It continues to amaze me, the information available on the Internet. Tonight I was merely trying to find the correct spelling of “Roebuck”—as in Sears Roebuck and Co.
What I learned was far more interesting, and concerned Mr. Sears, not Mr. Roebuck.
Here’s the interesting snippet from searsarchives.com:
| Richard W. Sears (1863-1914) |  |
| Co-Founder and 1st President | |
| Richard Warren Sears was born December 7, 1863, in Stewartville, Minn., to James Warren and Eliza Sears. His father was a blacksmith and wagon-maker by trade, and in Richard Sears’ early years the family resided in Spring Valley and Mankato, Minn. |
We all were aware of Sears Roebuck and Co., famous for their big, thick, catalog from which one could order almost anything, even baby chickens as I recall.
But who knew that he was almost a “hometown boy?”
Update March 7:
At least one person knew about this! Here’s a comment Susan Bigalk made on Facebook in response to my posting of what I thought was newly-found knowledge:
“His home is on Main Street in Stewartville and is on the Nat’l Historic Register; I believe there is such a sign in front of the house. Just across from the Wells Fargo Bank on Hwy. 63!”
Clearly, I should have known this for decades. Guess I better slow down and read the signs!
Thanks, Susan!