USA > Texas > The encyclopedia of Texas, V.2 > Part 65
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NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS
R. SAMUEL B. SMITH was a pioneer of the medical profession of Texas, having come to the Lone Star State in 1883 and for almost a quarter of a century was one : the leading physicians and surgeons of Upshur and Morris Counties.
Dr. Smith was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, in October 1855. His father, Andrew Smith, a native of North Carolina, was an active faure in the business circles of his city. He served throughout the Civil war, being a captain in the Confederate army. The mother of Dr. Smith, Mrs. Minerva Smith, was a member of a prominent family of South Carolina. His early (ducation was received in private schools of Spartanburg, after which he attended Wofford College, later entering Nashville College of Nash- ville, Tennessee where he pursued a medical course and received the M. D. degree. He then took a post graduate course in one of the leading medical institutions of Chicago. In 1879 he established his home and office at Union, South Carolina where he remained for four years. In 1883, he moved to LaFayette, Upshur County, Texas, where he practiced his profession for two years. He then went to Naples, Morris County in 1885 where he continued the practice of medicine for twenty-one years. Dr. Smith was one of the best loved physicians of his time and a great deal of his work was charity practice, never refusing to heed a call to the sick and suffering regardless of money. In those days the practice of medicine was not to be compared to the latter day methods. With roads that were poor at all times and frequent- ly made impassable in rainy weather, people travel- ed on horseback and in this manner much of Dr. Smith's work was done. It is said of him that he went night and day in order to relieve suffering humanity.
Mr. Smith was married in Naples, Texas, January 22, 1899 to Miss Lula Heard. Her father, Joe A. Heard, a native of Birmingham, Alabama was a large slave and landowner prior to the Civil war. Mr. Heard was a lieutenant in Jackson's Brigade and was an active participant in the Battles of Bull Run, Gettysburg and others. Her mother, Mrs. Sarah Emma (Murphy) Heard, a native of Memphis, Tennessee, was a member of one of the well known families of that city. The Heard and Murphy families came to Texas about the same time and settled near each other and Mr. and Mrs. Heard married in Texas, in 1862. One son was born to Dr. and Mrs. Smith: Samuel B., Jr., who was a four-letter man of Powell University Training School, captain of the football team and manager of the baseball team. He completed his education at Austin College and is now in- spector of the underground system of the Dallas Power & Light Company. Mr. Smith was mar- ried to Miss Adalene Jones, a member of a well known North Texas family. Samuel B. Smith, Jr., is a member of the Methodist Church and enjoys the unique distinction of having been made junior steward of the Naples Methodist Church when only sixteen years of age. The Smith home is located at 3532 University Boulevard.
Dr. Smith died in Naples, Texas, February 10, 1906. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity with membership in the Naples, Texas Lodge of this order. Throughout his professional career Dr.
Smith was known as an enterprising citizen, work ing always for the betterment of his community and state. In civic matters he was a staunch sup- porter of any project for the welfare of his city especially along sanitary lines. As a citizen, a physician and a friend Dr. Smith distinguished himself in such a way that the loss involved in his death has been keenly felt. As a resident of Texas and Morris County he contributed the leader- ship and standing of a respected member of the medical profession as well as the influence of a thoroughgoing gentleman in all relationships of life. Dr. Smith belonged to that class of men whose lives make a community better through his having lived in its midst.
ANDREW MELVIN CLARK was for several years an active figure in the business life of Dallas where he was first engaged in the retail grocery business and later in the real estate field in which he became one of the leaders in this city. Prior to his removal to Dallas he was for years engaged in farming and ranching on a large scale in the Western part of the State.
A native of Arkansas, Mr. Clark was born April 29, 1858, but was brought to Texas by his par- ents when only two years of age, the family set- tling near Weatherford, Parker County. His par- ents, Ezra and Louvonia (Hash) Clark, were na- tives of Arkansas and members of highly esteemed families in their communities. His education was received in the public schools of Parker County. At the time the Clark family located in Parker County, there was constant danger from Indians, and the oldest brother of the subject of this sketch was scalped by Indians a short distance from their home. The family in which there were five brothers, together with other families of the community were at all times on the lookout for the Redskins. As a young man, Mr. Clark farmed near Weatherford, for six years, after which he purchased nine sec- tions of land near San Angelo, Texas, and for five years engaged in ranching. He then sold this land and with his wife traveled for some time in the hope of benefiting his wife's health, and coming to Dallas for medical treatment, they decided to live here and he accordingly started in business in this city. He was well known in the financial circles of Dallas, where for fifteen years he did business with the American Exchange National Bank, and had the regard and esteem of all officials of this institution.
