Mexico weekly ledger., 1921-04-28

ident citizen, having lived here fol
Afty years this April IL. He came tc
Mexico in II and built the home in
which he still lives on East Monroe
xnd moved in with his bride June 4
1884. He was born in 1912 and is
exceptionally vigorous and active fol
a man of se~venty-eight years Of age,
He attributes his hardihood to the
physical exercise he has enjoyed
while doing farm work.
He came to Mexico from Spring
field, Ohio, a young man twenty-nine
years of age. He engaged in the liv-
cry business in 1876 and remained in
that business for twenty years. He
has always been interested in farm
ing and has owned as much as 700
acres at one time. He still retains
eighty acres Of land near Mexico and
goes to the farm almost daily where
he does farm work. Last year he
chopped wood all during July, August
and September. Needless to say that
few men of his age are capable of
such strenuous exercise.
Mrs. Potts who recently died was
the last of those prominent persons
who were here when he came, he
says. There were about 1000 inhab-
itants in Mexico at that time. All
the property south of the shoe fac
tory was a corn field. The ladies
Seminary now Hardin College, was
the small frame building which still
stands on the Hardin campus. The
Chicago and Alton railroad was in
the process of construction.
Ten years ago, Mr.. Botkins wrote
an article for the Ledger describing
business changes that have taken
place here since the early day, and
the following is taken from that ar
ticle.
Il will begin at the southeast cor
ner Of the square where Mr.. Craddock
is now doing business. J C. Smith
was conducting a grocery business.
He died many years ago. AT the Saw
ings Bank corner, John W. Reed was
in the drug business. He is today
MAY /, 1917 a prominent dentist
in this city. James William Beck
were next in the jewelry business.
Both died many years ago. Next was
Mr.. James Pasqueth, in the manufac-
fure of harness and saddles, dead.
Next was Morris and Cauthorn, dry
goods merchants, both dead. Next
was the Southern Bank. A few of
the most prominent men connected
with that institution were: MI James
Galloway, Major Hiram Ricketts,, W.
M. Harper, William Sims and Mr..
Carson, all of whom are dead.
Next Woodward and Smith, dry
goods merchants, both dead. Next G.
D. Ferris, hardware, dead. Next, Mel
son Quisenberry conducted a store
known as the Grange Store, about
that time. Both are dead. The south
room of Shootman's was where P. S.
Mitchell was in the shoe business. He
is living. MAY /, 1917 l think Mr..
and Mrs. Shootman had millinery in
the next room. Both are now dead.
Northeast corner, Harper and Coil
were in the dry goods business. Both
are dead. John Coil died in 1871.
"Where the Mexico Clothing Com
pany is, ]. M. Marmaduke, and
James Stewart were in the dry goods
business. Mr.. Marmaduke is dead
and Mr.. Stewart lives in st. Louis.
| have lost sight Of who did business
Mr.. Purdy's drug store is.
Next Messrs. Williams and Reed dry
goods merchants. Both are dead.
Next was Baker and Steele, real
and insurance. Mr.. Baker died
a few months ago. Mr.. Steele is
here, in good health and a busy man.
Next was West & Mills dry-goods
"Uncle Billy" West has been
dead a long time. MI. Mills lives in
Oklahoma. About that time Carroll
and Bolts were in the millinery bus
mess. Ny Ryerson engaged in har-
ness making where Mr.. Poisson is in
business. Next / think Mcconnell
brothers were in the china and glass
ware business. Next Joseph Lupton,
ST., and Warner Potts were in the
and undertaking business.
Both are dead. John Wilkerson con-
Quoted a restaurant on the northwest
corner. He went to St. Louis from
here. The next room of Ferris and
Cauthorn was idle at that time.
"Next Scharlach and Hall We're in
the drug business where we first
found that palatable drink called
Hook. Many of the boys can recall
enough of that. Next was Mr.. Van
calder, the groceryman. He died
many years ago. Next John Sontag,
conducted a bakery and restaurant.
Next was butcher and Gleason with
a stock of hardware. Mr.. Gleason
lives in Omaha, Neb., if he is alive,
and Mr.. butcher in jamestown, New
York.
Next was /. Frank who conducted
a clothing business. The family now
live at Little Rock, Ark. Mr.. Frank
is dead. Next was Mr.. Shoemaker
with a restaurant, now dead. Next
was Mr.. J. F.. Llewellyn, the drug
- -. I Ga...a - L. aa,,n4ns ard