USA > Texas > The encyclopedia of Texas, V.1 > Part 92
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On October 20th, 1900, the marriage of Mr. Crof- ford to Miss Lillian Cobb was solemnized at this city. Mr. and Mrs. Crofford are the parents of one child, George L. Crofford, Jr., and they have their home at 3711 Stratford Avenue, Highland Park. In fraternal orders Mr. Crofford is a member of the Washington Lodge of Masons and a number of other local clubs and the Chamber of Commerce.
A. AGGERS, president of the Aggers Pro- duction Company, Praetorian Building, is 0% one of the best and most experienced drill- ers in this section, his connection with the industry extending over a period of sixteen years. Mr. Agger's company has ten strings of tools and employs about sixty men, and does drilling for oil and gas on a fifty-fifty contract basis, operating en- tirely in Texas fields. The company has drilled wells for the Lone Star Gas Company, The T. & P. and other large companies, and has been very suc- cessful in their operations. They also own some leases, have some production and will continue to develop their own holdings.
Mr. Aggers came to Dallas in the latter part of 1918, from Tulsa, Okla., where he spent sixteen years in the business, and was a contracting driller for many of the big companies there. His first connec- tion with the industry was in Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio, and in 1903 he was in Kansas when the first development work was done in that state. He is interested in Oklahoma, Louisiana, Texas and Mexico holdings. He is a native of Pennsylvania, born at Butler, February 20, 1877, and educated in the public schools there and at a business college. His father, W. M. Aggers, was a well known oil man and pro- ducer in the Butler county, Pennsylvania, fields. His marriage to Miss Amy H. Henry, daughter of David L. Henry, well known property owner of Trin- idad. Colo., was consummated at Trinidad in June, 1903, and they have two fine daughters, Louise and Maxine, students at Miss Hockaday's School, Dallas.
Mr. Aggers has great faith in the future possibili- ties for the oil industry in Texas, and believes that the section around Ranger will yet be made to flow great quantities of the liquid gold. Texas, he says, is full of rich opportunities for progressive men in every line of endeavor, and the continued develop- ment of its wonderful resources will make it the rich- est part of the Union.
383
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS
RANK . CULLINAN, vice-president of the Republic Production Company and president of the Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Associa- tion, Texas and Louisiana division, with offices at 1508 American Exchange National Bank Building, Dallas, has been engaged in the oil busi- ness for the past twenty-five years, twenty-two of which has been spent in Texas. He began work in the oil fields of Pennsylvania when a boy and has worked up to his present influential and responsible position with the Republic Production Company. This company has its principal holdings in the oil fields of Southern Texas, especially in Liberty County, in what is known as the Hull pool. They also own considerable holdings in Northern Texas and at the present time are drilling wells in a number of counties.
A native of Pennsylvania, Frank Cullinan was born at the town of Shamburg, Venango County, on the 17th day of August, 1877. He is a son of John S. Cullinan, of Pennsylvania, who was an oil operator of that state associated with the Stand- ard Oil Company. The younger Mr. Cullinan re- ceived his early educational training in the public schools of his native city and while yet a youth he began work in the oil fields located near his home town. He was employed by the Standard Oil Com- pany as a general handy man and while with them served in all departments, except those of refining and sales. In 1898 he came to Texas and for the next six years worked in the oil fields at Corsicana, part of which time he served as superintendent of the Corsicana Petroleum Company, which is now the Magnolia Petroleum Company. In 1904 he moved to Beaumont, where he became vice-president of the Producers Oil Company, which position he retained until 1917. At that time he began busi- ness independently, which he continued until 1919, at which time he became vice-president of the Re- public Production Company. Mr. Cullinan served as director of the Texas and Louisiana division of the Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association during 1918- 1919 and in 1921 was elected president of this or- ganization.
In 1906 Mr. Cullinan married Miss Chestnutt, daughter of W. A. Chestnutt, of Corsicana, and they are the parents of two children: Frances and Jack F. Cullinan, Junior.
In civic organizations Mr. Cullinan is a member · of the United States Chamber of Commerce, Texas Chamber of Commerce, Dallas Chamber of Com- merce, the Dallas Country Club, the City Club, Brook Hollow Country Club and the Dallas Athletic Club. The career of Mr. Cullinan illustrates the signal achievement of individual effort and unusual ability; beginning at the bottom of the oil profession he has risen to a place of prominence and Dallas is fortu- nate in having him as a member of its citizenship. SCAR BRANCH COLQUITT, has been ac- tive in the political affairs of Texas for the past twenty-five years. As governor of the state for four years he served the people with great fidelity, with a thorough com- prehension of the countless problems involved in the administration of so great a common-wealth and with great satisfaction to all interests and varied sections of the state.
