Ligonier High School - Lance Yearbook (Ligonier, IN)

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NKXX Its growth was so rapid that it was felt the business should be .A divided and accordingly, in 1925 I T the fabricating plant was moved to ' Jacksonville, Florida, in order to be nearer the market of its prod- fZ'f,11 s' as if - Lf rg.:- V ucts. The Ligonier plant contin- ued the manufacture of corrugated pipe and road tools until January, 1927, when it was felt that on ac- count of therapid growth of the Florida plant all energies should be devoted towards its development. The Ligonier plant, therefore, dis- tinued its manufacturing and is at present serving as sales branch and feeder for the Southern plant. It is possible however, that the Ligo- nier branch may in the near future engage in the manufacture of a kindred line. Ligonier Iron Products Company During its period of maximum running, while both departments were located in Ligonier, there were employed nearly sixty persons and last year the Ligonier plant employed twenty-iive and the Florida plant fifty. The growth of the Highway Iron Products Company has been very rapid due to careful management and perseverance and is engaged in a line for which the future is practically unlimited. OTHER BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS The people of Ligonier are well served by the numerous business houses of the town, all of which it would be impossible to mention here. There is a sufficient number of grocery stores, meat markets, bakeries, dry goods stores, drug stores, shoe shops, and millinery shops, as well as of those selling men and women's ready-to-Wear clothing. There' is number of garages and oil stations which give efficient service. Many makes of auto- mobiles are sold by the various dealers. One of the oldest and most reputable business organizations is Stans- bury's Store which was founded by J. R. Stansbury in 1869. At the time the business opened the stock consisted of what was known as dry goods and Yankee notions. In the eleven years following, the business grew to such an extent that more room was needed. At this time a full line of g1'0C61'16S, dishes, and queensware was added to the stock. The present owner, Mrs. C. R. Stansbury. entered the business at the age of seventeen, in the year of 1880 and has given his entire time and energies to the service of the community and has a wide circle of patrons from farming communities. Another is the present E. Jacobs and Company, dealing in dry goods, ladies ready-to-wear clothing, and rugs. This business was organized in 1876 under the name of Jacobs and Goldsmith. Since 1880 it has con- tinued as E. Jacobs and Company. - ..---Z? I I Q -2 r I LL Page 20

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s V HX ,-.--wpqyx In 1911 the company did a small busi- ness of only S50 000 It has shown a steady . growth since that time and in 1926 the com- pany did a business of i p800,000. About eighty or eighty-three men are employed in the factory. Mr. Ralph Strait is general M superintendent in charge of factory opera- tion. Two years ago the company built very extensive additions to the plant and are con- sidering the question of tearing down the old building on the corner of Cavin Street and Lincoln Way West the coming summer and building a new three story building to correspond with the rest of the plant. If this is done the offices will be moved into the building on the corner. The product of the company is refrig- erators, refrigerator counters, and market coolers for commercial uses, but no refrig- erators for domestic uses are produced. The company has over fifty gen- eral agencies located in the principal cities throughout the country, and this distribution is practically nation-wide, including Alaska, and the Ha- waiian Islands. The quality of the product is conceded to be as fine as any made in this country. WILKINSON QUILTS. One of the most interesting firms of Ligonier is that of the Wilkinson sisters, Rosalie and Ona, for the reason that it is the only one of its kind in the United States. Their business is devoted to the manufacture of hand made quilts, comforters, and couch throws. The first quilts were made in 1908, and for several years were made in the home until 1914 when the Wilkinson Quilt Company was incorporated and business solicited. All orders up until that time, had come unsolicited as the sale of quilts was not started with the intention of making a business of it. However, the unusually beautiful and artistic designs and workmanship of Miss Ona Wilkinson brought many orders from those re- ceiving one of the quilts as a gift and from those who saw the quilts in the home of their friends. Wilkinson Quilt Company Q The business developed far beyond expectations and in recent years a U number of things have been added to the original line of quilts including bed spreads, bathrobes, fancy piliows, etc. The merchandise is sold by mail, through shops conducted by the company in various winter and summer Q resorts and through special representatives. There are about one hundred 2 people connected with the organization in its various departments. S C g ,p - v HIGHWAY IRON PRODUCTS p E 5 I A I COMPANY. The Highway Iron r 1 ' i f Products Company was incorpor- E : I ated October 1, 1918 under the laws : 5 of the State of Indiana with a paid 5 5 up capital of S100,000.00, for the 5 E purpose of manufacturing steel i E E highway bridges, corrugated metal E 3 culvert pipe, and road tools. 5 u vu : Ligonier Refrigerator Company : 5 ' : : v E! S fix 5 ii - f L . Ji Page 19

