St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-06-13
The Career of Edward S. Stokes.

. ne career ID T-uNdll - 'NlDhts. HOW
under sentence of death for the murder
of James Fisk. Jr., Us given below, illus
tratcs how deeply Il great crime strikes
among innocent victims. and that
wealth. culture and standing are no
sure safeguards against the saddcst
/ vici>situdcs of human experience:
/ In the year l-:}-, Edward II. Stokes.
successful cloth merchant of New
York. aud nearly connected with some
of the most prominent representatives
of the wealth and beneticencc of that
city. retired from business with a hand
some competency. Eight wears previ-
Gus he had married Miss Stiles, a
daughter of Il leading Philadelphian.
and seeking IL home of ease and ele-
| gancc. Mr.. Stokes chose Philadelphia
a. his future residence. There his
eldest son was born in lS:sb. and named
Edward Stiles. after Il maternal relative.
/ The lad was Il hoy of unusual beauty
and promise. of quick. and active mind.
Il generous and loving disposition
these traits being remembered well
after the lapse of wears by those who
knew him at that time. Two daugh
tiers and two other SONS were born in
| the period between lSlG and 1850.
/ The family is recalled rs being rarely
endowed with all that seemed needed
to insure the happiness of a household.
The home was one of wealth and luNu-
ry, the culture of the best.
Edward was educated at the Univcr-
Sity. and took high rank As scholar
/ He went to New York at the age Of IL
to enter into the store of Samuel Perry.
Z Il -,
cheese dealer. Perry failed three Years
later. and Young stokes made Il new
partnership with Il junior of the col
lapScd house. and they, rs Stokes X
Budlong, opened Il cheese store on Ne>cy
street. They had excellent success.
then toIeign shipping trade being very
large. calling Stokes to visit Europe
several times during the next few sea-
SONS. About this time the senior Stokes
wa> induced to remove to New "rk.
where he made his office with his son.
though not originally intending to he
come cutaugled in business. Such was
the result. however, and not only were
the father. but other prominent wealthy
relatives. gradually but heavily in
Vnlvcd in the extended ventures OF
stokes < Budlong. The failure of the
firm followed. and father and son werr
thrown into bankruptcy.
With the wreck of his fortunes Young
Stokes embarked next in the enterprise
OF establishing an oil refinery ut Hun
tcr's Point. Three hundred thousand
dollars were expended i'll the works.
which were Ia Ice of the best class. when
the company fell into difficulties. ard
at this .juncturc James Fisk. Jr.. comes
into the story. Fisk was in the full
tide of his operations with Erie. lie
held the advantage supplied 10y his cor
poration. III transportation and control
of market. as the Erie was the great
thoroughtarc to the oil regions. \
compact was struck. Fisk entered the
refinery company. rr-intnrccl its capi
tai. and with Il change of name ana
heavy .'drdwhacks" on the Erie freight
bills. the Hunters Point refinery sailed
strongly into successful competition.
Stokes was secretary as well rs partner.
At one time his profits from the refinery
gave him $1,000 per week.
In lS64 Stokes married the daughter
of j. w. SouthWick. il prominent tUIni-
ture dealer in New York. one of the
oldest in his line in that city. \ short
time since one of our oldest residents
showed us a set of furniture. Il wedding
outfit brought to Chicago III IS36.
bought of Mr.. Southwick. who is now Il
man of immense wealth. and still in
active business i'll a great Broadway
establishment. The wedding of Stokes
with Miss Southwick seemed to lack
nothing that wealth. position and social
surroundings could bring To insure
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