Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1894-03-06
q spIendLd eIt TO wI1ehestsr.
AEr. Charles 3. Ro1ss--A Brief
iSketeh Of His Successful Career.

Sketch Of HIS Successful Cdfeef.
AT a public meeting of the citizens
of Winchester. Wednesday night, a
letter was read from Mr.. Charles
Broadway Rouss, of New York, au-
thorizing Ex-Governor Holiday to
draw ON him for $50, 600 as dona-
ton to the proposed water-works in
our neighboring city.
Apropos of this subject winches-
ter specialize the Baltimore Sun says:
The announcement in the Sun of
the donation of $4,000 by Mr..
Charles B. Rouss. of New York, to
the city of Winchester, Va, towards
its projected system of water works,
possesses an interest to Marylan-
ders, because of the fact that Mr..
Rouss was born near Woodsboto'.
Frederick county, Md, his father,
Mr.. Peter ii. Rouss, being sturdy,
successful farmer, and his mother
member of the Well-known BaItzeIl
family of that county a brief sketch
of Mr.. Rouss's career may serve 10
illustrate the possibilities presented
TO the youth of the country as we'll
as an incentive. Mr.. Rouss' parents
removed to Berkeley county, Va,
when he was youth. and after ac-
quiring fair education at the old
academy in Winchester he entered
mercantile establishment there and
soon developed decided business
ability. Having "served out his
time with his employer and saved a
little money, he embarked in husi-
ness for himself, and when the civil
war broke out was conducting one of
the largest and most successful mer-
camille establishments in Winchester.
He disposed of his stock and entered
the Confederate army, and in Com
pany b. Twelfth Virginia Regiment,
won reputation as q faithful and gal
liant soldier. The war over, Mr..
Rouss determined to make New
York his home, and he reached that
city with scarcely money enough in
his pockets to pay one weeks board.
But after many ups and downs he
finally .'caught on" and is now the
oWne- of one of the finest business
buildings on Broadway, which cost
him 81 100000. He gives employ
mont toover five hundred people, an
his annual sales are said to he con-
| siderably in excess of $4,000, 600.
He is also the owner of a palatial
home on Fifth avenue, in the dis
trict inhabited by the Vanderbilts
and other millionaires, where he dis
penses generous hospitality, particu-
larly to people from the South But
lIr. Rouss's great success in Gotham
has not turned his head and he seems
to have retained warm affection for
Winchester, where he began his mer-
camille life. In addition to the gift
noted above Mr.. Rouss recently had
constructed at q cost of $4,000 Il
beautiful and substantial railing
around Mount Hebron and Stonewall
Cemeteries, he has provided the fire
companies with steam engines, and
be annually contributes 81, 900 to the
success of the Shenandoah Valley
Agricultural Fair. These are only
a few of the many evidences Mr..
Rouss has given of his affection for
this historic old city. But his bene-
factions are by no means confined TO
Winchester, for this son of Mary
laad daily literally responds to re-
quests for assistance.
This big-hearted millionaire, one
of whose chief sources of enjoyment
is to make others happy whilst pass
ing through the world, also has
kindly feeling for Charles Town and
old Jefferson. His parents lived and
died here, on the banks of the beau
tiful Shenandoah: in which locality
Mr.. Rouss has lovely summer villa,
erected under the supervision of his
late lameuted son, and at which point
two of his brothers still reside. His
contributions to our fire companies
and other worthy objects have been
munilicent, and lie recently sent his
check for one hundred dollars toward
putting crushed stone upon the walks
and driveways of Edge-IlillCemctery,
where rest the remains of several
hundred Confederate dead, SOME of
them comrades who shared the trials
and fought side by side with this gen
erous contributor.
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