The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1857-08-11
The Poor Boy and the Millionaire.


Few men who commence tho world poor
acquire large fortunes in n long Ne time, by
honest md s'raioht forward means, in the
pursuit Of regular legitimate business
Nearly all the colossal fortunes in the country
have hccn made by commercial speculations,
by stock iobbing, by the rise in real estate,
or by tho unr quilted labor Of slaves and traf
fc in human fcsh and blood. can now call
to mind but one exception in retrospect of
thirty years and to this no parallel can be
found in the history Of our country. The one
10 which alude contains moral lesson so
full Of encouragement and hopo to young
men Just starting out in life, and is so worthy
of imitation, that have resolved to give it at
least passing notice. If they follow the ex-
ample here set them Of industry, energy, per-
severance, close application and strict integri-
ty, they cannot fail to secure to themselves
honored names and Independent fortunes,
though they may not be classcd with Million
aires.
B;Sit,," yvsns .,gv, DuoI ID. v~aiu saiieu
a small schooner called the Gen. Harrison,
owned by his uncle, Samuel Ward, which
was built at Newport, on the st. Clair river
in 1884. Under the prudent and sagacous
management of f"Captain Ebcr," rs he was
then familiarly called. the schooner proved to
be profitable investment, and in 1889, the
Wards, uncle and nephew resolved to raise
small steamer for the st. Clair river trade
The Huron, $50 tons burthcn, was placed
upon the stock ut Newport in the summer of
that year, and was finished and made her
first trip to Port Huron early in the spring of
1910; she cost $4,000 and the owners ex-
hausted all their available means in her con-
struction, and involved themselves to the
amount Of half the cost of the boat. "Capt.
Eber" took the command, and so rich were
the returns she made. that in 1912, thev
built the Champion, 260 tons, at a cost of
$4,000. At that time the Lake steamboat
combination wes in full force and power, and
controlled the navigation of the Lakes from
Buffalo to Chicago. The managers Of that
powerful monopoly saw in Capt Ward the
elements of dangerous rivalry, and resolved
to 'subdue" him.
The bitter opposition which he experienced
from This quarter only served to develop, and
call into full exercise the daun'le energies
of n young and vigorous mind. His success
was unparalleled, and in the autumn of lS45
the Detroit was launched from their ship yard
at Newport. She was beautiful craft of
$50 tons, and cost $4,000. Capt. Ward
took the command of her in person, and her
first trip was made TO Saut St. Marie, in May,
1916. This was the commencement of
wards Lake Superior Line" The expert
mcnt proved eminently successful, and in ls47
they brought out the Sam Ward, 42O tons, at
cost Of 100000 Success crowned success
and steamer gave birth to steamer in rapid
succession. In l64S, the Pacific, AGO tons,
made her appearance, at cost Of $4,000;
and was followed in ls40 by the Atlantic.
1900 tons, at cost of $l05,O0O The same
year they added to their fleet tho Canada,
700 tons by purchase. In 1850 they built
the Ocean, 1000 tons, at cost of 100000.
In 1851 the CasI ian, 1000 tons, 10000; the
Arctic, 700 tons, s65,OOO; the Pearl, 2e0
tons, S25,000 were built at Newport, and
they purchased the St. Louis, 500 tons, and
the Telegraph, 200 tons. To 1852 they
brought ont the Cleveland, 600 tons, $50
0OO the Traveller, ESQ tons, $4,000; the
Huron I'd. 400 tons, $4,000. In 1853 the
Collins. 1850 tons, was added 10 their fleet
from the samo ship ward M cost of S110.-
600. I'm 1884, thr Forester. 500 tons. S60.-
900; and in 1855, the Flnc ZOO tors
$4,000. crd ,hc Forest Queen, 900 tons,
86S 600 This ycar, 1856, Capt Ward has
bull. two l--ror7. the WvaT dot and ihe
Marquette 600 tons hurthen cach. for the
Lake superior Grade: and has II Promotion Of
I 900 tons. en- tba stocks, which will bo fin
ishoi This tall. intended flr the same trade
The cost Of these vessels is $1,000.
Within t1o lost 60 ,-oors Nfr NVopl bos
paid to shin builders, and other mechanics to
employer and lalorors. moro than two and n
half millions af dollars; and large portion
ot tfis has gone directly int" tho pockets of
cj'iz u- n our State
For r1sioi o' welvo years, from 1910 to
1852, oil Ii- eu'Drlriscs were crowned with
success Frou, the commcnceme t of the lit
tie Huron, in ls4O he had now become the
owner Of fleet of seventeen steamers and the
steamers and the acknowledged master of the
Lakes. The Lake Combination had ceased
to exist, and the men who formed it had re-
tired into the shade. David had slain Coli
ah. Up to this time he had never met with !
any serious accidents. involving loss of life or
vessel; but this proved most disastrous year.
The Atlantic was run into by n propeller, and
Suuh VII I-'up Olllt lSaht Ilic CdrlldH
was wrecked on the outside Pier at Clevc-
land; and the st. Louis sunk off Srndusky.-
The total losses that year amounted to $780,
600, on which there was no insurance. In
1854 the Collins was burnt near Maiden, and
the Detroit sunk of Point au Barqucs, Lake
Huron.
In 1854 the firm Of +. b d s. Ward was
dissolved by the death Of the latter, and Capt
Ward sold out nearly all his steamboats, and
invested the proceeds in other enterprises.-
He retains only the steamers Planet and Fer
ester, Propeller and the s'h- oners Wyan-
dotte and Marquette.
In the brief period Of sixteen years he has
accumulated, over and above all liabilities,
fortune Of million and quarter. This is
all the fruit Of his own energy and industry,
and has been acquired without swering from
al al fl a. r -