1854-1947
| Wilton History 1854-1947 | |
Source: Henry Wildasin's Revised History of Wilton, Iowa
***Containing a complete reprint of Wilton History 1854-1876 by Rider & Stevenson***1947
SOME of the SHOE STORES Israel Windus opened a shoe shop in the early days and continued in business until the railroad moved their terminus or division point in 1881. Then he moved to northwestern Iowa. He did a thriving business, employing as many as eight cobblers at one time. He was one of the early business men of Wilton.
C. Thomsen was a pioneer in the shoe business in Wilton. He at one operated a shop where Earl Whitmer's welding shop now is, then he had a shop in the building that was torn down, and now where the Masonic Temple now stands. He moved to Oklahoma quite a few years ago.
D. Ruff opened a shop in the early day. First on a small building on the south end of the west side of Cedar Street. Later moved to a larger building on the east side of South Cedar, and from there he moved into a building on the north side of 4th Street, where he built the two brick store rooms, one occupied by Dr. G. A. Whetstine and the other by D. V. Smull. These buildings are now owned by D. V. Smull. Mr. Ruff died in 1900.
J. H. Weih opened a shop and store, first in one of the rooms in the Dwyer building. Then he moved to a room on the east side of north 4th, where he did business for quite a number of years. His place of business was just east of the Wilton Savings Bank building. He sold out to J. A. J. Klein, who continued for some time then closed out and left town.
E. J. Covell opened a shoe store in the building where Eddie Johansen's barber shop is. He continued in the business for some time, then then he sold out or quit business and left town.
Geo. Holzhauer opened a shoe store and shop first in the building where the pool room now is, then he moved into the room that is now occupied by Daly's Cafe, and from there he moved to the Wise building. Now owned by Dr. D. L. Teasdale. He finally closed out.
Ed Miller opened a shoe store when he returned from Tipton, and he continued to serve the people until his health gave way. He then closed out his place of business. He died in 1943.
Ross Robinson had placed a few shoes on the market in his place of business, on the south side of 4th Street. He died in 1946.
Harry Petersen started a shoe repair shop in 1936---west of the Post Office---later he moved into the Teasdale building, next to Smull's Hardware. In 1946 he sold to Max Lauser, a returned war veteran, and is teaching him the trade.