Evening journal., 1916-01-06
Founder Of Successful Barbering Business
in Hotel Dupont Began Career in
America as a PeddIer-=-HaS Had
Remarkable Success

by this time he had graduated
from the stationery business to a
more general line. he was sent out
into the country where there was
more field for his operations, and
he was forced to abandon school.
Apprentieed at Eighteen.
At the age Of eighteen, he de-
decided to become a barber and
was apprenticed to Robert e.
Francis, who had small barber
shop in the old Hardness Building,
at Tenth and Market streets, the
site of the present dupont Build
ing. He served his apprentice
ship. and worked for Mr. Francis
for about two years longer, when,
deciding that he had the germ of a
business career in his system, he
approached Mr. Francis with an
offer to buy him out. Terms were
agreed upon and the shop consist
ing of three chairs, three mirrors,
and shelf made from board
twelve feet long and one foot
wide. covered with oilcloth. to-
gether with the good will" of the
shop. was offered to him at $780,
He accepted, though, he states at
that time, he had but 25 cents of
his own. He was already popular
with the patrons of the shop, how
ever, and approaching a we'll
known citizen of Wilmington who
had taken kindly interest in
him, he laid his plans before him
and entered into an agreement to
borrow the necessary $500 10 buy
out this shop and repay it in
small monthly installments from
the business. He remained here
for seven years, having with him
for part of this time his brothers,
David and Phillip, and eventually
Charley and "Yock."
Feeling the need of expansion and
finding that larger quarters could
be obtained in the basement of the
Church Building, they conceived
the idea of Quitting a shop there,
and the five brothers did so, fur
nishing the shop at cost of $1,000
with five chairs and the necessary
fixtures and operating under the
firm name of Leshem Bros. "5
Brothers. Chairs"
While purchasing the shop from
Mr.. Francis was an important
point in his life, he says he felt
that after spending a thousand dol
lars in Quitting the shop in the
Church Building. he had reached
the heighth Of his ambition and
that this shop represented the last
word in a completely equipped,
sanitary barber shop.
All of this time he and his brothers
were increasing their clientele,
making friends daily, and building a
successful business. The brothers
were popular, and it was rare. in
deed, that a customer went into
their shop who was not impressed
with the courteous treatment, sat
isfactOry results and desire to
please. shown by the brothers and
that he did not return again and
again
After the DUPONT Building was
constructed a shop was started
there and had been in operation
for some time. when overtures we're
made to Lewis Leshem to take the
shop. which he finally did. taking
three of his brothers with him.
For the past five years he has
conducted this shop and is now the
manager of it, still having with him
his brother David. This shop has
ten chairs. with manicuring and
hair dressing parlors adjoining, and
a large bootblack stand within. It
has just been refitted, furnished
with ten new hydraulic chairs de
luxe. is the latest word in santa
ton and appointments and COM
pares favorably with any barber
shop in any city in the country. II
is rather remarkable that starting