The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-06-22

He Was Successful Both I'm Business and
Politios-Leland Stanford, Jr., University.
Leland Stanford was the son OF q farmer.
His career is thus summarized: He was
born in Watervleit Albany county. New
York, March 9. 1924. He was admitted to
the bar and began practicIng law at Port
Washington. Wis, in 1849. In 1850 he mar
ried Jane Lathrop at Albany. N. Y. and
two years later removed to California and
engaged in mining. In 1860 he was q dele
gate TO the national Republican convention
that nominated for President Abraham
Lincoln. of whose nomination he was an
earnest advocate. He was elected Governor
OK California in 1861: chosen president of
the Central Pacific road In 1865; drove the
iest spike OF the Central Pacific road az
PromontOry. u. T., in 1869; elected United
States Senator from California in 1885; laid
the cornerstone of Leland Stanford, jr.,
University In 1887; opened Leland Stan.
ford, jr.. University in 1891, and was
elected United States Senator from Cali
fOrnie in 1891
Senator stanford was possessed OF graat
wealth and he spent 1t freely. Both be and
his wife were imbued with charltab BILE
spirit. Among Mrs. Stanford's many mo-
bic acts stands one-the Lathrop Memoir
ial-an institution for the care of in ants
and children during the day, giving to the
pOrtunity to pursue their respective labors
tree from the hourly care of their children.
This institution Is located on her fathers
old homestead in Albany. n. Y. The
buildings. with the future maintenance,
were constructed and nre supported from
the private funds of Mrs. Stanford. who
spends yearly many thousands in
charities and In the maintenance of six
kindergarten schools In San francisco, In
which her Young son during his lite was
deeply interested. this fact now serving to-
her as an inspiration In her benevolent and
noble work.
The greatest phIIanthropic act of the
Stanf0rds. however, was the founding of
Leland Stanford. jr.. University, in mem
DRY OF their son. Although the credit of
the deed WAS given to the Senator, his wife
took great interest in the matter and joined
with her husband in endowing the enter
prise. So much of Insccurscy has been
mingled with the statements relative to
the university that short narration o. the
facts concerning its foundation and en-
dowment may not be unintefestinR. as it
was the largest individual gift that has
ever been made In any country for the
purpose of education. Ghe facts are
as follows: On Nov. IL. 1885. Leland
Stanford and Jane Lathrop Stanford. HIS
wiie-being DESTROYS of promoting the pu b.
lie welfare by founding and endOwing a
university for both sexes. with colleges.
schools. seminaries of learning mathemat-
zeal institutes, museums galleries of art
and other thip gs necessary and appropria te
to university of high degroe-granted
and conveyed to Lorenzo Sawyer and
twenty-three other associate trustees and
their successors forever the real and per-
sonal property valued at $4,000 600. This
is the university over which David Starr
Jordan, of Indiana presldes. and where en-
President Harrison Is engaged TO deliver
lectures on International law.
Vsrious estimates from time to time have
been made of Senator StanfOrd's wealth.
He has been by many placed as high as
$4,000. 900. and even $50 OO0 OOO and again
there have been those who have leaped all
barriers and placed his wealth at $40. 600.
Doc. In these times and considering his
interests In the Southern Pacific system.
che great Paio Alto aud Vina ranches. his
city and country residences. il is difficult
TO arrive at what ho actually was worth.
The residence at Palo Alto, with It's extern
sive grounds, is undoubtedly the finest OF
It's kind In California, and, perhaps there
are no country residences America all
respects SO Tine. liz was there that the Sen.
stor spenr most of his time since he re.
turned from Washington. In his residence
there and on California street. San Fran
cisco, are pictures and statuary that cost
hundreds of thousands of dollars. He lived
like king, travelled, as all know, by spe
cIal car and with q retinne of attendant
that astonished even the richest men of the
Did world.