The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-05-13

RP. FLOWER
Ir. Flower was taken i'll early in the
day with a severe attack of acute in
digestion. I'm the afternoon symptoms
of heart failure supervened, and he grew
steadily worse until the time of his
death. The attack OF heart failure was
accompanied by a fainting spell. and
Mr. Flowers family in New York city
were quickly notified Mrs. Flower and
the former governors S nephew. Frederick
$. Flower accompanied by DR.. Thomas
H. Allen, Mr.. Flowers physician, left
at once on a special train for Eastport.
When they arrived there Mr. Flower
had somewhat recovered but the night
attack of heart failure was marked, and
Mr. Flower became unconscious an hour
or more before his death.
At the club house all the reports early
in the evening regarding MIR. F'lower'y
serious illness were emphatically de-
MED.
MIR. Flower hai been a sufferer from
gastritis for long time, with every now
and then an acute attack. For month
or two past he had been ~ regular Wis
itor at the Eastport Country club. in the
hope that he would find some relief i'm
the outing. He appeared in robust
health Thursday morning. and yester-
day morning when he arrived at East
port, where he intended TO remain until
Monday, his health was apparently ex-
cellent. The attack from which he
suffered yesterday came on suddenly
and was of more severe type at the out
set than any he had previously suffered
from.
Roswell Pettibone Flower was born in
Theresa. y. Y, Aug :, 1885. His fa-
ther was born in Greene county, n. y,
and his ancestors came from Connacti-
cut. Roswell was the sixth OF nine
Children and when his father died he
was years old. He worked with his
brothers on two farms his mother owned,
ana spent his time between school ses-
sions i'm the hardest kind of labor. He
became deputy postmaster Of Water
town, n. Y. i'm 1858, and kept his place
six years at a salary of $50 a month.
lie then became a partner in the jewelry
firm of Hitchcock a. Flower bought out
lis partner at the end of two years. and
continued In The business until 1854 r.
Mr.. Flower came 10 New York in that
year TO take charge OF the estate OF
Henry Keep, whose widow was Mrs.
Flowers sister. MIR. Keep owned
great many railroad and other stocks.
and during the months before his death
he spent much time instructing Mr.
Flower about them. Having thus gained
an insight into Wall street and its
methods. Mr.. Flower formed, in 1870. thu
firm OF Benedict, Flower e Co, in which
he Joined Il. c. Benedict and Ii. IL.
Truman. This firm was dissolved in
1872, when Mr.. Flower was i'll for several
months. Not long afterwards he or
ganized the banking firm of Flower G.
Co. which has since been power i'm
Wall street Mr.. Flower always was
Democrat. In the early '70s he
helped Samuel j. Tflden TO develop the
famous organization which exposed
Tweed, and enjoyed many other tri-
umphs.
Mr.. Flower was chosen chairman Of
the Democratic state committee in 1871
and i'm 1881 he defeated William w. Astor
Tor congress, after hot campaign i'm
the Eleventh district. His majority
was 3l0O. while Levi T. Morton had car
ried the district at the last previous
election by more than 1000 votes Mr..
Flower refused a denomination. He was
elected governor OF the state in 1891.
In the cholera epidemic In the late
summer OF 1892 thousands OF passengers
arriving from Europe were quarantined
on shipboard down the bay AS an
emergency measure. Governor Flower
bought. with his own money. the Fire
Island hotel. i'm the name OF the state.
at h. h..
there.
Mr.. Flower took up Brooklyn rapid
transit less than two years ago. buying
from 20. 900 TO 40. 600 shares at about %
when the capital stock was only s25. 900. :
geo He absorbed many subordinate
lines, among them the Nassau Electric
company, and increased the capital
stock TO $4,000, 600. and by his extra
ordinarily successful manipulation put
the price up to l31. His holdings in
Brooklyn rapid transit alone. which
cost him two years ago little more than
100000. are worth at today's market
price more than s3.000000. Mr.. Flower
was one Of the founders OF the Federal
steel trust.
Good authorities estimate that Mr.
Flowers profits i'm the last rs months
in Wall street have exceeded $40 1000 .0cO
he had become In that time the acknowl'
edged speculative leader I'm the financial
markets OF thu United states.
Nr "~"-' = W,e~sf !.
ruff. q daughter Of Morris NJ. Woodruff
of Watertown, on Dec. 26. 1859. Three
children were born. OF whom only one
survives, Emma Gertrude. The wife OF
John Il. Taylor Mr.. Flower had been
for years one OF the wardens OF 81.
Thomas Episcopal church. ON Fifth ave-
nue..
The iot undertaken,
Who plants by the acre,
sloof Xicl ms of cOrRh aud cold.