New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 9

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

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Frank H. Carpenter was born at Shannon, Illinois, in November, 1870, the son of John M. Carpenter, a farmer and merchant of Western Iowa, to which State he removed in the early seventies. He was educated in the public schools of Iowa, and came to Texas in 1895, going first to Nome, at the time the new railroad was being built to that place. After five years in the mercantile business there he went to Victoria, and later Port Lavaca, where he spent two years, after which he came to Sour Lake, which has since been his home. During his residence here he has acquired land which has proved to be valuable oil land, and he has taken an active part in the development of this resource. At the beginning of the development of the oil industry here Mr. Carpenter had a large number of teams and handled teaming contracts, and operated a trans- fer and bus line for Savage Brothers, who brought in the first big well here. After two years he went to Humble, remaining there for one year, after which he returned to Sour Lake, which has since been his home. Later Mr. Carpenter bought out the ice plant, operating this for a time, and also bought out a grain business. He now owns many thousands of acres of rice and oil lands, and also has timber interests in this section.

Mr. Carpenter was married in South Dakota, in 1894, to Miss Alma M. Gross, daughter of E. F. Gross, hardware and implement man of that Stata, and also a member of the State legislature. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter have a family of five children, Harold D., Mrs. Margaret Doucette, Mildred, Agnes and Frank H., Jr., all of whom are college grad- uates. Mr. Carpenter is an Elk and an Odd Fellow. He has been associated with the development of Sour Lake from the days when this city was known

as a health resort, until the present time, when it is the center of a great oil district, and has taken an active part in furthering this development.

ILLIAM S. HIGGS of Bryan, Texas, has had a wide and varied business career, withal a very successful one. A native of Bryan, he has since a very young man been a factor in the business, political and educational life of this city. In 1918, he entered the banking busi- ness here, and is the active vice president of the First State Bank and Trust Company of this city. This bank was organized in 1909 and its charter obtained on October 1st of that year, and showed in its report at the close of business on December 31st, 1923, the following financial condition: Capital stock being $100,000.00; surplus fund, $50,000.00; undivided profits, $35,000.00, and deposits of $1,237,133.99. He has always been a leader in all matters pertaining to the progress and advance- ment of Bryan and Brazos County. In addition to his banking interests, Mr. Higgs is one of the or- ganizers of the Bryan Building and Loan Associa- tion, one of the most successful building and loan companies in Texas and operates on less cost than any organization of its kind in Texas. Mr. Higgs started his business career in this city, with his father who was engaged in the general merchandise business, and remained in this line of activity until 1910, when he was elected to the office of county clerk of Brazos County. He held this office until 1916, when he again engaged in business, this time choosing the dry goods line. He continued in the dry goods business until 1918, when he came with the First State Bank and Trust Company and has done much toward making this institution one of the best in this portion of the country.

Mr. Higgs was born on April 3rd, 1882. His father, Thomas W. Higgs (deceased since 1905), was one of the pioneers of this county, having located here in 1835, where he was throughout his life engaged in the mercantile business, farming and cattle rais- ing. He was one of the best known and most highly esteemed citizens of this part of the Lone Star State. His mother was Miss Esther Mawhinney. His early education was obtained in the public schools of Bryan, after which he attended Allen Academy of this city and later became a student of Hill's Business College of Waco. Mr. Higgs has at all times taken a keen interest in the educational af- fairs of this city, and for a period of twelve years was a member of the Bryan school board. He also served as chairman of the democratic executive com- mittee, for several years.

Mr. Higgs was married at Bryan in 1903, to Miss Belle Wren, a native of Grimes County, Texas, where she was a member of a well known family. They have three children: Katherine, Ida Belle and Margaret. Mr. Higgs is a member of the A. F. and A. M. and has membership in the York Rite body of this order. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Bryan Country Club, the Fin-Feather Club of this city, the Bryan Chamber of Commerce and is a director of the Bryan Building and Loan As- sociation. Mr. Higgs is active in all matters having to do with the civic improvement, progress and advancement of Bryan, where he is regarded as one of this city's most public-spirited citizens and lead- ing business men.

