The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-14

Brown & DeRosset, while the firm
name of the house in Wilmington be-
came DeRosset & Brown. and their
business was very large n success
f,J1. and continued until the beginning
OF the war between the states in 1851.
After the close of hostflities the bust |
ness was continued under the name of
DeRosset & Son n DeRosset & Co.,
w. l.. DeRosset, A. L. DeRosset n
Graham Dawes being interested at dii-
ferent times, but in 1882 m~isfortunes Tell
upon the house and it retired from busi-
ness. but all of it's liabilities were paid
and no creditor lost a dollar, but II
was lone 1t a great sacrifice OF very
valuable real estate.
Among the incidents OF his to wnicn
he always referred with pleasure and
| some little degree of pride. was the
successful negotiation he made in Eng
| land in 1s49 as the chosen agent OF the
Wilmington and Weldon Rail Road
| Company Of $500, 900 Of it's bonds in ex-
| change for iron rails for the track OF
the road which had been previously
made of wooden scantling, with strap
iron, spiked on. He was one OF the
original subscribers to the stock OF the
and at the time of his death,
it is believed, the only surviving one,
and a member of the beard Of directors
almost form it's first mi
ton and was undoubtedly une
Oldest railroad director in continu-
GUS service in the United states,
and felt the deepest interest in its sue
cess. The road was completed in 1887,
but after an experience OF twelve
wears, the conclusion had been arrived
at that without an iron track the COM
pany could never be successful, and It's
credit at home had fallen so low tina
the principal merchant in Wilmington
refused to fill an order for one dozen
shovels to clear up rubbish In the com
pany's yard.
1t was a very gloomy condition of at
fairs. for the failure Of that road
) meant the ruin of Wilmington, and i
was under such disheartening sur
roundings that he finally concluded t.
i accept the mission to which he max
been called, and sailed for England IL
May, 1S49, where, after many am
= great difficulties and weary dlsappoint
ments, he finally succeeded in aeon
plishing the object of his mission, an
which proved to be a turning point 1
the history of the Wilmington and We
don railroad company, for it soon be
gan to pay dividends to the stockhold
ers. and it's prosperity has continued
until now it is one Of the most valuaDl
ana powerful corporations in tn
south. Shortly after the close Of tn
war he was again called upon by tn
: company to visit England for the pul
J. pose of making a new loan and to a.
range with the bondholders for an e.
tension Of the time of the rapidly MI
turing bonds, all of which he success
fully accomplished, thereby placir
the finances of the company in
- comfortable condition as could be d
ne sired. For these great servj
were so essential to the prosperity
W the corporation and to the city, J
ne made no charge and received no cor
e. ~pensation from the company, but I
ILL., actual That was fifty yea
'o ago, however, and men and the tim
also have greatly changed within tn
W period. The successful accomplishing
of such a financial operation In II
~ progressive age could hardly be S
cured without the expenditure OF
u least seventy-five or a hundred thol
LIS and dollars for commissions and re
~ and yet he made no charge for MS 81
" vices on either mission; 1t was slml
A Indicative of the character OF the m;
" He was a public spirited citizen, CIV
freely of his means, his time and
talents to whatever would benefit
add to the prosperity Of our city by
led
sea.
In May, 1929, he married Eliza ia
daughter Of the late William Z. Lie
with wrom he lived most happily
more than forty-seven years. She v
ur- ~