Robert Beers Terrill

TERRILL, TIDRICK

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 8/13/2004 at 00:44:55

Robert B. Terrill & Son are proprietors of one of the leading general stores of Winterset, where Robert B. Terrill has been actively engaged in business for many years. He is a native of Newtown, Connecticut, born September 6, 1852, and there his boyhood days were spent. He received his education in the public schools, thus preparing himself for the duties of life. In January, 1879, when twenty-six years of age, he came to Winterset and formed a partnership with his brothers, L. B. and M. B. Terrill, for the conduct of a dry-goods and shoe store. They located on the north side of the square and soon gained a place in the business life of the town. After two years M. B. Terrill sold his interest to his brothers, who continued to conduct the store for a year or so, at the end of which time our subject purchased his brother's interest and managed the business alone for some time. At length, however, he sold a half interest to E. W. Jones and was associated with him for five or six years. At the end of that time Mr. Terrill sold out his interest to Mr. Graham and for about six months was not actively engaged in any business. At the end of that time he associated himself with Tidrick Brothers, the firm becoming the Tidrick-Terrill Company, and that connection was maintained until May, 1914. At that time H. G. Tidrick took charge of the furniture and undertaking part of the business and Mr. Terrill and son, M. T., became owners of the grocery, dry-goods and meat market. He studies carefully the needs of his patrons and seeks to carry stock in the various branches of his business that will meet their needs. He has an excellent trade and his reliable business methods insure him the continuance of custom when it is once gained. In the rear part of his store he conducts a creamery and makes the butter which he sells.

On the 15th of September, 1883, Mr. Terrill was united in marriage to Miss Jessie Tidrick, a native of Winterset and a daughter of M. R. and Mary A. Tidrick, of whom more extended mention is made on another page of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Terrill have seven children: Mortimer T., who graduated in civil engineering and is now in business with his father; Levi M., who is Kentucky state students secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association and is located at Lexington; Bernice F., who graduated from the Winterset high school and subsequently was for a year a student of Columbia University and is now teaching in Madison county; Gertrude, likewise a teacher in this county; Charles F., a high-school student; and Eugene and Lanning, both at home.

Mr. Terrill is a republican but has been too busy with his mercantile interests to take an active part in political affairs. Fraternally he is a member of the Maccabees, and both he and his wife belong to the Presbyterian church, in which he has been trustee for several years. He is highly respected in the business world of Winterset and is known as a merchant who is at all times ready to aid in any way possible in the commercial expansion of his city. As a man and as a citizen he has always lived up to high ideals and fully deserves the high place in his fellow citizens' estimation that is accorded him.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915”