The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-09
A MAN OF MANY MILLIONS.

The Life OF the w lizard OF Wall Street
and Americas Railroad King.
There is probably no better known man
in this country than Jay Gould. Beginning a
poor boy. he is now the railroad king. He is
interested in the largest systems of rail-
roads in the United Statei. To the popular
mind the quiet but effective measures
which he adopts as SPECTATOR conSt tute
an attraction akin to mystery. Mr.. Gould's
career and his personal characteristics and
habits encourage the peculiar interest man
ifested in him.
Jay Gould was born in Roxbury, Della
ware county, New York, in 1886. His
father was farmer and kept a country
store. His mother died when Gould was &
years of age. The wldower married again,
and was the husband of third wife when
he died in 1896
Young Gould received a fair education,
and gave evidence Of that love of books and
art which now affords him the leading
pleasure of his domestic life. He was but
10 when he began his business career.
His famed invention of mouse trap pre-
coded his engagement In the store of
esquire" Durham. The story is familiar
one. The young inventor, carrying his pre-
cioqs trap in SNOWY, mahogany case, was
robbed OF it in New York City, on the oc-
casion of his first visit to the city. The
lads chasing the thief resulted, first, In the
thief's disgust upon discovering that he had
risked his liberty for a thing of so little
value, and second, In his being dealt with
under a requisition from the governor of a
neighboring state.
1t is not generally known that the Wizard
OF Wall street Il historian. In 1856 he
published The History of Delaware
County," in which he gave summary of
the history of New York, and in connection
with the book he published roller map of
| Delaware county, for which he made
his own surveys The older farmers
throughout the county recall to-day
| Jay Gould's tramp across their farms push
| ing measuring wheel" with which he
secured the distances A number of copies
Of Jay Gould's history are in libraries in Sa-
| vannah.
One of Gould's early venturers was his
| partnership with Zsdeck Pratt in the tan
merry business at Gouldsboro, Pa. Pratt
was busy, prating politician, and it is
| said that his nost popular speech was the
work OF his young partner, to whom he
| paid 500 for the production. At Goulds-
boro Gould fell into trouble with the author
tiles by persistently defending his possession
Of an old building, from which he was
| finally expelled by the military. He man
| aged to get clear Of what threatened to be a
serious sol ape, and during the last period OF
his tanning experience was the proprietor
! Of the business.
Mr.. Gould removed to New York city in
1859 and began business as broker. Then,
as now, he had no ordinary vices,
| and showed clear-headedness in avail
ing himself of the condition of
the country. before aud throughout
the war, during which he became million
aire. When he entered into the railroad
business in connection with the Erie. that
corporation owed him $4,000,00 With his
skillful handling OF Erie stock began his
greatness as a railroad king.
To detail Mr.. Goulds operations in Cleve-
land and Pittsburg stock, his gigantic in
vestments in Union Pacific, his dealings in
the stock of Wabash, Kansas and Texas and
other roads, would be a tedious task were it
practicable. The most careless reader will
remember Mr.. Goulds organization and
manipulation of the American Union Tele-
graph Company, whereby he obtained
control of the Western Union Company.
Mr.. Gould's tastes are humored In keep
ing with his wealth. His mansion in New
York, and his country seat, Lyndhurst on
the Hudson, are as refined and elegant as
wealth and cultivated taste can make them.
Rare books, works of art, and curiosities
abound in the wealth of his personal posses,
sions. He bought his country seat at
Irvington for $3.50 It is now worth
about half a million. Some wears ago the
conservatory, valued at 5000. OG0 including
the plauts1was almost destroyed by fire,
Gould is fond OF solitary rides on horseback.
| Outside Of this, his enj own ents are indoor.