A business man many years ago didn't necessarily have to have an education to get along in the world. Of course it helped considerably but some of the pioneers of the county proved a person could get by without it if he tried hard enough.

Israel Napier who ran a small general store way back on the Pine Mountain about 1870, couldn't read or write. His store was back on Abner's Branch of Greasy Creek.

The man and his wife lived not over the store as we see of often nowadays, but maintained living quaters downstairs and had the store upstairs. Napier was a prominent merchant of that era and was well liked.

The old gentleman was very accomadating and ran accounts for his customers. His policy was "if you can't read or write, then draw pictures" when charging the "goods."

It was customary for country merchants to order cheese in a flat loaf that resembled a grind stone.A man who ran a logging camp on pine Mountain traded often at the Napier store and consumed quite a few items each week.

Counts In "Head"

The merchant also sold grind stones occasionally. One day the man went down to the store to settle his account. The merchant began to call off the items as he counted them "in his head."

He called off "one roll of cheese."The man stopped him and thought for a moment.

"I didn't buy any cheese," he said.

"Oh, yes," said the merchant.

He called his wife "Aunt Jonie", who was down staairs at the time. She quickly remembered the transaction and said it wasn't cheese but it was a grindstone.

Then Napier offered his appology and said he had been in a hurry when he charged it and had failed to put the hole in the picture, hence the confusion.

A Mr. Nolan worked in the store for "Uncle Id" as most people knew him. "Uncle Id's" son, Frank, beggged Nolan to go coon hunting with him. "Aunt Jonie" was fond of coon meat but she wouldn't touch a bite of, "possum."

One night the hunters caught a nice, fat coon and dressed it for breakfast. "Aunt Jonie" thought it was very good. The next night the men caught a large, fat "possum."

Frank liked possum but his mother didn't like to cook it.The men dressed the animal and hid the skin and to make the trick "airtight" they brought the coon skin from the night before and placed it where she would see it when she was cooking breakfast.

Best "Coon" Tasted

"Aunt Jonie" had the supposed to be coon all ready for breakfast.

"That's the best coon I ever tasted," she remarked. After breakfast, in a most mischevious manner Frank brought out the 'possum hide as evidence. Aunt Jonie said with best graces, "well chile, if they be that good, I'll just eat them all the time." And she did.

Sunday April 11, 1954

Volume 53 Number 84

Page 1 & 8

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