The encyclopedia of Texas, V.2, Part 38

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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In 1915, at Dallas, Mr. Miller married Miss Eleanor Daniel. The Miller residence is located in Dallas at 4807 Crutcher street. In fraternal affiliation Mr. Miller is a member of the Delta Chi College Frater- .nity, the Shriners, (Hella Temple), and the Univer- sity Club of Dallas. He is also an active member of the Texas State Bar Association. A young man in his profession, Mr. Miller has accomplished much in the eight years he has been practicing before the Dallas bar. His future success as a lawyer and citizen of the highest type is assured.

DRUMMOND IIUNT, attorney at law, 706- 708 Linz Building, has been actively identi- fied with the legal profession of the city. Mr. Hunt began the practice of law in Dal- las in 1905, conducting a general civil practice, and becoming known at once as a young man of great promise who possessed the courage of his convic- tions. Under Major Lawther's administration he was appointed first City Attorney and was connected with many important municipal measures. Mr. Hunt has always practiced alone.

During the war with Germany he was commis- sioned a major in the Judge Advocate General's

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Department and assigned to Washington, D. C., and Camp Devens, Massachusetts. He received his dis- charge on August 15, 1919, and returned to Dallas to resume his practice.

Mr. Hunt was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on the 30th of December, 1881. His father, P. Burgess Hunt, moved to Texas in 1885. His father was appointed in 1887 as collector of internal revenue at Dallas, serving in that capacity for many years. Mr. Hunt attained his early education in private and public schools of Dallas, later attending the Uni- versity of Texas where he received his A. B. degree in 1903, and in 1905 his LL. B. degree. Returning to Dallas after his graduation, he opened an office and began the practice of law.

His marriage to Miss Katharine Lyons, of Wash- ington, D. C., took place after Mr. Hunt's discharge from the army, September 20th, 1919. Mrs. Hunt was the daughter of Robert Lyons, now deceased, well known banker and National Bank Examiner. The Hunt home is at 4506 Munger Avenue.

Mr. Hunt is a member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, the Dallas Country Club, University Club, City Club, Dallas Bar Association, having formerly been treasurer of the latter organization. Mr. Hunt is an enthusiastic booster for Dallas and Texas, and it is through the efforts of such men as himself that the greatest possibilities of a city are realized.

HARLES CATESWORTH COBB was born

in Caswell County, North Carolina, his father being Bartlett Yancey Cobb and his mother Barbara M. (Henderson) Cobb. He was educated in the private schools of his native state and graduated at the University of North Car- olina in 1880, taking the degree of Ph. B. He studied law at the Dick and Dillard Law School at Greensboro, North Carolina, graduating from that institution in the class of 1882. In the year 1884 he came to Dallas, Texas, with John Morehead Avery, another North Carolinian, and also a graduate of the University of North Carolina and of the Dick and Dillard Law School, and upon their arrival they formed a partnership under the firm name of Cobb and Avery for the practice of law which partnership continued for many years and did a very successful and lucrative civil practice in the State and Federal Courts. It was engaged as counsel in many noted legal controversies in North Texas and it bore the reputation of being among the very best and most skillful eivil practitioners in the state. Mr. Cobb is particularly well known for his knowledge of the land laws of the state and his skill in land litigation, and in controversies of that kind his counsel is fre- quently sought. For years he represented foreign capitalists and corporations in lending money on the farm lands of this state. Being a man of affairs as well as a lawyer he at once saw the great future of farm lands in Texas and began purchasing them when he had the money. He became interested in the reclamation of Trinity River Valley lands, and is now active in the construction of a levee district which is reclaiming about sixteen thousand acres of the finest valley land. He is a large land owner, having many acres of farm lands as well as large holdings of city property. Mr. Cobb's college fraternity is Phi Kappa Sigma. He is also a member of the Dallas Club, the Idlewild Club, the Dallas Country Club, the Chamber of Commerce and the

Dallas Bar Association. He is an affable and pleas- ant gentleman, patriotic and progressive, full of civic pride and always willing to give of his time and means for the development of his city and country.

UDGE ROBERT LEE STENNIS, member of the firm of Rasbury, Adams, Stennis & Harrell, attorneys at law, upon coming to Dallas in 1914 brought with him the legal experience of twenty years' practice. As judge of Parker County in 1904 to 1908 he made a splendid record. The firm of Adams and Stennis was organ- ized in 1914 and since that time has had the patron- age of a large clientele. In 1920 the present firm was organized by the addition of Chas. A. Rasbury, W. B. Harrell and Grover C. Adams.

