Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-06-06
JAY GOULD AS A BOY.
ONE WHO WORKED WITH HIM AS
A FELLOW CLERK TALKS.
A Tribute from a Man Who Liked Him
Very Much When Both Were Humble
Clerks In a Country store Young Gouid's
Early Love Affair and How 1t Ended.

Clerks In u Country store houhB Uo"iu
Early Love Afiair and How 1t Ended.
James II. woolhiser, now of Brooklyn,
who worked with Jay Gould in the general
store Ia Roxbury, Delaware county, N. y,
tells an interesting story of the great fnan-
cier's life in the town where both were born.
Mr.. Woolhiser lived there until few years
ago, when he moved to Brooklyn.
"Jay Could" said Mr. Woolhiser to re
porter, worked on his fathers farm, which
was about six miles out Of town. He tended
cattle. ! first heard OF him when he started
to go to the Roxbury high school, He
walked from his home to the school and
back again every day. His desire To acquire
a good education was the talk of the town,
and in this way | first heard of him. He
was pointed out to me by my father as a
model young man. He made but few friends
among his schoolmates evidently preferring
to be by himself.
"When was sixteen years DID, contin-
ned Mr.. Woolhiser, II went to work in the
store of j. f. Burnham. You could buy
almost anything from postage stamp to a
moving machine in that store. had been
working there but Il short time when one
fine morning I was surprised to see young
ham for position. He was hired at
salary of five dollars per week The fol
lowing Monday morning he went to work
AZ a clerk and assistant bookkeeper. He
did all kinds of work. Upon several occa-
sions have seen him sweep the floor of the
old store. He worked hard, and although
always very pleasant was never very talk
alive. During the leisure time of the day
ba III trrn IA hscL l,a,,tt, t.,e
For II long time after he had been EN-
ployed he would leave the store as soon as
the days work was finished and walk
home. As time moved en-, however, he be-
came more friendly, and in the evenings
after the work was done he would sit with
us around the stove. Those were happy
days. We would take turns in telling
stories. We would also eat hard boiled
eggs, which we cooked ourselves, and
drink cider. Jay was not at all backward
in telling stories when it came to his turn
and could drink and eat as much as any of
u.s. His distracted air at times led me to
the impression that lie had something on
his mind, and one day asked him if he
had any trouble. He laughed at me.
~ remember quite well an incident that
happened in the store one day while Jay
tied in nfs mind what was troubling him.
He was serving a regular customer when
he suddenly stopped while in the act of
up a bundle and said, Il don't
think it is any trouble to become a million
aire If one sets ont to make himself one.
The man addressed laughed and said that
he had set out to become millionaire, but
saw no hopes of ever arriving at the mark.
IL tlgt ,,,,1
saying that he would wait patiently for
Gould to become IL millionaire.
often after that we chaffed Gould about
his statement and asked him what his plans
were for becoming rich.
why replied Gould, it's as easy as
can be. Work hard and don't be foolish. |
When you get a little money put it where
It Will double itself. Keep doubling all |
your money, and the result will be satisfac- |
factory
Durham had pretty daughter named !
Maria" continued Mr.. Woolhiser. "and |
iould had been working in the store but e
short time when he became very attentive |
20 her. She was pretty blond, and all the
BOYS OF the town fairly worshiped her, and |
"hen 1t became generally known that Gould |
vas calling steadily on her he was envied by
III the young fellows Heattended party
With her one night and barely escaped get
ing into fight with one Of Miss Burn
lam's admirers.
could had been working in the store
bout two years when Burnham was elected
o the legislature, and Jay was left in
harge of the store. While in ALBANY
5urnham received letter from man III
nargaretyille telling him that some prop
rty III the latter place could be bought at
bargain. In some unaccountable way
loud learned of the bargain and bought
he property himself without telling his
word about it. He made the
urchase while Burnham was negotiating
or II. The day that Burnham arrived in ;
loxbury Jay lert the store, saying that he ,
'as gong hshlng. lie went direct to Mar
aretVlIle ana bought the tract of land a ,
oupie oil hours before his employer ar
wed at the place. When Burnham learned
jay act he became angry, and driving
acR To his store discharged him with but
NV words. 10 cap the climax, Maria !
'urhham entered the store just as Jay was
bout to leave and told him never to call
pom or speak to her again. That was the
fglhning OF his business career and the
I'd of his first love affair." [
"oJ NhpNhSu ubOuU IiONburV for some l
me after his discharge, and then took I'M :
lrveying, of which he had learned little :
few months he had surveyed andmade
map OF Delaware county and wrote a his. :
ny OF the antirent wars. Both the man I
I'd history sold WELL Buoyed up by the /
lccess of his work, Jay next published f
map and history of Ulster county. He Z
XXI engaged in the cattle raising indns+rv +
I'd TO save the expense of help he would h
I'VE his cattle to the market, distance of
Sty miles. He kept ut this for some time
I'd then secured a position with an en-.
neer to survey the Adirondack noun v
ins. While in these mountains he met 81
'ionel Pratt, with whom he afterward n
snt into partnership" ii
from that time Mr.. Woolhiser saw moth CT
& more OF Jay Gouls until he moved to w
York World. q,
The River Nile. "
The Mia hnc can 80 w