USA > Texas > The encyclopedia of Texas, V.1 > Part 51
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ESSE T. PEMBERTON, president of the Farmers & Mechanics National Bank, Fort Worth, Texas, director of Fakes & Com- pany, of the Pemberton Furniture Company and of the Fort Worth Life Insurance Company, is one of the men who is making possible the greater future of Fort Worth in the immense development it is now entering. In the stock industry, in the agricultural backing, in the oil developments Fort Worth stands at the forefront of those cities be- ginning to come into their own, and Mr. Pemberton, as he has in the past, will be a big factor in this new future for his city.
Mr. Pemberton was born at Sedalia, Mo., on Feb- ruary 3, 1866. His parents were J. M. Pemberton, a farmer who later settled in Texas as a ranchman in Runnels County, and Mary Lennox Pemberton. They came to Texas, at the call of the West, in 1879. Warrensburg State Normal of Missouri and the Kansas City Business College gave the youth his education. Locating in the West, Jesse T. Pem- berton has always been interested in the stock business which he developed until he sold his com- plete interests in 1910, long after he had become a banker. In 1887, he began the mercantile business and to this day, in several of the largest firms of his city, he is a leader. It was in 1898 that he defi- nitely began the banking business when he became cashier of the First National Bank of Midland, Texas. He continued in this capacity until 1905 when he came to Fort Worth to become vice-presi- dent of the bank today he directs as president, being elected in January, 1920.
In 1887, at Paris, Texas, Miss Annie Moseley be- came the bride of Mr. Pemberton. They have nine children: Cecil A., Ara M., Jennie B., Clara M., George R., Guy L., J T., Jr., Rowena G., and Ras I. The family reside at 1324 Summit Avenue.
Mr. Pemberton is a Shriner, of the Moslah Temple, and a Knight Templar of the Worth Commandery. He is a member of the Rivercrest Club, the Fort Worth Club, the American Bankers' Association. . His church affiliation is with the First Baptist Church of Fort Worth where he is a deacon. In church and in business he is a man of big influence and beloved by a host of friends.
LBERT E. THOMAS, another prominent Texas banker, who began his career as an office boy is Albert E. Thomas, vice-presi- dent of the National Bank of Commerce, Fort Worth, Texas, who, prior to his coming to Fort Worth in 1919, was connected with the First National Bank of Bowie, Texas, for twenty-five years, the last ten years serving as vice-president. Mr. Thomas was one of the original organizers of the National Bank of Commerce, which opened for business August 25, 1919, became president in No- vember, 1919. All of his business activities have been confined to banking, and as a banker he is known to be progressive, conservative and thor- oughly posted on the science of finance.
He is a native of Fannin County, born August 29, 1875, and his father, Giles D. Thomas, a native of Virginia, was a prominent figure in the cattle and investment business at Bowie for a number of years. Mr. Thomas' mother was Emily J. Grant, and came from a prominent Missouri family. The Bowie public schools supplied the foundation for Mr. Thomas' education, and a course in Hill's Busi- ness College at Waco, provided him with his early business training.
Mrs. Thomas, prior to her marriage to Mr. Thomas at Bowie, Texas, November 10, 1897, was Miss Ellen Owsley, daughter of J. R. Owsley, and two fine boys have graced the union.
Mr. Thomas is actively identified with the fra- ternal civic, commercial and social life of his city, being a Mason and Shriner, with membership in the Bowie Blue Lodge Commandery, Moslah Temple, director of the Chamber of Commerce, the Fort Worth Club, Rivercrest and Glen Garden County Clubs and the Ad League.
The family church affiliation is with the Baptist denomination
ARCUS BRIGHT, president of the Fort Worth State Bank, Thirteenth and Main Streets, Fort Worth, Texas, is one of the most active of Fort Worth capitalists. As a director of the Denver-Glenn Furniture Company, secretary-treasurer of the Polytechnic Heights School District, a director of the Englewood Heights Realty Company, he is in the forefront of those who are developing their city.
