National Republican., 1883-07-05
PLUOKY PETER M'GEooH.
de Couldn't Corner ALI the Hogs in the World
But He Isn't Discouraged.
Tie IFAs Failed For $4,000, 900, IL Fifty
Ono Years Old, and wnI Begin Again.

"With tho country full of hogs" said
Emery A Storrs, speaking of tho late Nc
Geoch failure, so full that railway train
can't jump the track without running over
lot of them, and in the presence of the sci
entifio fact that every hog has twelve pigs at
a time and litters twice year, and that every
part of the hog is convertible into lard, it
seems like the act of a crazy man TO attempt
to corner million hogs when it is moro than
he can do to corner one" The brilliant StoIrs
is counsel for McGeoch and knows him we'll.
No one yet knows the amount of the fail
are, but enough is known TO make it almost
certain that IL will reach beyond $3,000,000
and that If contracts are to be enforced it will
reduce McGeoch to q condition that would
seem hopeless even to young man of nerve.
Mr.. McGeoch is flfty-one years old he calls
for such enforcement; and says that after the
worst shall have happened he will begin again
at the foot of the ladder. Iron nerve and a
will that has repeatedly vaulted obstacles TO
advancement are behind this determination,
and his family, reared in wealth and accus-
toned to the luxuries of life, Join him in
preparations to recover by toll aud drudgery
the means of comfort that lately slipped from
them like phantom.
In tho course of talk with a correspondent
of the New York Tribune day or two since,
Mr.. Harvey said: Mr.. McGeoch is native
OF Scotland. lie came to this country when
boy and went to Waterloo, Wis, where his
father was then living. After working on
the farm for about two years he became dis
satisfied with that kind of life and started
out for himself hauling stone for the state
capitol at Madison. While thus engaged he
fell i'll with man named Van Kirk, grain
dealer, and arranged with him to buy and
ship wheat to Milwaukee, Van Kirk remain
ing at Milwaukee and MoGeoch making
1x.,A 80. ~ IL. II Il.
last growing one, and about 1858 the firm
OF Van Kirk 4 McGeoch, as buyers shippers
and commission dealers in grain, was formed.
Before this, McGeooh had married my sister,
who had moved into Wisconsin with her par
ents from near Montpelier, VT. The firm of
Van Kirk q Mctieoch lasted until 1872, by
which time both parties had become wealthy.
They then went into wheat deal and lost
everything Van Kirk became discouraged
and never re-entered the business, but Nc
Geoch plodded along, and in the course of
three or four years regained a footing. Their
business at the time of the failure included
not only general brokerage and commission
business in grain, but they had a large pork
packing establishment, and McGeoch was
working with profit several farms near Mil
waukee, on which he kept fancy stock. His
indebtedness at the time of the failure was
relieved by Alexander Mitchell of Milwaukee,
fellow Scotchman, and when McGeoch
OF 100000 against him. McGeoch saved
nothing except his FARMS from which he was
able to start an extensive milk business, run
his wagons into Milwaukee. This gave him
the name of the Milwaukee Milkman,' by
which title he was known, derisiyely, for a |
long time after he came here.
He was in a wheat deal in 1875 which was |
so successful that in 1876 he e-established |
his business in Milwaukee, paid off all bis |
debts, and continued to prosper almost con-
tinuously from then till this last failure. |
The firm in this city was established in 1880. |
McGeoch since has made frequent trips here |
but has retained his residence near Milwau-
kee. He lives about four miles out of the |
city in house constructed two years ago, |
and admirably equipped for comfort 1t is |
situated on knoll opposite the Soldiers |
dome, and commands o fine country view. |
The groundsinclude lawns, an artificial lake, |
fountains, and fine grove, and the improve |
ments cost probably not less than $4,000. |
There are several hne horses in his stable, |
among them Tom Bowman, racer which he |
bought here last year. He has also fine
driving team, and his wife and children have
their own horses.
Besides his wife his family consists of
three daughters and son; fourth daughter
died last year, leaving a child who makes its
home with him. The daughters are grown
and the son is a boy of 15."
How do the family take this failureP"
They were at first very much depressed
by it. as was he. / think now however they
are all facing it bravely, and are willing to
make whatever sacrifices may be necessary.
His wife is very plucky, and the daughters
nave said that they are ready,aat any time to
go to work for their living. They expect,
Of course, TO give up their horses, their SER
wants, and everything in the shape of luxury,
and VIII do 1t without complaint. McGeoch
has said that he expects the creditors to take
his home, and that he will turn it over to
them at any time. But do not believe any
one will require that sacrifice of him. / hear
from him nearly every day, and his letters
are now quite philosophical. He directs
and everything be Strengthened out, so that
when we find out where we are we can nut
ourselves in shape to start again. We were
doing fine business and would have con-
tinued to do well but for this deal. So well
We're we doing, indeed that McGeoch had
planned to retire in May He intended to
take his family and go oyer tho country in a
chartered car, spending a year or two on the
"Trip. But having begun to buy lard in April,
an attempt was mado to drive him in q cor
ner, and his subsequent dealings were in the
nature of self defense, until he had accumu-
lated somuch that it was impossible for him
to get out. We had hoped to be able to tide
over July l. But drafts were coming in upon
us mt the rate of $l50,000 per day, and when
II became evident that it would cost a million
more to keep up the market until the end of
the month McGeoch faltered and said that we
had better stop
1t is true that many brokers were glad
when he failed. He was shrowd and was
called severe in business If man owed him
p dollar he wanted it, and if he owed any
thinS ne wanted to pay it, But no one ever
charged him with dishonorable act and,
personally, he was generous and upright
he had been very kind to his parents
brothers, and sisters. None of the family
except him. He has given his ..
parents nice home Mt Toma and to them
and crippled sister, to whom he gave also a !
home, he has for years made monthly allow ! !
lnce' Then he has helped his brothers, stock y
ing ranch for one OF them in Kansas. His =
charities have been numerous. In business,
even those who dislike him must respect him, ,
and lie is SO well liked among the best men ,,
that on the day of the failure p. ID. Armour
same in here and said Mac this may be :
very bad, but don't lose heart. Get straight !
ened out, and when you want to start again \
come to me and you may have S250,000.'
why Preachers Lack Force.
JHtrView i0ah Robert ColiUer 1