Samuel S. Childs

Samuel Shannon Childs (April 4, 1863 – September 3, 1961) was an American restaurateur and Democratic Party politician from New Jersey. Childs was founder and president of the Childs Company, one of the first restaurant chains in the United States and Canada. He represented Somerset County in the New Jersey Senate from 1902 to 1905.

Early life and education Samuel Shannon Childs was born on April 4, 1863 in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, to William and Elizabeth (née Kline) Childs. His father was a farmer who had ten children, including his brothers William Jr., Luther, Ellsworth, and Frederick, and his sisters Lucy, Harriet, and Florence. As a child, Samuel worked on the family farm.

He was educated at the Franklin Institute in Bernards Township and Morristown High School. Although he was appointed by Benjamin F. Howey as a cadet at the United States Military Academy, he attended for only one year. In 1898, they combined with several investors, including Henry Morgan Tilford and Charles Sweeney of Standard Oil, to incorporate Childs Unique Dairy Company at a value of $1,000,000 (approximately $ in ) and expand outside of New York City. Samuel served as president and William served as vice president.

By the time of his death, the company operated 107 restaurants in 29 cities throughout the United States and Canada, serving 50 million meals every year and reporting annual profits of $2,000,000 (approximately $ in ).

Other business interests In addition to his work founding and operating the restaurant chain, Childs was president and director of two affiliated companies, the Childs Dining Hall Company and Childs Real Estate Company.

Personal life and death Childs married Emma Frances Alward in Basking Ridge on January 30, 1890. Their daughter, Mary Childs, was born February 12, 1896. A second daughter, Lois A. Childs, was born on January 26, 1900.

He was a member of Congressional Country Club, Somerset Hills Country Club, Spring Valley Country Club, and Morris County Country Club. In addition, he was a trustee of the Kent Place School and an elder of the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church.

Childs died on March 17, 1925 from a hemorrhage during surgery to repair an ulcer of the duodenum.

Childs Road in Bernardsville, New Jersey where most of the family lived, was named for them.