USA > Texas > The encyclopedia of Texas, V.1 > Part 101
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Mr. Oneil hails from New York. He was born at Syracuse of that state on August 29, 1872. His parents were Cornelius Oneil, a pioneer oil man of Pennsylvania, deceased since 1917, and Anne Dalton Oneil. After a thorough course in the school system of Pennsylvania, Mr. Oneil as a youth of seventeen began his career as an oil man, beginning at that time with Pue & Emmerson, who sent hin to Signet, Ohio. Later he went with Kirtbride Brothers of the same state, but at the age of twenty he began to operate independently for himself and has continued in that way to this day. In 1901 he came to Texas by way of West Virginia where he worked for four years. His Texas operations began in Beaumont, at Spindle Top. He went to Sour Lake in 1903 and to Humble in 1904. In the Humble fields he owned a lease on 408 acres of the Stephens tract on which, in 1910, he drilled a well to the
depth of 2,760 feet but failed to find oil. After his lease lapsed, in 1915, a well was drilled 3,200 feet deep within sixty feet of the hole Mr. Oneil had abandoned, and was brought in with a yield of 25,000 barrels, making the property worth fifty million dollars. It should be said here, however, that Mr. Oneil did make a million on his share in the Humble interests. He owned wells at Spindle Top that brought him 20,000 barrels a day. He now owns about 3,000 acres of farm and ranch lands in Southern Texas and much residence prop- erty in Houston close to the business district and two beautiful homes in that city, one at 1011 Caro- line Street and the other at 241 West Nineteenth Street, Houston Heights.
In 1901, at New Orleans, Mr. Oneil married Cora Cornelia Lindsey, of Rock House, Ohio, deceased since March 10, 1907. Nine years later, in Feb- ruary of 1916, Miss Frances Smith, of Colorado, be- came the bride of Mr. Oneil. They have one son, John, Jr. The family residence is at 1812 Tenth Street. Mr. Oneil is a member of the B. P. O. Elks.
As one who has operated continuously at Hunble, Sour Lake and Goose Creek from 1904 until coming to Wichita Falls in 1918, and who has owned over 500 different big Texas wells, as many, and probably more wells independently than any other Texas oil man, over 300 of them himself, Mr. Oneil is really one of the pioneer oil men of Texas.
A. PARKER, of the Southwestern Broker- age Company, Wichita Falls, is one of the largest marketers of production in the oil business in the Northwest territory of Texas. While Texas has had to her credit an oil production for many years, yet until the coming in of the western and northwestern parts of the state into this industry, she was not rated with the fore- most of Uncle Sam's oil producers as is the Lone Star State today. It is the territory of the west and the northwest that has made Texas a leader in oil and oil products and Mr. Parker, partner with M. Petefish, of Mississippi, is handling a good part of this production through their organization, the Southwestern Brokerage Company. Wichita Falls, even before the present day oil operations, has long been important as a gathering center for the products of an immense territory about her; today she is the center of one of the richest oil districts of the world, ranking with the famed fields of Tampico, Mexico, and Russia.
Mr. Parker is a native Texan; he was born at Central, Texas, in 1881. His father, J. M. Parker, is a retired farmer, native also of the Lone Star State. The public schools gave the youth the best education they afforded and, after spending the first twenty years of his life on the farm, C. A. Parker decided to enter the world of trade and commerce. For nine years he was in the horse and mule busi- ness, then entered real estate and brokerage activity at Ballinger, Texas, and was in that city through the great growing period it experienced. From Ballinger he went to San Antonio where he resided for a year. thence he moved to Tulsa, Okla., where he engaged in the sale of oil leases and the drilling business. From Oklahoma, Mr. Parker came to Wichita Falls where he and Mr. Petefish established the Southwestern Brokerage Company. Mr. Parker is also doing some operating in the oil fields of his territory as well as marketing production for others.
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Sef. Setusony.
MEN OF TEXAS
In 1900, at Coryell County, Miss Arwood became ... bride of Mr. Parker; they have two daughters and one grandchild; the Parker residence is at 2000 Smp Boulevard.
Wichita Falls is one of the livest centers of the .. uthwest and in its activities Mr. Parker and his mpany have a good part.
