The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-06-05


good for horses, but wholly unfit for
human consumption. The young Ger
man settler started in to practically
combat this theory, and he won the
fight and wealth. He had learned in
Germany the secret of separating the
hard husk from the kernel of the oat,
and he further had acquainted himself
with the nutritive qualities of the meal.
Schumacher's first mill was the kitchen
Of his home. The other room was the
family parlor and bedroom. The first
run" of meal Schumacher carried
about the small town in hand basket.
His neighbors bought from him more
from a desire to help him along than
from any confidence in oatmeal or any
appetite for it. Schumacher took well
and was generally esteemed in the vii
lage.
Presently his trade enlarged to such
an extent that he was forced to buy a
little push wagon or hand cart to deliv-
er the oatmeal to the regular subscrlb-
ers, The kitchen wasn't large enough
to furnish the necessary mill capacity,
and he erected a ten by twelve building
in his yard, wherein to shuck oats and
manufacture meal. Soon he had to buy
horse and wagon, so great had his en-
terprise become, and in time samples of
his product were required by Cleveland
and Pittsburg merchants. Then came
heavy orders. The mill was enlarged
until the buildings covered acres A
large part of Akron's industrial impor-
lance is due to the evolution of Schu-
macher'S domestic oatmeal mill
The miller in twenty years was worth
five hundred thousand dollars, and in
thirty was accounted a millionaire. He
branched out in the cereal business,
built a mansion and made investments
Of various characters. He built straw
board mills, one of them in Marseilles,
ILL.,, and, with other industries which he
established, practically built the town.
Three years ago he combined his vari-
Gus milling interests into one general
corporation, the American Cereal COM
pany, and established his headquarters
in Chicago. When Mr.. Schumacher
had his interests all within the city
limits of Akron, all went well In bust
ness way When his investments be-
came divided between strawboard
mills, real estate and the manufacture
Of hygienic food, and passed beyond his
personal oversight and control the
meal monarch's affairs proceeded i'll.
At last came the assignment. 1t is
known that Mr.. Schumacher will pull
hundred or two thousands out of the
fire, for his assets are far better than
the other side of the book. With his
simple tastes the ex-king can struggle
along fairly well on what he will have
left
Mr. Schumacher retained his early
habits of frugality throughout all his
improving fortunes. If he was conspic-
uous, it was by reason of the plainness
of his attire. He had one fondness-
that was for good horses. He kept
these, not for speeding purposes, but
because he has a fondness for animals,
and likes them we'll bred. An anecdote
illustrative of his thrifty habit is told
in Akron. Along in the days of the
war, when economy was necessary, Mr.
Schumacher took to himself one of the
old-style army cape oyercoats for his
winter wear. Whatever may be said
of these garments touching their utility
as a weather shield, 1t cannot be said
they are stylish. The great miller wore
his for twenty years, and during the
last few seasons of it's endurance, he
cinched it to his form with a rope or a
strap His other raiment was in keep
ing; good, but hardly elegant The
townspeople took a mild pleasure and
modest pride in pointing out to the
stranger in town their celebrated
neighbor, driving team of five thou
sand standard bred horses in a five
hundred dollar Portland sleigh, himself
wearing an overcoat that cost six dol
lars a quarter of a century before, and
whose whole personal equipment would
not sell for eight dollars at a forced
sale 1t was another verification of The
proposition that only rich man can
afford to wear poor clothes
Meanwhile Fred Schumacher, Jr., the
crown prince of the trade in cereals,
had grown up the son of a wealthy
house, with the education and habits
of thought that appertain to such con-
dition in life. 1t irked young Schuma-
cher that his father should be so fire.
quently mistaken for the family hired
man, and he labored diligently by argu-
ment and entreaty to get his parent
into raiment BETTING his financial i'm
portance. He was SO far successful
that Mr.. Schumacher consented to dis
card the army overcoat. Then came
more trouble The elder Schumacher
deemed it squandering money to pay
more than fifteen dollars for an outside
coat. He fixed the mark and would not
move it. Young Schumacher went to
his own tailor and made certain ar
engagements and then lured his father
into the store They selected the best
in the house.
How much?" asked the elder.
Fifteen dollars" replied the trades
man, and the deal was made.
Mr. Schumacher got his new garment,
paid the agreed price, and after he left
the tailor entered on the sons account
sixty-tive dollars, being the difference
between the real cost and the gum
charged the millionaire. Two days Mr..
Schumacher wore his coat, to the great
surprise of the town. Friends of life
time passed without recognizing him.
"That's good coat you're wearing"
remarked a business man.
st should be" said Schumacher,
with some complacency. 81 paid fif-
teen dollars for it"
"Fifteen!" exclaimed his friend.
'I'd like to give twenty dollars for it. "
ITS your coat" replied Schumacher.
81 don't know of an easier way to make
6va doIlorc''