Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-10-25
Cor. of the Lacrosse (wis.) Daily News.
4. A. CHAPMAN.
A SKETCH OF THE DRY GOODS MER
CHANT OF MILWAUKEE AND
THE STATE.

THE STATE.
HOW He MADE A SUCCESS OF HIS BUsI-
MESA GOOD EXAMPLE.
HIS MAMMOTH ESTABLISHMENT WITH ITS TWO
HUNDRED AND FIFTY HANDS.
MILWAUKEE, Dec. l0.-There is no city
or important community that has not its
conspicuous figures among all classes OF
men. Milwaukee has had Matt. IL. Car
penter among statesmen; Edward u. Ryan
among jurists; Jonathan +. Arnold among
criminal lawyers; Alex. Mitchell among
railway msgnates; L. Z. Allis among iron
manufacturers, and there is yet another
class-representativc In this city not one
whit less distinguished III his line or less
remarkable In his career than any OF these
Reference Is had To Timothy Appleton
Chapman, the leading dry goods man OF
the Badger State. His name j. familiar Ia
every home In Wisconsin n merchant,
but there are few outside Of Milwaukee,
who know whether he Is tyrant with MS
clerks or kind and considerable employer.
For the purpose OF furnishing this knowl-
edge this article Is written. Mr.. Chapman
is an example in the mercantile business
worthy To be held before the people aud his
fellow merchants for admiration ny the
former and emulation 5y the latter lie
ilrst began business III Boston, where he
had been a trusted clerk for several years,
with small capital, the greater portion
OF which, however, was honesty in all
things with customers and promptness IN
meeting obligations. In this policy OF
honorable dealing he made but poor head
way among the vast wealth OF Boston, aud
there accrued no particular honor To him
for being straightforward and fair. There
lore, In 1851 he came 10 Milwaukee aud OPP
eueu dry goods house with small capt
tai and nothing 6u, trst-class goods. His
store was novelty. No goods were mis-
represented, everything was Ia perfect or
der prices were the same To oil aud every
| thing possible was done To satisfy aud ac-
commodate those with whom he dealt.
This 10 FIRST attracted attention aud custom
and Chapman became standard name
among purchasers, his trade At once cx-
oyrding his fondest expectations.
In ls72 Mr.. Chapman built the largest dry
goods store in Milwaukee, aud la 1873 secur
ell another by its side, making solid block
four stories high sud lOOxl70 feet on the
ground. This immense storchousc is filed
with the best goods the world affords, so
that no one needs 10 20 10 New York or
Boston for any article whatsoever In his
line.
Mr. Chapman's fame has extended over
all portions OF the Northwest, and the
trains each day bring persons 10 trade At
! his counters customers from Michigan,
Minnesota and Iowa being common.
Some of the secrets or Timothy Appleton
| Chapman's success have been given above,
nut they are not all nor chief Ia his I'm
mruse hive are employed 80 persons. lie
regards this army OF employees n his chill
drrn looking after the personal Interest OF
/ zach and every one IS be would after a son
or a daughter or his own private ufi,irs.
! Ills business Is made their business, aud
| he Is not more anxious 10 secure a new
customer, or do big days work thsn ans
one OF them. lie pays higher wages than
any other merchant in Milwaukee, auf
Keeps good clerks through dull - well is
Ju>y seasons. Ouce year all are giyea
I vacation without deduction OF salary.
| Some OF his head mru began with him H.
Cd cash boys, aud have grown 10 manhood
/ aud middle age In his establishment. II
any clerk is ~ or unfortunate, hi, posi-
ton is not only held open for recovery
and return, but the uUearncd salary Is
paid every week * though he were at
work.
la one instance Mr. Chairman sent the
salary 10 the widow OF an old sud faithful
rmployc for months aItcr the IN "a had died
aud been buried Under circumstances
ike these 1t Is M wonder I. \. Chapm ms
i'm .
II doing all la their power 10 Increase his
business aud maintain his excellent rrputi-
ton.
In Mr. Chapman's store female employees
are all furnished with seats AMI noue are
| required 10 stIHi when unemployed. Tue
Guiding is furnished wiki the D-st aud cost
| Hest heating and yenti!ating apparatus In
the city, with dining room. where EN-.
plOyes living At u distance. or On rainy days
can cook and eat their dinners with per.
icctly heated aud ventilated dressing clos
rt- for men aud women. and with drinking
fountains where filtered ice water may be
dad.
Mr.. Chapman allows one hour for dinner
20 men, and quarter Of an holr more ID
Som-n, and IL any OF them DO not consume
nut thirty minutes AZ the noon meal the
balance Is given them NJ the close OF the
day.
This benevolent employer, who spends
most OF his spare time in deyi,tus for the
comfort and health OF his clerks, has saved
the lives of several OF them by p ,yiug their
expenses south or west after they had been
marked FOR consumption. H. receives
much uf his patronage simply because he
Is 50 kind 10 those VINO do his business.
Mr. Chapman i a native OF Gilead, Ok
ford Co, Miiue, 81 years OF aye, and still
~ active in business a. ANY OF his clerks.
tie has acquired fortune aud at the same
line paid liocral salaries aud given lioer-
ally to all public improy ements aud worthy
objects.