New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-30

hora boor tho cornerstones upon which the lives
~ many NJ New-York's most honored citizens
bave been buiIt However much may be SAN
Of the narrowing influences of life on me ia'''''
II IS certain that more often than OTHERWISE
habits of industry and independence anu "
noble philosophy of life are acquired there !"
early youth that in the wider horizon vi '''
city retain their directing force anu arc -"
,;rct clements Of success in the most varied ana
intricate departments OF business iiie 1>o'e w
less the discipline OF the village store contains
for all its homely simplicity, the unu'i's'"e
nrinciples Of ell trade. whether 1t be IN pu''e'
ava ocgs or in railroad stocks and bills OF ex-
change 49,.
Harry T ttor,on who Is known as one OF the
ahest 6nancers in this foremost financiai Guy
~ America had the advantage or these t"o
cornerstones laid deep down In the fouhua''o"
NJ his business career That foundation was
rendered all the more secure by the suosoil vi
Puritan ancestry upon which II resteo' ."e
line Of descent can be followed back TO the ''''e
of the Norman conquest OF England. Dus ,oa 't 20
purposcs Of this sketch may ne cohs lue
begin nine generations ago with the en's 80 -
70 America of Barnabas Horton, the Sun "
Joseph Horton, a landed esquire OF M fn,Hn
Ieicestershire England. Barnapas ho LIZ
swallow in 1898 and in october, loto' VIII
a few other settlers from New-Haven' Wiz -
he had lived for a few months, "roSs,u ~ ard
the eastern extremity OF Long i Snaoding
founded the town Of Southold. Succeeuins
generations moved westward with Jns ,Ynr,
hack of the frontier. and in july TO-, h ri,
L. Horton was born IN Shes s1ar ard Young
father was a prosperous farmer anu s ,'i,o
Horton was brourht up or the iarrh' o.. ne as
only the common school education ~ la 90
books were concerned, but learning r ,si,s and
far greater value possibly from "io"'''
fields and running brooks t,,, tho
Tho nhvsical development that comes IRON, W.. wv,
alternating out-of-ioor Work anu pi" in This
country lad had also it's distinct Vaiue III W." a
formative period 81 life. and when at tne aeo
Of seventeen Mr.. Horton lett the farn anu anu o W
came clerk in the store OF d. Brnk ~U iai
Horn Brook Penn. he was strong "e"
anced and selfreliant YOUTH ,o, mir
That natural inclination for cornmerciai pun
suits which had prompted the youns , led him
leave the farm for the store not only enapt1 l, III
IN nerform his duties with credit to hinlsen anu
abundant satisfaction To his empowers, pu 'a on
veoped q confidence in hrs own s,a a Ave-
ambition for wider fields of action Al'er Nv
vcara OF employment in positions OF lncrtas'ns
responsibility in several stores IN 'ne VcIils ="
his home Mr. Horton made prosper,i,s tUo
through The Northwest. and in Is" estapi ii
himself in the grain and produce conHis =,
business in Milwaukee as one OF the iirl' U, 80
& Horton. Milwaukee was al tha' u.n. sda,, n
rapidly in importance as a trade ceiitte, c'p.
cialIv for the grain producers of the Northwest
and it therefore offered that wider held OF OPERA
tons which the graduate OF the farn a"o E''.a i
store needed to satisfy his amDitlons anu give
SCOPE to his natural aptitude for larger CONNER
cial affairs. For nine years the hrn OF Cole q
IIo-ton and it's successors. Cole. Horton q co.
and Horton e. Fowler. were important ractors III
the upbuilding OF Milwaukee's commercial pros
peritv Mr. Horton became known there as
man Of great energy and tenac'ty OF purpose'
possessing uncommon fertility or resources
lie was a close student of trade conditions ana
became familiar with the laws and customs gov
erning trade and commerce. lie became prom,
inentlv identified with the Board Of Trade. ana
was recognized as one Of the most sagacious
and successful operators milwaukee, proved 10
be but another stepping stone toward larger
achievements. and in 1860 Mr.. Horton removed
to New York City and established himself In the
banking and brokerage business wall street
soon came to know the firm OF H. /. Horton &
Co as one OF the most substantial and success
fu in that world where fortunes are made and
unmade with astonishing rapidity, and that con-
ndence and esteem have grown with the more
than thirty years OF the firms continuance UNI
iii IL is pointed to not only n notable instance
Of uninterrupted prosperity in spite of financial
storms. but as an example OF great success
achieved through methods of answering integ-
ritv Thirty years in Wall Street have given Mr..
Horton liberal education in the greatest finan-
cia school on the continent While 1t is no sure
patent to success. il is doubtless true that ex-
periencc in the vicissitudcs of that storm centre
Of financial operations is of value in avoiding
the shoals and quicksands that are being con-
tnuallv formed for the confusion Of the unwary:
and the skilful hand that has poted the vessel
safely through thirty years Of alternate storm
and calm has fairly earned tribute Of COM
mendation and assurances OF confidence Messrs
Horton q Co. have for many years maintained
"A branch office in London and through that me-
dunn have not only transacted much business
for a large European contingent Of clients. but
have been able To keep in close touch with the
financial world Of London. oftentmes to their
very great advantage. Mr.. Horizons wide ex-
perience in financial matters gives unQueStiOncd
weight to any expression Of opinion. and during
the recent campaign for sound money his
nest utterances in behalf Of the gold standard
were quoted by the press and received by the
public as carrying with them the weight Of wide
experience and ripened judgment.
Soon after establishing himself in New-York
and becoming identified with it's business Mr.
Horton fixed upon New Brighton place
Of residence. and became largely Interested in
the development Of Staten Island. He was
among the first to suggest and promote move
ments looking to the development Of the island
as a desirable place of residence for business
men Of the city. He was especially active I'm
promoting the enterprise that gave the island
an adequate supply Of water and also aided
in organizing and putting into operation the
facilities for rapid transit that have contributed
so largely TO the growth and prosperity OF the
island Every progressive movement in Rich
mond County had his enthusiastic support and
active cooperation. and although he has re-
moved and now resides in West Fifty-seventh-
ST. he is none the less justly regarded
If the founders and benefactors Of the COM
munity where he lived so many years
A business record like that Of the firm of II. l..
Horton & Co. and the personal history Of its
senior member. are object lessons not without
a peculiar value In this age of making haste
to be rich by the shortest cut available. No
brilliant achievement Of bold recklessness. how
ever successful. can compare in value with the
wise conservatism that has builded slowly but
surely the fortunes OF this house. The per-
centage Of those Of contemporaneous origin that
have existed through the past three decades
with their recurring panics and cycles Of de-
preston Is small indeed and bears eloquent
testimony to the wisdom OF making haste slowly
in Wall Street.
Mr. Horton is optimist by nature. and
takes a. hopeful view Of the present financial
situation II. has studied deeply into the
causes OF the recent widespread depression and
in his terse and Straightforward fashion said
recently that the cause Of the trouble lay In the
fact that through long years Of unexampled
growth and development Of the country's re-
sources the United states In order to push that
development and assimilate the tide OF immi-
grafton that was poured upon her shores. had
taken the world into partnership; and now,
when distrust concerning the financial policy Of
the country had been created. and the partners
all wanted to sell out their interests. the United
STATES had not the money to buy with and the