The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1880-12-08
JOHN H. INMAN.
A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS MAI.
Emerging From the Confederate ar
nay, Boy Of 20, and PennilesS,
He Becomes a Millionaire and
Headof One Of the Largest Cot
ton Houses an the World.
H. ". Grady, in Atlantis oonstitutionaliss.
ATLANTA. Nov. 20. 1880.

suoEt tlHe ago printed an al
u ticle on ''self.made men" This has
= ty sketch took the rounds of III
press. and am led to velieve di.
some good. 1t certainly kindle'
: fresh hopes in some young heart
that we're despairing. set Alright som,
designs thst were going awry, al
chored some lives that were drifting
and lifted the eyes Of some young
fellows that were cropping abou
blindly. The article was effective
because il taught By example ant
not by precept.
/ have become scquai'ted with
the history Of a man and q family
that is fit supplement of that
sketch. HEw I set The facts that I
detail need not be known-it is
enough to say that 1 an perfectly
sure Of their correctness. I will not
stop TO consider with what relish
those interested will see their affairs
put in print-I merely know that it
rs en- instructive and interesting his
tory, and set it out as a pattern
life.
IL 1865, q young Tennessean, sf-
ter an honorable aud arduous service
of over four years, III which he was
always ia the front, brave and un.
complaining. with his parole in his
pocket, came out Of tie Confederate
ranks. ard returnod to Daadridge,
with less than 500 in money, and
uS property. In 1870 he married a
charming and Intelligent Tennessee
girl. snd then reckousd his wealth
st about SO, 900. Last year bis net
income for the year vas $4,000 and
his fortune IS now about $1,50O.O0O,
He IS jnst So years Of age, in per-
tect health and is just entering the
prime Of life. And now 10 the de-
tails:
The other night / was introduced
10 Mr. John II. Inmsa-a youugish
looking man, with ruddy complex
ion, high. broad and unruffied fore.
head, finely cut features, mouth in
which decision and kindness were
siDguisrly mixed. and a head very
much like Mr.. Sam Inman. The
first glance betrayed the perfectly |
we'll bred man. quiet, attentive and |
wtnning-but the suggestion that
held me was one Of great reserve
power--Ihe hint that beneath that /
npIroubled and dec0rous face. there |
was iogceFui ard earnest brain that
had done netab}e things, which led |
me 10 push an Investigation. SO 10
speak, Wheu shortly afterwards / fell |
Ia with one who knew the points in |
Mr. Inman's life.
The Inmans are Of English stock, I
though American born for two gea-
erations. 5. W. Inman, w. Il. In. |
man ard Walker P. Iaman were |
these brothers born in Alabama.
They started life in humble circam-
stances, but soon managed TO get |
competence. The brothers were very
much devoted TO each other, aad cast
their fortunes together. Tpey es-
LahliShed mercantile business in
cambridge, Tennessee, 10 which
banking was shortly added, and out
OF which comfortable fortunes we're
made. Mr.. S. w. Inmau married a
miss Martin, a lady of unusual
strength of character and excellence,
and Of this union came Samuel Ii.
Jon II. and Hugh I. Inmsn. OF
these Samuel NJ. and Hugh Z. are
we'll known here Es the heads of two
of the most prsminent Southern
firms. The var had broken The for
tunes Of iheir father. aud the three
y ouDg men we're left literally with
out anything. General Alfred Aus.
tell, OF this city. and Mr. w. q. In-
nan, one OF the original brothers.
had opeued in New York a cotton
commission business. Young John
Iaman reasoning that to make mo,
1ey one must go where moaoy is"
and being anxious Tor an 0ppOrtuni-
" to ''besrd tho lion 10 his den.' az
piled for a ciefkship 10 The f,R OF
A ustell & Inmac. His offer was &C
,epted and be went out into the
world 10 make his fortune. He was
hen 20 years cid, just out of the
Confederate army, an East Tennes- {
zee boy, with fair education and I
With less tan 500 as his entire pos.
Iession. The firn then had a work.
ng capital of $4,000, was doing q
mali business. and struggling hard /
Igainst Northern competition. The I
'onng clerk put his whole soul iato
he business. aud made it his study
lay aud night, soon mastered ali its
letail-. snd built np $ most exten-
i've Southern connection. running
treugh every cotton State. He J
lad not been in New York quite
wo years when his capacity fer
BUSINESS, and his saeacity and devo-
ion became go marked and notable $
Il. - o., .