Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-10-14
HYMAN CHERN0WSkY
DIES SUDDENLY At
HOME IN THIS CITY
Born in Russia His Career Was
One of Remarkable Success,
From Poor Immigrant Lad
To One of Most Respected
And Prominent Merchants
In Kennebec County

! Hyman Chernowsky, for 40 years
a well known merchant or TINS CITY,
and one of the leading dry goods
! men of this section of the State,
passed away suddenly Wednesday
| afternoon, at the age of 6O years.
! Death was due to appoplexy. Mr.
| Chernowsky is survived by his wife,
three daughters, Mrs. Loretta Roth
| of New York City, Mrs. Gladys Kohn
of Brookline, Mass, and Mrs. Hazel
| Hillson of Waterville: two sons,
! Stanley f. Chernowshy and Walter
J NJ. Chernowsky, both associated
with their father in the business;
two sisters, Mrs. Samuel Caplin Of
Boston, Mass, and Mrs. Mollie CO.
hen of Grodna, Russia; and one
brother, Samuel Chernowsky, also of
! Grodna.
| The story of Mr.. Chernowsky' S
! life is a most interesting example
of industry and application by
which a poor immigrant boy work.
! ed his way up until he was the own
err of a large up-to- date dry goods
store and was rated as one of the
| most successful merchants in the
county.
Born in Grodna, Russia, Septem-
DCE so loOO, llC NdiIlC ~ LILO = lIllSu
States in his early teens, landing at
| New York with so cents in his pock-
ct. Going to an address which had
been given to him. his appearance
was such that the proprietor eX-
tended sufficient credit to him to
allow him to secure material with
which to repair chair bottoms. With
this material and the 80 cents which
he then possessed he began his bust
ness career.
Working and saving he gradually
accumulated a little capital and
when this was sufficient, purchased
a small stock of shawls, handker-
chiefs, stockings and other small
wares and began to work his way
toward the New England states,
peddling these articles. He worked
for short time around Boston and
then continued his journeying until
he arrived in Maine.
When barely in his twenties he
was for a time associated with a
Mr.. Gordon in a dry goods business
in Dexter. Mr.. Gordon later left to
enter the wooden business. in which
he has been very successful, being
majority owner of the Suffolk
Wooden Mills of Massachusetts.
Mr.. Chernowsky then resumed his
work as a pack peddler and came
to Augusta, where he made his
headquarters. Soon he secured a
horse and continued to sell his goods
from house to house in Augusta and
neighboring cities and towns.
On September %, 1891, he mar
ried Miss Bessie R. Small of Fall
River, Mass. At about the same
time he began business in a small
way in the Riverside block on up
per Water street. This business was
continually enlarged until in the
early part of 1918 1t had outgrown
the block in which 1t was situated
and he moved to the present loca-
ton at 22S Water street About 20
years ago his son, Stanley, became
associated with him in the business
and about five years ago the other
son, Walter, entered the firm.
Mr.. Chernowsky was noted for his
square dealing and for his applica.
ton to his business. Until recently
he had been on duty at the store
every. day, but for the past two or
three months he had been in poor
health and had been planning to go
to San Diego, Calf, for an extended
trip. 1t was originally planned that
he should leave yesterday. but as
Mrs. Chernowsky, who since their
marriage has always been active at
the store. could not make arrange
ments to leave at that time the trip
| was postponed for few days.
He was a member of the Odd Eel
lows, Augusta Lodge of Elks, Beth
lehem Lodge, No. 35. F. and A. NJ.
Cushnoc Royal Arch Chapter, Alpha.
Council, Maine Consistory 50 degree
and Kora Temple. Mystic Shrine,
and the Augusta Country Club.
Funeral arrangements have not
been announced, pending the arrival
OF the daughters and of Stanley
Cnernowsky, who was on a business
trip to New York. The Chernowskv
store will remain closed TODAY in
memory of Mr.. Chernowsky,