The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-11-15
A. WEBER DENIES 1T.
Head Of Big Local Firm Says That
Announcement Is Not so-What
the Herald
Says.

AOudy AloiS WSuei, ucdu OIL Tue UiS
concerns. denied the story and. as
serted that similar stories circulated
In this city were fakes.
It is known that the men mentioned
have baen IN conference with A.
Weber and that they were endeavor-
ing to secure controlling interest m
the firm. In answering the question
this morning, Alois Weber said, ut Is
all hum-bug. l have seen nothing or
the men for two weeks and there is
nothing in it. II seems to me that If
there has been sale ought to know
about It."
Mr.. Weber to Remain.
The Herald states that Mr.. Weber
would probably remain in the firm al
though the new men would have con-
trolling interest, saying, "Mr. Weber
will most likely retain the office of
president, with Mr.. onstott as vice
president and general manager anu
Mr.. Middleton. secretary and treas
urer.
"The business will be continued
without any changes In department
heads or employees, with the firm
names, the Weber Hardware Co., to
remain as 1t is. 1t is the intention of
the new management to give appre-
ciative service and thereby build up
a larger and better business, and IN
time they expect to enlarge the
wholesale end to three times its pres.
ent capacity
"The retail end will also receive at
tention and by close application and
careful management, Messrs. Onstott
and Middleton are confident of hav-
ling some day one of the largest and
best known wholesale and retail hard
ware houses in the middle west.'
Capable Business Man.
"Mr. Onstott Is we'll known In
Quincy. having come here six years
ago to assume the duties and respon-
sibilities of general sales manager OF
the Tenk Hardware company, recog-
nized as the leading hardware jobbers
on the upper Mississippi river. having
the largest wholesale and retail plant
between Chicago and Kansas City.
"Mr. Onsto.t is, the son of a hard
vrre merchant. his father having
been in the retail business at Du
Quoin, in southern Illinois. for nearly
forty years. He was employed by his
father for a number of years, then
went to St Louis to enter the employ
of the Simmons Hardware company
and in 1900 he went to the Ncrvell-
Shapleigh Hardware company, also OF
st. Louis.
Having been i'm the retail and
wholesale business since a youth, he
has had an opportunity to learn near
lily all ther, Is to know about the
hardware line and ought easily to
make a big success in the manage
ment of as establishment such as he
will be connected with in Keokuk."
Has Large Interests.
MIR. Onstott's partner Mr.. Middle
ton. is also we'll known in Quincy, al
though he and his family have lived
in Florida for the better part of fif-
teen years He has made his head
quarters in Jacksonville, is interest
ed in several large grapefruit and
orange groves, is identified with a
turpentine refinery, and with several
No., nc NJ
land, one of which includes $4,000
acres nearly all covered with timber.
THE Middletons come north every
summer and usually spend the hot
weather season here at the home Of
his wife's father, Charles Cook at
$500 Maine street. His specially is
financing, credits, and accounts and
with the Weber company he will be
general office manager"
The Dam and Power.
"The two men believe that the dam
and power plant will bring about
great changes and unexpected i'm
! provements in both Keokuk and
Quincy, and to some exten. all along
/ the upper river. Keokuk, they feel
is bound to grow and prosper, both
men convinced that the Stone & Web
! ster people will do their best to help
boost the city where they have SO
many millions invested In the dam
project, large areas of land. city prop
erty and in other smaller projects
And thinking to get in ION the ground
floor, as they have expressed it.
/ they have secured the controlling in
terest in the Weber company and
mean to locate in Keokuk in the neal
future
Bought Home Site.
"A short time ago, Mr., Onstott pur-