Remembering Suwannee

Richard Warren Sears: founder of Sears, Roebuck and Company Susan Coleman Fennell Contributor Few people realize that Richard W. Sears, founder of the Sears and Roebuck financial empire, played a significant role in the early history of lumbering in Suwannee County, Fla.  Richard Warren Sears was born on Dec. 7, 1863, in Stewartville, Minn. He became a qualified telegrapher and worked several railroad jobs, starting as a freight engineer and train dispatcher. In 1886, realizing the need of keeping railroad schedules, Sears began a small business selling pocket watches. He purchased a supply of watches and telegraphed agents up the line that he would sell the watches on th