People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 27-25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1896 — Page 29
GEORGE A. STRICKFADEN.
The subject of this sketch was born at Yorkville, Dearborn county, Ind., Feb. 2, 1858. His parents were poor and he had no advantages of education after his eleventh year and since that time he has made his own way in the world, working on a farm until he was eighteen years old. At that time he was made deputy sheriff of Dearborn county, by Sheriff Lou Weitzel, serving in that capacity for two years. He then spent six years in Champaign City, 111., in a hotel, working himself up from the position T of porter to practical manager of the home. After leaving the hotel he opened a billiard hall in Rantoul, 111., which he run for a short time, and then went to Crawfordsville, Ind., where he started a very tine barber shop. From Crawfordsville he came to Rensselaer, about ten years ago, and engaged in the retail liquor business. He has occupied several different places previous to the one in which he is now located, where he has been for over two years. Mr. Strickfaden has had many severe struggles with tickle fortune, and though always a hard worker, temperate and frugal, his disposition to be generous with others has often worked injustice to himself, and thus it was that when he came to Rensselaer ten ago he prepared to begin life anew. Certain it is that he has prospered here, ’ for from the small beginning he now has a magnificent bar and fixtures , the cost of which, including stock, exceeded $5,000. The saloon is the largest and finest in Northern Indiana, and has few equals in the larger cities of the state. Both the back and front bars are really very handsome, all of the fixtures are of cherry in the natural wood, the front bar having a mahogany top. The back bar is 18 feet long and the front
INTERIOR PLANING MILLS OF FRANK OSBORN.
Planing Mill.
This plant is owned by the excellent mechanic, Frank Osborn, and is complete in every respect for turning out every description of work used in building operations. The machinery is new and consists of rrsaws, moulders, planers,
J. W. WILLIAMS.
Mr. Williams, who is cashier in the Farmers' Bank, conducts a prosperous furniture business in his block just east of the Odd Fellows’ Temple. It is a thoroughly well stocked store and by good business methods and a faculty of pleas-
FURNITURE STORE OF J. W. WILLIAMS
RESIDENCE OF GEORGE A. STICKFADEN.
one twenty, the center mirror is a magnificent piece of French plate eight by twelve feet. The w T ork board is of copper and twenty fec+ long. The back bar is copper lined throughout. The refrigerator is large and set with fine French plate mirrors on three sides, and is one of the best that money could buy. A very attractive whiskey case greets the eye of the visitor us soon as he enters the office of the saloon, where also is set a handsome cigar case and desk, which is always at the seryice of patrons. There is also a good fireproof safe. For three years he has had the exclusive right for the storage of beer in the cold storage room at the creamery, where he places all that stock as soon as received, buying the same in car load lots. “The Mammoth,” the name of his saloon, is one hundred and ten feet long by thirty-three feet wide, being as large a saloon as there is in Indiana, perhaps the largest. It is heated by furnace and is always in a comfortable
etc., of the improved patterns. Mr. Osborn has all the business he can do and being thoroughly competent, gives his patrons the utmost satisfaction. Mr. Osborn held the importaht position of superintendent of conttsuction for the Odd Fellows in the building of their fine building last year.
ing his customers he has, established an excellent trade. T. F. Clark, his obliging salesman, is always ready to show visitors through the stock, and it is certainly but a matter of prudence for those in need of house furnishings to inspect these goods and obtain prices before purchasing elsewhere.
THE PEOPLE’S PILOT, RENSSELAER, IND., THURSDAY. JAN. 2. 1896
In another place in this paper (page 12.) an error occurs in presenting the picture of Mr. Newels’ home. The residence printed was that of his good friend. Wallace Robinson. One of these gentle nen is guilty of plagairism in building a house like his neighbor’s, and should be held responsible for this error.
Robinson Bros. Lumber Co.
The accompanying illustration is of the handsome and comfortable home of Wallace Robinson, senior member of the above named firm. The house was built about three years ago and has been beautified in a very tasteful manner. Mr. Robinson is one of a family of eight children, and a twin of Wfirren, his partner in the lumber business. This business was purchased in 1893 of C. D. Nowels & Son, is the oldest lumber yard in town, and has long enjoyed a large patronage. Under the management of Wallace Robinson it has proven a very successful en
GEORGE A. STRICKFADEN.
RESIDENCE OF DAVID B. NOWELS.
HOME OF WALLACE ROBINSON.
