The encyclopedia of Texas, V.1, Part 50

Author: Davis, Ellis Arthur, ed; Grobe, Edwin H., ed
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Dallas, Texas Development Bureau
Number of Pages: 1204

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Mr. Van Zandt was married to Minerva Peete; upon her death, he married Miss Martha Peete, and after her decease he married Miss Octavia Pendleton in 1885. He has thirteen children: K. M., J., a banker in Mexico City; Richard, Mary L., now Mrs. Geo. B. Hendricks, of San Angelo, Texas; Florence Jennings, the widow of Hyde Jennings, Fort Worth; Ida, now Mrs. Leroy A. Smith; Isaac, in the real estate business at Fort Worth; Annie, now Mrs L. H. Atwell, of Houston, Virginia, who is Mrs. W. A. Diboll, of Fort Worth; Edwin P., in the eattle commission business of Fort Worth; Alice, now Mrs. A. C. Williams; Frances, now Mrs. Clar- ence Sloan, of Fort Worth; Margaret, who is Mrs. O. Y. Miller, of Gorman, Texas; and Sidney who is in school.

As banker and capitalist, Mr. Van Zandt is one of the most honored of his profession in the Lone Star State. He has had much to do in the past history of his city and will continue yet a leading factor in its future.

E. CONNELL, president of the First Na- tional Bank of Fort Worth is among the leading capitalists of Texas. He has con .- trolling interest in the First Nationa! Bank of Midland and is interested in twenty-fiv .. other banks of Texas. He is big also as a rancher: he has a ranch of 65,000 aeres in Garza County. another of 30,000 acres in Ertar County and thou- sands of cattle.

Mr. Connell was born at Belton, Texas, on April 12, 1858. His parents, Wm. Connell and Umisa Wills Connell, were among the earliest settlers of the Lone Star State. In early boyhood, Brown County became the home of young Connell and from that date he has been a westerner. At the age of twenty-three he began the cattle business which he has developed to such large proportions today; for about seven years he was also in the mercantile business in the West, and in 1888 he began the profession of banking in which he is a leader today. His start in this calling was at Midland, Texas. where he was manager of a private bank. Two years later he organized the First National Bank of Midland, was made cashier and remained with this bank for eight years. In 1898 he came as cashier to the First National Bank of Fort Worth, which had been nationalized in 1877, but established before that date as a private bank by Capt. M. B. Lloyd, under the name of Lloyd, Markler & Company, and of which Captain Lloyd was president until his death in 1912. Mr. Connell was soon made a vice- president of the bank, and in 1912 was chosen as president of the institution. Its capitalization is $1,000,000, with a surplus of $600,000.

In 1881, at Comanche, Texas. Miss Hattie Milliken of Brazos County became the bride of Mr. Connell. They have six children: Clyde C., Giles W., Allen B., Molly who is now Mrs. Paul Spinning, Nell who is Mrs. I. N. McCrary, and Blanche who is now Mrs. Ted Wallace. The Connell residence is at 1216 Elizabeth Boulevard. Mr. Connell is a Mason. He belongs to the Chamber of Commerce of his city, to the Rivercrest Country Club and the Temple Club. He is a Baptist. Mr. Connell is at the front in two professions-as stockman and as banker.

OBERT ELLISON HARDING. Ambition and determination, coupled with strict at- tention to business and devotion to duty. are the characteristics which have marked the successful business career of Robert Ellison Harding, vice-president of the Fort Worth National Bank, whose connection with the institution dates back to 1897, when he began as a messenger boy with the bank.

Prior to his connection with the bank he was a student in the public school of Fort Worth, and during the six years he was employed as messenger boy, he continued his studies when off duty. He attended the University of Texas for three years.

From messenger boy Mr. Harding was promoted to the clerical department of the bank and served as teller until 1908, when he was made assistant cashier. In 1914 he was elevated to the vice-presi- dency and at the time this is written he is rounding out his twenty-third year with the institution.

