Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-17


From the Albany Evenin0 Journal
NEW YORK, Dec. IL had the pleasure
or meeting on the cars on the way from
albany TO New York recently man who
,ss developed one OF those remarkable
career so Peculiarly American and so
ourprising to strangers to the country
Mr.. Pnilip D. Armour, the noted packer
nj Chicago. He has square, determined
law. thoughtful eyes, expansive forehead,
a round, smooth face, with ready smile
mat plays ABOUT the lips as he speaks. 1t
;s the face of a man who knows his busi-
mass and is satisfied.
Mr.. Armour is a native OF New York
state. He was born at Stockbridge, In
Madison county. He was the son of a
farmer. who was of Scotch descent, a
strong abolitionist in the early anti
slavery DAYS, and also a strong temper
once man. His mother was New York
lschoolmarm," also of Scotch descent,
md she carried the strict discipline of the
,rhool into the household. The father
faugbt the boys from early childhood that
honesty and self-respect were essential TO
success: the m other taught them the truth
frst and selt-reliance neXt. Mr.. Armour's
school days was spent in the CaZenovia
seminary.
A little innocent love affair with one of
the Young lady students led to her dis
missal for a technical violation OF the
rules and to his withdrawal from the
school on his own account. One OF young
ArmOur's brothers had been involved ir
some trouble at the same school which
had greatly mortified his father, and
Young Phil did not explain to him why he
had lett school On his return home at
the age of II years. in 1850, when the
California gold fever was rapidly develop
ing It's greatest excitement, young Ar
r10ur told his mother that he thought he
would 90 TO California. He hoped to fly
from the embarrassments OF CaZenovia
and to find wealth upon the golden sands
nf the Pacific. He had always been a
thrifty lad, self-reliant and trustworthy.
His father still did not know the reason
which compelled him to leave school, a
reason, it may be added, that brought no
dishonor upon the young man. for his
association with the young lady of the
seminary had been entirely honorable,
though in violation of the rules of the In
stitutlOn.
The fathers consent was obtained to
his trip 10 the Pacific, and with three or
four companions young Armour walked
all the wav across the continent to Cali
fornJa. Evidence of his natural business
sagacity is found in the fact that he i'm
medately entered into mining and made
1t prof liable. He looked about, and OBJ
serving that bitches to supply miners
with water was a good Investment, be
with his associates. secured control of a
ditch. At once money began to pour in
upon them. His companions, satisfied
with their good luck. left within a year,
selling their interest in the ditch to him.
He remained until he was % years old.
His highest ambition had been to return
home with sufficient money to buy farm.
Bv the time he had decided to return he
had accumulated a snug fortune, enough
10 buy a number of farms.
His Journey homeward was tull of high
anticIpations of the pleasure which
awaited him in looking upon the old
homestead again. Buthe met great dis
appointment. His little brother had
grown up out of remembrance. some OF
the family were scattered, and the old
homestead and it's surroundings seemed
to have shrunk into the smallest dimen-
sions. Oneida creek, across whose wide
waters he had often swan, was now 8
little stream few feet wide. The two
poplar trees guarding the portals OF the
homestead, which to his boyish eyes had
always appeared to be giants in stature,
seemed dwarfed into mere stumps. His
the deep canyons of the Pacific, among the
great trees, and in a land where every
thing expanded to huge proportions, had
totally unified him for the serenity OF
the old homestead. He confessed his Bit
ter surprise and disappointment to his
mother almost with tears.
He could not bear to remain at home,
and finally decided to seek the West
again. He went to Milwaukee and en-
tered into the business Of brother-in-
law. wholesale grocer. Next he bought
the largest elevator In Milwaukee,, thus
becoming interested In grain, and from
wheat to pork and packing was an easy
step. Mr.. Armour has to-day the largest
packing house in the world. He does the
largest business in provisions, dead meats,
grain, and other distinctively western
products of any American. Wealth has
poured in upon him until millions stand
10 his credit, but he takes as much pride
In his past as in his present. 1t is inter-
estlng to recall that the school girl Of whom
ne was enamored at CaZenovia fingered
long in his thoughts. While he was
on the Pacific 1t was the custom for the
miners to send a messenger for the mail
and to pay him a dollar for each letter
brought. Young Armour used 10 watch
the mail with eagerness, not only to hear
from home. but also to hear from the
young lady upon whom his affections
were centred. Though he wrote her re-
peatedly ne received no reply. Finally he
supposed he was forgotten and refrained
from writing. In after years he found
tnat as he moved from place to place his
mail had not followed him, and that his
nrst love had been true until disappoint-
ment smothered the fame OF love. Many |
years after Mr.. Armour had been happily |
married he learned that the one upon |
whom his youthful affections had been |
centred was the happy wife of prosper |
GUS motel keeper, now wealthy landlord
IN Washington. Mr.. Armour married a |
cincinnati lady of social distinction, and
mas an interesting family in which all his
affections are centred. His children have
inherited largely his own business sa-
gaclty, and are in part associated with
vi MIS- brothers. One by one they have
iett the farm to follow his fortunes, and
nave become millionaires.
Recalling his life at Cazenovia, Mr..
armour said, with twinkle in his eye,
snat but for mis- little love affair he proba-
OILY never would have gene West to start
anew amid circumstances that have de-
Veloped so wonderfully and given him his
present distinction. Mr.. Armour, in a
modest way, ascribes his success in life
wholly to the training that his father and
MS mother gave him. From his earliest
recollections his father took him into bis
entire confidence. All the children were
allowed by the father to be partners with
N h.xa ALL N