USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, with illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 73
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MARBLE WORKS.
J. Harward, monumental marble cutter, Walnut street south of Main; established about twelve years and doing a good business.
SODA WATER FACTORY.
J. Redmond, proprietor; situated at the southwest corner of Cobb's run and Division street. Mannfac- tures and bottles soda and sarsaparilla waters.
THE GAS WORKS
are the property of J. D. Patton, and consist of a small brick building on the east bank of the river, and on the south side of Mott street, with the necessary retorts and purifiers, and with a gasometer outside. The gas .is made from naptha from passing the latter through red- hot retorts, and is claimed to be a fixed gas and not a condensable vapor. It is entirely satisfactory to con- sumers, but only thirty-six meters are in use. Eleven street lamps are supplied. The works were put in oper- ation in 1880.
LUMBER DEALERS.
Z. Stout, whose yard and office are situated on the south side of the Illinois Central railroad, to the west of the depot, is the oldest lumber dealer in the city. He established his yard in 1859; was for several years in partnership with William Stout, and, since the death of the latter, has conducted the business alone. He esti- mates his sales for the past year at twenty-five to thirty thousand dollars, and the amount of lumber sold at one and one-half million feet.
H. P. Benton's yard is situated at the southeast corner of Chatham and Mott streets, and reported sales of one million feet of lumber besides shingles, lath, sash, pick- ets, etc .; the figures in this case being taken from care- fully kept books.
LUMBER, COAL, AND WOOD.
E. Zinn, whose lumber-yard is southeast of the Illinois Central depot, reports sales of about six hundred thou- sand feet of lumber, six hundred tons of Anthracite coal and two hundred and fifty tons of soft coal. Mi. Zinn is also a builder, and is engaged in building a new bridge across the Wapsipinicon at the foot of North street.
Kellogg & Holloway, lumber, coal, and wood dealers, have their yard and offices at the northeast corner of Main street and the B. C. R. & N. railroad. They report sales of six hundred and seventy-two tons of Anthracite coal, at ten dollars to eleven dollars and fifty cents; two hundred and fifty tons of soft coal, at about six dollars; nine hundred cords of wood, at six dollars and twenty-five cents; about six hundred and fifty thousand feet of lum- ber, and several car-loads of lime.
J. J. Travis, wood dealer, buys and sells large quanti- ties of wood obtained from the northern part of the State.
GRAIN AND LIVE STOCK DEALERS.
In the business which comes under the above heading there has occurred a remarkable change within the past
decade. Previous to 1876 the handling of wheat em- ployed a great number of men, and was the most impor- tant produce business of the county. But the continued failure of the wheat crop and the greatly increased de- mand for Iowa creamary butter compelled farmers to make a change (which for their best interests they should have made years before) and turn their attention to dairying and the raising of hogs and cattle. In conse- quence, however, of the great increase in the acreage of corn, in place of the former wheat fields, more corn is raised than can be fed, and there is a large trade in corn for export. Below we give a list of the principal dealers in grain and hogs.
Thomas Scarcliff has a warehouse at the Illinois Cen- tral railroad, east of the depot, and owns the elevator west of the latter. He started business in January, 1860, and shipped the second car load of wheat from this point. He shipped, in partnership with Mr. T. Blamer, during 18So, sixty cars of flax seed, amounting to about twenty- four thousand bushels. He has shipped since Septem- ber, 1880, one hundred and ten car loads of oats and corn, about thirty thousand bushels of each, and bought about sixty thousand bushels of each.
W. P. Brown is another who has been long in the trade. Office at Zinn's lumber yard. He reports the purchase during ISSo of seventy-five thousand bushels of oats, ten thousand bushels of wheat, five thousand bushels corn, fifteen hundred bushels of flax seed, one thousand bushels of timothy seed, and ten thousand live hogs. Only three car loads comprised all the wheat of the crop of 1880.
Thomas Blamer buys and ships flaxseed and other grain. Warehouse west of Scarcliff's elevator.
Kemmerer & Lamb, grain buyers; warehouse at Bur- lington depot, office at Bisbee's store. They purchased between August, ISSo, and January 1, 1881, thirteen hundred and thirty bushels of wheat, forty thousand three hundred and ninety-five bushels of oats, five thousand and forty bushels of flaxseed, forty thousand five hun- dred and seventy-three bushels of corn, one hundred and sixteen bushels of barley, three hundred and forty-two bushels of timothy seed. They are also agents for the sale of agricultural implements and seeds.
BANKS.
