LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA

The Wapello Republican
June 18, 1981, Section B, Page 20
Transcribed by Shirley Plumb, July 14, 2018

THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY OF 1899

PLASTERERS

    The above trade is represented by C. P. Lacey, H. F. Ogden and O. W. Ives, all good workman.

STONE, MASONS AND BRICKLAYERS

    In this important department we have the following skilled workmen: Ben Oates, J. F. Olger and Geo. Zewen.

IMPROVEMENTS OF 1898

    Following is a list of the buildings erected and additions made in Wapello during the year 1898. It is a fine showing for our city and demonstrates that Wapello is making a sure, steady, substantial growth. The past year was a very busy one for mechanics of all kinds and the coming year bears evidence of a continuance of the same. The list does not include repairs, neither does it include the building done in the country about Wapello. The improvements all within the city limits.

J. W. Elrick 1 ½-story cottage	$1,500.00
B. F. Ogden 1 ½-story cottage	$650.00
Frank Beane 1 ½-story cottage	$600.00
F. D. Archibald 1 story cottage	$850.00
Cass. Taylor 1 story cottage	$800.00
Chas Ruthenberg 2 story residence	$2,000.00
R. Fotsch 1 1/2-story cottage	$600.00
E. L. Taylor 1 story cottage	$850.00
Dr. F. Tustison addition	$250.00
Chas. Hettier addition	$300.00
Albert Townsend cottage	$500.00
Harry Sleigh 1 ½-story cottage	$900.00
Baxter Bros Co addition	$1,500.00
D. C. Thomas addition to store room	$1,000.00
Commercial Bank improvement	$700.00
Wapello Depot for M. N. & S. railroad	$1,400.00
Stock yards for B. C. R. & N. railroad	$1,200.00
J. W. Elrick barn	$300.00
H. Sleigh barn	$250.00
John Sunders cottage	$600.00
Henry Hunt 2 cottages 1 ½ -story	$1,200.00
H. O. Weaver barn	$400.00
John Keck cottage	$600.00
S. Thompson addition	$400.00
Ervin Graham addition	$400.00
Henry Hunt addition	$200.00
William Morgan 1 ½-story cottage	$1,000.00
H. J. Owens cottage	$600.00
H. H. Davison cottage	$400.00
Hugh Newell 2 story residence	$900.00
R. F. McConnell 1 ½-story cottage	$1,200.00
Mrs. Keever 1 story cottage	$400.00
Joseph Price addition	$300.00
Wapello school house improvement	$1,000.00
Louisa County jail improvement	$500.00
L. W. Loan addition to barn	$150.00
C. M. Wright addition to barn	$100.00
Methodist parsonage addition	$150.00
Wm. Whited addition	$300.00
Jas. McChesney barn	$200.00
Mrs. Weston addition	$200.00
A Bird barn	$300.00
S. Martin barn	$150.00
Total	$28,200.00

F. MOTTET

    Conducts a restaurant and bakery, where everything in the line of confectionary, nuts, fruits, cigars, tobacco, canned good, etc., are kept constantly on hand. His bakery department is a leading feature of his business, and he makes a splendid quality of bread that is quite generally used by those who are in the habit of buying that commodity. He is a practical baker of many years’ experience. He knows just what the trade demands, and he aims to supply their wants at all times. Mr. Mottet has been in business in Wapello three years, and he has succeeded in building up a good trade. He is deserving of all he obtains and the REPUBLICAN hopes he may continue to prosper.

E. T. MILBOURN

    Conducts a general blacksmith and horseshoeing business with shop located at the rear of the Traveling Men’s Hotel. He is a good workman with several years’ experience and is giving good satisfaction. He is a prominent member of the Sons of Veteran camp and withal a good citizen.

LEE SING

    Runs a Chinese laundry in Plitt’s building next to Keck Bros. He established himself here three years ago and has succeeded in working up a good trade. He does work that gives splendid satisfaction.

J. S. McCHESNEY

    The above gentleman conducts the only dray line in Wapello and also handles all of the hard and soft coal used here. He runs a bus line as well and carries the United States express. He does an immense business, and it requires the services of three teams and two men besides himself to do the work. He has been in the business several years, and always makes it a point to attend to the wants of his patrons promptly.

H. J. SCHMEIZER

    The above gentleman established a casket factory in Wapello several years ago and he has been doing a good business each year ever since. The factory is located near the M. N. & S. railway and is well arranged for work. He makes an excellent grade of coffins and caskets that compare very favorable with other manufacture.

THE WAPELLO REPUBLICAN

R. B. HAWKINS. Publisher

Republican Established in 1859
Record Established in 1870
Consolidated in 1894

Official Paper of the City and County

Subscription Price - $ 1.50 a Year in Advance.

