Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-01-18
BOOMING BUSINESS,
ihe Mercantile Firms OF Lancaster! Their
History and Prosperity.

L II HUI I'LL Ol
place to indulge in a few brief words
OF retrospect which will show the rapid
advance which the city has made with
h past few years and is still making
as acommercial center. Less than a
decade ago the mercantile business was
IN the hands of a very few firms, who
afforded ample facilities and accommo-
dation for the trade centering here.
win the advent of the railroad a new
era opened. The excellent shipping
facilities and the good market began Ia
draw from a wider sweep of country
IMAM that Immediately adjoining this
point Other merchants began to come
until now we have seven houses dealing
IN general merchandise, all of whom
are doing a thriving trade, as will be
seer by the raports of sales. By a little
united effort in securing the establish
ment OF a few more manufactures nj
this point, for some of which the situa.
tion IS peculiarly adapted, the present
trade could be increased fifty or a hum
bred fold with all the accomnanv-
ing gratifying results. All BUILDINGS
thu far have been occupied rs soon as
finished, and in many instances. have
been let before the foundation was laid.
ihere is no reason why the present ac-
UNITY should be regarded as a ssboom.n
III taken properly and met with the
proper spirit it would mark only n of
the steady stages of the city's growth.
Inc progress would be steadily forward
nndisturbed BY any of those dangerous
reactions which do so much to dispel
the good done by ''booms." There is
no reason why this should not be the
leading commercial center in Soutb-
western Wisconsin, all it needs to make
1t so is the proper spirit of enterprise.
JOHN p. LEWIS.
This well known house has the honor
of being the oldest now in trade in the
city in which the present proprietor
ship has continued in unbroken line
from tho beginning. 1t was first estab-
lished in 1854 under the style and title
of G. w. Ryland & Co. The partners
then being Geo. w. Ryland, John p.
Lewis and S. +. Lewis. Previous 10
this, however, Mr., Lewis and his broth
er had been engaged in business at
Potosi having been established in that
place as early as 1847. The firm was
continued until 1860 as originally start
ed, when the interest of Mr.. Ryland
was purchased by the remaining mem
bers of the firm and the title was chang
ed to the form under which it has been
so f%avorably known for nearly a quar-
ter of a century. In 1872 Mr.. S. f.
Lewis died leaving the business in the
hands OF the senior member of the firm,
under whose skillful management it
grew and prospered until the house be-
came n of the most popular mcrchan-
tile establishments in the city. Contin-
ing himself entirely to merchandising
MIR. Lewis has built up an excellent
trade and done much in advancing
Lancaster to the front as a leading
commercial center. He is assisted in
attending to the wants of the numerous
patrons of the house by his son, Mr..
Will Lewis, a popular and rising young
business man. The sales Of the house
are estimated at $780, 900 for the past
year.
HOWE BAXTER & co.
In the front rank of business houses
of this city prominent for probity, en-
tcrFrise and square dealing, stands the
house of Howe, Baxter g. Co. In point
of age it dates back to times when Lam
easter was an embroyo hamlet of a few
hundred inhabitants, but being at that
time under another name. The bust
ness was originally founded by j. AL
corn; then the name was changed to
Alcorn & Barber, Mr.. T. NJ. Barber
having been associated with Mr.. Alcorn.
In 1855 Mr.. Howe purchased the inter-
est of the senior partner and the firm
became Howe & Barber. thus laying the
foundation of the present firm. AT the
close of d years time Mr.. Barber's in
terest was purchased by Mr.. A. Burr,
the house being known as Howe g.
Burr. In 1858 nj. Howe purchased the
interest of his partner and continued
the business alone until 1860 when he
associated with him Mr.. Jas. A. Jones
until 1865 when Mr.. Chas. Baxter, the
present bushes manager of the house,
bought out the interest of Mr.. Jones
and the house wheeled into line as
Howe & Baxter, under which title it
advanced rapidly in favor. In the
fall Of 1882 having decided to enlarge
their borders by a stock department
AIR. Fred Phelps, a prominent stock
man was admitted to the firm and the
style and title changed to Howe, Bax-
ter & Co. with Mr.. Geo. Howe as spec
ial manager, Chas. ii. Baxter business
and Fred b. Phelps manager
of stock department. The house has
always been Il favorite one with the trad
inc public. and well merits the reputa-
ton which it has achieved with that
class as q solid, accommodating and re-
liable house. In the mercantile branch,
besides the services and personal super
vision of Mr.. Baxter, the house employs
three clrrks, Mr.. Jas McGonigal who
has been with the house for a number
of wears, Mr.. Ed Streeter and Tom
Draper. The estimated sales of the
house for the year past in all branches
is from $3.50, 900 to $500, 900.
JOHN sCHREINER.
Among the well and favorably known
mercantile houses Of the city probably
none stand higher than that of John
Schreiner. The house was originally
founded BIZ Mr.. Jacob Nathan in 1860.
The business was continued under Mr..
Nathan's management until 1864 when
Mr.. Adolph Nathan and MIR. John
schreiner were taken into %co-partner'