Early Hulman History - The Wheelmen

Back in the early days of Terre Haute, country stores known as mom and pop stores were scattered across the countryside. They supplied people with essentials, including flour, sugar, linens, and just about anything else the grocer could fit in the small area he had. Coffee was held in wooden bins, ground up in a large wheeled coffee grinder and weighed by the grocer. Pickles and crackers were sold out of barrels – scooped out with wooden or metal scoops and weighed in bags. If the store did sell meat, it was most likely poultry, where the birds were still alive, squawking inside a crate in front of the store.

Hulman & Company supplied these early grocers with dried goods, notions, and just about anything that was available on the market. Although business could be good, it was hard work and there was a lot of competition in the marketplace. The most competition Herman had was a wholesale house operating directly across the street from the Hulman firm. R.S. Cox and Son competed with Hulman for several years until the two owners got together and realized that they actually had the same amount of sales. To increase their business and profitability, the firms merged in July of 1869. Their business continued under the name of Hulman & Cox. The merger between the two men allowed both Herman and B.G. Cox to share some responsibility in the running of the business. Herman’s hopes were that his sons would eventually follow in his footsteps and continue the business that he had worked so hard to build.

As father Hulman attended to business, sons Anton and his brother Herman, Jr. worked on their education by attending parochial schools in Terre Haute. Along with their studies the two young men began a joint venture into racing – the racing of a new contraption, sometimes known as “those dangerous wheels”, or better known as the “bicycle”.

They and some friends started an organization called The Terre Haute Bicycle Club – later known as The Terre Haute Wheelman’s Association. To the two Hulmans it was the beginning of a memorable adventure, and some of these adventures, or, miss-adventures made the newspapers. Besides the occasional blurb about Cyclists and cows escape uninjured, the following article was written in the Clinton, Indiana “Argus” newspaper In May of 1887:

“Young Mr. [Anton] Hulman is certainly entitled to the title of champion bicycle rider in this state. Last Sunday, he and two of his companions came here on a little jaunt. Coming to the railroad bridge, the other boys dismounted and led their wheels across. But Mr. Hulman coolly mounted his wheel on the steel rail and then rode across without weaving or slipping. Those who saw the venturesome feat had to almost hold their hats to keep their hair from pushing them off.”

The Wheelmen sponsored a yearly Century run, where the bicycles would journey a 100 mile course. The winner took home the prize cup, and usually made the trip in just less than 14 hours. Both Anton and Herman had competed for the prize; the first year Herman, Jr. won the cup. In subsequent years, Anton was the prize cyclist, winning medals and trophies.

There were times during the racing competition, than Anton had to be absent. Still working on his education and making his way into the family business, he left for boarding school in St. Louis, and then went on to Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts. In tune with his passion for invention, Anton’s major was Mechanical Engineering. After graduation, he worked for two years as a mechanic in the Vandalia Railroad shops until a very proud Herman brought him into the family business as a partner in 1885.

The youngest Hulman also raced, won medals and continued his education in Terre Haute at Rose Poly Technical Institute. There, he excelled in sports and almost made it to his graduation day, except for a decision he made that would greatly affect his future in the family business. Young Herman, Jr. fell in love, eloped with his young bride, and, fearing retribution from their families the young couple moved to Portland, Oregon where Herman worked with his cousins, Rogge & Thorp.

Although greatly disappointed, father Herman still held out hope for his youngest son and namesake.

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