Mr. Harding was born in Paris, Tenn., in 183. and came with his father, Noah Harding, to Fort Worth in the same year, Mr. Harding engaging in the banking busmess and being vice-president of the Fort Worth National at the time of his death.

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MEN OF TEXAS

Being a man of large business capacity, Mr. R. E. Harding has been drawn into inany other large enterprises, and in addition to his banking interests he is a director in the Fort Worth Life Insurance Company, the Acme Brick Company, the John E. Quarrels Lumber Company, the Fort Worth Power and Light Company, the Fort Worth Gas Company and the Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Harding was married in January, 1911, to Miss Merle Reynolds, daughter of W. D. Reynolds, a director in the Fort Worth National Bank, and a prominent cattlenian who was a Texas pioneer, settling in the state back in the early 50's. Two interesting children, Robert E., Jr., and Sue, bring happiness into the family home, which is located at 1306 Summitt Avenue.

Mr. Harding is a 32d degree Scottish Rite Mason and a Shriner, with membership in York Rite, Fort Worth Blue Lodge No. 148, and Moslah Temple Shrine. In the social and civic life of the city Mr. and Mrs. Harding enjoy the pleasures afforded by the Rivercrest Country Club, the Meadow Meere Country Club, the Rotary Club, Fort Worth Club and Automobile Club. Their church affiliation is with the Presbyterian faith.

Mr. Harding has great faith in the future of Fort Worth. Being the logical distributing point for the great West Texas country, he believes it will ultimately become the largest railroad center and commercial and industrial area in the Southwest. The continued development of the matchless re- sources of the state, will, Mr. Harding believes, bring greater development to his city, and he takes pleas- use in contemplating the future greatness of his city. OMULUS J. RHOME, president of the Guar- anty State Bank, Eighth and Main Streets, Fort Worth, Texas, is a leader as banker. Mr. Rhome was born at Rhome, Texas, on February 15, 1881. His father was B. C. Rhome, a Georgian who in the pioneer days cast his lot with Texas and became a great ranchman here. His `prominence and success is indicated in the giving of his name to a Texas town. Fort Worth public schools and high school gave Mr. Rhome his earliest education which was furthered by A. & M. College from which he graduated with a B. S. degree in 1901 and the University of Texas, from which he received his LL. B. degree in 1903. Then he at- tended the law department of New York University for two years, from 1903-1905. While there he be- came associated with the legal department of the Title Guarantee and Trust Company of New York City. In 1906 he resigned his work in New York to return to Texas. He began a law practice in Fort Worth but within one year, in 1907, he organ- ized the North Texas State Bank, with a capital of $25,000. In 1019, the name was changed to the Guaranty State Bank, and the capital was in- creased to $100,000, with surplus and profits of $25,000. L. R. Long is vice-president, and H. W. Orgain, cashier. .

On November 26, 1919, Miss Eugenia Welborn, of Alvarado, Texas, becanie the bride of Mr. Rhome. They reside at 1024 Penn Street, Fort Worth. Their church affiliation is with the Magnolia Avenue Chris- tian Church. Mr. Rhome was a Phi Delta Theta at the University of Texas; he is a Mason to the thirty-second degree; a member of the Fort Worth Club, the Rivercrest Country Club ,the B. P. O. E. and the Glen Garden Club.

Mr. Rhome is a leader among the younger bank- ers and has a sure claim to a great future in one of the most rapidly developing cities of Texas.

ARREN PIERCE ANDREWS, vice-president of the First National Bank of Fort Worth. In Texas banking circles no figure stands out more prominently than that of Warren Pierce Andrews, vice-president of the First National Bank of Fort Worth. He came to Fort Worth from Dallas in 1890 and began his banking career as messenger for the City National Bank of Fort Worth, remaining with the bank for four years, when he went with the American National Bank. He joined the First National Bank organization in . 1898 and has been with the bank continuously since that time, advancing step by step to his present position.

