The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-11-22

I1ben ID. Jordan of the famous Dos
ton house of Jordan Marsh 4 Co., died
Friday after several months OF deciin-
ing health at his Beacon street nome
in Boston at the age of %. The per-
sonality and the wonderful business
career of this man are of local interest
because of the fact that Mr.. Marsh,
his partner and coadjutor in building
I'm the greatest retail establishment IN
the world, was Chesterfield boy and
also because the firm was at one time
identified with Brattleboro business
interests as half owner of the woollen
factory which did a large business here
in the sixties in the manufacture, I'M
der management of the other half owner
81 W. Frost. of balmorels and wooden
blankets, ON the site now occupied py
w. II. Eletcher's mill.
Mr.. Jordan was native OF Dan
Vile. Me-. left fatherless ana penniiess
at the age of four, put out on q farm
where with such meagre schooilng as
he could get summers and winters ne
remained until he was IA, when WIN
lust So IS to his name he started for
| Boston to carve future Tor nm
self. He worked a couple of years az
a Nit. Pleasant farm for 81 month,
| then as an errand boy in two or three
| different stores, rising to $40 clerk
shin at the age of 10, when Joshua Stet-
son set him up in business on Hanover
street where the first year ne did a
business of $1,000 and within four
years had run it up to SlOO,OOo. AZ
that time the steamers from down east
and the provinces arrived early IN the
morning, and to catch the trade OF the
passengers the young merchant was up
and had his store opened at o,ciock'
doing a thriving trade before break
fast. He sold out this business, how
ever at the age of %. and without
apparently having made very much IN
it, and for the next few years was ID
the employ Of the large Jas. M. beepe
establishment where, by hard work
and diligent study, he acquired a
thorough knowledge of the principles
and management Of the business and
the system Mr.. Beebe had been
quarter of century in perfecting.
The firm of Jordan, Marsh & Co.,
was formed in the year 1851, when
they opened small iobbing store on
Milk street, with cash capital OF
lust 5000. Mr.. Jordan introduced
the cash system into the jobbing bust
ness and made considerable headway
in improving the methods of trade fol
the benefit of customers. Two years
later Mr.. Jordan sailed for Europe tt
nerfect arrangements for importing
direct and to secure credit. The fear
full panic of 1857 when so many OF the
strongest houses toppled, Jordan, Marsh
& Co, survived, but only with losses
of 3. GOO to So, 600 day to realize II
goods. Every morning for weeks Mr..
Jordan was at his store at q o'clocF
working hard with all hands TO sell OF
goods at some price In 1867 the iirn
Bought the retail store on Washington
street. corner of Avon, where now
stands their magnificent establishment
,, with its many acres of salesrooms an6
its thousand and one conveniences FOL
, the comfort and pleasure OF customers
! and employees. The growth of this re
fail store has been marvellous, and IT
/, wants now require the labor OF nearl.
q. 600 employees. The late Col. james
Fisk was partner in the firm durins
the war and Just after.
During the rebellion Jordan, Marsi
a. CO.. raised the first flag in the city
When the first call for troops came al
offer was made 10 all their employe
= who desired to enlist that the cost
! the outfit would be paid by the tlrm
. their salaries to continue during theI
= absence, and their situations retained
until their return. Forty five men en-
:, listed and went to the front, cmbrac
; ing the terms. Mr.. Jordan took dee
7 interest in the sanitary commission
! and in all measures calculated to IN
! spire and strengthen the loyal north;
!. In the latter part OF ms he, MI
!, Jordan made tour around the worio
= His trip to Europe with % oil ms o"
n employees. to show them the worio an
!, TO give Europeans an idea of the inte
!, ligcnce and capacity of our toilers
! both sexes. was most notable one
In fact. the career of Ebcn ID. Jorda
= reads like romance.