The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 106, July 2002 - April, 2003 Page: 83
675 p. : ill. (some col.), maps, ports. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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The History and Modus Operandi of a Small Merchant
at this place. Most of the stolen goods have been recovered and Justice
Hawthorne's court was grinding nearly all day Tuesday."'5
This was hardly a significant loss and not likely the cause of their move.
We do know, however, that the Lanier family was originally from north-
ern Florida, and that Julian and Linton's deceased mother was from the
Sneads area. Therefore, since their father chose to go with Julian to
Sneads, the attraction of relatives may have prompted this move.
An unfortunate event befell the Sneads store also, with the report that
Mr. J. B. Lanier and his two sons, Linton and Julian, had "recently lost
their store at Sneads, Florida by fire." Family history and an interview
with Allen Hancock, a business associate with Linton Lanier in later
years, add that the store was actually robbed and set on fire.'6
The Lanier brothers lost little time in regrouping, however, and by
April 1907 were preparing to move their business to Merryville,
Louisiana. But like earlier ventures, this too proved short-lived; by
March 1909 they had sold out and Julian was in Kirbyville in the employ
of his Uncle Charlie once more."
Restlessness characterized Julian's style at this stage as evident from
still another planned endeavor in April of that year. He was preparing to
open a grocery store in Jasper on the west side of the square with his
half brother, Etheridge Lanier. Meanwhile, Julian's brother, Linton, had
accepted a position with the E. A. Seale Mercantile Company in Jasper,
so that now, for the first time, they had parted ways business-wise.'s
That the brothers Julian and Linton Lanier were especially close was
well known in family circles, and is evident from their several joint busi-
ness ventures. In August 1912 they again formed a partnership, this one
entitled "Lanier Brothers," with a "nice stock of general merchandise"
located in Jasper in the old "Famous Clothing Store" building. Soon,
however, they moved into a newly completed building on Main Street at
the north end of the block between Houston and Lamar streets.19
" "Roganville Notes," Jasper News-Boy, Dec. 3, 1905.
"' For Sneads store fire, see Jasper News-Boy, Mar. 13, 1907; for store robbery, Allen Hancock to
J Armand Lanier, Apr. 9, 1988, interview, notes in author's possession. Hancock, an employee
of Linton Lanier (Julian's brother) from 1927 through Linton's death, on January 3, 1953, also
disclosed that "Uncle Charlie" had backed Juhan and Lmton financially at Sneads-and subse-
quently at their Merryville, Louisiana, store. Asked why they had chosen Merryville, Hancock
proffered it was likely due to the lumber mill. "When a mill would open, things would 'pop'; and
when closed, everyone moved away. The stores did well because they sold cheaper than the com-
missaries," Hancock added.
'~ For the Lanier brothers' move to Merryville, see Jasper News-Boy, Apr. 3, 1907; for Julian
Lanier's Kirbyville employment, see Jasper News-Boy, Mar. 3, 1909.
" For Juhan and Etheridge Lanier's grocery store preparations, see Jasper News-Boy, Apr. 14,
1909; for Linton Lanier's employment with Seale Mercantile Co., Jasper News-Boy, Oct. 6, 19o9.
'"Jasper News-Boy, Aug. 21, 1912.2002
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 106, July 2002 - April, 2003, periodical, 2003; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101223/m1/111/: accessed May 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.