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Transcribed
by
Ann Selvig, from:
Allerton, Iowa Centennial, July 5-6 1874
-1974, 100 Years THE
GOUGHNOUR MOMUMENT CO. “97
Years Continuous Service”
In 1876 after completing his army service in
the Civil War, Jeremiah Goughnour moved his family
from Van Buren County, Iowa, to Allerton.
In 1877, he established the first monument
business in Wayne County at Allerton, Iowa. This was
in a small frame building north of what is now the
D-X station. It
opened January 1, 1877, with two men who were rough
cutters, one lettering man, and one man who did the
polishing. The
first spring, two more cutters were added. These men
cut bases for monuments from stone quarried at
Princeton, Missouri, and bought in carload lots. The
monuments were made of marble. These were
sawed from slabs broken from the quarries and
shaped, carved, and lettered in the workshop.
Jeremiah traveled extensively by horse and
buggy, as far south as Harrris, Princeton, and
Cainsville, Mo., some trips taking as long as a
month at a time.
He also covered southern Iowa.
The firm remained at the original site until
1881 when it was moved across the street. Different
locations along Central Ave. were used until 1914
when the building was badly damaged by fire. At this
time a brick structure was built on the site now
occupied by the Allerton Feed Co. In 1923 an
explosion at a nearby café again caused considerable
damage.
In 1887, at the age of 17, William M.
Goughnour began cutting marble for his family. His tools
were a wooden mallet, and a chisel made by his
boyhood friend, Lou Elwell. Wm. was a
talented musician, directing the K of P band for a
good many years.
This band traveled widely, playing for all
sorts of entertainments in Missouri and Iowa. He also
directed an orchestra for the Christian Church of
Allerton for many years. He was
active in the affairs of the community through the
years.
A brother, Edd Goughnour, joined the firm in
1901. From
1901 to 1915 the company was called Goughnour Bros. In 1915
Edd left the firm to resume farming near Allerton. The name
was changed to The Goughnour Monument Co. A son,
Melvin, helped in the company several years.
In these early days, it required a two-day
trip to set a monument at Humeston or Promise City,
using horses and heavy wagons. Five-ton
monuments were quite common.
In 1912, an air-compressor and an electric
hammer were installed.
This was quite an advancement in the way of
equipment.
The two adopted sons of Wm. and Nellie
Goughnour grew up in the monument business. Walter was
a skilled draftsman and engraver and worked for many
years, finally leaving to enter the ministry in the
early 1940’s. He
died in February of 1971.
Guy began traveling as a representative in
1936, covering southern Iowa and northern Missouri.
In 1933, the Goughnours purchased the
Gallagher Monument Co. of Corydon, Iowa, which they
continued to operate for several years before moving
it to Allerton.
In the early 1950’s a display was put in
Corydon. In
1940 the equipment was again up-dated by the
installation of a sandblast machine.
Wm. M. Goughnour managed the business until
his death in 1946.
His wife, Nellie also passed away the same
year.
In 1955, the entire plant was moved to
Corydon, Iowa where it is today. In 1962
they purchased the Leon Monument Co. in Leon, Iowa,
and a branch is there at this time.
The Goughnour Monument Co. has enlarged its
business to include the setting of granite shafts,
mausoleums, and other types of memorials in addition
to family monuments.
Through the use of a large portable hoist
furnished by the Ruark Garage of Allerton, they are
now able to set granite pieces weighing in excess of
twelve tons. In
1971, the very latest lettering equipment was
installed in the plant. This
includes a sandblast machine which is completely
automated.
The business of now owned and managed by Guy
N. Goughnour, assisted by his wife Ruth who works in
the design and drafting department. They have
three children, David, Steven and Barbara. The sons
have helped with the business and are thoroughly
acquainted with the operation.
At present, the firm has four contract
employees. One,
Ralph Lee, of Seymour has been with the company for
twenty-eight years.
The year, 1974 is the 97th
consecutive year of business for the Goughnour
Monument Co. We
are indeed grateful for the support given us by the
town of Allerton, and by Wayne County throughout the
years.
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