Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-12-27
An OLD HOUSE.

L
ests and business men of the city, it
gives us great pleasure to mention
our old friend, DIR. C. G. Warden,
who was the first physician in Wapel-
10 county, having settled at Agency
City in 1843 and commenced the prac-
tice of his profession, and where he
resided until 1874, when he removed
to this city where he has remained
ever since.
The Doctor practically abandoned
the practice of medicine in 1851, when
he, in connection with Jos. Leighton
long since deceased, established the
dry goods house which is still under
his control. The business at its in.
ception was of the character preva.
lent twenty-five years ago, consisting
of dry goods, groceries drugs, hard.
ware, clothing, SC. Their establish.
ment then was on Main street where
DR.. Taylor's drug house now stands,
and was q small frame affair, about
2Ox40 feet, two stories high. This
partnership was kept mp until the
Spring Of 1853, when Mr.. Leighton
retired.
From that time till the latter part
of 1856 he continued the business
alone, when he was succeeded by
James Pumroy and Charles Hicken-
looper, who did business only few
weeks, and the latter were succeeded
by Pumroy and r. II. Warden, and
they by r. III. Warden and J. j. Ad-
ans. In July, 1858, the Doctor sue
ceeded Warden e Adams and has
continuously carried on the business
by himself until 1874, when his bust
ness having largely increased it be-
came necessary to take into partner
ship his son, Frank, who has been
educated to the business from his boy
hood, since which time the firm has
been known as q. c. Warden g. Son.
They still carry what is known as
q general stock, consisting of dry
goods, boots and shoes, hats and caps,
carpets, house furnishing goods, &C.,
having dropped the clothing, drug,
and hardware departments several
years ago. They carry large stock
of goods of the quality mentioned
above and in addition large line of
fancy goods, or did few days ago,
until their nocturnal customers re-
lieved them of good share of their
silks, fine gloves and goods of that
character.
The Doctor has always given his
business the closest personal atten-
ton, and no matter how hard times
were he was always prepared for the
worst and ready to meet any convul-
sion of the laws of trade, until his
house is recognized as one of the
most substantial in the Des Moines
valley. Their style of doing bust
ness has, of course, become modern
lied, but they still have many GUS
toners who bought goods of them
twenty-five years ago, and who will
continue to buy from them as long as |
the house lasts or the customers live.
Business with them is very good
not, perhaps, any better than it was a |
year ago but fully up to their ex-
pectations. Their collections are re.
ported very fair and business gener-
ally fully equal to their expectations.
The active management of the con.
Germ is under the control of the jun
Tor partner, and he is ably assisted
by Sam. Warden, familiar with the |
dry goods business in Ottumwa for
over twenty years, Mart Israel, one of
the most accomplished statesmen in |
town, and Charley Warden, who is
never SO much at home as when be-
hind the counter.
The firm occupies one of the most
commodious and substantial brick
blocks in the city, about one hundred |
feet deep and three stories high, al
most directly opposite the Ottumwa
House on Main street, the property
of DR.. Warden.