BUSINESS INTERESTS OF 1878

The honor of selling the first goods at Clarence belongs to Hoey and Bonesteel, who, after the freight and ticket office was moved up to the town plat, opened a small stock of groceries and provisions in a part of the car.

Friend and Culbertson of Tipton, opened the first general store, in 1859. They occupied the building now occupied by C. Peterson as a boot and shoe store.

Messrs. Gilbert and Foote also commenced a general merchandising business in the Fall of 1859, opening out in one end of the building now called the Hecht and Reed warehouse.

Fish and Gere came at nearly the same time, and opened out in the building now known as the Phelps warehouse.

The Smith Brothers, of Tipton, opened a branch hardware store in the Girard Building, now occupied by George E. Smith as a drug store. They were the first to commence this line of business in Clarence, establishing themselves here in the Spring of 1860.

In 1860, Friend and Culbertson built a new store room on Lombard street, the building now occupied by Hecht and Polley.

Fish and Gere erected a building on the corner now occupied by E. B. Simmons, the same season. That building was destroyed by fire in the summer of 1865.

M. M. Cummings opened a general store - - dry goods, boots and shoes, groceries, drugs, etc., etc. - in 1860. His building was located on the corner now occupied by Snyder and Co. It was a rough shanty-like building, and was destroyed by fire, about nine years ago.

From 1862 to 1871, the business of Clarence was exceedingly prosperous. The effects of the great fire in Chicago, in October, 1871, were felt here to some extent. However, the business men have no reason to complain for want of patronage or scarcity of money. The surrounding country is occupied by industrious, energetic farmers, who raise a large surplus of grain and stock, for which a ready cash market is always found through the shipping facilities offered by the C. & N. W. Ry.

CLARENCE BUSINESS HOUSES

Beginning at the south side of Lombard street, the site at the west end, where the Cities Service station is now, was occupied by a residence of a Mrs. Porter in the 1880's and 1890's. The Samuel Layton family later lived there until l920, when the house was moved to the A. R. Bixler farm north of town and was remodeled. For a time there were tourist camp accommodations on the site, till it was purchased by the Cities Service Company in 1928. Henry Hanken started the filling station, selling to L. A. Kintzel, who operated the station from 1929 to 1949. He was followed by Richard Fehling in 1949, who in turn sold to Leonard Conrad and Wilbur Gottschalk in 1954.

On the vacant lot next east, for many years stood the Opera House, owned by M. B. Cottrell. It was the site of the first moving pictures shown in Clarence. Following a fire it was torn down. Many a dance was held here.

Adjacent to the alley, a building was erected by William Carson who had a variety store, a fore-runner of the dime and dollar store. He sold to the late William Craig. E. H. West moved his grocery store to this site in 1916, conducting it till his death in 1922. Emil Spille then managed the store till his death in 1927. H. W. Lohman carried on this business for a few years. Kermit Roelf operated a chicken hatchery there for two years, till the disastrous fire in 1938. It was purchased by J. C. Dettman, who remodeled it for a tavern, selling it to Glen Kelly in 1943, who has since owned it to the present time.

The two story brick building now housing the K & M Cleaners was erected in 1895 by Chas F. Peabody for a furniture store. The site was originally occupied by a large frame hotel erected in 1864 by A. W. Bloomburg. The building burned in the winter of 1878-1879, and the site stood vacant until bought by Mr. Peabody. Jerome Crow operated a general Store there following Mr. Peabody and closing out in 1910. S. L. Tarbox and Joe Herman followed the operation of the store. In the 1920's Emil Liercke operated a garage here. Later Wayne White operated a grocery store here until 1940. Grover Penningroth had his Meat Market and sausage factory there from 1929 to 1945; the Schnipkoweits a hatchery, 1945 to 1950; since 1950, Walter Hartwig operates an Electrical Appliance in this building and the K and M Cleaners, their cleaning establishment.

The next building was erected in 1895 by Clark Smith for a Printing Office. In 1897 Chas Smith became Postmaster and moved the Post Office to that location, which it continued to share with the Clarence Sun until 1935, when both Post Office and Printing Office were moved to their present location. For a time the Sausage factory of Grover Penningroth was in this building. It was remodeled for a Sandwich shop in 1946 by Marvin Tacker, succeeded by Thos and Mae Humes in 1950. Since 1954 used by Walter Hartwig's display room for electrical appliances. The balance is used by Elmer Meyer and Gordon Smith for office purposes.

