Livingston county history
Download 1.01 Mb.
|
| On December 22, 1969, the corporation purchased the assets of Cooley Gravel Company which included a sand plant and three hundred sixty acres of land. The company processed sand there until October 18, 1976, when they moved the sand plant to Grand River on leased ground. During this time they started rehabilitating the land and installed a small cattle operation.
On January 4, 1974, the corporation purchased an additional three hundred acre farm from Mr. and Mrs. Horace New and began to concentrate more in farming. In October 1975, they became involved in the production and marketing of Dry Mix products and enlarged the plant in 1976. In December 1977, John Irvin resigned as president, and became chairman of the Board. Morris B. Willis became president and Bob Maberry became the general manager. In January 1978, the assets of the company, except for farms, were sold to Chillicothe Ready Mix. The registered office of Midwest Concrete and Asphalt Company was then moved to R917 Jackson Street, Chillicothe, Missouri and at that time the company became primarily a sand, excavation and farming operation. Miss May Hougland, who had been secretary- bookkeeper in the construction business for forty years, retired. John Irvin is now chairman of the Board, Morris B. Willis, president, Virgie Irvin, vice-president and Dottie Yeomans, secretary-treasurer. MILBANK MILLS The HISTORY of Milbank Mills in Chillicothe begins in 1867, when George Milbank came to Chillicothe to found the first merchant mill in the area. Operations of Milbank Mills in Chillicothe have continued under the ownership and active management of the Milbank family through four generations. Today, Edward Milbank is president and general manager of Milbank Mills, while John Palmer Milbank is chairman of the board. Originally, Milbank Mills was a flour mill, with the by-products from the flour being used to manufacture feed for livestock. One of the distinctions of Milbank Mills when it was first founded in Chillicothe in 1867, was that it provided the first cash market for wheat in the area. The flour produced by Milbank Mills was shipped by rail as far as Florida, Texas, Nebraska and Chicago. The first location of Milbank Mills was at the corner of Washington and Bryan Streets, where the Taco Tico and Kentucky Fried Chicken buildings now stand. In 1867, this site was a field of oats, outside the city proper. A dam was erected across a ravine, which created a pond. The water was used to operate a steam engine, which in turn operated the mill, through a series of drive belts and line shafts. In 1903, the original steam engine was replaced with a new and improved model that had first been exhibited at the St. Louis Worlds Fair. It furnished power for thirty years until being replaced by a more modern diesel engine. The mill pond also served as a swimming hole, fishing hole, skating rink and baptizing ground. The first light in the mill was furnished by whale oil lamps. Later a small electric generator, driven by the steam engine, was used for lighting only. The first telephone in Chillicothe was a one-line system, connecting the office at Milbank Mills with the home of George Milbank. The first copying machine in Chillicothe was a hand-operated “wet press” which took two hours and a strong arm to produce a copy. The first moisture tester for grain in the area was at Milbank Mills. The first dump for automatic unloading of grain was a hand-operated hoist which raised the front wheels of the wagon off the ground. In 1960, after 93 years of continuous flour milling operations at the same location, a decision was made to halt all flour milling and to concentrate on the production of animal feed. In 1963, a feed mill of slip form concrete construction, fully equipped with automatic machinery, was built in south Chillicothe. In 1964, the original mill location was destroyed by fire. Since that time all operations of Milbank Mills have been headquartered at 1 Brunswick Street in south Chillicothe. Today, Milbank Mills continue to provide a daily cash market for grain, just as they have done for the past 113 years. The original cash market for wheat has been expanded to include a cash market for all types of grain. More than 80 different Silver Moon feeds are manufactured, for all types of livestock and poultry. No business is complete without its people. Throughout the years, Milbank Mills has been fortunate in the caliber of its people, and the contributions made by past and present employees should be recognized. Key personnel at Milbank Mills today include, John E. Yeomans as sales manager; Delmar Keller, Jr., as production manager; Paul E. Jones, as customer services manager; and Paul Lamb as manager of technical service. June Thompson serves as personal secretary to Edward Milbank; and Susan Applebury heads the computerized accounting department. Max Helms is assistant sales manager, while Charles Emerich serves as mill superintendent and head of maintenance. These key people are backed up