PAST BUSINESSES

 

There are here two banks; the oldest has just ceased to be the First National Bank, by the expiration of its charter, and is now the Banking House of L. M. Yocum & Co. This institution was started in 1856, by Claudius Jones, as a private bank. In 1862 he sold to L. W. Beck, and in r865 it was organized as the First National Bank, L. W. Beck, cashier. When it was organized into a' national bank, the Wileys before mentioned were the principal owners.

The other bank is the Farmers and Merchants National Bank, with a capital of $50,000. A.. Deem, President; Directors—H. Higgins, E. L. Bowen, and P. Herdien.

There are three spacious elevators ; Finkle's steam roller flouring-mill; a lumber-yard, three farm imple­ ment stores; and two coal companies, situated about three-fourths of a mile east of town. The Herdien Coal Company work five shafts. The Galva Coal Company mine extensively. Here is a large broom factory that works up much of the broom-corn, of which such great quantities are raised in the county. is here an extensive brick-yard, where are used the latest and best improvements in the manufacture of brick. F. D. Guthrie has a foundry, and the county's great inventor has an establishment for the manufacturing of some of his half-dozen different patents

. The Galva Gas and Coke Company was formed and began to supply the people in 1882. There are two carriage and wagon shops, three dry- goods stores, one dry-goods and clothing store, six grocery stores, two hardware stores, two clothing stores, two jewelry establishments and two hotels.

The town has an opera house with a seating capacity of 800, a spacious town hall, the Galva Cornet Band, an efficient fire department, two elegant and well kept parks, gas-works, etc. Nine religious edifices attest the moral bearings of the people.

. There were then eight dry-goods stores, three lawyers and three physicians. The hotels were the Wiley and the Virginia houses. Dr. Norton had built the town hall.

 

History of Henry County

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