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MEN OF TEXAS

HARLES E. WALDEN, whose business ac- tivities for around three decades have been an essential part of the life and progress of Beaumont, has contributed materially to the advancement of this city and the development of the lumber and other resources of the southwestern part of the state. Mr. Walden is vice president of the George W. Smyth Lumber Company, one of the largest retail lumber companies in Beaumont. The company is well located, the plant covering vight acres and carrying a complete line of building mate- rials. While the business is primarily retail, some wholesale business is also handled, and the company is one of the vital businesses of the city. The of- ficers are J. B. Smyth, of San Antonio, president; Charles E. Walden, vice president; R. F. Cheesman, secretary; Frank Alvey, treasurer, and Guy W. Cheesman, general manager. The Sabine Tram Com- pany is also an organization with which Mr. Walden has been associated for many years, since 1897, and has been an official of since 1900. He is now vice president of the company, and takes an active part in its management. Mr. Walden is vice president and chairman of the board of directors of the Texas National Bank of Beaumont, a director in the Beau- mont Iron Works, and secretary of the Uvalde Rock Asphalt Company, of which he was one of the organ- izers. Like many Beaumont business men, Mr. Wal- den played a part in the development of the Spindle Top oil fields. He was interested in the Yellow Pine Oil Company that brought in the third or fourth well, which was a gusher, the first well to use a six inch casing. The company owned a one acre lease and later sold one-sixteenth parts of the acre.

Mr. Walden was born at Doylesville, Madison County, Kentucky, on the first day of June, 1865, son of Mr. and Mrs. William J. Walden, who moved with their family to Clark County, Kentucky, just out of Winchester, in 1873. Mr. Walden was edu- cated in the common schools of his native state, and finished the course at Allenville Academy, a school corresponding to high school, in 1877. He took the teachers examinations, receiving a first class cer- tificate, and taught school until he had acquired funds to complete his business education, when he went to Cleveland, Ohio, and entered Spencer, Fel- ton and Loomis Business College, finishing there just prior to his twenty-first birthday. He then accepted a position with Johnson's Business College, in St. Louis, Missouri, as instructor, but remained there only a short time, for he was anxious to em- bark in business for himself. He came to Texas in the spring of 1889, and with his older brother opened a business college in Austin, continuing there until the year 1894, when he came to Beaumont, going with the Sabine Tram Company, and later, when the George W. Smyth Lumber Company was organized, going with that company.

Mr. Walden was married the twenty-sixth of De- cember, 1895, to Miss Sallie Smyth, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. George W. Smyth, of Beaumont. Mr. Smyth was organizer of the Sabine Tram Com- pany and of the George W. Smyth Lumber Company, and one of the pioneer lumbermen of Southeast Texas who have been active in developing this sec- tion. Mr. and Mrs. Walden have one child, Charles Smyth Walden, born the fifteenth of June, 1905. They reared Glenn H. Alvey, a nephew, who is like a son to them. Mr. Alvey graduated with honors

from the University of California in 1919. He resides in San Antonio, where he is well known among the younger business men. They reside at 526 Elizabeth Street. Mr. Walden is past president of the Beau- mont Country Club, past president of the Rotary Club and belongs to the Beaumont Club, the Neches Club, the Ghrotto, and several other social organ- izations of Beaumont. He is a member of the Bap- tist Church, the Woodmen of the World, and several other organizations of that character. Mr. Walden is one of the best known Masons of the Lone Star State and a close personal friend of Sam P. Coch- ran. His father, a Master Mason, and Master of his Lodge used to ride some fifteen miles on horse- back to attend meetings, and it was his devotion that first instilled in the son the desire to become a Mason. He was initiated as an apprentice Mason, December the sixteenth, 1890, passing the degree of Fellowcraft on January the twenty-fourth of 1891, and in March raised to Master Mason. In 1892 he served as Deacon of Hill City Lodge No. 456, at Austin, where he had become affiliated and was ac- tive in the work there until 1893. Later he became a Royal Arch Mason, Lone Star Chapter, Knight of the Red Cross, Colorado Commandery, and Knight Templar. He joined Ben Hur Temple of the Mys- tic Shrine at Austin. Later he became affiliated with Beaumont Lodge No. 286, in February, 1901, and also with Beaumont Chapter No. 198, in 1903. He served as Master of the Beaumont Lodge in 1905, and as High Priest of the Beaumont Chapter for one year, and as Thrice Illustrious Master of the Beau- mont Council, No. 126, for one year. In 1903 he assisted in the organization of the Beaumont Com- mandery, and was its first Eminent Commander, serving from 1903 until 1905. In 1910 he was made a thirty-third degree Mason, having held member- ship in the Galveston Scottish Rite bodies for many years and in 1911, he served as Potentate cf El Mina Temple Shrine of Galveston. He was active in Masonic work until 1913, when his health failed, but has since found it impossible to enter actively into the work, although his interest remains the same. In civic work, as in Masonic work, Mr. Walden has always been active, and has done much for the de- velopment of Beaumont. In the first days of his residence here he was particularly active in his work on behalf of the young municipality, and is one of the real builders of the Beaumont of the present day.

