Just one year after Omaha City was established, the son of German immigrants moved from Canton, OH and opened a general store that remains open today. Located at 213 Farnam in Jobber’s Canyon, Frederick Schneider’s store was easily identified by a massive sign that resembled an ax. The zinc sign was transported from St. Louis to Omaha by steamboat. His store sold essentials including food, clothing, hardware, gold pans, scales and oxbows among other items to wagon trains heading west. His customers read as a who’s who of Omaha history including the Kountzes, Dodges, Farnams and Creightons.
After selling his store to David Bowman in 1884, Frederick bought an acreage in San Jose, CA and relocated his family. By that time, the store moved west to 1217 Farnam St. Its new owner also moved the ax sign to the new location and installed it above the entrance. David operated the business until his death in 1894. That same year Lucien Pettengill, H. M. Johnson, C. W. Johnson and G. W. Wilmoth established Johnson Hardware at which point they bought the general store. They repainted the ax sign so that it displayed their business name. The company operated out of 1217 Farnam until 1942 when they moved a few doors east to 1211 Farnam once that space became available.
With the construction of the Central Park Mall project (current day Gene Leahy Mall) in 1977 the company was forced to move its headquarters to its current location at 1201 Pacific. This building which had been occupied by Commercial Lithographing and Omaha National Bank’s printing department was the closest suitable building the company could find in the downtown area. During the move, there were rumors that a case of cannonballs were discovered. The old ax sign was also moved and today is said to be in the office of one of the former owners.
Today Johnson Hardware is the oldest business in Omaha, Nebraska and possibly west of the Missouri River with roots dating back to 1855 with the opening of F. A. Schneider’s storefront in Jobber’s Canyon. While both N. P. Dodge and Weitz Company were founded the same year, each was established in Iowa before moving to Omaha.
Recognized as the regional leader in the supply of architectural and decorative hardware products, its mission is to be the preferred material supplier and trusted partner in every market they serve, proudly leading with integrity, passion and excellence. Those markets include not only Omaha but Lincoln, Grand Island, Des Moines and Dodge City, MN as well. With its acquisition of Grabow Hardware in 2011, it opened a showroom in west Omaha at 138th and Industrial Rd with its 2011.
Content written by Omaha Exploration – follow my page for more! Please also feel free to leave a comment. If there’s something you want to learn more about, let me know. In the meantime, keep exploring!
Omaha Exploration is sponsored by @Rockbrook Mortgage Inc.
Click here to learn about opportunities to sponsor Omaha Exploration!
Bonus pics
Subscribe
Type your email address below to be notified when a new story is posted.
Omaha Exploration 
Leave a comment