Early on, in the late 1860s, one of the most important businesses in Abilene was the Frontier Store, ran by William S. "Doc" Moon. Moon had emigrated from Ohio to Kansas in 1857. He first tried farming, but gave that up. Eventually a tiny community began to emerge not far from his homestead, giving him the idea to start a store there. He had a little money with which to lay in a stock of goods and he already, from experience, knew what the folks round about would need. So, in 1864, in a log cabin, Moon set up shop. He soon found out that his country store in fledgling, four-year-old Abilene wasn't going to make him a rich man, at least not for some time to come. The problem was that there were only about 40 people living in or near the town. At the time, there were only 443 people residing in the whole country. But struggling Abilene got lucky.
Three years after Moon set up his store the Kansas Pacific Railroad reached Abilene. Soon after, great herds of Texas longhorn cattle began arriving in town, headed for the rails where they would be shipped to Eastern markets. Moon soon found him self and his store surrounded with new businesses-and a lot of competition.
The arrival of the railroad and the cattle herds drew new businesses like flies to a cowpie. Soon Abilene sported saddlers, boot-makers, blacksmiths, more saloons and more bartenders, as well as a variety of entertainers. These new businesses didn't much hurt Moon's business but all the new general stores, butcher shops, drugstores, bakeries and hardware stores sure put a dent in his cash box.
Evidently, all these new business establishments didn't bother Mr. Moon too awfully much because about all that he did to attract business was to enlarge his Frontier Store a bit and pretty it up with a false front. Perhaps Moon was just one of those unique and special people who is pretty much satisfied with what he has. A rare breed, indeed.
Off and on a cowboy might wander into the Frontier Store but Moon's main and loyal customers were still the farmers. After all, at Moon's store they could still get what they needed, have a set-down around the stove, gossip a while, then wet their whistles in the backroom with a sip of free whiskey. And, besides, Moon's store was still the same conformable and familiar place it had always been as Abilene was quickly changing from a placid country village to a rip-roaring cattle town.
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