The First National bank was chartered in 1865, with a capital of fifty thousand dollars, which was increased in 1870 to one hundred thousand dollars. Removed to its present location, at the southwest corner of Main and Walnut streets, in the autumn of 1873. The building is the property of the bank, and was built in connection with the adjoining building, owned by Mr. Purdy, and was the first to have windows of plate glass. Deposits average two hundred and thirty thousand dollars. Pres- ident, Richard Campbell; cashier, H. P. Brown.
The People's National bank-E. Ross, president; J. F. Coy, cashier -situated on the northwest corner of Main and Chatham streets, has a capital of seventy-five thousand dollars. It was established in October, 1874, with a capital of fifty thousand dollars, which was in- creased in 1876 to the present amount. The amount of
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.
discounts for the year 1880 was one hundred and twen- ty-five thousand dollars, and deposits about one hundred and five thousand dollars. Dividend of five per cent. declared semi-annually.
HOTEI.S.
The Empire house, on west Main street, near Division street, is one of the oldest buildings in the city. The present proprietor, Mr. Raymond, keeps a good hotel, which is, perhaps, the most popular with travellers. The hotel has rooms for eighteen guests, and is built of brick. It was built in 1873.
The Wheeler House, Main street, above Walnut, is kept by Wheeler & McKee, who succeeded in 1879 to M. Berberich. It has twenty furnished rooms.
The Central house, Chatham street, above Mott, is kept by A. Hagernan, and has thirty-five rooms. It was established in 1876.
The Chatham house, Chatham street, near the Illinois Central railroad, S. Naylor, proprietor, was established in 1865 by the present proprietor. It has been very popular with the farmers, and has been enlarged from time to time, and now has twenty-six rooms for guests.
The Globe hotel, Main street, north side, between Court and Elizabeth streets, P. McCorstin, proprietor- building of brick veneer-is two stories high, and was rebuilt in 1879. It contains rooms for thirty guests, and has twelve regular boarders.
The Burlington house, a wooden building on Main street, near the B. C. R. & N. railroad, was built after the completion of that road.
MERCANTILE HOUSES.
In the following sketch no place of business will be omitted because it is small and of no reputation, the ob- ject being to give a complete list for future reference. As affording the best means of hereafter locating any busi- ness establishment now in existence on our streets, all are described in consecutive order.
Beginning on the north side of Main street, at King's opera house (already mentioned), and proceeding west- ward, we first find Union block, a wooden building, al- ready showing signs of neglect and decay. It was built in 1858, and was then one of the most important busi- ness buildings in town, containing the post office, a jew- eller's shop, and a dry goods and grocery store. At present the only store in the building is that of Lawlor & Co., who buy rags and keep a small stock of groceries.
Next in order are Assmuss Bros., butchers, in Scar- cliff's wooden building.
Passing two beer saloons (not a difficult thing for us to do), we come to John McGarry, merchant tailor. This establishment is the continuation of a business extend- ing over nearly fifteen years in the same place. Three hands are employed.
Hugh McClernon, harness maker and saddler, second door above Walnut street. This business was established by Patrick Devlin, in February, 1859. The present owner entered into partnership with Devlin thirteen years ago, and the partnership was dissolved by the death of Mr. Devlin in November, 1877. Eight hands are
employed through the year, and the sales in 1880 were over fifteen thousand dollars, and the value of material bought over nine thousand dollars. The back part of the shop now occupied by Mr. McClernon has an inter- esting history. It formerly stood on the east side of Elizabeth street, a little to the north of what is now known as the Brewer block, and was one of the first buildings in the town. In it was printed the first news- paper in Independence, and it was also occupied by the post office. The first court held in the county is said to have been held in front of it, the judge sitting in his sleigh, in which he had come from one of the river towns. The clerk of the court, Dr. E. Brewer, came out and presented two cases. One was dismissed; and the other, a civil suit for seven dollars and fifty cents, decided for the plaintiff. The building was also used for a store. It was moved to its present position in 1855.
Woodward & Beecher's candy factory and restaurant occupies the northeast corner of Main and Walnut streets. Fine candies are made in variety, and a full stock kept on hand. Established in the spring of 1880.
Passing Walnut street and the First National bank, we find Frank P. Delaney, with groceries, provisions, and crockery, situated in Purdy's limestone building, and car- rying a good stock. Mr. Delaney succeeded, early in 1881, to E. B. Backus & Co., whose sales in 1880 were said to be about twenty thousand dollars.
Thomas Tyson, groceries and crockery, is in a small, one-story, wooden building, which, before the fire of 1874, was occupied for many years as a drug store. He moved to his present location in 1874, being then a partner in the firm of Tyson & Close. Mr. Tyson com- menced business in 1869, entered into partnership with T. Close in 1872, and dissolved partnership in 1876.
