Re: sraight edge razor
HARPER MCINTIER, MCINTIRE
Posted By: Bill Hansen (email) In Response To: sraight edge razor (Bob Coyne)
Date: 12/26/2002 at 15:44:52
Bob - The following is probably more that you ever cared to know. It is taken from "The History of Ottumwa" dated 1923.
Harper and McIntire
"The Harper and McIntire wholesale hardware company is the outgrowth of two old firms, one of which was established in 1856 and antedates any of the Ottumwa wholesale houses now in existance. The present firm, with offices in two large warehouses in Ottumwa and a branch warehouse and office in Cedar Rapids, is one of the largest and most successful of Ottumwa enterprises.
In 1867 S.H. Harper, formed a partnership with Timothy Egan and they entered the wholesale hardware business under the name of Harper and Egan. The stock of Daggett and Edgerly, a competing concern, was purchased in 1873. Two years after Mr. Egan resigned from the company and E.A. Chambers became associated with the business, the name changing to Harper, Chambers and company.
In April, 1880, Frank McIntire entered the employ of Harper and Chanbers. In January of the following year he was admitted to partnership in the firm and devoted most of the next ten years to salesmanship. In 1891 he he succeeded the interests of Mr. Chambers, the name soon changing to Harper and McIntire company with Mr. Harper president and Mr. McIntire vice president.
This arrangement continued until Mr. Harper's death, Dec. 17, 1911, The junior partner then suceeded to the presidency and remained at the head of the company until he died, August 30, 1919. In 1913, the company had been incorporated.
On the death of Mr. McIntire, C.S. Harper became president; William Fiedler vice president, W.P. Myers secretary and R.W. Harper treasurer. Those officers are in charge at this time.
Harper and McIntire, like most successful concerns, began in a small way and gradually grew. A picture of the front of the house with all of its employees but two, taken in 1885 at the old site, 125 East Main street, hangs in the office. In the picture are W.P. Myers, S.H. Harper, D.B. Johnston, John A. Swanson, E. Hinds, R.W. Emerson, E.A. Chambers, L.L. Dawson, and a Mr. Roemer; the latter was not with the company. Frank McIntire and William Fiedler were traveling at that time and were not in the group.
The inadequacy of the old plant was apparent, and in 1893 a four-story warehouse was erected on Commerical street at the present location. On Austust 7, 1912, fire destroyed the warehouse.
The company at once secured temporary quarters, assembled a new stock and began construction of the present five-story, modern structure at that location which houses the offices and constiutes the principal warehouse.
However, with rapid expansion, it became necessary to establish an auxiliary to the main warehouse, so a large storehouse at 220-222 South College street was purchased and remodeled for that purpose.
In 1922 a new branch warehouse at Cedar Rapids was opened for the purpose of better serving the northern portion of the state, and the business there has grown beyond all expectation.
Samuel Houston Harper, one of the founders of the business, was prominent in all lines of political and community life as well as business. He was state senator during three sessions, served in Company B, Thirty-sixth Iowa Volunteers, in the civil war and held state and local offices in the G.A.R. and Loyal Legion. Mr. Harper also served as mayor of Ottumwa and as a member of the school board. He was president of the Chamber of Commerce, a presidential elector, and president of the Wapello County Old Settlers association. He was born near Zanesville, Ohio, on April 23, 1843, and came to Ottumwa on horseback with his father in 1853.
Frank McIntire was born on a farm south of Ottumwa October 5, 1851, his parents being pioneers in the county."
See, Bob, aren't you sorry you asked?
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