The encyclopedia of Texas, V.2, Part 29

Author: Davis, Ellis Arthur, ed; Grobe, Edwin H., ed
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Dallas, Texas Development Bureau
Number of Pages: 1328

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Mr. and Mrs. Sparger had a beautiful home at 3915 Gillon Avenue, Highland Park, where Mrs. Sparger still resides. Mr. Sparger was an active member of and one of the Trustees of the City Temple.

DWARD WALTER PRITCHARD, deceased since January 7, 1914, had been identified with his city and its best interests in its growth for a quarter of a century. His career was that of a mechanic and an engineer and his disposition was so full of cheer and sunshine that he was the type of person whom everybody knew and who knew everybody, and as he had been doing this since the "babyhood of Dallas," his was and is yet a host of warm friendships in Texas' chief metropolis. It is as we are social that we may be useful; regardless of how talented a man may be, if he lives in isolation and shares not his knowledge and his cheer, he is useless. Edward Walter Pritchard had in a remarkable degree the capacity for forming friendships and being a com- panion with his friends.

Mr. Pritchard was born on December 3, 1859, in the state of Maryland, at the town of Laurel. His youth was unmarked by anything out of the ordi- nary, his schooling was complete as far as the public schools of Maryland went. At the age of thirty, in 1889, he yielded to the call of the Lone Star State and on November 13th of that year, he settled in Dallas. Even in 1889 Dallas was a small place, but in the quarter of a century that followed it de- veloped into a place of leadership in the Southwest which it occupies today and which leadership is fastly increasing.

In 1889 Miss Belle Hyndes Kelly became the bride of Mr. Pritchard. She is the daughter of Wm. V. Kelly, deceased since 1869, a native of Tennessee, - a railroad man. Her mother, Bertha Owens Kelly, is today healthful and active at the age of ninety- one and resides in Dallas. Mr. and Mrs. Pritchard have one daughter and four sons; the daughter, Mrs. Maude Kelly Graul, a widow, has four children; the sons are George Edward, age twenty-two; Joseph Philip, age twenty; James V., age eighteen and Wm. Franklin, age sixteen. The family reside at 1719 South Lamar Street.

Mr. Pritchard, after arriving in Dallas, became machinist for the Mosher Mfg. Co., which employ he left in March, 1890, to go with the Dallas Cotton Mills; in 1900 he was appointed chief engineer for this corporation, a position in which he was active until his illness, December 22, 1912. He was a Scottish Rite Mason and a Shriner at Hclla Temple. He was formerly president of the N. A. S. E., a national honor for engineers and by those of his profession and many other friends as well, his every memory is cherished.

581

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

T. JACKSON, deceased since April 10, 1920, the late president of the C. T. Jackson Realty Company, and capitalist, banker and merchant, was a native Texan who con- tributed his share to the development of Texas industries and to the state as a whole. His prema- ture death was a great loss to Dallas for he had just entered upon an extensive campaign to beautify the city with the finer type of residences. However, this good work is being carried on by the C. T. Jackson Realty Company under the management of Gordon, Jackson, the son. In August, 1918, Mr. Jackson bought the properties belonging to the Cobb & Crofford Company and became president of the firm. These interests, valued at $400,000, include some of the most attractive property in Dallas, in- cluding the Oak Lawn Inn.

Mr. Jackson was born May 5, 1868, at Ladonia, Texas. His father, J. E. Jackson, was one of the early settlers of Texas and a farmer on a large scale. He secured two sections of the fertile black land near Ladonia which the family still holds. Mr. Jackson's formal education began with the public schools of Fannin County and ended with his gradu- ation from the Ladonia High School and a business course at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. When he was twenty- three years old he entered the hardware business and remained in it for nine years. Leaving this busi- ness in 1901 he organized the Ladonia National Bank and served as its president for one year. From Ladonia Mr. Jackson went to Cleburne and engaged in the manufacture of cotton seed and peanut products. In the latter business he was one of the pioneers in Texas, establishing the largest peanut plant in the state and manufacturing and shipping the first peanut oil which was sent to Proctor and Gamble. He was also the first man to manufacture peanut meal and peanut flour. In this business he continued for ten years. In 1915 he came to Dallas, attracted by its brilliant future, and quickly became an important part of its commercial life.

