Page 132 - Poat_to_Poot_Engels

meager minister's income could provide. He also used part of this money
to pursue some unsuccessful business ventures.

In 1896 (some say 1891) the retailer Siegel, Cooper and Company opened
an impressive new store at State Street and Van Buren in the famed
Chicago Loop. The Loop was an area one-mile square surrounded by a
loop of the Chicago River. The Loop was crowded and expensive because
it contained the central business district of the city. The store occupied
all 8 or 9 floors of a building that filled an entire city block, and claimed to
be the largest retail building in the U.S. It was nicknamed "The Big Store"
and employed 2,000 people. The main entrance featured an elaborate
water fountain encircling a large bronze statue of Lady Columbia, used as
a symbol of America. (The company eventually became Associated Dry
Goods; the parent company of America's leading department stores. The
building was later purchased by Sears Roebuck to become their flagship
retail store.)

One of Will's first jobs in Chicago was at Siegel-Cooper. The store was
conveniently located across the street from an L-station (elevated train)
and street trolleys passed by on State Street. He worked at carpentry and
building store shelves. He was a skilled wood carver and cabinetmaker,
although he may not have made much use of his finer skills until several
years later. This was a temporary job, and Will was soon pressed to create
his own work - as a portrait artist.

Will used his artistic ability to draw portraits in pastel. In one instance, he
drew a portrait from a photograph of a family's deceased daughter. The
parents were so moved by the lifelike portrait he created that they insisted
on paying Will considerably more money than his usual fee.

(At some time, perhaps years later, Will became acquainted with Wallace
Nutting. Nutting was one of the most widely published photographers in
the first third of the 1900's. Nutting was also a famous expert on
furniture design and on antique furniture. Reprints of Nutting's books on
travel and antiques are still available today. Nutting gave Will Poot some
signed and framed photographs.)

After his family moved to Iowa, Will needed of a steady income so he could
pay for his rent and increased living expenses. Will returned to the
prestigious Siegel Cooper Department Store. Now he obtained a good job
as floorwalker, which he described as "inspector and detective". A
floorwalker helped direct customers to where they could find items of
interest, supervised the departments to insure they were neat and
organized, and provided security against shoplifters and thieves.

Although most of Will's time was filled with work and school studies, he
also managed to find time for recreation. Chicago had great museums of
art and natural history. There were concerts by famous American and

- Chicago, College, and Marriage - page 9 -