Born near Meridian, Mississippi, July 10, 1870, Robert L. Stennis was the son of A. T. and Julia (Edwards) Stennis. His father was a Mississippi planter of Scotch-Irish lineage who, during the Civil War, was an officer in the Confederate army, having raised a company in Kemper County, Missis- sippi, serving as its captain, later promoted to major and still later to lieutenant colonel. His death oc- curred in Mississippi in 1878. On his mother's side Judge Stennis is connected with a prominent Ed- wards family, who came from Holland in the early days and settled in the Middle Atlantic and Southern states. Colonel and Mrs. Stennis were the parents of seven children, Robert L. next to the youngest. His boyhood days were spent on his father's Missis- sippi plantation, attending the local common schools, which study was supplemented by five years of work in the A. & M. College of Mississippi, from which he graduated in 1892 with a B. S. degree. The next three years of his life were spent as a pedagog in the schools of Mississippi and Texas, his residence in the latter state beginning in 1893. While teaching he took up the study of law, and in May, 1895, was admitted to the bar at Weatherford. He then formed a partnership with Major B. G. Bidwell of that place. Sometime later that partnership was dissolved and later he entered a partnership with Hon. James C. Wilson, now U. S. Judge for the northern district of Texas. In 1904 he was elected county judge of Parker County and served two terms. He also served as president of the Weather- ford School Board. While on the bench he refused to accept passes from the railroads and in conven- tions made an appeal against such acceptance by state officials. He represented his county as a dele- gate at the state convention many times and has always been prominent in these gatherings. In 1914 he came to Dallas and with Hon. Jed C. Adams formed the partnership of Adams and Stennis. This partnership continued until the formation of the present firm.

On December 12, 1900, at Waxahachie, Texas, Judge Stennis married Miss Lu Rainey Nash, a daughter of John and Lu Rainey Nash, who came to Texas from Louisiana in the early days. Judge and Mrs. Stennis are the parents of two children, Rainey Lee and Robert Nash Stennis. The Stennis home is at 3601 Dickason Avenue, Dallas.

Fraternally Judge Stennis is a member of the Masonic Order, the Mystie Shrine, the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of the World. His church is the Presbyterian, in which he has served as elder since 1894.

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MEN OF TEXAS

W. STARLING, member of the well known law firm of Carden, Starling, Hemphill and Wallace, Western Indemnity Building, has been a member of the Dallas bar for the past twenty-six years. He is a native of Wisconsin, son of Francis and Mary (Winsor) Starling. His education was received in the high schools of Wis- consin and the University of Nebraska, from which he graduated in 1892 with the degree of LL. B.

On August 23, 1892, he was united in marriage at Hammond, Wisconsin, with Miss Josie M. Irish. They have two children, Lee I., lawyer of Dallas and Mrs. Herman H. Webster, also of that city.

Mr. C. W. Starling is a York and Scottish Rite Mason and Past Master of Dallas Lodge No. 760, and a member of the Hella Temple Shrine as well as Lakewood Country Club and the Dallas Chamber of Commerce. His church affiliation is the First Methodist Church, South, of which he is an official member.

EE I. STARLING, attorney and counselor at law, is one of the well known members of the Dallas bar and has been engaged in the practise of his profession here since 1913, at which time he was admitted to the bar. Prior to engaging in the active. practise of his profession, Mr. Starling prepared for his life work by an inten- sive course of study which coupled with a natural tendency to legal work inherited from his father, made him admirably fitted for the legal profession.

The preliminary education of Mr. Starling was secured in the public and high schools of Dallas, after which he attended Southwestern University, the Uni- versity of Texas and the University of Chicago. After being admitted to the bar he practised for several years in the office with his father and when the United States became engaged in the world war he enlisted in the army and after returning to Dallas opened his own office. He devotes his entire time to civil practise.

Mr. Starling was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, on December 19, 1891, and is a son of C. W. and Jessie M. (Irish) Starling. He removed with his parents to Dallas in 1894 and with the exception of the time spent in school and the army has been a resident of Dallas constantly since that time.

On June 15, 1918, Mr. Starling was married in Dallas to Miss Lillie Mae Parker, daughter of A. K. Parker of Dallas.

