M. H. Kester came to Vernon in August, 1886, and his first venture in businessin
Vernon was to open a grocery store. He was born in Indiana and moved to Navarro
County, Texas, in 1882. Promthere he came to this county.

In an interview with reference to his first grocery venture in Vernon, Mr.
Kester stated that he opened the businessin a small wooden structure which was
located on the north side of the court house square. In order to economize,he
stated, he lived upstairs over the store. From that location he moved his
grocery business to a rock buildingon the east side of the square and a few
years later that entire block was destroyed by fire.

Following the destruction of his grocery business by fire, Mr. Kester said that
he took up farming and followedthat occupation for a year and a half. Leaving
the farm, he went to work for Sebastian & Givens, who were inthe grocery
business here at that time. With that firm for a while, he left them to work for
Holt & Boger,who were also grocery-men. After Holt & Boger went out of business,
Mr. Kester said he went into the contractingbusiness with the late S. C.
Westbrook which he followed for several years. His next business venture was to
forma partnership with his brother, L. E. Kester, and the two opened up a
business selling paint, glass and wall-paper.The two brothers are still in this
same business at 1814 Main Street in Vernon, with the style of their firm
knownas Kester's Art Shop.

In discussing the grocery business in the early days, Mr. Kester said things
were very cheap compared to modernprices. Many times he said they had bought
eggs from the farmers and carried them to the dumping grounds to getrid of them
as there was no market.

The Indians who came to Vernon occasionally were very close buyers, according to
Mr. Kester and required considerableattention when they entered the store. He
said an Indian and several squaws would enter and start buying. Perhapsit would
be sugar and they would buy 25 cents worth. He always put less than the required
amount in the sack sothat he could pour in more if necessary. The idea was that
if the clerk waiting on them happened toget a little over 25c worth the Indians
would not stand for it being taken out. Maybe before they had done all their
trading, the Indian family would buy three or four packages of sugar, some
flour, meal, etc. After getting through, the squaws would put everything in a
blanket while one would gather up the corners and the others helpher lift it to
her back to carry. They usually camped down by the railroad and the squaw would
carry the load whilethe man rode a horse along side her.

Mr. Kester is the father of three children, two daughters and one son. They grew
up and received their education in Vernon. The children are: Mrs. Hattie Ball,
now residing at Terre Haute, Ind.; Mrs. Mable Dean, who lives inthe state of
Vermont, and Earl Kester, the son, is engaged in the undertaking business and
makes his home in LosAngeles, Calif.
[Source: Charles P. Ross, "Early-day history of Wilbarger County". Vernon,
Tex.: Vernon Times, 1933]