The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-10-29
Hugh E. Barden Rose from the Ranks to Be-
come One of Kenosha's Greatest
Commercial Leaders.
HARD WORK" Is HIS BIG SECRET
Strict Attention to Duty and Earnestness In Pleasing
His Patrons Lays the Foundation for
Barden Success.

Mr.. Barden related. Il find more
pleasure in living when | know l have
something to do, something which
find pleasant task. There is moth
ing in me that gives me the desire
to work until Pm of a certain age
and then retire. | like to deal di-
rectly with as many customers as /
can. l enjoy that personal contact.
1t keeps my mind freshened on the
whims and fancies of patron. / can
better tell how to serve the next GUS
toner when l know how the previous
customer has reacted to the material
at hands"
Chooses His Own Employees.
The intense interest which Mr.. Bar
den shows in his work is indicated in
the respect for him which his en-
ployes hold. mr.. Barden chooses. his
own associates in the store, He places
them on a pedestal as if to weigh
their abilities. If they measure up to
his standards debating what a sales.
man or saleslady should be he is sat
isfied that that employee will fulfill
the necessary requirements for the
position. And through this contact be-
tween employer and employee Mr.. Bar
den is able to develop close friend
ship with ali of his employees. He
knows them individually by name.
Each gets his CHEEKY greeting each
morning and afternoon as he returns
to the store for the days tasks. And
to all of the men and women who work
fapA .4o
Barden is more of father" than a
"boss." ~
Mr.. Barden was born in Platteville,
Wis, where he spent his early life on
the family farm, and where ne re-
ceived his education, graduating from
the State Normal school in that city.
\, Came to Racine at IS.
4 At the age Of 10 Hugh Barden de-.
cided to go to the city and see if he
couldn't enter some sort of business.
He was convinced that business was
to be his, career. At Racine he Sc
cured a position as clerk with John
Clark, who then operated the city's
largest general merchandising store.
He became an apprentice and his sur
prising, ability; his. earnestness, and
his evident sincerity and interest in
the business convinced his employer
that he was worthy man to send to-
Kenosha to manage a store which
John Clark had opened as a branch.
This store was then located where the
Demos Main cigar store is now To-
Gated, at the corner of Main and Park
streets. That was in 1889. And that
marked his coming to Kenosha. For
the next thirty-fve years Mr.. Barden
applied himself intensively to his
work until today he has erected as a
monument to his own endeavor and to
his own faith in the city of Kenosha
the Barden Store company, ranked
with the largest in the city, and
prominent among the larger stores in
the state of Wisconsin.
Mr.. Barden has taken a keen inter-
est in community and civic affairs in
addition to his business affairs. Dur
ng the war he served as member of
the Counsel of Defense and was sac-
tive in stirring up the patriotism of
the community which reacted so fav-
orably during the period of the war.
This is Mr.. Barden's second term as
a member of the city council, and his
work on that council has shown him
fearless defender of the rights of
the community as community, and
has adequately represented his pains
taking interest in the people of the
community through his acts on the
council.