1911 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 15 



Texas Headquarters 



Roofs Supplies for Bee-keepers 



Brief History of tiiis Enterprising Establishment. 



In the year 1891, while yet a boy, Mr. Udo Toepperwein, now president of the Toepperwein & Mayfield Co. 

 saw a great future in the bee industry; and, through a natural inclination he decided to take up the bee and 

 bee-supply business as a life study. In his youthful way he would assist his father at their old homestead at 

 Leon Springs, Texas, in caring for and cultivating bees. They would often work with the bees until late at 

 night. To receive a shipment of hives and comb foundation from The A.. I. Root Co. seemed like a holiday to 

 them, and it would not be long after, when they could be found nailing and painting their hives. Many times 

 they would sit in the apiary on a bee-hive at night and listen to the hum of the busy bees and try to hear a 

 queen piping, while they inhaled the lovely odor permeating the apiary during a spring evening when the bees 

 are at work kneading wax and building comb. Inspired by his achievements in bee culture, young Udo soon 

 decided to embark in the business on his own account, and for several years traveled a great deal in a buggy 

 over the country, selling bee-hives and supplies, and making bee-keepers out of farmers. Appreciating his 

 work. The A. I. Root Co. shipped him a bicycle on which he traveled hundreds of miles, carrying a couple of 

 blankets, a 22-caliber rifle, fishing tackle, canteen, and some necessary edibles, including a small repair outfit 

 and some catalogs. These were packed in an oilcloth bag that his mother had made for him, strapped in front 

 of the bicycle on the fork. Many a night he was found sound asleep on some river-bank, using his bicycle for a 

 a pillow, while his fishing-lines could be seen dangling in the river waters, thus affording him the enjoyment 

 of a broiled-fish breakfast, and bliss in the thought of being the happiest boy in Texas. Almost daily he would 

 appease his appetite with wholesome rabbits, birds, or squirrels which he had bagged himself with his rifle as 

 he traveled along the road. In this manner he worked up a large trade, enabling him to order goods to Leon 

 Springs in carload lots and reship them to his customers. 



A few years later Mr. Toepperwein found it necessary to secure better shipping facilities, and so decided 

 to move to San Antonio, locating at 438 West Houston St., with warehouse accommodations on North Laredo 

 St. Here his business kept on increasing to such proportions that he found it necessary, in 1903, to construct 

 a building of his own. Finding a suitable location on the S. A. & A. P. Ry. he erected a building 40 by 250 ft. 

 in dimensions, together with a Weed new-process comb-foundation factory, realizing the need of such a factory 

 to enable him to supply better his customers more promptly with good fresh-made combfoundation. Thus with 

 improved facilities the volume of his trade increased so rapidly that he found it necessary to take into the busi- 

 ness a trustworthy partner, one upon whom he could depend during his absence. Acting upon this necessity, 

 Mr. Toepperwein, appreciating integrity and faithfulness of his employee, Mr. W. M. Mayfield, tendered him 

 a partnership in the business, which he cheerfully and most gratefully accepted, and accordingly the business 

 was conducted under the firm name of Toepperwein & Mayfield. In the year 1909 the enterprise was incor- 

 porated under the name of Toepperwein & Mayfield Co., Mr. Toepperwein becoming the president and gener- 

 al manager, and Mr. Mayfield the secretary and treasurer. Again in 1909, the old location became inadequate 

 to handle the growing trade; and being unable to secure more room here, the company acquired a tract of land 

 at the corner of Nolan and Cherry Sts., along the S. P. Ry. tracks, where they erected an entirely new plant, 

 including a two-story building 40 by 250 ft. , and installed a complete outfit of new machinery in the comb-found- 

 ation factory, increasing its capacity to 500 pounds per day. In addition to these improvements they also built 

 large and commodious sample rooms where visitors are always welcome and may interest themselves in writ- 

 ing letters or reading the bee journals and books of the world. 



Of course, Messrs. Toepperwein & Mayfield are not unmindful of the fact that their business success is not 

 entirely due to their own efforts, but are profoundly grateful for the valued assistance given them by their 

 numerous patrons in the past; and, with assurances of honest dealings, hope to merit a continuance of favors 

 in the future. 



Strangers and visitors in the city, as well as those interested in the bee industry, are cordially invited 

 to call at this mammoth instuitution, where they will always receive a hearty welcome, and be made to feel 

 at home by a host of hustling, courteous, and accommodating bee experts. 



TOEPPERWEIN & MAYFIELD CO., SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 



Corner Nolan and Cherry Streets 



