W.E. Guild |
Green Bay Lumber Company |
J.W. Kennebeck |
Green Bay Lumber Company
The history of the business interests of Carroll would not be
complete without a mention of the Green Bay Lumber company.
In 1880 this company, then simply a co-partnership of which Mr.
E. C. Finkbine was the head, and doing business at Odebolt and
Ida Grove, came to Carroll and purchased the lumber yard owned
by Wm. W. Smith & Co. The town was small and the county new but
the people were rapidly improving their farms, and the towns
were springing up like magic all over the country, and the new
firm did a splendid business. In 1881 a new yard was started at
Manning, as a branch of the one at Carroll, and Mr. W. E. Guild,
who had been employed in the home yard, was made manager. This
yard also did a good business and furnished all the lumber that
went to build the new town.
In 1884 the Green Bay Lumber Company was organized into a
corporation under the state laws and Mr. E. C. Finkbine was made
president. The headquarters of the company was located at
Carroll. Business prospered with the company and new yards were
being established every few months at other points and its
interests began to assume vast proportions. In 1887 the business
had become extended over such a large territory that it was
found necessary to remove the headquarters to a point that would
enable them to have the advantage of road facilities, and Des
Moines was chose as the point. The company how has branches on
the Northwestern and its branches the Milwaukee and its
branches, the Rock Island and its branches the C. B. & Q. and
its branches lines. The total number of yards now owned and
operated by the organization number 49 through western Iowa, and
it is probably the largest lumber companies in the state.
A man who has contributed materially to the success of this
great enterprise is the auditor and treasurer, W. E. Guild, who
has worked from the bottom to nearly the top. He began in 1899
as a workman in the yards, at the place, and by his own exertion
and ability has earned the place he how holds. He has always
lived at Carroll since coming here in 1880, and is numbered
among her most respected and influential citizens. Those who
know him concede that he deserves the position he holds and that
he is fully capable to filling it. The officers of the company
now are E. C. Finkbine, president; W. E. Guild, auditor and
treasurer; and K. E. Jewett secretary. |
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