from notes hand written by my grandmother, Katie Thompson King, probably sometime in 1976:
In 1927, the first modern garage and service station in Holly Grove, Arkansas, was operated by Lynch-Jacobs Motor Company of Clarendon.
Ellis King, parts man (or clerk) for Lynch-Jacobs, was made manager of the business in Holly Grove.
The new station opened August 29, 1927,. At that time there were eleven gasoline pumps on Main Street, these being at the general stores For the first time in Holly Grove, free air was available, and the first public drinking foundatin was installed at this business.
In 1944, Ralph Abramson and Ellis King bought the business from John B. Jacobs. The name was changed to King Motor Company.
Mr. King is originally from Kingtown, a small town southeast of Marvell. He began working for Erwin Motor Company in September 1922. In January 1927 he was hired by Lynch-Jacobs Motor Company as manager of the parts department.
Probably close to a record, Mr. King has missed only 26 days of work in 50 years.
Mr. King plans to retire at the end of 1976. He has several hobbies and expects to spend much of his time at his cabin on East Lake.
Mr. and Mrs. King have enjoyed hteir years in Holly Grove. Both say Holly Grove seems almost to be their "home town." They have two daughters, Mrs. Don Dearing of Holly Grove and Mrs. Walter Carruth of Lexa. Four grandsons and two granddaughters are great joy.
Mr. King was a member of the Holly Grove volunteer fire department for 30 years. He is clerk of the session of the Presbyterian Church, a charter member of the Holly Grove Rotary Club, and is active in civic affairs of the town. His retirement, though well deserved, certainly will be a loss to the people of Holly Grove.
From the Lion Service Station News, a publication of Lion Oil Co., Oct. 1962 edition:
Arkansas Lion Dealer Celebrates 35th Anniversary in Business
Back in 1927 the town of Holly Grove, Arkansas, got its first real service station managed by Ellis G. King.
Recently Mr. King celebrated his 35th anniversary with just about the whole town turning out to honor his long service to them.
"When I first opened the station in conjunction with Lynch-Jacobs Motor Company," he recalls, "each merchant had his own pump. There were eleven pumps on Main Street at that time."
The new station offered car owners the only complete service station in town. Included in its equipment was the town's first air compressor allowing customers to get free air. Prior to the opening in 1927, car owners had to get battery water from a drug store, the only place in town where distilled water was available.
In 1944, Mr. King and his partner, Ralph Abramson, changed its name to King Motor Company. Modern facilities at the shop now include overhead lubrication reels, front end alignment and wheel balancing equipment, tune-up units and steam cleaning apparatus. In addition to maintaining a complete stock of auto parts, tires and accessories, day and night road and wrecker service is available.
Employees who help maintain King's slogan of "The House of Friendly Service" are Al Cowell, chief mechanic and shop foreman; Sam Langston Jr., attendant; and veteran Olish Barnes, senior attendant who has been with the firm for 18 years.
Mr. King has been active in the civic affairs of Holly Grove since he came to town. He is a charter memer of the Rotary Club and has been a member of the Volunteer Fire Department since its organizaiton in 1935. He has served the City Council as an alderman for several years.
Mr. Abramson, also a prominent business and civic leader of Holly Grove, is a member of the school board and vice president of the Eastern Arkansas Council, Boy Scouts of America.
-- Edited by Danyelle McNeill Fletcher at 15:34, 2007-11-27
I stopped at a drink box at the King Motor Co., in Holly Grove Sunday (May 28), and just ahead of me was a group of about half a dozen fine looking boys. One of the boys put a quarter in the machine, got his drink and four nickels change. The boys held a quick conference and another boy put in a quarter. The machine apparently emptied itself of every nickel Mr. King had in the box and you never saw such a scramble as the boys gathering up the nickels. Now up to here you would expect that of a bunch of lads, but the rest of the story is what is surprising. After all the nickels were gathered up, a couple of the lads said, "That's Mr. King's money. Let's gather it up and take it to him." And it was all gathered up and one of the boys left to give it back to Mr. King. More of our young people need to be like that. Why do so many want to take things that don't belong to them?