Davies & Ahearn, butchers, occupy the wooden build- ing next west, and do a good business. Established eight years.
A. H. Fonda, dealer in newspapers, periodicals, sta- tionery, confectionery, and notions, in Hageman's brick building, in front of the post office.
George Goeller, groceries and provisions, in Munson's block, last established in business in 1869, and removed to his present location in the fall of 1876. He has a considerable trade with German citizens. Mr. Goeller was in business in Independence as early as 1859, keep- ing a small shop with one Schmidt, on the present site of King's opera house; afterwards with Christopher Seeland until 1864; was in the furniture business from 1868 to 1869.
J. S. Shinners, bakery and restaurant, in Munson's block. All buildings west of this point to Chatham street were destroyed in the fire of 1873, and rebuilt.
Del. Davison, beer and wine saloon, in a one-story brick building.
A. H. Frank, bakery, confectionery, and restaurant. This is the largest establishment of the kind in town; was established in 1871, and has occupied the present location since 1875.
J. Wackerbarth, boots and shoes, succeeded in Febru- ary, 1877, to George Steinmetz, established in 1863.
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.
The sales during 1880 were about twelve thousand dollars.
Thomas Edwards, groceries, provisions, crockery, etc., No. 29 Main street, established in 1870 with Robert Riddell, and in 1871 dissolved partnership, and removed to the northeast corner of Main and Walnut streets; purchased and removed to the present stand in the spring of 1880. Sales in 1880 about twenty-five thou- sand dollars. Mr. Edwards, is in partnership with Ed- wards, McLush & Co. at Brandon.
H. Pfotzer, No. 27 Main street, harnessmaker, suc- ceeded to Louis Soener, who succeeded in 1861, to William Scott, who began the business very early. Sales about eight thousand dollars.
J. Johnston, groceries and crockery, No. 23 Main street, sold in February, 1881, to C. W. Williams & Bro.
G. R. Dewey, watchmaker, occupies the east window of No. 23 Main.
M. Reitler, Chicago cothing house, northeast corner of Main and Walnut, succeeded in 1876, to Engel & Liv- ingston, who established the business in 1873.
Macdonald Bros., No. 7 Main street, successors to Woodruff & Macdonald, groceries and crockery. Capital two thousand dollars.
A. Littlejohn & Son, boots and shoes, established November 26, 1878. Sales in 1880 about fifteen thon- sand dollars.
C. F. Strohmeier, harnessmaker, No. 3 Main street, started in 18So.
M. Ungerer, beer and wine saloon and restaurant, No. 1 Main street, next to bridge. Mr. Ungerer deserves to go on record for strictly complying with the liquor law, and keeping an orderly house.
Passing over to the west side of the river, we find stores on the north side of the street, and turning at the B. C. & N. railroad, we find, on the south side of the street a small store, kept by Mrs. Benson who keeps a general stock for the accommodation of the neighborhood.
Returning eastward, the next store is that of D. F. Bisbee, grocer, Main street, west of River street, who established in 1876. The building is one of the oldest, and is owned by Mrs. S. S. Clark. Mr. Bisbee removes in the spring to No. 9 in Phillips' block, Main street.
Orville Fonda, groceries and dry goods, southeast corner of Main and River streets, established in 1854, and has done business in the same place ever since.
Hinman & Co., butchers.
Archer E. Clarke, groceries and crockery, second door west of the bridge, in A. B. Clarke's block.
A. B. Clarke, druggist and dealer in paints, oils and cement, next river, succeeded to S. S. Allen in 1862, and has occupied the same location sinee.
Returning to the east side, we find shops in the fol- lowing order :
Mrs. O. M. Gillett, millinery and ladies' fancy goods, No. 2 Main street.
O. Marquette, furniture, upholstery and undertaking, No. 6. Main street, succeeded in 1877, to S. M. Mar- quette, who established in 1857. Stock about four thou- sand dollars.
J. Barnett & Co., dry goods, carpets, etc., No. 10 Main street, established in 1876.
Tabor & Tabor, drugs, wall paper and stationery, No. 12 Main street, succeeded in May, 1878, to Tabor & Son. Business established in 1868. Sales in 1880 about fifteen thousand dollars.
Morse & Littell, dry goods, No. 14 Main street, suc- ceeded in September, 1879, to W. H. H. Morse. Es- tablished in 1866 as Wilcox, Chesley & Morse, and con- tinuing until 1869. Four men employed.
