My Genealogy Hound

BLOOMINGTON PORK PACKING COMPANY. In speaking of the business industries of Bloomington, the Bloomington Pork Packing Company deserve more than a passing notice. They began business in the fall of 1873, the firm then being William Van Schoick, George A. Tyner and U. O. Andrus, the firm name being William Van Schoick & Co. In 1877, Mr. N. N. Winslow became a member of the firm, Mr. U. O. Andrus retiring, the firm name changing to Bloomington Pork Packing Company. Their establishment is located close to the I., B. & W. and L. B. & M. Railway Depots, their main building being 124x74, two stories and basement; this is used for slaughtering hogs, pickling hams and salting meats. In connection with this, they have what is known as the Gridley Malt Building; this building is 140x44, two stories high; this they use for canvasing and putting up meats for market. Their office, which is a separate building, is located close to both, and to the scales. Their first season’s packing, in the winter of 1873-74, was 1,800 hogs; since that, they have gradually increased the business, until this season they will slaughter about 16,000. They are energetic business men, and have conducted their business in such a manner as to be not only a credit to themselves, but a benefit to the public generally, as they have established a permanent market where farmers can always get the highest market price for their stock, and in giving employment to a large number of men. The senior member of the firm and general manager of the house is Mr. William Van Schoick, who is a native of Monmouth Co., N. J.; he was born in 1828, and seems to have been a natural genius, as well as an able financier; he has learned the trades of printing, stove-molding and brick-making. In 1851, he located at Richmond, Ind., where he engaged in the manufacture of brick, remaining there until 1858; when he removed to Bloomington. While in Richmond, he did the largest day’s work in the molding of sand-brick that has ever been known, the number being 14,369, time, thirteen hours; upon the completion of it, he was forced upon a scaffold and carried upon the shoulders of his men and the students, from the brick-yard up through the streets of the city. In 1858, when he came to this city, he began the manufacture of brick, giving employment to from forty to one hundred men. He contracted for and completed the building of the Wesleyan College, as well as many other prominent and important buildings of Bloomington. In 1869, he helped to organize the Bloomington Stove Company, in which he is still a stockholder. He is also a stock holder in the Bloomington Furniture Manufacturing Company. In 1870, he tried the theater business, by organizing and putting on the road a company of twenty-six people; but this soon “played out,” carrying with it several thousand dollars of his money. In 1873, he engaged in the pork-packing business, where we now find him, one of the stirring business men, and an honored and respected citizen of the city of Bloomington. Mr. Tyner, who has been previously mentioned, is a native of New York City: came West in 1857, and engaged in farming for three years in Marion Co., Ill. In 1861, he enlisted in Co. G, 21st I. V. I.; was in the army over four years. After leaving the army, he engaged in business for one year in Chattanooga, Tenn. In 1866, he left the South and went to St. Louis, Mo., and engaged in the drug trade; this business he had followed but a short time when he sold out and came to Bloomington, and engaged in the grocery business, which he was interested in for ten years. They began building the packing-house in August, 1873. Mr. Tyner has had charge of the books and of the finances since the opening of the business. He is also a member of the firm of Tyner & Richardson, dealers in flour, provisions and tobaccos, 116 S. Main street. Mr. N. N. Winslow, who has lately become a member of the firm, is a native of Chautauqua Co., N. Y. In 1855, he came West, and located at Bloomington. Having learned the trade of a carpenter and joiner in New York, he, for a short time, followed this business; then engaged to work for Mr. J. Grover, in the manufacture of soap and candles; in 1859, he took the control of the business, and since that time has proven himself a very able financier, sometimes doing a business of $70,000 per year. In 1862, he enlisted in Co. A, 94th I. V. I., three years’ service; was in the army until the close of the war; while in the army, was still interested in his manufacturing business in Bloomington; his factory is located close to the I. B. & W. and L. B. & M. Railway Depots. In 1877, he became connected with the Packing Company, but still carried on and superintended his old business. Since forming the partnership with the Packing Company, he has attended to the general outside work. The three members of this firm are men of that class who seldom fail to carry every enterprise through successfully. Being wide-awake, energetic business men, ready to take the advantage of any circumstance that may improve their business. They are honorable and upright in their business transactions, and have won a name and reputation of which any firm should be proud. Should no calamity befall them, the Bloomington Pork Packing Company will yet rank amongst the larger packers at interior points of the West.