USA > Ohio > Memoirs of the lower Ohio valley, personal and genealogical : with portraits, Volume II > Part 34
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tion to his contracting business, and quite a number of buildings in the city owe their existence to his skill as a builder. He is a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is a Democrat in his political opinions. On Sept. 21, 1882, William R. Halliday and Miss Frances A. Rexford, of Centralia, Ill., were married, and to this union there have been born two children. Julia is the wife of Otis W. Severns, of Centralia, and Norman is connected with the State bank of Parma, Idaho. Mr. and Mrs. Halliday live in a fine residence which he built at the corner of Twenty-eighth and Elm streets in 1890.
C. C. HAYNES, one of the managers of the John A. Haynes steamboat supply store, Cairo, Ill., was born in Livingston county, Ky., May II, 1852. His parents, E. P. and Elizabeth (Lake) Haynes, were both born in Kentucky, the father of Eng- lish and the mother of Scotch-Irish de- scent. E. P. Haynes began his business life at Smithland, Ky., as proprietor of a wharfboat and steamboat supply store. In 1860 he came to Cairo, where he formed a partnership with Capt. G. D. Williamson, in the same line of business, and the Wil- liamson & Haynes Co. was organized. Some ten or twelve years later Mr. Haynes sold out his interest and returned to Smithland, where he died June 17, 1904. Captain Williamson continued to con- duct the business in, Cairo until. 1895, when he sold out to John A. Haynes, who conducted it until his death, Feb. 25, 1904. Since then the business has been managed by C. C. Haynes and J. B. Warner. (See sketch of Mr. Warner elsewhere.) E. P. Haynes' wife died in July, 1886. Both were members of the Methodist Epis- copal church. In his early life he was a Whig, but in later years became a Democrat. They had twelve children, six of whom grew to maturity and four are still living, viz .: Mrs. Addie Dunn, of Smithland; Mrs. G. F. Phillips, of Paducah, Ky .; H. L. Haynes, of Austin, Tex., and the subject of this sketch. John A. Haynes lived in Cairo nearly all his life, and was connected with the business from the time of leaving school until his death. He left one daugh- ter, Miss Anna Lake Haynes, who is the owner of the store, and who resides with an aunt in Kentucky. C. C. Haynes received his
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education in the common schools, and has been engaged in mer- cantile pursuits most of his life since. For two years and a half he was in business in Oklahoma, and after returning to the Ohio valley was with Fowler, Crumbaugh & Co. of Paducah for several years. He then became associated with his brother, and upon the latter's death became one of the managers of the business, as already stated. In September, 1904, he was married to Miss Lou Phillips of Paducah, and now resides in Cairo.
CHRISTOPHER J. SMITH, of Cairo, Ill., superintendent of the Cairo, Memphis & Southern Railroad and Transportation Company, which is a branch of the Chicago Mill and Lumber Company, was born at Kingston, Jamaica, Sept. 10, 1870. He is a son of Christopher and Emily Smith, both natives of England, and who were married in that country. The father was a government contractor, who, some time in the sixties, was called to the West Indies in connection with his business. He died there in 1875, leaving three children : George, Christopher L. and Adeline. George afterward died, Chris- topher is the subject of this sketch and Adeline is the wife of T. G. Medinger of New York city. The mother still lives in Jamaica. Christopher L. Smith attended the collegiate school of Jamaica and finished his education in grammar school No. 55 of New York city. In 1887 he entered the employ of the American News Company of New York, and was with that concern for about eight years, at the end of which time he came to Cairo, where he entered the employ of the Three States Lumber Company. In 1899 he left that com- pany to accept a position with the Chicago Mill and Lumber Com- pany and shortly afterward was made superintendent of the Cairo, Memphis & Southern Railroad and Transportation, Company, a very important adjunct to the Chicago Mill and Lumber Company in the handling of logs and lumber from down-river points, and both being branches of the Paepcke-Leicht Lumber Company of Chicago. The parent company, with its various branch concerns at Cairo and elsewhere, is one of the greatest corporations in the country, and is perhaps the largest manufacturer of boxes in the world. It oper- ates four large plants, two of which are in Chicago, where the
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general offices of the company are located. The outside branches are the Cairo companies and the Marked Tree Lumber Company, of Marked Tree, Ark. The Chicago Mill and Lumber Company, at Cairo, occupies a tract of some sixty acres of ground, has a saw mill with a daily capacity of 85,000 feet of lumber, a box factory 280 x 320 feet, equipped with the most approved machinery, with a capacity of seven carloads of box shooks per day; a large veneer works, which turns out a vast amount of material for the manu- facture of egg cases, fruit boxes, etc .; and eight large dry kilns, each 140 feet long, for drying the product. The fan used in these dry kilns requires an engine of 225 horse power to operate it, while the power to the entire plant is supplied by two immense Corliss engines of 