The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-11
Mr. Henry q. Bowcn'- Busincss Dealings with
MIR. stewart.

Henry c. Bowen, before he became pub
Usher OF The IndepeHdent, was an extensive
dealer In silks and fancy goods, and held bust
ness relations with Mir. Stewart that continued
for nearly a quarter Of u century. was a
clerk for Arthur Tappan Company, at l2s
Pearl street," said MIR. Bowen yesterday, when
! first made Mr.. stewards acquaintance. Ihat
was forty years ago. MI. Stewart was doing
business opposite tho Park, somewhere near
wnere tho IndeptRient Offices are situated. l
used to wait him and sell lin goods. Arthur
Tappan & Company at that time controlled a line
OF French prints which were known as 0rOs
odiefs. They had all OF them that were IN tho
market at that time. / remember that It was
IL these goods that i Degotiat, my hrst large
sale to Dir. Stewart. Even at that time Mr..
Stewart was an extensive purchaser from the
importers. remember that tne late John IL N
kin, wao WIS a large importer, uecl req Inen
that Mr.. Stewart WAS the shrewdest merchant ~
New YORK. Wncn Mr.. RANKIN mad an arrival OF
GOODS, at that time, II was bis custom 20 lnVlle
Inc leading buyeTs TO VISIT hts place ana inspect
N; Tue cases were opened, tne prices oi
| each line and quality ~ goods were ceterniin
upon. nd then Mr.. Rankin received the mer-
| chants. Many buvcrs tlwlys came. and among
| them A. 4. Stewart, and while the DINERS went
| about the store feeling the faDriCs, as 10 how
! thick this was or thin that was, ana while they
| nemmed and hawed and debated with each
oJner the desirabilitv Of one line over another,
| Mr.. Stewart would take Ar. X nkln with him
through the store, selecting the best oi I'd stock
| and purchasing 1t at once"
Mr Rankin, Who became Mr.. Bowen's special
partner, often referred to Mr. Stewart US oeine,
| in his opinion, the shrewdest, quickest and most
| intelligent merchant ~ tho CITY. MI. Bowen
| was thon the head Of tie well known house OF
ii recolcct," continued Mr.. Bowen, after
| pause, that Henry sheldon, an extensive I'm
porter of frencn goods had az one Time solS
| sr. Stewart GOODS 20 tAo Ln9ount i9 o.,
$1,000 OF $1,000, and felt llitle timid
ABOUT increasing MS credit WIN WIN nun;
| He Informed the great merchant that ie desired
% know more about his capital aud business
than he then knew. Ia reply, Mr stewart s.ld .
: regard Mr.. Lewis lalpan OF the irm ot Arthur
Iapp.n a Go. IA one Of the most inteli-tnt ~ er-
ch MS m New York. aud IS YOU sel that urn
LARGELY. and have confidence ln them, II YOU
viii he satisfied / Will ask Mr.. iappan TO
cone here ana examine my books. lie VIII thcn
be ablo to tell you ali know myself Mr. sheidon
consented 10 this aud Mr.. Lewis iapp4n spent
several evenings 10 Mr. stewart 5 counting room
sttid,Ing his books. lie reported, when his task
good and worthy, and was worth about SIO.OOO;
MIR. stewart did n>Neik the usual long llne oi
six or eight months IN Whioh 70 make ms pay
ments. When he asked credit u was for snort
time. but even then his aggregate credits were
considerable, and 1t was necessary Tor MN 10
stand well uu Ong merCh nts. Tie was never ques-
toned after Dir TapDan's report went abroad.
MIR. Stewsrt's great store down town was not
erected all at once. A nd owner In Chambers
street asked too high price for his lot there ana
MIR Stewart built around IL, erecting SIX % stoIy y
structures, 80 that tue property of the stuoDotn
landlord was Injured aud rendered lnslEnlucshi'
ana at last, few years ago no was oDlRed To
Dnring the late war AR. Stewarrs contracts
with the Government, directly and Indirectly
formed an enormous business. BESIDES MS own
contracts, he fed large orders for other houses
, who were oblighed To 40 To him to carry OUT
their promises. Wherever MIR. Stewart reposed
confidence, he sold unlimited amounts, and mas
thereby assisted energetic merchants IN diuer,
ent sections OF the country Into prosperity ana
prominence. Potter Palmer of Chicago, and
John Shiletto, the rich Cincinnati retailer oene
nted Largely by MIR. Stewards confidence II
. them" .,
, Mr. bowen regarded Stewart as the king ol
buyers In IN auction room II no suuoeeueu u ~ u
obtaining good bargain, the quantity OF th'
7 goods on h and never frightened MIN, No othel
! man had the means to buy as lie did,
Early in his business prosperity MT stewart
frequently managed to control certain styles o
J | goods As. for Instance the Alexandra glove
, | compelling all To purchase OF him and at III
price. In tho olden time, before the dal
| Of the telegraph, he was frequently KNOW
: to have sent AGENTS through the market quietl
| with orders to learn Just how much OF certali
styles of goods could De found In this city, Bos
. ton aud Philadelphia. lie purchased all tha
. | could be bought, and controlling the market
! | advanced the price OF the article, never exoT
- bitantly, but simply to controlling hgure,