The Washington herald., 1914-08-16

with particular stress, he added: II put
my pennies away and paid the mer-
chant the 50 I owed him."
Speaking of those days he said: 'I at
tended school irregulRrly. In the country
and at Shelbyville. After clerkIng in a
store for a short time. / returned home
At the age OF twenty-five / set out for
Kansas City. / had an uncle here named
White. whom l had never seen
How much capital did you have?'
asked.
Seven hundred dollars II my father
had a sickly pig thai he supposed would
die he gave Il to me- I would nurse
the pig and feed II on bu:termilk and
sell II when II was ready to market
Hickory nuts were also a source OF some
income. Also. stripped blue grass seed
by hand and disposed Of II to dealers.
Then my father gave his sons. who re-
manned at home after coming of age, a
percentage of the crops they helped to
grow.
Bought n Butcher shop.
$50 had s7CO when arrived In Kansas
City. I almost obtained a clerkship in
a store. 1t Is Just as well, perhaps. that
/ was disappointed. Failing to find en-
ployment. 1 bought an interest in
butcher shop. delivering the meat on
foot in a basket from the top OF one hill
TO the top of another. But the business
didn't pay and l sold out, my capital In
the meanwhile having shrunken to con-
siderably less than 800.
THE grasshoppers in 1874 ate every
thing up in this region. man was
going over into Kansas to cut hay. My
uncle suggested that his son, the son
of Mr.. Bell. a banker. and myself form
partnership and engage in the hay
business. l had very little money left.
but the suggestion seemed good, and
acted upon II, going to Columbus, kans..
as the practical man in the partnership.
Such hay as could be bought, however.
was Of poor quality and color. and the
undertaking was a failure.
while / was tearing down the shed
We had put up, several natives advised
me to stay and engage in the lumber
trade. There was a lumber yard in the
town. and as is usual where there is no
the people thought they were
in the hands OF an eXtortioner.
Much ashamed of my collapse at Co
lumbus / returned to Kansas City and
didn't mention the lumber yard proposal
to any one but my cousin. He spoke of 1t
to my uncle. and the old partnership
was renewed, and l went back to Kan
sas. Mr.. Bell, the banker. gave us a
small line OF credit, but II was hard work
to keep afoat.
Il built a three-room cottage It the
edge Of the lumber yard. l helped Mrs.
Long wash and wipe dishes, and she
helped me with the lumber. That is
the way We began. My cousin soon sold
his interest to young Bell and myself.
We opened the yard in 1879 The partner
ship was turned into a corporation in
1884 with a capital OF 500. 900. which was
paid up in full. We had made 10000.
you understand, in nine years. ar. Bell
retired from the business a long time
ago. Our capital and surplus now amount
to 5000. OOO''
Did Not Hear a Call"
But your lother." I said, had hoped
you would be a Christian or Disciple
Minister
II was brought u In the Christian
Mr.. Long answered. and join
ed Il when I was fourteen years old My
parents were well acquainted with Alex
ander Campbell, the founder of he de-
and my second name. Alex
ander, was given me to honor him.