Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-05-20
HENRY CLEMs.
A Brief Sketch Of an Eminent Banker

HENRY CLEWS. !
A Brief Sketch OF an Eminent Banker.
AS nations advance in wealth and num-
bers, and as their com mmercial affairs null |
tiply, the character of their private bank |
ing firms becomes of the highest impor- |
tance.
Trade watches the manipulations of |
those who handle its medium Of exchange |
with the keenest and most anxious scru-
tiny. Distrust in reference to the pro- |
cesses that transfer money is instantly |
felt to the remotest extremity Of the body |
polite, and in order to keep the latter in
healthy action, the flow must be pure and
regular in business point of view, and
must sweep through uncontaminated
channels.
We have been lead to these remarks by
careful observation of some of our high
toned banking firms, and the saving In
fluence which they have exercised over
business by the excellence of their ex-
ample. Among these the house of Henry
Clews & Co. has become eminent, of late
years, for those qualities that should dis
tinguish the financial calling.
Henry Clews, ESQ, the senior partner
and head of this esteemed house-a native
Of England, and about thirty.six years of
sge-came TO the United States as early
as 1849, with his father, whose heavy con-
nection with American trade gave the
young man an immediate opportunity of
noting the active, enterprising and yet
peculiarly practical tone of our people.
The latter so won upon him that he de-
termined TO abandon the study for the
ministry, which bad been his first inten-
tion, and betake himself to business.
With this view he quickly sought and OBJ
tanned a clerkship in one of the most
prominent wooden houses of the day,
where his untiriDg industry for a proba-
tionary term of nine years-his integrity,
promptitude, intelligence, and, at the same
time, his excellent personal habits and
amiability of temperament, gave him solid
position, and won for him, literally, hosts
Of friends. Mr.. Wilson g. Hunt, the head
of the house where he was thus employed,
bestowed upon him the highest marks of
approval as his service heightened, and,
at last, when Mr. Clews sought an indie
pendent path, vouched for his ability and
integrity.
At the early age of twenty five, Mr..
| Clews became member of the enterpris-
! ing banking firm of Stout, Clews & Ma
son. After one or two changes of title,
| but all the while rising in public esteem,
the house Is now established, and respect
| ed, far and wide, under the title of Henry
| Clews & Co.
| The same energy, clear sightedness and
activity, which had given the subject OF
our sketch his first success, attended him
as he advanced. From dealing in COM
mercial paper, he took up Government
securities, when heavy loans were con.
tinually negotiated for the nation. The
needs of the country were pressing, and
in the patriotism and intellect of Mr.
Clews, found timely help. By his argu,
ments and ready investments, other CAPT
talists were encouraged to step forward al
the moment when weaker heads and
colder hearts were afraid to in1orse the
Union loan. To his example, Mr.. Clews
added the influence of personal represen.
tation, and by his agreeable manners, as
well as by the resources of his thorough
business knowledge, carried many firm
with him in the good work, which other
wise might have stood aloof His faith
never swerved in the darkest hours o.
the country's trials, and as the clouds
grew more somber, his enthusiasm only
frightened.
At length, in 1s64-65, the Clews con
Germ had raised its business operations x
several millions per diem, of which tht
At last the war terminated, and Mr.
Clews and his associates found themselves
among the wealthiest and most distin
guished of American bankers. This posi-
ton was easily maintained and steadily
improved, until 1868, when all stoct
operations for members of the firm, eithe
, individually or collectively, were, by writ
ten agreement, abandoned. As the coun
try, resuming its activity, began to breath,
: freely again, and the busy hum of railroad
, preparation was heard from all quarters
making ready for a new development O
national prosperity, Mr.. Clews found fresl
opportunities for beneficial investment
and of these his sagacious mind and &C
] quired experience made brilliant use. Th
national securities, which he held, wer
) sold by him to an extent sufficient to sc
f free a considerable amount of the capita
that he had placed in them, and thes
funds were, at once, reinvCsted in railroa
8 loans. At the present time, the Clew
3 firm are the financial agents of some {
the most important roads in the Unite
/ States. -,-
The passing visitor in Wall street ha
: but to glance at the busy throng whic
I hurries in and out of their spacious office
| in the edi6ce formerly used by the Unite
l day, in order to feel satisfied that M
3 Clews has a large measure of public cor
I fidence and esteem. The impression
: general. that when his name appears
e connection with any projected improve
? ment all is well. Nor is Mr.. Clews III
S accustomed to express his fnanci'
5 opinions with terseness and power. II
e wields trenchant pen, and the highe!
8 financial intellects in the land hav
e profited by his suggestions.
: Still in the prime of manhood, N
!. Clews stands upon an eminence to whic
D few others have been able to climb b,
+ hind and around him lie beautiful
e ordered, the evidences of untiring exc
a tions, that have sustained and extende
q the welfare of the country, and filed h
g own Golfers with well earned rewards
s The future brightens at his feet, full {
. noble opportunities. Who can doubt thS
!, the after. career of so gifted and valued
g citizen will reflect still fairer honor upo
8 the name of the American merchant, an
: the estimate in which the world shall hol
: the characteristic type of the America
: gentleman. - The Nea0 York MeT'cGnti
Journal. 80 .
: THE excess of males over females in Il
Q different countries of the world has recen
I ly been the subject of Investigation,
8 the United States, in 1850, in a total whi
: population of 19553,06S, there was {
Q excess of 499,7s6; in a total free color'
a population of 434, ,449, there was an exec
q of 17e47 females over males; and in
1 total slave population of S,S04 i5l3, the