The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1890-02-22
CHARLES ]. BORCHSENIUS.

CHARLES j. BORCHSENIUS.
An Interesting sketch of an Extraor-
mary Mans Career.
The late CHARLES j. BORCHsENIUs,
the founder of the village of Norway,
in this county, was remarkable man.
He conceived the plan OF starting in
his career as a merchant out upon a
prairie, far from any railroad or sta,
ton, among people of moderate cir
cumstanceS and exceedingly ecOn0mi-
cal and modest in all their wants.
He was man of unyielding deter
mination and courage. He was proud
and imperious in his disposition by
nature, yet he was able to bring this
simple people into close friendship,
and he became their master, friend
and adviser as we'll as benefactor. He
was a "bOrn leader" and especially
did he become a leader of the people
whom he had determined to win
unto himself. 1t was, however,
through his unequaled generosity and
sterling integrity and honesty that he
was enabled to secure the confidence
of a people naturally distrustful and
jealous of their fellow men, especially
those who showed disposition to
"get on" in this worlds affairs.
This master spirit guided and con-
trOlled the great mass of the people
into whose midst he had appeared so
suddenly as almost to have been
called into existence by magic. lie
was their banker, their lawyer, their
guide in political and all other mat
tiers and at the head of every enter
prise. He educated and enlightened
the masses. He introduced among
them modern improvements, and he
felt a deep interest in every advance
ment of his people in education and
social position as well as in the ac-
emulation of wealth.
1t was well known fact OF MIR.
BOrchsenius in the early days of his
career at Norway that he would start
on foot from home late in the evening
and walk all the distance to Ottawa,
about fourteen miles, and then take
the night train for Chicago, where all
next day he would work hard purchas-
ing goods and in the evening take the
night train for Ottawa, where he
would arrive at about midnight, and
then again start for Norway on foot
and reach there in time to begin IA
big days work" in his store. A large
business house and an equally large
business was soon his reward for his
great labor and irrepressible energy.
In short, he became a very rich man.
His wealth, however, was not the re-
suit of profits upon goods, for often he
sold goOds-especially staple goods
at a sacrifice; but his great success re,
suited from his apparently wild bust,
ness transactions in other fields. Fol
instance, he purchased in mammoth
quantities butter, eggs, poultry and
other farm products and paid prices
that were materially higher than were
paid in the largest towns and cities
in the county. BY skillful manage
ment he secured the advanced winter
prices for his vast purchases, especial
" in the "townS." The same energy
and wisdom was displayed in relation
to every other branch of his industry
1t was understood that Mr.. Borchseni'
us could not lose money on anything
but this was due to the fact that ne
possessed a master mind and an I'M
failing judgment in everything he
was called upon to consider.
All his business was done on nam
moth scale. He was frugal and sim
pie in his personal expenses and wants
but eXtravagant in his gifts, in his
bestowal of charities and in the enter
tainment of his friends. Every poll
tician and his friends in this county
for the last quarter of century can
testify to his generous entertainment
and hospitality. The late o. G. Gray
was his attorney, and he was particu-
larly proud of paying Mr.. Gray large
attorneys fees. While he was not
litigious in disposition, his pride and
high sense of honor did not permit
large costs and expenses to stand in
the way of a vindicatiOn of his posi-
ton when it was assailed, and 1t is be-
lieyed he never lost lawsuit in the
end. Many of his briefs and argu
ments have been printed in the FREE
TRADER office.
A few years ago Mr.. Borchsenius
failed in health. The great strain Il
which he had put his mental and
physical powers had undermined his
strong constitution and he was
obliged to place his large business III
the hands of others. The natural re-
suit was that without the controlling
mind of Mr.. Borchsenius and his
sleepless vigilence, the great business
must also go down. He spent two
years i'm Chicago in seeking to regain
his health and strength. When he
returned it was only to find that his
business was practically in ruins. He
again rushed into the breach and by
extraordinary energy aud ability
placed his business again upon a sound
footing, although thousands of dol
lars had been lost. Again he fell
victim to disease and his business was
left in turn TO the care of his children
as fast as they arrived at an age
when they were able TO attend tc
business; but they were too young
and inevitable loss was the conse
auence. Mr.. Borchsenius In the
meantime travelled considerable tC