St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-03-20
Rich Men Of the Quiet Town-Their
Habits and Doings.
Geo. W. Childs and Banker Drexel-The Mill.
ionare Who Wears One Suit Many Years.
Railroad Magnstes Who Have Fondness
For Fast Horses.
Philadelphia Correspondence.

His neck is short, and he holds his chin so
far down on his breast that he has to look up
through his eyebrows when talking to tall
man. He does not return to his office until
2 80, but at that hour he will gladly welcome
visitors. He is easily accessible, and should
he take fancy to his caller will present him
with beautiful little cup and saucer as
of his visit. Two hours later he is
joined by his friend Dre1el, and together
they walk on Chestnut street, Mr.. Childs fire.
quently carrying bundle or basket, espec-
tally if he is living at his magnificent coun-
try seat Wootten, on the main line of the
Pennsylvan ia railroad, which is his home
the better part Of the year, despite the fact
that he owns marble palace on Walnut
street and charming cottage at Elberon.
Mr.. Child's friend,
MR.. DRExEL,
is also frequently seen about Third and
Chustnut streets. He is the head OF bank
ing-house of Drexel & Co. and is worth
somewhere about $40, 900. 600 or S12, 900. 900.
In appearance Mr.. Drexel is quite plain.
He has bright, kindly eye, and his upper
lipi adorned by mustache rapidly turning
gray, which is always trimmed short and is
consequently rather bristly. What be lacks
in gorgeousness of attire is made up by his
son, "Tony, junior" as he is called. This
youth is tall and f1eshy. He is quite fair,
and the mustache which he has cultivated is
30 downy and so light in color that it is hard
to distinguish it. In the matter of dress this
scion of tue house of Drexel has no rival in
Many of his suits-and he has
a score-are imported from London, while
his collars, ties, shoes. gloves, ETC., are sure
to be according to the latest fashionable
mandates from the British metropolis. He
is member of the First City troop, the
crack cavalry corps of the town, and is
prominent figure at all social gatherings.
This is the young man who has been on more
than on one occasion impersonated by
NEW YORK BUNCo sHARPs,
to the grief and regret of supplemented
who deeped themselves hon
ored to loan money to SO distinguished
gentleman.
An old gentleman, feeble and totter-
ing under the weight of seventy odd years,
may be seen almost any day in this vicinity.
He is slight of frame and weak in limb. His
scant gray locks blow out in the stiff March
wind from under his wide-brimmed soft felt
hat, and he shufles along, cane IN hand, stop
ping now and then to peep into q brokers'
Office at the quotations OIL the blackboard, or
to discuss some financial topic with friend
This is Mr. Isaiah V. Williamson, bache--
lor, and the wealthiest man probably in Phil
delphia, being worth fully $13, 900, 900, while
some estimate his riches at SO, 000, 900 more.
He is large stakeholder in the Pennsylvania
com pany, and one of the directors of
the Philadelphia and Reading. Mr. William
son lives very modestly. His tailor bills are
extremely light, the clothes he now wears
having been worn by him for years. When
he wants any mending done or any cleaning
he carries the bundle himself to little tailor
shop situated in back street of this very
neighborhood, and for few cents the repair
ing or the renovationg is accomplished. A
story is told of Mr.. Williamson to the effect
that few years ago he came to the conclu-
sion that he would have to increase his an-
nual expenses from $3.50 to 81 900 and that
the idea of the increase caused him no less
than three sleepless nights. Mr.. Williamson
gives largely to charity, but always in amost
way. Now and then he
few thousand to
ADD TO HIS PILE,
the nucleus Of which was earned in the whole
sale dry goods business.
most persistent Spectator, and an ardent
admirer Of William Fl. Vanderbilt, is the
venerable looking Edward G. Knight, presi-
cent of the Bound Brook Railroad company,
and until quite recently also a director of the
Reading railroad, Not day passes that he
does not visit the Office Of his brokers an d for
some minutes make careful study Of the
quotations and the course Of the market He
Is an elderly gentleman, and his white hair
and whiskers and his large glass spectacles
give him the appearance Of Presbyterian
elder or deacon.
Almost any day at almost any hour tall
man In q checkered oyercoat, wearing an
enormous red mustache and walking with
giant strides, may be seen on Third street
Il is J. Lowber Welsh, son Of ex-Minister to
England, Hon. John Welsh, and an ex-mem-
Der Of the board of directors OF the Wabash
Railroad company. Mr.. Welsh has con sider-
able capital and is fond of using 1t for the
relief of railroad companies at times when
hey need friend. In this way he aided
The Reading road last June, when it was on
Ihb Of Dbf AObiiNo
IN the payment of the interest on its general
mortgage skies, and bought up the coupons
Il is understood he made nice little sum
Of money By the transaction.
Anyther young man frequently seen in
his neighborhood is A. J. Cassatt, President
IF the New York, Philadelphia and Norfolk
railroad company. He is a tall, fne-lookiDg,
robust fellow, resembling very much In APP
Dearancc the typical young English squire.
Mr.. Cassatt owns a fine country seat not far
rom town where be raises blooded stock
He possesses fine racing stable and bis
horses are entered at the several racing meet
pgs of the season. In this matter be uses
NE name of Kelso, and until late years no
1ne knew that Kelso and Cassatt were the
same. The object of this hiding Of his iden-
ity. il is said, was 10 avoid structures at the
hands Of the old-fogy stockholders Of the
Railroad company, who had
refused to promote Mr.. Csssatt to the presi-
iency on the death of President Scott be-
.ause they deemed him "too fast.''
JAY COOKE,
Who years ago came to grief, carrying With
hin hundreds Of depositors who had confided
heir little all to his keeping, has made an
1ther fortune and is still to be seen here.
BE has little Office in the building once oc-
,upied hy his big banking house, and in and
put OF that Office be may be seen going three
Or four times every dsv, wearing big cloak
md an enormous soft felt bat of light color
His face Is still rudy, though his whiskers
are SNOWY, aDd be seems In excellent health.
A peculiarly of Mr. Cooke is his fondness
~
bis arrival at his office he finds posy and
couple of sticks Of mint candy lying upon
his desk, one Of his clerks being commits
stoned to look after these little details daily
President George B. Roberts Of the Penn
sylvania Railroad company is only now and
then seen on Third street He does not
speculate odenly, II he speculates at all. and
be seldom has call TO visit the Philadelphia
:.