D. L. Conrey

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THE  SHELBY  DEMOCRAT
 February 13, 1879
VOL. 1; No. 37
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from the article,  SMILING  SHELBYVILLE!
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Conrey,  Wallar  &  Deprez

Proprietors of the Blue River Furniture Factory, are the most extensive manufacturers in the county.  This business was started in 1857, by D. L. Conrey, who afterwards associated with himself Royal Jennings, and the business was carried on under the firm name of  Conrey & Jennings until the year 1873, when Z. B. Wallar took the place of Mr. Jennings.  In September, the same year, they had the misfortune to lose their stock and building by fire.  After the fire they took in a partner in the person of John C. Deprez, who owned and successfully run[sic] the Shelby Woolen Mill for seven years, and the house was then known as Conrey, Wallar & Deprez.  The woolen factory, one mile west of this city, was converted into a furniture factory, and the business again commenced.  They occupied, for an office and salesroom, the building immediately across the alley from their present store rooms.  They began the erection of a large and commodious brick building for an office, salesroom and packing house, and in June, 1874, moved into their new quarters.  This building, together with their factory, was not large enough for the manufacture of goods sufficient to supply their rapidly increasing trade, and they have from time to time, added to their room, until now they occupy the old Baptist Church, and a portion of the Y.M.C.A. building, besides a large two story building in the rear of their elegant salesroom, making in all over thirty-five thousand square feet of store and factory room, besides a lumber yard of a little over five acres.  In 1873 this firm started with fifteen hands, and their business has increased so rapidly that they now keep from fifty to sixty hands busy the year round.  Their sales in 1873 amounted to about forty thousand dollars, while that of last year was over seventy-five thousand dollars.  They do an extensive wholesale business which extends over the States of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Tennessee, besides a large trade at Washington, D.C.  They manufacture every grade of furniture and chairs, from the plainest and cheapest to the most highly ornamented and costly.  The machinery of the factory is run by water power --- they being owners of one of the best dames in this vicinity.  Their facilities for manufacturing enable them to place goods on the market at less figures than they can be bought elsewhere, and, as a consequence, they monopolize the home retail trade.
     Next biography in the "Smiling Shelbyville" newspaper article, George M. Goulding.
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