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 History of Washington County
by Forrest B. Shrader    Published in 1937,  350 pages
 Blair Public Library: REF 978 Les

(starting at page 314)
Short Stories of the Men and Firms Who Have Helped Make the History of Washington County.  Compiled by Don C. Van Deusen

The Arlington Drug Store -- Arlington (page 314-315)
--not yet transcribed--

The Arndt Hardware -- Blair (page 315-316)
(The Arndt-Snyder Motor Co. and The Nebraska--Iowa Oil Co.)
this business was started in 1869, when Blair was in its infancy, by the late G. G. Lundt, who worked for H. C. Riordan in a hardware store in De Soto, moving to Blair when the new town was started and opened a hardware store of his own.

The present owner, Frederick W. Arndt, went to work for Mr. Lundt in the fall of 1877 as a sheet metal worker.  He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, May  1862, and came to Blair with his parents in 1871.  He completed his grade school education in the Blair Schools and was graduated from the Blair High School in the spring of 1877, being one of the third class to be turned out of that new institution.

He had started to work part time for H. W. McBridge some time before his graduation and continued with that general store for a short time after his education had been completed.  Wanting to learn the tinner's trade he went to work for G. G. Lundt in the hardware store that fall of that same year.  Having completed his trade three years later, he hired out to Kenny & Stewart and remained with them for the next six years.

On Feb. 1, 1886, he went into partnership with Mr. Lundt, which partnership lasted for many years.  When Mr. Lundt's eyesight began to fail he retired from the business and Mr. Arndt then changed the name of the firm to The Arndt Hardware, as it is today.  The first of February of this year (1936) the firm celebrated fifty years of service to the community.

Mr. Arndt took his son-in-law, Herman H. Struve, in as a partner for a short time.  Mr. Struve later went to work for the Coleman Lamp & Stove Co., and is now in charge of the territory about Philadelphia, Pa., for that firm and lives in Philadelphia.  Oscar Hopkins also had a share in the business for a time, having served the firm for many years as a salesman, and is still with the firm.

Mr. Arndt is one of the oldest members, still in active business, of the Nebraska Retail Hardware Dealers association, in which he has held the office of vice-president, and of president, also serving as a member of the executive committee for many years. When the neb. Retail Hdw. Mutual Ins. Co. was organized thirty years ago he was made a member of the board of directors and was made vice-president of the company four years ago. The company now has over 42 millions of insurance, which is no longer limited to hardware dealers.  Insurance is taken at "board rates" and all profits are turned back on to the policy holders, which has amounted to as much as 30% of their premium payments.

Mr. Arndt served one term as member of the City Council and served several terms as president of the Chamber of Commerce. It was during his presidency that the fight was made and won to establish a municipal light plant in Blair, for many years one of the most successful municipal plants in the entire county.  He has been an active member of the three Masonic bodies in Blair, also a member of McKinley Chapter No. 161, O. E. S.

Mr. Arndt has represented the state association in many annual meetings of the National Retail Hardware Dealers association, having attended national conventions at Boston, Mass., Jacksonville, Fla., St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minn., and at Little Rock, Ark.

Besides being a pioneer hardware dealer mr. Arndt was the first auto dealer in Blair.  In 1906 he took the agency for the Pope-Tribune, a two-cylinder car, one of the first makes of successful "horseless carriages."  Later he handled the Cartercar, the Overland, the Studebacker, the Cadillac, Nach, Dodge and Pontiac.  His son, Wilfred, now with the Taubers Motor Co., in Chicago, was with him for a time in the early days of the auto department.

L. L. Snyder came here from Woodbine, Ia., as an employee and later became a partner in the Arndt-Snyder Motor Co.  For a time they also operated the Benson Buick Co., with Mr. Arndt as president and treasure and Mr. Snyder as secretary and manager.  In 1924, they bought out the Ford Agency from Gus Rathman and the business was moved to the large building now occupied by that firm.

In November of 1926 Mr. Arndt was one of the active organizers of the Nebraska-Iowa Oil Co., with headquarters in Blair, which now has twenty-five service stations in the eastern part of Nebraska and  the western part of Iowa.  The officers are: Clark O'Hanlon, president: F. W. Arndt, Vice-president and treasurer; L. L. Snyder, secretary and general manager.  The company is incorporated for $100,000 and has the Shell agency for this territory, wholesale and retail.

The Blair Telephone Co. -- Blair  (pages 316-3186)
In about 1900 there came to be a demand for rural telephone service in this county, and the Bell Telephone Co. was expanding so rapidly in the cities that they were unable to undertake the construction of rural lines. They had a few subscribers that were being taken care of by a small board in Harry Higley's confectionary store.

Those interested started out to sell stock to those who would take phones, two shares if they wanted two phones, and when enough shares had been sold to justify a start being made a meeting was called of the shareholders on march 8, 1902, with  Judge Walton serving as president and Don C. Van Deusen as secretary.  Six directors were chosen, Wm.Wilson, L. K. Davies, W. C. Walton, John Sas, T. P. Lippincott and Dr. E. A. Palmer.