Mr. Starling has been admitted to practise in all the courts, both state and federal, of Texas, and has also been licensed to practise before the Supreme Court of the United States. He is a Mason, a mem- ber of Dallas Blue Lodge No. 760. His church af- filiation is with the First Methodist, of which his father has been an officer for many years.

ILLIAM C. THOMPSON, associate attorney with the law firm of Thompson, Knight, Baker and Harris, of Dallas, has been en- gaged in practice with his father since 1911 and has specialized in the practice of insurance law. He and his father, William Thompson, possibly the best known insurance lawyers in the United States, are the local representatives of all of the insurance companies operating in Texas. The younger Mr. Thompson personally sues, answers and tries cases involving insurance law in the courts of Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, and New Mexico. Thompson, Knight, Barker and Harris is one of the

largest legal firms in Texas and the older Mr Thompson has established for it the reputation of one of the best insurance law firms in the South.

Born at Dallas, Texas, May 8th, 1889, William C. Thompson is a son of William and Fannie (Caroth- ers) Thompson. The father established for him- self a national reputation of a fire insurance lawyer during the earthquake at San Francisco in 1907. The younger Mr. Thompson received his early edu- cation at the publie and high schools of Dallas, where he graduated in 1904. He then attended the University of Texas and in 1909 received the degree of Bachelor of Arts, in the following year the Master of Arts degree and in 1911 was awarded his LL. B. In the same year he returned to Dallas and since that time has been engaged in practice with his father.

The marriage of Mr. Thompson to Miss Banks Neely, formerly of Arkansas, and a daughter of J. N. Neely, an Amarillo cattleman and rancher, was solemnized on September Sth, 1914. They are the parents of one child, Cornelia. The Thompson resi- dence is located at 3611 Harvard Street, Highland Park.

In fraternal association Mr. Thompson is a mem- ber of the Sigma Nu College Fraternity. He is also a member of the Dallas and Texas Bar Associations. It is his firm belief that Dallas is the best city in the United States not only for the young man but for all men. The progress that he has made in the law indicates that he has inherited the great legal mind of his father and will at a future date be just as ac- complished in insurance law.

HOMAS A. KNIGHT. of the law firm of Thompson, Knight, Baker and Harris, of Dallas, has, since his admittance to the bar, specialized in the law of oil and gas and the law of real property. A son of the illustrious R. E. L. Knight, he gives promise of even outstrip- ping the achievements of his father and at the pres- ent time is one of the most popular of the younger members of the Dallas bar. Thompson, Knight, Baker and Harris is recognized as one of the leading firms of attorneys in Texas and have ever since their organization enjoyed the confidence of a host of clients, including many large corporations, among which may be mentioned the Simms Oil Company, Brazos River Oil Corporation, Anchor Oil Company, Proctor and Gamble Company, City National Bank of Dallas, Packard Automobile Co., Dallas Building and Loan Association, State Fair of Texas, and the National Bank of Commerce of Dallas.

A native son of the city of Dallas, Thomas A. Knight was born June 11th, 1891, the first son of Robert E. Lee and Annie (Armstrong) Knight. The father has been a practicing attorney in this city for the past thirty years and was at one time the presi- dent of the State Fair of Texas. The younger Mr. Knight received his early education in the public schools of Dallas, from which he graduated in 1908, afterwards attending the University of Texas, from which he received his Bachelor of Arts degree ir. 1912. Ile then went to Harvard for his legal educa- tion and received his Bachelor of Laws degree there in 1915. While in college Mr. Knight was an honor student, being elected to membership in the Phi Beta Kappa Society, which is an honorary academic order. During the summer months while in college he was employed by the Bureau of University Travel and during six seasons conducted parties over Europe. After his graduation Mr. Knight returned to Dallas

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and became associated with his father in the firm of Thompson, Knight, Baker and Harris. In 1917 he volunteered for the first officers' training camp at Leon Springs, was made a first lieutenant, sailed for France with the 5th Division and continued there with that organization one year. He was discharged from the service as a captain on February 2, 1919, and then resumed his practice.

Mr. Knight is a Mason, a member of the Beta Theta Pi college fraternity, a former president of the Idlewild Club, and the Hesitation Club, a member of the City Club of Dallas and in the spring of 1921 married Miss Marion Ralston. His residence is at 2402 Cedar Springs Road, Dallas.

