The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-06
now ONE MIN MADE MoyEr,
a Story OF Plain nn.incss Enterprise In
This City.

A good example OF how fortunes are made In
New York city lie afforded by the life and bust
ness operations Of Willard Fillmore Tomukins,
who died on Monday last at his residence. SO
South Washington square. al the aGe Of 30
years. Mr.. Tompkns was almost rcnnless
when. q mere boy. he first camo to this city,
He understood his business. however. and lie
had the courage to strike out into II new rath.
The result was that building his business UP
little by little, he died worth S6OO.OOO To his
wife, fully as much as to himself. this success
is due. and Mr.. Tomrkins was always the first
to acknowledge this.
When Mr.. Tompkins was IA years old he ran
away from the home whore he was born. at
Newport. r l.. and came to this city. with the
usual resolve Of making fortune for himself.
He had $40 in his pocket when he started.
This with what knowledge of groceries he had
picked up at the mark cts near his home. con-
stituted his stock in trade. Naturally, on
reaching the city no dritted TO the grocery dis
store on Catharnn street. Tho proprietor 81
the store at first paid the lad barely, enough to
Fem @ a wss G sstns 81
knowledge OF the trade. as to mako him
sonn nse es RI vns his in wages
With With his Increased means, Tomrkins con 't
ned to ye n TIE ne same manner as HeGrs put
Of him taken shortly after his 18th birthday
looks more NOR Ike that Of a, man an Of y than
burns. it was more than tw" years before
a horse and truck as he wanted Whom at
length he went into the truck siness he
9esrs e Ws 81 to se @ ana e Ha
retail grocery. store in Spring street. near
1t had been his idea since his arrival in
Now York to own a grocery store. There were
at that time no cheap. cash-down groceries in
there was money to be made in y purely cash
business. with cheap scale OF nricns for trade
hs R o n
tent that ne . S9on moved to larger store and
hsn f. st arS St first srs Mr.
grocery at Spring and sullivan streots, and
BIZ. 1t was about this time hat he met Nina
Josephine Cooper of ~ Charlton street. lie
ship. n StS that Miss """per Was
that tims on Mr.. ,Tomrkins lad partner in
his business as we'll ms in his life.
young Mrs ,Tompkins to her husband. u
ioak u after the general matters Ani shc i'd
With a school knowledge Of figures and took
keeping she went into the Spring street store,
alone and unaided has cundurtel il M to the
present timo in such manner n to maze 1t
Mr. Tomrkins. Tho business spread steadily.
new stores being established IN lil"e" ker 5 rect.
Ninth and Sixth avenues. and in other iia"cs
in this city and Jersey 'ity. until at tho time
OF his death Mr.. Tompkins owned eleven retail
stores. besides the tive wholesale establish
ments at SO 81 Gansevoort street. From the
first Mr. TomrkinS stuck by his principles of
cash payments. He discounted all his bills
and thus was able to buy whore "thers could
not. dealers who werc in need OF ready money
often coming TO him IN rreierrn"a 70 others
as they knew that they could get cash Tor
their goods. II twas his idea to drop grad ually
his retail trade aud 20 INTO tho Wholesale
business entirely. The care of So many estab-
lishments was wearing on him. hut he ALSO
lutely refused to let any one else take part IN
the management.
II have bulls up tho business and will run
It," he said. Il want nornttners or managers
To- tell mo what to do. When want advice /
can go to my vito. | would rather h.! we her
Judgment IN matters connected with the gro
Gerry cuisines, than that OF any man in New
York. ] lay. been guided always NY her nd
vice, and to her fully as much. il not more than
to myself. the success Of our business Is due"
MIR. Tomrkins's death WAS caused by dia-
betes. His widow will probably carry on tho
business. with which she has been familiar
for SO many years herself. Mrs. Tompkins
does not look like n business woman. She is
very pretty and young looking. with soft
voice and quiet manner. She has grown up
daughter and u son about IA years old.