If a Philadelphian were to go into John Wanamaker's famous store in his city and ask to be shown some especially fine gloves, he would in all probability be offered gloves that were manufactured in Johnstown in the plant of the Windsor-Northrup Company, of which Richard James Windsor is president. This firm is one that specializes in the best grades of gloves and sells its product only to the leading retail establishments in the large eastern cities. The Wanamaker stores in Philadelphia and New York are representative of the type of store that handles its goods.
The Windsor-Northrup Company had its inception in the firm known as McMartin & Company, which Mr. Windsor helped establish in Johnstown in 1911. Through subsequent changes in ownership it has gained its present name. Much of the success of this comparatively new company has been due to the superior knowledge and ability of Mr. Windsor in the glovemaking trade. He was born in Yeovil, England, on March 2, 1861, and is the son of Richard and Phoebe (Davis) Windsor, also natives of Yeovil, who came to this country in 1873. The father was a glove cutter by trade and found ready employment in the factories of this city, where he located immediately after his arrival on our shores. After following his trade for a good many years, he went into business for himself, engaging in the liquor trade. He died in the fall of 1911, having outlived his wife for many years. Mrs. Windsor died in 1886.
Richard James Windsor was reared and educated in Yeovil, England, where he lived until he was fifteen years old. In 1876 he followed his family to this country, coming to Johnstown, where he has lived ever since. He had partially mastered the trade of a glove cutter before he left England, and completed his apprenticeship here under the direction of his father, after which he followed the trade until 1911. In that year he was instrumental in organizing the firm of McMartin & Company for the manufacture of fine gloves. Mr. McMartin died about a year later and his place in the company was taken by H. B. Northrup, the name changing to that of the Windsor-Northrup Company to conform to the new organization. Mr. Windsor and his partner are the sole owners of the business and Mr. Windsor is president of the company. Now they regularly give employment to seventy-five people and often have many more on their pay roll in rush seasons. These men set out to specialize in fine gloves and have so well succeeded in realizing their ambitions that they are now credited with turning out the best quality of gloves made in the United States. Only the best of materials and workmanship go into the Windsor-Northrup product. That the efforts of the firm to place a superior type of glove on the home market is being appreciated is indicated by the fact that it has no difficulty in placing the entire output of the factory with the very best retail establishments of the east.
Mr. Windsor was married to Miss Edith Holman of Johnstown, on the 3d of November, 1886. His wife is the daughter of Pascal and Harriet Holman, natives of this city, now deceased. Three children were born to this union, of whom but one survives: Richard Pascal Windsor, born in June, 1891, is now a cutter in his father's factory following the line of business that has engaged the male members of his family for at least three generations. Claude died at the age of twenty-four; and the only daughter, Rose Louise, died in childhood.
Mr. Windsor is a member of St. Paul's Lutheran church of this city. He is identified with the local lodge of the Loyal Order of Moose and also with the Foresters. He is a republican in politics and has always loyally supported his party at the polls, but has refrained from taking any active part in the management of the party or campaigns, preferring to concentrate his time and effort upon his business, in which he has met with signal success.