Holly Grove's first electric water cooler was installed Friday at King Motor Company as another convenient service offered to its customers.
As Mr. King says, "It's also nice for the kids on the tennis court opposite the garage. They are certainly welcome to use it at any time."
The cooler is to the left of the cold drink box. It has an attachment for the use of paper cups for those who desire, with a box of cups conveniently close.
Brinkley Argus Feb. 26, 1909 Holly Grove News -W.A. Owens is having some nice improvements made on his stores on Smith Street
Brinkley Argus Apr. 2, 1909 Holly Grove News -W.A. Owens, who has for the past two years or more run the hotel, has gone out of business and now H.G. is without a place for the drummer to stop. Someone will have to put up a hotel.
Brinkley Argus May 7, 1909 Holly Grove News -The people of Holly Grove regret very much that Miss Nannie Johnson, who has so long been “hello girl” has resigned. Miss Annette Redd, of Monroe, will take Miss Nannie’s place.
Brinkley Argus May 21, 1909 Holly Grove News -C.G. Kerr has bought the store building that was occupied by G.W. Johnson & Bros. and has moved his stock into it and Johnson Bros. now occupy the building that Mr. Kerr occupied.
Brinkley Argus June 4, 1909 Holly Grove News -Miss Gertrude Gother came back to Holly Grove from Clarendon and is now taking in sewing at Miss Fannie Ables millinery store
Brinkley Argus Oct. 22, 1909 Holly Grove News -Mr. Arch Day is making things look more lively about the front of Abramson Co.’s hardware store. Arch is a clever fellow. -Holly Grove, we understand, is to have a new drug company which will occupy two of the small bricks in the new brick block.
Brinkley Argus Oct. 29, 1909 Holly Grove News -Our little town is growing by degrees; we will soon have some new brick buildings ready for new merchants.
Brinkley Argus Feb. 25, 1910 Holly Grove Booms -The Holly Grove Gin Co. is now owned by Mr. Ed Priestly, who comes from Indiana. -Will Byrne and Skinner Young have formed a copartnership and entered the mercantile business. -Dr. Ruff, son-in-law of our druggist, Ed Priestly, has moved to Holly Grove to practice his profession -People who haven’t been to Holly Grove during the past several months cannot imagine the wonderful growth of this pretty little city. Many pretty homes have been built and a number of fine business blocks have been recently finished and are occupied by live business firms. -Capt. Tom Mull, who has been appointed postmaster at Holly Grove, will have as his assistant Mrs. A.K. Roberts, with Harry Kelly as clerk.
Brinkley Argus April 22, 1910 Holly Grove News -R. Abramson is laying a new 8 foot concrete walk in front of his business buildings
Brinkley Argus May 6, 1910 New Bank Opens at Holly Grove The opening of the new bank – the People’s Bank – at Holly Grove on Monday last marks an era in the financial progress of our county. The story of the opening will appear in the week’s Argus
Brinkley Argus May 26, 1910 Live News From Holly Grove -W.M. Mederas is fitting up a barber shop in the place Dr. Inscor has just vacated. H.G. is still growing.
Brinkley Argus June 10, 1910 Live News From Holly Grove -The new barber shop opened Saturday with a full patronage. The people enjoy the nice, new clean place that Mr. Mederas has. -Dr. Price, a dentist, was in our town one day last week looking for a location. I believe he would find this a good place to locate.
Brinkley Argus June 24, 1910 Live New From Holly Grove -The box ball alley run by Bruce Franks has become a great place of amusement for the young men. -Mrs. O’Neal of Clarendon, was in H.G. Saturday delivering toilet articles for the California Perfume Co.
Brinkley Argus July 15, 1910 Live News From Holly Grove -Mrs. M. Smith, of Paducah, Ky., has been here several days putting in a library. The library will be in the Holly Grove Drug Store
Brinkley Argus July 22, 1910 Live News From Holly Grove -The merchants of the town are to be commended for their mutual agreement to close their places of business at 7:30 p.m., by this giving themselves and clerks more rest.