The site next east was used as a warehouse for many years, burning on January 1, 1891.

The brick building now used by Kreinbring & Doermann for an office was erected in 1895 by E. S. Dean for a meat market and continued by his son E. C. Dean until in 1924. J. E. Shriver continued the business until 1928, selling to C. A. Merritt, who sold to Grover Penningroth in 1929. D. H. Engelking opened a restaurant there in 1933 followed by Murray Eckhart. August Kreinbring bought it in 1949; it housed grocery stores operated by Ted Aschim and Leon Moskowitz until Kreinbring and Doermann moved in, in 1955.

The corner location was first built by Fish & Gere in 1859. A store occupied the first floor, with a loft or upstairs room wherein the Presbyterian Church was organized and it was also used for school purposes. It was burned in 1865, rebuilt by E. B. Simmons who sold it to Hecht and Thorn in the 1880's. It was a two story building which housed the dentist offices of T. D. Sturdevant and M. L. Shuck. Next south of it was a small building occupied by James Escher, a jeweler. On the site of the present Legion building was the brick veneer building of the W. B. Hanna and son General Store. This whole corner was swept by a disastrous fire on January 1, 1891, which burned all three buildings. These were rebuilt by W. B. Hanna, who took in Mr. Timpe as a partner. They, in 1908 sold it to R. A. Elsner, who sold to Licht & Hein in 1918, who sold to George D. Miller in 1929. He was replaced by Baltisberger and Kline in 1945, the present operators. Mr. Elsner bought the building in 1914 and George D. Miller from the Elsner estate in 1939.

South Side Beginning with Corner

This was a part of the Iowa Land Company's holdings, conveyed originally to M. Cummings, thence to John Peterson. In 1869 it became the property of James Snyder, Sr. who that year erected the three story building on this site, deeding the third story to the Masonic lodge, which has since been their quarters. It is thus the oldest brick business house in town and second oldest business building. Only the Masonic Order has occupied the third story. No other organization or person in the community has occupied the same quarters so long. James K. Snyder occupied the street floor as a general store until he sold to Vroom & Brown in 1887, to go into a shoe store in Cedar Rapids. Vroom & Brown sold to Reinking & Wm. Gauger in 1899. They sold to E. H. West, and he moved his grocery store half a block west in 1916. This was remodeled for a restaurant, operated by Frank Tague, who in September of 1917 sold to Clark and Pearl Marvin. In 1920 they sold to George D. Miller, who sold in 1929 to Clyde and Pearl Perkins. Since 1941 the building has been owned by Pearl Perkins, and Arnold and Velma Kahl have operated the restaurant since 1950.

Wm. Carson operated a hardware store here from 1870-1908. Kemp and Fry operated a garage here from 1908-1913. Later in 1914 the frame building was torn down and the present brick structure was erected by F. W. Phelps & W. A. Engelking for a hardware store. Guy Swartzell established a grocery store here in1929, which was sold to Howard Claney in 1932, who has since operated that business, which he moved in 1942 to the building east on the corner which he still occupies. For the last twelve years it has housed a pool hall.

The next space, housed for many years the law office of George McLeod, who began the practice of law in 1872. The brick structure was built about 1905. It housed a barber shop for many years, operated by E. H. Guyer, Bair, Ralph Shriver and Clark Workman. In the 1920's it housed the A. W. Lyle Plumbing Shop and a grocery store operated by Roy Sterling. It was bought in 1931 by Clark Workman, who in 1947 sold to K. W. Roelf, who sold to Clarence Yock for a plumbing shop, who in turn sold to Chas. Malin in December 1950 for a shoe repair shop.

The telephone system had its origin in the action of a group of farmers including John Jansen and Hosea Ballou banding together in 1901 to furnish telephone service to the neighborhood north of Clarence. In 1902 F. B. Riggs and M. B. Cottrell enterprising business men promoted the establishment of a telephone system for the immediate town and community. In 1906 Eric Zager, husband of Jessie Zager came to town to be lineman. A brick building was erected in 1905 to house the central switch board. In 1919 the system was sold to Hans Klatt who continued to own it till his death in 1947. The family sold the business to the Clarence Telephone Co., a stock company subscribed by local capital in 1951.