Mr. Bright is a native of Tennessee, having been born in the city of Jackson of that state on February 24, 1880. His father, Marcus Bright, was a lawyer and congressman from the Memphis district. His mother, Belle G. Perkins Bright, was an accom- plished artist, studying abroad in Italy and France, and has produced the many wonderful paintings of her home. She was the daughter of George G. Perkins, a colonel in the Confederate army. The private schools of Tennessee and Oklahoma, for his family located in Ardmore in 1890, gave the youth his earlier training. Then the University of Texas
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gave him an A. B. degree in 1898 and after that be studied law in a law office in Oklahoma. It was in this year, 1898, that Mr. Bright began his bank- ing career in the First National Bank of Ardmore, oklahoma, where he worked up to the position of assistant cashier. He came to Fort Worth in 1909 as an organizer of the bank that today he directs. At that time L. B. Comer was president, and the capitalization was $100,000. But today the capi- talization and surplus have grown to $150,000 and assets over $2,000,000. Mr. Bright is president, 1 .. B. Comer and Lee L. Russell, vice-presidents, and 1 .. F. Reynolds is cashier: The magnificent Win- field Scott estate has large holdings in this bank and does most of its banking here.
In 1905, at Fort Worth, Mr. Bright married Miss Amye Vickery, daughter of R. Vickery, ranchman and owner of the site of Glenwood, a part of Fort Worth today. Marcus Bright, Jr., Hemming Bright, Marjorie Belle Bright and Willard Bright are their children. They reside at 2901 Hemphill.
Mr. Bright is a Mason to the thirty-second degree, a member of the Moslah Temple Shrine and of Meadowmere Club. He is doing much in the big developments Fort Worth is now experiencing.
S J. McFARLAND, vice-president of the Security National Bank, has come, within the last decade, to take his place among the financial captains of the Southwest. Few men of Texas are in touch with more currents of finance or have banking interests more widely dis- tributed.
Mr. McFarland was born in Ladonia, Texas, November 23, 1872. He comes of a Texas family of long standing, his grand-father having come to the state the same year that it gained its independence. His father, James F. McFarland, was for some years a farmer but later became interested in the banking business. His mother was Mary Harper McFarland. The public schools of Texas are responsible for Mr. McFarland's early education and he did his academic work at Austin College, of Sherman where he was graduated with the A. B. Degree in 1895. In the same year that he graduated he began the banking business as book-keeper in the Ladonia National Bank where he was promoted. three years later, to the position of cashier. In 1900 he took a position as cashier of the First National Bank of Greenville. Two years later he returned to Ladonia as vice- president of the Ladonia National Bank in which office he remained for six years. In 1908 he came to Dallas to assist in the organization of the Bankers Trust Company and he was also instrumental in establishing the Guaranty State Bank of which he became vice-president.
In addition to his banking interests in Dallas, Mr. McFarland is president. and director of the Citizens State Bank, of Richardson, the Farmers' State Bank of Moody and the First State Bank of Seagoville. He is vice-president and director of the First State Bank of Tatum, the Citizens' State Bank of Bullard, The Merchants' and Planters' State Bank of Winds- borough, the First State Bank of Killeen and is direc- for of the Desdemona State Bank and Trust Com- pany.
In 1898 Mr. McFarland was married to Miss Jewel Easley of Blossom, Texas. Their residence is at 5619 Gaston Ave., Dallas.
In his political views Mr. McFarland is a staunch Republican. Among the clubs of which he is a mem- ber are the City Club, the University Club and the Lakewood Country Club. He is a Shriner and af- filiated with the Hella Temple. The greatest share of his attention, aside from his duties as a banker, is given to the Christian Church of which he is a loyal member, holding a number of important church and educational offices. He is chairman of the Board of Trustees of Texas Christian University, Ft Worth; chairman of the Board of Trustees of Carr-Burdette College, Sherman, and chairman of the Board of Education of the Christian Church in Texas.
Abundant prosperity wisely and generously used has served to make Mr. McFarland one of the most genuinely admire and highly esteemed citizens of his home city.
UGH M. HARDIE, president of the Liberty State Bank, Elm and Preston Streets, is a prominent capitalist of Dallas who, during most of his entire business career, has been identified with the banking houses of the city. The Liberty State Bank was organized by Mr. Hardie and associates and opened for business on the morn- ing of March 1, 1920. Raymond Thomas is vice- president and cashier of the bank. Directors are: George T. Reynolds, J. D. Smith, Raymond Thomas, Schuyler Marshall, S. P. Harbin of Richardson, T. F. Hart, D. L. Whittle, W. R. Patterson, Sam Dyster- back, Joe E. Lawther and Rosse Thomas.
This bank has a capital stock of $100,000 and since its organization has prospered to the extent that it is now one of the city's leading financial institutions.
