In the early part of the century, William Shearer opened a local meat market, Shearer's Market, at the corner of 9th and Dartmouth in Canton. Later his sons, Nelson and Howard, joined him in the business. When William retired, he passed the business on to the boys. From the 1950's to 1976, Jack Shearer (Nelson's son) and his wife Rosemary, operated the three-generation grocery store, eventually acquiring the business from his father and his uncle. They earned the loyalty of their customers through hard work, honesty, integrity and outstanding service.