USA > Illinois > Ogle County > Mount Morris > Mount Morris: past and present, an illustrated history of the township and the village of Mount Morris, Ogle County, Illinois, in their various stages of development, together with a local biographical directory > Part 21
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MOUNT MORRIS: PAST AND PRESENT.
fession and does nothing but first-class work.
CONTRACTORS AND BUILDERS. -The contracting and building business in Mount Morris is represented by two firms, Bu- ser & Mumma, Kinsey & Tracy. The firm of Buser & Mumma, is composed of Nathaniel E. Buser and Willis S. Mumma. Mr. Bu- ser, the senior member, com- menced his career as a carpen- ter under Henry Middlekauff in 1868. After an apprenticeship of three years he launched into the building business alone. He first began making plans and specifications in 1876. One of his first contracts was for the present residence of Hon. R. R. Hitt, which has, however, un- dergone a number of alterations and improvements in later
NATHANIEL E. BUSER.
J. F. CANODE, DENTIST.
years. At various times Mr. Buser entered in partnerships with other contractors, but worked alone most of the time. George H. Riner was at one time his partner. Mr. Buser has built all of the large build- ings in Mount Morris in late years, with few exceptions, and most of the finest residences. Among the large buildings which he has erected are the Lutheran church, the College Hall, the Ladies' Dormitory, the Old Folks' Home, Hotel Rohrer, Seibert block and Sharer's building. Among the scores of fine residences which he has erected in Mount Morris are those of J. L. Rice, Wm. B. Shank, Maj. Chas. Newcomer and Harry Cushing, half-tones of which are shown in the last
LUMBER COAL
AARON ĐẦU MAN
MIDWAY LUMBER YARDS AND OFFICES OF BUSER & MUMMA AND BAKER & COFFMAN.
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MOUNT MORRIS OF TODAY.
chapter in this book. Mr. Bu- ser has also built extensively in neighboring towns. Among the buildings which might be men- tioned is the Catholic church at Oregon; a $20,000 poorhouse at Mount Carroll; two churches in Leaf River; one church in Ade- line; numerous country church- es and schoolhouses in different parts of this and neighboring counties; and two bankers' resi- dences at Manson, Iowa. He also superintended the con- struction of a $20,000 building for the Brethren Publishing House at Elgin. He is now the only licensed architect in Ogle county. Mr. Mumma, the jun- ior member of the firm, first commenced an apprenticeship under Mr. Buser, and after only a few years' work acquired a thorough knowledge of the bus- WILLIS S. MUMMA. iness, and in 1898 Mr. Buser took him in as partner, since which time they have worked together with much success. Mr. Mumma not only superintends the construction of buildings but assists with the work of making plans and specifications. The season of 1900, although a dull season with builders, has brought them an abundance of work. They have erected buildings the aggregate value of which exceeds $25,000, which includes three residences in Elgin. Buser & Mumma occupy offices in the building on Wesley street, erected by Mr. Buser in 1894. The main part of this building was constructed from the old Webb Hotel and the remainder of the lumber used in its con- struction and also in the building to the west used as a carpenter shop and lumber warehouse, was formerly used in the construction of the Cali- fornia building at the World's Fair. Kinsey & Tracy, the other firm spok- en of, consists of Samuel C. Kinsey and Benjamin F. Tracy. John T. Stewart was formerly a member of the firm but has now retired. The re- maining members have worked together about fifteen years. They have erected many substantial residences including those of Emanuel Slifer, A. L. Clair, Price Stouffer, William Watts and others.
MUSIC COMPOSERS AND ENGRAVERS .- Prof. D. S. McCosh, who is en- gaged in this work, has been spoken of at length in the biographical di- rectory. He has a cosy office over the rear of McCosh's Pharmacy and is equipped with all the tools and appliances necessary in the profession. F. F. Knodle has lately acquired a set of engraver's tools and is also now
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MOUNT MORRIS: PAST AND PRESENT.
engraving some music plates, besides pursuing his former werk cf com- posing violin and orchestra music and instructing violin pupils.
LAUNDRY .- Previous to January, 1899, the people of Mount Morris were compelled to send their laundry to the surrounding towns to be washed, until on the above date, when Mr. Samuel M. Lyon started a hand laundry here. Mr. Lyon had considerable experience in the busi- ness, having formerly conducted the Cascade Steam Laundry at Free- port, and traveled extensively for the Troy Laundry Machine Company of Chicago. He conducted the business with success until Sept., 1900, when he sold out to Guy Smith and Walter McNett, two energetic Mount Morris boys, who are doing their work in a manner satisfactory to all. The presence of the college in Mount Morris makes the investment a pay- ing one. They are equipped with all late-improved machinery, including an ironer, starcher, generator, etc.