Mr. Hardie was born in Dallas on March 22, 1879. His parents, A. F. and Elizabeth Darby Hardie, came to Dallas as early as 1870, the elder Mr. Hardie being connected at that time with the City Bank. Both parents are now deceased. After completing his education in the Dallas high school, Mr. Hardie became, in 1899, a partner in the David-Hardie Seed Company, being actively associated with the com- pany for eight years at the end of which time he accepted a position in the collection department of the Gaston National Bank. Soon he was made teller and then assistant cashier. In 1910 he resigned to become assistant cashier of the Commonwealth Na- tional Bank and four years later was chosen cashier of the Central State Bank. In the meanwhile Mr. Hardie had acquired extensive real estate holdings and business property in Dallas which demanded time and attention, and in 1918 he retired from the Central State Bank to devote his entire energies to his private estate. In November of 1919 he began the organization of the Liberty State Bank, complet- ing all arrangements by March the first, when the bank opened its doors to the public.
His marriage to Miss Ethel Lake of Louisiana, Mo., was solemnized on March 21, 1908. They have one daughter, Mary Agnes Hardie, and reside at 4406 Live Oak Street.
Mr. Hardie is a member of Dallas Lodge of Masons No. 760, he is a Shriner, Knights Templar, and a trustee of East Dallas Presbyterian Church. He is proud of his city and has a big vision of its future.
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E. BYRNE, banker, educator, author and business man, of Fort Worth, has probably started more young men and women on the high road to success than any other one individual in Texas today. As president of the Tyler Commercial College, of Tyler, Texas, which institu- tion he founded in 1900, Mr. Byrne has seen tangible evidence of his success in the work accomplished by more than thirty thousand students who obtained their business training in his school.
Commencing in a small way, the Tyler Commercial College has grown until now it occupies all of a large three-story brick building especially con- structed for the school, and which is one of the most thoroughly modern establishments in the United States devoted to commercial college education. It is especially well lighted and ventilated and con- structed throughout with a view of facilitating the work of teachers and pupils. The average annual enrollment in the various departments is over four thousand and every phase of business activity is eovered in the curriculum. Besides the usual eourse of bookkeeping, shorthand, business arithmetic, eom- mereial law, etc., taught in the average business school, the Tyler Commercial College furnishes eourses in cotton classing and grading, marketing of eotton, business administration and finance and railway telegraphy and station work. Each depart- ment is under the direction of capable expert in- structors' who are especially versed in the subject taught. An average of thirty teachers is required at all times.
Besides the Tyler Commercial College, Mr. Byrne also is the head of the Byrne Publishing Company and the Byrne-Roberts Loan Company of Tyler. His publishing establishment has one of the largest job printing plants in Texas besides the printing for the school turns out bank and commercial printing, also high grade art calendars and during the season maintains several salesmen on the road disposing of its products.
The Byrne Publishing Company of Chicago was organized by Mr. Byrne in 1916 and publishes eight different text books for the commercial schools, and denominational schools. Mr. Byrne is author of all these works, some of which have required from five to eight editions and enjoyed an exceptionally wide sale both in this country and abroad.
The Texas Finance Corporation of Dallas was or- ganized by Mr. Byrne in 1918 for financing auto- mobile dealers in North Texas. The Houston Fi- nance Corporation handles the same line of business in South Texas. The Fort Worth Finance Corpora- tion handles the same line of business for Fort Worth and West Texas. All three of the corpora- tions are meeting with splendid success.
Mr. Byrne was one of the organizers of the Guar- anty State Bank of Tyler in 1909, and served as a director and vice-president of the bank for several years. In 1920 he acquired a controlling interest and became president of the Security State Bank of Fort Worth. . Mr. Byrne is a tireless worker. He receives, daily reports from the nine concerns of which he is president, and regularly inspects each of them personally.
Mr. Byrne is a native of Missouri and was born at Edina in Knox County, December 14, 1870, a son of John Byrne, a farmer. He was reared on a farm and received his preliminary education in the public schools of Charlton County, Missouri later
attending a normal and business eollege at Chilli- cothe he then was elected principal of the eommer- cial department of the high school at Brunswick. Missouri, which position he held for two years from 1895 until 1897. From 1897 until 1900 he was prin- cipal of the commercial department of the Patter- son Institute at Hillsboro, Texas, and in the latter year moved to Tyler, Texas, and organized the Tyler Commercial College there and of which he is still the acting head. While residing in Tyler Mr. Byrne was president of the Chamber of Commerce for three years and took an active interest in all the eivic movements and undertakings of the East Texas city. He is a member of the Chicago, Dallas, Fort Worth Chambers of Commerce, also of the Texas Chamber of Commerce. He was a charter member of the League of Nations to enforce peace, also a member of the American Emigration League.
