The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-05-10
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G''t.iT p &c ,ylhttEHiT7 !irtf@ .r"' iFr!lS
.2;HA"G! SHT Tut FL. nLH 1!tJda -. 49,
THE MERCHANT PRINCE. aag
s.u.TyT L II ~ Ts.l.1 Jig
What an Old Tine Merchant Says Of tho
s,..aH ,,ar -, Lafo Al 4. Stewart. .ss c"s
Henry o. Bowen, befole he became
publisher Of the Independent, was an
extensive dealer in silks and fancy goods,
and held business relations with the late
A.. r.. Stewart that continued for nearly
q quarter Of century. "I was a clerk
for Arthur Tappan & Company, at 122
Pearl street." said Mr.. Bowen, !" when
I first made Mr.. Stewards acquaintance.
That was forty years ago. MIR: Stewart
was doing business opposite the park,
somewhere near where the Independent
offices are situated. used to wait on
him and sell him goods. Arthur Tappan
Il Company at that time controlled q
line Of French prints which were known
as gros odie-s.. They had all Of them
that were in the market at that time. i
remember that it was in these goods
that I negotiated my first large sale to
Mr.. Stewart. Even at that time Mr..
Stewart wasan extensive purchaser from
the importers. :Iremember that the late
John Rankin, who Was q large importer,
decIared- them that Mr. Stewart was Che
shrawdest ma noarchant' IN New YORK When
M. Rankin had an arrival, of goods, at
tI1atltime. lit was his custom 20 invite the.
leading buyers to his plsce and inspect
them. The cases were opened, THE
prices OF each line and qualify Of goods
were determined upon, and then Nj.
Rankin received the merchants. Many
buyers always came, and among them a.
T. Stewart, and while the others went
about the store feeling the fabrics, as to
how thick this was or thin thattwas, and
while they !hemmed and hawed and de-
bated with each other the desirabiGty Of
one line over another, Mr.. Stewart would
take MIR. Rankin with him through the
store, selecting the best OF the stock and
purchasing it at once" % 'D' ..'.." ga
Mr.. Rankin, who became MIR. Bowen's
special, partner, often referred to M.
Stewart as being, IN his opinion, the
shrewdest, Quickest and most intelllgent t
merchant in the city. Mr.. Bowen va Was
then the head OF the well @ known house
OF Bowen, Mechanics y company ea;
III recolect, |" continued Mr. Bowen,
after pause 7" that Henry sheldon, an
extensive! importer Of French goods,
had at one time sold ME. Stewart goods
to the amount OF $25, ,OOO or $o0,OOO,
and felt little tinid about increasing
his credit with him. He informed the
great merchant that ne desired TO now
more about bis capital and business @ tnan
ne snen knew. IN IN reply, Mr; r. ose~aIs e
ssaa regara III. Mewis tsaPpan, sPGA, ~
tne urm VI af.nu :aPpan ~, 90
one ot tne npsg lateineeens l1eiGlpaAes y u ~
new s1otk, ana as you sell, tnat nrm
Largely, and nave commence IN In tnem, m q
yon VII De sansneo IWhi ask Mr. Iap-
pam toll come heref and examine my
books. de VIII then De abe 10 teAyou
al9l know myself, MI. sheldon con
sented TO TINS, and Mr: Lewis taPPan
spent several evenings N M Mr. ~ SteWargs 1lyt 8
countlng-room st!dylng nus DOCKS; he
reported, wnen hls TASK was enoea, tnag
Mr. Stewart was apundanuy gooa odo ana
worthy, and was worth ABOUT $lO,yeV.
Mr. Stewart dld not ask tne usua! long
time OF Six or eight months In which to
make his payments. When ne asked
credit it was for . short time, but even
then his aggregate credits were consld-
cradle, and 1t was necessary ZOE MN 70
stand well among merchants: he was
never questioned after Mr. TappanB,s g ref
port went abroad. MIR. Stewards great
store down town was not erected ar at
once. A land owner In Chambers street
asked too high price for his lot there,
and Mr.. Stewart built around it, erect.
ing Six story structures, 80 that the prop,
OF the stubborn landlord was injured
end rendered nHgnhcant. and at last, q
few yearssago, ne was obliged to sell IL
at Mr. SteWart'spnce. - -.
-"" During the late war Mr. stewart .
contracts with the government, dnectly
and indirectly, formed an enormous
business, Besides hls own contracts, ne
filed large orders. for other houses who
were obliged to go to him TO carry out
their promises. @ Wherever Mr. Stewart
reposed confidence he sold unlimited
amounts, and has thereby assisted ener.
nence. Potter Palmer, of Chicago, and
ocln Hliesso, s Iue Iait tloI a0 NJ Saa To-
'eaAoI, ponoiooa lniSotJ " Ha' S'o o"oa0