My Genealogy Hound

Gus Waterman. Prominent among the worthy citizens of Desha County, Ark., is Mr. Waterman, a resident of the town of Dumas, which is situated on the line of the Mississippi River and the Little Rock & Texas Railroad. He was born in Germany May 29, 1849, and like all his countrymen, is thrifty, honest, enterprising and energetic. His parents, Reuben and Frederika (Wiener) Waterman, were born in the Fatherland, the former’s birth occurring about 1811, and their marriage in 1846, their union resulting in the birth of three sons and three daughters: Gus, Louis (is a merchant of Germany), Moritz (a merchant tailor and a resident of Germany), Minnie (wife of Dagobert Loevy, also residing in that country), and Franciska and Jennie (deceased). The maternal grandparents were Louis and Jane Wiener. Gus Waterman received good early advantages and possessing a naturally fine intellect he is now a man of far more than ordinary ability. When only seventeen years of age he determined to come to America, and first began life for himself as a salesman in a mercantile establishment in Waterville, Me. After remaining thus employed for five years he became a commercial traveler, first for a New York house then for a Memphis (Tenn.) establishment. In 1875 he began merchandising for himself on the Arkansas River at Pendleton, but in 1879 put aside work for a time to make a visit to Europe and on his return settled at Dumas, where he is now doing a large general mercantile business, his stock of goods being valued at from $10,000to $12,000. He is also interested in farming and stock-raising to some extent, and owns a nice farm near the town in which he lives, besides some handsome town property, on which are erected cottages, livery stables, etc. He commands the confidence of the public at large to a remarkable degree, and is a liberal contributor to all enterprises which will advance the interests of his community, county and State. He was married in Memphis, Tenn., May 7, 1882, to Miss Rachel Ulman, who was born in Jackson, Miss., October 23, 1861. She was reared in Memphis and was a daughter of Mayer and Lizette (Seessel) Ulman, both of whom were born in Germany, the mother being now a resident of Memphis. The father died in 1885. To Mr. and Mrs. Waterman a family of four children has been born, three of whom are living: Laurence, Miles (who died in infancy), Frances and Jessie. Mr. Waterman is an uncompromising Democrat, and was postmaster of Dumas from 1882 to 1887, and was depot agent for a number of years. He belongs to the Hebrew Society I. O. B. B., also the K. of H. and he and wife are members of the Hebrew Synagogue.