-- Edited by Danyelle McNeill Fletcher at 15:18, 2006-04-05
Brinkley Argus May 17, 1907 Holly Grove News -T. Connelly from Poplar Grove is now managing at the central office in H.G.
Brinkley Argus May 24, 1907 Holly Grove News -Holly Grove is to have a Dowell Pin Factory. J.E. Williams and sons are the promoters. We will be glad to see this enterprise in successful operation, as H.G. has no manufacturing enterprise in the town. It takes something else to make a town besides cotton, especially since the cotton culture has become so very difficult and the results so uncertain.
Brinkley Argus June 14, 1907 Holly Grove News -C.H. Boyd has put in a first class wagon team and driver and will do a drying business. -Messrs Dick Chism and Will Byrne have purchased the freight business, including team and wagon, from Mr. Sid Connelly, and are now conducting that business.
Brinkley Argus Sept. 6, 1907 Holly Grove News -Thomas Connelly, manager of the phone system of H.G., has resigned his position in favor of J.B. Johnson and gone back to Helena. -Will Smith (col.) who has been running a restaurant on the northeast corner of the Branch brick, has moved his place of business, as Prof. W.A. Owens has bought this property and has rented to another party. Prof. Owens has also bought the home where the Strickland Bros. are running a barber shop. Am no informed whether Stricklin Bros. will move or not. -Dick Chism has resigned his job as section boss on the Midland road and is now running a freight wagon in H.G. -R.G. Peete has a job as clerk in the store with Harry Weisenburg at H.G.
Brinkley Argus Sept. 13, 1907 Holly Grove News -Henry Welborn, the up-to-date coffee drummer, was working H.G. last Wednesday. -Our new depot agent, Mr. E.J. Wyeth, has the appearance of a very affable gentleman – kind and easy to approach - and is not one of these who seem to think that tis beneath the dignity of a railroad man to answer a common man kindly. -Messrs. G.W. and Will Johnson have purchased the entire stock of the H.L. Kelly store and will continue business at the same stand that H.L. Kelly occupied. These two brothers, Will and G.W. Johnson, are good businessmen and we wish them success. We welcome these gentlemen in our town, and hope that they may be pleased with our people and town. -E.E. Johnson will soon open a butcher shop and restaurant in the two vacant stores just west of James A. Walls’ brick building.
Brinkley Argus Sept. 20, 1907 Holly Grove News -Dr. J.M. Johnson carries a nice line of family groceries. Call and see the doctor.
Brinkley Argus Sept. 27, 1907 Holly Grove News -H.L. Kelly has opened business in the northeast corner of the Branch Brick. Call and see how nice and cozy Harry’s new store looks.
Brinkley Argus Oct. 18, 1907 -Miss Claudy Williams is now behind the counter at J.W. Lair’s -H.M Peete Sr., can be seen at work in the store of Mayo & Mayo.
Brinkley Argus Jan. 22, 1909 Holly Grove News -S. Geronin and Wm. A. Owens will both do some additional building on their brick stores at once. -Dr. B.H. Ward will soon occupy offices in the Owens building. Dr. Ward comes to Holly Grove as Dr. R.L. Saxon goes away. Dr. Saxon goes to a larger medical field. -P.J. Cranford will occupy offices in the Owens building after Feb. first.
-- Edited by Danyelle McNeill Fletcher at 10:07, 2006-03-15
Brinkley Argus 1965 Holly Grove Land Mark Sold Last Week In the year of 1895, there came to the little town of Holly Grove, a couple from St. Louis, looking for a place to live and establish a business. Following a few days of investigation, Mr. and Mrs. Geronin decided this would be a most desirable place.
As time passed, the store, “S. Geronin” was built on the corner of Main Street at that time. Eventually, a home was built and three children were born to this couple – Gerschwin, Herman, and the daughter, Adeline, who is Mrs. Lloyd Bensinger of Memphis. Herman has continued with the business and lived here. Gershwin passed away when a young man many years ago.
