Rensselaer Journal, Volume 12, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 March 1903 — TWENTX-SIX YEARS AGO. [ARTICLE]

TWENTX-SIX YEARS AGO.

A Rensselaer Paper of That Time Furnishes Some Interesting Items. A subscriber hands ns a copy of the Rensselaer Union dated February 22, 1877, twenty-six years ago. Among the advertisers, the only ones who are still in business nnder the old firm names are 0. 0. Starr and J. J. Eiglesbaoh. Under the head of professional oards are the names ofDrs. G. A. Moss, J. H. Loughridge, Moses B. Alter and R. Y. Martin, all of whom have passed away. In those days Rensselaer had two tailor shops, one more than it has at tbe present day. The proprietors were N. R. Bowman and John Zimmerman. The latter still lives here but has been succeeded in business by his son, B. K. Zimmerman. The law firms of that time were M. F. Uhilcote, Thompson & Bro., R. S. &Z. Dwlggins, and Frank W. Baboook. A. AfoOoy & Thompson were the bankers. Samp. Erwin, Shindler & Roberts and Leslie Grant were tbe proprietors of blacksmith shops on Front street. J. Austin ran Austin’s Hotel and R. J. Hopkins the Hopkins House. Lonis Kern ran a grocery store in the old Liberal corner, whloh was torn down last year. Ralph Fendlg sold groceries, dry goods and olothing as well as saleratns, soap, etc. Tntenrs ran the New Centennial Store, and sold tobaoco, cigars, sardines, notions, eto. John Coen was the proprietor of the Rensselaer Nnrsery. Warner manufactured wagons

carriages and baggies, and ran a first class hardware store, and also a harness shop. J. 8. Wigmore was the Jeweler of those days. About that time A. Leopold laid oat his addition to Rensselaer. Many of the lots are still on the market as originally platted. Thomas Burroughs had the agenoy for the sale of 246 of these lots and also had money to loan, E. T. Harding & Son sold groceries, notions and newspapers, and were enabled to supply the Chicago papers on the evening, of the day of publication. J. W. Duvall was proprietor of a livery stable and ran a daily, except Sunday, hack line between Rensselaer and Franoesville, there being no railroad here at that time. Willey & Sigler and A. Leopold were large general merchandise dealers at that time. Leopold's store was in the old stone building formerly located on Washington street. Charlie Platt had charge of the grocery department. F. Sears & Co. were also in the merchantile business at that time. David Jones sold farm implements and clocks. Bass & 00. made boots and shoes to order. Those that are claiming that Uncle Jimmy MoEwin, the editor of the Sentinel, came here before the flood, are mistaken, as the following notloe of the establishment of the Sentinel in Rensselaer will show:

The Democratic Sentinel made its introductory appearance in Rensselaer last week. n *s e in T dicatC8 * 11 ia democratic in politics. Mr. James W. McEwen, late of Monhcello, where for many years he was engaged in publishing the Constitutionalist, is proprietor and e«Stor. The Democratic Sentinel is an eight column folio in size, and the subscription price is only si.eo a year. $i for six months, 50 cents for three months. For several years the democracy of Jasper county have desired a local newspaper to reprtil W, faith t and » i« expected Aey will give this journal a liberal pannage. Mr. McEwen is a quiet, well disposed, lTwabiding gentieman, of unblemished character and will take rank among the best citizens ol Jasper county. We extend a kind, fraternal welcome to him and his enterprise and wish him pecuniary success. The Union was a six oolumn quarto published by Horaoe E. James and Mervin O. Oissel. James is now living at Hammond and Oissel is in the newspaper business in a western state. The subscription price of the Union was |2 per year. Muoh of the type used in printing the Union is still in use on the Rensselaer Republican, whioh succeeded the Union a few years later.