New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 97

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 97

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).

The plant and offices of the Mabry Company are located at Crockett and Goliad Streets, a con- venient and ideal location for a manufacturing es- tablishment of this kind. The company has a splendid, well equipped plant with machinery for doing the very best of all kinds of mill work. In the fixture department the company is prepared to build complete show cases and store fixtures of every character. Doors, windows and interior house wood work add to the extensive business built up by the Mabry Company during the past three years. The plant is equipped with the latest improved ma- chinery in every department and twenty employees are required in the various branches of the business.

L. H. Mabry was born at Utah, Alabama, on Au- gust 8, 1877, a son of Chas. M. and Racheal (Mas- singill) Mabry. His father was a well known cotton planter of Alabama and Mr. Mabry attended the public and high schools of his native state. After leaving schools he engaged in various lines of work for several years and made a close study of engineer- ing and the handling of all kinds of machinery. For some years he was employed as chief engineer at the city water works.

In 1912 he entered the dairy business at Beaumont and was very successful. He had one of the largest dairy establishments in this section and supplied milk and milk products to a large number of Beau- mont people. His present business was established in 1920 and has enjoyed a steady and consistent growth.

In 1921 Mr. Mabry was married at Beaumont to Miss Inez Carter, daughter of J. W. Carter, music merchant and the oldest piano dealer in Texas.

Mr. Mabry is actively interested in civic affairs and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Young Men's Business League, the Beau- mont Chamber Commerce and other civic organiza- tions. He is a communicant of the Methodist Epis- copal Church South.

1713

MEN OF TEXAS

ERMAN WEBER, whose name for two dec- ades has been of significance in construc- tion activities at Beaumont, has during this time handled much business in this city, and has attained the reputation of a careful, conserva- tive building contractor, well equipped for his work in this field. Mr. Weber gives particular attention to the larger contracts, his work being principally office buildings, factories, warehouses, churches, schools, and other public buildings and high class residence work. Mr. Weber handles contracts in Beaumont only, and has complete equipment for handling construction work on a large scale. His reputation for careful and reliable work is well known, and he has been awarded many contracts where his bid has been the highest, because of the recognized quality of his work. Among the recent buildings completed by Mr. Weber are the new High School Building, the Court House, the Annex to the San Jacinto Building, Temple Emanuel Syna- gogue, the Jackson Motor Company Building, the French High School and the new City Market. He also built the Liberty, Palace and Tivoli Theaters. Mr. Weber has his office in the Perlstein Building.

Mr. Weber is a native of Germany, where his birth occurred the thirteenth of August, 1883. His par- ents, William and Anna Weber, came to America in 1891, going to Chicago, where his father was a brick layer. Mr. Weber attended the schools of Chi- cago, and after finishing there, engaged in clerical work in the mercantile business for five years. He then came to Beaumont, in 1903, and with his broth- er began in the contracting business. In 1906, his brother's death occurred, and he has since continued in the construction business alone.

Mr. Weber was married at Beaumont, in 1908, to Miss Hanna Hofman, whose parents live in Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Weber have an attractive home at 2045 Magnolia Avenue, and are the parents of three children, Bertha Elizabeth, Chester Herman, and Arthur Ray. Mr. Weber is a member of the Beau- mont Club and the Rotary Club, and fraternally he is a Mason, York Rite, and member of El Mina Tem- ple Shrine, and also belongs to the Dokies and Knights of Pythias. Mr. Weber takes a deep in- terest in all civic development, particularly in the upbuilding and beautification of the city, and his work in these lines is worthy of notice. His posi- tion as one of the foremost builders here has often made it possible for him to secure advantages for the city in this field, and he has suggested many things that have made for a more beautiful, more progressive city. Mr. Weber has the highest re- · gard of his associates, both in his business and his private life, and has many friends here to whom his advancement has given real pleasure.

