The Peggs

There may be few people living in Allen today who remember John Wesley Pegg, oldest brother of my mother, Ella Rhea Pegg Emerson, however, they will remember the Pegg Merchantile Store and later, the Pegg Department Store.

John Pegg and J. I Jones first were partners in a store in the new town of Allen, maybe about 1909. Several years later that partnership was dissolved and Jones opened a store that carried his name, the Jones Department Store and John Pegg opened a store that carried his name only. The Pegg Department Store was in the middle of the block on the north side of Main Street. Groceries and feed was on one side of the store and dry goods, shoes and clothing was on the other side. Many people will remember Miss Nora who was the clerk for the dry goods side of the store for many years. A cashiers stand, I will call it that because I do not know what else to call it, was located up a stairway in the center of the store. John Pegg and his bookkeeper, Cleo Singleton, spent many hours there. They could survey the entire store from that vantage point.

I think I remember that Clarence, one of the sons, also worked as a bookkeeper, or maybe cashier in that office. I do know that John’s sons, Guy, Herman and Little Johnnie (he was never John, Jr. in Allen), worked the floor on the grocery side of the business. Herman took care of the farmers, helping get their purchases out the back door of the store. This was the largest store in Allen at that time and it took many persons to take care of all the customers. I don’t remember Herman, Clarence or Little Johnnie so much in the store as I remember Guy. Guy always seemed to be there when I was growing up.

A business like the Pegg’s store was important to Allen in those early years. Farmers especially only had income in the fall, and John Pegg would carry a family on the books for the entire year. Of course, the entire bill for the year might not run over $250.00, however, families could not have survived if there was not a business like that store.

I have very fond memories of my Uncle John because from a very early age I could look forward to the times when my dad would come home from buying groceries. Uncle John would always put in a bag of candy or fruit for us and also something for my mom, his sister. One thing he sent to mom from time to time, was a bag of raisins. Mom would get the bag, save out enough for a pie, and give the rest to us to eat. He did not send that every trip, but when he did, it was very special.

The Jake Pegg families were all church going people. Mom told me in my later years, that her dad was instrumental in helping to build a church and a Masonic Lodge, wherever he lived. John was an Elder in the Allen Church of Christ for many years.

The Pegg family contributed much to the town of Allen. The house that Will Pegg built at the end of Broadway is still standing. Dale Pegg, son of Bobby, grandson of Hubert and great-grandson of Will and Nettie Pegg, has carried on some of the drilling business that Hubert started many years ago when oil was discovered in Allen.