The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1908-08-17

at so much per value of chips, rang
ling in color from s1.00 up, and these
celluloid checks were legal tender at
every business house in Roswell, and
were accepted as readily as money
or certified bank checks are now.
1t is often remarked in regard to
| the honesty of the citizens of the
Southwest, and especially Of Roswell,
that times are not like they used to
be. When Will Prayer and Nathan
Jaffa first started the firm of Jaffa,
Prayer & Co. they slept in the back
part of the store and left the front
| door unlocked, and customers came
| in at all hours of the night and slept
around on the floor most everywhere.
| In fact, it was hard for Will or Ma
than to open up without stepping on
some of the sleeping customers, and
| they had to step over many of them
before they could throw open the
| front door
Such was the history of William
S. Prayer in the early days here, and
no fair-minded person will begrudge
him the success he now enjoys, as
he had the nerve to brace his breast
to the front" Always a Republican,
he was nagnanimous enough to be
candidate once for the Council and
once for the lower house of the leg
islature. Needless to state that he
was defeated. Besides being connect
ed with Jaffa, Prayer & Co, he is
secretary of the Jaffa-Prager Realty
and Investment Company, of which
Nathan Jaffa is president. This COM
pa1y owns much valuable real estate
in Roswell and vicinity, owning the
entire Jaffa-Prager block from the
two-story building recently vacated
~ the Cash rocery. north to the Ros-
well Seed Company's store, and east
to the alley. the Grand Central Ho-
tel property and other valuable hold
ngs in the city. Outside of the city
this company has valuable real es-
tate. including the chain of Bottom
less Lakes. about twelve in all, among
them being the Lea, Dimmitt and Sui
phur Springs.
Mr.. Prayer was appointed on the
Territorial Sheep Sanitary Board by
Governor Thornton and served in
that capacity for eight years, and
would have been further re-appointed,
but urged that it should not be done
as the duties of the Office interfered
with his private business.
Mr.. Prayer was formerly member
of the Roswell council, but resigned
as business matters required his un.
divided attention.
Member of the Roswell Commercial
Club and strong believer in the
good this organization has accom-.
plished for the city.
Member of Roswell Country Club.
An enthusiastic Mason, and was
largely instrumental in establishing
the Masonic lodge in this city In the
dead Of winter Mr.. Prayer, accompa-
MED by Phelps White, made a trip
to Las Vegas to secure charter for
the lodge.
He was the first Master of the Ma.
sonic lodge here under dispensation
and charter. First High Priest, Emf
nent Commander Rio Hondo Com
mandery X. T., member of Ballut Alb
yad Temple A. A. o. N. M. s., A1bu-
querque, N. M.
Mr.. Prayer has a beautiful home
on south Main street, and it is grac-
ed by wife who was formerly Miss
Halle A. Mendenhall, to whom he
was married at Dallas, Texas, Aug.
ust 6, 1891. OF this union two daugh-
ters and a son were born, Misses Es-
ther and Stephana, beautiful and ac-
complished girls, and Henry J. Pra-
ger, a sturdy boy who was three years
old yesterday.