The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-07-30


all classes of readers. Most of the men COM
memorated in the work were of humble origin,
and were not indebted to social position for
their success in life. Their fortunes resulted
from their personal enterprise, industry and
sagacity. None of them were speculators in
the common acceptaton of the term.l They
present noble examples Of uprightness, bene-
violence, and high -mindedness - ,-..t
Peter c. Brooks was the son Of poor cler
gyman, who left his family in such destitute
circumstances, that the future millionaire work
ed On farm, and during portion of his ap-
premiership, he resided at West Medtord, and
walked the distance from town, seven miles,
both ways, daily, at all seasons Of the year!
Stephen Grard, at the early age Of 1o"or 12
years, left France, his native country, the
capacity of a cabin boy, without education,
excepting limited knowledge of the elements
of reading and writing. Samuel Ward, the
great banker, was prevented BY the narrow in
come and large family of his father from re-
ceiving acollegiateed and therefore, at
the age of fourteen, having received onl y the
ordinary instruction of a common school, he
entered as a clerk in that banking house Of
which he eventually became the head.
Thomas Eddy, who has been justly called
the Howard of America, = was the son of in
digent quakers, and after two years expe-
rience as apprentice to tanner, went to New
York with capital Of ninety six dollars. Jo-
seph Peabody, the great merchant of Salem,
worked on a farm till he was eighteen years
old, when he served in the American army and
went two sea voyages before he applied him
self to the acquisition Of knowledge. He pur-
sued his studies under the direction Of the rev.
Elias Smith, Of Middleton, Essex county.
Jacob Lorillard, Of New York, commenced
life without the advantages even OF an ordina-
ry education. When a young man, after the
laborious occupations of the day, instead OF
seeking recreation and repose, he passed his
evenings in the patient study of the very ele-
ments of knowledge, which are usually learned
in childhood. Gideon Lee, once mayor Of New
York, was left an orphan when quite child,
and, after passing his boyhood on a farm, was
apprentced to a person carrying on the tan
ming and oe-making business. The first
hundred dollars he earned, and which he could
honestly call his own, he appropriated to edu-
eating himself
Samuel Appleton commenced with no ad-
vanta9es except the estmable one of being
trained in childhood in the home OF excellent
and iudcious parents. He made the best use
of his slender opportunities, and at The age of
seventeen was a district school teacher. Samu-
el Slater was apprenticed at the age of fourteen
to the proprietor Of a cotton factory. He came
to America with no letters of introduction, and
as the laws of England did not admit the emil
grafton of machinists, he took with him no
patterns or drawings of machinery. Asa Clapp,
of Portland, being deprived of his parents at
an early age, was left entirely dependent upon
his own exertons for advancement, and through
his own energy and perseverance, succeeded in
securing common school education.
| Of twenty one American merchants whose
lives and characters are thus sketched in this
Volume, eight were natives of Massachusetts.
| three were born in the State of New Y ork, two
in Rhode Island, two in New Hampshire, two
in Pennsylvania. Four were natives of foreign
countries, Matthew Carey and Alexander Hen
~, of Philadelphia, being born in Ireland
Samuel Slater, of Rhode Island, was a native
of England, and Stephen Girard was born in
Bordeaux, France
HORRIBLE BARBAR1TY.--Und this heading
the San Francisco True Californian, of June
The U. S. sloop-ofwar Decatur, which ar
rived in this port yesterday, has brought intel
ligence of one of the most inhuman atrocities
that can be found in the annals of Indian war
fare On the morning Of the 9Th of Oct, 1855,
while Mr.. Harvey H. JONES' settler on the
banks of the White River, in Washington ter
ritory, was lying sick in his bed, party Of In
| dians commenced firing on his house, and kill
ed Mr.. Jones at the first volley. Mrs Jones,
who was eating breakfast at the time OF the as
sault, Immediately returned the fire of the In
dians with navy revolver. and after having
succeeded in wounding one Of them in the foot,
was herself shot in the side, and thereby disa-
bled from making any further resistance I'm
mediately upon her ceasing to fire upon them,
the Indians approached and set fire to the house.
Atthis iuncture, lad named John J. King, who
| is child of Mrs. Jones by a former marriage,
and but seven years OF age, inquired of his
mother what he should do. She directed him
to take his brother and sstcr--tbe former two,
and the latter four years old-and endeavor to
find shelter in the house ola Mr.. Thomas, who
resided two miles distant. The little fellow i'm
mediately complied with the request Of his
mother, taking the infant on his back and bis
oiStel Uy tlc manu. diu du 4Iulail
ploded four caps in endeavoring to shoot him,
and was only prevented from further efforts by
popular superstition of his tribe, succeeded in
reaching his destination, only to be disappoint-
ed by finding that Mr.. Thomas himself had fled
with his family, and was nowhere to be found.
The brave boy then continued his way down
the river for another mile, when he was met
by friendly Indian, who took the children in
his canoe, and covering the two younger with
his blankets, proceeded to Seattle, where they
arrived next day, and were received on board
the Decatur, which brought them to this place.
After the escape Of the children, the Indians
dragged Mrs. Jones from the house by the hair,
and killed her by the blow of an axe on the
temple. The body Of Mr., Jones was consum-
ed with the house. This statement has been
furnished us by Mr., John Small, a brother Of
Mrs Jones. The children were treated with
the greatest kindness by captain Gansevoort,
lieutenants Morris and Drake, and the other
officers and crew of the Decatur. By this ear
ly misfortune these children are left entirely
destitute, and but for the friendship of their
uncle, would be thrown upon the charity Of the
world for protection. r..