New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 91

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

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ALCOLM J. GRAHAM, whose name for a century has been of special significance in engineering circles, has taken an active part in the development of Beaumont, which he has made his home for many years. Mr. Graham is a constructing and consulting engineer, handling a general practice, with his offices in the Weed Building. He does all engineering work in the na- vigation district, and is engineer for the Beaumont Navigation District, and has also handled much con- struction of various kinds in this city and the ad- joining territory. During the latter part of 1916 and in 1917 he was county engineer, in charge of the construction of locks and dams and irrigation. Mr. Graham also designed the McFadden Rice Mills, the Broussard Rice Mills and other industrial plants here.

Mr. Graham was born in Scotland, the sixth of March, 1869, the son of S. Graham, who later came to Canada, where he is in the lumber business. Mr. Graham had exceptional educational opportunities, and after finishing at McGill University at Mon- treal, Canada, entered Edinburgh University, in Scot- land. As a young man he traveled extensively, studying engineering, and rounding out and broaden- ing his education. He came to the United States to stay in 1893, and was naturalized then. His first work was with the Canadian Pacific Railroad, in the construction department, where he spent two years. He then had charge of the construction of the Ottowa and Gatineau Valley Railroad, and was engaged in that work for one year. This was followed by a year and a half with the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault St. Marie road, after which he went to South Afirca, with the Cape Colony Rail- road, spending one year there with that company, and a second year as mining engineer. He then re- turned to the United States, and after a short time at New Orleans went to Mexico, where he spent two years in land and investigation work, returning to New Orleans, where he spent three years, handling a general engineering practice, and looking after the interest of a group of New York capitalists who were putting in a street sewer and water system. He came to Beaumont in 1901, putting in an under- ground storage system for oil pipe lines, and hand- ling paving, sewerage and other contracts. He al- so had charge of construction work for the Jasper and Eastern Railroad, the Orange and North West- ern Railroad and the road running from Lake Charles to De Ridder. In April, 1917, Mr. Graham entered the Officers Training Camp at Leon Springs,

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NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

and was sent to Fort Leavenworth, where he was commissioned Captain, and later transferred to Camp Devens, at Boston, Massachusetts. He or- ganized the 25th Engineers, and was sent to Camp Merrit, where he organized special engineering troops. He went to France in December, 1917, handling construction work, and training troops, and built the largest supply depot in France. He often had as many as twenty thousand men under him, and was in charge of vitally important construc- tion work. Returning to the United States in October, 1920, Mr. Graham came to Beaumont, and resumed his engineering work in this city.

Mr. Graham resides at 2360 McFaddin Street, and is a member of the Beaumont Technical Society and is a Mason. A man of world wide experience, well known to the finest engineers of the country, and abroad, he is easily at the head of his profession in Beaumont, and has won recognition that is more than local.

OBERT S. BARBER, one of the leading manufacturing lumbermen of Beaumont, al- though a resident of this city but about a half a decade, has been progressively identified with the lumber industry in Texas for two decades, and is well known for his activities in this field. Mr. Barber is principal owner of the Barber Lumber and Manufacturing Company, one of the largest and most complete lumber manufactur- ing mills at Beaumont. This company, although of recent formation, is destined to occupy a large place in the lumber industry of the state, and is equipped to meet any demands. The plant occupies a tract of four acres, located on two railroads, and has a full complement of buildings, including the mill buildings proper, office buildings, and storage buildings. Provision has been made for every pro- cess involved in the manufacture of lumber, and the equipment is complete in every detail.

Mr. Barber was born in Smith County, Missis- sippi, the thirteenth of August, 1855, the son of John C. Barber, a farmer and land owner of that state, and Eunice Barber. He was educated in the Newton County schools, and later attended Missis- sippi College, at Clinton, Mississippi. From the time he was fourteen, until he was twenty-six, he worked in a general store, at that time becoming a member of the firm, and also began to take an interest in the lumber business. He continued to divide his time between the mercantile business and the lumber business until 1903, when he came to Texas, locating at Hartburg, about twenty miles north of Beaumont, where he owned a large mill and many thousands of acres of timber land. He was actively engaged in the lumber business there until 1917, when he sold the Hartburg interests and came to Beaumont, where he was one of the prin- cipal stock holders in the Southern Land and Lumber Company until 1923, when he sold this interest and established his present business.

