PROMINENT MEN AND BUSINESSES IN LAGRANGE IN 1902

THOMAS FAYETTE LA FON

Dr. T. F. La Fon is another one of our prominent physicians who has been highly successful in his profession. Receiving a thorough scholastic education in two different colleges he attended the Missouri Medical College, St. Louis, one year and then entered the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, and was graduated from that college in 1885. For some years he was located at Taylor and Maywood, this county, where he engaged in the practice of his profession, but came to La Grange in 1888.
Ever since he located in La Grange, Dr. La Fon has been busily engaged as his practice has been heavy. He is a careful, conscientious man and fully appreciates the responsibilities resting upon him when called upon to take charge of a patient. Being a progressive man he devotes his spare time to the reading of the medical journals of the land. He possesses a pleasant home located in the central portion of our city and facing Washington park.

JOHN ADOLPH BECKER

The poultry business of Missouri has assumed large proportions during the last few years and those engaged in raising poultry have received large returns on their investments. Many of the farmers living near La Grange have had a large surplus of poultry to market each year, and John Adolph Becker, our local dealer in that line, has established for himself a good trade during the three years he has been engaged in the business. Having been reared on a farm he accumulated many practical ideas that have served him well in his present occupation.
For many years the farmers living in La Grange hauled their poultry and eggs to other towns seeking a market for the same, but it is different now. Instead of our farmers going to other towns to market their produce many farmers living near other towns how haul their poultry here to receive fancy prices from Mr. Becker. Besides poultry and eggs, he handles hides, furs, veal calves and second-hand goods, and is an auctioneer of much repute.
Mr. Becker by his energies and fair treatment of customers has brought much business to our town that otherwise would have gone to other places.
He owns a two-story house that is used for his business, his home and a valuable farm of seventy acres lying three miles west of La Grange.

HEATHER BROS.

For many years the three-story brick building on the northwest corner of the junction of Main and Marion streets has been occupied by a stock of hardware. F. S. Hagood for many years conducted the store, but for the last three and one-half years Heather Bros. Have owned and operated the store. These two young enterprising men were both raised in the town. Some years ago Edward Heather, a member of this firm, chose railroading as a profession, which he follows now, being at present in the employ of the Burlington system.
The management of the hardware business is left to John Heather, who is always found at his post of duty, and never neglects any part of his work. He owns a pleasant cottage fronting Fourth Street, between Washington and Marion streets, and has ample ground for a beautiful yard. 
The firm of Heather Bros. Carries a heavy line of hardware, stoves and tinware and woven fencing, besides a full supply of all kinds of farm machinery, including plows, harrows, cultivators, corn planters, binders and mowers of the best manufacture in the land. They are enjoying their portion of the prosperity which has come to La Grange.

GEORGE LARKIN LOUDERMILK

In the year 1873 George Larkin Loudermilk began the blacksmith's trade and from that date to the present has "pounded away at it." The first twenty years or more were spent in the employ of other persons, but in 1890 he began work on his own responsibilities. While business may not have been rushing at first it has steadily increased all the time, till now his services are in great demand.
Recently Mr. Loudermilk installed a six horse-power steam engine in his shop which is supplied with steam from the boiler at the Independent Button factory, and now his drills, blower for the forge, emery wheels and other machinery are propelled by this engine. He has a well equipped shop and is a high class workman.
Mr. Loudermilk is a partner of W. G. Howe in the button business, the two composing the Independent Button Company. An account of their factory is given on another page of this paper.

JOHN WILLIAM ESSLINGER

When it comes to sole saving there is no man in our city that has equaled John William Esslinger, who is a veteran at the trade even if not a veteran in age. Born in La Grange in 1861 he received his education in our schools. At the age of 13 years he began learning the shoemaker's trade under his father, who had worked at the business for many years, finally starting a shop of his own in 1884. He has worked continuously at his trade and is an example of what a man can accomplish by "keeping everlastingly at it." By saving his nickels and dimes received for his labors, he has accumulated enough money to erect one of the neatest seven-room cottages in our city, besides one of the best business houses on Main Street, which he now occupies with a complete stock of shoes. A back from his building is used for Mr. Esslinger's shop, but the two rooms are so situated that he can conveniently pass from the back room to the from room to wait on his customers. 
Although he has not been carrying his stock of shoes more than nine months his sales have exceeded his sanguine expectations, and his trade has increased from the start. He believes in dealing fair with his customers and his long experience with leather has given him knowledge of his business that many other persons do not possess. Buying his shoes direct from the factories, Mr. Esslinger secures better goods than dealers who purchase their goods from jobbers.