The next frame structure housed a hardware store operated by Archie Thom, later by the following: W. C. Thomson, F. B. Riggs in 1893, Asa Fuller, Gus Moeller Grant, Arthur Magnuson selling to Ray Bauman in 1921 to 1924 then to Edward Kinney. It was torn down by Aug. Christophersen.

A store building stood where is now our small Park. At one time L. Tiffany, who was postmaster from 1889 to 1893, had the Post Office and a small grocery store there. It housed various enterprises, till it was torn down. The empty basement was filled in, in 1937 and a small park established.

Several years ago when E. C. Schluter was visiting in Brookfield, Missouri he saw a small park in the heart of that town. It gave him the idea to have a similar one in Clarence, and made the suggestion to the late Hans Klatt who owned a vacant lot along side now Claney's store. They purchased at Ed's suggestion the old hardware store owned by F. B. Riggs. The building on it was cleared off, the basement excavations filled in and grass seeded. After Hans Klatt's death in 1947 when the family sold to the Telephone Company this spot was presented to the town in August 1953 to be called the Edwin Schluter Memorial Park. Because it lay at right angles and joined the Edna Zybell library lots, it could be easily maintained. A band shell was erected thereon in 1952 where the school band renders Saturday evening concerts through the summer. It is carefully maintained. In the Christmas season it is the scene of an outstanding seasonal display.

The corner building adjacent to the alley housed a meat market, operated by S. M. Davis and the late Chas. Bixler for about twelve years, selling to S. A. Dean. Ethel Reid Shriver was born upstairs in this building. From 1911, S. A. Dean conducted a Meat Market here till shortly before his death in1934. He was followed by Paul Lohman, Harold Stange and Clara Meier, who operated a Grocery store “The Clarence Food Store”. They sold to Howard Claney, who moved his grocery business there in1942.

The next building knew a variety of businesses. L. L. Burton had a restaurant there from 1904-1905. Elna Burton Dohrman was born upstairs. Louis Lubkeman had a harness repair shop there followed by his son, Louis Jr. It has known a variety of businesses. Al Beach, “tonsorial artist”, “coloring of the mustache done in first class style”, had his barbershop there in the early 1900's. It has know a variety of restaurants. Ann's Maidrite, beginning there in 1954, was sold in 1959 to Mike Rouse, who now operates it under the name of “Uncle Mike's Maidrite”.

Dr. and Mrs. Isaiah Williams had their home and office for many years in the next building, to be followed by Fred Rieckhoff, who on the least suggestion would demonstrate what a strong man he was or the manual of arms of the German army. Later the Woiciks, a Polish family, occupied it for several years, till it was torn down.

A small shack housed a shoe repair shop run by George Drummond. Later another small building was operated by Henry Pruess and later by George Baruth as a shoe repair business. Conrad Baade had his wood-working shop here for many years. He later sold the shop to Fred Debner, a carpenter. This was the last owner before it was torn down.

On the corner was once a photograph gallery, operated by W. P. Hurd. He sold in 1891 to Chas. Smith, who operated it till he became Postmaster in 1897.

To the south was a frame building housing a small barn and blacksmith shop. Here the late Wm. Rummel kept “Frau Frau” his race horse, which did not win any races. Dr. E. E. Rowser started his veterinary practice here. The last blacksmith to work there was Jerry Kroigaard who died in 1912. The frame buildings were torn down to make way for the present garage. It was erected in 1916 by Alfred Hoffner. He operated it for a few years, selling to the late Rollie Robinson, who sold to Millard & Leatherby, and they sold it to Perkins and Ziegler. It was next sold to J. C. Dettmann in 1926, who operated it till 1946 and then sold it to Howard Thein.

Across the street where the Standard Service Station is now, was once a large livery barn operated by L. P. Yocum from 1896 till 1908. He sold it to Wm. Werling and he in turn sold to Wm. Penningroth in 1913, and from 1916 to1917 W. L. Dettmann possessed ownership. It was dismantled and a filling station was build by Ted Perkins. The following have operated the station: Willard Bradley 1928-30; Harry Hansen 1930-35; John Stock 1935 to the present.

Next was a blacksmith shop conducted by Vincent Curley from 1873 to shortly before his death in 1909. He went to bed at sundown and got up about 4:00 A.M. so he could be uptown first to regale the news. He was followed by Louis Behrend and Bob Stanlake. H. D. Kemman Sons bought the building and tore it down.

