Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1906-02-09
AN EXAMPLE FOR
AMERICAN YOUTHS
Career of the King Of American
Merchants Is An In
spiration.
MARSHALL FIELD THE MAN
Began Life as a Poor Boy, and by Strict
Honesty and Industry Amassed
Largest Fortune Of Any
American.
MARSHALL FIELD THE MAN
FROM the chicago Evening Journal.

From the Chicago Evening Journal.
Long after most features Of the per-
sonality Of the late Marshall Field have
been forgotten, C~hiCagoans win re-
member, with admiration and graft
tude, his quality of temperance.
This quality has not been sufficiently
remarked. Unlike some other rich men.
here ana elsewhere, he recognized the
Obligation his prominence aid upon him
of setting o. good example 10 young
men growing UP around aim. He had
money enough 10 crafty every pos
sible within, however costly. But he
lived ulDGestly, without ostenstation,
without making himself ridiculous in
attempts 70 find new sensations beyond
the experience Of men less rich.
He did not appear 10 think that
wealth relieved him of the necessity Of
being q gentleman, You never heard
OF him scattering gold from the EifLel
tower, or trying TO break the bank at
Monte Carlo.
He did not own a string Of race
horses T" He did not appear in race
course betting rings, an enormous cigar
in his mouth. his face made crimson by
costly wines, his pockets stuffed by
thousand dollar bills. his person hanked
by jockeys, touts, faro bankers. and
prize fighters. He did not sit up nights
IN hotel CONS playing poker.
The newspapers reported him
as tipping a restaurant waiter SO"
He did not spend his summers at Sara
toga. ~hobuOobing with notorious gam
blers. When he Travelled il was not
in a special train, with a band of re-
tinue or servants, and an army of
s~ycOpEantic guests.
Some other rich men OF our day are
guilty of these vulgarities, but Marshall
Field had the instincts of a gentleman
and n good citizen. If he had acted as
other rich men act he would certainly
have lone great injury to all young
men In this Community, for, demoral-
ized by his example, they would have
followed it, reasoning that If that rich,
successful man could indulge in such
bad practices. they could safely do so;
that what had not harmed him would
not harm them.
Instead Of that. Mr.. Fields example
and influence We're always on the side
of temperance, good taste, gentleman
illness.
His life was simple. normal, clean.
And, being what he was i'm the world of
business. i'm the civic life OF Chicago,
he made his mode Of existence the
fashion. So long as he was our first
citizen 1t was not possible for rich
men with vulgar tastes TO be comfort
able here. They were chilled by the
disapprCval OF Mr.. Field. Sooner or
later, they abandoned their yulga-ity
or removed elsewhere. The moral at
mosphere here was too clean for them.
This was due, 10 a great degree. to
Marshall Field. and for it he should
be held in grateful remembrance by all
who wish to see the purity of our social
sentiment preserved.
Began as Farmers Boy.
Marshall Field began life as a farmers
boy I'm Massachusetts,, trying a ~clerkship
In a country store. Lhen. golng 10 Snlcaso
and growing UP with the town, he hnal-y
became head Of a mercantile establish
ment which id a business of more than
&0,C0o.0.a O year.
associated with has name. and he was not
a stranger TO philanthropy and arts. In
addition to his Sryg0OdS business ne nad
extensive baukfng interests, owned more
than wE.Dq0,015 worth Of real estate. was
chief stakeholder in the Pullman company.
held enormous quantities Of railroad
stocks and bonds, and was 4 director m
tho steel trust.
In spite Of this colossal wealth he was a
modest and rettr ng man, little known 70
society, though mis- handsome looks and
cultivated mind were calculated TO grace
10.
IL is interesting to recall that through
out his long career the public never aid
any but kind things Of Marshall Ffeld-
Did a Cash Business.
II was a matter Of pride with him tina
the basis Of his success had been cash.
He never gave a note. never bought a
share OF stock on margin, never borrowed
money nor allowed his property 20 be en-
numbered with mortgages; he bought for
cash, sold on short time, and held his GUS
TONERS 10 a strict enforcement OF their
contracts.
Mr. Field was born In western Massa-
chusetts. in the little town OF Conway. in
1885. Eve years ago he gave the town a
10000 public library in commemoratlon
OF the event. He received a common
school and academy education, and az the
age OF IL went TO Pfttsfield, Mass, to be-
come a dry goods clerk. Having served
there four years he started out for a
place offering opportunities. Chicago
was his first and last STOP
There vas no guarantee at that time
tina Chicago would become the western
MetroDolis-.n fact, the chances seemed
rather in favor Of St. Louts-bUt Mr.. Fled
became a Chicagoan heart and soul, and
the story OF his life Is a wonderfully close
index OF the cIty's history and growth.
Clerk in Dry Goods Store.
Mr. Field obtained employment as a
clerk sn the wholesale ~drygocds house OF
Cooley. Farwei & Co Ills equipment at
the outsst In his new field Of labor was
health, braIEs. SOUND principles and ambf-
ton. Genuine worth did not rave 20 wait
for dead mems shoes TO secure recognition
in the broader field In which the young
man found himself. His pod qualities
were promptly discovered by his plo
ers and awaited OF 10 mutual advantage.
Mr.. Field remained IN the capacity OF
NEcEA Oily A04E tc4ES@ LA 4cU1 TIC was Mfd4E
a partner In 1860 there was a partial re-
organization. the new firm consisting OF
Mr.. Field. L. Il. Letter and Potter Palmer.
under the irm name OF Field, Palmer *
Letter. Two years later Dir. Palmer with
drew, and until 1851 the style OF the hrEn
Field. LeIser * Co. Mr.. Letter retired
in the latter year and since that time tbs
firm has been Marshall Field & Co.
Quick Recovery from Fire.
The only break in the UnexampIed
growth of the ETeaE mercantile h0uSe was
that made BY the FIRE OF 1871. In that
great calamity Nr. Field suffered proper
~tiona1eiy with the city itself. His firm
then did business at state and Washing
ton streets the present s<sc CT the new re-
tan store Of Marshall Field s. Co. Every
thing was swept away by the flames. in
y0lving q loss of A5sN.Nsl. The firm event
uaIIy recovered 80 5na. eE insurance.
The disaster was met with characteristic
energy ard pluck While the ruins still
smoked rev quarters were opened by the
firm In the steet car barns at State and
Tweutieth streets. and rebuilding was ar
once begun on the old site. The firm also
began the erection OF a separate Wholesale
house at Madison and Market streets
Their new buildings were among the Ersr
OF the permanent srructires compieted
after the ere.
Within a dozen years the new wholesale
quarters proved inadequate 10 the treUen-
growth OF business, and the erection
OF the present great structure was conn
b0undcd by Adams. znk and Quincy
streets md Fifth avenue. In the heart q
IN Nominees sexticn-
49, 9vu observation-disclosures : lnxw. r>~~~~x-