600 and 800 horse power, respectively. A large ware- house is also a part of the plant, where 3,000,000 feet of veneering is constantly carried, and storage provided for 250 carloads of box shooks. Everything in connection with the place is of the most modern and labor saving character. Recently a refuse burner twenty-eight feet in diameter and 140 feet high was erected as a means of disposing of the waste and keeping the works in a sightly and sanitary condition. The Cairo, Memphis & Southern Railroad and Transportation Company, the other Cairo branch, occupies 800 feet of river front above the Cairo bridge. It operates over 117 miles of standard gauge railroad and covers nearly 500 miles of river traffic, extending as far as Greenville, Miss. The railroad equipment consists in part of four locomotives of modern build and over 100 cars. On the rivers the company operates a line of tow- boats, steamers and barges, notably among them being the steamer Herman Paepcke, and three large derrick boats. The general offices of the company are located in the Tribune building in Chi- cago. Mr. Smith, although a comparatively young man, has all that portion of the business so thoroughly under his control that no fric- tion is allowed to interfere with obtaining the best possible results. In politics he is a Republican ; in religion a member of the Lutheran church; in fraternal matters a member of the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, and in the community one of the represent- ative citizens.
WILLIAM H. SUTHERLAND, president of the Cairo Milling Company, Cairo, Ill., was born at St. Joseph, Mich., July 8, 1858. His parents, J. H. and Martha Sutherland, were both natives of Michigan, and passed their whole lives in that state. J. H. Suther-
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land was a merchant, and died when the subject of this sketch was only about four years old. From that time until he was fifteen he lived with an uncle, attending the common, schools during the fall and winter months. When he was fifteen he secured employment as a helper in a flour mill, attending school for two years longer. At the age of twenty-one he came into possession of some property and invested it in a mill, but the venture proved unsuccessful. He then left St. Joseph and went to Athens, Tenn., as head miller for a large concern there, but a year later returned to his old home town and became head miller in the same mill where he served his appren- ticeship. After three years he went to Independence, Ia., to accept the position of general manager with the Independence Milling Company. He remained with this company two years, at the end of which time he entered the employ of the Bemis Bag Company as a traveling salesman. In 1892 he formed a partnership with John Schultz, of Beardstown, Ill., and they purchased and rebuilt the mill at Astoria, about fifteen miles north of Beardstown, and Mr. Sutherland conducted this mill successfully for about eight years. In, 1900 the partnership between him and Mr. Schultz was dis- solved, when he came to Cairo and organized the company of which he is the president. The capital stock of the company is $40,000, and the other officers are J. G. Hollman, vice-president, and William Calgan, secretary and treasurer. The company does a merchant milling business, the mills having a capacity of 500 barrels of flour daily, the trade covering the whole Southern states and extending into several of the Northern states. They also do a large business as dealers in grain. Mr. Sutherland is a Republican politically, but he is first of all a miller of more than exceptional ability, and devotes but little time to politics, although he is interested in public questions. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and he and his family belong to the Presbyterian church. In 1882 he was married to Miss Ida Kingsley, of St. Joseph, Mich., and they have four daughters, all living at home and attending school.
E. L. TADLOCK, one of the leading farmers of Gallatin county, Ill., was born near Batter Rock, Hardin county, of that state, March 18, 1848. His parents, Michael and Sarah (Baer) Tadlock, were both natives of that county, where the father was a farmer and passed his whole life. They had three children. Isaac and Nancy are both deceased, the subject of this sketch being the only surviving member
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of his family. Michael Tadlock died while the subject was still a small boy, and his widow married William A. Scroggins. E. L. Tadlock continued to live with his mother and stepfather until his marriage to Miss E. J. Benson, a native of Saline county, and rented a farm near Shawneetown, where he lived for four or five years, when he bought ninety acres where he now lives, six miles west of Shawneetown. Since then he has prospered and now owns 400 acres of land, most of which is in a high state of cultiva- tion and well improved. For the last ten years Mr. Tadlock has been conducting a general store on his place in connection with his agri- cultural pursuits. His success in life is due mainly to his energy and foresight, and he is regarded as one of the best business men in his locality. Mr. and Mrs. Tadlock have had the following chil- dren born to them: Laura E., Charles, Mamie, Kate, Maud, Edgar, William C., Clarence and Lewis. Charles and Lewis are deceased and the others are all married and live near their parents. Mrs. Tadlock is a member of the Baptist church.
