Macoupin County
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Biography - PHILIP FLOOD

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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