New-York tribune., 1892-12-03
BIRTH AND BoIIIOOD.

Jay Gould came of Puritan stock. He was
born on May -. lS36, in the little postvilage OF
R0Xbury. Delaware County, Ncw-lork State
Nearly half century before while Delaware,
Ulster and Otsego counties were yet one, his
grandfather came with half dozen Puritan fam
lilies from Fairfield County Connecticut. and took
up land near the hamlet which became Jay Uould :
birthplace This grandfather Captain Ahram
Gould lie had been Revolutionary soldier ana
is described as grim, earnest. honest man
To him was born in 179? son who was named
John b. the first male child born in the new
settlement John b. grew TO manhood, was
three times married and Jay was his son bS his
frst wife The boys mother pious woman
a regular attendant on the Methodist services held
in the Waller Meeiin' House" where Jay also
imbibed such religious notions as found loot
hold in q nature not much given 10 the coh'eui-
plation of spiritual things. The father was d
small farmer and kept dairy OF twenty cows
Until he was fourteen years old Jay hNeu OH 'he
farm, picking up such a meagrc education as at
tendance FOR from fonr 10 i've years at Il ulSuI'V
school which was closed during the greater part
Of the year. afforded This school was hnalN
closed altogether by the breaking out vi "e
"Anti-Rept War" as il was called. an uprising
of the farmers against the efforts of persons VINO
claimed TO have bought the land from The Indians
70 collect an annual rental. Jay was dlS'a'iSneu
with farm life, which. indeed. offered ho'"'"s
under the circumstances 10 SATISFY MS poHis'
ambitions The reasons Of his dissatisfaction "'
onc. cot firth AZ follows: As ! was the boy
of the family | generally brought the COWS Ill 'he
noorripc and assisted nv sisters TO milk them ana
drove them back. and went for then again "'
Diobt went barefooted and used 10 get thiS'leS
I
way. 50 said one day 10 my father that woniu
I;l,e "a oo 70 n select school that was some Twelve
-. 6s,..an milas from there He said all rlght Dh'
,hat WAS too Young. ! sal 10 linn 'ha' II "''
,rould give me nv time | would try my fortune
uc said. all right; that was not worth hucn at
h. mo and might 90 ahead 80 next day s,ar".u
off. showed myself up at this school. ana "n'iN
fouud a blacksmith who consented to ooard nv
as wrote pretty good hand, II couiu "r'c up
his books at night. In that way worKeu NY SSei'
through this school This school was kept by a
Mr. Oliver, and Jay left il ia ls'i after he had
stndied year During this year. however lie
must have made considerable progress III na'n-
ematics in spite OF the fact that n used To Dc
related OF him in the ighborhood that he gre"
tired once OF going to school ana was iocAcu up
one morning in the cellar by his la'her ~ "
measure of &C rrection. and forgotten until his non
pet
for mathematics il was that opened mp to nm 'he
first steadily lucrative employment IN which hc be-
cana engaged and also led him by easy steps mo
tbe career which destiny seems TO have marked out
,r linn Rut first il was reserved for HIM 10 take
mart in n transaction in which cannot fail 10
rccornize one Of the distinctive TRAITS OF his lutufe
business career.
II the King Of Wall Street revcr went hunting lof
snincs with brass band. neither did the country
lad After leaving school JAY got into "A country
store as sort of boy of all work. lie had to open
tbe Store at 6 O'Clock in the morning and sweep
il. ont and his duties occupied him until 10 O'Clock
~ nicht During this time he learning the
busipess and one Incident dating back TO th,
nor;od i'm his career shows that he was more tnan
an ant pnpil His employer was negotiating for
tbe purchase of some property belonging To an
estate in clancery and Jay carried on the CORE
soo,dopcc fer him. The executor demanded S2,JOo,
hu,, the woud-bc purchaser offered only @'Ooo.
Law undertook a little Investigation ON private
occount and became convinced that The property
ros hound 70 appreciate in value. He went to hs
father cot 81 800 on a loan, bought the property
=. ,bot nrice had the deed made i'll his fathers
.oo and within two weeks sold out for $4,000.
Il ie said that his employer looked at the Trans
oa.ior IN tbe light of n breach of confidence ana
flo rosrIt was a severance of relations ana the dlN-
.,rbapce Of the young mans first matrImohiai
plans.