The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-09-24
From the New York Sun, Sept. 81

Shortly after IL o'clock on Saturday
night VIM. II. Bumsted, known as the
Boss Tweed of Jersey City, died at the
residence of his father on Ocean ave-
nue., Jersey City Heights, Of typhoid
fever. lie had been sick for nearly a
month, but no fatal results were looked
for until few hours before his death.
Mr.. Bumstcd was but 80 years of
age, but his career was an eventful one.
His latter years were as closely identi
fed with the interests Of Jersey City
as those Of VIM. NJ. Tweed with New
York. Nor were the lives and actions
of the two men dissimilar: as Tweed
held New York in the hollow of his
hand and squeezed it numerically, so
Bumsted held Jersey City, and was not
whit more tender Of its welfare.
Shortly after the downfall of one came
the overthrow Of the other. and while
the nets which were to eAtangle Tweed
and lodge him in IT, Pcnitentiary were
being woven, Jersey justice, moving
moro rapidly, had consigned Bumsted
to the State Prison at Trenton.
The deceased politician was born in
Yelverton, in Norfolk, England. June
Is, 1885, and one year afterward was
brought by his parents, who then had
no other children, to this country. The
family landed in New York penniless,
| and were hardly able to defray their
expenses to Jersey City, Mr.. William
Bumsted, ST., was skilled mason, and
quickly found rcnumerative employ
ment, and the family were soon in re.
nunerative circumstances,in the city
which they decided to make their home.
William II. Bumstead, at the age Of 4
years, was sent to public school,
where he did not make, either then or
afterward, any very noticeable prog
ress. The education he received at
this school, however, such as it was,
was all he ever got from outside sources.
Whatever else he knew he taught him
self, but though profound thinker
and keen, shrewd man Of the world,
he was possessed of very little infor.
nation derived from books.
| As years rolled on the Bumsted
family increased. Fourteen children
were born. Of whom all but four died,
the survivors being William H. and
three brothers. Young Bumsted re-
manned at the public school for ten
years, and ut the age Of IA was ap-
prenticed to Earle & Co., furniture deal.
ers in Montgomery street. But he was
already giving indications of those re.
markably astute and calculs ting mental
powers that afterwards gave him such
power in the city where he had made
his home, and the furniture trade was
far too dull for youth Of his energet.
ic disposition. A years trial sufficed to
tire him of it, and quitting his employ.
ers he persuaded his father to appren'
tice him to Clark 4 Baoot, surveyors
and civil engineers, and it was here
probably that he learned the art which
at later period enabled him to make
} those sbstruse calculations regarding
the price of certain property purchased
} by the city that ultimately consigned
} him t. the State Prison. He remained
with Clark L Baoot for three years
and became An efficient surveyor. engi
neer, and architect. But he seems t.
j have been IF volatile disposition, and
at the age Of II he resolved once NOR
! to change his profession.
. His father then took him into hi
own business as an apprentice, and
, throwing his whole heart into his work
as was his wont. young Bumsted sool
! became sklllful and artistic mason
His father had another apprentice 0
the name Of Robinson, and, when betl