The colored American., 1902-06-28

lodging. The thirst for more knowl-
edge prompted him to go to Jefferson
City, Mo. He so impressed the gen
erous-hearted principal, Prof Inman
E. Page, that he secured admission 10 /
Lincoln Institute, and arranged TO /
take a collegiate course. He acted as /
assistant janitor and was agent for |
laundry and tailoring establishment. |
AS a student he stood easily at-the |
head Of his class, and was a faYorite |
with faculty and fellow-pupils. After |
six years there, completing a full |
course in mechanical drawing, black |
smithing, carpentry, engineering ana
as a maehinist, he then went To St |
Louis. where he engaged In black-
smithing Booker Washington heard
of his excellent work and Industrial
disposition. and invited him TO join the
forces at Tuskegee. He started IN AT
this beehive of industry and graduated
| 49,, tbraa danartments there. He
helped to put in the steam-f1tting plant
al Tuskegee and made himself very
serviceable in many ways. Wishing 10
take ND photography. he went to At
llarta. where he succeeded in master
ing the intricacies of the art. Then
came an offer to fill the important po-
sition of chief superintendent Of the
steam-ftting and forging department
of the Fulton Bag and Cotton Compa-
Inv of Atlanta which he accepted ana
held until a revolt against the opening
lup Of opportunities to capable colored
men led to his retirement. Going ID
Nashville. Tenn, he found employ
ment as night engineer in the factory
of the Nashville Ice Company, the cor
poration which furnished all the ice
for the exposition.
! Mr.. Lankford. by invitation OF DR..
w. H. Council. became member OF
= the faculty of the A. and NJ College
! of Normal. Ala. and before many
weeks he had put in over fifteen thou
: sand dollars (s15,000) worth OF ma
! chinery. He designed, planned anu
! set up the entire steam-httins, saw
{ milling machine shop. and foundry
: plant Of that institution. one OF the
/ hest equipped industrial plants in the
I south. He had scarcely finished put
: ting in this large plant before he was
r asked bv the Hon. W. c. Coleman, sec
{ retarv and treasurer Of the Coleman
2 Cotton Mills. at Concord, N C, 10 ac-
2 cent the position as master mechanic
2 for that company. for which he put IN
: one hundred thousand dollars ts1Oo.
s AOo( worth Of machinery. in that mill
with great credit TO himself and race
: Mr.. Coleman said in speaking OF Mr.
: ankford said: THAT he is no doubt
[ the best all around negro mechanic N
America and probably the best IN the
I world.
5 DR.. Charles F. Meserne. president OF
: Shaw University. Raleigh. N c, see
: ing and hearing so much Of Mr.. Lank-
+ ford's good work as an industrial man.
\ about the time he had finished putting
: lin the machinery for the Coleman Cot
5 ton Mills. asked Mr.. Landlord TO ac-
= cept the position as Superintendent OF
i the Industrial Department OF Shaw
s University. He accepted the position
a and IS noic superintendent OF the In
: Iustrial department and professor OF
natural science Of that institution
e His genius has revolutioniZed the
: methods Of labor and instructions and
q all branches OF his departments
=. Some weeks before the closing OF his
:. university he was asked by the presi-
:. dent and executive board Of the True
!. Reformers to take charge of the archi-
s tecturaI work OF the large sixty thou
sand dollar 1850 000) stone and brick
L building TO be built in Washington. D.
:. tC.. during his vacation. We have seen
/. the plans and specifications, and II
= will no doubt be one Of the best build
I lings Of its kind ever built in Washing
+ ton.
In speaking of him as an architect,
:. some NAV ask what buildings has he
;, designed, and looking over his record