The "J. B. Lynas" building stands at 519-523 E. Market in Logansport, Indiana. Note the letters J B L at the top of the building. This commercial building "Twentieth Century Functional" according to the Cass County Interim Report of 1984 was erected about 1910.
Dr. James B. Lynas (1835-1901) was born in Dearborn Co., Indiana on February 14, 1835. At age 17 he studied medicine. James arrived in Logansport, Indiana in 1861. By 1866 he had started his own profession, which was the making of "family remedies", which quickly gained popularity. So popular, in fact that he began an extensive sale throughout the entire United States!
His products carried names such as the Catarrh Remedy, Hoosier Cough Syrup, Ready Relief, Rheumatic Liniment, White Mountain Salve, Egyptian Salve and Liver Pills. Within a few years the "doctor's" medicine sales amounted to around $10,000 per year.
By this time he had expanded his product line to include flavorings such as vanilla, cherry, lemon; also soaps, lotions and perfumes for the ladies.
The Dr. J. B. Lynas & Son company, as it was later called had sales people all over the country, as mentioned. Advertisements were placed in newspapers stating: "You can own an independent business. From the Atlantic to the Pacific J. B. L. representatives are making money by selling the goods that please the people." Ads included the image of a horse and buggy with "Why not get into business for yourself and make big profits instead of working for someone else?" and "Any man or woman equipped with one of these rigs is sure of a good monthly income by doing a little hustling."
By the late 1890s Dr. Lynas had 1400 to 1500 people working for the business all over the world. He had offices in Tokyo, Paris, London, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco and Atlanta. By 1900 his workforce had increased to 6 thousand selling his products.
GEORGE LYNAS AND THE APRON FACTORY ON THE THIRD FLOOR 1919:
George H. Lynas was
associated with his father’s business assuming presidency of the company in
1901 after J. B.’s death. George was also president of the Kiddie Knead bread company (located in another
building on Erie Avenue, behind the big JBL building).
August 3, 1919 ad for help wanted.
On the third floor of the Market street building
was a complete little
factory which, no doubt, was unknown to over 99 per cent of the people of
Logansport.
This factory produced aprons
and it grew from a very small beginning to the point where it
occupied floor space 64x34 feet in dimension. At first only one or two
women worked there. More employees were added. The aprons made in the Lynas factory
were sold through the same agency that handled all other products of the
Lynas establishment.
Modern machinery was installed. The table on which the fabric cutter worked was located
on the east side of the room and extended a distance of 54 feet. Next to this table there were shelves.
Running through the center of the room was a
large ironing table. There were fourteen 10 straight head sewing
machines in the factory.
The room wasn't wired
for electric lights because of the "great benefit
of the natural lighting" and instead installed skylights "which furnish an abundance
of light".
On the north side of the large room one could look out over the city, in a nice,
well-furnished little recreation space. A large piano was the central object in
the space. On the floor there were rugs and scattered about were comfortable chairs "for the benefit of the workers of the factory, at the noon hour and during intermissions throughout the day".
On the south side of the large room occupied by
the machines was a convenient dressing-room.
Miss Jennie Bryer, an experienced seamstress was placed in charge of the work in the Lynas apron factory.
George H. Lynas died December 13, 1926.
George's brother, Will, sold the business in 1938. It was finally dissolved as a business in 1965.
Many years later labels for the J B Lynas products made in Logansport, Indiana could be found on the upper floor of the building.
