The Continuing History of our “Home”

After five years in the harness making business in his handsome building at what is now North Main and North Streets (Leland Historical Society and Resource Bank), Marcus Yocklich left the business to begin farming. The first business to occupy his building was the W.H. Miller Music Store in June of 1902.

For many years, W.H. Miller had been in charge of the Hapeman & Sons lumber business in town. As a sideline, he had sold musical instruments and sewing machines. When he left the lumber business in 1902 due to poor health, he decided to open a music store. W.H. Miller’s new music house sold a complete stock of pianos, organs, small musical instruments, popular music, sewing machines, and sewing machine supplies.

According to a July 4 Earlville Leader
article, Mrs. Jones placed her “square
piano” in the sitting room of their new home and purchased a “modern upright piano” for her music loving daughters from W.H. Miller’s new music house. “It’s fine tone symmetry and handsome case appealed strongly to the critical musical and artistic taste of Mrs. Jones and her daughters.”

In October 1902 the Leader further reported that “W.H. Miller did a great business last week in pianos and organs, selling four pianos and three organs, as follows: Wm Johnson, Baldwin piano, E.A. Danielson, Baldwin piano, O.H. Highland, Hamilton piano, John Wormeland, Baker organ, E. Farland, organ, Mrs. Jones Reynalds, Rollo, organ.”

We don’t know who the buyer was, but in reviewing Farmer’s and Merchant’s Bank check stubs, we note a check to W.H. Miller in December 1902 for $445 for an organ. What a Christmas gift that would have been!

By October 1903, Miller owned a farm in Goodell, Iowa, and soon moved there to pursue farming.