The daily gazette., 1881-12-31
Ferry Arsenal, and at one time had six
large stores In Philadelphia fillhd with
army boots and shoes.

ing at tDe southwest corner OF Third
and Orange streets, where the manufac-
lure Of lace and picker leather is still
continued. But 1t was through b corr
ntction with railroads that be became
most prominently known. On the
death OF his father-in-law, Charles
Bush, of the car wheel I'm of Bush &
Lobdell (now the Lobdell Gar Wheel
Company which occurred in 1854, he
settled up the estate and took the va
cant place in the firm. Later he made
frequent purchases Of the railroad stock
TAKEN by the hrn In pay ment for Car
wheels, but the opening Of the war pre-
ven ed him from making any use of tile
stock at that time.
10 1865, the war being over and the
South beginning to get upon her feet,
Col. McComb turned lis attention to
southern Railroads again. BE secured
control OF the Mississippi Central ami
the Mississippi and Tennessee Rail
roads and by a jadieious consoiida-
tlon with other systems soon estab-
llshed the New Orleans, jackson
q Great Northern road, the great trunk
line running between Chicago
and New Orleans. On the line of Lnis
road he established the town of McComb
Chy, and St Mt q number of Wilmington
ians there, among them seiog h former
clerk, Mr.. Walter Francis, who kept the
hotel there for several years.
Probably Col. McComb was bes
known 10 the country by bis connection
with the Credit Mobilier of North Amer
lea, corporation orgauzed for the pur
pose OF b lilding the Union Pacific Rail-
road. La the year 1868, at a meeting Of
Inc principal Stockholders Of the Credit
Mt bilier,theIe was failing out letween
MIR, McComb and Oakes Ames about the
division of the stock. MIR. McUomb in
sisted that the Credit Mobilier was with
holding 357 shares of the stock that be-
longed to him. The Credit Mobilief
denied this and he brought an action. in
which he filed aflidavits alleging that
oakes Ames had set apart stock of the
corporation for the purpose of dlstribut-
lug 1t to members OF Congress and thus
corruptly interesting them In the road.
An Investigation Was set on foot by G,
gress in 1873, which resulted in two re-
ports from special committees. OLe re-
commended the expulsion of Oakes
Ames and James Brooks from their
seats In the House aud the other favored
the expeling OF James w. Patterson
from his seat IN the Senate. No definite
actlon was taken on the last named re-
port, MIR. Patterson's term expiring Eve
days after the report was made.
The only local railroad in which he
was interested to any particular extept
was the Delaware Western. In this
Company he was mereiy nominal
stockholder, until about Two years ago,
an attempt was made by VIM. I. Car
ter, ON behalf OF the Pennsylvania Rail.
road,to buy a controlling interest in this
little line. The Colonel promptly took
hand in Carter's little game, and after
a spirited contest, lasting about three
days, secured the majority of the Della.
ware Western stock for himself. Last
winter, after the famous battle before
the Delaware Legislature TO secure the
amendment to the Delaware Western
character enabling the Baltimore & Ohio
to build railroad through Delaware, he
| sold his road to the latter Company. 1t
ls said that he cleared 100000 by this
transaction. OF his southern railroad
Transactions, It is said that If he had
sold out previous to the financial depres-
sion Of 1873 he would have clearedelev
| en- millions of dollars. an extent of
wealth which the subsequent depres-
s;ons in all kinds Of values red duced TO
four or five millions.
HIS SOCIAL LIFE.
In 1858 Col. McComb married Miss
Elizabeth K. Bush, daughter of
Charles Bush, who was killed a year
later by his horse running away and
throwing him out against the curb
| stone at the foot of Market street.
His family consists of one son, James,
and three daughters, Helen, Elizabeth
and Martha. His palatial residence
| at Eleventh and Market streets is one
of the most magnificent private houses
in Wilmington. He purchased it
from the late Col. Isaac Trimble, for
merly superintendent of the P, w. s.
B. r. r., and in 1878 completely re-
modelled the residence, in fact, almost
building a new house outside of the
old one. The grounds attached to the
mansion are ample in extent and
beautifully laid out. His house has
long been favored resort for the
wealthy and refined, and the daughter
of VIM. IL. Vanderbilt, of New York,
lately married, was frequent visi-
| tor.
In his social relations Col. McComb
was peculiarly pleasant, particularly
of late years, when the asperities of
business life began to soften, and the
opinion of many that he was stern,
austere man, rapidly disappeared. He
was always fond of society, and in his
younger days was an active member
of the Wilmington Literary Institute
and the Ciceronian Debating Society,
then the leading literary aud social
organizations OF the city. He was a
member of Hanover and later of Gem
trail Presbyterian Church, and in his
youth was scholar In the Sunday
School of the former church, in class
taught by the late Judge Hall, for
whom be ever cherished the greatest
respect.
| Notwithstanding his heavy interest
in enterprises outside of the State Col.
McGomb was closely identified with
affairs in his native city. He was
prominent member of the Board of
Trade in the days of its greatest USE
fulness, and for years held position
on the Board Of Directors of the FIRST
National Bank. He was President
OF the Board of Trustees of Delaware
College for the past i've or six years,
aud did much to bring the scholarly
and business standing of that institu-
tuition to Its present high position.
He constantly improved his property,