P. T. LANGAN, manufacturer of sash, doors, blinds, and builders' supplies, and dealer in all kinds of rough and dressed lumber, Cairo, Ill., was born in the city of Louisville, Ky., but came in his boy- hood to Cairo. He began in the lumber business when he was still quite young, and has learned it in every detail. His immense business is the outgrowth of his thorough knowledge of every phase of the lumber trade, and his long experience has placed him at the front of the lumber dealers of the Lower Ohio Valley. His factory is located on Commercial avenue, extending from Tenth to Twelfth streets, where he uses about 3,000,000 feet of rough lum- ber annually in the production of his wares. Two traveling sales- men are constantly employed in calling upon the hardware trade and builders of Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee and Arkansas, as well as a large portion of Illinois, his trade extending to both the wholesale and retail fields. Mr. Langan organized this business in 1891, and since that time the history of the concern has been one unbroken line of successful business operations. It is such men as he that build up a city, and few men in the city of Cairo have done more to
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advertise her name abroad in commercial circles. Politically he is a Democrat, and in church matters he is a Catholic. While true to his political principles, and a consistent practitioner of the tenets of his religious faith, he is first of all one of Cairo's most energetic and successful business men. Mr. Langan is married and has an interest- ing family of five children.
EDWARD C. ALLEN, proprietor of the Hotel Illinois, at Cairo, is of Scotch- Irish descent, his grandfather coming from Scotland early in the nineteenth century and locating in Pennsylvania. At the time he came to this country he was al- ready married, his wife having been a Miss Martha Drake, a descendant of Sir Francis Drake, who was one of the first to circumnavigate the earth. Joseph G. Allen, the father of Edward C., was born at Allegheny City, Pa., in the year 1814, and lived there until 1858, when he went to Lockland, Ohio, where he engaged in the manufacture of paper. His paper mill was burned by the guerrilla forces under General Morgan in the famous raid of 1863, after which he received a con- tract from the United States government, through the influence of President Lincoln, for making coffins for the dead soldiers. To carry out this contract to better advantage he located at Kingston Springs, Tenn., where he made coffins for eighty-one thousand of the nation's gallant dead. Joseph G. Allen and Abraham Lincoln were warm friends and corresponded with each other on the most intimate terms. The subject of this sketch has in his possession a number of old letters that his father received from the martyred president. Mr. Allen had a dream during the war, in which he saw the termination of the great conflict. This dream he related to Mr. Lincoln, who was so impressed with it that he secured a special act of Congress providing for the printing and distribution of a million copies of it. After the war Joseph Allen returned to Ohio, located in Grant county, and there followed the lumber business until his death in 1882. He married a Miss Mary E. Morris, who is still living in Northern Indiana, aged eighty-one years. She is of Scotch- Irish extraction. Of their eleven children, six of whom are living, Ed- ward C. Allen, who is the eighth child of the family, was born July
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20, 1861, while his parents were living at Middletown, Ohio. He received a good practical education in the public schools, after which he became associated with his father in the lumber business in Indiana before railroads were built in that section of the state, when they located in Marion, in Grant county. Upon the death of his father he settled up the estate and went to Tennessee, where he was for over nine years connected with the great lumber concern of L. Laughran, of Philadelphia, as superintendent, his eldest brother being general manager. In 1893 Mr. Allen returned to Indiana and engaged in business for a short time., then returned to Tennessee for a few months, and in 1894 came to Cairo. Here he was associ- ated with the Chicago Mill and Lumber Company as manager, and in that capacity had charge of the erection of most of the build- ings now constituting their immense plant, which is the largest in the world of its kind. In the spring of 1902 he bought the Hotel Illinois, but went to Texas and remained there until in 1904, when he returned to Cairo to assume the management of the house, which he has made one of the most popular hostelries in the city. The Illinois is centrally located and fully equipped with all those little con- veniences that go to make hotel life enjoyable, such as long distance telephones, a telephone in each room, a fine cuisine, everything scrupulously clean, and, above all, a genial proprietor to "welcome the coming and speed the parting guest." In fraternal circles Mr. Allen is one of the best known men in Cairo, being a member of the Free and Accepted Masons; the Knights of Pythias; the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; the Modern Woodmen; the Royal Arcanum, and the Concatenated Order of Hoo Hoo, a society com- posed of lumbermen. In his political views he is a Republican, as might be expected of one whose father enjoyed the personal friend- ship of the first Republican president. He has also adopted the religious faith of his parents, as both himself and wife are members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Allen was married in 1883 to Willabelle, daughter of William and Elizabeth Reeves, of Ohio. Her father was a shoe dealer, who later removed to Marion, Ind., where he passed the closing years of his life. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Allen: Harry E., H. Davis, and Mary- belle. The two sons are living, but the daughter died on Nov. 24, 1901, aged thirteen years.