BLACKSMITHS .- Mount Morris has four blacksmiths .- A. C. Looka- baugh, A. W. Neff, N. T. Koontz and J. H. Lambing. Mr. A. C. Looka- baugh first began this business here about ten years ago, at which time he purchased equipment of Hiram Rowe. He first started to learn the trade at the age of nineteen, at Franklin county, Pa. Prior to coming to Mount Morris he operated a shop at Adeline thirteen years. Mr. Looka- baugh is a thorough mechanic, and enjoys a liberal patronage. He is at present assisted in the work by George C. Bain, an expert horse-shoer, and James McCoy, wood-worker. In 1899, Mr. Lookabaugh put in a stock of buggies, wagons and farm machinery. A. W. Neff, another knight of the anvil, learned the trade in his father's shop in Mount Morris. He then secured a position in Dixon, Ill., where he worked four years, and later spent five years at Plymouth, Kans. Finally, in 1873, he returned to Mount Morris, and after working two years for a Mr. Depew, set up in business in 1875 for himself and has worked regularly here, with the ex- ception of five years spent in Iowa. Mr. Neff is a good workman and has his shop located in a building built for the purpose below the Thompson building. N. T. Koontz has been in the blacksmith business in Mount Morris continuously since 1864. He came here from Bruceville, Md., at that time. He learned the trade at a very early age. He was assisted here for a number of years by his son, William Koontz. John H. Lamb- ing first came to Mount Morris in 1899, and entered the employ of A. C. Lookabaugh, until April, 1900, when he started up in business for himself. An entirely new equipment of tools and machinery necessary in the business was purchased. Mr. Lambing does a general blacksmith- ing business, besides horse-shoeing and wood-working. He gained his knowledge of the trade in his father's shop at Abilene, Kans.
JEWELER AND STATIONER. - H. E. Newcomer, early in the spring of 1892 began business by opening a little jewelry and stationery store in a one-story frame building, which still stands just one door south of his present location. There, in a little room eleven feet wide and nineteen feet long, with low ceiling and only two small front windows admitting the feeble light, his business grew and thrived. Favored by the confi-
Adams Express Compom Money Onters
E
A
INTERIOR VIEW OF H. E. NEWCOMER'S JEWELRY STORE; EXPRESS AND INSURANCE OFFICES IN THE REAR.
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MOUNT MORRIS OF TODAY.
dence of an appreciative public, borne along by the constant efforts of his own hands, and early mastering the secrets of successful advertising, he built up in a few years a most profitable and permanently-established trade. But after a while the little room " grew too small," and in 1899 Mr. Newcomer erected on the adjoining lot, a little south of the " Alden" building, a handsome, one-story brick and stone building, standing today a model of neatness, solidity and beauty. On another page is presented an interior view of his store. In addition to his regular jewelry trade Mr. Newcomer has, by long-continued, persistent and judicious advertis- ing, built up a large mail-order business, every year receiving hundreds of orders for gold and silver watches from customers in nearly every state and territory in the Union, which business in a little while bids fair to ex- ceed his entire local trade. In 1889, when but nineteen years of age, Mr. Newcomer was appointed agent for the American Express Company, and five years later succeeded to the agency of the Adams Express Company, which position he has held continuously ever since, having now served eleven years in this capacity. In 1897 he began the organization of what is now the insurance and real-estate firm of Newcomer & Price, and as junior member of this firm has rendered most valuable assistance in bringing the business up to its present thriving condition, more mention of which is made on this page. In passing, we cannot help noting that in all of Mr. Newcomer's business enterprises the first and most lasting impression one receives is the evidence of that greatest of all true business principles, perfect system-which probably in a very large de- gree accounts for the splendid success he has thus far achieved.
INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE AND LOAN AGENTS .- In October, 1897, H. E. Newcomer and C. E. Price entered into partnership and under the firm name of Newcomer & Price, opened an office for the transaction of all classes of business pertaining to insurance, real estate and loans. Be- ginning at the very bottom of the business, they have forged rapidly for- ward and upward, until today they enjoy the confidence and patronage of a large community. Loaning money for various eastern companies, buying and selling Iowa and Illinois real estate, and writing all classes of fire, cyclone, life and accident insurance, their business each succeed- ing year covers a larger and wider territory, and necessitates almost con- stant additions to their facilities. At this writing nine different insur- ance companies are represented by this agency,-six for the sale of fire and cyclone insurance, one life, one accident and one for plate-glass and burglary indemnities. A small but very neat office has been fitted up ex- clusively for their business in a portion of Mr. Newcomer's newly-erected building on the "south side."
