Contract Let for Seven Brick Business Houses

Our enterprising merchant and townsman, Mr. F. R. Austin, has contracted with Capt. F. Jesty for the construction of seven new brick business houses on Market Street, between Dahmer’s Bakery and the old Ragsdale hardware store. These new houses will command ready renters, inasmuch as they will be conveniently located. We understand that they will be occupied by a number of our cotton buyers, and that the buildings will be known as “Cotton Row”.

From the Greenwood Enterprise, August 23, 1895

Cotton Exchange Organized

The cotton buyers and cotton merchants of Greenwood met at the office of C. J. Austin, Tuesday afternoon, and organized a Cotton Exchange. C. J. Austin was elected President; R. T. Jones, Vice-President; L. Bowman, Secretary and Treasurer. Constitution and by-laws were adopted, and the following enrolled as members of the Exchange: Delta Bank, Greenwood Compress Co., W. C. Craig & Co., R. T. Jones & Co., S. Humphrey & Co., C. J. Austin, Barnwell & Co., W. H. Kline & Co., Albert Aron and E. R. Selliger. The annual dues were fixed at $30.00 each. Planters or any person not engaged in the cotton business will be admitted to the privileges of the Exchange for $25.00.

C. J. AUSTIN, Pres.

L. BOWMAN, Sec’y.

From the Greenwood Enterprise, September 27, 1895

GREENWOOD'S FIRST BALE

Greenwood received her first bale of new crop cotton Saturday, August 1st, which was produced on the Sisloff farm, a mile south of town, by a colored man named John Chism, who rents land from Mr. J. T. Gray, lessee of the place. The new bale weighed 540 pounds, classed strict good middling and was sold to the progressive and enterprising mercantile file of E. Hyman & Bro. for 7 cents per pound. Messrs. Hyman & Bro. Also gave the producer a premium in the shape of a barrel of good flour, which they had offered for the first bale some time ago.

From the Greenwood Enterprise, August 7, 1896

First Open Cotton Boll

The first open boll of new crop cotton in Leflore County was reported from Mr. W. A. Swift’s Lochleven plantation in the extreme southern part of the county on July 26th. Mr. Swift has a magnificent crop this year, and we congratulate him upon reporting the first open boll of the season.

From The Commonwealth, August 3, 1906

Second Bale of Cotton

Greenwood has received two new bales of cotton this week. The second bale was brought in Wednesday by Henry Stainback, a colored farmer living on the Grenada road about three miles out of town. It being the first bale of cotton from this county, the Cotton Buyers made up a purse of $35.00 for the raiser.

From the Greenwood Enterprise, August 22, 1913

GREENWOOD’S FIRST BALE OF COTTON

Greenwood’s first bale of cotton raised in Leflore County, was brought in by Mr. O. F. Bledsoe from his Shellmound plantation on August the 10th. It is now at the Greenwood Cotton Exchange and will be sold at auction about September the first, after all of the cotton buyers return and the proceeds given to the King’s Daughters Hospital.

From the Greenwood Enterprise, August 20, 1915

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