Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1899-05-20

Roswell F. Flower was born in Theresa.
Jefferson county, N. Y, August I 1888.
His father was born at Oak Hill, Greene
county, n. Y. and his ancestors went
Of nine children, and when his father died
he was eight years old. He worked with
his brothers on two farms his mother
owned and spent his time between school
sessions in the hardest kind Of labor lie
became deputy postmaster of WatertoWn,
n y, in 1858, and kept his place six years.
Then he became a partner in the Jewelry
firm of Hitchcock & Flower, bought out
his partner at the end of two years, and
continued in the business until 1859.
Mr.. Flower came to New York in that
year to take charge Of the estate of Henry
Keep, whose widow was Mrs. Flower S
sister. Mr.. 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 the firm OF Benedict, Flow
| er e. Co, which has since peen power in
Wall street. Mr., Flower always was a
democrat In the cary los he helped Sam
uel J, Tilden to develop the famous or
ganization which exposed Tweed, and ell
| Joined many other trlumphs.
| Mr.. Flower was chosen chairman OF the
| Democratic state committee in 1871 and
| In 1881 he defeated William Waldorf Aston
| The Eleventh district His majority was
300. while Levi ?. Morton, republican
had carried 1t at the last previous election
| by more than 1000 votes lie refused a re-
nomination. He was elected bovernor OF
the state in 1891
| In the cholera epidemic in the late sum
mer of 1892 thousands of passengers ar
| riving from Europe were quarantned OF
| shittea.rd down thu bay. AS an emer
gency measure, Gov Flower bought will
| his own money the Fire Island hotel, II
the name of the state, and ordered tina
the passengers be sent there.
Mr.. Flower took up Brooklyn Rapit
| Transit less than two years ago, buying
from 10000 to 10000 shares at about %
when the capital shock was only $25,O0o
| 100. He absorbed many subordinate lines
among them The Nassau Electric com
pany. and increased the capitol stock t(
| Si5, eco, 600 and by his extraordinary sue
cessful manipulation put the price up tt
| l37 His holdings in Brooklyn Rapid Tran
sit alone which cost him two years ago {
little more than $50o,0O0, are worth, at to
days market price, more than S,0O0Om,
| Mr.. Flower was one OF the founders o
| the Federal steel trust, whose stock nj
ready issued is s99,037, 500 Good authori
ties estimate that Mr.. Flowers profits il
the last eighteen months in Wall stree
have exceeded s10,0oO,00l He had hecom'
in that time the acknowledged speculative
leader in the financial markets of th'
| United States.
Mr. Flower married Sarah Woodruff, {
daughter of Morris NJ. Woodruff, of Wa
tertown, in 1883. Three children were born
of whom only one survives, Emma Ger
trude who is the wife of John b. Taylor
Mr.. Flower has been for years one of tn
wardens of St. Thomas Episcopal church
In Fifth avenue.
New York, May 1.-THE body o
Roswell =. Flower was brought to thi
city from Passport, early this morn
ing. on special