Born in the town of Camilla, Mitchell County, Georgia, Oscar Branch Colquitt, is a son of Thomas J. and Ann E. (Burkhalter) Colquitt. The name of
Colquitt is one distinguished not only in Texas but in other parts of the South, and the ancestry goes back to the colonial period. The family came to Texas, settling near Daingerfield, in 1878. Oscar B. Colquitt was sixteen years of age at that time and his first three years were spent as a worker on a rented farm in Morris County, and during the first year he attended school between the laying and the harvesting of the crops. Subsequently the old Daingerfield College advanced his education but at the age of nineteen he became a printers devil in the office of the Morris County Banner. In 1884 he went to Pittsburgh and established the Pittsburgh Gazette, which he successfully conducted until 1886 when he sold out to his younger brother. During the same year he bought the Terrell Star and con- tinued with it until he retired from the newspaper field in 1898, in order to engage in the practice of law. In the meantime he had become prominent in politics having been State Senator from Kaufman County in 1895. In 1903 he moved to Austin, be- coming railroad commissioner. He held this po- sition until 1911. The year preceding that he had been elected Governor and in 1911 assumed control of the office. While Governor he succeeded in pass- ing numerous laws which have been of great benefit to the State, among which are: Improvement of educational system by lengthening the term and in- augurating the present text book system; enlarge- ment of asylums; purchased battle ground of Gon- zales and also of Fannin; law for the protection of working girls; forty-four hour week and eight hour day; Workmens Compensation Act; establishment of the state tubercular hospital the home for friendless girls at Gainesville and numerous other measures of minor importance. After serving two terms Mr. Colquitt retired from the office and in 1916 en- tered the campaign for the United States Senate. He won the first primary by a healthy plurality but was defeated by the incumbent, Senator Cul- berson in the run off. Since retiring from politics Mr. Culberson has engaged in the oil business.
In 1885 Mr. Colquitt married Miss Alice Murrell and they are the parents of four children: Rollins M., Sidney B., Oscar B., Jr., and Mary Colquitt. The Colquitt home is at 4950 Live Oak street. In fraternal affiliations Mr. Colquitt is a member of the W. O. W., the Praetorians, Elks and the Knights of Pythias.
OY JENKINS, oil operator, 1210-11 Amer- ican Exchange National Bank Building, has the experience of a decade in the oil busi- ness. Since 1914 Mr. Jenkins has been operating in the various oil fields of Texas and Oklahoma.
Mr. Jenkins was born at Dover, Tennessee, on December 17th, 1873. His parents, John D. Jenkins and Mary Morris Jenkins, soon came to Texas, locat- ing first at Lancaster and then at Italy.
For about three years he was in the dry goods business with his brother, Wallace Jenkins, in Italy, Texas. He then went to Oklahoma about ten years ago where he engaged in the mercantile line. In 1914 Mr. Jenkins entered the oil business in Okla- homa and has followed this profession since that time.
In 1906, Mr. Jenkins was married to Miss Emma Schaller. They have one son, Roy Morris Jenkins. They reside at 5221 Bryan Street. At this time they are building a new residence at 5316 Live Oak Street.
384
MEN OF TEXAS
R OBERT. B. SEAY, Wichita Falls, of the Oil and Real Estate firm of Seay-Cranfill Com- pany is one of the leading big operators as well as a leading real estate man in some of Texas largest cities and most rapidly developing districts. In addition to the large scale of oil opera- tions in which Mr. Seay and his company are engaged, Mr. Seay is interested in some fifteen companies which are operating in all fields, so that there is hardly a Texas oil field that does not know his activity personally or through his interests. Chief among the fields of his endeavors, however, is the territory about Wichita Falls where he has had an office since January of 1919. Other members of Mr. Seay's Company are Britt E. Cranfill and Tom E. Cranfill.
Mr. Seay was born in Tennessee in 1875; his father, Ben T. Seay, was a real estate man before him, now retired. After his native state had given him his education, he began his business career in his father's office as a salesman in which capacity he served for five years. He then became assistant ticket agent for the H. & T. C. Ry. at Dallas; then for seven years he served in the two cities, Ennis and Corsicana, as ticket agent. He next went to New York City to become affiliated with the American Tobacco Company with whom he remained for eleven years. He then returned to Dallas and re-entered the firm of Seay-Cranfill Company and was there until January, 1919, when he went to the Wichita Falls office of this company.
