as smooth as possible. At that time there was no other town west of it, except a little trading post on Red River (Preston) established to trade with the Chickasaw Indians, when he landed in Bonham, all he had was two old horses and a little old crooked bed wagon, a large and helpless family and himself in poor health; he had just 25 cents left of the ten dollars borrowed of Mr. Botts. The next day a man killed a beef and he waited until the people had taken all except the neck, knowing he could get more of that kind of meat for the money than any other. The butcher, on being asked what he would take for it, replied. "price it and take it." He said, "I will give you 25 cents for it." He said. "take it along." This took the last cent he had besides he owed ten dollars of borrowed money. He said he slept none that night being in a strange country among strangers, with a helpless family of seven children unable to work himself out of supplies and not a cent of m oney. There was only one store in the place. A man by the name of Stockleger had a little stock of general merchandise, who proved to be a man with a big heart. The next morning he went to Mr. Stockleger and frankly told him his circumstances. He told him that he had a little cabin near where he was camping and to go back and move in it at once, then come to the store and get what he needed, and that when spring came he could pay him in hauling. He managed to make expenses until spring. As soon as grass was sufficient to travel on (it then being the only feed that could be relied upon) he started on his first trip to haul for Mr. Stockleger. At that time freighting had to be done with teams from Shreveport and Jefferson. 200 and 250 miles. H is first trip was to Shreveport. La., 250 miles. lie continued to haul with his two horse rig that season. The next spring he was able to buy a large wagon and four yoke of oxen, to this he soon added others and so on until he had several wagons and teams on the road nearly all the time. After a while so many went into the business that it ceased to be so profitable ; he then sold out and went into the cattle business further west. Besides he bought and drove beef cattle to some shipping point and shipped to New Orleans. Later when the railroad came in reach he changed to St. Louis and Chicago. During the winter season he bought and drove a great many mules and horses to Louisiana and East and Southeast Texas. He always

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