In 1832 the firm opened a branch store in Worcester, Massachusetts, and in 1833 Claflin and Daniels secured the sole control of this establishment and restricted their dealing to dry goods.

Under Claflin's management the business increased so rapidly that the sales for a time after 1865 probably exceeded those of any other mercantile house in the world.

The firm was temporarily embarrassed at the beginning of the American Civil War, on account of its large business interests in the South.

The reputation of Claflin increased because of his promptness in paying off debts during the financial panic of 1873.

[1] Along with Jacob H. Schiff, Marcellus Hartley, Robert L. Cutting, and Joseph Seligman, he was a founder of the Continental Bank of New York in August 1870.