I happened to see Tom's reply in the Canadian private labels area about liking to do the look-ups and not having as many lately to look up, so I thought I'd throw some very local ones i've got in my collection out at you. Thanks in advance for any info and good luck with the searching:

1.) Riley and Paton Jefferson, IA (Hamilton 927)

2.) Krebs Bros. Special Hartley, IA (South Bend 346)

3.) M. Johnson Scranton, IA

4.) U.K. Kleiser Grand Junction, IA

I have another grand junction, but can't find it offhand...

Thanks,

Jared

Well Jared thanks for the challenge, we will see what I can find.

1900 census for Grand Junction, Green, Iowa shows a Ulrich Kleiser born July 1863 single born in Germany. He is listed as a jeweler. He is living as a boarder with a Mr & Mrs. William Smith who are shown as Grocer & Dry Goods.

Also living as a boarder there is Anton Kleiser born May 1875, he is also a jeweler. Both Kleiser's are from Germany.

On Ulrich's passport application he states he was born in Schollach, Baden, Germany July 11, 1864. He emigrated to the US March of 1891 & from 1891 to 1922 (date of application) he has lived in Grand Junction Iowa as an Optometrist.

This is the photo from the passport.

Tom-

Here is Mr. Kleiser's Hampden "Leader". Grand Junction is 7 miles away from Jefferson, where Mr. Lincoln Bucks was the Jeweler in from about 1897-1910 or so (first an Illinois dealer, then South Bend). The Riley and Paton store I know was across from Lincoln bucks on the square. They sold Hamiltons and I'm sure were in competition with Mr Bucks. We also have a private label Hamilton from a jeweler in Grand Junction, but more in the teens-20s era. The only reason we know anything on him is because my father works at a manor in Jefferson and a very old gentleman there remembered him and where his shop was in town.

And the movement...

So far on Riley & Paton all I have found is that the Paton was Miss Maggie Paton and the two Riley's were F.M. & A.G.

It looks like Maggie was born about 1867 in Wisconsin & in 1880 she was living in Jefferson, Greene, Iowa.

The below article is from The jewelers' circular and horological review March 29, 1893

Tom-

There is a town northeast of Jefferson about 10 miles named Paton. I always figured that the town name and the name on the jewelry store were tied together somehow, but don't know how.

Jared

Here is a little more on Paton, she apparently wasn't with the business long.

The Harlan Advertiser May 31 1955

Life Story of Mrs. B.B. McPheeters Margaret Christina Paton

Born in Markesan, Wisconsin on Oct 8 1867, died on May 15 1955 at Memorial Home in Harlan at the age of 87 years 7 months. She was the daughter of Duncan Peter Paton and Christina Skirving.

Mrs. McPheeters moved to Jefferson Iowa following the death of her father at Viola, Minnesota where she attended and graduated from high school. Upon completion of a Business Course at Quincy, Illinois she operated a jewelry and engraving business in Jefferson until her marriage to Benjamin Brown McPheeters on Oct 4 1900.

Mr. and Mrs. McPheeters then came to Harlan and opened a drug store which they operated for 50 years. Two children were born to them, Duncan McPheeters and Jessica McPheeters.

Mrs. McPheeters was a member of the Congregational Church and failful member until her declining years. She was a charter member of the Friday Club.

Mr. Pheeters died in 1951. Survivors are Jessica (Charles A. Burkart) of Harvard, Illinois and son Duncan of Downess Grove, Illinois. Four grandchildren Shirley Mae and Charles Eugene Burkart of Harvard, Illinois. Nancy McPheeters Ziegler of Azores Island. Benjamin B McPheeters of Minneapolis Minnesota. Two great grandchildren Lynn and Bruce B McPheeters of Minneapolis Minnesota.

Funeral services were held May 17 at the Congregational Church. Interiment was in the Harlan Cemetery.

F.M. Riley was Fred M. Riley, he was born about Sept 1855 in Ohio, in the 1900 census he is living in Jefferson & is listed as a jeweler. He is listed as married to Addi born May 1854

The A.G. Riley mentioned in the article about Maggie Paton buying half the interest in the business might be Fred Riley's father Andrew G. Riley. He was listed as a school teacher but perhaps he owned part of the business. I thought maybe there was a Andrew Jr. but so far I haven't found one.

