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         The largest manufacturing establishment is the carriage and wagon shop of Messrs. Crocker & Wilcox—Silas S. Crocker and Albert Wilcox. Mr. Crocker is a practical wagon maker, and commenced that business in this village in 1860, and was the first to commence either wagon making or blacksmithing in Clarence. His shop stood on the lot now occupied by the Post House barn and stable. About three years of the time that elapsed from 1860 to the present, Mr. Crocker was out of the business and employed by Mr. C. M. Gilbert, merchant and grain and stock buyer. In 1875, Mr. Crocker and Mr. Wilcox formed a partnership and opened a shop on Ames street, a little west of the railroad buildings, where they still carry on the business. In ordinary times they employ five men. They manufacture lumber and spring wagons, carriages, etc., that have a good reputation for strength, durability and excellence of mechanism.

         Besides being a good practical mechanic, Mr. Crocker is an inventor of no mean order. Within the last year he has obtained patents for the following: Nut lock, patent No. 194,133, August 14, 1877; fence post, patent No. 196,337, October 23, 1877; wagon-bolster plate, patent No. 201,333, March 19, 1878; foot baths for horses, patent No. 284, 482, June 4, 1878. On some of these, Mr. Crocker is already realizing handsomely. The foot bath for horses is said to be an excellent invention, and one that commends itself to all practical horse men. Besides these above named, Mr. C. has secured a number of others of value and importance.

         S. Wilson is manufacturer of barrels, casks, etc., since 1876.

         James Beech is a manufacturer of baskets of all kinds. He commenced the business in 1876.

         The manufacture of what is known as the Scotch iron harrow is carried on quite extensively by Messrs. Curley & Scheffer, who have been engaged in the business for about three years.

         John Brinsky engages in the manufacture of wagons, harrows and other farm implements, and does a general business as blacksmith.

         Jay Snyder manufactures wagons, carriages, etc., and does a general repair business.

         Carpenters, Contractors and Builders.—James Drake, Jack Neeley, John Pike (the best feeling man in Clarence), John Vanderpool, F. Frink and ____ Jeffries. Besides these, the name of N. W. Rogers deserves mention. He was a natural mechanic—could turn his hand to anything—made many inventions, and was one of the first carpenters to settle in the village. He came here about 1864-5, and many of the houses, stores, barns, etc., bear evidence of his handiwork. He was a master workman; but there was a greater, and, falling into ill health in March, 1877, he gradually declined in physical vigor. In April, 1878, he went home to his parents in Canada, where he died about three weeks after his arrival. The news of his death was received with sadness by the people of Clarence, among whom he had lived so long, and by whom he was universally respected.

         Milling Interests.—Cessford & Chappell’s steam flouring-mill was erected in 1868, at a cost of from $8,000 to $10,000. It has three runs of stone, and is supplied with all the modern apparatus. It is now under the extensive management of Ferguson Chappell.

         Agricultural Implement Dealers.—This branch of business is well sustained. The oldest dealers now engaged in the business are G. D. Evans & Son, who . . .

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. . . commenced the business in 1865. They are also local agents for the American Express Company. H. F. Juckett also deals in this line of goods, as well as lumber, coal, wood, etc. He commenced business in 1877.

         Grain Elevators.—There are two grain elevators in successful operation. M.K.H. Reed operates what is known as the Old Omo Elevator, which was erected about 1868. The building was first used as a warehouse by Friend & Culbertson, of Tipton; then by Messrs. Hecht & Reed, then by A. S. Omo, who remodeled it and rehabilitated it as an elevator.

         The Mink Elevator is operated by Allen Elijah. It was first built and operated by William N. Hoey as a warehouse. In 1866 or 1867, it passed into the ownership of James Huff & Co., who converted it into an elevator, and subsequently sold it to T. & B. Mink, who still own it, but it is operated by Elijah, under lease. Horse power is used in both of these elevators.

         There are several other warehouses in the vicinity of the railroad track, which, at one time, were in active operation, and through which many hundreds of thousands of bushels of grain were shipped to Chicago and other markets.

         Poultry Packing, Etc.—Among the other men of enterprise, whose names deserve especial mention, is L. P. Thompson, who is largely interested in buying, packing and shipping poultry. Mr. Thompson commenced this business about 1873. He fitted up buildings for this especial purpose, and during the poultry packing season, from the 1st of December to the 1st of March, his poultry yard and house bustle with activity. He buys poultry from all parts of the country, receives it by wagon and car loads, dresses it, freezes it, packs it and ships it to Boston and other Eastern markets by car loads. He receives in return, as the market demands, fresh oysters and codfish in car lots.

         Besides his investments in this line of business, Mr. Thompson deals largely in fine horses, buying and shipping by rail to the East. He is noted, from one end of the country to the other, as a horse dealer. He is now the owner of two blooded stallions—Brougham, by Rysdick’s Hambletonian, and Sterling, the last a beautiful bay, of fine proportions.