Kenneth
Conour, who is the subject of this sketch and pictured above has been one of
Clay City's industrious business men for the past 16 years, coming here from
Sumner, Illinois, in the year of 1914.
He was born May 12, 1894, at
Sumner, Illinois, and after reaching an age of usefulness he found
employment in the poultry business with J. M. Prather, and it was there in
Sumner he learned the poultry business, which, at that time including the
dressing of poultry and the packing of dressed poultry.
In 1914 Mr.
Conour and Gene Dale, forming a partnership, came to Clay City and bought
out the J. M. Prather branch poultry business here and after about six
months Mr. Conour bought his partner's interests and has continued the
business ever since in the name of K. Conour Produce Company.
Mr.
Conour, no doubt, is alone responsible for putting Clay City on the map as
one of the best poultry and egg markets in this section of the country. Back
at the time he came here, merchants who bought poultry and eggs, shipped
independently. Later it was found that independent shipping was added
expense in handling country produce and the producer had to pay in the end.
Mr. Conour made it possible to reduce the shipping expense by wholesale
buying and selling, taking the produce from the buyers not only in Clay City
but from the entire community and inland towns.
Too, "Red," as he is
commonly known, has maintained a market for a varied line of produce,
including junk of all kinds — old iron, rags, metals, and green hides. Many
times having car lords of old iron piled up around on his premises before
loading out.
He has prospered, he has paid good prices and after
sixteen years of buying the various lines of produce coming in from all
sources he holds and has maintained a reputation of square dealing with his
pat rons — honest weights, good prices — good checks has done this.
Extracted 12 Jun 2017 by Norma Hass from 1930 Pictures and Biographical Sketches of the Business Men of Clay City, Illinois.
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