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.

F & D JOHNSON

This firm needs no introduction, as it has been established for many years and is well known to those living in and about La Grange. The business was started by c. Johnson and afterwards owned and carried on my Andrew Johnson. It has been under the present management since 1894 and since then has been steadily growing. No step forward has been taken unless the position could be held, so there is no record in its history of a backward step. The books show the amount of business done during 1901 to be about twice that of 1894.
The present members of the firm are Miss Jane Johnson, who attends to the bookkeeping and advertising, David Johnson and Edward Johnson.
Special attention has always been directed to one feature of the retail business which is so often overlooked or neglected; it is what is styled the educational feature. By this is meant the passing on, by the retail dealer to his customer of knowledge which he has received from the manufacturers and through his own study, observation and experience. In the days when Dickens wrote David Copperfield the attitude of the seller to the buyer was not up to the mark of the present day, hence the flavor of a joke like this: "Now supposing, my pet, that we were married, and you sere going to buy a shoulder of mutton for dinner, would you know how to buy it?"
"Why, the butcher would know how to sell it, and what need I know?"
Today the retail dealer invites his customers to look at his goods through the same spectacles that he himself wears, knowing well he can make his services worth what he asks for them without resorting to deception of any kind and that if all the goods in the country were collected in one vast store house it would be no easy talk for buyers to secure as good values as under the present system. Believing that upon this depends largely the value of a retail store to the community in which it is located, and that without it the high standards of today could never have been reached, the firm is endeavoring, by securing the help of the best manufacturers and avoiding gaudy novelties, to bring excellence and low prices nearer together than they would be if their store were not here. This principle is the foundation of all past growth and will be the foundation of all past growth and will be the foundation of any future prosperity which the firm may enjoy so long as it remains under the present management.

STAR DRY GOODS HOUSE

While the Star Dry Goods House has not been in business over three years its trade has increased steadily from the first till today it enjoys the largest business of any store in their line. Starting with a small stock of goods and in a small room their trade grew till the firm was compelled to increase their stock of goods and before this could be done larger quarters had to be secured. Moving into largest store room in La Grange the company has every available portion of the room now occupied with their complete line of dry goods and millinery goods, the latter department having been added during the last year.
The Star Dry Goods Store is operated by J. M. DeCoster & Co., Lee DeCoster Hamilton having charge at it. Being a competent judge of goods she goes to the large markets each season, where she purchases her stock of lower prices than other merchants who have representatives of the wholesale houses visit them at their stores. She is also able to secure a better line of goods for her customers.

CLARENCE N. THOMAS

When The Indicator man called on C. N. Thomas, the dry goods man, he was so busy he only stopped long enough to say: "Autobiography! Guess people care more about getting their money's worth in goods than they do about my personal history. Just tell them I have been here seven years and am selling more and better goods for less money than I ever did before. My principal object in life is to please my customers and make competition look like this."

LA GRANGE CREAMERY CO.

For many years, previous in 1892, there were no industrial enterprises worth mentioning in La Grange, but during this time an enterprising class of people were growing up around the town. These were the Germans who had located in and around La Grange, ans who have been the bone and sinew of an important enterprise of our town.
In 1892, W. H. Schroeder, then living a few miles northwest of La Grange, began talking to our citizens and the farmers around the town of a creamery, and soon persuaded them it could be made a paying business to the stockholders and patrons. A committee of three, composed of W. H. Schroeder, A. Bozarth and W. H. Solter, was appointed to visit to visit Chicago and inspect creameries and report to those interested. The committee did so and recommended the formation of a company and the establishing of a creamery. The advice was followed and La Grange Creamery Company was formed in 1892, with a capital stock of $5,000, divided into fifty shares of $100 each.
A. Bozarth was elected president of the company and has been re-elected to the office each year since. W. H. Schroeder was chosen secretary and Sam G. Lewis manager. The next year Mr. Lewis was elected secretary and business manager and has remained in that important office ever since.
The first two years of its operation the creamery was not a paying investment to its stockholders, but at the end of the third year a small dividend was declared and since that, at the end of each year, liberal dividends have been declared.
La Grange creamery is the best paying institution of its kind, to both patrons and stockholders, in Missouri. There have been an average of eighty patrons during the past year, and about $20,000 have been distributed. Many a farm mortgage has been paid off around La Grange with money that came from the creamery. Dwelling houses and barns have been erected with money coming from the same source, and land that five years "was too poor to grow black-eye peas" is now producing bluegrass for milk cows.
The success of La Grange creamery is due principally to Sam G. Lewis, who is a practical business man. He was born on a farm near Glasgow, Mo., but learned the creamery business in North Dakota, and had charge of the creameries at Salisbury, Sumner and Hannibal before coming to La Grange. He has made this line of work a deep study ever since he entered it, and there is no detail of it that he does not thoroughly understand.
President A. Bozarth, though not giving much of his time to the business workings of the institution, has been a useful man in his office. He is a practical farmer and has been a strong patron of the creamery.
The present board of directors is composed o the following men: A. Bozarth, president; S. G. Lewis, manager and secretary; W. H. Solter, C. A. Klusmeier, Herman Hehmeyer, August Sturhan and J. A. Smith. The above men are suitable for the positions they occupy and they have lent their best energies in behalf of the creamery.

