Some business firms in Elvins in 1938: Baker Radio Shop, Hazel Beauty Shoppe, Jesse L. Howell Insurance, Jack Kanh Store, Kirshman Millinary Co., McLane's Store, Nellie's Beauty Shoppe, Philco Sales & Service, Quality Food Store, Regal Theatre and Sparks Funeral Home.
Churches in Elvins and when organized: Baptist Church in June 15, 1905, and built in 1906 at a cost of $5000, membership in 1946 was 933; Christian Church in the year 1900 and a church building dedicated in Sept., 1903; the Assembly of God Church, Feb. 2, 1925; the Methodist Church in April, 1895 with seven members and a church building was built in 1896 and 1897.
Jesse M. Elvins was born May 12, 1841, at Farmington, Mo., the son of Moses and Sarah (Flannegan) Elvins. He was a carpenter by occupation and supervised the construction of the lead mills at Bonne Terre and Doe Run, Mo. Miss Telma Politte became his wife in 1861. She was of French extraction and had six children, the four living in 1888 being Finn, William, Rice and Politte. She died Jan. 5, 1885, in Elvinville near Bonne Terre, Mo. She was a member of the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Elvins married again Dec. 11, 1888, to Miss Elizabeth Mehing. Mr. Elvins died April 25, 1910, in his home at Doe Run, Mo.
Jack Kahn, after returning from World War I, came to Elvins June 19, 1919, and opened a dry goods store in the Harry Tucker building at 204 East Main St. In Sept., 1946, he sold the store to the Elvins Department Store and then later took the store back. He purchased the building in 1943. His residence, 206 Fite St., Elvins. Mr. Kahn's brother, R. S. Kahn, had a store in Desloge, Mo.
The Lindy Hat factory was located in the Miller Hotel building and employed about 100 people. Each person made the hat complete. They occupied the first floor only. The factory was here about two years, including 1934. Headquarters were in St. Louis.
Those attending the Franklin Baptist Association, the 114th session, held in Flat River, Mo., Sept. 12-13, 1946, from Elvins were: Rev. E. Gunnett, Rev. Leslie Clemons, Mrs. George Maxson, Mrs. Walter McGee, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Lupkey, Mrs. Lillian Aubuchon, Emmett Link, Mrs. Chas. McFarland, Mrs. Gladys Rodgers, William Crabdree, Rev. S. S. Borum.
Mrs. Freda George, clerk in the McDowell Grocery store at 203 East Main St., Elvins for the past three years, worked for the Lindy Hat Co. and the Kirschman Hat Co. for seven years when they were in Elvins. She was also employed in an appliance store in Desloge for one year. Her residence is at 312 Hampton, Elvins.
The McLane Grocery store is located at 116 Short St. in the building known as the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Henry McLane purchased the store from Ralph Grisham in 1934. In 1950 his sons Harold and Marion and Carroll Funk, a son-in-law, formed a partnership and purchased the store. In 1957 they dissolved the partnership and Harold took the store and Marion started a variety store in Desloge, Mo., and Mr. Funk became an agent for the Prudential Insurance Co. Mr. Henry McLane owned the building and made apartment rooms on the second floor. Mr. Russell McCoy, the meat cutter had been with the store for 17 years and Mrs. Hazel Archerd a clerk for 14 years. The store handles Associated Grocery products.
The Kirshman Hat factory started in Elvins about 1936 and was in the Miller Hotel building. They used the first and second floors of the building and employed about 150 people. Headquarters were in St. Louis. They closed the factory in 1945 or 1946.
Mr. J. C. Laird came to Elvins in 1911 and started a restaurant and in 1913 moved to Farmington, and in 1914 moved back to Elvins. From 1918 he was in the picture show business, a director in a bank, owned interest in a drug store, a service station garage, and in an oil bulk station. In 1913 he purchased the W. C. Norwine property in Flat River at 10 East Main St. and built a service station and also an oil bulk station at 13 E. Main St. The service station was known as the OK Service Station, handling Conoco Oil products. His son, Woodrow, has a service station (1963) at 204 Front St. in Elvins and handles Gulf Oil products.
The following men have been mayors of Elvins: Dr. Perkins, said to be the first Mayor; Pearl Keay, Don Cameron, Dr. Whiteside, George Langdon, Henry Hulsey, Elmer Cook, Glen Turner, August Cook, Bob Downing, Harold Mull, Tom Welch, Raymond Elvins.
A lumber yard was located at the northeast corner of Front and West Main St., a branch yard of Miners Lumber Company of Flat River. It was started about 1900 and may have been known as the Whitener's Lumber Co. It was closed down in 1951. Some of the managers were: Lee Govro, Dave Dickey, T. J. Buckner, Joe Hill, Robert Wade, Charles Wunning.
Mr. Robert Baker started a radio repair shop in the basement at 227 East Main St. in 1936. He purchased the I. W. Miller building at 301 East Main St. and started in the appliance business. Later he purchased the Security Building at 203 East Main St. Son of Walter Baker who was with the Schramm Wholesale Grocery in Flat River for 35 years. Mr. Baker served one year as County Clerk. His residence is at 325 W. Main St. in Elvins.
(To be Continued.)