The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-17
Greatest Merchant in the World
 Dead in New York
LEAVES OVER $1OO,OOO,OOO
Beginning as Clerk In Country Store, MT. Field Built Up the Largest Mercantile Establishment
 In the World.

New York, January 16.-Marshall Field of Chicago. millionaire merchant and a leader in the dry goods trade of the world, died at the Holland house in this city at clock this afternoon, after an ill- ness extending over more than a week, beginning with a bad cold and developing quickly into pneumonia, which affected both lungs
 MT. Field. although 70 years of age, made a fight against the disease which impressed the attending physicians as be- ing braver and stronger than would have been expected of a man many years his junior Mrs. Field and other mem bers of the family were with him when he lasped into the period of unconscious ness which ended in death In an adjoin- ing room were many persons prominent in the business and social life of Chicago, intimate associates of MT. Field who had come to New York when the seriousness of his condition was made known to them
 An outline of the funeral arrangements was decided upon tonight. The body will
 
 be taken to Chicago tomorrow morning in a special train over the New York Central and Hudson River railroad and the Lake Shore system. There will be no services of any sort in this city. It is planned to hold the funeral services in Chicago at a date to be fixed either from the Field residence in Prairie avenue, or from the First Presbr<erian church.
 Presaged Coming of the End.
 A sinking spell early this morning which followed the remarkable rally of yester- day, presaged the coming of the end. Mir. Field was told last night that he had but the slightest chance for recovery. During the periods of consciousness which marked the last twenty-four hours of his life he talked but little. seeming resigned and peaceful. and occasionally expressing his appreciation of the fight his physi- clans had made for him.
 MT. Field had been in consultation Sun day with his personal counsel from Chi cago. He had felt that his condition was grave and had given almost constant thought to his business affairs.
 With Mr Field at his death, in addi- ton to his wife, were Mrs. Marshall Field, Jr Stanley Field. nephew and son Of Joseph N Field of Manchester, Eng, and Mrs Stanley Field.
 Among Worlds Richest Men.
 Marshall Field was without question the greatest and most successful merchant of his generation and he is one of the worlds richest men, his wealth being estimated anywhere from $100,OO0,OOO to $200, 900, 900. He was a native of Conway. L boo tr1 He father was a farmer. and MT. Field ob- tained his education in the public schools of Conway. At the age of + he became clerk in a general country store in Pittsfeld, Mass. where he remained for four years.
 He came to Chicago in 1856 and began his career in this city as clerk In the wholesale dry goods establishment of Colley, Wadsworth & Co. During the four years that he remained with this house he showed marked commercial abil- ity and in 1860 he was given a partnership. the late Levi Letter was also connected with the firm and in 1865 the two young men withdrew and in company with Potter Palmer, they organized the firm of Field, Palmer & Letter which con- tinued until 1867, when Mir Palmer with drew and the firm became Field, Letter & Go.
 This continued until 1881, when MT. Lett CT retired, and the firm be- came known as Marshall fleld & Co.,, as 1t is today The house forged to the front very rapidly and 1t is now the largest enterprise or its kind in the world, having numerous branches throughout Europe and Asia It's remarkable success Is attributed al- most entirely to Mir. Field and his meth ods. He made 1t a rule never to borrow money and never to issue note lie paid cash for everything he bought, not only in connection with his dry goods enterprise, but for all of his dealings in real estate and in other investments. The great fire of 1871 was the only reverse ever experienced by the house of Marshall Field & Co. It's loss at that time aggregat- ed over s1,0O0.000
 Tn 1872 the wholesale department was separated from the retail store and the latter now covers one city square and IS located in buildings twelve stories in height.
 Believer in Chicago's Future. While building up the dry goods store which has grown to such mammoth pro- portions MT. Field, who was a firm be- i never in the future of Chicago, invested heavily in real estate and to the appre- citation of this in value he owed much or his wealth.
 At the close of the worlds fair in 1s93 MT. Field endowed with sl,O0O,WO the museum now known as the Field Co., lumbian museum. for which home valued at S, 100000 Is shortly to be erect ed in the heart of the city. He later gave to the University of Chicago land valued at $450000 to be used for athletic purposes and a portion of it's is known today as Marshall Field. He was ex- tremely charitable in other directions, never failing to contribute to a cause which he knew to be worthy. Personally MT. Field was a handsome man, a trifie above medium height, slen- der and well proportioned. He was popu- lar socially, although he never mingled in society as the word is generally un- derstood In his personal tastes and habits he was quiet and modest. In poli- tics he never interfered. although he was always ready to aid with time and money any movement looking toward bet fer national or municipal government. He was prominently mentioned as q vice presidential candidate on the demo- cratic ticket in 1904. He was several times offered the second place on the ticket but refused to accept it. One night he was called up at his home in this city by the Associated Press and ---->-------- <~--x;.>~I = Qa~ond Rsoal