The age-herald., 1901-02-24
oev snAustss and Enterprises % Pospevou Dkev co0Nt

determined to invest this amount Tn a stock of goods and open small business for himself. He rented little wooden store near the Southeast corner of the public square, placed up his sign and went to work as his own master with his characteristic energy. His will, fore sight and business acumen gave him im- plicit confidence in the future of Jasper and he pushed his business to the full capacity of his meagre capital.
 In 1885 MT. Cranford sold out his bus- mess at good profit to the Musgrove Bros, and remained with them as a clerk until 1887, when he again determined to establish business on his own account So January 1, 1887, he associated his brother MT J. M Cranford, with him as a full partner under the firm name of Cranford & Co. The younger brother, being made of the same metal-full Of energy and good business sense-success marked the very beginning of the part nership.
 Cranford & Co. continued business un- til 1893, when they incorporated under the corporate name of the Cranford Mercantile Company, which is now in d most prosperous condition. enjoying an immense trade throughout Walker and adjoining counties. furnishing supplies to hundreds of mines. farms, workshops and homes. The company has capital of s50000 with large surplus. It occu- pies as a principal store brick building two-stories high, with frontage of 1OOx s feet towit, 17,000 feet of floor space; also building 75x1OO feet. Besides these the company owns and uses two large warehouses, with a railroad spur track of it's own entering same, thus facllitat- ing the handling of heavy goods.
 In addition to this mercantile business and connected closely herewith is the Bank of Jasper, a private banking com pany, owned by J. H. Cranford and his brother, J. M. Cranford with MT. w. k. Sawyer as cashier. This bank was es- tablished in 1899 and has prospered since the date of it's establishment. It does a regular banking business in all of it's de- tails and enjoys the utmost confidence of the public.
 Mir I. H. Cranford has always been one of Jasper and Walker county's staunchest friends. He has been an all derman and was for one term mayor of his town, but he declares he was never an office-seeker nor a politician; yet the people of Walker know him to be broad-gauged and public spirited citizen, and one upon whom they can ever rely for advice and service. MT Cranford says: Tn Jasper, Walker county, I live, move and have my being, and here I expect to stay the remainder of my days"
 MT. Cranford has just erected beautiful dwelling in Jasper. It is modern in all it's appointments and was erected at cost of $1O,00 A lovely wife and two bright, promising children occupy this home, and MT. Cranford de- clares that these are the main issue.' The Cranfords have steadily increased their business every year since they be- gan business and are today among the largest and most prosperous merchants in Alabama. Beginning in 1883 with an nual sales of 5000, their sales for last year amounted to $165,00O. Since the in- corporation of the company in 1893 they have actually paid in cash dividends to stockholders an aggregate of 20o per cent The value of their stock January 1 last was equal to 45 per cent, showing that they really earned 250 per cent. in eight