Maury County TN Archives History - Books .....Wholesale Houses 1906 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tn/tnfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com September 23, 2005, 12:55 am Book Title: Century Review Wholesale Houses. Columbia has not a large number of wholesale houses, but several very substantial ones, which, through their salesmen and goods, assist in advertising Maury Co. in distant places, besides saving local merchants the freight from other points. Columbia Grocery Co.—David Lazarus, who came from Germany, 1839, and served in the Mexican War in 46, was for many years in the grocery trade at Pulaski. He moved to Columbia, 1875, and was in business here for 25 years. About 1890 he built the triple-front, two-story brick, 41, 43, 45 S. Main St., 72x100 ft.; and some ten years ago the sons, Benj. and M. H., were taken as partners and the wholesale business, established. In 1903 this trade had extended to need all the room and attention of the firm. So the retail line was discontinued. The Columbia Grocery Co.'s sales runs into hundreds of thousands, gives employment to a dozen men, and is largely confined to Maury and adjacent counties. Most of the goods are purchased in car lots, direct from the manufacturers, thereby obtaining bottom prices. J. A. Sloan Grocery Co.—This firm is successor to E. W. Gamble, who opened a grocery at Main and Eighth Sts., 1869. About 1870 he erected the Miles Cook corner, and ten years later the double front adjoining, now occupied by the above firm. With his sons and clerks, he formed the E. W. Gamble Grocery Co., 1900, and Jan., 1902, sold to the present firm. A branch house is maintained at Fayetteville, and five traveling salesmen look after the extensive trade of the house. It is a chartered company, with $30,000 capital; J. A. Sloan, Pres.; J. D. Sloan, V. P.; H. T. Sloan, Treas; Grant Courtwright, Sec.—all of Nashville, excepting Courtwright, who is a Columbian. It keeps a full stock of everything in the wholesale grocery line. Dortch Publishing Co.—Very many Maury Countians are unaware of the important wholesale trade in song books that was conducted on E. Tenth St. from 1900 until removed to No. 8 Bethell Block, June, liJOS. D. E. Dortch was born in the northern part of Maury Co., March 5, 1851. His talent was in a musical direction; and he commenced as an author of music in 1877, since which he has compiled and published 17 song books, aggregating the enormous sale of 2 1-2 million copies and used by more than a half dozen different denominations. As an evangelistic singer, his usefulness was extended to preaching in 1885. The Dortch Publishing Co. has Bibles and all the necessary printed matter to supply colporters, agents, music teachers, jobbers, and dealers, several thousand song books being kept in stock. Among the most popular are the "G. V. Hymnal," Nos. 1, 2, and 3; "Short Talks on Music;" and "Hymns of Victory," his latest, of which 12,000 copies were sold in advance of publication. With July, 1905, the Dortch Publishing Co. added a complete line of general books, stationery, etc., for retail, in the convenient storeroom opposite-the P. 0. at No. 8 Bethell Block. Pianos, organs, and small musical instruments will be a special feature of the new store. Additional Comments: From: CENTURY REVIEW 1805 - 1905 MAURY COUNTY, TENNESSEE A Condensation of the Most Important Events of the Past One Hundred Years, and Descriptive Sketches of the Cities and Villages File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/tn/maury/history/1906/centuryr/wholesal27gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/tnfiles/ File size: 3.9 Kb