Lilly Bros. Department Store

In the late 1890’s and early 1900’s the Lilly Brothers, sons of John Scott Lilly and Elizabeth Caroline Meador owned and worked in the Lilly Brothers Department Store in Athens. Wilbur J. Lilly was the manager. Several of his brothers, Henry Austin, Carrol A., and Vernon A. were all employed as department store clerks during that time. Even brother Donzie Lilly, well known dentist in Athens worked as a clerk in 1910.  They were nephews of Rufus Meador, a major player in the development of the Town of Athens.

The Lilly Brothers Department Store sold a full line of all merchandise usually carried by a department store. They advertised they had one of the most up-to-date milliners that could be found anywhere.

By 1918 the brothers had spread out into other areas close to Athens. Wilbur went on to be a bookkeeper in his brother Henry Austin Lilly’s H. A. Lilly General Merchandise store in Bluefield, a clerk in the Royal Grocery Store in Bluefield, a clerk in the Star Cash Grocery in Union and was even a deputy sheriff in Union in 1932.   Wilber died at the age of 63 in 1935.