INDUSTRIAL AND SOUVENIR EDITION OF THE ADVANCE Monticello, Ark., Tuesday, Debember 17, 1907 Page 4, Columns 1 & 2 Ed Spencer Among the important mercantile concerns of the town must be mentioned that of Ed Spencer, who runs one of the most up-to-date stores to be found in this part of the state. Ed Spencer was born at Lacy, 16 miles south of Monticello, September 5, 1859, and was the eldest son of Geo. S. and Eliza (Daniel) Spencer. During his boyhood days he obtained such rudimentary education as he could from the country schools of the day and supplemented this by one year's attendance at the Monticello school. At the age of 23 years Mr. Spencer came to Monticello to seek his fortune and began his career here as clerk in the store of Harris, Cotham & Wood, where he worked six years at a meagre salary. Having served his apprenticeship in this line, Mr. Spencer then opened a small stock of dry goods in connection with his aunt, Mrs. Lucy Jackson, but at the end of a few months, the firm of Cotham & Everett, successors to his former employers, having offered him a good position and an interest in the business, and having agreed to take his stock of goods off his hands at invoice prices, he accepted their proposition and went to them. After remaining with them for three years, he sold out to his partners and took emploment with the firm of McCloy & Trotter, where he worked for a year and then opened up an exclusive shoe business in partnership with his brother George, under the firm name of Ed and George Spencer. This arrangement was terminated at the end of three years and Mr. Spencer formed a partnership with B. A. Hardy and Walter Lambert under the stlye of Spencer, Hardy & Company. After running this way for five years, Mr. Spencer bought the interests of the other members of the firm and has been running since as Ed Spencer, dealer in dry goods. He now has one of the largest and best assorted stocks of dry goods to be found in any town of this size. He does a large furnishing business and a large cash business. He makes a specialty of ladies' fine dress goods and at all seasons carries a large and well selected line of the most fashionable fabrics. He also handles an unusually good line of ready-made clothing and gentlemen's furnishings and is the only dealer in this city selling the well known and hard-to-beat Hamilton-Brown shoes. Mr. Spencer's annual business wil average around $50,000 and last year it exceeded that amount. Mr. Spencer is a steward in the Methodist church and a member of the W. O. W. lodge. He is a member of the city council and a stockholder and director in the Monticello Bank & Trust Company, and is a valued and respected citizen. He married Misss Alice Harris and they have four children, two boys and two girls, the eldest daughter, Miss Allene, being now a student in the State University. Carolyn