Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-01-05
PROMINENT DEPARTMENT STORE
BECOMES SOLE PROPERTY
OF oTTuMWAN.
NJ. j. MACkEN RETlRES
st. Louis Business Man Disposes Of
His One-Haf Interest to Partner
Business Has Had Won
derfuI Growth.

Immediately after inventory this
month, which will be completed some
time the last week of January. the w.
j. Donelan & Co. Department store
will become the sole property of w.
J. Donelan. BY the mutual agreement
OF Mr.. Donelan and his partner, M. j..
Macken of st. Louis, the partnership
that has continued from the first es-
Establishment of one store room dry
goods house in Ottumwa in 1891 20
the present fourishing business i'll
which three large store rooms with as
many floors are used. is to be dissolv-
ed Immediately after the yearly inyen
tory. which will be held this month.
In this action, Mr.. Donelan and Mr.
Aacken terminate business relation
ship that has been most pleasant and
profitable to each. and comes only aft
er careful consideration of their long
and friendly association. AS a full
cash payment of the half interest to
the retiring partner is one of the slip
ulations Of the dissolution, 1t will
necessitate a big reduction in stock
previous to inventory, and with this
end in view the store will shortly in
augurate monster sale.
A Successful Firm.
The dissolution of the firm recalls
the first venture in Ottumwa CONNER
cial circles by this firm. In 1891 in the
modest two story Richards building.
1874 East Main street. the first store
of Mr.. Donelan and Mr. Mackin open
ed for business in the single room.
Shortly after the volume Of business
demanded more room, and the second
story of the building was called into
service. Five years later the patron
age Of the store dictated that larger
quarters were necessity and thu
store moved across the street to the
Taylor building where three stories
and A foot frontage was available.
Successful catering to the trade of OF
tumwa and surrounding towns. again
in five years brought a demand for
still more room and in 1901, the pres
enJ store was constructed by remod-
cling the Bonnifield-Daggett buildings
SO as to make virtually three stores
in one. The firm now contemplates
an extension to the rear of these build
ing. in order to provide more room for
its ever increasing business
The success of ". ]. Donelan & Co.
has in another way encouraged exten.
sion, and four years ago the flourish
ing Abba branch house was opened.
Mr.. DoneIan's Career.
The credit for the success of this
we'll known Ottumwa business. house
is largely due to Mr.. Donelan. Coming
to this country from Ireland in 1889.
he secured employment in Mays, the
largest dry goods house in New York
city. Later he moved westward, locat-
ing in ST. Louis, where he was for
several years employed with the
VIM. Barr Dry Goods Co., working in
several departments, and it is here
that the foundation of his present
wide knowledge of the business was
laid. In 1891 he became associated
with Mr.. Macken and opened the
store in Ottumwa. Mr.. Macken is one
of the oldest dry goods men in st.
Louis, and at one time had interests
in stores in many cities. He now de.
votes his entire time to his extensive
real estate holdings in the Missouri
metropolis.
The big sale to reduce the i'm
mense stock at Donelan's will be in
augurated within short time