The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-05-04
HIS DEALS ALL CLOSED.
COMMODORE GARRISON CALLED TO
HIS LONG ACCOUNT.
Short Sketch of His Career-His Trade
With Jay Gould-Ho He Came
to Marry His Second

2 Z 4 n E T.
New YoRK, May A. -Commodore Corne-
Illus K. Garrison died suddenly Friday after
noon at his residence in this city in the
nth year OF his age. The cause of his death
as paralysis Of the heart, but the family
ad no premonition of the sudden
issolution He has been in i'll
health for number of years.
Since July. 1889, his health failed until, COM
pletely worn out by. busy life, he was
obliged to make an assignment on June, 10,
1854, to protect his property. Thursday
night he entertained small party at dinner
and was in good spirits In the night he
complained of not feeling we'll He grew
rapidly worse until he died.
Commodore Garrison had remarkable
career At one time he was regarded as one
of the richest men in the United States, his
wealth being variously estimated at from
S8,000,00o TO 5000, 000 A long series of
bad Investments and depression in railway
stocks diminished his wealth to not more
than g.. DOC. 900 or $3.0oO,O0O He was born
near West Point March l, 1909, and
after receiving a common-school education
started out for himself at the age of Ii,
beginning life with Commodore Vanderbilt
came builder, and was forty-niner in
California He became interested in rail-
roads in 1860, joining his brothers, d. r
| and Oliver, in great building schemes.
Three years ago he began the Wheeling &
Toledo road, into which he put $1,000 900
cash and almost ruinei himself. Mr.. Gar
rison was twice married, and had five
| children by his first wife, only one of whom
is living. In October, 1877, he married Miss
Letitia Randall, a society belle of st.
| Louis, who survives him. The marriage
| settlement is said TO be 81, 600, 900. The de-
| ceased leaves, besides a widow and daugh-
| ter-Mrs Van Aeken-four brothers and a
sister. His elder brother, Abram, is in
| Pittsburg. The other brother-Oliver, Dan
| and lsaac-are in st Louis. The sister is
married and resides in Pittsburg.
One of Mr. Garrison greatest transactions
was the sale of a controlling interest in the
| Missouri Pacific Mr.. Gould called, asked
the price and declined TO give it. He called
again next day and said he would take the
stock but was told it was worth half mill
| lion more than the first offer. He hooted at
| the idea, but called next day to accept and
was again 'raised" half million with
| the added information that the stock
would increase in value at tho rate Of $500,
900 per day. Mr.. Gould bought it then and
| there This was in 1875. The price paid
| was IS, 600 600, and the other stockholders
were 10 get pro rata of the purchase money.
This they did not receive, and then Mr..
Peter Marie and others brought the famous
| S., 900 600 suit against Garrison, which was
compromised but few days ago by the pay
1 r,apt ~ n00 0ll 70 thn al OF mo utc
The second Mrs Garrison, whom he mar
ried in 1878, is daughter OF J. NJ. Randall,
formerly wholesale dry goods merchant of
St Louis, and the story Of the marriage is
| thus related:
How did the aged commodore get his
young wife2' was asked of an acquaintance.
"She whistled and he came to her. my
lad" was the reply, "but she didn't do it in
the spirit of the girl in the ballad"
Garrison had been for forty years wild
over He was testy old fellow, and had
not been suspected of caring a rap fol
women. The possession of somewhere from
SIC, 900, 00G to SIS, OO0. 900, much of it in
complicated use for the promotion of rail
road and steamship schemes, had harassed
him all winter ard spring, and he had gone
to Long Branch for rest and
quiet He took a suite of tpe best
rooms in the row Of cottages which are
an annex of the main establishment calcu.
lating that he would there be little re
moved from the hustle OF the public house.
And it was for a few days as he had fondly
anticipated Then the family of John NJ
Randall of St Louis took possession Of ad
joing apartments They numbered hall
dozen persons, including whistler.
Through the thin partition the commodore
heard and was annoyed by the whistling
He disliked it exceedingly. He was driver
, by it to exasperation There was boy
! in the Randall family, and 10 him the vet
| eran attributed the noise. Ho would not a
that tims hear the soft melony of thu
whistler nor its clever fidelity TO the music
which it interpreted, but simply kept hi
ears open 10 it as torture. Randall was al
acquaintance of his. and one day he said t.
him, as they sat chatting on the veranda
"That boy OF yours will be the death of me
John. Won't you plug his mouth just Il
please me"
Co. it amt the boy replied Randall, "bu
my daughter. Here. letitial'
1t was lovely girl of 20 who responde.
to the call. and was presented to the com
modore. She whistled for him that evening
to piano accompanm ent, and it was NJ
longer irritating to him They were marie,
In the ensuing October His wedding gif
was Sl,00J,009 in sound securities In II
/; season since has any belle at Long Branch
been dresse or diverted in a more costI
. | mapner than tiia ia ir whistler