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         The honor of selling the first goods at Clarence belongs to Hoey & Bonesteel, who, after the freight and ticket office was moved up to the town plat, opened a small stock of groceries and provisions in a part of the car.

         Friend & Culbertson, of Tipton, opened the first general store, in 1859. They occupied the building now occupied by C. Peterson as a boot and shoe store.

         Messrs. Gilbert & Foote also commenced a general merchandising business in the Fall of 1959, opening out in one end of the building now called the Hecht & Reed warehouse.

         Fish & Gere came at nearly the same time, and opened out in the building now known as the Phelps warehouse.

         The Smith Brothers, of Tipton, opened a branch hardware store in the Girard Building, now occupied by George E. Smith as a drug store. They were the first to commence this line of business in Clarence, establishing themselves here in the Spring of 1860.

         In 1860, Friend & Culbertson built a new store room on Lombard street, the building now occupied by Hecht & Polley.

         Fish & Geer erected a building on the corner now occupied by E. B. Simmons, the same season. That building was destroyed by fire in the Summer of 1865.

         M. M. Cummings opened a general store—dry goods, boots and shoes, groceries, drugs, etc., etc.—in 1860. His building was located on the corner now occupied by Snyder & Co. It was a rough, shanty-like building, and was destroyed by fire, about nine years ago.

         From 1862 to 1871, the business of Clarence was exceedingly prosperous. The effects of the great fire in Chicago, in October, 1871, were felt here to some extent. However, the business men have no reason to complain for want of patronage or scarcity of money. The surrounding country is occupied by industrious, energetic farmers, who raise a large surplus of grain and stock, for which a ready cash market is always found through the shipping facilities offered by the C. & N.W. Ry.

GENERAL BUSINESS SUMMARY.

         Dry goods—Hecht & Polley, Snyder & Co., E. B. Simmons and W. B. Hanna are heavy dealers in dry goods, notions, groceries, etc. Variety stores—O. E. Campbell, Miss S. E. Neeley and Mrs. S. S. Crocker keep a general supply of millinery goods and notions. Grocers—Tiffany C. Carson is a general dealer in all kinds of family supplies. Drugs—George E. Smith and Messrs. Blair & McLenan. Hardware—A. Thom and J. W. Beatty. Meat market—H. P. Grim. Jewelry—J. L. Esher. Harness shop—Robert Porter. Boots and shoes—C. Petersen, William Overhoff, H. Hall. Dentists—Dr. T. D. Sturtevant, Dr. Shuck. Physicians—Dr. Thomas Coates, Dr. E. D. Yule, Dr. William Hills, Mrs. Dr. Williams. Attorneys—F. C. James, Ferguson & McLeod, T. J. Garrison. Banking and exchange—Bent & Cottrell (P. Bent, W.G.D. Cottrell) do a general exchange business; they commenced operations July 20, 1870; their exchange on Chicago averages $35,000 per month; their present very handsome brick banking house was erected in 1871, at a cost of $7,000. Hecht & Polley also transact a general brokerage and exchange business; they commenced selling exchanges on Chicago about 1862 or 1863. Livery stable—J. Morrison. Stock dealers—L. Phelps & Son, M. K. H. Reed. Butter and egg dealer—T.O. Manning.