The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-12-30
BurI1 BIG BUSINESS

Where stnid Qualities, German
Thrift and Industry Made Posci-
BILE the Great Shoe Business Of
the r. Mayer Boot q shoe Com
pany, MiIwaul<ee, Manufacturers
of Mayer Quality shoes.
Most Of us see only the present. We
see success only as we are brought
face to face with It today. How many
Of US ever look back for the cause, the
vital things that make success posi-
BILE?
That the key to real business sue
cess Is often based on a sound princi-
pie, rather han money, is best illus
trated by the reproduction Of the fol-
lowing biographical sketch Of Freder-
lck Mayer, founder of the F. Mayer
Boot & Shoe Company, reproduced
from an issue of the German American
National Alliance:
Frederick Mayer, founder of the fac
tories at Milwaukee N Seattle now
bearing his name, came to this country
from Niernstein, Hessen Darmstadt, in
May, 1851, and Immediately proceeded
to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he en-
tered the employ of r. Suhm as a Jour
neyman shoemaker.
The spirit that prompted him Ito seek
bis fortune in the new world was soon
responsible for another change, and in
1907. a year later, he embarked in
business on his own accord, making
boots n shoes to order as only a
German ~apprenticed artisan knows
how. Subsequently a stock of goods
was carried n a retail business con-
Quoted until 1880. when the manufac-
ture Of shoes was engaged in at whole
sale to the trade.
h business succeeded from the be-
ginning and II was here that the staid
qualities of German honesty and per-
sistency, together with the knowledge
OF shoe making gained by a strict Ger
man apprenticeship, came to the aid OF
q young business destined to become a
factor In the production of shoes IN
America, for II soon became known
that n shoes manufactured by r.
Mayer had qualities not ordinarily
found In shoes. n business began to
expand.
In. 1880 the business was well estab-
lished, the foundation firmly laid and
the policy well determined. From that
time on the growth was more rapid
Factories, additions, more factories and
more additions were added, until now
the plant occupies a substantial group
Of buildings in Milwaukee and Seattle
The capacity Of the present Mayer fac
tories at Milwaukee and Seattle Is g.
600 pair per day, giving employment t.
an army Of people, paying annually
" e six hundred thousand dollars ir
wages, and employing sixty five sales.
men who travel "a states in the inter
est of Mayer shoes. =
Frederick Mayer died on March 16
1899, after building up a large and sue.
cessful business. He was succeeded
by his sons, George p. Mayer, Fred ]
Mayer and ADAM j. Mayer, who, by
rigidly maintaining the policy of the
founder, have succeeded in bringing
h business up to its present magni.
tude, where 1t stands as a monument
of German thrift and industry. Fred.
'ertck Mayer was a mar OF strong char
sacter and amiabfe disposition. He be-
lieved in a square deal for everybody
He was popular and had hosts o.
friends, especially anong the early set.
Tiers Of Milwaukee,. who admired him
for the qualities tina were responsible
for hts success. He was a man of sim
pie tastes, who loved his home and be.
lieved IN the strict observances Of hi.
4 duty to God and man. He left behint
4 at least one instance, been contributed
by q German TO the welfare and pros
perity OF this great country.
The leading brands manufactured b,
the F. Mayer Boot IL Shoe Go. are
"Honorbilt." o men; Leading Lady
Shoes, Martha Washington" Oomfor
Shoes. "Yerman" Cushion Shoes, 'Spe'
cctal Merit School Shoes.