Historical Marker
Union Mercantile
Historical marker location:
Limpia Street and Court Avenue, Fort Davis, Texas
( N of the Courthouse Square)
Marker installed: 1965
Founded 1873 by O. M. Keesey and Geo. Gaither in adobe building on this site. Later owned by W. Keesey, an army baker, who sold clothing, groceries, cradles, guns, whiskey, coffins, tobacco, spittoons, wagonwheels, and harness, and did private banking. First telephone in county operated out of store via barbed wire line to ranches.
In 1906 he replaced the adobe with this stone structure that was bought by T. T. Kelly, 1964.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1965.
In the late 19th century, Texas became known for its cattle drives, in which cowboys would move herds of cattle from Texas to railheads in Kansas and other northern states. The cattle drives were dangerous and difficult work, but they played a key role in the development of the American cattle industry.