Mr. Seay is active in the social and civic life of his fellow-men as well as in affairs commercial. He is a member of the Wichita Club, the Wichita Golf Club, the Wichita Chamber of Commerce, the Lake- wood County Club of Dallas, Texas, the Country Club and the Dallas Athletic Club. He is well known to the business life of north, northwest, and western, Texas, each of which is benefiting by his activity.
RITT E. CRANFILL, a partner in the firm of Seay-Cranfill Company, Commerce Build- ing, Wichita Falls, is one of the most pro- gressive leaders in the realm of oil opera- tion, the largest activity of western and northwest- ern Texas. The Seay-Cranfill Company operate in oil on a very large scale themselves and then are interested in some fifteen companies which are operating in all Texas territory. Other members of the firm are R. B. Seay, Jr., and Tom E. Cranfill.
Mr. Cranfill is a native Texan; he was born in 1889 at Turnersville, Texas. His father is T. E. Cranfill, Dallas, Texas, now retired; his mother is Annie (Cooper) Cranfill. Waco public schools gave Mr. Cranfill his first education and Baylor Univer- sity, of that city, completed it. The son then entered the present firm at Dallas as a salesman. In 1917 he entered the world war service by becoming asso- ciated with the intelligence department; he served in the navy where he was stationed at San Fran- cisco; from this service he was discharged in 1918. Mr. Cranfill then went to Wichita Falls, Texas, to begin his work of today which ranks him with the leaders in business activities. He is a Mason, an Elk, a member of the Wichita Club, the Wichita Golf and Country Club and the Chamber of Com- merce. He is thus identified with every social and civic interest of his adopted city as well as with its commercial life.
OM E. CRANFILL, member of the Seay- Cranfill Company, Incorporated, with of- fices at 1011 Commerce Street, Real Estate Dealers, has been connected with the oil industry in Texas since its infancy and for the last ten years has given much attention to real estate.
The Seay-Cranfill Company is one of the oldest real estate firms in Dallas and as an indication of the volume of its business more than 40,000 people of Dallas are now living on property sold by them. Nine men are working out of the Dallas office as selling agents for the residence districts recently opened up at Trinity Heights and at Clifton Place. The firm does not limit itself to residence property but deals in business property as well. Offices are maintained at Galveston, Waco and El Paso. In ad- dition to his interests with this Company Mr. Cran- fill is Vice-President of the Tennison Bros. Saddlery Co. of Dallas. He is President of the Belle Meade Land & Loan Company, Vice-president of the Texas Mortgage Company and Vice-President of the Ran- ger Tool & Supply Company. He was one of the three men who installed the water works at Ranger. During all his connection with the oil business Mr. Cranfill lias never entered into any stock selling proposition.
Mr. Cranfill was born in Coryell County, Texas, in 1881. His father, Dr. J. B. Cranfill, was a native Texan and well known throughout the state. Hav- ing finished his preparatory education, he attended Baylor University, at Waco, Texas, but left school when oil was struck in the Lucas well at Spindle Top. He went to work in the oil fields with the Sun Oil Company and learned the practical details of the industry. He later went to Sour Lake fields and others. In 1912 he entered the real estate busi- ness in which he has since remained but his know- ledge of the oil business has been of great value.
Mr. Cranfill was married to Miss Mai Seay, daugh- ter of Ben T. Seay, a well known citizen of Dallas, and to them four children were born. Namely, Mona Mai, Isabel, Eleanor and Tom, Jr. Their home is on Oram Avenue.
Mr. Cranfill is a Mason of advanced standing, hav- ing taken degrees in both the Scottish and York Rites and is a Shriner of Hella Temple. He is a member of the City Club, the Dallas Country Club, Cedar Crest Country Club, Lakewood Country Club and the Chamber of Commerce.
L. FLANERY is well known among the younger generation of oil men in the Mid- Continent fields. Before coming to Dallas in 1915 he spent four years in Oklahoma, where he was connected with oil companies in pro- duction, leases, royalties and the brokerage end of the business.
P. L. Flanery is a native of Kansas City, Mo., born October 26, 1894, and educated in the Kansas City schools, and the Lake Forest Preparatory School for Annapolis. His father, W. Z. Flanery, was a well known oil and mining man, operated in Mexico as well as in the United States.