JOHN HIPKINS

Forty-seven years ago John W. Hipkins was born in La Grange and spent his boyhood days in the town. Early in life he concluded to learn the plasterer's trade for life's occupation and began work under his grandfather's instruction. After working here for a while he went to Memphis, Mo., to complete his trade, and worked four years in that town. Returning to La Grange he has remained here ever since.
As a plasterer Mr. Hipkins has no superior, and his reputation as a workman is known far and wide. Most every house erected in La Grange during the pas twenty years has been given the inside "white coat" by him, and his services are in demand in other places.
About six years ago Mr. Hipkins concluded that to keep on hand a number of boats to be rented for various purposes would be a paying investment, so he purchased a supply. He now has on hand nine of the prettiest, neatest skiffs ever seen together, and which are rented to pleasure seekers. He has a large cabin boat in the river near the foot of Jefferson street in which are stored his skiffs when they are not in use. On the opposite side of the river is another cabin boat divided into two compartments, one of which is used as a ladies' dressing room and the other as a gentlemen's dressing room when parties go bathing. Mr. Hipkins has wires stretched around certain portions of the river that there is no danger of those not skilled in the art of swimming wandering too far out into the water.
Each year Mr. Hipkins receives a liberal patronage from our citizens, which is certainly due him. He intends extending his boat business as the occasion demands.

GEORGE HENRY HEATHER

For fifteen years one of the principal ice dealers in La Grange has been George Henry Heather, who has spent his entire life in the town. He began the business on very limited capital, but by economy and frugality he has been able to expand in his business till now he enjoys a good trade. One of the prettiest cottages in town is occupied as his residence, and the beautiful outside appearance is only in keeping with the inner portion, which is cared for so tastily by Mrs. Heather. Besides his home Mr. Heather is financially interested in other property of the town.
Another important work that consumes a portion of Mr. Heather's time is that of agent in La Grange for the Wyaconda Mineral Water Company of Chicago, Thomas Gregg, manager which during the past few months has been shipping an average of one car load of the valuable mineral water each week from this place to Chicago. Mrs. Heather is a careful and attentive business man and by his promptness in filling orders has been a valuable adjunct to the Wyaconda Mineral Water Company.

WILLIAM HARDMAN

Missouri's population is composed largely of Kentuckians or persons of Kentucky decent. William Hardman, who was born in that state seventy years ago, is proud of his nativity. Coming to Missouri in 1856 he settled at Monticello, this county, but returned to his native state in 1860, but came back to Missouri twenty-two years later, locating then in La Grange. For a number of years he had charge of the La Grange Department Store in this place and continued in that position till 1874, when he and his son Chesterfield entered the grocery business together. Mr. Hardman differs from most persons of Kentucky blood in the fact that he is a total abstainer from the use of intoxicating drinks.

CHESTERFIELD HARDMAN

A familiar character in La Grange is the above named gentleman, who was born at Monticello, Mo., May 27, 1860. His parents having moved soon after his birth to Kentucky, he spent the first twenty years of his life in that state. Coming to La Grange in 1872 he opened a confectionery store and thus entered business for the first time on his own responsibilities. Being highly successful in this line of work, he concluded to branch out in business so he and his father formed a partnership and opened a grocer store. As their business increased their stock of goods was added to till now their stock is complete in every assortment.
Chesterfield Hardman has been public spirited and has lent his influence to the up building of our town. The public enterprises of the town have received his support on every hand. On October 23, 1883, he was married to Miss Effie Moore of Palmyra, and the two occupy one of the prettiest residences in our city. It is located on a high elevation and from his home may be seen the graceful curves of the river between La Grange and Quincy.

CHARLES COX CROUCH

Some twenty years ago Rev. G. A. Crouch moved to La Grange, bringing with him a large family of children, among the number being Charles Cox, who was then a mere boy. The family moved to La Grange on account of the educational advantages offered by the town, and Charles attended our public schools and then the college. Giving up school he accepted a position as clerk in Oscar Schneider's department store, where he continued for some time. By 1889 he had saved enough money to begin business for himself and opened up a grocery store. His business increased as time passed and within a few years he was able to purchase a two-story brick business house located on North Main street, which is now occupied as his store room, and where may be found a high assortment of groceries.
Mr. Crouch has been eminently successful in this line of work, and from his savings has been able to purchase a handsome two-story brick residence. He is also a member of the La Grange Pearl Button Company.
No enterprise of a public nature has been presented to our citizens that has not received Mr. Crouch's support. He has been a loyal citizen of the town from many standpoints.
About one year ago he purchased the Climax milling property, located in the south part of this city, and proceeded to prepare it for some practical purpose. After expending hundreds of dollars repairing the building he began looking for an enterprise to occupy it, and through his brother, Rev. J. W. Crouch of Battle Creek, Mich., the Real Food Company, Ltd., was induced to locate its factory in this place. Mr. Crouch is a heavy stockholder in that concern and now holds the office of general manager of the company.
About twelve years ago he was married to Miss Sue Hagood and the two are now the parents of four bright children. 

