Charles Weiford's highly polished shoes

This distinguished looking young man is Charles Weiford (1889-1970), only child of Nixon B. and Mary Weiford. I'd say the photo dates from about 1900 and invite you to look carefully at his well polished high-top shoes.

The senior Weifords opened their first shoe store in Chariton during 1889 and when the new Hickman Block was completed on the east side of the square during 1894, moved into its south storefront.

So I'm reasonably sure that these shoes originated in that store --- and that Charles' parents ensured that they were highly polished before this portrait was taken.

The senior Weifords continued to operate their shoe store until 1926, when Charles took over the operation. He had gone to work in the store full-time during 1915 after working as a traveling salesman when he married Marion Turner, of Eddyville. They met while she was working at the central telephone office in Chariton.

The junior Weifords operated the store until 1950 when they sold out to the Family Shoe Store group and moved to Colorado Springs. Mary had died during 1939, so Nixon accompanied his son and daughter-in-law to Colorado, where he died a year later.

Berns and Mary Stierwalt bought into the Family Shoe Store group during 1962, then acquired full ownership --- and Mary continued to operate the store after Berns' death until her retirement a couple of years ago.

Charles Weiford died in Colorado Springs during 1970 and Marian, during 1977. The photograph here is from the Lucas County Historical Society collection.