S. MOREY, well known in hotel circles in Texas and Louisiana, began his career in the hotel business as a very young man with the old Queen Hotel at Beeville, Texas, and is well and favorably known to the traveling public. He has devoted his entire business life to the hotel industry, and after his first experience at Beeville went to Chicago and for a period of three years was associated with the Morrison Hotel of that city, after which he returned to Texas and went with the Hotel Galvez at Galveston and remained for one year with that well known coast hotel. He

then became associated with the Biltmore Hotel at Manhattan, where he remained for three years, and left this hostelry in order to enter the World War. Mr. Morey enlisted on April 18th, 1917, as a private and was assigned to the 165th Infantry, Machine Gun Company of the Forty-second Division in New York, which was later made into the Rainbow Divi- sion, and he was active in this division until he was wounded on July 19th, 1918, and was forced to remain in the hospital until the close of the war. Mr. Morey was discharged on January 25th, 1919, and immediately went with the William Penn Ho- tel at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he remained for one year and then returned to Texas and became associated with the Rice Hotel at Houston, where he remained for one year, after which he went with the Bender Hotel of that city, which is operated by the Daley-Moffatt Company. He remained for two years with the Hotel Bender, when he came to Beau- mont as manager of the Hotel Crosby for the same company. He then was assigned by this company to open the Virginia Hotel at Monroe, Louisiana, in November, 1925. He is now manager of this hotel.

Mr. Morey was married at Pittsburgh, Pennsyl- vania, on June 16th, 1920, to Miss Ann Mclaughlin, a member of a well known Pennsylvania family. They have one daughter, Josephine. Mr. Morey is popular in the business and social circles in Texas and Louisiana where he has made a host of friends.

OLAND MILLER PYRON, for the past two decades has been associated with industrial activities at Beaumont and has recently become a factor in developing the oil fields of this section through the establishment of a ma- chinery supply company that keeps pace with active development and is a distinct industrial and civic asset to the community. Mr. Pyron is vice presi- dent and general manager of the Gulf Coast Ma- chinery & Supply Company, a firm established in 1919. The company, located in the center of a great oil district, supplies the needs of the operator on short notice, and gives a service that is no small factor in the fields. The company makes oil well specialties, and general supplies, also special pipe line tools, and refinery equipment. Mr. Pyron has designed and manufactures the Gulfco Core Drill, Banner Brand Bits, Gulfco Crown and Traveling Blocks and many others too numerous to mention. The products are known as the Gulfco Brand. The company has made rapid progress since its estab- lishment, handling an unusually large volume of business, and after a few years of operation found it necessary to enlarge the floor space and equip- ment. The shops are located on two railroads, facilitating transportation. The company owns a site of four and a half acres, which they may de- velop in the near future to a new and modern plant. A large forge and machine shop are an integral part of the plant, a business that furnishes employ- ment to a force to fifty people. J. D. Butler, pres- ident, and S. O. Hampil, secretary and treasurer, are the other officers of the company.

Mr. Pyron was born at Charlotte, North Carolina, the twenty-seventh of November, 1883, the son of Tinsley Pyron, an old settler of that place, and now retired, and Helen (Festerman) Pyron. Mr. Pyron received his elementary education in the public schools of Charlotte, and graduated from the high school at Paris, Texas. He then began in the

1714

Herman Haber

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

machine shops of the Frisco Railroad, at Hugo, Oklahoma, and spent two years there, following this with two years at Paris, handling machinery for a cotton oil company. He then came to Beau- mont in 1903, and went in the machine shop of the Gulf Pipe Line Company, remaining there until 1919, the last seven years as general superintendent of all shops, and the last year as chief designing engi- neer. Mr. Pyron left the Gulf Company to estab- lish his present business.

Mr. Pyron was married at Beaumont, in 1910, to Miss Dolly Johnson. They have one child, Roland Miller Pyron, Jr., and reside at 2443 Broadway. Mr. Pyron is a member of the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce, the Port Arthur Tarpon Club, the Elks at Beaumont, and is a Mason. In addition to his other interests he is one of the organizers of the Diamond Foundry and Machine Company in 1923, and of the Tex-Mex Candelilla Wax Company in 1925. Familiar not only with the definite needs of the oil field worker, but an expert designer and a machinist of many years practical experience, Mr. Pyron has made an unusual success of his bus- iness, and established a record for service and con- siderate treatment to his patrons that any firm would be proud to claim.

ARTIN BUCKLEY RIGGS, well known busi- ness man, has been connected with the com- mercial activities of Beaumont for nearly a quarter of a century, having come here in 1900. He is now president, treasurer and general manager of the Bernard Manufacturing Company, with offices in the Threadneedle Building.

