Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-01-05
IT A CHAPMAN.
A SkETCu OF THE DRY GOODS MER
CHANT OF MILWAUKEE AND
THE STATE.

community that has not its conspic-
nous figures among all classes OF
men Milwaukee has had Matt. II
Carpenter among statesmen; Edward
g Ryan among jurists; Jonathan +
Arnold among criminal lawyers;
Alex Mitchell among railway mag.
mates: h p Allis among iron man
ufacturtrs, aud there is yet another
class-repi esrntatlve in this city not
one whit less distinguished in his
liue or less remarkable in his career
than any OF these. L ference is
! had to Timothy Appleton Chapman,
the leading dry goods mau OF the
Badger state. His name is familiar
in every home in Wisconsin as a
merchant, hut there are few outside
OF Milwaukee, who know whether hc
is tyrant with his clerks or n kind
and considerate employer For the
purpose of furnishing this knowl-
edge this article is written. Mr.
Chapman is AN example in the nier-
cantile business worthy to he held
before the people and bis fellow me,-
chants for admiration by the former
and emulation by the latter He
first began busiues in Boston, where
he had been trusted clerk for
several years, with n small capital,
the greater portion OF which. how
ever, was honesty in all things with
customers aud promptuess in meet
ing obligations lu this policy OF
honorable dealing lie made but poor
headway among the vast wealth of
, Boston, and there accrued no parlic
ular honor TO him for being straight
forward and fair. Therefore, in
1851 he came to Milwaukee aud
opened u dry goods house with n
small capital aud nothing bnt first.
class goods. His store was novelty.
No goods we're mlsrepresented, every
thing was in perfect order; prices
were the same to all aud everything
possible was done tu satisfy aud ac-
commodate those with whom he
|
tion aud custom and Chapman be-
came standard name AMONG pur
chase, S. his trade ut ouce exceeding
his toudest expectations.
| In 1872 Mr.. Chapman built th'
largest dry Roods store IN Milwau
ke-, and in 1873 secured another ty
its side, M king a solid block foul
stories high and lOUXl1O iret on the
ground. TINS immense storehouse
is filed with tie best goods the world
affords, so that no one ueed to go to
New York or Boston for any article
whatsoever in his liue.
Mr.. Cbapman's fame has extended
over all portions OF the northwest,
and the trains each day bring per-
sons to trade at hi, counters, Gus
TONERS from Michigan, MINES ota
aud Iowa being common.
Som- Of the secrets of Timothy
Appleton Chapmau's success have
been given above, but they are not
all nor chief Ia his immense hive
are ,pployed 23U persons. He re-
CARDS this army of employees as his
children, looking after the personal
Interest OF each and every one as he
would after son or daughter On
his owl private affairs His busi.
u"ss is made their business, and he
is not more anxious 10 secure a new
customer, or do big days work
than any one Of them. He pays
higher wages than any other mer.
chant in Milwaukee, aud keeps good
clerks though dull as well as busy
seasons. Ouce year all are given .
vacation without deduction Of sal
sry Some OF his head men began
with bin az ''cash boys aud have
grown to manhood and middle age in
his establishment. II any clerk as ill
or unfortunate, his position is not
only held open for recovery aud re-
turo, but unearned salary Is paid ev-
cry week as though he waS AZ work
In one instance Mr.. Chapman sent
/ LIlt FdtbI w llC Nlipo vi aI oiiI anu
faithful employe tor mouths after
the man had died and been buried.
! Under circumstances like these it Is
no wonder Il. A. Chapman's clerks
love and respect him aud never tire
of doisg all in their power to Increase
his business and maintain his excel
lent reputation.
In Mr. Chapman's store female EN-
ployes are al furnished with seats
and none arc required to stand when
unemployed. Tne building is fur
uished with the best aud coStiiest
beating and ventila'ing apparatus III
the city, with dining room, where
employees living at distance, or on
rainy days can cook aud eat their
dinners; with perfectly heated and
ventilated dressing closets for men
and women, and with drinking fount
aius where filtered water may be