The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-10-12
MATHER BROTHERS
FIRM CELEBRATES
Thirty-five Years Ago Today
Great Local Coal Com
pany Organized.

The story of the growth of any bust
ness institution that has been in exis-
tence for many years is always Of local
interest as 1t Is at the same time rep.
resentative of the changes and the
growth of the community in which it
has developed. On the Twelfth day
years ago today. Mather Brothers be-
gan the coal business in this city.
They employed one man whose duty it
was to make deliveries with one horse
and cart, which constituted the entire
equipment. The result of the first
days business were two sales, total
ing $2.25. The customers were FL
wood Patterson and ID. II. Horney,
both were we'll known citizens. From
this humble beginning the business
was developed, not without struggle
and viccissitudes. until it has exceed
ed a quarter of a million dollars in a
single year, and from one man, one
horse and cart to 35 men and fifteen
teams.
The firm of Mather Brothers was
the first to introduce the brands of
coal that are now the most popular in
this CITY, In 1879 they brought the
first car Of Piedmont coal to this city.
This was purchased from the Hon.
II. G. Davis, of West Virginia, sub
sequently a candidate for Vice Pres-
dent. The coal was sold to the Pat
terson Plow Works. and it Is now the
most popular smithing coal in the
market. In 1891 they shipped the
first car load of Pocahontas coal that
came to Richmond. The first year
only one car load was sold and the
second only three. Last year they
sold 22O carloads of this popular coal.
One Of the most popular domestic
coal for cooking purposes for years
has been Jackson coal. This firm
was the first to introduce it in Rich
mond. Another popular coal for heat
ing stoves Is the Winefrede, this was
also first introduced to Richmond
consumers by this firm.
This IL a rather remarkable and in
iteresting record, II We keep in mind
that the coal business is different
from most any other kind OF business.
in that the consumer Is wholly depen-
er sees the coal until it is delivered,
nor does he see 1t weighed. The quail
ity and quantity Is a matter of honor
with the firm which furnishes the coal.
The long and prosperous career of
this firm is testimony as to the char
acter Of it's business methods.
In speaking Of the coal business Mr..
d. l.. Mather stated that the bluest
day they saw in the coal business
was on Thanksgiving day. 1888. when
natural gas was turned into the mains
in Richmond. While others were re-
joicing they were detected and dis
heartened at the prospect Of a dis
\ ipated business. This same year they
moved their business into the old
Friends Yearly Meeting grounds
where it is still located. and in the
following year the lumber business
was added which brought with it all
kinds of building material.
They have also been large dealers
in cement. The first purchase the
firm made to supply it's customers
was one barrel for which it paid IS. 90,
which had been imported from Eng
land. and was known as X. b. & S.
The first sidewalk built in the city
was ON North Tenth street between
G and d streets. The contractor was
MIR. William Lee and the cement used
was English cement furnished by Ma
ther Brothers.
The firm was incorporated in 1889
and became Mather Brothers compa-
ny. II has always believed in a lib
eral use Of printers ink and undoubted-
" enjoys the largest business in it's
line ip Eastern Indiana. They are
celebrating their thirty-fifth anniver.
sary without display. but are receiv-
Ing the Fluctuations of their friends.