Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1911-12-20
A SUCCESSFUL CAREER.
Interesting Story of Business Life of
b. w. Sinclair, Formerly i'm
Business Here.

After having been in business con-
tinuously for fourteen years in Mar
shalltown B. w. Sinclair, owner of
the Sinclair Tea & Coffee company,
24-26 West Main street, today con-
tracted to sell his business to two of
his employees, Charles A. Newcomer
and John E. Soderquist, the latter of
Boone. The new owners will incor-
porate the company and take over
the business January LIST.
Mr.. Sinclair retires from the bust
ness principally in order that he may
devote his time to other interests.
featuring business of the Marshall
town Motor Materials Manufacturing
company, manufacturers of automo-
bile spark plugs, as side line, and
the business has developed into such
proportions that it is almost impera-
tive that Mr.. Sinclair give most of
his time to it. Mr.. Sinclair has been
suffering from a severe stomach trou-
BILE for several years, and he believes
that the outside work in the develop
ment of his manufacturing business
is just what is demanded of him in
the interests of his health. He also
has much farm property in Califor-
MIA and South Dakota, including a
large ranch bearing alfalfa, situated
on the California border near Yuma,
Ariz. His realty holdings will also
command some of his attention.
For the next year Mr.. Sinclair will
spend most of his time travelling in
ho i,,tn ~ \ fc 90 - mo-
business. Next year he is planning
to take his family to Europe, and
spend at least six months on the con-
tinent, introducing his spark plug at
the leading capitals. Eventually he
expects to go to San Diego, Cal, to
make his home.
Mr.. Sinclair's success as a mer-
chant is striking illustration of
what can be accomplished by hard
work, coupled with good business
judgment.
When he came to Marshalltown
fourteen years ago from Waterloo,
about all the capital he possessed
was small sum in cash, saved out
of six years Of merchandising, a
strong constitution, and a Willingness
to succeed. He had but recently mar
ried, and brought his bride into a
new home, among strangers. He
rented a small Main street room at
what he then considered an eXor-
bitant price, and invested 5000, near
ly all the money he had, in tea and
coffee business. He was his own
manager, clerk, solicitor and delivery
boy. His wife buckled down and
helped him, keeping the books and
tending shop" when her husband
was out taking orders. With little
pony and cart he drove from house
to house soliciting orders. He filled
them, grinding the coffee himself,
and the next day did his own deliv-
ering, working nights to fill the days
orders. His business began to grow,
and spread to outside towns. His
quarters became too small and a
more pretentious room was neces-
sary.- The result was, in time, a
large double store room, large
force of clerks and an equally large
force of travelling statesmen. Yet
when business grew Sinclair was on
the job himself, and gave his per-
sonal attention to his business-a
business that this year will amount
to almost 100000. -
Although he might quit and never
turn hand and still be able to keep
the wolf from The door. Mr.. Sinclair
is not that kind, and still intends to
keep pegging away, but in the manu-
featuring instead of retail line.