New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 94

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

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Mr. King is treasurer and general manager of the A. L. Carter Lumber Company, one of the lar- gest retail lumber establishments in this section of the state. Other officers of the company are A. L. Carter, of Houston, president; W. T. Carter Jr., vice president, and C. E. Lock, secretary. This company entered the retail lumber field in Beau- mont some six or seven years ago and has exper- ienced a remarkable growth, its annual business now running into hundreds of thousands of dollars. The company carries in stock at its Beaumont yards a complete line of lumber and building materials and has one of the best equipped systems of sheds and yards in the city. An important feature of the com- pany's business is the department devoted to financ- ing the building of homes. Many substantial resi- dences are erected in Beaumont each year on the Carter Lumber Company plan of financing.

A native of Alabama, Mr. King was born at Day- ton, in Miringo County, on September 11th, 1865. His parents, William T. and Virginia (Green) King, were both members of old and prominent Alabama families and before the Civil War and the abolition of slavery were large slave owners and operated extensive plantations in this section of Alabama. Mr. King attended the public schools and early in life turned his attention to the lumber industry and worked in the mills from 1882 until 1898. He knows intimately and thoroughly every branch of the lum- ber business from the forest stumpage to the de- livery of the finished product.

For three years he was connected with the Hugo- Forcheimer Lumber Company, engaged in export trade, and then engaged in business for himself. After that he became identified with the George W. Smyth Lumber Company for a few years before forming his present connection with the A. L. Car- ter Lumber Company. Some years ago Mr. King lost his right arm in an accident in the mills.

Mr. King was married at Beaumont, in 1887, to Miss Lelia Weber, daughter of R. M. and Filonia (Lewis) Weber. They have four sons and one daugh- ter, W. C., C. L., R. W., H. S. and Stella Kathleene. The family home is at 2108 South Neches Street.

Always taking an active interest in civic affairs, Mr. King is a member of the Beaumont Lions Club and is president of the local organization of the Hoo Hoos. He is also a member of the Knights of Pyth- ias and Woodmen of the World and is a steward of the First Methodist Church of Beaumont. Besides his lumber interests, Mr. King owns some valuable business properties and is the present of the Beau- mont Sash and Door Company, which he organized and which has one of the largest plants of its kind in this section.

An active and aggressive business man and a citizen of the progressive type, Mr. King has always been ready to lend his aid to any movement for the upbuilding of Beaumont.

HOMAS H. GARNER of Beaumont, Texas, has had a wide and varied career, which he began as a cowboy on the broad west- ern plains, which at that time stretched for hundreds of miles over an empire of open cattle ranges. Mr. Garner is sheriff of Jefferson County, having been elected to that important office for the first time in 1916, and has been elected by large majorities each consecutive time since that date. It is conceded that Mr. Garner is the most efficient sheriff who has ever served the interests of Jeffer- son County. The county jail, which is under the supervision of the sheriff, has a capacity of eighty people, and he has fourteen loyal deputies on his staff. Mr. Garner has accomplished much during his incumbency in the sheriff's office toward mak- ing the jail a place that is sanitary, and in giving humane treatment to prisoners. The feeding of the prisoners is under the jurisdiction of the sheriff, and he sees that good, wholesome food is given to these unfortunates. While the days of "the bad man" in Texas are only a matter of history, yet Mr. Garner has had experiences which required a nerve of steel, a keen eye and quick thought and action. His office is in the court house at Beau- mont. As a boy Mr. Garner began following the cat- tle range from Colorado County to El Paso, Texas, and followed the herds throughout West Texas. He later engaged in the lumber business in Colorado County and remained in this line of endeavor until he removed to Jefferson County and engaged in rice farming in 1900. He continued as a rice farmer until he was elected to the office of sheriff, although his residence has been in Beaumont during practi- cally all the time he has resided in this county.

A native Texan, Mr. Garner was born in Lavaca County on December 11th, 1871. His father, William Garner (now deceased), came to Texas from Ten- nessee in 1842, and settled first in Colorado County, but later removed to Lavaca County, where he was engaged in farming and stock raising all his life. His mother was Miss Agnes Seymour, a native of Virginia, but was brought to Texas by her parents in 1851, and was reared and educated in Colorado County. She is now a resident of Colorado County. Mr. Garner's opportunities for securing an educa- tion were limited and the liberal education which he obtained was entirely through self help.

