Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Mitting, Alfred March 4, 1858 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com February 20, 2006, 7:25 am Author: Bio/Gen Rec LaSalle/Grundy Counties 1900 Alfred Mitting The prosperity of a community depends upon its commercial interests, and the representative men of a town are those who are foremost in promoting its business affairs. Their energy and enterprise not only brings to them individual success but also enhances the general welfare, and thus they may be termed public benefactors. There are in all communities certain business interests which are not only a credit to the town but are also a matter of pride to its citizens, and such, a one is that now controlled by Mr. Mitting, the well-known secretary and business manager of the Morris Floral Company. He first came to this city in 1876, and established his permanent residence here in 1893. He was born in Tunbridge Wells, Kent county, England, March 4, 1858, and his parents, Robert and Lydia (Piper) Mitting, were both representatives of old English families. For many years his father has been engaged in flower culture, and at this writing, in 1900, is numbered among the leading florists of Ashurst, Kent, England. Thus in early life our subject became familiar with the business, gaining a thorough practical knowledge of the best methods of cultivation of plants. His ability in this direction has been the means of bringing to the Morris Floral Company the splendid success which has attended their enterprise. The school privileges which Mr. Mitting received in his youth were very limited, but to the knowledge gained in the school-room he has added by reading, observation and experience till he is now a well informed man. He was trained to habits of industry, economy and perseverance, and the development of such traits in his character have made him a splendid business man and have enabled him to successfully carry forward the various business undertakings with which he has been connected. At the age of eighteen years Mr. Mitting came to America, at which time his uncle, Moses Britt, was residing upon a farm near Morris. Making his way to Grundy county he worked upon his uncle’s farm for two years and then entered the employ of the late judge Hopkins as a gardener and coachman. In August, 1879, he sustained a sunstroke and his health being thereby impaired he returned to England, where he remained till 1881. However, he had become greatly attached to the United States, and believing that this country afforded better opportunities than the Old World he once more boarded a western-bound steamer that brought him to American shores. After arriving in Morris he rented land of his uncle and engaged in gardening for one season. Through the succeeding two years he carried on general farming on rented land near Morris, and then spent four years in a flouring-mill in Newton, Kansas. At the expiration of that period he returned to Morris, where he engaged in farming on rented land through several summer seasons, while in the winter months he worked in flouring mills in Independence, Missouri; Kewatwen. Canada; Galveston, Texas; and Muskegon and Howland, Michigan. On the 4th of March, 1893, he became a permanent resident of Morris, and since that year has been identified with the floral interests of this city. On the 7th of August the Morris Floral Company was organized by A. Mitting, S. M. Underwood, C. D. Britt and Anna Goodenough. They began business on Canal street within the limits of the city and from the first success attended their enterprise. In April, 1897, the capital stock of the company was increased from one thousand and fifty dollars to fifteen thousand dollars, and six acres of land were purchased just east of the city limits, whereon a larger plant has been constructed consisting of a splendid greenhouse, with twenty thousand square feet under glass and well arranged rooms for office, storage and packing purposes. On the east side is a boiler-house, a brick building twenty- eight by thirty-five feet equipped with two large boilers to heat the plant. Over ten thousand feet of pipe conveys the steam to the different departments, and a fine artesian well supplies the water for the plant, while in addition there are two large cisterns containing the rainwater from the roofs. A fine fish-pond has been arranged on the grounds and is supplied with water from the overflow of the well and cisterns. Graveled driveways have been constructed, and the entire plant is a model of its kind, being perfect in every department. Mr. Underwood is the president and treasurer of the company, while Mr. Mitting is secretary and manager. The latter is not only an excellent florist but is also a practical business man, and under his direction the company has enjoyed a steady increase of business from the beginning. They supply the city retail demands, but outside of Morris sell only to the wholesale trade, the yearly output being about one trillion plants which are purchased by florists throughout the United States and Canada, and the company sustains a most enviable reputation on account of its reliability and the hardiness and excellent condition of the plants. In 1890 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Mitting and Miss Ellen Griggs, a daughter of Jacob Griggs, one of the pioneer settlers of Morris. They now have one child, Ernest De Roo. Mr. Mitting’s hope of benefiting his financial condition in the New World has been more than realized, for he has not only secured a good living but has also acquired a handsome competence that numbers him among the substantial citizens of Morris. It is always a matter of satisfaction to know that success follows such honorable efforts as he has put forth, and to record the history of one whose example may well be followed by the younger generation. Source: Biographical and Genealogical Record of La Salle and Grundy County, Illinois, Volume 11, Chicago, 1900, p546-548 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/grundy/bios/mitting187nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 6.4 Kb