Tom

Jared

On the Krebs Brother watch, do you have an approx. date on the watch. I have a Krebs family in Hartley and one son George was an optician and often back then those were part of the jewelery store business. George died young in 1917, he had several brothers including Anthony Krebs who remained in Hartley but I haven't been able to connect him with the business. I was just wondering if the business was only around for a few years.

Tom

Tom-

That would fit the era. The dial is on a south bend 346 with a serial number of 548,133. That woudl place it around the 1909 time.

If it was George & one of his brothers then I would guess it was Anthony. His other brothers were Louis who was living in Durant, IA., Herman of Sunbury, IA., and Julius of Primghar, IA.

For M. Johnson there was a Mike Johnson in Scranton IA. working as a jeweler. I found him back in the 1895 census up to 1920 all listing him as a jeweler or a watchmaker.

He was born about 1847 in Denmark.

I found this on another site;
When Karl and Marie Louise came to the US, they were sponsored by Karl's sister's husband. His name was Mike Johnson (Mads Jensen in Denmark).He had been a jeweller in Denmark and opened a jewellery store in Scranton after he immigrated. He was known as "the king of the Danes" because he sponsored so many of the Danes coming to that area.

Tom-

Again, Right on target to be correct for the watch. It is a hamilton 974 with a serial number of 1,094,949. That places it in the 1913-1914 era. Its a beaut too with a DS dial labeled M. Johnson and Scranton Ia below. The movement has the gold screws and regulator and is also marked with his name and the town.

Thank you for all your work here. When I find the other grand junction one, I'll trow it up here too. My father and I are hoping to put a display together at some point for the county fair, but it has been rather difficult. My parents own a house and property adjacent the only remaining Depot in town that has been restored by the county and is used as an art exhibit during the fair. We tried to get a spot at the depot to put the display, but no luck this year. Hopefully next year we can. This information will go a long ways to help with putting a display like this together.

Thank again,

Jared

Your welcome Jared. Anytime I can be of help just let me know.

Next time you get to display the watches you need to post some photos.

Tom

One more for Tom to check, If he will.
Gus. J. Kasper Cleveland, Ohio

(It will be cleaner once I get it)

Thanks in advance Tom.

Steve

Looks like he was Gustave J. Kasper according to the 1920 census and he was living in Cleveland OH. It states he was born about 1881 in Ohio & is listed as a jeweler. He is married to Julia (abt 1885).

In the 1930 census he is still in Cleveland with Julia, now he has switched his occupation listing to optician, this appears to be very common in the early part of the century for jewelers to also become opticians.

Also he is listed as August J. in this census.

He & Julia are also in the 1910 Cleveland census, still a jeweler.

Thanks again, Tom.


Steve

Tom-

I finally found the lost Grand Junction, IA watch I couldn't find this weekend. It is a beautiful 940 hamilton with a monty PL dial for R.E. Blaylock from Grand Junction, IA. Anything you can dig up on him would be appreciated. This is the one that an older gentleman in the nursing home remembers being a jheweler in the town way back in the 30-40s? Thats all we know on it.

Thanks,

Jared

He was Roy E. Blaylock born in Iowa Dec. 5, 1889.

This is his WWI draft registration form.

In the 1930 census he is still in Grand Junction as is listed as a retail jeweler. He is married to Zola (1890), son Haven (1913), son Roger (1921)

In 1900 he was about 10 & living with his parents Oscar V. (09/1858 Iowa), Matilda (03/1859 Sweden) Oscar is listed as a restaurant owner.

The children are Cora (10/1880 IA), Charlie (05/1883 IA), Willie (07/1884 IA), Sadie (03/1888 IA), Roy (12/1889 IA)

Charlie was listed as a painter, Willie, Sadie & Roy at school.

Tom

I found where Roy's sister Cora Alice Blaylock Harvey died at the Greene County Hospital 07/21/1964 at the age of 82. It mentions Charles, Roy & John preceded her in death. At the time her brother William of Des Moines, sister Sadie Rapp of Northridge Ca & and aunt Anna Waters of Grand Junction were still alive.

Jared -

346 SB might actually be close 2nd to the 18s Hammie

Tom is amazing, ain't he?

Yupppp, pretty much

regards,
bb

Tom is a Rock Star!

Any post by Tom Brown I always read!! Jeff