ILLIAM H. CLARK, senior member of the law firm of Clark & Clark, Dallas, Texas, through a career of thirty-six years as a Texas lawyer and in which profession he is still active and successful, long ago won a place of leadership that is state-wide because of his legal talent, untiring work and devotion to his calling. Born of a family that has furnished leaders in vari- ous realms for several generations, William H. Clark was but keeping pace with his forebears when, in 1897, he was elected to the presidency of the Texas State Bar Association, the youngest incumbent the office ever had. Since then his influence has pro- jected itself in niany of the best laws of the Lone Star State and in attempts at civil betterment.

Judge Clark was born near Brandon, Rankin County, Miss., on May 2nd, 1861, of Scotch-Irish descent. His father, Judge Wm. H. Clark, was circuit judge when the Civil War began and as Colonel of the Forty-Sixth Mississippi Regiment in the Confederate Army lost his life on the battlefield of Altoona, Ga., in October of 1864. His mother, Mary ( McDowell) Clark, was a woman of rare per- sonal charm and intellectual ability; her sister, Mrs. Elizabeth McDowell Welch, was president of the Texas Colonial Dames and of the Daughters of the American Revolution. One of Judge Clark's kins- men, James McDowell, was the twenty-fifth governor of Virginia and ably represented his state in Con- gress until 1851, while his great grandfather, Judge Samuel McDowell, was the president of the First Constitutional Convention of Kentucky, held in April of 1792, and was the first United States Judge of Kentucky, appointed by Washington. Dr. Ephraim McDowell and Dr. Nash McDowell, both near kins- men, are famed in the medical world, the first for discovering and giving to the surgical profession the operation of ovariotomy, which has saved count- less women, and the second as founder of the famous McDowell Medical College of St. Louis. Other dis- tinguished kinsmen are ex-Congressman Judge Pat- rick Henry and Congressman Thomas Upton Sisson, both of Mississippi, and Sidney Lanier, the nationally beloved Georgia poet. Thus it is seen that thor- oughness and efficiency are notable traits in his family for generations back.

After his education in Brandon Academy, the University of Mississippi and "Lebanon Law School," Cumberland University of Tennessee, Mr. Clark came to Texas in 1885 and began the practice of law. Some of his partners in these years of practice were W. M. Alexander, W. L. Hall, Wm. Thompson, Judge John L. Henry and Judge Chas. F. Clint. The present partnership is with his son, William H. Clark, Jr. By committee work, Judge Clark has been a potent factor in the support of some of the

best laws of the state, among which are the railroad commission, stock and bond laws, anti-trust and intangible tax laws, the anti-lobby law, state bank and insurance laws, guaranty of bank deposits, a prohibiting of divorced parties from ever marrying any one else, when he urged that the rapid increase in divorces is more dangerous to our country than the question of raee suicide or foreign armies.

On June 9th, 1886, he was married to Miss Vir- ginia Maxey Falls, of Brandon, Miss., daughter of Capt. A. T. Falls and wife, Bettie Maxey Falls, a sister of Judge T. S. Maxey, of Austin, Texas, the United States judge of the Austin district. They have ten children, seven of whom are now living: Sam W., Virginia (now Mrs. W. F. Jacoby, of Dal- las), Wm. H., Jr., Elizabeth (now Mrs. Julian Capers, of Dallas), Thomas C, now a senior law student at the University of Texas, Robert L. and Mary Clark.

Judge Clark has been successfully engaged in many important civil cases in the nisi prius and ap- pellate courts of Texas and the Supreme Court of the United States. His speeches in various conven- tions, mass meetings and in the argument of many cases have won for him a sure place among Texas' effective and brilliant orators, and Texas rejoices that one who has so effectually served her for many years is still active among her people as an able counsellor.

M. HARRIS, 815-6-7 Great Southern Life Building, Dallas, before locating in that city in 1917, was an assistant attorney general of Texas, handling all bond work for the state. Since his return to private practice he has devoted his time to specialization in corporation and municipal law. Mr. Harris has been very successful in the establishinent of a large clientele, including many large corporations and practically all of the municipal bond houses doing any business of conse- quence in the state.

