The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-12-03

square Of the corner whorc nine yenrs after
he opened store for himself At the age
OF IL he went with his family to Indiana,
but remained there only ono year, return.
ing Ia Philadelphia and finding place In
a clothing house. where no devoted him.
self to work with such energy that he
thoroughly mastered the business In a few
years, laborlng so persistcntly as To Scri.
ously impair his health. So far did he
push his attention 10 business at the ex.
psnse uf physique that, when the war
broke out, his services In the army were
refused by the government officials, be-
cause Of physical disability.
His Service for the Union.
He was, however. very active in the
cause Of the Union from the outset and
~ u member of seve al hclpful orgnniza.
tions gave far more hid to the government
than he could have done In carrying
musket. He was one OF the founders of
the Union League and In association with
the late George H. Stewart he organized
the Christian commission. which worked
SO effectively with the sanitary commits
sion throughout tho war In caring for
sick and wounded soldiers
He also aided in organizing the Young
Mems Christian association in Philadcl.
phia and In lSJH, nt the age Of II years
was elected the first salariod secretary of
this association in America. rendering in
this capacity also important service TO the
young men engaged in tho war.
II should be further stated that ho was
for eight years president Of the Young
Mems Christian association Of Philadel.
phin, and 1t was mainly through his Of
forts that the great building of this asso-
- . & IL. 4 -.
was erected. This structure has the man
ifold advantages OF library gymnasium.
school, lecture aud meeting rooms and
was built at o. cost of nearly half million
dollars, most ui The money being raised by
Mr. Wuuumakrr rnr.unal cNcrtionS
CnpabilitS Tor Organization.
II WAS early said Of him that no was "a
natural born organizer and, when the
project for the Centennial exhibition Of
1876 was first proposed, he was immr-
diately appealed 90, ana in response he
raised the first million dollars for that
great national Undertaking by subScrip.
tions among his business acquaintance
Among similar public services mention
should be made OF tho fact that he was
chairman of the cltiI'p', relief COMMITTEES
durius the famine IN ireland, and visited
Ireland To orSunizc the distribution of the
liberal funds which hc helped to raise He
was also chairman Of the commission tn
aid the sufferers from yellow fever In the
south, and has hcon AN active worker in
every such charitable movement for !
which Philadelphia has been distinguished |
during the past quarter of IA century
He was the second subscriber 10 the !
fund for founding the Presbyterian hos.
pltal, of which he was trustee and, with |
Mrs Nauuuakcr. he huilt the children !
ward ~ a memorial To- his mother Hcl
va, the founder AMI Is the loader Of the |
famous bethany school, that crutrr of re-. |
huuus teaching aul charitable inilucncc
which thousands of spJuurnors in phila. |
dclphia visit with uulllgglng interest, He !
alsu founded the bethany Industrial col |
lcUr the first Of It's ilnd In this country |
and, ns president of tho first penny say
ings fund, he was the framcr Of the law !
under which savings funds were put un.
der state supervision, "A law which has led |
10 the establishment of many savings in |
stiturons throughout Pennsylvania. As
president of the Pennsylvania State sun |
dNy school association, tho Philadelphia !
sabbath association and tho Friendly
Hand, no has ever shown an active and |
helpful interest in the education OF the
poor.
An Humble Beginning.
Mr.. Wanamakcr began business for
himself in 1881, ut the corner OF Sixth and |
Market streets, Philadelphia, In q store
about thirty feet square. which has since |
been gradually enlarged 20 tho largest
establishment In tho United |
States, and Is known everywhere by its
familiar name OF Oak Hall. He subse. /
'quently opened another clothing store on |
Chestnut street, below Ninth, and In 1878 |
ne bought from the Pennsylvania Rail
road company their freight station, which
Is now known as the Grand Depot, OK.
tending from Chestnut street to Market,
ana from Thirtssnth strsss TO city hall,
opening this also, ~ q clothing store,
with the addition Of mems merchandise
Of every dssSstpttsn- The growth Of this