Nichols hands business off to son
Hannah Gross
NLJ Correspondent
With Leonard Cash
Longtime employee and partner at the A.M. Nichols Supply Co. meat market, Edward Gue, suddenly died of heart failure on Jan. 22, 1919, in Cambria, according to historian Leonard Cash’s newspaper records for part eight of his “History on Main” series on the A.M. Nichols Supply Co.
According to News Journal records from Jan. 30, 1919, Gue caught the flu and although he recovered, heart failure took him shortly after.
Gue was born on Aug. 4, 1875, at York, Nebraska, and came to Weston County around 1899. He was employed at the Charles Sharp meat market before working at the Nichols market, where he later became a partner in the business. He then went to the Cambria Commercial Co. for three years, until his death. He married Mamie Buck of Iowa in 1907, and they had three children. His was interred in Greenwood Cemetery.
“(He) was admired by all who knew him, as he had many ways of making friends. He will be greatly missed in the social and business way,” the article says. “Very impressive services were held at the Episcopal church Saturday afternoon, Rev. George McKay of Buffalo, Wyo., officiating.”
The March 27, 1919, paper reported that the supply company had a special wagon on display with a bed holding 125 bushels of build wheat. Due to grain prices, Nichols said, “A farmer could buy the wagon with one load of wheat and have money enough left to buy a wagon load
of groceries.”
In addition to wheat, the supply company advertised that its supply of potatoes was just delivered to the store, so they could ship them off, according to the April 13, 1919 newspaper.
“Potatoes, potatoes and more potatoes in spite of the muddy road was all one has seen for the past few days,” the article says. Nearly two weeks later, the paper reported that a carload was shipped to Lincoln, Nebraska.
The April 17, 1919, News Journal said that Beaver Valley Livestock was renting an office in the Nichols building.
A happy time for the Nichols family came around when the July 31, 1919, paper announced the marriage of Nichols’ son Dwight Ogden Nichols to Fern R. Maxwell. The Rev. Hubert Webster officiated the wedding.
However, the wedding bliss was interrupted when Dwight and his brother Lloyd both got blood poisoning in their right hands two weeks later, each with a different cause, according to an article from Aug. 14, 1919. Dwight cut his fingers on a bone when he was cutting meat, and Lloyd ran a barb wire point through his finger. Although suffering “great pain,” the article reported that the wounds weren’t severe.
Evidently, they recovered soon enough because around Sept. 4, 1919, the paper reported that Lloyd and Dwight took their families on “an ideal trip” to Yellowstone
National Park.
With more news of the store, the Oct. 16, 1919, issue announced that the employees were working on an excavation project to make way for a new scale for weighing heavy-laden trucks, “as well as
lighter weights.”
Around Nov. 13, 1919, A.M. Nichols Supply Co. purchased the Kinney meat market (which was located on what is now the empty lot next to Antlers, according to Cash), and they were busy moving equipment over there.
That wasn’t the only new addition to the store. On Dec. 4, 1919, the paper reported that the store was “adding new things all the time.” This time, a Remington booking, typewriting and adding machine was installed, which “does away with the old style of bookkeeping almost entirely.” It was the only one of its kind in town at the time, the
article says.
Other changes were made in late December of that year, as well as in January 1920. The Nichols’ office was moved upstairs, and the exterior of the building was treated to a new coat of paint. Additionally, the Jan. 29, 1920 paper announced that a coat of cinders was installed in front of the supply company and along the city hall road in order to improve the road bed and appearance to Main Street.
“When worked down this should give a more satisfactory looking street than we have had for the last few months. Suppose every business house was to try and improve the street in front of its place of business. It would result in a Main Street that would reflect the spirit of willingness to build up the town,” the article says.
Nichols, a man of vast enterprise already, dipped his hands in yet another pool of water when his family bought the Newcastle Building Co. According to a news report from Feb. 5, 1920, the Newcastle Building Co. was incorporated, and the company built many houses and businesses east of town on several acres of land purchased by Nichols. Cash said this land was sectioned into lots by the building company.
Additionally, around 1920, the Land Office was moved from Sundance to the upstairs of the Nichols building, according to Cash.
April of 1920 was a busy month for the store employees. According to the April 22, 1920, paper, in that month alone, the company had already unloaded 31 cars of supplies. They were also pouring the foundation for the new warehouse around the same time.
“The foundation for the new A.M. Nichols warehouse near the Burlington tracks has been completed. The building, which is to be 40 x 100, will be rushed to complete,” the
article says.
In the “Sometime Ago” section of the May 31, 1945, paper, it was reported that in 1920, the supply company purchased a new $5,000 hearse for the mortuary department.
According to the Jan. 20, 1921, paper, Dr. Eva Willey Jaus opened chiropractic practice in the Nichols building. Cash said Jaus’ husband ran a “5 and 10 cent” variety store in town.
The article also noted that the lodge hall was redecorated and varnished by Ora Stitch. However, a few months later, the Oct. 6, 1921, paper announced that the Masons Rent Hall was purchasing new furniture and equipment because the old equipment was destroyed in a fire.
An article from the May 25, 1922, issue announced that the Nichols company, in “keeping with the times,” installed a new visible measuring
gasoline tank.
“It helps the look on Main Street and will be a great convenience to the people who like to see what they are buying,” the article says.
The supply company made yet another purchase. The July 20, 1922, paper reported that it bought the Hutcheson Lumber yard and was busy moving the lumber and building material to its own yard.
Unfortunately, the lumber yard caught fire, according to the Sept. 21, 1922, newspaper, when a hay loft caught a flame. However, other than the hay, there was minimal damage.
The series of misfortunes didn’t stop there. On Dec. 6, 1923, it was reported that rumors flew when the A.M. Nichols Supply Co. locked up on Monday for invoice and reducing stock.
“Upon the departure of Mr. A.M. Nichols, senior member of the concern, for California several weeks ago, it was known that a change in organization had taken place, which led to the rumor that the stock had been taken over by Omaha parties. This is not true,” the article says.
The company was diverse and had a variety of supplies and stock, experiencing growth and profit, but due to deflation and restricted trade caused by war efforts, A.M. Nichols (who retired) was handing the business off to his son Lloyd, who was closing out “a large number of lines.” He had already sent some lumber and farm implements back. However, Cash said that A.M. Nichols did file bankruptcy sometime in 1924.
According to the Feb. 28, 1924, issue of the paper, Pete Lissolo bought the meat market, which had been operated by Dwight Nichols at the time. Lissolo was also operating the Newcastle Mercantile Co., and although he still owned it, he had to find someone to take charge because he would be busy with affairs at the meat market. He was “one of those old-timers who still has faith
in Newcastle.”
However, it didn’t last long because on May 8, 1924, the paper announced that Lissolo closed the meat market in the Nichols building and was to take care of the meat market in the Mercantile.
As we come to a close in the history of the A.M. Nichols Supply Co., Cash will finish out the series in the next couple of weeks by discussing the bakery and bar that occupied this building.