(born November 24, 1865 in Burkeville, Texas -died January 29, 1928) attended the academy at Bremond, Texas and at the age of 13 began work as a slab trucker for the Adams-Milmo Lumber Company. Between 1884 and 1886 he studied at Professor Stovall's college and later taught school and owned a saw mill. In 1894, he became treasurer and manager of the Consolidated Export Lumber Company. Four years later he was elected secretary-treasurer and general sales agent for the J.F. Keith Company, and at the same time became one third owner of the company. By this time he was
known throughout the lumber industry of the State, and was everywhere considered one of its most able executives and leaders. He traveled as sales representative for the Keith Company during two years, and when that company disposed of its mill and timber interests to the Kirby Lumber
Company in December 1900, he remained with the new organization with retained the old charters activities.
On January 2, 1902 he was elected president of the American National Bank at Beaumont, and from that time until his death he remained as executive head of this institution. Under his able administration and largely through the genius of his direction, it grew from an institution of $230,000 in deposits, and a capital stock of $100,000, to one of $5,600,000 in deposits and a
capital surplus and undivided profits in excess of $800,000. He was an organizer with C. H. Markham, chairman of the board of the Illinois Central Railroad, of the Orleans Realty Company, which held the property on which the new bank building was erected. Of this organization he was president and general manager, and to his careful judgment and far-ranging vision it owned much of its success. Mr. Norvell was also treasurer and a director of the Norvell-Wilder Hardware Company; a director of the Kirbyville State Bank of Kirbyville; an organizer and director of the San Jacinto Life Insurance Company; and organizer of the Neches Canal Company, a rice farm
irrigation project, and a director of the Missouri Pacific Lines. He was also active in assisting in the organization and construction of the Sour Lake and Western Railroad which was taken over by the Frisco and now operated by the Missouri Pacific. His associates in all these enterprises had the greatest respect for his ability and the utmost confidence in his judgment, following his advice implicitly in the most difficult situations. Their confidence was not misplaced for Mr. Norvell's decisions were almost invariably correct, and his intuition at times seemed positively uncanny. He was by nature a leader whom others followed, not only in business but in civic affairs. He was responsible for much of the city's growth, championing the erection of such large and modern buildings as the American National Bank Building, the Hotel Beaumont and many others, and in every way furthering the cause of progress at Beaumont and hroughout the State. His most intimate friends were the other great builders and leaders in Texas, men such as J.F. Keith, who
were known and honored by thousands.
He was a member and a leader in many organizations and clubs, including the Beaumont Club, the Country Club, the various civic clubs and the local Chamber of Commerce. He was affiliated fraternally with Beaumont Lodge, No. 286, of the Free and Accepted Masons, being a Past Master of this lodge, while with his family he worshipped as a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church. Personally he was a man of the most simple tastes, democratic and unassuming. He loved the out-of-doors. He preferred a day spent in the open with his dog and gun or his fishing gear to the pleasures cities offer. It was often said of him that he would rather go to East Texas with its plains, its forests and streams, than visit New York and Paris, the centers of the world,s gaiety. And yet his was not the simplicity of ignorance. Rather it was the noble
manifestation of perfect and inerrant taste.
Benjamin Rush Norvell married on April 26, 1894, at Staunton, Virginia, Aurelia Peters McCue, the ceremony being performed in Historical Trinity Church. Mrs. Norvell was the daughter of Judge John Howard McCue and of C. E. Willis McCue, his wife, of Pleasant Grove, Nelson County, Virginia. Judge McCue, was a graduate of Washington and Lee University and of the University of Virginia, was a prominent jurist, widely known as Virginia?s greatest lawyer in the early 20 century.
known throughout the lumber industry of the State, and was everywhere considered one of its most able executives and leaders. He traveled as sales representative for the Keith Company during two years, and when that company disposed of its mill and timber interests to the Kirby Lumber
Company in December 1900, he remained with the new organization with retained the old charters activities.
