USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, from the earliest historic times to 1907, Vol. I > Part 13
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The business during the year of 1906 reached $200,000, and that of 1907, counting contraets already made will reach $250,000 or over.
Among the buildings erected since starting are the residence of E. E. Hart. the Goodrich hotel, the Jennie Edmundson hospital.
The establishment occupies 400 feet front on Pierce street.
OLD COTTONWOOD JAIL, COUNCIL BLUFFS.
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
E. CHILDREN'S SONS MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
Among the numerous industries operating in the city is one of E. Chil- dren's Sons Manufacturing Company. The business was started here in 1892 by E. Children and his two sons, who came here from Wisconsin and engaged in the manufacture of agricultural implements, and the business was conducted successfully for eight years under that management until the death of the father, which occurred June 13, 1900, having been constantly increasing and extending its business. After the death of the senior part- ner it was incorporated with F. R. Children as president; W. C. Children, treasurer, and E. G. Anderson, secretary, with a capital of $110,000. The principal articles manufactured at this time are cultivators, grain drills, sweep rakes, hay stackers, feed mills, elevators and dumps and horse powers. The location of the establishment is well suited to their business, leaving ample room for present or future needs, with trackage to facilitate ship- ping.
The main building is 200x50 feet and two stories in height. The foundry occupies a separate room of one story, being 100x50 feet, while the finishing and sales departments each have separate rooms 100x50 feet, of one story, while the power house is 50x50 feet and entirely disconnected with the other buildings.
All are of brick and great care is taken to keep the several departments separate as a protection against fire.
Nearby is a large lumber yard stocked with hardwood sawed at the mills to the dimensions required for the several different articles of their manu- facture, and no part of which is permitted to be used until it has seasoned for two years. It is a hive of industry, where cighty men are employed. and their trade constantly increasing.
THE MONARCH MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
Incorporated with a capital of $50,000, the officers are: E. P. Searle, president; L. W. Kinyon, vice-president; H. A. Searle, secretary and treas- rer, and F. H. Searle, superintendent.
The plant consists of a main brick two-story building, 100x50 feet, be- sides storage rooms, all located at the corner of Sixth street and Eleventh avenue.
The business consists in the manufacture of high-grade greases and lub- ricating oils. The location is fortunate in having trackage connecting with all the railroads entering the city.
KIMBALL BROTHERS COMPANY.
The above named brothers commenced business in Council Bluffs in 1892, in a small way, in the manufacture of weighing scales, freight and passenger, hand, electric and belt-power elevators.
The plant is situated on the corner of Ninth street and Eleventh ave- nue. The business grew and in 1900 was incorporated. with C. E. Kimball
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
as president; B. MeInnerney, vice-president and manager, and W. H. Kim- ball, treasurer, with a paid-up capital of $100,000. All are practical mechan- ics and especially skilled in these specialties, so much so that they are at this time filling an order for two of their elevators to be shipped to New York city, also one to Cleveland, Ohio, and another to Pittsburg, Pa.
The way their business is increasing, they will soon require more room, their lot being but 200x130 feet. They have good shipping facilities, the Union Pacific, Rock Island and Milwaukee railroads passing their doors. On their payroll are seventy-five names.
SPRAGUE FOUNDRY AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
Among our manufacturing industries the Sprague Foundry and Manu- facturing Company should not be overlooked.
It was established in 1885 on Third street, where it conducted a small business until 1893, when it succeeded the Ogden Iron Works, and in 1902 moved to its present quarters at Eleventh street and Third avenue, and in- corporated with a paid-up capital of $25,000.
The officers are: President and treasurer, C. C. Sprague; vice-presi- dent and manager, R. M. Sprague; secretary, George S. Wright.
In addition to general foundry and machine work they have several specialties, among which are the Rose patent shaking grates, Western Un- derfeed furnaces, iron and brass castings and architectural iron work.
The business is growing and, though working forty men, they are be- hind with their orders.
The John T. Henderson Novelty Works is another industry, consisting largely in the manufacture of toys. Mr. Henderson is quite an inventor, making his own machinery, and has secured several valuable patents.
THE WALKER MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
This establishment located in the city in 1902, coming from Rock Island, Ill., and occupying the building on the southeast corner of Twelfth street and Ninth avenue. is engaged in the manufacture of farm machinery, consisting of furrow openers, disk sharpeners, wind mill regulators. stock waterers, hay bunchers, sweeps and stackers, woven wire fence, washing machines and other specialties. The main factory is 50x100 feet, with wing 50x50 feet, for foundry and powerhouse. At present time thirty men aro employed besides a traveling salesman. The location afford- ample facilities for shipping.