In December, 1895, Mr. Jackson was married to Miss Valeria Stevens, native of Ladonia, Texas. Mrs. Jackson is a daughter of T. J. and Mary (Henderson) Stevens. Mr. Stevens came to Texas before the Civil War and became extensively inter- ested in farming. Mrs. Stevens was a native of Delta County and reared and educated in Ladonia. Her father, Dr. Wm. H Henderson, came to Texas in 1845 and was a leading physician of Ladonia. There are three children, C. Gordon, Winifred and Vallejo. C. Gordon Jackson is a graduate of the University of Texas class of '18. He was active in student affairs, being a member of Phi Gamma Del- ta Fraternity and serving as captain of the Univer- sity Military organization. During the war he was an Ensign in the Naval Air Service. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Junior Chamber of Commerce and the University Club. The Jackson residence is at 5425 Bryan street.

Highly optimistic and a firm believer in the future of Dallas Mr. Jackson had already shown himself to be one of her most enthusiastic citizens. Ile was an- active member of the Chamber of Commerce and few nien have shown so deep .an interest in or had proved to be a greater asset to the civic life of Dallas than the late C. T. Jackson.

EN F. CULLOM. Dallas County has had B many popular and efficient officers, but it doubtful if any man ever held a position of public trust in this county who was more popular or who attended more carefully to the duties of his office than did Ben F. Cullom who servet as Deputy County Clerk for ten years, from 1901 until 1914, and who in that year was elected to the office of county clerk. He continued to serve the people of Dallas County faithfully and efficiently until his death on March 2, 1917. Although he was in bad health for two years prior to his death, Mr. Cullom continued to supervise the affairs of his office and never once allowed the interests of the public to suffer by reason of his illness.

Mr. Cullom was born in Dickson County, Tennes- see, and was 51 years of age at the time of his death. He was educated in the public schools and on January 26, 1902, was married in Dallas to Miss Frances .Severn, a daughter of P. J. and Sarah (Munn) Severn. Mr. Severn spent most of his life time in Virginia and Louisiana and served the peo- ple of these states in many responsible capacities.

Mr. and Mrs. Cullom were the parents of two children, Marguerite Severn Cullom ,now Mrs. Ray- mond Nelms Tyson of Dallas, and Miss Marjorie, who resides with her mother at the family home in Dallas.

Mr. Cullom was a member of a number of fraternal bodies and civic organizations and was ever inter- ested in any movement for tne upbuilding of his community. He was an able and conscientious o.f.cer and always anxious to serve the people to the very best of his ability.

ILLIAM HENRY CULLUM came to Dallas County with his wife and parents in 1872, at the age of 24 years and settled on a farm near Mesquite. He alternated between his farm and a home in Dallas for a number of years but finally moved to Dallas and continued to live here until his death on May 6, 1913. He lived for five or six years in East Dallas and then moved to Oak Lawn, his family being among the first to establish a home in that popular suburb.

For nine years Mr. Cullum was chief deputy sheriff under Sheriff Ledbetter and was known all over North Texas as a fearless and able peace officer.

Mr. Cullum was born in the western part of Ten- nessee in 1851 and educated in the public schools of that state. He was a son of Rev. Marcus H. and Elizabeth Jane (Davis) Cullum. His father was a well known Methodist minister and his mother was a direct descendant of Jefferson Davis, president of the Southern Confederacy.

In 1871 Mr. Cullum was married in Tennessee to "Miss Isadora Harper, a daughter of B. J. and Her- ninia (Hatchett) Harper, both natives of Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Cullum were the parents of thirteen children, eleven of whom are living: Vibla, now Mrs. W. H. Lyne of Houston; E. L. Cullum, Houston; W. H., Jr., and Chas. F., Dallas; M. H., in the oil business in Mexico; W. G., Earl W., John F., Geo. P. and T. A., all of Dallas, and Miss Lorella, the young- est. Mrs. Cullum has 22 living grandchildren.

Mr. Culluni, at the time of his death, was a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Oak Lawn Methodist Church. Ile was actively inter- ested in civic affairs and aided materially in the development of Oak Lawn.

582

Of Jackson

MEN OF TEXAS

ON. J. C. McNEALUS. No citizen of Dal- las is better known to the general public and held in higher esteem than the late Hon. J. C. McNealus, during his life time a member of the Texas State Senate, editor of "The Dallas Democrat" and a leader in Texas politics for forty years.

