M. E. WITTY & SON
_____
The store of M. E. Witty and Son is located on the South
side of the Square in the middle of the
block Phone 339. They handle everything in he Variety
line at reasonable prices.
_____
Milton Elam Witty, the senior member of the firm, was
born in Summer Shade, Kentucky in 1864. He came to Texas in 1893 and made
his home in Hico where he was connected with the old mercantile firm of
Sellers and Connally. In 1907 he brought the store, Connally & Co., to
Hamilton. He was manager there until 1922 when he went into the variety
and cotton business for himself. His first store was on the west side of
the square where the J. D. McKinley store is now. He was married to Miss
Ada Jones of Kentucky in 1881. They have three children, Mrs. Grace Witty
(Joe H.) Eidson, Milton Brents, and Joe.
Milton Brents Witty, the junior member of the firm was
born in Hico in 1896. After completing the public schools here he attended
Rice Institute at Houston. The war interrupted his college career. He was
commissioned in the machine gun corps of the 90th Division of the
Infantry. He was one of the first to go into service from here in
September, 1917. He was stationed at Camp Travis, San Antonio and Camp
Hancock, Georgia. After Witty was discharged from the service, he was
employed by the Brown Shoe Company of St. Louis; working both on the road
and in the house. Within a year he returned to Hamilton to go into
business with Howard Edmiston. They built the first drive-in filling
station in the county. The Conoco Service Station is now located there. In
1924 he became joint owner and manager of the M. E. Witty & Son
variety store.
In 1925 he was married to Miss Katherine
Baker, elder
daughter of Dr. and Mrs. C. C. Baker, Sr. Both parents are members of
prominent pioneer families. Mrs. Witty, a vivacious, popular, and
energetic young woman, was a professional woman until March of this year.
After completing her college education at the University of Missouri, she
taught in several local schools of the county; Gustine; principal at Fairy; principal at
Blue Ridge; Hamilton and then taught in Dallas for two
years. She occupied the post office for five years serving as acting
postmaster from November, 1928 until February, 1929. She then received her
appointment and occupied the place until March, 1934. Mr. and Mrs. Witty
have three attractive small children: Brents, Jr., Katheryne, and Ann.
The firm of M. E. Witty and Son affiliated with the Ben
Franklin chain stores soon after it was established. This affiliation
enables the firm to take advantage of quantity buying; thereby being able
to sell to the public at the lowest possible price, goods which are good.
The Historical and Trade Expansion Edition of the News
asks that each and everyone of its readers make it a habit of trading with
Witty’s. They have the newest novelties, standard lines of hardware,
kitchenware, cosmetics, school supplies, and toys.
The Hamilton County News, Vol. IV, Number
11--Section Three
Historical and Trading Expansion Issue
W. F. Billingslea, Editor-Publisher
Subscription Price ONE YEAR ..$1.00
June 29, 1934
