Republican Register - September 1909

Galesburg's Register-Mail
Wednesday, October 11, 1961
submitted by Dave Judson
(with reprint permission from the Register-Mail)

Early Firm, Both Salesroom and Factory
By Marion Maxwell

     Today, controversy continues over the fate of the Galesburg Public Square.
     Not so a hundred years ago when it was a place of bustling activity and one of the centers of business operations in the thriving young city.
     Listed in Holland's City Directory for the years 1873 and '74 was the firm of Barlett and Judson, Furniture and Undertakers. It occupied two, two-story buildings located in the northeast corner of the Square.
     As noted in the directory which also included such enterprises as Belden's Union Hotel, the First National Bank, Farmers and Mechanics Bank, J. M. Colville, Book Binder, and the Galesburg Steam Printing and Publishing Co., the firm had been in existence at that time for nearly twenty years, and "is the only one that has been established so long without change." Quoting again, they had "probably the largest stock of furniture in the vicinity, embracing all kinds from the most superb to the ordinary."
     Records show that the firm and its subsidiary factory which at one time employed 30 men continued to prosper until the 19th century version of automation--the change from handmade method manufacture to factory method--contributed to its gradual closing. It finally became cheaper to buy factory-made items than to make them by hand.
     Ralph M. Judson who lives at Windcrest Acres on the Lake Bracken Road, is a grandson of Orson B. Judson, one of the partners of the firm. He has inherited several pieces of furniture made at the early factory, one stamped with the manufacturer's mark. Other examples of the firm's products come to light from time to time.
     Fashioned of solid walnut, part of which was aged on a lot south of the Judson family home on North Chambers street, the furniture which was built to last was designed in Victorian style. The substantial chairs were carefully joined and dovetail detail of the drawers shows skillful workmanship.
     The wood was finished originally in dark tones but a secretary desk in another Galesburg home and attributed to the same factory has been effectively refinished in a modern lighter shade.
     The circumstances which brought the factory into being and the family background of one of the partners are recorded in a booklet compiled by Orson B. Judson, and now in the possession of his grandson. It reveals shrewd business insight, patience, diligence and courage to go ahead in the face of adversities.

Learned Carpenter's Trade

     Born in Pontiac, Mich., in 1831, O. B. Judson was the son of a tailor who when his family increased, sold out his shop and bought a heavily timbered farm. To clear the land he hired men and paid them off with the garments he made for them.
     In 1849 O. B. Judson left his father's farm to learn the carpenter's trade working in many cities from Michigan to Memphis, Tenn. In 1854 he came to Galesburg "on the invitation of F. R. Bartlett to accept a partnership" and began cabinet making in a shop on the north side of the square.
     Fire destroyed the establishment in 1861. As recorded in family history, "this occurred the same day that Ft. Sumter was fired on by the Confederates."
     The family record continues, "But I (Judson) did not want to give up. We made arrangements to build a brick building. In a few months we were at work again in our new quarters. When the building was up we were over $5,000 in debt and no furniture. But by perseverance and strict economy the debt was worked off and we felt free to go on with our work."
     L. S. Bartlett, a relative of F. R. Bartlett, the other partner, did the upholstering work. The establishment also made mattresses for the beds they manufactured.
     The highest paid worker at the factory was a "Mr. Ackerson, a Swedish gentleman who did our turning work for bedsteads and all such work that we wanted done. We paid him $1,000 a year. There were about three men who made bureaus, one who made coffins."
     An interesting side note regarding the manufacture of coffins in connection with the furniture business was found in a clipping included in the family history and taken from the early newspaper, "Galesburg's Week's Review."
     "Coffins were then made to order; the measurements of the corpse was taken and the coffin constructed by hand. This custom often necessitated calls at all hours of the night...Mr. Judson constructed the first "ready-made" coffin in Knox County and the undertaking firm of which he was a member had made and used the first hearse."
     The firm discontinued the manufacture of their own furniture soon after the death of Fred Bartlett in the spring of 1874. Judson took another partner until his son, H. E. came into the store in 1881 when he was 18 years old. Later the other son Orson L. Judson, father of Ralph Judson, also entered the business.
     In 1902, O. B. Judson give his sons an interest in the store by placing it in a stock company under the name of the O. B. Judson Furniture Co.