Farm Life, February 1916, p. 1+. NOTE: The item below was abbreviated from
the original as noted by the ellipsis. It was accompanied by two photos
depicting the building front with an inset photo of O.E. Johnson, the second
photo is of Rufus Cline, the president of Farmer's Supply.
Can a group of farmers get together and do at least a part of their shopping
by wholesale.The simplest way to answer.[this question] is to tell what has
been done during the last year by the Farmer's Supply Company of Spencer,
Indiana.
.The Farmer's Supply Company is a joint stock concern. The basis of
organization is very simple. The stockholders made an agreement with a
Spencer bank to stand good for their manager's notes up to $1,200. The
manager, buys, either from other farmers or from wholesalers, and when money
is needed he goes to the bank a makes a short-time note for a sufficient
amount to pay for his carload or other purchase. When the goods are sold
for cash, the money comes in and the note is paid off.
.The bulk of the business is done in flour, feed, coal oil, salt, etc. No
attempt is made to keep a regular stock of groceries though lubricating oil,
binding twine and other articles are carried either the year round or in
season. "We use about a car load of flour a month, at present, says Manager
O. E. Johnson."
The present directors of the company are: Rufus Cline, pres.; Robert
Willoughby and D. N. Johnson, T. G. Straley is secretary. They are all
farmers. E. O. (previously noted in the article as O. E.) Johnson, the
manager, is also a farmer. At the request of the directors he came into
town and took charge of the store leaving the farm in charge of his brother.