The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-05-05
The Rich Men.

Jay Gould is estimated at $40, 600, 600.
He makes now on an average $6,000,-
600 year, and hence will soon become
a leading capitalist Russell Sage,
though old enough to be Gould's father,
is only rated at $50, 100000. He began
life poor boy, and was clerk for some
years in a Troy grocery house, where he
afterward became a-partner. He made
money by industry and economy, and
soon was able to enter the wider field of
railway speculation. This gave him a
sufficient capital to remove to Wall
street, where he has been leading
gambler in stock privileges. He sells
''puts, calls and straddles" to the fools
who are addicted to this practice, and
has made an immense fortune out of the
money they throw away. d. o. Mills,
who is reckoned at IS, 900, 900, accumu-
lated the largest part of his wealth in
California, but has also been highly
successful in Wall street. Samuel j.
Tilden is estimated OF from 50, 900, 600 to
$12, ,000. 900, most of which he has made
in speculation. He began this practice
when young man, and his intimate
acquaintance with Wall street men gave
him an unusual advantage. This has
been admirably improved, until Tilden
may now be considered the richest bach
elor in America. Moses Taylor, with
S., 900, 600, is the richest of our bank
Presidents. H. G. Marquand rates
about the same as Jim Keene. William
H. Vanderbilt and his two sons (Corne-
lius and William) are worth 500, ,O00.-
600. Cornelius X. Garrison is rarely
mentioned now, as he seldom appears i'll
business transactions, but he is good for
dozen millions.
Robert l.. Stuart, the survivor of the
sugar manufacturing brothers, is esti
mated at Sc, 900, 900. Judge Hilton is
of equal wealth. He got all this through
his acquaintance with A. Il. Stewart, the
merchant prince, who made him heir to
81, 900, 900. The Judge then made an
exchange with Mrs. Stewart which was
immensely i'll his favor. Robert L.
Kennedy, nephew of James Lennox, is
estimated at $5,OOO,OO0. Robert and
Ogden Goelet, who are the heirs of the
immense Goelet estate, are estimated at
500, 900, 600. The Astors are worth more
than 800, 900, 900, and are carefully
boarding their wealth. Miss Harriet
Lenox, who is the heir of her brother
James, is probably worth $4,000, 900,
the interest of which she gives away in
Uno mauuer formerly practlceu ny ueT
philanthropic brother. Miss Lenox is
no doubt dispensing larger amount in
charity than any other woman in
America. Peter Cooper is the Oldest Of
our capitalists, and also the most philan-
thropic. He is now in his ninety first
year, but Notwithstanding his advanced
age is still in possession of all his facul-
ties. He is estimated at 81, 900, 900, all
the fruit of industry and good manage
ment His Institute continues to be a
grand public benefaction. and he has
recently added all the modern improve
ments. George Law is next in point of
age, being now eighty-two. He weighs
nearly 800 pounds, and this has serious
ly impaired his activity. He owns the
Dry Dock Bank, and the largest part of
the Eighth avenue surface railroad, his
entire wealth being estimated at S, ,OOO,-
000 What contrast between these
two last mentioned capitalists, for, while
Cooper has been lavish in his benefac-
tions, George Law has never been known
to do anything for philanthrophy. He
rose from the working class, but does
not appear to have any sympathy with it
or with humanity in any shape.
York Letter.