Publisher, Newspaperman, Philanthropist. As a teenager, he came to Philadelphia, and found work in a book store. He later became a partner in the publishing house of Childs and Peterson. He managed the publication of the Arctic Expedition of fellow Philadelphian Elisha Kent Kane. When Peterson retired, Childs partnered with J.B. Lippincott, but within a year, he withdrew from the partnership and returned to his own publishing house. In 1864, Childs along with the Drexels, Francis A. and Anthony J., purchased The Public Ledger. Under Childs's direction the newspaper became highly respected and recognized for its responsibly documented attacks on war profiteering and monopolies. Childs provided burial ground at Philadelphia's Woodlands Cemetery for members of the Ledger's Typographical Union. He also opened a home for union printers in Colorado. He built the country mansion "Wootton" in Bryn Mawr, but also built a clean, small, suburban town, with wide streets and affordable housing for people with modest incomes. Wayne, Pennsylvania, one of the country's first planned suburban communities, was the result of Childs's partnership with Anthony J. Drexel. In later years, he wrote his Recollections in 1890 and Recollections of General Grant in 1885. Childs was a founding trustee of the Drexel Institute of Technology (now Drexel University). He continued as a trustee until his death.
Publisher, Newspaperman, Philanthropist. As a teenager, he came to Philadelphia, and found work in a book store. He later became a partner in the publishing house of Childs and Peterson. He managed the publication of the Arctic Expedition of fellow Philadelphian Elisha Kent Kane. When Peterson retired, Childs partnered with J.B. Lippincott, but within a year, he withdrew from the partnership and returned to his own publishing house. In 1864, Childs along with the Drexels, Francis A. and Anthony J., purchased The Public Ledger. Under Childs's direction the newspaper became highly respected and recognized for its responsibly documented attacks on war profiteering and monopolies. Childs provided burial ground at Philadelphia's Woodlands Cemetery for members of the Ledger's Typographical Union. He also opened a home for union printers in Colorado. He built the country mansion "Wootton" in Bryn Mawr, but also built a clean, small, suburban town, with wide streets and affordable housing for people with modest incomes. Wayne, Pennsylvania, one of the country's first planned suburban communities, was the result of Childs's partnership with Anthony J. Drexel. In later years, he wrote his Recollections in 1890 and Recollections of General Grant in 1885. Childs was a founding trustee of the Drexel Institute of Technology (now Drexel University). He continued as a trustee until his death.
Bio by: rjschatz
Gravesite Details
Childs's body rested in the Drexel Mausoleum at Woodlands until his mausoleum at Laurel Hill was completed.
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