Mr. MeNealus was born in Roxbury, New York, on October 15, 1850. There his boyhood was spent, he received his preparatory education in the Roxbury Academy and his higher training in the state schools, after which, at the age of twenty-nine, in 1879, he came to Dallas, Texas. From that time onward, his career has been intimately linked in public serv- ice for the rapidly developing Lone Star State. He is the only inan known to have been elected to a second term in the Dallas district. But for three times in succession has he been chosen for a term of four years each. His wife, Virginia Quitman Mc- Nealus, is a granddaughter of General John A. Quitman, who stormed the Castle of Chapultepee, taking the Belan Gate and leading the first Ameri- can troops into Mexico. This grandfather was the first civil military governor of all Mexico for two years and has the distinction of being the only Anglo-Saxon ruler Mexico ever had. He was also celebrated at home in civil affairs, being twice gov- ernor of Mississippi and died as a member of con- gress from that state in 1859.

"The Dallas Democrat" was founded and was owned and edited by Mr. McNealus. It voiced in no un- certain terms that stainless Democracy to which its founder had given his life services. Its influence is known and felt throughout the domains of Texas.

During his forty years of public activity in behalf of his adopted state, there is not a single good in- terest of the people of Texas which has not been championed by the Hon. J. C. MeNealus. For this life time of service and usefulness his city and state honor his memory.

JOSEPH THOMPSON O'BANNON, deceased was a pioneer photographer of Dallas, known and loved for his art by his city for a generation. In the realm of photographic art Mr. O'Bannon was a master; he began in the day of the tin type, and kept pace with the latest and best in his profession, and indeed, help bring to his co- workers much of the improvements which made for this realistic art today. It was in 1877 that he began his Dallas residence and work. As he was the leader in his realm for a score of years it was he who caught in permanent form every Dallas beauty or man of talent and enterprise for a generation. He was, therefore, one of the most widely known citizens and esteemed of the metropolis of today.

Mr. O'Bannon came from Kentucky and was born near Mt. Carmel of that State in 1865. His parents were James Thompson O'Bannon and Catherine A. (Meyers) O'Bannon, natives of Kentucky. As his mother came to Dallas when he was twelve, the Dal- las school system gave him a good part of his train- ing. He finished his education in the private school of Professor Groves, well known and beloved for his scholarship and culture by the earlier citizens. He began his career with the firm of E. M. Kahn as clerk. He continued this work for a number of years which he left to establish a business of his own in the photographic line. It was in the day of the tin-type art and Mr. O'Bannon has personally gone through every step of the betterment of his profes- sion from the primitive beginning. For many years,

through the latest phases of the art, he held undis- puted place as chief artist in his profession. His studios were popular and beautiful.

In 1888 at Dallas, Texas, Miss Francis Elizabeth Thomas and Mr. O'Bannon were united in marriage. Her parents were J. F. Thomas, of Illinois, a leader among Dallas real estate men for some years, and Harriett (Fitzjerrell) Thomas. Her family located in Dallas in 1875. Three children came of this union: Mrs. Hattie Jean (O'Bannon) Breg, of Dallas, and the sons Lucius Edwin and Frank Burdette O'Ban- non. Mr. O'Bannon was an Elk and a member of the Central Christian Church.

Not only did the activities of his own profession interest him, but Joseph Thompson O'Bannon gave his influence and energy to every enterprise that made for the civic development of Dallas. He saw it grow from the "town" beginning to the metropol- itan stage and always "Dallas" was near his heart affections. The O'Bannon residence is at 2719 Routh Street.

HARLES ERNEST JOHNSTON, deceased, was known not only to his home city but to the Southwest as a salesman of rare ability, and a man of integrity, as well also as an efficient business manager. Salesmanship is known as an art, and projecting a business over an extensive territory of many states in a work that only few men can perform in an effective way Charles Earnest Johnston was one of these few, and as such, together with the fact that his influence is still vividly recollected, he is given a place in this record of men of Texas.

Mr. Johnston was a native of Ohio. He was born near Columbus of that State, in the year 1862. His parents were C. W. Johnson and Arabella (Huff) Johnston, his father an oil man of wide experience and success. In boyhood he applied himself profit- ably to his schooling and made good records not only as a student but as a leader among his fellows; this record he maintained through his successful career. He finished his schooling by taking a course in mechanical engineering. His first prolonged work was with the Fire Department of the city of Colum- bus, Ohio, where lie was assistant chief. He then became traveling salesman for the Seagraves Fire Apparatus Company, the efficiency of whose pro- jects he has proven in his work. His territory in this capacity was the Southwest and Dallas his headquarters for sixteen years. Just before his death he had signed up with the Overland Auto- mobile Company. During his Dallas residence, Mr. Johnston had dealt in real estate to a large degree and had acquired valuable holdings.

