Administrative/Biographical History
E.J. Wiswall organized the Wiswall Furniture store in DeKalb, Illinois in October of 1886. He came to DeKalb and bought the furniture business from P.C. Wagner when it was located on the corner of Second and Main Street (Lincoln Highway). Wiswall moved into a new building located at 142 E. Lincoln Highway where the business remained until 1971. In 1899, E.J. Wiswall and F.E. Wirtz organized the Wiswall and Wirtz Furniture and Undertaking business operating stores in DeKalb and Malta, Illinois. In 1920, when Wiswall retired, F.E. Wirtz, his son B.L. Wirtz, and his nephew W. W. Wirtz formed a new partnership operating the Wirtz and Wirtz Furniture and Undertaking business in DeKalb. In 1941, when F.E. Wirtz retired, the funeral part of the business became a separate organization, owned and operated by W. W. Wirtz (presently in operation as Wirtz-Roche Funeral Home). In 1946, Gerald T. Conde, son-in-law of W.W. Wirtz, entered the partnership. In 1961, W.W. Wirtz retired as an active partner of the furniture business. Gerald T. Conde, his nephew N.J. Conde, and his brother R.W. Conde continued to operate the business until its dissolution in 1971.
