Alvah Curtis Roebuck (1864-1948)

He was born in Lafayette, Indiana, and at the age of twelve began working as a watchmaker in a jewelry store in nearby Hammond where he developed the technical skills that would later prove invaluable to his business career. Coming to Chicago, in 1893 he co-founded Sears, Roebuck & Company with Richard Warren Sears, of the R.W Sears Watch Company. While Sears focused on marketing, Roebuck brought his technical knowledge and an expertise in watch repair. However, the Sears business model quickly outgrew his partner and they ended the partnership in 1895 with Sears buying out his partner for $20,000, ending Roebuck's stake in the company that would shortly become one of America's largest retailers. Nonetheless, Roebuck continued to work for the company, heading up the division that handled watches, jewelry, optical goods, etc. When later asked about his ex-partner's great wealth compared to his own modest circumstances, he replied philosophically: "He's dead. Me, I never felt better." Taking semi-retirement, he left for Florida where he invested in real estate but lost all his money in the Wall Street Crash (1929) and ended up back in Chicago with a minor administrative role in the company that still bore his name. He was married twice and had three children.