The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-09-03
JOHN Fl. STARIN'S GOLD.
AN Ex. coNcREssMAN's CAREER.
From Country Doctor to Millionaire
seyen Millions in His Coffers-His
Generosity and Resemblance
to sGBrother Jonathan."
IN. Y. Journal.1


From country doctor with an annual
income Of $1,000, chiefly in bad debts, John
Il. Starin has become the High Admiral of
the commerce of the New York rivers and
canals. He even once held postmaster.
ship at twenty dollars year, and thought
himself moro than fortunate. This sum OF
twenty dollars paid for his years clothing
and left him sufficient wherewith to
"spark" the pretty young girls Of Sam
monsville, In Fulton County, New York.
! How different are his surroundings now.
Look at his beautiful mansion in West
Thirty-eighth street, furnished with its
costly ebony furniture andi its thousand
and one evidences Of the vast wealth OF its
owner, and then compare 1t with the hum
BILE cottage in which he first saw the light
Of day sixty years ago. That Mr.. Starin
often recalls his early poverty has been
clearly demonstrated in the last few years.
There are those who say Of Mr.. Starin, and
Of all such men, that their liberality Is
carefully calculated advertisement; that
the free excursions given to the newsboys,
the police and the veterans of the re-
bellion serve to advertise the excur.
sions for which the public pay;
that the frequency with which the papers
are called upon to mention Mr. Starin's
name attracts the public to Glen Island,
and that this generosity, like virtue, is its
own reward and pays an ample interest
upon the original investment. II this were
all true it would not be a fault in Mr..
Starin. On the contrary, the world would
be very much brighter and better and hap
pier il many other men would choose the
same mode Of advertising themselves and
their business. The advertisement which
gives days pleasure to the poor, ragged
newsboys, to the much.pestered police,
and TO the veterans who are forgottentand
neglected by the country they faithfully
served is an excellent thing to initiate. II
IL safe to say, however, that Admiral
Starin has no such .ulterior views in his
benevolence. In business he can drive as
shrewd bargain as any Of his critics; but
out Of business he is sort OF ofall'the-year-
round Santa Claus, delighted in giving
because it is his nature, and happiest when
he has succeeded in making others happy.
Mr.. Starin was born at the little village
Of Sammonsville, in Fulton County, on
August u, 1925. He received a classical
education, due to severe pinching and sac
rlfice on the part Of his parents. Young
Starin determined to become a doctor, and
In 1S42 he commenced the study Of medi-
cine, but he soon found that his talents
were more practical than professional.
Three years later he opened drug stone
In Fultonville and continued 1t for over
thirteen years. In the meantime he had,
OF course, taken an interest in local poll
tics, and from 1913 TO 1852 he was the Post
master Of Fultonville. His drug store was
the centre of the politics and gossip OF the
county, and when tho Republican party
was organized Mr.. Starin became one Of
the earliest and most enthusiastic support
ers of the new platform. The defeat OF
General Scott cost him his Postmaster
ship.
IL was in 1856 that Mr.. Starin turned his
attention TO the freightage business on the
Erie Canal. At first he hired canal boats;
then bought them; then built them. From
canal boats he took the easy step to steam
ers, and from the Erie Canal he seiled out
into New York Harbor and Long Island
Sound. Year by year his fleet OF vessels
increased In size and Importance. AT
first he carried freight only; then he be-
gan to develop the passenger traffic, and
now he has the two branches Of transpor-
tation under his control.
Although Mr.. Starin has left Pattonville
these many years he is by no means for
gotten there; nor has he parted with his
material interest in the county. Twice his
old Iellow-countrymen have elected him
TO Congress, and three years ago his name
was presented to the Republican State
Convention as candidate for Governor.
With his usual generosity he gave way
for Secretary Folger, and Mr.. Starin
seemed thoroughly well pleased that he
did. His son-in.law, Mr.. Howard Carroll,
the well .knowrf journalist, with less pre-.
science, accepted the nomination for Con-
gressman-at-large against General Slo-
cum. He was defeated, and did not ask;
"Is Geneyal Slocum hsrep theday. after
the election.
Mr.. Starin,s double life as o matropoli-
tan and ruralist IL evident In his occupa-
ton. He Is director of the North River
Bank here, and OF the Mohawk River Bank
also. Do pen portrait Of Mr.. Starin one
has only TO take the usual picture OF
Brother Johnathan, grizzle the blonde hair
and chin tufu and make the body q triae
stouter, and there 10 capital portrait OF
the en- Congressman.
Last night at the Metropolitan Hotel one
Of Mr.. Starin's friends said TO journal
reporter; 'With all Of his wealth, and to
put moderate limit upon IL IL is not less
than $7,00O,00o, he has no valeti his habits
Of life are too simple and unaRec ted; but
he has numerous clerks and hundreds OF
other employees, and he Is hero to all Of
these men, with whom he is brought into
the most frank and intimate intercourse
and relations. To hear his clerks speak Of
hime to SEQ their eyes giisteh with pride
and pleasure when they are permitted 10
utter his praises; Ito motto tho aifectionate
respect and esteem with which they refer
TO him--these are the best possible proof
that the public man, who has made him
self so popular, is no less worthy Of popu
larity In his private relations, and that hi,
generosity Is as genuine az u Is remark
1 IL II