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mm McCormick and McCOrMiCk county, s. c. teristic highly developed in both these enterprising young men, and erected the beautiful brick structur they now occupy. The firm of McGrath Bros., is composed of J. T. and D. M. Mc Grath, both natives of this section and men that are respected and liked for their honest methods of doing business and for their pub lic spiritedness and willingness to take part in, and lend their in fluence toward any move that is calculated to further the interest of McCormick and McCormick County. These gentlemen were largely identified in the new county movement and had much to do with bringing about the victory which resulted in the formation of the County of McCormick. In this New Era Journal of the men and institutions that de serve credit for obtaining a county for ourselves, McGrath Bros., deserve this special mention. CHERO COLA BOTTLING WORKS. Established some years ago and operated for the purpose of bottling soft drinks of different kinds, this concern was more or less a success until bought by the present owner, G. J. Sanders, who at once infused new life into the operation and policy of the plant. One of the first and rery important moves made by the new owner was to see to it that the men, who were to mix and bottle the product of the plant, were thoroughly efficient and capable in their line of endeavor. Then the machinery that was to be used was closely looked after in such a manner that it not only proved the conservative business ability and farsightedness of the proprietor, but showed also his implicit faith in modern methods and his de termination to carry out his idea of absolute up-to-dateness in raged to any venture in which he became interested. The result of this idea of thoroughness on the part of Mr. Sanders is that now McCormick boasts of one of the most complete and strictly first class bottling plants in this entire section of the State. The plant is equipped with the most modern machinery and sanitary appliances for bottling not only appetizing, delicious and Invigorating drinks of all kinds, but also that renowned beverage Chero-Cola, known and sought after by hundreds of thousands of people in preference to all others, on account of its healthful, ex hilarating and thirst allaying qualities superior to all others. Mr. Sanders is one of our well known business men who took so much interest and lent such great influence toward the move which recently terminated in the formation of McCormick County. At various times he has engaged in farming, live stock dealer, and merchandising. His present endeavor has been successful from the start and has grown until now it requires a large auto truck to handle the great quantity of bottled drinks turned out by his plan. THE BATTERY. Sturkey and Carson. Occupying a commanding position among the mercantile con cerns of this community, and for that reason, entitled to special mention in this New Era Journal of McCormick, is the firm of Sturkey and Carson, operating the large Department Store on Main Street known as The Battery. This store is a type of the enterprising mercantile establish ments that have wone for McCormick a wide reputation for being one of the most substantial and progressive commercial centers in Western South Carolina. It occupies a large brick store building constructed for the purpose of housing and displaying the immense stock of high class merchandise which has made The Battery so popular with all classes throughout this section. One department is devoted to dry goods, notions, embroideries, laces, lingerie, garments for ladies and children and a full line of dry goods sundries. Another is given over to a large stock of men’s and boy's furnishings, stylish haberdashery, high grade shoes, hats, and clothing made by the most reliable tailoring houses m America, selected by experienced buyers to supply the demands of patrons in all walks of life. There is still another department, and a very important one too, devoted to Millinery which is under the personal supervision of Mrs. J. S. Strom where the very latest creations in the art of head-dress for ladies can be found suitable to all seasons and occasions. This big merchandising house with its high position in the business life of McCormick County is principally the creation of the untiring energy of M. L. B. Sturkey, a man who has mastered the principles of commercial success, and stands today as one of the most conspicuous examples of the self-made man in our com munity. Entering the field of commercial activity some thirty years ago as a merchant in McCormick, Mr. Sturkey has constantly stuck to this line of endeavor to the present day. His first venture was alone but after some years a company was formed known as the M. l’ B. Sturkey Co., and managed by Mr. Sturkey. Afterwards this com pany was bought out by Mr. Sturkey and the store was again operated in his own name. This continued until about six months ago when he sold a half interest in the present Department Store to Mr. J. F. Carson, a thorough, practical business man and ex perienced merchant of Gaffney. In taking Mr. Carson in the firm Mr. Sturkey retained his large hardware, farm implement and grocery store adjoining the De partment Store which is still operated under the name of M. L. B. Sturkey and of which special mention is made elsewhere in this Journal. Mr. Carson, Mr. Sturkey’s associate, comes to McCormick with an unblemished record as a gentleman of superior qualifications, as a successful business man and an acquisition, as a citizen, that we may justly feel proud of. He is a native of York County, this State. He went to Gaffney in 1900 and acted as salesman for a time, for the largest retail store there, a firm operating on $1,000,000. capital, afterwards becoming manager of this entire store. He acted in ejr this capacity until he felt that he was completely equipped for entering the mercantile business upon his own responsibility, which he did. In February of this year he came to McCormick and became associated with Mr. Sturkey. > J. B. HARMON. Merchant and Developer. Standing forth prominently as a successful business man, pub lic-spirited citizen and community-builder; occupying the position of, and being recognized as, a most praiseworthy gentleman, is the well known merchant and developer, J. B. Harmon. A native of this section, this gentleman has been actively identi fied with its commercial growth and civic progress for more than thirty five years. His name is closely linked with every phase of our prosperity. And as a merchant, he holds a commanding posi tion throughout northwestern South Carolina. Since entering the mercantile business as a young man, Mr. Harmon has suffered heavy losses by fire on two different occas ions, and while it appeared each time that he could hardly pull through the trying ordeal and maintain his financial position, he has come back, after surmounting all obsticles accompanying each conflagration, both bigger and better than previous to his misfor tune. No other man took more active part in the new county move ment than did this man. The esteem, with which he is honored by the trading public, is deservedly of the very highest order; and as a business man of unsurpassed qualifications, Mr. Harmon is conceded to be without a parallel in this whole section of the State. His store is located on Main Stfeet, next door to the Farmers Bank, of which highly prosperous and fast growing financial in stitution. Mr. Harmon is president. This store is heavily stocked with dry goods, shoes, hats, clothing, fancy and heavy groceries, hardware, harness and other dependable merchandise too numerous in variety to enumerate. In addition to this large store he also maintains an immense two story brick warehouse where wagons, buggies, plows, mowers, cultivators, rakes, harrows and great varieties of farm implements, machinery and tools are carried, to gether with the best grades of fertilizers. Besides this tremendous mercantile establishment Mr. Harmon is an extensive holder of real estate and operates several large plan tations and is recognized as one of the best agriculturalists in this section. He is also a cotton buyer of no small caliber, strength and ability. No project of merit, that is calculated to be of benefit to either town or county, ever has a more ardent supporter than Mr. J. B. Harmon. N. G. BROWN & SON. General Merchandise. In the commercial activities of McCormick, and holding a most prominent position among the enterprising concerns that have been intimately associated and closely identified with tbe growth and prosperity of the community, none commands a stroger or more substantial foothold in the confidence of the trading public through out this entire section of the State than does the well known mer cantile house of N. G. Brown & Son., located on Main street and oc cupying one of the principle brick business stores in the town. This large general merchandising store is one of the land marks of McCormick, and its business reputation established by fifteen years of honorable trade relations with the public of this ^ection and surrounding territory, is unsurpassed. The main store is completely stocked with high-class dry goods, notions, fine fabrics for ladies wear, shoes, hats, clothing, groceries, hardware, harness, tools and all the other necessities for personal use and for farming purposes. In addition to the main store this firm handles all kinds of commercial fertilizers. The firm is composed of N. G. and J. C. Brown; N. G. the father