Peter Wind, contractor and builder, has a mill for planing, scroll and band sawing, all kinds of mouldings, turning and, in fact, doing all kinds of mill work required in the line of building; also has kiln for drying lum- ber. Has been one of the leading contractors for a quarter of a century. At this time has sixty men in his employ. Capital invested, $25.000.
The plant is located on the southwest corner of West Broadway and Thirteenth street.
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IHISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
KEYS BROTHERS, MANUFACTURERS.
A prominent building in the western part of the city is the factory of Keys Brothers, for the manufacturing of carriages, surreys, buggies, spring wagons, etc. They came in the winter of 'S8, and, after looking the ground over, considering the facilities for distribution of finished work, concluded to locate here, and the following spring purchased the ground and erected their main building, which is 160x60 feet, and four stories high. They at the same time secured ample ground for any enlargement that might be required. They were from Ohio and, in addition to their plant here, are largely interested in an establishment for doing the mill work required by modern usage. So far the enterprise has proved a success, as the demand for their work has increased each year. They have just added a wing to the main building, 58x52 feet, of three stories. These, with the houses and sheds for storing the materials, occupy two acres, and their shipping facili- ties are of the best.
The concern is incorporated with a paid-up capital of $100,000, with an average payroll of one hundred men.
On the 3d of September the above establishment was nearly destroyed by fire, but at this writing, October 24, is being rebuilt larger than before.
THE KRITCHMER MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
This company was incorporated in 1900 with a paid-up capital of $30,- 000.
The officers being: E. Kritchmer, president and treasurer; J. C. Kritcli- mer, vice-president, and George E. Smith, secretary.
The senior member of the company had been for years engaged in the manufacture of all kinds of bee-keepers' supplies in a small way on his farm in Montgomery county, where he had made a study of the habits of the bee, and the best methods of profiting by its industry.
So successful were his efforts, that his growing business required larger facilities, both for manufacturing and shipping, and. after looking over several localities, he decided on its present location on Third street, near the Wabash freight depot, where it secured abundant room for buildings, lum- ber yard, etc., also trackage for bringing the raw material and shipping the finished product.
Since coming here it has added the manufacture of steel and wooden tanks. The main building is two stories, 100x90 feet, with the most ap- proved machinery for making the bee supplies, while a smaller one, 25x60, is used in the tank work exclusively, both being hives of industry.
It is encouraging to learn that the bee supply work has proved so satis- factory that its sale is not confined to the home market, but that orders are already received and shipments made to foreign countries.
Thirty-five men are on the present payroll.
The Alfalfa Meal Company was incorporated in 1904 and is quite an
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extensive concern. President, M. M. Breen; secretary and treasurer, J. T. Brooks. Capital, $80,000.
The plant is on the northeast corner of Twelfth street and Ninth ave- nue. The main building is 100x100 feet of three stories, with storcrooms adjoining, 100x90 feet, part of which is one and part two stories. The business is the manufacturing and sale of stock food. It employs on an average twenty-five men and finds ready sale for its products.
THE GROWERS' CANNING COMPANY.
The Growers' Canning Company is a corporation formed in 1905. Its officers are: Wm. Arnd, president; A. P. Hanchett, vice-president; J. J. Hess, secretary, and E. E. Hart, treasurer, with a paid-up capital of $25,- 000.
The purpose is the production of high-grade canned fruits and vege- tables.
The plant is situated on the corner of Third street and Twelfth ave- nue and consists of a main building of two stories, 100x50 feet, besides stor- age rooms and platforms with all of the most approved modern appliances for prosecuting the work. During the active season it employs seventy-five people, and has a capacity for producing 65,000 cans per day.
BLOOMER ICE AND COLD STORAGE COMPANY.
In 1893 R. H. Bloomer commenced the manufacture of wire and flat fenee, in a small way, employing a dozen men, and after getting fairly started, had the misfortune to be burned out, but rebuilt on the same ground, to which was added the manufacture of woven wire fence to the business, and was incorporated. enlarged and employed forty workmen. besides fifteen traveling salesmen.
In the spring of 1907 it was reincorporated as the Bloomer Ice and Cold Storage Company, with R. H. Bloomer, president; E. C. Smith, vice-presi- dent; Thomas Green, secretary, and Dr. A. P. Hanchett, treasurer, with a capital stock of $125,000, and adding the manufacture of artificial ice and operating a cold storage plant.
