Located in southeastern Texas, a little over an hour east of Houston, you will encounter Vidor, Texas. The town received its name from the cofounder of the Miller-Vidor Lumber timber Company which was based in this town.
Charles Shelton Vidor, a native of Galveston, Texas, was the son of Karoly (Charles) Vidor who was born in Budapest, Hungary. Karoly Vidor came to the USA as a refugee of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. At 19 years old, he first arrived in New York City, where he worked for a time as a reporter for the New York Herald. He then moved on, settling in Galveston around 1855. Here Vidor became one of the first cotton factors, establishing the Wolston, Wells & Vidor company which helped develop Galveston into the flourishing city it became.
Vidor served throughout the American Civil War in Hood’s Brigade as the captain of Company L of the First Texas Regiment. Karoly Vidor was father to the aforementioned Charles Vidor—namesake of Vidor, Texas—and grandfather to King Vidor, the famed director, film producer, and screenwriter. Karoly Vidor left a significant mark on the US, despite only arriving as an immigrant.
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