Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1875-11-25
No. i

how are you getting along" 81 am making
living" was the reply. "A living? Why,
am worth half million" said the former
piano-forte maker. Zimmerman was as
tonished. However, he would not have
changed with his rich friend, for he was
happy Christian and had charge of Sunday
school, and was indeed the richer of the two.
0lsey continued his operations, and the re-
suit was that.he left an estate of nearly tive
Millions He was the richest Danish emil
grant that ever came to America. The lesson
afforded by the lives of these two emigrants
shows how men arc the creatures OF circum-
stances, as it is said in Hamlet:
"Our wille and fate do so contrary run,
That our devices still arc overthrown,
Our thoughts are ours their ends none OF our own.
OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS.
Grant Thorburn, formerly famous as q
scotsman, was nail-maker, and wrought at
the trade in this city for several years. While
going to his work one morning he purchased
pot of flowers, and as he was carrying it
home he sold it to person he met. This
incident led him into the general business Of
a florist in which he made a fortune, and his
stand is still in operation here. John Jacob
Astor was originally dealer in toys and mu-
sical instruments, until he happened to pur-
chase new piece of furs, and was thus led
to the soulce of his wealth. Fifty years ago
an English emigrant, being ont of business,
commenced peddling books. His name was
Appleton, and his sons are among the princes
of the publishing trade. A broken-down
cabinet~maker noticed the general inferiority
of glue, and undertook to boil kettle of this
article to see if it could be improved. He got
barrow-load of hides from slaughter
house, and had shanty as his workshop.
This man is Peter Cooper, and his glue es-
tablishnent now covers ten acres of Will
liamsbuSs lots.
POOR MEN AND HOTELS.
How odd it seems when one considers that
almost all the grand hotels on Broadway were
either built or are now owned by men who
came hither poor adventures. | have already
alluded to Astor and Gilsey. TO these may
be added the name of Knox. the halter, who
owns the Prescott House. lie is from Bel
fast, Ireland, and has been here about quar-
ter of a century. A. Il. Stewart owns the
Metropolitan. The Brandreth House was
built by the pill man, who came hither from
London poyerty-stricken adventurer. He
hoa boon, aoid, a commercial trnvcicr
in England, but found it more profitable to
sell soap and aloes than to olive on the road.
The New York Hotel was built by HicksOn
w. Field; who began life as a -faring lad,
and rose to be a great merchant. The St.
James is part of the fortune made by the
original Spofford, who commenced, as it is
said, a shoemaker The Fifth Avenue Hotel
was built by the present owner, Amos r.
Emo, who, forty years ago, was poor clerk
The Sturteyant House bears the name of its
builder, who is a carpenter, and has labored
at that trade both as a journeyman and boss
for many years. He is the most successful
carpenter this city ever saw, except the late
Richard e. Carman. These hotels are as fine
specimens of castle building as many that are
intulged in by the enthusiasm of youth.