The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-04-26

may be mentioned various improvements 10
cotton machinery, tanning apparatus, agri.
cultural and domestic implements, sewing ma
chimes, &C., In all amounting to moro than one
hundred In number. The well-kuown Shaw 4
Clark sewing machine, the original foundation
OF oil cheap sewing machines Ii OF his inyen-
ton. He is also the inventor Of "Shaw's Per:
petual Pocket Almanac" OF which several
millions have been sold, and which 10 copy.
righted In nearly every civilized country Of
the globe. This little invention, although COM
paratiyely unimportsnt, 10 Recognised In the
scientific world a . wonderful mathematical
achievement, overcoming obstacles which had
| previously been considered insurmountable.
He hAs also what Is exceedingly rare with In.
yentors--the faculty to make money out OF
his own inventions.
In addition to his own productions, he is
largely interested as proprietor and manager
IN many most valuable Inventions made BY
other parties, and as . natural consequence,
has been almost constantly engaged In extern
siye legal proceedings, which he has usually
managed himself with most distinguished abil-
ity and success, either defeating his adversary
outright. or organizing victory from bis own
defeat.
Being hrm believer In the ysius Of printers
ink to the man of business, he has long been
one Of the most extensive Of advertisers, his
advertisements frequently appearing In more
than two thousand papers simultaneously.
| Among his other enterprises may be num-
bered the show business, In which he was at
one time quite extensively engaged, owning
| several noted exhibitions, some Of which he
managed personally with great success. He II
was who FIRST brought out Artsmas Ward.
Hon. Edward Everett also frequently lectured
for him, and remained his intimste friend until
his death. p. 7. Barnum, the world-renowned
Snowman, also delivered course OF lectures
under his auspices, becoming 80 favorably i'm
pressed with his superior abilities as manager
that he Immediately offered him ten thousand
dollars per year In gold, and all expenses, to
take charge Of an exhibition he Was then about
sending to Europe. which is said to be the
largest sum which Was ever offered for similar
| service.
His offer Of fve thousand dollars for the orig
inal manuscript Of President Linccln's Emsn-
cipation Proclamation 10 only one OF the nu-
merous instances showing his keen foresight
and intuitive perception In relation to specula.
| tive matters.
Mr.. shaw's business enterprises and engage
ments have long been ofthe most extensive and
responsible character, and Il 10 source OF
much astonishment. even to those best &c
quainted with him, that ho can transact SO
much business. with oil Its complicated rels-
tions, without apparent jar or difficulty. The
remarkable faculty. however, possessed but by
very few, but which he has In such perfection,
OF abstracting himself from the work immedi:
atsly In hand, no matter how engrossing, and
concentrating bis energies upon the details OF
some entirely different subject, enables him to
execute an amount Of business entirely beyond
the capacity Of ordinary men.
He Is President Of the Shaw 4 Clark Sewing
MSchine Company, with three hundred thou
sand dollars capital. corporation employing
large number OF hands, and doing very ex-
tensiye business; also, President ofthe Ne Plus
Ultra Collar Company, with two hundred
thousand dollars capital, besides being o d.
rector In several other corporations, In which
he 10 largely interested. He is also managing
agent and attorney OF the Union Paper Collar
Company. Of New York. with capital OF three
million dollars, and having under its control
all Of the legitimate paper collar Manufacturers
In the country, consisting OF twenty different
dred thousand dollaas to Ave hundred thousand
dollars each. Besides all OF this, he has under
his direction and supervision over one hundred
| important suits at law and In equity In the
United States Courts, enough, Of itself, to over
whelm almost any ordinary mind, to say moth
Ing of such minor matters as being proprietor
Of o patent-medicine business, conducting two
large advertising establishments for furnishing
agents supplies, attending to his real estate,
/
which are either directly or indirectly in his
charge. Notwithstanding oil Of this, however,
he finds time to contribute, under well known
nom de plume, to some Of the leading maga-
zines and papers Of tho day, with ample leisure
10 spare for recreation!
Mr.. shaw has served two terms a. Mayor oi
Eiddeford, Me-, being . most efficient officer
and very popular with all parties. HE inau-
gural addresses, extracts from which have been
extensively copied by the press, exhibit thor
ough knowledgc Of national as we'll ss Inunic-
ipal affairs, and treat in masterly manner the
various subjects discussed. lie has also repre-
sented his city in the Legislature OF the Stats
with marked ability, at once taking the lead OF
his party, which, although In Q minority. by
his shrewd management and the liberality OF
his course In relation to oil matters OF general
interest enabled him to hold the balance Of pow
er and secure the passage OF many Important
measures which would otherwise have been lost.
A speaker, he 10 above the average, being
ready 10 debate. quick to snalyse the subject st
Issue, logical and convincing In bis arguments,
and with experience would readily become dis
tnguished as an orator. AZ . writer Of both
prose and poetry, he early acquired much dis
tnction, but the absorbing cares OF business
have prevented the exercise OF . faculty which
| he undoubtedly possesses IN more than ordna-
~ perfection. His treatise on the various
manufactures and arts eyince much talent, 90
do also his political and statistical writings;
his paper on our frontier and sea-ooast de-
fences, considered In connection With the
Atrength OF the maritime nations OF Europe,
and their policy towards us. being the most ex-
haustive and elaborate OF any production on
the subject, and replete with vast amount OF
valuable statistical information. % well - ex-
hibiting thorough knowledge Of history. 20.
litical economy, and the fundamental principles
- .n a. tt,l l;oo Al uovoro u,Ant
Mr.. Shaw has twice been candidate for
State Treasurer, and at the last Congressional
election was rendered the nomiuation for Mem.
Der Of Congress from his district, 20 the strong
est and most available man who could DO pre-
sented; but knowing his party to bs In nh
nority at that time, he declined to permit his
name to be used for the office. He 10 commis-
sioner from Maine to the Paris Exposition. In
which be has taken great Interest, having been
appointed by the UNANIMOUS request Of ell par
ties. as peculiarly adapted for the position:
He Was also recently appointed Consul-General
to Russia, one Of the most important and lucra-
tive fbrsign Offices under government, but de.
olined to scaept the position on account OF his
numerous and pressing business engagements.
file has also been prominently mentioned for
Commissioners Of Patents, IN Office for which
bic most excellent mechanical and executive
obilities render him admirably fitted. Ed.
Dkx.
Everything considered, he 10 one Of the most
remarkable men Of the age. As . shrewi, far |
seeing entcrprising. go-ahead business man, hc
hes very few In any superiors. But u 10 not
for what may be termed the genius Of business |
faculty for which he 10 wholly celebrated. lie
possesses genius of higher and less common |
order, 10 fact embodying much greater vari-
ETY. Of the various orders OF genius than II usu-
ally found combined In the formation Of any
one character. Il has been . fsvorits saying OF
all times that men Of genius src united Tor
business pursuits, but that sccertain most
emphstiosliy disproved, in the present instance
at least.
Mr.. Shaw 10 pre-eminently sell made man,
whstever he has acquired or become having
been solely BY hu own unsiiet sIertions. his
life preseuiinc one Of the most striking illustn-
tions Of what can DO accomplished oY tne prop
Or exercise Of integrity, energy. and persever-
sncs His calm lpdomitabls force OF will 10