Mr. Flanery is enthusiastic over the great possi- bilities in oil in Texas, and believes it will be the largest producer of oil in the country. He holds that development work has barely begun, and that within the next few years extensive oil operations will be going on in practically every part of the state.
385
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS
W ALTER DEARING CLINE, one of the most aggressive oil operators in the territory of the northwest and chief spokesman for Wichita Falls as its mayor since April 6, 1920, has for nearly 20 years been a potent factor in the oil industry of Texas. While Texas has had to her credit an oil production for some time, yet it was not until the rediscovery of the oil fields of western and northwestern Texas that she came to be one of the foremost of oil producing states. The fields that center about Wichita Falls are among the largest in the United States. Wichita Falls is conceded by all other cities to be the coming city of the Southwest for the future; her immense agri- cultural backing, the oil industry, her' importance as a distributing center for territory hundreds of miles around are three factors, any one of which is sufficient, that will make an immense metropolis. Her citizenry are people of wealth who are not misers but are zealous at launching big enterprises, and to be the chief leader of such a folk is an honor that is at the same time a responsibility which no one is better equal to than is Walter Dearing Cline.
Mr. Cline was born in St. Helena Parish, Louis- iana, on March 26, 1883. After completing the public school system he attended a seminary at Jackson, La., and then Centenary College of the same city. After teaching school for a few years, Mr. Cline began work on the irrigating canals in the rice fields and became assistant manager of a company devoted to this interest. In 1903 he entered the oil game and has been with it ever since; his beginning was at Humble where he soon became a driller; he then went to Laredo where he became assistant manager for the Texas Company in the gas fields. In 1913 he moved to Wichita County. During his residence at Burkburnett he was chosen as mayor of that city so that his experience as mayor today is not his first.
In 1910 Miss Ella Pipes, of Amite, La., became the bride of Mr. Cline; they have two sons and three daughters.
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During the late war period Mr. Cline served on the Advisory Committee for the State Fuel Ad- ministration; he was district representative of the Red Cross interests which he successfully directed and was a leader in conducting the Liberty Loan drives. Mr. Cline is very active in all the civic life of his city as well as its commercial circles; he is a director of the Wichita Chamber of Com- merce, a member of the public library board, of the Wichita Falls Welfare Council, vice-president of the First National Bank of his city, director of the City National Bank of Dallas, Texas, president of the Texas-Louisiana division of the Mid-Conti- nent Oil Association, a thirty-second degree Mason, first potentate at the Maskat Temple, an Elk, a past chancellor commander of the Knights of Py- thias, a member of the Wichita Club, the Rotary Club, the Rod and Gun Club and the Wichita Falls Golf Club.
Mr. Cline, his interests, his city, will each be a leader in the future history of Texas.
B ERRY B. WALKER, president of the Bank- ers' Oil and Refining Company of Mineral Wells, Texas, entered the oil business in 1907, and came to Dallas in January of 1912. His company holds leases and royalties in Stephens, Eastland and Palo Pinto counties valued at $500,000. Mr. Walker also has property holdings
from the depot at Ranger, Texas. The company holdings are located in the best oil producing sec- tions of the state.
Mr. Walker was born at Breckenridge, Stephens County, right in the heart of the oil district, Feb- ruary 18, 1878. His father, Edward L. Walker, was a pioneer in that section, locating in Stephens County in 1859, and was at one time county judge. Mr. Walker attended the schools of Breckenridge. and after leaving school he engaged in the hardware business, which he followed for twenty years, oper- ating stores at Breckenridge, Ranger, Mineral Wells, and Walnut Springs, and he is still interested in the business at Mineral Wells, being a director in the Holt Hardware Company of that city.
Mr. Walker married Miss Lina Fairly, of Missis- sippi, February 12, 1898, and they have three daugh- ters, Mrs. M. D. Brazile, of Fort Worth, Texas, Mrs. H. W. Cuteman, Jr., of Weatherford, Texas, and Miss Joy. Mrs. Walker comes from a family prominent in the political life of Mississippi, her father, J. U. Fairly, being a member of the state legislature, and her uncles holding positions of trust. UDGE A. W. WALKER, organizer and former president of Texhoma Refining Co., was the executive head of that company from its organization until the summer of 1920 at which time he resigned and his son-in-law, W. B. Hamilton was elected his successor. Mr. Walker retains a directorship and is one of the large stock holders of the company. Judge Walker is also president of the Walker Consolidated Petroleum Co .. 802-03 Southern Life Building, Dallas, Texas, has been a potent factor in the development of the oil industry of North Texas and has had a part in the opening up of some of the best producing properties in the State. The Texhoma Company is capitalized at six million dollars. The Walker Con- solidated is also capitalized at six million dollars and operated extensively in the North Texas and Louisi- ana fields.
