The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-07
sKETCH OF JAMES FISH, Jn.

There are few OF citizens who are not AS faiuil
mar with the face and form of James Fisk Jr., as
with that Of the President OF the United States AMI
there none who have not heard Of him. From
enc end OF the country 10 the other his portrait
be found conspicuonsy placed beside those OF The
most celebrated vi The nation. Indeed, may be
said with truth that his reputation IL world. wide.
His gigantic enterprises surprises ever oegirl.
ming, never-endIng Iawsults wonld have gained
him n0torlety even had he never mad any connec.
ton with That great railroad corporation with
fortunes and misortunes name Will be connected
N history.
James Fisk. Jr was horn In Vermont April l.,
1854. and was therefore tnirt.seveD years OF age
his last birthday. His laiher storeseeper and
cotton manufacturer a small scale. When about
has tenth year future Vice President or the Erie
Railroad movedto BrattIeboro with his parents,
where he passed the remainder OF bis youth and
early manhood. He was a snrewd, lDtelligen, boy
vt the school he attended and exhibited thorough
Yankee appreciation OF the value or money. His
aptitude for business early discerned by his
Gather, who encouraged INN ~ his swapping, ana
trading wuh the boys OF The school ana nelghbor.
hood. II NAV truly be said al him that
''THg Child WAS FATHER or TIE MANI
At seventeen he became clerk 10 bis father and
at length TOOK charge oi some OF tho wagons which
carrying merchandise Tor safe. lie was clever
pedler Of dry good, conducting The business with
great success or course thls employment brought
him IN contact with merchants in large district OF
country. and he became widely known. But this
sphere OF acton was too confined Tor the exercise
Of his business iaeht lie therefore made his way
10 the Mecca oil New England ana found employ.
snent in the extensive dry goods esianisbment OF
bessrs Jordan, Marsh 4 Co., Boston, as salesman
In the print department There We're iwo hundred
clerks or more ahead OF him IN he establishment,
nut ne az once gave signal proof OF his active bas
ness nind and energies. A, his suggestion nouse
TOOK government contracts, winch during ;he
continuance OF tue war amounted 70 from eight to
Ten millions o! dollars Nj. pisk shared In mo
pfonte, anu thus i3id tue basis OF fortune He
0ext organized n department Tor The purchase OF
cotton 10 the captured districts g! ie south ma Al
Nassau; established agents 81 the latter port aad al
memphis, Nashville New Orleans and oihrr POINTS
who purchased ,srIa quantities o. cotton wnlen
Was shipped 10 the Northern ana Eastern ports In
1919 ne vlsteo New ioik. aud. looked anonL him
Tor al opportunity OF employing the money lie had
acquired IN TIE cotOb business ia larger enter
prises. Very soob al'er lie purchased me old
St0ntngtOD me OF steamers, consisting OF the
Commonwealth Plymouth ROCK and Commodore.
OF Daniel Drew, FOR tne sum u ,;5Gooa Ine OBJECT
OF this movement wa 10 establish
LINZ BUsroN
10 opposition 10 the "a! Eavel line and It's rcsulf
was the formation al tue company known as the
Bristo Line. with capital OF one AMI "A half mi.
ZION OF doliars. Measures were al ouce taken for
kne D1liu1ux OF tic UilSIOl
providence. These vessels we're bult ~ william
ID. Webb, and cost eacD S 100 200. IN a few months
Mr. Fisk withdrew from the eonpany, no, being
satisfied with It's management lie company lost
ahc immense SUN OF s., 500 600, and the boats
Ing over two millions were bnslly SOLD 10 James
FISK, Jr., for 1900 Ooo. lie became manager %
The line. Inc company prospereo UNDER bis man.
2gement and Mr.. Fisk came 10 reside IN New York.
he commenced with Daniel Drew, IN 1854 10 ope-
rate in stocks and bonds and the connection was
mutually profitable aD0 agreeable. in 1860 the siocE
brOgersge frm o'
FISK, BELDEN GO.
was formed This was necessi,alcd by the qliarrc
OF Fisk and Daniel Drew. TAe new Lrm dealt
largely In government securities railroad and other
s,ocks but In ms early experience The men Of the
street were loo much Tor him, and al one time ne
was on the verge OF RUN. lie recovered himself,
however, and went ID deeper than ever IN nnancias
ventures 10 1857 assisted by certain Boston capital
ISIS he surprised the country by capturing the Ere
haiiToao by supplying the 5000 900 for the bonds
wnIcn were Issued TO Daniel Drew, and were fhe
source u dispute In the litigation that enSued. 10
hardly necessary TO recapiulate the Incidents Ot
PIsks CAPruRE OF BRIE,
ne running Oh with the money In dIspnte to Jersey,
che issuing Of new stock, the locking up or currcn.
~ Inc goAsegpSRl sAsYepe2i W Wan sEce, Apd Nv