Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1901-01-10
?. D. ARMOUR DEAD.
Chicago Millionaire Yielded to
Long Illness.
lever RALLIED AFTER SONS DEATH.
I Native of Madison County, N. y, He
Laid the Foundation Of His
Great Wealth In CALI
fOrnia In 1S48.

IOFn1o In x94b.
CHICAGO, Jan. Phillip d. Armour
died at his residence in Prairie avenue
in this city at 5:45 o'clock last evening.
The end came after two years of illness,
during which time Mr.. Armour visited
German baths, passed the cold months in
southern California and devoted himself
largely TO an attempt to restore his
health, which. however, had been broken
never TO be regained.
For several weeks the millionaire had
been living at the old family home in
Prairie avenue, the usual trip to southern
California not having been taken this
winter. He came down to the Office in
the Home Insurance building but seldom,
and as the cold increased he did not come
at all. 1t was understood in the office
that he had an incipient attack Of pneu-
monia, but it was given out NO later than
week ago that he was on the road to
recovery 1t was noted, however, that
the constant attendance Of Or. Frank
Billings, the family physician, at the bed
side of the sick man did not corroborate
the favorable reports at the down town
office. For several days death had been
feared as the outcome by the close asso-
ciates of the great captain Of industry.
They realized that the decline from day
10 day did not cease. When death came,
his grandchildren, who had 30 close a
place in his heart, were at the family
residence, as was j. Ogden Armour, the
surviving son.
The death of his son, Philip D. Armour,
Jr., in southern California on Jan. 20,
1900. was great shock to the health
broken man. The son had gone on
visit TO his father and was taken sudden
ly with pneumonia. His death followed
with scarcely a days warning. The son
had largely interested the father and in
herited the business ability Of the Ar
mours and was closely following the foot
steps of the head when he was stricken
down.
So carefully had the plans for the fu-
ture been made that the death Of Mr..
Armour will have little effect on the out
ward working Of the great enterprise
with which he had been SO closely iden-
tilted. 1t is believed all the Armour
properties will be held intact until the
grandchildren come into their own.
Estimates of Mr.. Armour's own estate
run from $1O,Oo0,0OO to S25, ZOO. 900.
This of course does not include the $751;
900 900 or $20,O00,00 owned by the
younger members Of his family. For
in had been making immense profits. His
holdings Of stock have all advanced
largely during the last three years.
Philip d. Armour, who was In his six.
ty.ninth year. made his own life on lines
unique and wholly original with himself.
From not overrich Madison county IN.
" farm to the position of paying more
freight and controlling more provisions
than any other man in the world were
the two extremes of his life
The California gold fever struck west
ern New York in 1910. and young Ar
mour was the first in Stockbridge to de-
termine to visit the Pacific coast He
obtained the permission of his parents
aud at the age of II started having three
of four companions from the sal me neigh
borhood. The almost incredible part of il
was that the party walked nearly the en-.
tire distance from New York to Califor-
mia.
The commercial sense, which always
predominated in his life, Indicated its
presence as soon as he saw the goldfields
of California. He made money from the
start. and ut the end Of six years he re-
turned home with fortune. Becoming
dissatisfied with the quiet life of his ma
tive town, he came west again and to-
large wholesale grocery house in Milwau-
kee. This venture was also successful,
and in years time he purchased the
largest grain elevator in Milwaukee This
led to more elevators and railroad stock.
In 1885 he came to Chicago to take charge
OF the Chicago branch Of New York
packing establishment. The result was
that the Chicago house ceased to be a
branch. and the west gained the largest
packing and provision plant in the world
The property interests for which Mr.
Armour stood are estimated at $150,O00.-
900.
In works of charity Mr.. Armour's
monument will be found in the Armour
institute, to which but short time ago
he gave $750.O00 in one remembrance.
Asked once what he considered his best
paying investment, he replied, The Ar
mour institute"
The institute today represents an in
vestment on the part Of Mr.. Armour and
his brother Joseph Of $2,250,000 and a
yearly expense for maintenance of $780,
900.
May Come to America.