Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-12-22
FOR FIFTY YEARS.
Richard Champions Semi. Cen.
tennial as Rock Island
Merchant.
CHRISTMAS TRADE LONG AGO
When Sales Would Reach $4,000 Per
Day - Changes in the
Firm.

Fifty years ago Richard Champion
sold books. stationery and similar
goods in Rock Island, just as
lie is doing at the present
| season. and incidentally aided
n making Christmas selections-just
as he is doing this season. Mr..
Champion has remained steadfastly ii
his post in all these years. He was.
in business before many of the mer-..
chants of today in the city were born.
Mr.. Champion, or TO be more ex-
plicit, the firm of Champion & Co.
now occupies the building at 1719
Second avenue. While Mr.. Champion
has been in different locations dur
ing a half century his store has not
been off Second avenue and for the
most part within the block where his
business is at present established.
Through all the varying changes and
the fluctuations incident to business
life Mr.. Champion has survived, some
of those with whom he has been asso-
ciated having gone before. others at
tracted to outside cities to take posi-
still others having assembled to high
stations in the commercial life of the
nation.
Extensive Trade Enjoyed.
Mr.. Champion. in 1854. purchased
an interest in the store of II. A. Por
ter & Co. They were wholesale and
retail dealers in wallpaper. print pa
per. books and stationery, and their
trade extended throughout the west.
After four years Mr.. Porter withdrew
and the name became Defoe & Cramp-
ton. Afterwards ii was changed TO
Champion & Co. the silent member
being Capt. l.. NJ. Haverstick. The
firm installed the first steam printing
plant in the city of Rock Island. oper-
ating it in connection with the job
printing and bookbinding department,
which was one of the most prosperous
adjuncts of the business in those days.
1t might be interesting to those of the
present generation to know that the
Rock Island Union was published by
Champion & Co. from the second story
of the building they were occupying.
The firm was doing a business of
100000 a year.
After a few years Capt Haverstick
retired and the firm became r. Cramp-
ton. Then il was changed to X.
Champion & Co. Mr. Champion said
yesterday that in the palmy days Of
the book and stationery trade in Rock
Island, where practically he had no
competition. purchasers being attract
ed from two states and for many
hrtc tina &c
season would run as high as $4,000 in
one day.
Truesdale begins ms Clerk.
Several men who have climbed to |
high places got their start with Mr..
Champion. w. II. Truesdale, now
president of the Lackawanna railroad.
as a boy. clerked for him two years; |
c. c. Fletcher, one of the most sue
cessful wallpaper statesmen on the
road today. sold papers for him and
three members of the firm of McClurg
& Co. Chicago. had their first exper-
fence in the stationery business with |
the Rock Island merchant.
Into his life has been interviewer
much of the history of Rock Island.
While never seeking public Office, and
holding none save that of park COM
missioner. he has been a leader in
movements. being one OF
the organizers of the Citizens Improve
ment association. He saw the erection
Of Trinity church. now one of the old
est religious edifices of the city, being
then in 1868. as he is now. one of the
vestry of the church.
Despite Mr.. Champions long years
in business. time has dealt kindly with
him. and he seems as strong and walks
as sprightly as he did 80 years ago.