Alvah Curtis Roebuck born in 1864 was originally a watchmaker that Richard Warren Sears born in 1863 hired. They were opposites, Sears a promoter, Roebuck a conservative, careful man. They got along well and became partners. After a while Roebuck sold out for $25,000 because he didn’t agree with the frantic expansion of the company. He invented a typewriter and invested the proceeds of the typewriter income in Florida real estate. He lost everything in the crash of 1929. He showed up at the Sears employment office looking for any work at all. He was hired as a “celebrity” to cut ribbons at grand openings, etc.

At the age of 44 Mr. Sears retired with over $17 million.

Mr. Sears lived to an age of 51. He died after for suffering for several years with kidney disease.

Mr. Roebuck lasted 84 years. Who got the last laugh?