The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-03-31
w. III. Davis Is to Control the
Business.
BIG END OF THE STOCK
He Will Control About Ninety
Per Cent.
Details OF the Arr angementAre
Yet to Be Made.


that a magnificent wholesale house
will shortly arise from the ashes of
the recently destroyed Parkhurst-Da-
Wis building. Many of the details
yet remain to be worked out, but a
master mind is at the head of the re-
organization of the Parkhurst-Davis
firm and Topeka is almost certain to
witness the erection of a magnificent
fire proof structure which will be oc-
cupied by a wholesale grocery house
with w. H. Davis at the head of the
! firm.
Following the recent Parkhurst-Da-
| Wis fire there were grave doubts
whether the firm would ever be re-
established in Topeka as a majority
| of the stockholders were opposed to
| the move. w. H. Davis, who is large
ly responsible for the success of the
firm sold a number of shares of his
stock to J. S. Sproat, who died a few
years later. This took the balance of
power from the hands of Mr.. Davis,
| though when the stock was sold it
was with the agreement that he could
at any time purchase it back at it's
par value.
When Mr.. Davis realized that he
was in the minority and that the
plans of the majority were not the
same as his own he attempted to re-
heirs of Mr.. Sproat, but met with
great opposition from other members
of the firm. As a last resort the diff
ferenceS were carried to the district
court, where suit for the right to
possess the Sproat stock was institut-
ed
This threatened to be one of the le-
gal battles of the year when all of q
sudden the suit was Withdrawn and
| the matter has since been settled out
4 n -
reached before the suit was with
| drawn by which the stock in the To-
peka store was turned over to Davis.
At the present time Mr.. w. H. Davis
is the sole owner of almost 90 per
cent of the stock of the firm and may
purchase the remainder.
| While he refuses to discuss his
| plans for the future, those who are
! best informed say that he will reor-
| ganize the old firm and that neither
| Mr.. Parkhurst nor Mr.. Ranney will
be in any way interested in the new
concern. Some of the 100000 worth
| of stock will be disposed of to known
and tried friends of Mr.. Davis and
former employees who will again share
the duties of building a great whole
sale esta blishment in Topeka.
| Joab Mulvane who owns the building
site where the Parkhurst-Davis struc-
ture formerly stood. has stated time
and again that he will build any kind oi
d IHdI IdNlS may OeSlS
nate if the former wishes to lease it
While the plans for new building have
been considered extensively the details
have not been worked out.
One thing is certain and that is thai
the building will be water and fire proof
To accomplish the former the basement
and foundation will be cemented an6
the foundation walls carried to &
hight of several feet above high wa
ter mark.
The Parkhurst-Davis firm has suf.
fered heavily from both foods and wa.
ter. their basement having been sub
merged twice within five years and theil
building destroyed by fire twice during
the same space of time. The misfor-
tunes have been great enough to have
disheartened a man of mediocre calibrt
but they have Only nerved Mr.. Davis t
the struggle and while the losses have
fallen heavily on him as an individual
he is yet amply able to carry the pro
jected venture to a successful consumma
tion. One of his greatest resources j!
the credit which he possesses and tn,
confidence of those who know him bes
and wish him well.
His home is in Topeka and one O.
the most beautiful and it is absurd t
think that he will leave Topeka anC
seek other fields no matter how f1atter
ling are the offers which are made t.
him 1t may be weeks and it may b,
months before work on the new build
ing is commenced but that such a struc
ture will surmount the ruins of the ole
iParkhurst-Davis building is a foregon,
conclusion.