The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-04-16
THE CARTEN STORE
IS RELEASED FROM
TRUSTEES HANDS
FORMER LOCAL BOY MAKES
GOOD In BUSINESS AGAINST
BIG ODDS.

Belding friends of Thos. A. Carten,
a well known Ionia merchant and
former local resident, will be glad to
read the following which we clip from
a recent edition of the lonia Stand
ard:
Thos. A. Carten again resumes Iuii
control of his we'll known stores, after
Alp years in the hands OF trustee
the chattel mortgage and the trustee
both having been discharged. JOS
enh ]. Crowley of Detroit, who was
appointed trustee on October 22, 1914
released all claims on March 3, 1919,
as ali outstanding indebtedness and
obligations had then been paid in full:
The Standard wishes to be one OF
the first to congratulate Mr.. and Mrs.
Carten for winning the fight which
required tact, tenacity and courage
. that does things. The trustee an
nounced to The Standard that Mr..
Carten deserves the highest praise
possible in accomplishing what he has
done during these trying times, when
MANY merchants were failing instead
of making good. Mr.. Crowley was
made trustee to serve all the credit
ors at a time when each one was de-
manding all their money at once.
Some. however, were willing to wait,
SO as not to force the discontinuance
of the business. Mr.. Carten states
that his absence from the Ionia store
during his year in Detroit, caused
him heavy loss here in trade, quail
ity of merchandise, and thousands of
dollars in money 1t was up to him
then to sell, either the Ionia or the
Detroit store, as he could not person
ally manage both. For the Detroit
store he was at no trouble tc find a
buyer that allowed him to sell at a
premium, but could find no purchaser
for the Ionia store.
The Detroit store was therefore
sold, and Mr.. Carten returned at
cnce, more TO rebuild for Ionia store
deserving of the city and community.
This was difficult in the face of con-
ditions as he found them, but his per-
severance and grit won out for him,
as is testified by the business he now
does-by his having paid off all cred
itors in full, and at the same time re-
modelling his store into day light
store with many new and improved
styles Of doing business and serving
his trade to their perfect satisfaction
and pleasure. Many people serve
themselves from display tables, max
ing service quickes and the cost of
handling goods much lower. This is
all to the buyers benefit, as the goods
can thus be sold cheaper.
Perhaps a short note of Mr.. Car
tens progress since coming to Ionia
on October 10, 1877, when only boy
of II years of age, will be Of interest
to his many well-wishing friends
With no capital except pluck and 9
good constitution he commenced work
oftentimes working from early a
m. until after midnight.
Being progressive, and wishing tC
learn the business in all it's phases in
1881 he entered the employ of Mar
shall Field q Co., of Chicago, in THEN
retail store. remaining with that firm
two wears. He then went to New.
ton. Kansas, where six months salts.
fled him that he desired no more. Re
turning to Chicago he again connect
ed himself with Marshall Field & Co
Later he was engaged as city buyer
fer the growing wholesale house o1
JAMES Fl. Walker q Co, where ht
learned the wholesale end of the dry
goods business as well as gaining Z
err, whether for wholesale or retail
To this experience he owes his ability
to buy quality and secure the Lowest
urices. During this time he haC
saved to enable him TO carry out hi.
intentions of having his own business
Out of hundreds of towns visited by
him while a road salesman, he select
ed Ionia as the one best liked anC
suitable fer the venture.
His aggressive policy has brought
thousands Of people to the Ionia mar
ket, which not only benefited him
but all businesses Of the town hav,
been benefited through this method
Today his store is credit to any city
many times larger than Ionia. Theil
policy found so beneficial in the past
Zone Price To All" will remain tn,
policy in the future.
Not being handicapped with a trus
tee, Mr.. Carten states, Ionia and com
munity shall benefit as never befor,
by low prices and the highest quality
coupled with a service superior to any
heretofore
The Standard again congratulatel
Mr.. and Mrs. Carten and wish then
all the happiness and prosperity it il
possible to obtain.
Mr.. Carten when boy lived in thi,
citv with his parents, Mr.. and Mrs
j. Carten, who lived on River stree
in the house now occupied by Mr.. ant
Mrs. Edgar Bradshaw. He went from
here to Ionia and the story of hi
success through the Intervening year,
is that of a reward well earned.
More power to good old "Tom'
Carten is the wish of his legion O.
friends in his old home town.
The only thing found by the sol