The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1883-11-10
Cresus in Indiana.


Darrow, as we were passing the resi-
dence of e. II. Shirk, They have been
citizens of the same place for more
than 80 years, business rivals, both
successful and long at the head of
competing banking institutions, and
certainly the speakers opportunity for
correct judgment had been ample.
'tThe operations of no men in the east
have displayed more sagacity than Mr..
Shirk has brought to finance and trede
out here on the Wabash" DR.. Darrow
continued. "The industry and shrewd-
ness that would accumulate two mil
lion at this point would amass fortune
of fifty millions in New York. There
is even more than that difference in the
opportunities.
"What were Mr.. Shirk's methodist"
/ asked,
"Ceaseless industry, the confidence
that comes of a profound knowledge in
human nature and something like inspi-
ration in his judgment of properties
and values" was the reply. 'Shirk
was here two or three years before L
came,' DIR. Darrow continued. I'm
40 he was a small but thrifty dry
goods merchant; his operations, how
ever, were never confined to any one
branch of business. He was always
ready to buy or trade for anything,
scrip, stock of goods, mill, farm,
or wild lands. But in his varied inter-
ests, as merchant, banker, miller,
farmer, lie was always master of the
situation. AS banker, he would take
risks of thousands of dollars, that |, as
the custodian of the peoples money,
could not think of taking. He operated
largely on his own capital. As real
estate dealer, no man in the country
has sold farms as cheap. He will have
nothing to do with farm that is
not good, his investments whether in
Upton county or Chicago evidence
that the future is bright. His lands are
always for sale, and a fictitious or ex-
travagant price is never asked, / have
no doubt but that the cheapest agricul-
tural lands in the State may be pur-
chased of him to-day. He buys farms
with view to selling them. His
property is always for sale at slight
advance. These transactions in real
estate are on banking principles, and
reasonable interest on the investment
seems to satisfy him. When any char
acter of property IS held by e. II. Shirk
for a large advance, other parties ars
certainly interested with him, and
the holding is always contrary to
his judgment. But all of his purchases
do not prove profitable. For inEtance,
with others he became proprietor of the
Wabash and Erie canal. Shortly after
ward, by selling, a reasonable per cent.
n.sa1l1 Lava haat, r,aaIn HE Aufn
to sell, but the partners prepared to
hold. Just at this time it cannot be
unloaded at sacrifice.
Eventually, however, it may appre-
ciate. His manner is all original. In
the land department of his business he
seems to hold all the details in his head.
The original cost, condition of the
building, acreage, susceptibility Of cul-
tivation, fencing, drainage, timber
lands, everything he has Immediately
ut his tongues ends. This promptness
and accuracy is largely the secret of his
success. Another characteristic in
which he is remarkable. almost phenom-
email: He knows no difference in men.
The smallest renter in the country
would receive as can lid and courteous
hearing from him as he would award
to the largest merchant on the conti-
nent. He would meet Vanderbilt ex-
actly as he would meet Tom Jones,
and as you see him to-day you would
see him if he were worth less than
S50."
d. II. Shirk is certainly one of the
most remarkable citizens of the State.
He is spare man, of So years, with
serious cast of countenance, but vigor-
GUS movement. He has lived in Peru
nearly forty years, and something of
his activity may be inferred from the
fact that, in 1881, he paid taxes to the
amount of $4,000. He is not readily
communicative about his fortune, but
answers direct questions, and seems
wholly unconscious of the fact that his
achievements have been at all extraor-
dinary. At this writing he owns
seventy-three large farms in Indiana,
all in a high state Of cultivation, be-
sides city property, prairie and timber
lands in vrrious parts of the Union.
His fifteen farms in Upton county
range in value from $1,000 to $12, 900
each; his fourteen farms in Marshall
county range in value from $4,000 to
$40, 900 each; Pulaski, ten farms, ali
large and valuable. In all the follow
ing counties he has either farm or
farms: Wabash, Huntington, Warrick,
Gibson, Cass, Fulton, Jasper, Adams,
Jefferson, and Allen, In the state of
Michigan he has twenty-four farms and
1900 acres of timber lands, largely pine.
In Arkansas, he holds 5000 and in
Texas 8, 100 acres of land. One of his
first operations was getting possession
of a large tract of Iowa land, when
emigration was turned in that direction,
The Indiana farmer desiring to move
to that State, be would buy out, paying
so much money and trading in wild
lands. That was repeated in Kansas
with uncommon success. In every
instance the farmer felt himself bene-
tited and his condition improved. With
little money, Kansas was a glorious
State to which to move. 1t was also
repeated in Arkansas, but not with
such marked success, for the reason
that many of the emigrants sickened
and died; the lands, however, appre-
eilted in value.
The rental of one of his buildings in
Chicago amounts to $4,000 annually.
This is only five stories in heighth, but
another that he is now building, will
reach six stories, and is already leased
tor $4,000 per year. He also owns
nine residences, one that rents for
81, 900 and eight more at $500 each. In
Kokomo he owns two hotels, three
business houses and two dwellings; in
Lafayette, two residences. An estab-
lishment in Monticello and one at Peru
comprises his banking interest OF the
First National in Peru Mr.. Shlrk owns
$780, 900 of the stock, and the stock
would sell at $500 share. A son,
Milton StIrk, Mrs. Lovatt and ].
Cruitzer control the remaining stock.
1t was one of the first established in the
west under the law, and the manage
nnant baS nrof ofitad law oil tho adya nta0aG