By all odds the oldest drug store in the city, if not indeed the oldest business establishment in Fredonia is the drug store of Butin Brothers, on the West side of the square. This store is owned by Messrs.. C. J. and F. E. Butin, but it was established in 1871 by their uncle, C. J, Butin and father, G. E. Butin. The latter is dead but the former is still a resident of Fredonia, and an honored citizen, though he has retired from the active affairs of business. The store includes drugs, drug sundries, patent medicines. wall paper, toilet articles and jewelry. It has a magnificent stock in these lines. There is a high class, conscientious prescription department, which has the confidence of the medical profession and the people for accurate work in the very best and purest drugs. The Messrs. Butin have grown up in the drug business and know it by Inheritance as well as by life time training. They have mastered its details by contact from early youth and the people know them to be accomplished and thoroughly efficient in this line of trade. Of course they have, also, a life touch with the jewelry. business and have attained the same height of efficiency in that. Since the young men took charge of the business about a year and a half ago they have introduced something of the progressiveness and enthusiasm of youth into its conduct and it has shown a wonderful growth in their hands.

Mr. C. E. Butin was born on July 15th, 1878 and F. E. Butin was born July 5th, 1880. Both are natives of Fredonia and have spent practically their whole life among the people of this city and county. The former is a graduate of Kansas University in the Pharmaceutical Department and is a registered pharmacist. He is a graduate of the Southwestern Optical College of Kansas City, and completed a course in Kansas City Horological school. He has exclusive charge of the jewelry and optical department of this popular store and is a worthy successor in this department of his late father, G.E. Butin.

The optical work turned out here is of the highest competency evidencing the thorough training and pain-taking disposition of the man in charge. F.E. Butin was also a student of the Kansas University and is registered as a pharmacist in California and Oklahoma as well as Kansas. The young firm of Butins enjoys not only the prestige which comes from a long and honorable business career of their father and uncle in the same store but they have inherited the sterling qualities and that splendid force which made those that went before them such strong business and personal factors in the community.