with a total staff of approximately 35 additional people. With the experience of its dedicated employees, together with the support of its loyal customers, Milbank Mills confidently looks forward to serving the agriculture of this area in the century ahead, just as it has in the century past. MISSOURI DISTRIBUTING COMPANY LAMBERT MANUFACTURING COMPANY It all started in 1933 by Joe H. Lambert just after he graduated from Raytown High School. He was born March 28, 1912 in the Missouri Bootheel at Benton, Missouri, and his family moved to Lee Summit and then to Raytown where his father owned grocery stores. Jobs were scarce so he started peddling sundries and a few gloves from the back seat of his old car. Soon he was making $15 to $20 per day which was really something in the “Big Depression.” In 1934, he and his brother, James S. Lambert, born also at Benton, Missouri September 24, 1908, decided to make Chillicothe, Missouri their base. Manufacturing was not dreamed of at this time, however the move to Chillicothe proved to be a fortunate one. In 1936, the brothers formed the Missouri Distributing Company and moved their merchandise from cars to trucks. “We Deliver the Goods” became the slogan. As more sales routes and trucks were added, work gloves became the major item. During the early 1940’s and World War II, gloves were hard to obtain. The Lambert brothers decided to manufacture their own gloves. The Lambert Manufacturing Company was organized in 1944, and Plant #1 was opened at 5011/2 Jackson Street, Chillicothe, Missouri, They made cotton gloves. As the demand became greater, Plant A2, was built in 1947, in Kirksville, Missouri to manufacture Jersey gloves. By 1949, they purchased a building at 1016 Washington Street in Chillicothe and opened Plant #3, which produced leather work gloves. Caps had become a big sales item and in 1953, they decided to begin manufacturing their own line. Plant #4, was started in November 1953, in an old store building in Gallatin, Missouri with seven employees and moved into a new building in 1954, with a total of 27 employees. Demand increased and the plant expanded in 1959, and again in 1967, and were then employing 140 people. In August, 1970, the second cap factory was started at Bethany, Missouri which was Plant #5, and in 1974 Plant #6, opened at Maysville, Missouri. Joe Lambert sold his half interest in Lambert Manufacturing Co. and Missouri Distributing Company to his brother, James S. Lambert in 1962. At the death of his brother in 1965 Joe purchased a substantial interest in the original companies to see that they were operated in the Lambert tradition until his nephew, James W. Lambert, son of James S. Lambert, was in a position to enter the business. James W. Lambert was born July 19, 1946 in Chillicothe, Missouri. In the meantime, Joe Lambert started the Mid West Glove Corporation and Lambert Sales, Inc. in a new building at 835 Industrial Road, Chillicothe, Missouri on January 14, 1963. They manufactured both cotton and leather gloves. It was for the remarkable success of these businesses that Joe Lambert was chosen Small Businessman of Missouri in 1966. In 1966, the policy of keeping trucks on sales routes was discontinued and salesmen were put in cars. Joe Lambert, due to ill health, sold his interest in both companies to his nephew, James W. Lambert in 1972. The companies have continued to grow and with the addition of catalog service sales cover all 50 states and several foreign countries. James W. Lambert is currently the president and sole owner of both companies which employ approximately 600 people. MISSOURI MOBILE CONCRETE INC. The Missouri Mobile Concrete Inc. was founded in June 1977 by the owners and founders, Robert D. Day and R. Wayne Cunningham. They have three trucks, both owners drive trucks and their other employees are David Bradley, driver and Susan Cunningham, secretary. The business is located at 507 McCormick Street. The Concrete-Mobile is a combination materials transporter and mobile concrete mixing plant, .mounted on a truck that carries sufficient unmixed, dry, bulk cement, sand, coarse aggregate and water to any job site to produce fresh concrete mixed to design specifications. It is a precisely calibrated mechanism that enables a competent operator to produce concrete that will meet and exceed A.C.I. standards for design strength. With the Concrete-Mobile, concrete can be produced in the exact quantity needed, as it is needed, right on the job site, up to five yards per truck. The operator can deliver concrete made to many designs or specifications without moving the Concrete-Mobile or causing delay. Ordering concrete is simplified because only a rough yardage estimate is required. Each truck is equipped with a meter that indicates the exact amount of concrete that has been mixed. There will be no unused concrete to be paid for because of over-estimated yardage, or waiting because of an underestimate. MOORE, SAALE & SHEPARD INSURANCE The Allen Moore Insurance Agency was the initial venture into the insurance