The reporter in Fond du Lac, featured many of the smaller communities in the county during 1913. They published a full page spread of a particular community, which included the history of the village and the current status of the local businesses. What follows is one of those featured communities:
Eden is Abreast With Times
BUSINESS HOUSES WELL PATRONIZED
MERCHANTS, BANKERS AND DEALERS
PLEASED WITH PROSPECTS IN EDEN
STORES ARE MODERN ONES
Customers Given Best of Service – Description of the
Village
That Eden lies in the center of one of the most
productive agricultural sections in this part of the state is well known by all
who are acquainted with the country. The section developed rapidly, especially
in the past several years, and the progressive farmers grew in number. These
conditions meant a greater future for the village. For years Eden realized that
a banking institution was one of the business enterprises it was greatly in
need of and after some united activity a bank was launched.
Bank Established
The Eden State Bank was organized in 1910 with a capital
stock of $15,000. A modern two story brick structure with a handsome stone
front was erected in the center of the business part of the village. The lower
floor of the building is used for the banking business, which consists of
general banking, insurance and conveyances. The upper floor is used for offices
while the basement is the home of a restaurant, being well fitted for that
purpose. The cost of the building and bank fixtures was in the neighborhood of
$10,000. The officers of the bank are President, Wm. Nast Sr.; vice president
Martin Kaeding; cashier W. J. Nast. These with the following gentlemen comprise
the board of directors: George Flood, H. A. Kaeding and George W. Nast. As was
predicted the bank has enjoyed a good business ever since its organization and
is growing rapidly. The deposits are $143,000.
Cheese Factory
Nast Brothers and R. P. Bauer are the proprietors of the
Mammoth spring Cheese and butter factory which is located at Eden. The building
is one of the neatest and best equipped to be found in the county. Mr. Bauer is
in charge of the factory. From 6,500 to 12,000 pounds of milk are received
daily, depending upon the season of the year.
Lumber Yard
The Henry Grahl Lumber company conducts the village
lumber yard, dealing in all lines of lumber, lath, shingles, building material
and wood. Spacious lumber sheds provide places of storage for the stocks, thus
assuring customers that the lumber and other things handled is in the best of
condition. A thriving business is done.
Elevators
One of the large elevators of the village is owned by
John O’Brien, who has been in business here the past nine years. He buys and
ships all kinds of grain and also deals in coal and wood. The elevator is a
modern structure and of good capacity. Besides the elevator he owns a potato
house and engages in this line of the farmers’ product extensively. There is
also a feed mill under his supervision.
Flood and Hildebrand are the owners of the other
elevator. Mr. Flood is the senior member of the firm and has been in business
at Eden for a number of years. This elevator is also of large capacity and well
adapted for the line of business. Buying and shipping of grains and potatoes is
done on a large scale. The company deals extensively in cabbage. All kinds of
coal are handles in connection with this enterprise.
Stock Shipping
John and Gustave Rholfs are the stock buyers here. They
have been here for many years and are doing an excellent business. They ship to
the Chicago markets. Wednesday is their shipping Day.
General
Merchandise
The village has some well stocked stores. F. O Briggs is the owner of one of these
establishments. He deals in groceries, dry goods, crockery and notions. In fact,
everything to be found in the general merchandise line is handled by him. He
also owns a hay press and does a good business. He ships many carloads of hay
during the year to the Milwaukee, Chicago and other markets.
Flood and Hildebrand is another of the enterprising and
progressive general merchandise firms of the village. Mr. Flood has been active
in the business for sixteen years while Mr. Hildebrand has been associated with
him as a partner for the past five years. The firm occupies a large building
and deals in all lines of goods to be found in a general merchandise store.
Both are well known in the community. They report business very good and
constantly increasing.
Jno. O’Brien has been in the general merchandise business
in the village for the past nine years, succeeding Henry Grantman, who is now
located at Lomira. He is a son of Patrick O’Brien, who died twelve years ago.
He is no stranger in this community, having lived on a farm near Eden for Many
years. He is still owner of a large farm in this vicinity. Since taking over
the business from Mr. Grantman, he had enlarged the stock and his business is
also more extensive. Mr. O’Brien also owns a large hardware store. The building
is 30 by 100. Besides carrying the general lines of hardware he deals in farm
machinery, engines, eave troughs, lightning rods, etc. He has the agency for the Jackson and
Hupmobile automobiles in this vicinity.
Hardware
Mathew McCarty has been a resident of the village for
many years. For about eighteen years he has been engaged in the hardware
business, carrying a line of shelf and heavy hardware. Tinsmithing is also
given attention and some farm machinery is handled.
Restaurant
The village has a very neat little restaurant located in
the basement of the bank building. The
proprietor is Miss Jessie Meade. Special attention is given to the serving of
meals. A full line of confectionery is also kept in stock. She conducts an ice
cream parlor in connection with the business.
