The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1871-12-08
pleasing architecture. Among the
| handsome buildings lately erected is


corner of Commercial street and Fifth
avenue. It is eighty by twenty-four
feet, has modern improvements, and
cost SIS, 900. The lower floor and sec
ond story are used for business and of
fee purposes, and the upper story fitted
up as Masonic Hall. Messrs. Ruggles
s. Plumb are the leading lawyers in
this county, and have an immense prac-
tice.
LIEUT.. GOV. EsKRiDGE,
who has just been elected by q decisive
majority to a seat in the Lower House,
at Topeka, has lately completed a three
story and basement brick, on the corner
of Sixth Avenue and Commercial
street. 1t is of very attractive style of
architecture and cost $4,000. The up
per floor comprises q fine large hall,
known as Eskridge Hall, and is where
the Unitarians hold their services.
w. w. Williams, late of the Tribune
and Ne,cS, is rapidly putting on the fin
ishing touches to one of the finest bull
dings in the place. 1t is on the corner
of Sixth Avenue and Commercial street,
opposite Eskridge's, is two stories in
height, with basement, fifty feet front
eighty feet in depth, and will cost about
$4,000.
THE EMPoRIA NEWS
will occupy rooms in the building
when completed. The News is of re-
markable longevity for western week
ly, having been started when the town
numbered less than half dozen houses,
and holding its own ever since nearly
fifteen years of age.
BANK BUILDINGS.
Riggs Bank building, the Neosho
Valley Bank block, and Swallow s. Co.'s
bank buildings are all fine structures,
of handsome appearance, and costing,
in the aggregate, nearly 100000.
BANCROFT HALL.
There are many other buildings wor-
thy of note, among them BancrofPs
Hall, large and commodious structure,
on the corner of Commercial street and
Fifth avenue. The third story is deVo-
ted to an amusement hall, and a fine
one it is, capable of comfortably seat
ing seven hundred persons. With
good stage and scenic effects, it affords
first-class accommodation for those who
give the performances, as well as those
who witness them. Mr.. Bancroft is
the leading dealer in real estate, and
has done much toward building up the
town, his Hall having cost him nearly
$4,000.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.
The State Normal School is located
near this city, and on the twenty acres
of ground given the State by Giles Fill
ley, of st. Louis, who is largely inter-
ested in real estate and land about here.
The present building is but small and
contracted edifIce, by no means ade-
qnate to the requirements. The coming
legislature will be petitioned for an
appropriation of $4,000, and if grant
&c, the people of this town will add $685.
600 or $4,000 to that amount, and have
school building that will be an honor
to its location and the State. The
county court house is an imposing stone
structure, and cost $4,000. There are
two other school buildings at present,
and another will be erected in the
spring, when the aggregate property in
that line will amount to $4,000 or up
wards. The city has erected two board
ing houses, at cost of $4,000, for the
use of the students at the Normal
School.
BUSINESS MEN.
The great drawback to Emporla's
progress in early days was the dearth
of capital, not one IN ten of the settlers
coming here with any ready money.
Commencing on almost nothing, the
early merchants made their money by
dilligent work, stepping up but one
step at time. p. G. Hallberg, one OF
the leading business men of the day,
came here III the spring of $50 without
| a dollar. borrowing S25 at four per
cent. a month, he commenced business
| in little shanty on the outskirts of the
town. He now does a business OF
from $4,000, to $4,000 a year in gen.
eral merchandise, and also owns and
|
| the State. 1t is located adjacent to the
town on the south, and is worth $4,000
II. v. Bundrem commenced here in 80
with nothing but his hands, picking uI
| jobs in repairing saddles and harness
He is now the leading saddle and har.
ness maker and dealer in this section Of
the State, and does a very large bust
| ness.
Hall Brothers, prominent dry goods
merchants, commenced here as clerks
on small salaries. They are now doing
a business of from 100000 to S70,Q0[
year, and have just moved into a fine
| present season.
! Fred. Hirth, manufacturer and dealer
in furniture, upholstery, ETC., has built
up his now extensive business from
comparatively nothing, and we'll de-
serves his good fortune. His sales will
run close to $4,000 year. He has also
just erected and moved into a fine new
building.
Bancroft s. McCarter, both formerly
of Columbus, Ohio, have for some years
been the leading dry goods merchants
and do yearly business of upwards OF
A. A. Baker s. Co.. extensively en-.
gagged in groceries and fish, do about
| $4,000 a year.
G. f. Pierce & Co., who have branch
houses all over Southern Kansas, dc
here alone $4,000 year in lumber.
| G. w. friedrich, an old Settler, does
from $4,000 to $4,000 a year in gro
ceries.
Wicks s. Mayse, another old house
doing about the same.
More and Weaver and North & Shell.
mire are the leading dealers in drugs
both firms doing heavy business.
Holderman g. Bros, and j. M. Grit
fifth & Bro, carry very extensive stocks
in the hardware line, and each firm
does o yearly business of close on tc
$4,000 or $4,000.
! A S. Smith, q new conner, is rapidly
extending his business in dry goods and
boots and shoes, and, judging from
present sales, he will easily reach $780,
900 as the sum total of the first twelve
| mOnGnS. Associated Win Mr.. smith II
Mr.. Ed. Morrison, formerly of Tippe.
| canoe, Ohio, a most energetic and thor
ough young business man, and who
/ will ere many years make his mark
among the leading merchants of this
town.
| Kelsey s. Kernochan, also dealers in
groceries, do large business, and are
live, energetic men.
Wm. Clapp, for many years leading
dealer in boots and shoes and clothing,
does over 100000 year,
Perley s. Bearce do upwards of So
coo in slotAing, Mcmillan s. Cochran,
grocers, about $4,000, r. c. Haywood
3 Co., furniture, branch of st. Louis
house, about $4,000.
| BANKS.
There are three banking houses here,
the oldest of which is that of Swallow,
Heritage s. Soden established in '65,
and known as the Empori8 Bank. Mr..
| Swallow is well known all over the
State, having been Auditor for two
terms. The banking house Of which he
is the head, bears most enviable repU-
tation, and the business done Is extern
sive and profitable. The other two
banking institutions are the Neosho
Valley Bank, of which Fl. G. Cross is
President, and r. B. Hurst Cashier, and
the house of Riggs s. Dunlap. The ag-