Founded by William H. Sample in 1871 when he took over the business of James Martin. Martin had been in business since 1831. Sample was born in 1848 in Albany. At the age of 12 he started out on his own. At 16, he went to work for James Martin, a manufacturer of cutlery. Upon Mr. Martin’s death in 1871, Sample succeeded him in the business.
The firm was at 20 Beaver Street, and in 1884 they moved to 40 South Pearl Street, where they remained until 1894 when they moved to 36 South Pearl.
In 1894, Sample took his sons, Edward R., and William H. Jr. into partnership. The name became W.H. Sample & Sons at that time. In 1911, they annexed 38 and 40 South Pearl. On August 18, 1910, W.H. Sample Sr. died, and left his sons to carry on the business.
In 1917 William H. Jr. purchased his brother’s interest, and incorporated the company under the name W.H. Sample and Sons Inc., with W.H. Sample Jr., president, I.M. Sample, vice president, and Hiram H. Sample, secretary. They went out of business about 1939.
c 1894-1939