The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-08
FRUGALMRS. HARRIETGREEN
Anecdotes and Incidents from the Life
of the Richest Woman in America.
She Has Got Forty Millions, and She Had
Only Nine or Ten to Start With-What
Brains and Principle Will Do.
New York sun.


derful frugality, and her great shrewdness can
be heard in any Wall-street Office, with occa-
sionally an anecdote to prove her generosity.
Such anecdotes as the latter however, are
looked upon with suspicion, and the narrator
lays himself open to mistrust.
Mrs Edward II. Green, born Harriet H. Rob-
inson, and Familiarity spoken of as Hettie by the
brokers, is distinguished above ali as the richest
woman in America. She is also the smartest
from Wall-street stand point, and at least as
eccentric as any, her strong point being her av-
arice. This fortunate woman, who owns from
thirty five to forty million dollars ii her own
right, was born forty-odd years ago in New
Bedford Her father, Edward Morton Robinson,
was born in South Kingston, on the farm since
owned by Governor William Sprague. His par
ents were James and Mary Atmore Robinson,
and from them he inherited great economy and
love Of money, handed down through long line
of New England ancestors. He was true to the
family traditions, as his daughter has BEEN after
him. and his many business ventures were
marked by unvarying success.
With his Oldest brother William A. Robinson,
he started small mill in Wakefield, r. l., and
went to manufacturing satinets Next they
opened house in Providence under the firm
name of VIM. A. Robinson 81 Co., Z. NJ Robin
son taking charge of the business there. Short
ly afterward T.. nj. Robinson went into the oil
business, his wealth steadily increasing all the
while, and forty five years ago he married the
daughter of Gideon Rowland, of New Bedford,
who was engaged very extensively in whale fish
ing. and was very wealthy
Thus brought into close contact with his
father-in-law's shipping interests, he was quick
to see that money was to be made in ships, and
at once got an interest in shipping himself.
Before very long IL was said that f. NJ. Robin
son was the largest whale-ship and merchant
shpowner in the country. A few years
after their marriage his wife died His fortune
being now - increased by half the wealth
of Gideon Rowland, he enlarged his business
still more, and became a member of the firm Of
William T. Coleman & Co.. shipping merchants,
in New York. His affairs brought him to this
city a great DEAL and in going from office to
Office and watching the for speculation, he
made up his mind that if a man were cautious
enough to speculate only when sure of winning,
there was more money in specializing than in
anything else. Into speculation he accordingly
went, and so we'll did he exercise the family
traits as to swell his fortune to the respectable
figure of 50, 100000, at which sum it was esti-
mated at his death Old business men who
fourished in his time speak of him as q man pc
nurious in the extreme, holding out for the last
cent cautious and sagacious, but always turning
over his money, and bold in his operations when
convinced that he was right
reached young wonanhood in time to inherit the
joint estates of her mother and father. She was
only child, and being brought up by her
father in surroundings of the strctest simplicity
and economy had imbibed the principles which
made him rich, and inherited with his millions
the qualities necessary to keep and increase
them. Her early life was spent in New Bedford,
with an occasional trip to New York in the gay
winter season. She was well connected in this
city, being related, on her mothers side, to the
Grinnells. During her visits here she stopped
at a boarding-horse in Twenty second street,
and put In practice the economical ideas She had
espoused.
Friends of her youth who have seen her mill
ions swell and grow, delight to tell of the early
development of traits which have marked her
whole career How she did not like young men
who sent flowers or wore expensive clothes or
jewelry and how on winter nights when
others with only a million or two in the
world would recklessly pay SIS for cab to go to
a party, she would pull pair of coarse stock
ings over her stout shoes, and tramp it through
the snow in healthy primitive fashion, pulling
the stockings off when she got there and spread
ing them the hatrack to dry. Ladies tell,
also, that her dresses were always Of the sim
plest and plainest and often behind the season.
But Miss Robinson was usually as smart as the
smartest business man in the ROOM or smarter;
her form was elegant and graceful, her eyes
were bright and sparkling, and she would dance
as lightly as anybody, when some one else paid
the piper Besides all these attractions, there
was something In the thought that the hand
which laid the stockings out to dry could draw a
check for two or three millions and get the
money. Miss Robinson did not lack admirers,
and had all the fun she wanted during her early
days in politely refusing gentlemen who knew
how much she was worth and longed to divide
But walking to parties and turning away suit
ors were only unimportant incidents in Miss
Robinson's life. Business was the great thing
and from the time her fortune became her own
her thoughts and energies were devoted to tho
best means of making it larger Her shipping
seemed to her an uncertain and dangerous in
vestment, over which she coulS> not keep con-
slant watch, and it was sold and the money put
in small mortgages, solid bonds, and similar Sc
curities until something more profitable turned
up. All this business Miss Robinson attended to
herself, travelling person from one New Eng
land town or village to another, buying up mort
cages, which she took care to investigate, and
seeking for any other investment, great or small,
that was at the same time safe and profitable
Her fathers death was shortly followed by
that of Miss Rowland, her maiden aunt, the
crippled and invalid sister Of her mother. This
aunt left an estate amounting to 81 600 00O which
became the subject of litigation, and for which
Miss Robinson fought long and stubbornly. Her
efforts were successful, and her aunt'S fortune
went to increase her wealth But public senti-
ment in New Bedford was against her and in
favor OF other claimants, and since then, it is
said, she has not revisited her birthplace.
This successful contest for her aunt's fortune
was the next to the last important act of Miss
Robinsons career. The last act made of her
Mrs. Edward III. Green, the name under which
she mas recently become so we'll known. Mr..
Edward Fl. Green was but little older than Miss
Robinson and to increase the attractions of q
fine face and figure over six feet high was
possessed of a fortune of 800, 900, which he had
made in commerce in South America. He has
been member of the Union Club since 1860,
and many stories related by his fellow
members concerning the way he won his wife !
when fortune wa yQlt on re wav tn
900, 900. One of these yarns says that one Saint
Valentines day Mr.. Green bought valentine
with dove, several hearts and motto, and put
it in an envelope to send to Miss Hettie, whom
he was then counting But, by mistake he ad-
dressed and mailed the wrong envelope. and, in
stead of the dove and hearts sent his lady love |
for valentine a receipted taiors bill for very
cheap suit of clothes. Charmed by this practical |
proof of good habits and economy, Miss Robin
son showed Mr. Green every encouragement