Mr. Andrews is a native of Texas, born at Chat- field, September 20, 1870. His parents, John D. and Louisa F. Andrews, were natives of Georgia, and were among the pioneer settlers of East Texas. He is a graduate of the Grove high school of Dallas, which, in its day, was noted for its curriculum.

Mr. Andrews has been a close student of his pro- fession and has always taken an active interest in banking affairs. His mastery of the business has qualified him for member on some of the most im- portant committees of the American Bankers' As- sociation, and at the present time he is a member of the executive council of that organization, repre- senting member banks of the Eleventh Federal Reserve District. He is a member of the Texas Chamber of Commerce, representing the State Bank- ers' Association.

He was married in 1908 to Miss Helen Geraldine Mann, the ceremony taking place in the bride's home at Portland, Me., where her father, C. H. Mann, was a prominent broker. Her mother was Miss Mary Seaton, member of an old and prominent English family. Mr. Andrews is a member of the Rivercrest Country Club, the Fort Worth Club and the St. Andrews Episcopal Church.

Mr. Andrews has always been prominently identi- fied with all movements tending to promote the growth and importance of Fort Worth and has an abiding faith in the future of his city. He has seen it grow from a cattleman's trading point into a busy, thriving metropolis, and is confident that its wonderful opportunities will cause it to become the leading city of the Southwest.

L. SMALLWOOD, president of the Texas State Bank at Fort Worth, has for the past seventeen years been known in bank circles of Texas. In 1909, at the time of organiza- tion of the bank, O. S. Houston was president; Felix P. Boch, vice-president, and Mr. Smallwood was cashier.

Mr. Smallwood is a Georgian. He was born at Thomasville in November of 1864. His parents were W. P. Smallwood and Harriet Porter Smallwood and when their son was but one year old they moved to Tennessee. The public schools of that state gave him his first education and then St. Louis College of Pharmacy, at St. Louis, Mo., as Mr. Smallwood was intended for a druggist. In 1887 he located at Fort Worth, Texas, and entered the retail drug busi- ness in partnership with R. A. Anderson. For sixteen years Mr. Smallwood continued to serve the public in this capacity. In 1902 he first entered the banking profession in his affiliation with the

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Hunter Phelan Savings Bank & Trust Company which was later bought by W. T. Wagner and later consolidated with the First National Bank of Fort Worth. Mr. Smallwood is today also vice-president and director of several state banks throughout Texas.

In 1889, Mr. Smallwood married Miss Cecil Hous- ton, deceased in 1900. In 1910 Miss Mary Porter, of Paris, Tennessee, became his bride. They have one son, Wm. Porter Smallwood. The family reside at 1827 Hemphill Street.

Mr. Smallwood is a member of the Broadway Baptist Church, Fort Worth Club, the Texas and the American Bankers' Association. Friendly and talented, he has a host of friends, and is one of the progressive Texas bankers.

H. COLVIN, vice-president of the Farmers & Mechanics National Bank, Fort Worth, is one of Texas' leading bankers and closely associated with two of the greatest bank- ing institutions of the state. Since 1890 he has given his ability to the banking profession and in the thirty years of service he has attained promi- nence and leadership in his realm.

Mr. Colvin comes from Missouri. He was born in Howard County, on March 22, 1860. His parents were Christopher Columbus Colvin, a veteran in the Confederate Army, and Elizabeth Amick Colvin. Missouri gave the youth his education. He started his business career in Missouri as a clerk in a grocery store. Here he remained for three years, then went to Colorado where he worked in the mer- cantile business and in mining until he came to Texas, locating at Colorado. Texas. After running a livery business for a while, Mr. Colvin first defi- nitely began his banking career in 1890 when he became cashier of the Colorado National Bank. He served in this capacity for eight years. In 1898, he came to Fort Worth and became associated with the American National Bank as cashier; in 1917 he became president, and, when this bank and the Farmers & Mechanics National Bank consolidated under the latter name, Mr. Colvin became vice- president and chairman of the board of directors.

