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James D. Casey Co.
119-121 S. Water St
Became Witte, Farr and Frost
undated image
The company dealt in wagons and farm machinery of all
kinds, parlor organs, pianos,
early phonographs and records and carried on a horseshoeing
and blacksmith business.
Later went into the auto business.
Mr. Casey, born in Ireland June 24, 1845, founded the
business here on January 2, 1870. Died
on December 24, 1925.
1875
12 09 PROFILE OF JAMES CASEY
Speaking of the J. D. Casey Cos., the writer remembers forty years ago or more [c.1878] when James D. Casey was the whole cheese in the shop at the corner of Water and Emmet streets. Previous to his entry into the blacksmith business at that time the shop and buildings to the north of it were occupied by Joseph Lindon for pork packing. Billy Wilson, a butcher and a member of the 29th Wisconsin regiment in the Civil War, was the boss packer. Those were the times you could get a barrel full of pigs feet—that meant up to the shoulder—for a cent a piece. Eggs were 6 cents a dozen and beefsteak 6 cents a pound. Calf liver was given away.
But to return to J. D. Casey.
Probably no man in like business in the city of Watertown ever gave it
the attention he did. He worked over the
anvil early morning and late at night and in the busy summer season the writer
has heard his anvil sound as the clock in St. Henry’s tolled the hour of
midnight. J. D. Casey, still a long way
from the crossing of the divide which separates time from eternity, is probably
one of the most virile men in the agricultural business today. No one taught him. He taught others, and has built up the
biggest retail agricultural business in the state of Wisconsin as represented
in towns the size of Watertown or even greater in size. His motto has always been, honest goods and
honest prices, and the guarantee that if the goods fall down he would replace
them. That’s a record. And Casey has it.
Hard work in the years gone by was Casey’s main hold. When a farmer left his order to build a
wagon, buggy or other vehicle, he was assured that the goods would be
there. It is only a few years ago when
Dick Irving brought a farm wagon to Casey to repair a wheel. Casey sold it to him about thirty years
before and it was the first time it was brought to him for repair. The Watertown News, 09 Dec 1918
1889
12 06 CASEY’S WAREHOUSE AND
CONTENTS TOTALLY CONSUMED
The Old
Lindon House Barn with all its contents totally consumed; James Casey’s
Warehouse burned to the ground; Conley’s Saloon slightly damaged and several
other places badly scorched.
Last Sunday morning at about 2 o’clock one of the most disastrous
fires that has ever occurred In Watertown broke out in the old Lindon House
barn on the West Side, and before the firemen could get the fire under control
some $15,000 worth of property was consumed.
The old barn fired up like a powder mill and in a few minutes
after the blaze was first discovered over half a dozen places took fire
therefrom.
James D. Casey’s warehouse and contents were totally consumed;
Tremont House badly damaged; Conley's Saloon slightly burned, and all the sheds
in that vicinity were reduced to ashes.
At one time it looked as though the whole business portion of the
west side might succumb to the flames, but by the heroic and excellent work of
the firemen the flames were confined to the immediate vicinity where they were
first kindled. The firemen in all the
companies did good work, especially when it is taken into consideration that
two blocks of frontage had to be protected by them. It was with difficulty that the American
House and barns were saved, also Casey's blacksmith shop, Conley's saloon and Seager’s
barbershop.
For the fine work of the firemen, they are deserving of great
praise from our citizens. . . . WG
1900
08 31 THE BEST VEHICLES AND FARM MACHINERY
The
wide-awake buyer is now searching where he can buy the best Vehicles and Farm
Machinery for his fall use. We have
gathered together a line of goods, which for strength, durability and light
running are far superior to any other goods on the market. The J. I. Case Threshing Machines, the
McCormick Corn Binder, and Corn Husker, the Milwaukee Corn Husker, the “Deere”
Corn Husker and John Deere Plows, the Waupun Steel Giant Wind Mills and Pumps,
the Fort Atkinson carriages and buggies and J. D. Casey’s Hand-made wagons are
goods that have no equal. You will
wonder how we can sell these goods at the low prices often paid for inferior
goods.
Many quick sales and small profits, is how we do it. Give us a chance to figure with you — we’ll
save you money.
J. D. CASEY, Watertown. Wis.
One Block south of West Main St.
1901
08 16 IMPROVED WAGON JACK FOR SALE
Jas.
D. Casey has purchased of Isaac Kelly, of Madison, the rights to manufacture
and sell an improved wagon jack in this city.
The right has also been secured for both Dodge and Jefferson counties. It is the greatest device of its kind in the
market, and can be operated by a child.
All owners of wagons, carriage and buggies in these two counties will do
well to consult Mr. Casey. It saves time
and labor in greasing the wheels of vehicles of this kind, and its expense is
very reasonable. WG
1902
01 03 CABRIOLET PURCHASED
Col. Daniel Jones has purchased from J. E. Casey [J. D.] a fine cabriolet, which is one of the handsomest jobs seen in our streets in years. The design is very artistic and is a duplicate of the cabriolet which captured the first prize at the Paris Exposition. It is fitted with the famous Kelley-Springfield rubber tire and Bradley patents and every particular gives evidence of excellent quality and workmanship. WG
1905
04 14 DEATH OF EUPHEMIA CASEY
Last Thursday morning the home of J. D. Casey was certainly and unexpectedly made the scene of a fatal accident which resulted in the untimely termination of a sweet, young life and brought anguish to many hearts. Miss Euphemia, age twenty-two, was the victim of this sad accident . . . It appears that Miss Casey had decided to start house-cleaning Thursday morning in the upper rooms and carried some of the bed clothes, including a mattress, out on a shed roof adjoining the main part of the house. On this roof was a brick chimney about ten feet high, which was braced with an iron rod. She put the clothes on this rod and it is thought that either the weight of the clothes bent the chimney over or she may have slipped on the roof and in falling caught the brace and the added weight and momentum caused the chimney to fall, with the result that her skull was crushed by the tons of brick and mortar and she was dead instantly . . . Help was summoned immediately, but the unfortunate young woman was beyond human aid.