GROCERIES .- Five well-stocked grocery stores in Mount Morris supply the people of the town and surrounding country with good things for their tables. Jacob Strock has been in business in Mount Morris nine years, occupying the brick building on the corner of Wesley and Center streets. The firm name has existed longer without change than any of the other five grocery firms in the village. Mr. Strock carries in stock a
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MOUNT MORRIS: PAST AND PRESENT.
full line of fancy and staple groceries, cigars and tobacco, candies, queens- ware, and also a line of heavy boots and shoes. He engages Fred Middle- kauff as clerk. The Newcomer Company consists of Wm. A. Newcomer, an old experienced groceryman in Mount Morris, and Howard G. Newcom- er, who succeeded his father, A. M. Newcomer, in the business. They car- ry a large stock of everything to be found in a first-class grocery store, be- sides a number of side lines, including queensware, bakery goods, etc. Charles Sharer prides himself in doing a nice careful business and be- lieves in winning trade by careful buying, courteous treatment and an orderly kept store. He enjoys a large country and town trade. Chris. Reynolds is his efficient clerk. Oliver S. Watts has now been in the gro- cery business in Mount Morris about four years, during which time he has built up a substantial trade among both town and country people. His stock is nicely arranged in the spacious store-room in his own building, situated just south of the Masonic block. His stock includes everything found in a first-class grocery store. J. P. Holsinger, an experienced gro- cery clerk, assists in the business, A. R. Binkley's grocery store has been operated in Mount Morris less than two years, the stock having been re- moved to this place from Forreston. Mr. Binkley has, however, as men- tioned on page 44, long been a grocer in Mount Morris. Of late years he has been afflicted with paralysis and unable to attend to the business him- self. Mrs. Binkley and Thomas Sprecher attend to the wants of the pa- trons of the store. George W. Deppen entered the grocery business in Mount Morris in the summer of 1900, buying out the stock previously owned by F. K. Spalding. His store is spacious and well-filled with staple and fancy groceries, besides a small stock of dry goods.
DRY GOODS .- G. W. Hamlin, D. S. Cripe and G. W. Deppen are propri- etors of dry goods stores in Mount Morris, the first two being exclusively engaged in that business, and the last carrying a small stock in connec- tion with his grocery store. In the present year G. W. Hamlin of Rochelle purchased the large and profitable dry goods business built up by R. E. Arnold, and put the store in charge of his brother, D. F. Hamlin. Besides a full line of all variety of dry goods, they carry a stock of shoes, gents' furnishing goods and carpets. The goods are neatly and tastily arranged, and give the store an inviting appearance. Miss Mae Ankney assists in the sale of goods. D. S. Cripe's dry goods store is situated in the south room of the old Seibert block. He has a large and well-select d stock of goods and enjoys a large patronage. Mrs. Cripe clerks in the store.
BAKERS AND CONFECTIONERS .- E. O. Startzman has been continually en- gaged in the bakery and confectionery business in Mount Morris for near- ly twenty-five years. He occupies the old Startzman building and has spacious and convenient apartments. His oven and bake-shop are in the basement of the building. During the winter season he manufactures most of the candies offered for sale. A cosy ice cream parlor is fitted up in the rear of the store. In the store is his soda fountain, one of the first brought to town. Besides carrying a full line of confectionery and bak- ery goods he has a partial line of groceries. Walter Wolfe's business is a
AZ: Clevidence
A.T.Olson
W.h. Wheeler
Jos.T. Baker
J.LRIGE.
Frank Coffman
Roy Householder L
J.M. Rice
& SA.Shrmer
VILD.F. HAMIIN ZAV
GROUP OF MOUNT MORRIS BUSINESS MEN.
WALTER WOLFE
HARVEY J KABLE
HARRY G. KABLE
S. J. HESS
CHAS. WISHARD.
LE AVEY
GEORGE TOMS
H. G. NEWCOMER.
O. S. WATTS
LUNIMAN
TEN OF THE YOUNGER GENERATION OF MOUNT MORRIS BUSINESS MEN.
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MOUNT MORRIS OF TODAY.
combined bakery, confectionery and restaurant. Mr. Wolfe is a young man full of energy and with a thorough knowledge of the business. He has elegant new quarters in the new Sharer building. The main floor is divided into two apartments, the east half being fitted as a parlor where ice cream is served in the summer time. In the basement is the bake shop, a very large oven and a churning room, where a large ice cream churn is situated. The churn is operated by a 212 horse-power gasoline engine. In the winter time Mr. Wolfe manufactures large quantities of fine candies and in the summer time, ice cream, which he disposes of by retail and wholesale. The stock carried on hand includes a line of fancy groceries, and the finest candies on the market. Mr. Wolfe started in business on a very small scale, but has succeeded in building up a large and profitable trade. His soda fountain, purchased recently, is as fine a fountain as can be found anywhere in Ogle county.
