Business in Russellville

Mills

Russellville like all other early towns, had a saw- and a grist-mill. As seen earlier in the history of the town, August, Andrew and Clement Russell, three brothers from Kentucky, built a sawmill and manufactured the lumber for the first buildings in the town.  Mr. Gustavus Russell built a steam sawmill in 1834. A year later Mr. Russell’s sawmill had been changed into a grinding mill and distillery, on a tolerably large scale.

In 1873 Charlie Johnson repaired and fitted up his flouring mill. William Pinkstaff ran the sawmill.

In 1881, George W. Foreman constructed a two-story frame two-run flouring mill. This mill was rebuilt from the original structure established by T.J. Kyle in 1855, which had been destroyed by fire in 1879.  But in March 1883, the old flouring mill of Russellville succumbed to the raging Wabash.

Peabody Durkee, Caswell Lewis, and William Thomas, whose grist mill was located behind the Foreman house, have also been owners of mills in Russellville.   

Drygoods

Ferdinand Vandeburg sold the first dry goods in a small frame storehouse built in 1834 or '35. He placed an

ad in the Western Sun and Gen. Advertiser on June 16, 1838, of his intention to auction $3000 worth of goods or the remaining stock of dry goods, groceries, hardware and queensware to the general public as he intended to relinquish his business in Russellville. The terms were that anything sold for 5 dollars or less was to be paid in cash.   All sales over five dollars and under $50 would be allowed on credit for 6 months. He also listed for sale or rent the best established and oldest building in Russellville.

By 1870 there were two large drugstores whose shelves were filled with balsams, elixirs, tonics, and pain killers too numerous to mention.  There were also two large dry good stores filled with a great variety of the most fashionable goods; one store was on Water Street. 

In 1873 druggists listed were the Anderson Brothers and the two general stores were owned by W.E. Fitch, and J. Leonard & Co. The Grocer was  W.H. Thomas.

Deacon Fitch was in the dry goods and grocery line by 1877 as were Dr D H Broiles and Sons but they also sold drugs and medicines. 

  In 1880, Charlie Westfall opened a butcher shop and sold fresh beef and mutton steaks.

The Vincennes newspaper noted on December 23, 1881, that Dr. T. J. Ford’s store was burglarized Saturday night. Thieves took about $75 worth of silk handkerchiefs, gloves, etc. They escaped town by taking the ferry man’s skiff and made their way south. The skiff was found Sunday at Vincennes.

Beckes Grocery 1957 Beckes Grocery after 1964

November 20, 1930 Lawrence County News

"The store of D. T. Beckes at Russellville is undergoing extensive improvements in preparation for an increased trade during the holiday season and in anticipation of the business revival that is sure to follow the Democratic victory at the polls on November 4. Much of the old shelving has been replaced with modern store fixtures and the building has been treated to a coat of paint inside and out. Many additions to the stock have been made, including a complete drygoods department. A new lighting plant has been installed and when the repairs are all completed, Russellville will have one of the best general stores of any community in the County. Mr. Beckes is one businessman who believes that a slack season is a time to prepare for increased business later on."

 Blacksmiths, Cabinet makers,Barbers and shoemakers

  In 1837, A.R. Slosson/Slawson built the first blacksmith shop in town.  The 1850 census noted that M B Slawson was the blacksmith at that time.

 By 1873 W. A. Boring was a blacksmith and cabinet maker, and Henry Dugan was a carpenter and wagon maker. T A Hall was the shoemaker in town.

Price Johnson had moved to Russellville in 1897 where he operated  a blacksmith shop.

Chris Reinke owned a barbershop in Russellville in 1930.

Saloons

 No history has been found as to who the early saloon owners were, but J T Hall opened a saloon in 1870 on Vine Street. Wm. Mickey was the proprietor of the Continental saloon and remodeled his rooms. Four years later, a Vincennes newspaper reporter stated that business of all kinds was looking up in Russellville.  Whiskey was plenty and cheap; there were two regular saloons and one beer saloon.

Hotel

The promoter of Russellville in 1837 stated that a large public hotel was being built. Leven Hensley and his wife ran the hotel for many years. In 1873 Mrs Diana Falls operated the business. 

Newspaper

According to the 1883 Combined History of Edwards, Lawrence, and Wabash Counties, the earliest newspaper in Lawrence County was the Star-Spangled Banner, published in the winter of 1847 in Lawrenceville.  It was owned and edited by John F. Buntin, who should be considered the county’s first pioneer printer.  He brought the press and material from Vincennes.  The paper was six columns independent of politics.  In a year or two the words “Star Spangled” was dropped and “American” substituted. The American Banner was then moved to Olney but by 1855, Mr. Buntin had returned the office and the newspaper to Lawrence County locating at Russellville, where it remained until March 1856 when it once again moved to Lawrenceville.

American Banner published in Russellville 1855