Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
Marshall Cohen—researcher and producer, CNN
Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
RIDER-WALLIS DRY GOODS COMPANY: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
The company was first known as John Bell and Company. The name was changed in 1865 to Bell, Rider and Wallis. Bell's interest was purchased in 1866, and the company was renamed Rider, Wallis and Company. In 1889 the firm was incorporated. The officers were John Vincent Rider, President; James Harold Wallis, Vice-president; and S. P. Rider, secretary and treasurer. | The company was first known as John Bell and Company. The name was changed in 1865 to Bell, Rider and Wallis. Bell's interest was purchased in 1866, and the company was renamed Rider, Wallis and Company. In 1889 the firm was incorporated. The officers were John Vincent Rider, President; James Harold Wallis, Vice-president; and S. P. Rider, secretary and treasurer. | ||
The business included the wholesaling of a full line of dry goods and the manufacturing of men's work clothes. The White Elephant brand of overalls, shorts, jackets, lined duck and corduroy coats, cotton flannel gloves and mittens were especially popular. Dry goods included underwear, notions, dress goods, silks, wash goods, piece goods, dress shirts and furnishings. The company also imported laces, damask, embroideries, hosiery, gloves and ribbons. | |||
Offices were maintained in New York, Paris, St. Gall and Chemnitz. | |||
Rider-Wallis had one hundred and thirty-five employees and had a trade area covering Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, the Dakotas and Nebraska. | |||
The 1886-87 ''Dubuque City Directory'' listed 356 to 364 Main. | The 1886-87 ''Dubuque City Directory'' listed 356 to 364 Main. | ||
| Line 7: | Line 13: | ||
The 1890-91 and 1899-1900 ''Dubuque City Directory'' listed the corner of 7th and Locust. | The 1890-91 and 1899-1900 ''Dubuque City Directory'' listed the corner of 7th and Locust. | ||
The 1911-12 ''Dubuque City Directory'' listed 101-149 7th | The 1911-12 ''Dubuque City Directory'' listed 101-149 7th. | ||
The 1929 ''Dubuque City Directory'' listed the corner of W. 4th and Locust. | |||
Rider-Wallis was the only exclusive wholesale dry goods house in Dubuque and the largest of its kind in Iowa. The offices, warehouse, display rooms and factory employed one hundred seventy-five people. | Rider-Wallis was the only exclusive wholesale dry goods house in Dubuque and the largest of its kind in Iowa. The offices, warehouse, display rooms and factory employed one hundred seventy-five people. | ||
[[Image:whiteelephant.png|left|thumb|350px|Shirt label]]The | [[Image:whiteelephant.png|left|thumb|350px|Shirt label]] | ||
--- | |||
Source: | |||
'''The Industries of Dubuque: Her Relations as a Trade Center,''' Dubuque: J. M. Elster and Company, Publishers, 1887, p. 56 | |||
[[Image:wetc-1.png|right|thumb|200px|Trade card (front)]] | [[Image:wetc-1.png|right|thumb|200px|Trade card (front)]] | ||
Revision as of 00:58, 26 September 2014
RIDER-WALLIS DRY GOODS COMPANY. In August 1864, John Vincent RIDER was informed by John BELL and James WALLIS that they had purchased the retail business of Wood, Luke and Company. Bell and Wallis asked Rider to become an equal partner in a business capitalized at $24,000.
The company was first known as John Bell and Company. The name was changed in 1865 to Bell, Rider and Wallis. Bell's interest was purchased in 1866, and the company was renamed Rider, Wallis and Company. In 1889 the firm was incorporated. The officers were John Vincent Rider, President; James Harold Wallis, Vice-president; and S. P. Rider, secretary and treasurer.
The business included the wholesaling of a full line of dry goods and the manufacturing of men's work clothes. The White Elephant brand of overalls, shorts, jackets, lined duck and corduroy coats, cotton flannel gloves and mittens were especially popular. Dry goods included underwear, notions, dress goods, silks, wash goods, piece goods, dress shirts and furnishings. The company also imported laces, damask, embroideries, hosiery, gloves and ribbons.
Offices were maintained in New York, Paris, St. Gall and Chemnitz.
Rider-Wallis had one hundred and thirty-five employees and had a trade area covering Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, the Dakotas and Nebraska.
The 1886-87 Dubuque City Directory listed 356 to 364 Main.
The 1890-91 and 1899-1900 Dubuque City Directory listed the corner of 7th and Locust.
The 1911-12 Dubuque City Directory listed 101-149 7th.
The 1929 Dubuque City Directory listed the corner of W. 4th and Locust.
Rider-Wallis was the only exclusive wholesale dry goods house in Dubuque and the largest of its kind in Iowa. The offices, warehouse, display rooms and factory employed one hundred seventy-five people.
---
Source:
The Industries of Dubuque: Her Relations as a Trade Center, Dubuque: J. M. Elster and Company, Publishers, 1887, p. 56