In 1886, at Colorado, Texas, Mr. Colvin married Miss Belle Pearson of Virginia. They have two children, Malin P. and Georgia, who is a senior at the University of Texas. The family resides at 618 West Second Street.

The Knights of Pythias, the Elks, the Chamber of Commerce, the Fort Worth Club, and the River- crest Country Club have all laid claim to this prominent citizen. His church affiliation is Episco- pal. He will figure largely in the immediate de- velopments of his city and state.

LMO SLEDD. The efficiency of Elmo Sledd, vice-president of the Fort Worth National Bank, Fort Worth, Texas, is shown in his record that starts with him in the collection department of that bank, later shows him as assist- ant cashier, next cashier, and today vice-president. This is a decided upward course and none but men of efficiency and intiative find the upward course in big financial institutions.

Mr. Sledd is a Kentuckian by birth. Murray, Calloway County, of that state, was his birthplace on April 2, 1868. His parents were J. Z. Sledd, a merchant and Florence Churchill Sledd. Kentucky public schools and the Murray Male and Female Institute gave the youth his education. He became deputy county clerk of Calloway County in Ken-

tucky, and then, in 1887, yielded to the call of the Lone Star State and came to Texas. Here he be- came associated with the Fort Worth National Bank in 1887 and has had the rise of working from the collection department to

the vice-presidency through intermediate positions. During his thirty- four years of association with the Fort Worth Na- tional Mr. Sledd has learned every detail of its business through all of its departments. Banking is a passion with him and he is one of Fort Worth's greatest efficiency men.

On April 21, 1890, Miss Lyde Graham, daughter of John Graham, of Seymour, Texas, became the bride of Mr. Sledd. They have one daughter, Florence C., who now is Mrs. S. C. Webb, of Fort Worth. The Sledd residence is at 1214 El Paso Street.

Mr. Sledd is a Shriner, a member of the B. P. O. E., of the A. O. U. W., the W. O. W. and a director of the Fort Worth Club. His church affiliation is Christian. As one of the pioneer bankers of Fort Worth, Mr. Sledd is a leader among men of his pro- fession today.

OSEPH G. WILKINSON is a capitalist that does not belong simply to Fort Worth where he is president of the Continental Bank and Trust Company, but he belongs to Texas and is one of Texas' greatest bankers. At present he is president of twenty-five Texas banks, and has organized and sold ten others. These financial centers are in every important section of the Lone Star State and through them Joseph G. Wilkinson is doing a large service in developing nearly every part of his state.

Mr. Wilkinson comes from Tennessee. He was born in Coffee County of that state on February 5, 1857. His parents, Isaac M. Wilkinson and Mary L. Willis Wilkinson, were pioneers of Tennesseee. The public schools of his home state started the youth on his training but the illness of his father prevented his attending college. But Mr. Wilkinson has attended the university of experience and there he has learned the secret of big business. His first banking experience was with the small town bank in Manchester, in Tennessee. In 1890 he organized the "Coffee County Bank," with a capital of $20,000. A: the end of the year he took over the "Bank of Man- chester" and combined the two banks into one. His banking interests so flourished that he soon had ten flourishing banks. It was then he sold part of his interests and came to Texas. He arrived in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1903 and organized the Con- tinental Bank and Trust Company, with a capital today of $500,000 and surplus of two hundred thou- sand dollars. H. H. Wilkinson is vice-president; E. M. Perkins, cashier. Since that time Mr. Wilkin- son has become known over Texas as a capitalist in the large way he is serving the public.

On May 18, 1886, Miss Bessie F. Strickler became the bride of Mr. Wilkinson. They have one son. Harry H. Wilkinson, who is vice-president of the Continental Bank and Trust Company. The resi- dence is at 801 West Eighth Street.