The Bernard Manufacturing Company was' estab- lished by Mr. Riggs in 1922 and is engaged in the manufacture of box springs, mattresses, pillows, etc. It has a large factory and is the only concern of this kind operating here. The business has experienced a steady and consistent growth since its organiza- tion and its products are in wide demand. A re- tail furniture business is also conducted by the Bernard Company at 890 Franklin Street. A com- plete line of furniture is carried at the Franklin Street store. Other officers of the Bernard Manu- facturing Company besides Mr. Riggs are Felix H. Saunders, vice president, and W. C. Bartlett, secre- tary. Mr. Riggs is a stockholder in Riggs Furniture Company, stockholder in Security State Bank and Trust Company and secretary and treasurer of the Duke Hotel Company.

A native of Texas, Mr. Riggs was born in Lavaca County on January 26, 1879. He is a son of J. J. and Addie (Buckley) Riggs. His father was a well known farmer and cattle man and Mr. Riggs re- ceived his education in the public and high schools at Yoakum. He later attended a business college at Houston and upon completing his studies there en- gaged in railroad clerical work. After two years in the railroad offices he removed to Beaumont and from 1900 until 1906 was engaged in the dry goods and grocery business here. He then went with the French Market, remaining until 1918, when he be- came connected with B. Deutser. He still handles the office work for Mr. Deutser in connection with the Bernard Company.

Mr. Riggs has devoted most of his business life to clerical work and office management. He is an expert bookkeeper and accountant and a master of

all office detail.

In 1903 Mr. Riggs was married in Beaumont to Miss Mavette Waite, member of a well known Beau- mont family. They have one son, Lloyd, twenty years of age. The family home is at 2390 Park Street.

A thorough going business man, Mr. Riggs is a tireless worker and is always on the job. Besides the management of the Bernard Manufacturing Com- pany, he is vice president of the B. Deutser Furni- ture Company and secretary of the San Bernard Oil Company.

Mr. Riggs has always been keenly interested in the development of Beaumont and its trade territory. His long acquaintance here has given him a splen- did grasp of city affairs and he is ready at all times to aid in any movement that is for the best interest of the city as a whole. He is an active member of the Chamber of Commerce and gives freely of his time to the work of this organization.

HOMAS JAMES LAMB, for upwards of three decades has been a factor in the industrial advancement of Beaumont, a city wherein he has spent practically his entire life, and where his activities as one of the leading exponents of the printing business have brought him in touch with many phases of life. Mr. Lamb is the owner of the Lamb Printing and Stationery Company, which he established in 1908, and which has since met with a consistent and well deserved growth. Mr. Lamb occupies a large and modern plant, at 239 Bowie Street, where he has all modern equipment and a force of ten employees. Mr. Lamb gives special attention to commercial job printing, and also carries a good line of office supplies. He has an unusually large stock and is prepared to fill any order, either large or small, promptly and effi- ciently.

Mr. Lamb was born in East India, the eleventh of December, 1874, the son of Mr. and Mrs. T. A. Lamb. His father was an indigo planter in East India for a number of years, later, when the subject of this sketch was an infant, coming to Beaumont. He was educated in the schools of Beaumont, and at the age of twelve had his first experience in the printing business, with the Beaumont Enterprise. He was with this paper from 1887 until 1893, leaving to go with the Beaumont Journal, where he remained until 1896, when he went in business for himself. He established the Lamb Printing and Stationery Company, with which he is now connected, in 1908, and has built up one of the largest and most pro- gressive printing businesses in the city.

Mr. Lamb was married at Beaumont, in 1896, to Miss Carrie Clapp, from Columbus, Texas. They reside at 2187 Franklin Street and have two chil- dren-Mrs. Roy Britton, and T. Kelsey Lamb. Mr. Lamb is a member of the Rotary Club, the Beau- mont Club, the Round Table Club, and fraternally is a Knight of Pythias and an Elk. He has for many years taken a deep interest in civic work and was a member of the city council form 1912 until 1916, and served as city commissioner from 1920 until 1922. During these years he advocated every forward movement, and has since continued to show his interest in the development of the city, con- tributing in every way to the support and success of the various civic movements which have been organized to advance Beaumont.

