Rock Rapids Review
Rock Rapids, Lyon County, Iowa
June 21, 1900
BUSINESSES OF LYON COUNTY
MISS LEORA MACDONALD
The history of Rock Rapids should naturally include our musicians
and Miss Macdonald is a lady of whom we are proud. She is a
thorough musician, a particularly skillful piano player, and she
devotes her whole time to this most beautiful of all the arts. We
are glad indeed that she is located here. She teaches by the
latest and best methods and we know that her pupils make
surprising progress. She puts heart and soul into her work, and
she is altogether a fine type of the finished, up-to-date
musician. She has received a splendid musical training and she
has been favored with strong endorsements from competent judges.
J.T.WHIPKEY
Mr. Whipkey operates a lunch counter, and has built up a brisk
trade. He has engaged a professional cook, keeps his place neat
and clean, and does his utmost to please patrons. He has a way
about him that makes friends as well as customers, and he is
honest and energetic in all his dealings. His establishment
deserves to be patronized, as he gives good value every time. Mr.
Whipkey is a highly intelligent, pleasant gentleman, and we give
him by right a worthy place in this history. He serves regular
meals, also short orders.
H.B.MEIS
Here is a very capable and successful representative of the real
estate interests and he gets a large share of the trade in his
line. He is of undoubted integrity, possesses keen judgment and
can be relied on every time. His record speaks for itself, and
there is no need for us to eulogize him. No one occupies a more
important position than the real estate man, as they are always
sounding the praises of our section and bringing people as
settlers to this city and surrounding country. Mr. Meis has had
considerable part in the up-building of this part of the state,
and has successfully negotiated many important deals. He has some
genuine bargains in real estate is a man of financial
responsibility and pleasing personality. Any representations made
by this gentleman can be relied on every time, and every bank in
our city will vouch for him in every way.
ELIAS DUNKEL
Without music no home is complete and no home is well furnished
without a piano. To much care cannot therefore be exercised in
the purchase of so costly and essential a feature of home
delight.
Here is a gentleman who is not only a musician but also an
honorable, up to date, business man, and he keeps on hand pianos,
organs, other musical instruments; and practically every thing in
the music line. He stands very well in this line, and he
understands this artistic business in all its phases. He also
deals in sewing machines, and he does very well in this branch
also. His patronage is growing, and his position in social
circles is a very creditable one. He should not be left out this
history.
CROSE & CARPENTER
In reviewing our real estate interests, these gentlemen command a
very high place. They are substantial, go ahead, and enterprising
people of rigid integrity, and they deserve well of this
community. They are experts in their line and their methods of
doing are honorable and up to date. Their advice on property
values is often sought, and they have ample capital, and every
facility for doing a large business. They have many desirable
farms for rent or for sale in this state, also Minnesota and
South Dakota, and they have recently sold an immense quantity of
land in the Dakotas. Both these gentlemen are able lawyers as
well though they confine their practice mainly to work in
connection with their own land interests. It is said that Mr.
Carpenter will shortly move to Breckinridge, and he will have
with the best wishes and good will of every member of the
community and Breckinridge will receive an important acquisition.
The GOLDEN RULE STORE (BREWER & SMITH)
Here are gentlemen of energy, spotless integrity and enterprise,
and they are winning. Their store is indeed well names, as they
apply the Golden Rule to all their dealings, and their
establishment makes friends as well as patrons. Misrepresentation
is positively forbidden, and anything bought there can be relied
on every time. There is no better novelty store in this part of
the state, and their stock of crockery is the largest in the
county. Everything usually found in a novelty store is found on
their shelves and counters, and their business is conducted on a
very high plane. They are both from Chicago, and they brought
with them a great deal of that winning quality known as Chicago
"hustle," and the prosperity they are meeting with has
been deserved in every respect. They began in a modest way, but
their business grew steadily, and they now rank among our most
energetic merchants.
I.C. LIBBY
Mr. Libby represents the Standard Oil Company here, plays an
important part in the progress and up building of this county,
and therefore deserves a high place in this history. He also owns
and operates the Evergreen Dairy, one of the best establishments
of the kind in the state, and there is no better, purer milk to
be had anywhere. Absolute cleanliness in his motto, and he may
well be considered an expert in that line. He controls
practically all the trade here, and he runs his business on
correct, honorable, up to date principles. Mr. Libby also owns a
great deal of fine stock; horses, hogs, etc., and has been very
successful in breeding the same. He is known in this line all
over the west, and he is a splendid judge of the fine points of
an animal. His fancy poultry should not be forgotten, as there
are no better Plymouth Rocks anywhere than those he has. He has
likewise other fine strains, and his establishment is one of the
sights of the town. Mr. Libby is successful in his undertakings,
as he possesses large capital, is keen and thoroughly honorable
in all his dealings, and is progressive in every respect.