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iI,'jZ'3'- A ' - 11 B -qfi Messy NNN 1 . Q LIGONIER S BANKS We are fortunate in having three banks that give such excellent service to the people of the community. MIER STATE BANK. The Mier State Bank began with the business transac- tions of Solomon Mier about the year 1856, when the people, having gained confi- dence in the young man, began to leavetheir surplus money with him at his store ln Ligonier and receive ln return certificates of deposit. In the latter part of the 60's, Sol Mier entered more extensively into banking and his place of business became known as the Banking House of Sol Mier. On January 1, 1900, the men who are now the ofllcers of the present institution, as- sociated themselves with the late Solomon Mier, and the Banking House of Sol Mier became known as the Banking House of Sol Mier Company. On June 15, 1905, The Banking House of Sol Mier Company qualified under the State law and became Mier State Bank, thereby being the oldest and largest bank in Ligonier and the .flrst state bank in the city. On June 9, 1925, the twenty year charter of Mier State Bank ex- pired and on that date a new charter was issued. ' CITIZENS BANK. The Citizens Bank at Ligonier was founded in 1868. Its founders, Jacob Straus and his brothers, Frederick and Mathias had been ln the general merchandising business in Ligonier since 1860, and their success and high standing in the community had made possible the opening of the bank. When this bank was organized lt opened accounts with two correspondents, one in Chicago, The Merchants National Bank, and the other in New York, the Chem- ical National Bank. The latter is one of the largest banks in the city of New York, and is a correspondent today as 'lt has been for flfty-nine years. In 1910 the Citi- zens Bank was incorporated as a State Bank. Since it was created fifty-nine years ago the Citizens Bank as always paid every U V liability upon demand and has never found it necessary to take advantage of time even under the most trying situations. . The growth of the Citizens Bank has been an integral part of the growth of . Ligonier. Its fifty-nine years of success have been a part of the successful growth . U of its home. The prosperity which has made this new home possible is made pos- I : sible by the prosperity of Ligonier. S U The insurance department is prepared to write fire, tornado, burglary, auto- U S mobile, and accident insurance, contract and fidelity bonds, and every other class : U of risk. 5 S The b'ond department offers a flne selection of First Mortgage, Gravel Road, S and Municipal Bonds as well as other types of securities of stability and merit. I I U FARMERS AND MERCHANTS BANK. The Farmers and Merchants Trust U S f Company was organized in May, 1908, with paid-in capital stock of fifty thousand B E dollars. The stockholders were comprised of prominent, well-to-do farmers and S S business mefl. lauringi the twenty-one years it has seen its surplus grow until it E -v N s now equa to t e cap tal. - E The bank has specialized on thrift and savings accounts. It has the largest line E : of saving deposits of any bank in Ligonier. This department has enabled many : nu people to place trust funds in the hands of the bank at a great saving of time and un : expense to themselves. The splendid success of the organization demonstrates what : : can be done by men who enjoy the confidence of the community and who have al- 1 : ways strlven to render the public a just account of their stewardship. : 2 ! : X . , s-. h 5 , g p A J LA Page 21