ery few business firms antedate the Meserve Clothing House in point of establishment, for F. P. Meserve opened his little store on Orange street, September 15, 1888. Not one step backward has been taken since that day, but steadily has the business grown, until the house stands today one of the most prominent in the city and the only one which makes gentlemen's apparel their main business. In February, 1889, Mr. Meserve moved from Orange street into more commodious quarters in the addition to the Union Bank building, on East State street. In 1892 he joined with Dr. Sanborn in the erection of the Meserve-Sanborn block on Orange street, and into this building the stock was moved in December. Last year the business had grown to such proportions as to demand more room and an addition was made to the store in the rear. For over eight years Mr. Meserve was sole owner and manager, but in May of the present year, desiring a rest from active business, he sold a portion of his interest to F. W. Nutter and F. A. Mudge.

These two young men now conduct the business with the energy characteristic of progressive merchants. They have recently added a full and complete line of boots and shores to their goods, so that now the business embraces merchant tailoring, ready made clothing of very grade, gents' furnishings, hats and caps, boots and shoes, trunks and valises, etc. the cut and fit of their custom made suits are too well known in this city to need special mention.

Frank W. Nutter was born in Milton, N.H., August 5, 1860. His early education was obtained in the public schools of his native place. In 1872 he went to Farmington, N. H., and was there employed in shoe factories until he came to Redlands, in 1890, with Dr. C. A. Sanborn. He was a clerk in the Boston Shoe Company's store until December, when he became a clerk in the Meserve Clothing House and has continued with the business to the present, as has been mentioned. In Farmington, in 1880, he was married to Miss Cora E. Farwell, a native of the same place. While in Farmington he joined Woodbine Lodge No. 41, and Mad River Encampment No. 22, I.O.O.F., Harmony Ledge, No. 11, K. of P. , Chorcorua Tribe, I.O. R. M., and Rebekah Lodge. He is also a member of Redlands Lodge, No. 300 F. and A. M., both Mr. and Mrs. Nutter are charter members of Rebekah Lodge in this city.

Frank A. Mudge is a native of Danvers, Mass., where he was born November 27, 1873. He received a thorough education in the public and high schools and in a business college of the city of his birth. For three years previous to his coming to Redlands in May, 1893, he was employed in the shoe manufactory of the E. & A. Mudge shoe Company, of Danvers. In May, 1894, in partnership with E.P. Tuck, he bought out the business of the Boston Shoe Company, of this city, and continued with that firm until the present partnership was formed. Mr. Mudge married in February, of this year, to Miss Jennie. D. Treen, of Camden, N.J.

A sketch of F. P. Meserve is published on a previous page of this volume.

(Source: Illustrated Redlands, 1897, p. 80.)