ERNEST WEBSTER AUGUSTINE, Among the younger generation of Grand Island
business men who have not only taken a prominent part in commercial affairs
but have also contributed of their abilities, enthusiasm and energies to
the forwarding of civic matters and general movements for the public
welfare, one of the more prominent is E. W. Augustine, general manager of
the Augustine Company, manufacturers of art calendars and advertising
specialties. He is a native son of Nebraska, born at Bruning, September 13,
1886, his father being Irving Milton Augustine, a review of whose career
will be found on another page of this work.
Mr. Augustine's education was secured in the public schools of Grand Island
and Grand Island College. He was brought up in the atmosphere of a printing
office, for in 1896 his father had started what was known as the Grand
Island Free Press, a newspaper which he published for several years, but of
which he disposed after realizing the opportunities offered by the art
calendar and advertising specialties field. With the organization of the
Augustine Company, the son became actively interested in its affairs, and
it was greatly due to his active and energetic work that the firm was able
to prosper and flourish from the start. In 1908, when the business was
valued at approximately $3,000, he bought a half interest and assumed the
duties of general manager, and under his regime in this position the
concern has grown and developed until today, after ten years, it is
conservatively valued at $150,000. The Augustine Company at this time
occupies and operates a large, modern, fully-equipped plant, and its
products are distributed over fifteen states of the Union.
Mr. Augustine is
a man of marked ability in his field; he is possessed of unique and
progressive ideas and imbued with the spirit of business aggressiveness-a
man coming under the heading of being a "live wire." His business interests
are large and important, as aside from the work of the Augustine Company he
is identified with other commercial affairs being a director of the
Commercial State Bank of Grand Island, but notwithstanding his varied
commercial activities he has always been able to find time to devote to the
interests and welfare of his adopted community, and at present is
vice-president of the local Young Men's Christian Association and is active
in the Commercial Club. For twelve years he has been treasurer of the
English Lutheran church, in the work of which he has always taken a helpful
part, and of which Mrs. Augustine is also a member. She belongs to the
Order of the Eastern Star, while her husband is affiliated with the
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He supports the Democratic party
at elections.
Mr. Augustine married June 17, 1910, Miss Parmelia M. Spethman, who was
born at North Loup, Nebraska; the daughter of Dietric Spethman, a
wagon-maker by trade, who came to Grand Island a number of years ago and is
now engaged in the automobile business. Mr. and Mrs. Augustine are the
parents of two children: Mercedes Alice, who was born in 1912: and Webster
Pershing, born in 1918.
History of Hall County
by Buechler, Barr, & Stough (Published 1920)
Transcribed by Larry Coates
