The Washington times., 1895-06-30
men Who Are Not Sorry
They Lost Their Positions
Numerous Instances of Government Clerks Who
Have Become Famous and Wealthy in the Pro-
fessions and Various Lines of Business.

clerk and nothing better, is refrain
heard SO often in Washington that it has
become almost proverbial. Said an elec-
tive official of the late House of Repre-
sentatives: Il thought of having my boy
take q position here, but upon considera-
ton ] concluded il would be better for
him TO go back home and start in there
TO build himself up in business OF his
own. The temptations for a young man
here are many. II is easy TO fall into the
habit OF spending everything he makes.
Once this is fixed upon him he never saves
anything. no matter what his pay, and
the probability is he Will never have any
thing but his salary"
But in spite OF this prevalent opinion,
very many employees leave the govern
ment service TO become prominent in
business or tue professions. IL ought not
To be forgotten that Washington himself
was at the outset or his career a govern
ment surveyor, and many others little
less eminent have in youth held minor posi-
tons in the public service. Charles A.
Dana went from the desk OF Assistant
SeCetarry of War TO become editor of one
of the most influential newspapers in tn
country. II is not necessary, however.
10 go outside of The ordinary Clerkships
to ind. even upon CuTsory survey, a
HLHtbcr OF men who have attained high
20 .tion in trade and in professional life,
10th here aud in cities throughout the
land
RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY.
ExCommissioner MyFon NJ. Parker in
is address before the Business High School
class when The Times medal was awarded
at commencement this year, i'll running
over casually u list of names of prominent
business men here who began life in
humble positions, named three who Were
formerly goyernemnt clerks. These were
MeSsrs John JOY Edison, b. H Warner and
A. Britton. Mr.. Parker himself made
fourth, and he might have added Messrs.
j. w. Whclpley and Albert L. Sturtevant
without stretching the tether.
Mr.. Parker came here as a soldier from
Cambridge, VT, at the end Of the war, and
was given place in the adjuCant generals
office in the Bureau OF Enlisted Men. He
had entered the army as mere boyand was
still a very young man " When he TOOK up his
clerical work He continued in the War
Department about ten years and left it for
business. He soon found congenial em-
ploymeRt in real estate transactions, where
he has made a fortune. His popularity
led to his appointment 10y L sident Harrison
to succeed Commissioners John W. Douglass,
little more than three years ago. His
health broke down under the burden thus
added to his ordinary engagements and he
was obliged to resign. After few months
rest lie has entirely recHperated.
Mr Brainard II Warner, president OF
the Board of Trade was born al Great Bend,
Pa, on May 20, ls47 In April. 1863,
when only fifteen years old, tie tried to
enlist in the army, hIt was ruled out as too
young. He then came 10 Washington, an
entire stranger, and a few days later
found employment at the hospital then
| located III the center of Judiciary Square.
After three months he enlisted in the gen.
eral service of the regular army. He was
assigned to duty in the War Department
and continued in the service till December,
1866 Later he vas clerk for Senator Buck
alew, OF Pennsy ylyauia. He then secures
an appointment in the Treasury, where he
remained six months.
BEGAN To STUDY LAW
During this term he took up the stud
of law at Columbian University. He was
given 4 position as deputy collector o
the Ninth Pennsylvania District, witt
headquarters at Lancaster, where he re
maiued year and a half He continued
the study of law in the office OF the lat
Thaddeus Stevens. He determined tC
finish his course at Columbia. He secured
a reappoiutment to Lis old position in the
Treasury, returned here, aud graduated
| in 1870. lie was soCu admitted to tn
bar and commenced to practice. In thi
IcOnuection lie got some real estate bust
ness and soon became partner in Joshua
| whitney & Co, at No 729 Seventh street
northwest He gave UP the law to give
his time exclusively to real estate. HI
has held several positions of honor an(
profit outside, but has never given VI
this business by which he rose TO proml
nence.
Mr. John Joy Edison is a native of Ohit
| He entered the army as a young man ant
was here when the war closed. He go
a place as a messenger in the Treasury
| but soon attracted the attention of The
| late Hugh McCuiOch.
| ONE OF MCULL0CH'S FAVORITES.
When the office OF controller of the
| currency was orga niZed Il better place
was given him. He was always fav-
orite of Mr. McCulloch, and was further
promoted. Bat be became identified with
building associations and received so fav-
orable an offer to go with the Equi-
table the lie resigned to accept 1T. He
has been Identified ever since with that
organization of which he is now secretary.
When Mfr. Warner gave up the presidency
of the Washington Loan and Trust Asso-
citation about a year ago on account
of the demands of his private business,
Mr.. Edson was elected to succeed him.
COL WORTHINGTON'S EXPERIENCE.
One OF the best known lawyers in wash
ington is Col A S Worthirgton, forInerl,
District attorney. He is a native of
| Steubenville. o. He was wounded at
Kenesaw mountain ana it was two years
before he recovered. His leg had to be
amputated twice to save his life. Sec
retary Stanton, who also lived for time
at Steubenville aud knew Mr.. Worthing
tons family heard of the young soldiers
nard struggle. When Col. WorthiCgton
was able to be around again Secretary
Stanton made him his private secretary.
He had, while in the hospital, studied
shorthand, so that he was ready for the
place While with Mr Stanton he studied
law, and later became a partner of his
benefactors son. The firm was for years
Stanton & Worthington.
Mr.. Norris Peters years ago was in the
Patent Office. He came to be assistant
examiner and then chief examiner. While
in the latter position he observed the need
of reproducing drawings of patents. He
made a plan for doing this work syS-
tematically, and as . result the publication
Of the Patent Office Gazette, with fun
drawings OF all patents, was begun. Mr.
Peters organized the company which bears
ms name ana Is one VI TIE EItdt pIoJo-
Iithographing concerns of the world. His
government work alone probably averages
a quarter of million a year.
NOW a PROSPEROUS MERCHANT.
MI George w. Rich is from Scituate,
Mass, and was In the Seventh Massachu-
sets Infantry Nine months before the
close of the war he was detailed TO SER
vice in the War Department, where he re-
mained about ten years He then was
transferred to the Internal Revenue Bu-
reau of the Treasury Department, where
he remained till 1885, when he resigned
to 90 into the shoe business, which he con-
tinues at No. 919 T street northwest