Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 69, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 May 1909 — ROWLES & PARKER TO SUCCEED B. FORSYTHE [ARTICLE]

ROWLES & PARKER TO SUCCEED B. FORSYTHE

Chicago Bargain Store Will Be Future Home of One of the City’s Most :Vv <• t ■ * i' f.»9e> • «; p •{ Progressive Business Firms.

CHANGE STORES IN JULY. ■ V Mr. Forsythe Will Close Successful Business Career and Young Men Will Succeed Him. For some days the Republican has been in possession of the fact that B. Forsythe, who is to retirp from business in July, will ü be succeeded by Rowles & Parked, who have been in business for several years in the Odd Fellows block, but after talking to the principals and being urged for business reasons npt to make the deal public we deferred to their wishes and kqpt Jaith with them. It is months since Mr. Forsythe, for years Rensselaer’s most energetic and successful general merchant, and to whom inay he credited the revolutioni?ing of business In this city, determined to get out of business. The object was to permit himself and wife, who has been, his constant business associate and to whom the success of their business may be to a considerable extent credited, to allow them to he free from business cares and enjoy the emoluments of their long years of faithful labor. As was announced when the first notice of his intention to retire was published it Is the intention of himself and wife to visit considerably and to travel extensively. They will continue to make Rensselaer their home, where they own the large building in which the Chicago Bargain Store is located and which was built especially for- their store. They also have one of the handsomest residences in this city. The decision of Mr. and Mrs. Forsythe to retire from business here was met with much regret throughout the city and county and beyond the bounds of the county. It may be truthfully said that they revolutionized business ib this place. They were progressive, understood how to advertise and gave the greatest amount of publicity to their business and kept abreast of the cities in every respect. Other firms that had been satisfied with old fashioned methods took a new lease on life and the trade drawing facilities in Rensselaer doubled and the city itself almost doubled in population.

This increase In population and In civic pride must be credited ,to the progressiveness of our merchants and it is not paying B, Forsythe and his wife too much credit to say that they were the underlying factors in the new Rensselaer. During, the years that they have been In business here new firms have started into business and many of the young business men of the city-secured some or all of their early training in the Forsythe store. Among these firms is that of Rowles & Parker, which engaged in business Dec. 20, 1002. The business chances seemed rather poor for them as all businesses were crowded with houses carrying large stoeks of goods. Under these adverse circumstances it was predicted by many that they could not succeed. But with their past experiences in both the retail and wholesale business, which assisted them, in’ both buying and selling, they booked bravely upon the task and in the face of the sharpest competition they not only succeeded hut have gradually scaled the ladder of success, embark-< ing in additional lines and all the time having as their purpose the selling off reliable merchandise at the lowest prices that would allow a reasonable profit. Now they have outgroWn their present quarters and being unable to procure any more room adjoining their present location they have leased the Forsythe building and will move to their new location in July. The building will be remodeled throughout according to the latest store methods, removing part of the office rooms on the second floor, thus making a very large daylight salesroom on this floor, with A,OOO feet of floor space, which will be fitted up for ladies’ ready-to-wear garments, millinery, carpets, rugs, and men’s and boys’ clothing departments. With this additional room, making a total of 15,000 square feet of floor space, it will not only be the largest store In this city but also sh this section of Indiana. Rowles & Parker are both hustling young business men, courteous, obliging, and extensive advertisers and certain to continue to succeed with their wonderfully increased facilities for handling a large volume of business, and the Republican predicts for them an even greater success than has rewarded their past efforts.