Daily Republican., 1883-08-25
A TOBACCO MERCHAxT.
HSw he Started ON Almost Moth
lng-HOw he PrOspered-Whst
he Now is-The Cause Of his Sue.
cess.

108-ktOW No ffOop0rOsn-"D " Dou
he Now is-The Cause Of his Sue
cess.
That q pushing, energetic, and at the
same time an honest business man will
succeed in business in Wilmington, is
fully attested In the success of A. A..
Chapman, the genial and enterprising
tobacco and cigar dealer, now at his
new place of business, northeast corner
of Seventh and Orange stree S. As Mr..
Chapman Is undoubtedly the most ex-
tensive and the leading tobacco dealer
in the city of Wilmington, little gen
eral sketch of himself, his business and
what led to his success, will be in
reading.
Though Mr.. Chapman isnow so pleas
antly situated and enjoying the bene-
fits OF a lucrative trade, there was a
time, not far in the past, when he was
not enjoying the serene tranquility of
peace and plenty. This period
was only about nine years ago, though
up to that time he had never known
what it was to be comfortably settled
down In business.
1t is no discredt to Mr.. Chapman to
say that he was New Hampshire Yam
kee, for there are other Yankees from
other New England States, but our
Wilmington Chapman was New
Hampshire man. from the iusy, bust
ling manufacturing city of Manchester.
When he left that city to 60 out into the
world to make living and perhaps a
fortune, he went not as the Connecticut
Yankee with wooden hams and nut.
megs, but with something that contri-
buted to the ease and comfort Of the
human race--a patent bed spring, that
was a solace TO weary, tired nature, and
lulled to gentle slumbers on reacting
springs instead of plunging into the
depth of suffocating feather
beds in search of repose.
Mr.. Chapman came to Wilmington q
genuine carpet bagger, not In search of
political honors but in search of patron.
age for an honest business. In this he
succeeded. He had an honest article
for sale and he did an honest business,
but hard times came on the panic
struck the country; Jay Cook went up
and all was confusion. The subject of
our sketch was not numbered amongst
those who lost millions, for he never had
it to lose, but his patrons were affected
by the panic to such an extent that they
could not indulge in the luxury Of
spring beds until they had at least re-
covered from tie loss Of their Pacific
Railroad bonds. lt,was wonderful to see
how many at that time had bonds that
were the next thing to useless, and
therefore could not pay their INSTALL
ments on bed springs. Mr.. Chapman,
never inclined to distress anybody,
concluded to open an Office in the city
and await the convenience of his
patrons to pay what they owed him.
He did not open costly affair on
Market street, with iron front, French
plate glass windows, tinted rosewood
finish on the inside, Turkish brussels
carpets, French mirrors, Italian mar
BILE statuettes and costly revolving and
reclining chairs, but being of retiring
nature, he opened a little office i'll the
big old brick building at the south
west corner of Fourth and Shipley
streets, a building full Of 1volu tionary
"reminiscences but which has the present
year succumbed to the mothrn march of
Improvement and in its plAe now rises
the colossal business emporium OF the
enterprising Gawthrop Brothers. In
little ten by twelve rom, where
Tommy" Young and Sqtire Watson
at times dealt ont iron clad justice, and
afterwards used as a cobbltr shop by
Ralph Mccall, Mr.. Chapman opened
his Office, and from there he issued his
requests for his bed spring customers
to call and square up. Fiiding that
the responses wefefew and fir between,
and finding that there weD millions
in the business, Mr.. Chapman conclud-
ed to embark in a small wayin the sale
of the weed, and besides hislittle place
offered accommodations Yor few
friends to step in and havet friendly
game of checkers, game of which he
was very fond, and in whin lie was
somewhat of an expert.
Mr.. Chapman struck the'rg hit chord.
Chapman's various plugs, (hapmau's =
cigars, Chapman's snuff and Chapman
varieties were soon reported tia best In
the city. The little cobbler shop was
soon too small, and it was notlong until
Mr. Chapman was compelled 20 remove
into larger quarters next doc and di-
rectly on the corner. Soon his place
became too contracted for tie young
merchant's'grOwing trade. Chapman .
corner became one of the INST distin.
guished and noted places in the city.
His wagons ran in every direction. II
authority was wanted on thu tobacco
trade, Chapman was hunted p If in
formation was wanted, Chapnan could
give it. ~,
But he hau to leave that coner. The
time had come when the hue pile of
revolutionary brick and mortr that a
century had cemented into sold blocks
had to come down. Where Vas Chap-
man to go? The eye of the enerprlslng
merchant lit upon his present place OF
business.
1t was for sale, and he scoopd 1T in at
So, 600 and paid 81, 200 for repairs.
He is no more renter but an
owner. The stirring agent Of ine years
ago, who started the tobaccobusiness-
on 81, all he had, now purchass corn
er and stocks it with from $4,000 to
slS, 600 worth of goods. The nan who
nine years ago took in $3.50. tb results
of his first week in trade, now takes in
rs high as 81 ,725 week. sub enter
prise, such success,is worthy d this ex-
tended notice in referring to te busi-
ness men of Wilmington.
Mr.. Chapman has fitted up Us store
in a very attractive manner, md his
windows show off his different varieties
of goods to a good advantage. Though
only having removed to his nes place
of business last spring he has already
built an addition to his store, thich Is
used AZ q ware room. His sale Of ci.
gars alone reach 1900 moth. He
has two teams constantly on be run
delivering goods. He Is agent for six
of the largest tobacco manufactries in
the United States. The most popu lar
brands of tobacco now are th' Star
plug" and the Happy Though" His
trade is constantly increasing. In
answer to an inquiry M to tn secret
of his success in business, he ays he
attributes 1t first to honest dealing, and
secondly to liberal advertising N such
nnnars ma the DAILY REPUBLtCN,