Jones Co. TX - Newspapers - The Stamford American: March 13, 1925

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Submitted by: Dorman Holub <txarchives@me.com> 
Date: 28 December 2019 
Copyright. All rights reserved. 
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm 
http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/jones/jonestoc.htm 
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	The Stamford American 
	Friday, March 13, 1925

	Prizes offered by Stamford merchants for parade stunts on day the
	Longhorn University band plays here March 21st.

	Postage rates will be some higher April 15th

	History of Bryant-Link Company 
	
	by Joe H. Payne, III 
	The Bryant-Link
	Company was organized in 1884, in Anson, Texas, Jones County. Mr.
	J.C. Bryant started business with a small Hardware store. as the
	store prospered more merchandise was added and Mr. Bryant's brother,
	Mr. W.C. Bryant, was taken as his partner. New lines were added and
	by careful and close attention the business prospered to such an
	extent that a general store was demanded by the developing country.
	W.C. Bryant sold this interest in the business and G.H. Baker was
	taken as a partner. When the Texas Central Railroad came to Stamford
	from Albany, Mr. J.C. Bryant came to Stamford and opened a business
	that then became known as Baker-Bryant Company. The business at this
	time was incorporated and stock was sold to different parties some
	of whom are very well known business men of today: Namely R.V.
	Colbert, W.A. Baker and J.F. P'Pool.	The Stamford house enjoyed a
	very fine business in the beginning with new comers from other
	sections of the state. This store had patronage of people as far
	away as Dickens County, northwest to King County and north to Know
	County. As the county settled there came a demand for stores of this
	kind at other places. Mr. J.C. Bryant foresaw the opportunity and
	thus began the expansion of theBaker-Bryant Company. The store at
	Munday was opened in 1901, with a general store under management of
	W.A. Baker. This was a very successful adventure and soon thereafter
	about 1900, the Aspermont store was opened under the management of
	Mr. George S. Link. This store was very successful until destroyed
	by fire in 1903. Merchandise of all kinds were hauled to these
	places on wagons and drawn by from two to 16 head of horses and
	cotton was brought back to Stamford by these same wagons. These
	teamsters were known by freighters and endured many hardships that
	we of today know nothing of. No more stores were opened until
	Railroads were built through the country. The Orient being one of
	the first traversing this country north and South. Stores were
	opened in the spring of 1906 at Rule, Hamlin, Rochester and Lueders.
	The store was also re-established at Aspermont. The stores of the
	following years experienced ups and downs of business, therefore no
	more stores were opened until 1909 at which time the Stamford and
	Northwestern Railroad was built to Spur. At the time the Jayton and
	Spur stores were opened. In 1914, the Knox City store was opened. In
	1917, the Post City store was opened. In 1920 stores were opened at
	Ralls and Snyder. In 1924 stores at Rotan and Peacock were opened.
	These stores operated under the firm name of Baker-Bryant Company,
	with the exception of the new stores, they being operated under
	separate charters and the name of the first Byant _______ Co. The
	later part of that firm name was the manager of that local store,
	preceded by Bryant. However, on account of financing and for other
	good reasons all the stores were consolidated, under one firm name
	and one charter. The style of the firm name was at this time changed
	from Baker-Bryant Co., to Bryant-Link Co., being given a charter to
	operate in any part of Texas. Mr. Bryant has never gone outside of
	his stores for a manager or for a head of a department. In this way
	he has built an organization that is loyal. There are several men
	now as boys begun in the firm and in early manhood, who now have
	children very active in the business. This firm is recognized in the
	commercial world as one of the few strong ones of Texas. Their
	buying power being greater than any like institution is that part of
	the country in which they operate. Joe H. Payne, III is the son of
	Joe H. Payne, II, the manager of the local store and furnished his
	son with the data for the story.