In 1914 Mr. Byrne was named a member of the American Commission of Municipal, Executive and Civic Leaders appointed by the Southern Commer- cial Congress to investigate civic eonditions in European cities. He went abroad and was in Paris when war was declared between Austria and Serbia. Mr. Byrne was present at the American embassy when the first official notification of the declaration was read there in the presence of Joffre, Viviani, and other notables. While in London Mr. Byrne de- livered an address on education at an international education convention which was commented on in very favorable terms by the British press.
HESLEY PAGE HAYNES, vice-president and title officer of the Dallas Title and Guaranty Company, 1301 Main Street, has been with this firm since its organization and has proved his value as a man of sound judg- ment, fully competent to manage the high position he holds and the responsibilities involved. Mr. Haynes is also one of the directors of the Dallas Trust and Savings Bank.
The Dallas Title and Guaranty Company was or- ganized in 1906, Mr. Haynes being one of the organ- izers and original stock holders. During the past fourteen years this company has experienced rapid growth, and has become one of the substantial in- stitutions of the eity.
A native of Texas, Mr. Haynes was born in Ellis County, on August 20, 1873. His parents were Andrew Jackson Haynes and Melissa Ann Haynes. He was educated at Trinity University, Tehnacana. Entering the State University at Austin in 1901 for a law course and reeeived his degree in 1902. Fol- lowing his graduation he came to Dallas and for the next four years practiced law in this eity. In 1906 when the Dallas Title and Guaranty Company was being organized, Mr. Haynes was employed in the land title department of the concern, and it was through his excellent record here that he was ad- mitted into the firm. He was first made secretary, then title officer, and later became viee-president and title officer.
His marriage to Miss Rosa Kate Thompson, of Dallas was celebrated in this city on February 14. 1907. The Haynes home is at 4123 Cole Avenue. They have two children, Chesley Page, and Marjorie.
Mr. Haynes is a member of the Dallas Automobile Club, Knights of Pythias, and the City Temple Pres- byterian Church. He is a brilliant lawyer, and his thoroughness and absolute reliability are responsible for his success
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M. H. GASTON, vice-president of the South- west National Bank, Dallas, as a pioneer among the men of his profession, has the distinction of having founded the first bank . As had, and of having been a chief factor in the sirupment that has taken place in the process ! > village's becoming the leading metropolis ! the Southwest. In this development, his career , istparably linked not only with the financial "tetests of his city but with its civic and + al life as well. He is the "Father of the Fair" the Texas State Fair, and is identified with a : . mber of other Dallas institutions of big rank.
Mr. Gaston was born in Alabama, in Wilcox Coun- WY, vn: October 25, 1840. His parents were Robert K. carton and Lotisha E. (Southern) Gaston. His stents answered the call of the Lone Star State when he was nine years of age, came to Texas, « sted near Palestine in Anderson County where ox received his education. He entered the Civil Bar at its beginning and did distinguished service troughout its course, attaining the rank of Cap- La.n. In 1868, Mr. Gaston moved to Dallas and from rsa: date has occupied a place of leadership. In :- to he started the Gaston, Camp and Thomas Bank, [ allas' first financial institution, which later became amply the the Gaston & Thomas Bank. In the meantime, the Exchange Bank had been organized at! had received its charter. Mr. Gaston bought the charter of the new institution and became its „resident. He also bought what at that time was the County Fair and developed it into a state insti- :ation. He has served as president of the Fair Asso- cution time and again.
Mr. Gaston married Miss Loura Furlow, deceased since the early sixties, and in 1863 married Miss 1 ce Furlow. He has five children: Edwin, Robert K. W. H. Jr., Loura who is now Mrs. W. P. Finley, and lone who is now Mrs. C. J. Reeves. The family :** lence is at 3909 Swiss Avenue.
Mr. Gaston is a pioneer not only among Dallas Bankers but among Texas men. Although he began .:: the early day, his interest in his profession has ** ver lagged and today it is still his dominating passion.
