The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-03-03
sPREckgLs, THE SUGAR KING"
How He Became the Master of Millions
His Personal Appearances.

His Personal Appearances.
(San FRANCISCO Cor. Globe Democratic
Claui Spreckels, commonly known a. the
Sugar King OF the San lwich Islands
wiells power more democratic, il NOT
greater, than that OF any other monop Dist
in the world Spreci1eis is South
German, born in Hanover, man
Of small education, who came to this
country about 1880, AMI started in the
retail grocery business in Cnurch street New
York. He made the ifnpre sion on those who
knew him there as a man Of great bu ,iness
4hrewlne53 and Of the thrift which is pro-
verbal OF his race He came out to Cali
tornia sooa after the goll fever broke out,
and at once engaged il the grocery business
in this city, preferring 1t to The hazards and
harishjps Of mining. Everything which he
touched seemed to turn to gold lie made
large profits in his business. Combining with
several of his brothers who hal como out
TO the coast, he bought quarter interest
IN the Albany brewery, in this city, FOR $40
800. TINS was the foundation of his present
large fortune ami commercial Importance.
A'tor running tho brewery few years, his
Keen business instincts saw in sugdr-refiaing
far more profitable field Of enterprise
OF Sprec&els' wealth ii is impossible to
form any accurate estimate, because much
Of his property is moltgaged, and it is I'M
derstoo1 the greater part Of his fortune is
embarked in the sugar business, which is apt
to deprecilte He makes daily the year
round, however, G)0 barrels of sugar, con
tanning 30 pounds oi sugar each worth an
average Of $50 a harlal rhis makes bust
ne : OF SIS, OJ1 day, OF So, ,00l a year
lie niaaes u clear profit Of SO a barrel or
$1,000 a day, which amounts to s., 1870, 900 a
year lie controls the entire sugar trade of
the coast, which represents $4,000 900 a
year Down at Honolulu he puts on mora
| the airs OF an autocrat aEd his course there
lately has put him into disravor with both
the native and foreign population. Last
January he loaned the king $1,000, O03
Among his employees Spracke,s is probably
more popular than any other millionaire on
the coast, botau ,e he has always treated his
people We'll.
lie is of medium height, compactly built
and dresses neatly. He has the face of a
typical German, with the hish-cheek bones,
fair skin AMI blue eyes of the Tatharidni.
His eye is rs clear as that of young man.
and his skin, though drowned by exposure
is also clean and healthy. His round head
| is covered with thick growth of hair, rap
idly changing from gray to white This i,
the only Indication q! hi, years lie has the
alert look and movement OF man of 80, and
IN his steal-bluo eyes IS Il look which goes far
to reveal his character lie married years
ago when he Wa Il poor man, comedy Ger
| man girl, who was tacn amplo5eI as de-
| mnstic in the Family a. 4 large eastern sugar
| reitnor ANA he has proved a good wife an /
| mother They have four sons and one
daughter. The father aud the three older
| SONS, among whom i, Atol9I, who shot DE
Young, are member; Of the laai(ic club, il
| this city, where tn sohS arr general favor
tics. They are ali tine-loo,ing msa Of poi
ishe address, AMI have travc,oi much an
| Europe