UY WALDEN CHEESMAN, one of the pro- gressive young business men of Beaumont, for several years has been active in the lum- ber trade of the city and is general man- ager of the George W. Smyth Lumber Company, one of the largest retail lumber concerns here. While the company handles a retail business primarily, some wholesale business is also done. It has a large stock of all kinds of building material and in addi- tion to supplying material for the home, are also financing the building of houses at Beaumont, and through advertising campaigns and other mediums have done much to foster home building and own- ing in this city. Mr. Cheesman came with the com- pany in May, 1919, and became general manager in January, 1921. Under his direction, the company has rapidly increased the volume of business done annually. The large yards, at the corner of Frank- lin and Neches Streets, are carefully planned, all

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NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

buildings being of the modern type. The officers of the company are J. B. Smyth, of San Antonio, president; C. E. Walden, vice president; R. F. Chees- man, secretary, and Frank Alvey, treasurer.

Guy Walden Cheesman was born at Beaumont, the fourteenth of Septembr, 1895, the son of Richard Frederick Cheesman, for many years a resident of this city, and secretary of the George W. Smyth Lumber Company, and Emma Regina (Smyth) Cheesman. He began his education in the public schools of his native city, continuing here until his graduation from high school. He then entered the law department of the University of Virginia, where he studied three years. Shortly after the entrance of the United States in the World War, Mr. Chees- man enlisted in military service and was assigned to the 133rd Field Artillery, 36th Division. He was sent to Camp Mabry and after training there for two months, was sent overseas. He spent nine months in France, after which he was returned to America and discharged the second of April, 1919.

Mr. Cheesman was married at Beaumont, the twenty-first of October, 1919, to Miss Ione McGill, daughter of J. T. McGill, lumberman, and Catherine McGill. Mr. and Mrs. Cheesman have one child, Guy Walden Cheesman, Jr., and reside at 2431 Lib- erty Street. He is a member of the Alpha Chi Rho college fraternity and of the Beaumont and Rotary Clubs. Mr. Cheesman is interested in civic work and has done much for the development of Beaumont, es- pecially along the lines of encouraging building ac- tivity.

E. HAMMONS, for about fifteen years has been identified with the commercial devel- opment of Beaumont, and is one of the lead- ing wholesale lumber dealers of this sec- tion, featuring a product that has a wide demand. Mr. Hammons is president of the P. E. Hammons Company, Incorporated, a wholesale lumber cor- poration, handling round piling for ship docks, rail- road and industrial construction. It is the only firm in the city handling this class of lumber, and have one of the largest businesses in the state in this line. The company was established in 1913, and since that time has done an increasingly large volume of busi- ness, each year showing a gratifying increase. The Hammons Company sells this product throughout the United States and Mexico, and also has a large amount of export trade. The business is manufac- turing and wholesale, selling in car lots only. The offices of the P. E. Hammons Company, Inc. are in the Perlstein Building, and the officers are Mr. Han- mons, president; T. E. McNamara, vice president and manager; H. L. Bonner, secretary and treasurer. Mr. Hammons also has other business interests, both in Beaumont and in other cities and is vice pres- ident of the Southern Land and Lumber Company, president of the De Quincy Wholesale Grocery and Grain Company of De Quincy, Louisiana; president of the National Department Store at De Quincy, Louisiana, and vice president of C. E. Reed and Company.