Mr. Garner was married in Colorado County, Texas, in 1897, to Miss Tillie Gegeneworth, a native of Colorado County and a member of a pioneer Texas family. They have four children-Cassie, now the wife of W. C. Sweet of Dallas; Irene, now the wife of L. C. Hurst of Longview, Texas; Bill, who is a high school student in this city, and Joe, who is attending the public schools. Mr. and Mrs. Garner reside at 1757 Victoria Street. Mr. Garner assists his city and county in every way possible, both as an officer and a private citizen. He is interested in all matters having to do with the progress and advancement of Beaumont, and gives liberally of his time and means to further any pro- ject for the betterment of his city. Mr. Garner is a man of sound judgment, fully competent to man- age the position he holds and the responsibilities involved. Throughout his regime in the office of sheriff of Jefferson County, which has been one of great accomplishment, he has at all times stood for the interests of the people.

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Suking

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

R. EDMONDS, for a decade and half a fac- tor in the business and financial world at Beaumont, is known as an expert on credits and loans, and his establishment of an in- vestment company in keeping with the principles of the Russell Sage Foundation has done much to eradi- cate loan evils in this city. Mr. Edmonds is the president of the Industrial Investment Company, of Beaumont, which he founded in December, 1921, and which has been in successful operation since that time. This investment company makes loans prin- cipally to working people, operating under a system that has greatly reduced the charges on small loans and is a member of the Industrial Money Lenders Association of America. The company is incor- porated and has over three hundred stockholders, and more than one thousand borrowers. The com- pany is well and carefully managed, and the stock- holders are earning better than ten per cent on their investment. The offices are in the V. Wiess Build- ing, and the directors are J. R. Edmonds, J. D. Hens- ley, H. A. McDonald, Mrs. Rex Harris, Bryan H. Kyger, Dr. W. E. Tatum and L. W. King. The of- ficers are J. R. Edmonds, president; Dr. W. E. Ta- tum, first vice president; H. A. McDonald, second vice president; J. D. Hensley, secretary, and Mrs. Rex Harris, treasurer.

Mr. Edmonds was born in Palo Pinto County, Texas, the twenty-fifth of November, 1879, the son of F. G. Edmonds, a native of Missouri, who came to Palo Pinto County many years ago and was a school teacher and farmer, and Willie Hall Edmonds, also a native of Tennessee. Mr. Edmonds was edu- cated in the public schools of Palo Pinto County, graduating from high school, after which he went to Waco, where he took a commercial course prepara- tory to entering the business world. He engaged in general office work and in bookkeeping, until 1912, when he entered the insurance business, writ- ing life insurance until 1916. In that year he went with the Caffall Carriage Company, at Beaumont, remaining with that firm until 1921, when he re- signed, as vice president and general manager, to organize the Industrial Investment Company, of which he has since been president.

Mr. Edmonds was married in Trinity County, in 1901, to Miss Rose Longino, daughter of R. L. Lon- gino, a stockman, farmer and land owner of that section, and Julia Longino. Mr. and Mrs. Edmonds have three children, a son, Raymond, and two daugh- ters, Marjorie and Mabel, who are graduates of Bay- lor University. Mr. Edmonds is a member of the Lions Club, the Y. M. C. A. and with his family attends the Baptist Church. Mr. Edmonds' work along the lines of industrial loans has been far reach- ing in effect and is not only alleviating the loan shark evil, but has done much to improve the con- ditions of working people and has been of lasting benefit to them.

ILAS GARY BURNETT for more than two decades has been a factor in the commer- cial development of Beaumont, giving his time to the advancement of the laundry industry, and is one of the most progressive laun- dryowners in the Lone Star State. Mr. Burnett is president, treasurer and manager of the Ineeda Laundry, Incorporated, at Beaumont, a company or- ganized in 1901 by Mr. Burnett, and Trimble Broth-

ers, formerly of Galveston. From a small beginning, the laundry has grown consistently, expanding to meet increased demands for laundry service, and is now the largest laundry at Beaumont. The plant, located at 230 Main Street, is modern in every way, meeting the demands for family washing in a super- ior way, and rendering the housewives of Beaumont a service in this respect that cannot be excelled. Mr. Burnett is a pioneer in the offering of a com- plete family service to his patrons, and through ad- vertising, the distribution of educational literature, and in other ways, has done much to popularize this service, and has built a profitable, complete family wash department, offering a choice of four services. The Ineeda Laundry was the third in the United States to install a Nuway Family Washing plant, a system that they have since operated successfully and that has been a factor in the building up of the family wash department. The plant is now one of around sixty operating in the United States with this equipment, and Mr. Burnett has done much work along educational lines, making talks before the laundry owners at conventions, and in other ways, to encourage the development of this family washing system. He also has a large and complete cleaning and dyeing department. Mr. Burnett em- ploys a force of around a hundred operatives in his plant, all working under ideal conditions. A fleet of thirteen trucks cover Beaumont, Port Arthur and Orange and Liberty and in addition to this a large shipping and parcel post business is handled. The entire plant is a monument to the foresight of Mr. Burnett, and as an industrial unit to which Beaumont may well point with pride. Other officers of the Ineeda Laundry, Inc., in addition to Mr. Bur- nett, the president and treasurer, are George R. Ibert, vice president, secretary and superintendent.