Mr. Clark was married in Springtown, Texas, June 5, 1886, to Miss Beulah Smith, a daughter of Captain G. W. Smith, a native of Mississippi and a Captain in the Confederate Army. Her mother, Mrs. Melissa (Platt) Smith, was a member of a pioneer family of Mississippi. One child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Clark: Della, now Mrs. H. J. Thompson of Fort Worth. The Clark home is located at 4111 Simpson Street, Dallas.
Mr. Clark died in Dallas, May 6, 1926. He was a member of the I. O. O. F., and the Christian Church. He had many friends in this city and throughout Texas, where he was known as a chari- table and generous man. During the fifteen years of his residence in Dallas he labored for the up- building of this city, being active in civic move- ments and was regarded as one of Dallas' most public-spirited citizens.
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MEN OF TEXAS
AMES ROBERT SHARP, of Dallas, for more than two decades, was a p. ominent figure in the oil industry of Texas and the southwest, and with his brother, Walter B. Sharp, contributed more to the development of oil in this section than any other two men.
A native of Tennessee, Mr. Sharp was born, March 6, 1876, in Tipton County. His father, James R. Sharp, also a native of Tennessee, was a well known farmer of Tipton County, until com- ing to Texas where he again engaged in farming. His mother, Mrs. Amanda (Forrest) Sharp, was a sister of the brilliant Confederate general Nathan Bedford Forrest. When only four years of age, he came to Texas with his father and older brothers, John R., and Walter B., and a sister, Lillian, his mother having died a short time prior to their moving to this state. His schooling was limited, but by self-help he became well educated and in later years studied geology and minerology in Chicago. As a mere boy, he started helping his brother, John R., in the drilling of water wells, starting this business first in Dallas, where up to that time, he had been attending the public schools. Later, with Walter B., he drilled water wells in many parts of the United States. At the very beginning of the oil industry in the Southwest, Sharp Bros., began to drill oil wells in this section. The first oil well rig of this firm was built by a boyhood friend, Ben Harper, in Corsicana, Texas where they set to work in this shallow field. The financial arrangement of this operation was not of the best at this time, which may be illustrated by the fol- lowing incident. It was Christmas Eve and Walter gave his brother ten dollars saying, "Its all the money I have." James R., in turn divided it with Ben Harper. They had difficulty in scraping to- gether enough money to pay fuel bills, and instead of having pipe threaded in the machine shop, they carried it one-half mile to an adjoining lease where they were gratuitously given the privilege of using a threading machine. It was here that the Sharp brothers met Mr. J. S. Cullinan, with whom they later became associated. They continued their work in the various oil fields of Texas until 1900 when they went to Bakersfield, California at the time the Kern River development was in its early stages. It was here they tested the rotary drill. They did some work there and in 1901 when the Spindle Top field in Beaumont, Texas, came in J. R. Sharp was in Bakersfield and his brother was in New Orleans. It was the intention of Walter B. Sharp to reach Beaumont before this well was brought in, but was detained on the account of illness. He knew the conditions there because several years prior to that time he had drilled a deep well in that field, but his funds gave out and he was unable to continue. Mr. Sharp came to Beaumont on re- ceipt of a telegram from his brother telling him of the Spindle Top gusher. They succeeded in bor- rowing sufficient capital to make a start in Spindle Top and this was the turning point in the career of Sharp Bros., and from that time they were active in every field of the Southwest. J. R. Sharp was associated with his brother in the organization of the Producers Company, which later became the production subsidiary of the Texas Company. It was Sharp Brothers, who made the tests at Sour Lake Springs for The Texas Company. The out- come was a ten-thousand-barrel gusher and the
development on this property made millions of dollars for the Texas Company, giving it the im- petus that has made it one of the leaders in the petroleum world. He was vice-president of the Producers Company until it was taken over by the Texas Company. During the time of his associa- tion with these companies he was their expert field man in acquiring new properties and in making tests for oil. Not only did he loyally look after the interests of his company, but concerned him- self with the welfare of his men. An incident is told about him which illustrates his quickness of thought and action and bravery which had its set- ting near Beaumont while drilling a well. At this well, drillers struck a gas pocket which caused eight of them to topple over. Mr. Sharp was at the scene of these operations and at the expense of severe gas burns saved his men. He was one of the first drillers in the famous Glenn Pool, Okla. representing his company there and for several years he served in Mexico searching and buying oil properties. He severed his connectons with the Texas Company in about 1915 and thereafter devoted his time to independent operations and looking after his interests. He built the five- hundred-thousand dollar Ardmore Hotel in Ard- more, Okla., which was sold by his family after his death. Among his holdings were valuable business and other properties in and around Dallas and valuable oil properties in Texas and Oklahoma. During the last few years of his life he was develop- ing a beautiful farm nineteen miles south of Dallas.
