The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-11-15
Beniainih p. Hutchinson.

h
risun house after March 4.
Benjaimin p. Hutchinson
The man who is responsible for the big
corner III wheat is one of the quaintest
rnggedest most successful, and richest
operators on the Chicago Board of Trade.
He is worth round $4,000, 600 His
name is Benjamin P. Hutchinson. but 30
body thinks of calling him anything but
Old Hutch. He has rath r youthful
look and sprigbtly step. although he is over
60. He is tai, broad shoullere1, and stall
wart, and almost shabby in dress.
BE is democratic in bis manners, and
| will stop in the street to talk with the
shabbiest spectator Oh the open Board In
The summer be wears an old brown straw
hat, This he exchanges when the frost
comes for big sombrero rusty and dusty.
Sometimes be refuses to take his hat off
IN places where the usages of society call
for barred heads. and it is even alleged that
he usually uses bis bis hat for night cap
His son, Charles Hutchinson, is still a
young man. He is worth million, and is
president of the Board of Trade, and at
the head OF the rich Cotton Exchange
! Bank. He is also a patron Of art, and is
| president of the Chicago Art Institute.
| But the old man doesn't believe in art
| He even sWears at art as he sWears any
thing else. He was a much disguised
man when he heard that Charley had paid
81 200 for a picture of three CT four sheep
| by Rosa Bonheur.
Like many successful business men of
Chicago, Hutchinson came from New
England. After leaving his bench IN
Lynn. Mass. lie started dry goods store,
but was caught in the panic of 1857 and
knocked out with 5000 liabilities and
small assets. lie came Immediately to
Chicago and began specializing on the
Board. In two years he paid off his debt
down East, and at the beginning of The
war was free from all embarrassment.
Ever since he has been growing richer
and richer.
He has not been bold Spectator He
has avoided big deals and corners, and has
made it point to Show profit at the end
of each day. He is a calper and no one
knows better the value of one eighth OF
per cent multiplied by millions OF bushels,
quickly turned and on the right side of the
ledger.
He likes to jump III quick and out at the
first opportunity showing a profit. He
hates loss worse than poor man does,
with all his stake, and has been known to
load up with a million bushels OF wheat
and then close out on a decline of !. He
dabbles in real estate on the same plan.
He will buy "a tract of land for 800, GOO
and sell it the next day for SOL 200 if he
can get it. He made so much out of the
put and call business that tie other fell
lows had to stop that business. For
violation OF the rule the Old man was sus-
pended from the Board for ninety days.
MIR. Hutchinson is very secretiye. It is
said that once he voluntarily sent $40 000
to friend who was in trouble out Of pure
gratitude. The man told about it, This !
so angered the old man that he has not
spoken to him since.
Mr.. Hutchinson lives in the Century
Club in the four-story brown mansion just
across from the Board of Trade. AS he
takes most of his meals there, he lecog
nizes the value of economy in every de-
partment, and, constituting himself as
commissary. general, he hangs a market
basket on his arm and stalks among the
commission merchants of South Water
street. From them he asks and gets oot-
tom figures, for he will stand no trAing
When a huckster tries TO get another
nickel for his potatoes the old mans face
changes to an apoplectic hue and he de-
nounces the 'robber'' on the spot.
This Century CLUB, by the way, is like
Mr.. Blaine's trusts-largely private af
fair. The few mem ers On its rolls are
choice spirits who are willing to join in
friendly game of whist or poker with Mr..
hutchinson. Mr.. Hutohinson's drink is
whiskey. This story is told Of him: The
Chicago Carpet Company occupies the
northeast corner of Monroe street and
Washington avenue. Mr. Hutchinson has
a large interest in the firm. and, as he
likes to inspect his property 10 his own
time, he has key to the store. The show
window is a very elaborate affair.
The softest and richest rugs are thrown
upon a hard wood floor; handsome drape-
ries form a tasteful background, and
couch fit for q queen finishes the picture.
One night. so the story goes, Old Hutch
"had a jag on" as thei say ie the un
tutored West, and he concluded to go to
the store. lie looked through tie stock
to his satisfae ion and then was about to
leave when his eye caught the great win
dow. He was tired. and in an instant
after, as be threw himself Gil the couch,
he was fast asleep. and there he was dis.
covered early IN the morning
| The wheat deal in which Ola Hutch has
been engaged is in many respects bis most
Important operation. 1t presents him in
a new Light, and a glimpse of a new phase
of bis many sided characteristics is given.
He Is not seen this time aa a scalper work
ing for quick and narrow margins. He
has been master of the situation through
out, and he knew it.
Most of M Hutchinson money is in
the shape Of quick assets. and when be has
bought large line of stocks he has always
paid for it in cash. He has never been d
man to attract q loyal and steadfast fol-
lowing, being almost too volatile. While
lacking i'll tenaeity of purpose, he has
more than made up for it in quickness of
perception ard accuracy of judgment. He
has, OF course, met with losses. but they
have been few and small IN comparison
with bis successes. -PHtsbura Dispatch.
Advice To Mohora.-