Mr. Burnett was born at Galveston, the seventh day of May, 1869, the son of S. F. and Mary E. Bur- nett. He was educated in the schools of Crockett and Galveston, and engaged in clerical work until coming to Beaumont, in May, 1901. Shortly after his arrival in the city he organized the Ineeda Laundry, Inc., which he has since operated.

Mr. Burnett was married at Beaumont, to Miss Rosa Duke Watts, daughter of Judge A. T. Watts of Dallas. They have two children, Silas G., Jr. and Mary Ellen, and reside at 1910 Franklin Street. Mr. Burnett is a member of the Chamber of Com- merce and a former president of that organization. He belongs to the Beaumont Club, the Beaumont Country Club, the Kiwanis Club, and the Lions Club, and fraternally is a Scottish Rite Mason and a member of El Mina Temple Shrine at Galveston. Mr. Burnett was instrumental in introducing the Somers system of taxation in Beaumont in 1912 and now general throughout the county. He has been very active in all civic matters, and served as al- derman of the Third Ward for six years. He also takes a deep interest in educational work and was at one time a member of the school board for many years. Mr. Burnett is a business man whose sound and constructive policies have influenced the pros- perity of his city, and is one of the best known laundry owners of the Lone Star State. He is also interested in rice culture, owning three rice farms, totaling more than 1100 acres, in this part of the state.

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MEN OF TEXAS

C. RIGGS, pioneer merchant of Beaumont, and for about a quarter of a century asso- ciated with the prosperity of this city, is one of the most highly esteemed men in his community, and has given his time not alone to his private business interests, but to the advance- ment of the city. Mr. Riggs is president, man- ager and principal stock holders of the Riggs Fur- niture Company, a business established in February, 1922, and one of the leading furniture stores in the city. The business is well located, occupying a modern, two story structure, on a prominent corner, and with frontage of eighty feet. The store is well and attractively arranged, and the stock shows great care in its selection. Everything for the furnishing of a complete home is to be found at the Riggs Furniture Store, and the range of prices suits every purse. While the Riggs Furniture Company handles a retail trade to a large extent, they also do some wholesale business. The store is located at 702 Or- leans Street.

Mr. Riggs was born near Ratcliff, Arkansas, the seventeenth of March, 1869, the son of E. J. Riggs, a native of Alabama, and a blacksmith by trade. Mr. Riggs received his education through high school at Halletsville, Texas. He rounded out his education with a course at business college at Waco, Texas, and spent the following year and a half as clerk in a grocery store. This was followed by some time in the office of a general mercantile store, after which, in 1890, he went with the Hooks Lum- ber Company, and was with that firm for five and a half years. The next three years he taught in a business college, coming to Beaumont in 1899, and opening a business college here, which he conducted for a year and a half. In 1900 he went in the furni- ture business with B. Deutser, establishing a retail furniture store which he conducted until 1921, when he sold his interest. At that time he was vice pres- ident and treasurer of the company. He then opened his present store.

Mr. Riggs was married in Hardin County, Texas, in 1891, to Miss Lottie Chance, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Chance. Mr. Chance was well known in the Lone Star State as a lumberman. Mr. and Mrs. Riggs have for many years taken an active part in the social life of the community, their home, at 2195 Magnolia Avenue, being known for its hospitality. They have five children, H. P. Riggs, in the furniture business with is father, L. W. Riggs; Miss Ida Mae Riggs, C. A. Riggs, and T. C. Riggs Jr., also with his father. Mr. Riggs is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and is a Mason, York Rite, and a member of Arabia Temple Shrine. In addi- tion to the furniture business, in which he is a vet- eran, Mr. Riggs is vice president of the San Bernard Oil Company, secretary of the Duke Hotel Company, and a director in the Security Bank and Trust Com- pany. Mr. Riggs has always been greatly interested in the development of Beaumont, and has done much to forward its advancement along commercial and civic lines.