1717

MEN OF TEXAS

B. SHEPARD, 311 Temperance Building, is one of the best known real estate men in Beaumont, and has been actively con- nected with development projects in the city for a number of years. During recent years Mr. Shepard has confined his activities largely to the handling of his own properties and those of his mother, who has extensive realty holdings in Beaumont and vicinity, of both improved and unim- proved character. Recently plans were made by Mr. Shepard for putting on two large additions to the City of Beaumont on tracts of land he has owned for some time.

Coming to Beaumont first in 1901 during the ear- ly days of the Spindletop oil boom, Mr. Shepard has lived here continuously since that time with the ex- ception of one year at Jennings, Louisiana, and a similar period in Oklahoma. Upon his return here in 1911 he became engaged in the real estate busi- ness and has continued in this line since. His good judgment and knowledge of values has enabled him to render splendid service to his clients and his foresight made possible the acquisition of valuable holdings for his own estate.

A native of Texas, Mr. Shepard was born in Washington County on April 8th, 1873, a son of Dr. Frank A. and Ida (Holland) Shepard. His father for many years was one of the best known phy- sicians and surgeons in that section of the State and did a wonderful work in the pioneer days when knowledge and skill, and not hospital facilities, counted in the race of the physician against the grim reaper.

After studying in the Baylor University at Inde- pendence, Mr. Shepard attended the Texas Agricul- tural and Mechanical College for two years and later was a student in business colleges at Dallas and Waco. After completing his studies Mr. Shep- ard worked in a mercantile establishment for a while, and then became identified with the Cow Creek Tram Company, fifty miles north of Beau- mont, remaining with this concern for eight years. After coming to Beaumont in 1901 Mr. Shepard operated a grocery store for a year. His years of experience in the lumber business gave him a splen- did knowledge of this industry.

In June, 1921, Mr. Shepard was married at Beau- mont to Miss Pearl Bradley, daughter of Judge Silas Bradley, for many years a well known jurist and attorney of Knox County. Mr. Shepard takes an active interest in civic affairs, and is a member of the Hoo Hoo's, and Beaumont Club, Knights of Pythias, Chamber of Commerce and director in the City National Bank, and a stockholder in a num- ber of local companies.

KOELEMAY, pioneer resident of Neder- land, and a factor in the development of this community, has for a quarter of a century been engaged in vital commercial and civic activities here, and is one of the best known dairymen in this locality. Mr. Koelemay is postmaster at Nederland, directing the local post- office in a capable and efficient manner. He also operates a large wholesale and retail grain bus- iness, and while not financially interested in the Koelemay Dairy, he is still interested in the oper- ation and maintenance of the high standards set at its organization, which has for more than a quar- ter of a century been operated by the Koelemay

family, and acts as purchasing agent for the Co- operative Dairymen's Association.

K. Koelemay was born in Holland, the first of March, 1882, the son of Martin Koelemay, a native of that country, who brought his family to Neder- land in 1898, when there were only two houses and one hotel in the town and began in the dairy bus- iness, in which he was active until his death, and Anna DeJong Koelemay, also a native of Holland, and now deceased. Mr. Koelemay received his edu- cation in the schools of Holland, and after coming to this country, as a boy of sixteen, engaged in the dairy business with his father. Since the death of the elder Mr. Koelemay he has continued to take a directing interest in this dairy, one of the oldest in this section, which is still operated by the family.

Mr. Koelemay was married at Nederland, the thirty-first of August, 1904, to Miss Nellie Rienstra, whose brother, George Rienstra, was the first to make his home in Nederland, and who still resides here, operating a dairy near the city. Mr. and Mrs. Koelemay make their home at Nederland, and have three children: Anna, Katherina, and Carl John Koelemay. Mr. Koelemay is a Woodman of the World, degree of honor, and takes an active interest in the order. He has for many years been active in the work of the Co-operative Dairymen's Asso- ciation, of which he is a member, and has been purchasing agent for that organization for a num- ber of years. He also takes an active part in civic affairs, and is particularly interested in any move- ment that has for its objective the development of this city.

Note: Since this sketch was written Mr. Koele- may moved to Winnie, Texas.

