The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-14
MIR. BOOKWALTER OF OHIO.
Successful Career of One Who Began
as Il Poor Boy ON the Wabash.
"Megargee." in Philadelphia Times

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Newspaper stories telegraphed from
Springfield, o. bring the information that
John w BookWalter has shaken the gust
OF Ohio from his feet, after leaving instruc-
lions with his real estate agent 10 sell all
of the property of which he is possessed
in the city of Springfield. for which mu-
nicipality there has arisen in his bosom an
undying hatred. This means much 10
Springfield. for Bookwater has been . po-
tent factor in the growth OF that town.
This incident brings 10 mind nervous,
forcefu character in American lie. he
became the largest manufacturer or agtl-
cultural implements in the world Riches
its main object. Having no children 10 m
/ herit his vast wealth, one might wonder
why he should fret himself about its tur-
ther accumulation, but with him not 10 Go
is to die
Bookwalter's life presents a study from
which young men can learn something
which may be advanta geous.
Possessed to-day of Il fortune of several
millions of dollars. he was confronted in
his youth with obstacles to prominence and
success which seemed insuperable. In con-
VerSatiOn with the narrator he drilted 10
wards the days of his boyhood, and the
tale he told romance. Born on the
Wabash river, in Indiana. from the time he
first saw the until his tWenty-Irsc
year, the aggregate of the money that had
been in his possession during that entlre
time did not amount to $50 | don mean
to say that he never had more IMAM $zu III
his possession; | mean that the pennies
and fps and leVies which during that full
score of wears had touched his hands did
sum named. He never saw a locomotive
until he was twenty years or age. tie ana
not see a piano until he was twenty-five
years of age. When he left home TO- seek
his fortune he walked for he did not nave
cent and from that day to this ne mas
never narrowed a dollar Eleven years
ago he was riding on railroad tram ana
when passing a point near, l think Fort
Wayne Ind, he directed a companion at
tGnfion to a barn, and said: Il had
nights lodging in that building AFTER l
left home. did not dare remain IN FORT
Wavne over night, because ] had no place
TO sleep and was afraid / might be arrested
as a vagrant, and so / walked three mics
out Of town until came across 1Ra5 9q bad
l a similar experience, and that was near
Detroit Mich" -,
Yet the boy who was undergoing this
ordeal had at that time made, with mis-
own hands, the largest telescope then IN
this country and at an expenditure OF que
cents, That feat was accomplished IN
This way: In RoOkWalters native town,
when he was but seventeen years OF age
a public lecturer was advertised to talk
about the mysteries of the heavens: ne
price of admission was cents. BookWalter
pleaded with his father to give him TINS
sum in order to attend the entertainment,
but il was sternly denied him ana ne was
chided for his levity of mind me story
which his companions told him OF me Wen Won;
with determination to learn for hlmseiI the
marvels of the armament. He succeeded IN
borrowing of a scholar cop, o. =; an , U1e
text book on astronomy think II was
IOOmiSs PhySicS-and from that ne leaIneu
the construction of telescope, WIN
cents which he had earned with his own
labor he bought an ordinary round-bot-
toned glass tumbler and succeeded IN cut
ting out the lower portion WIN TINS, alter
months of toll and by using iron aust III
stead of the unobtainable emery powder,
he managed to form a lens of diameter
in excess of that in any teLesc9pe tne. III
this country. He made tube from pasIe-
board. OF course, in this crude form the
instrument was worthless, and ne tound
he would have to have reflector. Night
after night he walked to brick kiln, hVe
miles from his home, and succeeded IN
time in securing sufficient number OF
bricks TO build furnace. Some miles away
a whisky distillery had been burned TO the
ground. he visited the ruins and obtained
a portion Of the copper stu. laying W pro
cured all the necessary metal he began
work in his furnace, and In time succeeded
in producing a roughlymade reflector. rms
which lasted from sun up to sun down, and
was frequently carried on when his myers
were bleeding from husking corn; 4 re-
duired eight months to perfect the Ftele-
scope but when he directed IT towards me
heavens he was, amply repaid for all . Ms, MS
labor when his delighted eyes for the hrst
time saw the seven rings of Saturn.
This marvel of industry which was IN
trinsically worth much money the young
inventor sold for so cents,
But pluck and ability Will tell
The poor boy from the wabash IS now
ma hut he is looked up to as a
student Of public affairs, as widely read
man of deep learning, as an art critic or
recognized anu OA PuSiiNc Nt'N
in Cincinnati is a famous collection OF won
ders of the world collected personally by
Bookwalter during three Recommendations
Of thirteen volcanoes in Java, South Amer
lea, Sandwich islands and Italy. he mas
been nominated for Governor of the Buck
eye State and figured in the senatorial con-
test which landed Calvin S; Briee IN me me
upper house of the national congress; re
Is very peculiar in many respects ana nom
est-this is also peculiar, some people thlnk
and Springfield has made mistake ms axe IN IN
a crank. but tbs a pity have not more
like him.