The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-04-13
THE NEW YORK MILLIONAIRE,
The Life Of A. T. Stewart
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
Whether Alexander Turner Stewsr
was born in province OF Ulster, Antrim
county, about four miles from Belfast, il
Ireland, Oct. 81 1902, or in the county o
Tyrone in 1895, is question upon which
biographers disagree. The Appletsor
say that he was born in 1902. A volume
entitled Successful Men," and published
merely for private circulation, dates hi
birth seven years earlier. Mr.. StewaLts
ancestors were natives OF Scotland, auC
he inherited the spirit end latent power
of the Scotch Irish race that had domino
ted In the north of Ireland for two cen
turtles. At eight years of age he was AT
orphan, and was cared for by his grand
father, who, with view of educating hin
for the Protestant Church, sent him tc
Trinity College in Dublin, but he was
withdrawn from that institution after the
death of his grandfather. He came tc
America in 1918 to seek his fortune. II
has often been said that he arrived in
New York pennies and without friends
but this is doubted by many who were
intimately acquainted with him.
Mr.. Stewards letters of introduction
from members Of the Society of Friends
IN Ireland to wealthy merchants OF that
society in New York gave him access to
the best circles, and therein his pleasing
address and no mean scholarship made
him favorite. He taught number OF
pupils at So Rose street. School teach
ing, however. did not suit HIM, though he
managed TO save some money from the
proceeds Of his lsbors. 1t was soon after
the terrible epidemic of yellow fever that
he established himself as dry goods
merchant in the frame building at Broad.
way and Chambers street. His cash cap
ital was between twelve and fifteen hun
dred dollars. HIS store was small, being
only twenty-five feet wide by thirty deep,
and was next door to the establishment
of the then famous Bonfanti, who kept
the most freauented variety store Of'the
day. 1t was at this thine that he mar
ried Miss Corne'ia Clinch, who survives
him. The young couple lived in one
small room over the store, and the wife
took care of the domestic arrangements
while the husband attended to his bust
ness below, Without mercantile exper-
fence and possessing no advantage but his
own unaided determination TO succeed,
Mr.. Stewart started boldly on what prov
ed the road to fortune. No young mer-
chant ever worked harder than he. From
fourteen to eighteen hours every day lie
gave to his business. He was his own
book-keeper, salesman, and porter. bic
kept a small stock OF goods, which he pur-
chased for cash, chiefly.
ATTHE AUCTION SALES.
Mr.. Stewart was regular attendant
at these sales, and his purchases were in
variably sample lots. He had these goods
taken to his store. and after the business
of the day was over he and his wife care
fully assorted the sample lots and brought
order out of confusion. Every article
was carefully examined; gloves were re-
dressed and smoothed out, laces pressed
free from the creases that careless bidders
had twisted them into, and hose were
made to look as fresh as though they had
never been handled, Every article was
thus restored to its original excellence.
The goods were then arranged in their
proper places on the shelves OF the store,
and, being offered at lower price than
that charged by other retail dealers IN
the city, they had ready sale. Even at
the low price the profit was great, as the
goods had been purchased for mere tri-
lie. For six wears Mr.. Stewart continued
his business in this way, acquiring every
day larger and more profitable trade
1t is said that when he entered upon his
business he knew SO little OF Its details
that he was sometimes sorely embarrass
ed by trifes. Once, it is said, be accost-
ed the late William Beecher, from whom
he bought many goods, US follows
"Mr. Beecher, lady came into my
store to-day and asked me to show mel
some hose. l did not know what the
goods -were, and told her that L did no,
keep the article What did she want?'
MIR. Beecher laughingly showed him
pair of stockings. and the young mer,
chant was convulsed with merriment
While yet in his first struggles IN ms III
tie store, Mr.. Stewart found himself call
ed upon to make arrangements to pay 4
note that would soon become due. dc
had neither the money nor the friendS
from whom he wished to borrow IL dc
marked down every article in his store
far below the wholesale price This done
he had large quantity of handful;
printed, announcing the sale OF his entire
stock of goods below cost to be effected
within given time. He scattered these
bills throughout the city, and 1t was mol
long before purchasers began to flock 70
his store. They found the best goods In
the market at q lower price than they
had ever before been offered for in New
York, and every one sent his friends to
avail themselves Of the opportunity. :,
The little Broad way store'was filled al
dsy. and before the expiration of the Pc
Rod fixed upon for the duration of the
sales Mr.. Stewards shelves were empty
and his treasury was full. He paid hi:
note and laid in fresh stock Of goods
He was fortunate in his purchases at
this time. The market was extremely
dull and money was scarce. The energy
industry, patience, and business tact dis
played BY Mr. Stewart in these first year:
OF his commercial life yielded their SURE
reward, and in 1928 his little store was ne
longer large enough for the large and
fashionable trade that had come to HIM
THE GROWING TRADEsMAN.
Three new stores had just besn erected
in Broadway, between Chambers ans
Warren streets and he leased the small
est of them and moved int it. IL was .
modern structure, three stories in helgn
and thirty feet deep, but in it he was All.
TO keep q larger and more attractive stoS'
of goods, and his business Was great,
benefited by the change. After lou