Mr. Sharp was married in Albany, New York, July 2, 1908 to Miss Florence Schwarz, a native of .Syracuse and a member of a well known family of that city. Her father, Frederick Schwarz, deceased, was one of the leading grain brokers of Syracuse and New York City. Her mother, Mrs. Antoinette (Dresher) Schwarz, a native of Syra- cuse was a member of a pioneer family. She resides with her daughter in Dallas, although she maintains the old home in Pleasantville, Westchester County, New York. By a former marriage, Mr. Sharp had two children: James Robert Sharp, Jr., now a resident of Tulsa, Oklahoma. and Natalya Therese McGee, a resident of Los Angeles. One daughter was born of his second marriage: Antoi- nette Florence, a student in Miss Hockaday's School for Girls of Dallas. She is athletic in her tastes and is a skillful horsewoman. The beautiful home of the Sharps is located at 3837 Stratford avenue. Mrs. Sharp is actively interested in art, in which she is very talented and in civic affairs. She is a member of the Dallas Woman's Club, the Frank Reaugh Art Club, Dallas Art Association. Dallas Woman's Forum and the Highland Park Art As- sociation.
Mr. Sharp died in Dallas, May 3, 1920. He was a 32nd degree Mason. a Shriner of the Galveston Temple and also held membership in the B. P. O. E .. the I. O. O. F., the Koon Kreek Klub the Cedar Crest Country Club. Dallas, the Chicago Athletic Club, the American Petroleum Institute and other social and business organizations in Dallas and elsewhere. Mr. Sharp was very fond of hunting, fishing and of out-door sports of all kinds. spend- ing his leisure moments in these diversions, Per- haps the outstanding feature of his personality was his optimism, his unflinching faith in Texas and the Southwest. He declined offers to move to
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J.R. Sharp
NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS
other parts of the country where the opportunities for success seemed more immediate, and literally devoted his life to making Texas the great oil state. A lovable man, he made friends wherever he went and held the affection of the men in the fields as well as the leading oil executives. He was always approachable and even in the most trying moments maintained his good humor. No worthwhile history of Texas can be written without frequent reference to James Robert Sharp and his contributions to the oil industry of this great state.
ILLARD PARKER WORLEY, of Dallas, was a well known and esteemed member of the newspaper fraternity of this city where for more than a decade he was as- sociated in various capacities with one of Dallas' leading dailies. Prior to locating in Dallas he had a wide and varied business career, withal a success- ful one, which included farming and manufacturing in Tennessee.
A native of Tennessee, Mr. Worley was born in Maury County, May 13, 1864. His father, Stephen Worley, a native of South Carolina, settled in Maury County, as a young man and engaged in farming. His mother, Mrs. Sophronia Worley, was a native of Maury County, and a member of a pioneer family of her community. His early education was received in Middle, Tennessee, after which he attended high School in Brentwood, Tennessee. In 1883, after leaving school, he re- turned to his father's farm and for ten years was engaged in farming. In 1893. he moved to Colum- bia, Tennessee and for eight years engaged in the planing mill business. He sold this plant and came to Dallas where he became associated with the circulation department of the Times Herald. Later, for ten years, he was the traveling represent- ative for this paper in East and North Texas. He materially increased the circulation and made many friends for it and for himself as well. In 1917 he retired from his activities on account of failing health.