Next was a large horse barn owned by Myron Cottrell, housing his race horses. In the back where the creamery is now, was a race track, where the horses exercised. The site was bought by the Clarence Shipping Association and the feed yard was built. They in turn sold to J. C. Dettman, present owner of the property. Since 1950 the Morehead Insurance Agency has had its office here. This insurance agency was started in 1915 by C. E. Morehead, and at the time of his death in 1941 his son Kenneth W. Morehead took over the management of the business.

The Dayton Creamery Co. was organized in the spring of 1926 and the building erected in May of that year. The first officers were President, R. G. Kelly; Vice president, A. R. Bixler; Secretary, F. J. Bachman; Treasurer, G. D. Goldsmith. In addition to the above named officers there were as directors: E. C. Freese, John Klatt, Wm. Schroeder Sr. It started with 120 patrons selling cream, and the creamery sold 240,000 lbs of butter the first year.

The business expanded and in 1937 an addition was made to house lockers and a refrigeration system. The lockers were closed out in 1957. In 1948 a house was bought for the creamery manager. In 1951 the warehouse was erected. In 1958 the farmer locker room was remodeled for an office, with an investment of $30,000 for tank and other equipment on August 1, 1956, the creamery went in to the business of buying whole milk. Today the creamery serves 200 patrons and sells 800,000 lbs of butter annually.

The Dayton Creamery Co. contemplates in the 1959 season a considerable expansion with an expenditure of $18,000 for a steam boiler, $14,500 for a dryer, $10,000 for other equipment to make powdered milk for human consumption. This equipment will have a capacity of drying 70,000 lbs. of milk per day. This equipment will be installed and ready to begin operation about June 1, 1959. This is in addition to their processing whole milk and churning butter.

The following have been Creamery managers:

Glen Barnes	1926
Henry Struck	1927-1930
Albert Gintert	1930-1933
Ray Ribble	1933-1941
Andrew Blackovich	1941
W. L. Weber	1942-1944
E. F. Krueger	1944
W. C. Radeke	1944-1954
Leroy Gade	1954-

Bookkeepers

Lavera Kintzel	1939
Velma Schilling	1940
Irma Hulse	1942
Dorothy Miller	1943
Vaneta Rix	1950-52-53
Betty Von Muenster	1953
Ruth Ebers	1953
Neva Hoffner	1954

The hotel at the west end of main street on the north side, was begun by S. S. Crocker, for a residence in 1860. In 1970, E. E. Post added the third story for hotel rooms. Mrs. George Evans ran the hotel, called the Clarence House for many years. It was managed by the following: Lillie Happmaste, George Diven, “Horrible” Horace Woods, George Miller in 1926-27, Lloyd Hockman, L. G. Burton and wife in1929, owning it till 1941, when J. C. Dettman tore it down. The DX Filling Station was built on the site in 1954.

Dr. Ralph Louck, a veterinarian, built the cement block barn for an office. Since this time it had a variety of uses. The first gasoline filing station was built in front of it, run for many years by the late Dick Meyer.

A shed for many years housed the hose cart for the fire company. In 1920 the town built the present building for a combination City Hall, Polling Place and Fire Station. In the next place which was originally the first school house in the community, E. K. Wehry had a blacksmith shop from 1891 to about 1904.

The next was a livery stable, the two buildings were operated under the management of F. M. Crow & Frank Culbertson. They also sold farm implements. They sold to Perry “Pug” Ballou, who carried on that line of business till he sold to Ted Perkins in 1925, who erected the present brick building. He sold to Elmer E. Meyer in 1932, who carried on the garage business till 1944, selling to Brodersen & Hansen, who in turn sold to W. F. Kirchner in1947, the present occupant. For the last thirty years this has been the site of the Ford agency in Clarence.

The small space to the east of the garage once held a restaurant run by a character known as “Never Sweat” Kendall; W. F. Sanctuary used it later for a plumbing shop. It was torn down and stood vacant till W. F. Kirchner erected the cement block building on this site in 1954.

