Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-04-13

ALnxANprR TURNKEY STEWART.

We record to-day the death Of the most en-
iasnt and successful Of American "merrhant
princes" Alexander L. Stewart OF New York.
Mr. Stewart was born near Belfast, Ireland
oct. -. 1902. He studied for time at Trinity
college, Dublin. but did not take degree. aud
In Isis he came over 20 this country aud engsg-
Ell in teaching in New York city. In is92 he
gave up this occupation, which was distsstcful
To him. and went into business. commencing in
an old wooden building at the corner Of Broad
wsy and Chambers street that succossfu mcr-
chantiIe career which has made his name the
synonym OF business capacity and enormous
wealth all over tho world. His capital Is said
not TO have exceeded niteen hundred dollars at
the time he made his first business venture. but
his tact and ability ensured success. The stock
WAS limited 10 comparatively few articles. and
his purchases were msdc principally at suction
salcs. The goods oflen were soiled and dam
aged, but he cexnsed aud redres-ed them, and
WAS able 10 underseil his competitors, hy oficr-
Ing good articles purchased at cxcep rates.
NJ lower prices than they could afford To put
on corresponding articles. Ia isss he removed
to better quarters. occupying the whole Of
snsll building between Murray snd Warren
streets. His staples were lsccs. hosiery. silk.
gloves, etc. From this time on, his business
grew with great rapidiiy aud he was compelled
Ia MAKE further removals 10 more COVE pient
aud cpnmodious quarters. His business WAS
conducted on such a bs,i. that in the great pm
ic Of lS25. when hundreds Of merchant. were
m, ic bsnk rupt. he not only weaihercd the
storm hut msde money with even greater ra-
pidily than before During the next ten wear,
hi business steadily extended. and in 1875 he
moved into the marble building corner OF
broadway and Chamber STREET In lN0 hi,
fortune wss estimated 10 amount 10 $50 .cO0. 900.
His losses ia The Southern trade consequent on
the outbreak Of the war. he more than made up
hN hi sagacttv in contracting beforehand Tor
the the whole product OF certain manufactures.
far whose goods he knew the cNigeucic> of the
war would create = demand and 10 ls6. hls
wealth was csiimaied al $40. 900 .0oo. From the
ost>et he has given the closest possible atien-
ton 10 his business. and has made IL in IT,
rious departments vast and complex machine,
every portion Of IL under his own supervision
and control.
Mr.. Stewards personal appearance was thus
described ten or fifteen years ago:
Mr.. stewart isA modest looking man OF six
", and in hi. prime he must have been hand
some lie appears now ten year. younger
than he really l.. standing erect with square
shoulders. and moving with elastic steps. His
well formed head l., thinly covered with ~oii
auburn hair. ton he'd with silver. His whi-
kers are rcd. ihivAiy sptluklvd " tn .Tat. ,Ii
short, and trimmed with taste. His face /, Of
thoughtful. half seriou. caste. giving hun what
may De called a ministerial cpurienancc The
iuA, round, grcyish-blue ewes. look Al an object
A. though they Jaw through il; and they Aindc
maSnticAlly IN conversation. The thin. red
lips, compressed closely, show hrrnue-s OF pur-
pO>e and severity OF taste.
Mr.. stewAr. was married many wears sg1 10
Mss Clinch Of New York. They have never
had children. Ills personal habits were eN-
trencly unos;eniatou.. and he has made few
appearances in public life. lie WAS n member
oi he Mon peicnac Committee during the
war, aud MAS one Of the signers Of the saf aioga
address IN l>65. lie was conspicuous adso-
cate OF President Grants election. In l>S he
wAs appointed Secretary Of toe Treasury, aud
Wa promptly confirmed BY an unSnimou. vote
IN the Senate. A clause was found Ia the act
Of -, prohibiting the Secretary 81 the Treas
ury from being interested directly or indirectly
IN trai.e or commerce. To obNiAtc this. Mr..
stewart AZ nrsi proposed 10 make over a con-
mItise OF gentlemen for the beuetl OF the char
iiics OF New York all the profits iron hls bust
nc-s during hi. term Of onice-a proposition
which would have transferred 10 benevolent
purposes about >iN million d0lAls A. this
dill not appear TO fully meet the spirit Of the
law, hc sent IN his formal declina' ION Of the
prohcrcd position, March ., i>si9.
Mr.. Stewart is said 10 have been more dl,,in-
Eui.hcd for acts Of privafc charity than those
which came 20 public notice; bui instance. Of
princcly generosity are not lacking in hi. ca
rvrr. During the famine IN ireland he sent
over shlp laden with provisions. and gave m
opportunity 10 4 hundred or more needy per. On
10 rtiuru IN the vessel for ali OF whom he found
cinrioN m~ui- some wears aSo he conceived the
Plan for building some model tenem houses
for working women snd others, and devoted a
million dpllArs Ia this purpose. bni the PROTEST
has never bssn fully carried out He gave lib
orally II other WORTHY object. but never crayed
pub tor such acts OF benevoencc. His
business MSS 30 thoroughly systrma,ikci anl
su,siivided that il can hardly suffer much dis
iurbancc by hi death but the tremendous en-
cr-N. the sirocg will. the, XII. tact and
i 'sc9etlcn. which have made il what u j. are
gone through The impetus communicated 10
the machine by these forces il 80 great that
there may be no perceptible difference ia is or
peTstions.- Boston Journal.