W. C. Walton wash chosen president of the board and Wm. Kelly secretary.  Work was started immediately, the management being done for the first few years by either the president or the secretary.  Those serving as secretaries were Wm. Kelly, S. W. Chambers, Walter Drake, Clark O'Hanlon, Jim Jensen, Wm P. Cook and J H. Christensen, the latter three serving a number of years each, as both secretary and manger.

E. C. Hunt, of Walthill, bought up a majority of the stock, after several failures to unite the two companies, and took charge of the Blair company Feb. 19, 1926.  At the time there 129 business phones, 355 residential and 381 rural phones were connected to the Blair central, with 144 at Ft. Calhoun and 237 at Kennard, all being operated as one exchange, as at present.  On Feb. 1, 1927, Mr. Hunt bought out the Bell company and that added 243 connections when the duplicates were taken out, which ended the two-telephone system in Blair.

Mr. Hunt was born at Muscatine, Ia., July 20, 1883, and went through the grades and high school at Belle Plaine, Ia. where his father operated an electric light plant for many years. Knowing the electric light business Mr. Hunt drifted easily into the telephone business and was manager of an exchange at Hampton, Ia., before he came to Nebraska April 1, 1910, and purchased an interest in the exchange at Creighton.  Two weeks later he bought his partners out and purchased exchanges until he now operated in twenty-four towns and cities in the state, with fifteen employees in Blair and seventy-five altogether.  he now lives at Blair.

The present officers of the Blair company are:  A. H. Miller, pres.; V. K. Hunt, vice-pres.; E. C. Hunt, general manager and treasure; Vivian Larsen, secretary.   Verne F. Bellows serves as accountant for all these stations owned by Mr. hunt.  His son, Emory, manages the exchange at Walthill, Nebr.

Chris K. Bendorf --Blair   (page 318)
This undertaking business was started in Blair by John I. Unruh in connection with his furniture business in the fall of 1901. The firm made several changes, M. A. Sams, W. H. Epling, Elmer Gaines and E. R. Haggard being connected with the business for a time, Mr. Unruh taking the business back and then sold it to Haggard & Bendorf in July of 1923. In Feb. of 1925 Mr. Bendorf bought Haggard out and has conducted the undertaking part of the business ever since, selling the furniture part to his brother, M. R. Bendorf in 1927.

Mr. Bendorf started in the profession as an apprentice to E. R. Haggard and later took a course of study at the Worsham Training School of Anatomy, Sanitary Science and Embalming, of Chicago, Ill. With it he took a course in plastic surgery and restorative art.

In 1931 Mr. Bendorf bought and remodeled the W. H. Belknap residence property on west Grant street, opening it on January 16 and 17th, 1932, as a funeral home, with a chapel seating 200 people. In a large addition to the building he carries a large selection of caskets and draperies. He also has a public address system for overflow crowds at funeral services.

Mr. Bendorf has up-to-date equipment in every way, with grass blanket and tent at cemetery, late model hearse equipment and conducts an ambulance service at all hours of the day or night.

Mr. Bendorf was born in Blair April 26, 1899, and when four years of age his parents moved to a farm near Herman. He attended the Hillside school and completed the 10th grade there. He then took a business course at the Gaydou Commercial College here in Blair to better fit himself for his business and professional career.

He was married to Julia Jackson, of Herman, October 23, 1927, and they have two children, Thamasine, aged 7, and Charles K., aged 2 years. Mr. Bendorf is a member of Washington Lodge No. 21, A. F. & A. M., of Adoniram Chapter No. 13, Royal Arch Masons, of Blair Lodge No. 14, I. O. O. F., of Welcome Rebekah Lodge No. 27, of the Blair Rotary club, and of the Nebraska Funeral Directors and Embalmers association and of the National association. He is now Senior Deacon in the Masonic Lodge and has gone through all the chairs in the Odd Fellow's Lodge.

The Blair Bridge -- Blair
The Lincoln Highway Association was organized in 1913 to promote and develop a national highway between New York and San Francisco on the most direct and desirable water level route, to be not only the first great national highway, but to be a model for others to follow. This highway came to Missouri Valley, Ia., directly east of Blair, but then had to dip down through Omaha to get across the Missouri river, then back up to Fremont, almost west of Blair.

The railroad bridge supplied this need for a more direct route for rail transportation, but only a ferry that could operate only when the river was free from ice sufficed for public road vehicles. The organization of the Lincoln Highway Association and the fact that Blair was the geographical and logical route for the highway stimulated efforts to get a bridge across the Missouri at this point.

In 1925 a franchise was secured from the congress for the construction of a free bridge, but all efforts of the Blair Chamber of Commerce and other interested agencies, were unable to bring this about. The committee of the Chamber of Commerce consisted of Reed O'Hanlon, chairman, with the late Thos. T. Osterman and C. O. Dawson as his able and enthusiastic assistants. When it was found impossible to get a free bridge they found it possible to get a private bridge, and a corporation was formed known as the Nebraska-Iowa Bridge Corp., of which Reed O'Hanlon was made president, and is still president of the company.

A franchise was secured for the construction of a private toll bridge and in the summer of 1928 Woods Bros., of Lincoln, agreed to finance and build a bridge, promising to start work thereon within ninety days. Work was actually started August 1, 1928, and the handsome new bridge was opened for traffic with elaborate ceremonies on June 29, 1929.