Advertising Rates – Display advertisements 10 cents an inch each insertion. Local readers 10 cents a line first insertion, 5 cents a line each subsequent insertion. All advertisements run until ordered out.

Entered at the post office in Wapello at second class rates.

    We cannot close this write-up of Wapello and her business firms without saying a few words for the leading paper of this city and Louisa County. It not only has the largest circulation of any paper published in Louisa County, but has the best equipment and is the most enterprising. It is also the oldest paper in the county, having been established in 1859. It has stood the test of years, and is today in a better condition than any time in its history, with still brighter prospects lying before it. The present published bought the paper from C. M. Wright on September 3, 1896. It had the largest circulation of any paper in the county at that time, and by hard work and the assistance of an appreciative public, we have been able to add to that list each year. At the time we took possession of the REPBLICIAN the equipment was not what it ought to be, or the business of the office required, but with the expenditure of a few hundred dollars we have supplied the necessary machinery, type and printing material of various kinds which make the mechanical department the equal of any country newspaper in Iowa. Our motto has always been: “What is worth doing at all, is worth doing well,” and a glance through the REPUBLICAN office will be sufficient to convince you that we have closely observed the motto. To be sure there are other good newspapers published in the county, but the REPUBLICAN safely leads them all. With a county circulation of 950, its value as an advertising medium is at once apparent to every shrewd business man.

    In the matter of local, county, state and general news the REPUBLICAN publishes everything that is important. It does not stoop to the publication of trashy gossip and sensational scandals nor does it resort to personal abuse of any individual. What it does aim to do is to give all the legitimate news all the time, thus making a paper that can be read by all members of a household. It is what you may term a family newspaper—clean, newsy and reliable.

    In politics it is uncompromisingly Republican, but not that narrow kind that sees no good in any party or individual who differs from its views of the political questions of the day.

    There has been rapid advances in the art preservative in the last few years, and the REPUBLICAN is keeping pace with the times. The American people are constantly becoming educated to artistic printing, and we have taken great pains to satisfy their desire. There are printers and printers, but none turn out more satisfactory or artistic work than that done by this office. The premises occupied are 20 x 60 feet on the first floor, well stocked with a large number of new fonts of type of the latest styles and pattern, Prouty cylinder press and 11 x 17 Gordon job press, operated by a gas engine and other appliances pertaining to the industry. All kind of printing are equally undertaken, the chief lines being legal and commercial work, catalogues, circulars, pamphlets, letter, note and bill heads, envelopes and a general line of business printing, including embossing, as well as society and private work, such as certificates, ball and concert programs and tickets, wedding and reception cards, a specialty being made of artistic printing of all kinds and for all purposes. There is nothing in the printing line but what we are capable of doing, including blank work and binding. Mr. J. A. Bigger, foreman of the offices, as well as the publisher, are practical printers of many years’ experience and understand the business from the rudiments up.

GEO. O. FOOR

    Geo. O. Foor is as popular a barber as one can find in a long journey. He has a comfortable shop on the ground floor next to the REPUBLICAN office and it is the resort of many people who enjoy a clean shave and artistic work. He has two chairs, and enjoys a good patronage.

HUNT & SCHWOB

    Of the many reliable business firms in Wapello none occupy a more prominent place than that of Hunt & Schwob, who do a general blacksmith and repair work, manufacture wagons, and sell buggies and farming implements of all kinds. This firm was established in 1894 and succeeded by true merit and honest business methods in gaining a patronage that requires the service all the year around of two men –Theodor Schwob and Ed Hunt—in addition to the members of the firm. This firm’s place of business is prominently located and is supplied with all necessary machinery such as a lathe, circular saw, buzz saw, trip hammer, et., all run by a gas engine. Both members of the firm have had years of experience in the business and know just how to do work that pleases and give complete satisfaction. In the buggy line they handle the product of D. M. Sechler, Laporte and McFarland. They manufacture the Hunt & Schwob wagon with wood and steel running gear. In farming implements they handle the following well-known makes: McCormick binders and mowers; Morrison plows: Avery Planter Co.’s threshing machines, planters, cultivators, etc. Mr. Hunt is one of the early settlers of Louis County, coming here in 1846. He afterwards moved away, returning in 1879. Mr. Hunt is now serving his first term as alderman from the third ward. E. Schwob is a native of Switzerland and came to this country in 1882. He lived three years in Burlington and then moved to Wapello in 1885. The present partnership was formed in 1892, and their business relations have always been pleasant.