Mr. Barber was married in Illinois, in 1888, to Miss Mary Rush, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Rush. Mr. Rush is a well known land owner, busi- ness man and politician of that state. Mr. and Mrs. Barber make their home at 2188 North Street, and have two children, Ruth and Vida. The family attends the Baptist Church. Mr. Barber is a mem- ber of the Beaumont Country Club and is a Wood- man of the World. He takes an active interest in

the commercial life of the city, and is a director in the First National Bank. A man of conservative business policies, and with a thorough knowledge of the lumber industry and its problems, he has done much for the development of this industry, and is one of the best known lumbermen of the state.

EON R. LEVY, for upwards of four decades has been one of the vital forces of progress at Beaumont, and as one of the pioneer merchants of this city has taken an im- portant part in its development. Mr. Levy came to Beaumont in 1881, establishing in that year a general merchandise store that was to become the largest mercantile establishment in the city. From the first the business prospered, and when Mr. Levy retired from business in June, 1911, it was one of the important businesses of the city, carrying a fine line of general merchandise, dry goods, clothing, groceries and notions. Mr. Levy has from time to time invested in real estate holdings at Beaumont, and is one of the largest owners of city and country property in the city. He is a director in the First National Bank of Beaumont, is president of the Beaumont Improvement Company, a corporation established around 1888, and was formerly president and was one of the organizers of the Beaumont Building and Loan Company.

Mr. Levy was born at New Orleans, the seven- teenth of December, 1850, the son of I. K. Levy, a merchant of New Orleans for many years, and Richard Levy. He was educated in the schools of New Orleans, and began his business career with his father, and was with him in the store in New Orleans for several years prior to coming to Beau- mont.

Mr. Levy was married at New Orleans, in 1888, to Miss Sarah Leopold, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. Leopold. Mr. Leopold was for many years in the ship supply business in that city, and was one of the early settlers of New Orleans. Mr. and Mrs. Levy have lived at 201 Main Street for many years. Mrs. Levy is one of the most active church workers of Beaumont, and is deeply interested in all forms of social service and welfare work. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Levy-two daughters, Irma J. and Alice J., both highly accomplished young ladies, and two sons-Fernande K., a graduate of Tulane University, in electrical engineering, and for a number of years vice president of the Inter- state Electric Company of New Orleans, and now a department manager, holding an executive posi- tion with Bry's Mercantile Company of Memphis, Tennessee. The younger son, Leslie S. Levy, was born in 1891 and educated in the public schools of Beaumont and Tulane University. He then went in the mercantile business, engaging in that line until 1916, when he volunteered in the coast artillery at Fort Rosencranz, California, and spent one year there, contracting a severe illness from overwork and exposure that resulted in his death in March, 1919. The family attend Temple Emanuel. Mr. Levy is a member of the Sons of Herman, the Wood- men of the World and the I. O. B. B., and belongs to the Beaumont Country Club. Throughout the years of his residence in Beaumont he has been active in all civic and public work, and has done much for the development and upbuilding of this city.

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B ENJAMIN D. JACKSON, for the past sev- eral years a factor in the business world at Beaumont, since coming to this city has been progressively associated with the auto- mobile business, representing a well known manu- facturer in this locality. Mr. Jackson is the owner of the Jackson Motor Company, a business which he established in August, 1919, and which has since handled the Dodge Brothers automobile in this city. Mr. Jackson occupies a modern new building at the corner of Pearl and Calder Streets, and has complete sales, parts and service departments, all of which co-operate to give Dodge owners in this section a service in keeping with Dodge standards. Mr. Jack- son has a force of forty employes in the different de- partments and has one of the best organized sales forces in the city, selling a record number of cars each year.

Mr. Jackson was born at Palestine, Texas, the ninth of May, 1881, the son of the late R. M. Jackson, of that city. He attended the public schools of Palestine, later going to business college there. After completing his business course, he went to Lufkin where he spent three years in a dry goods store, after which he served as tax assessor of An- derson County for a period of four years. He then engaged in the life insurance business at Pales- tine for five years, later going to Mexia, where he was in the hardware business with his brother, oper- ating the Jackson Brothers Hardware Store for fif- teen years. While in the hardware business he added an automobile sales room and after several years disposed of the business and went to Pales- tine, where he went in the automobile business ex- clusively, representing Dodge Brothers in that city, and taking a prominent part in business and auto- motive circles until he came to Beaumont, in 1919, to represent Dodge Brothers here.

