The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
When the forger-store keeper, Noah Purcell, left Biggsville in 1858, the town was without a place to buy needed supplies. Mr. B.H.Martin induced Mr. H.W.Crosthwait of Iowa to come to town and put in a stock of goods.
Only the essentials such as tea, coffee, sugar, molasses and other groceries were stocked and the trade opened out of a corner of Mr. Martin's warehouse.
Mr. Crosthwait would go to Burlington to buy supplies bringing them back in his arms leaving Mr. Martin to clerk while he was gone and thus commerce commenced.
1882 History of Henderson County