Shortly after the bridge was opened the Lincoln Highway was routed through Blair, to be followed by the location of U. S. Highway No. 30, it being in a direct route between Mo. Valley and Fremont. The entire distance between these two cities was soon gravelled and is now almost a11 hard surfaced, and that is to be completed next year.

The building of the bridge has meant much to Blair and Washington county, for traffic over the more direct route has gradually increased as the road's surface has been improved. It is a favorite route for caravans of new cars and trucks being towed across the state from the factories in the east. Through the purchase of a state license and the payment of the gas tax these caravans help pay for the improved roads and the dealers can still save money from what it would cost to ship by freight.

The bridge was operated by Woods Bros. until August 1932, at which time it was turned over to a Board of Directors representing bond and stock holders of the Bridge Corporation.  Reed O'Hanlon is president and general manager of the bridge and the bridge corporation, with headquarters in the O'Hanlon & O'Hanlon law office in Blair.

Blair Incubator Company Hatchery -- Blair  (page 320)
On West Nebraska Street just at the edge of Blair City is located the Blair Incubator Company Hatchery, Poultry and Turkey Farm.

Over twenty years ago a company, called the Porter Incubator Company, was organized and began the manufacture of incubators. Later the name was changed to the Blair Incubator Company.  In 1927 the manufacture of incubators was discontinued and the company began operating as a commercial hatchery.  Jamesway Mammoth Incubators, the finest that money could buy, were installed and at present 55,000 eggs can be put under incubation at one setting.

The hatchery is operated under the U.S. Approved plan as outlined by the U. S. Department of Agriculture with the Nebraska Agriculture College acting as controlling agent.

All chicks sold come from eggs that are produced by U. S. Approved flocks.  The requirements are: Rigid culling by Official Inspectors, Blood Testing, with all reactors and disqualified birds immediately removed from premises, all Breeders must be branded by official bands, Males of recognized merit and breeding, and a system of feeding followed to maintain the proper vigor to produce chicks of U. A. Approved quality.

In conjunction with the hatchery is operated a Poultry and Turkey Farm with several hundred turkeys and almost a thousand U. S. Approved hens in the laying houses.  Records are kept on production of eggs, cost, etc., all which are available to anyone interested.

The aim of the Blair Incubator Company is to offer the Poultry raisers of Washington County and Eastern Nebraska, Standard Bred Chicks, with health, vigor and vitality--production bred chicks that will live and grow and become profitable producers of eggs and Poultry.

Blair Milling Co. -- Blair (page 320-322)
This mill was started in the early days of Washington county history, at old De Soto, or rather on what afterwards became known as Mill Creek, just below the old town site, where Brigham Young had made his home while a resident of this county.  Vanier Bros., who had been connected with a steam grist mill at Ft. Calhoun, associated himself with T. M. Carter, J. P. Ames and Judge McDonald to start the mill in about 1856.

Later L. M. Turner bought the mill and soon after Blair was started it was moved to this city, the late T. M. Carter helping with the moving.  It was built of brick and all the brick that could be saved when it was torn down went into the new building here.  Also many of the large timbers that were hewn out of great cottonwood logs were brought along and are still in the mill today, as good as they ever were.

A man by the name of Thorndyke ran the mill for a time, later Scott & Webb leased it and again Turner ran it himself.  W. J. Cook and his uncle, Wesley, Cook, ran it about a year, then H. B. Dexter tried his hand at running it.  Then Edgcombe and Kelogg, of Missouri Valley, bought the old mill and remodeled it, opening it for business in September of 1887

Wm Kelly, of this city, operated the mill for them under the name of the Acme Roller Mill, making "Acme Patent" flour for twelve years.  Then Mr. Kelly, in company with the late J. W. Newell and John McKay bought the mill and changed the name to the Acme Milling Co., and he ran it for another twelve years, up to Aug. 15, 1910.

P. C. Sorensen, the present owner, associated himself with Lars Hansen and Louis Rasmussen, of Harlan, Ia., purchased the mill in 1914.  Sorensen and Larsen soon bought out Rasmussen and later Mr. Sorensen bought our Mr. Larsen's interest.

Mr. Sorensen was born near Ribe, Denmark, Oct 20, 1874, and came here in 1893, his brother Peter, having been a resident of Seward county for some three years.  He worked on a farm for eight years as a farm hand. He was married to Miss Dema Swansen in 1898 and farmed for himself for four years near Staplehurst, Neb.  Then he bought an interest in a small mill, where he learned the trade of a miller. He came to Blair in July of 1914 and bought the mill, changing the name to the Blair Milling Co. He spent some $4,000 in remodeling the plant, reducing its capacity from about 150 barrels a day to about 75, making it cheaper to operate.

He started a new brand of flour known as "Maintop" which is his leading brand today.  Afterwards he added "White Loaf" and "Blair Maid."  In 1921 he put in a 60 h. p. Diesel engine for power, which is still running with the same efficiency it did right fro9m the start.