JOSEPH E. LAWTHER. of the Lawther Grain Company, 512-514 Deere Building, vice-pres- ident of the Liberty State Bank and ex- mayor of Dallas, has a broad knowledge of - principals that govern factory organization and municipal administration, and in whatever cause he t working has shown himself to be a nian of strict yaity and untiring devotion. His executive skill has Men developed by twenty-seven years' experience " the grain business, and he knows "grain" as few men know it.
The Lawther Grain Company was established by ". Lawther's father in 1885. The concern is a ** ,locale establishment only, that handles a gross " #puit of nearly $2,000,000 annually. The house . .F4 and sells grain, hay and feed stuffs, which are "wucht and shipped in carload lots to all parts of Southwest.
A native of Texas, Mr. Lawther was born in Gal- .d'un on February 11, 1876. His parents were " Fart R. Lawther and Ellen E. Hoops Lawther, old .eiers of Galveston, his father having moved there "' :ho close of the war to engage in the wholesale enArry business. In 1885 the family came to Dallas wtore his father organized the grain company. He
was educated in the Dallas public schools, and at the age of eighteen went into the grain business of his father and grew up in it.
His business integrity, his broad views, and grasp 'of public affairs gradually became known to the public. In 1917 he was elected mayor of Dallas. His administration was one of great accomplish- ment. Coming as it did at a critical time when rapidly advancing prices threatened panic, he kept a cool head and stood always for the interests of the people. A few of his noteworthy achievements were: Elimination of the M. K. and T. grade cross- ing; the establishment of the Municipal Farm; the organization and establishment of the City Plan Commission. It was first organized by Mr. Lawther by his appointment of Col. J. T. Trezevent as chair- man. Later upon vote of the commission the propo- sition of amending the charter so as to make pro- vision for the City Plan Commission was submitted to the vote of the people and the same was carried; building of driveway around White Rock and de- velopment of the property; settlement of the electric and street railway franchise; negotiation of the fran- chise of the Southwestern Telephone Company and consolidation of phones; forbid the telephone com- pany from advancing rates till October, 1920; and the collection of a pole and wire tax from the telephone company, which amounted to $100,000 and has been in the courts for eight years.
Mr. Lawther was one of the organizers of the Liberty State Bank and as stated above is vice- president, he is also a trustee of the Love Field In- dustrial district, and in the past has served as di- rector of the Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Lawther was married in 1895 to Miss Irma B. Enlow of Dallas, but originally from Illinois. They have two children, Margaret L., attending the State University, and Lynn V., attending the Terrill school in Dallas. The Lawther home is at 4924 Live Oak Street.
Mr. Lawther is a member of the City Club, Rotary Club, Bonehead Club, Ad League, Chamber of Com- merce, and attends the City Temple Presbyterian Church. His services to the city have become a part of the history of the city, and his name will be perpetually associated with the beneficial achieve- ments of his administration.
G. FULLERTON, investments, 1226 Great Southern Life building, came to Dallas in 1916, from Kansas City, Missouri. He has devoted his time exclusively to the invest- nient brokerage business, dealing in stocks, bonds and all other securities, and has a growing business. He has made many friends both in the social and business life of Dallas.
Mr. Fullerton was born at St. Joseph, Missouri, March 27, 1876, a son of G. D. Fullerton, well known minister and land owner of Missouri. He studied in the public schools of St. Joseph, Missouri, and early in life entered the brokerage business, achieving splendid success in this and in the grain business in which he was engaged for twelve years in Kansas City. He has been in the brokerage and securities business for seventeen years in Texas, Oklahoma and Missouri.
On December 31, 1900 he was married to Miss Katheryn Lyon, daughter of M. J. Lyon, a well known man of Gainesville. They have one daughter, Mary Louise, 14 years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Fuller- ton reside at 4701 Worth Street in Munger Place.
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BURK BURNETT. In the history of the great Southwest there is no chapter which thrills with more romantic interest than that one which relates of the part played by the West Texas stockmen who came in the early days to the uinhabited prairies and herded their vast droves of steers on that great western range, formerly occupied only by the red man and tlie buffalo. In chronicling the records of men who were potent factors in the development of the stock in- dustry in this region there is no name more worthy of note than that of S. Burk Burnett, pioneer stock- man, capitalist and empire builders, who came with the late Col. C. C. Slaughter, W. T. Waggoner and Col. Chas. O. Goodnight, and others whose lives were so largely interwoven with the history of the win- ning of the West.
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