private place used to grow some excellent Roses. He saw the possibilities in commercial flower-growing, and a place was soon erected, near Western Springs, Ill. Mr. Washburn, his son-in-law, became interested in this concern, which has since prospered under his efficient management.
The history of the Wietor Brothers is no less interesting. Nick Wietor, a bookkeeper by profession, and a far-seeing young man by natural endowment, conceived the idea a number of years ago to exchange the confining position of bookkeeper for that of the open air occupation of horticulturist. Nick told me once how Anthony, at one time the leading florist of Chicago, but long since dead and forgotten, had snubbed him upon a certain occasion when he applied to him for a price on stock which he had to offer. Instead of giving him a civil answer, Anthony grufily referred him to his foreman, remarking that he had no time to bother with such trifles. Not accustomed to such treatment, Mr. Wietor returned empty handed, and informed his brother that Anthony seemed to be too big a man to approach and that he would make no more attempts to see that important personage.
But a few years later, the tables were turned. In his down-and-out days, Anthony approached Wietor for the loan of a few dollars, which were readily given him, with no intention on the lender's part ever to recall the loan.
This seesaw of prosperity and adversity is not uncommon in human experience; and it is well for those on the up end of the board to bear in mind the truth of the Biblical saying that "the last shall be first," and for purposes of expediency, if not actually because of a sense of human justice and equality, to treat the man on the down end with consideration and respect.
The Wietor Brothers are among the largest cut flower growers in Chicago; Nick Wietor conducts the wholesale end of it, while his brother is at the head of the greenhouses. Their progress has kept time with the general prosperity of the western metropolis. Outside of their greenhouse establishment, they have a great many investments in other enterprises, evidently believing it a wise policy not to put all their eggs in one basket.
Frank Oechslin's business career, his ventures and success, are well known to almost every florist in the land. After experimenting for a while in the East, Mr. Oechslin turned toward Chicago, and there made his home. For a time he was working for Kidwell Brothers, the well-known wholesale and retail florists of Chicago. Then he saw an opportunity to go for himself, and grasped it without delay. Chicago was badly in need of blooming plants. While a few were grown here and there a great many more could be disposed of if there were any in the market. There was a small place on West Madison street, which could be rented at a nominal price; and though far from being an ideal place for the purpose, Frank Oechslin took it, determined to make the best of it until an ideal place could be had. He started in with small ferns. Primulas, Cinerarias, Cyclamen, and other blooming plants; and these he grew as well as any Eastern grower could possibly grow them. (The East at that time was looked to for the best in the line of plants.)
The market was ready for him, and not only ready but eager. Mr. Oechslin had no difficulty in disposing of all he grew. He could have disposed of ten times the quantity, if he had it. He was making money, and was well launched on the way to prosperity. But to leave well enough alone was not in Oechslin's make-up. Better facilities and a more extensive plant meant business expansion. Mr. Oechslin was eager to expand, not only on his own account, and from the standpoint of dollars and cents, but to improve the general conditions of the trade and to meet the ever-growing demand of his customers. An excellent piece of ground, several acres in extent, was to be had on West Quincy street and Forty-eighth avenue. He
