Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1922-02-07
FOUNDER OF
FIRST DEPT.
Store dies
CONTINUED From First Page)

CONTINUED From First Page.)
and friends with deep regret. As
the pioneer department store pro-
prietor in Wilmington, who had de
veloped a small establishments into
the present large business from soc
TO Sl4 Market street, with an en-
trance at 9 East Third street, his
death was keenly felt by his fellow
merchants.
Mr.. Lippincott was always an ac-
tive man In the store and IL was
mainly through his personal efforts
that the clientele OF the house was
built up. He made II his business 70
see that every customer was prop
erly taken care Of and was inter
ested to know that everyone enter
ing the store left satisfied. whether
a purchaser or not.
The Lippincott store was closed
shortly after Mr.. Ldppincott died
and will remain closed until after
the funeral.
Arrangements for the funeral have
not yet been made.
Mr.. Lippincott was born In Salem,
n. j., on October -, 1910.
Mr.. Lippincott, al the age OF 10
years. was thrown upon his own re-
sources by the death OF his father.
BY his indomitable will power and
business integrity, he made himself
a towering figure in later life In the
business werld. and became one OF
the foremost merchants in this city.
During the thirty-eight years he
was in business in Wilmington, he
saw the enterprise which he had
fathered expand from a little dry
goods house at s12 Market street to
the modern department store he
controlled at 3O6-314 Market street.
His success was a shining example
for any boy or man who wanted to
make good in life.
His early days we're passed as
clerk and salesman in dry goods
stores in Salem. Bridgeton and Tren-
ton, y. j.. which training and close
attention 10 business gave him a
thorough insight into that line OF
mercantile endeavor. His first en-
ployers - the Rumsey Brothers.
Charles. George and Jacob-took
great interest in him and helped
him TO learn business details into
which his active mind was inquiring
and which ne put 10 good use In
later life.
Il was in Trenton that the first
opportunity to enter business pre-
scented itself to him. He had &C
cumulated some money. In his busi-
ness duties in Trenton, Charles
southwick became one OF his firm
friends. Mr.. Southwick's brother
had been a merchant in Philadel-
phia and wanted to sell out The
brother in Trenton preached tbs
subject to Mr.. Lippincott. with the
result that the firm OF southwicl
and Lippincott was started in Phila
delphia.
For a while he prospered but the
Civil War and the consequent upset
ting OF business and depression came
along. prices scared almost out OF
sight, especially In the dress goods
line which they handled, and as a
result the firm was forced out OF
business.
For a time thereafter Mr.. Lippin-
colt was connected with strawbridge
and Clothier in Philadelphia. as a
salesman II was almost an acct
dent that ne came TO Wilmington 10
stay. In the first place he came here
TO assist r. L. Russell, who kept the
Hive Store. then at 500 Market
street. Mr.. Lippincott's understand
ing was that he was TO remain with
Mr.. Russell only six weeks. He knew
something about the town because
he had made excursions TO this city
from Salem. y. j.. the place OF his
birth. He was so impressed with the
city while in the service OF Mr. Rus
sell that he decided to remain here
and later in life he frequently de-
clared: Il have never regretted IT,"
II was about 3S years ago that Mr.
Lippincott was able 10 open a busi-
ness in this city. His loss through
the failure OF the Lippincott and
Southwick firm had left him with
little capital but his good name in
the former business remained as his
chief asset. He was able to buy the
John Wainwright building at 312
Market street and a number OF
wholesale houses gave him extended
credit on goods for his store.
From the start the business was
successful. As il expanded Mr.. Lip
pincott found Il necessary to acquire
more floor space, and TO do this he
had to take over additional proper
ties. First he bought the Beehive
then at $40 Market street. which had
been occupied as a clothing store, and