The state herald., 1889-07-05

From the Denver Republican of Juno 10Th.
Mr.. Tansill, the founder of tho house
Of II. w. Tansill & Co., is still young
man, although he has been in active
business for over quarter OF century,
and is now numbered among those suc-
cessful and prosperous business mon Of
Chicago who havo acquired wealth and
independence through their own talents
and exertions. Mr.. Iansill was born in
tho State Of Virginia in 1874. His
mother died in 1840, and his father
being an officer In the U. 3. Marine
Corps, the duties OF which required
cruises OF three years duration, tho
subject OF our sketch was practically
left an orphan when less than two
years OF ago. In 1901 lie accompanied
his maternal grand parents, Weems,
TO Illinois, where lie decided to remain.
Mr.. Tansill is tho lineal descendant OF
tho Rev. Mason Locke Weems, who was
at one timo tho rector Of POliic, Gene,nl
Wasiingtons cllrrch, and is familiarly
known as the historian Of the revolution.
His works included, among many 9th
6rs, tho life of Washing gton which con-
story. On January /, 1867
he married Mary Il. Motter, Of Clayton,
ILL.,, and it was in this town that hc
first engaged in the cigar business. At
MI carly date he became convinced that
Chicago was the coming city OF tho
west. and in 1868 he decided to remove
his business to that city, where, in tho
great fire Of 1871, his entire capital wns
swept away. Like n great many other
Of Clicago's young business men, he
was not crushed by this misfortune, bnt
making fresh start In business, paying
his creditors 100 cents on the dollar, he,
for number of years conducted one Of
the largest cigar factories In Chicago.
The enormous growth Of his business,
covering Ms it did the whole country, to-
getlier with the increased demand for
manufacturing and shipping facilities
caused him to transfer the manufacture
OF his cigars to New York, the wisdom Of
which move Inns been demonstrated by
the continued expansion OF his business,
so that he now enjoys the distinction OF
having the largest mail order cigar
house in America.
The causes OF Mr. Tansiil's success nre
not hard to find. He is n man Of orig.
innlity and action. In carrying out an
idea he hns tho rare faculty OF adapting
tho menns to the end, and once satisfied
OF the soundness Of his plan. hc exc.
cutes it encrgeticnlly. These qualities
nre perhaps best illustrated by his
unique achievement OF building up and
maintaining great business with.
out drumming. II is needless to
sny that this desirable result could not
have been brought about had lie not
possessed m intuitive genius for
advertising. II is Mr.. Tansill's pol
icy TO, in all cases, do better by his
patrons than lac agrees 10 do, hut bsck
Of all this remains the fact that lie Is far
too shrewd to expend brain and money
in pushing MI article which lacks tho
merit to back mp lis claims. His goods
are never allowed TO deteriorato, no
matter what the demand for them may
bc. The wisdom Of his policy Is DEM
onstrated by the enormous business
which he has developed.
Mr.. Tnnsill is probably better known
10 tho smokers Of tho country as tho
originator of tho celebrated ''ransill's
Punch" This brand l,e placed on tho
market nearly quarter Of cen
tury ago. Its popularity was pho
nomenal from the start. Its sales
havo been unparalleled in tho his.
tory Of the cignr ir'de. and II Is recog-
nizcd to-day by the smoking public As
the leading cent cigar OF tho U. 8.