The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-31
D A MEL RE w i.
Droyer Boy Becoming Millionaire
Rugged Activity to WealtIl-Keeping the
Old Bulls Head Cattle Yard and Tavern
on the Bowery Steamboat and Rail-
road 0peratiOns-Career Of a
Banker and Broker Magnificent
CharitieS-HiS Personal Life.

Up the precipitous and perous pathway to for.
tune up through long aud painful years OF poverty,
up early and ur late, with strong and manly heart
nghtlng prolonged, earnest battle with priva-
ton and want, up through a severely trying ordeal
OF early struggles, Daniel Drew has pushed his way
10 MS present position-a position bringing with IL
an accumulation OF wealth rarely attained by any
man In lifetime and universally or respect and
fulnesl OF honors and extended area OF influence
sui less rarely given to any one to enjoy while
living. He has pushed his way on with boldness
OF purpose and brilliancy OF success challenging
universal wonder and acknowledgements for the
stupendous fortune he has acquired. aud admiration
for the genius and power that have enabled him
alone and single. handed to achieve such splendid
victory over the strongly combative elements OF per-
verse tate. HIS was the quick eye, the cool head,
the prompt hand and ndomiiable perseverance, that
bring success. HIS has been a success however,
beyond mere money making-a success ennobled by
higher purpose than grasping greed or gan-a
success giving glorious immortality to his
name on the Hudson river, SO famous now
for his great steamboat enterprises and
magnificent steamboats,. Years hence his
name Will become dim legend or memory, and his
great Erie Railroad controversy "Reminiscences OF
the shadowy past. Not his noble deeds or charity
Their posthumous influence will extend through all
time Their laurels will freshen in eternal bloom
His life has been div ersed, but in every variety OF
buslness-as the young and striving and poor drover
boy, as the great steamboat ana railroad owner and
director and as the millionaire banker-he has
always shown the same good quality OF going
ahead, the same unyiedng perseverance, and the
same unbending integrity.
HIS BIRTHPLACE AND CHILDHOOD.
Daniel Drew was born at Carmel, Putnam county,
this State, July 20, 1897 His father ana mother were
also born there, the former being OF English and
the latter OF Scotch descent. His father died when
he was fifteen years DID, but his mother lived to the
advanced age Of eighty-nve. Like many men hav-
Ing accomplished great achievements in commerce
or in finance in craftsmanship or in the world OF
letters or science attributes the result OF his
cess In life mainly to the wise teachings of his
mother On the small farm OF his father he early
trained to habits OF industry and frugaity. There
ls nothing remarkable connected with his early
childhood DAYS. He showed willing obedience To
make himself rs servlceable as possible on the farm
There was only one other child younger brother,
sead BUT %n any saa a o Sa hume
dred acres contributed since then by the more
fortunate elder brother. a larger farmhouse and
more numerous nerds OF cattle grazing upon its
more extended hsides and valleys Following
after the fashion, or rather necessity OF poor farm
ers' those days the subject Of our sketch en-
joyed very limited opportunities OF education After
ne was nine years OF age he only went to school
winters, and subsequent to his fathers death had
further advantages OF school education. His
fathers death left his mother comparatively poor
The farm was small ana he early determined to take
care OF himself and thus relieve his mother OF the
BECOMES SOLDIER,
"Mother, ! have got a chance to go to the war;
he said, rushing into her presence with glow OF ex.
citement on his young cheek ana brilliant sparkle
in his eye that esnceu the manly warmth or
patriotism kindled In his young heart.
what do you mean. my son ~ asked his mother
in surprise; ,yoq Ia. are TOO young to enlist"
'sYOu haven't represented yourself older than YOU
are, hopper"
GLOW, then are you g0lngSn
II am going as substitute"
He proceeded TO explain to his mother the
arrangements he had made to go as O substitute
She tried hard at first TO dissuade him. but he
insisted that thore were three good reasons for
Try second that nc owed to r. 70 s rec r
from the burden Of his support, and third that this
he was lucky enough to get through ali
account. Seeing his Grmness. more than being
Influenced by the cogency OF his arguments,
she a ony he was sa ana
and in bearing as mature and manly as he was
seemingly mature and manly IN years. In full rcgi-
mentals, with his knapsack on his back ana musEet
his shoulder, he started for the wars. Arriving
at New York he was ordered opposite Fort Ganse-
WORT, on the Hudson river. His record OF soldiers
duty is brief. His regiment participated in no bat
ties. The war ouy lasted some three months after
his enlistment. 1t was joyful day to him, as to
rendezvous with the expectation OF prolonged
war; when the news came OF the cessation OF hostili-
ties between England and this country, and when
the order came to dlsband the troops Relieved from
military duty he went back to Carmel. lie had given
his substitute money TO his mother before he left
home.
COMMENCING LIFE AS A DRoyER.
81 want my substitute money" he said to his
''what are you going to do with its" his mother
:. ii am going to buy cattle ana sell them in New
Are you sure you will not lose your money by iti,,
IL am sure shall make money" was his prompt
HIS prophecy proved correct Its fulflment was
not immediate, by any means, but rather the result
OF years OF experience. He worked hard in those
years. Having been accustomed from childhood TO
the care OF cattle, he soon became adept their
purchase and sale, NO one could detect the good
points OF good cattle better than himself ana no one
was more shrewd in detecting Objectionable quail
ties. He bought his cattle for the first two
II was rarely in those days OF my horses back y
he remarked recently. ut was al-day work riding
ABOUT the country and buying the cattle, and all
night work driving them to the city,
EXTENDING OPERATIONS AS A DROvER.
:, He soon discerned laiger field OF operations.
fold in which he had bean operating, which OF
course reduced his business and prospects. Besides
this New York had increased in population and the
up river counties did not begin to supply enough to
meet the growing requirements Of the city. He
turned his attention to ohio as good source from
which to obtain the needed supply. lie associated
MIR. Robinson who afterwards became his
partner in the famous banking firm OF Drew, Robin
son g. Co. TO carry on the business on the scale he
wished required, however, more capital than they
had lie went to Henry Astor brother OF John ia.
cob Astor who had just retired from his business
butcher, carried on 80 long and so successfully at
the Old Fulton Market He unlolded his plan to Dir.
Aston.
"wIll you lend me the money ?" asked Mr. Drew.
~ wu said Mr. Aston
al can't give you any security" added Mr.. Drew.
"If am successful you VIII get your money back;
II not, not
en- take the rlsk," said Mr.. Astor.
This matter thus speedily settled Mr. Drew Of once
began to carry out his plan. He obtained his frat
cattle from the rich Scota valley, In OHIO. This, 1t
will be remembered before the days OF railroads
and the present facilities for bringing cattle to our
city from the remotest regions OF tile country. IL
took sixty days TO bring drove OF cattle from there
here The main difficulty IN the way was getting
them across the Allegheny mountains. Starting
with drove OF 500 900 head sometimes
200 or 800 would be lost on the way. They
were lost not only among the Businesses OF the
mountains, whence 1t was impossible to reclaim
tnem but good deal OF the country travelled over