In establishing this the company has just erected a six-story brick building, 100x86 feet, that has a capacity of 200 cars and requiring thirty tons of ice per day in maintaining a temperature from freezing point to 15 degrees below zero. Although this has but just started, it requires a force of thirty men, with every prospect of enlargement, and for which the com- pany has abundant ground space and trackage.
THE JOHN G. WOODWARD COMPANY.
The above establishment is successor to the firm of Duquett & Co. and commeneed business in its present quarters in 1895, in the manufacture of a general line of candies, with a capital of $50,000. The building in which the business was started was the three-story brick, known as the Mynster
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building on West Broadway. The increase of business required additional room, and in 1899 a building 66x80 feet and four stories was added, also a fourth story was added to the original structure, besides packing, shipping and storage rooms, sheds and platforms, so that the entire plant at the pres- ent writing is 165x100 fcet.
In addition to the candy business, in sinking an artesian well at the depth of 800 feet, an abundant supply of water was struck, possessing medi- cinal properties, the bottling and sale of which has become a large addition to their already extensive business. It also affords fire protection by having an immense tank high above the roof constantly filled, from which the entire plant can be instantly flooded in case of fire. From two to three hun- dred persons are constantly employed in the works, many of whom are girls and boys, besides a dozen to fifteen salesmen are kept on the road. The goods find sale from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
THE M. E. SMITH SHIRT FACTORY.
This is a hive of industry, in which seventy-five women are engaged. It Is no "sweatshop," being roomy with the best of light and ventilation, sit- uated at the southeast corner of Main and Fifteenth avenue. The sewing machines are driven by electricity, and the output being from sixty to sev- enty dozen per day. The entire force, including the superintendent, is com- posed of women.
The Standard Manufacturing Company was incorporated in November, 1904, with G. G. Wooden, president and treasurer, and J. F. Hughes, vice- president and secretary, with a paid-up capital of $25,000.
The business is the manufacture of wagon boxes and shovel boards. The company secured ample ground, being half of the block on West Broad- way, running through to First avenue, affording the most convenient ship- ping facilities. Their main building is 150x160 feet, with another 130x40 feet for painting and storage. The lumber used is southern yellow pine, of which a large quantity is kept on hand in their yard. It requires a force of thirty men to enable the company to keep up with their orders.
COUNCIL BLUFFS BRICK COMPANY.
Brick probably enters more largely into the construction of a city than any one commodity.
The Council Bluffs Brick Company was incorporated March 10, 1907, with a paid-up capital of $10,000. President and general manager, E. A. Wickham; secretary, William Arnd; treasurer, Ernest Hart.
The plant is located at the foot of the bluff in the northern part of city, the great bluff furnishing an inexhaustible quantity of the raw material, and the yard is equipped with all the most approved facilities for prosecuting the work, which includes all varieties of common and pressed brick.
The product this year, 1907, will reach 3,000,000.
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
Wickham Brothers are located under the same great bluff, where they have been engaged in the manufacture of the same quality of brick from the time that the memory of man runneth not to the contrary. Most of these are used by them in works, for which they are the contractors.
Their output will average 50,000 per day during the working season.
A. METZGER & CO., WHOLESALE BAKERY.
The above manufactory was established in June, 1906. The plant con- sists of a two-story and basement building of pressed brick, 100x90 feet, with all the most modern facilities for producing bread and cake of all varieties, also ice cream. This establishment is located on Mynster street, and the daily output runs from 4,000 to 5,000 loaves of bread, with a corresponding amount of cake and ice cream.
In connection with this is a retail store and restaurant at 523 and 525 West Broadway. Twenty-two employes are now on the payroll and the business growing.
Nearby is about the latest manufacturing establishment in the city, viz., The Oreutt Manufacturing Company. Incorporated June 1, 1907, with D. M. Orcutt, president and treasurer; G. E. Fisher, vice-president, and W. E. Orcutt, secretary, with a paid-up capital of $15,000.
The principal business is the manufacture of weighing scales of all kinds, including the pitless wagon scale.
Although so recently established here, their business requires the active service of twelve skillful machinists.
THE NEW SPECIALTY MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
Incorporated with F. J. Duerr, president and manager; A. C. Walker, vice-president ; C. E. Woodbury, treasurer, and John Gretzer, secretary.