Mr. Sorensen has his nephew, Carl Sorensen, in the mill as his assistant and another newphe, Henry Sorensen, has been on the road as a most efficient salesman for the past ten years.  Their trade territory extends about seventy miles east and north of Blair, as far up as Homer.  The mill also does a large business in what is known as "farmer exchange" work, giving the farmer thirty-four pounds of flour for every bushel of No. 1 wheat brought in.

Besides being a successful business man Mr. Sorensen has served three terms as a member of the city council and two terms as mayor of this city.

Cady & Nelson -- Arlington, Herman, Fremont (page 322-323)
--not yet transcribed--

J. E. Campbell, Mortician -- Blair (page 323 - 324)
J. E. Campbell is the direct successor of the furniture and undertaking business founded by the late E.C. Pierce in Blair in 1874 and sold to Mr. Campbell Nov. 11, 1918, Armistice day.  Mr. Pierce conducted the business for 44 years and Mr Campbell for 18 years.

E. C. Pierce came to Blair from Marshalltown, Ia., the year Blair was founded, 1869, and did carpenter work for a few years before starting a furniture and undertaking business in a building where the Blair Racket Store is now located.  The late Abe Castetter also started his bank in one corner of the same building.  The building was sold to William Bradley and Mr. Castetter built a brick building where the Washington County bank is now located and Mr. Pierce built a frame building, which burned down and he then built the brick building where Mr. Campbell is now located.

J. E. Campbell was born at Minden, Neb., June 17, 1892, and completed the grade schools at that place and the high school at Holdrege in 1908.  His first job was with the Nebraska Bell Telephone Co. in Omaha.  He later took up electric light plant work and was associated with the Iowa-Nebraska Public Service Co. at Missouri Valley before coming to Blair in the same line of work.

He was with the Wescott Undertaking Co. in Sioux City for three years, having taken a course of training at the Hohenshuh-Carpenter College of Embalming in St. Louis, being licensed at the age of 19.

Mr. Campbell was married to Blanche Hoover at Missouri Valley, Ia., and they have three children; George, Junior and Virginia.  George was graduated from the Blair high school in 1933 and took a course of training at the Williams School of Embalming in Kansas City, entering into partnership with his father Jan. 1, 1936. Junior is in his senior year in high school and Virginia is in the Junior high. 

In September of 1934 Mr. Campbell completed a handsome mortuary building on his residence lot at the corner of 5th and South street, that is a credit, not only to the firm but to the city for its beauty and arrangement.  The firm also conducts a prompt and efficient ambulance service.

Christensen Lumber Co. -- Blair (page 324)
This lumber yard was started by Sanford West in 1878, on the corner now occupied by the city hall, and in about 1880 was purchased by John McQuarrie.  Not long after its purchase Mr. McQuarrie leased the ground where the Christensen Lumber Co. yard is now located of the railroad company where he conducted the business until 1919, when he sold it to Karl Christensen, the present owner.

For over forty years Mr. McQuarrie was one of the leading business men of the city, serving on the city council for two terms and then as mayor of the city for two terms.  he came here as a carpenter and started with a capital of $200, which, by careful management and good business acumen he gradually expanded into one of the leading lumber and coal yards of the state.

As the business expanded and required more capital Mr.. McQuarrie took into the firm James F. Wiseman and George Bailey, the latter remaining with the firm but about a year.  Mr.. Wiseman was long a member of the partnership then known as McQuarrie & Wiseman.  In about 1924 Mr. Wiseman retired from business, selling out to Mr. McQuarrie, who then conducted the business alone until he sold to the present owner.

The business had a steady growth to include all kinds of building material, lime, cement, sand and even builders hardware in recent years, and coal.  The yard was enlarged and improved in the way of housing to keep the lumber dry, for the early days it was piled out of doors in all kinds of weather.

In 1935 Mr. Christensen tore down the old office building and had constructed one of the finest lumber office buildings in the state.  It is modern in every way and a model of convenience for handling the large volume of business the company now handles.

His son, Roy, is now his chief assistant in the office and is rapidly developing into the very efficient and capable lumberman his father has long had the reputation of being.

The Enterprise -- Blair (page 325-326)
The ENTERPRISE was founded by E. L. Tiffany in 1896, in Kennard, where he ran it until his death in 1912, when the property was sold to L. F. Hilton, who continued the paper there until August of 1913, when he moved it to Blair.  Mr. Hilton, a pioneer newspaper man and the founder of the first newspaper in Blair in 1869, passed away in 1919 and the Enterprise then passed into the hands of his son-in-law John A. Rhoades, then present owner.

Mr. Rhoades was born in Harrison county, Ia., Nov. 20, 1873 they family moving to Blair in march of 1879.  He entered the Blair city schools and was graduated from the high school in the spring of 1892. In his class of fifteen only two passed the final tests, so he has the honor of being one of a class of two to graduate that year.

After his graduation he turned to teaching, attending summer terms at the old Fremont Normal College.  In 1905 he was made county superintendent of public instruction for the county, which office he held for ten years.  While in the teaching profession he worked diligently and when he left it he held not only a professional state teacher's certificate, but also a city superintendent's state life certificate, which entitled him to teach in any school in the state of Nebraska.

