About John Graham McCrory
Lived 1860 – 1923 (aged 63). John Graham McCrory was an American businessperson and founder.
John Graham McCrory (October 11, 1860 – November 20, 1943), né McCrorey, was an American businessman who made his fortune as a retailer. He was the founder of a chain of five and dime stores that bore his name, known as McCrory Stores. The company was so named because McCrorey did not want to pay for extra letters on his store signs, and he eventually changed his legal last name to "McCrory" so as to avoid confusion. The first McCrory store opened in Scottdale, Pennsylvania in 1882.
McCrory originally had a partnership with Sebastian Kresge, who later founded his own chain of stores after McCrory dissolved their partnership. In addition to the Kresge stores, McCrorey competed with F.W. Woolworth's stores as well. The original company became insolvent during the Great Depression, but was reformed and eventually grew to include G. C. Murphy, TG&Y, and J. J. Newberry along with what was left of Kresge's chain, surviving all of its major competitors before succumbing to liquidation itself in 2002.
McCrory was born in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, to James and Mary (Murphy) McCrorey. He was married twice: in 1893 to Lillie May Peters, who died in 1902, and in 1904 to Carrie May McGill. A son from his first marriage, Van Clair McCrory, was vice president of the McCory Corporation before dying in a 1929 hunting accident. The elder McCrory died in 1943 at his home in Brush Valley, Pennsylvania, aged 83.
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Important facts
People in John Graham McCrory's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped John Graham McCrory's
Frequently asked questions
Who was John Graham McCrory?
American businessman (1860-1943)
When was John Graham McCrory born?
John Graham McCrory was born on 11 October 1860.
When did John Graham McCrory die?
John Graham McCrory died on 20 November 1923.
What was John Graham McCrory's occupation?
John Graham McCrory was a businessperson and founder.
What nationality was John Graham McCrory?
John Graham McCrory was American.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: John Graham McCrory
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John Graham McCrory. https://biography.guide/john-graham-mccrory/
MLA: "John Graham McCrory." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-graham-mccrory/.
Chicago: "John Graham McCrory." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-graham-mccrory/.
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