Note: The Icon acquired a manuscript titled “A Brief History of Bluffton’s Industrial Developments.” This publication was prepared by the classes in Marketing and Small Business Administration from Bluffton College, under the director of Dr. Howard Raid. Publication date is May 1959. We’ve updated some current addresses so viewers may identify locations.

Shoe manufacturing in Bluffton 1890-1900

A.G. Kibler owned and operated a clothing and shoe store in Bluffton. It was first located in the Tine McGriff Building (location not known in 2017). The business was later moved to the 103 N. Main St. (Bluffton Barbers today).

Clothing was sold in the front of the store and shoes were manufactured in the back. The customers would come in and be measured and the shoe would be made to fit the customers.

The craftsmen who handmade the shoes were John Kim, Henry Young, William Bentley and Daniel Baumgartner.

One of the advertisements used by A.G. Kibler was:

FOR SERVICE
Buy the stylish good fitting double sewed

FINE SHOES
For ladies and misses ware
The soles are attached to
the uppers with two rows offive cord waxed thread,
instead of one row as in
other shoes and are

WARRANTED
NEVER TO RIP FROM THE UPPERS
FOR SALE BY

A.G. Kibler

Reference: Bluffton News and Ted Biery
Interviewer: Larry Challen