HARLES E. ANDERSON, JR., American Na- tional Bank Building, Wichita Falls, is one of the most successful drilling contractors 4 in the Wichita district; the number of big ucers he has already brought in as a driller- a-d in which he has a share by virtue of his con- "acts with oil companies and operators-is ap- rroaching a hundred. His drilling business is con- ated in his own name-he has no partners. When : is remembered that it is the recent development in western and northwestern Texas that has brought the state to the forefront among Uncle Sam's oil producing territories, and when it is remembered that this activity is only in its beginning, something of the richness of the field he has chosen for his wtivity is realized and Mr. Anderson will be active there for some time to come even in the drilling business besides with his interests that are daily increasing as a producer. His service has been in demand by the biggest concerns since the recent development of the last few years in the northwest part of the state.
The Texas capital city was the birthplace of Mr. Anderson on May 7, 1878. His parents were Charles F. Anderson and Texas (Goodrich) Anderson; his father was active as an oil man, a drilling con- tractor, since 1901 with Beaumont as a start. The Austin schools gave the youth his education and then he chose to enter the business of his father, for which he had been accustomed. From 1901 until 1904, he was active as a driller about Beaumont; he drilled about Spindle Top, about Thrall and around Damond Mound. He brought in nineteen wells in South Texas. In January, 1918, he came to Wichita Falls where he is kept busy by the big- gest interests.
On November 28, 1906, in South Texas, Miss Emma Hudson and Mr. Anderson were married. She was of Louisiana. They have two children, Hud- son and Mary; the family reside at 2209 Tenth Street.
Mr. Anderson is a member of the B. P. O. E., the Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club, the Mid- Continent Oil and Gas Association and the Wichita Club. He is active in every civic interest of his city as well as zealous in her commercial realms.
RED H. GILHOUSE, Owner of the Gilhouse Fashion Store, 818 Indiana Avenue, Wichita Falls, carries the most complete, exclusive line of Ladies' Ready-to-Wear and Millinery in Northwest Texas. Wichita Falls is one of the most progressive cities in the Southwest, fast-mov- ing, growing by bounds, and is known as a city of big enterprises and big men. The mothers, wives, sisters and sweethearts of these men who achieve are " the sole consideration of the Gilhouse Fashion House which seeks to meet with quality and fashionable wear every need or whim of feminine Wichita Falls. This business was established in 1913 and in the right years of service rendered the public of its city, it has become one of the best known and patronized concerns of its kind in Wichita Falls. Four em-
ployees are in continuous service, supplying the de- mand of feminine wearers.
Mr. Gilhouse is a native of Missouri; he was born in Washington of that state in 1877. His parents were D. Gilhouse, a native farmer of Missouri, and Annie Gilhouse. The Catholic school system has given Mr. Gilhouse the best education available. At the outset, he chose the merchandising business for his career. He began with a men and boys clothing store, in St. Louis, then transferred to Memphis, Tennessee, for a short while, and in 1900 he came to Texas, affiliating himself with E. M. Kahn & Com- pany, a leading clothier in Dallas. Here he remained for one and a half years; then he went with the Alex Kahn Company, Wichita Falls, as manager, in 1905. He served in this position for six years and then went into business for himself.
In 1910, at Wichita Falls, Miss Hattie Ava, a native Texan, became the bride of Mr. Gilhouse; they have a daughter, Mildred, and the family residence is at 1602 Kemp Boulevard.
R OBERT GOODFELLOW, president of the Goodfellow Detective Agency, Wichita Falls, is one of the best known men in public life in West Texas. He has been a peace officer in various capacities for over a quarter of a century and has had many thrilling experiences in trailing and apprehending criminals of practically every type from ordinary offenders to murderers and safe blowers. He established his detective agency in August, 1920, and on January 6, 1921, enlarged the business and added several high class men to his organization. An office is also main- tained at Graham and seven skilled men who have had many years experience as officers, are employed on the field force. The firm specializes in the re- covery of stolen automobiles and does criminal and civil investigating in all parts of Texas. The agency has reciprocal connections with other offices in all of the southern states.
Mr. Goodfellow is a native of Dallas County and was born in 1867, a son of M. Goodfellow who came to Texas before the Civil War and settled at Grape- vine where he engaged in farming and stock raising. He was educated in the public schools at Dallas and Baylor University at Waco. His career as a peace officer began 31 years ago when he was named city marshal at Coleman. He was later appointed deputy sheriff and then elected sheriff, serving in these three capacities a total of eighteen years. He was con- nected with the State Game and Fish Commission at Austin for six years as chief deputy and then served for three years as deputy United States marshal for the northern district of Texas. With the opening of the oil boom in North Texas he re- signed his federal position and was made assistant chief of police of Wichita Falls, a few months later being made chief. He retained this position until August, 1920, when he resigned to establish his de- tective agency.
