The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1922-12-12
John Wanamaker SuCCumbS to
Short Illness Following
Heavy Cold.
WAS POSTMASTER GENERAL
Pioneer American Rose From
Poor Boy to Pinnacle of
Success in Business.

By United Press
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 12.-
John Wanamaker died here at S
a. m. today. He was 81 years
old.
Wanamaker, founder OF tl%
stores bearing his name in New
York and Philadelphia and for
mer Postmaster General, had
been i'll for several weeks.
During the last few days. however,
he took a turn for the better and the
enc came suddenly after a relapse.
Wanamaker. one of the pioneers
Of America, was born July
Mr.. Wanamaker, one Of the pio-
neers OF America, was born July
10. 1888, in the County Of Philadelphia
a little more than seventeen years he
fore its consolidation into the city His
father. John Nelson Wanamaker, was
a bricklayer and his grandfather was
a farmer. Their ancestors came TO
America at the time Of the landing Of
William Penn. His mother was Eliza
beth Kochersperger. whose ancestors
were the HugenOts Of France.
Wanamaker attended public school
until he was Il years old and then OBJ
tanned employment in a Philadelphia
! Abook store as an errand boy at SL25
"a week.
Some time later his family moved to
Kosciusko County. Ind, but returned
TO Philadelphia in 1855.
Starts His Fortune
Anxious to engage in business
Wanamaker obtained a position in a
retail clothing store at $3.50 week
from which he saved 500. This was
the foundation of his fortune.
Confinement in the store caused i'll
health, and in 1858 Wanamaker went
10 Minnesota. His health improved,
and he returned TO Philadelphia the
same year. when he was elected the
first paid secretary Of the Y. N. c. a,
which organization was then in its
infancy.
Upon the outbreak of the Civil War
ne sought 10 enlist in the Army. but
vas refused OF account of his phys
zeal condition.
On April Il. 1861, the day Ft. sum
ter was cannonaded. he opened a
small clothing store War paraiyzed
trade. but by remarkable business
tact. Wanamaker brought his bust
ness through the turbulent times and
at the close of the war he was
wealthy man.
As years advanced Wanamaker he
came more prominent and he widened
his mercantile operations. Outside Of
business pursuits he engaged IN re
Hgious and social work. He ORGANIZED
th,. famous BETHANY Sunday school
with twenty-seven members AMI il
now numbers more than 5000 He
was one of the originatOrs of the
Christian commission" during the
Civil War and was chairman of the
general relief committee during the
Irish famine. He served efficiently on
the finance committee of the Centen-
mail Exposition of 1876.
Founded Penny Bank
Wanamaker was the founder of the
First Penny Savings Bank, helped TO
start numerous hospitals, founded
Wanamaker's institute of industries
and the Bethany dispensary and had
erected Y. NJ. c. a. and college
buildings in India, China. Japan and
Korea. In 1S9 ne was decorated with
the legion of honor by the French
government and in November, 1914,
he chartered two steamships and
sent food to the starving Belgians.
WanamalIer nominated Fairbanks for
vice president at the Republican ma
tional convention in 1916, and in 1921
celebrated sixty years of business
life. As father of the Centennial ex-
position, he suggested the sesqui-
centennial exposition for 1926, to
celebrate the 150th anniversary Of the
declaration Of independence.
Wanamaker was taken i'll about
two months ago while at 'Lynden-
hurst" his summer estate near
Jenkentown. He was brought to his
home in Philadelphia so as to be
nearer medical attention.
Though his malady was diagnosed
as a severe cold his advanced age
and its long duration made it serious.