Mr. Jackson was married at Palestine, Texas, the thirteenth of April, 1901, to Miss Mary Patrick, a native of that city. They now reside in Beaumont at 2193 Calder Avenue and have one child, Jane, wife of H. C. Plumly, of Beaumont. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, where Mr. Jackson is a steward, and take a prominent part in church work. Mr. Jackson is a director of the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Rotary Club, a director of the Young Men's Chris- tian Association, chairman of the board of directors of the South Texas State Fair, and a member of the Round Table Club. Fraternally he is a Mason, Blue Lodge at Palestine, thirty-second degree Scottish Rite, Knight Templar and a member of Hella Tem- ple Shrine at Dallas. He is active in all civic work and is in every way an outstanding, worthwhile citi- zen of Beaumont.

OHN FLETCHER PIPKIN, a native of Beaumont, and for a quarter of a century a prominent figure in the business world, has taken an active part in the development of the resources of this section, and is interested in the largest undertaking business in this city. Mr. Pipkin is president of the firm of Pipkin and Brulin, Undertakers, the oldest and largest under- taking establishment in Beaumont. This business was established by Mr. Pipkin in 1902, as Pipkin & Company, and in 1903 Mr. A. E. Brulin came into the firm as half owner, and the name was changed to Pipkin & Brulin. Although Mr. Pipkin

does not take an active part in the management of the business, he has been very interested in secur- ing the best possible equipment, and the firm has placed at the disposal of the people of Beaumont three motor ambulances, with expert drivers, one motor hearse, one casket car and two special cars. They also have an extensive stock of caskets, in- cluding some very expensive models, and occupy a fine and well located business. The firm also owns property at Beaumont, in addition to the undertaking building, at 260 Broadway.

Mr. Pipkin also has many other interests both in Beaumont and in the country adjoining. He is interested in the wholesale meat business of Patillo & Pipkin and owns Beaumont city property, and has farm lands near Beaumont. He is also a cattle raiser.

Mr. Pipkin was born at Beaumont the first of December, 1881, the son of S. W. Pipkin, one of the most prominent men of Beaumont, and one of the biggest cattle, lumber and oil men of this sec- tion, and Mary P. Barrow Pipkin. Mr. Pipkin was educated at Beaumont, attending the public schools of this city, and also private schools here. He en- gaged in the livery business for six years, and in 1902 started in the undertaking business, later going with Mr. Brulin, as already mentioned. He has also been active in the cattle business for many years, and has been engaged in rice farming for around half a decade.

Mr. Pipkin was married at Beaumont in 1904, to Miss Manie Blewett, daughter of Dr. J. W. Blew- ett, for many years a physician of this city, and now retired, and Mrs. Blewett, who was formerly a Miss Kyle. Mr. and Mrs. Pipkin reside at 476 Frederick Street. Mr. Pipkin belongs to the Rotary Club, the Beaumont Club, the Beaumont Country Club, the Port Arthur Tarpon Club, and the Neches Club, of which he is president. He is active in all civic work, and is one of the most popular and best liked men in Beaumont, both in social and com- mercial circles.

DMUND F. HAMM, who for around a de- cade and a half has contributed to the commercial advancement of Beaumont, has recently entered the automotive field as dealer in this locality for several of the better class motor cars. Mr. Hamm is vice president and gen- eral manager of Edson-Hamm, Incorporated, a bus- iness established in May, 1921, since which time the firm has been distributor in Southeast Texas for the Cadillac, Paige, and Jewett automobiles, and for G. M. C. trucks. The firm is the largest auto- mobile company in Beaumont, and has complete sales, parts and service departments. Edson-Hamm, Inc., is located at 755-65 Broadway, where a modern building, seventy-five by fifty feet is occupied. The officers of the company are, E. G. Edson, president; Edmund F. Hamm, vice president and general man- ager, and R. V. Rister, secretary and treasurer. A force of sixteen employees is maintained.