The frame building housed a general store, operated in the early 1890's by E. O. Campbell. In 1896 a young man 21 years of age then, Chas. E. Martzahn began his business career with Chas. Stoecher and later Peter Lange as business partners on this location. About 1905 Mr. Martzahn sold out to Peter Lange and went into business for himself, buying farm produce. Mr. Lange closed out his stock of goods in 1910. In1911 the late Chas. E. Decker and Thomas Woods began their store which Mr. Woods took over on Mr. Decker's death in 1925, operating the store till he closed out the stock in 1939. Clarence Bixler established a feed store, which Leroy Kemmann bought from the Bixler estate in 1954.

Mrs. S. S. Crocker had a millinery shop next and a little restaurant operated by her husband Silas Crocker. The building was remodeled and the two buildings consolidated into a restaurant, operated by their son-in-law Joe Herman. He sold to Fred Hoffner in 1909, who operated it till 1930, when Lloyd Hockman took over. Hugo Gehrls followed. Then Fred and Anna Hoffner went back into business again until they sold to Henry and Leona Dircks in 1946, who gave the building an extensive remodeling, calling it the Le-Hi Cafe, which they have continued to operate to the present time.

The brick building next was erected in 1865 by H. P. Grim. In it he operated a meat market for 23 years, changing to a restaurant in the early 1890's. H. W. Lohman put in a stock of clothing about 1900, after which Abe Donasalski carried on there for a time. In 1913 Schroeder and Yetter put in a stock of clothing importing the late Emil A. Spille as manager. In 1918 Harry Decker took over the store, operating it until 1948, when he sold to Henry Thies who continues to the present.

W. D. G. Cottrell established a bank on the corner location in 1870. It became a National bank and continued in operation until it consolidated with the Clarence Savings Bank in 1930, with no loss to the depositors. In 1935 the Post Office was moved to this location. Later in the year the Clarence Sun moved to the upstairs location from the building across the street. In the basement of this building E. S. Dean once had a butcher shop. The second floor was laid out for and still bears evidence of being the Knights of Pythias lodge room. When that lodge disbanded it was used as a dentist office successively by Doctors Taylor, Brock, Hageman, Swanson and J. B. Lane, who began his practice in Clarence in 1923.

The Clarence Sun began publication May 9, 1884 by M. Spurlock, followed by J. W. Owens, George Crawford, Clark Smith in 1892, Chas. Seaton in July 1897, Clark Smith again in September 1898, F. W. Compton 1899, J. C. Lewis 1900, Chas. Smith and M. B. Cottrell April 1900, Chas. Seaton again in 1901, continuing until his death in 1952. In 1947 “Editor” Seaton took into business with him his son Harlo, who has continued its publication to the present.

The frame building housed a hardware store for many years. W. K. Miller operated it first, selling to J. M. Erickson in 1891. In 1894 Henry A. Jons took over the business with W. A. Sanctuary doing the tinning and furnace work. Mr. Jons continued that business until 1914 when he was elected Cedar County Treasurer. The building was moved off to make room for the present Clarence Savings Bank building which has occupied the site to the present time.

The next site held a frame building erected in Onion Grove, north of town by James Girard, and moved into town, when the railroad came through. For a short time it held a hardware store. It was bought by Jerome Hart who opened up a drug store. In January 1869 he took in a partner, a young man from Tipton, George E. Smith. He bought out Mr. Hart and continued to operate the store until he retired in1905, selling the business but not the brick building, which was erected in 1882, to Chas. E. Park. Mr. Park in 1921 sold to Faye Loupe. In December 1929 the present owner Dewey Rhatigan took over and has continued the business ever since. Thus for over 98 years this site has been occupied by a drug store and since 1869 has been owned by three generations of Smiths – George E., Chas. and Gordon.

The next side housed a frame doctors office, occupied by Thomas Coates, the pioneer physician of this community. He was followed by Dr. Wm. Greig, who sold his practice to Dr. D. T. Nicoll in 1901. He in 1917 to Dr. Frederick Laughlin, in 1921 succeeded by Dr. Arthur Rieke, who sold to Paul Anderson who died in April 1929. The brick building was erected in 1895. It housed doctors' offices in the back, access to which was by a long narrow hallway on the west side of the building. The central front was occupied by James L. Escher for a Jewelry store. Following his death in 1910 the business was bought in June 1911 by a young man from Iowa City, a Leonard Fictor, who continued to operate the business there till the fall of 1937. The long narrow room to the east was used as a restaurant, operated by Joe Betting, Frank Rummell and John Ohe, and a barber shop by the Shriver brothers, Jesse and Ralph. It was bought in 1922 by Chas. Smith who used it for a casket display room, buying the rest of the building in 1929. Following Chas. Smith's death in 1937 after nearly 42 years of service to the community as a funeral director, the building was remodeled for Lewis Hayden's use as a furniture store, who occupied it till the fore part of 1942. G. H. Penningroth bought the building for his Sausage factory in 1945.

