Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 737 - 739

L. R. NEWMAN, a prosperous and honored citizen of Sedgwick County, is a speculator, with his place of business and residence in the lively and enterprising city of Wichita. He came here in June, 1885, a poor man -- poor in everything but pluck and indomitable will power. He had met with serious reverses in his career as a business man, and when he came here had just recovered from a long illness, which had resulted disastrously to his financial interests, and, in order to obtain money to start in business, he had to pawn some articles of value. He then commenced life again with renewed zeal, establishing himself as a dealer in realty. In this his sound judgment and shrewd management soon brought him success, and gave him an assured footing among the solid business men of the city. Shortly afterward he, with others, established a manufactory for making pressed brick, being the pioneers of that industry in this city, and carrying it on under the style of the Valley Pressed Brick and Tile Company, of Wichita.

            Mr. Newman was born near Buffalo, N. Y., in 1839. His parents were William J. and Lydia (Manzer) Newman, natives of Otsego County, N. Y. Mr. Newman was a school teacher and also a farmer. To him and his wife were born three children, two of whom are now living -- L. R. and Hattie. The father is now living at Springville, Erie Co., N. Y. He is a man of keen intellectual powers and of high integrity of character. The devoted wife and mother departed this life in 1843.

             The younger days of our subject were passed as a student, and later as a teacher. At the age of twenty-three years he went to Buffalo, N. Y., and the following two years was engaged in the mercantile business. Afterward he went to Oil Creek, Pa., and there engaged as a merchant and also speculated in oil. Three years later he was burned out. He then repaired to Chicago and re-established himself in the mercantile business. In 1868 he removed to Michigan, and there followed the calling of an artist for nine years. From there he went to Dayton, Ohio, and pursued the same calling for two years, and then engaged in it in Rochester, N. Y. He met with unbounded success as a landscape photographer, crayon artist, etc. We copy the following article from a number of the Sunday Morning Tribute, of Rochester, N. Y.,  April 9, 1882, concerning his unique and successful manner of conducting his business.

             "The Man About Town." "A Peculiar and Interesting Business and how it Originated." "Seven or eight years ago Mr. L. R. Newman, a skillful and experienced photographer, warned by failing health, decided that he must have some avocation where more out-door exercise could be had. Accordingly he rigged up a light, covered, platform spring wagon, and equipped it as a miniature photograph gallery, having all the necessary plates, chemicals, etc. He then started out for the most thickly settled highways and took views of the scenery and farmhouses, with their inhabitants in full relief on the verandas or lawns. These the farmers gladly purchased, as they were photographed under their own vine and fig tree. He found this a pleasant and lucrative business, and in a short period of time he ambitiously enlarged it, and put twenty-five other traveling photograph wagons, thoroughly equipped, on the road. As his business grew he added copying in crayon and oil. In this immense enterprise he employs 200 persons. It extends to all parts of the country -- Atlanta, Ga., Kansas City, Mo., and Atchison, Kan., being the principal distributing points, with headquarters at Rochester, N. Y. The sale of stereoscopic views, both foreign and American, amounts to from 25,000 to 30,000 per week. He is the largest manufacturer of pictures, views, photographs, etc., in the world. He has had printed and finished as many as 45,000 a week." This graphic account of Mr. Newman's business as a traveling photographer, as published in a leading daily during the years of his greatest success, gives us some idea of the magnitude of his great enterprise, and of the remarkable business tact, foresight and energy required to conduct it successfully for so many years.

             Besides carrying on that immense business, Mr. Newman managed another with equal success. He had 2,000 acres of the best wooded land in Cattaraugus County, N. Y., on which he erected a steam sawmill and manufactured lumber which he sent to Chicago and to Eastern cities. He built a train railroad, some six miles in length, in order to facilitate hauling logs, and conducted a very extensive business. At this time he had a beautiful home, and in everything he undertook he was prosperous. But his health finally gave way under the unceasing demands of so many and widespread business interests, and he was utterly prostrated by a long fit of illness. After that there came a change in his affairs. There was no head to his immense business, and soon, very soon, all he had accumulated was swept away. Nothing daunted by this great calamity, our subject set out for the West, as soon as he was recovered sufficiently, to begin life anew in this great and wonderful State of Kansas, and by his determination and enterprise has once more placed his feet on the road to prosperity. In 1886 he purchased two and one-half acres of land on College Hill, where he built a fine residence, 28x32 feet, with a wing 12x24 feet in dimensions, and in that house he and his family make their home, the buildings and lot costing him $5,000.

            The marriage of Mr. Newman to Miss Clara Cochrane, of Springville, Erie Co., N. Y., took place May 5, 1868. She is the daughter of Byron and Catherine (Weber) Cochrane. Mr. Cochrane was a merchant and insurance agent. His father, Samuel Cochrane, was one of the four men who were pioneers of Springville, Erie Co., N. Y., where he engaged in farming and the hotel business. Mrs. Cochrane's father, Michael Weber, was a native of Otsego County, N. Y. To Mr. and Mrs. Newman have been born six children, three now living -- Charles R., Grace I. and Clara W.

             Mr. Newman is a Republican in politics. He is prominently identified with the Presbyterian Church, of which his wife and son are also members, he being an Elder in that society, and also Secretary and Treasurer of the College Hill Sunday-school. Lowell has quaintly said, "They who deserve eulogy do not need it." The high social standing of Mr. Newman and his amiable wife is a sufficient indication of their moral and upright conduct in all the obligations imposed on them in the varied relations of life.

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