Mr. Hamm was born at Dallas, Texas, the twenty- ninth of September, 1890. His father, Frank Hamm, a native of Tennessee, has been engaged in business in Dallas for many years and still makes his home in that city. Mr. Hamm's mother, whose maiden name was Miss Augusta Battle, is a native of Ger- many. Mr. Hamm was educated in the schools of Dallas, receiving his early education in the William

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NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

B. Travis School, and later, after finishing at Dal- las High School, entering Dallas University. He then went with the B. F. Avery Company and in 1910 was sent to Beaumont by this firm, represent- ing them as manager of the Beaumont branch until 1921, when he resigned to establish his present bus- iness.

Mr. Hamm was married at Beaumont, the twen- tieth of December, 1913, to Miss Thelna Carroll, a native of Beaumont, and the daughter of M. W. Carroll. Mr. and Mrs. Hamm have one child, Dor- othy, and make their home in Beaumont. Mr. Hamm is a member of the Neches Club, the Elks Club, and the Beaumont Country Club. He is a leader among the younger business men and is active in all civic work, taking a deep interest in the advance- ment of Beaumont.

LYTTON MAPES has spent his entire life in the various branches of the newspaper and publishing business. He came to Beau- mont, Texas, sixteen years ago and is vice president and general manager of the Enterprise Company, Inc., which publishes the Beaumont En- terprise-a morning paper and the Beaumont Journ- al- an afternoon paper, which are numbered among the largest newspapers of Southeast Texas. The circulation of the Enterprise is 22,500 for the daily paper and 32,000 for the Sunday publication, and the Journal has a daily circulation of 10,750. Three hundred and thirty-four people are employed by the Enterprise Company, Inc., which includes nine- ty-six regular carriers and fifty-two street boys. This publishing company was established in 1878 and purchased by the present owners in 1907. When Mr. Mapes joined the force of this publishing com- pany, he was circulation manager, and later became cashier and still later was made business manager. He soon became manager to the president and for more than twelve years has been the executive head of the Enterprise Co. William P. Hobby, ex-gover- nor of Texas, is the president of the Enterprise Company, Inc. Mr. Mapes began his newspaper career in Montgomery, Alabama, as a very young man with The Advertiser of that city, where he remained for four years. He then became asso- ciated with the Meridian Dispatch where he re- mained for one year, and then came to Texas, and selected Beaumont as the best place to engage in his chosen profession. Mr. Mapes was president of The Enterprise during the period when William P. Hobby was serving as governor, and after the end of his regime as governor of Texas and he returned to Beaumont, Mr. Mapes became vice president and general manager, and has continued in these ca- pacities since that time.

Mr. Mapes was born in Crenshaw County, Ala- bama, on December 1st, 1879. His father, William Mapes, also a native of Alabama, died before the subject of this sketch was born. His mother, who was Miss Mary Durell, raised and educated the son, but is now dead also. His early education was ob- tained in the public schools of Crenshaw, and later he attended Highland Home College.

Mr. Mapes was married at Montgomery, Alabama, on February 11th, 1907, to Miss Katherine Smythe, a native of Alabama and a member of a well known family of that state. Mr. and Mrs. Mapes reside at 2357 Calder Avenue. Mr. Mapes is a member of the A. F. and A. M. with membership in Beaumont Blue

Lodge, is a Knight Templar of this order and a mem- ber of El Mina Temple Shrine of Galveston. He also holds membership in the B. P. O. E., the Beau- mont Club, the Country Club, and all newspaper organizations and civic societies of Beaumont, in all of which he takes an active interest. Mr. Mapes is optimistic as to the future of Beaumont and believes that this city will lead Southeast Texas along every line.

HUGHES PETKOVSEK, for around a de- cade and a half has been actively identified with banking affairs at Beaumont, and has won the highest esteem of his associates and the banking world in general. Mr. Petkovsek is cashier of the City National Bank of Beaumont, a position he has held since the formation of this in- stitution in May, 1922. The City National Bank is the outgrowth of the old Guaranty Bank & Trust Company of Beaumont, and the result of a reor- ganization of that institution in May, 1922, at which time the bank was re-named, and a new directorate and new officers elected. The bank was national- ized at the same time, and capitalized for two hun- dred and fifty thousand dollars, and now has de- posits totaling two and three quarter million dol- lars. The bank is soundly directed, its officers being men of highest integrity and banking policies, and has rendered a conservative banking service since its organization. A fine banking home, with the best fixtures, is occupied, this building in the heart of the business district, being the property of the bank. The officers are, I. J. Bordages, pres- ident; J. T. Shelby, active vice president; W. L. Pondrom, vice president, and G. Hughes Petkovsek, cashier.

