Craig Bros. Operating Business Founded by Great Grandfather

(Memphis, MO Reverille, 12 Aug 1948)

When J. P. Craig opened his flour mill in Memphis, way back in 1869, he planned to stay awhile, and he planted the roots of his firm deep in Memphis soil.

Now operated by his great-grandsons, R. M. and A. G. Craig, the business includes a grain elevator, feed mill, distributing warehouse and retail store carrying a full line of feeds, farm supplies, field and garden seeds and Lee poultry products.

Times and the business have changed but the Craig policy of selling quality merchandise is still the cardinal rule of the firm's operations.

Craig Brothers have handled the Lee line of poultry medicines since the father of the present owners first stocked it in 1900.

The firm now specializes in mixed feeds and offers over 30 different mixtures for special feeding purposes. It manufactures Craig's Laying Mash, Daisy Feeds and Hog Feeds. It's operations are a far cry from the days of J. P. Craig when bran (wheat) was sold in 200 pound bags and chick starter was packed in 25 pound bags for flock owners who wanted to experiment. The first so-called mixed feed was a mixture of alfalfa and molasses.

Custom grinding is now a part of their business and a great number of their customers specify that Lee's tonax be added to their home made mashes.

The Craig Brothers bought out their father in 1932 and built a grain elevator and feed mill which they now operate near the depot.

(Picture Captions)

The original feed mill, built by J. P. Craig in 1869, was called the Memphis Roller Mill and was housed in a large frame building.

The present mill and eelevator is equipped with the most modern facilities for handling, storing or shipping grain and grinding and mixing any formula for the feeds of all kinds.

The Craig Brother, (Dick and George) are shown in the interior of their feed store on West Monroe Street. They are conducting a business founded 79 years ago.