George
H. Culp
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In many respects and especially as a criminal trial lawyer,
George H. Culp is regarded among the profession and laity as
having no superior in the north Texas bar. He has been in practice
at Gainesville for over twenty years, and the firm of Potter, Culp
& Culp, of which he is second member, is probably the
strongest combination of legal talent in Cooke county. George H. Culp is a Missourian by birth, born in Pettis County,
in 1856, a son of Josiah and Mildred (Coy) Culp. His father, who
was a farmer, died when George H. was a child, and the mother in
1872 moved to Texas, to Cooke county, her family following the
next year. There were just three children in the family, and Mr.
Culp's brother, John A., was murdered by bandits after he had
killed their leader in a duel. The daughter was Mrs. Elizabeth
Foushee. The mother married for her second husband .W. W. Hart,
who died in 1883, leaving 3 children: Lee Hart, a stockman of
Buena Vista, Colorado: Mrs. Mike McQuaid of Buena Vista; and
Walter W. Hart, a stockman of New Mexico. George H. Culp was sent away to school in Missouri and Kentucky,
attending the common schools in those states. After his father's
death, he was thrown largely on his own responsibilities, and when
only twelve years old began earning his way. He worked on a farm
until he was eighteen, and then began buying and shipping cattle,
in which way he earned the means which finally promoted him to his
position as a lawyer. After his marriage he located in
Gainesville, and while working for a loan company, took up the
study of law in Judge Barrett's office. Previous to his removal to
Gainesville, while living on a ranch, he had studied law as oppora
high-school course in Savannah, Missouri, and as a youth he began
his active business life as an associate of his father in the
electrical industry. In 1888 he was treasurer of the company that
built the Wyatt Park Line, mentioned above. In 1891 he established
his home in Waco, Texas, in order to assume the active management
of a street railway line and electric lighting plant there
located. In 1894 he organized the Waco Electric Supply Company,
which was the first wholesale establishment of its kind in Texas
and which represented the nucleus from which the present Hobson
Electric Company has grown. This business was begun with a capital
of two thousand dollars. October 1, 1903, the headquarters were
removed to Dallas and the business is now under the corporate
title of the Hobson Electric Company, of which the subject of this
review is president and principal stockholder. The capital at
present is two hundred thousand dollars and traveling salesmen
cover the territory included in the states of Texas, Oklahoma,
Louisiana and New Mexico. Branch offices are maintained at
Houston, Texas, and at El Paso, Texas, and Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma. This company now represents the largest electrical
supply house in the entire south, doing a business of over two
million dollars annually. In 1909 a fine, modern structure was
erected at Dallas to house the main offices and this building is
three stories in height, its lateral dimensions being one hundred
feet by two hundred. It is-the largest and best equipped
electrical supply house in the United States, and one hundred and
twenty-five people are constantly employed in it. This electric company has been a decidedly important factor in
the development of Dallas to the position of one of the leading
commercial and jobbing centers of the southwest. In the matter of
electrical supplies Dallas is now eclipsed in importance only by
New York and Chicago, having already surpassed Kansas City and St.
Louis. Mr. Hobson is identified with the Strickland interests, in
the development of electric railways in northern Texas. He is a
director of the Texas Traction Company, running from Dennison to
Dallas, and is vice-president and a director of the Southern
Traction Company, now building from Waco and Corsicana to Dallas.
He is a valued and appreciative member of the Southwestern
Electric & Gas Association, which is composed of those
citizens identified with the street railway, electric light and
gas companies of Texas, and was first secretary of the
organization. Mr. Hobson has been unusually active in the development of the
Dallas Chamber of Commerce. He was chairman of the freight bureau
and as such met with notable success in obtaining from the
railroads expeditious freight service to points in the trade
territory controlled by the city. In January, 1912, he was elected
president of the Dallas Chamber of Commerce, which is the
strongest organization of its kind in the LTnited States, being
composed of members from all lines of business, and was re-elected
for 1913. In the time-honored Masonic order Mr.
Hobson is affiliated with Trinity Valley Lodge, No. 1048» Ancient
Free & Accepted Masons, of which he is senior warden;
and he is present commander of Dallas Commandery, No. 6, Knights
Templar. He is past potentate of Holla Temple, Ancient Arabic
Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine and a thirty-second degree
Scottish Rite Mason. In 1899 he founded the order of Rejuvenated
Sons of Jove, a well known social organization, composed of men
identified with the electrical industry. He served as first
supreme head of the latter order and is charter member of the
organization, which was founded at Waco, Texas. He is a member of
the Traffic Club and of the executive committee of the Texas
Section of the National Citizens League. He is identified with all
the leading social clubs of Dallas. At Savannah, Missouri, in 1888, was
celebrated the marriage of Mr. Hobson to Miss Emma J. Fosdick, a
daughter of Dr. H. W. Fosdick, an old pioneer citizen of Savannah.
Mr. and Mrs. Hobson have three children: Clara E., Sarah Putnam
and Mary Frances. Mr.
Hobson is a man of fine mentality and broad human sympathy. He
thoroughly enjoys home life and takes great pleasure in the
society of his family and friends. He is always courteous, kindly
and affable, and those who know him personally accord him the
highest esteem. His life has been exemplary in all respects and he
has ever supported those interests which are calculated to uplift
and benefit humanity, while his own high moral worth is deserving
of the highest commendation.-- History of Texas and Texans, Volume 3,
Francis White Johnson, 1914 |