business by Allen Moore 111. The agency was started with the purchase of the M. J. Rice Insurance Agency on January 1, 1953. The insurance office was housed at 5011/2 Locust Street in what, at that time, was known as the Boehner Building. Mr. Rice had been engaged in the property and casualty insurance business since 1922. The agency was moved to 511 Washington in 1960. Moore purchased the Flick Girdner Insurance Agency in May of that year; the Girdner Agency had been in existence since 1939. The operating name of the agency was changed to Allen Moore and Associates after the Girdner acquisition. In 1961 the Mervin Cies Agency was purchased; Mr. Cies had been in the insurance business for over forty years. In 1971 George D. Shepard joined the agency as a partner. He had served as an insurance company representative prior to his joining the firm. A branch office was established at Lexington, Missouri, June 1, 1976, under the name of Braswell Insurance Services. The Don Saale Insurance Agency was merged into Allen Moore and Associates January 1, 1977, and the operating name of the insurance agency was changed to Moore, Saale and Shepard. Mr. Saale had been in the property and casualty business twelve years prior to the merger. The existing agency presently represents twentyfive insurance companies and writes all types of property and casualty insurance in addition to life and health insurance. Today it’s one of the largest independent insurance agencies in North Missouri. THE MOORE MONUMENT COMPANY The Moore Monument Company was founded by George W. Moore in Hamilton, Mo. in the back of a blacksmith shop in the year 1890. In order to obtain more capital, a partner was taken into the business in 1892, and it operated as a partnership until the partner’s death in 1900. During the time the business operated in Hamilton, memorials were placed from Missouri City and Orrick on the Missouri River to as far northwest as King City and Stanberry, and as far east as Brookfield. In order to gain better shipping facilities, the business was moved to Chillicothe and the present plant and facilities were built in 1924. When the move was completed in 1924, the company employed 16 to 18 people in the shop, plus office and sales personnel. Vincent Moore joined the business with his father after he graduated from high school in 1937, and following the death of G. W. Moore in January of 1946, assumed full-time operation of the business. In 1965, the firm purchased the Fulkerson Monument Co. of Brookfield and still operates it as a sales outlet. In 1970, a sales display and showroom was opened in Carrollton, Missouri, and this year a sales outlet was placed in Milan, Missouri. The firm currently furnishes memorials from the Iowa line south to the Missouri River, east to Bevier and west to Cameron. Mildred Moore became secretary-treasurer of the business in 1967 and David Moore joined the business with his father in 1971, becoming sales manager. The company is affiliated as a member of the Monument Builders of North America, and International Association of Retail Memorialists in the United States and Canada. Vincent Moore served as president of the Monument Builders of North America from 1965 - 1967. The firm attempts to furnish memorials of symbolic and reverent design which truly represent the lives of the individuals they are intended to commemorate. “Monuments are erected not because someone died, but because they lived.” “A monument says you are remembered.” NORMAN FUNERAL HOME The Norman Funeral Home was founded by F. B. Norman in 1916 at 437 Locust. Mr. Norman’s brother, Earl Norman, joined him later that year. In 1924, Chillicothe’s first exclusive funeral home was built on the grounds of its present location. Mr. Norman’s sons, Elton F. and Ralph V., joined their father in the funeral business in later years. Elton joined the firm in 1936, and left in 1942, to serve in the Armed Forces. He returned in 1945, and remained until retirement in January, 1979. Ralph joined the firm in 1942 and remained until retirement in 1975. F. B. Norman was active in the firm until time of death, March, 1941. Earl Norman was also active until time of death, April, 1944. Tom Otke joined the firm in March 1965, and purchased the stock from Ralph V. Norman in 1975. James K. Wagy joined the firm in 1976, as a stockholder, and later purchased the stock from Elton F. Norman in 1979. In 1976, the funeral home was completely remodeled and a new chapel, family room, music and flower room and foyer added. James K. and Patricia A. Wagy purchased the remaining stock from Tom and Mary Otke in May, 1980. In September, 1980, the final phase of remodeling was completed with the new casket showroom and preparation room, with all the latest equipment installed. Upon this completion all the funeral facility is on the ground floor. HENRY OVERTON MOTOR SALES Mr. and Mrs. Henry Overton came to Chillicothe in 1936 and bought the lot where the business is located on North Washington Street from Ross Bryan. They started building the filling station