Vail 1902
People and Businesses
Business Men of Vail - Denison Review - September 19, 1902
Are all Conservative and Anxious to Please.
All are Interested in the Welfare of Their Little City and Setting Forth Many Inducements.
Vail is located on the main line of the Chicago & North-Western R. R., eight miles from Denison and has a population of citizens that are energetic, loyal and enterprising and always willing to aid and foster any kind of enterprise that presents itself that will be a benefit to the town. It is an ideal place for a home with its schools, churches, park and refined class of people. Its water system is fine which furnishes clear, pure water and compares favorably with any in the state. It has excellent schools that rank with the very best.
It has four religious denominations, the Catholic Church is a beautiful edifice made of brick and is an adornment to the city. Its pastor is Rev. James Murphy. The Presbyterian Church is looked after by Rev. W. J. Cresswell, the Methodist have for their pastor Rev. G. M. Albrook and the Episcopalians have Rev. Allen Judd.
The surrounding county available to the town is settled by well to do farmers who do most of their trading with the businessmen of Vail as they are men of ability and by their conservative dealings have built up a large trade.
The city interests are carefully looked after by Mr. Maurice O'Connor who is the mayor and who is running the office in first class style. The clerk is J. P. Duffy, assessor is M. Ratchford; marshall, M. P. Ryan; council men are John Hickey, Clint Payne, Byron O'Donnell, J. J. Dugan, L. L. Hulce and John Thompson. The success of the city is due to the untiring and unceasing efforts of the mayor and his associates.
T. J. Hoffman, the postmaster is very popular and looks after Uncle Sam's mail in first class style. He is a gentleman of pleasing appearance and has a host of friends.
The jewelry business is well taken care of by Mr. E. B. Fauske who carries a fine stock of watches and jewelry and is an artist in the watch repair business, the secret of his success is due to the fact that by gentlemanly ways and good nature he has built up an immense trade and is well thought of in the community.
There are two drug stores in the town, both being run by two up-to-date druggists who keep their stores neat and clean, carry a fine stock of drugs, wallpaper, paints, etc. The firms are Glynn Bros. and Leslie W. Kinyon and are young and enterprising firms.
There are three general merchandise stores, namely E. E. Chamberlin & Son, Ryan & Ratchford and M. J. Casey. They carry a large stock of good and are men who thoroughly understand their business and are especially equipped for furnishing the trade with the best goods at the lowest prices, they have a large patronage and keep their stores in fine shape.
Will Beck is the efficient fire chief of Fire Co. No. 1. The boys keep their engine house in nice shape and although Will is a single man he is willing to become a benedict.
The Green Bay Lumber Co. run one of the finest lumber yards in the county. They keep their lumber out of the weather and carry an immense stock which is looked after by Mr. John Knowles. The office work is done by John Cranny who is the manager.
Tom Service is bricklayer; W. A. Hass & Herman Beiser are practical painters; T. W. Butler, W. E. Butler, H. McCombs, Thos. Maxwell and H. Gronemeyer are the city carpenters. The above are all first class mechanics. They are hustlers and are kept busy.
Mr. C. C. Vail is the genial editor of the Observer, a bright newsy sheet published every Thursday.
J. J. Dugan runs the coal business where he keeps all kinds of hard and soft coal at reasonable prices.
The town is blessed with one bank called The Traders Bank. They do a general banking business and have an efficient cashier in the person of Henry Stuck.
Miss Glennie Payne and Mrs. M. F. McGuire are the ladies who operate the millinery stores. They handle an elegant line of hats and trimmings and are artists in their line and by their pleasing manners have built up a nice trade.
W. W. Watson is the numerous manipulator of the harness business. Too much cannot be said in regard to his good nature as he is always jolly and knows how to please his trade. He is also the owner of a vast museum which he shows to the visiting public with great pride.
There are four fruit and confectionery stores, Ben Olsen, J. B. Huckstep, G. D. Wheiting and Miss A. Wheiting who always keeps a choice line of all kind of fruits, candles and cigars and by their fair courtesy treatment have won the admiration and good will of the community.
J. F. Barton is the photographer who is putting out first class work. He is a good natured fellow and is kept busy printing smiles on all those who have their work done there.
M. M. Hannan, Kinney & Sheridan, J. J. McCormick and H. B. Hoffman are the saloon men who keep first class places and carry a fine line of liquors, wines and cigars.
Hickey & Ftzel are the meat men. They are enjoying a nice trade which they have built up by their fair treatment to their customers. They carry a fine line of meats.
D. Tempest & Co. and B. O'Donnell carry a full line of hardware and implements. They are hustlers and are doing a good business.
Mangen & Voss run the bowling alley and shooting galley; also carry a nice line of choice cigars.
F. J. Bracelin has charge of the city scales which he operates to the best interests of all of his customers.
The Wallace House is the leading hotel under the personal supervision of C. F. Buente. He runs a model house and his table and cuisine cannot be excelled.
G. L. Deiter and J. B. Dougherty are the two barbers who look after their customers in first-class fashion. They both run a pool room in connection.
W. J. Beck runs one of the finest furniture houses in the west and carries an elegant stock. He is also an undertaker and carries a line of harness.
Pater & Lock are the liverymen who have good outfits and are always in demand as the traveling public know a good thing when they see it. They are hustlers and enjoy a large patronage.
The shoe repairing is done by T. M. Powers, who does his work quick and first-class.
J. W. Kelly and R. Brockelsby are the blacksmiths who do first-class work and have a reputation of being number one horseshoers.
The Northern Grain Co., operates the elevator with Mr. J. P. Fitch as manager. They buy all kinds of grain at highest market prices. The Vail Milling Co. under the management of Thos. Adams is doing an extensive business in their flour, as their goods are well known all over the county.
Tom Adams, E. J. Hoffman, M. J. Kane and M. T. Kane are stock buyers. They are jolly fellows and do a good business and they pay the highest price for all kinds of stock.
M. J. Mitchel and L. Hulce are the draymen who do all the hauling and transferring with safety and dispatch. They are nice, accommodating gentlemen.
Last but not least comes Mr. J. P. Smith, the cheerful agent of the C & N. W. Railroad who is always on the lookout for business. He is a jolly fellow and always ready to serve the public.
Too much cannot be said about the school facilities which rank with the best in the state. The Saint Ann Academy is under the personal supervision of the Sisters of Charity. The public school is presided over by Prof. M. B. Taylor and three assistant teachers. School opened September 1.
Submitted by Melba McDowell