Mr. Goodfellow was married at Coleman, Texas, to Miss Fannie Foster, who died in 1908. They have two daughters, Mrs. Leta Eugenia Miller, Mrs. Nan- nie Lee Ely, and one son, R. C. Goodfellow, of Day- ton, Ohio. In 1919 Mr. Goodfellow was married again to Miss Mary Hatter of Moody, Texas. They reside at 906 Sixth Street.
Mr. Goodfellow is a Mason, a member of the Blue Lodge at Coleman, and also is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Elks.
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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS
ERRY M. KENNY, City National Bank Building, Wichita Falls, oil operator and drilling contractor, as a pioneer oil man,. has brought in some of Texas' biggest wells in various fields. He operates in all parts of Wichita County where he owns an interest in more than a dozen best producers; he has five rotary rigs and employs fifty or sixty men when all rigs are active.
Mr. Kenny is a native Texan, having been born at Hammond Station of this state on February 14, 1882. His parents were Pat Kenny, a railroad man, and Mary Obrien Kenny, both early Texans. After completing the public schools of Southern Texas, Mr. Kenny went into the oil business as a boy and has remained with it ever since. He is one of the best practical drillers in Texas today who has worked for years in all departments of the drilling business. His start was in 1899 in drilling with Mr. Deering, of Waxahachie, a pioneer driller of Texas, with whom he worked for six months. From 1900 until 1912, he worked in wells at Spindle Top and other Gulf Coast fields. In 1912 he came to Wichita County where he operates today. In 1914 he began a partnership with G. Clint Wood but in 1915 he began working alone which continues to be his method. He brought in the Sirene No. 2 for Perkins Snyder in 1917, which up to that time was the big- gest well in North Texas. He has drilled Moonshine and Producer in Humble fields and No. 56, which ran 35,000 barrels a day.
In 1906, at Hammond Station, Mr. Kenny married Miss Ola May Faulk. They have four children: J. M., Jr., Juanita, Drennon Conway and Patsy Lee. The family resides at 1508 Lamar. Mr. Kenny is a member of the Elks and the Odd Fellows, his church affiliation is Baptist.
As one who has been drilling for over twenty years and who has brought in some of the big wells in various fields, Mr. Kenny's service is much in demand for he is regarded as one of Texas' best in his department of the industry.
JORDAN DOBBS, president of the Weimar Oil Company, with offices at 532 Wilson Building, as one of the organizers of that concern is considered as one of the pillars of the oil industry of this city. His company has interests in the Burkburnett field, in South Texas and also at Ranger, besides holding extensive oil leases extending throughout the Texas oil belt. The Weimar Oil Company was organized on January 16th, 1918, with Mr. Dobbs as president, and since that time has developed several tracts in the various oil regions of the state. The company has large holdings in the Desdemona field and are developing at the present time their leases in the oil fields of Texas and Kentucky.
The capital stock of the company was increased in the latter part of 1920 from $350,000 to $500,000. Mr. Dobbs is building up a real oil company and re- cently took over the Wichita Producers Oil Co. and the Swanson Holding Co., both of Houston. The company will increase its development activities in 1921 which will result in a greatly increased pro- duction.
Born at Burnside, Kentucky, on the 8th day of October, 1887, W. Jordan Dobbs is a son of John Dobbs, who was a Kentucky farmer. He received his primary education in the public schools of his native city and those of Columbia, Kentucky. He
graduated from the Lindsay Training School for Teachers in 1907 and soon thereafter accepted a position with the Union Pacific Railway, which he retained for the next succeeding four years. In 1911 he became a ticket agent for the Southern Pacific Railway and two years later came to Texas for the first time, locating at Weimar. In 1915 he became engaged in the retail mercantile business at Weimar and for the next three years was very suc- cessful in that line. In 1918 the Weimar Oil Company was organized and in the following year he moved to Dallas to open its office at this city.
On May 4th, 1913, Mr. Dobbs married Miss Lillian Beck, a native Texan and daughter of A. P. Beck, a merchant of Weimar. Mr. and Mrs. Dobbs are the parents of one child, Genevieve Beck, who is now a tot of two years.
