Allen County OhArchives History .....Lima's First Woman-Owned Businesses March 6, 1933 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/ohfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Judy Woerner judyw0113@yahoo.com April 24, 2006, 7:40 pm Book Title: Lima News, Lima, Ohio March 6, 1933 Lima’s First Woman-Owned Businesses Excerpts from the article: The chief occupations of Lima’s pioneer women were teaching, dressmaking and operation of millinery stores and boarding houses. TIRZA CUNNINGHAM came to Lima about 1834 and was possibly the first of the long line of milliners. She made dresses, bonnets and leghorn hats. She had skill and wove hats herself. Her sister, NANCY CUNNINGHAM, came here about 1837 and in 1848 started in the millinery business, making that her lifetime business, until her death several years ago. She was known as “Aunt Nancy.” HAROLD CUNNINGHAM, first mayor under the commission-form of government in this city, recalls when Mrs. ROBB, aunt of former Mayor THEODORE ROBB, and her two daughters had a dressmaking shop during the Civil war days. He also recalls when “Aunt JANE MCGUIRE”, about 1861, operated a popular boarding house. Miss E. E. HALTER claims to be the first woman in Lima who owned and operated the first large store. It was around 1880 when she started her millinery store. She employed three to six persons and was in business for 30 years. Miss HALTER has been active in real estate and has built more than 16 buildings and has supervised some remodeling. As far as can be ascertained, Mrs. ROZELLA LAUFERTY was the first woman in Lima to own and operate a beauty parlor. Miss ELLA MARSH and Mrs. LOTTIE HARSHBERGER have been operating the Marinello shop for the past 19 years. Miss MARY BLAND established a millinery store in 1901. Upon her marriage 11 years later, Miss ADELINE BLAND became manager. In industry, Miss CLARA LONGMEIER was perhaps the first woman. In 1912 she started the Direct Mail Service in which she has employed as many as 18 persons at one time. On June 1, 1916, Miss EDNA D. HURLEY and Miss EMMA C. BUCHHOLTZ established the Hurley-Buchholtz Co., dealing in wholesale hay, grain and feed trade. The firm held its own with its competitors and had its own grain elevator at West Cairo, O. The concern is still being operated by Miss HURLEY. ANNA GOEBEL, doctor of medicine, started to practice her profession in 1870 and was perhaps the first woman physician in Lima. She died in 1913. Dr. JOSEPHINE PIERCE, who was perhaps the second woman physician, started her practice in 1902. It is estimated that more than 75 women currently own and operate businesses in the city. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/oh/allen/history/other/limasfir16nms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ohfiles/ File size: 3.1 Kb