On January 2, 1902 he was elected president of the American National Bank at Beaumont, and from that time until his death he remained as executive head of this institution. Under his able administration and largely through the genius of his direction, it grew from an institution of $230,000 in deposits, and a capital stock of $100,000, to one of $5,600,000 in deposits and a
capital surplus and undivided profits in excess of $800,000. He was an organizer with C. H. Markham, chairman of the board of the Illinois Central Railroad, of the Orleans Realty Company, which held the property on which the new bank building was erected. Of this organization he was president and general manager, and to his careful judgment and far-ranging vision it owned much of its success. Mr. Norvell was also treasurer and a director of the Norvell-Wilder Hardware Company; a director of the Kirbyville State Bank of Kirbyville; an organizer and director of the San Jacinto Life Insurance Company; and organizer of the Neches Canal Company, a rice farm
irrigation project, and a director of the Missouri Pacific Lines. He was also active in assisting in the organization and construction of the Sour Lake and Western Railroad which was taken over by the Frisco and now operated by the Missouri Pacific. His associates in all these enterprises had the greatest respect for his ability and the utmost confidence in his judgment, following his advice implicitly in the most difficult situations. Their confidence was not misplaced for Mr. Norvell's decisions were almost invariably correct, and his intuition at times seemed positively uncanny. He was by nature a leader whom others followed, not only in business but in civic affairs. He was responsible for much of the city's growth, championing the erection of such large and modern buildings as the American National Bank Building, the Hotel Beaumont and many others, and in every way furthering the cause of progress at Beaumont and hroughout the State. His most intimate friends were the other great builders and leaders in Texas, men such as J.F. Keith, who
were known and honored by thousands.
He was a member and a leader in many organizations and clubs, including the Beaumont Club, the Country Club, the various civic clubs and the local Chamber of Commerce. He was affiliated fraternally with Beaumont Lodge, No. 286, of the Free and Accepted Masons, being a Past Master of this lodge, while with his family he worshipped as a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church. Personally he was a man of the most simple tastes, democratic and unassuming. He loved the out-of-doors. He preferred a day spent in the open with his dog and gun or his fishing gear to the pleasures cities offer. It was often said of him that he would rather go to East Texas with its plains, its forests and streams, than visit New York and Paris, the centers of the world,s gaiety. And yet his was not the simplicity of ignorance. Rather it was the noble
manifestation of perfect and inerrant taste.
Benjamin Rush Norvell married on April 26, 1894, at Staunton, Virginia, Aurelia Peters McCue, the ceremony being performed in Historical Trinity Church. Mrs. Norvell was the daughter of Judge John Howard McCue and of C. E. Willis McCue, his wife, of Pleasant Grove, Nelson County, Virginia. Judge McCue, was a graduate of Washington and Lee University and of the University of Virginia, was a prominent jurist, widely known as Virginia?s greatest lawyer in the early 20 century.
(born November 24, 1865 in Burkeville, Texas -died January 29, 1928) attended the academy at Bremond, Texas and at the age of 13 began work as a slab trucker for the Adams-Milmo Lumber Company. Between 1884 and 1886 he studied at Professor Stovall's college and later taught school and owned a saw mill. In 1894, he became treasurer and manager of the Consolidated Export Lumber Company. Four years later he was elected secretary-treasurer and general sales agent for the J.F. Keith Company, and at the same time became one third owner of the company. By this time he was
known throughout the lumber industry of the State, and was everywhere considered one of its most able executives and leaders. He traveled as sales representative for the Keith Company during two years, and when that company disposed of its mill and timber interests to the Kirby Lumber
Company in December 1900, he remained with the new organization with retained the old charters activities.
On January 2, 1902 he was elected president of the American National Bank at Beaumont, and from that time until his death he remained as executive head of this institution. Under his able administration and largely through the genius of his direction, it grew from an institution of $230,000 in deposits, and a capital stock of $100,000, to one of $5,600,000 in deposits and a
capital surplus and undivided profits in excess of $800,000. He was an organizer with C. H. Markham, chairman of the board of the Illinois Central Railroad, of the Orleans Realty Company, which held the property on which the new bank building was erected. Of this organization he was president and general manager, and to his careful judgment and far-ranging vision it owned much of its success. Mr. Norvell was also treasurer and a director of the Norvell-Wilder Hardware Company; a director of the Kirbyville State Bank of Kirbyville; an organizer and director of the San Jacinto Life Insurance Company; and organizer of the Neches Canal Company, a rice farm
irrigation project, and a director of the Missouri Pacific Lines. He was also active in assisting in the organization and construction of the Sour Lake and Western Railroad which was taken over by the Frisco and now operated by the Missouri Pacific. His associates in all these enterprises had the greatest respect for his ability and the utmost confidence in his judgment, following his advice implicitly in the most difficult situations. Their confidence was not misplaced for Mr. Norvell's decisions were almost invariably correct, and his intuition at times seemed positively uncanny. He was by nature a leader whom others followed, not only in business but in civic affairs. He was responsible for much of the city's growth, championing the erection of such large and modern buildings as the American National Bank Building, the Hotel Beaumont and many others, and in every way furthering the cause of progress at Beaumont and hroughout the State. His most intimate friends were the other great builders and leaders in Texas, men such as J.F. Keith, who
were known and honored by thousands.