As to the future of Dallas as an oil center, Mr. Dobbs is very optimistic and at all times is of the true booster type of Dallas citizen. His work in the oil game has won for him just rewards and it is to such citizens that both Dallas and Texas owe their present state of high development.
R. DENT, representing the Tide Water Oi! Company as division manager, having supervision of sales in the States of Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Mississippi and Ark- ansas, and a part of New Mexico, selling Veedol products through the jobbing trade, came to Dallas in August as salesman for Veedol products, and in February, 1919, he was made division manager for the Southwestern division. The Veedol products are high grade motor oils and greases made from Pennsylvania oils, and have a larger sale throughout the country than any similar product on the market. Six salesmen travel out of the Dallas office covering this territory and the business of the company is growing at a fast pace. Hans Johnson of Dallas, is local distributor. Prior to accepting his present. position with the company Mr. Dent covered Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas as a salesman for the com- pany.
Mr. Dent comes from a family that has been en- gaged in the mining business for five generations. Born at Tyrone, Penn., September 16, 1885, he at- tended the schools of that town and then entered Freeburg Academy. From there he went to the Michigan School of Mines at Houghton. Mich., where he took a special course in mining and geology, and after finishing there he worked in the mines of Pennsylvania, Virginia, Tennessee and Alabama.
He spent fifteen years in the business and when he quit it, he was mine superintendent for the Ala- bama Consolidated Coal and Iron Company at Iron- ton, Alabama, and had seven mines under his super- vision. His father, Capt. C. P. Dent, was a well known mining man in Pennsylvania and the South. Mr. Dent was married October 15, 1917, to Miss Grace Jalonick, daughter of Geo. W. Jalonick, presi- dent of the Republic Fire Insurance Company. He is a member of the Dallas Country Club and the . Tyrone Lodge of Masons. He believes the continued development of the resources of Texas will make it the greatest State in the Union, and that Dallas is destined to become the leading metropolis in the Southwest. He is a real live booster for both city and State.
Since this sketch was written Mr. Dent has moved his offices to Kansas City ..
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به
MEN OF TEXAS
EON LOEB, insurance and representative business man, was formerly a partner in the firm of Loeb-Leipold Clothing Com- pany, Inc., Wichita Falls, which operated one of the largest exclusively men's furnishing es- tablishments in North Texas.
Mr. Loeb was born at Columbia, Mo., in 1878. His father, B. Loeb, a native of Germany, came to the United States about sixty years ago and is that type of citizen that is America's sturdiest and staunchest. He was, up until his retirement, a leading merchant in Missouri. The mother was Myer Loeb. The best of commercial training was given the youth, both in books and in the practical experience that came through the association with his father, a successful business man. Young Loeb began his business career by entering federal em- ploy at the post office in Columbia, Mo., later he took up the railroad mail service out of St. Louis, Mo., for six years and then he yielded to the call of the mercantile business to which he had a predisposi- tion as the work of his father. For six years he was in the Indian Territory and in September, 1909, he located in Wichita Falls as a founder and active partner in the Loeb-Leipold Clothing Co., Inc.
At Dallas, Texas, in 1910, Miss Freida Kahn be- came the bride of Mr. Loeb. Helene Bertha is their only child.
Mr. Loeb is a leader in social and civic circles as well as a commercial success; he is a Mason to the thirty-second degree and is an enthusiastic Shriner at the Maskat Temple; he is also identified with the Knights of Pythias and the Elks as well as being an active member of the Rotary Club.
Mr. Loeb is outspoken in his conviction that Wichita Falls is "the greatest town in the United States for its size" and there are many other Texans who believe as he does.
EO MARKOWITZ, president of the ready- to-wear clothing organization of Baum & Gardner, Eighth Street, Wichita Falls, is another proof of America as the land of opportunity and an example of one born on another continent coming to lead a big American business and himself becoming a chief citizen in his adopted land. The firm of Baum & Gardner was established in 1914 and is noted for its complete line of quality ready-to-wear for men and women and maintains one of the most select millinery establishments in the city of Wichita Falls. Mr. Markowitz came to direct the business as president of the organization in 1917; today, from its one floor of over 6,000 square feet of space, the volume of business is so large and constant that twenty-three employees are kept in continuous service. While the first few years of immense oil activity of the Northwest section brought abnormal business to the cities of that ter- .
ritory, Wichita Falls has been careful to advance all the while on conservative and safe basis and now that the "boom" of one time is over, that metropolis retains most of the activity in business patronage and growth that came to her then. Mr. Markowitz, through his organization, is rendering an increasingly serviceable business to the citizen- ship of the leading city of the Northwest and its territory.
