Warsaw, 1880

How many changes have occurred in Warsaw since 1880?  The court house was surrounded with a plank fence with a rider board on top.  That is some of the fence there.  In many places the rider board was torn away and the fence was badly in need of repair.  At the southeast corner of the court yard stood a one-story brick building that was used at one time as the county clerk's office, but at that time was a drug store conducted by H. T. Chambers.  On the southwest corner was a small dilapidated jail.  The Lindell Hotel, now the Argonne, was conducted by John W. Kirby, the Eagle Hotel at the river front by Ed Marshall and the Brown Hotel by John D. Pulliam.  All of these hotels had bars for the thirsty and did a big business entertaining the traveling public. J. W. White was one of the grocers, J. H. McDanell & Sons was the main dry goods, clothing, gents furnishing goods and also had a large grocery department.  S. P. & J. W. Griffin conducted a large dry goods and grocery store at the southeast corner of Main and Main Cross streets, and right next to this in the same building was the drug store of H. D. Clore. 

At the southwest corner of Main and Main Cross Streets was the grocery store of John "Gunboat" Brown.  John W. Taylor had a meat shop where now stands Tyson's Jewelry Shop and Robert R. Russell was the watch repairman, corner of Main Cross and High Street.  Where the picture show now is - in the same building - William "Tinner" Craig conducted a tinware and repair shop, and directly opposite, where it still does business, was the Warsaw Deposit Bank.  At that time there was but one barber in the town and that was run by Hen Johnson, immediately under the bank.  John D. Pulliam ran a livery stable directly opposite the Lindell Hotel and Any Byers, our good old German friend, sometimes called "Timothy Hay," conducted a dry goods and grocery store that catered mostly to the under-the-hill residents.  Judge J. Brown was county judge; Ben S. Lindsey, county attorney; James W. Craig, county clerk; J. W. White, sheriff; John Hudson, assessor; and Judge L. L. Tiller, police judge. 

I forget if there was a town marshal at that time - but one was needed at times.  Wm. Britt was the blacksmith and woodworker, but I believe Tom Allen, colored, also ran a blacksmith of small dimensions.  Warsaw at that time also was distinguished with a carriage factory run by H. B. Herrick on Locust street, and he made a fine vehicle, which at that time brought good prices, some selling for $300.00 apiece, and carriages bringing $500.00 and $600.00.  But the "shyster" buggies began making their appearance and soon put this industry out of business.  Tom Lineback was the saddle and harness maker and Tom Hall was the shoemaker,  And both of these merchants made the best of goods and got fine prices.  Boots were greatly worn at that time and Mr. Hall would get from $14 to $18 per pair of Morocco top boots.  As to harness sets, I think they ran up near $50.00, but am not sure. 

Among other establishments was the gents furnishings and shoe store of J. E. Mountjoy, and the dry goods store of T. M. Blackmore, the latter at Main Cross and Main street, and the former at High and Main streets, now an empty lot.  The coal yard was run by Judge Tiller.  And business was good in those days and all travel was by the boats, and they sure did a big business.

from an uncredited newspaper clipping, dated only "Fall, 1925"