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Pioneering Families |
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John B. Amphlett, the efficient and genial
proprietor of the Emporium Department Store at 29 South Main street,
Adrian, was born at Akron, Ohio, on Feb. 16, 1858, a son of Thomas L.
and Ann (Owen) Amphlett. The father was born in Clockville, Madison
County, New York, and the mother was born in Wales, coming to the United
States with her parents when but ten years of age. The parents were
married in Akron and now are living retired at Napoleon, Mich., in the
old homestead. During his active life the father was a well-known maker
of pottery. For about a year and a half the parents made their home in
Adrian, but some two years ago removed to Napoleon to occupy the house
which the grandfather had built. Six sons were born to the parents, two
of whom died in infancy and are buried at Jackson, Mich. The eldest son,
William O., has been clerk of the circuit court of Marshall county,
South Dakota, for twenty years. Thomas G. and Fred J. are both
druggists, the former in Chicago and the latter at Apacha, Okla. John B.
Amphlett, the subject of this review, received his educational
advantages in the public schools of Jackson and Ionia, Mich. His start
in business life was made with his father, from whom he learned the
pottery trade in Ionia, and when the family removed to South Dakota he
was for eight years engaged in the general mercantile business with his
parent, dealing also in coal, farm implements and other commodities. In
1890 Mr. Amphlett removed to Chicago, where for fourteen years at
different periods he conducted a drug and a grocery business, the former
on the south side of the city and the latter at Rogers Park. He dates
his residence in Adrian from October, 1904, when he opened up John's 5
and 10 cent store on West Maumee street, where the Crescent theatre now
stands. This continued to be his place of business for twenty-six
months, and by the end of that time his business had grown to such
dimensions as to require more commodious quarters. In December, 1906, he
removed to his present location at No. 29 South Main street, changing
the name of his store at the same time to the Emporium Department Store.
The establishment now occupies the first floor and basement of the
building and altogether has a floor space of sixty by two hundred feet.
In his political belief Mr. Amphlett is a Republican but has never
sought political preferment for himself. He has been twice married. On
Oct. 1, 1879, occurred his marriage to Miss Lillian Boyd of Erie, Pa.
Three children were the issue of this union, one of whom died in
infancy. Clair, the elder, now twenty-five years of age, is manager of
his father's store; and Louis, now eighteen years old, is studying
pharmacy under his uncle, Thomas, at Sixty-third street and Stony Island
avenue, Chicago. Mrs. Amphlett died in 1900. On Oct. 23, 1904, Mr.
Amphlett was united to Miss Agnes G. Strickland, of Chicago. Mr.
Amphlett's present place of business is the old postoffice building,
which was occupied by the government for twenty-five years. His home is
at No. 26 Dennis street.
Source: Anonymous. Memoirs of Lenawee County, Michigan: from the earliest historical times down to the present, including a genealogical and biographical record of representative families in Lenawee County Madison, Wis.: Western Historical Association, 1909, p. 22.
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