Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-03-11

II
collapsed house. and they. as Stokes q
Budlong, opened q cheese store on We
sey street. They had excellent success
their foreign shipping trade being very
large, calling Stokes to visit Europe sew
eral times within the next few seasons
| About this time the senior Stokes was IN
| duced 10 remove To New York. where he
made his office with his son. though not
originally intending to become Gu
tangled in business Such was The re'
sull, however, and not only were The
father, but other and prominent relatives,
gradually but heavily involved in the ex-
tending ventures OF Stokes Il BndIong'
The failure OF the firm followed. and
father and son were thrown into bank.
ruptcy.
With the wreck of his fortunes young
Stokes embarked next in the enterprise
of establishing an oil refinery at Hunters
Point. Three hundred thousand dollars
were expended in the works. which were
TO be of the best class. when the CON-
panv fell into difficulties, and at this
iunsture the Oaleiul light of Jim Fisk >
couniemance comes into the story. jim
was in the full tide OF his operations with
Erie. lie held the advantage Eve wish
it were less employed by even more
scrupulous railway managers than he)
supplied by his corporation, in transport
tation and control OF market, as the Erie
was the great thoroughiars to the oil TO-
gions. A compact was struck. Fisk en-
tered the refinery company, reinforced
It's capital, and with change OF name
and heavy drawbacks" on the Erie
freight bills, the Hunters Point refinery
sailed strongly into successful compeii-
ton Stokes MAS secretary rs well rs
partner. At one time his profits from
the refinery gave him one thousand dol
lars per week.
In 1864 Stokes married the daughter OF
J. w. Southwick. n prominent furniture
dealer in New York, one OF the oldest in
his line in that city. A short time since
one OF our oldest residents showed Us =
set Of furniture. wedding outfit brought
to Chicago in 1886, bought OF Dir. South
wick, who is now man of immense
wealth and still In active business in 4
great Broadway establishment. The
wedding OF Stokes with Miss SOuthwick
seemed to lack nothing that wealth,
position and social Surroundings could
bring to insure happiness. They made
their sumptuous home in the Hoffman
House. and moved among the most
brilliant lie OF The metropolis.
The next scene in the drama brings
the infamous woman Mansfield into the
plot. and from the harlot the path turned
downward. A quarrel between Fisk
and Stokes followed. 1t was carried in
10 affairs of business. Fisk refused 10
allow the Hunters Point concern 10 de-
clare dividend, and thus cut of Stokes
supplies. This disgracelul relation with
Mansfield became more shameless, and
the lather.in- law. SOulhwick, sent his
daughter and her child TO Europe early
in 1871, 10 remove her from the scene Of
scandal. Stokes. enrAged at Fisk, used
his position rs Secretary TO collect $50
600 from Devoe. an oil merchant, which
sum he held openly and defiantly as his
share of the profits. Fisk caused his ar
rest on criminal charge; Stokes turncl
To his wealthy relatives. No one Oi
them would bail him and he was forced
to make terms and submit, and refund
the money.
His relations 10 Fisk were bitter. and
out OF the evil passion and criminaliiy oil
his position with Mansfield grew murder.
Turn 10 Solomon again. and there is no
mystery in the chain OF sentences. Ii Is
said that the same steamer that took out
10 Europe the murder OF Fisk by stokes
carried divorce procured by her family
for his wife, who still remains abroad.
The story OF family grief and reverscs
is not all told. The senior Stokes. after
thirty years OF retirement and enjoyment
of luxurious homo, is bankrupt. and
homeless in his old age. One of the
daughters died two weeks after marriage.
The second daughter. the wife OF MIR.
Sutton, attached herself SO strongly 10
the fortunes OF hor brother that her hus'
band discarded her. and she is in refuge
with her aged and penniless parents.
The second son. Il young man OF great
promise. died two months ago OF grief
aud shame at the family reverses; and
the whole tale of the innocent and suffer
ing victims by this complication OF
crime and shame is not TO be fully told
without including some OF the best
known and esteemed OF New York fami.
lies.
liz NEyKR SMILEs.-The Christian Lead
"a. a Il al