Name/Title
401-403 Felix Chesmore Seed Company (Retail Store), 2nd & Felix Chesmore Seed CompanyEntry/Object ID
2020.25.109Description
2nd & Felix Chesmore Seed Company
In 1878, Alfred M. Chesmore founded the Chesmore-Eastlake Mercantile Company in St. Joseph, Missouri, as a seed, farm implement, wagon, and buggy business. By the end of 1900, the company had been renamed the Chesmore Seed Company and had sold the farm implement, wagon, and buggy business and expanded to include bulk farm and garden seed, as well as Christmas trees. The same year, a retail shop was opened in the 400 block of Felix Street, by Chesmore’s son, Carlton R. Chesmore.
Carlton R. Chesmore ran the company from 1900 until 1949 when illness compelled him to retire. The company was then reincorporated and managed by his son, Carlton R. Chesmore, Jr., a 1929 graduate of the University of Missouri, College of Agriculture. Carlton, Jr., expanded the seed business in 1953 to include a nursery and garden center on Belt Highway in St. Joseph and continued to run the business as a wholesale operation.
The company sold Chesmore and other popular brands of farm and garden seed, fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, peat moss, cattle and sheep manure, Christmas decorations, and pet supplies. It maintained a wide distribution throughout Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska. When the company was sold in 1986, it was one of the oldest seed companies in the United States.
Circa 1899
PERKINS & DERGE CLOTHING COMPANY
401 Felix
Circa 1900
Geiwitz & Holland Shoe Company
403 Felix
Circa 1900
Eliza Clifford Dressmaker
403 Felix
Circa 1905
DERGE-BODENHAUSEN CLOTHING COMPANY
401-403 Felix
Circa 1915
SAMUEL FREIDSON DRY GOODS
401 Felix
Circa 1915
THURSTON & BOREN MILLINARY
401 Felix
Circa 1918
WOLLSTEIN WHOLESALE LIQUORS
401 Felix
Circa 1924
ST JOSEPH HAT COMPANY
401 Felix Street
Circa 1930
ST JOSEPH HAT COMPANY
401 Felix Street
Circa 1937
JONES HAT COMPANY
401-403 Felix
Circa 1942
CHESMORE SEED CO
(RETAIL STORE)
401-403 Felix Street
Circa 1953
CHESMORE SEED COMPANY
401 Felix
JOHNSON-WOODBURY HAT COMPANY
401 Felix Street
CHESMORE SEED RETAIL STORE
401-403 Felix
Demolished during Urban Renewal
https://www.stjosephmemorylane.com/2ndstreet/2ndstreet.htmlPhotograph Details
Subject
AdSubject Person or Organization
Chesmore Seed Company St. Joseph, Missouri, Chesmore Seed Company, Alfred M. Chesmore, Carlton R. ChesmoreSubject Place
Location
2nd Street, Felix StreetCity
St. JosephState/Province
MissouriContext
In 1878, Alfred M. Chesmore founded the Chesmore-Eastlake Mercantile Company in St. Joseph, Missouri, as a seed, farm implement, wagon, and buggy business. By the end of 1900, the company had been renamed the Chesmore Seed Company and had sold the farm implement, wagon, and buggy business and expanded to include bulk farm and garden seed, as well as Christmas trees. The same year, a retail shop was opened in the 400 block of Felix Street, by Chesmore’s son, Carlton R. Chesmore.
Carlton R. Chesmore ran the company from 1900 until 1949 when illness compelled him to retire. The company was then reincorporated and managed by his son, Carlton R. Chesmore, Jr., a 1929 graduate of the University of Missouri, College of Agriculture. Carlton, Jr., expanded the seed business in 1953 to include a nursery and garden center on Belt Highway in St. Joseph and continued to run the business as a wholesale operation.
The company sold Chesmore and other popular brands of farm and garden seed, fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, peat moss, cattle and sheep manure, Christmas decorations, and pet supplies. It maintained a wide distribution throughout Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska. When the company was sold in 1986, it was one of the oldest seed companies in the United States.Collection
PHOTOGRAPHRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Chesmore-Eastlake Mercantile Company, Chesmore Seed Company St. Joseph, Missouri, Alfred M. Chesmore, Carlton R. Chesmore