In 1905, at Dallas, Mr. Johnston and Miss Sadye Estes were united in marriage. Miss Estes was the daughter of W. C. Estes and Fannie (Kirk- patrick) Estes the father a planter in Collin county where Mrs. Estes now resides. Charles At- well Johnston is the son of this union. The Johnston residence is at 4534 Munger avenue.

Mr. Johnston was a member of the Elks and the T. P. A. He was attractive socially with his fellow men as well as energetic in business. He was de- voted to righteousness, a member of the Central Christian Church where he was also a member of the Board of Directors. He was a liberal contribu- tor to charity and its various phases and always cherished for his son a life of true service to human- ity.

583

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

MAMES ARTHER SKILLERN, founder of a chain of Drug Stores in Dallas, as a pion- eer druggist did much to establish a pres- ent day big business and though deceased since December 29, 1914, a record of the Makers of Texas would not be complete without a review of his activities. To the pioneers of yesterday is the credit due for todays big concerns for they so laid their foundations that immense superstructures are being built thereon by their sons. While he had a career of activity in the drug business prior to 1896, it was not until that year that he located in Dallas and from the beginning of one store built a trio of drug establishments, each one of which is a leader in its section of the city of Dallas today and is continued by his sons. These are located at Commerce and Jefferson streets, at 1812 Commerce, and in Oak Cliff. The latter was sold, the Adolphus Pharmacy was acquired. Skillern & Sons have recently en- tered the field as cigar distributers, this business being located at Akard and Young streets.

Mr. Skillern was born in Tennessee, in Segualikie County, in 1856. His father was Frank W. Skillern who in turn was a sturdy pioneer in Tennessee which at that time was one of the western states at the edge of civilization. This. state gave James Arthur Skillern the best education it afforded in that day, training him principally in the deep down virtues of honesty, perseverance and thrift which laid the foundation for his business activity that culminated in success later. In 1875 he yielded to the call of the Lone Star State and came to Texas, being em- ployed in the drug business. It was not until six years later that he began the drug business for him- self at Lewisville, Texas, with a partner. This busi- ness seemed to be Mr. Skillern's natural element for he rade rapid progress in it having once entered into the activity. In a short time he bought his partners interest and continued in Lewisville until 1893 when he sold out and went to Sherman, Texas. Three years later, in 1896, he moved his business to Dallas and opened the drug store at Commerce and Jefferson. Being the type of man who ean form and cultivate the acquaintance of a city as well as men ean form acquaintance with a few Mr. Skillern's business was soon of such proportions that a second store was opened at 1812 Commerce and then a third time in the great residence city of Oak Cliff. Each one of these establishments, because of the full line of quality goods, the dispatch of service rendered and the Skillern personality, has popularized their locations until they are among the best known and patronized in Dallas.

In 1884, at Lewisville, Texas, Mr. Skillern mar- ried Miss Mamie Edwards, daughter of Rev. and Mrs. W. A. Edwards, natives of Georgia. Rev. Edwards came to Texas in 1876 and was a pioneer minister of the Methodist Church South. Rev. Edwards today, at the age of 88 is active and interested in church and civie affairs as much as ever. Mrs. Edwards, who is 86 years of age with her husband reside at 4019 Bowser Avenue at the residence of G. H. Cochran, their daughter and son-in-law. To them nine children were born; W. Arthur, Frank Lloyd, deceased, Mrs. Edna (Skillern) Cofer, Mrs. Lida (Skillern) Peterson, R. E., Mrs. Zula (Skillern) Fol- som, and Misses Zola Evelyn and Jean Skillern. Frank L. was the first president of Skillern & Sons, after his fathers death and until his decease. The family residence is at 417 East Ninth Street, Oak Cliff.

W. Arthur Skillern is now president of the business and in him is guaranteed the same qualities that have built up the present day big business which, under his leadership, will share largely in the big future of Dallas. The other officers of the company are W. F. Cofer, Vice-president; G. H. Cochran, secretary R. E. Skillern, treasurer. The above with Mrs. J. A. Skillern consist the board of directors.

ARTHUR SKILLERN, formerly president and general manager of Skillern & Sons, Inc., with a capital stock of $120,000 which operates four large drug stores, the well known Spa and two cigar stands in the Adolphus Hotel.

The late W. Arthur Skillern was born at Lewis- ville, Texas, in 1885, and is a graduate of the Dallas high school. His parents, James Arthur and Mary Jane (Edwards) Skillern, were natives of Alabama, his mother graduated from the North Texas Female College at Dallas in 1882. Mr. Skillern was married in Dallas, June 18, 1907, to Miss Verna Malone, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. D. Malone. There is one daughter, Edna Madge. The family home is at 537 Jefferson Street.

