The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-12-09
Days of Long Ago
Brought to Mind

Forty years ago or more, Martin
Kelley the sage of the town of Shields,
was in his glory calling a dance at
Fleetwood or laying down the law or
history to the younger generation
then about to shoot their knowledge
He is familiar figure at times in
WatertOwn, and an old bachelor, but
a student of events. He has a horse
which is known the countryside as
Billy. He claims, l mean Kelley, that
he is thirty years old, and he traded
calf for him, I mean Billy, when
Billy was an adolescent lad of fifteen
months. Martin says he has been with
him ever since and he will care for
him until he's called. Everybody
knows Billy, and he gets three squares
day and is contented, and Martin
Kelley is proud of him and says he
will die on the old farm after we'll
spent life without the interference of
strangers. Martin Kelley has a wide
acquaintanceship in Shields He has
been in the harnes politically for forty
years. His judgment ON current events
has been sustained by facts, and while
desiring to live alone, his society is
always welcome with the boys in the
state Of Shields. Mr.. Kelley states
that he traded fine yearling calf for
the colt with PATSY" Burke, who will
be remembered as a farmer north OF
the city, and who later built the store
buildings in Water street near the j.
D. Casey Co. shops.
Speaking of the J. D. Casey Co.,
the writer remembers forty years ago
or more when James d. Casey was the
whole cheese in the shop at the corner
Of Water and Emmett streets Previous
to his entry into the blacksmith bust
ness at that time the shop and build
ings to the north of it were occupied
by Joseph Lindon for pork packing.
Billy Wilson, butcher and a member
Of the 10Th Wisconsin regiment in the
Civil war, was the boss packer. Those
were the times you could get barrel
full of pigs feet-that meant up to
the shoulder-for cent piece. Eggs
were cents a dozen and beefsteak 6
cents a pound. Calf liver was given
away.
But to return to j. D. Casey. Prob
ably no man i'm like business in the
city Of WatertOwn ever gave it the at
tentiOn he did. He worked over the
anvil early morning and late at night
and in the busy summer season the
| writer has heard his anvil sound as
| the clock in st. Henrys tolled the
hour of midnight. J. D. Casey, still a
long way from the crossing of the di-
vide which separates time from
eternity, is probably one of the most
virile men in the agricultural business
today. No one taught him. He taught
| others, and has built up the biggest
| retail agricultural business in the
state of Wisconsin as represented in
towns the size of Watertown or even
greater in size. His motto has always
been, honest goods and honest prices
and the guarantee that if the goods
| fall down he would replace them
| That's a record. And Casey has it.
Hard work in the years gone by was
Casey's main hold When a farmer left
his order to build a wagon, buggy or
other vehicle, he was assured that the
goods would be there 1t is only a few
years ago when Dick Irving brought
farm wagon to Casey to repair a
wheel. Casey sold it to him about
| thirty years before and it was the
first time it was brought to him for
repair.