The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-08-24
Some Old Advertisements In Railway
Guide that viii Bring Back Those
Times to Old keo-
kukians.
SOME ARE STILL HERE
"The Railway Panoramic Guide" Civ
en- Out by the New York
Publishing Com
pany.

In cleaning out little used room
recently, a Keokuk attorney happen
ed across an interesting old book.
printed in 1880 by the Oversand Pub.
fishing Company of New York and
Chicago. The title of the book
which has grown yellow with age dur
Ing the past quarter of century. is
THE Railway Panoramic Guide" The
guide includes cities and towns on
the G. & A., I. c., w. st. l.. & p. G.
B. & O., M. p, M. K. & T. and Han
nibal and st. Joe roads, among them
the roads running into this city. Iowa.
Illinois, Missouri and Kansas towns
are mentioned, Keokuk being the
only Iowa town with the exception OF
Burlington, that is mentioned.
The publication was gotten out
more as an advertising work than
anything else and with the advertise
ments from the merchants Of the
various cities mentioned in the book,
a brief description Of the geograph-
ical situation of the city or town is
given. The old book says of Keokuk
at that time, now almost thirty years
ago:
"Keokuk is the capital of Lee coun-
ty and is beautifully situated at the
foot of the lower rapids of the Mis-
sissippi river, and at the head of nav
igation for the larger class of steam
ers, and the natural outlet for the
fertile valley of the Des Moines,
which is the most fertile part of the
state. The city stands on basis of
fine lime stone. and is bordered by
bluffs which rise abruptly about 100
feet high. The city was named in
memory of noted Indian chief.
The manufacturers are extensive
and the educational facilities good. 1t
contains many fine buildings and is
the seat of. the State University. A
line OF steamers ply daily to points
north and south when the river is
open to navigation. 1t Is situated on
the Keokuk branch of the c., B. &
O."
In a column headed Prominent
Business Houses" the following Keo-
kuk business and professional mems
cards appear, some of whom are still
in business in this city today, others
who have passed away or removed
from Keokuk: j. F. & N. M. Smith,
attorneys; /. N. Pearce blank book
manufacturer; C. H. Emerson, bon
net bleacher; William H. Dunlap and
Co., wholesale boots and shoes;
Leisy Bros, union brewery; S. E
Carey & Co., china and glassware;
Connable and Bartruff, clothiers; Ed
H. Jones & Co., gents furnishings;
Marble Clothing house; j. A. Essig
and Son. confectioners: M. J. Buiese
confectioner and restaurant (only
ladies' restaurant in the city,; D. A
Kerr & Co.. druggists; H. N. Bost
wick, dry goods; Ernest Brunat, en-
graver; Karle & Schultz. furniture
H. Buel & Co., hardware; Alose Web
err, harware, 800 Main street; Welcf
& Jones. hats and caps; c. Stern
hides and pelts; Barrel House, hotel
corner Fourth and Blondeau; Rix ant
Stafford, iron and STEEL Henry Altol
& Sons, hack line and livery; Buck
eye Foundry; McElroy and Armitage
w. Fl. Orr, mattresses, etc; Mrs. A
Weber, millinery and fancy goods
Mrs. D. Birmingham, millinery ant
fancy goods; William Blom, packer
William Rees & Co, paper bags; R
B. Ogden, printers; The Elks Res
taurant, No. 13 Third street. Mrs. E
Mayer, prop; H. Mayer. shirt manu-
facturer; Nicholas Blom, soap an
lye; Hosmer and Richards. splc
mills; w. II. Forman, merchant tai
or: Geo. Robertson. trunk manufas
turer; John T. Perkins, undertaken
Ayres Jewelry store; Frank LeBror
jeweler.