Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-03-29
A Millionaire Fancier.


Mr.. ALDEN B. SToCKwELL, the Presi-
dent of the Pacific Mail Steamship Com
pany, over whose affairs rumor has been
very busy in the money mart and club
houses during the past few days or since
the company's stock began to depreciate.
is one Of the most prominent spectators
in Wall street. Although comparatively
unknown outside of financial circles, he is
central figure among the millionaires on
Change. Within the short space of three
years he has presented an example OF pc
cuniary success far exceeding the expec-
tatiOns of the most sanguine wOrshipers
Of MammOn. From ordinary circum-
stances he has risen to be the pOssessOr of
fabulous wealth, and to share with Jay
Gould and Henry n. Smith the reputa-
ton Of being the most wealthy among the
active operators on the street. His deeds
of monetary daring have been numerous
and noteworthy, and have been conducted
on scale of greater magnitude than
the veterans on the stock market, like
Commodore Vanderbilt and Uncle Daniel
Drew, ever dreamed of undertaking.
MIR. StOckwell is of humble parentage,
his father being at one time in the livery
stable business in Cleveland, Ohio, where
the great steamship manager was born.
He is about thirty-five years of age. The
turning point in his career, which had
previously been quiet and uneventful, Oc-
CURED in 1865, while he was acting as
purser on one Of the Potomac river boats.
On one of the vessels trips down the
river from Washington the late Elias
Howe, of Connecticut, the distinguished
| inventor of the sewing machine, was a
passenger, with his eldest daughter in his
company. Young StOckwell was very az
tentive and considerable of the comfort OF
MIR. and Miss Howe, and extended more
than the customary cOurtesies to them
The acquaintance which was then formed
between the purser and the HOwes was
renewed in the following year in Paris
where the father and daughter went fol
their health. The future millionaire was
quick to journey after them to the French
capital, after collecting all the money al
his command to enable him to travel IL
style. On his arrival there he laid siege
to the affections of the young lady, ant
was not long in obtaining her consent t.
their marriage. Mr.. HOwe's sanction
was secured, and they were welded witt
much eelat. They tarried amid the gaye
ties of Paris for short time after theil
nuptials, and then returned to this cOun
try.
subsequently,, Mr.. Howe's SECOND
daughter was introduced to Mr.. Stock
Wells brother, Col. Levi B. StOckwell
and before many months new match haC
been formed. Mr.. Howe died in 1869, ant
left all his vast property to his two
daughters. Soon after this event, Mr.
Stockwell threw himself into the arena o.
the bulls and bears.
At first he confined himself to small in
vestments, but gradually launched int
heavier and more colossal operations
Pacific Mail was his favOrite stock, anC
vancing rapidly i'm value. He purchased
share after share, and made it an active
stock. His ambition had led him to be
come director in the company. Aftel
getting himself elected a director he as
pired to the presidency of the corporation
to which he also got himself chosen
Once in the coveted seat, he began to con
slider how he could keep himself ther,
without being obliged to carry the stool
of the company. A solution was pre-
sented i'm the Panama Railway.
The stock of this road was selling very
low, and Mr.. StocsSwell seized on it as thu
instrument which was to keep him in con
troll of Pacific Mail. He knew that tn
steamship company was p0werless with
out the railway by which its passenger
and freight were carried across the 18th
mus, and that the possession of its stool
would enable him to unload himself o
Pacific Mail, and at the same time proven
} his removal from the Presidency. H,
!, therefore sold short of Pacific Mail, which
Henry n. Smith began buying in, in tn.
hope of creating corner. The stool
} dropped several per cent, and afte
Smith had secured the most Of it he con
at 80 in three months. Before the con
tract could be fulfilled the Northwestern
gale swept over Wall street and unexpect
edly stranded Smith, who was just a
eager to get the Pacific Mail off his hand
as he was previously anxious to carry il
Spectators say that he besOught Stock
well with tears i'm his eyes to take it back
and that it cost him bonus of $500, 90
before he could be released from the con
tract.
The fortune which Mr.. Stockwell Ia
amassed from his different speculation
has been variously estimated at from eigh
to ten million dollars. How much Of thi
he has lost in the recent fluctuations i
, Pacific Mail is yet unknown.
In personal appearance Mr.. StOckwel
{ is medium sized, and possesses penetra
ting blue eye. He wears a mOustach
and flowing English side whiskers of re
color. He is very quick and decided i
3 his manner. His house on Madison ave
, nue., corner of Thirty-ninth street, is on
of the most elegant and costly in the city
1t is furnished in a style of the creates
, grandeur. Even the tenders around tn
: CRATES in the drawing room are of golt
Mr.. Stockwell lost his wife about yea
= ago, and it is now reported in fashiOnabl
! quarters that he is engaged to a wei
Epoup Nav YOrh bella ~ y Cxn