Telesfor Otmianowski
Mr. Telesfor Otmianowski was born on 8. 12. 1850 in Wierzchaczewo (Szamotulski p.). He initially trained as a colonial merchant; however, he later switched to seed trading. In 1881 he opened his own business; but after 9 years he merges it with the one existing since 1873 under the firm of A. Bąkowski, and considerably enlarged by this, together he continues to run it already under the changed name to "Bąkowski and Otmianowski." Such a combination of two brave forces, must have had a positive effect on the development of the company. However, after 7 years of this joint fruitful work, the late Apolinary Bąkowski dies, and the remaining co-owner, Mr. Otmianowski, again takes over the entire business on his own account, and the following year restores his former own company - as he now signs it and as given here in the heading.
Mr. O. not only as a senior member of the Corporation of Christian Merchants, but above all as the owner of one of the most serious companies in the country, is a worthy representative of our trade. An outstanding and brave merchant, he also deservedly enjoys recognition and success, which has been won for him by his personal qualities as a man and a professional - integrity, diligence, kindness in dealing with people, promptness, etc. He is also a good representative of our trade. And he takes care to choose the right associates, so everyone who is properly served continues to be a customer.
The house supplies seed and grain for sowing throughout the Principality, Prussia, Silesia, the Kingdom and Galicia, not only to larger landowners and peasants, but also undertakes wholesale deliveries to second-hand merchants.
He considers his commercial specialty to be the supply of alfalfa seed and all varieties of clover, as well as agricultural, joint and lawn grasses. He usually imports these seeds from those areas where a species is most carefully bred, whether at home or abroad. As for fodder beets and carrots, he entrusts the production of their seed to tried and tested, well-known breeders, to whom he supplies his own choice grain for mother seedlings for this purpose. The same goes for all grain, especially new, original, correct varieties of rye, wheat, oats and barley, as well as all kinds of forest and garden seeds.
For cleaning, he uses only those machines that best suit the needs and requirements of the grain in question.
It should also be noted that in 1886, in addition to but independent of his seed business, Mr. Otmianowski founded the first and at the time the only Polish store of kitchen utensils and equipment in Poznan. Having later moved it to Bazar (on the side of Nowa Street), he ceded it in full bloom in 1892, gratuitously allowing buyers to continue to run it under his company T. Otmianowski. From then on he devoted his energies exclusively to the seed trade, and sent his son Kazimierz to educate him in this profession, even to England, so that he could one day continue on his father's path and keep his well-deserved company in the family.
Mr. Otmianowski won the first prize in this department for his seeds - the only silver medal, at the Poznan exhibition of 1895.
