Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-06-26
FLOODS srOCK OF CON-.

Ganed aIs Almost Fabulous
W caIth.
That famous bonanza quariette con
siStiug of John w. Mackey. James c.
Flood, w. S OBren and Senator
James c. Fair have been the talk of
both continents, says the New York
/ Tribune Their almost fabulous
wealth, rivalHg that of the famous
Ormus and of Jude, aud the romantic
circumstances by which it was acquir-
cd read like a second edition of Du-
mas Monte Criste
Take for instance, the personal his
tory Of Nj Flood lie was born in
this city iu 1926 and his parents were
about rs poor as they well could be-
Nocollegiate education awaited young
Flood, but his parents worked and
scraped and stlnted themselves To give
him instruction in the ordinary Eng
lish branches Young Flood was at
tentlye TO his studies, and when in
lS49 he took passage for Californian
the ship Elizabeth Ellen built by the
then famous ship-builder William II.
Webb, his brains constituted his sole
capital. He had no rich or inAuen-
tial friends to lend hlm helping
hand. What he is to-day he owes to
himself tu 1854 he associated with
the late w. s. OBrien, and The
famed firm Of Flood & O'Buen was
formed
Concerning the subsequent career
OF Mr. Flood, it may be said that the
FIRST notable enterprise engaged in by
Mood n flfIh.f..,, F
tons in the Kentucky and other
mines on the Comstocb lode, in which
they generally contriyed TO secure a
controlling interest. This was early;in
1852
Their operations in Hale & Norcross
q few years later were on scale SO
large as TO attract general attention
70 them as miHmg spectators But
the operation was finally made the
name of Flood known throughout
the world was compressed within the
short space ot few months in the
early part of 1870 The existence Of
those vast bodies Of ore in the Consoli-
dated Virginia and California mines
which gave them the name of bon
ANA, thus addmga permanent word
to the English language, was suspect
ed as early as February, 1874, and
was made certain by The proprietors
la December of that year.
The two partners saw their fortunes
growing with colossal strides each
hour Comparatively poor the morn
ing before they had made the dis
, coveries, they awoke to dnd them
selves possessed of nearly $500, 600, coo.
/ Flood WAS staggered and dazed, and
/ Mr. O'Brieu was almost Frustrated.
1 And here stands out the sterling
| character of jim Flood, He was
not content to see his own fortune
rolling up at the rate of Sl0O, 600 a
/ day, but with an instructive generos-
| ity, he dealt most literally with those
who had the good fortune to be his
/ friends
Many Of the richest families ON the
Pacific slope trace their wealth di
rectly TO Mr.. Flood. lie Dispersed
| his favors like prince, and many old
Californluns admit that 10 the for
tunate circumstance Of their good
relations with Mr. Flood in years gone
/ by they alone attribute their being
\ rich instead of being poor It is
/ stated that the establishment Of the
\ great Bank of Nevada originated with
! Mr. Flood, and for years he has labor
ed to have the bank grow up in San
! Francisco. sound in capital and with
"a reputation throughout the world
that shall be built upon genuine mer
! il.
In appearance Mr. Flood IS pre-.
possessing, strong and about Q feet
\ ten inches high, cOmpactly built and
robust. 10 has been remarked by
/ thoughtful men to whom Nh Flood
/ has been known from youth that all
he Is now was foreshadowed IN him
1 from the FIRST; that whatever situation
he was placed IN for the moment he
was always equal 10, and performed
his part IN q grave, quiet and thought
1 ful manner, marked rather by force
| held in reserve than employed. His
bearing toward others is always that
OF The iuborn natural gentleman, in
/ varablg courteous ard gentle, and
never falling 90 receive like consider
alton from those me meets. Aud this
| was in 40 respect more marked when
occupying the humbicst position that
his birth and early surroundings i'm
posed upon him than now that he is
one Of The heaviest capitalists ia the
country.
Mr.. Flood is persistent and intel
ligent student OF financial history.
lie cannot be attracted by any Wall
street snares, and is an incessant work
er during working hours. lie is de
vOtedly attached 10 the home circle,
and his Surroundings are Of the most
pleasant character He spends the
winter months at his plain and unos.
tentatious residence on Eddy street,
in San Francisco, but the summer
nights are passed at San Mateo, where
Mr.. Flood has one OF the most attract
i've country seats on the Pacific coast.
Mr. Floods family consists Of a wife
and daughter. Miss Jennie, who was
engaged to Ulysses S. Grant, Jr.,
and a son who IS travelling around the
world in compeny with distinguish
ed San Francisco physician.
Mr.. Floods wealth is placed by