Walter Frank Woodul, Jr. Born in Houston, Texas on Feb. 28, 1920 Departed on Oct. 31, 2005 and resided in Austin, TX. Memorial Service: Saturday Nov. 26, 2005 Walter Frank Woodul, Jr. passed away peacefully on Monday, October 31, 2005, at the age of 85 in Austin, Texas. He was born in Houston, Texas on February 28, 1920 to Walter Frank Woodul and Ethel Eldridge Woodul. He graduated from the University of Texas in 1941 and upon graduation entered The Naval Midshipment School and was a member of the Amphibious Forces in the Mediterranean and Pacific Theatres from 1942 through 1946. On March 17, 1946 he married Stella A. Roman. He graduated from the University of Texas Law School in 1948 and thereafter served as Assistant Attorney General of Texas from 1948-1950. He worked for Humble Oil and Gas from 1950-1960, leaving that position to move to Austin to enter private practice with his father Walter F. Woodul, Sr. Walter was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Stella and his mother and father. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law Frank and Sharon Woodul of Austin, Texas, son Paul Woodul of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and grandchildren Daniel and Katherine Woodul. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 26, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Luke's on the Lake Episcopal Church, Austin, Texas. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made in his memory to a charity of your choice. Obituary and guestbook available online at wcfish.com
Stella A. Woodul Stella A. Woodul passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 3, 2004 at the age of 83 in Austin, Texas. She was born in Long Island, New York on May 8, 1920. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Walter F. Woodul, Jr., son and daughter-in-law Frank and Sharon Woodul of Austin, Texas, son Paul Woodul of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and grandchildren Daniel and Katherine Woodul of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and brother Al Roman of Long Island, New York. She was preceded in death by her parents and one sister. A Memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 24, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Luke’s on the Lake Episcopal Church, Lakeway. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made in her memory to a charity of your choice. Arrangements by Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar, Austin, Texas 78705 (512) 452-8811. You may view memorials online at www.wcfish.com
worked for railroad
WOODUL, Sr., WALTER FRANK (1892~1984) Walter Frank Woodul, Sr., state legislator and lieutenant governor, was born September 25, 1892, in Laredo, Texas to Washington H. and Susan R. (Carmichael) Woodul. He was educated in the public schools of Corpus Christi and Alice, where he was valedictorian of his 1909 graduating class. From 1910 to 1911, he taught in a country school near Ralston, Oklahoma, but moved to Wichita, Kansas to study shorthand. Upon returning to Texas, Woodul worked as a legal stenographer in Laredo and Austin. While in Austin, he attended the University of Texas Law School, but left before receiving a degree. His early departure was a direct result of the Mexican Revolution and the Mexican raiders who were crossing the Rio Grande and attacking and killing Americans along the border. Once back in Laredo, Woodul enlisted in the Laredo Company of the National Guard. While in the National Guard, Woodul began both his legal and political careers. In 1916, he was elected to represent Laredo and Webb County in the Texas House of Representatives. The day after taking his seat in the legislature, January 10, 1917, he was licensed to practice law in Texas. Though he only served part of a term in the Legislature, Woodul had a very distinguished time in office. He was chairman of the State Affairs Committee, vice-chairman of the Military Affairs Committee, was instrumental in establishing the Texas State Highway Commission and wrote the appropriations bill organizing Texas' 36th Infantry Division of the American Expeditionary Force. Woodul's service as a state representative took place during a very turbulent time in American and Texas history, the United States had just begun fighting in World War I and Governor James Ferguson's Administration was rocked by scandal, which ultimately led to his impeachment. The 35th Legislature was convened for five sessions, the regular session and four additional called sessions, but Woodul only served through the second called session, January 9 through August 30, 1917. At the close of this session, he was appointed Assistant Adjutant General of Texas and devoted his time to the United States recent entry in World War I. He later entered the army as a captain and was stationed in South Carolina. He saw no overseas service and was honorably discharged in 1919. During this time, Woodul married Ethel Eldridge of Sugar Land, Texas, on September 12, 1917. Ethel's father, William Thomas Eldridge, was an entrepreneur in the railroad industry and co-founder of the company that eventually become the Imperial Sugar Company. After returning to Texas and civilian life, Woodul and his wife, Ethel, settled in Houston, where he established a law practice and later became division attorney for the International and Great Northern Railroad Company. After the