Charles Sumner Woolworth
| Charles Sumner Woolworth | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
August 1, 1856 Rodman, New York |
| Died | January 7, 1947 (aged 90) Scranton, Pennsylvania |
| Cause of death | Ill health, natural causes |
| Resting place | Dunmore, Pennsylvania |
| Residence | Scranton, Pennsylvania |
| Known for | founded C. S. Woolworth Company and Chairman of F. W. Woolworth Company |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Anna Elizabeth Ryals (m. 1886–1913) (b. c1858 d. 7/12/1913) |
| Children | Ethel Woolworth Huber (b. 5/10/1887 d. 6/8/1968) Fred E. Woolworth (b. 5/13/1890, d. 3/10/1949) Richard W, Woolworth (b. 5/19/1914 d. 4/12/1959) |
| Parent(s) | John Hubbell Woolworth (b. 4/16/1821 d. 2/8/1907) Fanny McBrier (b.1/14/1832 d. 2/15/1878) (m. 1/14/1852) |
| Relatives |
Frank Winfield Woolworth (brother) (b. 4/13/1852 d. 4/8/1919) Jennie Creighton Woolworth (b. c1853 d. 1924) (sister-in-law) Helena Maud Woolworth McCann (b. 7/17/1878 d. 3/28/1938) (niece) Edna Woolworth Hutton (b. 7/12/1883, d. 5/2/1917)(niece) Jessie May Woolworth Donahue (b. 3/14/1886, d. 11/3/1971)(niece) |
Charles Sumner Woolworth (August 1, 1856 – January 7, 1947), was an American entrepreneur who went by the nickname of "Sum", opened and managed the world's first five-and-dime store in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and was founder of the "C. S. Woolworth & Co" chain of 5¢ & 10¢ stores. Sum's brother, Frank Winfield Woolworth was first to venture into the retail business with his own store, and soon after, he asked Sum to join him. Frank founded "F. W. Woolworth & Co", which later merged with other Woolworth affiliate stores to be the F. W. Woolworth Company. After the death of his brother, Sum became the longest serving Chairman of the F. W. Woolworth Company. During the early years, Sum also partnered with a long-time friend, Fred Kirby, to open a "Woolworth and Kirby" store in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. When Fred bought out Sum's share, that store grew to become a "friendly rival" affiliate store, in close alliance with the two Woolworth brothers.
In 1904, Sum and Frank Woolworth were affiliated with six (6) chains. Frank developed the back office side of the business. Sum developed the front of the business, pioneering self-service methods, customer service, training new managers, brightly lit stores, and frequently-changed window displays to lure customers inside. In 1912 C. S. Woolworth & Co, with the other affiliated chains, merged 596 stores under the corporate name "F. W. Woolworth Company". After the death of his brother, Frank Winfield Woolworth, Charles Sumner Woolworth became the reluctant Chairman of the Board of F. W. Woolworth Company (now Foot Locker), for 25 years. As a philanthropist and business man, he was involved with several institutions and businesses in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and other areas.
Charles Sumner Woolworth, known by everyone as Sum, was born on August 1, 1856, in Rodman, New York, to John Hubbell Woolworth and Fanny McBrier. Growing up he worked on his family's farm. When his brother Frank sought work and fortune as an apprentice in Augsbury and Moore dry goods store, in Watertown, New York, Sum became eager to follow. At 21, Sum joined Frank as an apprentice salesman in the same store, which had since become Moore and Smith. While Frank liked the back end of the business in accounting and purchasing, Sum liked the front end of the business, meeting customers and working on innovative ways to display merchandise.
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