WILLIAM ELSEWORTH OYSTER

On the east side of Main street and north of Washington street, William Elseworth Oyster conducts a hardware store. He is a son of our well-known townsman, David K. Oyster, and was reared on a farm a short distance below town. His early life was spent on the farm, and after grown to manhood he engaged in farming and stock raising. None, but the very best cattle and horses were kept by him and he took great pride in his stock.
Mr. Oyster owns a large interest in a 1,200 acre tract of valuable land lying south of La Grange. Moving to this city some years ago he continued his farm and stock interests, conducting it from his place, till last October, when he purchased a stock of hardware and is now giving the business his undivided attention. From the day he entered the hardware business to the present time his trade has increased and his stock has been augmented to meet the demand. A full line of hardware, including tinware and stoves, is carried, and besides the above he is a dealer in all classes of farm machinery, as plows, cultivators, binders and mowers.
Mr. Oyster was married a few months ago to Miss Sarah Burtnett, a lady well and favorable known to our citizens.

JOSEPH E. BONNEY

A town the size of La Grange, and being a lumber distributing point as it is, necessarily demands a saw and planing mill. Over twenty years ago Joseph E. Bonney invested in such a mill, which he has kept in operation most of the time, and which has proven a paying investment.
Logs of all kinds are sawed into lumber and much of the lumber handled locally is dressed in the planing department of this mill. Persons who have had experience in this line of business and are capable of judging, say that Mr. Bonney has one of the most thoroughly equipped planing mills in this part of the country. All of the necessary machinery for cutting moldings and various designs are to be found in this institution, which turns out much high grade work. The new life taken on by La Grange has added much to the work of this mill.

PORTER & PORTER

With the other interests of La Grange the firm of Porter & Porter, liverymen, is enjoying its part of the prosperity which has been evident in the town during the past year. This firm is composed of James P. and William Porter, who are young and enterprising. Both were reared on farms near La Grange and followed farming for some time.
James P. Porter had charge of the business from last May till December, when a half interest in the concern was sold to William Porter. Since taking charge of the barn the firm has greatly added to their stock of vehicles and horses. A large sum of money has been expended for rolling stock, which has brought their equipments up to the equal of those found in much larger places than La Grange. Lately a closed carriage of the latest and best make was purchased at a heavy expense and but few towns the size of La Grange are accustomed to such luxury.
A new brick barn is being erected near the foot of Washington street, and when completed Porter & Porter will move their livery stock into this new building, at the same time retaining control of the building they now occupy. Their stock will be further increased to meet the growing demand of their business, which has already become one of the leading industries of our town.

FRED PHELPS

Passing along Main Street at the crossing of Marion street a neat little building is observed and on each side this sign is read, "Hot Lunches." The building is Fred Phelps' lunch car, where hungry persons may secure meals and lunches of various kinds.
It is surprising to know the large amount of patronage Mr. Phelps receives daily. Everything is served in an appetizing manner, and once a patron of the car always a patron, seems to be the feeling of his customers. For about seven years he has been in the restaurant business and he is fully competent to please in that line of work.

LA GRANGE TELEPHONE EXCHANGE

On January 1st, 1900, a number of farmers living near La Grange and a few of our citizens met and organized the La Grange Telephone Company, there being a capital stock at first of only $150. The stock was all soon sold to Silas Lake, who pushed the business along till it grew to large proportions. A switch board of one hundred drop capacity with appliances for twenty toll lines, was placed in the central office, and today the switch board is loaded to almost its entire capacity.
Mr. Lake, who owned also the telephone exchanges in two other towns of Lewis county, recently formed a stock company of $5,000 with a number of other persons and the company has been incorporated under the laws of our state. Silas Lake is president and general manager of the new concern and he intends extending his lines in the towns and throughout the county.
La Grange now is the connecting link between the telephone interests of northeast Missouri and the corresponding territory on the Illinois side of the Mississippi. None but the very highest grades of telephones are used in the system of the town and patrons here receive better services and at lower prices than are given in other towns. The Bell telephone liens connect with out central office and our citizens can communicate with every city of importance in the United States.

