Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1888-08-13

LAWRENCE r. JEROME.
party was complete without "Uncle Larry
As story teller and wit his only equal in
this country was his warm personal friend,
the late William r. Travers, and as a whole
souled and generous gentleman there were
none who surpassed Mr.. jerome.
For many years he was one of the famous
coterie of jokers and wits which included
Mr.. Travers, Billy Florence, the actor, and
Captain Billy Connor. Many were the prae-
tical jokes which these good fellows played
upon one another and none took them in
better part than Lawrence r. Jerome
There was another side to the dead mans
character, which few but his intimate friends
knew He gave away money in charity
with lavish hand, and many poor man
has been helped along by "Uncle Larry
The history Of the jerome family is closely
identified with that Of New York in its later
days. There never was a more enterprising,
genial and patriotic citizen than Lawrence
Jerome's brother Leonard, nor one who did
more for the cause of the Union, both by
opening his purse and by cheering on the
men of the north at the most critical periods
Of the civil war In this work Lawrence
Jerome was an able second.
The brothers were closely identified with
yachting, horse racing and other sports, and
did as much as any others to improve the
breed of horses in this country. jerome
park was founded by them, and in every
thing calculated to rebound to the credit Of
the city or to promote the enjoyment Of city
life the Jerome brothers were leading spirits
For several years before his death, owing
to unfortunate Wall street speculations,
Lawrence Jerome was not in possession Of as
large an income as he had previously been
accustomed to, but this made no difference
in his temperament. He was always the
same light hearted, good natured "big boy"
whom no misfortune could sour
Lawrence Roscoe jerome was born at
Pompey, small village near Syracuse, N.
Y. He was one of a family Of eleven chill
dren, Of whom ten were boys When Law
renee was u years old his father moved 10
Marion, Wayne county, and engaged in
farming on a large scale on farm owned
by Amos Hall. For several years Lawrence
assisted in the farm work, and then he went
to Rochester and began the study of law in
the Office of his uncle, Hiram X. Jerome
Law did not suit the jolly boy, and SO he
soon went to New York and engaged as clerk
in a wholesale dry goods establishment. This
proved no more to his taste, and he soon went
into partnership with his brother Leonard
and began the publication of The Native
American at Rochester After the election
of Fillmore as president Lawrence Jerome
was nude collector of the port OF Rochester,
and Leonard went to Trieste as consul.
When change OF administration caused
his removal Lawrence came to this city, and
with his brothers, Addison md Leonard, en-
/ gagged in stock brokerage.
/ Lawrence had little money, but his friend,
j James Gordon Bennett, presented him with
a seat ON the Stock Exchange, then valued at
/ S25,00O
/ The firm was very prosperous, and Leonard
Jerome was for time one Of the biggest
men in the financial world
/ Lawrence, after the dissolution of the firm,
4 began operating upon his own account, but
/ did not make success of it, His jovial
nature was not intended for business, and it
is said that some Of the sharpers Of Wall
street took advantage of his good nature,
| borrowed large sums of money and robbed
him in other ways.
Lawrence Jerome was usually bear upon
the market, and after several years he found
that his fortune was badly impaired. By the
advice of his friends he invested the remain
! der SO that it returned him an income Of
/ about $4,000 year. Upon this sum he man.
1 aged to live well and enjoy himself.
Mr. Jerones wife, who survives him, was
1 the daughter Of Amos Hall, the owner of
] the farm upon which Lawrence worked when
/ boy His brother Leonard married Clara
A. Hall, another daughter. Mr.. Jerome had
/ four sons, of whom three survive
him. The eldest was Roswell II. Je-
rome, who was assistant district attorney of
New York at the ago Of 81. He was a re-
markably bright young man, but died when
/ but % years old. The other sons are Lowell
I H., who is a graduate Of West Point, and is
now special treasury agent in Texas; Law
renee Roscoe, who is managing an extensive
ranch in the west, and William Travers
Jerome, an assistant district attorney on the
staff Of Col. Fellows
OF late years Mr.. Jerome has spent most
Of his time at the Union club, where he was
always surrounded by an admiring circle Of
friends He was a regular first nighter at
the theatres and took a great interest in
racing matters He was a social lion and
was received With delight in the most exclu-
aye circles