Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-10-18
RUSSELL SAGE'S LIFE
Interesting Story Of the Career
of a Man of Millions.
HIS WEALTH IS IN CASH.
Over Fifty Years Ago He Was a
Power In National Politics. +"
NOMINATED ZACHARY TAYLOR.
Wall Streets Allurements, However,
weaned Him From Political Lifs
to Heap Up Gold.
HIS WEALTH IS IN CASH.
NOMINATED ZACHARY TAYLOR.
NEW YORK Oct. 1.

NEW YORK. Oct l.
In the scheme of humanity It has been
ordained that many great men should
spring from very humble beginnings. and
nowhere on earth has this fact been more
often illustrated than in America. A tow
path boy became President, and in the case
now in point ON humble farmer lad has be-
come a great millionaire, with probably
more ready money at his command than
any other person on the American Continent
Russell Sage, the millionaire, had a very
humble beginning. and on the night IN
which he was born his parents were only
sojourners in a strange town, and were on
their way to the far West from their old
home In the Valley of Connecticut. intend
Ing to stop only when they reached Michi-
gan. but at the little hamlet of sconondoah,
In the town Of Verona. situated in the Mo-
hawk Valley. in Oneida County, the babe
who was later to be named Russell came
upon the scene and disturbed all their cali
culations.
1t was during the summer Of 1916 that
great exodus OF farmers took place from
the worn-out farms Of Connecticut all en-
route for the boundless West Among them
was Elisha Sage, veteran Of the war then
just over Accompanied by his family, he
started with an OK team in an emigrant
wagon across the Empire State to what he
hoped would cbe a new home in Michigan.
On Aug. 16, 1916. they had reached Soon
pndoah. where they stopped for rest and
refreshment On the above date Russell
Sage was born. Before his mother had
recovered health enough to resume her
Journey to Michigan Elisha Sage, her hus-
band, had decided hat Sconondoah lay In
goodly country and that he would stop
there. Rather odd 1t was, too. that the
house where Russell was born should De-
come their home.
In his infancy his parents never dreamed
that their sons name would at one time be-
come not only the synonym for wealth, put
FOR eccenctricity, the world over: neither
did they dream that he would at one time
become so wealthy that he would be able
to draw his personal check for more than
the entire National income OF that day.
They had hopes, doubtless. that their son
would grow up q good Congregationalist
and a good farmer, like his father. They,
or at least the father, lived to see him
millionaire-rich beyond all Imagination
which they might have indulged in during
ais boyhood.
Until Russell was two years Of age the
sagss lived at Sconondoah. They then re-
moved to a farm at Durhamville. Oneida
County. where between working on farm
during the summer and attending the dis
trict school In winter Russell Sage remained
until he was is years Of age. He was then
apprenticed to his brother. Henry Risley
Sage. who kept grocery In Troy, where nc
: served az a salesman and errand boy. He
had his evenings to himself and these hs
spent poring over the three "R's," Read.
ing" Riting'' and "Rithmetic." with thu
dual purpose Of getting an education and
Nttiny himself to become his own master.
While working for his brother Henry
"Puasn as he was called, developed most
remarkable talent for "dicker," and by judi
cions shoss trades and other small specu'
Iat,ons got together considerable capital. One
Of the duties he had to perform In nii
brothers store was to deal out liquor pJ
The glass over the counter, and II the words
Of sundry old gentlemen of Troy nave any
value this occupation had peculiar charm
for him.
After having served five years as an ap
nrantlos with his brother Henry he left hin
and entered into partnership with Elisha
Montague Sage, another brother. the!
started then In the grocery business, which
also included the sale Of rum by the glass
or hogshead in the three-story brick building
stiIi standing, at 410 River street, Troy
This stor. speedily became the hang out
~ ali the ''horsey" people Of Troy ant
"Russ" Sage was spoken Of as young maj
~ unusual shrewdness and promise, who wa!
si,cl at a ''hoss'' trade and always pait
hiS nromissory notes. which, It seems, wa
an unusual thing for any one to DO In tnos'
days. -,
Rnsssll SAGE and we soon ind him purchas
nir his brothers interest In the store ant
then moving to the larger and more com
modious store at 400 River street. In 1883
riaht IN the midst OF the old Rechablte Tenn
nerance movement, finding that dealing ou
jntoxicants by the glass was troubling hi
s'Purltanical conscience" and disturbing hi
legitimate grocery trade, by what Is nov
Known as boycott" he sold out at
large profit over his original investment"
IN a few days time. however. he hai
formed another copartnership with John P
Bates. and resumed the wholesale trade II
groceries, provisions and liquor at l39 Rive
street. The firm also leased the dock In tn
rear Of the store. and, purchasing seyera
sailing vessels, went into the transporta
fiOn business, QedilnB tarBeiy IL WOseeAi
and Northern New England products. The,
also drove large trade In horses, and 70
some years controlled the Troy and Alban
markets in Vermont and Canadian horses.
In 1S41, when only rs years OF age. Rus
sell Sage had acquired a fortune, exclusiv
Of his business, of $75, 1000. He had becom
q man OF Importance In Troy, and. bein
q member Of the dominant Wing party
was consulted on all questions Of part
veal. In 1845 he was elected to the Boar
Of Aldermen from the Eighth Ward o
Troy. While Alderman he was also electe
County Treasurer Of Rensselaer, County, bot
Offices being held by him for seven years
In 1S42 his partner. John P. Bates, retire
from the firm. leaving him sole owner.
At this period the whole Mohawk Vale
was ablaze with projects for the buiidin
OF railroads. Thurlow Weed, at that tim
editor Of the Albany Journal" Lew Bene
N dict and other Whig politicians Alban
were among the most energetic promoter
OF the new enterprises. When the Alban
and Schenectady Railroad was opened som
years previous they had invited Sage :
anaAzaHeA- th--- - 49, s-..i~i trin az tn