Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1923-03-28


for many different purposes, at the
time OF the big fire Of 1900 Andy Kali
tenbach conducted grocery store
and had the postoffice in one part of
the building, and George Schmidt, a
furniture store in the other part
Charles Latimer, a brilliant English
attorney, but of erratic character and
much given to strong drink, had an
office in the second story. He was
killed in duel by William Glouster
on the street of Potosi in February
1845.
Next to the Bell building John Van
dyke built a tWo-story brick building
that was for some years occupied by
Mckenzie & Augustine as store,
they were later succeeded in the bust
ness by James w. and Thomas r.
Seaton in 1857. Mr.. James w. Seaton
in the course of a few years became
sole owner of the store. In about
1862 or 1863 he moved the store to the
Wisconsin House. The Vandyke build
in after being vacated by j. w. Seaton
was used for different purposes. A
saloon for one, the last occupant was
T. F. Orion & Co., who bought and
used it for warehouse.
Adjoining this building was a large
two-story brick building erected by
Cox and Groslong in 1912. 1t was
first occupied by Levi Brown as a
hardware store, Buchman's saloon,
and in part by the boarding house OF
James Hudson. Conrad Kaltenbacn
succeeded Levi Brown in the hard
ware business and for many years, Q.
until he moved across the street did
business in this building. In about
the year 1871 Daniel Banfill, who had
moved at an early date from Lancas-
ter to POtosi, purchased the house,
then in a dilapidated condition, tore it
down and replaced it with a hand
some new building with basement,
suitable for hotel and for years was
known as the Banfill House. Mr..
Banfll died in this house in 1873 or
IA. Thomas r. Seaton afterward be-
came the owner and conducted drug
store and hotel in connection. The
name of the house was changed from
the Banfill House to the Commercial
Hotel Mr.. Seaton later sold the
building to Joseph Vogelsberg, who
used it for hotel and saloon.
All the buildings mentioned in this
row, including the old Ennor and
Hayes barn, went down in the fire of
Sept. 1, 1900. All excepting the barn,
have been replaced with handsome
new structures. William j. Welsh,
who purchased the corner and lot ad-
Joining, built a twO-stOry double brio
building on the lots. George Schmidt
replaced his old building with two
story brick building and Joe Vogels
berg after purchasing the Orion lot,
built two-story hotel building on the
two lots that is known as the Com
mercial Hotel.
In 1912, John Corwitt built a two
story brick building adjoining the
Cox and Groslong building. 1t was
first occupied by Haines and Hollub
as a store and later by Isaac G. Ury.
John Thompson for a while occupied
it as a merchant tailor shop. In 1857
James Kelly came up from st. Louis
with a stock of goods and opened up
a general store in the building. He
later removed to the Simplot building
on the corner that had been vacated
by Celistin Kaltenbach. The old
building was used for different pur-
a saloon. 1t was the only building in
the block that withstood the fire Of
1900, the wind being in its favor The
Potosi State Bank bought the proper
ty a few years later. It was taken
down and a handsome new One-story
brick building replaced it.
Next to the Corwith building, there
stood a one-story frame structure that
in early days was used for a bakery
and candy factory. Paschal Mallett
and enterprising Frenchman, who had
come here from st. Louis in the very
early forties built the frame building
and conducted the bakery and candy
business.
Some few years thereafter he built
a two-story brick structure adjoining
the frame building and opened up a
general store, and with his family oc-
cupied the second story for dwelling
purposes. The frame building was
later used as aware house. A new
frame building was built in the rear
of the brick building for the candy
factory. This branch of the business
was in charge of Alexander DuChar-
EN-, a professional French candy
maker. Mallett was stricken with
paralysis in 1860, and died in about
the year of 1861.
Hunt and Jackson bought the brick
building and frame addition in 1881
or 49, The old brick buildings were
removed and a large and handsome
two-story brick structure was erected
on the spot where stood the old brick.
The entire building was used for mer-
camille purposes. The space where
stood the old frame, was left open for
a driveway. W. H. Hunt eventually
became sole owner of this store and
enjoyed business equal to any in
the county.
Thomas l.. Hammonds in 1860 built
a two-story frame building in adjoin-
ing the Mallett brick building, and oc-
cupied it as a harness shop. This
building later became the property OF
William Hunt and still later of Hunt
and Jackson. 1t was in this building
that Henry Hunt laid the foundation
for the immense business he once en-
loved in Potosi. The building and the
brick store building since the retire
ment of Mr.. Hunt has passed to the
ownership of several different parties.
The frame was slightly damaged by
the fire of 1918 and has been removed
1 will now go back on this street to