He purchased The Tribune March 1, 1915, and immediately set about modernizing his plant by installing a linotype, which was considered a very bold move for a country print shop.  In the fall of 1917, due largely to ill health, he sold The Tribune to Don C. Van Deusen of the Pilot and Thos. T. Osterman of the Democrat, and Mr. Osterman took over the name in place of The Democrat.  The year following the sale he farmed and regained his health and in the spring of 1919 he engaged in the coal and feed business in Blair.

In June of that same year L. F. Hilton died and The Enterprise fell into his hands.  He continued both businesses until 1924, when the newspaper required so much of his time he closed out the coal business and put his full time to the building up of the paper.

He now has one of the best equipped county newspaper plants in the state with a two-revolution Cottrell news press, a 12x18 automatic feeder and job press, a 10x15 hand feed press, the largest size eclectic stitcher, a 34 1/2  in. electric power cutter, a late model proof press, an Intertype, an electric metal saw and other accessories necessary for the publishing of his paper.

He was married to miss Blanch Hilton Jan. 6, 1905, and she died Sept. 16, 1932, which was a great shock to him, but he has given himself over to his work which has been a great antidote to his acute sorrow over the loss of such a companion.  Both were graduates of the Blair high school, as were their three children, and also a son-in-law, Philip O'Hanlon, and daughter-in-law, Mrs. J. Hilton Rhoades.

The entire family, father mother and three children taught in the schools of Washington county, and all of they children had the advantages of a college education.  They are Mrs. Philip O'Hanlon, Philip being junior member of the law firm of O'Hanlon & O'Hanlon; J. Hilton Rhoades associate editor of the Enterprise, and Mrs. Fred Lind, of Omaha.

J. Hilton Rhoades has a real newspaper background.  his great-grandfather, and his grandfather were associated together  in Blair's first newspaper, and the grandfather was for a long term of years editor of The Pilot.  His mother was associated with his father, first on The Tribune and later on The Enterprise, so he is the fourth generation in newspaper work in Blair.  He has made the newspaper business a study and is an enthusiastic assistant to his father.

The elder Mr. Rhoades has served in various offices outside of that of the county superintendent.  he was at one time president of the Blair Chamber of Commerce, and it was during his tenure of office that $25,000 was raised to assist in a building program at Dana College.  This was done in fulfillment of a pledge made several years before.

He has also served on the Wash. Co. Relief committee, several years as chairman.  he has always been a booster for Blair and realizes that what helps Blair citizens helps the town in general.

The Farmers Union Cooperative Association of Herman, Nebraska (page 326-327)
--not yet transcribed--

The Haller Company -- Blair (page 327-328)
The Haller company, originally called "The Haller Proprietary Company", was organized in 1888 by a group of men who wanted to make available to a large number of people, the valuable remedies put up by W. d. Haller, a prominent druggist of Blair with an outstanding knowledge of drugs and their uses.  Among the early officers of the company were Mr. Haller's brothers, Theodore and Frank, James and Edward Stuwart, F. E. Castetter, F. H. Claridge and W. H. Belknap.  In 1897 the company was incorporated, and enlarged to do more business.

The goods at first were sold through drug stores but for many years they have been sold by salesman traveling through the country selling to farmers from the stock which they carry with them.  In the early days when roads were poor and traveling difficult, this was a valuable service to those living at a distance from town and was much appreciated.

When the company was organized, they were only about six items in the line, but others have been added as the demand increased, until now there are about a hundred, consisting of an assortment of Home Remedies, Extracts, Spices, Food Products, Toilet Articles, Poultry and Veterinary Remedies and Miscellaneous Items.

Among the outstanding items that have proven their worth by continued demand through the years, in the face of strong competition, are Haller Pain Paralyzer (which was one of the original remedies put up by Mr. Haller long before the company was organized)  Green Salve, Oil Amber Compound, Toilet Cream, Vanilla, Insect Powder, and Chic Doc. Mail orders are received from all over the United State from old customers who still want Haller goods.

It has always been the aim of the Haller Company to put out only goods of high quality and to have only salesmen of good reputation who will treat their customers right, and the name "HALLER" on goods has become the stamp of quality and service.

Hancock Implement Co. -- Herman (page 328-329)
--not yet transcribed--

Herman State Bank -- Herman (page 329-331)
--not yet transcribed--

The Herman Telephone Co. -- Herman (page 331-332)
--not yet transcribed--

Holmquest Grain & Lumber Company -- Herman (page 332)
--not yet transcribed--

The Hynes Ranch -- Herman (page 332-334)
--not yet transcribed--

The Kruse Store -- Ft. Calhoun (page 334-335)
--not yet transcribed--

Kolterman Store -- Blair (page 335-336)
The Late George Von Lanken founded what was then known as the Blair Racket Store in the spring of 1899, the first of this type of stores that later became very popular all over the county.  He had conducted such a store at Orcola, Ill., for some ten years prior to coming to Blair.

Mr. Von Lanken was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, Dec. 29, 1851, and came to this county when a lad of seventeen years, settling at Arthur, Ill. where he plied his trade of cobbler.  Later he added a stock of boots and shoes and carried on this business for sixteen years, during which time he was married.

