Rekindled: The Tobacco Legacy - A Story of Growth, Industry, Decline, and Rekindled Once Again. (Part 10)

The Cox Building/Tausig Factory Building, located just across from the Wettermark Bank Building on the west side of North Pecan Street, was constructed by John Cox for William Tausig (originally from Chicago), of the Tausig Tobacco Company in 1909. It is actually connected to the neighboring building, which is known as the Cox Building/Turner-Sitton Hardware/Branch-Patton Hardware Building, which was built in 1888, by the same John Cox.

The structure of these two buildings is very unique. The ground and upper floors of both structures are actually separated by a full-facade balcony that is shared between both buildings. The Cox Building/Turner-Sitton Hardware/Branch-Patton Hardware Building, located on 123 E. Main Street, can still be visited today, and it now is home to The Bosslight Book Store, as well as an antique store. It also directly faces the old Wettermark Bank Building in downtown Nacogdoches. Some images of the Cox Building are below.

The Cox Building/Tausig Tobacco Company Building can also still be found today on Pecan Street, situated between Main Street and Hospital Street. Tausig used the building as a cigar factory and for tobacco storage (for storage, curing, and manufacturing of the Spanish Maid Cigar) until about 1914. Records indicate the other Cox building was used for tobacco storage for a time as well.

It's unclear when he left the Nacogdoches area, or retired from the tobacco business. At the very least, a 1912 Sanborn map shows the Taussig Tobacco Building still being used for tobacco packing in 1912 (see map below).

William Tausig was 75 years old when he died on July 18, 1922. His occupation listed him as a Retired Tobacco Dealer. One newspaper wrote the following after his death.

The Passing of William Taussig of Chicago of Taussig & Company

The Chicago trade lost one of its oldest and most beloved members. For the past 51 years "Uncle Billy" was a member of the industry. Everyone in Chicago called him Uncle Billy and he was just that to all of them. "Uncle Billy" was 75 years old when he passed on. His was a life of good fellowship, not of the quality which means being a "sport" but of the brotherly and charitable quality. His history dates back to when he was one of the pioneers in the Florida Shade Grow industry, and up until a few years ago he was active in the trade to some extent. While during the past recent years he took no active part in the business of the house he established, he was looked upon as somewhat of an authority on leaf tobacco, and his long experience gave him quite a position in the trade. He is survived by his widow, three daughters, and two sons, Henry and Leo. He was a member of the Adolf Kraus Lodge No. 72, I. O. B. B. He died Sat urday, July 15. The funeral was held July 18.

Another article shares the distribution of his estate

William Taussig's Will - The will of the late William Taussig, former leaf tobacco merchant, disposing of an estate valued at over $100,000, was filed for probate Sept. 14. The widow. Mrs. Julia Taussig, of the Chicago Beach Hotel, receives one-half of the estate.wo daughters, Mrs. Hattie Haber and Mrs. Lillian Eisenstadt, are given $20,000 each. Mrs. Edward Newman, wife of the head of the firm of Newman & Gath, also tobacconists, is given $10,000.

Following is his footsteps, William Taussig's sons, Henry and Leo, both were very well respected and known throughout the country in the tobacco business. After Mr. Taussig's death, Henry and Leo actually went into the tobacco business together, as well.

"New Leaf Tobacco Firm - Taussig Bros. is the name of a new leaf tobacco house that has opened at 129 West Lake street. The members of the new firm are Henry G. Taussig and Leo L. Taussig. Henry Taussig was for many years manager of the leaf firm of Taussig & Co.. Leo Taussig has been with the American Sumatra Tobacco Co. Both for distribution the Taussig Bros. are widely known to the trade throughout the United States. Quarter page ads of the Fatima cigarette now appear in the Chicago newspapers. The new retail price of Fatima is now 20 cents. Many fine La Preferencia cigars are now showing in the store windows."

After the tobacco industry folded, the Taussig tobacco factory building was repurposed, but changed very little. In 1921, Tucker-Sitton Hardware used the building as a warehouse. By 1928, the building was leased to Branch-Patton Hardware. For the next sixty years, while it still remained a possession of the Cox family, the facility was used as a warehouse. In 1988, the building was purchased by Robert Gruebel. The Cox Building/Tausig Tobacco Company Building also served as Nacogdoches’ first John Deere Dealership, and as a place for buggies, plows, building supplies, ambulance garages and caskets.

Today the Tausig Tobacco building has still remained very much like the original design.  It has been restored and is now used as an event center that is named The Old Tobacco Warehouse.

In a conflicting report filed with the Texas Historical Commission, there is a brief mention of the "Talia Ferro Cigar Factory" having opened in Nacogdoches in 1891. This is literally the extent of the information I could find. There was a prominent citizen in Nacogdoches - Lyne Taliaferro "Tol" Barret, who lived in the Nacogdoches area, but as of yet, only records confirm the significance of his role in the oil industry, as well as some other accomplishments, but no mentions of anything to do with the tobacco or cigar making industries. The documentation can be found here.

THE DECLINE OF THE EAST TEXAS TOBACCO INDUSTRY

The decline of the East Texas tobacco industry is mainly traceable to conditions arising during World War I. Cotton, which had been the staple money crop of East Texas, after a sharp decline at the beginning of the war, advanced unitil it was selling at forty cents or more per pound, while tobacco was bringing only twenty-five to thirty cents per pound.

The expense of growing tobacco was also high compared with that of cotton because of the larger amount of fertilizer required and the expense of building curing barns and securing other equipment. These conditions served to lure East Texas  growers away from tobacco. They turned to truck farming, transporting locally-grown fruits and vegetables to a growing Gulf Coast market. These conditions resulted in a heavy decline in the acreage planted to tobacco.

And once the dealers who operated the tobacco packing houses could no longer secure their customary supply of tobacco leaf, they closed down their businesses and left the state.

It's unclear exactly when Nacogdoches Cigar Company went out of business, but the image above is dated July 2, 1909, from the Texas Secretary of State. About half way down the page, Nacogdoches Cigar Company, is listed as having its charter revoked for non-payment of franchise tax. This coincides with approximately the time when Mr. DeMouche moved to Colorado. However, they could have operated for many more years. More research is definitely needed. The dissolution date for the original Nacogdoches Cigar Company was on January 26, 1930.

During the golden years of the tobacco market in Nacogdoches, many names appeared in various newspapers during my research. Some of them would have the exact same names as incorporators with slightly different business names. This is a mystery I haven't yet solved but here are some of the names I have found.

The once-explosive East Texas tobacco industry ended rather unceremoniously, and as time went on, it faded from our memories too. Tobacco was so vital to the growth of the Nacogdoches community though. It’s an intriguing and interesting part of our past that should be appreciated and remembered. 

Come Experience Nacogdoches’ Cigar Legacy Firsthand!

In 2019, the Nacogdoches Cigar Company proudly reopened its doors, breathing new life into the city’s rich tobacco heritage. By rekindling the timeless craft of premium cigars, the company honors the artisans of the past while offering a modern, welcoming lounge where tradition and community come together. Today, it stands as a testament to Nacogdoches’ enduring connection to fine cigar-making.

Visit us at:

325 E. Main Street, Nacogdoches, TX 75961