Among the representative business men of Girard must be remembered
Philip Flood attended the parish schools of his native city, until it
was deemed he had of Macoupin county, during the greater portion of
which time he has been president of the firm now known as the Flood &
Lowe Lumber Co.
He was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1831, and is
a son of Philip and Catherine (Doyle) Flood, who spent their entire
lives in the Emerald isle. Philip Flood attended the parish schools of
his native city, until it was deemed he had sufficient education to
enable him to begin an apprenticeship under his father, who was an
upholsterer. Very much dissatisfied with conditions surrounding the
poorer classes of his native land the youth became greatly interested in
America. Convinced that far better opportunities were to be found in the
United States he determined to come to that great republic and located
in Cincinnati in 1849, penniless. A less determined or less confident
nature would have been almost hopelessly discouraged, but not so with
Philip Flood whose confidence was not shaken in the least. He obtained a
position in an upholsterer’s shop where he continued his apprenticeship,
receiving for his services three dollars per week. This remuneration was
his sole income for three years thereafter, following which he became a
journeyman with the Mitchell & Rammelsburg Furniture Company. In 1855,
three years after he entered their employment, they sent him to their
branch house at St. Louis. He was not only a skillful and competent
workman but early gave evidence of possessing the keen judgment and
business acumen which characterized his entire commercial career. His
employers recognized his ability and promoted him from time to time
until he became interested in the business and was made manager of the
St. Uouis house. He severed his connection with this company in 1879 and
coming to Girard bought out the interest of Mr. Andrews, of the firm of
Andrews & McNett, lumber dealers, thereafter known as McNett & Flood. In
1882 Mr. Flood bought the interest of his partner, continuing the
business under the name of the Philip Flood Lumber Company, until 1903,
when he took his stepson, Fred Lowe into partnership and it became the
Flood and Lowe Lumber Company, They have extended the scope of their
activities and now own four yards, located in Girard, Birden,
Farmersville and Thayer. Mr. Flood is president of the company, whose
membership is as follows: Fred Lowe, G. G. Garretson, Joseph Ross,
Herman Ross and W. W. Bristow. He is one of the affluent citizens of
Girard and in addition to his extensive business interests is president
of the Girard Building & Loan Association, of which he is one of the
organizers.
Mr. Flood has been married three times, his first
union having been with Mrs. Christina Robbins in Cincinnati in 1854.
After her demise in 1893 he married Mrs. Amy Metcalf of Girard, who is
also deceased. On the 19th of November, 1907, he was united to his
present wife, formerly Mrs. Harriet Tietsort.
The church
affiliation of Mr. and Mrs. Flood is with the Baptist denomination,
while fraternally he is a Mason of high rank, being a member of the
Pride of the West Lodge, No. 179, A. F. & A. M., of which he was master;
Girard Lodge, No. 132, R. A. M.; and St. Omar Commandery, No. 30, K. T.,
of Springfield, while he is a worthy patron of the Girard Lodge, No.
171, O. E. S. He is also affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, being identified with Wildey Lodge, No. 2, I. O. O. F., of St.
Louis, of which he is past master, and he holds membership in the
Ancient Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Flood was a resident of St. Louis
during the Civil war and was a member of the militia of the city, but he
never went to the front. His political support he gives to the
democratic party and for one term he served as mayor of Girard. Having
attained the venerable age of eighty years, Mr. Flood is now living
practically retired, enjoying the ease and comfort procured by the
constant application and hard work which has been most substantially
rewarded. During the long period of his residence in the United States
he has never had reason to regret the transference of his allegiance to
this government, despite the hardships and discouragements that he so
frequently encountered during his early years.
Extracted 18 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 614-615.
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