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CHARLES LANCASTER, president of the Lancaster & Rice Company, dealers in sewer pipe, roofing and building paper, sash, doors, paints and picture frames, Cairo, Ill., was born in St. Clair county, of that state, Aug. 21, 1836. His grand- father, Mahlon Lancaster, came from Eng- land in early life and settled in Virginia. Charles is a son of Levi and Elizabeth Lancaster, both natives of Virginia, who came in 1801, soon after their marriage, to St. Clair county. There they lived a typical pioneer life, the father frequently killing deer upon his farm. They continued to live on the farm until in middle life, when the father engaged in mercantile pursuits in Illinois and Minnesota for the rest of his days. He died in Min- nesota in 1859, the mother having died in 1841. They were mem- bers of the Baptist church. Charles Lancaster is the fifth of a family of nine children, two sons and seven daughters. He received a com- mon school education and began his business career in connection with his father in the general merchandise business. From 1862 to. 1865 he was employed by the government in making repairs on the vessels belonging to the Mississippi squadron, and during that time was stationed at Cairo. After the war was over he embarked in the lumber business at Cairo, which was at that time already be- ginning to be recognized as a great lumber market, and continued. in that line until 1881. In that year he and Newton Rice organized and incorporated the Lancaster & Rice Company, with a capital stock of $50,000. Four years later they erected a large warehouse and a mill 75 x 100 feet, which' they fully equipped with modern machinery, etc., and were soon on the high road to commercial success. Mr. Rice died in 1889, and in January, 1901, the main buildings of the company were destroyed by fire at a loss of some- $20,000. Prior to that time the concern did a large wholesale busi- ness, but since the fire has limited its trade to the retail demand, operating two stores in the city of Cairo. Mr. Lancaster is a Re- publican politically and takes great interest in public affairs, particu- larly. those of local interest. For seventeen years he has held the office of alderman. This long incumbency in an office that has for its object the passing of legislation affecting the local affairs of the people of Cairo tells the story of his popularity, and shows in what
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esteem he is held by his fellow-townsmen. He is a member of the Knights of Honor, and with his family belongs to the Presbyterian church. By his close application to business, and his intelligent and well directed investments he owns considerable property in the city. In 1866 he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Hodge, who was born near Louisville, Ky., and to this marriage there have been born eight children, five of whom are still living, viz .: Minnie E., man- ager of one of the stores of the Lancaster & Rice Company; Pearl, wife of George B. Osgood, of Chicago; Mabel, a teacher in Michigan; Geraldine, wife of Wilber B. Thistlewood, of Cairo; and Beatrice, at home with her parents.