and garage as a 24 by 24 with a 14 foot lean-to for living quarters. These were depression days and times were hard. Business was good, so another fourteen feet was added to the building including a bedroom and bath to the living quarters. In 1945, the Overtons bought their home at 402 Kennedy Avenue and put a 40 foot tile building on the north side of the original building and the living quarters were converted to parts and office space. The present building is 78 by 40. As the business continued to grow, in 1961 a trailer court was started in back of the garage. In 1964, a fifty foot lot was purchased from Bill Stillwell joining the property on the north, and three additional places for trailer homes were added there plus an overnight hook-up for people driving through with campers. The business does general auto repairing, small engines and welding and-is a Standard Oil station. They sell Lawn Boy Lawnmowers and service them with a good business. In 1960, the Overton’s son Donald began working as a mechanic. In 1975, he became a partner in the business and takes care of the mechanical work. Leon Ireland started as a mechanic in 1961, and has been with the firm for almost twenty years. PABI’S PATCH PaBi’s Patch, a gift and decorative accessories business, opened October 1, 1977, in Chillicothe at 914 Calhoun. The business is owned and operated by Bill and Patti Stewart of Chillicothe. The unusual name for this gift shop was derived from taking the first two letters of each owner’s first name and combining them for Pa Bi’s. Unique gift items are available at Pabi’s Patch as well as special decorative accessories for the home. A variety of items designed in brass, copper, pottery, pewter, crystal, and ceramics are displayed in casual surroundings (atop orange crates, under cedarshingled canopies, on brass adorned French baker’s racks, or nestled within wicker etageres at Pabi’s.) Special promotions during the year include an October 1st anniversary celebration when PaBi’s Patch plays BINGO by spinning the cage to determine % off the purchase price of all merchandise in the store. B-10%, 1-20%, N-30%, G-40% and O-50% off. During the Christmas season, PaBi’s Patch is decorated with garland, lights, wreaths, and several Christmas trees that display tree ornaments from around the world. The Christmas advertising campaign uses “Magoo”, the Stewart’s old English Sheepdog, as spokesman for the store. “Magoo” invites everyone to visit the store to see the special gifts available for those “hard to buy for” on Christmas lists. After Christmas, PaBi’s Patch holds a “Meet Magoo Day” for everyone to shake hands with “Magoo” in the store. Special services at PaBi’s Patch include free gift wrapping in colorful patchwork paper, free delivery in Chillicothe, a bridal registry and wedding arrangements and wrapping for mailing. Throughout the year, Patti Stewart provides programs to community groups about flower arranging, holiday decorating, dinner napkin folding, and antique printer’s drawers personalized with miniatures. This unusual retail business is located off the beaten path (not on the town square) but can be easily found by driving one block west of city hall at 914 Calhoun in Chillicothe. PETTITS Pettit’s Store, located at 506 Locust, was originally started in the fall of 1945 as a combined appliance and paint and wallpaper store. It was opened by two brothers, Phillip and Reginald Pettit. It was the first store in Livingston County to offer television sets for sale and picked up television from St. Louis before Kansas City T.V. stations were on the air. In January 1961, Phillip and his wife Margaret, purchased his brother’s share of the business and are the sole owners and operators of the store. They dropped the appliance lines and went strictly into paint, wallpaper, and interior decorating. In 1971, they added picture framing to the business and are staying with this decor until the present time. The accompanying picture shows the store front as it appeared in April, 1950. PURCELL MERCANTILE COMPANY June, 1890, Dawn, Missouri: Some things I remember about the business in Dawn usually referred to as Purcell’s store. Officially for a short time known as Purcell Brothers (Bert and Ralph) then for a short time as Purcell and Ferril (Bert and Ernest) and as Purcell Mercantile Co. for many years as well as the present time. The store opened for business in the I.O.O.F. building on June 1, 1921, on the south side of Main Street and continued at that location until 1931. Then it moved to its present location on the north side of Main where it is now. A new building was erected in 1931 and enlarged several times over the years. It has been mostly a general store, groceries, dry goods, hardware, meats, etc. A food locker plant became a part of the operation and is a part of the business at the present time. At the close of the second World War, C. J. North, Patricia, his wife, Lee Lewis and Helen, his wife, became associated with the business. After my retirement, C. J. North became the official