The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-10-04
HENRY VILLARD'S STORY
THE SIMPLE ANNALS OF A POOR
YOUNG MAN.
From Poverty 10 Amuence-The Ups
and Downs of Wonderful Man.

From Poverty TO Anluence-The Ups
and Downs of Wonderful Man.
II will be remembered that Henry
Willard went under financial cloud 10
1884, lost his private fortune OF S0,OOO,
900, presidency OF the Northern racine
railroad, went to Europe, and did moi
return until 1886. He has entirely re-
covered his financial grip, and on Thurs
day voted on a majority of the stock OF
the Northern Pacific R r., elected his
own Board Of Directors, but declined to
accept the presidency of the company,
In 1854 he arrived a poor em'grant from
Bavaria at Castle Garden, New YORK,
and changed his name to Henry Willard
Henry Willard, who resigned in 1884, Is
president once again of the Oregon
Transcontinental Company, and on
Thursday voted S20,000,0O0 of stock OF
the Northern Pacific Company, together
with other stock of himself, and friends,
giving him a ma jority of all stock voted
of about 10, 900 shares. OF a truth is it
that we in modern times can boast OF a
Phoenix rising from his ashes. ''Fte
Rosicrucian" in Saturdays Utica Herald
gives something of
WIZARDS HISTORY.
While speaking OF the ups and downs
in life, one is naturally led to the strange
vicissitudes which mark the history OF
Henry Willard. Since his return from
Germany he has kept himself aloof from
the press, and reporters have vainly at
tempted interviews. This conduct in q
man who once himself was reporter
may seem very strange, but it is the
natural consequence of misfortune. His
heightened circumstances leads him
to avoid publicity until he shall have
fully retrieved his once distinguished
position. Looking back on his early his
tory.i may be said that it is now thirty
five years since Heinrich Hilgard camt
hither from Bavaria, where his father
held a high legal position and eventually
became a judge. Young Hllgard, who
is cousin to Professor Hilgard of the
coast survey, assumed his present namt
in order to veil that humiliation Il
which poor adventurer might be sub
iect. No doubt he intended to resumed
his family name when he would add t.
its honor, but he neglected this. aud M
doubt found it embarrassing when hi
WeuJ W bGlIlduy W udNS WV h"h'N''
GRADUAL ADVANCE.
He began American life in the West
where he wrote for the German papers
and after acquiring our language, be
came a general reporter, Distinguishing
himself by his admirable report OF TIT
Lincoln and Douglass debate, in which
both stumped the State and made an
tagonistic speeches. Later on the young
reporter went to Colorado and wrote in
teresting letters, which, after goinl
through the papers, were issued in bool
form. When Lincoln was inaugurated
he went to Washington as correspond
ent, but when the war begun he entered
the field in the same service, and thence
Joined the navy, being with Admira
Dupont during the attack on Charleston
He was also on Rosencrans' staff, ant
then Joined Grant, and wrote up tn
terrible march through the wilderness
Then he went to Europe and wrote VI
the Franco-Prussian war. While Their
the German capitalists were DESTROYS o
learning the nature of American securi
ties and piled him with inquiries. Ii
won their confidence so completely tina
on his return he was entrusted with ii
nancial enterprises in which he acquitte'
himself with ability. He had while IL
the far West investigated its resources
and this led him into the tTanscOntlnen
tai railway enterprise. His blind poe
was the natural result of his connection
with this scheme and those who engag
ed in it found their confidence well re
warded. He and his clique having con
troll of SIC, 100000, became masters o
the Oregon and NorthernPacific system
of which he became president.
THE DIZZY SUMMIT.
Henry Willard was at this time con
sidered the most brilliant man in tn
financial world. and to cap the china,
he gave that grand transcontinentaI ex
cursion which shall long stand unequal
ed. 1t cost SAC, 600, and was really vi
necessary expense, but Wizards "heat
was turned and he was blinded to tn
perils which accompany so dizzy an EN-
inence. He had also begun a half mil
million palace when the revolution Sc
in and in few weeks his fortune, which
had been estimated at $40, 1000, 600, al
disappeared. The half finished palaC
was purchased by Whiteaw Reed, ant
Willard crushed by those sudden calam
tiles, sailed for his native land, wher
he was kindly received. The German
capitalists gave him funds for a fresl
start, and he came back to try FORUM
again. He has been more successful
than might have been expected, and hi
friends think that he will fully retriev,
his lost fortunes, but if this prove true
Henry Willard will be an exception t.
the general rule-that those who fal
through delusive prosperity are les
likely to recover than the plodder, who's
habits the better fit him to meet adver
nitu