THEODORE A. BALLERING

First class tailoring can be done only by persons who have had much experience in the business, and the work done by Theodore A. Ballering, our only tailor, is not to be compared with that turned out by the inexperienced laborers. He has worked at the trade continuously for eighteen years, spending much of the time in St. Louis, where he came in contact with the best of tailors and received much valuable information.
Locating in La Grange four years ago he has since that time been kept steadily employed on work for our citizens. Often he is compelled to have the assistance of another person, so rushed in his business.
During the month of February, 1899, The Indicator published a two-column article concerning the pearl button industries on the upper Mississippi river. The article was based on facts gleaned from persons who had visited Muscatine, Iowa, and other town where pearl buttons were being made from the freshwater clams. At the close of the article the writer emphasized the fact that clam shells could be obtained in abundance from the river in front of La Grange, and that capitalists of La Grange should investigate the button business with a view of starting a factory here. H. W. Hageman, D. L. Sellers and William Brinkman at once began the investigation and after visiting Muscatine, Iowa, and securing prices on machinery, a company, known as the Missouri Pearl Button Company, was formed in April 19, 1899, by the above named gentlemen. Twelve saws were installed at first and small frame building in the south part of town was occupied. When winter came on that year it was necessary for the company to secure a building that would afford better protection from the chilling blasts. One room in the large two-story brick situated on the southeast corner of Main and Marion streets was rented, where the factory is now located. Messrs. Sellers and Brinkman did not remain in business long, but sole their interests to C. A. Klusmeter and H. W. Hageman, who are still owners of the factory.
The company now operates fifteen saw and gives constant employment to twenty men. Ten other saws have been bought which will be placed in operation by June 1st, when the company will give employment to at least thirty-two persons.

LA GRANGE PEARL BUTTON CO.

The largest button factory in La Grange is one operated by the La Grange Pearl Button Company, which has a capital stock of $10,000, and is composed of the following prominent gentlemen: D. B. Jeter, president; Charles C. Crouch, vice-president; John G. Farmer, secretary and factory manager; J. N. Hagood and F. S. Hagood, with Mr. Robinson being traveling salesman.
The company was organized almost three years ago and their factory has been in constant
operation. Twelve saws are operated and the only finishing plant in Missouri is owned and operated by the company. The company also owns a large two-story brick building.
The blanks are first sawed and then passed on through the finishing department. After being dressed down, ground out, holes drilled and polished, the buttons are ready for the cards. The machinery is very complicated and expensive.
The company employs forty persons regularly, and has a weekly pay roll of $200. Their business has been prosperous and within a very short time the company will greatly enlarge their facilities, and occupy another room adjoining their present quarters.
They manufacture buttons of all grades varying in sizes from fourteen to twenty-four lines. The buttons are highly polished and sell readily in all the markets. Already merchants in many of our states are handling buttons from the La Grange Pearl Button factory and the company intends pushing its sales into new fields soon. The company is composed of our best business men, who will push their products to the front.
The factory is another one of the industries that has brought new life to La Grange. May it with all others ever prosper.

UNION BUTTON CO.

The Union Button Company was organized March 2, 1900, by C. W. Peter and Charles and John Solter, who established the fourth factory in our town. Fourteen saws are operated and eighteen men are given steady employment in the factory. The pay roll of this company averages $125 per week, and about 1,500 gross of blanks are cut each week. A large sum of money above what is paid to the men in the factory is expended each month for shells.
The members of this company are all enterprising business men who have carefully looked after every detail and in this way made the enterprise a success. Mr. Peters came to this place from Payson, Ill., about two and one-half years ago, and has proven, with his family, excellent citizens. The Solter brothers are sons of William H. Solter, living southwest of town, and are deserving young men.
This factory, like the other three of its kind in our town, has proven a great blessing to our city, as it has given steady employment to a number of persons at good wages.
The four button factories gave the first new impulse to our town after the creamery was started and put on a paying basis. It is doubtful if there is another kind of manufacturing business that is as helpful to a city, compared with the amount of capital invested, as are the pearl button factories. Outside of the money expended for shells the money is all distributed in the town for labor. The capital invested is turned over frequently, laborers receive their wages each week, and the money goes into the hands of persons who help build up a town.

INDEPENDENT BUTTON COMPANY

The Independent Button Company was organized May 1st, 1900, it being the fourth company to establish a factory in our town. The company was composed of G. L. Landermilk and W. G. Howe, who are now sole owners of the plant, which is managed by the latter gentleman. The company operates nine saws and has a pay roll of $90 per week. Twelve hundred gross of button blankets and three tons of ground shells for chicken grit each week are turned out by this factory. This is one of the best equipped plants on the Mississippi river, as it is heated in winter by steam, has all first class machinery, and the workmen are furnished with good light and clean, well ventilated quarters. The factory has been in constant operation from the start and it promises to continue a prosperous enterprise. As there are many tons of shells wasted each week the Independent Pearl Button Company recently conceived the idea of grinding this residue of shells into grit for chickens, and a machine for that purpose has been installed. The machine has a capacity of about one ton of grit per day. Samples of the Pearl Grit, as the new product has been termed, have been sent to a number of persons throughout the country who are following the poultry business extensively, and highly favorable reports have been received as to the merits of the product. Already the company has received a number of large orders for Pearl Grit, and no doubt the new enterprise will grow soon into a large and paying business. It is hoped the company will be able in a short time to consume the residue of all the shells from our four button factories. 
Pearl Grit is put up in packages of 50 to 100 pounds and the Independent Pearl Button Company would be pleased to quote prices on same to persons interested.

