Bio: Mertens – Withee Meat
Mkt/ Implement Co.
Transcriber:
stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Mertens, Krueger, Stevensen, Berger
---------Source: Withee Centennial (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 2001
Peter J. Mertens came to Withee in 1906 and worked for his brother August in
the Mertens Meat Market. In 1907 he bought the Meat Market and operated it
until 1918 when he sold it to Mr. Capes who later sold it to Mr. Harry
Thorson. It was located where the O-W Pharmacy is today. The old Withee Bank
was on the north side, then Laneville's Tavern. Peter Mertens, his wife Elva
and 3 small children, Joe, Ellen and Peter Jr. moved out to their farm, 1/2
mile south and 1 mile west of Withee. They moved on the day of the shooting
at the Krueger farm. In addition to farming Peter also had a corral,
slaughter house and meat market until 1941.
In 1932, Peter Mertens started an Implement Store on the south side of the
old Drugstore and the Stigsen Grocery store was to the south of it on the
corner. In 1933 he took in a partner, Albert Madsen, an Insurance Agent.
They sold Minneapolis Moline and Massey Harris Farm Machinery; also Gehl,
Kovar, Owatonna and Minnesota machinery and repairs. In 1939 Peter bought
the old building south of the railroad tracks, which had been the Stevenson
and Berger Chevrolet Garage with Mike Andersen delivering gas, oil and fuel.
In 1938 Peter dissolved the partnership with Albert Madsen and took on more
lines of machinery, farm repairs, appliances and paint. In 1946 Peter added
Willey's Jeeps, cars and trucks.
In 1946 Peter remodeled the front 30 feet of the store and in 1949 Peter's
son Gene came in and took over the business and has operated it for 52
years.
The building Mertens Implement is in today was built in 1910 for a washing
machine factory and the men selling stock left town and never manufactured
washers. In 1935 Stevensen & Berger had the Chevy Garage there.
Gene sold and repaired farm machinery, Maytag washers and dryers and all
lines, parts and service. In addition he also sold Jungers oil space
heaters, Riteway Milking Machines, Berg and Jamesway barn equipment, parts
and service. In 1955 Gene discontinued farm machinery and Willey's Jeeps and
took on Simplicity and Ariens lawn, garden and snow equipment; also
McCulloch and Homelite chainsaws and Oregon saw chain. He also sold Briggs &
Stratton, Kohler and Tecumseth engines providing sales and service and took
on Husqvarna and Jonserrud chainsaws, parts and service, and later Dixon ZTR
lawn mowers, parts and service.
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