The Arkansaw traveler., 1882-12-03
lay 0ould's Early Life.
IDesroff Free Press.i

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 Of the wonderful man, whose power surpasses that of most kings, who controls an army of nearly Aoycoo men, counting those employed on his railroads, his teie- graphs and his other enterprises, 1t is astonishing how little is known; yet he may be seen almost .iaily in New York, he is one of the easiest men to get al, and if
 no biography of him has as yet appeared, 1t is not for want of material, or on ac-
 count of any resolve in the man himself to keep back the facts of his history. For
 several months have had page in my
 notebook devoted to Jay Gould. have
 asked questions of perhaps score of per
 sons. who are likely to know something oi
 the man who has been called the Sphinx
 of Wall street, and although upon reading
 over my notes feel that the story is sadly
 incomplete, do not believe that any more extended biography of Jay Gould exists. Gould was born in November, IS36, in a
 small post village called Stratton's Falls,
 in the town of Roxbury, Delaware county.
 N. Y. His father, John Gould. was d small farmer, who made poor living in sending down logs from the Catskills 10 the Hudson river Had 1t not been that Gould, as boy, was not fit for hard work. he would probably be to-day shrewd Catskill farmer, getting much for little out of his score of country boarders, instead of making the whole country pay tribute.
 Not being strong and fit for anything in the general opinion of the village, he was sent to school. and eventually entered the village store as clerk. IL was not long be- fore he achieved the reputation of one of the smartest traders in the community. and before he was years old, the village store was too small for him, besides which his health broke down under the eontlne- ment and he took to book canyassing. While ai this work, when about 70 years of age. he fell in with some surveyors. who had been employed by an Albany book shop, to make survey of Delaware and Ulster counties for the purpose of a map. Gould offered his services at SIo a month, and was accepted as line man i; his work was to carry a rod and chain ahead of the surveyors. He worked al this survey for nearly six months, practi- cally learning the business so well that when the Albany firm failed, and the job was given sp. Gould made use of the work already Gone and completed it with the work of some boys; by borrowing $500 he managed to have the map printed and sold ii with a history of Delaware county, which he compiled himself from state rec ords and books found in the Albany library. When the book was issued it had cost him about SI 900, and to his dismay he found tha, the sale would be very slow. Ii was work likely to have steady. slow sale which would pay Tn the course of years. That was not Gonld's idea of busl- ness. He put his old experience as can- vasser to use. and taking sample copy of his history and map from house to house. he trudged through Delaware and Ulster counties. taking an order al almost every farm house. Having sold out his first edition he sold the copyright and plates to an Albany firm who still issue the work. having on its title page the line, ]" From Actual Surveys by Jay Gould" He had then SI.ooo in his pocket with which 10 begin life.