Today’s Throwback Thursday discovery comes from a deep dive into newspaper archives while researching Baileyville history. This striking image, featured in the Seneca Tribune on May 27, 1897, captures the Nemaha County Mercantile Company’s magnificent building and a large gathering of local citizens outside its entrance.
Further research in Seneca newspapers uncovered what is likely the original publication of this image in the Courier Democrat on October 9, 1896.
An 1895 article about Seneca, Kansas, sheds light on how this mercantile store came to be, while additional mentions of the Nemaha County Mercantile in various newspapers further enrich the history of this significant Seneca business.
A Growing City.
The constant improvement of Seneca this year when most cities of its size in the West are at a stand still, is a sure indication of its future prosperity. I. N. Simon has erected a fine two-story brick which will be occupied in the near future by D. J. Firstenberger with his clothing stock. Mrs. Burnett’s blocks of brick will soon be finished and one room will be occupied by F. T. Vincent with his “Cyclone” and the other Mr. Losey will use for the “Hub Restaurant.” Still another building will soon be completed and occupied by G. A. Marvin & Son, and the contract will be let the 15th by A. L. L. Scoville for a two story brick. Then the water works system will be completed in a few weeks at a cost of $30,000, and will be one of the finest systems in Kansas.
And last, but not least, Kennard & Vickers are organizing The Nemaha County Mercantile Co., a stock company with $50,000 fully paid up, which will be composed of two hundred and fifty people. The Variety building is to be remodeled to some extent to accommodate the additional stock to be added. The room occupied by the city council will be enlarged and filled with glass and queensware and fancy goods. The clothing will be moved up stairs and that room filled with groceries, and another building will be built for handling produce. It is the intention of this Company to find an outlet for all the produce that comes to town so as to make Seneca the TRADE CENTER of the county, as it should be.
The City Council have moved into new quarters up stairs in the Variety block, more convenient and appropriate quarters. The Nemaha County Mercantile Company will occupy the old council rooms with their glassware and queensware department and is now being fitted up for that purpose. (Seneca Courier Democrat, 16 Aug 1895)
The Nemaha County Mercantile company has been incorporated for the purpose of buying and selling everything the people of that county have to sell or want to buy. The general headquarters of the company will be maintained at Seneca. The capital stock is $50,000 and the directors are J. D. Kennard, T. C. Vickers, A. Wempe, Richard Johnson, Abijah wells and John Simon of Seneca and Henry Hilbert, of Corning — Topeka Capital (Seneca Tribune, 22 Aug 1895)
Grand opening of the Nemaha County Mercantile Company September 17th (Seneca Tribune, 29 Aug 1895)
We desire to thank our friends and patrons for their generous assistance in establishing the Nemaha county Mercantile Company. For many years we have desired to establish a Department Store in the full sence of that word and to do a much needed produce business. Our labors in the past have been for Seneca and Nemaha county and will be more so in the future. Yours truly, Kennard & Vickers (Seneca Courier Democrat, 30 Aug 1895)
A gentleman from Cleveland, Ohio, visiting relatives near Wetmore took in the hub Monday. He was loud in his praise of our city school building. Later he visited the Nemaha County Mercantile Company and was greatly surprised to see such an establishment with twelve clerks and all busy. (Seneca Tribune, 3 Oct 1895)
Saturday the crowed at the Great Nemaha County Mercantile far exceeded any date ever witnessed by this great store. (Courier Democrat, 4 Dec 1896)
Last week’s Corning Gazette runs a cut of the Nemaha County Mercantile company’s department tore building years ago one of the most hustling business corners in Seneca, now occupied by G W Williams’ hardware store; and remarks “those in Seneca this week did not see the above historic building.” (Seneca Tribune 8 Sep 1904)
The 1896 Sanborn Fire Insurance map for Seneca places this building on the south side of Main Street, at what is now 4th Street. For reference, the bank building stands at the corner of 5th and Main.
Fortunately, the Nemaha County Historical Society has preserved an image of this historic structure from its time as the Kennard and Vickers building, ensuring its legacy remains part of Seneca’s rich history.
