Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1855-03-27
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TUESDAY, MARCH 81. 1855.
From Life Illustrated.
The Rich Men Of New York.

The Rich Men of New York.
A book more suggestive or more amusing
than this twelfth edition of The Wealthy Cit
liens of the City of New York, we have sell
dom looked into. This is our republican her.
aldry, our "Burke's Peerage," our roll of hon
or. These are men the who have succeeded in
doing that which most have attempted
and all desired. Some nations reckon up their
hOnors in the heads they have cut off in bat
tie; others are con tent with scalps others win
glory by prayers and pilgrimages ours is
simpler way.
The lowest order of nobility recognized in
peerage is that conferred by the possession of
one hundred thousand dollars and the most
noticeable thing is the very small number of
our fellow. citizens who have been found wor-
thy of even that humble rank Here are a
million people nearly, most of whom are try
ing, or at least strongly desiring, to be rich.
and the number who have succeeded in
that object is but ten hundred and sixty =
VI these, three hundred and fourteen are put
down at one hundred thousand Two hun
dred and five have attained the rank of one
hundred and fifty thousand. One hundred
and fifty nine enjoy the distinction of two
hundred thousand. Seventy mine have risen
to the height Of a quarter of million. Sew
enty-ive have reached the grade of three hun
dred and fifty thousand. Thirty-seven have
won the commoner glories of four hundred
thousand. Three individuals only have paus.
ed at four hundred and fifty thousand while
seventy three have pressed forward to the
grandGurs of half million. Twenty-four
have proceeded to six hundred thousand =
i've, to seven hundred thousand; twenty-five
to eight hundred thousand and sixteen have
attained the giddy height OF one million
Five have gone On to million and half:
CT, To ftW-c t,asli -
two to four millions; one, to five millions
and one stands, solitary and alone, on the
ynnacle of six millions.
Following the example of Burke, the author
OF the great work before us appends to the
name and title of the more distinguished among
our nobility brief genealogical and biographi-
cal notices, from which we CLEAN some impress
sve facts.
William B. Astor is our richest man; he
inherited his wealth. Stephen Whitney. five
millions, owes his fortunes to speculationsin
cotton and the rise in real estate. w. II. AS.
pinwall, four millions came of rich family,
and gained vast increase of wealth in the
shipping business. Nicholas Longworth. four
millions, a resident of Cincinnati. but large
owner of real estate here, began life as a shoe
maker, and owes his immense fortune to the
rise of real estate iii Cincinnati. James Len
nox, three millions, inherited his property.
The late Peter Harmony, two millions, came
to this city as cabin boy, and grew rich by
commerce. The Lorillards two millions.
came from France poor, and made their huge
fortune in the snuff and tobacco business
The late Arson G.. Phelps, two millions,
learned the trade OF timer, and made for
tune in iron and copper. Alexander T. Stew
art two millions now of the Dry Goods Pal
ace, began business in a little fancy store
hoo r.-1No ! -.
half, George Law began life as farm labor
er; Cornelius Vanderbilt. as q boatman John
Latarge, as steward to Joseph Bonaparte. OF
the millionares, James Chesterman began life
as journeynan tailor Peter Cooper, as a
glue maker; of the others, John d. Wolfe,
Henry Breyoort, Margaret Goelet, Peter Goe-
let John Haggerty Gardiner Rowland, w,
e. Howland,, w. Z. Rowland John N1chie,
Eleazer Parmly, John Rabbins, Lispend Stew.
art, and Jonathan Thorne, our author has for
borne to state whether they owe their fortune
to fathers, to luck, or to talent. But of the
ten hundred and sixty persons mentioned in
the book, we compute that at least eiqht hum
bred began their career as clerks or manual la
borers.
The pill and patent medicine dealers show
to great advantage in this volume Brandreth
figures up at three hundred and fifty thou
sand. Sarsaparilla p. Townsend was an hon
est carpenter once; he is now worth three
hundred thousand dollars Moffat, he Of the
Phoenix bitters, is put down at half million.
Pease, who once sold ginger beer, and after
ward took to hoarhound candy, achieved the
moderate fortune OF hundred and fifty thou-
sand.
Strange to relate, there are some names in
this work of interest to literary men. George
Bancroft, Henry James, Professor Anthem,
Thomas McElrath, and DR.. Francis are each
stated to possess hundred thousand dollars
Edwin Forest is rated at quarter of a mil
lion; so is Sydney E. Morse, of the New
York Observer. William Niblo, it appears,
has four hundred thousand dollars and DR..
Mott, two hundred thousand. Barnum is
put down at eight hundred thousand Ben
nett at one hundred and fifty thousand But
perhaps the most remarkable statement of all
is, that Mrs. Okill, of this city, has made
a quarter OF million Of dollars by keeping
school
The hereditary principle is not extinct
among us. There are "old families in New
York, and they are well represented in this
book of honor. The name of Stuyvesant oc-
ours eight times, and always in company with
imposing figures.
1t would be unjust to the author from
whose work we are deriving so much valuable
knowledge, not to give a few specimens Of
his style. 1t is peculiar. The following is
his style. The following is his account of
"Col. Thorne -
Formerly purser in the navy, and good
looking, married daughter Of ''Old Jaun.
cey,", of Wall street, in its ancient days.
Made foreign excursions, and acquired the
grace and dignity of the ancient dukes. Has
now the bearing of majesty, and treads the
earth as if he would aspire to the GODS
What wretched government is democra-
cy! 1t is told of him that after the depo-
sition of Charles X he purchased the royal
carriage and that the soldiers Of Paris, in
their ignorance, presented arms on its passing
them.
Samuel NJ. Blatchford is described thus -
At one time he was the attorney for the
Bank of England, and a SORT Of bell-crer for
Governor Seward. Represented the followers
Of the latter parsonage for some years. He is
understood to have weekly made pilgrimage
to Albany to wind up the political clock. He
has now become an Assembly man, and visits
Albany this present year in behalf Of his con-.
stituents.
Brown, (of the firm Of Clark & Brown
who is stated to be worth four hundred thou
sand dollars, is 'served up" with rich ssnea:
All the merchants in New York know G.
w. Brown, the famous eating house keeper