Showing posts with label Indianapolis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Indianapolis. Show all posts

Thursday, October 26, 2017

1893 - The Huntington Seed Co., Indianapolis





The Huntington Seed Co. is something of a mystery to me.  

I can't find much information on any of these Huntingtons, their community involvement, or even obituaries.  That sort of thing usually pops up if you just keep rephrasing queries...but it didn't. 

The following article I did find gives a good outline of their business without saying much.












They bought a great proportion of their seeds, but their catalogs seem to say they raise some of their own and the illustration on their invoices shows a farm.











Their catalogs always lead with strategies to engage the buyer, such as free books with purchase, and this contest below.


Love their  invoice design though! 



This following piece was in Indianapolis Illustrated : the capital city of Indiana : its growth, resources, commerce, manufacturing interests, financial institutions, and prospects, also sketches of the leading business concerns which contribute to the city's progress and prosperity : a complete history of the city from foundation to the present time


F. C. Huntington & Co.  

   Indianapolis stands second to no city in the union as regards great establishments devoted to the staple branches of trade. In many lines she leads, and notably so in that of the trade in choice garden and farm seeds, bulbs, etc., for in this department no house has achieved a more enviable reputation than that of Messrs F. C. Huntington & Co., 66 East Washington street. 

The business was founded in 1880 by Mr. J. F. Mendenhall at 78 and 80 East Market street. A flourishing trade was developed with growing connections and in August 1886 the business was purchased by Messrs. F. C. and J. T. Huntington.   
Under the existing style and title of F. C. Huntington & Co. the officers are as follows F. P. Huntington president, J. T. Huntington treasurer, T. V. Page, secretary.  
(So where is F. C. in the company?? From The Huntington Family in America, 1915, I found his name, Forest Conwell Huntington, born March 25, 1866, and it said he was a seedsman.  Now if he is the same F. C., he was 20 when he bought Mendenhall's seed business.  That makes me think J. T. was older. )

These gentlemen brought to bear special qualifications for carrying on the business including a wide range of practical experience thorough knowledge of the wants of the trade and ample energy and enterprise to push their goods all over the United States. 

On January 1, 1893 they removed from East Market street to their present desirable premises, 66 East Washington street, 22 x 196 feet in dimensions, and comprising two floors and basement.  Here they carry full lines of garden and farm seeds flower seeds imported bulbs and plants also the highest grade of commercial fertilizers.  

They are large growers of garden and farm seeds and secure special high-class seed all strictly fresh, free from impurities and warranted to produce heavily and give entire satisfaction. They are notably progressive and enterprising and each year bring out new and desirable varieties of vegetables which give an increased return to the grower. 

They are direct importers of the rarest foreign bulbs and seeds from Holland, Germany, France and Spain. Every year a member of the firm goes to Europe to make purchases and personally selects from the stocks of the leading growers of Europe.  Besides seeds and bulbs the firm carry a complete line of garden lawn and greenhouse implements, garden and farm tools, poultry supplies, cattle and horse foods, while they make a specialty of the most reliable fertilizers.

Their trade extends all over the United States and a staff of sixteen clerks and salesmen are kept busy in the establishment, while several men are required on the road. The Messrs. Huntington are natives of Indianapolis, universally popular and respected, and are active members of the board of trade and the Odd Fellows Order.  Theirs is one of the leading seed warehouses in theUnited States and has developed its immense trade and influential connections strictly on the basis of merit.  Purchases of seeds here invariably giving entire satisfaction. Those desirous of making selections should send for their handsome illustrated descriptive catalogue which gives full details of all the new varieties with a great deal of additional instructive matter.


Friday, October 10, 2014

1892 - J. A. Everitt, Seedsman, Indianapolis - With A Fantastic Engraving!!


Look to the
bottom of post
for a wonderful
cutaway illustration
of the building and the
business.
Enjoy!!

















J. 
A. Everitt, 
Seedsman,
121 and 123 West Washington Street,
Indianapolis, Indiana







A tad different looking today!


The following is from some old mag being complementary, and I just edited and changed tense:
This business was established in 1886.  In 1890 the concern was incorporated and in 1892 the large brick building now occupied, 195 feet in length, consisting of six floors, was built for the exclusive use of the business.  It was one of the largest and most completely equipped seed houses in the country. The trade extended throughout this and foreign countries, and half a million catalogues were printed and distributed annually to the patrons of the house. About 75 persons were employed by the concern.  


The stock embraced a full line of seeds of every description, grown to special order, chiefly in the North and East, including the standard varieties, such as bean, beet, cabbage, carrot, celery, sweet-corn, cucumber, lettuce, melons, onion, parsnip, pea, radish, spinach, tomato, turnip, etc., of the choicest character, with novelties and specialties in the same lines; the plants from which show superior growth, producing qualities and better average results than those obtained from any other source.Their floral department was equally select and desirable. The list contained every seed known to the lexicon of florists, put up in handsome packages, each package containing the firm's trade-mark and full directions for sowing and cultivating. Their small fruit and plant departments, their departments of farm seeds, of lawn and other grass and clover seeds, of esculents, including the great early potato "The Everitt" were likewise unsurpassed in variety and completeness.

The celebrated "Man Weight" farm and garden tools are also manufactured by this corporation, and have an extensive sale. 
The officers of the company are: J. A.Everitt,  president; L.J. Everitt,  secretary and treasurer.



Up-to-Date Farming is an agricultural semi-monthly that was started by J. A. Everitt in 1898 and was published by him till January, 1909, when it passed into control of an incorporated company, of which he was the chief owner.

In May 1906, The Plymouth Tribune, (Volume 5, Number 33, 24 May 1906) reported that Harry O. Chamberlain had been appointed receiver for William N. Everitt, Indianapolis seedsman, on complaint of James A. Everitt, a brother of William N. Everitt, who claims part ownership. A dissolution of the firm is asked.    

To the above I can only say I do not know what is going on...nor could I find any other info on the mysterious William N. Everitt.