Butler County Genealogy Trails Kansas Joseph Michael Logue Bio

BUTLER COUNTY'S EIGHTY YEARS BIOS

JOSEPH MICHAEL LOGUE

(Transcribed by Lori DeWinkler)

Joseph Michael Logue, superintendent for the production department of the Magnolia Petroleum Company and prominent not only in his business field but in a variety of affairs, was born at Roxford, Pennsylvania, on June 7, 1883, and died at El Dorado,Kansas, January 16, 1932.

He was the son of James and Sarah (McQuillan) Logue, both of whom were natives of New York City, and he was an oil man by inheritance as well as training. His father, James Logue, was an oil man of the pioneer days of the industry when “flowing gold” was first brought gushing from the Pennsylvania soil by strong, bearded men of half a century ago to bring about a new era in mechanical engineering and production of goods in a thousand different classifications.

As a boy young Joseph Michael Logue was educated in public schools in Pennsylvania, and as a youth turned naturally to the then still novel business of oil production. Associated with his father, he learned the business from the ground—and from beneath the ground—up. Industrious, intelligent and apt, he profited by the wise teachings of the elder Logue and rapidly attained ability and standing as an operator in the Pennsylvania oil fields. He followed the business to other parts of the country.

On November 12, 1912, he married Ruena Evalena Kinney at Wheeling, West Virginia. Miss Kinney was the daughter of John H. and Elizabeth (Keif) Kinney. The Logues were parents of three sons, Joseph, born January 11, 1914; Richard, born April 22, 1916; and George, born August 15, 1918.

When oil was discovered in southern Kansas and Butler county rapidly developed into one of the richest oil production areas of the entire world, executives turned to Joseph Michael Logue as an ideal executive to aid in the development of the territory. In 1918 the Magnolia Petroleum Company brought Mr. Logue to El Dorado to assume the superintendency of production for the organization.

Mr. Logue was looked upon as combining the two-fold advantages of energetic youth and seasoned experience. Although he was but thirty-five years old at the time of his appointment to the Magnolia production superintendency, he brought to the position a full quarter century of acquaintanceship, dating from his childhood, with the industry. He had seen its development from the raw pioneering days in Pennsylvania, and had at the same time been young and intelligent enough to keep pace with its gigantic and swift development.

Mr. Logue was intensely interested in all aspects of his work, and lived in a comfortable house on one of the Magnolia leases near El Dorado in order to be nearer the center of activity. However, he did not allow his enthusiasm for the oil industry to warp him or deaden his ability to play. He had a host of friends in El Dorado, and was a devoted husband and father. He was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church of El Dorado. His clubs and organization included the Knights of Columbus, the Red Cross, the Elks and the El Dorado Country Club. Politically he was a Democrat, though he was in politics only as an interested observer and voter. He was fond of sports, particularly baseball and golf.

Until shortly before his death Mr. Logue enjoyed rugged health and was admired for his capability to lead men, not only by telling them how to do work that called for brain and strength, but by showing them how. However, late in December, 1931, he became suddenly ill. After several days he as taken to Allen Memorial Hospital, where three blood transfusions were performed in an effort to help him rally. He showed improvement at first, then relapsed and died on January 16, 1932. At his funeral were numbers of friends from all walks of life, who mourned him with deep sincerity.

The following editorial tribute, by R. A. Clymer, appeared in the El Dorado Times on January 18, 1932:

“The oil fields breed men of courage, initiative, resourcefulness and ability. If they lack any of these qualities, they quickly fall by the wayside. For the Darwinian theory of the survival of the fittest is nowhere so adequately proved as among those fearless souls who go out among the oil rigs to battle with nature for her treasures. Above the portals of the oil country might well be written in letter of fire, ‘Weaklings need not apply here.’ And so the men who endure in this ceaseless and yet glamorous struggle are strong men, wise men, practical men, true men.

“Such a man was Joseph M. Logue, Magnolia superintendent, whose sudden death Saturday brought sorrow to scores of hearts here, there and everywhere where the thudding bit is heard. He was built on generous lines—and a great and kindly soul was fit companion for a brawny body. There was always an air of serenity about him, whether he stood with a friend in casual converse on the street or with the roar of oil field machinery close by. For the philosophy of the oil fields was his, that man cannot win every time against a cunning and resourceful foe, but that man is master. He was sure of himself. The weight of responsibility sat easily upon his broad shoulders. He picked his aides after careful and silent appraisal, and then he gave them his confidence fully and unreservedly. He was soft-spoken, he was kind and the rarest of friends. Wherever one found Joe Logue, he was ever calm, ever pleasant and never distraught or full of fears.

“For fourteen years, Joe Logue had lived in this community. His influence and example were consistently helpful. In his life and character, he represented the best that the great oil industry produces in leadership. His friendship was a golden chalice—and the tears that flow frankly and unashamedly today down grizzled cheeks are for the loss of something ineffably precious. But way off behind scudding clouds in the empyream vault are Elysian fields. Poets have sung of their rare beauty and desirability, but they may well be oil fields. And there—we know beyond question of finite doubt—there is Joe Logue, moving serenely and happily in a richer environment, ever spreading the inexhaustible kindness of his manly soul and always true to his trust, whatever that may be.”