The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1885-02-05
j. G. BOCKIUs' SONS.
History Of the Pioneer Boot and Shoe
House Of Ohio.
Sketch Of tho Life and Career OF Mr. John
O. Booklus, One Of canton's First
Merohants "Reminiscences OF
tho Early Days In
Canton.

AN OLD, SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS HOUSE.
To the ordinary observer. walking
along the southeast side OF the Public
Square In Canton, the plain, neat but
unpretentlOus sign Of -. O.. BOckius'
Sons" would hardly attract any special
attention, and II II did, would scarcely
excite any extraordinary interest. Yet
TO the older residents Of the city, and TO
the early farmer settlers OF Stark COnn-
ty, II stands AZ the emblem OF the Oldest
boot and shoe house In the State OF Ohio,
and IL typical OF the business progress
In Canton Tor more than three score
years. The record OF this house Ia un-
furnished, and no blot ever marred the
Bocklua %escutche0n. For sixty five
years the concern has existed, prosper
Ing and growing stronger each year
under the name OF BOckius; first John
o. BOckius. then j. Q. BOckius q Son,
then j. @, Bocklus & Sons, and now j, g..
BOckius' Sons. The credit and financial
record of this house Ia a remarkable one.
From the time OF lte establishment II
has never been tho least embarrassed
financially, not even during the panlca,
when hundreds OF old reliable business
houses throughout the country were
forced TO suspend; neither has II ever
allowed any OF its commercial paper TO
90 TO protest. All OF its obligations
have been promptly met, and the result
IN the establishment OF a credit unex-
celled by any concern In the country.
The history Of the BOckius establish
ment Ia one closely ideGtiied with the
history aud progress OF Canton, and OF
Itself would make q large and interest
ing volume. The record OF the concern
In such u noteworthy one, that q brief
outline Of its formation and subsequent
growth forms an interesting sketch, and
shows the possibilities OF a country like
America, when industry and thrift are
put TO proper use.
THE DocRIUs ANCESTRY.
The Bnckius boot and shoe store was
founded by the late John Q. BOckius,
father OF Messrs. l., V. and Charles j.,
BOckiua, the members OF the present
lrm. The great grandfather OF John q.
BOckius came 10 America with William
Penn aud settled In Germantown, Pa.
One OF the sons OF the latter, Valentine,
returned 10 England, and while there
was pressed into the British service,
which no deserted In Denmark and went
10 Germany. In the latter country John
O. BockIus, a0n OF Valentine, was born
In the year 1900, The son emlgrated TO
America In 1919, and came 10 Canton the
following year. His father followed him
10 this country In 1884 and made his
home with hia son In Canton, until he
died Ia 1868, Many OF the old residents
OF Canton remember well Valentine
B0ckiua,
John G. Bocklus when but twelve
years OF age entered Napoleon Bona
part'a army ~ drummer boy, and 70.
malned In the service until no was
seventeen. He was with the army In
1912, when II crossed the Alps on foot
on the way TO Italy. After leaving the
army he learned the ahOemGkers trade.
Completing his apprenticeship In 1919
he got the emigration fever and decided
10 20 10 the new world, America. Money
was scarce and the cost OF passage was
high, but young B0ckina was not 10 DO
dannted. lie was nineteen years old,
had a trade, was strong, robust aud,
fred with youthful ambition, would
let nothing Interfere with his determi'
nation. He applied 10 the captain OF a
vessel and stated his case. The latter
was fayorably impressed with the young
man and agreed 10 take him TO Phila
delphia, upon the condition that no
should indenture himself 10 work out
the cost OF the passage, $50, upon the
arrival OF the ship In Philadelphia. This
proposition young Bockius gladly ac'
cepted. He afterwards preserved this
agreement aud II furnished curious
reading for his children aud grand.
children. Upon II was specified what
food would boz served Ut each meal ON
ship'boOrd.
ALoNE IN A STRANGE COUNTRY,
In due time the vessel arrived In
Philadelphia and u number of months
OF hard work, IN recOmpenee Tor HIS
passage, stared the youthful emigrant
In the face, The Arst morning after The
vessel reached II, dock In Philadelphia,
young Bockius was standing upon the
deck, amusing himself by reading the
names Of other vessels, m00rOd In the
river. GlOnclng NJ the ship, next 10 the
one upon which no stood, no saw ON.
blagOned upon the stern In bright let.
tera his own name, John O. B%0ckius."
The coincidence struck him and he men.
toned II 20 tho Captain. The latter, NJ
II happened, proved 10 DO u friend Of
this other John q, Bocklua, who was the
Captain Of the vessel, which bore his
name. Captain BOckina hearing that u
Young name anke Of his was about 10
try hia fortune In America, called upon
him on board the vessel. In their con-
yereatlon II soon developed that the
two were blood relations, aud the Cap
tain nj once took u lively interest In the
young mans welfare. His lrst Inquiry
was, ia your passage paidp' Learning
II was not, no paid ~ thus relieving tho
young man OF m incubus, which In
that era OF low wages was u matter or
no emall consequence. Released thus
from his lndenture, the young ehoomak.
or was free 10 "Htrike cut for himself"
M the old phrase runs.
Az that time George Bockius, one OF
the defendants Of the pioneer settler
nj Germantown, was In the boot aud shoe,
leather and findings business, In Phila.
dolphia. To him Captain Bockiua took
young John aud for some time Tho latter
was here employed, Here u new din
Guilty confronted him. In Prussia, where
no served hle time NJ shoe making, oil
the work wae aowed. The art OF peg
cling on aoles WINS indigenous 10
America, and was ono OF Tho early
strides made by the Yankees TO lessen
the coat Of boote and shoes, In order 10
compete with tho foreign eewed article.
Q THIS spirit Of competition, by decreas'
ing the cost Of production with new,
cheap and labor saylpg methods, has bo-
come ono OF the native characteristics
OF tho %enterprieing American, M we
now eee exemplifed 10 all branches OF
art and industry. Young Joho quickly
realized that II he wanted w DO o enc.
cessfulshoemakor In AmeIica, he would