The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-01-31

Jay Gould was born at STATIONS Falls
Delaware County, New York. in the wear
1886. His father, John B. Gould, who
died In 1866, was well-to-do farmer,
and small store-keeper. Young Gould
early betrayed symptoms of genius and
selt-reliance, for he had scarcely got well
INTO his school days till he regarded him
self already man, and invented a mousse
trap. This latter has been considered
by some as either bitter sarcasm upon
the unwieldly dimensions of the great
square, unsightly, white frame house in
winch he was born, or a graphic fore
shadowing of his subsequent operations
in Wall Street. Be this as it may. he
passed his childhood like most other
country lads Of that period, with this
difference, that he was studious, reticent.
and had the advantages of fair educa-
ton.
When sixteen years of age, he made
his first move in life, and became a clerk
to Squire Durham" at Roxbury. two
miles from the Falls, who kept a small
store, remarkable for the variety, origin
al character, and infinitesimal quantities
of its stock Here his auditory nerve
became so susceptible that his employer
thought it altogether too sensitive for SO
small an establishment. Mr.. Durham
had managed to obtain intelligence that
very desirable piece Of land was for
public sale, cheap, in Albany, and de.
termined to purchase it. This he eau
tiously whispered to some parties in the
presence of his young employee. On
proceeding to put his design into execu-
ton, however, he found that, in the in
term, his clerk had become possessed OF
the property, having ayailed himself of
the astuteness of his hearing.
The genius of Jay must have been of
no ordinary character, for before he was
twenty years of age he appeared sud.
denly full-blown civil engineer, and
made survey of Delaware County, q
map of which was published in 1856 As
there is no royal road to geometry, We
fear that his biographers have not done
justice to the studiousness or attainment
of their subject, for no mention is made
of how he became possessed of this un.
usual knowledge.
The influence of this successful opera
tor and financier is so great. and hi
management OF the press so adroit anC
far-seeing, that any object he sets before
him he is sure to attain. He is one q
the few men who never make falls
move, and who, consequently, never lose
He is always on the wing, and if in hi
travels he happens to come across rail
road, or any competing interest he wishe
to possess himself Of, he at once set
about obtaining it, either through none
OF diplomacy. ii the owners refuse t
sell or come to any terms he thinks prop
er to propose, he quietly intimates tina
he will build a line right along side Q
. theirs, as he finds that one through tina
, precise region is necessary to the succe:
of some other Of his projects. This Sc
dom fails to accomplish the desired end
and hence the aid of his open hand o
the pressure of his heel is felt through
out most, if not all, the lines of intel
communication ON this continent.
; Mr.. Gould is a married gentleman, an
, resides with his wife and family-th
oldest of whom is a lad Of about /
years-at his magnificent residence
! Irvington, on the Hudson. Whateyc
J objectionable traits may be set down
} his character, he is, most assuredly, pc
/ sessed of some of marked excellenc
! He is an affectionate father and husban,
, and, when the cares Of the day are lai
by, prefers the bosom of his family an
: the society Of his books to any other e
/ ioyment on earth. His son, it is said,
& a youth of great promise, and likely
+ evince, in due time, some of his leadir
!. characteristics.