Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1858-10-15
STEPHEN GIRARD THE MONEY
MAKER.
FROM HOUSEHOLD WORDS.

PROM HOUSEHOLD WORDS.
About the year seventeen hundred anC
fifty in the envirous of Bordeaux, in France
there lived an old sea captain, named Pierre
Girard, with Madame Larfargne, his wife.
They had already four children-no matter
whether male or female, for they lived ant
died in theiobseurity in which they were
born. But in the year seventeen hundred
and fifty, on the twenty of May, anoth-
er 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
eve, embarked as cabin boy, with no 9TH
er requirements than an imperfect knowl-
edge of the elements oe reading and writing
on board vessel boand for the West In
dies. His one eye was made the subject ei
ridicule amongst his companions, and his
temper was thus early soured 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 In
dies, but bound himself apprentice to
shipmaster, in whose service he first sat
foot in the port Of New York, about the
year seventeen hundred and sixty four
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 captain, when his master
left sea. He voyaged several times success
fully to and from New Orleans. In this
position he frat began to accumulate 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 bis history now
occurs. bat in seventeen hundred and sixty
nine we find him an obscure, plodding,
quiet, thrifty trader in Water street, Phila-
delpbia.
At this period he took liking to one
Mary or Molly Lum, the daughter of an old
ship.caulker, who lived in water-side house
down amongst the vessels that traded to the
city. The girl was plain, but comely, and
employed as a domestic servant in q neigh
boring 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 a
happy one. She was neglected. Of ber do
ty: he was norose and anstere. One child
was born. which died. A, length he appIi.
ed to the Legislature OF Pennsylvania for a
divorce, and he obtained it.
He still continued to rent the small house
in Water street, TO which he had taken bis
liz eha,. ,voro rad he indns-
iriously pursued his combined operations oi
sea-captain, ship owner, and merchant
About this time be entered into partnership
with one Isaac Hazlehurst, of Philadelphia,
and purchased two vessels in which to trade
to the Island Of Stint Domingo. The brigs
were captured by British men-of-war, and
seat to Iamaica: a misfortune which DISSOLVED
the short partnership. There is another gap
in the story of Stephen Girard. extending
from seventeen hundred and seventy-two 10
seventeen hundred and seveDty-six. 1t Is
probable that during this time he continued
his old business, trading as ship-m1ster AMI
merchant TO New Orleans and SLint Do
mingo.
The wa pot an end to the sea enterpri-
ses Of Stephen Girard, and he was compel
led to turn his attention to the land.
He opened small grocery store in Wa
ter street, jpined with bottling establish
ment where he worked hard with his OWL
hands at the occupation of bottiiDg clare
and cider. About the year seventeen hun
dred and seventy-seven, upon the alleget
approach of the British to Philadelphia, ht
purchased small tract of land from his for
a
mer partner, Mr.. Hazlehurst, on which
there was house, to which he removed his
business; employing his time, early ant
late, in preparing c:aret and cider tor th'
market, and selling them at large profit t
the American army, emcamped near his res
idence. Here he remained until seventeen
hundred and seventy nine, sometimes ma
king voyage in boat as water Pedia
to Philadelphia, to dispose o. his wares.-
His appearance was not much in his favor
| His skin was dark and dingy; his form wa
short and thick; he was course, rough, vul
gar, and ungainly; and his one eye glaree
ominously upon his customers. He me
with jeers aHd taunts from every side, whlcl
he beFe with great taciturnity and compo
sure. He had but one subject in view, whicI
be followed with all the steady energy of al
iron will. 'Fhat object was to make mon
ey. "
when philadelphia was evacuated by tA'
British in seyenteen hundred and seventy
Ri9e, Stephen Girard was again in Wate
street, this time occupying range of store
gpop the east side. He was Re'more ,ha
twenty nine yeaFs Of age, but SO plain
grave, and repdlsive in appearance that he wa
known 'tOld Girard.n His business coul
not AtaVae been very prosperous at this pc
tod, considering the disturbed and dePresse
state of the country. He was quietly bidin
bis time. HiSstore was well filled with oil
blocks, sails, pieces of cordage and othe
materials useful in ship building.
In seventeen hundred and eighty, StePh
! en- Girard again commenced the New Oh
leans and Saint Domingo trade In tw
years he had progressed SO far as to be abl
TO purchase ten years lease, with reGewa
of range of brick and frame stores, one {
which he occupied himself. The rent
were low at the time, and the purchase yer
advantageops+pethaps 'the1gFRfpg point
bic fortunes.
In seventeen hundred and eighty, h
wife, Mary Girard, from whom he had bee
divorced, was admitted an insane patient il
to the Pennsylvania Hospital. Here 81
remained shut up twenty-five years and OF
month, while her husband Was bdsf1y purs,
ing his one object in the world; at last ST
died in the year eighteen hundred and fifteel
On being told ofte. deatlr, Stephen Gira
selected her burial place, and requested tn
he should be called as soon as all the al
rangemeHts for her fgneFaf were sqmplete
She was buried iii the manner of the Friend
Her husband was there, glaring with his OF
, fearless eye, silent Hnmoved. after takir
: one sllort look at the remains, he depaFte
saving, .sall is well.'' He returned hom