Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-10-07
Stephen Girard, the Money Maker.

deaux, in France, there lived an old sea-captain,
named Pierre Girard, with Madame Lafargue,
his wife. They had already four children-no
matter whether male or female, for they lived
and died in the obscurity in which they were
born. But in the year 1850, on the twenty
first of May, another child came into the world
"a boy, named Stephen Girard.
Up to the age of ten or twelve, there is no
record of the life and progress of this boy. AT
that time he was found, with one eye embarked
as cabin-boy, with. no other requirements
than an imperfect knowledge of the elements
tof reading and writing on board a vessel bound
for the West Indies. His one eye was made the
subject of ridicule amongst his companions,
and his temper was thus early sourcd for life.
With this physical deformity, without friends,
patronage or money, he was thrown upon the
world
He did not remain long in the West Indies,
but bound himself apprentice to shipmaster,
New York, about the year 1894. Morose as
Stephen Girard was, he gained the confidence
of his employer, and he was made mate of the
vessel in which he sailed, and afterwards cap
tain, when his master left the sea. He voyaged
several times successfully to and from New Or
leans In this position he first began to accu-
mulate means, and to trade on his own account,
and he soon became part owner Of the ship and
cargo, which he commanded. A large gap in
the minute progress of his history now occurs,
but in 1859 we find him an obscure, plodding,
quiet, thrifty trader in Water street, Philadel-
phia.
At this period he took liking to one Mary
or Polly Lum, the daughter of an old ship
caulker, who lived in "a water-sde house down
amongst the vessels that traded to that city.
The girl was plain, but comely, and employed
as domestic servant in neighboring family
Stephen Girard does not appear to have been
looked upon with favor by the parents of the
girl, for they forbade him the house for some
time. They were eventually married, but the
union was not happy one. She was neglect
full of her duty he was morose and austere.
One child was born, which died. At length he
applied to the Legislature of Pennsylvania for
divorce, and obtained it.
He still continued to rent the small house in
Water street to which he had taken his wife
when they were married, and he industriously
pursued his combined occupations of sea-cap-
tain, ship-owner and merchant. About this
time he entered into partnership with one Isaac
Hazlehurst, of Philadelphia, and purchased two
vessels in which toArade to the Island of Saint
Domingo. The briggs were captured by British
men-of.war, and sent to Jamaica--a misfortune
which dissolved the short partnership. There
is another gap in the story of Stephen Girard,
extending from 1772 to l776. 1t is propable
that during this time he continued his old bus
mess, trading as shipmaster and merchant to
New Orleans and Saint Domingo.
The war put an end to the sea enterprises of
Stephen Girard and he was compelled to turn
his attention to the land.
He opened small grocery store in Water
street, joined with a bottling establishment,
where he worked hard with his own hands at
the occupation of bottling claret and cider.
About the year l777, upon the alledged ap-
proach of the British to Philadelphia, he pur-
chased small tract of land from his former
partner, Mr.. Hazlehurst, on which there was a
house, to which he removed his business en-
ployng his time, early and late, in preparing
claret and cider for the market, and selling
them at a large profit to the American Army
encamped near his residence. Here he re-
maincd until 1779 sometimes making voyage
in boat as water-pedlar to Philadelphia, t(
dispose of his wares. His appearance was moi
much in his favor. His skin was dark ant
dingy his form was short and thick a; he wa
coarse, rough, vulgar and ungalnly and hi
one eye gared ominously upon his customers
He met with jeers and taunts from every side
which he bore with great tacturnity and com
posure. He had but one object in view, whcl
he followed with all the steady energy of al
iron will. That object was to make money
When Philadelphia was 'evacuated by tn
British in 1779, Stephen Girard was agail
found in Water street this time occupying
range of frame stores upon the east side. IL
was no more than twenty-nine years of age
but so plain, grave aud repulsive in appearance
that he was known as {" Old Girard." Hi
business could not have been very prosperou
at this period, considering the disturbed AM
depressed state of the country. He was quiet
ly biding his time. His store was we'll file
with old blocks, sails, pieces of cordage, an
other materials, useful for ship-building.
In l7S0e Stephen Girard again commence
the New Orleans and Saint Domingo trade.
two years he had progressed so far as to be abl
to purchase ten years lease, with renewal,
a range of brick and frame stores, one of whc
he occupied himself. The rents were low at tf
tlmo, and the purchase very advantageous-pe
: haps the turning point in his fortune.
In 1880, his wife, Mary Girard from who
| he had been divorced, was admitted an insar
patient into the Pennsylvania Hospital. llel
q she remained, shut up, twenty-five years ar
t one month"; while her husband was busily pu
9 suing his one object in the world at last 81
0 died in the year 1915. On being told of h
8 death. Stephen Grard selected her burial-pla
0 and requested that he should be called as 800
=? as all the arrangements for her funeral we
o completed. She was buried in the manner
the Friends. Her husband was there, glarir
with his one fearless eye, silent and unmoveo
o after taking one short look at the remains,
/ departed, saying all is we'll" He return
home, and began to give largely to the loc
"A ...S Luan.4ols f~o,o This dow