The sun., 1900-08-15
Mr.. HUNTINGTON'S CAREER.
started without . Dollar and Carried Oss
Many Great Enterprtses.

COLTS P Huntington was one OF TIE biggest
men Of his kind that America has produced
Like many other great fnanciers, he started
In his business career without dollar and
without an education; yet by his great in
tellect and his indomitable energy he pushed
his way 10 the front and became a world
recognized leader In financial and railroad
circles. Even Jay Gould. who was notorious
for bis contempt OF his business rivals. had
q profound respec, for Mr.. Huntington
Mr. Huntington came OF New England stock.
His father was farmer In Iltchfeld county.
Conn. One OF his ancestors was a sLgner
Of che Declaration OF Independence. The
Huntinstons had always been plain. poor
people. hard-working and honest Mr. Hunt
ington was born on Oct. %, 1921. in the little
village Of Harwinton, As soon a. he was big
enough 20 toddls his father put him at work
He had only the smallest opportunity for school
ing, but that did not worry him. lie attended
the district school In tho winter and in the
summer helped about the farm until he was
u, when he cut loose and began life for him
self During his first year he earned So in
money and his board and clothes. OF the
- he spent not a cent. A. the end OF the year
he had 1t all with which 10 begin business for
himself Mr.. Huntington was always very
proud Of this fact and he never omitted 10
mention II in talking Of his success In life.
AT the end OF the year he once said. Y
Wa as much Of a capitalist as have ever been
since. Start two Young men upon the road Of
life n one earns SIS the first year and saves
$50 and the other, earning the same amount,
saves nothing Il seems an easy problem 10
nrire out the probable difference az the end
OF twenty years. Nothing ts more surprising
than the result. for while in the second In
stance, the twenty years will have produced
no growth. In the other. the habit OF economy
and Of saving the pennies becomes the most
finely tempered and useful tool In his possess-
sion. and the growing capital Is servant which
from q child grows into Q giant for his mas
ter's advantage"
This was the keynote Of tho inancer's sue
cess With his So he purchased a supply OF
clocks and pedded them around In little Con-
necucut towns with great shrewdness, there
by increasing his capital. At the age Of 81
he came 20 New York and making more pur-
chas4s 10 general merchandise he pedded his
goods through the surrounding country until
he had got together enough money 10 start
\ general store in the town OF Oneonta, y Y
He went Into partnership with his brother
Solon and his friends supposed that he had
settled down 70 the NE of a rural merchant,
This was In isA2 Two years later he returned
to Connecticut and tn September, lsIA he
married MISS Elizabeth T Stoddard. who had
been his schoolmsts in his native town lie
returned with his bride 10 Oneonta aud ra.
rnalned there until lsts. when the discovery
Of gold in California turned his eyes 20 the
West
He made up his mind that he would 20 to the
Pacific Coast. but not as a miner. His shrewt
commercial instinct made him believe that
'here was greater opportunity In trade dur.
ing the development OF the new country. Sc
taklng 80 he went down TO the lsthmus Of
Panama intending 90 cross and 60 up the west
coast 10 San Francisco. He found. however
IN his arrival AZ the isthmus that there Was nc
vessel sailing for the Golden Gate and instea1
" roaming about and wasting his time and
money In dissipation. the young Yankee bought
a stock o' goods and trudgei back and fortf
across the lsthmus tweniy-four times. lr
The 81, months nat Il took him TO - this h,
incrsssed his capital from 81. no 10 5000 Anc
whom finally schooner sailed from the we-
.nas, o, IN. lsthmus, IL bore the young man
not however, a. passenger. but a. q seaman