Union City Businesses- 1881-1883
The Anchor Mills
March 1881
The Anchor Mills now owned by Messrs. Camp, Geiger & Beebe in Union City is the most complete of any mill within a distance of 200 miles. The mill was known when built as the Aetus, but the name was changed when the present owners bought it. It originally cost about $20,000, and was at that time considered one of the best in the country but since the new firm has had charge of it they have put in new machinery of the latest and most improved styles for the manufacture of flour at an additional cost of over $5,000 and are still making improvements. They are making four brands of flour the first or No. 1 being "the New Process: known as the "Chautauqua Circle" brand which is the finest made in the world and be relied upon every time.
The second brand is the "D.W. Camp's Best," known far and near as a flour that never fails to give entire satisfaction. The third brand is a new one and the neatest trade mark we ever saw, called the "Target," and the fourth brand is known as the "Hoe Mills." These gentlemen have found it necessary to run both night and day to keep up the increasing demand on these for their flour, and are now making on an average, eighty barrels per day which is shipped to all points in Northwestern Pennsylvania, Western New York and Eastern Ohio and where ever it is introduced is taking the lead of all others. There is no mill in Erie County but this one that manufactures the new patent process flour and a person only needs to buy one sack of it to be thoroughly convinced that it is the best and cheapest of all others.
Messrs. Camp, Geiger & Beebe are all of them experienced millers, and employ none but the best workmen to assist in the manufacture of their flour. Mr. Neale, who is the foreman, is a gentleman who is thoroughly acquainted with all of the details of the business, and has not a superior in the state.
March 1882
Arthur Phillips, the blind man, is still making brooms and of a very superior quality. His trade is increasing and he now finds a ready sale for all he can make. It is remarkable how a blind man can make so good a broom as does Mr. Phillips.
W.A. Taylor has recently purchased the stage line between Union City and Wattsburg, and is now working on it himself.
The Union City Chair Works last week made a contract to furnish 1,000 chairs for the new Opera House now being built at Bolivar, a new oil town. They also had an order for 500 chairs for a club room in Pittsburgh. These are outside of their regular orders and show that wherever these chairs are introduced they take the lead of all others, being the best wood chair in the market.
March 1882
A.E. Weaver, the gentlemanly clerk who has been with Gary Smith during the past year has accepted a position for the coming year with Smiley Brothers and will begin with them on April 1. Mr. Weaver is a No. 1 man, a good salesman, and the Smiley Brothers are to be congratulated on securing his services.
Rube Jones started up his cheese box factory on Monday last. Mr. Jones has managed - notwithstanding the milder winter-to get in a large stock of timber, nearly, if not quite enough to keep him busy all through the summer. He expects to employ about 15 men, and will turn out a large number of cheese boxes every day.
March 1882
The machinery for the new furniture factory is in the mill and being set. The company is composed of A.O. Gillette; H.H. Niles and Robinson Carroll. They will build an addition to the factory at once measuring 20x 40 and two stories high. The orders for the material are already in the hands of the mill.
These gentlemen intend to manufacture furniture so that it can be sold at a reasonable price. Experienced workmen are to be employed and the furniture manufactured will be all first class work. Mr. Gillett will keep the goods made here in his store and can then be able to sell to the people at manufacturor's prices which will be a nice thing for those who are in need of furniture and have to buy.
Besides this, A.O. Gillett is talking of putting in the basement of his large store an upholstering department and is already corresponding with experienced workmen in this line of business.
June 1882
Although the holiday trade is over, Mr. A.O. Gillett is having an immense sale of furniture all of the time. Last week he sold three fine walnut bedroom suits, besides a quantity of other goods. So far this week he has sold two suits and one elegant parlor suit, and a large quantity of other goods.
The Times had a new advertisement for the New Wilson Oscillating Sewing Machine. V.R. Gillett of LeBoeuf had the general agency, and F.H. Monroe was local and traveling agent.
March 1883
The new blacksmith shop of Mr. O. Glezen on Crooked (now Market Street) is up and enclosed and will be ready for occupancy in a few days.
May 1883
J.D. Wescott has got his dowel and handle works ready to run and will soon be doing a good business again. Mr. Wescott is one of our most enterprising business men and certainly deserves to be successful in all his undertakings.
Judging from the number who attend the market every Thursday (butter day), the farmers begin to realize the truth of which we have so often remarked, that Union City is really the best butter market in Erie County. On Thursday last, the number attending market was the largest we ever saw, and today as we go to press the town is full of people and butter is bringing from 18 to 20 cents.
August 1883
Junkens and Everson are building an additional warehouse at their planing mill.
August 30, 1883
William O. Gillett, the inventor and patentor of an improved scaffolding, is receiving letters from all over the United States making inquiries in regard to the invention which is practical and very useful.
October 1883
John Young, the popular stone mason, has just completed a new stone walk for M. Jones, which for beauty and durability can not be excelled in the city. It is a new invention and can not fail to become popular. It as to be seen to be appreciated.