Thanks, Cathy. The concensus seems to be that a huckster was a salesman, but the variety of wares tended to vary. For some reason I seemed to associate the term with the old traveling carnival/circus era, in particular, the sideshow attractions. Perhaps I'm confusing terms. Ron Cathy Berger writes: > When I grew up in NJ a huckster was one who came around via horse and wagon > and sold fresh fruits and vegetables. They still do that (by Automobile) > occasionally here in rural PA today. > > Cathy > ----- Original Message ----- > From: R L Whitaker <whitaker@frognet.net> > To: <WHITAKER-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Saturday, January 12, 2002 9:19 AM > Subject: [WHITAKER] Re: Whitakers in MO > > > > > > Jan. Thank you for the very enlightening response to my question. Ron > > > > > > RWhit18007@aol.com writes: > > > > > a Huckster is a salesman today. but then it was > > > a peddler or someone who came around to sell you something. ( an > Early > > > "Fuller Bush man" or " Avon Calling" ) > > > Don;t be ashamed of him. > > > In my family. it was always said. that one distant aunt was > Vet. > > > a cat a Dog Doctor. Well, I was impressed at a lady being an animal > Doctor > > > that early. but I found no records anywhere to this effect only heresay > from > > > family. > > > When I last I spoke to an " outspoken uncle" he said. > > > > > > " Auntie a Vet? well, H_____ She was no Doctor. > > > She ran a CAT HOUSE.!!! > > > > > > No wonder I found no records!!!! > > > > > > I also have a William Whitaker b. 1830 who was born Danville > Ill. > > > > > > He married Mary Padget when she died. > > > married Nancy Ann Mabe of Tenn. > > > > > > they moved to Nebraska and died there. > > > > > > William's father was Elijah Whitaker & Mary Sharp. > > > > > > Relax. the " Lady Vet": was not from Whitaker line.. > > > > > > rwhit18007@aol.com > > > Jan > > > > > > > > > ==== WHITAKER Mailing List ==== > > > > > > > > > > > > ============================== > > > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy > records, go to: > > > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ______________________________ > > > > Will Rogers never met a lawyer > > ______________________________ > > > > > > ==== WHITAKER Mailing List ==== > > > > > > > > ============================== > > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, > go to: > > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > > > > > > > > > > ==== WHITAKER Mailing List ==== > WHITAKER List Administrator > <commander@inetone.net> > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > ______________________________ Will Rogers never met a lawyer ______________________________

I believe the old traveling carnival/circus sideshow attractions barker was called a "hawker." Dawn Proctor -- "...and no doubt the Universe is unfolding as it should." -Desiderata Visit The Cabin in the Woods at http://members.home.net/dawnlproctor