The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1914-02-05

money out Of horse or mule Spring
field was the market. Then as noW
cry was that cows and heiiers were toe
largely sold and that few calves would
make scarce beef, but the supply
somehow has held out. All stock was
generally much inIeror to the graded
and pure bred stuff We have now.
Prices were lower, but then as now,
the farmer who attended properly TO
his business, worked hard, lived well
and laid by.
| For many years Frank Kentling,
a shrewd and educated German trader
ran a store at Highlandville. He
thoroughly understood merchandising,
had in stock about everything ever
called for in a general store, bolght
everything offered for which there was
a market elsewhere, won and kept the
confidence of his customers and amass-
ed fortune. He was a great help to
the community in quickening the ex-
change Of products by suggesting
what could be raised to bring in money
and extending a generous credit to
worthy people. HighlaDdville is ten
miles from a railroad, but largely ow-
ing TO the career and influence OF Mr.
Kentling that neighborhoOd has deve'
loped faster and come to the front
more prominently than any other part
OF the 5ackwoods OF the Ozark country.
For many years Mr.. Kentling's was the
only store between Springfield and
Kirbyville, but in the late eighties com
petition began to grow with. the in
crease Of population, and now every
cross roads is d trading point. Perhaps
those whe wanted to be merchants did
not always wait for an urgent demand
for new traders. They even seemed
to be planted in spots quite lacking in
customers. But a store always helps
to enlarge a settlement, and Joe Choate
is doing for Spokane a service like that
performed at Highlandville by Mr.
Kentling, who is now retired and lives
the delightful life Of a gentleman farm
er, orchardist and gardener.
The cost Of living was not so high
"backyonder" as it is to day. Corn
was invaribly Is cents at gathering
time and so cents in the spring. Oats
ran along with corn, and Of rye not
much was sown. Wheat was worth
around 90 cents and milling convent
ences were about what they are now,
with two mills at Ozark, one at Kiver-
dale and also at Forsyth, Kissee Mills
and Taneyville. l never knew when
the mill at Bradleyville commenced
business. There was a cotton gin al
John Kintrea's store at Kirbyville,
where cotton seed was sold for seed at
ten cents a bushel. Mr. Kintrea's
trade was about as large as Mr.. Kent
ling's at Highlandville, and it TOO, was
won and kept by integrity and fair
dealing. All who knew John KinIea
now deceased will bear testimony to
his sterling worth as man, and his
marked ability and broadness as a
merchant.
In payment for stock, cheques drawn
by drovers and stock buyers did not 90
as now. The buyer Of live stock had TO
have the cash to pay for what he got.
The Christian county bank at Ozark
was the only bank in that county and
there was none in Taney. Buyers
who were known 10 be all right when
they ran short Of cash, could always
get what they wanted from Mr.. Kent
ling or Mr.. Kintrea for their cheques
on the Springfield or Ozark banks.
About twenty years ago bank was
started at Nixa, on the Harrison road,
about twelve miles south OF Spring-
field.
There was a good many oxen in the
country, but their use was being dis
continued. They were too slow for
advancing conditions and Improvements
aud il any are in use now I would not
know where to find them. They were
valuable in their day, when people had
all the time there was to do what had
to be done. But ask a young man
now to drive a yoke Of oxen-Well, he
wouldn't know how, and if he had to
Learn, he would throw fit.
Ponc de Leon. in Stone county, and
Eaudevie ard Reno in Christian had
been abandoned by those seekin health
through the medium Of mineral waters
though splendid springs # crystal