Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1906-01-18
WORLDS GREAT
MERCHANT.
Marshall Field, of Chicago,
Expires in New
York.
WAS WORTH 5000, 1000, 900.
Brave Fight Against Disease
Despite His Seventy
Years.

New York, Jan. 16. Marshall
Field, of Chicago, millionaire mer.
chant and a leader in the dry goods
trade of the world, died at the Hol-
land House in this city at A o'clock
this afternoon after an illness ex-
tending over more than week, be-
ginning with a bad cold and develop
ing quickly into pneumonia which
affected both lungs. Mr.. Field, al
though 70 years of age, made a
fight against the disease which i'm
pressed the attending physicians as
being drawer and stronger than
would have been expected of man
many years his junior.
Mrs. Field and other members of
the family were with him when he
lapsed into the period of uncon-
seriousness which ended in death.
Wonderful Success.
Chicago, Jan. 16.-Marshall Field
was without question the greatest
and most successful merchant of his
generation and he was one of the
worlds richest men, his wealth be-
ing estimated at anything from
500, 100000 to $20O,0OO,0OO. He
was a native Of Conway, Mass.
where he was born in 1886. His
father was a farmer and Mr.. Field
obtained his education in the public
schools of Conway. At the age of
II he became clerk in general
country store in Pittsfeld, Mass.
where ne remained for four years.
He came to Chicago in 1856 and be-
gan his career in this city as clerk in
the wholesale dry goods establish
ment of Colley, Wadsworth & Co.
During the four years he remained
with this house he showed marked
commercial ability and in 1860 he
was given a partnership. The late
Levi z. Letter was also connected
with the firm, and in 1866 the two
young men withdrew and, in COM
pany with Potter Palmer, they or
ganized the firm of Field, Palmer
& Letter, which continued until 1867,
when Mr.. Palmer withdrew and the
firm became Field, Letter & Co.
This continued until 1881, when Mr..
Letter retired and the firm became
known as. Marshall Field &
Co., as it is today. The house
forged to the front very rapidly and
it is now the largest enterprise of
its kind in the world, having numer-
Gus branches throughout Europe
and Asia.
The greatest merchant in the
world was a slender man of medium
height. When he looked up his face
was kindly and the clear gray eyes
shot keen, penetrating chances out
from under the shaggy eyebrows.
The gray hair was sparse around the
forehead, and the heavy mustache
was perfectly white. His presence
was impressive; he was dignifed but
not severe; alert but seemingly sad,
strong but sympathetic, business
like but considerate of the feelings
of others. These were said to be
the secrets of his success: He never
gave note; he never bought stock
on margins; he never borrowed; he
bought for cash and never gave over
sixty days credit. Mr.. Fields home
in Prairie avenue, near Twentieth
street, is massive, but unostenta-
tious.
In politics he never interfered, al
though he was always ready to aid
with time and money any movement
looking towards better National
and municipal government. He
was several times offered the second
place on the ticket, but refused to
accept it.
Mr.. Field was twice married, his
first wife having died several years
ago. Mr.. Field left one child, Ethel,
now married and residing in Lean
ington, England. Marshall Field,
Jr., accidentally shot himself at his
home in this city Nov. %, 1905, and
died five days later. Sept 5, 1905,
Mr.. Field was married in London,
England, toMrs. Cation, the widow
of Arthur Cation. of this city.