Jones Co. TX - Newspapers - The Stamford American: December 19, 1924 *********************************************************** Submitted by: Dorman Holub Date: 28 December 2019 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/jones/jonestoc.htm *********************************************************** The Stamford American Friday, December 19, 1924 Penick-Hughes Co. celebrating their 25th anniversary The business was organized by Col. R.L. Penick in 1899, who was then in the hardware business in Anson. He interested with him Ed. S. Hughes of Abilene, who was at that time in the wholesale and retail hardware and furniture business, and R.V. Colbert of Anson. At that time Anson had no railroad but was the principal trading town for the vast cattle country of the Clear Fork and Double Mountain country. It had been announced that the Texas Central which had been held up at Albany for some years would build west and would reach Stamford about February, 1900. The new first of Penick-Hughes determined to open at Stamford in their own building with a stock of hardware and furniture by the time the railroad reached here, and they did, in an iron building and partly in a tent. And it was in that tent that the first Stamford Chamber of Commerce was organized in the spring of 1900 and Col. Penick became its president, but that is another story. Col. Penick came to Stamford as the active member of the business and has held that position throughout the years. In 1904, R.L. Haynie left a farm in Bell County, Texas, to seek his fortune in the new west. He came to Stamford and entered the Penick-Hughes firm in a minor position. He bought the stock of R.V. Colbert and became manager of the wholesale department. Mr. Colbert entered the banking business and has made a phenomenal success as a banker and ranchman. Col. Penick is too well known in Texas. He came from Kentucky and settled in Jones County 44 years ago. Alexander Gin Co. Olsburg Mercantile Co. M.J. Olson, Proprietor Ericksdahl Community; Avoca, Texas