Mr. Von Lanken conducted the Blair store for seven years in the same location the Kolterman Store is now located.  he then sold it to his son-in-law, Henry Bruse, who ran it for the next five years, selling out then to Carl Kolterman, another son-in-law of Mr.. Von Lanken, who still has charge of the store.  Carl took charge of the store on Jan 15th 1911, and last January celebrated the first quarter of a century in the business.

Carl was born at Millard, in Douglas county, Sept. 23, 1882. where his father, J. C. F. Kolterman, was running a grist mill.  the family moved to a farm near Herman when Carl was eleven years of age.  After but a year and a half as the Buckeye Roller Mill in Blair, locat4ed in a building formerly used as a foundry at the corner of 4th and Front streets, now occupied by a private residence.

After attending the grade schools Carl took two terms in the Commercial department at Dana College to better fit himself for a business career.  When his father died in 1901, Carol help his mother and brother continue the milling business for four years.  He clerked in the Blair Clothing Co., store for a short time and then went to Scribner, Neb., where he managed the elevator and lumber yard for the Crowell Lumber & Grain Co. for three years, returning to Blair in 1911 to take charge of the Blair Racket Store he had purchased of his brother-in-law, Henry Bruse.

Carl was married to Christina Von Lanken on Jan. 27, 1906, and three sons were born to them: Carl J. F. is now running a Variety Store at Brocken Bow, Neb.; Frederick H. is running one at Wahoo, Neb., and Herbert is now in his second year at Dana College, working for his father in the store during the summer months.

It is interesting to know that Carl has three brothers in the same kind of business;  Fred at Seward, Neb.; John at Red Oak, Ia., and Frank at Mitchell, Neb.  Another brother, Ewald was in a Variety store at Tekamah for three years later going into the road contracting business and is now living in Los Angeles, Calif.

Certified Landscape Service, Marshal Nurseries -- Arlington  (page 336-338)
--not yet transcribed--

History of the Electric Industry in Washington County (page 338-339)
--not yet transcribed--

O'Hanlon & O'Hanlon -- Blair   (page 339-340) 
This law firm, now composed of Clark O'Hanlon and his two sons, Reed and Philip, is the oldest law firm in Blair and probably the oldest in the state, having been started by Osborn & Hilton in 1869, the year Blair was born. Col. L. W. Osborn came to Blair from New York and formed a partnership with B. F. Hilton, father of the late Frank Hilton. Col. Osborn continued the successful practice of law with varying partners until he was appointed Consul-General of the Samoan Islands by President Wm. McKinley in 1897, where he died in the fall of 1901.

Mr. Hilton withdrew from the firm after six months and John B. Carrigan joined with Cal. Osborn in the firm of Carrigan & Osborn, which lasted until the death of Mr. Carrigan in the summer of 1880, when J. W. Barger was taken in as a partner for a short time. Then Wm. H. Farnsworth, who had been studying law with the firm, was taken into the partnership after his admission to the bar in 1882. At that time Lee S. Estelle, of Omaha, was taken into the firm and retired from it when he was elected as prosecuting at-
torney for this judicial district.

Frank W. Blair was a member of the firm for a short time, when he moved to Broken Bow, Nebr. In 1890 Mr. Farnsworth removed to Sioux City and Col. Osborn associated himself with E. C. Jackson in March of 1892. Then Clark O'Hanlon, who had read law with the firm, returned from Beatrice, Neb., where he had formed an unsatisfactory partnership in a law firm, and was first employed by Col. Osborn and shortly after was made a partner.

Herman Aye, who had also read law with this firm, was taken into the firm in 1896, making it Osborn, O'Hanlon and Aye. Upon the appointment of Col. Osborn as Consul-General to the Samoan Islands he dissolved his relations with the firm and later, Clark O'Hanlon, having been elected county attorney, withdrew and set up an office of his own over the Castetter bank building. He associated himself with James H. Gilmore for some years, when he was appointed county judge in 1908, Judge Marshall having resigned, where he served until Feb. 20, 1911, when he, too, resigned, having bought out the law practice of his former partner, Mr. Aye having moved to Omaha.

The next change made in the old firm was made by taking George A. Doll into partnership, and in August of 1916 Wm. Maher had completed his law course at Creighton University School of Law, was made a partner. In 1920 his son, Reed, had completed his law course and was taken into the firm then called O'Hanlcn, Maher & O'Hanlon.

In Sept. of 1920 Clark O'Hanlon was appointed general counsel for the Commonwealth Life Ins. Co., of Omaha, he moved to Omaha but still kept his connection with the law firm here. He sold out his interest in the life insurance business he had successfully conducted for several years and returned to Blair and on Jan. 1, 1926, the old firm dissolved, Maher withdrawing, and the new firm was known as O'Hanlon & O'Hanlon, as it is today. When another son, Philip, was graduated from the Mich. St. Uni. Law department he was employed by the firm for five years and was made a partner in August of 1932.

In 1927 the firm moved from the old State bank building to the Pilot building, where they are now located. They have recently purchased and remodeled the building into one of the finest law offices in the state.

