The J.C. Penney Store Name Used to Be The Golden Rule
Founder James Cash Penney was from Hamilton, Missouri
James Cash Penney
James Cash Penny was born on a farm near Hamilton, Missouri (Caldwell County) on September 16, 1875. He had 11 siblings, but only six lived into adulthood. His father was a Baptist preacher and a farmer.
After Penney graduated from Hamilton High School, his plan was to go to college and become a lawyer. He had to change his plans after his father died, so he became a store clerk in order to help support his family. He relocated to Colorado for a drier climate because he had been diagnosed as being susceptible to tuberculosis.
On April 14, 1902, Penney entered the world of retail management when he was only 27 years old. He opened his first store in Kemmerer, Wyoming along with partners, Guy Johnson and Thomas Callahan, with whom he worked in 1898. The store was called The Golden Rule. An interesting name since Penney believed in living by the Golden Rule.
The store name represented his religious beliefs and gave him a business motto. (Source.)
For Kansas Citians, there were several J.C. Penney stores in the area including an outlet store in Kansas. The one pictured above was in Florissant, Missouri which has…