c.1908
-- -- MERCHANT ADVERTISING PANEL
1909
04 02 WALTHAM PIANOS
WG 04 02 1909 ad
1910
NORTHWESTERN CUTTERS AND SLEIGHS
1913
119 Water, farm implements,
dealer
1915
11 04 J. D. CASEY, PIANOS, IMPLEMENTS, AUTOMOBILES
11 11 NEW AUTOMOBILE GARAGE
J. D. Casey is breaking ground for a new automobile garage on his property in Water Street, north of the site formerly occupied by the American House. The building will be fireproof, one story, and will have a frontage of 80 feet and a depth of 60 feet. Mr. Casey has the local agency for Maxwell automobiles and other cars. WG
Company caught fire from Barker Lumber fire, across the river
1915
11 08 JAMES SELF-CLEANING MANGER
12 09 TWO CAR LOADS OF PIANOS FOR CHRISTMAS SALE
Located south of the library
1920
07 16 TITAN TRACTOR SOLD TO W. C. STREBLOW
“Our first tractor on the farm. It was bought July 16, 1920, for $1,050, of the James D. Casey Co. of Watertown. They delivered it Aug. 11th and Aug. 14th we started it for the first time. We pulled an awful lot of stones with it in the fall . . . .“
08 24 OLD J. I. CASE SEPARATOR, BOUGHT OF THE J. D. CASEY Co.
1920s
Dealership book; McCormick-Deering tractors
1923
J. D. Casey: St Bernard's, 50th anniv of
cornerstone
1930
02
20 TRACTOR SCHOOL
A good old place, for a good time. It was interesting and enjoyable. Note the sign on the garage building. “Tractor School IN HERE TO-DAY.” Every winter the company would have this event. Many people, mostly farmers, would get together to hear the lectures and to see the motion pictures. It was fine. Note my Dad standing on the street, near the electric line pole. - W. C. Streblow
1950
10 24 VIKTORE VEVERSTOKE
Displaced person from Latvia has settled in Watertown. Employed at the garage of Casey Co.
1959
09
18 DISTANT VIEW OF
1961
01
25 SALE OF CASEY CO.
Sale of the J. D. Casey Co., rumored in local business circles for several weeks, was confirmed yesterday afternoon following the close of negotiations. Announcement was made by Thomas W. Frost, president of Witte, Farr & Frost, Inc., Cottage Grove, that his company had purchased the Chevrolet business of the Casey Co. in Watertown. The sale includes the buildings with one exception. The company has purchased all the property with the exception of the warehouse located in the second block in South Water Street. WDT
1962
09
28 1963 MODEL YEAR INTRO
Witte, Farr & Frost,
Chevrolet Sales & Service
1969
01
25 SALE TO FELDNER CHEVROLET
Thomas Frost, president of Witte, Farr & Frost, Chevrolet dealer here located at 119 South Water Street, today announced the sale of the business to Al Feldner Chevrolet of Chicago. Frost and his associates acquired the Chevrolet distributorship from the James D. Casey Company in January of 1961. The firm took over on Jan. 20 of that year. Before coming to Watertown, Frost was a Chevrolet dealer in Cottage Grove near Madison for 17 years. WDT
Cross References:
Elephant in circus parade with Casey Co ad,
uncertain year
Matchcover, McCormick-Deering All-Steel Spreader
WG 02 28 1890
In last week's issue there were several slight mistakes in the article referring to Dennis Griffin and the McCormick Harvester Co. J. C. Granger of Milwaukee is the general agent of the company in this section of the country, and Mr. Griffin special agent; also, the new all-steel machine of that company is already on the market and one of them can now be seen at Roper & Ferry's on the west side. Some of our people are also inclined to place little credit in the statement that the McCormick works can turn out a machine in a minute, but it is not necessary to take Mr. Griffin's word alone for that statement, for it they will glance over the following from The Farmer's Advance, published in Chicago, they will find that the McCormick Co. published that statement to the world and several other interesting and astonishing facts . . .
"The largest works in the world received a visit from the Pan American Congress last. The McCormick Harvesting Machine Company had been chosen as a representative reaper house and the delegates of seventeen independent nations of North and South America, guests of the United States were, for the first time in history, introduced into the many departments of our mammoth establishment. Their astonishment was unbounded and their gratification extreme on finding that we could turn out "a machine a minute." This single fact gave them and the rest of the world a conception of harvesting machinery. Another fact which enabled the countries to grasp the idea of the immensity of our output was that the twine used by McCormick Harvesters and Binders in 1889 amounted to seventy-five times around the earth. The tour of the Congress through each department convinced the delegates that the energy displayed by the McCormick Company would never admit of any home or foreign equal.”
History of Watertown, Wisconsin