The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1905-02-25
SMITH & ROBERTS
The Ocala Furniture Company and
Something About the Men Who
Compose IL

Compose IL
On January Is Of this year Mr.. c. V.
Roberts bought Of NJ. E. {. Smith a
half interest in the f!uOrishing business
known as the Ocala Furniture Com
pany.
The new firm then took stock. got
rid Of much old stock, gave the place
a general cleaning up. re-arranged
things in general and TO good advan-
tage and Immediately ordered a great
many new goods, of the latest and most
improved patterns.
Prior to the change Mr.. Smith could
not look after the entire business alone,
and do it justice. Now. with Mr.. Rob
erts TO help him, one can attend to
the accounts. or to- outside matters,
and the other can keep the stock in
good shape. which fails TO Mr.. Roberts
lot.
The increase in business has already
been very marked and has demonstrate
ed the wisdom of the partnership.
The new firm will make many i'm
prOvements and changes for the bet
ter as fast as they can get around to
it, and will let no opportunity escape
for getting something good for their
customers. and build up their business.
Mr.. VERNE Roberts came to Ocala
nineteen years ago when a mere boy
from Nartinsville. ILL., He was first
with Mccall & Son. furniture dealers.
where the Ocala Seed Store now is:
then he went with c. II. Lord & Co,
+. l.. Root & Co, r. r. Bugbee & Co,
and Pittman & Mcintyre. all succeed
ing each other in the present quarters
of the store. He was then with Nc
liver & MacKay for five years. or until
his present venture for himself. He
is thorough ana eminently practi-
cal business man. He understands the
business thoroughly in all its branch
es-bUying. selling and making. He
is a first class mattress maker. cabi-
net maker. picture frame worker up
holsterer. ETC. and is always found
busy at some of these if there is moth
ing else To do.
Mr.. Roberts joined the Ocala Rifles
when that company was in it's early
days. and has filled every position from
corporal to captain. He was "a splendid
and efficient officer and very popular
with officers and men.
Mr.. Edwin c. Smith came TO Ocala
from Illinois also, in the fall of 1884, or
and then. as he remarked. he saw her
freeze up ten years later" He soon
engaged i'm the soda water business
and opened a bottling factory. with Mr..
Snowden as a partner, where DR.. An
derson's drug store is today. He has
been interested i'm the bottling bust
ness continuously ever since. In No
vember. 1900. Mr.. Smith bought out
Mr. ]. a. Pittman and tried the furni-
done well with it and built up a big
business both in new and second hand
goods. He has been particularly sue
cessful with the instalment business.
which has grown to enormous proper
lions.
In addition to the two huge floors of
II. Il,
goods, they have three big warehouses,
filled with goods.
The undertaking and embalming de-
partment will be a feature of the bus
mess that will receive especial atten-
ton. The firm has "A big front room
on the second floor fitted up for an I'M
dertaker's and embalmer's room, where
there is one of the best and finest
stocks of caskets and burial autfits TO
be- found in the state.
Mr.. Smith ana Mr.. Roberts are both
practical licensed undertakers and en- /
balmers. Mr.. Roberts passed an un-
usually good examination from knowl-
edge gained wholly in the school of
experience.
Success To the new firm. May their
customers multiply and their business
spread and cover the earth-or, at
least. a good portion Of it.
Blue Ribbon Oats are not inferior to
am hreakfast fnnd that Nnu can find