Back in Time, April 5

Apr. 5—Found in archives at the Carnegie Resource Center 1898 and 1912, Linda Oster — Researcher The Monarch and Defiance Bicycles ad was published in the Mitchell Gazette on March 25, 1898. In 1884 John William Kiser came from St.

Paris, Ohio to work with O.S. Kelly Company in Springfield, Ohio.



He next started working for the Chicago Sewing Machine Company and became a manager. Out of the sewing-machine company was evolved the Monarch Cycle Manufacturing Company, which was organized by Mr. Kiser in 1892 with a capitalization of $500,000.

Monarch Cycle was a leader in the field of cycles. In 1899 he sold his interests to the "Bicycle Trust," just in time to avoid the banking panics. He then turned to the automobile which he thought would be of greater value.

L.E. Stair was a local photographer with a studio at 113 S.

Main Street in Mitchell, but he also dabbled in just about anything that could bring in money. Photo supplies, motor cycles, bicycles and Bush cars were among the items available from Stair's. He also repaired items of various kinds and was a locksmith.

The Corn Palace was a yearly favorite subject; one season he sold 30,000 postcards of a single design. Buildings in Mitchell adorned his postcards with more than 60,000 views. This ad was published in 1912 in the Crocus.

He died in 1948..