The next space was filled for many years by a small frame building occupied by Chris Peterson as a Shoe repair shop. Mr. Peterson was a thrifty Norwegian who became a considerable land owner. He lost his life in an explosion while blasting stumps. The building was bought by Leonard Fictor, who tore it down. The lot stood empty several years till he built the present brick in 1937 for store and office.

This building housed a drug store operated by Wm. H. Blair who came to Clarence in 1874. He sold out in 1913 to the late E. R. Struck, who put in a restaurant, later a moving picture theater. It was bought by J. W. Liercke who remodeled it for an appliance store and residential apartments in 1944.

The Clarence Savings Bank began operations in this building in 1894. It was the incorporation of a private bank operated by Fred Hecht for a number of years previous to its incorporation and sale of stock. It originally had a capital of $25,000 and in 1897 boasted of deposits in a total of $40,000. From the beginning one of the moving spirits in its affairs was David Elijah. Thus through the years some member of the Elijah family has been a principal stock holder of this institution. In 1914 the bank built the brick building on the corner moving to that location. Morehead and Merritt moved their barbershop to this location which since housed the barber business of the late C. A. Merritt, who came to Clarence in 1910 and passed away in 1952, his son Wayne continued the business that he grew up in. Associated with him is Clark Workman who has barbered since 1921.

The next location housed at one time a frame shack that was the office of Dr. E. F. Anderson. He sold to John C. Peters, who put up the two story brick building in 1895 which he sold to Fred Hecht, where he operated a general store, selling to F. M. McCarty in 1908. For the last thirty-five years it has housed a Bakery, thirty-three of these being operated by H. J. Tacker, S. S. Crittenden who came to Clarence in 1904 taking over the legal practice of J. P. Ferguson Sr. had his law office for many years on the second floor to be followed in 1939 by E. C. Schluter who in 1956 took in as a partner Durwood Dircks.

On the location east of the bakery was for many years the Fred Hecht warehouse and office. It was a two story frame building, the space on the west was used for a restaurant operated by Jeff Myers, Berschel & Bagley, Hibben Anderson, Wm. Martzahn, Frank Layton and Lewis Burton. The Woiciks when they first came to Clarence lived there before they moved across the street.

The buildings were taken down and the spot stood vacant for several years until E. C. Schluter bought the location and put up the Lumber Yard in 1929, selling to the Ruprechts in 1940.

The Hoffner brothers, Fred and Alfred had a garage here for several years until the corner garage was built in 1916.

C. E. Martzahn moved his Produce Station to this location in 1916. H. W. Meier operated it from 1920 to 1931, selling to C. E. Martzahn again who sold to Leonard Schaffer then Harry Meyer purchased it and sold it to E. C. Hasenbank who operates the produce station now.

A frame building housed the wood working shop of the late Henry Decker. It was taken down in the late 1920's.

The office of J. E. Drake and P. T. Mitchell lumber yard was in a frame building. They sold out to O. M. Donkle who sold to Clarence Coop Co. For several years it housed a blacksmith shop operated by C. Z. Mack who died in 1928. Shortly after this building was torn down.

The offices of H. D. Kemmann Sons is the oldest building in town. It was built in 1859 by James Reid of Lowden, grandfather of Ethel Reid Shriver, for a hotel. It came to be owned by Jerome Hart where in February 1863 the first white child born in Clarence put in his appearance. He was named Clarence for the town. Mr. Hart passed away in the fall of 1957 in Sac City, Iowa.

Henry D. Kemmann came to Cedar county in 1875 from LaGrange, Illinois. The same year he established his own business in Lowden, operating a blacksmith shop and farm implement business. In 1904 he established a branch office in Clarence with two sons, Alvin and Henry in charge. In 1909 the business was incorporated as H. D. Kemmann Sons. With the coming of the automobile this line was also added in 1912. Since 1931 the firm has been managed by another son, Walter who is the present manager and president. He is assisted by his son Richard, third generation member of the firm.

