The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-25
Life Histories.
ANEW JERSEY MILLIONAIRE.


ANEW JERSEY MILLIONAIRE.
Tie Paterson Press has the folio owing;-"One
of the most financially successful OF Paterso-
mans is Peter DOnahue, who learned his trade
in the Rogers Locomotive Works In THIS city.
Nearly twenty years ago he set out Tor Caltornla,
going overland, and arriving there before the
gold discovery. He started the first blacksmith
and machine shop on the Pacific coast and
when the tide of immigration came pouring in
he was ready to take advantage of it, and
turned his iron products luto god-proving
more successful in that way than the thousands
who dug directly for the yellow metal. He is
now immensely wealthy, his possessions being
valued at three or four million dollars but he is
no prouder than when he toiled and Sweatea IN
the locomotive shops In this city, lie recently
came east, and for two weeks has been settlng
up his business affairs in this section. Last
night he came to Paterson, and this morning
went Off again, accompanied by brother,
sister-in law, aud young son, intending to sail
10 France to-day to join his wife and daughters,
who have been sOjourning there for some time.
Honest, skiltul industry, directed by au excel
lent judgment, has in this as hundreds OF other
cases accomplished wonders"
cHEoKERED LIFE.
The Toledo (Ohio) Blade says:-"Thrty years
work wonderful changes among men and things
they consume the life of one generation, but
not always do they sever the silver cord with
those to whom release from life would be well
come. Thirty years or more ago young man
came West and stopped at Toledo, intending to
make it his place OF residence; but alter a time
he became weary of the little village, and left 1t
for more active scenes. He possessed sufficient
means to euable him in those cheap times to
engage in business, was of good address, and
would have succeeded in almost any undertake
ing; but ne was avaricious, and to become sud
denly wealthy was his chief desire. He left
Toledo for the South, and while travelling in
stage coach made the acquaintance OF an aged
gentleman, to whom he Conided his brief his
1ory and received much advice, which, if he
had followed, would have made his life very DIFF
ferent from what 1t has been.
had q
his person, as The young man soon asCCrtained,
and an evil spirit seized him, desire to obtain
the old mans money, While the latter was
really befriending him he was listening to the
voice which prompted to crime. We cannot
follow the pair; the young man robbed his
aged companion and left him to escape the
haunts of men and enjoy his ill-gotten gains; but
Justice overlook him, and in few months after
the robbery, the door of the penitentary opened
to receive him as an inmate for seven years.
"He had ample time for repentance, and after
three years of confinement, during which periol
his conduct was good, he was pardOned, and
again started out into the world to seek his for
tune. At liberty, hi5 avarCe returned, and soon
he yielded to crime, and in another State he was
convicted OF robbery and again shut up from the
world. For eight years he remained in prison,
and when liberated he was without a friend in
the world. During his Imprisonment his father
had been unfortunate in business, and both OF
his parents had died, leaving hun nothing, and
he felt that no one cared for HIM. For two
years he tollo wed honorable pursuits, but was
again tempted to commit crime with view to
relieving himself of labor, and confident that
this time he would be successful in escaping the
clutches OF the law, he yielded to the tempta-
tton. Expecting to obtain three thousand
dollars by his crime, he was Disappointed getting
only te hundred, but 1t was enough to ensure
him a third Introduction to a State prison. and
he again went up for six years in an Eastern
State, and within few miles of his early home.
"He served his time and was liberated His
conduct III prison was good, and when he went
forth, upon the recommendation Of those con.
nected with the prison, he received little
assistance, enough 10 live comfortably until he
could ind employment. Resolved upon leading
a correct lite, he sought employment, found it,
and was thenceforWard good citizen.
"a short time since he decided to revisit the
village OF Toledo and did so. On his arrival
his astOnishmcnt was uubounded at witnessing
the changes that had taken place. He could
find but little resemblance to the village that he
lett thirty years before. He remem bered the
names of one or two gentlemen that then re-
sided here, and thereby discovered the writer of
this. He had the appearance OF a man of sixty,
with whom the world had dealt roughly, and as
he related 10 us his career, wept over his crimes,
we wondered not at his haggar1 COuntcnanCe
and talteriDg step. He sauntered along the
docks and through various streets, but little
could he find to remind him Of Toledo in 1885,
and having satisfied himself with view of the
city, departed for his home in the Keyst me
State. He has learned to be content with a
little, gained honestly; he sand he hal received
no more punishment than he deserved, and
among his principal regrets was that by his
crimes, he had deprived himself of the privilege
OF seeing the world grow. He feels that his
cheCkCred lite is nearing its end, and as he
turned his back upon the place which he entered
thlty years before an honest man. full of hope
for the future, and with the conviction that he
would never see it again, his sghs told plainly
that painful emOti ms filed his breast. Poor
man he well knows that the way of the trans
gIessor is hard.''