Mr. Petkovsek was born at Natchez, Mississippi, the twenty-first of November, 1891. His father, Lucas Petkovsek, is an old settler of that city, and a cabinet maker, manufacturer of wood parts and operator of a planing mill there. His mother is Mrs. Mary Hasselback Petkovsek. Mr. Petkovsek was educated in the public schools of Natchez, grad- uating from the high school there, after which he came to Beaumont, in 1910, and went with the Gulf National Bank, during the eight years there working in nearly every department. In 1918, at the time the Gulf National Bank was consolidated with the First National Bank, Mr. Petkovsek was receiving teller, and went with the new organization in that position. After one year he went with the Guaranty Bank and Trust Company, as paying teller, one year later becoming assistant cashier, and when this bank was re-organized and nationalized he became cashier of the newly formed City National Bank, which position he has since held. During the recent war Mr. Petkovsek was in military service, enlisting in the infantry in October, 1917, and training at Camp Travis. He was later stationed at Camp Pike and Camp Grant, and was discharged in Feb- ruary, 1919, as non-commissioned officer, returning to Beaumont and resuming his position in the bank- ing world.

Mr. Petkovsek was married at Beaumont, the first of May, 1917, to Miss Gretchen Madrin De- Remer, a native of Louisiana. Mr. and Mrs. Pet- kovsek live at 1096 Calder Avenue. Mr. Pet- kovsek is a Woodman of the World, and takes an active interest in civic affairs, and the welfare of his community.

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ICHARD FREDERICK CHEESMAN, pio- neer lumberman of Beaumont and the Lone Star State and an authority on all phases of the lumber industry, has for upwards of four decades been closely associated with the de- velopment of Beaumont, taking an active part in the advancement of the city, both commercially and from a civic standpoint. Mr. Cheesman is secre- tary and treasurer of the George W. Smyth Lum- ber Company, one of the larger retail lumber com- panies of Southeast Texas, which was established at Beaumont in 1912. Since that time, the com- pany has met with a steady and consistent growth, the result of the progressive business policies of the executives, and at the present time has one of the largest and finest lumber yards in the city. The George W. Smyth Lumber Company sells both in wholesale and retail quantities, the retail end of the business being the most important. A complete line of building material, including all kinds of hard- wood, mill supplies, builders hardware, and general building supplies, is carried, the stock being un- usually complete. For a number of years past, the company has handled a home financing business, a home building stimulus that has resulted in much construction at Beaumont, and has been a profitable venture for the company. Mr. Cheesman has been with the George W. Smyth Company since its or- ganization, and is secretary and treasurer, with J. B. Smyth, of San Antonio, as president, and C. E. Wal- den as vice president and general manager. Mr. Cheesman is also secretary and treasurer of the Sabine Tram Company, an organization dating back to 1889, and one of the most important timber and lumber mill companies of the Southeast Texas pine belt. This company formerly had much standing timber and operated a number of large lumber mills, but has cut a large part of the timber, and is not taking an active part in lumber manufacturing and cutting.

Mr. Cheesman was born in Navarro County, Texas, the eighteenth of October, 1865, the son of C. F. Cheesman, a professor of dancing at Galveston and Beaumont, and Battestine Rose Cheesman. Mr. Cheesman was educated in private schools at Gal- veston and after finishing his education was asso- ciated with his father, assisting him in teaching dancing, for three years. He then came to Beau- mont, in 1884, and went in the mercantile business with one of the earlier merchandising houses in the city. He spent a decade in this business, helping build up a large and successful merchandising establishment. He then became interested in the Texas Tram Lumber Company, one of the old lum- ber companies, and was with that company for four years, after which he went with the Sabine Tram Company, with which he has since been associated. Mr. Cheesman has had a wide and varied exper- ience in the lumber business, and has spent many years in the lumber camps. For four years he was expert saw filer, one of the important positions in the lumber camps. His practical experience in the manufacture of lumber qualifies him to speak with authority on lumber questions generally, and he is widely known to lumbermen throughout the state.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 91

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