Mr. Wilkinson is a member of the Fort Worth Club and of the various bankers' associations and the Chamber of Commerce. His church ailiation is with the Church of Christ. Talented in business affairs and progressive, Mr. Wilkinson is one of Texas' most prolific bankers.

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MEN OF TEXAS

H. WILKINSON, well known banker and vice-president of the Continental Bank and Trust Company, became connected officially with the bank in 1913 when he was made assistant cashier .. He formerly had served in vari- ous capacities in the organization and in 1919 was promoted to be active vice-president. He came to Fort Worth first in 1903 when his father, J. G. Wilkinson, organized the Continental Bank and Trust Company and became president of the bank.

The Continental Bank and Trust. Company has grown from a small organization until today it con- trols about twenty-five banks located in various towns of North and West Texas. It is one of the strong financial institutions of Fort Worth and is constantly growing and extending its usefulness not alone in Fort Worth but in the territory tributary to the city. H. H. Wilkinson was connected with several of the subsidiary banks owned by the parent institution before he became identified with the Fort Worth bank as assistant cashier. He is thor- oughly conversant with every detail of the banking business and is regarded as a man of exceptional judgment in matters pertaining to credits.

Mr. Wilkinson was born at Manchester, Tennessee, February 10, 1887, a son of J. G. and Jessie (Strick- ler) Wilkinson. His father was engaged in bank- ing in Tennessee before moving to Fort Worth and organized the Continental Bank and Trust Company. Receiving his preliminary education in the public schools at Manchester, Mr. Wilkinson attended the University of Virginia and left that institution in 1908 and accepted a clerical position in the Con- tinental State Bank of Van Alstyne. He was mar- ried at Van Alstyne in 1910 to Miss Grace Golden. They have two children, Elna and Joseph.

Besides his connection with the Continental Bank and Trust Company, Mr. Wilkinson is a director in seven or eight other banks in various towns of North Texas and keeps closely in touch with agri- cultural, industrial and commercial conditions throughout that part of the state. Mr. Wilkinson is extensively interested in ranching and in the cattle business, owning 11,000 acres at Big Springs, How- ard County, stocked with Hereford cattle.

He is a member of the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, the Fort Worth Club, Ad Club and all the various bankers' associations.

OHN N. SPARKS. That John N. Sparks, president of the Stock Yards National Bank, Exchange Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas, is of unusual ability and progressiveness as well as efficiency is seen by the fact that when the Stock Yards National Bank was organized in 1903 he was a stenographer in the organization; today, as pres- ident, he directs the same institution.

Mr. Sparks is a native Texan. He was born at Alvarado, Johnson County, Texas, on March 20, 1880. Ilis parents were Nathan F. Sparks and Mary Ger- trude Weaver Sparks. Young Sparks was edu- cated in the Alvarado public schools and then at- tended Add-Ren College, later known as the Texas Christian University, for one year at Waco. He - began his business career with the A. A. Jackson Company of Dallas, as a stenographer. In 1903 he came to Fort Worth as a stenographer with the Stock Yards National Bank. After two years of service in this capacity, Mr. Sparks became cashier of the bank. In 1912, seven years later, he was made vice-president, in January and in March of

the same year he became president. Mr. Sparks is a tangible proof of what perseverence and in- dustry and integrity combined may achieve. When the bank started in June of 1903, the capitalization was $100,000. Today it is $200,000, with a surplus of another $200,000 and with twenty-five employees. He is also president of the Fort Worth Cattle Loan Company.

In 1901, at Dallas, Texas, Miss Mary Jones, of Alvarado, Texas, became the bride of Mr. Sparks. They have one daughter, Helen Gertrude Sparks. The family resides at 1215 Elizabeth Boulevard, Ryan Place, Fort Worth.