Herman sold the old landmark, S. Geronin and Son, last week and has gone to Memphis to live with his sister, Mrs. Lloyd Bensinger. (contributed by Herman Summerfield)
Brinkley Argus Feb. 8, 1907 Holly Grove News -J.B. Johnson is closing out his line of family groceries and butcher shop businesses and will engage in other businesses. -A new firm in H.G. who will open up a general supply business of dry goods and groceries. The name and style of the firm is Mayo & Mayo. These are both hustling good men and we hope for them much success in this line of business.
Brinkley Argus Feb. 22, 1907 Holly Grove News -Walls & Co. received a car load of corn last week. -R. Abramson has just received a car load of corn to supply his customers. -Patterson & Finch have built a blacksmith shop on their ground they recently bought from Alex Simpson
Brinkley Argus Mar. 15, 1907 Holly Grove News -Messrs. Patterson & Fincher have torn away the Simpson gin house and are building a new house which will be used for their Saw Mill and fixtures as well as a gin -H.G. has a new mercantile co. known as W.F. Branch & Co., to wit: W.F. Branch, George T. Dial, and M.A. Patterson. They will continue business in the nice brick that has been occupied heretofore by Mr. Branch. They are all good businessmen and we bespeak for them a successful business.
Brinkley Argus Apr. 5, 1907 Holly Grove News -Dr. Julius West was looking after his dental practice at H.G. last Tuesday
Brinkley Argus Apr. 19, 1907 Holly Grove News -Banks Johnson supplies H.G. with plenty of nice fish every Saturday -Dr. J.M. Johnson has just received a car load – 12 cords – of cook stove and fire wood to supply the pressing demand for such wood in the town at this time
Brinkley Argus Apr. 26, 1907 Holly Grove News -Of course, H.G. must have a good hotel. A good house should be erected for that purpose. If a house suitable for the business was here, there would soon be someone to open up a good hotel. Let men of money supply the need. -Holly Grove is about to be left in bad shape for hotel accommodations. Mrs. Judge T.G. Trice, who has kept hotel at H.G. for a quarter of a century, and perhaps longer, on being interviewed by your correspondent as regards the matter, declared that she would close her doors against the public on the 1st day of May, 1907. Mrs. Trice has made many friends during the many years she has kept hotel and has proved herself to be a most estimable hostess, ever acquitting herself with patience and that dignity that is so becoming a high toned Christian spirited lady of highest type.
Monroe County Citizen July 21, 1927 HG Gleanings -Holly Grove is to have a new 5 and 10 cent store so we are informed. -Friday, July 22, Mr. P.E. Williamson will open his new store, also his cafe. Everybody is cordially invited to attend this opening and the public is assured of high appreciation.
Monroe County Citizen Aug. 1,, 1927 HG Gleanings -Be sure to see the new Post Office Cafe located next door to the Holly Grove Post Office.
Monroe County Citizen Oct. 13, 1927 HG Gleanings - The W. O. W. enjoyed an oyster stew in the new post office cafe Wednesday night.
Monroe County Citizen Sept. 23, 1926 Holly Grove Gleanings - "Saturday was a busy day for our merchants. Everybody seemed busy supplying the wants of the customer."
Monroe County Citizen Oct. 7, 1926 Holly Grove Gleanings - "Holly Grove has a new ready-to-wear store. It opened up Saturday morning."
Monroe County Citizen Dec. 2, 1926 Handsom New Store Building at Holly Grove "An addition to the business houses of Holly Grove, which adds to the look of progress now being assumed by that town is the new store building being erected by Riner Bros. on the east side of the railroad on the corner formerly occupied by the Rudolph Abramson old store. This handsome new building is of brick and is of modern design. It will have a plate glass front and when completed will be one of the handsomest places of business in Holly Grove."
Monroe County Citizen Dec. 16, 1926 Holly Grove to Have Water Works System "Plans are being made for the installation of a Water Works System at Holly Grove, to cost approximately $75,000. It is expected that work will commence early in January and be completed sometime during the year."
