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1. J. W. CUYKENDALL, of the Atlantic Canning Company, was born in New York State in 1858 and at three years of age went with his parents to Delaware. At 16 years of age he conceived the idea of evaporating peaches and engaged in the business for himself. He cut the logs and hauled them to a local mill, giving the mill man half the lumber for cutting his half. He built his factory on designs of his own, devoting it to the evaporation of peaches. His total cash capital was $20 and he cleared $600 in his year's business. The following year he went to Philadelphia and leased a plant at Leroy, N.Y., for the evaporation of apples, and cleared some $2,600 on the year's business. Later he went to Canada and operated evaporating plants there which were financially successful. He made two moderate fortunes in the business, one of which 1880 he came to Atlantic and went to work for the canning factory on a salary. In 1900 he bought half interest in the business and the business has increased from year to year until today it he lost [sic he lost one] by fire and another through an absconding partner. In [sic It] is the largest corn canning factory in the world. Mr. CUYKENDALL was president of the Western Canners' Association for two years and refused a third election. He is the president of the Democrat Publishing Company, vice president of the Iowa Trust and Savings Bank and member of the School Board. He is a leading member of the local Elks and is interested in a substantial way in all that perstains to the best good of Atlantic and Cass County.

2. William A. McWAID, of the Atlantic Canning Company, was born in Atlantic, Iowa, April 8, 1871, and grew to manhood here. After graduating from the Atlantic schools he began work in the Atlantic National bank and was with that institution for about twelve years. Leaving the bank he became interested in the Atlantic Canning factory, and in 1900, in companty with J.W. CUYKENDALL purchased the factory from his father, Hon. J.A. McWAID. He is a member of the Elks, Knights of Pythias and Woodmen organizations. He is one of the younger class of business men who are worthily carrying the burdens of citizenship and is progressive and liberal in all matters pertaining to the good of Atlantic.

3. S. G. HUNTER, proprietor of the Atlantic Iron Works, was born in Ohio, Februrary 28, 1862, and lived there until 1869, when he came to Washington county, Iowa, and from there went to Audubon county in 1872. He came to Atlantic in 1886 and has lived here ever since. He engaged in bridge building in 1884 and has continued in the business since then. At first he built wooden bridges, but in 1894 changed to iron bridges and in 1897 he established the Atlantic Iron Works, where many of the parts of the bridges are constructed and put together. He also makes steel culverts and does a general jobbing work in steel. He has done practically all of Cass county's bridge work since 1884 and he enjoys the unique distinction of having built more bridges in one county (Cass) than any other bridge builder in this country. He builds all kinds of bridges and his name is a synonym for good work and honest dealing in every county within a radius of 200 miles. He is a member of the Masonic, Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen orders. He is a Cass county enthusiast and is always in the lead of movements looking to material improvements.

4. A. L. CHRISMAN, proprietor of the Atlantic Feed Mill, was born in Morgan county, Ohio, November 15, 1860. In 1868 he came to Davis county, Iowa, and from there went to Missouri in 1874. He grew up on a farm, attending school in the winter time. In 1881 he moved to Pottawattamie county, Iowa, and taught school until 1885 when he engaged in farming for sixteen years. He bought the flouring mill at Stennett, Iowa, and operated it until he traded it for Atlantic and Audubon county property. In 1904 he bought the feed mill of A.A. MICKEL and still operates it, doing a growing business. He also owns a number of good horses and is generally interested in Atlantic and its moral and material prosperity.

5. Johnson H. NEEDLES, senior member of the firm of J.H. NEEDLES & Son, Atlantic, Iowa, was born in Franklin county, O., September 20, 1829. He lived there until he was 24 years old and in 1853 went to Indiana, where he remained three years and six months, working at the blacksmith trade which he had previously learned in Columbus, Ohio. In the spring of 1857 he came to Iowa and located at Marion in Linn county, where he lived six months, then moved to Sugar Grove in the same county, then to Center Point in the same county and afterward to Mt. Vernon, at all of which places he worked at the blacksmith trade. In 1869 he came to Atlantic and in company with J.A. McWAID, under the firm of Needles & McWaid, engaged in the business of blacksmithing and wagon and buggy making and handled farming implements. This partnership continued until January, 1877, when they separated, Mr. NEEDLES continuing in the general blacksmithing, wagon and buggy making business, in which he has since continued with the exception of about three months spent in Colorado in 1880. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and has always been active in everything of interest to Atlantic, giving of his time and means whenever called upon.

Chas. W. NEEDLES is the junior member of the firm and is of the younger generation of progressive and aggressive business men.

The business of the firm is satisfactory and the firm name is a synonym for honesty and straightforwardness in business matters.

6. John F. FUHLENDORF, proprietor of the Atlantic Bottling Works, was born in Scott county, Iowa, January 25, 1872, and came with his parents to this county that same year. He attended the public schools here and afterwards engaged in farming, following that vocation for seven years. He left the farm and after about a year bought the Atlantic Bottling works. Assisting him in the business is Fred DURR, Jr., who has been connected with the manufacture of the goods made for years. Mr. FUHLENDORF is a member of the B. P. O. E. and is active in business and in public affairs.

7. J. O. WILKEN, Atlantic's popular and enterprising monument maker, was born in the Kingdom of Hanover, Germany, October 3, 1860. He came to America in 1872 and located in Sparta, Morrow county, Ohio, where he attended school and worked on the farm. In 1879 he came to Atlantic and engaged in the insurance business, continuing therein for about twelve years. In 1890 he went into the marble and monument business and has continued in it ever since. A few months ago he bought out the Grant monument works and is now the sole manufacturer in Atlantic. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, German Aid Society and Knights of Pythias organizations. He has built up and retains a magnificent business in his line by square dealing and courteous business habits.

8. Rudolph LORENZEN, manufacturer and wholesale and retail Dealer in Cigars and Tobaccos, was born in Davenport, Iowa, March 29, 1863, and came to Atlantic with his father and continued that partnership until he went into partnership with Ed. F. JONES. He then bought hides until April of this year, when he began the manufacture of cigars and the wholesale and retail business in that line of goods in Atlantic. He has already built up a flattering business and the prospects are bright for large additions to his force of cigar makers. His principal brands are the "Little Rudy," "L. B." and "Royal Court." He is a member of the Atlantic K. P. Lodge and of a social and friend-making nature.


From: Exposition Souvenir Album, published by Democrat Publishing Company, Atlantic, Iowa, 1904. Transcribed by Brenda Magee, July, 2012.