C. W. WARREN

    A thoroughly practical and professional horseshoer is something not often seen in a town the size of Wapello, but such is the above gentlemen, and he enjoys a prosperous business the year around. He makes a specialty of horseshoeing and seldom undertakes any other class of work in the blacksmith line. He draws trade for many miles around Wapello and his reputation among horsemen is not confined to Louisa County by any means. He is considered by good judges to be one of the finest horseshoers in Southeastern Iowa, and he spares no expense or labor to enhance the value of his work.

    Mr. Warren is thoroughly honorably and reliable, and has the complete confidence of the people. He is at present serving his second term as alderman of the third ward to the entire satisfaction of the people. He is also chief of the volunteer fire department of Wapello.

C. T. RHOADES

    A first class barber is a necessity in every community, and C. R. Rhoades comes about as near filling the bill in that respect as it is possible for one to do. He has a comfortable shop on the second floor over the Commercial Bank and is assisted in the work by Elmer Higginbottom, also a very capable artist. That their work is satisfactory is evidenced by the splendid trade they have. Mr. Rhoades expects to occupy one of the brick buildings to be erected by Mr. Plitt in the spring.

W. A. SILVERTHORN

Picture: W. A. Silverthorn

     The furniture trade of Wapello is very extensive and covers a vast amount of territory throughout the county tributary to this city. Chief among the establishments of this kind is the well-known house of W. A. Silverthorn. He carries a full and complete line of upholstered and common furniture pictures and picture frames, bedroom suits, mirrors, moldings, carpet, rugs, curtains, etc., which he sells at the very lowest prices consistent with the quality of goods carried. The business was established in 18880 and has since kept pace with Wapello growth. During this period fire destroyed his building stock, but Phoenix-like, he arose from the ashes and after a time built a better building and put in a larger stock. Mr. Silverthorn is at present a member of the city council from the second ward.

H. A. WEBER

     H. A. Weber writes insurance, loans money, and does a general real estate business. He represents some of the Best fire insurance companies in the country and his rates are as low as anyone’s. He is perfectly reliable and worthy of your patronage.

L. P. WELLS

    Any account of the business men and history of Wapello would be far from complete that should neglect to make special mention of L. P. Wells, “Bonaparte” as he is commonly called. He has been identified and has taken an active part in the making of Wapello in history. Coming here at an early day he has witnessed the growth of Wapello from its foundation. He is a man far from its foundation. He is a man far above the average in intelligence and his well-developed mind has been put to a good use. Of late years he has been conducting a flour store, handling the best grades of northern flour. He does a wholesale and retail business and his trade extends over many miles of territory tributary to Wapello. Mr. Wells has held the office of treasurer of the school board for a number of years, and is one of the most conspicuous members of No. 5, A. F. & A. M.

CHAS. W. JOHANN

Picture: Chas. W. Johann

    The above named gentleman is one Wapello’s most active and progressive young businessmen and he has built up a trade in pianos, organs, and sewing machines that reflects much credit upon himself and the reliable class of goods he handles. Mr. Johann was born in Wapello and has lived here continuously with the exception of an absence of three years. He has been in business nine years, and has so conducted himself that his patronage is increasing rather than diminishing. He, like many other Wapello business men, has great faith in the future advancement of our city, and is bound to “keep up with the procession.” Of the goods he handles are these well known makes in pianos: Emerson, Bush & Gerts, Schiller and Gibson. In organs he has Steven’s reed pipe organ, Lehr, Bentley and Waterloo. His sewing machine line contains these well-known makes: White, Queen, New Royal and New Model. Mr. Johann also carries a line of musical merchandise and sheet music. The REPUBLICAN can cheerfully recommend Mr. Johann as a reliable business man.

V. B. BEANE

    The reliability of the companies insuring and the standing of the agency placing insurance, are factors to be considered by all seeking protection from loss by fire. V. B. Beane has conducted an insurance agency in Wapello for several years and represents several of the best companies doing business in the United States. All insurance he places is first class and adjustment upon a fair and liberal basis immediately follows all losses incurred. Mr. Beane is painstaking in the explanation of the condition s of policies to his patrons, and is thoroughly reliable at all times. He makes a specialty of writing life insurance, and is agent for the Bankers’ Life, of Des Moines, a very strong mutual company doing a big business. Mr. Beane has been a resident of Wapello for a number of years, during which time he held the office of county recorder for six years. He is a good citizen and an honorable gentleman and the REPUBLICAN feels free to recommend him at all times.

WALLACE KLINE

    The above gentleman has been in the barber business in Wapello for a number of years, and there is nobody in this section of the county but what is acquainted with him. He is located in the room next door to the post office, and gets his share of the business. In addition to laboring he conducts a billIard hall.