Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-10-01
A "AUMAN INTEREST STORY
RUNNING THRU THREE MAR
SHALL COUNTY GENERATIONS.
THE GIRL WANTED FURNITURE
LIKE "MA's" WEDDING OUTFIT
The Opportunity Business Holds Out
to "Poor Boys" Who Are Willing to
Work Hard and Give Dollars
Worth For a Dollar in Marshall
County.

Two women came into a Marshall
town furniture store the other day.
They were evidently mother and daugh-
ter. It was also evident that the daugh-
ter had just been married for there was
the unmistakable air of motherhood
supervising and advising the newly
married daughter. The girl was buy
ing furniture and mother was helping
pick 1t out" Both were shrewd and
keen, good buyers, and there was no
doubt of their financial standing ex-
pressed either in their manner or that
of the merchant. In the midst of pric-
ing and examination the older woman
broke out: Say, Mr.. Wilbur. had
notion ito give her my bureau that
mother bought of you for one of my
wedding presents. It's just as good
and solid today as it was then. Mother
spoke of it the other day and said that
it always pays to buy good thing
and that she could always get good
furniture of you"
Thereby hangs a tale connected with
the business prosperity Of Marshall
S0uAnlS. AW City -Sl61ll SCetiS d6o OCl'
l. 1881, the firm of Wilbur, Densel &
Click was created and started in bus
mess in Marshalltown. The members
Of the firm had $1,000 apiece. pete"
Densel borrowed his $1,000, candy"
Wilbur mortgaged his home for his.
and Charley" Clicks father helped
him to find his share. They started in
one room on the ground floor and had
one room upstairs. 1t may be imag-
med that their stock was not great nor
particularly diversified, but it was
good. That was the first and vital
principle Of the new Arm. The bust
ness grew. 1t kept on growing.
Mr. Click retired Aug. 5, 1898, and
Densel & Wilbur took over his share.
The little store grew big. Old custom
ers were faithful, new ones came to
become old ones. The main rule was
never violated. Quality first was the
motto. That is why the present firm
alton. That is what the woman meant
when she spoke about the bureau
which is still as good as new.
In the fall Of 1903 Mr.. Densel con-
cluded that he had worked hard and
long enough. He had been successful
and economical. Another generation of
Wilburs had grown to mans estate.
Pete" was ready to sell out andy
Wilbur and his two boys, Howard and
Delos, took over. Pete DenseIs share.
On Jan. /, 1904, it was new firm. A.
e. Wilbur & Sons. But while the firm
changed, the motto remained intact,
quality first, satisfied customers whom
we can face next day, next year or next
generation, remained the basic prin-
ciple of the A. E. Wilbur & Sons
store Today the firm of A. e. Wilbur
& Sons, furniture. occupies three floors
and covers 1000 feet of floor space,
not inclusive of a big ware room in the
rear. 1t is the leading store and the
best selected stock of fine, honest fur
niture in central Iowa, perhaps in all
Iowa. Its capicious ware rooms
and sales floors are filled with
dependable, reliable furniture, the kind
that brings the mother back to buy her
girls wedding outfit there. Nothing is
lacking in the stock. 1t is complete, up
to the hour, bought for customers
made to keep customers and sold at
prices that bring new customers.
Such is the story Of one MARSHALL
town firm that started with the small
est capital and by energy, complete ac-
quaintance with it's business, indefati-
gable attention to the needs of its pat
rons, careful buying and strict adher-
ence to the principle of giving every
man what he pays for. has grown into
a strong, honorable place. The elder
Wilbur, ANDY" is still in the business
and likely to remain there for MANY
years. He is at present giving his UNI
divided and immediate attention to the
business and extends his grateful
thanks to the thousands of customers
who have given him such magnificent
patronage and hopes to meet them all
again in the same place where he has
stood for twenty-eight years to supply
their wants. He desires it understood
that he will be constantly at the store
now ready to greet his old friends and
anxious to make new ones.
MOTHER VERY ILL; BABE BORN