Mr. Worley was married in Maury County, Ten- nessee, November 24, 1889 to Miss Hortense Bing- ham a native of Hampshire, Tennessee and a mem- ber of one of the outstanding families of that state. Her father, Dr. John T. Bingham, a native of North Carolina. after receiving his education in Vanderbilt University. settled in. Maury County and throughout his life was one of the leading physicians and surgeons of his state. Her mother, Mrs. Virginia (Cyrus) Bingham, was a native of Giles County, Tennessee and a member of a well known family of that city and state. Two child- ren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Worley: Willard Parker and Cyrus Bingham. Willard Parker is the assistant manager of the Gravbar Electric Company; he was married to Miss Eleanor Rowe, of Dallas. and has three children; Joyclin. Mary Lee and Willard Parker. Jr. Cyrus Bingham, is in the installation department of the S. W. Bell Telephone Company. He is married to Miss Mamie MCEvoy of Dallas, and has two children; James Bingham and Margurite H. The Worley home is located at 4902 Reiger avenue.
Mr. Worley died in Dallas, June 21, 1923. He was a member of the A. F. and A. M., the B. P. O. E., the Knights of Pythias and the Presbyterian Church. He had many friends in Dallas and
throughout Texas, where he was known as one of the most popular newspaper men. He was active in matters having to do with the betterment of his adopted city and state. Prior to coming to Texas Mr. Worley held the position of circuit court clerk. of Columbia, Tennessee. His life could be sum- marized in the assertion that he was a successful business man, a great citizen, and a true friend.
ARION WILLS STRICKLAND, of Dallas. for more than two decades was a factor in the business life of this city where he was the chief executive of the furniture com- pany bearing his name. The Strickland Furniture Company was one of the leading establishments of its kind of Dallas, carrying a full and complete line of all desirable merchandise to be found in a store of this kind, and Mr. Strickland introduced many innovations in the furniture business of Texas.
. A native of New Hampshire, Mr. Strickland was born at Winchester on October 1, 1869, and his education was obtained in the schools of this city and state. His parents both were natives of New Hampshire and members of well known families of their respective cities. He started his career in the business world when seventeen years of age, leaving his native State and going to Colorado where he had an uncle and for two years worked for relatives in different lines of employment. In 1890 he came to Dallas, Texas, and for two years was employed at Padgitt Brothers, one of the lead- ing saddlery and leather establishments of the southwest. He then started in the furniture busi- ness on a small scale, but his first furniture estab- lishment was destroyed by fire after it had been in operation for only a few years. Nothing daunted, Mr. Strickland started another furniture store on a larger scale than the first one and from this plant the largest and most important furniture store of its kind grew.
Mr. Strickland was married at Trinidad, Colo- rado on January 1, 1890, to Miss Laura B. Maine, a native of that city and state. Her parents were members of representative Eastern families. One child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Strickland, Lucille who was married to Mr. J. J. Crim, a native of Portland. Arkansas. educated at Little Rock. Mr. Crim came to Dallas and for twelve consecutive years was a furniture salesman of this city, later becoming associated with Eastern firms as their traveling representative. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Crim: Gladys, J. J. Crim, Jr., and Lucille. The Strickland home is located at 2208 South Ervay street. Mrs. Crim died on October 9, 1923 and Mrs. Strickland has reared the three child- ren in the family home.
Mr. Strickland died at Dallas, Texas on February 14, 1913. He was a member of the Praetorians and other fraternal organizations of Dallas, besides holding membership in many of the civic, com- mercial and social organizations of this city, in all of which he took a keen interest. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Strick- land was one of the first men in Dallas to recognize the importance of organization in commercia! enterprises and worked incessantly for the up- building and development of Dallas where he was known as one of its most enterprising business men and public-spirited citizens.
723
MEN OF TEXAS
IMON HUBIG of Dallas for many years was the president and directing spirit of the Simon Hubig Company owning and oper- ating ten large pie making plants in ten of the most important cities of the country. He spent his entire life in the various branches of the baking industry and into this art he put all his en- ergy, knowledge and skill, and was known far and wide as a master in his field.
