The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-12-12
JOHN WANAMAKER
.,l.II, dc ! 4 T lPI \ T0DAY
sysss.i1s' i1s'''' s'saps 'ooh'
IN FRS 9TH Y'LAR
World Famous Merchant and
Founder of Department Store
FIRST WAGES S1.25 A WEEK
Brought about Desirable Chang
es when Postmaster Cen
eral under Harrison
FIRST WAGES S1.25 A WEEK

Philadelphia, Dec. 12.--John Wana-
maker, world famous merchant and
former postmaster general, died at his
town house on Walnut street, this
ty at 8 O'Clock this morning. He had
been confined TO h s home, sick early
in November with a heavy cold con-
tracted from his country estate "Lyn-
dehurst' at Jenkintown near here. He
was S4 years old.
John Wanamaker led in the creation
of the department store as an .nstitp-
tion in American life. He was "a
years old when he entered upon his
career in partnership with his broth
er.in.law, Nathan Brown. on joint
capital OF $3,50O, in clothing business
at Philadelphia. He had been born
in that city, July IL, 1888. 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 $l.25 week as
an errand boy in a Philadelphia book
store. The Brown & Wanamaker
store began business with first days
sales of $24 and ended its first year
with a record of $4,000 business.
Mr.. Wanamaker interested himself
in many civic activities He was the
first salaried secretary in America of
the Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton, in 1885, one OF the founders Of
the Christ an Commission during the
civil war, and one OF the organizers Of
the Centennial exposition in 1875. In
the latter year he began the develop
ment OF his department store es.
tablishing the house of John Wana-
maker & Company on Chestnut st.
Philadelphia, and twenty years later
establ shed a similar business in New
York as successor A. 7. Stewart.
II is estimated that during his entire
business career Mr., Wanamaker had
distributed into American homes
merchandise reaching nearly billion
dollars in value.
He was born as great believer in
dufti l.HllSt III utNoDaDtl
above ali other varieties. He spent
millions of dollars in il. One OF the
! feathers OF his advertising campaign
was this development of the store
News Page" which he led with an edi,
tolial over his signature. invariably
written by himself, to keep the public
in touch with the policies of his bust
ness. His friends often saw him writ
ing such an editorial on his way to
the store in the morning. scribbling 1t
on the back Of an envelope or any odd
scrap OF paper he had in his pocket.
! In political life Mr.. Wanamaker was
prominent as an Independent Republ =
/ can In 1882 he was offered the Re-
publican nominal on as congre isman-
/ at.large for the state OF Pennsyivan Il,
but declined 1t and in 1856 he declined
to be an independent candidate for
mayor of Philadelphia He took an
active part in most of the presidential
campaigns and gave great amount
of work to the Republican National Ex.
executive committee, of which he was
a member during the Harrison cam
paign. Upon the election Of Harrison,
Mr.. Wanamaker was invited to enter
the cabinet and although there was
much criticism to the effect that mer
chant was unfit for a cabinet posit on
Mr.. Wanamaker became Postmaster
General and was acknowledged later
by his critics 10 have worked many
desirable reforms in the postal system
The religious side of Mr.. Wanamak
er's life was one less known to the gen
eral public than any other, but one
In which he was deeply interested
Very early in fe he became a mem
Der of the Rev. John Chahbers Pres
byterian Church in Phladeiph a. Later
he gathered together handful of boys
in shoemaker's shop and formed 9
Sunday school, which was the nucleus
OF what Is today the Bethany Presby
teran Church Of Philadelphia. The
Bethany Sunday School, of which Mr.
Wanamaker was superintendent, has
5000 members, and 1t is sad to be the
largest Sunday school in the United
States. HIS attendance at the Sun
day School meetings kept him on his
feet almost continuously for eigh
hours every Sunday, for he often con
Quoted as many as twelve meeting
and made short addresses or short
time talks at all of them. Such was hi.
Sunday work the year around for owe
half century.
Early in his career Mr. Wanamakel
married Mary b. Brown who cooperat
ed with him in much of his ph Ian
throp,c work He founded the Presby
tetian hospital in Philadelphia, tn,
first Penny Savings Bank there, as
sisted in erecting many Young Men
Christian Assoc alton buildings, an,
contributed toward college missionar,
inst tutions in India, China and Japan
AT the outbreak of the European wa
he was one of the first to assist in tn,
relief of the Belgians. equipping tw,
shipoads of ioodstuffs which wer,