The firm of Taylor & Ahlberg carry one of the best-selected stocks of footwear in northwest Kansas. The accompanying illustration shows the well-appointed interior of their exclusive shoe store, which would be considered a first-class enterprise in a much larger city than Concordia.

The senior member of the firm is J.B. Taylor, who came to Concordia in the interests of the J. Green Lumber Company, and was with that concern four years, followed by three years in the grocery business with Peter Betournay. Severing his connection with these firms he bought grain for various dealers and for himself, and is still interested in that line. Mr. Taylor is a native of Stanford, Lincoln county, Kentucky, where he received a common school education, alternating his studies with farm work. He was married in 1884 to Mary J. (Vaughn) Perkins, a daughter of Charles Vaughn, of Iowa, where she was born. Politically Mr. Taylor is a Democrat and socially, he is identified with the Knights of Pythias and Ancient Order of United Workmen.

Since establishing their present business in Concordia in 1896, Taylor & Ahlberg have demonstrated their ability to cater to the needs of the public in their line and have built up a large patronage. Their store is on Sixth near the Bon Marche.

Alfred Ahlberg, the junior member of the firm, is a son of Charles Ahlberg and the youngest of a family of eight children. His father died when Mr. Ahlberg was a small boy, and his mother was deceased in 1885.

Ahlberg was born in Northport, Sweden, in 1859. When thirteen years of age he apprenticed himself to learn the shoemaker's trade, which he acquired very thoroughly, serving twelve years, half of that time without receiving any remuneration for his labors. In 1885 he emigrated to America and after a residence of six months in Clay Center, Kansas, removed to Concordia, where he worked at his trade very successfully until 1896, when he formed his present association with Mr. Taylor. There is no better workman to be found than Mr. Ahlberg and his knowledge of footwear asserts itself in their large and superior class of goods. Mr. Ahlberg was educated in the common schools of Sweden. He is a quiet, unassuming business man, who, has acquired a good start in life by his industry, integrity and personal efforts.