The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-03

boarded al the residence OF John +. Al
vey. the father-in-law of Mr. George H.
Bidgood, who was himself afterwards
for years associated with Mr. Ginter as
booIx-kecper and confidential secretary
Young Ginters energy and close oppllca-
ton 10 business aroused the admiration
OF Mr.. Alvey. and a firm friendship
sprung up between the two. which later
resulted i'm the formation OK a business
partnership between them
Mr.. Ginter disposed of his stock oi
fancy goods. and the firm of Ginter N
Alvey came To be looked upon In mercah-
tile circles as a reliable and solid whoie-
sala concern. II was locateA on what
was then called Pearl street, now souln
Fourteenth street, between Nam auu
cary. Wholesale notions was the hho
of goods carried and quite a large stoch
handled The bulk of the trade was dohe
with village and country merchants
while the firm enumerated among us ue9,
customers number Of well-knoWn retali
houses I'm Richmond. There were rev. IL
any commercial travellers from this city
at that time. The drummer with MS
sample case and mileage. his glib tongue
and liberal share of "cheek." who STUN
bles against the other passengers az al
most every town I'm the South at TINS
time. was practically unknown away Dack
I'm the ffties when goods sold on theli
merits more and not so much through
fluent persuasion. fancy sample mirrors
and orchestra seats at the theatre just
80 Nook "a snug order" Merchants came
from miles around and spent some
times several DAYS looking over lne
house and selecting thelr spring or ran
stocks Most Of these buyers ieaci'"
Richmond by private conveyance. lh'y
came from the backwoods, many Oh
them. and purchased their goods 10 sup
plv rural population Frequently
l,so.,,,, M buvcrs could be seen i'm and out
az tho well-known wholesale establish-
ment OF Ginter & Alvey. and the hrm
had one of the most extensive trades oi
,nv similar concern I'm the South.
CHANGES IN THE FIRM.
The business soon increased TO such
an extent that it was found necessaly
IN seek larger quarters. A removal was
,,do IA the southeast corner or lnI-
teeuth and Main streets which had beeh
,acated by Daniel II. London co. MI
T.ondon retiring from business Just before
that time. This building was Afterwards
burned during the evacuation I'D lNo'' but
was rebuilt. and for several years after
wards was occupied by stephen Puthey
a Co
The personnel or the firm was Increased
bv the addition OF Mr. James Kent. loim-
erlv Of the firm Of Kent Paine q Nen'
ana the concern was then known as 'l'-
ter Kent A Alvey. Mr. Ginters inHi-
vidnolitv repeatedly became apparent
and evidences Of that fine Judgment anu
artistic taste. which long afterwards dld
"a much 10 boauNfy the suburbs OF Rich-
nond wae readily recognized. IN tho
purobosing of goods bis selections were
carefuuv made after a diligent study OF
tho nublic needs and the prevailing iash-
ions and this was by no means an unim-
portant factor i'm thc steady prosperity
Of the firm
For about two wears the three men re-
rnaincd I'm business together. There was
I'm the establishment o young man VINO
showed excellent business promise tie
was energetic and ambitious. and WAS
apparently much interested in his WORK.
often he remained in the store long
after the usual time ana hc applied ms
energies closely % the PERFORMING OF hla
duties II was rumorcd about the sior"
that this young man. who was none oihei
than George Arents. nephew of MAJOR
Gnter would some day become mein-
Der OF the firm. And so he did.
When Mr.. Kent retired from tho firm,
young Arents, whose carly business c1-
reer was 50 well grounded and whose
Judgment IN matters OF finance was go
successfully developed as 10 enable him
years afterwards 10 ON the responsible
position OF treasurer OF the American
Tobacco Company. was admitted 20 part
nership In the firm Of Glnter. Alvey
& Arents.
This concern Continued I'm business un-
m not long before the breaking out Of the