Front Page | Contents | Search | Copyright | Links | Credits | historicfarnam.us

W. G. Parker
in Mercantile
Business Here
Since 1892


W. G. Parker, holds the distinction of being the veteran merchant of Farnam. For forty-four years he has been connected with the general merchandise business in Farnam. No history of Farnam would be complete without a story of this merchant, who has served the community through the lean and the fat years that have prevailed here the past forty-four years and has always served them with quality merchandise. During his career as a Farnam merchant, the motto, you see today, "The best of everything," has been his motto of selling merchandise to the public.
Mr. Parker came to Farnam from Bradford, Pa., in 1886, having felt the urge to go west, and after a few years of the homestead life he became a clerk in the Buss & Divoll store in 1892, which was located where the Hines store is now. In 1896 he bought an interest in the business and since that time has been continually in the mercantile business here.
In 1898 the Best Place Mercantile company built a large building on the lots now occupied by the Martin building and a department store, which was owned by E. T. Buss, M. C. Divoll, W. G. Parker and T. H. Bailey.
This store continued as one of the best known department stores in this part of the state until 1914, when it burned to the ground with a loss of approximately $50,000 to the owners.
A few days after the fire Mr. Parker, rented the south part of the LaBounty building, where the store is now located, and opened another general merchandise store Feb. 14, 1914. This continued under his ownership until 1928, when he took his two sons, W. Ralph and Merton G. into the business with him.


W. G. PARKER

During the time Mr. Parker has been in business in Farnam there have been many changes in merchandising and he has constantly kept in pace with the changing conditions, so that his store has always been among the progressive and leading stores in Farnam.
Mr. Parker has always took a leading part in the town and community, and has at all times been public spirited and progressive in furthering the interest of the community. His long years of service has given him a wide range of business associates and friends, who wish his firm success in our community in the years to come.
1886 1936

Copyright © 2013
Web Publisher: Weldon Hoppe
.