- H. O. DOUGLAS, who is a native of Rock County, Wis., and
a prominent liveryman of Oberlin,
- Decatur Co., Kan., was born on the 31st of October, 1856,
and followed farming in this community until twenty-three years
of age. He was liberally educated, receiving a diploma from the
Janesville Commercial College, Jan. 1, 1875. Three years later,
Oct. 23, 1878, he arrived at Oberlin, Kan., making an overland
trip with three horses, a wagon, a set of harness and about $25
in cash, his whole possessions amounting to not more than $300.
Immediately after his arrival, he engaged in freighting from
Oberlin to Buffalo Park, which was then the nearest railroad
point, and was fifty-five miles distant. In the early part of
January, 1879, he went to Kirwin, ninety-five miles away, in
order to secure a quarter-section of land one mile west of Oberlin.
The remainder of the winter was spent in the employ of S. F.
COLBY, to whom Mr. DOUGLAS attributes much of his success in
after years. He received $15 per month, and while working for
that gentleman assisted in digging the first well ever dug on
the divides of Decatur County, which was ninety-five feet in
depth.
- In February, 1879, Mr. DOUGLAS formed a partnership with
Mr. COLBY, under the firm name
- of COLBY & DOUGLAS, and engaged in hauling lumber form
Buffalo Park to Oberlin. The firm soon built a small feed barn,
32x32 feet, borrowing the money for that purpose at 12 per cent
interest. It was the first enterprise of the kind in Decatur
County. The first hay fed by them was hauled thirty-five miles,
and $20 per ton was refused for it; corn was purchased at $1.25
per bushel, but oats could not be obtained at any price. During
the spring and summer of 1879 Mr. DOUGLAS would spend the day
in turning the sod on his homestead, going to the barn at night
to sleep, but often would spend the hours until midnight, or
sometimes later, in caring for the weary horses of travelers.
The first stock of livery owned by the firm of COLBY & DOUGLAS
consisted of a broncho and a buckboard, which they let on the
19th of June, 1879, it being the first livery rig hired in the
county. On the 17th of July they purchased "Dutch,"
of the celebrated team known as "Dutch and French,"
being eighteen years old. As the county became more settled the
business increased in consequence, and in August Mr. COLBY went
to Wisconsin, where he purchased a team, one new open buggy,
a spring wagon and a second-hand top buggy - the first in the
county - for which Mr. DOUGLAS gave his note for a half interest
in the same. Then the hard times came on, and for awhile business
was nearly at a standstill. On the 11th of September, 1880, Mr.
DOUGLAS bought the interest of his partner, the inventory amounting
to $1,194, while the assets equaled $1,594. Mr. DOUGLAS then
owed $873. He then rented Mr. COLBY's half of the barn at $10
per month, hired Pat BOYLES at $12 per month, and found himself
fairly launched in the livery business, his first patron being
George DARLINSON, who hired a saddle-horse for twenty-five cents.
In July, 1881, he bought out Mr. COLBY's interest in the barn,
giving his note for $500, and in the spring of 1885, when immigration
was great, his trade became immense. In March of that year, while
sick in bed, he planned and fitted out a stage line from Oberlin
to McCook, buying some of the necessary stock while still confined
to his home by sickness. That was without doubt the largest line
ever run in the West. The distance was thirty-two miles, and
the trip was often made in three and a half hours, always making
connection with the train no matter how bad the roads or weather.
On this line there was taken in from March 16 to April 16, above
all expenses, over $600. In one day the proprietor conveyed with
his stage and livery forty-two passengers. He never stopped selling
tickets, and would even buy stock to make good his obligations.
- After the railroad was built business settled down to a quiet
yet increasing trade. The spring of
- 1886 found Mr. DOUGLAS shipping horses from Missouri for
farm purposes, thus assisting in opening up the country. He brought
the first sleigh to the county in 1887. Thus, from the broncho
and buckboard, with a livery business of about $400, located
in a barn 32x32 feet, with barely a capital of $300, his business
has steadily increased until, in 1887 alone, it amounted to over
$5,100, an increase of $1,200 over the previous year. He has
now some twenty magnificent turnouts, his barn is 48x100 feet,
with an addition of 28x72 feet, and he now has a capital of $1,800.
The energy and business capacity characteristic of Mr. DOUGLAS
have enabled him to attain the success which he has accomplished.
He is an active worker for everything that tends or promises
to forward the interests of Oberlin and Decatur County, and,
in the transaction of any and all business, he is polite, accommodating
and prompt. The name of H. O. DOUGLAS will always stand prominently
forward as one of the important factors in the building up of
the city which he now makes his home.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 360-361.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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