Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-20
MIR. WHTTELAw REID.
sketch OF the Career OF the New Miniss
ter TO France.

Ter Frautt.
Though Mr.. whitelaw Reid. who has been
nominated rs minister TO France, Is credited 10
New York aud has become best known by his
connection with the New York TSibrnse. he wss
born in Ohio and did his first newspaper work
in that state. He was born at Nenia, Ohio. in
October 1887. and was graduated with distin.
guished honors at the early age Of eighteen
from the Miami university at Oxford.
Immediately after leaving college he To-
came editor and proprietor OF the Nenia
MFRS. He soon afterward went 10 Columbus
and reported the proceedings Of the Legislature
for the Cincinnati Gdsff1e and several other
papers. When the war broke out Mr. Reid
went 10 the front as a correspondent OF the va
sette. and under the nom de plume OF Agate"
he described the battles of Shiloh. fredericks-
burg. the second Bull Run. and Gettysburg,
winning great fame a. a graphic and highly en-
tertaining writer.
When the war closed Reid bought a plants-
ton in Louisiana. He soon grew tired Of that
business the profits being small and the labor
too physical. and he returned 60 the north and
wrote After the War" chronicle OF the south
in ls65-66, and Ohio in the War" q two-vol-
ume history OF the part Ohio's soldiers took in
the great conflict. Mr.. Reid had become a
stakeholder in the Cincinnati Gdz,fte and i'm
1865 returned to that paper and assumed the
position of leader writer and editor in charge.
During the Impeachment triRl Of President
Andrew johnson Reid represented the CARTE
! in this CITY.
| His work at that time resulted in an offer
| from Horace Greeley 90 become an editorial
writer on the New York Tiflioas. which was ac-
cepted. and in the summer of 1869 Mr. Reid
| succeeded John Russell Young as managing
editor OF the Tribune. which position he held
| until the nomination of Mr.. Greeley for the
presidency in lo72. when he was given full con-
troll of the paper in consequence OF its found
! ers sensltiveness. which impelled him 70 re-
| llnquish the editorship of the chief organ OF
the liberal republican party while be was its
! national candidate. Although after the cleo
! tion Mr.. Greeley announced his resumption OF
editorial duties, his death followed in a few
days. Then a majority of the stock of the
Tribune was sold to a syndicate. of which the
late VIM. Orton. president of the Western Union
telegraph company. was the head. and Schuyler
Colfax. then Nice-President OF the United
States. wa- selected for the chief editorship TO
! take charge at the expiration Of his term. three
! months later. Mr.. Reid prepared TO retire but
suddenly II was announced that the contem-
plated scheme had fallen through. Vim. Wal
ter Phelps, II is understood. came 20 the rescne
and saved the paper 20 Mr.. Reid and his
| friends. Since that date, December, 1872,
| Whitelaw Reid has been the responsible head
of the Tribune. IL WIS under his personal di-
rection that the present TTiJ,0se building. nine
stories and a tower-the pioneer OF its kind in
New York city-was erected al cost of 81 .OOO.-
/ 600.
Mr. Reid was offered by President HAYES the
mission to Germany, 10 succeed Bayard Taylor.
deceased. but declined. On April 26. 1851. he
was married TO Miss Elizabeth Mills daughter
of ID. q. Mills. a well-known California million
aire. and with his bride went abroad for six
months, the Tribune being placed in charge of
John Hay. formerly an editorial writer on the
| paper. and later assistant Secretary of State
under President HAYES. Not long after Mr.
| Reds marriage the Iriblac passed almost en-
1 tirely into his hands and that of the Mills FAM
! lily. the registry of stock at the annual meeting
N 1888 showing the following: Whitelaw Reid,
| as shares in his own name and As more in the
name of his wife, while his brother-in-law
owned 20 shares more, the family thus owning
| altogether l43 out of the 200 shares The re-
mainder was held in small lots and in nearly
hall the cases by estates. The report stated
! that with the exception of a loan Of SlOO. 900,
| the new building had been entirely paid for
out of the profits on the current business.
| Mr.. Reid in October, 1ss6. purchased the
| Madison avenue palace of Henry Willard for
| S4O0.OOO. this being very much less than the
| original cost. which, ii is understood. was up
| wards of Sl,000,000. Minister Reid IL in every
| way personally fitted for the high place assigned
him to represent the United States abroad
Above the average height. well formed. dig
! nihed in bearing. thoroughly acquainted with
the WAYS of the worl1 polished and affable
! but always discreet, Mr.. Reid. with his wide
knowledge of public questions and ample for
tune, Will be fully equal 20 the responsibilities
and high social demands of the French mission
Mrs. Reid is a lady of superior education and
attractyeness. more devoted 10 her home. her
husband, and her two little boys than TO society
but thoroughly capable of filling the highest
position in the social life of the French capital
| Mr.. Reds personal wealth is estimated at
| Sl.G00.OO0. He is prominent member of the
| Union League and of the Lotus Club, of which
he has served as president.