RANK GARDINER came to Beaumont, Tex- as, from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, during the oil boom days of this city, and brought with him the progressive ideas and busi- ness methods of the Keystone State. Mr. Gardiner is the sole owner of the milinery establishment lo- cated at 592 Pearl Street and known as The Speci- alty Store, which is an innovation in the millinery business in this city and Southeast Texas. He first started this store at 555 Pearl Street, and during the early part of 1924 removed to his pres- ent, splendid location. The Specialty Store special- izes in ladies' hats which sell at $5.00 and $7.50, these prices being the standard in prices at Mr. Gardiner's Emporium. This store, which handles lady's hats only, is very exclusive and carries a full and complete line of high class goods. Nine ex- perienced people are employed by Mr. Gardiner, who are trained in the art of pleasing and making the purchaser feel at home in this store. He has com- pleted plans and arrangements for opening a mil- linery factory for the making of hats for this store. Mr. Gardiner began his career in the business world as a young man in the millinery stores of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and with an innate liking for the millinery business continued in this line of en- deavor, and when he read of the big oil boom at Beaumont, Texas, he decided to come to this city and engage in business. This was the thought that culminated in The Specialty Store of this city which has grown to large proportions, and is known to all the ladies of Southeast Texas. He has succeeded during the high prices, in keeping standard, high

1718

C. B. Shepard

Guy S . anderson .

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

class hats at a comparatively low price, and sells thousands of hats each season.

Mr. Gardiner was born at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, on October 25th, 1882. His parents, also natives of Pennsylvania, were members well known families. His education was obtained in the public schools of Pittsburg.

Mr. Gardiner was married at Beaumont, Texas, on June 5th, 1912, to Miss Sadie Riley, a native of Centralia, Illinois, and a member of a prominent Illinois family, where she was reared and educated. Since locating at Beaumont, he has identified him- self with the business and social life of this city, and is an enthusiastic booster for Beaumont, and Southeast Texas. He is optimistic as to the future of this city, which he expects to continue its steady, consistent growth, and is looking forward to an era of great business prosperity in all lines. Al- though a young man, he is frequently called upon by his employees for counsel and advice in matters con- cerning their private affairs, and his advice is free- ly given to those faithful employees with whom he is directly and continuously associated.

UY SANFORD ANDERSON, 301 Austin Street, has been closely identified with the commercial activities of Beaumont for the past three years or more and during his residence here has developed a large circle of friends and acquaintances, who have come to appreciate thoroughly his splendid business qualities and the manner in which he so whole-heartedly enters into the spirit which has done so much for the upbuild- ing of Beaumont.

Mr. Anderson is manager of the Beaumont branch of the Texas Creamery Company, which has its home office and principal business at Houston. The Beaumont branch, under the direction of Mr. Ander- son, has developed into a large distributing point for the products of the firm he represents.

The Texas Creamery Company is one of the largest dairy concerns in Texas. It was organized in 1916. A. J. Smith of Houston is president of the company, which serves a large trade territory in South and Southeast Texas. The company man- ufactures the famous "Morning Glory" brand of butter and is also a large wholesale distributor of eggs, cheese and other dairy products. From a small beginning the Beaumont branch has increased its business until now three trucks are required for its local deliveries and at Orange and Port Ar- thur, the trade at these two points being served from the Beaumont house.

Mr. Anderson is a native of Tennessee and is a son of W. T. and Josie (Sanford) Anderson. He was born at Johnsonville, on April 1, 1888. His parents removed to Dickson, Tennessee, and it was there Mr. Anderson attended the public and high schools, and learned the details of the dairy busi- ness under his father. He remained with his father until 1910, and two years later came to Texas and located in Houston, where he continued to engage in the milk business, paying special attention to pasteurization and preservation of milk products. He knows thoroughly every detail of the dairy indus- try from the best methods of production on through the preservation and distribution of the products. In 1914 he became identified with the Texas Cream- ery Company and worked in various departments at Houston before being assigned as manager of

the branch house at Beaumont.

On September 28th, 1908, Mr. Anderson was mar- ried at Decatur, Georgia, to Miss Lucy Moredock, member of a well known Georgia family. They have four children-Lucille, Wilma and Corinne, daugh- ters, and one son, Guy S., Jr. The family home is at 2855 Neches Street.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 2, Part 97

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