Mr. Hammons was born at Antoine, Arkansas, the fourth of October, 1885, the son of W. P. Hammons, for many years in the mercantile business in Arkan- sas, and Sarah Hammons. Mr. Hammons attended the schools of Arkansas, and was a student at the Baptist College at Fordyce, in that state. After leaving school he entered the lumber business, form-

ing the firm of Hammons and Cash, and a little later bought out Mr. Cash, operating the business in Louisiana for around six years. He came to Beau- mont in 1911, entering the lumber business in this city, and has since handled the round piling for which he has an international reputation. Mr. Hammons owns thousands of acres of timber land in Louis- iana and Southeast Texas, and is known to lumber- men throughout the country for his activities in this field.

Mr. Hammons was married at De Quincy, Louis- iana, to Miss Clara Gill, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Gill. Mr. Gill, an old settler of De Quincy, has been in the mercantile business there for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Hammons have two children, Bruce and P. E., Junior, and live at 1923 Broadway Street. Mr. Hammons is a member of the Beau- mont Club, the Beaumont Country Club and the Beaumont Business Men's Club, and fraternally is a Mason. Mr. Hammons has done much to develop the lumber resources of Southeast Texas, and is well known for his many activities in the field of lumber conservation. He takes a deep pride in the civic advancement of Beaumont, and during the years of his residence here has contributed liberally, both of his time and means, for the welfare and devel- opment of this city.

ALLACE E. SPROUSE for around a dec- ade has been a factor in the commercial life at Beaumont, and as one of the leading lumber brokers in this city has been instru- mental in building up the lumber exporting bus- iness here. Mr. Sprouse is a member of the firm of the Kaulbach-Sprouse Lumber Company, one of the principal lumber exporting companies of Beau- mont, and organized in January, 1923. The firm maintains offices in the Gilbert Building, and en- gaged in a lumber brokerage business, handling yel- low pine, hardwood and shingles in car load lots only. They also handle a large volume of busi- ness in ties, piling and railroad timbers, selling largely for export. Mr. Sprouse is associated with Andrew J. Kaulbach.

Mr. Sprouse was born in Denton County, Texas, the twenty-fourth of May, 1889, the son of John A. C. Sprouse, well known ranchman of that locality, and Mrs. Mary (Holmes) Sprouse. He spent his boyhood in Denton County, attending the public schools there, and after leaving high school spent one year at Wall College, at Honey Grove, Texas. He began his lumber experience with a retail lum- ber yard at Denton, later going in the saw mills at Grayburg and Oakhurst, where he acquired an expert knowledge of the manufacturing end of the business. He then went to Waco, where he spent one year with the W. R. Pickering Lumber Company, after which he went to Houston and was with the Picker- ing Lumber Company there for around four years. He then came to Beaumont, in 1915, and was with the Gulf Export and Transportation Company, as secretary and treasurer, from 1915 until 1922. At that time he became general manager of the South- ern Land and Lumber Company, a position he held for one year, resigning to form his present company.

Mr. Sprouse was married at Houston, in 1912, to Miss Irma M. Morse, daughter of George T. Morse, oil man of Houston. They reside at Beaumont, at 2195 Long Avenue, and have two children, W. E., Jr. and John Holmes.

1097

MEN OF TEXAS

HARLES W. McFARLANE for upwards of four decades has been one of the vital forces of the progress of Orange, and is well known throughout Southeast Texas for his numerous financial and business activities relative to the prosperity of this section, and for his promi- nence in Masonic circles. Mr. McFarlane is the pro- prietor of the Orange Iron Works, one of the most important industrial enterprises of Orange, and which he has owned since 1896. The business, how- ever, was established in 1881 by Greeves and Mc- Phee, for whom he worked from that time until he took over the plant. The years since that time have been marked by progress, the business being developed constructively, and filling a definite need created by the extensive oil operations in this sec- tion for a high class foundry. The plant in its pres- ent state of expansion covers an entire block, the foundry being completely equipped for all classes of work. Special attention is given to machine work, the repair of heavy machinery, marine work, boiler work, oil field machinery and the manufac- turing of various parts. A force of twenty-four skilled operatives is employed in the plant and all work turned out is of the highest standard. Mr. McFarlane is assisted in the management of the Orange Iron Works by his son, Charles T. Mc- Farlane, who is plant superintendent.

Mr. McFarlane is also chairman of the board of directors of the Guaranty Bond Bank and Trust Company, of which he was one of the organizers. The Guaranty Bond Bank and Trust Company is a soundly directed financial institution, contributing a constructive banking service, compatible with com- mercial development, to Orange and the surround- ing territory, and has made a splendid record of growth since its organization.

