The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-06-16

an old shop now torn down, west of tn
Institute, near the spot now occupied b,
Deaf and Dumb Haley. Nothing but al
old repair shop had existed in Columbia
and
KEEsEE AND WALKER
Made the first buggy ever manufactur.
ed in our town. In about one year, Mr.
Walker retired from the firm, and in a
few years Mr.. Keesee failed, but his
friends had confidence in him, his cred.
itors did not push him, and in ten years
he had worked entirely out of debt. Mr.
Jas: Walker, especially, acted the part
of friend. In 1912, Mr.. Keesee moved
his shop to the building now known as
| the "Ph9nix Shop" and took into part.
| nership, Mr.. Thos. w. Turpi.l, also from
Richmond, Va. In 1874,
KEEsEE & TURPIN
| Built fine brick building on the spot
now occupied by McGaw's Livery Sta
| bic, and continued in the coach manu-
featuring business until 1919, when they
so. out to
j. j. sARvEN.
In 1858 the Messrs. Sarven's shop was
burned down, together with the entire
block OF buildings between it and the
work manfully, however, and soon built
ed "Noah's Ark" ~ and for several years
manufactured a great many buggies,
etc., for the Southern market. They did
much to build up Columbia, but times
got hard, and in 1859 they suspended
business
In February, 1917, new firm,
CROSS & ETTHN
Was formed. Mr.. Robert Cross, was born
came from Richmond, Va They first
held forth in an old log cabin, on the
spot now occupied by the splendid es-
Enlistment of Kahn q Turpin. The
cabin was very small, Is by 20 feet, in
which they put smiths forge, and two
wooden benches, Mr.. Kuhn working at
one, and an apprentice at the other.
Mr.. Cross did the painting out in the
open air, and sometimes under the shade
ola tree. In December, 1853, MIR. Kuhn
bought out Mr.. Cross interest, and in
the following January the present CO.
partnership of
KUHN & TURPIN,
Was established. Mr.. Edward Kuhn,
the senior of the firm, was born in Rich
mond, Va, January %, 1925. He began
his apprenticeship 10 the carriage bust
ness in September, 1887, under J. E.
Laughton, of Richmond. He served
faithfully through his apprenticeship of
five years, and on the 18th of October,
1913, he left for Tennessee, with only
three dollars and half, and walked
nearly all the way. In February, 1874,
he landed at Columbia, and went to
work for T. w. Keesee, in the wood
work department of carriage making.
While he was working for Mr.. Keesee,
he concluded to go to Franklin on a
visit, and walked all the way, to save
the stage fare, $500. He bought pair
ofshoes in Franklin for 81 cents, about
the only expense heincurred. Wemen-
ton this little incident to show of what
but he determined to not always be so,
and pursued the proper course by not
being ashamed of his poverty. The
greatest drawback with the young men
of the present time, is not idleness, but
a false shame of their poverty. Mr..
Kuhn is emphatically self made man.
From poor penniless boy he has risen
to be man of wealth, and one of our
most valuable citizens. He did it not
by "luck,r however, bnt by earnest,
steadfast, indefatigable labor, of body
and mind. Although he is called
slave to work, he has not neglected the
better part, his intellect, and on almost
all practical matters of every day life,
and current topics, he is well informed.
In all enterprises calculated to develop
the material resources of this favored
land of ours, he is sure to be one of the
leaders, and the last to take his shoulder
from the wheel. He has long been one of
the Directors of the Maury County Ag-
ricultural, Mechanical, Horticultural,
and Live Stock Society; is an excellent
member and Treasurer of the Farmers
Club, and Captain of Fire Company No.
2, and very efficient Captain and men,
Der, at that. His neighbors have elected
him Mayor of our city several times,
which position he occupied with great
credit to himself. The very same zeal
and good practical sense, which lifted
him f.om poverty to affiuence. did not
foIsake him, when as Mayor, he, was
made guardian of the peoples interests.
Mr.. I. w. Turpin was born at or near
Richmond, Va, February 4th, 1870.
Like Mr.. Kuhn, he began to learn the
art of making carriages at the age of
10, with Ira Tichenor, of Richmond. He
came to Columbia in April 1913, and
went to work with T. w. Keesee, and in
F,
business. In 1919 he sold out to ]. & j.
Sarven, went back to Va. ,anG in 1858 came
back and entered into partnership with
Mr.. Z. KuhI, Kuhn & Turpin have
done a business of 5000, 900 since the for
nation of their partnership, and it is in
creasing rapidly every year. Since jan
uary 1871, they have paid out for lum-
Der, (Which they get in Maury county
mainly 81, 100. They employ about %
hands, paying them during the year ten
thousand dollars, and from the begin
ming $4,000. This establishment is a
very good immigration society, as near
ly all the employees are from abroad,
and would not otherwise have come
here.
Cross & Kuhn rented their shop from
DIR. j. w. S. Frierson, who fitted it up
for carriage shop for them. Preston
Smith, (afterwai DIS Brig Gen. in the
Confederate Army, and killed at the
battle OF Chicamauga,) bought the first
carriage they ever made. DIR. Frierson
owned the I'd or Sd one of their make.
In 1856 they were burned out, and
Kuhn & Turpin in 1862, loss about s., 900
by each fire. They are now insured in
home companies for Sl0,3 800. Mr.. Kuhn
superintends the smith shop,
PLOW DEPARTMENT,
And outside work. Mr. L. w. Turpin
attends TO the financial department,
| and the success of the establishment is
greatly due to his fine abilities and eN-
collent management. Everything is
! systematized.
] THE FARIS BROTHERS
| Have carriage establishment, and car
ried on a good business. VIM. III. Faris
and Marion Ham have retired and are
succeeded by Mr.. John T. Gartner, an
experienced coach blacksmith.
t. h. PATTON & co.
Had repair shop on Free street, short
| time.
THE THREE VIRGINIANS,
Col. I. W. Keesee, T. w. .Turpin, and
L. Kuhn, occupy prominent positions
among our business men, being able t.
command thousands of dollars, outside
of their own wealth, just because theil
lives have inspired confidence in theil
integrity.
THE AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS
Manufactured by Kuhn 6 Turpin, ar,
an important feature in their establish
ment. Their plows and Andrews Cot
ton Cultivator, Invented by w. J. An
drews, Esq, ofthis city, are being in
PRODUCED all over the State. and some o
the Southern States, and the day is com
ing when they will be able to supply
great potion of the Southern Market.