Rash's Surname Index
Notes for William Wright SUPPLEE
One of the most important founts of industry is centred in the hardware trade, and the manufacturing branch of this great business has reached its most progressive stage in the State of Pennsylvania. William W. Supplee, the subject of this biography, who is known throughout the country as President of the Supplee Hardware Company, and who is an officer in some of the most noted trade associations, has been a large factor in the development of this commercial prosperity.
WILLIAM W. SUPPLEE was born in Montgomery County, about five miles from Norristown, Pennsylvania, April 12, 1832. His father's name was John Supplee, and his mother's name was Eliza Supplee, Huven being her name before marriage. On his paternal side, Mr. Supplee traces his ancestors back to the Huguenots , some of whom came to this country and landed in New York in 1661, and, in 1681, his great-great-grandfather purchased the property and soon after built the old homestead, where his great-grandfather, grandfather and father were born. All his immediate relatives, from the time they moved there, were buried in what is known as the Supplee burying ground, and there was also built by the family on their property what is known as the Supplee School-house. He received his early education, as did the rest of the family, here, and later he went to the Tremont Seminary, where his brothers were also educated, and where his brother Enoch was for some years a teacher. In 1853 he came to Philadelphia to enter mercantile pursuits, remained for three years, and leaving to embark in business for himself. He went to La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he engaged in the hardware business with William J. Lloyd. During his residence in Wisconsin the firm did, probably, the largest hardware business in the State, but, after eleven years, as the climate did not agree with Mr. Supplee, he was advised by his physicians to leave that locality. Accordingly, he returned to Philadelphia, in 1867, and entered into the wholesale hardware business as a member of the firm of Lloyd, Supplee & Walton. In 1884 Mr. Walton retired from the firm, and, in April, 1889, Mr. Supplee bought the interest of his former partner, Mr. Lloyd, and became President of the Supplee Hardware Company, which is to-day one of the most successful and best known companies of the kind operating in the country. His son, William D. Supplee, is Treasurer, and Newton F. Cressman (whose father was Mr. Supplee's principal in school for many years) is the Cashier.
It is the best evidence in the world of Mr. Supplee's energetic nature that the
Supplee Hardware Company does the largest business, of any wholesale hardware house this side of Chicago, and that its trade is probably only equaled by two in the United States. But, while his attention has been chiefly given to the development of his own business organization, Mr. Supplee is identified with many important enterprises. He was long a Director in the Seventh National, and for several years Director in the Corn Exchange National banks, of which his brother, J. Wesley Supplee, is President. He has been Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Trades League ever since that organization was started. Since about 1874 he has been a member of the Union League, and he is also a member of the Manufacturers' Club, of Philadelphia, and is one of the Executive Committee of the National League of Business Men, upon which he has served ever since its organization. He has been President of the National Hardware Association of the United States ever since it was organized. For two years he was President of the Hardware and Manufacturers' Association of Philadelphia and since has been Chairman of its Board of Directors. Notwithstanding these important connections Mr. Supplee's chief interest is the wholesale hardware business, which he has succeeded in extending into almost every State in the Union. His firm employs fifty salesmen, and has nearly two hundred workmen in all. It controls the production of the Pennsylvania Lawn Mower Works, which is one of the largest establishments of the kind in the country. The Supplee Hardware Company has a separate establishment at Nos. 11 and 13 North Fifth Street, Philadelphia, devoted exclusively to the bicycle business, while the main establishment is located at 503 and 505 Market Street and at Nos. 4 and 6 North Fifth Street.
For fifteen years Mr. Supplee has corresponded semi-monthly for the
Iron Age , a journal devoted to the interests of the hardware trade in the United States, and he is an accepted authority upon all branches appertaining to the industry. He is interested in thePhiladelphia Museum, and is on the Advisory Board of that notable institution. In fact, he is along all lines a most progressive and active man.
When in La Crosse, Wisconsin, Mr. Supplee was married to Mary Cass Danforth. Her mother was one of the Rumsey family , whohave resided for many years in Buffalo, New York, being well known throughout the entire State. Mr. Supplee has three children; his son, William D. Supplee, Treasurer of the present company, and two single daughters. His brother, Rev. Enoch H. Supplee , who sustained quite areputation for literary work and was a clergyman in the Episcopal Church, died not quite two years ago, and his only remaining brother is J. Wesley Supplee, President of the Corn Exchange National Bank. Mr. Supplee has one sister living, Mrs. Charles P. Perry ,who resides in Norristown, and is a widow. These three are the only living members of his generation, each of the three having grandchildren.
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