The many old persons living in and around La Grange is an evidence of the healthfulness of the community. Persons above three score and ten may be counted by the scores and hundreds are found above the half century mark. 

HUGH P. WOOD

Hugh P. Wood, living seven miles southwest of La Grange, is the oldest citizen in the community. A few weeks ago the celebrated his ninetieth birthday by giving a dinner to his children, grandchildren and a number of friends.
He was born in Virginia, but removed to this state sixty-five years ago. Although 90 years old, Mr. Wood enjoys extremely good health for a man of his age and is able to do some work around his home and comes to La Grange quite frequently in good weather. He has been a useful citizen and it is hoped he may be spared to round out a century of usefulness. 

JAMES W. BOHON

The second oldest citizen known in this community is James W. Bohon, residing two miles north and west of town. This venerable old gentleman and his wife lived together over fifty-six years before her death, which occurred less than one year ago.
Mr. Bohon's life has been one of Christian usefulness and he has been spared to pass the eighty-fourth milestone in life. He is quite feeble but visits La Grange often.

GEORGE W. McLEAN

Another aged citizen is George W. McLean, who has spent most of his days in La Grange. He was 84 years old in March last, and is favorable known to everyone about town.

HON. EDWARD ALLEN DAVIS

Born in Leake county, Mississippi, 1852, the subject of this sketch moved with his parents six years later to Adams county, Illinois, where he received his early education, after which he attended La Grange college. Upon leaving college he returned to Illinois and entered the Burlington railroad office at Paloma, where he learned telegraphy. This was in the year 1875 and he has ever since remained in the employ of Burlington company. 
In 1882 he came to La Grange and took charge of the office work at this place and soon after purchased in the north part of town a tract of land consisting of forty-five acres, on which is situated a neat two-story brick house.
Besides his railroad work, Mr. Davis conducts a dairy farm, which is superintended by him, but much of the real work is done by his two sons, Sumner and Oma Lee. Mr. Davis takes great pride in his Jersey herd, all of which are thoroughbreds.
In 1901, when the time was approaching for the regular city election, the citizens at a mass convention chose him by a unanimous vote as candidate for mayor of the town, and after one year's service in that capacity he was unanimously renominated and reelected to the same office. His official acts have been highly satisfactory to our citizens, as is shown by their choosing him for a second term in office. Mr. Davis has served for fifteen years as a member of our local school board, and has taken a keen interest in the educational welfare of our town.

BENJAMIN CHARLES KLUSMEIER 

One of the most responsible public offices in each town is that of postmaster, and not many persons are qualified to fill the position to the satisfaction of the entire public. La Grange is fortunate at this time in having a man who has been able to give almost unanimous satisfaction. Benjamin Charles Klusmeier was born in La Grange June 7, 1878, and was appointed to his present position four day after he attained his majority. The office had just then been advanced from a fourth to a third class office. He was then the youngest third class postmaster in the United States. He has been courteous and accommodating to all the patrons of the office and is popular with all classes.

WILLIAM ELLERY, M. D.

The pioneer physician of La Grange today is Dr. William Ellery, who has followed his profession continuously in the place for more than a quarter of a century. He was educated first at La Grange College. Attending a St. Louis medical college one year he went to Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and received his diploma from that institution in the year 1877. Returning to La Grange he immediately began the practice of his profession, and has been eminently successful in his work. He endeavors to keep posted as to the progress made in the medical profession by reading the best medical journals published. His practice has been heavy and he now owns an elegant residence and a small tract of land at the west edge of our city. 

STEPHEN ACCOLA

Within another week Stephen Accola will have established a bakery in practically a new building on the corner of Marion and Main streets. The oven is now being constructed, and the other necessary equipments are being installed, and when completed he will have a strictly up-to-date bakery in every particular.
Mr. Accola has worked at this trade over six years, having served as foreman two years in one of the largest bakeries in Denver, Colo. He conducted a bakery in La Grange about one year ago and his services were highly satisfactory to his customers, who were numbered by the scores. This time he enters the business to remain and help push forward the interests of La Grange. He is skilled in all the latest methods and no doubt will succeed.

JOSEPH LEGRAND BARKER

As important business in every town is that of drugs, and La Grange is not without her representatives in this line. Joseph L. Barker conducts a drug store in the brick building owned by D. B. Jeter on Main street.
Receiving a scholastic education in our public schools and La Grange college he studied pharmacy in the St. Louis School of Pharmacy two years. After completing the course there he returned to La Grange five years ago and purchased a stock of drugs and has since received a large patronage. Mr. Barker does a heavy prescription business, as two of our practicing physicians have their offices convenient to his store.