The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-01-16
athuliug 8eaister.
FIFTY MILLIONS.

Ard OnS Han ne Heir 10 it All.
From the New York sunday Mercory.l
Everybody has heard Of the late Ed.
win A. Stevens, Of Hoboken. He was
. remarkable man, aud has avery re-
markable history. Whether a. the
pioneer OF al the early improvements
OF Eastern New Jersey, or as . man Of
vast practical ability. his genius shone
forth in every relatiop of business life.
HIS father. Colonel John Stevens, in
vested nearly Ill his wealth in Hoboken
lands and he soon became the possessor
of the vast tract that stretches from the
Elysisn Fields TO . point beyond
the line OF the terminus OF the
Morris and Essex road, and
FROM the River to the Palisades,
From . small village the tract became
q tosn, and from o town q city; and
lots that in the aggregate were pur-
chased BY the Colonel at less than one
dollar each. were seon worth FIVE hund.
red times that amount. The Colonel
DID not retire upon his golden laurels.
He projected the Camden and Amboy
and New Jersey Railroads, and lived TO
see both on q fair way to completion.
His hand ard fortune were visibly in
every improvement, and bis genius and
disposition descended to bis son, the
late Edwin A Stevens. The latter,
when of age, was engaged in the trans
portauon business between New
York and Philadelphia Hsuas the
principal manager OF the Camden and
Amboy railroad, and he spilled steam,
theu comparatively in its infancy, to
sll the various uses and projects which
had emanated from his busy brain.
Forty-t~o years ago Edwin A. Stevens
Was regarded as the most active bust.
ness man in the United States. and.
making due allowances for age. ne pre-
served his reputation up to within two
OF three years OF his death. The great
ron battery. which was the last en-
bodiment of his genius, was the foreruu-
ner OF our monitors, and inaugurated 8
new era in naval warfare.
Edwin A Stevens lett two sons. The
eldest is called after himself. He is q
bright lad OF seventeen, unaffected in
mis- manner and winning in the last de-
gree. Tie mother, who is still q young
woman, resides with her children in the
castle" above the banks Of the Hud-
son, near tie heart OF Hoboken. The
bov does not seem 10 realize the tact
that he ia heir 70 au estate worth $40,
900, 900, an that in four years more he
will probably be the richest man in the
world, assuming. OF course, that the
estate will be productive OF ordinary
net interest.
When he reaches bic majority the in.
terest on his fortune will amount 70 a
larger sum than the salary Of any
crowned head in Europe. 1t would be
really difficult 10 compute what tie
Stevens estate will be worth in 1--WE
years more. A large number OF leases
Of valuable houses and lots, DOW held
81 nOnlOal rcutst viii Nbcu Ic'cIt W
Young Stevens and be will be the sole
possessor OF bonds and other securities
which are now valued at 81
100000. Should he live to the age
Of his father. and be as lucky in
his commercial ventures and speculs-
tious in land, his wealth will be greater
than Rothschilds, and he may be able
to take the place OF the latter a. 8
Crnsus, TO whom bankrupt govern
ments or nations impoverished by war
must come for loans The lad, how
ever, seems to be unconscious Of his
destiny. he may be seen daily plsv-
ing on the lawn in front OF the castle
where his father passed his maturel
T..