Page 259 - La Société canadienne d'histoire de l'Église catholique - Rapport 1961

COMMEltCIAL IIISTORY OF I\IILWAUI<EE. 255
commonest observer to arrive at a conclusion, after an obser-
vation of the surrounding country, that important towns must
arise upon the west shore of Lake Michigan, and hence it was
that my own mind turned again toward Milwaukee as one of
those natural commercial points to whicli this delightful in-
terior country must become tributary.
On thc 12th day of November, 1840, I took up my abode in
Milwaukee, ~ith the profession of a merchant. I first opened
my goods in one corner of a warehouse, known as the Bollister
Ware House, and located sornewherc near, if not upon the ex-
act site, where now stands the Checkered Ware IIousc, just
below TVallier's Point bridge. I remained here, however, but
a few days, not being eatisficd with the location. I rented
from D. A. J. UPIIAM, Esq., the building nov occupicd by
our fellow citizen, Mr. CALEB WALL, on the corner cf Wiscon-
sin and Bast Water street, at the moderate rate of seventy-five
dollars per annum for rent, with the privilege of deductingfrom
the rent for clcaning and repairing.
Business 1Ven of Milwaukee.
At that time, the following constituted all the mercantile
firms who were then doing bu~iness in the town. I may have
omitted some, but I think not. MAURICE PIXLEY, a brother
of Mr. JOHN PISLEY, did business in the wood building still
standing just above Ludington's Block, on the west side of East
Waher street. The firm of Messrs. LUDINGTON & Go., com-
posed of thc late LETVIS LCDINGTON, New York, Mr. HARRI-
SON LUDINGTON Mr. I~ARVEY BIRCHARD, did business in
and
what is called the Juneau Warehouse, occupying the site of the
present fine block, known as the Ludington Block, on the cor-
ner of East Water and Wisconsin Streets. The old wood
building is still standing up East Water Strect, above Market
Square. Next in order, going down street, was the clothing
store of GARY & TAYLOR, (Mr. JOSEPEI GARY,) in a wooden
building known as Dewey's block, built by C. C. DEWEY, re-
moved and now standing on Huron street. CARY & TAYLOR'B