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Business
grew and was well represented in Sidney in 1876
and 1877, but of the men then engaged in retail
trade
only two merchants remain in business today,
namely: the Oberfielder Brothers, Clothiers.
During
the rush through this section, P. J.
Cohn & Company, operated the Star Clothing
House which for a
time rivaled the Oberfielder store. His
nephews operated the store. Louis and
Mike Cohn were cousins and
Louis later became sole owner, Mike sold his
interest for $40,000, took it to Chicago, and
lost it.
William
France had a hardware store here in 1876,
and among the grocers were Henry Gantz &
Son, wholesale merchants; W. J. McDonald,
G. W. Dudley and H. T. Clarke.
C.
A. Morian and Dennis Carrigan each
ran a combined dry good and grocery store while
an exclusive dry goods
house was owned by Stevens & Wilcox
and another by A. S. Brown.
Dewey
& Stone ran a furniture store.
Kelley
& Cameron and G. H. and J. S. Collins
carried harness and saddles.
Regular
outfitting stores were owned by C. A. Moore,
R. S. Van Tassel and the Oberfielders.
At
the latter the office of the Stevenson Stage
Line was maintained with an all night service.
The
only jewelry store was owned by B. M. L.
Thoelecke.
C.
E. Borquist was the pioneer druggist of
Sidney, establishing his store in 1871, and
in 1876 C. F.
Goodman
opened the second drug store.
Pratt
and Ferris, well known as the "P F"
were the early freighters, doing an extensive
business in Cheyenne County
and the Black Hills, while G. W. Dudley
advertised "Dear's Stage Line to the Black
Hills."
The
main stage line was run by Stevenson and the
Dears Line was not long in operation.
Half
a dozen hotels and as many restaurants were
built and operated to accommodate the rush of
travelers, the
best known being the:
Lockwood
House
Germania
Gilt
Edge
Southern
Delmonico
Miners
American
H.
M. McFaddens
Not
one of which is in business today having passed
with the transient life of that day. All
the men who operated them
have gone but Mr. McFadden who still
maintains his home in Sidney though retired
from business. It should be
stated that H. M. McFadden advertised in a way
that stood out like an island in a tempestuous
sea. "No gambling tables
connected with this house"
In
April, 1876, the only resident lawyers in Sidney
were George W. Heist and George R.
Ballou, though by the spring
of 1877, V. Bierbower, A. M. Stevenson, Guy
Barnum, Jr. and Tome Kane were also
established in Law
practice.
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