Charles W. McFarlane was born in New Bruns- wick, Canada, the twenty-seventh of February, 1860, the son of George McFarlane, a native of Canada, where he resided until his death, and Minnie (Na- son) McFarlane, also deceased. Mr. McFarlane was educated in the schools of Canada, and at the age of seventeen years began work in the timber mills of that country. Several years later he determined to come to Texas, coming by way of Boston, Buf- falo, St. Louis, and Houston, stopping at all these places for a short time, and arriving at Orange in December, 1880. Here he began' work in the D. R. Wingate Lumber Company, remaining with that mill for one year, after which time he engaged in saw mill work for himself, operating several partner- ship businesses. In 1896 he established the Orange Iron Works, as previously mentioned, and has since been the directing head of this business, as well as becoming interested in various other activities.

Mr. McFarlane was married the 20th of April, 1886, to Miss Jennie Otis, daughter of E. D. (Carrie) Otis, a native of Illinois. Mrs. McFarlane was reared in Mississippi, later coming to Orange, where her marriage to Mr. McFarlane occurred. A family of nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. McFar- lane; the surviving of these are: C. T., Addie Cooke, Annie Murray Smith, Mona, W. S., and F. L. Mc- Farlane. Mrs. McFarlane's death occurred at her home in Orange on the eighteenth of January, 1906. Mr. McFarlane was married the second time to Miss Rosa McDonald, a native of Texas, and to this union have been born five children, Misses Blanche,

Fannie Rose, Zelma, Helen and George E. McFar- lane. The family reside at 710 Front Street, which has been their home for many years. Mr. McFar- lane is a member of the Rotary Club, and has been active in all civic work for many years, contribut- ing generously to all organized civic and charitable movements. He is one of the most prominent Ma- sons of the country, and one of the foremost Ma- sonic workers of Texas. He has taken all degrees, to the highest honor this order can bestow, and

was made a thirty-third degree Mason at Dallas in 1913. Twice each year he goes to Galveston, where he is active in the degree work of the Texas Con- sistory, No. 1. Mr. McFarlane has been a member of the Madison Blue Lodge of Orange since its organization in 1898, and has been a member of El Mina Temple Shrine of Galveston for many years.

ORACE H. WATSON, for many years a factor in the life at Orange, in addition to serving as postmaster and taking an active part in the mercantile business, has been for many years a prominent figure in politics, and is one of the best known Republicans in the Lone Star State. Mr. Watson was appointed post- master of Orange the twenty-second of February, 1922, receiving his appointment from the late Presi- dent Harding. The Orange postoffice under his term of office has been brought to a high state of efficiency, employing nineteen clerks, and has han- dled a very large volume of business, reflective of the prosperity of Orange, and indicating the rapid growth of this city. Mr. Watson is also a member of the firm of the Mckay and Watson Paint Store, having been part owner of this business since 1918. The store sells retail trade exclusively, deal- ing in paint, wall paper, glass and like products, and does the largest business in this field at Orange.

Horace H. Watson was born at St. Louis, Mis- souri, the seventh of March, 1873. His father, Jos. Watson, a native of Pennsylvania, came to Texas in 1875 and was an educator in Austin County until his retirement several years ago. He now makes his home at Corpus Christi. His mother, also of Corpus Christi, was prior to her marriage Miss Ad- die Hensel, and a native of Pennsylvania. Horace H. Watson was educated in the schools of Austin County. He came to Orange shortly before the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, enlisting in the Second U. S. Volunteers, and seeing service in Cuba. After being discharged he went to William- son County, remaining there a short time, and then returned to Orange, going in the liquor business in which he engaged until 1918, when he entered the paint business.

Mr. Watson was married at Beaumont, the twen- ty-ninth of December, 1907, to Mrs. Lennie Sheehan Streevy, a native of the Lone Star State. Mr. and Mrs. Watson reside at 1006 Main Street and have three children, Harry H. Watson, Alma Watson and Eloise Watson. Mr. Watson is a member of the Moose, the T. P. A., and the Elks Club, and belongs to the Rotary Club, the Spanish-American War Veterans, and the National Association of Postmas- ters. He has been chairman of the Republican Party of Texas from 1919, until assuming the office of postmaster, and has been prominent in political activities for many years. He is also interested in all civic work.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 9

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