Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-02-03
Bstt.aas g*sistsr
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5, lss4.
MILLIONAlRE's RISE
Mackay's lump From Barkeepsr
10 Bonanza King.
Xseo;ng a Saloon in LOuisViAs-His Ar
rival in California-HOw His Strike .
Vas Rade-His Courtship
and Marriage.
90. tyrrs,pOnde7,c, Of ne RegtS'sr.

IeaIv,. from cOulPh9e4'N
obscurity in this country, IN the past
half century, none stand out more
s nromipently than John w. Macksy, the
.I,sIiforpia millionaire, at present living
IN psy:s His name is known all over
the Continent, aud the vast project Of
having another cable across the Attain
4 tic. bringing the other Continent into
instantaneous connection with ours,
with which he is 30 greatly identified
brings him before the public again. 10
those familiar with has career in the
past few years, and knowing his I'M
mense wealth aud splendid surround
ings, it is almost miraculous that,
within the memory of comparatively
young men, he was
Poor and 0bscare.
without a dollar in the world. AL
though much has been written and
eaid about him, as a matter Of course
but few persons are acquainted with
q his early life, and the fact that he was
at one time resident OF this city has
tpeysr been made purlie. AS 8 reporter
was passing down Main street yester-
dsy a gentleman standing at the corner
OF Twelfth street remarked: You see
s. that building over there" pointing TO
ststhe LOuse on the northwest coTn"r o.
Main and Twelfth streets. Upon TIE
4 repCT;er replying in the affirmative, he
cOnt!nutd: II suppose 1t would sur
prise a number of persons to know that
Msckay once lived there, and Kept a
saloon. The story Is not generally
known, as he was not a man OF VIDE
fseuuaiutance, aud when he lett the
xity MI thought of him died out. vi
fh0se who used to take drinks from his
hands acrnss the counter, but lew
Recognize him in his new sphere.
WAluny about 1915 Mackay came 10
this CITY in company with one or two
others i'm search of employment. lie
Was "A Young man, strong, active auu
Willing 10 work at almost anything
wh,ch would afford him good living.
AN ole! two. story frame building Stood
M III. corner over there, and the front
room had been used as a saloon. Tue
PROPRIETOR closed up few months be-
fOre, however, and the building was
left without tenant. Mackay had
some little money, and as the location
was q good one he resolved 10
Start q BarrOom
there. He made Oargia with the pro-
prleInr and secured the place, opening
or ab,ut a week later. The room and
AS fixtures would be in strong contrast
with the fine saloons Of the present
DAY, with their gilded counters and
hncy bars. The walls were covered
with q simple coat of white paint and
The counter was q long, narrow one
made of pine boards. Behind il was q
ehelf on which sat some bottles and
Masses. His coming was not take
much notice OF and none telt enough
interest To enquire from whence he
came or who he was. He was al ener-
Retic and industrious man, polite and
Incentive To his customers, and his short
agure and smiling face could be seen at
an times behind the bar. He soon built
no a very cool Trade, but he never ap-
reared satisfied. II was evident that
he a. nOr Intended for such an avOc 4
fipn in life, "a he WAS restless and, like
Mica hel, constantly waiting forsOme'
thing 10 turn up.
All. g long looked for day finally ar
riyed. and he started for California
EtIe expecting that suth good fortune
rs fell to his lot was awaiting lin. lu
lS4g the gold fever was at its height
and .vrTy day emigrantS were leaving
for the Pacific coas., eager to reap
The Harvest OfGOid
wbich they confidently expected was
vaitIrg for them. Mackay was one o
the first persons in this city TO be AZ
f3ected with the fever, and Re en-
deavured 10 induce number of friends
70 GO with him. y party OF abou
twenty i've was finally made up, anC
he was one of the leaders in II. He
sold his property Interests for SINAI
aum, aud that was the last heard OF hin
until ne jumped suddenly into the laI
.cffOrtune.
s'I was" said the gentleman, "ir
california at the time of his arrlva
there, and watched his career witt
oonsiderable interest. He had pre-
4iously known Flood and OBrien, ant
they were very fast friends. They
ZERO at that time keeping saloon II
An Francisco and Maekay worked II
the mines. The two famous fields o
WealLn then were the California an(
tie Consolidated Virginia, aud n
vorhed IN both of them. He was
rery shrewd man, tOlerably well edu
cated, and had same little knowledge o
EVIL engineering. He clearly saw tina
money invested in the stock OF eithe
ofthese mines was sure To bring goOC
r5eultS, aud every dollar hecould RAISE
vas invested 10 that way. At his in
1(ance Flood aud 0'Brien went in Will
him, and the three purchased stock q
- pr share, Soon afterwards it wen
upto -, and gradually increased to SIS
In this simple manner
Their Fortunes Were Made,
and almost before they knew it the,
Were wealthy men. Mackay then live
ma frame house on Suffer street, ant
his figure became similar one to tn
1eque nters OF the mines.
nc Was not married then, but me
the ", man who became his wife soOl
n1{erwards. This in itself is little 70
NANCE and illustrates his character
.,DAe was widow when he became sc
QnaiIte ted with her, and was the daugh
fcxof Major Hungleford, OF New Or
lens. She married y doctor and NOV
"a 10 Nevada City, where her husband
0IEd some time afterwards. He was
go man, and left his wife and child IL
Io<ber destitute circumstances. MacksI
I'D of tins some months later, ant
6<IIted u subscription for his widow
iii, contributing literally himself
1G@ "a sing neat little sum. This .
0I0@h the widows heart that she oslleC
-ou0im to thank him for his kindness
She Was Young and Pretty
w a childish face and winning ways
.1n4 captured MAckay's heart complete
bis eourship WAS quiet one suC
q 1Ioft duration, and soon the pretty
Wow united her destiny with his
M|kay was then q rich man, but hC
E1I/ widening his field of action unit
u <tpneC ton with Flood, O'Brien anC
I0| be established the Nevada Bank
- L.Ouis McClain went from Baltimor,
- image 1t. Since that time Mackay's
.oa<<er has been familiar to almost every
'oc&co-boy Unlike the majority o
- however, he does not forget thsl
hoNas on2e dependent himself, and hi!
.cI1lity has been great. He Is mem,
~ % the Catholic Church, aud estab
,4d an orphan asylum for the cail.
oIW of that denomination in Nevsds
Cl8 which he still supports. He is al
~ ready TO give for eharity's sake
~ jn addition is polite and cOurteou:
<FerybOdy."
~ = 4