Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-02-16
OUR BUSINESS MEN.
MESSRS. POWELL, G. BLACKLEY.

by Mr.. Blackley.
Mr.. P. N. Powell. the senior partner,
came here from Richmond, where he had
entered busy life ten years before as
clerk. with a capital of $3.50. He came tC
Stanton twenty years ago.a and commenced
as Powell Co.,-''grocerles n produce
in the building on Main street, now oc-
cupied by Burke & Bradley. Three years
afterwards the partnership was dissolved
and he was alone until Sept, '65, when he
associated in business with Mr.. Jas. II.
Blackley. who had come to Stanton from
Scottsville, Albemarle CO.. which place
had been for so long the trading centre for
the Valley. Mr.. B. became a citizen of
this city in 1858, and served as a clerk for
TAYLOR & Hoge till the commencement of
the wal. during which he was employed in
the quartermaster's department.. Three
years after his connection with Mr.. Powell
the firm removed to Morris. now Byers &
Eakle's, corner, where they remained un-
til '73, wien they removed to their present
location, where they have been since con-
Quoting a fine business. that Of the past
year being ahead of any previous year.
They have. in addition to their regular
line, d alt largely in fertilizers. of which
the Piedmont preparation, an honest Vir-
| ginia article, manufactured at Culpeper
G. H., has proved SO popular that the next
season it will receive their undivided at
tention.
NJ, TDo,,o1J rr,,, o1oa+oI =, yoor,1,p, Of tho
City Council, in the exciting municipal
election last spring. and has shown him.
! self a wise and prudent public officer.
III AMERICAN HOTEL.
of which Mr.. n. M. Cartmell is proprietor,
| is right at the depot, and very convenient
to travel. is one Of the large and valuable
| structures Of the city. 1t was built in
| 1854, by Messrs. John B. Breckenridge.
! VIM. Il. CARRIER, and L. L. Stephenson,
who were also the first proprietors, but
| only for d short time.
1t was then purchased by the estate OF
| Jno. B. Breckenridge, and was under the
| management Of Capt. A. n. Breckenridge
a short time. when it was sold to Mrs.
| Mary Ann Brown, and kept by her hus-
band. Mr.. S. B. Brown, for several years.
| 1t next passed into the hands of his son, S.
| B. Brown, Jr.. and his son-in-laW, Mr.. 4.
I S. Lara, who, after running it a short time,
sold to Messrs. McChesney & Nadenbush.
| during the war. At this period it was
| used as a Confederate hospital. and after
! wards rented to Col. G. S. O'Ferrall, now
of Harrisonburg, who kept it two years,
when the management came into the hands
of McChesney Il Nadenbusi. since which
! time they have been the proprietors as well
as owners until this winter, when they
rented the property to Mr.. Cartmell, the
present proprietor. Mr.. c. is an experienced
hotel man, having been in the business
ever since he was twenty-one years OF age.
During this time he has kept the Taylor
House in Winchester seven years. and
operated the Capon Springs three years,
and has been General Manager at the White
Sulphur Springs for the last five years.
Under his management it is confidently
expected that the American Hotel will
take d new lease of life and offer lively
competition for public favor. The clerks
at the hotel, Messrs. w. G. Cartmell, of
Winchester, and John d. Snead, of Heal
ing Springs, are competent and courteous,
and will add to the attractions of the
house.
Near the American Hotel is the large
liquor warehouse Of
j. BUMGARDNER 6 SONS.
Mr.. James Bumgardner, the senior was
born in Augusta county, when the present
century was a year old, and while as yet a
young man took charge of the distilling
business which, his father, Mr.. Jacob Bum
gardner. had carried IN before, and bv his
energy, business tact and large experience
has succeeded in introducing his manufac-
ture into almost every State in the Union
and earned for the Bumgardner Whiskey Il
reputation equalled by but few brands in
the country.
He carried on his business until several
years after the war at his home near Beth
Ell church. but feeling the necessity of a
warehouse in Staunton to accommodate
his rapidly growing trade. he built the
! large brick structure which the concern at
present occupy. The war coming on low
ever. it was used as a commissary by the
Confederate forces and after the wal for
some time by the =. S. Army as aauarter-
masters store.
In 1869 Mr.. w. L. ~Bumgardner having
associated himself with Mr.. A. W. Mcclure
occupied the building and dealt largely for
several years in groceries. liquors, fertili-
zers &c. until the dissolution of the con-
cern of Mcclure & ~Bumgardner, when the
firm of j. Bumgardner d Sons was formed.
The other sGn, Mr.. j. A. Bum gardner, re-
naming at his home in the country where
he gives his attention to the management
! Of the large and we'll ordered distil!ery
| which Is situated about twelve miles from
the city. Fine principal shipping points of
the concern ATE Richmond, Baltimore.
New York, San Francisco, New Orleans,
Charlie ton. 5. g.. Savannah, Galveston
and Austin Texas, and their trade inerea.
ses with every year and is only limited by
| tie capacity of their works. Capt. W. L.
Bumga:Gngr is one Of our most active and
public spirited citizens. and has been the
popular commanding uiaoes q that crack
company, the West Augusta GustG since
May. 1875, Il volunteer organization which
by the drill and discipline of its men and
| the efficiency of its officers has reflected
no little credit upQp onr city, both at home
aud abroad.
Mr.. Edwin T. Surbar, a young inan Of
s2uch business experience for his years and
an Augusta man. tho born in Greenbrier.
is J. B. Il Sons right-hand man and they
can not speak too highly their apprecia-
+;o, Of bic ooru;ona