The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-11
The Life Of MIR. A. II. stewart.

Whether Alexander Turney Stewart was
Born In the province OF Ulster, Antrim county,
about four miles from Belfast, In lrei nd, oct.
n, 1902 or ia the county OF Tyrone In 1I0O, Is
question upon which bioeraphers disagree The
Appl-tons say that he WIS born IN 1902 A
volume entitled Successful Men," and publish
oil merely for private circulation, dates his firth
Seyen years earlier. Mr.. Stewards ancestors
we're natives OF Scotland, and he inherited the
spirit aud latent power OF the Scotch irish race
that had domi- -ated In the north Of Ireland for
Two centuries. At eight years Of age he was an
orphan. and was cared for by his grandfather
WHO, with view OF educating him Tor the
Protestant Church, sent him to TRINITY College
In Duhin, but he was Withdrawn IRON u In
tihuuon after the death 81 his gihuoia'her.
~ came - America IN l'ls 70 seek his fortune
IL Ma, often been SAID tnl he arrived IN New
York pcnniiess and without ifienus, bat this Is
doubted hY many who were intimately tcqu.lnt
Mr Stewart's letters of Introduction from
member. II the cietv OF Friends In ireland
70 wealthy merchants OF that society Ia New
York give Lim access TO the test circles, aud
therein his pleasing address AID no mean
holarship made tim q I Vurte. He taught a
number OF pupils IT ~ Rose street. school
teaching, however. did not suit him, though ho
managed 60 save some money from tue pro
Goods oi his abJrs. l. WIS soon after the terrible
riidemic Il yellow fever III Z he established
himself a. dry goods merchant IN the frame
building at broadway aud Chambers street.
HIS cash capital WAS between twelve and fifteen
hundred dollars. lis store was small, beihg
pnlf twenty two feet wide by thirty decp, and
tnen tamuu, HOnfanti VINO kept tho most fire.
qirht'd NauctY store Of the day. IL was al this
line lhit he married Mise Coruelil Ciinch, who
survives MN. Inc young coupe liNed IN one
lmali room over the store, and the wife took
saIe OF the domestic arrangements while the
husband attended to his business below. With
out mere mile experience and possessing no
tdYanti 20 but mis- own unaded determination
to suceced, Mr.. Stewart started boldly on what
chant ever worked harder than he; From four
teen TO eighteen hours every day he gave TO MS
man, and porter. He kept a small stock OF
FOODS. which no purchased for casn, chiefly.
AT THE AUCTION SALES.
Mr stewart was regular attendant at these
lales, and his purchases " ere Invariably sample
loti. lie had these goods taken 10 his store, and
Alter the business OF the day was over lie anO
IS "lie oirefully assorted the sample lots and
brought order out OF confusion. Every article
vas cafeiully examined; gloves were rtdressed
lhd smpotntd out, laces pressed free from the
sieases that careless bidders had twisted then
lnto, aud hose were made to look as fresh a
Ihnugl theY had never been handled, EVerl
article was thus restored to its original excel
renee, Inc goods were then arranged in tho
proper places on the shelves OF the store, and
pelhg on red at lower price than that charged
py other retail dealers In IN; city, tney had
ready sale, Even at the low price the pront wa
Ereat, as tho goods had been purchased for
piere trno. For six years Mr.. Stewart continue(
AIS bu .iness In TINS wav, acquiring every y
lager and more or ftahle trade. IL is said tina
shen ie entered upon hls business he knew 81
Ntlle OF It's details th At he was sometimes soiel
embarrassed uy trfies. Once, II Ia said, lie ac
COS ed the lato William Beecher, from whom h
bought many goods. Us follows:
Mr. Beecher n lady came into my store 10
gay ana asked me TO show her some hose. az
n3l know wnat the goods were. and told he
Ndntf'
,hr l'oech,r lauRhingly showed him a pair o
s'"ohlhgs and Lle young merchant was con
'hsed "llh merrlment. While yet IN his hrs
S,uPRles In hts little store, Sir. Stewart foun
I'ms'll called upon TO make ARRANGEMENTS I
ka note that would soon become due, ii
sTom whom he w,shed 10 borrow II. N
fnalkeu down over, article In his store Tar be
g." tuv Wholesale price. Inis done he had
" quantity VI handbills prnted, snnouncln