The following is a list of businesses that were operating in Benton around 1920-1925:

1. Three grocery stores

2. Two barber shops

3. Two restaurants

4.

5.

6.

7. yard burned, and Fred AUGUSTINE then ran for State Representative, to which he was elected in 1932 and served terms in the Legislature.

8. Cream, eggs, and chicken buying stations: I don't remember who ran them first, but I do remember that Bud CAMPBELL did when he was in business.

9. Garages: One was run by Ike THARP and he sold Model T cars. The other, I think, was run for a time by Gail DALTON and Ed DARR.

10. Bank: Was headed by L.C. QUIET until the bank holiday in 1933, after which it never reopened.

11. Blacksmith shop: Operated by Herb DILLENBURG for years.

12. Doctor's office: Dr. LANDIS was there before moving later to Mount Ayr, Iowa.

13. Draying service: Operated for a good many years by Bondie OUDERKIRK. He hauled merchandise and freight from the depot to the stores and shops.

14. Opera House: A building that stood on the next corner west of where the post office is now located. Sometimes traveling shows would come to town and use it.

15. Post office: LaVantia BUTLER ran it for years.

16. Churches: Methodist and Christian.

17. School: Twelve grades.

18. Depot agent: A.D. NYE was agent for many years.

19. Stockyards: Located on south side of railroad tracks and east a little way. O.T. CAMPBELL (this was Bud CAMPBELL'S father) bought and shipped cattle from there.

20. Storage bins and buildings: I think Fred AUGUSTINE shipped in coal and sold it to people in Benton.

21. Railroad section crew: Crew boss was Mr. SCOT. Sometimes they employed as many as 20 men.

22. Taxi service: John RICE ran a taxi service between Benton and Mount Ayr for several years.

23. Telephone exchange: I think a family by the name of PARKHIRST ran it for awhile and later Clara CAMPBELL (Bud CAMPBELL'S mother) ran it for a long time. And, I think LaVantia BUTLER was operator for many years.

SOURCE: 1887 - Benton, Iowa Centennial - 1987. Pp. 166-67. Courtesy of Mount Ayr Public Library, Mount Ayr IA

Transcriptions and notes by Sharon R. Becker, October of 2012

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