Born in Wood County, Texas, April 10th, 1875, he was educated in the public schools of his home county, graduated from the Ivanhoe high school in 1891 and later attending the Omen College of Smith County, where he graduated in 1893, later taking special courses in the University of Texas. He then began the study of law with his brother's firm, Giles, Stafford and Harris, of Mineola. In 1902 he was admitted to the bar by examination and for the next two years was associated with his brother's firm, and was elected city attorney of Mineola. In the year 1904 he was appointed chief clerk in the attorney general's office, and in the next thirteen years worked up from that position to assistant at- torney general. In 1917 he began the practice alone at Dallas and at this time is alone and enjoying a lucrative practice.

On January 24th, 1899, Mr. Harris married Miss Dora Jackson, of Alabama, and they are the parents of three children, Roger, a son, age nineteen. attend- ing Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, and Marie and Helen Harris, daughters aged thirteen and eleven respectively, each of whom attend the public schools of Dallas. The Harris residence is situated at 1003 Grigsby Street, Dallas.

Mr. Harris is a member of the Metropolitan De- velopment Association of Dallas, the purpose of which organization is the development of this city. He is a member of the Dallas Bar Association, the Koon Kreek Klub, and a member of other local organizations.

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MEN OF TEXAS

ALTER F. SEAY, senior member of the firm of Seay, Seay, Malone and Lipscomb, 411-16 Southland Life Building, Dallas, has been engaged in the practice of general civil law since he was nineteen years of age. As the at- torney for the State of Texas in a number of im- portant cases involving the constitutionality of state laws he has won a substantial reputation as a lawyer and counsellor. Seay, Seay, Malone and Lipscomb is composed of Harry Seay, Ralph Malone, H. Blake Seay, Will Lipscomb and Walter F. Seay. As the attorneys for a number of large insurance companies the firm is well known in insurance circles and among many companies enjoys the patronage of the following firms: Southland Life Insurance Com- pany, International Travelers Association, Manhat- tan Life Insurance Company, of New York, United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company, of Mary- land, Kansas City Casualty Exchange, Indiana State Life Insurance Company.

Born at Dallas on October 2, 1881, Walter F. Seay is a member of a distinguished Texas family, which settled here in the early days. He received his early education in the public schools of his native city and when a very young man started work in his father's office. Here he worked up a business knowl- edge as well as a technical knowledge of the law and was admitted to the bar in 1901 at the age of nine- teen years. After his admittance to the bas he became assistant county attorney and continued in that office for two years, after which he became a member of the firm of Crane, Seay and Crane. A year or so later, that partnership having been dis- solved, he became a partner of W. L. Holland and when the latter became mayor of Dallas Mr. Seay combined the firm with that of his Cousin, Harry Seay. As the attorney for the state in the race track case Mr. Seay was successful in upholding the cause that the law passed by the legislature against bet- ting at horse races was constitutional and hence valid. In a like manner he was successful in the case involving the constitutionality of the state law prohibiting saloons in residence districts. These two cases gained statewide recognition for Mr. Seay and his able prosecution of his cause clearly showed his legal ability.

In 1919 Mr. Seay married Miss Ruby Andrews and they now have their home at 3723 Gilbert Ave- nue, Dallas. Mr. Seay is a member of the City Club, the Fin and Feather Club and the Dallas and State Bar Associations and American Bar Association.

B. SEAY, member of the well known law" firm of Seay, Seay, Malone and Lipscomb, 411-16 Southland Life Insurance Building, Dallas, through his connection with many important cases has become a familiar figure in the courts of his county, as well as the state. Ever since the commencenient of his practice Mr. Seay has been connected with the firm mentioned aforesaid and has in those ten years been largely instrumental in ob- taining the successful practice and reputation that the firm now enjoys. As the attorneys ani coun- sellors for many of the large insurance companies of the United States the firm has gained substantial recognition in insurance law. Among their clientele are the following large companies: Southland Life Insurance Company, International Travelers Asso- ciation, the Manhattan Life Insurance Company of New York and the United States Fidelity and Guar- anty Company of Baltimore. The firm also has

among its many local clients some of the large auto- mobile and insurance companies of Dallas.

A native Texan, born in Collin County, June 9, 1887, H. B. Seay is a son of Herbert S. and Nerinda (Bass) Seay. When at the tender age of three years Mr. Seay's father died and he came to live with his uncle, Bob Seay. The public schools of Plano fur- nished him his early education, while his higher training was received at the University of Texas from which institution he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1909 and the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1911. After his graduation he came to Dallas and joined the firm of Seay, Seay, Malone and Lipscomb and has continued as one of the partners of it ever since that time.

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The encyclopedia of Texas, V.2, Part 38

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