Drew, Emanuel C.

Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville, 1890

Submitted by Gaytha Thompson 8/98
540 May Drive, Madison TN 37115

Emanuel C. Drew is an intelligent, enterprising and successful young "knight of the scissors," and is now ably editing the Louisiana Advance, one of the spiciest, breeziest journals of this section of the State. He was born in Carroll Parish, La., November 1, 1858, being the youngest of three sons, the other two members of the family being Robert H., who is a resident of Black Hawk Landing, and is superintendent of a large cotton plantation, and Judge Larche C., who resides in Calhoun, Quachitia Parish, La., being the editor and proprietor of the Experimental Farmer, a well known agricultural paper. Their father, Capt. Newit J. Drew, was a native Louisianian, born in 1831, and was a distinguished soldier during the secession, being captain of Drew's battery of light artillery, well known in the Trans Mississippi Department. He received the best advantages in his youth, being educated under private tutors at first, afterward entering the university at Baton Rouge, and his wife, Ann Chaney, who was born in Carroll Parish, La, in 1834, was educated in Jackson, La., then the Athens of the State. Both parents are still living in the enjoyment of fairly good health.

Emanuel C. Drew's early education was perfected at home by his mother, who thoroughly grounded him in the common branches and taught him the principles of business. When he had attained his seventeenth year he began the battle of life for himself as a salesman in a general mercantile establishment, and there he remained until twenty years of age.

In the month of December, 1879, he was united in marriage to Miss Laura Smith, a native of Quachita Parish, La., whose birth occurred in 1860. She was educated principally in Alabama, but her parents were Georgians and her father a cotton planter. Mrs. Drew is a lady of remarkable business tact and acumen, and gives much, valuable aid to her husband in the work of editing the Advance, her excellent address, affable and industrious disposition being cardinal elements of their success.

Mr. Drew began his journalistic career in Minden, La., as editor and proprietor of the Minden Democrat, which he managed successfully through a heated campaign of one year. At the end of that time he purchased the new paper known as the Louisiana Advance, which at that time (1884) had only an eight-quire circulation, but by unflagging energy and Mrs. Drew's fidelity to her husband's interest, the circulation was increased to forty-one quires within one year from date of purchase, besides a large and lucrative job work. Mr. Drew has always been a true Democrat of the Jeffersonian type, in which he followed in the footsteps of his ancestors, and he has ever taken an active part in local politics, being a stanch, eloquent and able advocate of the principles of his party, and all measures which he considers right and just. He is justly proud that he is able to say that no Drew of his family ever scratched a Democratic ticket. He has never been an officer of any grade, has never aspired to be, being content to use his influence in electing to office those whom he considers more suitable men. He deserves the highest commendation from his country men generally, regardless of politics, for the active and very intelligent manner in which he advertised the northern part of the State, and is now secretary of the North Louisiana Immigration Association. The energy with which he has pushed matters has been remarkable for a man of his years, and the good his work has done is almost untold. He has sent authentically compiled literature to all pars of the Union, and many have become interested in the beauty and richness of Northern Louisiana. Mr. Drew has been district land agent for the V.S. & P.R.R. for four years, and has performed a vast amount of business for them, the accuracy with which every detail has been attended to, stamping him as a man of fine executive ability, persistency and determination. His work for this parish has been most exemplary in every particular, which is a source of great satisfaction to him. He is a member of the K. of P. of Ruston, La., and he and his wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church at Arcadia, La. They are well established in life, and have a sufficient amount of this world's goods to make them comfortable and happy, and expect to make their home in Northern Louisiana, where a bright and successful future is awaiting many a home seeker. Mr. Drew is secretary of the Louisiana Sate Land Company, and is also agent for a large land owner of Illinois, and withal, conducts the largest land business in the northern part of the State.