The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1868-08-06

mile by riding one of the horses. After
getting about hundred and fifty miles
away from his former home he left the
canal and struck out to the little village
OF Honeoye Falls, some twenty miles
| from Rochester, and hired out to a
miller, doing general work and fire.
quently driving a team to Rochester.
After a time he went into the employ of
General Gould, ofRochester, as man of all
work, frequently at the end of his DAYS
labor saving cord of wood at fifty cents
to earn little extra money. His savings
he invested in Monroe county bonds
which were then at a discount, there being
no money in the treasury, which soon
| brought him handsome profit. Then he
commenced buying Canada money which
was also below par, and occasionally
crossing the border to exchange it, always
making profit. He soon became well
known through that and adjoining coun-
ties and those who had Canada money
would keep it until he came around. He
thus gradually accumulated fortune and
| removing to Watertown, where he mar
ried daughter Of Mr. Woodruff, prom
inent and wealthy citizen, he established
a bank, to which he afterwards added
quite chain of country banking houses.
About twelve or fourteen years ago he
removed to New York city and engaged
extensively and successfully in stock
brokerage, and his wealth is reckoned by
millions. He has fine residence on Fifth
Avenue, IS now about fifty years of age,
and one Of the wealthiest and most intiu-
entail of Wall street bankers. In 1861 he
became Treasurer ofthe Michigan Southern
Railroad, holding that position until 1866.
In December 1866 he became President of
the New York Central railroad, but held
the office for only six months, the struggles
for supremacy which have long been going
on in that road causing him to give place
TO Henry III. Baxter Of Rutland, Vermont,
who was shortly afterward succeeded by
Commodore Vanderbilt.
Mr.. Keep has long had his eye on the
magnificent influence given by control
of the Chicago and Northwestern Railway
and at the election year ago made a
strong but unsuccessful attempt to obtain
the presidency. AT the last annual stock
holders election, held IN this city June 4th,
however, he held the road in his hand,
controlling nearly $29,000,000 of the $780,
100000 worth Of stock represented, and
owning $1,500,000 individually, and, of
course, securing his own election. 1t was
anticipated that this might result in radi-
cal changes in the management of the
road, but it is very gratifying to the people
of the West to know that at the meeting
of the Directors held in New York on
the 18th inst, the former officers were re-
elected, almost without change, securing
the retention of such officials as Perry II.
Smith. George 6. Dunlap and others whose
places it would be difficult 70 fill
Mr.. Keeps election will continue the
confidence felt in this great railway by the
moneyed men of the East So implicit is
the belief in his ability and integrity, that
any sum that he has occasion to ask for in
Wall street he has only to name, without
even stating the purpose to which he pro-
poses to put it, and it is at once rendered
him, capitalists often taking heavy shares
in enterprises which he endorses, without
knowing their nature, confident of their
success Western Railroad Gazette.