The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-11-04

James Fisk, Jr., is the son OF II Vermont
peddler At the age Of seventeen he oh
tanned employment of very humble char
acter in Van Amburgh's menngerie, his
occupation being to assist in the erection Of
the tents and to sweep out and keep clean
the cages of the animals. His employer,
noticing his capacity, promoted HIM to the
position OF ticket collector. In this capacity
he accompanied Van Amburg in his various
tours through the United States, the Cana.
das, and Europe--a service extending over
period of eight years. Leaving Van Am
burgh at twenty-five years of age, he deter.
mined to pursue the calling Of his father,
and returned TO his native State OF Vermont
for that purpose. lie commenced his ca.
reor as peddler by selling small articles,
such as pencils, pens, etc, on the sidewalks
OF the different towns of the State, Ia this
way, by dnt OF perseverance, he saved
little money, and having succeeded in rails.
ing small additional sum, he purchased n
horse and wagon, aud made fresh start in
life as a peddlcr OF dry goods. He visited
all the principal towns aud villages Of Yer
mont, aud succeeded in gaining so large
custom in the places to witch he travelled
that his humble One.hOrse wagon was no
longer capacious enough for the conveyance
of his goods. He discarded it, therefore,
and invested in much larger one drawn
by four horses. BY and by he extended his
field OF operations, and travelled through
Massachusetts and Connecticut as well as
Vermont, until, finally, the gross amount
of his sales attracted the attention Of BOs.
ton firm from whom he was in the habit of
buying goods. In 1860 they made propo.
sails to him to join their house, to which he
assented and James Fisk, Jr became
partner in the firm Of Jordan, Marsh & Co,
of Boston. But the firm do not appear 10
have been so well pleased with James Fisk
the partner as with James Fisk the custom.
.er, for at the end OF two years they paid
him down the large sum of $4,000 TO leave
the firm.
1t so happened that at this time some par.
ties in Boston were anxious TO purchase the
Stonington line of steamships, then owned
by Mr.. Daniel Drew. James Fisk was
aware Of this circumstance, and, thinking he
could turn this knowledge TO good account,
he came, in 1868, TO New York. Obtain.
ing an Introduction TO Mr.. Drew, he man.
aged SO to ingratiate himself into the favor
of that gentleman that he employed him to
conduct the negotiation tor the sale Of the
steamers In this he was eminenuy sue.
TO NJ. Drew's satisfaction, and the ability
and shrewdness which Fisk had displayed
throughout the negotiation gained Tor him
Mr.. Drew's good will and patronage, and
an introduction to Wall Street.
Fisk now commenced to operate on his
own account be entered into variety of
speculative transactions III government
stocks, gold, and other securities. Success,
however, did not attend him in Wall Street
as it had done when peddling through the
country the greater number Of his specu.
lations were disastrous in their results, and
in two years time james Fisk had lost
every dollar he had in the world. lie had,
however, friend IN Mr.. Daniel Drew. who
in 1865 assisted him TO form the firm of
Fisk, Belding Co, Tor the purpose of ear.
rying on tie business OF stockholders. and
gave them substantial aid by putting business
into their hands, and employing them as
brokers in many large undertakings.
In 1867 Mr.. Fisk, in connection with Mr..
Jay Gould, succeeded in making large
sum of money by operations in Erie stock.
They got control over stock to the amount
of Sl0,0OU,00O, and were thus able to de.
press the general value of Erie stock from
72l to 35. MIR. Fisk's share of the profits
resulting from these operations amounted,
it is said, to 81 ,S0O,O
Mr.. fisk's next operation was to pur.
chase the wholsof the block of which Pixies
Opera house forms u part for the sum oil
$3.50, 600. This transaction WAS highly
profitable one. He leased 10 the Erie Rail
road Company small portion OF the prop
erty for 10 years, at an annual rental of
$4,000. This was in itself very hand.
some return ON the gross amount invested
an the whole property but Mr.. Fisk re
tanned to himself the Opera house, all the
large stores, and great number Of private
houses. He has also bought the building
formerly known as Brougham's Theatre
and having somewhat unccremoniously
ousted that gentleman and his company, be
installed there Mademoiselle Irma and u
French troupe of opera singers. Hdrpers
Weekly.