Caldwell County MO Archives History .....BUSINESS LIFE OF 52 YEARS IN HAMILTON 
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Karen Walker khw4@yahoo.com September 8, 2008, 4:17 pm

	BUSINESS LIFE OF 52 YEARS IN HAMILTON
	Narrator:  C.A. Martin, 71

     Chester A. Martin, or Chet, as he is always called, had a business career 
of 52 years in Hamilton before he retired in the fall of 1932, selling out to 
the Johnson company.  
     Mr. Martin came to Hamilton as a child 1868 with his father Sam Martin, 
and his stepmother.  He has seen Hamilton in most of its development.
     He learned the tinner's trade with Gideon Prentice, intending to follow 
that trade.  With his brother F.A. Martin they finally bought out Prentice and 
engaged in the hardware business in the room now occupied by the Vaughan 
grocery.
     Later they bought the John Morton hardware stock and went into the Morton 
building on the corner where the P.O. now stands (1935).  There were two rooms 
in the building then and soon Chet left the hardware to Finis the brother, and 
he put in a stock of groceries in the north room.  In 1896, he sold his 
grocery and became cashier in the First National Bank with Dan Booth as 
president.  Here he stayed till 1904 when he sold his stock to True D. Parr 
again he went into grocery business (his real choice by now) buying out C.M. 
Pease on North Davis street west side.  A few years later, he bought the lots 
and put up the double building which became the home of the very extensive 
Martin grocery.  F.A. Martin ran the hardware in the room to the north.  They 
were in partnership on everything.  Then again they dissolved partnership.  
Mr. Martin married Martie Murphy, daughter of Henry Murphy of this city.  They 
have one son, Latimer, (named for his paternal grandmother) who was the junior 
partner with his father in the grocery store.
     Mr. Martin parents had four children, Finia, Chester A., Addie (married 
Henry George), Hettie (first wife of Dr. T. Brown).  C.A. is the only one left 
of this set of children.  Sam Martin married the second time, and there were 
born Byrda (Mrs. Taylor), Cora (dead), Linna, and Fred.
     Interview  1934.


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