Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Isaac Hallowell CLOTHIER
ISAAC H. CLOTHIER, of the widely-known retail dry goods establishment of Strawbridge & Clothier, is a
native of Philadelphia, in which city he was born November 5, 1837. His parents were members of the Society of Friends, and his education was principally obtained in the schools of that society, his school-life ending at the age of seventeen, when he entered the importing dry goods house of George D. Parrish & Co. In this establishment he remained six years, gaining a valuable training in mercantile business, and displaying that activity and commercial aptitude which have been the elements of his success in life. He left this house at the age of twenty-three to enter into business for himself, in association with George Morris and Edmund Lewis. This firm, known by the name of Morris, Clothier & Lewis, conducted a successful cloth business for eight years, their establishment being situated on Second Street above Chestnut Street.
In 1868 Mr. Clothier accepted proposals from Justus C. Strawbridge to enter into partnership with him, and on the 1st of July of that year the retail dry-goods establishment of Strawbridge & Clothier was founded in the location which it still occupies, at the north-west corner of Market and Eighth Streets. It began in a store of modest dimensions, and in a comparatively small way, but the business ability of the firm was shown alike in their choice of location and the skill and activity with which they pushed their interests, and from the start the enterprise was successful. The business grew, indeed, with such rapidity that an enlargement of the establishment became necessary every few years, the first of these being made in 1875,and others successively in 1877, 1878, 1881, and 1882. In 1887 the trade of the firm had grown so great that an extensive enlargement became necessary, and the large building previously occupied by Hood, Bonbright & Co. was added to the already seemingly ample store, giving a ground area of over fifty thousand square feet, with a height of five stories. The establishment, as
thus extended, probably covers a greater area than any other in America devoted to the retail sale of dry-goods.
During the period within which this firm has been in existence there have been marked changes in the methods of conducting retail business in Philadelphia. The era of great general stores has come, and in this expansion of business ideas and facilities Strawbridge & Clothier have kept pace with their competitors, and now possess an establishment which has no superior of its kind in this country.
Mr. Clothier has been active in the business from his first connection with it, and for the past fifteen years has been its leading spirit; as, while Mr. Strawbridge has retained his interest in the firm, he has not given close or continuous attention to the business, while Mr. Clothier's interest and activity remain as great as at the beginning. His time and attention are naturally in great part absorbed by the responsibilities of his large business establishment, but he finds time for other duties, educational,
charitable, etc. He has been for many years an active manager of Swarthmore College, and has contributed largely, in money as well as in time and labor, to the success of this institution. He is also a director of the Merchants' Fund, the Girard Trust Company, the Mortgage Trust Company of Philadelphia, etc.
Strawbridge & Clothier are actively identified with everything relating to the prosperity of Philadelphia and its citizens, but this is principally as a firm, since, personally, Mr. Clothier is retiring in disposition and averse to personal notoriety. His home is near Wynnewood Station, Pennsylvania Railroad, seven miles from the city, and he has a summer home on Conanicut Island, opposite Newport, Rhode Island. He was married in 1864 to Miss Jackson, daughter of William Jackson, of Philadelphia.
He is a member of the Society of Friends, and attends the Meeting held at Fifteenth and Race Streets,
Philadelphia.
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