The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1885-05-06
MERCANTILE INTERESTS.
who and what our Merchants are.
LIKE LITTLE BUTrERcUr," I'VE MIX
EN- UP.
N. C. HERNDON & co.

Outside of two or three OF the larg-
er cities, nowhere in the entire State
of North Carolina can be found so ex-
tesive or so complete furniture es-
tablishment as that of Nj. c. Herndon
j. Co., of Durham. Recently the Re-
coRDER reporter visited the two stores
operated by the firm here in order to
see for himself what were their faci.
lities. Every courtesy was extended
us by the co.partners, and We left
them with the impression that this
branch of trade is in the hands OF
gentlemen who will spare no effort to
further the mercantile interests of
town by maintaining a house that
shall be peer of the best.
Right here we may say Cor the bene-
fit of those contemplating matrimony
that not for years have the prices of
furniture been so low rs at the pres
emit time. Il is astonishing, too, how
far q little money can he made tosgo
i'm fitting up home. With very
pretty chamber suits (cottage) selling
for about s22 one can fit up sleeping
apartments very neatly ut small cost;
dining room. kitchen and parlor fur
niture can be bought equally cheap,
nor will the goods be of an inferior
quality if purchased from a resposi-
bic house like the one we here allude
to. Of course if one wishes to go
deeper into the pocket" than sug-
sested by the class of furniture we
have named, NJ. G. Herndon 4 Co,
afford the opportunity. They have a
large variety of more expensive suits
i'm stock You can find chamber sets
worth, $50, 500, $3.50, s175, and so
on, and elegant affairs they are, too.
fit to adorn any home i'm the land.
And the same diversity of pricrs rules
in parlor furniture. Substantial and
nicely upholstered parlor sets are sold
rs low as $40, and from that up to
$150-higher priced goods than the
latter the firm do not find it prof.
table to carry in stock. To these
statements we may add the fact that
M. G. Herndon & Co, make all their
purchases direct from manufacturers,
and both buy and sell ut bottom
prices. In fact their extensive trade
has been built up by selling CLOSE
they have been satisfied with small
profits.
The co-partners i'm the firm are NJ.
G. Herndon and T. +. Cheek. They
began business here four years ago
this summer, where one of their stores
now is, next to the Post Office. They
made no extravagant professions, but
they worked with will toward the
up-building of a trade, and they met
with success. On the 18th of Janu-
airy this year they bought out the
large furniture house of b. L. Duke
& CO., and since then the two houses
have been under one and the same man
-agement, MIR. Cheek presiding over
tine old store and Mr.. Herndon over
the new one, the latter gentleman
also exercising general management
of the entire business.
Mr. Herndon is o native of this
vicinity and has lived in Durham
since 1870. Then, with q capital of
about 500 he engaged in the grocery
business, and from It finally grayitat-
ed to dry goods and general trade.
When he retired from merchandising
he went into the stock business, and
if anybody hereabouts knows and
loves q good horse when he sees it
Mr.. Herndon is the man. Many of
our readers can call to mind the
trstters he used to own and drive. In
the big fire oflJanuary, 1881, he was a
sufferer to considerable extent, but
he didn't lose "his grip Since then
he built the handsome brick store
now occupied by G. p. Postley, the
jeweler, and he also owns consider
able other property in town.
We don't intend to fiatter friend
Herndon, so we will say that he is, in
appearance, one of the most unassum-
ing men in town. He is q tall, Wig
orous and business like looking man,
we'll along in the 40's we should
judge-a man quick to make up his
mind and quick to act.
Mr.. Cheek, who issome years young
er than his partner, is from Chapel
Hill, whence he came here about
twelve years ago in his old home he
had learned the carpenters trade, and
when he removed to Durham he en-
gagged in contracting and building.
So II x