The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-02-14
Mr.. BO7SF0RD'S CAREER.
a Graphic and Interesting Narrative
of the Dcccascd's Life Written by
his Friend. Hon. a. w. Campbell.

Oh tnc DccclScuS lille written by
his Friend. Hon. a. W. Campbell.
Events ofthc Distant Past Recalled.
On the occasiun of Mr.. Botsfords
,ninetieth birthday. March S, 1897, nearly
t"o years ago. his most intimate friend,
the late Hon. y. w. Campbell. wrote
Il most graphic and interesting sketch
of his life. in the course Of which he
says:
After scveaty-four years OF residence
in Wheeling he expresses no regret at
having done so. Although 4 rather
delicate, mar. he has always enjoyed
good health. due. no doubt, to the reg
rlar and well-ordercd life he has led.
as well as to the salubrous climate Of
the valley in which he has lived. OF
course, as he says, IL he could have
foresecn the future OF Chicago and st.
Louis. the former being n mere fort in
lS23. he could have Gone n great deal
better pccunIarily by remaining west.
but. after all. as he further says. what
would it haze awaited him. seeing that
he has been able to enjoy good health
here and accumulate 4 competence for
his old age. He had Il cousin. bearing
the same name. who became the head OF
Serat house in Chicago, but who died
years ago, while he. his less fortunate
kinsman. is still in the land of the liv-
ing. Thus it Is. as he wisely reflects.
that we have compensation in losing
one thing and in gaining another.
River Life in Other Days.
River life was n great attraction to
the young men of this region when Mr..
Botsford came to Wheeling. The gen.
eral idea was that more money and cas-
fer money could be made on water than
on land. 1t was quite the thing for
adventurous youths to so on trip to
the clover country" as the Mississippi
below Cairo was called. 1t was also
quite the thing for country merchants
and farmers to now and then load fiat
boats with flour. bacon. whisky. pota-
toes. apples and other up country
products. and speculate on venture
10 the south. In this way the foun-
dation for n number OF fortunes was
laid. and also considerable money was
lost. The late Peter Yarnell was
one Of those who essayed TO make
money on the water. He took Il consid-
cradle government contract, for those
days. to supply Il certain amount OF
Fl tbIIllIlblltltS " an outpost aNiN UP OH
the Wild Missouri river, at Council
Bluffs which was then on the extreme
Verge Of western settlement. and VISA
Wis with the Sioux nation" and other
hostilcs. He chartered steamboat
for the purpose of carrying out his con-
tract. whereof the late Samuel Irwin
was mate. and wherein Mr.. John X.
Botsford shipped as Il general utility
boy. They loaded the boat here with
the various products specified IN the
contract. and loaded her so deep that
she could not get up the Missouri on
reaching st. Louis. That river always
had something the matter with it.
Either It was high and the current was
swift. or else 1t was low and the chan
mel very trcachcrous. Well, It was
Very low when the Yarncil expedition
reached st. Louis. and there was
nought to do but Fighter" part Of the
lead from the steamer to two keel
boats. and these keclers had to he
''cordelled" $50 or more miles up the
Missouri. with ropes and poles and
sails, after the fashion OF the famous
exploring expedition of Lewis and
Clark, In 1906.
Uncle sam was then. Ms now. Il stick
Ter for the fulHllment OF contracts
made with him. and he required Mr.
I'li w NthNtt lHt IlDullu OIL llpSl
to him In conformity with the terms
"dcnomlnated in the bond" IN other
words, he allowed no bonus for the keel
boats and their slow and tortuous and
expensive progress up the muddy Mis-
EOuri, the result of which was that Mr..
farncll, Instead of adding to his wealth
by the expedition. was Obliged to accept
n loss of 100000 which was Il snug for
tune to win or lose in those days. In
decd. as late rs 1870. Il ten thousand
dollar man was looked up to IN Wheel
Ing. Major Lorlns relates that soon
after he came 10 Wheeling. about that
time. Nr Henry i. Ligt. then start
Ing on his active business career, was
pointed out to him on the streets as n
man who was supposed to be worth $l0.-
900. Therefore, 1t wnE n heavy blow to
Ny. Yarncll individually. as we'll as to
the general resources OF this cOmmun-
ity. to be depleted OF that amount OF
money. All that he aud his Ioutonnnts
accumulated by that venture was Il