birth of their son, Walter Frank, Jr., in 1922, Woodul was named president of the company. After the company's consolidation with the Missouri Pacific Lines, Woodul stayed on as general counsel. Active in numerous civic and professional organizations in Houston, Woodul served as president of the Houston Salesmanship Club and was responsible for the observance of their annual Gridiron Dinner. He was also a director in the Kiwanis Club, the Harris County Bar Association and was chairman of the county-wide Organization on Drainage in Harris County. In 1928, after being named director of the Gulf Coast Good Roads Association, Woodul's interest in politics was rekindled. It was through this organization that he used his prior legislative experience to lobby for adequate highways. With this renewed interest in politics, Woodul, in 1928, announced his candidacy for the Texas Senate to support Chairman of the Highway Commission, Ross Sterling, and his initiatives in highway development. Leading the Democratic ticket, Woodul was elected and took his seat on January 8, 1929. After serving three terms in the Senate, 1929 to 1934, Woodul ran for Lieutenant Governor. Defeating six opponents in the Democratic primary run-off, he was inaugurated as Texas' thirtieth Lieutenant Governor. Taking office in January, 1935, Woodul used his legislative experience to guide the Senate. He faithfully maintained the Senate Rules, encouraged debate amongst the members and barred lobbyists from the Senate floor during proceedings. He also served as chairman of the Texas Centennial, the state's celebration of its 100th anniversary. After leaving public office in 1939, Woodul returned to his law practice in Houston and his civic interests. Though no longer a public official, he still maintained an interest in state affairs. In the spring of 1945, Governor Coke Stevenson appointed him to serve as a member of the board of regents of the State Teachers Colleges. On May 27, 1959, Governor Price Daniel appointed him to serve as a member of the Board for Texas State Hospitals and Special Schools. His term ended on February 15, 1965. More than likely representing his wife, Ethel, and her family's interest in the Imperial Sugar Company, Woodul began serving on the board of directors on February 20, 1939. After serving nearly thirty, years he voluntarily resigned on December 19, 1969. In his letter of resignation, he stated that he was 77 years old and wanted to limit his traveling and catch up on his historical reading. After retiring from his legal practice in 1958, the Wooduls moved to Austin, where he died on October 1, 1984, at the age of 92. He was buried two days later in the Texas State Cemetery. Information taken from: Holdings of the Secretary of State's Office; the Imperial Sugar Company; and the Texas Legislative Reference Library.
WOODUL, ETHEL ELDRIDGE (1895~1986) Ethel Eldridge Woodul, wife of Walter Frank Woodul, Sr., state legislator and lieutenant governor, was born on January 18, 1895, to William Thomas and Ellen Good Eldridge in Sugar Land, Texas. Her father was an entrepreneur who owned numerous railroads and was co-owner of what eventually became the Imperial Sugar Company. After marrying former state representative, Walter Woodul, on September 12, 1917, they lived in Houston and Austin. Thogether they had one child, Walter Frank, Jr., who was born in 1922.
co founded Imperial Sugar Co of Sugarland Tx
ELDRIDGE, WILLIAM THOMAS (1862-1932). William Thomas Eldridge, businessman, was born in Washington County, Texas, on September 8, 1862. He left home at the age of twelve and moved to Eagle Lake in the early 1880s. He served a term as city marshal, opened a hotel, and around 1900 helped build the Cane Belt Railroad. He built and operated two company towns (Bonus and Eldridge), as well as several businesses in Eagle Lake. After being acquitted of murder charges for killing two men who threatened his life, he moved to Sugar Land and, with the prominent Kempner family of Galveston, bought the Cunningham Sugar Refinery and its 20,000-acre plantation. The new owners organized as the Imperial Sugar Companyqv and named Eldridge manager. Under his control the company built a new refinery and developed a system of irrigationqv for the various crops. Tariff charges on sugar, however, prevented Texas cane from competing with Hawaiian and Cuban sugarcane, so Eldridge turned to other crops to diversify his farm. He then imported raw sugar from Cuba for refining, and in 1907 produced a half million pounds of sugar a day. His was the only sugar refinery operating in the Southwest. Imperial Sugar became one of the most important sugar companies in Texas history. Under Eldridge's control the partnership built a complete company town with 435 homes for permanent employees of the factory, the stores, and the farms at Sugar Land. On what had been the Cunningham plantation Eldridge grew sugarcane, cotton, feed grains, fruit crops, and such vegetables as cabbages, potatoes, yams, and corn. He acquired, improved, then sold seven more railroads of varying sizes, including the Sugar Land Railroad, the San Antonio, Uvalde and Gulf Railroad, the Asherton and Gulf Railway, and the Rio Grande City Railway. Most of these lines were sold to the Missouri Pacific. Eldridge contracted with the Sealy Mattress Company to manufacture mattresses at Sugar Land. He died on August 20, 1932.
