During Ellsworth's frontier days, most business activity centered on the two streets paralleling the railroad tracks. As the Texas cattle trade moved from Abilene to Ellsworth, Texans continued to dominate the Plaza, and businesses catering to the cattle trade flourished. John Bell's Great Western Hardware Emporium, one of Ellsworth's pioneer businesses, began in 1867 selling tinware and stoves; by 1873, it employed six men and sold general hardware, farm implements, wagons, and buggies. Other South Main businesses included Goldsoll's Old Reliable House, Karatofsky's Great Western Store, and Ringolsky's Drovers Headquarters, all of which carried dry goods and provisions for cowboys. John Mueller's bootmaking shop was advertised by the sign of the Big Red Boot, while the Powers Bank specialized in financing the cattle trade and the Drovers Cottage encouraged cowboy trade.