He was a member and a leader in many organizations and clubs, including the Beaumont Club, the Country Club, the various civic clubs and the local Chamber of Commerce. He was affiliated fraternally with Beaumont Lodge, No. 286, of the Free and Accepted Masons, being a Past Master of this lodge, while with his family he worshipped as a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church. Personally he was a man of the most simple tastes, democratic and unassuming. He loved the out-of-doors. He preferred a day spent in the open with his dog and gun or his fishing gear to the pleasures cities offer. It was often said of him that he would rather go to East Texas with its plains, its forests and streams, than visit New York and Paris, the centers of the world,s gaiety. And yet his was not the simplicity of ignorance. Rather it was the noble
manifestation of perfect and inerrant taste.
Benjamin Rush Norvell married on April 26, 1894, at Staunton, Virginia, Aurelia Peters McCue, the ceremony being performed in Historical Trinity Church. Mrs. Norvell was the daughter of Judge John Howard McCue and of C. E. Willis McCue, his wife, of Pleasant Grove, Nelson County, Virginia. Judge McCue, was a graduate of Washington and Lee University and of the University of Virginia, was a prominent jurist, widely known as Virginia?s greatest lawyer in the early 20 century.
known throughout the lumber industry of the State, and was everywhere considered one of its most able executives and leaders. He traveled as sales representative for the Keith Company during two years, and when that company disposed of its mill and timber interests to the Kirby Lumber
Company in December 1900, he remained with the new organization with retained the old charters activities.
On January 2, 1902 he was elected president of the American National Bank at Beaumont, and from that time until his death he remained as executive head of this institution. Under his able administration and largely through the genius of his direction, it grew from an institution of $230,000 in deposits, and a capital stock of $100,000, to one of $5,600,000 in deposits and a
capital surplus and undivided profits in excess of $800,000. He was an organizer with C. H. Markham, chairman of the board of the Illinois Central Railroad, of the Orleans Realty Company, which held the property on which the new bank building was erected. Of this organization he was president and general manager, and to his careful judgment and far-ranging vision it owned much of its success. Mr. Norvell was also treasurer and a director of the Norvell-Wilder Hardware Company; a director of the Kirbyville State Bank of Kirbyville; an organizer and director of the San Jacinto Life Insurance Company; and organizer of the Neches Canal Company, a rice farm
irrigation project, and a director of the Missouri Pacific Lines. He was also active in assisting in the organization and construction of the Sour Lake and Western Railroad which was taken over by the Frisco and now operated by the Missouri Pacific. His associates in all these enterprises had the greatest respect for his ability and the utmost confidence in his judgment, following his advice implicitly in the most difficult situations. Their confidence was not misplaced for Mr. Norvell's decisions were almost invariably correct, and his intuition at times seemed positively uncanny. He was by nature a leader whom others followed, not only in business but in civic affairs. He was responsible for much of the city's growth, championing the erection of such large and modern buildings as the American National Bank Building, the Hotel Beaumont and many others, and in every way furthering the cause of progress at Beaumont and hroughout the State. His most intimate friends were the other great builders and leaders in Texas, men such as J.F. Keith, who
were known and honored by thousands.
He was a member and a leader in many organizations and clubs, including the Beaumont Club, the Country Club, the various civic clubs and the local Chamber of Commerce. He was affiliated fraternally with Beaumont Lodge, No. 286, of the Free and Accepted Masons, being a Past Master of this lodge, while with his family he worshipped as a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church. Personally he was a man of the most simple tastes, democratic and unassuming. He loved the out-of-doors. He preferred a day spent in the open with his dog and gun or his fishing gear to the pleasures cities offer. It was often said of him that he would rather go to East Texas with its plains, its forests and streams, than visit New York and Paris, the centers of the world,s gaiety. And yet his was not the simplicity of ignorance. Rather it was the noble
manifestation of perfect and inerrant taste.
Benjamin Rush Norvell married on April 26, 1894, at Staunton, Virginia, Aurelia Peters McCue, the ceremony being performed in Historical Trinity Church. Mrs. Norvell was the daughter of Judge John Howard McCue and of C. E. Willis McCue, his wife, of Pleasant Grove, Nelson County, Virginia. Judge McCue, was a graduate of Washington and Lee University and of the University of Virginia, was a prominent jurist, widely known as Virginia?s greatest lawyer in the early 20 century.
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