Prior to entering the oil business he practiced law before the Texas bar for over twenty years, besides serving for several sessions in the State Legislature and as County Judge for Armstrong County for a period of two years.
Judge Walker was born in Alabama on June 10, 1867, his father James Walker was a large planta- tion owner who in the ante bellum days was the owner of a great many slaves, and an influential citizen of Alabama. Judge Walker was reared in the atmosphere of the old Southern aristocracy and attaining his majority decided to follow the pro- fession of law. He studied under the tutorship of Gov. T. H. Watts, ex-governor of Alabama. When twenty years of age he came to Texas and located in Grayson County where he opened up the practice of law, here he remained practicing in Grayson, Arm- strong and Denton Counties for fifteen years. In 1892 he was elected County Judge of Armstrong County serving a two year term. In 1900 he was elected to. the Legislature as representative from Grayson County which he served for two years. In 1906 he moved to Ft. Worth, Texas, and shortly afterward was elected to the State Legislature as flotorial representative from Tarrant. Cook and Denton Counties. In 1911 Judge Walker moved to Dallas and since that time has made this city his home.
Since coming to Dallas he has been active in public
386
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MEN OF TEXAS
affairs and has contributed liberally of his time and means to activities for public benefits. He served as chairman of the Prohibition Campaign for North Texas in 1911, and in that capacity has no little part in placing the Lone Star State in the prohibition column.
Judge Walker was married to Miss Rosa Keeder of Dallas County to whom were born four children, Pearl B., Now Mrs. W. B. Hamilton of Wichita Falls; H. W. James and A. W. Walker Jr., all of Dallas, Texas. His first wife having died, he was subse- quently married to his present wife who was Mrs. Dora E. Clifton of Denton County.
Mr. Walker is a member of the Masonic Lodge, City Club, Dallas Country Club and the Dallas Chamber of Commerce.
S. BURTON, oil operator and drilling con- tractor, has had thirty-seven year's ex- perience in all branches of the oil industry and has become an expert in his line. He came to Texas'in 1917 and did some wildcatting for himself in Jack county. He then began contracting in Stephens county and has had more than sixteen strings of tools at work at one time in Stephens and Eastland counties. He has brought in many wells for the T. & P. Company and other companies and individuals. He keeps from fifty to seventy- five men employed, owns five trucks and uses all cable tools.
He has owned some production and since he has been engaged in the business he has spent six years in Pennsylvania fields, thirteen years in Virginia fields, seven years in Illinois fields, four years in California fields and four years in Oklahoma fields. He expects to establish his headquarters at Necessity or Cotton Plant, in Stephens county, where most of his drilling operations are being carried on.
Mr. Burton was born at Mackaburg, Ohio, Decem- ber 1, 1868, and attended the schools of that town. His father, W. M. Burton, was a stone mason. He has twice been married, his first wife Miss George, a native of Missouri, and to this union three children were born, Mrs. W. G. Ray of Fort Worth, Texas; Mrs. C. B. Vernon of Caddo, Oklahoma, and Miss Garnett, attending school at Wichita, Kansas. His second wife was Miss Gertrude Buchanan, and one daughter, Nelson Jean, has graced this union. He is a 32 Degree Mason and Shriner. He is also a Knight Templar. His religious affiliation is with the Christian Church. .
Having spent practically all of his life in the oil business and being acquainted with all the important oil producing sections of the United States and Mexi- co, Mr. Burton's opinion of the possibilities for great production in Texas is of more than ordinary im- portance, and in expressing the belief that Texas will become the greatest oil producing State in the coun- try, he is but confirming the belief expressed by other oil men of long experience.
AS A. JONES, JR., president and general manager of the Senoj Petroleum Corpora- tion, 812 Southwestern Life Insurance Building, has been a prominent figure in oil circles in Texas for several years and has had a very successful and active career. He operated in the coastal fields of South Texas with headquarters at Houston for several years and early in 1919 re- moved to Dallas where he became president and gen- eral manager of the Republic Oil and Refining Com-
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