John J. Tracy received his
education in the public schools
of Boston, after leaving which
he was apprenticed to the drug
business. At the age of twenty
two he migrated to the West,
spending three months at
Kelton, Utah, and then moving
on to the Wood river country of
Idaho. In company with W.T.
Riley, he opened the first drug
store in Bellevue, but after
several months they decided to
move to Hailey in the spring of
1881. They erected a stockade
building, with tent roof, at the
corner of what is now Main and
Bullion streets, and after
completing this Mr. Tracy
organized and held the first
dance in Hailey. Mr. Tracy and
Mr. Riley continued in
partnership for four years, at
the end of which time the latter
retired, and Mr. Tracy carried
on the business alone.