R. R. Plane, hardware and tinsmith work, established in April, 1854. This will be seen to be one of the oldest establishments in the city. He still lives in the house he then built, the lumber for which cost eighty-five dollars per thousand. No railroad then came nearer than Warren, Illinois, and freight from Chicago on ordinary merchandise was three dollars and seventy-five cents per hundred. This was then the only hardware store west of Dubuque, and Mr. Plane used to sell hard- ware to go to Fort Dodge. Sale of hard coal heaters during the present season about forty. Stock about fifteen thousand dollars. Sales during the past year thirty-five to forty thousand dollars.
Fisher Bros., grocers, No. 18 Main street, established in 1865, and probably doing considerably the largest grocery trade in the city. Sales in 1880 upwards of thirty thousand dollars.
J. Wiley, boots and shoes, No. 20 Main street, estab- lished business in 1856, in a small way, and by doing a cash business has steadily advanced. He has occupied his present location since the spring of 1875, and keeps a good stock and a neat store.
"New York Store," Post & Sweet, dry goods, suc- ceeded in March, 1878, to Lawton & Post. Established in 1872. One of the largest establishments in the city. Four to five hands employed. Mr. Lawton, with various partners, was in business in Independence since the spring of 1864, when the firm of Lawrence, Lawton & Poucher bought the business of P. C. Wilcox, who was the first heavy merchant in the city.
C. F. Herriek, watches, jewelry and silverware, No. 24 Main street, established as Herrick & Sherwood in 1862, and continuing until 1868, and in 1870 to 1874 as Her- rick & Henshaw.
Mis. J. B. Turner, millinery, occupies the west side of C. F. Herrick's store. In business since 1868.
August Myers, dry goods and clothing, known as "City of Paris Store." Established in 1862. Employs five persons.
Kenyon & Tabor, hardware and tinware, No. 28 Main street, succeeded W. R. Kenyon in February, 1877. Mr. Kenyon succeeded King & Kenyon in 1874. The business was conducted by II. A. King from about 1860 to 1874. The firm employ six hands, and do a large business. Stock estimated at twenty-five thousand dol- lars. Sold about forty five hard coal heating stoves, one hundred tons barb wire, and eighty-four tons smooth wire within the year.
George Smale, drugs, wall paper and school books, succeeded in January, 1880, to Smale Bros., the success-
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.
ors in 1868 to George Smale, and established in July, 1866. The shop is remarkable for its neatness and con- venient arrangement.
W. H. Chamberlain, dry goods and clothing, es- tablished in 1870. Four hands employed. The store is known as "Oak Hall."
Bonniwell & Cobb, hardware, No. 34 Main street. This firm is the lineal successor of Sanford Bros., who began in 1864, changed to Sanford & Myers, and again to J. W. Myers. The latter took into partnership C. W. Taylor, and the firm was known as Myers & Taylor. Just before the fire of 1874 Mr. Myers withdrew, and Mr. Taylor took in Mr. Dickson, and afterwards sold his own interest to F. B. Bonniwell, when the firm was known as Bonniwell & Dickson. Mr. Bonniwell after- wards became sole proprietor, and in January, 1880, took in partnership 1. H. Cobb. Bonniwell & Cobb sold in 1880, twenty-eight full car loads besides frequent small shipments. Sold eighty hard coal heaters, and employ six hands.
It is believed that no town in the State can show three such large retail stocks of hardware as these three here- in mentioned. While it is difficult to make exact com- parisons, it may be said that Plane has held ground the longest; Kenyon & Tabor probably do a little the heaviest traoe, and Bonniwell & Cobb keep the best ar- ranged store.
Williams & Son, No. 36 Main street, groceries and crockery, established in 1869.
S. Waggoner & Co., No. 38 Main street, books, stationery, wall paper and fancy goods. Established in 1860, by J. N. Waggoner, and succeeded by Samuel Waggoner in 1862.
Charles Putney, clocks, watches and jewelry in Wag- goner's bookstore.
R. O'Brien, No. 40 Main street, general merchandise, has a large trade among the Irish people. Established by O'Brien Bros. in 1864. Known as O'Brien & Stone from 1865 to 1874.
C. R. Wallace, No. 42 Main street, drugs, paints and oils. Reestablished in 1872. Was previously in the same business from 1861 to 1868 in the room now oc- cupied by T. Tyson.
H. S. Kellogg, watches and jewelry, with C. R. Wal- lace.
W. H. Stewart & Co., dry goods and millinery, first and second floors of No. 44 Main street. Established 1879. Till & Roads, boots and shoes. Established 1875.
Nathan Sampter, clothing, northwest corner of Main and Walnut streets.