The business of this establishment embraces the manufacture of gaso- line lamps and lighting appliances, gasoline engine and automobile repair- ing, general machine work, steel frame pitless wagon and stock scales; also make castings in gray iron, brass, copper, bronze and aluminum, and do nickel and copper plating. Location, No. 43 to 47 North Main street, Coun- cil Bluffs.
Nearby in the same line of industry is the Incandescent Light Manu- facturing establishment of James Darby, who, with six men, are endeavor- ing to keep up with their orders.
The Johnson MeLean Company is engaged in all kinds of mill work required in the building trade, kiln drying, planing. sawing and working mouldings, also manufacturer of doors and saslı. This firm takes no build- ing contracts, but does mill work for such contractors as are without these facilities.
Is incorporated with a capital of $20,000, and employ; from thirty to forty men.
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
THE A. C. KELLER COLLAR COMPANY.
This is situated on the southeast corner of Thirty-second street and Avenue A in Council Bluffs and makes a specialty of horse collars. The proprietors came here and started their business in a modest way, and, by industry and close attention to business, it has grown until they now employ from ten to fifteen men, and have introduced machinery and enlarged their factory, be- sides erecting a separate building for storing the raw material.
BOX AND BASKET FACTORY.
Another small industry, made necessary by the large amount of fruit being raised in the surrounding country, is the Council Bluffs Box and Bas- ket factory. This is situated on Twenty-first street, opposite Cochran's park. The building is 110x60 feet, two stories. This is one article for which we have the raw material in abundance, as the cottonwood along the Missouri is the best wood of which to make the berry, grape and other fruit boxes and baskets, and the work is adapted to men, women and boys.
The proprietors, J. M. and F. P. Liggett, last season made and sold to the amount of $36,300.
ELEVATORS.
The Cavers-VanDorn Elevator Company is situated at First avenue and Thirtieth street, with capacity of 50,000 bushels, can handle 30,000 per day ; has trackage to all the roads.
The Peavy Elevator at U. P. transfer has capacity of 1,500,000 bushels, can handle 150 cars per day ; trackage to all roads.
The Trans-Mississippi at U. P. transfer has capacity of 500,000 bush- els ; can handle one hundred cars per day.
The Droge Brothers' Elevator has 'capacity of 50,000 bushels; can empty a car in fifteen minutes.
The Shugart and Owen Elevator Company was incorporated in 1905; engaged in seed business. Elevator is situated on Sixth street and Tenth avenue. Capacity 20,000 bushels.
Sales during 1906 amounted to $50,000.
A. Peterson's feed mill on Third street, 60x30 feet, two stories, driven by gasoline engine, has capacity for 1,000 bushels in twenty-four hours. Capi- tal of $10,000, and employs five men.
COUNCIL BLUFFS BEDDING COMPANY.
This is one of the infant industries recently established. It is incor- porated with a capital of $5.000. At the present time the business is lim- ited to the manufacture of mattresses, for which it is equipped with the
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
most modern machinery. At this writing five persons are employed. The factory being No. 34 Fourth street.
O. B. Anderson, manager.
The Council Bluffs Granite & Marble Works, southwest corner of East Broadway and Grace streets.
Sheeley & Lane, proprietors, successors to HI. J. Gibson in fall of 1892. Have capital invested to amount of $10,000. Employ five men in works beside one salesman on the road.
Among the manufacturers in a small way are those of A. Rasmusson's wagon and carriage manufactory on Upper Broadway, employing six men. and also that of Schultz & Hill on the southeast corner of Fourth street and Fifth avenue. These men employ six men, besides being practical workers themselves.
THE WATERLOO CREAMERY COMPANY.
This institution was incorporated in 1900 and reincorporated in 1904 with a capital of $12,000. President, Leroy Corless; secretary, Corless Hop- per; treasurer, Bert Corless.
The business being the manufacture of butter and ice cream. It also is wholesale and retail dealers in milk and cream.
The plant consists of a three-story brick with all necessary appliances for conducting its business at 21 South Eighth street, and business is rapidly increasing.
Kindred establishments are those of I. Mucci at 218 West Broadway, manufacturer of ice cream, also keeps constantly on hand fresh milk and cream in quantity to suit purchasers.
Also that of O. O. Brown at 546 West Broadway, confectioner and man- ufacturer of ice cream.
COUNCIL BLUFFS CARPET CLEANING COMPANY.