Mr. Sparks is a Mason, a Shriner of the Moslah Temple. He is a member of the Rivercrest Club and of the Fort Worth Club. Progressive and talented, Mr. Sparks is a highly successful financier.

L. ETIER, president of the Commercial State Bank, 103 East Exchange, is among the leaders of men who are coming to the front in the recent great business strides this country is now beginning.

A native Texan, Mr. Etier was born in Parker County, "Out Where the West Begins," on December 18, 1889. His parents were A. Frank Etier, a pioneer rancher who is also a native Texan, and Martha Grant Etier. Weatherford high school and the uni- versity of experience have given Mr. Etier his edu- cation. In the former he received what book learn- ing he has, and in the latter he learned the secret of success and big business. His first business ex- perience was in the automobile business and in book- keeping. For three years he was connected with the automobile industry and at present is owner of an attractive garage, the Shaw Garage, Fort Worth, Texas. He had four years' experience as bookkeeper with the Western National Bank, of " Fort Worth, then four years with the Texas State Bank as bookkeeper and teller, and on January 1, 1920, he organized the Commercial State Bank of which is president, with a capital of $100,000 and a surplus of $10,500. There are seven employees. R. Sere is vice-president and B. L. Ward cashier. Mr. Etier is also president of the First State Bank of Cresson, Texas, and director in the Guaranty State Bank at Rio Vista, Texas, and of Farmers National Bank at Arlington.

On April 7, 1917, at Fort Worth, Miss Mattie Pitcock, of Ranger, Texas, became the bride of Mr. Etier. They have one son, Ed L., Jr. They reside at 1141 Clara Street.

Mr. Etier is a member of the State Bankers' Asso- ciation and is a leader in the rising generation.

HARLES HARRIS PATTISON, vice-presi- dent of the National Bank of Commerce, came to Fort Worth in 1919 from Chicago, Ill., and has been one of the leading factors in the financial and commercial life of the city since he located here, having assisted in the organi- zation of the bank with which he is connected and otherwise identifying himself with the growth and development of the commercial expansion of the city. He is widely known in banking and industrial circles as a successful organizer and director of big business, his operations having extended over Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. He has been engaged in banking and industrial enterprises ever since he was twenty-one years of age, his first banking connection being with the Citizens' Bank of Solomon, Kan., of which he was assistant cashier

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for three years. From Solomon he went to Abilene, Kan., and was president of a large banking institu- tion there for five years. From Abilene he went to Kansas City, where he was president of the Wyan- dott State Bank. Although a man of large banking experience he has not followed the business con- tinuously. For twenty years he was interested in the oil and gas business, and concerns which he organized and with which he is still connected, sup- ply many towns in Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri with gas.

Mr. Pattison was born at Monticello, Ill., July 18, 1871, the son of L. W. Pattison, a mining engineer. He has twice been married, his first wife being Miss Nellie Dewar, of Solomon, Kansas, deceased June, 1906, daughter of a prominent Kansas banker, and two children were born to this union, Eloise and Donald. His second marriage was to Miss Kate Critchfield, Oskaloosa, Kansas, the marriage cere- mony taking place in New York City. The family home is at 1326 Hemphill Street. He is a York Rite Mason and a Shriner, and in the civic and social life of Fort Worth is identified with the Kiwanis Club (a director in the organization), the Ad League, the Salesmanship Club, the Lions Club, the Fort Worth Club and the Rivercrest Country Club. His church affiliation is with the Episcopal faith. He is identified with and takes an active interest in all agencies working for the greater development of Fort Worth, and a man highly esteemed and re- spected by all who know him.

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The encyclopedia of Texas, V.1, Part 50

Author: Davis, Ellis Arthur, ed; Grobe, Edwin H., ed Publication date: 1922 Publisher: Dallas, Texas Development Bureau Number of Pages: 1204

Author: Davis, Ellis Arthur, ed; Grobe, Edwin H., ed
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Dallas, Texas Development Bureau
Number of Pages: 1204