Mr. Skillern was a Mason, Hella Temple Shriner, member of the Keystone Lodge, No. 1143, the Rotary Club and Cedarcrest Country Club. He was first vice-president of the Texas State Pharmaceutical Association and on trades interest committee of the National Association of Retail Druggists. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce and was always active in all of its operations. By his prema- ture death in 1921 Dallas lost one of her most promi- nent and capable young business men and one of her most loyal and beloved citizens.

BE HYMAN. Among the popular traveling salesmen of Texas for many years was Abe Hyman, representative of a large Chicago wholesale house, until his death in January, 1920. Coming to Dallas as a boy with his father, Mr. Hyman began work as an office boy for Sanger Brothers and continued with this firm until he reached his majority when he secured his position as sales representative for the Chicago concern, a position he held until his death. Mr. Hyman traveled over Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana and had an acquaintance probably as extensive as any salesman who ever traveled the Southwest.

Besides his activity as a salesman, Mr. Hyman dealt extensively in real estate and in bonds and notes on Dallas property and was successful in his investments.

A native of Missouri, Mr. Hyman was born at Saint Louis on May 20, 1869. He was a son of Moses and Esther (Lavine) Hyman who came to Dallas in the seventies. He was educated in the private schools of Dallas and on March 20, 1885, was married in Saint Louis to Miss Lillie Frees, a daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Frees. Miss Frees was a native of Montreal, Canada, and came with her parents to Paris, Texas, in the early days and later removed to Dallas where he established a music business under the name of Frees and Son.

Mr. and Mrs. Hyman were the parents of one son, Jack F. Hyman, well known member of the Dallas bar. He served in No. 12 Aero Squad as Second Lieutenant during the World War and saw service at St. Mihiel, Aisne, Marne, Meuse-Argonne and in the Defense Sector. Mr. Abe Hyman was a Mason and an active member of Temple Emanu El.

584

MEN OF TEXAS

EO. EDGAR COWDEN, for many years president of the Fakes and Company, 510-12 Houston Street, has been a resident of Fort Worth for fourteen years. Fakes & Com- pany is one of the oldest if not the oldest, furniture houses in Texas, the date of its establishment being 1876 and from a small business has grown until now it occupies commodius quarters and distributes to satisfied customers nearly two million dollars worth of fine furniture yearly. Mr. Cowden's company does not confine itself to the retail trade only but does an extensive wholesale business, having three salesmen on the road at all times, covering Texas and Oklahoma. In addition to their beautifully ar- ranged store covering three floors, from which retail customers may select from a wide assortment of furniture, draperies, floor coverings and all those things which go to make the furnishings of a home complete, the Company maintains a warehouse at Sixteenth and Commerce Streets, three floors each 200 x 115 feet. Mr. Cowden has been associated with Fakes & Company for about twelve years. Before moving to Fort Worth, his home was in Midland, Texas, where he resided for about twenty-four years. Prior to entering the furniture business, Mr. Cowden was interested in cattle and still owns a ranch in Frio and one in Erath County, the combined acreage of the two ranches amounting to 50,000 acres, upon which feed 3500 head of cattle, also the property of Mr. Cowden. In addition to his activities as presi- dent of the Fakes & Company, Mr. Cowden is vice- president and director of the Farmers & Mechanics Bank, director of the Hubb Furniture Company, director of the North Texas Trust Company, director of the Fort Worth Life Insurance Company, director First State Bank of Arlington, Texas, director and vice-president of the Pemberton Furniture Company of Fort Worth.

Texas claims Mr. Cowden as her native son. He was born in Shelby County December 6th, 1855. When Mr. Cowden was a boy, Texas could boast of no such proud institutions of learning as she possesses today, consequently his education was not obtained by walking a block or less to a city school, but by riding miles on a little Spanish pony to a little country school where he learned the three Rs in the good old fashioned way. Mr. Cowden was married in 1879 to Miss Minnie Dysait, daughter of J. S. Dysait, ranchman and pioneer Texan. They have three children, Mrs. Lillie Staten, Mrs. Grace Cowden Henry and Grover E. Cowden. The family home is at 1519 Pennsylvania Avenue.

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The encyclopedia of Texas, V.2, Part 29

Author: Davis, Ellis Arthur, ed; Grobe, Edwin H., ed Publication date: 1922 Publisher: Dallas, Texas Development Bureau Number of Pages: 1328

Author: Davis, Ellis Arthur, ed; Grobe, Edwin H., ed
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Dallas, Texas Development Bureau
Number of Pages: 1328