Harold H. Daughters obituary
From the Painesville Telegraph, Painesville, Ohio, December 14, 1933.
H.H. Daughters, Expert in Merchandising, Dies
Is Summoned At Age of 39 After An Illness of Ten Weeks
Death today claimed the life of Harold H. Daughters, who this morning at 4:15 succombed to [unreadable]mia, which had confined him to his bed for more than 10 weeks.
Mr. Daughters, originator of the open counter display system for hardware stores, died at Lake County Memorial hostpital where he was brought Sunday from Lakeside hospital in Cleveland.For a month he had been a patient at Lakeside where he had been taken after six weeks' illness from the home of his wife's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Blackmon, 168 E. High St.He was 39.
A number of business firms, including Sears-Roebuck & Co., Stanbaugh-Thompson and the Kresge Co., at various times sought Mr. Daughters' services as a manager and superintendent.He was also in business for himself on two occasions, once as H. H. Daughters and Co., merchandising engineers and counselors, and as proprietor of Daughter's candy shop.His own two successful business ventures were in Painesville.
Although a great portion of his business life was lived outside Painesville as manager of stores in Youngstown, Detroit, and Union City, N. J., Mr. Daughters was widely known here, where he was chairman of one of the most successful fall festivals ever sponsored by the Better Business Board of which he was a member.He attended the First Church, Congregational, was a charter member of the Rotary club here, as well as a member of the Duluth club, was at one time a member of the local Elks' lodge and was a member of the Masonic order.
Born in Mooreshill, Ind., May 8, 1894, Mr. Daughters, when he was 12, moved to Cincinnati, where he attended public schools.He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Daughters, who at one time lived at th ehome of their daughter, Mrs. Harley Barnes, on Mentor Ave. here.
For 10 years Mr. Daughters was employed by the Kresge Co. as manager of stores in Columbus, O and Duluth, Minn.About 1925 he went in business for himself as a merchandising engineer and counselor here, specializing in hardware store trade.In 1925, Stanbaugh-Thompson of Youngstown adopted his plan of open display of merchandise, which is so widely used now and is simply display of articles on uncovered tables that customers may examine goods before purchasing and at the same time have a display in full view.
For one year, 1928, Mr. Daughters operated Daughters' candy shop on Main St. here.In 1929 he left Painesville to accept a position as superintendent of the Sears-Roebuck & Co.s' retail store in Detroit, the largest store in its chain.A few months after he was made superintendent, he was promoted to the managership of the store, a position he held until 1932.
From Detroit, Mr. Daughters went to Union City, N.J., to supervise and direct opening of a new store and serve as its manager.He left Union City in September of this year to accept a position in Chicago where he was to head a chain of hardware stores.Ill health prevented his acceptance of the position.
Mr. Daughters, whose hobby was his family, was dearly loved and deeply revered by all his friends and acquaintances, particularly his employees who discussed with him their personal affairs as well as business matters because of his deep understanding and his fair dealings.From his employees at Detroit, who have kept in constant touch with his wife here daily by telephone to learn of his condition, Mr. Daughters yesterday received cards expressing hope for a speedy recovery.
Surviving him are his widow, Mrs. Margaret Blackmon Daughters; four children, Harold Jr., Robert, Jane and Charles; three sisters, Mrs. Harley Barnes, city, and Mrs. Harry Hartlieb and Mrs. Roy Wilson of Cincinnati; and one brother, Roscoe, of Boston, Mass.
Funeral services will be conducted by the Rev. Willis A. Warren, pastor of the First Church, Congregational, whom Mr. Daughters admired, at Fiser's funeral home at 62 S. St. Clair St. Monday at 1:30 p.m.Interment will be in Evergreen cemetery.