The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-12

Great Tycoon Of Tammany and Mosul Of New
York City POliticS-Progressiye Steps to Pre-
cent Prominence and -Swamped
by Erie Stock in Business and Carried
by "Big Six" Fire Engine Company
Into Congress Record Of POliti-
cal Offices Getting Hunk on
Eric = Charities, Wealth,
and Personal Life.

MOI using superior TO the disadvantages OF o6Iec'
i've early education-not struggling from poverty
INTO weath-not political oflice ana ratronage-not
Al the splendid qualities or his incomparaby genial
nature and lion heart
Embracing the whole world
In It's vast stretch of human kindness
have served to make william NJ. Tweed what he Is;
have served to give him his present prominence and
power; have served TO elevate him to the high and
honorable niche OF fame he now occupies, and place
him among the first or the living representative men
OF New York. Not that he has been to Congress- not
shat he has been Alderman and School Commits
sioner; not thar he is foremost IN the Board Of
Supervisors; not that he is Deputy Street Commis-
sioner; not that he has done our city distinguished
elect-not for all these Is he thus exalted and
h0nored. That exceeding the potency OF Office and
The power OF wealth; that giving vltallzing brlancy
30 MS fame and intensifying into resstless granite
has strength, Is his power as political organizer
and director. Everybody knows this, knows
mat he Is the head and front OF the
democratic party IN this city, the Grand Sachem or
1ammany, the controlling chief OF It's chieftans He
sules the Democratic General Committee. He is King
OF Tanmany Hall. With the democratic party his
words possess sovereign power. In Tammany, that
great temple OF modern democracy, his VIII is law.
The fact that with scarcely any education he has
WOTkcu HIS WAY 10 C0uSTeSS, lu2S iTUIH al uuIuUc
chairmaker he has become the possessor OF fortune
surpassed IN extent Nv that OF only very few OF our
weathest citizens, and that from the obscurity
Of foreman OF IRE engine company he
has pushed his way 10 the leadership OF
. great and dominant party. stamps him
~ once as o man OF inlexibe determination. OF
marvellous Will, OF irresistible force OF character
Is man OF remarkable concentration OF energy,
OF great and singular genius in planning and
combining, and OF high strategic daring in
execution. With him acute and vigorous under
standing has supplied the place Of book learning.
Endowed with the notable qualities OF great and
successful leader-cearness, promptness and bold
ness-he has been the chosen political champion OF the
party whose present efficient organization he has so
cfIectualy aided to accomplish and to whose every
movement he has given such forcibe and triumphant
direction He has not gratined his ambition at the
expense Of others. lie has not been selfish or mean
or graspng. He is the most popular leader the
democratic party in this city has ever had "a popu-
hrty enforced not alone BY his commanding execu
tive abilities and rigid devotion to party and party
interests, but by his iranKness, engaging manners
and the expansive breadth and amending depth or
hh noble generosity. The sketch given below OF his
career shows that his life has been busy one and
- 80 still
BIRTHPLACE AND EARLY DAYS.
In the old fashioned two story brick front house
No "a Cherry street, which only recently was torn
DOWN to make room for large tenement building
William NJ. Tweed was born April g. 1929 Here and
this vicinity, and outside the precincts OF the
Old Fourth ward his father and grandfather had lived
before him, both having been born IN this CITY, His
greatgrandfather came from Scotand-the name,
as will readily be SEEN being OF Scotch origin. Mr..
Tweed's father carried the business or chairmak-
No. Cherry street. He here
were three children, two boys and girl, the subject
0f our sketch being the youngest. Mr.. Tweed
was like all prudent Scotchmen He early
Set his boys 10 work 10 tighten the
burden OF the household The result was that while
other boys of his age were going to school young
William was being educated in the school OF labor
HIS young hands were kept industriously employed
from early IN the morning till late at night. Thus
passed the days or his early childhood, attending
shop, running errands and gradually becoming mi
Mated IN the mysteries or chairmakng. He was
clumsy however in handling tools, and was per.
petualy cutting his fingers and marring the work.
His quickness and sprigDtlv intelligence attracted
the notice OF Isaac Fryer. dealer in sadolery goods
and hardware at No 2T1 Pearl street, and upon his
application young William was released from his
tnutle attempts At charmakin2 aud was received
into his store as CLERK and errand boy lie Renamed
here one year. William liked this place much better
than chairmakfnR aud before the close OF the year.
young "a he was showed himself keen and expert
hilton. He saw the disadvantages OF his lack
OF education. Fortunately his fathers business
had prospered and he was able now to send him to
school. which he did for one year. sending HIM to
the school Of Rev. John T. Halsey at Elizabethtown,
N. J. Up to this time all the education he had re-
ccived he had picked up himself. During his stay
ct school he did the best he could TO make up for
lost time. and was assduous student. As THIS
all the school education he received in his
boyhood days OF course his progress could not have
been very advanced. He made himself, however A
good penman and expert IN adding up figure
ApinFn in NH af ann uVl Ia
bookkeeper. Returning 70 New York he entered
- CLERK the store OF j. h G. G. Alexander, tobacco
dealers, at No. lo7 Front street He remained here
two years, receiving az salary fifty dollars year
and boarding at home. His father meantime having
become one OF the frm OF ID. Berrien Il Co., brush
makers at No. 1851 Pearl street, he became clerk
for the later firm and after clerkship OF about two
years was admitted into the firm as junior partner
After few years. partnership, the business being
prosperous he withdrew his share OF The capital and
resolved TO go into business on his own account.
GOES INTO THE CHAIR BUsIsEss.
M. Tweed was now twenty-eight years old. A
hagher ambition now beset him-Jhe ambition or
wealth and independence. The most ready channel
that seemed to open Itself for the accomplish.
ment OF his purpose was the business he had
nrst worked at--that OF chair MAKING. With his
brother, Richard tweed, Jr. he went Into the chair
Cherry street. Hts brother Renamed associated with
MIN nearly three years when the latter with
drew and he conducted the business alone Grad
ually under his vigant direction the business had
grown into considerable magnitude. He had an ex-
.tensive trade and the profits were large. But the
i
seemed TO him slow work. lie saw Others about
him making large fortunes IN stock ventures. why
might not he do the sameS lie resolved mat he
would.
BECOMES A STOCK BROKER.
The business OF Mr.. Tweed, as we have Just shown
was IN the full tide OF prosperous success Had ne
remained satisfied ne would doubtless have remained
cnalrmaker 10 the end OF our story But, as have
aad, he was not satisfied. He went into Wall street.
He made ventures In Erie stock-that great charnel-
house OF SO many ambitious hopes-tnat valley OF
diamonds TO few as rich and iilimitaDe as that OF
sinoad the sailor. The story ~ soon told. lie lost
everythlng-everytblng bat nope, determination and
unsatlshed ambition.
BUSHES INTO THE SEA OF POLITICS.
summing up Mr.. Iweedis business career has
been BRIEF worn The story OF MS political life IS
much longer one and could there be woven into the
Thread OF the narrative the incIdents marking each
step OF his progress the widest legends OF fiction
would not be nall interesting. The
secret political history OF New York for
the past twenty years IL entwined IN
we recital. The mystery Of caucusing nominations.
Senuohs, patronage and spOs has here It's
nlulng pace, and thus Will remain hidden until MIR.
IWeeu. OF 1ome master mind Ike him aaYera the