ALEXANDER S. FRASER, contractor of brick work and manufacturer of con- crete building blocks, Cairo, Ill., is a native of that city and one of its representative men. His grandfather, Peter Fraser, came from Scotland in his early manhood and located at Niles, Mich., where he passed the balance of his life. Alexander Fraser, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born at Niles, married Elizabeth Mor- ris, a native of Madison, Ind., and settled in Cairo in 1852. There he conducted a steamboat repair shop until his death. He was somewhat active in politics as a Democrat, was a charter mem- ber of the Cairo Odd Fellows' lodge, a Knight of Pythias, and with his wife belonged to the Episcopal church. He died in 1883, but his widow is still living in Cairo. Their children were George, Niles Llewellyn, William P., Charles and Alexander. George and Charles are deceased; Niles Llewellyn married Herman C. Schuh and is also deceased; and the other two sons live in Cairo. Alex- ander S. Fraser was born June 3, 1869. After attending the com- mon schools of his native city he entered the Glendale institute at Kirkwood, Mo., at the age of fourteen years, and graduated in 1889. He was then in Colorado for about two years in charge of a force of men for a roofing company, after which he went from one city to another in the capacity of a journeyman bricklayer, working awhile in each. In 1896 he returned to Cairo and commenced contracting on his own account. Since then some of the best buildings in the city have been erected under his supervision, notably among them the
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buildings of the Cairo Brewing Company, and the Andrew Lohr Bottling works. In connection with his business as a contractor he is also interested in dredging sand from the Mississippi river, taking out about 500 car loads annually, most of which is used by himself in the manufacture of concrete building blocks, in which he is building up a good trade. Mr. Fraser is one of the active Democrats of Cairo. He is the alderman from the Third ward; chairman of the police, jail and fire committee; was the designer of the Sycamore street subway, an important street improvement, and in 1904 was one of the Democratic candidates for presidential elector, represent- ing the Twenty-fifth district on the Parker and Davis ticket. He is a member of Melrose Park Lodge, No. 530, Knights of Pythias, of Chi- cago; Cairo Lodge, No. 237, Free and Accepted Masons, and is a charter member of Cairo Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. In 1900 he was married to Miss Tillie Blattau, daughter of Louis and Margaret Blattau, of Cairo, and one child has been born to this union. This son, William L., died in infancy. Mr. Fraser was baptized in the Episcopal church and his wife is a member of the Catholic church.
ARTHUR STEPHEN MAGNER, assistant engineer of the water works, Cairo, Ill., is a son of Michael and Abby Magner, old residents of that city. He was born in Cairo, Nov. 7, 1870, was educated in the common schools there, and has passed his whole life in his native town, except when temporarily absent in connection with his railroad service. While still in his teens he went into the Singer Manufacturing Company's plant at Cairo, and there learned the business of stationary engineer under Harry Wilson, one of the best engineers in the city. After this young Magner worked for some time for the Illinois Central Railroad Company on bridge work, his service with this company extending from 1889 to 1894. He was next employed in a similar capacity by the Big Four Railroad Company for a few months, when he was appointed to his present position. Mr. Magner is a Democrat in his political convictions, and for almost a decade has been called upon to serve as judge of election of the Seventh precinct in every campaign. He is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and is the captain of the Anchor Fire Company. On Nov. 26, 1901, he was united in marriage to Miss Ellen, daughter of Conrad Shaughan. Mrs. Magner was born in Ireland, but came to Cairo while still in her girlhood. They have had one child, Edward Michael,
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who died at the age of nine months and seven days. Mr. and Mrs. Magner are both members of the Catholic church and take an interest in its many worthy charities.
WILLIAM SCHATZ, a well known contractor and builder of Cairo, Ill., was born in Germany, April 5, 1850. When he was about six years of age his parents, William and Sophia (Huncy) Schatz, left the Fatherland and came to America, lo- cating at Cape Girardeau, Mo., where they still live retired from the active cares of this busy world. They reared a family of several children, only three of whom are now living. The father served as a soldier in the Union army during the Civil war, and is an unswerving Republican in his political affiliations. William Schatz, the subject of this sketch, lived with his father until he was about eighteen years of age, when he learned the carpenters' trade. In 1872 he came to Cairo and worked as journeyman until 1879, when he commenced contracting for himself. His practical knowledge of all branches of the build- ing business, in connection with his untiring industry, soon won for him a place among the foremost contractors of the city. Some of the best business blocks and the finest residences were built by him, and in every instance his patrons have been satisfied with his promptness in executing his contracts and his honest workmanship. Mr. Schatz is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In religious matters he has adopted the faith of his parents, both himself and wife belong- ing to the Lutheran church, but in politics he has elected to do his own thinking, and belongs to the Democratic party. On April 22, 1878, he was united in marriage to Miss Hannah, daughter of Henry Vellmer, a farmer and merchant of Scott county, Mo. To this mar- riage there have been born the following children: Henry, who died at the age of nine years; Fred, associated with his father; Edward, a carpenter at Cairo; Clara, wife of W. L. Russell, one of Cairo's leading dentists. Mr. Schatz owns his own home, one of the best appointed in the city, and is also the owner of other real estate.
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