The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-01-07
ARMouR WAs roc SLOW.
For This Reason Milwaukeean Want
ed Another Partner.

Milwaukee, Wis. Jan. 6.-Robert FL
lott. one of the oldest grain dealers in
this city, knew Mr.. Armour very well,
and tells an interesting story of his
early acquaintance with. the great pork
packer in Milwaukee.
IT was in 1857" said Mr. Elliott,
that I first met Mr.. Armour, being IN
troduced TO him by my brother-in-laW,
T. s Chaplin. a member of the firm OF
Chaplin & Gregory. Mr.. Chaplin sug
gested that I go into partnership with
MIR. Armour Both of US had been plo-
neers of California, and Mr. Armour
had accumulated a little wealth, some
s. 900. in dealing in gold dust had
about s.. 600 at the time. We talked the
matter over and were in a talr way 10
coming to some agreement
One dav however" continued Mr..
Elliott las we were walking together
from Chaplin & Gregcry's place TO the
freight house Of the old La Crosse road,
Mr.. Armour did not seem TO be able to
get on a gait of more than two and a
half miles an hour. He was always be-
hind me. and / came to the conclusion
thar he was too slow TO become
partner Of mine.
Many years afterwards, IN chatting
with Mr. Armour in his office in Chi
caro-. where he employed over goo
clerks. We had friendly meeting, and
1 told him the truth of the matter and
we had a good laugh over It
Made Money on Whisky.
Mr.. Armour afterwards went into
the packing business in d small cell;bc
ON West Water street where tle cut q
few dressed hogs. and later he formed a
partnership with F. b. Miles and built
up a large business, mostly receiving
grain from points on the Mississippi
river ike Winona, Hastings and 81.
L iaarr TfTla later 'AUen
the first internal revenue tax on lie Tor
was incuhating, Miles & Armour hap
uene1 to be in close business relations
with Crosby and others who were deal
Ing largely in whisky, and they seemed
10 have inside information as to what
was likely to happen with regard TO the
whisky tax. They bought very largely.
one dollar tax was imposed on Whisky,
and of course the price advanced ac-
cordingly. They knew in advance that
stocks on hand would not be taxed, ana
So they were able 10 benefit and make
what was then considered quite a Tor
tune.
Buys Out Partner.
Afterwards they formed partner
ship with John PIankintOn, each taking
a quarter interest against PlankintOn,S
half. Miles was too speculative for his
partners. and Armour bought Miles in
terest. who went out of the firm $lT5.00O
10 the good. Miles failed in couple OF
years.
"Plankinton & Armour continued to
prosper and enIa rye their influence and
business. and started a branch in Chi
Cago which Armour afterward went
fhere TO manage. Subsequently they
dissolved partnership, Plankinton TAX
ing the Milwaukee plant and Armour
the Chicago plant
Mr. Armour was a man of great
business sagacity, and although slow
walker. was one of the quickest men
that ever lived to jump from under i'm
pending calamity, or to get in on the
ground floor on good thing he has
always been broad in Slis public bene-
factions and in his charities. and ii is
generally understood that he helped a
great many men when they were
down