Our Business Men

Georgo Walir, the book seller, is strietly a Wolverine, altliougli his parenis were frono Germany, having first seen daylight in the township of Liina, a few miles from Chelsea, on the 18th day of February, 1861. His parents came to Ann Arbor with'in a year or so afterthat important event in his history, and he quite naturally came with them. All the education Mr. Wahr ever received was in our schools, except a few terms in a private night school that was being carried on at that time for the youtli whose days were ernployed, and to which he owed mach of his success, for it gave liini a foundation for the business career he was to follow. In 1873, when onlj' 12 years of age, he entered the book store of John Moore, who was tlien in business in the same store Mr. Wahr now occupiesiu the Savings Bank Block. Mr. Wahr had the same experence that boys usually have. He swept out, built the fires, and did the mesial work. All the time, however, he kept his eye out for sotnething to do. He made himself indispensable to his employers, and never left for some one else to do what he should do himself. He also absorbed at odd times mach of the literature that lay about him, and in that way fltted himself for better things to come. F rom chore boy he rose to head clerk, and just ten years after he entered the store as a boy, he becarne one of the proprietors, and in company with George Osius and Chas. H. Ludlow bought out Mr. Moore, the flrm being George Osius & Co. At the end of the first year Mr. Ludlow retired, the firin name remaining the same. After two years Mr. Wahr purchased the entire business, and bas ever siuce carried it on in the same place. In 1891 it was found tliat a branch store on State st. was uecessary, and he started one placing his head clerk Mr. John Schlee in charge of the same, where he has ever since remained, being as careful, uiethodical, and popular as the proprietor himself. One of the rules Mr. Wahr laid down early in bis career was to increase his business in some way every year, but never to go beyond a safe depth. That rule he has strictly adhered to, until to-day he has the largest bookstore in Michigan, outside of Ann Arbor, and equal to any here. Commencing as he did without capital, save such as was contained in his head and his willing hands, this grand result is one to be proud of. Probably no man in the entire state can produce a business record superior in any way. In addition to his other business Mr. Wahr is a publisher of text-books. He bas now published twenty-five textbooks, many of which are used in schools and colleges about the country and from which source he derives quite a handsome revenue. As he is a firm believer in patronizing home industries, he never goes outside Ann Arbor to have his works published, and always pleases his customers. Added to the home retail trade is a large jobbing trade, not confined to the state, but orders are filled for all parts of the country. Ann Arbor is naturally the head of the book trade not only of the state but of this entire section of country, made so by the University. Ann Arbor's schools are famous the world over, and that fact makes great demand upon the booksellers here, so tliey carry in stock works upon all subjects that are studied, and in miscellaneous works, anything that is sold behind a counter can be found or easily obtaiued. It is a rare thiug for Mr. Wahr to have a cali that he cannot fill, and he has his stock so well in mimi, that when a customer asks him for a ook he can at once place it, and seldom ías to search for wliat is w antee). All sorts of statiouery is carrieil as is everythin.tr pertaining to that line of trade. He íilso carries a large and complete line of wal l piper and window abades. For this particular trade an addition s being built to the rear of lis store, which when completed will make a convenient and pleasant place d which to serve liis cnstomer3. ín 1893 Mr. Wahr visited England, ?rance, and Germany in tlie interest of li is business, uiaking arrangements with tlie great bouses there for vorks that he carries in stock. One branch of trade tbat bas grown to considerable proportions is that of Geruian bibles, prayer books, etc, wliich he supplies for Germán chinches, Sunday Schools, ■uid families for a very large section of country. While writing this article Mr. Wahr sent out an order for $800 worth of medical books, all of whieli will soon pass out again wben received. This in brieft' is a review, of as fine a business as there is in Anri Arbor to-day. It bas grown gradually as its owner lias developedit and himself. Commencing as a boy without help trom any source, Mr. Wahr bas cl m bed to the top by hard work, perse veranee, a pleasant and genial manner, and above all other tbings, a personal attention to every little detail. He leavea much of the work to others, but directs everythiug bimself, down to the smallest detail. Itev. Gaorge H. Hickox, who had beau ohapTJaiia at the Btate prtson at Jackaoa for a quarrber of a c-entury, öled c-n Xhursday last. He was ane of ihe grand good man of the world. Hood's pill's are the best fa.mily cathartk amd livier tcmic. G-entle, sieliable, sure. Ai-mly O.ficiers pronoance tüi telegra(p:h soerae in "Secröt Service" to 'be ais naitiural as life.