head of the business and remained so until his death at an early age. Patricia having found other work more to her liking remained a full partner but Lee having officially retired left Helen as head of the firm which she is now. Over the years plumbing, in and outdoor work, became a part of the business. This was sold at C. J.’s death and continues under other management at the present time. The Purcell Store has been and still is one of the very best of small town stores in Livingston County. May it continue for many more. In the decline of the county stores we are losing one of the threads that has held the small communities together and made them a vital part of the larger communities. POULTRY HOUSE The Harkins family, A. M., and Alice and their six children, Milo, Mina, Sherman, Everett, Kelly and Audrine bought the business from the Jack Johnson family in 1952. It was located between Macklin Bargain Store and Raymond Smith’s Cream Station at the corner of Ann and Locust Streets. They bought the present building at 105 North Herriford from Ole Parker. The upstairs was made into living quarters and the family moved there in 1957. Mr. Harkins died in 1958, and Mrs. Harkins and the children carried on with the poultry work with the help of Ray Bate. In 1960 Mrs. Harkins became Mrs. Ray Bate and the business name was changed from “Harkins” to “Alice’s Poultry Dressing Plant”. This was the only poultry dressing plant in northern Missouri. Poultry came from all around to be cleaned. The poultry house also bought live chickens from farmers as well as eggs. A hen house was built to care for the chickens until they were butchered and also raised to be sold as fryers. Poultry and eggs were sold to grocery stores, restaurants and individuals. A yearly occasion was the “Wild Goose and Duck Season”. The family really kept busy and had to hire outside help. Because Chillicothe has good food, lodging, and entertainment, hundreds of hunters from about every state in the union have patronized “Alice’s poultry” to get their wild birds processed. The business building was to State specification. After Mr. Bate had two heart attacks in 1972, Mrs. Bate’s daughter, Mina and her family, Ron, Alicia, Cynthia and Killi Lea managed the business for five years. Betty Breeden had it for one year and now Mrs. Bate’s grandson, Rodney Harkins, is running the business. He also has a body shop at the Herriford Street location. QUEEN CITY MOTEL AND RESTAURANT The business is located in block one of the Weed and Curtiss addition at 310 South Washington in Chillicothe. Elmer and Carole Fowler are the present owners of the business (July, 1980) and have owned the business since May, 1973. Frank G. and Patricia A. Clark are the present managers of the business and have been managers since May, 1973. Other employees are: Cooks: Carol Howe, Dorothy Green, Robert Kerns and Bonnie Nally; Waitresses: Rowena Staples, Andree Doosing and Christine Doosing; Kitchen assistant Cindy Beetsma; Motel Maids: Etta Batson and Cindy Beetsma. The business consists of a modern thirty room motel with room phones, air conditioning, cable color TV, electric heat and a family type restaurant with a seating capacity of eighty in the main dining room. The restaurant has a party room downstairs which seats forty-five and a party room upstairs which seats twenty-five. The restaurant features American foods and has built up a reputation for delicious food with that home-cooked flavor and goodness including home-made rolls, pies, meat loaf, noodles and salad dressings. The restaurant is open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Sunday. The business also has six rental spaces for mobile homes. The business was originally started by T. J. Wisehaupt and was known as the “Midway Tourist Court”. The house which is occupied by the restaurant was built as a personal residence by Mr. Wisehaupt in 1949, according to the blueprints. The business was later owned by F. A. “Mossy” Lionberger and Gerald Vinson under the name of “Lazy L Motel”. Cleo and Edith Sisk purchased the business from F. A. Lionberger and later sold it to Carole and Elmer Fowler. (See Also Midway Cabin Camp) Directory: History History -> Developed for the Ontario Curriculum History -> A chronology 1660-1832 The Restoration Settlement History -> History and Social Science Standards of Learning Enhanced Scope and Sequence History -> Evolution of the National Weather Service History -> Chronological documentation for the period through 1842 Copyright Bruce Seymour blio, Cadet Papers of Patrick Craigie History -> History of the 14 History -> History of the ports in Georgia History -> That Broad and Beckoning Highway: The Santa Fe Trail and the Rush for Gold in California and Colorado History -> Capitol Reef National Park List of Fruit and Nut Varieties, Including Heirlooms Prepared for the National Park Service through the Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit by Kanin Routson and Gary Paul Nabhan, Center for Sustainable Download 1.01 Mb. Share with your friends:
|