The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-19

then he became a bank clerk, and by
the time he had reached his 38th year
was able to establish a. commercial
house in Boston, which subsequently
developed into one of the most import
ant institutions of its kind in the
United States.
Five years later he went to London.
where he met George Peabody, who Of
fered him partnership in the firm of
George Peabody & Co. Later the firm
was changed ITO ]. S. Morgan & Co. j.
S. Morgan died in 1890, leaving his son,
J. Pierpont, a fortune of 0000, 900. The
latter was, however, at the time of his
fathers death, a very rich man, and
the fortune has been doubled again and
again since he came into possession of
it, He is said to be worth anywhere
from eighty TO one hundred millions,
and the end is not yet.
John D. Rockefeller, the controlling
genius of the Standard Oil company, is
of Pennsylvania Dutch extra ction, and
is probably the most bitterly execrated
man in America to-day He was first
school teacher earning $50 a month
He has since said those were the hap
piest days he has ever known.
From teaching school he went into
the commission business in Cleveland
and from that into oil. He Is firmly
convinced his millions were given him
by God He has made this statement
publicly, not once, but a score of times,
with a manner that Indicated clearly
he was of the opinion that God had
made no mistake in the matter Not
withstanding his intensely religious at
titude, his faith has evidently not en-
tirely removed him from the spirit of
covetousness, for he has said, Wealth
does not bring happiness for many rea-
sons; one is that no man ever thinks
himself wealthy. No man can ever be
SO rich but that there will be others
weather. than he is, and the knowl-
edge of that fact will make him feel.
poor, no matter how great his posses
sions."
Rockefeller in making his own for
tune of $200.000,000, made fortunes for
all his business associates.
The great Payne fortune was one of
these. 1t was through the influence of
Senator Payne that William C. Whit
ney came to the front. His first wife
was the senator's daughter. At the time
of this marriage Whitney was young
and struggling lawyer. He has shown
he knew how to make the most of his
luck.
The Standard Oil fortunes only go
back 30 years. Rockefeller and four
other comparatively poor young men
saw there was money in petroleum. To-
gregate an easy $4,000 900, and their
wealth is still increasing by leaps and
bounds.
The big Belmont fortune is already
two generations from shirtsleeves. The
genius of that family was August Bel
mont, the son of small banker and
landed proprietor in one of the prov
inees of Prussia. He made his start
with the Rothschilds, whose bank he
entered as a messenger. Later he was
promoted to a clerkship in a branch
house in Naples.
The panic of 1887 brought him even
greater luck. He was sent to New
York to settle up the Rothschilds' bust
ness, for the firm had suspended during
the panic. Soon afterward he opened
bank of his own and it was not long I'M
til he was counted rich man. The
present head of the house is his son.
With the exception of the Standard
Oil fortunes, the most recent great ac-
cumulations were made by a little
group of San Francisco millionaires.
The ablest man in this group was the
late Leland Stanford. who left a for
tune variously disposed of some $780,
000. 900.