J. M. Gidding & Company - Duluth

J. M. Gidding and Company was a clothing and fur store in downtown Duluth. It was located on Superior Street at First Avenue West. The store was owned and operated by the Gidding family, sons of Simon Gidding. Jacob Mayer Gidding (1872-1940) was president and treasurer, Joseph Gidding (1884-??) was vice president and Nathaniel Gidding (1882-??) was secretary.

J.M. Gidding & Co. opened in March of 1904, according to Millinery Trade Review. The magazine noted before the store was set to open that it would be "devoted to the sale of dry goods, millinery and women's wearing apparel, which, in elegance of equipment and decoration, will surpass anything in that section of the country." Clothier and Furnisher magazine also reported March 1904 as opening month for Gidding's, noting the store would have "departments for clothing, furnishing goods, hats and shoes."

Advertisements for the store are shown from the dates indicated.


1914 Duluth Directory ............................................. 1918 in the Duluth Herald newspaper


published in the 1910 Duluth Central High School yearbook


advertisement published in 1914


advertisement published in 1915

The Gidding's store is shown on the edge of this 1910 picture taken on the Knox Five and Dime Store fire.


Fire in downtown Duluth in 1910
Source: University of Minnesota Duluth, Kathryn A. Martin Library, Archives and Special Collections - more info


two zoom images of parts of the Giddings store front and signs


The Giddings store in Duluth, The City of Lights


Giddings - Three Stores - taken from a 1912 advertisement



Jacob Mayer Gidding (1872-1940) was a son of Simon Gidding, one of five children. A two-generation descendents list for Simon below lists the kids.


source: Jack's Database



Jewish Federation News Profile - March 1980 - - more

Additional Gidding documents, large ads and news articles:

J M Gidding & Company - 1905 - full page ad - - click here

J M Gidding store opens in Cincinnati - 1907-1-13 News - - click here

Nathaniel Gidding buyer for J. M. Gidding & Co - 1909-03-05 News - DNT - - click here

Gidding Duluth, Mother Store of Gidding Organization - 1912-03-25 ad - - click here

Gidding, Nathaniel U. S. Passport 1915 p1 - - click here

Gidding, Nathaniel U. S. Passport 1915 p2 - - click here

Gidding, Nathaniel WWI Registration, wife Meryl Frank Gidding - - click here



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Created by:   Allan@Garon.us

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Page created Nov 2016; rev Mar 2022