Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-03-20
EThe Career of Edward S. Stokes.

The career of Edward S. Stokes,
now under sentence Of death for the
murder Of james Fisk, as given below
illustrates how deeply great crime
strikes among innocent victims, and
that wealth, culture and standing are
no sure safeguards against the saddest
vicissitudes Of human experience:
In the year 1888, Edward II. Stokes,
a successful cloth merchant Of New
York, and nearl y connected with some
Of the most prominent representatives
of the wealth and beneficence of that
city, retired from business with a hand
some competency. Eight years pre-
yious he had married a Miss Stiles, a
daughter Of a leading Philadelphian,
and seeking a home Of ease and ele-
gance, Mr.. Stokes choose Philadelphia
as his future residence. There his
eldest son was born in 1889 and nam
cd Edward Stiles, after Il maternal
relative The lad was a boy of un-
usual beauty and promise, q quick,
active mind, Il generous and loving
disposition-these traits being remem-
bered well after the lapse Of years by
those who knew him at that time.
Two daughters and two other sons
were born in the period between 1910
and 1850. The family is recalled as
being rarely endowed with all that
seemed needed to insure the happiness
of household. The home was one
Of wealth and luxury, the culture of
the best.
Edward was educated at the Uni.
verSity, and took high rank as a schol-
ar He went to New York at the age
OF seventeen to enter into the store of
Samuel Perry, on South Water street
an extensive cheese dealer. Perry
failed three years later, and young
Stokes made a new partnership with a
junior Of the collapsed house, and
they, as Stokes e Budlong, opened a
cheese store on Nesey street, They
had excellent success, their foreign
shipping trade being very large. call
ing Stokes to visit Europe several
times withing the next few seasons
About this time the senior Stokes was
induced to remove to New York
where he made his Office with his son
though not origlnIy intending to be
come entangled in business. Such
was the result, however, and not only
were the father, but other and promin-
ent relatives, gradually but heavily in
volved in the extending ventures Of
Stokes & Budlong. The failure of
the firm followed, and father and son
were thrown into bankruptcy
With the wreck Of his fortunes
young Stokes embarked next in the
enterprise of establishing an oil re-
tinery at Hunters Point. Three hun
dred thousand dollars were expended
in the works, which were to be of the
best class, when the company fell into
difficulties, and at this juncture the
baletul light Of Jim Flsk's countenance
comes into the story. Jim was in the
full tide Of his operations with Erie.
He held the advantage 1--WE wish it
were less employed by even more
scrupulous railway managers than hey
supplied by his corporation, in tran
sportation and control of marget, as
the Erie was the great thoroughfar to
the oil regions. A compact was
struck, Fisk entered the refinery
company, REINFORCED its capital, and
with change Of name and heavy
drawbacks" on the Erie freight bills,
the Hunters Point refinery sailed
strongly into successful competition.
Stokes was secretary as well as part
ner. AT one time his profits from the
refinery gave him one thousand dol
lars per week.
In 1864 Stokes married the daugh-
ter of j, w. Southwick, q prominent
funiture dealer in New York, one of
the Oldest in his line in that city. A
short time since one of our oldest re