Partiesbuilding will do well to call and price our goods before buying

Tag : building hardware
On June 16, 1865, there was a proud announcement in the DelphiJournal worded thusly: “New hardware store — Messrs.Jackson & Mount have entered into partnership in the hardwarebusiness. They have rented the north room in the new brick buildingof Ruffing & Assn., and are fast filling it up with every thing intheir line of trade. Call in as you pass, and see what theyhave.”

However, in just two short years’ time, a grander article wasseen in the same publication worded in this manner:“Attention Citizens! Jackson and Mount keep constantly onhand a large assortment of hardware — shovels, forks, rakes,chains, iron and steel, builders hardware such as glass, locks,latches, paints and oils, and we have a full stock of buggy woodwork finished and in the rough, and hubs and felloes for wagons.All of which we will furnish as low as any house, east or west. Wedon’t allow any house to undersell us. We buy goods for cashand can sell them lower than parties buying on time. Partiesbuilding will do well to call and price our goods before buying.Sign of the Big Padlock, South Side of the Public Square."

The Mount family came to Carroll County from Franklin County, Ind.Jonathan Mount was married to Nancy Jackson in February 1844, andhad a son Daniel from an earlier marriage. (Carroll County IndianaLegacy, 1824-2005, Edited by Bonnie J. Maxwell & Anita L. Werling,pp. 132-133).

Daniel was in partnership in the same structure with Charles B.Lyon until 1873.

Daniel was born near Delphi on June 4, 1838 and died at his home inDelphi on May 25, 1920, aged 81 years, 11 months and 21 days.

In December of 1860 he was married to Jane Haughey, a union towhich one son, John, was born. His wife preceded him in death onFeb. 27, 1919. He was a member of the Christian Church. His deathcame as the result of a stroke following a hip fracture caused by afall. Elder E.C. Wells officiated at the funeral from the home nextto the Christian Church.

His son, John, was 77 years of age upon his death recorded in theThursday, Jan. 17 Journal. He was first connected with his fatherin the clothing business, then in 1908 entered into a partnershipwith the late Charles Lane in a local hardware store. It thenbecame known as Mount and Lane. Later he bought the interest of Mr.Lane and the company known as Mount and Son store with his son,Haughey in partnership with him.

His funeral was again held from the family residence adjacent tothe church he called home for many years, with Rev. Howard Jenkinsofficiating.

His son, Haughey continued the enterprise and developed it with hiswife Ruth Royster. Upon their marriage he immediately made his wayto Indianapolis to apprentice at Block’s, L.S. Ayres andWasson’s department stores in dressing store fronts.

He was well known for his punch bowl, which made the rounds to manysocial functions in the Delphi area. He and Ruth were parents offour children, Mary Jane, John R., Robert and Margaret. Mary Janewas well known as a teacher in the Pittsburg school.

Unfortunately, ill health on the part of many of the Mount familyclosed what had been a very vital part of the Delphi life in theearly 1980s.

I fondly remember the entire family as being the embodiment ofChristian grace and character. My mother would frequent the manyCWF meetings held at the Mount cottage along Lake Freeman with Ruthand her sisters in Christ.

Thus closes one more chapter in the mercantile life of Delphi in agrand edifice on the south side of the square.

Mark A. Smith is a board member of Carroll County Wabash and ErieCanal Inc.