News: Curtiss - Virch’s Store (Late 1800’s)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Virch, Beachy, MacGrury

----Source: Olson Family Scrapbook

Andrew Virch started his store with a capital of $250.00 and he subsequently built up his business until he carried $2,000.00 stock and was making annual sales of $6,000.00. Virch continued his store until 1895, when he sold his stock.

Mr. Beachy, a traveling salesman, and sometimes his assistant, Miss MacGrury, came twice a year to the store with their huge trunks filled with women's ready-to-wear suits, coats and dresses to sell to the ladies of the countryside. The days Mr. Beachy came to town were red letter days for all concerned. It had been advertised for days, so wives, with husbands in tow for approbation and more often, permission, would try on the articles of apparel and strut before the full-length "looking glass" papa had provided for the occasion. Mr. Beachy stood by making comments of assurance or slyly keeping his silence in order to achieve a sale, he was well versed in the idiosyncrasies and whims of the female sex having spent his business life catering to them, he entertained mamma in between rush hours with stories of his many confrontations with customers or with obstreperous husbands (who hated to relinquish the wherewithal). One lady, objected to his calling a color "midnight blue", he answered her with tongue in cheek, no doubt, "You are right, lady; this color is just two hours before midnight!"

Submitted by: Dorothy h. Johnson