At one time there were two grain elevators in Clarence. The upper or west one was owned by M. B. Cottrell. At the turn of the century it was operated by Guy Sturdevant. Furnishing the power to run the machinery was a “Waterloo Boy” gasoline engine, one of the first in the community. Later it was operated by H. W. Lohman. The building was taken down as well as the storage granary which was the original Presbyterian Church building, built in 1861.

There was a long shed called the harrow factory which at one time was owned by A. W. Wilcox, who had patented a design for a harrow. The Clarence Telephone Company used it for storage after Mr. Wilcox went out of business. It too was taken down. J. C. Dettman started his implement business there with the erection of the present series of buildings in 1946.

Across the street to the north of the bank was once a small frame building which once stood where the shoe repair shop is now. It was used as an office from 1905 by C. E. Martzahn for his produce business, and it was later E. E. Rowser's veterinarian office. The Ruprecht interests remodeled it for a warehouse.

A building which at one time stood on the corner where the bank is now, was used for storage. Chas. Drake had his office as a fuel dealer and A. W. Lyle who was in the plumbing business from 1922-1940 kept his pipe supply there. It was bought by the Ruprecht Lumber Company and later taken down. In 1957 G. A. Ruprecht put up at considerable investment his Ready-Mix concrete plant on this site.

Coal sheds used by the late J. E. Drake and the upper lumber yard are next.

THE CLARENCE CO-OPERATIVE COMPANY

In the beginning of the year 1919 a group of farmers of the Clarence community felt there was a need for a Co-operative to handle lumber, building material, coal and feed in this community: Hence, a meeting was called on February 1, 1919 in Equity Hall, Clarence, Iowa at which time nine directors were elected to direct the organization to be known as The Clarence Co-operative Company. The nine directors were: E. C. Schluter, George Hansen, A. R. Bixler, Wm. Bachmann, Wm. Freese, John Greig, Wm. Smith, Earl Elijah, and Paul Pruess. E. C. Schluter was elected president, John Greig, vice-president, Earl Elijah, secretary, and Wm. Bachmann, treasurer. A charter was issued on February 26, 1919, with a capital stock of $20,000.00 for which shares were sold at $100.00 per share. This proved to be inadequate so the capital stock was increased to $50,000.00 in 1920 with an additional drive for new members and capital.

The site and stock of Donkle Brothers lumber yard was purchased and F. M. Darling was hired as first manager. A new lumber shed was erected in 1920 and other facilities added. In 1929 the elevator of Wilder Grain was purchased. The Company grew over the years, having both good and bad years along with the times.

In 1939 after 20 years of successful operations, the charter was renewed. Membership was reduced to $10.00 per share instead of $100.00, making it easier for the new members to join. Services for members were added and expanded through the years and new members joined.

A new elevator and feed mixing plant were constructed in 1945, and such facilities as an oat huller, crimper, and grinder were added. In 1949 three storage tanks were erected for storing Commodity Credit Corporation grain and in 1955 a flat storage building was added. These facilities provide storage for nearly 100,000 bushels of corn.

As business continued to grow, additional services and space were needed; thus, a storage building was added for storing feed and fertilizer and a few years later another was added.

In 1957 due to changes in the Co-operative law, it was found advisable to reorganize, dividing the membership stock into Class A and Class B Certificates, Class A being the producer memberships with eligibility to vote on the policy of the Co-operative and to hold office.

Further facilities and services were added in 1958 when a bulk feed truck was purchased and a new and larger feed mill was installed in the elevator.

The Clarence Co-operative Company has also been interested in the young people of the community. Each year the expenses have been paid for a number of boys and girls chosen to attend youth camps. The Co-operative has sponsored a Youth Public Speaking Contest in which several of our young people have qualified to enter the statewide contest. It has co-operated with other community organizations in a Co-op Day each year and recently has added a 4-H party for the young people.

The growth of the Co-operative has been phenomenal: the fixed assets increased from $8,362.95 in 1919 to $215,693.97 in 1958. The savings for the first year of operation was $2,022.00, while in 1958 the savings was $66,010.78. A total of $681,193.31 in savings since 1939 has been allocated to the patrons in the form of allocated patronage dividends. This is after taxes have been paid.

Officers, directors, and managers who have directed the policy of the Co-operative through the years of its existence are as follows: