The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1875-09-09
THE DEAD BANKER

NUWf iNIiV Iv'"' 'N' Ah'"'' '"''''' W WV
Paci6c C,nt
w. G. Ralston, the president of the
bank of California, who is supposed to
have drowned himself on Friday last,
was, in many respects, the most re.
markable man Of the present century.
He was intimately known to many of
our leading citiH'us, several Of whom
were entertained at his beautiful
country residence within the past few
weeks.
Ralston was born on farm near
Wollsville, in Coumbiana County,
Ohio, and i'll early life served as clerk
on boats between Portsmouth and
points on the lower Ohio. fle also run
in the trade to ST. Louis, and in our
mail line here. He pro3pcred, and III
time built the old steamer Memphis
here in 1917, and run her in the Mem
phis and New Orleans trade. In this
trade he made fortune OF 100000
He was aftcrward captain of n boat that
ran from New Orleans up the MiBsis-
sippi and Missouri, and aftorward drifted
to California, where he first appeared
as clerk in bank. Later he became
cashier of another bank, and during
this time speculated with remarkable
success. He was attorward appointed
cashier of the bank of California, an
institution greater in its influence, if
possible. than the bank OF England
Ralston held this position IL II, and
shortly after became president of the
bank. He was no jim Fisk, in any
sense of the term. He was the pro
iector of the Pacific coast, prominent
among which were the Kimball manu-
featuring company, an establishment
employing 1000 men, and engaged in
the manufacture of furniture, railway
coaches, etc; the Pacific watch com
pany; rolling mills and machine shops;
and not the least among them&all, the
Palace Hotel, one of the largest in the
world. In the construction of this vast
building he personally superintendcd
and directed the work, compelling the
architect to conform to his plans. In
the manage ment of this hotel he devoted
two hours daily, amid the multifarious
duties that devolved upon him.
He was always ready to assist in any
enterprise that would advance the IN
terests of his section, and never falIet
TO give hearty encouragement to bust
ness men. Belmont, his country resi-
Iepco, situated about thirty miles from
San Francisco, near San Jose, was
magnificent structure. 1t would lodg
sixty two people elegantly, and ever,
arrangement was on the most supell
scale. His stables contained nearI'
one hundred of the finest horses tina
could be purchased; and his carriages
of various kinds, were proportionatelJ
numerous.
He entertained large number ol
people daily, but particularly on Satur'
days and Sundays hia invitations were
generously extended and accepted. No
hotel conld vie in profusion and luxury
with Rllstons entertainments. Ills
quests, if they travelled by rail, would
he met at the depot with elegant car
riapes, drawn by four horses, and were
driven to Belmont through delightful
scenery. ,.
He was the modern Monte Cristo
His power to command gold seemed Z
l be unlimited. In his personal appear
) ance Ralston was plain and unassumn,
, His apparel gave no indication o
D wealth. He was the personi6catlcn O
business. 80.
Y Ooly few weeks ngo, while vlsltir
a San Francisco, Mr.. George w. Morris
: DR.. Dennis Long, Mr.. W. Hi'e, Jr.
!. MIR. Muldoon, and reveral other clt,H5h
l of Louisville who had known halS'o
t for years, and admired him, partook {,
8 his generous hospitality at Belmont
Q His death will be sincerely regretted b
n his Louisville friends. Those VIII
/. knew him intimately Judge him well
s The morning the telegraph announce
|. the failure of the bank, and the e'
b citement consequent upon it, gentle
t man in this city Just from the Pacit
T. coast predicted that Ralston would Ii
d be able to endure the disgrace OF n
8 fall. The prediction was too true. t
j. died in the prime Of manhood, amid
il wreck of falling fortunes and the ru
d of vast interests, -,
n After all, such men are invaluabl
II They are worth an army OF ploddei
3 They yrest fortune from fate itse
70 Through their indomitable energy a
ct wonderful brain Iower they build
1t and incite vast interests, which cat
- deserts to bloom and hamleta to sprl
into cities. They make and nnma
When they fall ruin and distress folio
y, but, after all, it is better to have
to complishei much and then failed I'll
er tp have done nothing for ones coun
70. or fellow-mau. The bleJsin wil!
Or. accompany the worker will outsel ,,e1
he the curses which naturally ioii
failure,