Monroe County Citizen Feb. 3, 1927 Holly Grove Gleanings -"Monday Mr. Abramson had the old garage torn away on the vacant lot beside the residence of Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Taylor and soon a filling station will be built there. It will mean much for Holly Grove. We are always glad for our city to grow.
Monroe County Citizen Feb. 10, 1927 Holly Grove Gleanings -"Holly Grove has a new business, (?) Kerr & Rodgers. They occupy the store vacated by R. Riner and Son. -"The Interstate Grocery Company has opened up a wholesale grocery store in our city."
Monroe County Citizen Mar. 17, 1927 Holly Grove Has New Fair Store "In another place in this paper today will be found an advertisement of the Fair Store, No. 56, which will open at Holly Grove Saturday March 19 with Mr. S.M. Crow as manager. This store will carry a full line of general merchandise and has had printed a large circular giving a number of prices said to be real bargains in the lines' advertisement. The manager, in discussing the new venture, said that he expects to have goods and prices at all times that will interest buyers in the Holly Grove territory."
Monroe County Citizen July 7, 1927 Holly Grove Gleanings -"Mr. P.E. Williamson expects to open his store and cafe about the 13th of July. Watch for further announcements." -"The new filling station is nearing completion. They certainly know how to work fast. When finished, this will be quite an addition for our little city."
Monroe County Sun Feb. 20, 1947 Many Holly Grove Homes and Business Houses Redecorated "W.A. ‘Gander’ Ferguson called at our office and reported a redecorating campaign going on at Holly Grove, our neighboring city. He is a painter and decorator and he had his helper, H.C. Blackshire of Alexandra, Louisiana. The homes and business houses repainted and redecorated are as follows: Bulley Walls, paint job; the Holly Grove bank, inside and out; Loment Store, inside and out; Ralph Abramson’s building, inside and out painting and redecorating. Other citizens of Holly Grove have made many improvements in repairing and painting according to Ferguson. This is an excellent start on spring decorating for Holly Grove. This progressive city seems to be taking the lead in beautifying early."
Monroe County Sun Nov. 13, 1947 Dial’s Store of Holly Grove is Making Changes "The T.G. Dial Grocery Store of Holly Grove is making many changes on the interior of the store and a new arrangement is now in progress. The shelving has been repaired and rearranged so that when completed, he will have different aisles in the store. This is probably the oldest mercantile established in the city. The Dials are pioneering in growing paper shell pecans. They have just begun harvesting, which according to T.G. Dial, the present manager of the store, the crop is fair. He ships many pecans to market in other cities and states. They have more than 50 acres planted to these pecans. They began growing pecans in the year 1900, which is almost a half century ago, when pecans in the south were in the experimental stage. But they are paying, says young Dial.
-- Edited by Danyelle McNeill Fletcher at 09:26, 2005-11-15
Monroe County Citizen Jan. 21, 1926 Holly Grove Gleanings -The Matthews Drug Company has consolidated and one of the drug stores is now owned and operated by J.I. Matthews, Jr., Mr. Henry Patterson prescriptionist. -Another change in the business world of Holly Grove. Mr. Fitzgerald and son, John, have bought the Johnson Drug Store, which has been operated by Mr. E. Johnson. A real city-like drug store it will be and Mr. Fitzgerald and son wish the people of Holly Grove to visit them when in need of anything in their line.
Brinkley Argus Jan. 27, 1926 Holly Grove News "J.I. Matthews has recently opened the City Drug Store in one of the stands formerly occupied by Matthews Drug Co., and has as a pharmacist, Mr. Henry Patterson, an old time resident of this place."
Monroe County Sun Holly Grove News Feb. 14, 1935 "W.E. Dotherow, former owner and manager of Dotherow’s cash grocery here, removed the business to Marianna last week. Berry Gregory, who was employed in the store here will assist Mr. Dotherow in the new business in Marianna."
-- Edited by Danyelle McNeill Fletcher at 16:20, 2006-10-18
