The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-08-28
i.roest Wholesale Jobber Of Dry
Goods In State Of lows and Does
Business In Six Middle
West States.
WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1855
rook Immediate Rank a. q Leader In
Mississippi Valley and Has
Grown With Each Sue
essdlns Year.

Established in 1856, the Irwin-Phil-
lips company took immediate rank as
one of the leading houses in the Mis-
sissippi valley and has gained strength
and prestige with each succeeding
year. The year of 1871 was. the most
successful aver enjoyed by the Irwin
Phillips company. The sales for the
twelve months totalled over one mil
lion dollars. The company has nine
e travelling statesmen who sell
goods in southern Wisconsin, the
western half of Illinois as far east
as Springfield. all of Iowa, northern
Missouri. Nebraska, part Of South
Dakota and does considerable bust
ness in the state Of Kansas. The en-
ployes in the various departments
number $50 people. The house has
three residence buyers in New York
City in addition to four regular de-
partment buyers who keep In close
touch with the demands of the trade
and are in the New York market
from four to five times q ear
Two great staple products Of the
Irwin Phillips company underwear
and hosiery-are purchased In i'm
mense quantities and are received d.
rect from the mills In the east and
south. where special orders are exc
cuted, insuring great advantage to the
retail buyer who buys through the
Keokuk Wholesale house. The I'm
dian Head" brand of shirts and over
ais have become as staple as FAC
tory cotton was the pioneer days
when the house Of Irwin Phillips COM
pany was hrst established.
To carry on the business a large
floor space Is necessary. The main
building is at the corner OF Second
and Main streets. On the first and
second floors are kept the piece
goods and dry goods such as muslins.
c~alicoes, wool goods, dress goods,
silks and velvet. The third floor is
given over to the notion department.
consisting of notion staples and all
kinds Of novelty wear. This depart
ment is one Of the big features of the
Irwin-Phillips company. There Is on
display imported and domestic laces
and embroideries and fancy White
goods from European and American
mills and choice lines Of neckwear
aud mems furnishing goods. On the
fourth floor are the dress shirts,
work shirts, overalls, corduroy
clothing, all Of which are made In the
Keokuk and Hamilton factories. In
the annex south of the main building
are hosiery, pajamas, night gowns n
children's and misses dresses.
In addition to this floor space the
company maintains a warehouse be-
tween Second and Third on Main,
50x14O, four stories in height to carry
duplicate stock of muslin, calico,
worsted dress goods. silks, satins, no.
tions. underwear and hosiery.
Another big feature Of the irwin
Phillips Co. plant in Keokuk is the
manufacturing department where a
large force is employed to make dress
shirts, work shirts, o%veralls, cordu-
roy clothing, and other garments to
yea Finding An expanse necessary
the company installed a second rae
tory at Hamilton, Illinois, several
years ago.. which makes only overails.
In all 1t is estimated that Irwin
Phillips company occupies q HOOP
space OF 105,420 square feet upon
which is held for display hundreds or
thousand dollars worth Of goods. The
spring and fall openings attract hun
dreds OF retailers from many towns
in nearby states.
The Irwin-Phillips company is one
which has done much for keoklk
during more than half a century 81
its existence. It has grown steadily
ana has given employment to many