The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-02-03
BENNINGTON.
ITS Business Nnen.

umns notices of our different manufactur-
ing establishments, together with brief
histories of its churches, Its schools, its
free library, its court houses, and other
items of interest, not only to our own peo-
rle, but to the other readers of The GLOBE.
The question has often been asked of the
writer, "Why do you not let people know
who its prominent business men, outside of
those engaged in manufacturing, are?' and
knowing that such items are eagerly read,
we propose, in this and another article to
follow, to briefly refer to some of Its lead
ing merchants and those engaged in dit
ferent branches of business. Commencing
with the oldest establishment in town we
come to the widely known firm of
GRAVES, ROOT AND CO.,
the two senior partners having been in bust
ness here for a period of thrty-six years.
In 1888 Luther II. Graves and Henry G..
Root, both young men, and possessed of
but little means, came from Templeton,
Mass, and established themselves in the
tin business at Center Bennington, the
building then occupied by them being still
standing in that village. For many years
the business of the young firm was quite
light, but knowing that in the end perse-
verance and energy will succeed, they
maintained 'the even tenor of their way"
Mr.. Root working at the bench and max
ing the ware, while Mr.. Graves, driving the
cart, disposed of it to the farmers adjoin-
ing, not forgetting to call on the village
people at stated intervals. In 1874, wish
ing to occupy more room in their business,
Bennington, they came to this village and
| purchased tract Of land consisting of ten
acres. From that time until 1868, there
were associated with them in the business,
| N. b. Harwood, now prominent business
man of ST. Paul, MIMI, +. Harwood and
Daniel Desmond. In 1868 William II.
Graves Oldest son of the senior partner was
admitted to the firm, since then the firm
being Graves, Root & Go. From small
beginning the firm became one of the
strongest and best known in Vermont they
now employing twenty-five men, and do
ing business amounting to over $4,000
per year. Their store and shop is located
on Main street, the supervision is taken by
the junior partner, Mr.. L. Il. Graves, de-
voting nearly all his time to the National
bank of Bennington of which he is presi-
dent. Nothing in their line of business can
be called for which they cannot furnish,
their tinware all being made in the shop.
They are the agents tor Bennington of the
celebrated Mansard cook and Morning
Glory heating stove. Mr.. Root and Mr..
| Graves senior have been honored in many
ways by their fellow citizens, the fortuer
having been several times elected to the
higher branch of the state legislature, and
in addition to representing the town Mr.
Graves has for several years filled the po-
sitioh of town treasurer. They are both
prominent men in the religious societies
with which theyssare connected, Mr.. Root
with the Congregational and Mr.. Graves
with the Baptist, they each having been
trustees of the church societies for years.
The entire firm are known as public spirit
ed citizens, alive to every good object and
| no better example to follow can be placed
before young men than this tirm, who
from comparative poverty have become to
rank among the wealthest and widest
known in Vermont.
The drug business was established here
in 1859 by "John T. Shurtleff," who came
from Springfield, Illinois, in the spring of
that year. Mr.. Shurtleff served an ap-
premiership of five years in Woodstock,
with that veteran druggist, Charles Chap
man, at the same time enjoying the advan-
tages of the Woodstock medical college.
then second to none in the country. After
ward he spent one year with the celebrated
chemists Hegeman, Clark g. Co. and then
attended the Ann Arbor Medical college
for one year, where he acquired know-
edge of the medical profession, such as
every druggist should acquire, at the same
time and since devoting much of his time
to the study of foreign languages, learning
to speak huently the French, German and
other tongues. Mr.. Shurtleff keeps con-
stantly on hand large stock of drugs,
medicines, paints, oils, fancy goods, etc,
his store being on Main street. Being a
practical chemist he manufactures all the
fluid extracts, and tnctures sold by him,
not only to the retail but considerable to
the wholesale trade. Owing to the increase
of. his business he has lately built to his
store an addition, 26x16 feet, the basement
of which he will use for making extracts;
the ground floor for Office and storeroom,
the second story entire being used for stor-
age. Mr.. ShurtleH is also agent for the
Western Union telegraph company, the
office having been located here in 1868, by
the American telegraph company. He is
prominent mason, having held the posi-
ton of Mt. Anthony Lodge for ten years,
and one of the active workers in st. Peters
episcopal" society, and in fact is a man
that could lily be spared from the commu-
nifty.
In the building adjoining the drug store
Is found the largest concern of the kind in
Bennington county, the jewelry establish
ment of
+. N. SQUIRE,
formerly Bradley & Squire, but which for
several years has been presided over by
"Fred" alone. Mr.. Squire is a native OF
Bennington and was one of the first to EN-.
bark in this line of business. His stock of
gold and silver watches, all kinds of jewel
ry, &c, is at all times complete and such
as man of his judgment and taste would
be apt to select for sale to his customers.