The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-10-16
Int resting Incidents IN the Life Of Jscsb
BARKER.


Barker.
Not long since gave interesting facts concern
ing the respected gentleman whose name appears in the
caption this article from the fact Of bis being so well
and generally known, and the extraordinary career
which has made him 90 deservedly popular. An dis
tinguished Wall street hnancier OF the oden time, his
reputation Ia imperishabie among the mercantile and
moueyed classes Of this city; and as any facts concerning
his personal history in addition 70 those already supplied
by us, viii be read with interest," give the following
article from the New Orleans Pcayne Of the 30th ult
under the title Of Old Names and Old Associations -
One day OF last well known aud venerable fell
low citizen Jacob Barker t5e patriarch Of the wned
rnanciers OF this country mi de his appearance In Wall
street sssr N absence Of several years mos. Of which
street in 1893 when New York had only thirty dve thou
sand inhabitants The won erfu progress which the
Northern metropolis has made for the last twenty yeArs
must have struck the old broker with admiration.
He was, In his tme one Of the most important fnan.
land he raised money for the governm mt Ia the panic
Of 1925 great number OF the banks insurance conpa.
mics and we're e led and
the unfortunates trial Ja,ob Barker bat the jury
could agree in his case, and he was finally acqu
ted. During the trial Judge ordered him nne OF
hundred dollars for Offensive word relative TO one
of the witnesses who, kr. Barker was aware, had
Jacob stopped down. wrote check for the amount des
patched messenger TO the bank and handed the nne In
gold, 70 the benchremarkng In natural manner, that
he always settled hts differences In cash.
At another time, the old broker, who was expecting
from distant port a ship richly laden, had had con.
company; the latter engaging his friend 70 have ship
insured but Jacob obotng account of the expenses
Finally although they parted without comias 70 any
the policy and that the next day Barker would see
whether he had better sign or not but the next day
was Sunday, and the two friends did not meet.
In the morning, an express, who had ridden = long
way, the private residence Of the banker and
bOrd Of which was ali bis fortune had been wrecked on
the shores OF New Jersey. must be remembered that
At that time there were neither magnetic eesraphs nor
man might have lost his senses der such unoxpect
ed blow but Barker, with his and always open
his conversation Of the previous evening with his friend
the President, and without losing no sent
Friend Jous-1r thou hast written the policy send II
by the bearer for my SIGNATURE not thou needst not
trouble myself seou. H. for have Just rsceyed news Of
The President OF the insurance company had not yet
written the policy, intending 70 do on Monday morning
but as soon ~ be received that note, he hAstsned Of
course 70 I'll up blank and 10 send IL TO Barker, with
letter In which he said that the paper was dra IN when
the To hand and that he much pleased 70
bear that his friend had news Of hn ship
But on Monday morning, when friend John knew what
kind OF Barker had received the day before, he
never could forgive himself for having drawn the policy
20 inconsiderately, and for very long time he had
grudge against the old broker who bad caught him In
The interesting souvenirs which the visit Of Jacob Bar
ker in Wall street recalls 10 tho mind Of the old nhAb
tants might Ill up book and We have no doubt
day that book will be written
This article drew forth the following Communication
the next day from . correspondent signing himself "a
Constant READER
NEW ORLEANS, Oct. l, 1850.
To THE Eproas or nE PicAYrM,-
GESTtKAKSIn the remarks published In your valuable
paper Of Sunday in relation 70 Mr. Jacob Bakers early
lc there some errors which, In justice 70 that aged
man. II would be well 70 correct.
Although NJ. Barker visited New York 10 1913, when
there but So 900 Inhabitants n that city, his place
OF business In Wall street before the OF 1872
He extensively engaged In commercial pursuits and
stock operations, but not - o broker, In New York
The circumstance about Insurance to which you alude
not with m Insurance company The business was
then done, IL 10 at Loyd'B, by individual sub
scriptton. Tue bargain for the insurance Q small
adventure not chip, was closed ut the first interview,
OF which Mr. Barker then In his minority had not any
evidence therefore, the following day, when he heard
OF the disaster he wrote note TO the underwater
questng the policy, ready, not ready that IL should
not be nled up until they had another Interview. No
sucn letter ~ ycu publiAh Was ever written by him.
he matter was amicably settled, and the parties
NAMED friends Tor life.
When Mr.. Barker fined hundred dollars the
Court said they satisfied he did any
respect 70 IL that he would apologize witness
they would pan by. Mr. Barker knowing the witness
10 have falsely knowing his statement To be false
refused 10 apologize and promptly paid the nne.
These little reminscences win be found 70 posaess
much intrinsic interest for tho friends Of the veteran
Gnancer.