Montgomery Wards

1872 – 2001
Montgomery Ward (later known as Wards) is an online retailer that is somewhat connected to the former American department store chain, founded as the world’s first mail order business in 1872 by Aaron Montgomery Ward. At its height, it was one of the largest retailers in the United States, but declining sales in the late 20th century forced the original Montgomery Ward to close all of its retail stores and catalog operations by early 2001.