The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-01-18
Sketch of James Fisk, .Jr.
ii From the New York Times.l

James Fisk, DR., was born in Ben
nington, Vermont, in Ihe year 1882,
and is the SON of Vermont peddler,
who, in his time, possessed consider
able local fame. Young Fisk, at the
age OF seventeen, entered the employ
of the celebrated wild beast tanner,
Van Amburgh, and Travelled with the
show as tent-man. lie subsequent
ly rose to the position of assistant
door-keeper, and during eight years
accompanied Van Amburg through
out the United States, the Canadas
and Europe. AT the age of twenty
he abandoned the show business, and
took up that of peddling. In time he
manifested SO much enterprise that he
was enabled to purchase four
horse team with elaborate out
fit. He was always we'll dressed, en-
ployed q clerk, and made considera-
bic noise i'll his travels. All through
Massachusetts, Vermont and Con-
necticut, Fisk became well known,
and his custom grew so large and val
liable that the Boston firm of Jordan,
Marsh and Co. took him into partner
ship. Fisk proved too smart for the
house, and they became so dissatisfied
with their partner that at the end OF
y
ing him the handsome sum of S64, 900.
This was in 1858, and Fisk hearing
that the Stonington line of steamers
was for sale, he came to New York,
ingratiated himself with the pfoprie-
tor, Mr.. Daniel Drew, and secured
the negotiation of the sale. This trans
action proved successful for both
Drew and Fisk, and led to the ap-
~ an non Of thu loffovs IN Wall cf,
He at once threw himselfinto the vor-
tex, of speculation, and was so unfor-
tunate that in less than two years he
was almost as poor as when he left
Van Amburgh. With the assistance
of Mr.. Drew he established, in 1865,
the firm of Fisk, Belden Sc Co., to do
brokerage business. In 1867 Drew
withdrew his patronage from the firm
and the same fall Mr.. Eldridge, Presi-
dent of the Erie Railway, assisted by
Mr.. Marston, one of the Directors,
contrived in their struggle with Mr..
Drew to place both Fisk and Jay
Gould in the Board. In February,
1868, the famous over, issue of Erie
stock was completed, by which the
capital of the road was nominally in
creased from $19,000,000 to $34, 4,O0O,-
600. This operation led Fisk and
Gould to imagine that they could Sc
cure colossal fortunes by operations
in the stock. Commodore Wander
bilt held S10,000,000 of the stock, and
they persuaded the Board to purchase
81, 900, 600 of Vanderbilfs stock at 20
per cent, at the same time making q
private arrangement with the Com
modore to have the care of the re-
remaining $5,OO0,O00 for six months,
they paying him 81, 100000 cash for
the privilege. Fisk and Gould then
sold $I0,OOO,OOO ssshort," and SO ma
neuvered that the stock fell from 721S
tos35. They then 'fwatered" "the Com
pany's stock from $34, ,000, 600 to $751;
100000, and purchased Vanderbilt's
stock with the proceeds of sales at 40
per cent. Fisk is believed to have
cleared, by this transaction, over ST.
125,000. In July, 1868, the brokerage
firm of Fisk, Belden & Co., was dis
solved, and the two conspirators at
once set about securing the control of
-tha Erie Road effect this, Fisk
and Gould prosecuted Mr.. Eldridge,
the President, for fraudulently using
100000 of the company's money to
secure the passage of the bill which
had enabled them to increase the
stock. Eldridge resigned at last, and
Jay Gould became President. About
the same time Fisk purchased Pixies
Oopera House for .$82O,OO0 in the
name of the Erie Company, but they,
not liking the bargain, he assumed the |
purchase, reimbursing the Company
with some of his watered stock. Sub
sequently the company leased the up
per part of the building at an enor-
nous rent, and Fisk also dabbled in
other property, among which is the
Ffth-avenue Theater and Central Park !
Garden, his old experience as show
man making him banker after places
of amusement. The private life of |
Fisk has so often been the subject of /
public comment that it is unnecessary
to allude to it in this brief outline of
his career. His shameless use of pow
er, IN collusion with corrupt Judges,
led him into difficulty at last, and the
tragedy already narrated in these col
umns would seem to have set the seal
to his checkered and by no means ex-
emplaFy life. Fno3 1i5t ri iaa.s