The Pilot-Tribune -- Blair (page 340-341)
The Pilot-Tribune is the oldest newspaper published in Washington county, being the successor to The Times, which was founded in June, 1870, by a stock company whose first editor was J. C. Lillie, later succeeded by General John S. Bawen. In August, 1880, The Times was purchased by C. B. Sprague and was renamed The Republican. Upon Sprague's death in 1904 it was purchased by Thomas T. Osterman, who called it The Democrat and later The Tribune; and upon his death in July, 1931, sole ownership passed to Alfred O. Sick, the present owner.

By still another route this paper dates back to the founding of The Pilot in Tekamah, Nebraska, by J. N. Lambert. The paper was moved to Blair in 1874 and in the following year was sold to George Sutherland and edited by L.F. Hilton. In 1879, B. F. Hilton & Son (L. F.) purchased The Pilot and still later Perry Selden became its owner. Upon Selden's death, his son-in-law, L. A. Williams, took charge of the publication. It was sold to Don C. Van Deusen July 1, 1907, and he published the weekly until February 1, 1929, when he retired from journalism, selling the plant to Thomas T. Osterman and Alfred O. Sick, who combined it with The Tribune to form The Pilot-Tribune.

Alfred O. Sick was born at Fontenelle, Nebraska, where his father, the Rev. Christian Sick, now a Fremont resident, was pastor of the German Lutheran church there. Following his graduation from high school in 1921. Mr. Sick attended the University of South Dakota, being graduated from the law department in June, 1926. He hung out his shingle in Blair three months later, but on January 1. 1927,
took a position with Thomas T. Osterman on The Tribune as a reporter. When the two purchased The Pilot in 1929, Mr. Sick held a one-third interest in the consolidated paper.

Mr. Sick has taken an active interest in city affairs, serving as vice-president of the Blair Chamber of Commerce for one year and as its president for four years. He is a member of the Rotary club, of the Masonic lodge, the Eastern Star and LO.O.F. He was married June 26, 1930, to Miss Gussie Scheffler, and they have one son, Gordon Alan, aged three.

Reed O'Hanlon, Jr., is associate editor, while Miss Helen Scheffler is society editor. William K. Strode, who started as a "printer's devil" for Don C. Van Deusen in April, 1896, at the plant of the old Courier, is foreman of the mechanical department. In April, 1936, Mr. Strode completed his 40th  year of continuous work as a printer. George C. Rathman has charge of the linotyping work.

The Pilot-Tribune, located in a modern plant, is equipped with two linotypes, a new flatbed press and two job presses. A seven-column newspaper of from 10 to 16 pages is produced weekly.

Potadle Bros. -- Herman (page 341-342)
--not yet transcribed--

Rivett Lumber & Coal Co. --Blair (page 342-343
This popular grain and lumber company is owned by Mr. Rivett of Omaha, who bought the business in 1925 from the Crowell Lumber and Grain Company, and continues its  operation under the management of Mr. M. R. Lippincott, who began his business career under its former owners and was local manager for them for many years. The business is continuous with the history of Blair itself, having been founded by the late C. C. Crowell, Sr., a lifelong resident of this city. He was born in East Dennis, Mass., on May 19, 1844, a son of Prince S. Crowell, New England capitalist, who was interested in the construction of what is today the Chicago and Northwestern system of Railways in this section of the country. Christopher C. Crowell, Sr., came to Nebraska in 1869, the year that Blair was founded. He lived for a short time in Omaha; then rented what was known as the De Soto grist mill, and later moved this mill to Blair, where it has been in operation ever since, being known today as the Blair Milling Company.

After operating this mill for one year, Mr. Crowell entered the grain business, and, in 1870, Mr. A. P. Howes, also a native of East Dennis, Mass., came to Blair and associated himself with Mr. Crowell in the lumber and coal business, there being demand for building material in the surrounding territory. The grain business was operated by Mr. Crowell, under the name of C. C. Crowell, Grain; and the lumber
business as C. C. Crowell and Company until the year 1885, when a corporation was formed under the name of Crowell Lumber & Grain Company with Mr. Crowell as President and Mr. Howes as Vice-President. This corporation made its headquarters in Blair, operating not only the Blair elevator and lumber yard, but numerous stations in Nebraska, and continued this operation at Blair until the local business was sold to the Rivett Lumber & Coal Co. Also associated with the Crowell Lumber & Grain Company, were Mr. J. B. Adams, who came to Blair in 1882, serving for nearly thirty years as Treasurer of the Company, and Mr. J. A. Linderholm, who in later years became Secretary of the Corporation and still holds that position.

The President of the Company today, C. C. Crowell, Jr., was born in Blair on July 6, 1874, and after completing his education, took charge of the Newman Grove, Nebraska, elevator and lumber yard, marrying Miss Augusta Saare of that City. From Newman Grove he moved to Blair in 1901, taking active charge of the grain business for the Crowell Lumber & Grain Co. and in 1908, when its headquarters were moved to Omaha, he made that city his residence. His father moved to California in 1906 to make his permanent residence there, died in 1910, at which time Mr. C. C. Crowell, Jr., became president of the Corporation. The name of the firm however, was, by amendment of its charter, changed to Crowell Elevator Company in the year of 1927.

Wm. J. Rodgers, Florist-Blair (page 343-344)
William J. Rodgers was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, Feb. 18, 1865, and at the age of 16 started to learn the florist's trade in a greenhouse on a private estate in Ayrshire. When he was 24 years of age he came to Blair, where his brother, John, had been for four years.

