Freeman's champion., 1858-07-22
IAc FreeNeQ'S Champion
LIBERTY OR DEATH"
PRAIRIE CITY, X. T, JULY %, 1853
Stephen Girard, the Money Maker

About the year seventeen hundred
and fifty, in the environS of Bor.
deaux, in France, there lived an old
sea-captain, named Pierre Girard,
with Madame Lariargue, his wife,
They had already four children-n9
matter whether male or female, foI
they lived and died in the obscurity
in which they were born. But in the
year seventeen hundred and fifty, on
the twenty-frst 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 pro-
gress of this boy. At that time he
was found, with one eye, embarked
as a cabin-boy, with no other acquire
ments than an imperfect knowledge
of the elements Of reading and wri-
ting, on board a vessel bound for the
West Indies. His one eye was made
the subject of ridicule among his COM
panions, 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
Indies, but bound himself apprentice
tOa shi2@ol.ssteG in whose service he
first set foot in the port of New York,
about the year seventeen hundred and
sixty-four. Morose as Stephen Gil
rard 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 the sea. He voyaged several
times successfully to and from New
Orleans. In this position he first be-
gan 70 accumulate means, and to trade
on his own account, and he soon be-
came part owner Of the ship and car
go which he commanded. A large
gap in the minute progress ofhiS his
tory now occurs, but in seventeen
hundred and sixtyInine we find him
an obscure, plodding, quiet, thrifty
trader in Water Street, philadelphia.
AT this period he took a liking to
one Mary, or Polly Lum, the daugh-
ter of an old ship-caulker, who lived
in water-side house down among
the vessels that traded to that CITY,
The girl was plain, but comely, and
was employed as domestic servant
in neighboring family. Stephen
Girard does not appear to have been
looked upon with favor by the pa
rents Of the girl, for they forbade him
the houee for some time. They were
eventually married, but the union
was not happy one. She was neg
lectful Of her duty he was moroSe
and austere. One child was born,
which died. AT length he applied to
the Legislature Of Pennsylvania fora
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 pur-
sued his combined occupations Of sea-
captain, ship-owner, and merchant.
About this time he entered into part
nership with one Isaac Hazolhnrst, Of
Philadelphia, and purchased two ves-
sells in which to trade to the island Of
Saint Domingo. The briggs were cap
tured by British men-of-war and sent
to Jamaica; o misfortune which dis
solved the short partnership. There
is another gap in the history Of Ste
phen Girard, extending from seven
teen hundred and seventy-two TO sew
cntoen hundred and seventy-six. IL
il probable that during this time he
continued his old business, trading
aa ship master and merchant 10 New
Orleans and Saint Domingo.
The war put an end 70 c'thc sea en-
terprises Of Stephon Girard, and be