SALOON OF GEORGE A. STICKFADEN.
tcrprise, and greatly ‘increased the al ready excellent trade. The yard is one of the largest in this part of Indiana,and the stock carried is complete in every detail. for building purposes, including sewer pipe -and coal. Robinson Brothers buy stock in all parts of the country, both in the north and in the south, and as far away as Washington, in fact wherever spot cash will got the greatest value, And it is this shrewd buying that gives the firm its reputatioh for making low prices. All they ask is a chance to make figures, and dq not,expect orders at higher prices than are obtainable elsewhere, even in Chicago
condition.. The saloon proper is eighty by thirty-three feet, there being a billiard hall cut off from the. roar which since the. inauguration of the Nicholson law lias been rented to Conrad Kellner, bartender for Mr. Stiickfaden. These tables are the best that are made and greatly appreciated by the adepts who manipulate the ivories. Mr. Strickfaden is also engaged in teaming doing the most extensive business in this line in town, running three to four teams the greater part of the year He put in four miles of the gravel roads in Im!>4, in partnership with Charles J. Roberts. He did the principal part of the hauling of„ the rock and brick of the new school house, employing about fifteen teams for nearly two months. His teams furnished all the sand and gravel for the extensive system of cement walks and street crossings which have been put in during the last year.
Mr. Pierce wan born in Rensselaer, June 10, 1860; has always lived upon alarm and is now the possessor of 320 acres of good land, located about three miles south of town, where he resides in a very comfortable and substantial home, as illustration herewith. He is a stock feeder and shipper, and is considered one of the most successful farmers in Jasper county. He was married to Miss Ida Coons in 1885. Their children are, Carrie, Mary and Gladys, aged six, four and two years respectively.
B.*F. Ferguson was horn in Randolph county, North Carolina, May 31, 1850; at the age of three years his parents emigrated to Indiana. Thence to Missouri in 1856, and passed through the trials and hardships incident to the border ruffians and of the civil war up to 1863. when, with parents moved to Tippecanoe courfty, Indiana. Began teaching school at the age of sixteen, and continued in that profession for ten years. He also entered the ministry inj 1872, and for more than twenty years had charge of a Kidd of labor, having received many hundreds- into the visible church. He came to Jasper county in August, 1879, and established a lumber yard j where the firm of John W. Paxtcn & Co. are now located. Since that time he has been actively interested in the business enterprises of town, being foremost in some of the most important public undertakings. He established 1 and installed the electric light plant, and the Krst glow of light was sent out on the 29th day of May, 1889, and since that time Rensselaer has been numbered among the Krst of its size to have electric light. Mr. Ferguson has made a sort of Gretna Green of Rensselaer; having married oveP’ two hundred couples during his residence here. He is also frequently called upon to preside at the obsequies of his many friends. He is now a member of the Krm of Ferguson & Wilson, office 3rd door south of A. McCoy & Co.'s hank, and invites every one to call. r
FARM HOME OF JAMES PIERCE.
HOME OF B. F. FERGUSON.
He is also extensively engaged in farming and cattle feediug, operating 250 acres in corn and oats last year, besides ten acres in potatoes. All of these enterprises require the constant employment of from five to tdn men. He is now feeding about one load of cows, recently disposing of two prime loads. Last winter he delivered over 200 cords of wood in Rensselaer, and now has teams on the wood road, Last year Mr. Stric.kfaden erected an attractive dwelling on Cullen street, opposite the county jail, which lie has improved with cement walks, a good well, barn, etc., making a property valued at about #3,000. The home is nicely furnished and over by his esteemable wife, who, like her husband, has many warm friends in the community. ' , Mrs. Strickfaden wasMissLou Balliour of■Ghampaigh, Illinois, previous to her marriage with the subject of this article, an event that occurred about thirteen years ago. Their children are Mabel,' aged seven, and Edith, aged nine, bbsidos which they mourn the loss of four other children, their'youngest having died but a few weeks ago. George Stickfaden has the reputation of running an orderly place, and of keeping strictly within the law. It has been noticeably free from disturbances of any kind, and during the nine years and more of his residence in Rensselaer, there has been but one indictment found by the grand jury against his employees, and none against him, for any infraction of law. Appeals for subscription for charitable “purposes are never made to him in vain, and his donations for public enterprises amount to hundreds of dollars annually. Mr. Strickfaden is a man of integrity who esteems his word the equal of his bond.
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