Today, a parking lot sits west of City Hall. However, it was once home to a lumber yard that was owned by a number of businessmen. 

In March of 1911 it was purchased by John Leipersberger and became the Leipersberger Lumber and Coal Co. Prior to that it was owned by a Jesse Grubbs, L. Kreek, and Sam and Ben Swenson, who sold the business to John. Another Swenson, Eric, co-founded the Clay Center Lumber and Coal Company, in 1907, where he served as president. 

It was located in the current Clay County Lumber & Supply building. Prior to 1907 it was the Chicago Lumber Co. They delivered coal to customers free of charge, and promised “maximum heat unit” for every pound. Customers were encouraged to order by the ton. 

In 1914, the Leipersberger location had $60,000 of construction product in stock, including white pine, yellow pine, cypress, fir, oak, windows, doors, cement, plater, and brick . (More than $1.9 million today.) They also kept asbestos roofing in-stock, which was advertised for the prevention of fires. 

In 1912 John had passed on the job of management to an employee, while his brother, Andrew Leipersberger managed the planning mill. Also in 1912, they split into two, with the latter becoming the Clay Center Planing Mill Company after “finding too much business.” 

In 1913 they advertised new scales and in 1914 they offered “The Tulsa Hundred-Dollar Silo” which was advertised as having “41 advantages over other silos.” 

John and Andrew immigrated from Germany, meeting their eldest two brothers who traveled to America as young teenagers. John was born in 1882 and was married in 1906 in Riley County; they had two children.

He later sold the lumber yard to a Mr. Adair in 1915; the same year, John died by suicide at 32 years of age.