A Hale Old Man

Our little village boasts of one of the oldest active merchants in the state, and we doubt if any neighboring hamlet can boast of as hale and hearty man as our venerable merchant, Wm. Baxter. Mr. Baxter came to Manchester in 1837 and began a business career as landlord of the only. tavern in the village, now known as the fiwinner block. opposite the Freeman House. Later lie engaged in a general mercantile establishment in a frame building on the present site of the Arbeiter Hall block. When the conflagration of 1853 burned the greater ! portion of the town, Mr. Baxter was one of the victims of that disaster. He immediately erected a brick structure and again engaged in business, at bis present stand, and but very few days has he missed behind bis counter since that time. While in his 87th yèar, Uncle I5illy",is at his store every day, personally superintendents his business interests, and waits on his customers with as much ease and grace as a youth of 20.