Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-21
a NOT4RTE TTTE.

EX-SJOv. Edwin ID. Morgan, VINO dled last week,
was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts,;
February s, 1911. His father was a farmer,
living upon a sterile hillside farm in Washing
ton township, and the enjoyed no educa-
tional advantages save attendance at the village
shool during the winter months. In 1928 his
father gave him his time the late Governor
being then seventeen years Of age, Sn1
with the capital of 3715 cents
he started out into the world for himself. At
Hartford, Conn.,, he apprenticed himself to his
Uncle Nathan, wholesale and retail grocer, for
the term of three years, to receive $50 the first
year, $75 the second year, 500 for the third
year. He speedily developed aptitude for the
business, and at the beginning of his third year
his uncle sent him to New York, to buy supplies,
such as teas, sugars, coffee, etc., and also corn,
then in large demand Young Edwin went to
the city and made his purchases, but
instead of buying 200 or 300 bushels
of corn, as was the custom, he
bought two cargoes. Reaching home, his uncle
inquired about the corn, and pronounced TIE
price and quality satisfactory, but when he had
recovered from his establishment at the quantity
bought, he cried out, why, Edwin, what are
we to do with two cargoes of corn:'' ''Oh,"
said the youth, 81 have sold all you do not
want at an advance, and could have sold three
cargoes if [ had had them. l stopped in the
stores and made sales as l came from the stage
Office The next morning the young man was
at his post as usual, preparing to sweep out the
store, when his uncle arrived II Think said
he, 1--WE can find some one else to do the sweep
ing here. A young man who can go to New
York and buy two cargOes Of corn on his own re-
sponsibiiity, and sell them, without consulting
his principal, can be better employed than
sweeping out a store" His uncle took him into
partnership, though he was only 20 years of age,
and the foundation Of his success and fortune was
from that point assured and he died leaving an
estate estimated at from eight TO ten millions of
dollars. He remained in Hartford until 1886
(having in the year 1888 married Miss Water
man), when he removed to New York city He
was then twenty-five years of age and had 5000
capital. He formed partnership, the whole
capital being $4,000, and established a whole
sale grocery. At the end of year he bought
out his partners, and continued in
business alone until 1847, when, having
amassed fortune, he formed the
house of E. D. Morgan & Co., his partners be
ing his cousin George Morgan and two favorite
clerks, which is still in existence
His marvellous success in business was due to
his habits, application, and remarkable sagacity
as buyer. He was bold operator, had the
valuable faculty of anticipating or foreseeing
a rise in the market, and his ventures were
profitable. Ee was also good judge of credit
Mr.. Morgan had natural taste for politics
In his twenty-frst year he was chosen mem
of the city council of Hartford, but it was not
until 1S48, when he had acquired. generous
fortune, that he entered politics in New York
He was successfully alderman, state SENATOR
commissioner of emigration, vice president of
the Republican national convention at Pitts
burg (lS56), chairman of the ma
tional Republican committee, govern
or of New York, (1858-6O), Major
General of Volunteers (1861), United States
Senator term ending 1862 AS Chairman of
the National Union Committee he opened the
proceedings of the convention at Baltimore in
1864, when Mr.. Lincoln received his second
nomination. When the late VIM Pitt Fessen-
den left the U. s. Treasuryship,
Mr.. Lincoln asked Mr.. Morgan
to take that portfolio, but he
declined, as he did again when President
Arthur pressed him to occupy the same position
in his administration.
In 1867 Williams College, Berkshire Co.,
Mass, conferred upon him the degree of L. L.
d. In his lifetime he generous in the be-
stowment of his surplus wealth. In 1880 he
gave 100000, toward erecting the new library
building for the Union Theological seminary.
and the library is known as the ''Edwin D. Morgan
Library" At Williams College, he built, at the
cost of 900, Morgan Hail." the name being
given to the edifce in his honor. He was lib
eral patron art, and had collected at his house
in Fifth avenue, $50 oil paintings, some of
them of great value and rare merit as works of
art. He was director Of the National Bank of
Commerce, and : of the United States
Trust company, also of the n Y, Lake
Erie and WesternR r. and of Western Union
Telegraph company. He was President of the
board of Trustees of the Woman's and Presbv-
terrain Hospital and liberal friend of the Man
hatton Eye and Ear Hospital.
The success of Governor Morgan's career WAC
phenomenal Possessed of but common school
education, in 1928, with capital of tbroo
shillings, becoming grocer's clerk
at sixty dollars wear no
carved his way to fortune and position. hardly
ever outranked by an American citizen and
added to that, the merit of being a public bene-
factor and useful citizen of the best and nobest
type. The life of Edwin D. Morgan. was in
deed, notable.
Gov. Morgan's Estate,
NuIuy Vnrr- Fah IL