History of Springfield, Illinois, its attractions as a home and advantages for business, manufacturing, etc. Pub. under the auspices of the Springfield board of trade, by J. C. Power.

ITS ADVANTAGES FOR MANUFACTURINGI. 79
more deservedly won advancement in shawls, white goods, millinery, Paris
business. The amount of the capital of flowers, bonnets, ribbons, etc., at wholethe firm is $80,000, and their yearly busi- sale and retail. West side capitol square.
ness is very large. Business amounts to about $60,000, anJOHN BRESSMER is extensively engaged nually.
in the dry goods trade, at the old Tynsley KIMBER & RAGSDALE keep the largest
corner. Mr. Bressmer has been engaged stock of foreign and domestic dry goods,
in selling goods for the last twenty-two of any house in the city. They erected
years, in the same place he now occupies, two magnificent store rooms, which are
and has been doing business by himself thrown into one, on the south side of
since 1860. He is a well known and re- the square, at a cost of over $50,000.
liable merchant, and does a large regular They certainly have the largest, finest arbusiness. His yearly sales foot up about ranged, and most elegantly furnished
$60,000. store in the State outside of Chicago.
JOHN T. STUART, Jr., deals in staple and Mr. Kimber was, for many years, in the
fancy dry goods, fine millinery, etc. Mr. employ of C. M. Smith & Co., and thorStuart was raised in this city, and is well oughly understands his business. They
known and highly appreciated by all who sell dry goods, carpets, boots and shoes,
know him. Mr. Stuart began selling dry etc., and their sales amount to about
goods for C.'M. Smith & Co., in 1857, and $250,000, per year.
has been constantly engaged ever since. JOSEPH THAYER & CO. This house
In 1863 he opened his present fine estab- was established in 1835, and is therefore
lishment, which is always well filled with one of the oldest mercantile establishthe choicest, finest goods in his line. ments in Central Illinois. This estabHis sales amountto about $60,000, annu- lishment is one of the reliable old
ally. places of business, for which Springfield
L. M. COLEMAN is the successor to the is justly so famous. Nearly forty years,
late firm of Brown & Coleman. This in one business in the same town, is
house was established three years ago, and about all the recommendation any eshas always enjoyed a high reputation. tablishment needs. Messrs. Thayer &
In Augest, last, the firm was dissolved, Co. carry a very large and fine stock of
and Mr. Coleman purchased Major goods, and sell between $75,000 and
Brown's interest. He keeps a general $100,000 worth per year.
assortment of dry goods, from the finest DOLLAR STORES.
to the cheapest, and lace goods in end- F. J. WILsoN keeps one of the most
less variety. The entire second story handsome stores inthe city. Thevariety
is limited to piece goods and carpets- is wonderful, and yet there is no article
the stock of the latter being the finest for which you are expected to pay more
and largest in the city. The carpet than one dollar. Everybody on visiting
trade of this house is immense. Mr. the city, goes to Wilson's Dollar Store,
Coleman deals strictly on an honorable, in the American House block, near the
fair basis, and having permanently settled Postoffice.
here and identified his interest with
O. E. DOWE, east side of the square,
Springfield, designs to retain the large 0 e
sells every kind of gim-crack, from a
custom he has won by fair upright dealing. He employs ten clerks, carries penny up to a dollar.
about $60,000 worth of goods, and sells FEED STORE.
over $100,000 worth of goods, per year. S. M. CULVRR, wholesale and retail
C. A. GEHRMANN, dealer in American dealer in feed, flour, grain and country
and Foreign dry goods, ladies furs, cloaks, produce, grinds grain for feed, and is