Marshall Field
Marshall Field was one of the most influential businessmen in 19th-century Chicago. Born in Conway, Massachusetts, in 1834, Field moved west as a young man and eventually became one of the city’s most successful merchants.
Field joined the Chicago dry-goods firm Potter Palmer & Company in the 1850s and quickly established himself as a talented businessman. After the partnership dissolved, Field and his business partner Levi Leiter built their own retail empire. Their store eventually became known as Marshall Field & Company and grew into one of the most famous department stores in America.
The Making of a Retail Empire
Marshall Field transformed the way Americans experienced shopping. His store became known for its emphasis on customer service, high-quality merchandise, fixed prices, and elegant displays. The famous Marshall Field’s department store became a Chicago institution and remained an important part of the city’s retail history for generations.
Field’s influence extended far beyond business. He was a major philanthropist who supported education, science, culture, and charitable causes. He provided significant financial support for the Field Museum and helped establish the University of Chicago. His generosity played an important role in making Chicago a major center of education and culture.
Field was also known for keeping a relatively low political profile. Rather than pursuing public office, he focused on his businesses and philanthropy, using his enormous wealth to influence the development of his adopted city.
Death
Marshall Field died in 1906 at the age of 71 while visiting New York City. He is buried in the Ridgeland Section, Lot/Pathway 5, Space 1. His monument features a woman sitting in a chair overlooking a reflecting pond. The statue of a woman was designed by well-known sculptor Daniel Chester French and created by Henry Bacon, who also designed the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.