A native of Kentucky, Mr. Hubig was born in Newport June 22, 1860. His father, Simon Hubig, was a native of France, but came to America as a young man, settling in Kentucky, where he be- came a factor in the commercial life of that State. His mother, Mrs. Katherine (Gruber) Hubig, was a member of a prominent family of France. His education was received in the schools of Newport, Kentucky, which he left as a mere boy in order to assist in his mother's bakery where at sixteen years of age, he was the foreman and manager. Later, Mr. Hubig removed to Cincinnati and started in the bakery business there, small at first, but his business grew to be one of the largest of its kind of that city, where he remained for almost twenty years. He then went to California where he remained for several years, but did not engage in business in that State. Later, he came to Texas, locating in Fort Worth, where he started the Simon Hubig Company, and from that time the business grew, and he never baked anything but pies. After a time he started plants in other cities, until ten large, sanitary plants were making the famous Hubig Honey Fruit Pies. These plants are located at Fort Worth, San Antonio, Houston, New Orleans, Birmingham, Atlanta, Memphis, Louisville, Ken- tucky, Cincinnati, and the large establishment at Dallas, Texas. Although he had been engaged in the baking business since childhood, Mr. Hubig al- ways wanted to be a better baker and after years of intensive effort produced the pie that has become a household word throughout the country. It is no simple matter to make a perfect pie, but Mr. Hubig produced a scientific pie, and he went about it just as scientifically as Edison or Burbank went about their work. He knew that science had a for- mula locked away somewhere in its storehouse, and he knew that art, had a hidden deftness that would enable him to achieve his master pie. He secured all the information possible about food- stuffs and food values and mixing and baking, that art had to offer him as set down in the books and carried around in the heads of experts. and then he set to work adding some new wrinkles to what others already had discovered. He also studied the human appetite, and in studying food values he found out the different fruits and berries and flav- ors. He learned where and how to buy the best, and delved to the bottom of what will and will not agree with the human system, and back of it all was the uncanny knowledge of mixing and baking, all of which enthused him, drove him, in fact, ob- sessed him. The public waited and he waited, but he worked always, deliberately, scientifically and confidently. Hubig's pies were not perfected in a day, a month or a year, it was the work of years of painstaking endeavor. Then one day he said "I have found the indefinable something" and the fa- mous Hubig Honey Fruit Pies were given to the public. While Stradivarius gave to the world the violin; Millet, his immortal canvas, Edison, the
electric light; Burbank, the spineless cactus; Hubig, in giving a tangible, definite form to the ideal that haunted his brain day and night, gave to the world the Perfect Pie. The business grew and doubled and trebled and kept on growing bigger and bigger, and orders began pouring in and his Cincinnati factory became famous as the most wonderful pie factory in America. Then came the great chain of factories, and he selected the best dealers in each town or city to become the medium through which to distribute the famous pies, which are now to be found in every town of any importance of the country.
Mr. Hubig was married in Newport, Kentucky, September 16, 1918, to Miss Anna Moore, a mem- ber of a well known family of that city and State. Her father, Joseph Moore, was a native of Ireland, who came to America as a young man and immedi- ately became a prominent figure in his community. Her mother, Mrs. Thresa (Schuler) Moore, was a native of Germany. The Hubig home is located at 3716 Beverly Drive, Highland Park, Dallas. In 1911, Mrs. Hubig took into her household, Louis and Howard Staubach and reared and educated them. They reside with her now and are employed by the Hubig Company.
Mr. Hubig died in Dallas February 8, 1926. He was a member of the B. P. O. E., Dallas Country Club and various civic and social clubs of this city. He was a life member of the Cincinnati Art Club, was president of the National Bakers Association and a member of the Catholic Church. Mr. Hubig was an artist and an art critic, being nationally known in this profession. He was a writer of note, having contributed some of the most noteworthy articles of his time to various scientific magazines and wrote all his own "ads" which attracted atten- tion throughout the country. He was not an ordi- nary baker, but a scientific and practical one, in fact a genius. He was a fine business man, far- sighted, yet conservative. He had a host of friends in all parts of the country and from every walk of life, who admired and loved him for the many wonderful traits of character which were his. In his death, Dallas and the entire country lost one of its most able business men, whose career was a credit to the nation.
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