This story about one of the outstanding Auctioneers of the early 1900s starts with a photo I purchased on eBay a couple of years ago of an auction scene in Ohio. The photo came from a gentleman in Oregon. He had done a little homework and provided the following information. “Paul Bockelman and his wife Minnie were living in Henry, Ohio in 1910. The 1920 Census has them living in Union, O’Brien, Iowa and then back to Ohio in 1930 at West Milton. A Paul F. Bockelman, who was born in June 1921 died in Woodburn, Oregon in 1995 and I am presuming this was the son of the Auctioneer. That is probably how the photo ended up in Oregon.”
That original photo illustrated in this article was of a multi-parcel real estate auction of building lots known as “Morningside Addition.” There is a large crowd in a semi-circle posing for the photo with a Ford Touring car. The sign on the car is partially blocked by people in the photo. However it reads “This Ford Touring car given away free during lot auction Morningside Addition.” There are four auction flag/banners advertising “Bockelman Sales Co.” Mr. Paul Bockelman is standing on a platform in the center of the photo with musicians to his left.
The back of the photo has handwritten “Paul F. Bockelamn, 21 years old in 1910 Census, born in Henry, Ohio.” He was born about 1889. Judging by the style of the Ford Touring car and the attire of the crowd I would date this photo as 1914 to 1916. Therefore, Paul Bockelman would be in his mid twenties. I believe that the image of the Auctioneer in this photo and the illustration of Bockelman sporting a bowtie in a brochure that came with the photo would support this observation.
The accompanying brochure provides some interesting information. The cover states “Special attention given to all kinds of sales. Make sales any time and any place. None too big, few too small.” He goes on to state on the cover “Thoroughly educated and experienced in all lines of auction sales.” His phone number is listed as “164.” His office address was 112 East Washington Street and his residence was 715 Wayne St. Napoleon, Ohio.
Advantages of real estate auctions
One panel of the brochure talks about Real Estate at auction. “This is the most profitable, fair and legitimate way to sell Real Estate, offering advantages to both buyer and seller.” Under “Sales Made Quick” Paul explains, “The average real estate agent sells less than 5 per cent of the property listed with him, while on the other hand the hustling real estate auctioneer sells more than 50 per cent of the property he offers.”
Bockelman boasts, “I have sold 1,600 acres of farm land right here in Ohio and a large number of city properties. What I have done for others I can do for you. I list your property and sell it in 60 days, or no commission.”
This same brochure indicates that Bockelman also operated the Napoleon Auction House, opposite Court House. “Almost everyone has something he does not want and others need just that article, therefore I have decided to appoint myself as the central figure in an Exchange Emporium for the accommodation of the public in general and myself in particular.” He calls himself “The Hustler” (A popular term for Auctioneers from 1890 –1920s).
“If you have anything you don’t want, bring it in, and I will find a buyer for it, or if you want to buy anything, come and see me. I’ll try and find it for you.” He also offered to sell livestock of any kind at any time. He held auctions every Saturday.
Recently, I acquired a small group of black and white photos pertaining to Bockelman from a different seller. This lot had an 8 x10 glossy black and white Circa1950 photo of a group of seven men with jackets and ties standing around a seated gentlemen with a bowtie and sweater. The lot also had four small photos with outdoor auction scenes for a subdivision land auction called “Bluffview.” The four photos appear to be from the late 1940s or early 1950s. Lastly, there was a single small C-1920s photo of an outdoor, on-site auction with a large crowd for a land sub-division auction titled “Golfview.”
The Circa 1920s photo depicts a large tent with an overflowing crowd. There is a large truck that has a billboard sign on the side that says: “Come out to Golfview Auction 2PM and 7PM today and tomorrow on riverside car line. Free $1,000 in cash and other gifts whether you buy or not.”
The four photos of the Bluffview auction depict the onsite auction with sub-division map boards on the stage. The crowd is seated on benches made from planks on cement blocks. A makeshift stage has 6musicians for entertainment. A ringman with cane sports the typical “colonel’s” hat that was popular at the time. A close look at the offering on the boards offers “Easy Terms, One lot given away free, and free abstracts.” Paul Bockelman, now in his late 50s or early 60s is standing upfront with his bowtie on conducting the auction.
The 8 x10 Circa 1950 photo is marked on the back “Auction Class” in pen and is stamped “STILES Commercial Photographers, Sioux City, Iowa.” I have confirmed that Paul Bockelman is the gentleman seated and surrounded by the seven well-dressed gentlemen. I am assuming that Mr. Bockelman was an instructor at an auction school. However, this has not yet been confirmed. I do not know the identity of the other gentlemen. (Any help in identifying would be appreciated.)
First president of Iowa association
While doing my research on the Internet I ran into many dead ends. However, one discovery was exciting. While checking the Past President’s section of the Iowa Auctioneers Association website I found that Paul Bockelman was the first president of that association in 1949. He resided in Sioux City, IA and would have been 60 years old.
So there we have it. He was an Auctioneer born in 1889 that became the first President of the Iowa Auctioneers Association in 1949. A successful “Hustler” and outstanding “Knight of the Hammer” during the early 20th century. He sold both real and personal property for at least 40 years and is a tribute to what can be accomplished by one person utilizing the Auction Method of Marketing.
