Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-01-25
BOOMING BUSINESS

The Mercantile Firms OF Lancasteri Their
History and Prosperity.
In the continuation of the annual
business review we publish this week
sketches of the drug and hardware firms
Of the city.
w. B. BAXTER.
This house ranks as the pioneer drug
house of the city, having been started
under the style and title of DR.. II. Bax-
ter & Son as early as 1858. the estab-
lishment atthat time being under charge
of DIR. III. Baxter. The beginning was
small but amply sufficient for the
then young town-in a business way.
In 1866, by the death of the senior MEM
Der OF the firm, DIR. Baxter, the change
was made to the present well known
name, and under the careful nd ener-
gitic business tact of Mr.. Baxter the
house grew handsomely and took rank
among the foremost firms of the city.
In March 1873, the store and greater
portion of the stock were destroyed by
the disastrous fire which wiped out the
corner of the block. With character
istic energy Mr.. Baxter at once COM
menced rebuilding and in a short time
had the finest store in town, well filled
with a fine stock and in good running or
der. Since that time the wave of prosper
ity has swept the house along in steady
growth with the upward progress of the
city. In connection with his other
business Mr.. Baxter is the manufacture
err Of a celebrated lotion for horses and
stock, which has an immense sale owing
to its great efficiency and healing prop
critics. Business, the past year has
been good.
JONES & BRYAN.
The foundations of this firm were
laid in the fall of 1866 by the senior
member, Mr.. JAS. A. Jones. He at
that time erected the building now oc-
cupied as a store by the firm, and start
ed in business as a druggist. The new
house from the first attracted a good
trade, which, increased with each year
until thehouse was numbered amongone
of the most solid of those doing business
in the city. In July 1882 Mr.. Jones dis
posed of a half interest to Mr.. Fred w.
Bryan of Chicago, an alert and dashing
young business man. With the change
in the firm, the house took on an added
popularity. This has continued since
and under the energetic, pushing bust
ness enterprise displayed, is destined to
greatly increase its trade in the future.
STONE & HAssELL.
This is the youngest drug firm in the
city, having first made its appearance
rs a candidate for public favor in Oct.
1881. Steady, persistent effort, accom-
panied by square dealing and strict at
tention to the wants of patrons has
placed the firm, even in this short time,
firmly IN its feet with a good and con-
stantly growing trade. The firm oc-
cupy their own building and carry a
full stock in their line, Business the
past year is stated as good.
NJ. NJ. zEIGLER & CO..
Mr.. Zeigler, the founder of this house,
has the honor of being the Oldest mer-
chant now in business in the city. The
date of his commencement in Lancaster
reaches back to 1850, at which time the
present thriving city was represented by
a very small sized fraction as a trading
point. In that year the firm of Zeigler
& Thompson opened the first tin-shop
and hardware store in the village, on
the corner lately purchased by Z. Nc
Coy. The young firm grew slowly and
after a time established a branch shop
in Prairie du Chen. The junior men,
Der of the firm caught the California
fever, the branch shop was sold out
and Mr.. Zeigler associated with himself
ms partner MIR. Dodge, the firm being
Zeigler & Dodge. This continued for a
few years when Mr.. Zeigler bought out
his partner and continued business alone.
About the middle of the sixties the firm
of Zeigler & Dillon was formed which
continued until the fall of 1870, when
the interest of Dillon was purchased by
MI. Zeigler and the house continued
under the style of M. M. Zeigler. In
January 1882 MIR. Win Zeigler was
taken into partnership and the style
and title of the firm became NJ. NJ.
Zeigler & Son. During all the years
which the house has been numbered
among the Lancaster business firms it
has been noted for its strict business
probity, excellent work, and accomo-
dating spirit. Its growth has been
steady but constant and it to-day stands
in the front rank of prominent business
firms of the city. The firm employs,
besides the two partners the services
of Mr.. Chas. Zeigler. Business for the
past year is stated as very good.
j. J. OSWALD.
There is no more reliable or accom-
modating house to deal with in this city
than the above named. That this is
the verdict of the trading public is
shown by the substantial slice which it
takes from the trade that makes this it's
center. Mr.. Oswald commenced his
present business in 1879 erecting the
building he now occupies for that pur-
pose-or rather the lower half as the
upper half is owned by the order of Odd
Fellows. He carries a well assorted
stock of hardware and employs in his
manufacturing department one and
sometimes two hands. Business for the
past year is stated to have been good
and a constantly increasing trade war
rants a ~prophesy of the same for the
future.
T.. y. BALDWIN.