Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-02-04

Canton. Ohio, Jan. 29.-Lyman J.
Gage, president of the First National
Oank of Chicago, emerged from the
dining room of Mcknley's house last
night and said to an Associated Press
correspondent: mckinley offered me
The treasury portfolio and | told him
would accept the high honor and MI
the position to the best of my ability.
Beyond this statement Mr.. Gage had
little to say He declined to discuss
any feature of the policy of the incom-
ing administration or discuss any mat
ter other than these relating to himself
He said that there was no ground for
the publication that he Was a gold
democrat during the campaign and mis-
only utilization with the democratic
party was in 1881 when he voted for
Cleveland He also said that he AM
Mckinley substantially agree on the
tariff question The guests at the
dinner besides Mr.. Gage were Nation
al Committeeman Leland of Kansas,
Ex-Governor Cornell, Col. J. j. Nc
Cook, w. c. Beer, all of New York:
and Gen. Osborne, secretary of the ma
tional committee. Ex-Governor Cor
nell and Col. MeCook arrived in the
afternoon for conference with Nc
Kinley Exactly what they are here
for has not developed, but there is some
gossip to the effect that Col. McCook
wants the attorney generalship. Nc
inJ in tho a short
audience to a delegation of coICred
men. They were Revs. w. B. Der
rick Of New York, James A. Handy
of Baltimore, w. ]. Gaines of Atlanta,
B. W. Arnett of the WHEREFORE Opera
university and Bishop J l.. Bradford.
Lyman J. Gage was born at De Ruy-
ter, Madison county, New York, June
rs, 1886. His parents, who both were
born in the state of New York, were OF
English stock. In 1856 he went 10
Chicago and was engaged as a book
keeper by a lumber firm. While re
was thus engaged he was offered the
position of bookkeeper of the Mer-
chants Savings, Loan and Trust com
pany, and this was the actual begin
ming of his career as banker. In
the spring of 1860 he worked his way
up to the position of assistant cashier
and later to that Of cashier, which ne
held until 1868, when he lef. ~
Merchants Savings, Loan and Trus.
company 10 accept a similar position
with the First National bank with
which institution he has been identi-
fed until the present time. The o!G
charter of the bank expired in 1882
and upon it's reorganization he was
chosen vice president and general man
ager. About this time his financial
ability was paid a compliment by his
election to the presidency of the Amer
lean Bankers association. On JAN
uary "a, 1891, he was elected president
of the First National bank and still
holds that position. He was PROM
nGnt in all the work that made The
worlds fair great success and One
of the four men, J. J. P. ODell. w.
Dexter and J. w. Doane, being the
others, who practically guaranteed
that Chicago would carry out is pledge
OF raising 100000 for buildings at
the fair. Mr.. Gage has been twice
married. his first wife being Miss Sarah
Etheridge of LittIe Falls, n. Y, whom
he married in 1854. She died in 1874
and in 1887 he married Cornelia Gage
OF Denver, Col. He is q member of
the Commercial and Union League
clubs of Chicago and personally is a
very popular man. He is democratic
in his manners, being pleasant and af-
fable and easy Of approach at all
times.