H.C. MIDDLEBROOK
As we intend mention in here our substantial citizens of
character and influence, we wish to say a good word for this
gentleman. He is an expert jeweler and a business man whose word
can be depended on every time. Mr. Middlebrook is located in the
Post Office lobby, and he is always on hand to see that business
runs smoothly and that customers are attended to promptly and
courteously. His profession is one requiring artistic taste and
deftness of touch, but he is well adapted for it in every way. He
is also the new agent here, and he does a large trade in this as
well. Mr. Middlebrook also deals in fancy strains of foul, and
his reputation in this line extends through the state. He has
taken many prizes and he is known as an expert. He handles Silver
Wvandottes, Light Bramas, Imported Rose Comb, Buff Orpingtons,
and Partridge Cochins. Mr. Middlebrook possesses considerable
public spirit and local pride, and he is always willing to do his
part for worthy local newspaper enterprises for the benefit of
the city. Mr. Middlebrook is also an inventor of note having no
less than five letters patent on musical instruments.
MRS. BROWN
Here is a millinery establishment that on its merits alone is
entitled to a very high place in this history, as our ladies
patronize her very extensively, and we might add very wisely,
too. She keeps only those hats and bonnets that she knows will
please, and she has built up a very large trade. She is
painstaking, accommodating and courteous in dealing with her
patrons, and her skill and moderate prices are appreciated by our
people, as shown by her heavy custom. No other milliner in the
county gives better value than this lady, and she is an adept at
this refined and artistic business. Personally she is an
agreeable and competent lady of the highest respectability. It
should be said to her credit that she is always willing to do her
part for worthy local newspaper enterprises for the benefits of
the best interests of the city.
MRS. M.E. FEEHAN
A visit to the millinery parlors of this lady will convince
anyone that she is one of the leaders in her line. She does a
brisk business, and her hats and bonnets would do credit to a
city much larger than ours. She has excellent taste, and her
skill is placed at the service of her patrons at a very moderate
figure. This profession is one requiring artistic taste. In a
high degree, but one glance at her beautiful hats and bonnets
will show that she is well adapted for it. This is a model
millinery emporium, and it has always been conducted on a very
high plane, no pains being spared to please patrons. Her goods
are always in style, and the most fastidious could be suited from
her extensive stock. She is a lady of taste and refinement and is
highly esteemed.
STRAIT & WOODWARD
To remember those who have gone before is a sacred duty, and we
can show our affection for the "dear departed" in no
more enduring manner than by erecting suitable monument over
their last resting places. We should therefore congratulate
ourselves on having these gentleman located here. They are
thorough, prompt and skillful in their work, and they understand
the monument business in all its phases. There is no reason
whatever for any of our residents patronizing out of town people
as long as Messrs. Strait & Woodward are located here. They
have many designs on hand to select from, and their prices are
always moderate. They do all kinds of cemetery work, and the
graveyards in this part of the state contain many fine monuments
they have erected, their work speaking for itself. Messrs. Strait
& Woodward are honest as the day is long, pleasant people to
do business with and their credit in commercial circles is gilt
edged.
O.A. PHILLIPS
Here is a gentleman who is making a success of the business, and
we therefore mention him very cordially in this history. He
conducts a restaurant and lunch counter, and his place is neat
and attractive. The cooking is excellent, the service is prompt
and polite, and altogether, there is no better meal for the money
served anywhere. Up to date is his watchword, and he seldom or
never loses a customer. He has a thorough knowledge of the
business and his prices are very reasonable. He is a good
business man and a progressive citizen.
PATRICK MULHALL
As we wish to include in this history the leading horseman of
this section, this gentleman should have a high place here. He is
an expert in his line, and there is no more reliable man in the
county. He has been many years in this business, and there is
very little about a horse he does not know. He owns the famous
stallions, "Victor," "King Chief " and
"Onawa" and they have sired many notes animals. Mr.
Mulhall also owns a valuable farm, and is considered as one of
our successful agriculturists. He is a pleasant and liberal
gentleman.
L.H. LARSEN
Mr. Larsen is one of the best harness makers in the county, and
he carries a line of goods that would please the most fastidious
horsemen. His prices, too, are always right; he is thoroughly
honest and progressive, and he devotes his personal attention to
the business. He has on sale everything in the harness line;
blankets, whips, robes, dusters, track good. In fact everything
pertaining to the horse; and when goods are purchased from him
they can be relied on to prove exactly as represented. His prices
are as low as the same class of goods can be purchased for
elsewhere. Mr. Larsen is a keen buyer and knows his trade like a
book; we therefore give him a prominent place in this history.