RANK LUCIEN SHEEKS for nearly a quar- ter of a century has been an outstanding figure in the railroad world at Beaumont, and is one of the pioneer railroad men of the Lone Star State, having been associated with transportation affairs for almost a half of a century.

Mr. Sheeks is division freight and passenger agent for the Southern Pacific Lines, a position he has held since 1912, and wherein he has made an exceptional record. Since coming with this line nearly half a century ago, Mr. Sheeks has watched the develop- ment of the transportation system of the country, with the consequent results of extension of trade and increased prosperity, until the United States has one of the highest developed and best controlled railroad organizations in the world. He is a traf- fic expert, an authority on railroads, their rates and services, and is one of the best informed railroad men in Beaumont. Mr. Sheeks is also interested in com- mercial and financial enterprises here, and is a direc- tor of the Texas National Bank and of the San Ja- cinto Life Insurance Company, and owns city prop- erty in Beaumont.

Frank Lucien Sheeks was born at Millegeville, In- diana, the fourteenth of December, 1860, the son of Sampson and Rebecca Sheeks, for many years resi- dents of that state. As a boy he attended the coun- try schools of his native state, and after leaving school came to Texas, in 1878. This date also marks his entrance in the railroad world, and in that year he went with the Houston and Texas Central Rail- road. During the years that followed, he served in all the various departments, applying himself dili- gently to acquiring the principles of railroad opera- tion, and equipping himself to hold an executive position. He was in the ticket office, and later was dispatcher, cashier and city ticket agent. He spent eight years in Sherman, where he was freight agent for the Houston and Texas Central, a branch of the Southern Pacific Lines. In 1902 he came to Beau- mont as local freight and passenger agent, a posi- tion he held for the ensuing decade, when he was made division freight and passenger agent of the Southern Pacific Railroad Lines, with a large and important territory under his jurisdiction. Mr. Sheeks has throughout his railroad career been pop- ular with the employees and men higher up, alike, winning the approval of all by his strict adherence to duty and his interest in transportation matters. His present important position has been attained entirely through his own efforts, and in recognition of his merit, and he directs traffic affairs over a wide territory with an assurance and knowledge of the work that has come from his years of experience.

Mr. Sheeks was married at Topeka, Kansas, in 1884, to Miss Allie Biddle, daughter of Abram Jones Biddle, a farmer and land owner of that state. Mr. and Mrs. Sheeks removed to Beaumont in 1902, when Mr. Sheeks' duties demanded his presence in this city and have since made Beaumont their home, tak- ing an active part in the social life of the com- munity. They have for many years resided at 1435 Broadway. They have a family of three children, two sons, Charles Biddle Sheeks, secretary and treasurer of the Beaumont Iron Works, one of the important industrial enterprises of Beaumont, and Daffan Paul Sheeks, vice president of the First Na- tional Bank of Port Arthur, and a resident of that city, and a daughter, Mrs. Helen Sheeks Muery, who lives at Beaumont. Mr. Sheeks is active in fra- ternal work, belonging to the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of the World, and the Elks. He be- longs to the Rotary Club and the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce, and is especially interested in the ad- vancement of Beaumont along progressive lines. He

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J. b. King

SWNOOKS

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

has made himself a substantial, public-spirited resi- dent of this city, investing in business enterprises here, and contributing to every civic movement, and in other ways showing his interest in the welfare of the city.

EORGE WASHINGTON HOOKS for the past decade has been one of the progressive residents of Beaumont, and as a realtor has taken an active part in the development of this city. Mr. Hooks is half owner of the realty firm of Hooks Realty Company, and is associated with his brother, J. L. Hooks, in this business. The firm has their offices in the Gilbert Building, and handle a general real estate business, looking after the interests of their many clients in an efficient and satisfactory manner. Mr. Hooks has also en- gaged in oil operations, acquiring properties and drilling in unproven territory, and has been very successful in this field of operation, bringing in a number of producing wells. He is president of the Apex Oil and Gas Company, and secretary and treasurer of the Texla Coastal Oil Company. Mr. Hooks also has interests in the various coastal fields, and is well and favorably known to the oil fra- ternity.

Mr. Hooks was born in Hardin County, the twen- ty-third of August, 1862, the son of William Hooks, a farmer and stockman, and Martha Hooks. He attended the schools of Hardin County and later the University at Georgetown for one year, after which he entered on his business career. He operated a drug store for four years, at which time he bought a saw mill, which he ran for eight years. He then became interested in the oil business, and in 1901 went to Saratoga, where he and his associates drilled the first producing well in that field, which came in for seven hundred barrels a day, and in which the first strainer was ever used in the coastal fields. Mr. Hooks has since operated in Sour Lake, at Vinton, Louisiana, and at Edgerly, Louisiana, bringing in the first well at each of the two last named places. He has land holdings in Hardin and Liberty Counties, and planted the first real fig or- chard in Southeast Texas, in 1895.

Mr. Hooks was married at Beaumont, in 1885, to Miss Maggie Wiess, daughter of Napoleon and Cyn- thia Wiess. Captain Wiess was captain of a steam- boat on the Neches River, and well known in naviga- tion circles. Mr. and Mrs. Hooks have six children, Mrs. F. H. Patrick, Wiess Hooks, Edison Hooks, Mrs. J. H. Bertrees, William Hooks and Georgie Hooks, and reside at 2595 Linson Avenue. Mr. Hooks has made many friends, both as a business man, and as an oil operator, and few residents of Beaumont are held in higher esteem.

OHN THOMAS BOOTH, whose name for around two decades and upward has been of significance in the business world at Beaumont, as a manufacturer has had a direct influence on the prosperity and advancement of the city, and has also done his share of public duties, serving as a public official, and taking an active part in all civic development. Mr. Booth is the owner of the Booth Cement Tile Roofing Company, a business he established more than a decade ago, and which has since been one of the important industries of the city. Mr. Booth man- ufactures concrete tile roofing, and since the estab-

lishment of this business has roofed over seven hundred Beaumont houses with Booth Tile Roofs. He was the first in the city to begin the manufac- ture of this exceptionally durable and satisfactory roofing, and has since engaged in its production, using patented machinery, and occupying a fine and modern plant. A force of around fifteen employees are engaged in making the roofing, and this force is being increased as trade demands suggest. Mr. Booth also has one of the largest and best sheet metal plants in the city, established here in 1901. Mr. Booth makes all kinds of sheet metal work, including roofing, and executes special orders. He has supplied the sheet metal work on many of the large buildings at Beaumont, and is equipped to handle any order, large or small. The plant is located at 990 Fannin Street, and has all modern equipment, with special machines for every oper- ation, and turns out only the highest class work. A force of ten employees work in this department, all skilled metal workers. The two plants, the one turning out concrete tile roofing, and the other sheet metal products, are among the important industries at Beaumont, and have supplied a steady demand in this city for these products.

Mr. Booth was born at Morley in Scott County, Missouri, on the eighteenth day of July, 1872, the son of K. W. and Harriett Booth. His father was a contractor and builder of Kansas, and later moved to Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1877. Mr. Booth was educated in the schools at Little Rock, and made that city his home until 1891, when he came to Gal- veston, establishing a sheet metal manufacturing business in that city. He remained there until 1901, when he made the decision to remove his plant to Beaumont, which city he felt offered a broad busi- ness opportunity in this field. He came here in 1901, establishing his business here at the same time, and has since built up a large and prosperous industrial concern. The concrete tile roofing bus- iness is of later origin, having been added to the first business in 1912.

Mr. Booth was married at Galveston, in 1895, to Miss Katie Hogan, the daughter of J. F. Hogan, a contractor of Galveston. Mr. and Mrs. Booth have a family of five children, three sons-Thomas Eu- gene Booth, who is associated with his father in the sheet metal and concrete tile roofing business; Jack Warren Booth, a driller, and active in oil de- velopment work, and George Booth, also of Beau- mont, and two daughters, Mrs. Juanita Booth Splawn, and Miss Cathrene Booth. The family re- sides at 2218 South Neches Street. Mr. Booth has taken an active part in public life at Beaumont, and served for nine years as alderman, making a record for the many progressive movements he sponsored, and serving as mayor pro tem for three years, during which time he administered the munic- ipal affairs of the city in a highly efficient and commendable manner. He is a member of the Rotary Club and the Beaumont Club, and is active in fraternity work, belonging to the Elks, the Wood- men of the World, the Knights of Pythias, and the Masons, York Rite, and a member of El Mina Tem- ple Shrine at Galveston. Mr. Booth has been a leader in all development work at Beaumont since he came here to make the city his home, and has taken an active part in the upbuilding of the city. He has many friends here, who regard him as a thoroughly public spirited citizen.

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New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 94

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