Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-04-02
John Plankinton Dead.

John PlaDklntons the foremost cltl-
zen Of Milwaukee and widely known
and respected throughout the state died
Sunday evening aged 40 years. He was
born of poor parents in the county of
New Castle, state of Delaware, March
II, 1920, and procured but little educat-
ion in his youth. In 1882 he removed
with his parents to Pittsburg, where he
learned the butchers trade. With his
wife and child he came to Milwaukee in
1874, intending to enter into partner
ship with young butcher located lore.
| On his arrival he found that his pros
| pective partner had already entered into
what be deemed better partnership
| and was established in business. The
excuse given for this apparent breach of
faith was that their combined capital
would be inadequate, which was accom-
panied by a friendly offer to hire young
Plankinton by the month. This prop
osition was politely declined, for Mr..
Plankinton instantly decided TO go in
to business alone, although his entire
capital was but 1920. with which to set
up housekeeping and begin business.
Many of the old residents remember
John Plankinton when he drove his
butcher wagon about Milwaukee with
his dog perched on the seat beside him,
and recall the little butcher shop on the
site of the building now known as No. l
Grand avenue. He purchased his first
COW for 50 For an annual rental of
S64 he leased his shop of Z ID. Holton
and the building he put on it cost sos.
Here he commenced his life work on
Sept p, exactly fourteen days after his
arrival in Milwaukee. BY close atten-
ton to business his trade the first year
amounted to 81. 200
Within a few years his business had
so increased as to necessitate larger
quarters and he removed to a building
on the site of what is now the Fourth
ward market, at the intersection of West
Water and Second streets. In 1850 he
entered into a partnership with Fred
erick Layton, the firm name being Lay
ton & Plankinton, and, in addition to
large retail business, it commenced
packing for market on a scale as large
as the receipt of hogs at this point would
allow. The firms business steadily in
creased until he dissolution of the part
nership in 1851 at which time theirs was
one of the leading packing houses west
of Cincinnati
After continuing business alone for
three years, Mr.. Plankinton took into
partnership with him Philip d. Armour,
under the firm name of Plankinton Il
Armour. This firms business within a
few years included packing houses in
Kansas City and Chicago and large
provision house in New York. The
amount of business done by Plankin-
ton " Armour showed a marked contrast
"a budb Vi VII L lduhluLOus WHlCu III lCtO
amounted to 1000 a month while
the firms business in 1880 amounted to
S12,O00,0O0 or S1,0O0,00O a month. In
1884 the firm of Plankinton & Armour
vas dissolved, Mr.. Plankinton contin-
uing the Milwaukee house until 1888,
when on account of advancing years and
the need of rest, he sold out his packing
business to Cudahy Brothers and leased
them for long term of years his pack
ing house, covering acres of ground in
the Menominee Valley. All of the
Cudahy boys are proteges of MIR.
Plankinton, the Cudahy family being
old residents of Milwaukee, and all of
the boys entered the employment of
Plankinton & Armour in their youth
After his retirement from the packing
business. and until his health began to
fail him, nearly two years ago, Mr..
Plankinton devoted his time to looking
after his immense realty interests in the
city.