Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-12-03

thoroughly mastered the business In "a few
years. laboring persistently as TO seri-
ously impair his hcalth. SO far did he
push his attention to business at the ex-
pense of 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
as a mem ber Of seye-al helpful organiza-
tions gave far more aid 10 the government
than ne could have done in carrying a
musket. He was one OF the founders OF
the Union Tongue, and in association with
the late George II. tew1rt he organized
the Christian commission, which worked
40 oefrectivcly with the sanitary commits
sion throughout the war in caring for
sick and wounded soldiers.
He also aided In organizing the Young
Mons Christian association in Philadel-
phia, and in 1859, Mt the age Of 81 years,
WINS elected the first salaried secretary OF
this association in America, rendering In
this capacity also important service to the
younp men engaged in the war.
1t should be further stated that he was
for eight years president OF the Young
Mems Christian association OF Philadel-
phin, and il was mainly through his ef-
forts that the great building Of this asso-
citation at Fifteenth and Chestnut streets
was erected This structure has the man
fold advantages Of library, gymnasium,
school. lecture and meeting rooms, and
was built Mt a cost Of nearly half "A million
dollars, most of the money being raised by
Mr. WanamaEer's personal exer.iona
CapabIIIty for Organizstoin.
IL was early said Of him that he was IA
natural born organizer" and, when the
project for tho Centennial exhibition Of
1876 was first proposed, he was imme-
dintely appealed to, and In response he
raised the first million dollars for that
great national undertaking by subscrip-
tfons among his business acquaintancos.
Among similar public services mention
should be made Of the fact that he was
chairman Of the citiSen'G relief committee
duriuu the famine in Ireland, and visited
Ireland 10 organize the distribution of the
liberal funds which he helped to raise. He
vvna nlso chairman Of the commission to
aid the sufferers from yellow fever In tho
south, and has been 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 to the
fund for founding the Presbyterian hos
pital of which no wns trustee and, with
Mrs. .Snnamakcr he built tho children's 3
ward ng n memorial TO his mother He
WINS tho founder and Is tho leader Of tho
famous Bethany school, that center Of ro-
Iioioua teuching and charitable influence
which thousands Of goJourners In Phila-
delpbin visit with unllagging interest. lilo
nlso founded the Bethany Industrial coll
lege. the first Of It's kind In this country /;
and na president Of the first penny saw
fnya fund no was the Trainer OF tho law
under which savings funds were put un-
der atnts supervision, "A law which has led
ia tho establishment OF many savings In
atitutIons Throughout Pennsylvania. As
rresideut Of the Pennsylvania state sun
doy School association, tho Philadelphia
aai1,. IN association and the Friendly
u', s., hag ever shown an active and
baI,,f,,i ,,t, >,st In the education Of tho
-, a,d ,r the aid Of the deserving
poor.
An UunLte beginning.
MIR. Wnnamascr l~ghn business Tor
himself In 1861, ~ the co~Dsr of sixth ana
Market streets, Philadelphia, In stoFo
about thirty feet square. which has since
been gradually enlarged to the largest
clothing establishment In che united
gtntca. and Is known every where by It's
familiar nnmo Of Oak Hall. He aubSe-
ousntly opened another clothing store on
Chestnut street below Ninth, and IN 1870
nc bought from the Ponnsylvanih hnll-
road company their freight station, when
ia now known aa the Grand Depot, cx'
tending from Chestnut street 10 MuFkct
md from Thirteenth street TO city hall,
opening this, also, ~ ~ clothing storo'
with tins addition ~ mons inorchhndlso
of every description Ths growth OF thia
store. and It's extension 10 Include ury
goods. women's wear, books. onrpobs, fuf-
nlture. upholstery, household furnishings
and, indeed, everything that i@ wanted Wy
men, womsn or children for uae, Tor com
fort or for adsrnmcnt In public life or IN
tho home is surcly ono Of the wonders o'
modern commerce In this last esthbilsh.
mont Is now carried on tho lafaent nhu
most comprehensive retail busincssin th'S
country, If not In tine world.
Hero Mr.. Wannmnker has not only huiit
up mn enormous business. amounting 70
many millions annually. but no has rsVo-
throughout tho country. 10 consult tho
co pveniencs and comfort Of customers 10
rot urn the purohasc money whore tho pu,'
ehuge fails 10 prove sntisfnctory, TO hA hii,
form prices, to preserve uniform eSo'i-
1ouco 81 quality, 20 make public by hdNef-
tiaing correct information roHpecu og INC
business, 10 offer the buyer by mnl' tno
same facilities and the Same Enfety ns ior
the shopper in the storc-tbose hre SCUM
Of tho advantages Tint tho American p 10,
lie owes g. the system Of retailing deVh W.
and perfected by John Wnnamhher' - "
system which Is now extending 70 hS'
great cities Of tho United states. HIS hrfu
recently purchased the entire businns' ~,
and stock Of the New York house oi iih-
ton. Hughes a. Co, tho Successors 10 the
famous Alexander + Stewart That es'
tnbli8bmeut has been reorahnized on th'
same basis ns tho Grand Depot In Phiia'