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The elevator of Boorman and Hard was built and finished in the fall of 1883, by the late owners. The main building was 40x42 feet upon the ground, with a height of 56 feet. The engine room was 30x15 feet with a fuel room attached 5x10 feet in size. The former contained a fine stationery engine of twenty-five horse power, which furnished an abundance of power for all practical purposes needed. The elevator had a capacity of storing 30,000 bushels, and was valued at about $13,000. This building was destroyed by fire during the fall of 1884.

Among the first lumber dealers in the city of Atlantic were John R. Reynolds and Getchell and Tichenor, who started in this line in 1869.

Harley Hawks established himself in the lumber business, about the time of the laying out of the town, but operated it for a short time only, selling out to J. Neimeyer, who continued it for about five years, when it was disposed of to Bryson, Son and Co. After a few years, the two senior partners of this firm retired, their interests being acquired by A. A. Hubbard, their junior partner. In 1878, the yard, stock and business was purchased by Robert Major, who continued to run it until 1882, wiien he admitted Charles Neimeyer to a full partnership, by purchase, and the business is now carried on under the firm name of Robert Major and Co. They carry a stock of from $10,000 to $15,000, including everything usually found in a first-class yard: doors, blinds, sash, building paper, paints, oils, etc.

Charles Neimeyer is a native of Butler county, Ohio, being born in 1858 and is a son of Jacob and Sarah (Art) Neimeyer, natives of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania. They were married in Pennsylvania, after which they immediately removed to Ohio, going all the way in a one-horse wagon. Here Jacob Neimeyer embarked in the gunsmith business which he followed until 1850, when he went to California, going by way of Cape Horn. Here he was engaged in the mines, where he succeeded in accumulating a mngnificent fortune. He remained in California about a year, when he returned to Ohio and built a saw-mill and purchased land for the lumber upon it. The land increased vastly in value, and he afterwards sold it for a nice speculation, which brought $36,500. ln 1861 he went to Pennsylvania, where he purchased one hundred acres of land in Bucks county. Here he found mineral, for which he was afterwards offered $350,000. He remained at this place about three years, accumulating property estimated at one million dollars. In 1865 he went to the oil regions and in 1866, settled at Georgetown, Kentucky, where he again found mineral, but which did not prove successful. He lost everything he had on account of the company abandoning him. He then returned to Ohio and in 1869 came to Atlantic where he engaged at his trade--thatof gunsmith--which he followed until his death, which occurred July, 16, 1884. Charles Neimeyer was educated in the district school, not having the advantages of an academic education. He came with his parents to Atlantic in 1869, where he has since remained. He was married July 16, 1883, to Verde McDermott, a daughter of J. B. McDermott, a native of Ohio, who resides in Benton township. Mr. Neimeyer is a member of the Knights of Pythias and Independent Order of Odd Fellows and politically is a staunch Republican. Mr. Neimeyer is a young man of marked business ability, and is fast gaining a competency.

The lumber yard of Crombie and Shaw was established by Chambers Brothers, in 1872. These parties operated the yard for a short time, when they were succeeded by the Muskegan Lumber Company, who continued here for four years when they, in turn, disposed of it to the Atlantic Lumber Company. This was composed of Messrs. Milner and Rutt. In the spring of 1878, the present firm purchased the interest of these parties, and have prosecuted the business ever since. They carry a stock of about $10,000, comprising everything in their line.

The lumber yard of Lamson and Dierks, was established in Atlantic, in August, 1882, by these parties. They opened several branch yards, at the smaller stations on the Rock Island road. In the spring of 1884, the business was divided between the partners, and the yard here is run by Mr. Dierks. They carry a fine stock of lumber and other building material, that will invoice about $7,000.

Byron Lamson was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, October 22, 1833, and is a son of Oregin and Eliza (Patterson) Lamson, natives of the same State. Mrs. Lamson died in Massachusetts, in 1847. The subject of our sketch was reared in his native county, receiving an academic education. In 1853 he went to Wisconsin, stopping with his brother, who came to that State in 1843, and who was one of the early settlers of Grant county. In 1860 he was married to Harriet Danforth, in Illinois. In September, 1869, he came to Cass county, where he was employed by the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroad for five years, after which he was engaged at Walnut, in the lumber business; since which time he has been engaged in the lumber business at Atlantic. His father died in Grant county, Wisconsin, in 1876, going there in 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Lamson are the parents of three children living: Emma E. and Mamie F., now students at Lake Forest, Illinois, and Danforth Lamson.

Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass, March, 2022 from: "History of Cass County, Together with Sketches of Its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens", published in 1884, Springfield, Ill: Continental Historical Co., pp. 871-873.