The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-12-10

graph Company. This was merged with the
Western Union in 1880. In 1888 his control
of the Western Union began.
He doubled its capital stock aud became a
member of its Executive Committee, where
he has since remained, with his son, George
Gould, and business associates, as members
of It's directory. The total assets said to be
controlled by the Gould interests in this cor
poration amount TO about Sl20,000,OOO.
In 1881 Mr.. Gould turned his attention to
the pet enterprise of his former associate,
Cyrus W. Field-the New York system of
elevated roads The watering of stock and
numerous suits against the companies con-
trolling the elevated lines had cheapened the
the stock, and Gould was declared to have
a hand in the process of disintegration which
left the property in shape TO be easily acquir-
ed At this point, in 1881, he bought con-
trolling interest in the roads at 16 cents on
the dollar The stock soon rose to IS. As
soon as Mr.. Gould obtained control he doubl-
ed the capital stock, making 1t S2G,0O0,0O
In courage as a speculator and unscrupu
lous boldness. in ar.seeing ability as finan-
cier and man of affairs, he has had few par
aIlels, and the story will ever be one of the
most remarkable in the business annals of
this nation or the world. How much he has
acquired cannot be accurately determined,
but his fortune is probably between SO, 1000,
900 and 800, 100000.
Mr. Gould was what could be truly called
a home. loving man. He was one of the most
domestic men in this country, an attentive
husband and a devoted father.
Mr. Goulds marriage occurred IN 1856.
He was at the time engaged in the leather
business and had just begun his ventures in
railroad properties. The lady of his affec
tons was Miss Helen d. Miller, daughter
of Daniel g. Miller, of New York, a wealthy
member of the firm of Lee, Dater Il Miller,
dealers in produce and groceries. Mrs. Gould
died, as the result of Il paralytic stroke, in
January, 1889. She was a gentle and attrac-
tive woman, who cared little for social dis
tinction, but devoted herself TO her family.
Without allowing it to be known publicly,
she was active in charities. She disliked
display, and, although she possessed many
Jewels, few persons outside of her family
circle ever saw her wear them.
Mr. and Mrs Gould had FIVE children, all
of whom are living-three sons, George j.,
Edward and Howard, and two daughters,
Miss Helen and Miss Annie Gould George
Gould, the eldest son, has come to be quite
/ Il figure himself in the financial circles of
( New York. He has always been regarded
among Wall street operators as his father S
representative, and possesses a great deal of
the paternal shrewdness, linked together with
[ a pleasing address and thorough command
of himself, which produces most favorable
impression upon all those who come IN bust
ness contract with him. In September
( 1886, he married Miss Edith Kingdom, for
several years prior thereto a member of
Augustin Days Theatrical Company. He
now has several children. In whom the
grandfather took great interest and pride.
The next son, Edward, was married only
a few weeks ago to Miss Sarah Shrady, a
daughter of Dr. George F. Shrady, of New
York She was very young bride, being
only Il, and a sister of one of young Gould's
( schoolmates at Columbia College. The other
! children are unmarried. The eldest of the
daughters, Miss Helen Gould, figures to some
extent in New York social affairs, and has
been received with much favor.
The family spends its winter unostenia
tiously at the magnificent family home on
4 al. Vol .ha Wtn1cor
Hotel. and its summers at a beautiful retreat
: near Irvington on the Hudson. Here Mr..
Gould has a charming old fashioned country
/ house surrounded by beautiful grounds com.
manding view of the Hudson and Palisades,
surpassed by none in that famous locality of
palatial summer homes. The grounds have
a 400 feet frontage along the river, where
the view, up and down and across, is magni-
fcent. Neither energy nor expense has been
spared in laying them out. Mr.. Gould de-
( lighted in horticulture, and, with limitless
means at his command, he INDUCED himself
! in this matter with the same enthusiasm that
other men bestow on fast horses or pictures.
The conse ryatores at his summer home are
marvels in their way. They cover vast
area several hundred feet in length. They
are constructed on a ground plan of the form
I of Greek cross. the limbs centring upon a
noble palm house, beneath the dome of which
plays a large fountain supplied as are all the
buildings of the estate, with water brought
from an iuexhaustible natural spring on the
property. Mr.. Gould kept himself fully in
/ formed in regard to the explorations which
are making in all parts of the world, and it
was his ambition to get into these conserva-
! tories the finest specimens of all procurable
species and varieties of the tropical and sub
( tropical flora.
/ As result of this labor of love his conser-
vatories contained perhaps the richest and
most complete collections of plants of any in
! this country, and in some genera in the
/ world.
/ Mr. Gould also possessed magnificent
1 library, wisely selected, and vieing in its
/ treasures with some of the most celebrated
private collections in the country.
/ In appearance Jay Gould was little man,
Of slight weight and build, slightly bent should
ers and sharp, piercing eyes looking out from
a countenance whose outlines we're expressive
of the quiet but intense nervous energy which
could on occasions be called into action. He
wore full beard and dressed transformations
ly. In politics Mr.. Gould was Republican
He was an attendant of the Presbyterian
Church in West Forty second street, at which
Rev John f. Paxton d. D. was Pastor and
was, privately, quite liberal in his support of
it, though not member.