The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-13
BRIEF SKETCH OF HIS CAREER
PROMINENT IN NEW YORK STATE
POLITICS FOR MANY YEARS.
Governor and COnEressman-Made
Millions by Manipulating Stocks
and I'm Judicious Investments.

the EaStport Country Club, at EaStport, Ia.
1. Mr.. Flower was taken i'll early in the
day with severe attack of acute indiges-
tion. In the afternoon symptoms of heart
failure superyened and he grew steadily
worse until the time of his death. The at
tack Of heart failure was accompanied by
fainting spell, and Mr.. Flowers family in
New York city was quickly notified. Mrs.
Flower and the former Governors nephew,
Frederick S. Flower. accompanied by DR..
Thomas H. Allen, Mr. Flowers physician.
left on a special train for Eastport. When
they arrived there Mr.. Flower had some
what recovered, but tonight the attack of
heart failure was marked and Mr.. Flower
became unconscious an hour or more before
his death.
At the clubhouse all the reports early In
the evening regarding Mr.. Flowers serious
illness Were emphatically denied, although
at that time it was not believed that he
would recover. Mr.. Flower has been a
sufferer from gastritis for a long time, with
every now and then an acute attack. For
month or two past he has been a regular
visitor at the Eastport Country Club in the
hope that he would find some relief in the
outing. He appeared in robust health yes
terday, and this morning when he arrived
at Eastport, where he intended to remain
until Monday, his health was apparently
excellent The attack from which he suf-
fered to-day came on suddenly, and was of
a more severe type at the outset than any
he had previously suffered from.
Frederick S. Flower took charge Of the
details after his uncle's death, but no ar
rangement for the funeral has yet been
made. The body will probably be trans
ferred to Manhattan tomorrow morning.
Sketch Of Mr. Flowers Career.
Roswell Pettibone Flower was born in
Theresa, jefferson county, New York Aug.
7, 1885. His father was born at Oak Hill,
Greene county, New York, and his ances>
tors went from Connecticut. Roswell was
the sixth 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.
He became deputy postmaster of Water
town, n. Y, in 1853, and kept his place six
years. Then he became partner in the
jewelry firm of Hitchcock & Flower, bought
out his partner at the end Of two years and
continued In the business until 1869.
Mr.. Flower went to New York in that
year to take charge Of the estate of Henry
ter. Mr.. Keep owned great many railroad
and other stocks. and during the months
before his death he spent much time in
structing Mr.. Flower about them. Havine
thus gained an insight into Wall street and
its methods. Mr.. Flower formed, in 1870,
the firm of Benedict, Flower & Co., in which
he joined z. C. Benedict and H. II. Truman.
This firm was dissolved in 1872. when Mr..
Flower was i'll for several months. Not LONG
afterward he organized the banking firm
of Flower & Co., which has since been a
power in Wall street.
Mr. Flower always was a Democrat. In
the early seventies he helped Samuel J.
Tilden to develop the famous organization
which exposed Tweed, and enjoyed many
other triumphs. Mr.. Flower was chosen
chairman of the Democratic state commit
tee In 1877 and in 1881 he defeated William
Waldorf Astor for Congress after a hot
campaign in the Eleventh district. His ma.
jority was 800, while Levi p. Morton, Re
publican, had carried 1t at the last previous
election by more than 1000 votes He re-
fused denomination. He was elected Gov
ernor of the State in 1891.
In the cholera epidemic In the late summer
of 1882 thousands of passengers arriving from
Europe were quarantined on shipboard down
the bay. AS an emergency measure, Gov
ernor Flower bought with his own money
the Fire Island Hotel in the name of the
State. and ordered that the passengers be
sent there.
Mr.. Flower took up Brooklyn Rapid Tran
sit less than two years ago, buying from
10000 to $1,000 shares at about p, when the
capital stock was only So 0ooOOe He alb
sorbed many subordinate lines, among them
the Nassau Electric Company and increased
the capital stock to s45 200, 600, and by his
extraordinary successful manipulation put
the price up to lS7. His holdings in Brooklyn
Rapid Transit alone, which cost him two
years ago little more than $500, 900, are worth
at to-day's market price, more than 50, ,e00. .O00
Mr.. Flower was one of the founders of the
Federal Steel Trust, whose stock already
issued is s99 800. Good authorities esti-
mate that Mr. Flowers profits in the last
eighteen months in Wall street have exceed
ed $40 600. He has become in that time
the acknowledged speculative leader in the
financial markets of the United States.
Mr.. Flower married Sarah Woodruff. a
daughter OF Morris NJ Woodruff OF Water
town. on Dec. 26. 1859. Three children were
born. OF whom only one survives. Emma
Gertrude. who is the wife of John B. Tay-
lor. Mr.. Flower has been for years one of
the wardens of the st. Thomas Episcopal
Church in Fifth avenue
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