Samuel Hecklin (1876-1951) was born in Volozhun, Vilna, Russia and immigrated to the United States in the early 1890s. He initially settled in Rhode Island and married Gretchen “Gussie” about 1901. They eventually had four children: Simon, Rosa, Sarah, and Alice. The Hecklins settled in Spartanburg, and Samuel opened Hecklin Bros. (later B. Hecklin) with his brother, Barnett Hecklin. They worked as shoemakers until 1913, when Samuel opened Sample Shoe Store at 145 E. Main Street. His son, Simon, later clerked in the store. Sample Shoe Store moved at least twice, to 143 E. Main Street and 149 E. Main Street, before closing about 1934. That year, the Hecklins opened Shirley’s.