John Bamlet Smallman facts for kids

John Bamlet Smallman was an important Irish-Canadian businessman. He was born on March 9, 1849, and passed away on February 14, 1916. He became known for building a very successful business in Canada.

Early Life and Moving to Canada

John Smallman was born in a place called Clifden in County Galway, Ireland. His parents were James Knight Smallman and Eliza Switzer. When John was about 10 years old, in 1859, his family moved to London, Ontario, which was then known as Canada West. His father worked there as a commission merchant, helping to buy and sell goods for others.

Starting a Business

When John was 14, he started working as a clerk. He worked hard and saved his money until he was 21 years old. With his savings, he teamed up with a friend named Lemuel Hill Ingram. Lemuel was also a clerk and shared John's Methodist faith. Together, they started their own business.

Their business quickly became very successful. By 1882, they were buying products directly from suppliers in Britain and paying with cash. This helped them get good deals.

Growing the Business

Over the next ten years, their business grew a lot. Their sales increased to $110,000. They also became very efficient. Each clerk in their store was helping to bring in more than twice as much money as before. The costs of running the business also went down, and they were making a good profit.

To keep growing, Smallman and Ingram bought new buildings in 1892. They even tried adding shoe and toy sections to their store, but these didn't make enough money, so they stopped selling them. Soon, they found an even bigger location for their main store. By the year 1900, their store had grown so much that it employed over 100 clerks!

Later Business Years

In January 1901, Lemuel Ingram passed away. John Smallman then bought out Ingram's share of the business. He brought his own nephew and two of Ingram's children into the company to help run it. In 1908, the business officially became a corporation, which means it became a formal company with shareholders.

Final Years and Legacy

Sadly, John Smallman faced some health challenges later in his life. He experienced a nervous breakdown and two strokes. He passed away on February 14, 1916.

After he died, people remembered him as someone who didn't get involved in politics. He was a dedicated member of the First Methodist Church. He also supported important groups like the Children’s Aid Society and the Irish Benevolent Society, which helped people in need. John Smallman left most of his shares in his successful business to the Western University of London, Ontario, helping to support education.