The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-11-15
A WONDERFUL CAREER
John Hoey's Progress from
Poverty to Wealth.
HIS CONNECTION WITH THE ADAMS

/
| He Made 1t the Largest and Most Sue.
cessfuI Concern of the Kind in th,
world-He Landed i'm New York In 1889
PenniIess, and Later Spent millions
NEW York, Nov. 16.-John Hoey
millionaire, philanthropist, and man
about-town, passed away at 1910 o'clock
! last night in his parlors at Delmonico's,
He was surrounded by the sorrow
stricken members of his family, to whom
he mad ever been warmly attached.
DR. Robertson, his physician, was also
present. Father Thomas j. Ducey, Of
st. Leo's Church on 2Sth street, had been
called in by Mrs. Hoey and had admins
tered the last rites OF the Church to the
dying man, who had been unconscious foi
some hours
Bright's disease was the immediate
cause of DEATH 1t had been precipitated
by a severe cold which Mr.. Hoey had
taken several days ago. His condition
had been known to be critical for three
days, but death ha& not been expected
quite so soon.
CIV ult'l nave Aetu ouCll a IClldl tAtlblt
or romantic career as Mr. Hoey. Born
in Ireland in 1925 of poor parents, he
started out in the world to earn his own
living at the age of eleven, securing pas
sage as cabin boy on a vessel coming to
this city. Ragged and penniless, he
wandered up Broadway, and got employ
ment in "A newspaper Office. Three years
later, he secured place as an express
boy.
In 1910, Adams of Boston started
his express company, ard William Brown
Dinsmore of Boston acted as his agent in
this city, with no equipment other than
carpet bag. man named Beecher
was Adams opposition but when Adams
bought out Beecher Hoey went to Adams.
From carrying letters and packages
Hoey was put in charge of the wagon de-
livery. At night he studied in "A Prince
street school. From porter Hoey became
clerk.
When the gold fever broke out and
Adams g. Co. of the East became the
great bankers as well as the common
carriers of the West, Hoey established all
express line in his own name, running to
Charleston, S. O., which was subsequently
merged in the reorganized Adams Express
company, at good figure. During the
gold fever the company controlled the
express trade between the East and West
When Hoey was younger he found
much amusement in Billy Burton's thea
tire in Chambers street. 1t was here he
met Josephine Shaw, the English actress.
An introduction followed, and a year
later the fair Josephine became Mrs.
Hoey. For several years after the mar
riage Mrs, Hoey was leading lady at Wal
| lacks.
nnri,c, +t,o ,t,,r How, ,,,,do QUO, eEnO -
| 600 in stock speculation.
Eight years ago current report had it
that he was financially emharra ,sed lie
| opened Hollywood Park in 1882, but as
the season was not successful he lost a
| fortune.
On May 10, 1888, Mr.. Hoey was elected
president of the Adams Express com
! pany, which position he held until dis
| placed on Oct. -, 1891, by the direct
ors Of the company. Mafeasance was
charged.
Legal suits resulted, and the affair, it
| is now said affected him greatly, so far
as his healCh was concerned.
He leaves three children, George, Joseph
inc and Frederick.
Mr. Hoey was man of fads aud hob
bies, but they were hobbies that always
led to some refined or refining conclusion.
AS a very young man he developed a great
taste for clothes, a taste which he carried
to his grave. He was always scrupulously
neat in appearance, not finicky or modish,
but dressed like the gentleman Of the
day.
AS the means were acquired to crafty
his tastes Mr. Hoey developed a delight
full taste for art and bric-a-brac He was
a most intelligent and good buyer, not
in the sense of depreciating values, but
rather in substantiaClng them.
lie loved 10 potter about in shops in
out of the way places. Though not much
of a traveller, he made several trips tc
Europe, always returning with large ad-
ditions to his already extensive collec-
tions.
When he bought the house at No. 6lS
Fifth avenue he added a large picture
gallery and filed it with the best exam
pies Of the modern masters He bought
largely for Mr. Dinsmore also aud his
taste and Judgment were generally recog
nized among artists and connoisseurs.
For flowers he had a passionate fancy
his collection OF orchids and roses being
at one time the finest in the country
For music, too, he had strong leaning
his box at the old Academy of Music IN
variably being occupied by himself ant
Mrs. Hoey.
His first love for the stage seemed to b.
intensified by the fact that his wife ha'
been an actress, and he was, perhaps thu
best known aud most indefatigable first
nighter in New York.
As an employer, Mr.. Hoey showed som
of the best and fairest qualities of hi
nature. He was adored by those unde
him. A strict disoiplinarian, stern, even
but always just, he never asked any on
! a. Il l. l.. Il. d -
himself.
John ioey was more than brave, a
physical courage goes. He was abso
lutely fearless. a
runnniironasr. Knlsh ~ nnn1o