DUBUQUE BUTCHERS' ASSOCIATION

DUBUQUE BUTCHERS' ASSOCIATION. In 1881 the Association petitioned the council for a charter for the construction of "an abbattoir" (slaughterhouse) on Sycamore Street south of the Milwaukee & St. Paul machine shops. Estimating the cost to be around $10,000, the representatives asked the city to protect them in the business if they engaged in it. (1)

On January 8, 1894, the organization met to identify "deadbeats" who did not pay their bills. Members would not extend further credit until the bills were paid. Officers included B. Stafford, president; Charles Schaefer, vice-president; and John Knoerschild, secretary. (2) In the same year, the Association asked that an ordinance be passed requiring grocers who sold meat to be required to have a license to do business. The city attorney advised the council that t had the right to regulate all retail dealers in meat. Council members discussed the idea but did not take action. (3)

In 1891 the Dubuque Butchers' Association and the DUBUQUE PACKING AND PROVISION COMPANY merged with the new corporation being called the DUBUQUE PACKING COMPANY. The new business was capitalized at $50,000 with each of the two former corporations owning half. The company planned to use the old establishment for slaughtering for local butchers and the new one belonging to the Dubuque Packing and Provision Company for the processing of pork. (4)

In 1906 Eugene E. FRITH purchased the slaughter house that had belonged to the Association. (5)

---

Source:

1. "Caught on the Fly," The Daily Herald, January 4, 1881, p. 4

2. "Will Protect Themselves," Dubuque Daily Herald, January 9, 1894, p. 5

3. "Caught on the Fly," The Herald, July 3, 1894, p. 4

4. "The Butchers Have Joined," The Herald, June 27, 1891, p. 4

5. Advertisement. Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, January 27, 1922, p. 12