Hotel and Saloons
The Eden hotel is under the supervision of R. E. Salter,
who has been in charge for about five years. Recently some improvements have
been made. In connection with the hotel he conducts a saloon. He is also
proprietor of the Eden livery. Mr. Salter formerly resided in the town of
Byron, and is well known in Eden and vicinity. A new barn has just been completed.
John H. Fitzpatrick has conducted a saloon here for the
past twelve years. He has lived in the vicinity for over twenty years, removing
from a farm when he came to Eden to follow his present business.
M. F. Smith, formerly a farmer near Eden, has been a
resident of the village for the past three years. He now conducts a saloon and
also has hotel accommodations.
John M. Burnell, like his competitors, was also a farmer
before coming to Eden to engage in the saloon business which he has followed
for the past eleven years.
Blacksmithing
Chas Hildebrand is the village blacksmith. General
blacksmithing, horseshoeing and repairing of wagons, buggies and automobiles
are his lines. He has been engaged in business for a long time.
Harness Shop
The owner of the harness shop is Frank Moerchen. He has
followed the trade for a quarter of a century and for the past eighteen years
has been in Eden. He also carries a line of handmade shoes and does general
shoe repairing.
Meat Markets
John Burnell, nine years ago started a meat market in the
village. Up to that time the village was without a shop of that nature. The business has proved a successful venture.
Another meat market in the village is conducted by F. Seybold.
Barber
Elmer Wright does the tonsorial work for the villagers
and the residents of the community. He has been in business here for four
years.
For The Ailing
Dr. J. E. McCarty, a graduate of the dentist department
of Marquette college, Milwaukee, enjoys a good dentist practice. He has been
located here three years. Prior to this he practiced at Lomira and was also in
Fond du lac.
Dr. William Lyons, who is also a graduate of the medical
department of Marquette college, being a member of the class of 1911, is the
Eden physician and surgeon. He has been here since his graduation from the
college. The offices of Mr. Lyons and McCarty are on the second floor of the
bank building.
Postmaster and
Agent
The postmaster of Eden is F. O. Briggs. The office is
located in his general store. He has been in the service the past eight years.
Two rural routes extend from the village, known as Nos. 35 and 36. Sam M. Kuter
is carrier on the former, while W. F. Burns looks after the interests of the
patrons of the latter.
The men in charge of the depot are Adolph Schaefer and
Frank Rehorst. The business in the express line is also handled at the depot,
the American Express company being represented there.
Village School
As yet the village is not the home of a high school.
There is a district school in the village of which Miss Maggie Bellemy of
Taycheedah is the teacher.
Church
St. Mary’s Catholic church is the only edifice in the
village. As early as the fifties a church of this denomination was established
here. Since then new buildings have been
ere4cted as conditions warranted. The present edifice was built about twenty
years ago. Rev. Fr. James R. McFarland is pastor and has been in charge for
over eighteen years. The interior of the
church has been beautified recently. Among the most noticeable improvement is
the electric lighting system that was installed by the Eden Electric Light
company. The fixtures are of modern and handsome designs. Special mention is
due the effective way in which the side and main altars have been provided with
lights. The color scheme, green predominating, has been carried out in a most
artistic manner, being in many cases superior to the beauty of similar
arrangements in the churches of cities. These improvements meant an expenditure
of considerable money. Rev. McFarland, Dr. O’Brien of St. Nazianz, Mr. O’Brien
and sisters and the Mahoney family, of Eden, were among the contributors to the
fund which was necessary to meet the cost of the work.
Rev. McFarland, who has been in charge of the church for
many years, is well known throughout the county and state. He is thoroughly
progressive and can always be depended upon as a leading figure in all that is
good for the community. He desires to see improvements and does not hesitate to
help promote any good undertaking. He wants to see Eden improve and takes great
delight in giving his assistance. He is well pleased with the advancement of
the village in the past few years and hopes for the continuation of the good
work.
Lodge Halls
There are two lodge halls in Eden, the Catholic Order of
Foresters hall and that owned by the Modern Woodmen. The former was built
eleven years ago while the latter was constructed two years later. They are
both large two story structures and are well adapted for lodge purposes,
dancing and shows. Other conveniences have also been provided for. The Chief
Ranger of the Foresters is Henry Braun, while E. J. Hayes is secretary. The
Venerable Consul of the M. W. A society is H. A. kaeding and F. O. Briggs is clerk.
Contractors
In Eden as well as elsewhere the cement business is
rapidly coming to the front. The contractors in this line are Otto Schwartz and
Braatz Brothers.
[NOTE: there are two more articles on Eden that accompanied this article. The first article is titled "Edelman was first Settler", and the second article is titled "Electric Plant is Establishe".]