The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-01-10
"PRINCE ERIE" ="
Sketch OfJames Fisk, Jr.
INCIDENTS IN HIS LIFE.

are not as familiar with the face and
form of James Fisk, Jr., as with that
of the President OF the United States
and there are none who have not heard
of him. From one end Of the country
to the other his portrait can be found
conspicuously placed beside those OF the
most celebrated Of the nation. Indeed,
il NAV be said with truth that his rep,
utation is worldwide. His gigantic
enterprises and surprises, ever begin
ming, never ending lawsuits, would have
gained him notoriety, even had ne never
had any connection with that great
railroad corporation with whose for
tunes and misfortunes his name will be
connected in history.
James Fisk, Jr., was born in Yer
mont, April |, 1884, and was therefore
thirty-seven years OF age on his last
birthday. His father was storekeeper
and cotton manufacturer on small
scale. When about his tenth year the
future Vice President OF the Erie rail-
road moved TO Brattelboro with his
parents, where he passed the remainder
of his youth and early manhood. He
was a shrewd, intelligent boy at the
school he attended, and exhibited a
thorough Yankee appreciation OF the
value of money. His aptitude for
business was early discerned by his
father, who encouraged him in his
swapping and trading with the boys
OF the school and neighborhood. 1t
may be truly said OF him that
THE CHILD WAS FATHER OF THE MAN. .
At seventeen he became clerk TO
his father, and at length took charge
of some OF the wagons which were en-
ployed in Vermont and neighboring
States, carrying merchandise for sale.
He was a clever peddler of dry goods,
conducting the business with great sue.
cess. OF course this employment
brought him in contact with merchants
in a large district of country, and he
became widely known. But this sphere
of action was too confined for the exer-
else of his business talent. He there.
fore made his way to the Mecca Of New
England and found employment in the
extensive dry goods establishment OF
Messrs. Jordan, Marsh d Co., Boston,
as salesman in the print department.
There were two hundred clerks or more
ahead OF him in the establishment, but
he at once gave signal proof of his
active business mind and energies. At
his suggestion the house took govern
ment contracts, which during the con.
tipuance Of the war amounted TO from
eight TO ten millions Of dollars. Mr.
Fisk shared in the profits, and thus
laid the basis OF his fortune. He next
organized a department for the pur-
chase OF cotton in the captured districts
of the South and at Nassau; established
agents at the latter port and at Mem
phis, Nashville, New Orleans aud other
points, who purchased large quantities
Of cotton, which was shipped to the
Northern and Eastern ports. In 1868
he visited New York, and looked about
him for an opportunity OF employing
the money he had acquired 10 the cot
ton business in larger enterprises. Very
coon after he purchased the old Stoning-
ton line of steamers, consisting OF the
Commonwealth, Plymouth Rock and
Commodore, Of Daniel Drew, for the
sum Of S75O0OO The objec, Of this
movement was TO establish
ALTNE TO BOSTON
in opposition to the Fall river line, and
it's result was the formation Of the COM
pany known as the Bristol Line, with
capital OF one and a half million OF
dollars. Measures were at once taken
for the building Of the immense steam
boats Bristol and Providence. These
vessels were built by William Fl. Webb,
and cost each Sl,200,0O0. In few
months Mr.. Fisk withdrew from the
company, not being satisfied with lts
management. The company lost the
immense sum Of $2,S00,0O0 and the
boats, costing over S2,OOOOOO, were
finally sold TO James Fisk, Jr., for
100000. He became manager oi
the line. The company prospered under
his management, and Mr.. Fisk came to
reside in New York. He commenced
with Daniel Drew, in 1864, to operate
in stocks and bonds, aud the connection
was mutually profitable and agreeable.
In 1865 the stock brokerage firm Of
FISK, BELDEy co.
was formed. This was necessitated by
the quarrel OF Fisk aud Daniel Drew.
The new firm dealt largely in govern
ment securities, railroad and other
stocks; bat in his early experience the
men OF the street were too much for
him, and at one time he was on the
verge Of ruin. He recovered himself,
however, and went in deeper than ever
in financial ventures. In 1867, assisted
BY certain Boston capitalists, he sur
prised the country by capturing the
Erie railroad by supplying the 5000
900 for the bonds which were issued to
Daniel Drew, and were the source OF
dispute in the litigation that ensued. 1t
is hardly necessary TO recapitulate the
incidents OF
FIsk's CAPTURE or ERIE,
the running of with the money in dis
pute to Jersey, the issuing OF new
stock, the locking up Of currency, the
consequent excitement in Wall street
and all over the country. The details
Of all these transactions are stil fresh
in the public mind. Suits and litiga-
tons almost without number have
grown out Of bic mauipulations, and
there is probably not court OF record
in New York and few in New jersey