cameron and was educated in the public and high schools at Washington, D. C., and at Christian Brothers College at Memphis, Ten- nessee, where he studied architectural and mechan- ical engineering. Upon leaving school he entered a machine shop as an apprentice, working four years to complete his trade, and was then employed at Jackson, Miss., for a year and for three years was connected with the W. W. Bierce Hydraulic Com- press Company at Little Rock, Arkansas. Coming to Texas he was identified with the Texas Portland Cement Company at Dallas for a year and then went to the Texas oil fields. He came to Houston six years ago and has maintained a machine shop here since that time.

Mr. Cameron was married at Houston in 1907 to

Miss Isabelle Trahan, a daughter of Voorse Trahan, well known farmer and land owner. They have six children, Harold, Victor, Voorse, Estelle, Charlotte and Francis Louise. The family home is at 4524 Rusk Avenue.

Mr. Cameron is a thirty-second degree Mason, a member of both the York and Scottish Rite bodies and of Arabia Temple Shrine. He is a thorough mechanic, an affable and pleasant man whose busi- ness creed is summed up largely in the one word, "service."

L. MAYHALL has recently established his headquarters at Houston and since coming here has impressed his influence on mat- ters of important bearing to the prosperity of the city and the coastal oil fields. Mr. Mayhall is deputy supervisor of the oil and gas division of the Railroad Commission of Texas and has under his direction activities in twenty-seven counties lying in the coastal field. This supervision includes in- specting all gas and oil well drilling, production, operation, and plugging in of wells to see that all this work is carried on in accordance with the rules and regulations that have been laid down by the Railroad Commission and is one of the most impor- tant factors in the development of the coastal fields. Mr. Mayhall, prior to taking this important position, had had a wide experience in the various oil fields and his present authority is wisely directed and not misused in any way. He is himself familiar with all oil field operations and gives a meticulous atten- tion to all the details his office involves.

J. L. Mayhall was born in Edgar County, Illinois, the fourth of August, 1874, son of Samuel I. and Martha Mayhall. His father was for many years a mechanic and machinist of that place and well known there. The family removed to Texas in 1879 and Mr. Mayhall received his early education in the public schools of Georgetown. After graduating from the high school there, he attended a private school in Campbell, in Hunt County, and various schools for four years, returning to Williamson County, where he read law. He was admitted to the bar in 1901 and the ensuing seven years were spent in the practice of this profession in Bell Coun- ty, where he attained a noteworthy reputation for his ability. He served as city attorney for a period of five years, and as assistant county attorney for two years in Bell County. He then went to the oil fields and for many years was active in the var- ious fields of the state, in various capacities. Dur- ing this period he handled much construction work and became thoroughly conversant with every phase of oil field work and development. He came to Hous- ton in 1923 to assume his present position as deputy supervisor of the oil and gas division of the Rail- road Commission of Texas.

Mr. Mayhall was married in Williamson County, in 1899, to Miss Olivia Smith, daughter of J. D. and Amanda Norman Smith, Mr. Smith being a well known farmer and land owner of Williamson County. Mr. and Mrs. Mayhall make their home at Austin and have one son, Temple B. Mayhall, a student at the University of Texas and supervisor at John T. Allen Training School at Austin. Mr. Mayhall is a Knight of Pythias. He is widely known throughout the Lone Star State, especially in oil and gas circles, and is regarded as one of the best informed men on the various phases of this industry in the state.

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R. JAMES HOUSE BUTE, a native Hous- tonian and member of one of the city's most prominent pioneer families, was for several years a well known physician of the city, but retired from active practice of medi- cine in 1907, since which time he has devoted his attentions to his private interests. After finishing his education, Dr. Bute practiced medicine in Hous- ton for five or six years and retired in order to give his personal attention to his large property interests, which consist of holdings in land, cattle and oil. He maintains offices in the Chronicle Building.

Dr. Bute was born in Houston, June 14th, 1875. His father, a native of Edinborough, Scotland, came to America in the early 60's and landed at Montreal, Canada, and came to Houston via New Orleans. It was in the early 60's that he founded the James Bute Company, wholesale and retail dealers in paints, paper, oils and painters' supplies, which is today the largest establishment of its kind in the Southwest. This business prospered and Mr. Bute became interested in the building up of Houston and did much for this city; he was interested in various jobbing concerns of the city, and many financial and manufacturing plants obtained their start through the aid and encouragement of James Bute. His mother was Miss Sarah Jane House, a native of England and a daughter of James House. She was married to James Bute in Houston. They had five children, John Bute, of Houston; Florence (deceased), was the wife of John Garrett of Hous- ton; James House Bute, the subject of this sketch; Bertha, now the wife of Johnnie Day of Chicago, and Dorothy, the wife of R. W. Franklin of Hous- ton. Sarah Jane House came to Houston at the age of several months and died at the age of 80 years. Her father, James House, was associated in business with his brother, T. W. House, who preceded him to Houston from England about a year.

Dr. Bute's education was obtained in Bingham School, North Carolina; the Queen's University of Canada; Georgetown University, Washington, D. C., from which institution he graduated with the degree of M. D. He then took a post-graduate course at Columbus University, where he specialized in diet- etics, after which he became an interne at the New York Infant Asylum. During the period when he practiced his profession in Houston he was regarded as one of the leading physicians of the city.

Dr. Bute was married in Houston in 1906 to Miss Clara Robertson, a daughter of C. W. Robertson of Houston, well known in the cotton circles of the state and later associated with the Waters-Pierce Oil Company. They have five children-Mary El- len, James Bute, Maude Pettet, Lois and John Bute. Dr. and Mrs. Bute reside at 2316 Fannin Street. He is a member of the Houston Club and the Epis- copal Church. Dr. Bute is regarded as one of Hous- ton's leading business men, and all his holdings are located in Houston and Texas. He retains his interest in the James Bute estate and is also inter- ested in oil lands and development. He has been active in civic affairs of his city, and has witnessed its growth from a village to a great city. He has seen it emerge into the busy, thriving city of the present, with the world's commerce brought to her very doors on the large ocean liners of the world,

and he believes its future is one of unlimited possi- bilities for continued growth and progress. He be- lieves his city is the logical distributing point for all of South Texas, and that it will ultimately be- come the largest railroad center and commercial and industrial point in the Southwest. The con- tinued development of the matchless resources of the state, will, Dr. Bute believes, bring greater devel- opment to his city and he takes pleasure in contem- plating the future greatness of Houston-the metro- polis of the Southwest.

UGENE CLIETT DOWNMAN is well known in the business circles of Houston, where before entering the grain business he was for a period of seventeen years associated with the Kirby Lumber Company in this city. Mr. Downman is manager and owners of the greater part of the stock in the E. C. Downman Grain and Hay Company, dealers in grain of all kinds, feed for cattle, hogs, chickens, and mixed feed and hay of all kinds, also flour and corn meal. This company sell at wholesale and retail, but four-fifths of their business is wholesale, having a big business in car lots and a fine retail trade. Mr. Downman is one of the leading grain men of South Texas, and has built this business on honesty, reliability and serv- ice. They have large warehouses and storage bins for the big stock that they have on hand at all times. Mr. E. A. Gehring is a part owner in the E. C. Down- man Grain and Hay Company, which is located at 1214 Silver Street.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 88

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