Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-08-04

| ROBERT WEEMS TANsILL.
| numbered among those successful and
prosperous business men of Chicago who
| have acquired wealth and independence
! through their own talents and exertions $.
! Mr. TanSili was born in the state of Nir-
ginia in 1874. His mother died in 1916.
and his father being an officer in the Unit
ed States marine corps, the duties of
which required cruises of three years
duration, the subject of cur
sketch was practically left
an orphan when less than
his maternal grandparents, Weems, TO IL
linois, where he decided TO remain. Mr..
Tansill is the lneal descendant of the
Rev. Mason Locke Weems, who was at
one time the rector OF Pobic. General
Washington's church, and is Familiarity
known as the historian OF the revolution.
His works included among many others,
the life of Washington which contains the
original Ratchet story. On January !
1861, he married May +. Motter, of Clay
ton, H., and it was in this town that he
first engaged in the cigar business At an
early date be became convinced that
Chicago was the coming city
of the west and in 1868 he
decided to remove his business to that city,
where in the great fire of 1871, his entire
capital was swept away. Like a great
many other of Cbcago's young business
men, he was not crushed by his misfor-
tune, but making IA fresh start in busi-
ness, paying his creditors 100 cents on the
dollar, be, for NUMBER Of years conduct
ed one of the largest cigar factories in
Chicago. The enormous growth Of
his business, covering as 1t did the
whole country, together with the increased
demand for manufacturing and shipping
facilities caused him To transfer the manu-
facture of his cigars to New York, the
wisdom of which move. has been demon
strated by the continued expansion OF his
business, SO that he now enjoys the dis
tinction OF having the largest mail order
cigar In America.
The causes Of Mr. Tansill's success are
not hard 10 find. lie is man of origin
ality and action. In carrying out ar
idea be has the rare faculty Of
adapting the means TO the end, and once
satisfied of the soundness OF bis plan he
executes'it energeticaliy. These qualities
are perhaps best illustrated by the unique
achievement Of building up and main
tanning a great business without drum
ming. 1t is needless TO say that this de-
sirabie result could not have been
brought about had he not possessed
an iutuitiye genius for advertising
IL lis Mr.. Tansill's policy 10. in all
cases do better by his patrons than
he agrees TO do, but back Of this ali
remains the fact that he Is far too shrewd
to expend brain and money ia pushing Al
article which lacks the merit 20 back up
its claims. His goods are never allowed
70 deterioate, no matter what the demand
for them may be- The wisdom OF his poll
cy is demonstrated by the enormous BUSH
ness which he has developes.
Mr.. Tansill is probably better known 70
the smokers of the country "a the ori1i-
nator Of the celebrated ''TansilIs Punch. -
This band be placed on the market nearly
a quarter Of a century ago. Its popularity
was phenomenal from the start. It's sales
have been unparalleled Ia the history @,
the cigar trade, and IL Is recognized today
By the smoking public az the leading 3
cent cigar q the United States.