The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-12-21
PIONEER MERCHANT
ENTERS final REST
[continued From Page one.l

lNOnltOucO from rage OuS.t
When he assisted with the washing,
he would persist in letting most Of
the water run down his elbows when
he was rinsing the garments.
When DR.. Severinghouse became
pastor of st. Pauls church, George was
attracted to him. He impressed the
lad with the necessity of culture and
education as prime necessities in the
battle OF life
Fond of Music.
His oldest brother John died at the
age of 20 years, and the youngest
brother, Walter, also died in early
manhood. The other children in the
family received the names of Henry,
Augustus, Fred, Matilda and Anna.
The father of the family was fond Of
music, and was an excellent flute
player.
He taught his sons to play and they
formed band, known as the knollen-
berg band, which played at social func-
tons. The players and their instru-
ments were: Father, flute; Charles,
first violin; Henry, second violin;
George, picelo: John, big bass. It con-
tinued for several years after George
was established in business. using a
back room Of the store for rehearsals.
In his early youth. George earned
money by saving wood for his neigh
bors, Gaming chairs and working in a
restaurant owned by his uncle. He
was extremely fond of books and mu-
sic, devoting much time to these pur-
suits.
Confirmed at ID.
He was confirmed in the Lutheran
church at the age of ID, and soon be
gan to assume the responsibilities of
making his own living. He became q
clerk with the firm Of Emswiler and
Croker. Wholesale and retail notions
and fancy goods dealers. This was
his first experience in the mercantile
business. The location of the store
was the third room west of the corner
of Sixth and Main streets on the south
side.
George p Emswiler insisted on the
strictest integrity in business deal
ings. insti!ling this principle into his
employees. Alvin E. Croker was an
was with the firm, absorbing their
business qualities from 1862 to 1865.
This experience proved to him that
he needed more education, so he at
tended the Bryant and Strattan Bust
ness college at Indianapolis for five
months. He tried TO obtain a posi-
ton in a bank, but failed, accepting
position in Cincinnati with Bohn and
Mack. wholesale notion firm. He
was identified with this concern from
April to August, 1866. Cholera broke
out in that city and rapidly spread
through this district, claiming as vic
tim his brother John. Owing to the
entreaties Of his mother, he returned
to Richmond
Opens His Own Store.
In the interim the firm of Emswiler
and Crocker dissolved, Crocker open
ing new firm of wholesale and retail
dry goods and notions, located where
the Railroad Store now is, under the
name of SpencerCrocker & Company.
Emswiler offered young Knollenberg
a one-third interest in the net profits
for his services in the old firm. Crock
er proposed that, if Knollenberg could
obtain $500, he would extend to him
enough credit to open a store of his
own
After consulting his father who was
a blacksmith, Knollenberg obtained
the money. and thereby laid the foun-
dation of the business with which he
was connected throughout his long
career. His father remarked at the
loses, he will break me up