Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-12-23
Historical Sketch of Ottun1wa'S
Earliest Manufacturing Business

~ 90 DLIO u wv
known as c. w. Handy e. Co., who
took the New York agency for the
Johnston ruffler and pushed the sale Of
the same with great vigor and as Mr..
Handy had a wide acquaintance and
was a man of splendid address, fine
personal appearance and a good
salesman and Mr.. Clark having plenty
of money and having such an excel
lent article that did its work SO fault
lessly as the Johnston ruffler, the sue
cess of the firm was conspicuous from
it's organization. They sold in their
career thousands upon thousands OF
dollars Of Johnston rufflers all or
which Injured to the benefit Of John
ston & Co., and their successors.
Late in the winter Of 1S71-72 it was
! apparent that larger quarters must he
souch t to take care Of the increasing
business and to carry out this idea
! lot 80 in the original town plat OF Of
itumwa. located on West Main street be-
Nv e"n Wape'lo and Cass and being 66x
40 feet, was purchased for $500 from
.'udgp !. s. Porter Of this city. and
contract was made late in March Of
1872 with Chiffon & Kendall for the
erection of a two story brick building
30x6O feet. This building was COM
pleted about May I, at which time
Johnston & Co., moved into the same
and from that time forward their facil-
tiles for getting out the rufflers kept
pace with the increased demand.
d In June 1872 Johnston & Co., were
succeeded by the Johnston Ruffler Co.,
a corporation with paid up capital OF
$4,000. In 1874 it was deemed advis-
able to make an effort to introduce
the Johnston rufflers to the European
trade, and with that end in view, Capt.
/ J. G. Hutchinson. who was at that time
vice president of the company was
delegated to perform this task. and ac-
! companied by his wife embarked upon
this mission and spent some six or
, eight months across the water in the
foregoing line, but his efforts in the
direction indicated were not very sue
seemed slow to take UP with a new
mechanism such as the Johnston ruff
fer was at that time: however. there
VS. one very fortunate event for the
city and citizens Of Ottumwa occurred
on Capt. Hutchison's return voyage;
he became acquainted on the steamer
with Thomas D. Foster, who was on a
mission to the United States for the
selection of a location for a packing
house for the English company Of
John Morrell & Co, Limited. Captain
Hutchinson presented the claims of OF,
tumwa for such location in such glow
ing terms that MI Foster was induced
to visit Ottumwa and the result of Mr..
Fosters visit was the locating Of the
great packing plant here. A warm
Friendship between Captain Hutchinson
and Mr.. Foster commenced on their
voyage from Liverpool and continued
uninterrupted until the death of Cap
tain Hutchinson in 1910.
Shortly after Captain Hutchison's
return from Europe, he thought he
would like to return to the practice OF
law and in July 1875 he sold his in
terest in the Johnston Ruffler Co., to
Messers Hackworth. Johnston & Major
land withdrew from the business.
On February IS, 1873. after having
worked for the company and its
predecessors for about seven years,
was permitted to ACQUIRE some John
ston Ruffler Co., stock. and from that
date until December 1898 I took a very
lively interest in the business, as it Is
perfectly natural for stakeholder in
Ia concern to manifest little more
interest In it's affairs than an en-
|ploye. o." ."'':
The general boom in business all
ever the United States in 1S79-80-S1 80
was very beneficial to the Johnston
Ruffler Co.. and the company declared
larger dividends in the years 1S80-81-
80 than ever before or after those
years. AS the business increased
more ground was required and addi-
tional lots We're purchased at the fol-
lowing prices which the success Of the
ruffler business had much to do with
the value, as none Of the lots had any
improvements on them to speak OF
when the same were purchased
OTlslnal lou 80 .............. 5 oOU
Lot 1926 1000
Lot 1927 TOO
Lot 32S 1,4OO
Lot 1924 1900
ut o OOO