E. B. Fitzgerald, St. Louis Co., MN., then Caddo Parish, Louisiana

Submitted by Mike Miller
Date: 1999-2000




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E. B. Fitzgerald.  In looking over the business field at Shreveport a very 

encouraging sign of prosperity for this section has been the establishing here, 

on a sound financial basis, of the Southland Lumber Company, one of the founders 

of which, and its able president, is B. B. Fitzgerald, a Cornell University man 

with lumber experience, who is an overseas veteran officer of the World war.



Captain Fitzgerald was born at Duluth, Saint Louis County, Minnesota, in 1892, 

but has belonged to Louisiana since the age of seven years, when he accompanied 

his parents to this state.  His father, the late Edward E. Fitzgerald, settled 

at Minden, Louisiana, in 1899, where he resided for a quarter of a century', 

becoming widely known in the lumber trade and for many years was associated 

prominently with the lumber interests of the late William Buchanan.



From the public schools of Minden E. B. Fitzgerald entered Culver Military 

Academy, and completed his education in Cornell University, from this classic 

environment, early in 1917, volunteering for service in the World war.  In the 

training camp at Fort Myer, Virginia, he was commissioned second lieutenant; 

went overseas in March, 1918, with the Fifty-ninth United States Artillery 

(eight-inch Howitzers), and served on the St. Mihiel and Argonne battle fronts, 

where his valor won him his captain's commission.  He reached home and received 

his honorable discharge late in November, 1918.



Practically associated all his life with interests pertaining to the lumber 

industry, Mr. Fitzgerald immediately turned vocationally in that direction, 

and until 1922 was connected with the Delta Lumber Company at Baton Rouge.  

Early in the above year he came to Shreveport and became associated with the 

Central Lumber Company of this city, and very soon afterward had the foresight 

and good judgment to begin to consider the location of the extensive enterprises 

he had in view.



The history of this prosperous concern, one has proved not only profitable to 

its owners to Shreveport as well, is interesting, and in its inception and 

development reflected great credit on Mr. Fitzgerald.  The Southland Lumber 

Company, Incorporated, was organized in the summer of 1924, with a capital 

stock of $150,000, with the following 0fficers:  E. B. Fitzgerald, president;  

L. W. Oakmail, vice president;  J. H. Phillips, secretary-treasurer; and  Louis 

Schneider, all competent and experienced lumber men.  Six acres of land on the 

Mansfield road, within the city limits, were purchased from the Sinclair Oil 

Company, for $50,000, as a site, the purchase including several warehouses, 

railroad trackage and cottages.  The corporation was organized to operate a 

planing mill for the manufacture of finished lumber, dealing wholesale.  At 

present the warehouses, giving 11,000 square feet of space. are used for 

storing lumber, a dry kiln and all necessary sheds and accommodations having 

been added, for this is one of the most modern and best equipped mill plants 

in Northern Louisiana.  The newest type of machinery has been installed, which 

includes two moist steam dry kilns, each capable of accommodating 50,000 feet 

of lumber.  The capacity of the plant, about three cars a day, is estimated at 

about 2.000,000 feet of lumber a month.  The plant has been in successful 

operation since early in October, 1924, its business being greatly facilitated 

by a railroad switch that was put in by the Southern Pacific Railroad.  

So much encouragement has been given to the enterprise in its early days that 

plans are already under way for still further development, Mr. Fitzgerald proving 

in many ways a progressive as well as capable and farsighted official.



On April 5, 1920, he married Miss Grace Marion Butler, of Bloomington, Illinois.  

Both are members of the Catholic Church.



A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 38-39, by Henry E. Chambers.  

Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.