McCOSH'S PHARMACY AND JEWELRY STORE .- Dr. G. B. McCosh and C. H. Mishler established a second drug store in Mount Morris in 1896, which, since 1898, has been conducted by the former. Besides the regular stock of drugs, chemicals and medicines, a full line of books and station- ery, wall paper, paints and oils, and holiday goods are kept on hand, and nicely arranged in the Doctor's own building, erected in 1892. E. O. Bailey, a registered pharmacist, is employed by Mr. McCosh. In the win- ter of 1899-'00, the Doctor's son, Blair, attended the Bradley Polytechnic Institute at Peoria, and gained a knowledge of the jewelry and optical pro- fessions. An office was established in the pharmacy in May, 1900, since which time he has been regularly engaged in the work. A stock of jewel- ry and optical goods has been added.
BRAYTON'S OLD RELIABLE DRUG AND BOOK STORE .- The preceding title is fittingly applied to the large drug and book establishment owned and conducted by Arthur W. Brayton. The name of Brayton has been fore- most in prominence in business circles of Mount Morris for nearly sixty years and the known and established reliability of the business conducted by the several generations of the family bas well earned the sobriquet of " Old Reliable Drug and Book Store" for Mr. Brayton's place of business. As has been mentioned on page 33, Mr. Brayton's business directly de- scends from the first store established in Mount Morris, by his grand- father, Daniel Brayton, in 1841, and handed down by his father, Frederick B. Brayton, whose portrait appears on page 34. The stock carried at the present time is one of the largest and probably the most valuable in Mount Morris. He has a full line of drugs, books, stationery, paints, oils, wall-paper, lamps, and a large holiday stock of beautiful and useful arti- cles and toys of all varieties, in season. A news stand with the popular papers and magazines of the day is maintained and has been a feature in the store over forty years. The exceptional neatness and elegant arrange- ment of the stock is a noticeable feature. Mr. Brayton became a regis- tered pharmacist in about 1880. Besides compounding prescriptions and other pharmaceutical work, he has made a number of chemical discover- ies, and manufactures, among other things, a tabule for the preservation
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MOUNT MORRIS: PAST AND PRESENT.
of milk tests, for which a very large sale has developed among creamery- men over many states of the Union. Earl Householder is an apprentice and clerk in the store, and Miss Annabel Smith takes care of the books and also assists with the sales. A very large patronage is enjoyed by Mr. Brayton.
HARDWARES .- Each of the two principal business blocks has a hard- ware store. Clinton E. Price bought out the hardware store owned by J. M. Piper in 1890 and has since been actively engaged in the business. Mr. Price is a very pleasant gentlemen to deal with and has an excellent pat- ronage over a large territory. His store is well stocked with everything in the hardware line, besides stoves and furnaces. A line of buggies is al- so carried in stock. A tin-shop in the rear is well supplied with all the tools necessary in the tinning and repairing trade. Mr. Price is an exper- ienced plumber and is doing a growing business in that line, especially in the work of putting in furnaces. To assist him in the tin shop Mr. Price hires a tinner and a second man most of the time. J. W. Crump is en- gaged as clerk in the store proper. The toll station of the Union Central Telephone Company is taken care of by Mr. Price and his assistants. B. E. Avey is proprietor of the second hardware store; the stock is entirely new having been purchased and first placed on sale in March, 1900. Besides the regular lines of heavy and fancy hardware, Mr. Avey deals in stoves and farming machinery. His sale of stoves during the season, 1900, ex- ceeded a half hundred. Among the lines of machinery handled are Cham- pion binders and mowers, Hamilton corn-shellers, etc.
RESTAURANTS AND LUNCH-ROOMS .- S. J. Hess carries a large restaurant stock. in- cluding candies, cigars and tobacco. He has a soda fountain and serves many of the popular soda drinks during the warm weather. Warm meals are served at all hours of the day and evening. Sprecher Brothers have fitted up the room under Sprecher & Wheeler's store and have a fine new stock of goods on sale. They also serve warm meals. Both Mr. Hess and Sprecher Brothers enjoy profitable trades.
WELL-DRILLER .- W. H. Hedges has been drilling wells in the vicinity of Mount Morris for about twenty-five years. having succeeded his father in the business. He recently purchased a new outfit and is now prepared to drill wells to a considerable depth. The well at the creamery, which is 268 feet deep. is the deepest drilled by him. Mr. Hedges also erects wind-mills, in which business, as well as that of drilling, he has no competition in this territory.
