Alvah Curtis Roebuck
Co-founder of Sears, Roebuck and Company.
Alvah Curtis Roebuck was an American retail businessman who co-founded the department store Sears, Roebuck and Company with his partner Richard Warren Sears in 1891. Born on January 9, 1864, in Lafayette, Indiana, he began work as a watchmaker in a Hammond, Indiana, jewelry store at age 12. Roebuck's early expertise in watches and jewelry shaped the company's initial focus. In 1895, he asked Sears to buy him out for about $20,000, but later returned to the company after the 1929 stock market crash forced him out of semi-retirement in Florida. He devoted his later years to compiling a history of the company and making public appearances at retail stores across the country.
- born
- January 9, 1864, in Lafayette, Indiana
- died
- June 18, 1948, in Evanston, Illinois
- field
- Retail business, watchmaking, typewriter manufacturing
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Co-founder of Sears, Roebuck and Company
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Alvah Curtis Roebuck was born on January 9, 1864, in Lafayette, Indiana. He began work as a watchmaker in a Hammond, Indiana, jewelry store at age 12. In 1891, he co-founded Sears, Roebuck and Company with Richard Warren Sears. In 1895, Roebuck asked Sears to buy him out for about $20,000. At Richard Sears's request, Roebuck took charge of a division that handled watches, jewelry, optical goods, and, later, phonographs, magic lanterns and motion picture machines. His business interests did not end with Sears. He later organized and financed two companies: a manufacturer and a distributor of motion picture machines and accessories. Roebuck also served as president (1909–1924) of Emerson Typewriter Company, where he invented the improved typewriter, called the 'Woodstock.' After several years in semi-retirement in Florida, the financial losses he suffered in the stock market crash of 1929 forced Roebuck to return to Chicago. By 1933, Roebuck had rejoined Sears, Roebuck and Co., where he largely devoted his time to compiling a history of the company he helped found. In September 1934, a Sears store manager asked Roebuck to make a public appearance at his store. After an enthusiastic public turnout, Roebuck went on tour, appearing at retail stores across the country for the next several years.
Reader's Guide
Alvah Curtis Roebuck's significance lies primarily in his role as co-founder of Sears, Roebuck and Company in 1891. His early career as a watchmaker informed the company's initial focus on watches and jewelry. Although he sold his stake in 1895 for about $20,000, he later took charge of a division handling watches, jewelry, optical goods, phonographs, magic lanterns and motion picture machines. After leaving Sears, he organized and financed two companies: a manufacturer and a distributor of motion picture machines and accessories. He also served as president (1909–1924) of Emerson Typewriter Company, where he invented the improved typewriter called the 'Woodstock.' After the 1929 stock market crash forced him out of semi-retirement in Florida, he returned to Chicago and rejoined Sears by 1933, where he largely devoted his time to compiling a history of the company. In September 1934, a Sears store manager asked him to make a public appearance; after an enthusiastic turnout, he went on tour appearing at retail stores across the country for several years. His legacy is tied to the founding and early development of a retail giant.
Did You Know?
- Alvah Curtis Roebuck began work as a watchmaker in a Hammond, Indiana, jewelry store at age 12.
- In 1895, Roebuck asked Richard Warren Sears to buy him out for about $20,000.
- Roebuck served as president (1909–1924) of Emerson Typewriter Company, where he invented the improved typewriter called the 'Woodstock.'
- After the 1929 stock market crash, Roebuck returned to Chicago and rejoined Sears, Roebuck and Co. by 1933 to compile a history of the company.
- In September 1934, a Sears store manager asked Roebuck to make a public appearance; after an enthusiastic turnout, he went on tour appearing at retail stores across the country for several years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Alvah Curtis Roebuck?
He was an American retail entrepreneur best known for teaming up with Richard Warren Sears in 1891 to launch Sears, Roebuck and Company, which went on to become one of the most recognizable retail names in the United States.
What was Roebuck doing before he co-founded Sears?
Prior to entering the retail world, he worked in watchmaking and typewriter manufacturing, experiences that gave him a practical understanding of product quality and industrial production.
How did the Sears, Roebuck partnership come about?
Roebuck joined forces with Richard Warren Sears in 1891 to build a mail-order catalog operation that later expanded into a full-scale department store chain.
Why does Alvah Curtis Roebuck matter in business history?
His collaboration with Sears helped pioneer the mail-order model and the modern department store format, fundamentally reshaping how American consumers shopped for goods over the following century.
When and where was Alvah Curtis Roebuck born, and when did he die?
He was born on January 9, 1864, in Lafayette, Indiana, and died on June 18, 1948, in Evanston, Illinois.
More in Business Magnates And Industrialists 1-20
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record