New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-03-26
DEATH OF WILLIAM COLGATE. ESQ.

WiIsm Colgate died yesterday morning a. "'
re.icsnce in East Twenty third street, ., the so-
vspced age of sevept, -four yesrs. For hs century
part he has been successful merchant In the C''y OF
N.w-York, and one Of its most esteemed cizeos. nc
vas born in England, Jan. IS, l7S3 IN the palsh OF
Holm gbourp, Cousty Of Kent about i've miles dis.eo'
from the Old and fourishipg ton Of hsidstsne. II"
parents were lot wealthy; yet they hved in compar"
tive comfort, were knd-hearted social and generous
and possessed the respect and affection Of large circle
of personal 6snds. The maiden name Of his mother
vas Sarah Bowles. His father, Robert Cogate, CON-
mepced hfe as an EDgli,h farmer. In bis boyhood,
Wi lism Pitt was his intimate friend and plsyfeIow.
The sttacbm.n then formed proved valuable to Mr..
Colgate in . very Important crsis Of his after life
W,pisms father took great interest in politics. Dur
irg the War of the Revolution bis sympsthies were
strongly epsttd in the American cause and he eagerly
", etched the pr gress Of the conflict Every day ne
placed before him. upon the table, map OF the colo
MES followed the march Of the troops, anticipated the
in portsnt poets where battles would probably be
fought, and, stnkipg his hand upon the map, would
often cay, 81 hope the Americans will whip them out
th.rew When be heard that the colonists hsd sue-
fered defeat he marked the spot by piercing hole
through the map with the tine Of his fork; but
when they gained q victory, his joy knew no
bounds The fork did double duty, and two
boles would mark the place Of triumph. hn
political views were Of too republican stamp for the
EpsaId of that day. His name headed Q list OF seven
psrsons who were to BE- summary dealt with, unless
the tone of their p.lrical sentiments should greatly
moderate. Wili,m Pitt now showed the sincerity OF
bis early attachment by informing Robert OF bis
darger. He also assured him that, II he chose TO
emigra'e 10 America where the institutions were moro
copgensl to his vew be shouli be permitted freely
to leave the country. Mr.. Colgste promptly arranged
for his d. psite and disposed of his property, and in
March 1885, sailed for the world in the ship Eliza,
snivng in Baltimore after passage OF 20 days. 10
England, though politically obnoxious, Williams father
was universally beloved. He was the poor mans
and a. he rode away from his home, the streets
were lred with people, who came out to bless him,
weeping a bis departure. The scene to him
DOW eIg 80 that be drew his cap xp bis eyes,
and put spurs to his no re that he might avoid the
sdeus of people whose tears Of gratitude and sym
pafby served bat to increase his own sorrow.
Three of the six suspected persons who remained in
England were subs qpenty cast into prison for their
continued advocacy Of reform Bat it should be
mentioned 81 testimony to the wisdom and political
forecast of Williams father, that many of the views
which rendered him 30 ObnoXo us 10 the Eogsh Gov.
eminent were subsequently approved. Though they
co.t him bis county and gave three of his associates
feon's dof m they we're ultimately ackno ~ledged by
the Government and were the browning glory of the
Ref; I'M bin which was passed by Parliament, and in
1882 received the roy al impress of the British crown
Arriving in Baltimore Williams father purchased .
farm in Hart ord county land, which ne cultivated
Of the b.sr schools of that d,y. Tbs with his acquire
neDts in England was ell the educston the sch0oh
ever voucLsaed TO him. and ct the early sge OF Is he
entered upon the work of an earnest life. When IL
ytars Of oee be commenced in very humble way, the
soap and capd Q business in Baltimore.
In 1904 William Colgate, at the age of 81, left his
fathers bopse and came comparative stranger, to
the City Of New York. He had scarcely cent that
be oopld call bis own. Hia purpose, however, was
fixed and in its pursuit. be .ntered the counting room
of John Sldel Co. then the largest talow cha adlers
in he city Looted at No. so Broadway Il was early
in the morning, and, addressing the proprietor, he
sskeo for a situation. There was no vacancy 10 the
Establishment but Mr. Slidell, struck with the open,
honest fsce Of the applicant offered to receive him
into the Office a. cltrA's assistant. William respect
fully thanked him for bis kind proposal but declined
scctprpg it, saying, desire, Sir, TO learn the bust
mes. wish to worfIto earn q living for myself.
any one can assist clerk; but desire to koow 40
"to wsik." Mr. Sldell was 20 much pleased With his
fraI knees that he finely called the foreman of the fac
tory and eaid to him, " Give this young man work.
Show BIN every hing about the busiress he will
small. But il not the salary it was the busness
that he wished; and in very short time he accom-
pisbed bis purpose BE was soon transferred from the
uactung 10 the sales department: and At the end
of three years. when the firm dissolved, Mr.. Colgate
wac It's principal business manager.
At the age Of g. in the year 1906 Mr.. Colgate CON-
menced the soap and candle business for himself la
Dutch atreet the site of his present extensive
hGuie 1t e little remarkable, that In this city of
cbsDges be has for fifty one years continued most
prosperous business, in the same street, and on the
same ground.
AT the age of %, William Colgate considered himself
shrst = i~ s,.t.a
of uninterrupted prosperity L. the time of the war Of
l8l2lsl5 his establishment bad the almost uodisputed
control Of the nake, and the rise la the value of
IT. OK on his hands materially advanced bis pecunisry
inteTes About this period the manufacture of starch
was nrrodlu and bi, brother.in lag, Mr. Joho Gil
bert sss associated with the nrm in this department Of
their business. For nsny years it was tbs leading
stsrch establishment In America Mr.. Colga has
acquired large foIturs, which, with the example of
life Of great btneyoence, lett as legacy TO his fam
ily and On exsmpia If goodness to the world
Until be confined 10 his house, near the close Of
January Mr. Colgate was az devoted TO business pur.
suits as be had al .ays been. Although his own pecu
siayy in eress had be- transferred 10 his sens nearly
year spoe, srili he wss always in the office during
busips h0uIs consulting and advising with the frrn
Bpsness vas pleasure to him. Under its seversst
pressure biz temper was always even. We have seen
him thousand tImes Dot do not remember that bic
CT unteDaDce sss ever dsrkened by aosn, or csudsd
with angel His PLEASANT sn lie, ,cose manner aud
tel der heat would adorn aby couhtngrso and oon.
vent the dous routine and the ann Of business
into real p)essuIes 1t ooeof the rules of his life
That busn. 20 hours hould be devoted to business
puIpsss Wbsn business over, the ger sral news
Of ibs cay his family his church. the Cause of bis Re-
dt<ner, ID eli it, Department. had for him . zess in
which be never grew weary
Ono of the earliest noble deeds of Mr.. Cogatss lie,
alter be O muer ctd business, was the purchase Of
farm, from soue OF bis fnt sanpgs for the family Of
his father in Delaware County, N. Y.
M Colgate never sought for office. Had he been
Wiling to accept political hcpors there were several
occasions when the citizeos Of NesY would sdIy
sve eecfso him sors Of iz most important pabic
u Dtfs. He Wa especially popular With the WORKING