The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1922-12-12
Veteran Merchant "a Years
Of Age Started in Business
With Capital of Only 3d.
I 500 Was Former Post
master General
ONE PRICE STORES
thinking, trying, Toiling
And Trusting Is All My
Biography" He Wrote =
Lead in Many Lines of
Philanthropic Endeavor
ONE PRICE STORES

Wanamaker died at his home here
at a. m.
The world famous merchant and
former postmaster general passed
away at his town house, 2O32 Wal
nut Street. He had been confined
there since early in November with
a heavy cold contracted at his coun-
try estate, "Lyndenhurst,' at Jen-
kintown, near here. He was "a years
old.
About two weeks ago Mr.. Wana-
makers condition became such as to
cause anxiety. A week ago, how
ever, he showed such marked i'm
provemcnt that his physicians ceas-
ed issuing bulletins. At five o'clock
this morning Mr.. Wanamaker was
seized with violent coughing spell,
his physicians stated, which result
cd in extreme heart weakness. Ma
jor Barclay II. Warburton, Mr..
Wanamakcr's son-in-law, notified
The Associated Press, Mr.. Wana-
maker died peacefully at a. M.
The Wanamaker store here and
the one in New York were not OPEN
ed, notice appearing on the doors
that the stores would remain closed
until further notice. The funeral
day will be announced later.
Mr.. Wanamaker's life was insured
for more than $3,o00,000; he having
been one Of the leaders among the
heavily insured men in the country.
Mr.. Wanamaker was active in his
business affairs up to the time he
was stricken. He spent much Of last
winter in Florida, and was in this
city all summer hard at work, with
the exception Of occasional surcease
from the duties of his office for
@ day at the seashore. He was always
an early riser and was usually in
his mercantile establishment be-
for it was opened.
Nh. Wanamaker is survived by
his son, Rodman, resident of New
Yo.k City, and two daughters, Mary
B., Wife ,f Barclay H. Warburton,
and Elizabeth, wife Of Norman Mac
Leod, both Of Philadelphia
John Wanamaker led in the crea-
tion of the department, store as an
institution in American life. At the
outbreak of the Civil War in 1861
when he began business for himself
in a humble way in Philadelphia,
retail merchandising in this country
was in a disorganized state, and, in
the opinion Of the farsighted young
mdschant, it was suffering a rapid
decline through practices that were
then general. Aside from his am
bition to make money, "my para
mount purpose, said Mr.. Wapamak-
er, "was to help save the mercantile
profession from lowering it's flag
before other professions and oc-
I cupations". There were in those
days no fixed selling price for
goods. Business then demanded a
thirteen hour day from all its em-
ployes. Customers spent hours
price-haggling with salesmen. Mr..
Wanamaker was impressed with
this waste of time and to eliminate
it he became pioneer in fixing a
selling price for goods. 1t was one
Of the beginnings of many mercan-
tile reforms which today are so
generally followed that the present
generation can scarcely find any,
where trace Of the old practices.
Capital of s3,5O0.
Mr.. Wanamaker was "a years old
when he entered upon his career, il,
partnership with his brother-n-l law,
Nathan Brown, on a joint critical
capital of $35O0, in clothing busi-
ness at Philadelphia. He had been
born in that city, July IL, 1888. His
father and fathers father had been
brck-makers, and John Wanamakers
first work was turning bricks" He
was the oldest Of seven children and
early in his boyhood he was obliged
to give up schooling and earn his
own way. His first wages were SIPS
a week as an errand boy in a Phil
adelphia book store, and then as
young man he was employed for a
time at Tower Hall, famous old
Philadelphia clothing hodse, where
HIS pei SollalIty anu UuSlHcSS ABILITY
were developed for his venture in
business for himself. The Brown E.
Wanamaker store began business
with a first days sale account of $24,
and ended it's first year with a rec
ord of $4,000 business, Mr.. Wana-
maker and his brother-in-law were
during their first few months of bus
mess unable to afford horse and
wagon for delivery, and Mr.. Wana-
maker himself pushed a two-wheel
cart to deliver his goods. His part
ners health failing, most of the de-
tails of the business developed upon
Mr.. Wanamaker.
Aside from establishing his one
price policy and making a shorter
business day, Mr.. Wanamaker estab-
lished in the new store two systems,
one of sales and the other of or.
ganization. He learned it was cheap
err to manufacture some classes of
goods than to buy from manufacture
ers and he became one of the first
retailers to do this. He found it diff
cult to get employees who were prop
erly instructed in their duties and
Continued on Page g.