Mexico weekly ledger., 1911-05-04
J.B. BOTK|N TELLSOF MEX|CO'S
EARLY BUSINESS HISTORY

The following interesting inter.
view with Joseph Botkin concerning
business interests in Mexico as
early as 1871 will be of much inter
est to every citizen of Mexico:
Il promised you {. short write-up
along the line of what | found In
the busines Square of Mexico for
ty years ago; 1t turns out to be
quite an undertaking to look back
so long ago and give correct ac-
count of whom and how all were then
situated. Some may differ with me
and may not be correct all the
way along, however.
Il left Springfield, Ohio, April 16.
1871, to locate at Emporia, Kansas.
arrived at Mexico the morning Of
April II. stopped at the Martin
House, then conducted by Septimus
Martin. My object in stopping here
was to visit F. J. Roberts, now of
Rush Hill, with whom / had served
in the army with for four years
during the Ciy' War. Now, IL there's
anything wrong about my not get
ting away from here, MIR. Roberts
should be held to account and not /
me, but few are living to-day of
the many / found in business here
forty years ago.
Il will begin at the southeast cor
ner of the Square, where Mr.. Grad
dock is doing business. j. G. Smith
was conducting a grocery business;
he died many years ago.
"At the Savings Bank corner, Jno.
w. Reed was in the drug business.
He is todaya prominent, dentist
in this city. James and William
Beck were next, in the jewelry busi-
ness; both died many years ago.
Next was Mr.. James Pasqueth, In
the manufacture of harness and
saddles; dead. Next was Morris &
Cauthorn, dry goods merchants; both
dead. Next was Southern Bank. A |
few Of the most prominent men con-
nected with that institution were:
Mr. Jas Galloway, Maj. Hiram
Ricketts,, w. NJ. Harper, VIM. Sims
and Mr.. Carson, all of whom are 4
dead. Next Woodward & Smith,
dry goods merchants, both dead. /
Next, Joseph Ricketts,, drygoods mer-
chant; dead. Next, G. D. Ferris, {
hardware; dead. Next, Nelson Outs
enberry conducted a store known as {
The grange Store about that time; !
both are dead The south room of {
Shootman's was where p. S. Mitch 4
ell was in the shoe business. He Is q
living. | think Mr. and Mrs Shoot
man had millinery in the next room |
Both are now dead. Northeast cor Z
ner, Hamper G Coil were in dry goods f
business. Both are dead. John Coil |
lied In 1871. it
Where the Mexico Clothing Co. Is,
J. NJ. Marmaduke and Jas. Stew ]
ard were in dry goods business. Mr.. O
Marmaduke is dead. MIR. Stewart a
ives in ST. Louis. have lost sight v
} who did business where Mr.. Pur- v
lys drug store is. Next, Messrs Will s
Jams G. Reed dry goods merchants. b
Both are dead. Next was Baker & a
Steele real estate and insurance. Mr.. v
Baker died few months ago MIR. a
Steele is here in good health and a b
,usy man. Next was West g. t.
dills' dry goods store. Uncle Billy Ii
Vest has been dead long time. MIR II
iiller lives IN Oklahoma About that L
Ame Carroll & Bolts were In millin- d
ny business next room where Mes ii
rs. Griffee q Martin are. About G
hat time Mr.. Ryerson engaged in 81
larness making where Mr.. Poisson is c
n business. Next, | think, the Nc
'onnell Bros. were in a china and n
ilassware business. Tom Mcconnell d
cad. Next, Uupton, JOS, ST., and