OSCAR L. HERBERT. One of Cairo's native sons, a man upon whom devolves to
a large extent the management and control of a great and growing industry,
is Oscar L. Herbert, president of the Louis Herbert Company, and the
successor of one of the leading business men of the city, the late Louis
Herbert, who died here September 26. 1906, after an active career of more
than forty years in various fields of commercial endeavor.
Louis
Herbert was born near Klingenberg, Bavaria, acquired a liberal education in
his native country, and came to the United States at the age of seventeen
years, two of his brothers, Rheinhardt and Maximillian following him to
America and spending their lives in Indianapolis, Indiana. Mr. Herbert was
in New Orleans when the Civil war broke out and there joined issues with the
South, but soon thereafter came to Illinois and was connected with the
cities of Cairo and Mound City, at times, until the close of the rebellion.
He engaged in the hotel business at Cairo as his first venture, later
handled produce and beer, and subsequently drifted into the wholesale liquor
business, in which he was extensively engaged at the time of his death. His
success as a financier encouraged him to enter other avenues of endeavor,
and he chose real estate as an investment, laying his holdings in Kentucky,
and in Alexander and Pulaski counties, Illinois. While not known in politics
he was nevertheless a factor to be reckoned with, a silent but positive
force, his station in municipal affairs being that of a director rather than
as a public figure. He was married at Mound City, Illinois, to Miss Elise
Elbert, who died in Cairo in April, 1911, and they had six sons and one
daughter, but the latter, Laura, died in infancy. The living are: Bernard
J., Oscar L., and Byron C., the latter, born October 21, 1882, is connected
with the Louis Herbert Company as secretary.
Oscar L. Herbert was
born November 10, 1876, and his preliminary education was secured in the
public schools of Cairo, this being supplemented by attendance in Christian
Brothers College, St. Louis, from which he was graduated in 1898. He then
spent some time in the St. Louis Law School, preparatory to a business
career, and when ready for life's responsibilities he secured a position
with the Illinois Central Railroad Company and was a clerical man for a year
and a half. He was next employed with the William Young Carriage Company,
and was with them until an opportunity came to engage in the business for
himself, and he organized a company and was identified with its successful
management for five .years. He returned to Cairo upon the death of his
father, and took his place beside his father's associate, Mr. Harry Cushman,
and has since been a factor in the firm. In 1907 the Louis Herbert Company
was incorporated, and Oscar L. was elected its president, Mr. Cushman, its
vice-president, and Byron C. Herbert, its secretary. His connection with
outside affairs shows Mr. Herbert only to be a director of the Cairo
National Bank. Like his father he is an honorable and upright man,
scrupulously conscientious in every business and financial transaction, and
it follows that he has a large number of warm friends and well-wishers.
In April, 1902, Mr. Herbert was married in St. Louis to Miss Alberta M.
Bradford, and one son, Donald, has been born to them.
Extracted 15 Jan 2018 by Norma Hass from 1912 History of Southern Illinois, Volume 2, pages 876-877.
| Cape Girardeau MO |
Union | |
 |
Pulaski | |
| Scott MO | Mississippi MO | Ballard KY |
