New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-07-27
Ae,r Wrlea,s Republican.
-
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE UNITED STATES
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS
DEATH OF JOHN d. COLMEsNIL.
ALoua. Romantic, Useful Career.

Louisville Ledger of Monday:
The death of John ID. Colmesnll, which
occurred Saturday at u NJ, in this city,
will awaken throughout the whole south
west "reminiscences of the past century
which most of the men now living know OF
alone through tradition He had but few
DAYS before his death attained his eighty
fifth year. He fingered long after the COM
panions of his tolls and triumphs ION the
dark and bloody ground had passed to
the further shore, and in his death we lose,
perhaps, the very last of the first lnstalment
of s.eariy settlers" in this section OF the
country. -,a
John d. Colmesnil was born in the island
of San Domingo, July 3. 1877. From infancy
to mature manhood, his life was 1ull ol
thrilling adventure and hairbreadth escapes
by field and flood. He was chlld IN the
nurses arms when the terrible scenes Oh
the San Domingo massacre were ueinS
enacted, and, was perhaps, the cnlelest SUI
ferer during that fiery ordeal. HIS father
died before the massacre, ms mother lelI
victim to the tiendish outrages whlch nave
made that island historic Tor all time. After
the murder of his mother an old negro
woman. his nurse, who saved his life, es-
caned on board United States vessel, land
ing safely in Philadelphia with the wee
helpless baby in her arms.
Happily. on reaching that city Stephen
Girard himself Frenchman, and naturally
interested in the story OF the babe BORN OF
French parentage, took the little fugitive IN
charge. Soon as he was old enough he was
placed in one of Girard's business houses IN
Philadelphia and under that prince of bust
ness men laid, even while a lad the founda
ton ofthat character which through all his
after life proved a sure and steadfast 1or-
tune. Before attaining his majority young
Colmesnil was furnished with complete
outfit by his generous benefactor, and sent
l.. in the then 'tNlSfaQt
West"
In the year 1918 John D. Colmesnil landed
at Shippingsport, on the falls. There he
established the first wholesale produce
house in this part of the country WITH MS
ceaseless energy and business tact ne soon
extended his mercantile enterprises, untll
he almost controlled the commerce OF the
Ohio and Mississippi rivers From the
grocery and produce business he went into
fbe manufacture of whisky and pork pack
inc on a large scale, and had agencies and
branch houses established IN Two or three
States. The present Chief Justice OF the
United States, Hon. S. P. Chase, was at
that time his chief agent in what was then
known as the District of Ohio. This busl-
ness association begat a mutual esteem and
confidence which Mr.. Colmesnll cherished
throughout his,ife, he always declaring that
in the distinguished Ohio statesman he had
found a strictly honest man. About the
same Llm6 w lllldlA Gay, CeI', ~" %
ionaire of this city, was ''store boy with
Mr.. Colmesnil, at salary of eighteen dol
lars per month. =,
In addition to other enterprises, Mr..
Colmesnil ran large line of vessels, trad
ing from this port to New Orleans, and
from there TO Havana. Becoming warmly
attached to William Gay, Mr. Colmesnil
profered the young MERCHANT half interest
in the profits of cargo to Havana, which
turned out fortunately, and laid the founda-
ton of his pT0tege'S fortune. Mr.. Colmesn1
was also engaged to carry the mails from
from Cairo to New Orleans. Soon after en-
tering on this service the United States
government annulled the contract, fearing
it would not be paying investment Tor
Uncle Samuel. Out of this breach of con-
tract suit grew which was never finally
settled. Mr. Colmesnil received at one time,
as compromise, $4,000 from the govern
ment, leaving $4,000 unpaid, and likely to
remain so.
In the financial crash of 1886, Mr. Colmes-
nil partially went under, but saved enough
from the wreck of his fortunes, after paying
his debts, to purchase Paroquet Spring,
where he resided for many years, making 1t
for a time one of the most popular watering
places in this part of the country. He re-
tanned the ownership of these springs until
within few weeks since, when he sold out
to the present company.
Mr.. Pierces cabinet, his first official act was
to tender Mr. Colnesnil the position OF as
sistant treasurer and disburser of the pub
lie revenue In the days of the Sub-Treas-
ury Department he had charge of the trans
pOrtatiOn of moneys to all parts of the coun-
try, and never single dollar came up miss
ing or unaccounted for. During this service
millions of dollars passed through his hands.
He continued in this Office upon Mr.. Lin
coins installation as President. Afterward
he returned to Paroquet Spring, where he
remained until few weeks before his death,
and until he finally removed to this city,
making his home at the house of his son-in-
law, William Murphy, on Seventh street,
between Broadway and York, where he
died. About two weeks since he contracted
a violent cold, which settled on his lungs,
gradually undermining his strength until
death ensued.
John D. Colmesnil was in many respects
remarkable man. He preserved his facul-
ties unimpaired to the day of his death;
and, being of social benevolent DISPOSE.
ton, sought and enjoyed the society of his
friends to the last. If 1.-THE of his advent
ures, and the anecdotes in which he was
the principal character. could be written,
they would furnish very handsome vol
ume, and would read more like romance
than history.
Four years after resigning his Office in the
Sub-Treasury Department, he received S3S,
balance due him, which had been over
looked in the final settlement of his ac-
counts.
He was at the battle of New Orleans,
having gone down few days before with
large f1otilla of barges, and was pressed by
"OId Hickory" into service. For some in
fringement OF the Generals orders regulat-
ing commerce, he was arrested and kept
in confinement for short time. For like
supposed disregard of the then imperfectly
understood trade regulations, he was once
arrested while in Cuba and confined several
months in Moro Castle.
For making trip, in the early part of the
present century, from New Orleans to
Louisville in six weeks, with his loaded
barges, he was rendered a public dinner in
this city for his energy. One of the san
guine speakers on the occasion, peering
through the veil of prophecy, referred in
glowing language to the good time coming"
when he honestly believed 1.-THE trip from
New Orleans to Louisville would actually
be accomplished in thirty days"
In the year 1896 Captain James Rudd, a
warm friend of Mr.. COlmesnil, was a candi-
date for the Legislature from this city, and
his competitor for the nomination being
also very popular, made it difficult for the
party to choose between the two. Mr.. Col
mesnil suggested the novel proceeding of
having the candidates to meet and spell
against each other for legislative honors.
Captain Rudd's antagonist got along very
well until he got lost in1the mOnosyllables,
leaving the captain victor. If this manner
of selection had been adhered to, the result
might have proved most beneficial to the
interests of the State. Our legislators
would have been compelled to spell, at
least, whether they could read and write or
not.