the foremost practitioners at the Coös bar. He is the junior partner of the law firm of Ladd & Fletcher. After the death of Hon. W. D. Weeks, judge of probate of this county, Gen. Fletcher was appointed his successor. Carl Abbott and D. J. Bailey represent the younger members of the profession resident in town. It surely is an array of names and of talent that cannot be surpassed in the state.
Of the merchants, the leading firms are those of R. P. Kent & Son, J. A. Smith, Kent & Roberts, D. W. Smith, Frank Smith & Co., Howe Bros., Bailey & Smith, S. G. and A. G. Evans, and J. R. Parcher.
General merchandise—P. J. Noyes and C. F. Colby.
Druggists—Cobleigh & Moore, J. M. Rowell, Morse & Davis.
Hardware, farming tools, etc.—T. P. Underwood, Geo. W. Lane.
Merchant tailors—C. Deitrich.
Manufacturing establishments, etc.—Marshall & Eaton, carriages, etc., Richardson & Folsom, furniture, be- sides which there are several shoe stores.
This article can speak but briefly of these various firms and their business. The establishment of R. P. Kent & Son is the oldest in town, Mr. R. P. Kent coming to Lancaster in 1825, and soon entering upon business for himself. He built up an extensive trade, was active and successful in business, and was the leading merchant of the county up to the time of his death, which occurred in April last. The career of Mr. Kent was in some respects a remarkable one. His energy, persistence, and integrity were the elements in his character that gave him a leading place in the business of this section of the state, for the sixty years he was a resident of this town. The business is still carried on under the old firm name, his son. Col. E. R. Kent, who was for some years the active business partner, conducting it.
James A. Smith is the next oldest business merchant of the town. Mr. Smith has been in trade thirty-eight years, sometimes with a partner, but always at the head of the establishment himself. He is a son of Allen Smith, long known in this community as the first saddler, or, as we say now, harness-maker, in town. He was a veteran of the War of 1812, and a a pillar of the Methodist church. Mr. J. A. Smith is still actively engaged in business.
The firm of Frank Smith & Co. does a larger and greater variety of business than any other firm in this section. Mr. Smith was born in Lunenburg, Vt., in 1833, came to Lancaster in 185.5, and commenced with a small capital and small stock in the grocery trade. By a close application to his work he increased his capital and his stock, and the result is his heavy business transactions of to-day. His first partner in trade was Ariel M. Bullard, who died in 1881, and was succeeded by his son, W. E. Bullard, who is still an active partner. The old grist-mill was purchased by the firm, but it was soon destroyed by fire, and a new and well appointed one immediately built, said to be one of the best, if not the very best, in the state. Adjoining they built a large block in which are their offices, the remainder being devoted to their great stock of flour, grain, and heavy groceries. On the opposite
