Evening star., 1926-10-22

3y the Associated Press.
CHICAGO. October 22.-John G
Shedd. financier and merchant, died
early today at St. Luke's Hospital
whore an emergency operation was
performed for appendicitis. He was
20 years old.
To the business genius of Mr.. Shedd
was credited a large measure Of the
success behind the growth Of Marshall
Field 4 Co. from Chicago's biggest
store" In the 70's TO the rank ot
the largest wholesale and retail dry
goods house in the world In the pres
ent decade. To Mr.. Shedd was gen
orally credited the business creed
which developed the store to'an enter
prise employing close to $4,000 per
sons, with record of having served
more than 900, 900 customers in a
single day.
The essence Of his formula for sue
cess IL found in small framed card
which hung in Mr.. Shedd's office. II
was a clear. concise and definite state
mant Of what he wished all his CO
workers might aspire to in their husi-
ness life. II mentioned courtesy,
diligence. punctuality. sincerity. and
concluded with the summary Ito he
satisfied with nothing short OF per
lection"
such was the aim of the New
Hampshire farm boy who had achieved
tho biggest place his chosen field had
to offer.
He In the greatest merchant in
the United states" the late Marshall
Field once declared.
That title had been conferred by the
business world upon Mr.. Field him
self. hut he discIaimed his right to II
in behalf OF his former stock boy.
No Store Policies.
I've have no policies" Mr.. Shedd
told an interviewer who made an IN
nuirv as 10 the secret of the success
~ his business. I'VE have certain
fixed principles. When your principles
are right. you never need worry about
your policies.
Born on a farm near Alstead. y. H.,
july 20. 1850. Mr.. Shedd's first en-
ployment was In the held or his
fathers place. At Is years OF age
he virtually was driven from me
homestead by a curious trick Of fate
such as usually is found in the life
histories Of many great men. He left
the farm for clerkship In a grocery
store at Bellows Falls. VT, at $1.50
a week and board. Here began the
business career of a country lad who
was known to have attended school
of and on during Winters After
working In local stores for some time
the ambitious youth sought new
worlds 10 conquer and departed for
Chirsso, determined. he told friends
10 work for the biggest store in
town"
He approached Marshall Field and
was offered a place in the stock and
shipping room At $40 week follow
ing his unfiinching declaration that
he could sell any kind Of goods in
the store every day" The air Of con
fldence and determination about the
dirninutiye Yankee won Mr.: Field and
moved him to give the applicant
trial That decision. on August {.
1874. netted the man MIR. Fields place
upon the latter's death in 1905.
Had Many interests.
Following his election To the rresi
dency Of Marshall Field & Co. in 1905
he also was named to the directorate
Of several banks and railroads. In
addition he served on enormous civic
bodies and charity boards. Mr.. Shedd
celebrated his fiftieth anniversary
with the Field store on August Z. 1922.
by giving lawn party At his Lake
Forest home, to which were invited
all employees Of the store with half
century service record.
In the following January. 1929, Mr.,
Shedd retired as president and was
named honorary chairman of the
board. He was succeeded in active
eontrol Of the business by James Simp-
Son, who entered the store as an office
boy in 1891.
Six years after his first appearance
ir The Field establishment in Chica GO
young Shedd returned to his native