Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1889-02-14
BrIntn1tt Gltrnnirlp.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY IA, 1889.
CAREER OF JOHN WANAMAKER.

CAREER OF JOHN WANAMAKER.
"Gath, in Cincinnati Enquirer
When John WanamakeT was 23 years
ofage he had saved by hard work and
self privation just 500, which was the
foundation of the fortune of Philadel-
phia's merchant prince. This little sum
he had accumulated during the time he
was employed in clothing store, where
he had worked many years. He had
formerly been employed ina book store,
but found this business unsuited to his
taste. and he left the book business for
a more lucrative place in the clothing
store, where he received Sl.50 per week
for his services. Early habits of indus
trv had been instilled into him by his
parents hard working people who ope-
rated brickyard outside of this city,
and where from his early infancy John
was taught to improve his hours after
school in cutting and shaping bricks.
By lucky real estate investment he
turned his 800 into $1,000, and with
this $1,000 he started in the clothing
business for himself This also marked
his entrance into public life, for he soon
was looked upon as a prominent mer-
chant of the city. His financial condi-
ton, however, was regarded as shaky,
and at the beginning of the war his fail
ure was looked for at any time. His
excellent business qualities guided him
safely through those turbulent times.
and after the great struggle he found
himself a wealthy man. He became
one of the leading clothiers of the cOun-
try, but this business he gradually aban-
doned for his great dry goods store,
which is now the largest establishment
of the kind in the world.
His great store gives employment to
700 persons, and he prides himself that
he could go and leave it for year and
that his business would not suffer in the
least. He is also the proprietor Of the
Hotel Walton, which is designed for the
working girls of his establishment. -
Here they are given the comforts of
well regulated home at very low price,
each one paying her share of the total
expenses of the concern.
Bethany Mission, which how has one
of the largest schools in the country at
tached to it, was projected by Mr.. Wana-
maker. 1t was started in an abandoned
shoemaker's shop in a part of the city
where disorder and crime ruled supreme.
The entire vicinity has been reclaimed,
and the neighborhood is now eminently
respectable. The Sunday school has
2,300 persons on its rolls, and is housed
in large and beautiful structure
Bethany College is an adjunct to the
schools.
Wanamaker was born July II, 1887,
his father being of German parentage
and his mother a descendant of the HUI
genots. He is worth $3,000,000 in real
estate alone, outside of his vast interest
in his business. Mr.. Wanamaker is
man of refined tastes. He maintains
two houses at preSent-one in a fash
ionable part of Walnut street, near
Broad, the other at Jenkintown, one of
Philadelphia's suburbs. The latter is
considered one of the handsomest sum-
mer mansions of the neigboring coun-
try. He is a member of the Union
League Club, but is not often seen there.
His family consists of his wife and
three children, two sons and one daugh-
ter. His younger son, Thomas B., was
recently married to Miss Minnie Welsh,
a granddaughter of the late Hon. John
Welsh. Both Thomas and the other
son, Rodman, are connected with their
fathers business. Mr.. Wanamaker is
jealous worker in the Presbyterian fold.
His purse is often opened to contribute
to church funds, for charitable an other
but his interests carry him
further than mere money contribution.
He is prominent at church gatherings,
and is often called on to speak in behalf
of church interests. For several years
he has identified himself particularly
with the Bethany Sunday School, which
is the largest in the city. He works
himself among the children, throwing
hearty energy into its affairs.