LIVERY STABLES .- Long & Son. C. U. Niman, and Wm. H. Keedy represent the liv- ery business in Mount Morris. A. J. and Fred Long purchased the livery stable on Wesley street of George Bovey in 1894. and have since added a number of new vehicles and horses. In January, 1899, C. U. Niman bought from John H. Miller the stable formerly conducted by H. L. Smith. He has eleven head of horses. all good animals. and among other vehicles. a large carry-all to use for picnics, etc. Samuel Halsey assists with the business. Wm. Keedy is the proprietor of the 10-cent feed-sheds and livery stable combined. situated on the corner of Hitt and Wesley streets .. His equip- ment is entirely new and first class.
BARBERS .- The tonsorial profession is represented by three first-class barbers,- Wm. Stewart. Levi Bear. and George Toms. Each has a nicely-furnished shop and has about an equal share of patronage afforded by the community. Harry Castle is an apprentice in Mr. Bear's shop and can be found there on Saturdays.
CITIZEN'S BANK .- This bank. the only one in Mount Morris, was established in 1893 by Joseph L. and John H. Rice. the present owners. The former is president and the latter cashier of the institution. They do a general banking business, issue exchange
ARER
4.W. BRAVIONS
H.C. CLA
WM.H.MILLER
A.W.NEFF
TRA W. WINGERT
W.A.NEWCOMER
GALL AR BINKLEY
HENRY. H. CLEVIDENCE
TEN MEN MOST OF WHOM HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS IN MOUNT MORRIS MORE THAN TWENTY-FIVE YEARS.
TARK
TARTZMAY!
W'm.Stewart
A.C.Looka baugh2
C.E.Price
G.H.Whitman
W.H.Jackson
Fred Frederickson
J.D.Miller
J.Strock
C.C.Crowell
Levi R.BeAl
GROUP OF MOUNT MORRIS BUSINESS MEN.
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MOUNT MORRIS OF TODAY.
and attend to collecting. Their deposits are very large and they are one of the sub- stantial institutions of Ogle county.
PRINTING OFFICES .- Two printing offices. the Index and the News, are maintained in Mount Morris. They have been spoken of in chapter VIII, " The Village Press."
TINNER .- O. L. Doward has a tin shop in the Miller building and besides doing a general tinning and repairing business, has a small stock of tinware for sale. Mr. Doward is a good machanic and does excellent work.
CLOTHING AND FURNISHINGS .- Sprecher & Wheeler are the only dealers in clothing in Mount Morris. Besides a very large stock of everything in the clothing line, they have complete lines of gents' furnishing goods. holiday supplies, boots and shoes, etc. Their store covers more floor space than any other store in town. The members of the firm are John Sprecher. who has been a business man in Mount Morris for nearly forty years, and W. W. Wheeler, who had been a resident of Kansas City for a number of years previous to entering partnership with Mr. Sprecher in 1899. Mr. Sprecher's son. John. and daughter, Kittie, assist as clerks in the store most of the time.
FURNITURE DEALER AND UNDERTAKER .-- Wm. H. Miller is the only representative of these businesses in Mount Morris. He occupies the old opera house building and carries a fine line of the best grades of furniture and sells his goods over a large territory of country. In the undertaking business Mr. Miller is thoroughly informed and in this also enjoys a large patronage. He first learned the undertaking profes- sion and became acquainted with the furniture business with his father, Upton Miller. having worked with him twenty years. In 1887 he went to Sterling, Ill., where Prof. Sullivan had organized a class in embalming and from him received his first diploma. Later in 1896 he attended the Champion College of Embalming and received his sec- ond diploma. After the passage in 1898 of a law requiring undertakers to hold li- censes, Mr. Miller took the examination and was successful. As a result he now holds a license from the Illinois State Board of Health. Mr. Miller has three hearses, a child's hearse and two large ones, the newest, purchased only a few years ago, being one of the finest in northern Illinois. Mr. Miller has been continuously engaged in the business over thirty years and is regarded as one of our most substantial citizens.
TAILORS .- Gregor Thompson has a large and well-stocked tailoring establishment, occupying the lower floor of his own building situated on the corner of Main and Wes- ley streets. Mr. Thompson learned the tailor's trade in Norway and has followed it all of his life. He has been in the business in Mount Morris about fifteen years and has a very large patronage. Fred Frederickson's tailor shop is situated on the south busi- ness block, where his patrons keep him busy the year around. More is said of Mr Frederickson in the biographical directory.
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