AUGUST BRINKMAN

The name Brinkman has been synonymous with the grocery business in La Grange for nearly half a century. Nearly fifty years ago the Brinkman grocery store was opened and August Brinkman today may be found at the corner of Main and South streets with a good fresh assortment of groceries. Purchasing the stock of goods from his mother about three years ago, he has added to the stock and now displays a full line of goods. 
From the start his business has increased and it is now far better than a year ago. His plan ahs been to reap only a small profit on each sale and to make as large sales as possible, thereby, in the long run, to aggregate large profits, and his plan has proven successful.

WILLIAM MARKS

The sun forever shines on English soil, and her people are found in every part of the globe. La Grange possesses a man of true English blood in the personage of William Marks, who was born in London in the year 1841. Receiving a thorough education in the best schools of that city he followed his father's inclination and chose the joiner's trade as a profession. He became a skilled workman and for three years was employed in the construction of Baron Rothchild's mansion, which is one of the finest mansions ever built.
He came with his wife to America in 1868 and followed his trade, and was, for a number of years, in partnership with O. S. Barker, who is now engaged in the furniture and undertaking business. Mr. Marks planned and assisted in the construction of many of the best buildings in this place, and he has been pronounced the most highly skilled workman ever in northeast Missouri.
About eighteen years ago he gave up his trade and entered the grocery business. He is assisted by his two sons, Ernest and Charles, and has an older son, Albert, who is a commercial salesman for a large grocery house. It has always been Mr. Marks' desire to carry a full line of goods that will give satisfaction to his customers. From this fact he receives a large patronage from out citizens and the farmers living around La Grange.
Mr. Marks is a man of broad mind, well educated and he has endeavored to give his children all of the educational advantages our town affords. He owns a number of pieces of property in La Grange and an interest in a valuable farm four miles northwest of town. His residence is among the neatest in our city and with intelligence and refinement to govern its inner portion it is made a model home.

OYSTER'S PLANNING MILL 

For many years D. K. Oyster conducted a planing mill in the city, but during the last four years the mill has lain idle. The shafting in this institution is said to be the finest in the state outside of the large cities, and it is Mr. Oyster's desire that the plant be put to some practical use. Besides this plant he owns other valuable machinery which could be used for construct and equip enterprises.
Mr. Oyster is one of the heaviest land owners in or around La Grange, as many hundred acres of valuable land lying below town belongs to him.

DR. J. F. COOK

For thirty years he directed the educational movements of his church in this part of the state, and helped to make northeast Missouri as it is today-the stronghold of the Baptist denomination in the state.
The training he gave was not superficial, but he imparted to his students that life and energy and spirit of progress so necessary to advancement and prosperity. The men and women educated by him susceptible of his influence, have carried the spirit of his work with them and are living monuments of his greatness as a Christian teacher.
We doubt if any man with the mean sat his command could have done more, and very few could have done so well.
And now in the autumn of his life he resides at his magnificent home, where in other days he has entertained many of the distinguished men of the state and nation, and where the needy have so often found comfort and assistance. 
Men are not always given credit for the good they do; but Time, the great leveler and adjuster of all differences, will some time, somewhere, cause the lights and shades of a well spent life to blend, and place a crown upon the brow of him who has been a hero in the strife. So will it be to the life and labors of Dr. J. F. Cook. No other man in the state has served so many years as president of one school as did he at La Grange college, and his works are felt in every state of this union.

HENRY DRAWE

A familiar face to our citizens is Henry Drawe, who reside on a farm just south of town and who makes his daily rounds to vend the milk given by his cows. For fifteen years he has made these daily rounds in La Grange, and, unlike most persons in his business, he has never failed to please, for the milk he sells is always pure.
Mr. Drawe keeps for milking purposes about twenty cows of various breeds, as he believes the milk produced by various breeds of cows better pleases his patrons. He owns a nice farm and takes great pride in it.

MISS ELIZA WRIGHT

Boarding houses are necessary in every town and La Grange is not without her places to feed the inner man. Miss Eliza Wright, who is so well known to everyone in La Grange, has been conducting a boarding house for over ten years on South Main street. She has always spread good substantial meals before her guests and served them in such a manner as to tempt the most delicate appetite. When once a person visits her table he is sure to return. The fact that she is unable to accommodate all the trade that goes to her house, demonstrates the fact that she serves her guests well. Many persons have endeavored to persuade her to enlarge her home or move into larger quarters that she may be better prepared to serve her customers, and she may yield to the advice soon.

ORVILLE SMITH BARKER

Orville S. Barker, who was born in Grant county, Kentucky, in 1834, but came to Missouri twenty-one years later.
When a young man he learned the carpenter's trade and assisted in the construction of the old part of the college building, and many of the houses in the town were built under his plans and supervision.
About twenty years ago he entered the furniture and undertaking business and today conducts the only store of that kind in the town. His trade is good, his prices please his customers and his business continues to increase.
Mr. Barker has served in a number of city offices at various times, and has lent much to the up building of the town.