2 murder trials
Transcriptions of the testimony at the two murder trials of William Thomas Eldridge, the first in 1904 for the murder of William Dunovant(his partner ) and the second in 1907 for the murder of William Edward Calhoun.
Dunovant was his partner at Sugar Land.
div in 1918 from GoodFather: Alfred Buckner Eldridge b: 1827 in Halifax County, Virginia Mother: Epsie Randle b: ABT 1845 in Georgia Marriage 1 Ellen Good b: 8 FEB 1864 in Texas
Married: 1890 2
Divorced:
Children
Ethel Eldridge
Ivey Eldridge
William Thomas Eldridge , Jr. b: 1895 in Texas
Marriage 2 Laura Steinmann b: 22 MAR 1895 in Swiss Alp, Fayette County, Texas
Married: 1919 in Schulenburg, Fayette County, Texas 4 2
Marriage 3 Mildred Masterson b: 26 FEB 1898 in Texas
Married: AFT 1920 2
Children
William Randle Eldridge b: 21 MAY 1924 in Fort Bend County, Texas
Gordon, Ellen (Good)
Former Citizen Here, Mrs. Ellen Gordon, Died in San Antonio Remains of Former Old and Loved Citizen of Eagle Lake Laid to Rest in Masonic Cemetery Here Saturday Afternoon.
Funeral services for Mrs. Ellen Gordon, 74, were held in San Antonio Saturday, following which the remains ere brought overland to Eagle Lake and interred in the Masonic Cemetery <../cemeteries/elmasoniccem.htm> here. The services were conducted by Rev. J. D. Armistead of San Antonio.
Mrs. Gordon died in a San Antonio hospital Friday afternoon.
A native of Eagle Lake, she had lived with her daughter, Mrs. Camille Friedrich, at 433 Devine Road, San Antonio, for the past thirty years.
She was one of the old and loved citizens of Eagle Lake. She was one of the finest and most loveable characters we have ever known. She made her home in Eagle Lake, for many years, having been born here. Throughout her residence here, she was prominent in the social and church life of Eagle Lake and numbered her friends by her acquaintances.
The writer [i.e.Bruce McCarty] remembers her so well and so favorably, for as a boy, her home was on of his favorite gathering places, and many were the happy, care-free hours spent therein. He joins with many friends in sincerest sympathy for the surviving relatives.
Besides Mrs. Friedrich, the daughter with whom she made her home, Mrs. Gordon is survived by two other daughters, Mrs. Walter Woodul and Mrs. R. J. Bauereisen of Houston and five grandchildren.
The pallbearers were Gordon Friedrich, R. J. Bauereisen, Charles Buhler, Walter F. Woodul; W. T. Beard, Walter Woodul, Jr., W. T. Eldridge III, and John Gordon.
Attending the funeral here Saturday afternoon were many of the former Eagle Lake citizens now living in San Antonio, Houston and at other places throughout the state.
Funeral flowers at the grave were lovely and in profusion, attesting the love and high esteem in which this good woman was held by a legion of friends.
[The obit. above is for Ellen Good Gordon Eldridge---the third Anglo child to be born in Eagle Lake on 8 Feb. 1864. She was the daughter of James B. and Martha (Mattie) Ellen Good. At age 16 she married John W. Gordon on 3 June 1880. In April of 1881 a son James Wheeler Gordon was born. On 5 Mar 1883 a son Van was born but died on 28 Dec 1884. Daughter Camile Gordon was born in April 1885. John W. Gordon died on 21 July 1888. In 1890 she married William Thomas Eldridge of Eagle Lake. {This is the W. T. Eldridge of Eldridge Plantation and of Sugar Land Industries. He is one who was a partner with William Dunovant and who killed Dunovant. Some say that friction between Eldridge and Dunovant started with some remarks that Dunovant made about the Widow Gordon.} Ellen Good Gordon Eldridge divorced Eldridge in 1918, took the name Gordon again, and moved to San Antonio.]
Eagle Lake Headlight, January 6, 1939 Submitted by Ernest Mae Seaholm <mailto:emseaholm@sbcglobal.net