WHITMER STORE (1923-1925)
Herman App’ sons, Fred and Earl App, now owned lots #2 & #3 and operated the store from the time of their father’s death in 1913 until Earl sold the store stock to “Salesman Sam” Whitmer in December, 1923. Whitmer enjoyed putting “wacky” ads in the Bristol High School yearbooks which coupled unique pairings such as “Pink Bloomers and Pink Salmon” and “Odorless Limburger and Ice Cream” and “Non-Skid Corsets.” He must have been quite a colorful character!
In January, 1925 Augustus King bought Sam Whitmer’s store stock, and in 1926 Earl sold lots #2 & #3 to King. It was the end of one fabled era and the beginning of a new one.
“Salesman Sam” died in 1945 and is buried in Elkhart’s Rice Cemetery.
RESOURCES
Research notes from Martha Pickrell
The Bristol Banner newspaper
H. S. K. Bartholomew writings
Chapman, “History of Elkhart County”
“Tales of a Hoosier Village”, Jean Ann Young, 1988
Elkhart County Historical Society, digital photos from the online, “Indiana Memories” collection
Bristol Indiana Heritage Society 