The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-01-06
The Heirof FIFTY Millions.

From the New York Sunday Msrcury.l
Everybody has heard Of the late Ed
win A. Stevens, OF Ho5ofen. He wai
q remarkable man. and has very re-
markable history. Whether a. q pio-
ne.r Of all the early improvements Of
Eastern New Jersey, or as a man OF
vast practical ability, his genius shone
forth in every relation of business
lie. His 'ather, Colonel John Stevens,
invested nearly all his wealth in
Hob, k.n lands, and he soon became
tho possessor of the vast tract that
.tre'ches from tie Elysian Fields to a
point hevond the line of the terminus
of the Morris ard Essex road, and from
the river to the Palisades. From a
small village the tract became a town,
and from town to city; and OTIS that
in the aggregate were purchased bv the
Colonel at less than one dollar
each, were soon worth five hundred
times that amount. The Colonsl
did not retire upon his golden
laurels. He projected the Camden and
Amboy and New Jersev railroads, and
lived to see both on fair road TO COM
pletion. His hand aud fortune were Wis
ible in every improvement, and his geni-
us and disposition descended to his son
the late Edwin A. Stevens. The latter
when OF sge was engaged in the trans
rortation business between New York
and Philadelphia. He was the principal
manager OF the Camden and Ambov rail-
road, ard he applied steam, then COM
parstively in it's infancy, tn all the va
rious uses and projects which had ema'
mated from his busy brain. Forty>two
vesrs ago Edwin A. Stevens was re-
gsrded q. the most active business man
In the United States, and, making due
allowances for age, he preserved his
reputation to within two or three years
of BIZ. death. The great iron battery,
which was the last embodiment of his
gen us, was the forerunner OF our mon
itors, and iaaugurated new era in ma
val warfare.
Edwin A. Stevens left two sons. The
eldest is called after himself He is a
bright lad of seventeen, unaffected in
his manners, and winning to the last
degree. The mother, who is still a
Young woman. resides with her children
in the castle" above the banks OF the
Hudson, near the heart Of Hobnken
The boy does not seem to realize the
fact that he 10 heir 10 an estate worth
$5O 0OO,0 and that in four years
more he will probably be the richest
man in the world, assuming, OF course,
that the estate will be productive o!
ordinary net interest.
When he reaches his majority the IN,
terest on his fortune will amount TO q
larger sum than the salary OF any
crowned head in Europe. 1t would
he really difficult to compute what
the Stevens estate will be worth in
five years more A large number oi
leases OF valuable houses and lots, now
held at nominal rents, will then
revert to young Stevens; and
he will be the sole possessor
of bonds and other securltle'
which 40 valued at S,No0.e0O
Should he live to the age OF his father
and be q. lucky in his commercial ven
tur., and speculation, in land, III:
weslth will be greater than Rothchilds
and he may be able to take the place OF
the latter IS a Cresus, to whom bank
rup, governments or nations impover-
ished bv war must come for loans. Th'
lad, however, seems to be unconscious
ot his destiny. He may be seen dsii!
playins on the lawn in 'front.' OF tn
castle where bis father passed his ma
| ,ur.r Ii q.