This institution is located at 28-30-32-34 North Main street; was started in 1902 in the old Bluff City Laundry building; engaged in the business of cleaning carpets by power machinery.
In 1903 looms were added for the purpose of weaving fluff rugs from old worn-out carpets. It became incorporated in September, 1903, with C. A. Beno, president; T. A. Bush, secretary and manager; Adolph Beno, treas- urer; J. D. Evans, L. R. Hypes and W. F. Hypes, directors.
In 1906 the business was extended to include general cleaning and dycing of garments, household goods, lace curtains, draperies, etc.
The growth of the business requiring more space a modern two-story brick building has been erected adjoining the original plant, and both build- ings occupied.
The business requires from eighteen to twenty hands.
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
INDEPENDENT TELEPHONE COMPANY OF COUNCIL BLUFFS.
The above company was incorporated in 1905 with F. J. Day as presi- dent; vice-president, E. II. Merriam; secretary, C. A. Beno; treasurer, T. G. Turner.
Work was commenced immediately. The present site was purchased and Exchange building commenced and rushed rapidly to completion. While lines were being extended most approved apparatus installed so that the company was ready for business and opened on June 1, 1906. Since which time the business has rapidly grown until on October 1, 1907, their subscribers numbered 3,200.
Besides the industries named, we submit the following as directory showing the principal lines of business conducted at this writing in the city of Council Bluffs:
Abstract Offices 3
Laundries Б
Architects 3 Lawyers 40
Awnings and Tents 1
Liquor Stores (wholesale) 5
Automobile Repairing
2
Lumber Yards 4
Banks 5
Livery Stables 10
Bakeries 10
Meat Markets (exclusively) 13
Book Stores
2
Music Stores 4
Brick Yards 3
Millinery and Dressmaking 4
Building Contractors 12
Novelty Stores 2
Clothing Stores 5
16
Physicians and Surgeons 32
Dry Goods Stores
4
Photograph Galleries 5
Department Stores
3
Plumbing Establishments 5
Printing Offices 5
Dye Works
3
Paint and Papering 5
Dentists 10
Real Estate and Insurance 31
Electric Supplies 2
Restaurants
Engineers (civil)
4
Saloons 60
Furniture Stores 5
Shoe Stores
6
Feed Stores 10
Seed Stores 3
Galvanized Iron 2
Sewing Machine Stores 3
Groceries (wholesale)
1
Tailoring Establishments 6
Groceries (retail) 62
Hardware (wholesale) 1
Transfer Companies 7
Hardware (retail) 6
Hospitals 4
Hotels
18
Undertaking 2
Implement Houses 16
Veterinary Surgeons 4
Jewelry Stores 4
Wind Mill Establishment 1
Oil (kerosene) 1
Coal and Wood Yards
Drug Stores
20
12
Tea and Coffee Stores 3
Theaters 3
Upholstering 2
During October one of our citizens of the Hebrew persuasion passed away in the person of Mr. G. H. Mosler. He was an active member with Simon Eis-
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HISTORY OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY
man, Benjamin Newman and others of the first Hebrew society of Council Bluffs.
Our community was surprised on the 29th of October by the determination of our bankers to partially suspend, but allowing depositors to draw small amounts from time to time. This was brought about by the action of the New York bankers elosing as a protection against runs and as New York went it seemed necessary for all others to follow, and so far our citizens acquiesce in the arrangement.
Having given the early history of the early settlement, and the agricul- tural, manufacturing and commercial affairs, we will proceed to notice the religious, fraternal, sanitary, patriotic and benevolent institutions, commencing with the churches.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
The Catholic missionaries seem to have been the first of the religious sects to penetrate the wilderness of which this county once formed a part. The first to identify himself with the Pottawattamies seems to have been Father J. Smet, and we take the liberty of taking a few extracts from his writings after his arrival here.
"Council Bluffs, September, 1838.
"For the last four months the result of our exertions has been truly encouraging. A considerable number of savages manifest a desire to be instructed.
"We have opened a school, but on account of the limited size of our hut, we can receive only thirty children. The church in which divine service was celebrated, is perhaps the poorest in the world.
"We have already admitted one hundred and eighteen, of which number I had the consolation to baptize one hundred and five," and again, "I afterwards gave an instruction on the necessity and the ceremonies of baptism, and conferred that sacrament on twenty adults, among whom was the wife of the chief. After mass I blessed four marriages." The letter from which these few lines were extracted was addressed to Right Rev. Mathias Loras, Bishop of Dubuque.
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