James E. Homans, editor

“ There were eight miles of greenhouses, averaging twenty-seven feet in width, a veritable glass-covered street that would have stretched from one end of Chicago to the other. From three to four hundred men were now employed in caring for the many acres of growing flowers and shrubs under glass, the payroll amounting to nearly a quarter of a million dollars per annum. ”

“ Some years previously, in 1879, his brother, Adolph, who was seven years older than himself, had gone to Niles Center, Ill., where he was employed for three years with a large florist and learned that business thoroughly. In 1885 Adolph had gone into business as a florist with a partner. This partnership lasted two years, when Adolph bought out his partner's business and continued by himself, at Morton Grove, a small town fourteen miles outside Chicago. He had prospered, so much, in fact, that he needed capital with which to enlarge his plant to meet the growing demands of his trade. ”

“ Company, John Poehlmann being elected president, Adolph, vice-president, and August, secretary and treasurer. From that time forward the growth of the business was truly phenomenal. The corporation began business with a capitalization of $90,000. Soon afterward the Chicago distributing station was moved to more commodious quarters at 30 East Randolph Street. With great energy John pushed the trade until, shortly before his death, he had not only extended it all over the country, but to Canada as well. By that time the plant had assumed gigantic dimensions ”