Webster & Tabor, 54 Main street, groceries and pro- visions; one of the old establishments. Started origi- nally by Coy & Hammond, succeeded by Coy & Web- ster, and conducted by Alexander Webster for several years, assisted by his son, the present senior member of the firm.
J. Bettle, No. 56, groceries and provisions.
Ransom Bartle, "The Wigwam," agricultural imple- ments and insurance; established about 1864 ; building covers two lots.
ESTABLISHMENTS ON CHATHAM STREET-EAST SIDE.
Phillips & Gates, butchers, occupy a small brick build- ing, south of Benton's lumber-yard.
WEST SIDE.
C. lekel, first door north of People's bank, boots and shoes; also agency for Singer's sewing machines. Has been in the business here over twenty years.
R. Jacobs, stoves, hardware and tinware. Has sold about thirty-five hard coal heaters during the year. The special mention of the number of anthracite coal stoves sold in this report is owing to the fact that the use of hard coal is a new thing in this section. The stoves sell at from twenty-five to forty dollars, and are all base burners.
A. J. Barnhart, grocer, established in the fall of 1874. Runs a creamery which is described further on.
George Wilkins, restaurant.
J. L. Cross, organs, pianos, and sewing machines, and musical merchandise.
Thomas Coghlan & Sons, furniture dealers and cabi- net-makers. Keep a good stock and employ three hands constantly. Since removed to No. 25 Main street. Richard G. Swan taken into the partnership, and firm name changed to T. Coghlan & Co.
C. D. Jones, corner Chatham and Mott, insurance and real estate agent ; represents over twenty-six companies.
Manning & Conable, agricultural implements, C. D. Jones' building, northwest corner of Chatham and Mott streets. They are well established and have a large trade.
W. H. Joslin, "of Joslinville," Grocer, Chatham street. one block south of the Chatham house; keeps a small store for the accommodation of the neighborhood, being about half a mile north of the main business part of the town.
LIVERY STABLES.
Thomas Sherwood, northwest corner Walnut and Church street. Established in the spring of 1865. The stable is of brick and has stalls for sixteen horses. Eight horses kept to hire and four boarded.
A. H. Trask, Walnut street, west side, between Main and Mott. Has stalls for twenty-four horses and loft for thirty tons of hay; keeps twelve horses to let. Mr. Trask drove a stage from Quasqueton and Independence to Dubuque weekly, carrying the mail, from June, 18.47, to May, 1850. At that time there was only one house on the site of Independence and that was in the middle of Mott street, a double log cabin, and was used as the tavern. Mr. Trask went to California in 1850, and returned in 1854, and built his stable the next spring.
Thomas Curtis, livery, sale and feed stable, south side of Main street, east of Elizabeth. Present location oc- cupied since the fire of 1874. In business on Walnut street since 1856. Keeps from twenty-five to fifty horses. Makes a specialty of buying horses for the eastern market, and ships about two hundred annu- ally.
Jesse Hitchings, feed stable, east bank of river, north of Mott street, stalls for thirty-five pairs of horses.
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HISTORY OF BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA.
Morgan's stables, opposite (east) of Hitching's stable, of brick veneer, with thirty stalls.
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Raymond & Hunt, livery and sale stables. About ten horses kept to hire and several boarded regularly.
John Klotzbach's livery and feed stables ; eight horses at livery; twenty-four single and fourteen double stalls. Situated near the east bank of the river, north of Mott street.
R. W. FRYER'S. TRAINING SCHOOL FOR ANIMALS.
This institution, which well deserves a notice in the present exhibit of the business of Independence, is situated on South street, one block east of the public school. It consists of a large wooden building, con- taining a stable for the animals and an amphitheater for practice. The animals trained are horses, ponies, goats and dogs-some fifteen in all. Mr. Fryer is a very suc- cessful animal trainer; and many of the feats of intelli- gence and agility which his animals are taught to per- form are original, ingenious, instructive and intensely amusing. He has been in the business a good many years, but this particular school was established about four years ago. He trains his animals during the winter, and exhibits them during the summer and fall. The coming season he travels in connection with Coup's celebrated combination show-getting, for himself and animals, two hundred and fifty dollars a week, and found. We think his enterprise would be a splendid success "on its own hook."
THE BUTTER TRADE.
Dairy products have become a most important article of export, and the trade in butter has assumed large pro- portions.
Hunter & Forrester, butter buyers, have their establish- ment under Phillips' new block, west of the People's National bank. They report that they have paid out one hundred and sixteen thousand dollars for butter within the year, at an average of seventeen and a half cents per pound, the price sometimes running over thirty cents.
A. H. Van Dusen, under People's National bank, also buys largely of butter and eggs.
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