The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-04-20
A.nT.. Stewart,


J on last Monday week. We mentioned his death
in ossr last issue, and to-day give brief sketch
of his life and remarkable career: H!rta
4 A. Il. Stewart was born near Belfast, Ire
land. and WAS EDUCATED at Trinity College.
| Dublin. He came to this country wheH,h was
| about twenty wears Of age, and cOachetl orc Of
the Livingstone family. which gave rise to the
impression that he taught school for some time.
| Contrary to what has been frequently ASSERT
| ed, Mr.. Stewart was not without means, but
| brought with him about $4,000, with which
I he started a small dry goods store OIL the west
side of Broadway, opposite the PARK AT that
| time John Jacob Aston counted his Millions,
and Cornelius Vanderbilt had been Some six
years in the steamboat business. Since 1926.
| he has paade more rapid progress in the acct-
mutation of wealth than any marin America,
much of his success being justly attributable to
his advantages as a collegiate. His energy and
push soon placed him at the head OF, the dry
goods trade Of New YORK, and in 1913 ne built
4 the large marble store on Broadway and Cham
bers street, On the site Of the old Washington
4 Hotel. From this year his business Continued
! rapidly to increase. and assumed such vast pro-
portions as to secure him almost a monopoly;
and as the city moved upwards his forethougilt
and business sagacity led him 10 bnild an i'm
| nlense six-story iron building, bounded by
| Fourth Avenue and Broadway and Ninth and
Tenth streets. to which he removed his retail
| business in 1862. The establishment covers
| one and one-qHarter acres, and IS roughly es-
\ tmated to have cost So 1901 900, and said to be
! the largest store Of the kind in the world. The
4 disbursements for running expenses according
to a recent estimate are over 81 100000 per an
| mum. and two houses, the retail aud the whole
sale, the latter being still conducted exclusive
I ly by the downtown housc,) have sold as high
! as $50, 0Q0, 900 in one year.
4 The exact extent Of Mr.. Stewards dry goods
4 operations cannot, however, be stated, nor can
/ his wealth be properly estimated, all avenues
| have been zealolsly end strictly guar5e3. His
rents and profits have been stated, how ever, at
81 1000 0G0. His business was certainly the largest
1 in this country, if not in the world. Connected
/ with it were Il silk factory and Il carpet factory
| in Lyons, a glove factory in Paris, and but re-
1 Gently he bought large tract Of lano Oh Long
4 Island, and was engaged i'll erecting immense
1 mills. This was pet scheme, aud his anb-
4 ton was to compete with the European lnan,-
! featuring centers in the manufacture Of cloth.
/ He also owned two OF the principal hDtels at
l Saratoga, and last year opened y retail dry
goods store in connection with one Of Eileln for
! the accomr, odation Of summer visitors In his
1 New York store his business was conducted en-
l tirely through snbordinates; his clerks not be-
ing allowed TO speak to hlnl except through q
regular channel Of silperors. His residence
corner Of Fifth Avenue and Thirty fourth street
is entirely constructed Of white marble, and is
| the finest private establishment III the world.
The latest rumor in regard to this is, fhat iL
would be left to his wife during her lifetime,
and then given to the Union League Club, OF
! which lie was a very active member. Another
OF Mr.. Stewards enterprises, which attracted Il
great deal OF attention and curious speculation,
| is the large, partially completed iron building.
corner OF Fourth Avenue and Thirty-secona
| street. It was begun some years ago bu5
| about the time of the panic, work was suspend
| ed on it, Recently, however,. q large force was
| again put upon it, and Mr.. Stewart manifested
great INTEREST," its completion. 1t is gener-
| ely supposed that it was intended as u work
/ Wonlan's hotel. =
During the late war Mr. Stewart was Il
zealoas lpholder OF the Union, and contrib
uted literally towards the equipment Of troops
and the raising OF supplies f0r the Federal
army. After the war he became permanently
Identified with the Republican party through
such auxiliary organizations as the Union
| League. In the campaign OF 1865. he was an
early, ardent and persistent supporter CT Grant
and when the latter was inaugurated III 1863
WIS rendered the portfolio Of Secretary Of the
Treasury. 1t was decided, however, that he
was ineligible, his appointment leEiG contrary
to an old aud allnost obsolete customs law
which debars any one engaged in importing
from being connected with The Treasury De-
partnellt. tp
MI. Stewart was u liberal patron of the fine
arts, and but recently Our New York correspen-
dent gave an Interesting sketch OF some OF his
pictures. In the entertainments OF distn-
guished strangers Or American aignitaries. he
played the host more frequently, perhaps,
than any man in America, The Prince OF
Wales and Prince Arthur both dined with him
in this country. Grant was frequently his
guest, aud but few days since he signed y
call for Il meeting to take steps to entertain
Dom Pedro, the Emperor OF Brazil, on his
arriva'iil this country. E
Before the war he had an immense trade i'll
the South. and q number OF Richmond mer-
chants that are still living We're well acquainted
with him. His course liz making settlements
after the war, however, was such as to initiate
against him with all our people
He leaves !; wife, but no children. and public
| curiosity will be on the gu viee TO know the
disposition Of his property.