The record-union., 1891-03-15
THE HAGGINS.
Interesting Facts About the Late Ben
Ali and His Father.
The Son Was Native of Sacramento
Sensational Rumors Exploded
Their Antecedents.

So much has been said and written in
the course of the past few years about the
antecedents of J. B. Haggin and his
son, Ben Ali (who died last month in
New York;, that something authentic
about them is refreshing.
Scores of sketches have been written
about them, particularly with reference
to Ben Ali. 1t was the popular belief
that he was of foreign birth, but the fact
of the matter is he was born right here in
Sacramento, and he passed much of his
youth in California. The New York
Tribune published the first and only cor
rect history of Ben Ali Haggin's life
shortly after his death.
THEIR ANTECEDENTS.
Ben Ali Haggin was born in Sacra-
mento in 1854, and was consequently 81
years of age. The name Ben Ali was the
maiden name of J. b. Haggin's mother.
Her father, Ibrahim Ben Ali, was Turk,
Janissary of rank, and a Christian. His
mother, also a Christian, was Greek.
He was a physician and left his own
country and engaged in the wars between
the Turks and the Russians, in which he
was captured and for a long time was a
prisoner in Russia. In consequence of
his skill in relieving some Russian prin-
cess of a severe ophthalmic disease he
was rewarded with his liberty. He re-
turned to his own country and found his
family scattered and being prosecuted for
their religion.
He then went to England, remaining
there some time, a close and intimate
friend of the celebrated divine, DR.. Adam
Clarke. From England he came to the
United States and lived for a time in
Philadelphia, and later in Baltimore. In
America he married lady of English
parentage, and early in this century died
at or near Baltimore of yellow fever, oc-
caSioned by his incesSant and unremitting
attendance upon those afflicted at that
time with the disease. 1t was one of the
few times at which the yellow fever has
ever appeared in the northern part of the
United States, and was very yirulent and
fatal.
J. B. HAGGIN A KENTUCKIAN.
Many erroneous rumors, remarks and
conjectures about Mr.. Haggin or his fam
lily and its origin have crept into print.
These have been simply Imagination
His family were well known in Ken
lucky, and occupied prominent place
there socially, and his paternal grand
father was one of the Kentucky pioneers
from Virginia. J. B. Haggin himself
was born i'll Mercer County, KY, edu-
Gated at Louisville and at Center College,
KY, and afterward studied law in Frank
fort and Woodford Counties, and began
the practice of his profession in Shelby
County, in that State. Thence he moved
to Mississippi, and from there to New
Orleans, from which latter place he
moved to California. His wife, Ben Ali
Haggin's mother. was Miss Sanders,
daughter of Colonel Louis Sanders, a
prominent lawyer first in Kentucky, then
in Mississippi and afterwards in Cali
fornia.
YOUNG BEN ALI.
In 1865 young Ben Ali went with his
family to Paris, where he remained at
school four years. After that he was at
school at Exeter, \. H., and from there
went TO st. Marks School, Southboro,
Mass. Shortly after this, for the purpose
of completing his education, he, with a
friend near his own age and accompanied
by professor, made a tour round the
world. For short time after his return
from this trip he lived at Salt Lake City,
engaged in mining. From there he
went to New York and commenced busi-
ness with r. p. Lounsbery, under the
firm name of Lounsbery GS Haggin, brolk-
ers and bankers, in which he continued
for several years.
Recently he did little or no business.
He had a great fondness for the turf
and for race horses particularly, and oc-
cupied himself more or less with his
fathers stables.