, 1883-01-26

No man in New York is better
known or better liked than Rufus
Hatch. lie is a particular fayorite
with newspaper men, who delight in
interviewing Uncle Rufus" and not
the less su of the reading public, be
cause they always find in what he
has to say, spicy and witty expires
sions and the refreshing hcartiness
and goodwill of which his counten-
ance gives abundant indication. Mr..
Hatch is not an old man, being un-
der iifty-one years of age, and every
body who knows him shares in the
expectation that he will furnish It'd
bits in the way of quaint and clever
sayings for another generation yet.
His physical appearance and condi-
tlon warrant this pleasant anticipa-
tion. Vigorous, active and careful of
his health, with an unfailing flow of
good spirits, spicy speech and kindly
teeling,the absence of Uncle Rufus"
from his usual resort in the Empire
City, is in the nature of public cal
amity. Long may he fourishl
The picture gives an excellent idea
of the frank and open countenance
with which nature has favored Mr..
Hatch, and which is the fitting
'frontispiece,' of sturdy body form
ed for strength and activity, the en-
ioyment Of the good things of this
life, and to give comely and fine
presence and executive force to
man shrewd and sagacious, energetic
and worldly-wise, and at the same
time Overlooking with 'the milk of
human kindness"
Mr. Hatch is a native of Maine, and
was born at Wells, York county, ON
the oath of June, 1892 His father
was a farmer, and brought his son up
in the pursuit Of agriculture. The
elder Hatch was judicious parent,
gentle and companiOnable with his
boy, whose Judgment andself-respect
ho carefully cultivated and fostered
At nineteen Rufus left home for the
West, urged by the ambition to i'm
prove his circumstances and enlarge
his sphere of activity. He soon pro
cured employment as helper to the
corps of engineers who surveyed for
the first railway constructed in Wis
consin, and which now forms a por-
tion of the Chicago and Northwest
ern Railroad. About three years
after this time Mr.. Hatch had ac
quired sufficient means to justify his
starting in business for himself. Ac-
cordingly he opened an office in Chi
cago as grain broker. In short
time he became a member in the firm
of Armstrong d Co., of that city, the
phenomenal success of which pre-
ceded the collapse in its fortunes oc
casioned by the rapid decline in the
price of grain resulting from the
hasty termination of the Crimean
war in March, 1856. Mr.. Hatch hon
orably shouldered the obligations of
the house. and paid off every dollar
OF its Indebtedness with interest as
soon as he was able, Notwithstanding
that all Of the accounts had outrun
the Statute OF Limitations. In 1862
he went to New York City with the
slender capital of only two thousand
dollars. At that time Henry Keep
was the leading railroad broker in
the commercial capital of the New
World He encouraged the new
conner IN his enterprises, and both
men bought largely of Chicago q
Northwestern stock. to the credit Of
their sagacity and the liberal increase
of their fortune. Dir. Hatch soon be-
came a considerable man on the
street. He originated the Open Board
of Brokers and was the first vice
president of this organization, which
grew into the Stock Exchange When
this bodyw was instituted three -fourths
of its members oifeled the presidency
to MIR. Hatch, who declined it. The
panic of 1873 used Uncle Rufus"
very harshly, but he struggled game
lyalong against adversely until 1876,
when he failed. During portion of
the interval between these dates he
was yice-prcsident and managing
director OF the Pacific Mail Steam
ship Company. The confidence of
his associates was evinced hattering-
ly at the time of his failure in his be-
ing reinstated i'll his membership on
the Stock Exchange by the unani-
NOUS vote OF its members. a conf
dence confirmed by his payment Of
every dollar he owed Just as soon as