Leo Markowitz was born in Poland. September 23, 1872. His parents, A. Markowitz and F. (Kempner) Markowitz were both natives of that land and are buried in their home community beyond the seas.
Poland provided the training of young Markowitz who did not come to America until he reached man- hood. He entered the jewelry business at once upon reaching the new continent and has attained at- tractive holdings in that industry. He was whole- sale jeweler in Chicago for about four years, owning Interest in the business and is at present partial owner of the jewelry firm of "S. M. & R. Co.," of Chicago and also of the "F. & M. Jewelry Company," of Indianapolis. From this business he came to the Baum & Gardner organization and serves as its efficient president today.
At Indianapolis, Ind., in 1913, Mr. Markowitz and Miss Irma H. Lipman, of Indiana, were united in marriage. Allen Emmette, Julius, John and Jeanette Frances are their children. The family reside at 2308 Tenth Street.
Mr. Markowitz is a Mason, an Elk, and a member of the Indianapolis Club; his church affiliation is with the Temple Israel. In the three states, Illinois, Indiana and Texas, he is a business success and in each owns or directs large business concerns to the present. In the rapidly developing . west, he will find perhaps his best field for expansion of business and in the big future of his section of the state, Mr. Markowitz and his establishment will have an at- tractive part.
A. MILES, United States deputy prohibition officer, with headquarters at Wichita Falls, has charge of the liquor enforcement activi- ties of the government in this section and through his efforts bootlegging and the manufac- ture of moonshine whisky has been reduced to a minimum throughout the oil field sections centering around Wichita Falls. Mr. Miles was appointed to his present position on January 1, 1921, and his long experience in enforcement work has made him a particularly efficient and capable man.
A native of Texas, Mr. Miles was born in Falls County in 1883, a son of W. T. Miles, a retired busi- ness man now residing in Dallas County. He was educated in the public schools of Falls County and private schools in McLennan County, being reared on the border line of these counties.
After completing his education Mr. Miles began work as a deputy sheriff under M. J. Poole of Falls County and served in this capacity for two years until he was elected constable of Falls County, which office he held for four years. He was then appointed chief deputy sheriff under C. H. Platt of Falls County and after two years service in this capacity entered the service of the state of Texas as a member of the Ranger forces. During most of his six years service as a Ranger Mr. Miles was sta- tioned along the border and had many thrilling ex- periences. He was badly wounded in a gun battle with two I. W. W.'s but after being shot down suc- ceeded in killing both his adversaries; one a white man and the other negro, putting an end to the career of two of the most lawless characters in that part of the state. Mr. Miles resigned from the Ranger service in December, 1920, to accept his present position.
On December 3, 1905, Mr. Miles was married in Falls County to Miss Susie Lockard, a native of the county and who held the position of postmistress for ten years until resigning to move with her husband to Wichita Falls.
Mr. Miles is a member of the Praetorians and the Woodmen of the World.
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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS
B. READ, of the D. B. Read Oil Investment Company, St. James Hotel, is one of the well known oil nien of the state, and an extensive operator in Wichita, Clay, Archer and Jack counties. He is now developing one thou- sand acres he holds in south Archer County. Mr. Read expects to drill in Stephens County and South Bend district in Young County. His drilling activi- ties, growing out of his rich and extensive holdings, are large. He is now beginning operations on the Wilson farm in Stephens County and with his asso- ciates is starting a well on a 10,000 acre lease in Zapole County, South Texas, and are planning to drill two or three wells on a 12,000 acres tract in Star County.
It was not until the bringing in of oil in the recent fashion in western and northwestern Texas that the Lone Star State began to push her rank as an oil producer to the front; but these fields are among the largest in the world, ranking with the famous oil regions of Tampico, Mexico, and of Rus- sia, which have world-fame. Mr. Read is in the midst of this territory and is one of the most active of developers. He is a leader in the activity that makes his section well named, the Changing West; the covered wagon of the westerner moving out be- cause of drouth, leaving possessions burned by the scorching winds and cattle starved because of the barrenness of the sun-baked soil, have given place to another traffic that cut the roads again into deep ruts-the motor trucks of big oil concerns, the cars of million-dollar oil operators, the teamsters hauling in heavy construction material, and every town in that section of the state witnessing an increase of population and civic activities.
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