Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-02-16
RALsroS's GOLDEN ERA.

RALSFON'S GOLDEN ERA.
A Poor Milwaukee Man Heir to q
Large Fortune,-A Description OF
Himself, His Business. His FAMILY
and What He Intends for the Flu.
ture.
Milwaukee Journal
"Some men are born great, others
acquire greatness, and some of great
ness thrust upon them" With slight
alteration how easily that sent. nee can
be turned to account in another way.
Some men are horn rich, others acquire
riches, whiie some have riches thrust
npon them. John G. R.lston. Milwau-
kee, has become heir to miles. A
few short years ago he saw nsthing be-
fore him but life of toll, to-day he
may be puzzled to know how to prop
erly spend his wealth. Ralston is AZ
years old; was born at Newry, county
Armagh, Ireland. That county was
also the birthplace of A. T. Stew art
When a young man Of about 20 Ralston
married and some time afterwards
came to Amt RIGA, where he has work
ed 10 different cities. Some four ears
ago while living in Indianapolis, he
there met man by the name of Rails
ton, who said that he saw in Glasgow
newspaper that the heirs of certain
Ralston who died intestate in that
country were being sought after, as
large estate was awaiting them. The
Indianapolis Ralston had traced his
genealogy to such an extent as to satisfy
himself that he could not be any relative
near or remote, of the family question.
| Then this man took up the mint and
began to look into the family record
He left an aunt in Ireland to whom he
had written occasionally before this, but
knowing that there was q branch Of the
family in Scotland, and that the one
who had died might be the same, he
opened up closer correspondence with
his aunt. The more inquiries he made
the more the fact was established that
the deceased millionaire was the rela-
tive of the Ralstons. There is an uncle
living at PetIolia, an oil-town in west
ern Canada, and to him Ralston wrote.
This uncle employed a Toronto law
firm to look into the matter and they
have been at it ever since, and have
found that everything is quite satisfac-
tory as to securing the possession of
the property. The last heard from
that quarter was about thirty days ago
when matters had got along to such an
extent that all that was desired to be
done was the proper putting together
OF the documents and evidence so as to
make the ltg I'll chain complete. Raj
ston here, not having written to his
aunt as frequent Us formerly, it would
seem that she became uneasy and con-
sequently wrote to Mayor Stowell re-
garding the Whereabouts of the man
he thought, probably. that he had Sc
cured the estate in some way and made
for parts unknown. It had been long
known to this family that the unfortu-
nate Ralston, of San Francisco, was q
relative, but this man had never seen
him, nor did he know what degree Of
relationship he bore to the family there.
| The rich man who died was the brother
of this Ralston's grandfather, and if the
law of primogeniture were strictly fol
lowed out, our Milwaukee representa-
tive would become the sole heir to the
vast properly. As it is, allowing every
relative that can possibly come in,
there will not be more than ten or
| twelve to become sharers in the vast
wealth. : -
A Journal reporter called on the
prospective millionaire this morning and
found him at work in the second story
Of B. ]. Johnson's soap establishment,
on West Water street. He told the
man who went to tell him that he
would like to be seen in private, If at
ell, as he did not like so much publicity.
The reporter climbed through boxes of
soap, around watts of grease, up stairs
that were weighted with oil and soap
and all the other incidentals of soap
factory. Dressed in suitable garb for
his work, which consisted of a much.
soiled suit of blue overalls, little we'll
seasoned cap and pair of shoes, the
future dealer in CORNERS" and "puts
and calls" stood smilingly before the
pencil-pusher. He spoke English
fuently and correctly, told the sub
stance of what has already been written,
IN quiet unassuming way, as he seat
ed himself on work bench near at
hand. He ID Of medium height, slight
frame, and wears light beard on his
chin In addition to moustache, the
former being slightly tinged with grey.
"What doyou expect to do when you
| get possession of this wealth." asked the
reporter.
"Oh, | don't know. 1t won't take me
long to plan. However, I will stay in
this country and not 60 to Scotland, rs
The Wisconsin stated. lam an Ameri-
| can to the back bone. | like the coun-
try. My family are Americana ed, and
| 90 am |. OF course, | will be obliged
to go over to the old country to arrange
matters, but that's all. have four
children-two boys and two girls. That's
| my boy there pointing to lad of about
16, dressed as his father was, in blue
jeans.
Twill you go into business, think
your
II can't tell, but I will have to be en-
ployed at something. / could not sit
still" .-.. .
AS the scribe went down stairs the
future bloated bondholder followed, and
| in reply to a question he said he had
| been brought up to the soap business.
Was at it in the old country and there
| had invented some machinery to be
used in the business that was 60 perfect
it had not been improved upon since.
iAC NhCh Sho"Ou bhC po4SC d.
be invented for cutting soap into bars
from large block. thing that had to
be done by hand formerly. One of his
patents he sold for $4,000. II don't
KNOW" he said, "but that l may be
found in the overalls still, no matter
what may happen. / found happiness
in them and no doubt shall often wear
them again."
Anxious to see the woman who was
destined to be conspicuous in drawing
room receptions, a call was made at
the house, 100 Huron street, a small
frame facing the south, and passing to
the side door and knocking, the report
er met bright-eyed, intelligent girl OF
12 years of age. Her mother was out,
out she answered all questions in the
most polite manner. Said she was not
going to school now, but would next
term. And as she timidly stood there
in her kitchen dress, surrounded by the
usual articles of furniture to be found
in any horne where wealth is absent,
the recorder of events thought Of sweep
ing trains, lauguishing on SOFAS, tread.
ing ve.vety carpets, tripping gracefully
to ravishing sounds-of halls and par
ties aRd seaside resorts and happiness
and possibly misery that might all be
outcome of this large fartuus littlo