American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1915-12-09
WHAT ONE YOUNG NAN DID WITH sss7.

unpaid for" With this slogan the largest cream
cry business in Illinois Is operated. II may be
argely because of this slogan that the Sugar Greek
Creamery Company has developed such az In
mense volume Of business in the short space Of
five years,
The story Of this creamery is really the story
of It's founder and chief owner, II. c. Horneman,
a young man who about ten years ago entered the
Iowa State College. possessed Of mighty little
money but with a very large desire and a great
determination TO own a farm stocked with Hoi-
stein cattle. As a means to that end he decided
to take up manufacturing rather than the regular
animal husbandry course. so he enrolled in the
dairy school.
At the end Of his second year In college, find
ing his funds too low to continue his studies
without a break. he laid off for seven months and
was given the management of the college creamery
and the position of instructor In dairying. This
arrangement not only replenished his pocketbook
but at the same time enabled him to continue the
practical work without interruption. Throughout
his college course he gave as much Of his time
to livestock work, particularly the breeding and
handling Of dairy cattle, as possible without In
terfering with his regular studies. After gradu-
alton he gained further practical experience by
taking a position with one OF the big commercial
~creameries in Illinois. In order. however. to round
out thoroughly his knowledge OF the business he
devoted one year to dairy extension work In Iowa.
This brings our story up to 1910, by which time
Mr.. Horneman was ready to launch himself into
the creamery business on his own hook. His as
sets consisted OF 1857 cash. a thorough practical
knowledge OF the business. and that persistent
determination to own the farm with its Holsteins.
In looking about for a location for his creamery
venture he studiously kept away from established
dairy districts. At first thought this would seem
to be rather a fatal proceeding. as one naturally
associates creameries, especially large ones, with
districts where great numbers OF dairy cattle are
kept. To locate a creamery In the corn belt,
where few dairy cows we're owned. was consid-
cred to be by most OF his friends who we're not
such good students OF the business. as little short
Of commercial suicide.
However. Mr.. Horneman reasoned that II he
we're to locate In a ~dairying district he would have
to meet the keenest competition. and he felt that
his meagrs capital would not carry him Tar in
competition with creameries. cheese factories and
condensories already established. to say nothing
OF the shippers of whole milk and cream to the
city markets. SO he prospected In the corn belt
and decided to locate at Watseka, Ill. seventy sew
en- miles south OF Chicago and not far from the
Indiana line. watseka is a town OF nearly 5000
inhabitants, With excellent shipping facilities in
all directions.
Before locating at watseka a careful canvass
was made of farms within a radius OF many miles
The fact was uncovered that practically all these
farms kept a few cows. generally from three to ten
The cream from these lsstls herds vas usually
converted into dairy butter. which the housewife
exchanged at country stores for groceries and
t, other household necessaries- These farmers wer,
shown that they would derive better revenue by
shipping the cream from their five or six COWS
TO a creamery than by making 1t into butter on
: the farm. And that by shipping the cream a con
, siderable amount OF labor would be saved. In
{ all this territory d~airying. or the keeping OF cows
was purely a side line.
Probably the greatest drawback TO ~dairying IL
the corn belt mas been the unsatisfactory manner
in which payment has been made for milk and
cream. Generally the cream checks were ISSUED
but once a month. and sometimes they we're with
held fifteen days mora
1t was MIR Horneman who originated the plar
of paying for each can OF cream the very day 1t Ii
, received. The cans are thoroughly washed ant
treated with live steam. and they. too. are return
ed to the shipper the same day. Immediate pay
ment for cream made a great hit with Corn Bel
producers. Service. together with top prices fol
cream. has developed In five years a business tina
uses the product OF more than 5000 patrons. II
Is neeuless 10 say, however, hat an element o.
personality has been injected into this business ir
the shape OF a real interest on the part Of thu
management in helping patrons to improve theil
methods, not only In producing cream. but in al
agricultural work.
In June. 1910. Mr.. Horneman started his frs
creamery in a room sixteen by twenty-seven feet
His knowledge OF the business IN all Its details
I made 1t unnecessary for him to employ expert helI
at that time, Before he had been In This building
a year there was need OF much larger quarters
Not only were new patrons being added constantly
but the old ones were Increasing their output o
cream. The requirements o. The business neess
STATED a constant outlay for new machinery. which
used up all his profits.
But he had TO have a new building and on the
strength of his growing business he let a ~contrac'
for the erection OF a concrete structure 5oxl4o feet
The contract was let on q shoestring. but by the