His first job in this country was helping landscape the grounds at the A. P. Howes residence. Later he was employed in the C. C. Crowell greenhouse, where John Reid was also an employee. When the Crowell family left for California John Reid bought the greenhouse and started in the business at his home on west South street.

Mr. Rodgers went to the Ozark regions of Missouri and ran a fruit farm for a time, later going to Monongehela, Pa., where he spent thirteen years in the employ of I. Shelry Crale Co., Florists.  He again returned to Nebraska and worked at Green's Greenhouse in Fremont for a year, also in the private greenhouse of Frank Fowler for three years before returning to Blair.

He then purchased the greenhouse of John Reid and moved it to its present location on east State street and greatly expanded its capacity.  He secured about 3,600 square feet of glass from Mr. Reid and now has over 25, 000 square feed.

He has been vice-president of the Nebraska State Florists society and has served for many years as a member of its board of directors.  He is also a director of the Omaha and Council Bluffs Florists society, is also a life member of the National Regional Society of Florists.

He has won many prizes in the state shows, having won six first premiums at the Norfolk show three years ago and two first and three second premiums at Beatrice a year later.

Mr. Rodgers has served three terms as a member of the Blair city council from the first ward.  He has also served as trustee of the Congregational church a number of years and is now one of the deacons of that organization.

The Red & White Store - Herman (page 344-345)
--not yet transcribed--

The Sas Store -- Blair (pages 345-346)
There's a lot of Blair History of this store and its location.  The oldest part of the history goes with the location, for the first store on the corner now occupied by the large, two-story brick occupied by the Sas Store was started by J.W. Newell and George Smith, whose widow still lives here in Blair, in 1869.  Later it passed into the hands of Ed Cook and his son-in-law, O.V. Palmer.  After the death of Mr. Palmer, Ed Cook, Sr., and his two sons, Chas. and Ed, Jr., ran it until it burned down.

William F. Sas, who had been in the harness business at Woodbine, Ia., came over here in the late 90s and worked for J. Estaque in a general store.  In 1891 his brother, Rudolph, who had been on a farm near Logan, sold out and the two brothers bought out Haller Bro., Frank and Theodore, who were located in the building now occupied by the Larsen Bros. store.

In 1897 the large store building now occupied by the Sas Store was build by John, Fred and Rudolph Sas, and the business was conducted under the firm name of Sas Bros.  William F. left Blair at that time and located at Wisner.  John left the partnership in 1900 and went to Pender.

After the death of Rudolph on Aug. 9, 1910, his son, William J. took his place in the firm with Fred, and in 1921 Fred retired and Willam J. Sas has since conducted the business.

He was born near Logan, Ia, Feb 4, 1884, and his father moved to Blair before he was of school age, so he attended the grade school here and spent three years in high school, completing his schooling with one year at Dana college.

He was married June 15th,, 1910, to Della Henderson, daughter of J.W. Henderson, formerly county superintendent of the schools of this county, and they have two daughters, Marie and Kathryn.  Miss Marie is now the very efficient bookkeeper for her father in the store, and Kathryn is now at home.

Wm. Sievers Store - Ft. Calhoun   (pages 346-347)
--not yet transcribed--

Truhlsen Bros. - Herman   (pages 347-348)
--not yet transcribed--

The P.Z. Company - Arlington   (pages 348-349)
--not yet transcribed--

The Tyson-Long Col. - Herman   (pages 349-350)
--not yet transcribed--

The Vinton-Evans Chevrolet Co. - Blair   (page 350)
One of the founders of this business, Walter Larsen, is the original auto mechanic of Blair. He was then an employee of G. A. Rathman, the first Ford dealer in the city.  His first work on an auto was on a Cadillac, a one-cylinder car.  He also worked on a Stevens-Duryea, also a one-cylinder car owned by Chas. Huff. When the Ford first came out in had two cylinders. Herb Noble had one of them.

Walter and martin Jacobson started the first Chevrolet sales agency in Blair, in the building now occupied by the North Side Garage, in 1917. Business started off with a bang and a year later they had built the large two-story brick, 72x100, with full basement, now occupied by the Vinton-Evans Co.  The first model sold by them was known as the "4-90."

About a year later Walter bought out Mr. Jacobson and sold a half interest to George McQuarrie, and they sold to Everett Aronson in 1927.  Jack Croudy became the owner of the building at that time and still owns it.

Ralph E. Vinton and F. L. Evans came over here from Glenwood, Ia., and purchases the business in 1929.  Mr. Evans remained but about a year, since which time Mr. Evans had owned the business, thought the firm name still remains Vinton-Evans Chevrolet Co.

Mr. Vinton spent some eighteen years in the shoe business before coming to Blair, but was interested in the auto game, having taken on the agency over there for the Hudson car.

He was born near Glenwood and went through the grade schools there, also three years of high school.   Then he took a course in the Glenwood Commercial College before entering business for himself.

He was married to Zula Eckert, June 20, 1910, and they have two sons, Gordon and Keith.  Gordon is now connected with the business with his father and Keith is a student at Dana College.