Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-05-13
WEBSTER ROLLER MILLS.

| ny MI. IL. VI. OcnsenrelIef, OF Jnt
enterprising pioneer hardware firm
of Ochsenreiter & Small. The mil
firm will be the above named partie;
with the addition of Mr.. Thos. A.
Baker, from Minneapolis, Mimi,
one of the most expert practical
millerS in the northwest.
Last week Mr.. II. IL. Russell put
down a well on the mill site, south
side Of track opposite the elevator,
that proved, when finished, all that
could be asked for. Water was
found at the depth of IS feet, in
gravel. The well was subject to
the severest test-over 80 barrels of
water was drawn from the well but
it was impossible to reduce the
depth to less than four feet, proving
the well to be capable of supplying
four mills of the capacity of the one
proposed to be constructed. TO say
the boys were delighted with the
result would but feebly express it.
On Monday they broke ground on
the mill proper. The building is
to be three stories high with base
ment and 32x44 ground dimensions
with an engine room attached
24x32 in size. The mill
will open with a so barrel capacity
and will be increased to 100 barrels
as soon as business will Justify it.
1t may not be amiss i'll this con-
nection to say something of the
personal history of the gentlemen
who are connected with this enter
prise so important to the business
welfare of our city and county.
Mr.. Ochsenreiter, the senior men,
Der of the firm was born in Brad
ford, Harrison county, Indiana, in
1857. At the age of s his father
moved to Minnesota, in the spring
of 1865. In 1868 his father died
leaving him and two brothers to
support his mother and three youn-
ger brothers. His life for the next
few years was one long struggle
against poverty and hardship. He
started out the year of his fathers
death at the age Of IL, and worked
for 81 a month and his board. The
next year he got nothing. The
next he got Sl5 a month and his
board, and the next S25 a month
and supported himself. After this
he went to work for himself. Dur
ing all this time he sent rs per cent
of his earnings home to his Widowed
mother. While on his own hook he
worked at various things with vary
ing success till the spring of 1880,
when he came to Dakota, took land
and opened the Pioneer Hardware
Store in 1881. About two months
following he associated with him
Mr.. A. Small, and the firm, Och
senreiter Il Small, has been part
of the history Of the county ever
since. In the fall of 1882 he was
elected county treasurer, which po-
sition he occupied very acceptably
to the people for the following two
years. BY close attention to bust
ness he and his partner have achiev-
ed pronounced success, and the
house is now regarded as one of the
most substantial in the county.
From poverty and want, by hard
work and indefatigable energy and
push he has worked his way up to
his present proud and independent
position, and is living example OF
what can be accomplished by an I'M
firing, determined purpose to sue
coed. His probity has raised him a
host Of friends, by whom he is held
in high esteem.
Mr.. A. Small, the second member
of the firm is a native of England,
was born at New Castle in 1S49.
His parents came to America in
1850 and settled in Michigan. In
1853 the family moved to Minnesota
whore Mr.. Smail's youth and early
manhood was spent in the quiet
pursuits of farm life. The later
years of his stay there were employ
ed in the nursary husiness. He
came to Dakota in 1881 and con-
nected himself with the Pioneer
Hardware Store. Mr.. Small is
quiet, industrious gentleman, very
conservative Ill his views and meth
DDS, and a thoroughly practical
man in all things. lis answering
fidillty to principle has secured him
the esteem and confidence of all
who know him.
The following extracts from the
n. W, Millpr aud the Jordan indie
pendent, tell their own story:
Thos. A. Baker, the Jordan head
miller, came to Minneapolis Tues
day to be present at the head mill
ers' meetingin the evening and hear
the election returns. Mr.. Baker,
L. G. Ochsenreiter and Andrew
Small, business men of Webster,
Oak, have formed a stock company
and will erect a 100 barrel mill at
Webster. Work will be begun on
the mill May lst, ana the owners
expect to make it one of the banner
mills in the territory. Mr.. Baker
will act as business manager, and
having established O reputation as a
successful miller, We expect to see
him win laurels in his new position.
N orthwestern Miller.
Messrs. Ochsenreiter & Small are
well and favorably known in our
community as two of Jordan's
young men, who by their own brain
and Drawn have achieved q we'll,
meritcd succaEs ia their new home,
Mr.. 7. A. Baker, thor co-partner,
has lived in Jordan for nearly a
year and half as head miller of the
Jordan City Mills, and as a gentle
man has won the respect and esteem
Of our citizens; as a practical miller
he stands in the front rank of the
progressive millcrs of the atate, haV-
| ing had charge of the large mills of
+. b. Washburn s. Co., at Anoka.
His son, George, has also resigned
his position as second miller and
Will accompany his father. In wish.
ing the new firm success and pros.
! perity, we but voice the sentiment:
of their many Jordan friends or,
dan Independent,
! With such mon at the helm there
is no such word as fail, and our cit
liens may rest assured that the mil
at Webster will be a pronounced
success.
! EVERYBODY LOOK HERE.
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