There is nothing mean or small about him, and he believes in
doing his part for worthy newspaper enterprises for the benefit
of the city.
DR. C.H.HACKETT, VETERINARY SURGEON
Veterinary science is well represented by this gentleman, and it
is but right that he should have a high place in this history. He
has an expert knowledge of diseases of the horse and other
domestic animals, and he has effected some really remarkable
cures. He has handled some very valuable animals and farmers and
horsemen have the utmost confidence in him. He has been
practicing here for many years, and he is the leader in his line
in this county. He is a graduate of the Ontario Veterinary
College and has been located here seven years. Theoretically as
well as practically he is well up in his profession and it should
be noted that his prices are very reasonable. He has always
maintained a spotless reputation, and he is liberal and
progressive in his business methods. He has considerable public
spirit and local pride, and he believes in doing his share for
worthy local newspaper enterprises for the benefit of the city.
MISS DOROTHY HIGGINS
No review of our city would be complete unless we referred to our
artistic element and Miss Higgins is a very worthy and successful
representative of the arts indeed. She is a musician of no
ordinary talent, and a brilliant success may be confidently
predicted for her in wider fields than this county. She has
studied under excellent masters, and her natural ability combined
with her perseverance, keen intelligence, and the artistic
instinct has placed her in the front rank of pianists. She has a
large number of pupils, and we do not think they could receive
better instruction anywhere. Miss Higgins, it may be added, is a
lady of broad general culture, and pleasing personality, and it
is with pleasure that we give her a well merited place of
distinction in these pages. Miss Higgins has had charge of the
choir of the Holy Name Church, and for the last two years has
been the organist giving eminent satisfaction to all.
THE IOWA SAVINGS BANK
This concern claims by right a leading place in this history as
it is an institution which is a great credit to the city, and is
doing a large and increasing business. It is a sound and
liberally patronized bank, and it is an important factor in the
prosperity of our city. Only the safest kind of banking is
transacted by these gentlemen, and they realize that the
officials of a savings bank in all their dealings must be
carefulness itself for their's is a sacred trust indeed. The
growth and development of this institution is a matter of local
pride, and every possible inducement consistent with business
principles is offered our people to open accounts whether the
amount be large or small The officials are men of honor, public
spirited and marked financial capacity: President J.W. Ramsey,
Vice President L. Sutter, Cashier, F.L. Sutter. It was originally
established in 1892, and incorporated in 1899 as a Savings Bank
under an entirely new management. The bank is equipped with the
latest devices for the protection of its funds, and no requisite
of a high class bank is lacking..
VICKERS & WEBBER
We should be doing a great injustice to our readers if we failed
to speak highly of this concern. Their record does them honor
indeed, and we have yet heard a word of complaint against them
personally or their methods of doing business. They carry a
specially fine line of drugs, wallpaper, paints etc., and prices
are always at the lowest notch consistent with correct commercial
principles. They have a splendid grasp of the drub business, in
all its phrases. Here one may be absolutely sure that
prescriptions will be compounded from ingredients of unquestioned
strength, and purity. Substitution is unknown here, and it is no
wonder that they do a thriving business, and are the leaders in
their line here. They also carry a very fine line of jewelry,
employ very skillful watchmakers, and no better goods are sold
anywhere in Northwestern Iowa. In short our people have the
utmost confidence in this establishment and the proprietors are
pleasant, liberal gentlemen, who possess their full share of
public spirit and local pride and believe in doing their part for
worthy local enterprises for the benefit of the city.
OLE OLSON
No office is more important than that of treasurer and the man
who fills it must possess the absolute confidence of our people.
Mr. Olson, however, is a man who is as true as steel, and he can
be counted on at all times. He has lived this county for twenty
years and on satin has ever rested on his good name. Like a good
citizen he has always taken considerable interest in public
affairs and he has long since won the good will of his fellow
men. He is now filling his second term, and his services give
eminent satisfaction to all regardless of party. He has been
engaged in the mercantile line and his credit in commercial
circles has always been gilt edged.
J.W. KACHELHOFFER
As this history will be a permanent record of the business and
professional men of this city and their interests and will be
largely circulated, we think it but right to include among our
lawyers of standing and ability this gentleman. He is a bright
young attorney and is rapidly coming to the front. He has had the
benefit of a college as well as office training, and it addition
to legal knowledge he has good judgment, alertness, and a great
deal of natural keenness. The success of a gentleman of his stamp
can be easily predicted. He is a native of Illinois but has lived
here some years, and is very favorably known in this part of the
state.