The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-08
FIRST CORNCOB PIPE
Invented by III. Guesno, New Orleans
Creole.

Invented by III. Guesno, n New Orleans
Creole.
New York Evening Sun.
An old Creole. Fl. Guesno by name, who
came to New York year and a half ago,
and IS living with his family in the upper
part of the city. lays claim to the dis
tinction of being the first man to manu-
facture ana sell corncob pipes.
Guesno was born in Louisiana seventy
seven years ago and was brought up in
the French colony at New Orleans. He
was taught to be a brickIayer and prac-
ticed his trade until he came to New York
at seventy-five years OF age.
He made his first cOrncob pipe in 1861.
He had seen the slaves smoking them on
the Southern plantations. and to pass the
self. At this time he was working on a
large sugar plantation about twenty miles
from New Orleans Alfred Mayrone, the
owner OF the plantation, had sent for him
to mend broken boiler belonging TO the
plant. and Guesno had gone from his home
In the city to the plantation.
He was used TO whiting and carving
and found no difficulty in carrying out his
idea When he had almost finished the
pipe he looked up from his work and saw
his employer standing near watching him.
What you going to do with that
thing when you've finished it?' asked May
IF you care to smoke it." answered
Guesno. I'm give 1t to you. It's a corn
cob pipe"
Il thought So" said Mayrone, smiling.
''and 1 think can tell you the name of the
first white man who ever made one. Do you
know who 1t was?"
NO"
sit was Andrew Jackson. President Of
the United States. My uncle, ST. Armand.
a soldier under Jackson when he was a
major general In the United States army.
My uncle saw him smoking the pipe while
they were in camp Jan. s. 1915. and jack
son told him he'd made the pipe himself.
He must have seen such pipes made by the
Mayrone evidently referred to a time just
previous to or Immediately following the
attack made on JacksoE's forces by Colonel
Thornton, OF the British regulars. In re-
pulsing this attack Jackson gained one OF
the greatest victories Of his military ca
reer.
After that" said Guesno, in telling Of
his experience with Mayrone, II gave him
the pipe and he went away. But some time
afterward he came to me again and asked
me why / didn't make some of the pipes
and exhibit them at the next fair. He also
said 1t was too bad the pipe had burned out
so quickly. That was in the fall of 1867 and
there was to be big far in New Orleans
the next spring, held by the Mechanics and
Agricultural Association OF the State OF
show some pipes. but what Mr.. Mayrone
had said about his pipe burning out soon
set me thinking. and | tried to invent some
way OF making them all flreproof.
when / want back to New Orleans
got big book telling about drugs and
after while found what wanted. Then
] went to a doctor and asked him IL it
mould make my pipes fireproof TO soak
them in that drug and he said 1t would.
Then l asked If IL would hurt anybody to
put the pipe In his mouth afterward, and
he said 1t wouldn't. for they often used that
drug in medicines. So 4 bought some of 1t
and took It home with me.
Then i made a lot of pipes and soaked
every one in the drug for half an hour,
and afterward let II dry In the sun. 1t
made every one fireprOof.
After that L shellacked them all and
polished them, and when the fair came In
the spring / took them there and exhibited
them. There were twenty-five altogether.
No one showed any such pipes, and they
made lot of talk"
Guesno has in his scrapbooks large
number Of articles published by the South
ern papers in reference TO his exhibit. AT
the end Of the fair he received a bronze
medal
AT the next exposition, in 1870 he ex-
hibited another lot OF pipes. and was pre-
sented with a testimonial. which reads in
part:
Certificate awarded to II. Guesno. New
Orleans. for the best assortment OF corn
cob pipes"
In showing this the old man smiled and
pointed TO the word best"
There were no Others" he said. ST was
the only one who showed them"
After each fair he sold the pipes, and for
time continued TO make them for SALE
1.-THE regular price was dollar for a
common one,' said GuesnO, but l made
fancy ones, too. and got big prices for them.
One time a man who had seen a pipe OF
mine came TO me and said: Il want a fancy
pipe TO send TO friend in France.
i made q fine one for him. and he gave
me sl5 for IT. Then another time l got S25
for one. That was the highest price l ever
got II was very fine pipe. with silver
top, and l put IL in box made entirely
from small pieces OF corncob and lined with
i've made a great many pipes. bur it was
really just for a pastime. had my regular
work 70 do. and so after a while 1 stopped.
During the last few years I've just made
them from time 10 time as presents for my
friends
Until he came to New York Guesno lived
ell his life in New Orleans. For a time he
was employed BIZ the city as inspector of
bridges. Two years ago one OF his daughters
married and came 10 New York to live, ard
after . time he followed her with the rest
He spends most of his time among his
books and papers, OF which he has cellar
full. but for a man OF seventy-seven he is
wonderfully strong and healthy. and at the
present time is looking for a job.
II don't have To work. but I'd rather. .
he said For some time after 1 came TO
New York l had job as q Waterman.
The other men laughed at me the first
time / went TO work. but 1 showed them
4 was AZ strong as they were.
= IF / could speak English better I could
get a fine position. but French and Spanish
are my languages. and the English I picked
out OF the dictionary and have TO speak
slowly
Guesno often has difficulty. he SAYS. in
making people believe that he was the first
man 10 make and sell corncob pipes. but he
Has ms 81 WIN rs aeeo "a
dence 10 show any one impetuous enough
10 challenge him His method OF making
the pipes nreproof ne considers very val
liable secret. and refuses TO disclose the
MARIE OF the drug or the way IN which il
must be used