Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-14
WHOLESALE oUEENSWARE.
The Pioneer Of the CrOckery Trade In
Nashville.


There may have been a queensware
house in Nashville previous to 1922, but if
so we have no know edge of it. Certain it
is that in about that year Mr.. Alexander
A. Cassidy established such a house here,
which he conducted until 1874, when Mr..
A. II. Hicks purchased the business. Mr..
Hicks had become associated with Mr.. Gas.
sady twelve years before as a clerk, so that
he has now been identified with this
branch of trade in Nashville ever since
1892, or a period Of forty-three years. In
1854 he admitted ldr. Darden as partner,
and in 1858 Mr.. Hicks sold his interest in
the business to Mr. Peacher. The follow
ing year he was compelled 10 repurchase,
and soon after he formed partnership with
JnO. G. Houston, under the firm name Of
Hicks & Houston, which continued until
the evacuation Of Nashville, when that
partnership was dissolved, and the firm be-
came A. 81. Hicks s. Co., which in 1865 was
succeeded by Hicks, Houston & Co. Felix
d. Fuller was one of that firm, and Henry
| B. Plummer not long after became q CO.
partner. Subsequently Mr.. Fuller retired,
and no change has since occurred in the
firm style, although j. S. Buford was ad
mitted as a partner in 1867 in the branch
house elsewhere a luueQ 70.
In 1859 Mr.. Hicks built the well known
Hicks Block, north side of the Public
Square, containing three stores, one or the
other of which has since been occupied.
In 1867 a branch house was established at
No. 81 North College street, and since then
both establishments have been carried on.
Mr.. Houston (whO is the buyer) and Mr..
| Plummer devote their time TO the old
house, while Mr.. Hicks chiefly remains at
.the house on College street. The first
named gentleman has been with the house
since 1856 Except during the war;, and
previous to coming to Nashville was identi-
fed with the Same line of trade in New
York. Mr.. PluDlmer was one Of the foun-
ders Of the wholesale dry goods house OF
Irby Morgan & Co. previous to the war,
and still previous to that was engaged in
retailing. He has been with the jObbing
trade Of town for at least twenty years.
Mr.. Pearson, the book keeper Of Hicks,
Houston & Co., is also known to everybody
who has had dealings with the house. He
has been associated with it ever since 1855,
and we doubt if either of the partners are as
well posted regarding their own business
as is he. Possessing a remarkable MEM
Ory and a thorough comprehension Of the
queensWare trade in all its details, he could
lily be spared from post he has filled so
long and so well.
Messrs. Hicks, Houston & Co. are i'm
porters as well IS jObbers Of queensware,
and their relations with the manufacturers
Of the old world are the same as that OF
other importers Of this country. The house
doSs but compa atively little travelling, al
though its trade reaches throughout essen
TALLY the same area as does that Of our
other jobbers.
The house on the Public Square does nc
retailing, and is confined wholly to job
bling of staple and fancy articles.
The College street house handles quite a
different class Of goods, and, while being Z
jObbing cencern, also has a large retail
business. Its specially may be said 70
consist in furnishing hotels, bars, residences
and a most beautiful display Of goods i:
made-such as is usual 10 a first-class
house Of its kind.
| The queensWare trade of the country ma:
many able representatives, but few of the
houses can boast a career extending ovel
more than half a century, as can the one
to which we here refer in so detailed {
manner. In the past t has borne its part
in the development of the jObbing trade o.
Nashville; in the future it viii do none tht
less.
Hicks, Houston & Co. represent tn,
famous "WedgewOOd" pottery of Stafford
shire, England, the Oldest pottery in the
old world and second to none in quality o
goods or in extent Of manufacture; The
firm are also representatives Of the oldes
China house N France, at Lemoges, anC
its facilities are unsurpassed anywhere.