Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-12-05
RUSSELL sAGE's COUSIN.
The Richest Citizen of Marshall
County, Kas., the Most Pc
uuriOua.
Vrom the New york Times.

From the New York Times.
The little hamlet of Barrett. in Marshall
county, Kas., is the home of one of the most
eccentric as well as one of the wealthiest
men in the West. His name is Horace l..
Sage, and he is a cousin of Russell Sage.
the Wall street financier. He Is a bachelor,
an ~octogenarian, and is worth in Kansas
lands and government securities ST. 600
dollars. 1t was from Horace L. Sage that
the story about Jerry Simpson wearing no
socks, which made that statesman famous
throughout the country, was plagiariZed.
Colonel Sage has never had socks on his
feet since coming to Kansas In 1865;
Colonel Sage was born in New York In
1910. His father died when he was 3 years
old, and he was sent to Massachusetts,.
where he remained with relatives until he
was 16 years ole. Then he returned to the
old farm in New York and lived with his
mother six years. He then wandered about
New York state several years, all the time
be went to Knox county, ILL.,, where he pur-
chased a half section of land and lived
the life of a thrifty farmer for more than
all Of his holdings in Illinois and came to
Kansas, locating at Barrett. which at that
time had just been settled.
the village. in which he has lived ever
since, most of the time alone. acting as
his own cook and ~housekeeper. He pur-
chased LAM as fast as he could do so at a
bargain, at first investing in tracts of virgin
prairie. on which he put farmers at work.
always collecting a good rent, and, II the
finally selling to them on easy terms. Dur,
ing his residence in Kansas he has acquired
a large area Of farming land; scattered over
treated those with whom he has had deal
ings with honesty and fairness. he is noted
among his neighbors for his extraordinary
During the twenty-nine years of Colonel
Sage's residence in Kansas he has never
been outside Of Marshall county. His en-
tire energies have been devoted to money
getting. He has formed no friendships. He
never married, he said. because a marriage
license would have cost too much, and he
rimony. In his cfrcumscribed field he has
been as successful as his more famous
cousin in New York. for, although his pos
sessions are worth only about one n one
half millions, they are as great, In compare
son with those Of his n~eighbors who are
counted wealthy in Kansas. as are those of
Russell Sage among the millionaires with
whom he associates
The one romance Of Colonel Sage's life
shows that there has always been a tender
3 young girl, homeless and %friendless, at
tracted the attention Of Colonel Sage. He
assisted her at first in a niggardly way.
her as his daughter. He appeared to be
happy In her company, and when she was
ia wears old he called a lawyer and made
his will. He gave her MS entire estate;
oH6 AA$o - NAS
age of is she fell in love. The object of her
affection was not a favorite with Colonel
Sage. and he forbade her having anything
to do with him under penalty of disinheri-
lance. Love was more to her. however.
than all of Colonel Sage's broad acres. and
she married in spite of him. The old man,
/ true to his threat, tore up the will and dis
inherited the only person for whom he had
ever shown the slightest regard.
The girl left the home of her foster pa
| rent. and Colonel Sage was again the sole
occupant of his queer little stone house. In
the course of time a little girl was born 10
the disinherited heiress. The babe recon
quered the old man. BY the time she was
old enough to toddle about she had him
completely subjugated. He devoted nearly
his entire time to her. and while he has
never fully forgiven her mother for marry.
ing against his will. the child has restored
min to closer relationship with his adopted
daughter. A new will has been made. and
this little 5-year-old girl Is the sole legatee
of Colonel Sage's money. The property
will 20 into the hand of trustees to be in
vested as he has directed for her benefit.