The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1868-08-20
TNUMBER u.
How Poor-Hcuse Boy became Million
eire


The recent change in the management
of that corporation, the Chicago ant
| Northwestern Railroad company, by which
the control passes into the hands of Henry
Keep, the Representative Of Wall Street
has excited some curiosity here in regard
to this new Western Railroad king, and
considerable pains have been taken to
learn his history.
| Mr.. Keeps first distinct recollection OF
| life is connected with the poorhouse OF
Jefferson county, New York, into which
the death of his fcther had consigned his
mother and himself Having thus lived
until he became old enough, as the county
officials thought, to earn his own living,
he was bound out to neighboring farmer,
who gave him plenty of hard work, but
no schooling, as he had agreed, and little
else that was desirable So one fine day
Henry tied up his possessions in hand
kerchief and ran away, and reached the
Erie canal on which, working his passage
by riding a horse, he journeyed until at
safe distance from his master, bringing
up finally at Honeoye Falls, few miles
back of Rochester Here he worked for
miller for while, and then, going to
Rochester, he became man of all work for
General Gould.
Saving his wages and earning little
extra by occasionally saving a cord of
wood for fifty cents, he invested at first in
Monroe county bonds, which happened to
be at discount, making handsome per
centage when they rose to par. Then he
began TO collect Canada money and take
it over the border to exchange for States
currency, always at profit. By shrewd-
ness, care and economy he
had accumulated at last enough
money to start bank, which he did at
Waterfowl, where he married the daugh-
ter of Mr.. Woodruff, a prominent and
wealthy citizen He established several
other country banks, and finally going to
New York, took leading position on
Wall street as stock broker, now, at the
age of fifty, ranking among our million
aires. He was treasurer of the Michigan
Southern Railroad from 1861 to 1866, and
afterward for about six months President
of the New York Central.
At the annual election Of the Chicago
and Northwestern Railroad in that city,
June 4th, Mr.. Keep controlled about $685.
100000 of the $30,000,000 of stock repre-
SGulBAl, OW HING 1llLoOAl PL3COOyOVO, ohA VI
course secured his almost unanimous cleo
ton. Some fear was felt by the people of
this region that the superseding of Mr..
Ogden by Wall street financier would
not be for the advantage Of the West, but
we as yet see no cause for anxiety.
Mr.. Keep is remarkable instance of a
self-made man, as his history shows. He
has an extraordinary ability for speculat-
ing; keeping his own counsels, asking no
advice, reserved, almost taciturn, persist
ent, ambitious, be takes up the boldest
schemes and rarely fails. His influence in
financial circles is very great, and his means
is unlimited 1t is said that he keeps
no accounts but his bank book, although
his transactions amount to vast sums. He
was paompt and liberal in taking United
States securities during the war, when
many were prophesying ruin, saying that
it was the dnty Of every man to stand by
the government He lost nothing by his
He owns fine mansion on
Fifth avenue, and it is to be hoped enjoys
the fruits of his upright and persevering
career