The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-06-05
A SUCCESSFUL MAN.
Mr.. Corbin's Ranking and Railway
sCnreer-His Game Preserves.

MIR. Corbin's banking and Railway
SCnreer-His Game Preserves.
Austin Corb.n who was often called the
King of Long Island, was born in Newport,
" H.. July IL, 1927. He was graduated at
Harvard Law School in 1s49 After practic-
ing law at Newport for awhile, in 1851 he
removed to Davenport, Ia, where he lived
fourteen years. 1t was while there that he
entered the banking business, with sue
cess that was followed by others of greater
magnitude. He rich man when ne
went to New York in 1866 and started the
banking house of Austin Corbin & Co.,
which continued the mortgage business
which Mr. Corbin had started. Soon after
1860 he became interested in railroads. His
first trip to Long island was made with his
sick child. He saw the natural advantages
and understood that the island must be-
come outing place for millions in the
near cities. AT that time the Long island
roads were isolated systems. badly man.
aged, and in constant financial difficulties
After securing the control of the principal
line Mr.. Corbin's one thought was to de-
velop a great system which should bring
all roads on the island under the one man
agement. This ambition he attained in the
early part of this year, when he became
the owner of the majority interest in the
one system which now controls the trans
porsat.on on the island. Austin Corbin
con and Il wss thG% Rs Hrn to
mentality that the first of the large hotels
were erected there.
For a humber of years in the early days
of the road Mr.. Corbin was president of the
Indiana, Bloomington g. Western (uow
known as the Peoria & Eastern.) He was
prominently identified with the reorganza-
ton of the Philadelphia & Reading Railway
Company. and was president of that road
from September, 1856. TO June 27. 1890; in
October 1886. he was appointed receiver of
that road. From January to March, 1892, he
was president Of the New York & New Eng
land railway. He had for number of
years past been president of the Long Island
Railroad Company and was also president
OF the Elmira, Artland e. Northern railway
In addition TO his large railroad interests as
tenn and his adrninstrat ton of the affairs of
the Philadelphia S Reading railroad during
difficult period of its existence. Mr.. Corbin
cial schemes. philanthropic plans OF coloniza-
tion and immigration
1t is difficult to estimate Mr.. Corbin's
wealth. AT Newport, n. H., there is villa
acres in extent. Beyond this there
Is game preserve which takes
in many former mountain farms in
Newport township. extending over 10000
acres. About this last there is high strong
fence fer and within thin the barrier .,, elk, moose.
also a herd Of buffalo ana some fine speci-
mems of the American bison. 1t was Mr..
Corbin's desire 10 make this one of the
greatest hunting preserves in the world and
this idea was being rapidly realized. For
many years he has had agents in every
country in the world looking for rare an.-
mails.
Mr. Corbin maintained three different resi-
dences the year round. dividing his time
among them. Mrs Corbin before her mar
riage was Miss Hannah NJ. Wheeler, of
Croyndon. Two daughters and son have
been the issue Of the marriage. Mr.. Corbin
was a man of remarkable physique. He
was six feet tall and broad-shouidered and
weighed more than 200 pounds.