The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1901-01-10
P. D. ARMOUR DEAD.
Chicago Millionaire Yielded tc
Long Illness.
SEVER RALLIED AFTER SONS DEATH
Native OF Madison County, N. ", He
Laid the Foundation of His
Great Wealth In Cali
fOrnia In 1910.

CHICAGO, Jan. Phillip ID. Armour
died at his residence In Prairie avenue
in this city at 5:45 o'clock last evening
Ihe 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 broker
never to be regained. When death came
MS grandchildren, who had so close q
place in his heart, were at the family
residence, as was j. Ogden Armour, the
surviving son.
The death of his son, Philip ID. Armour
DR., in southern California on Jan 20
100. was great shock to the health
broken man. The son had gone on a
visit to his father and was taken sudden.
ly with pneumonia. His death followed
with scarcely 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 $10,000,0OO to $4,000. 900.
This OF course does not include the S15,.
100000 or $20,000,000 owned by the
younger members of his family. For
years every enterprise he was interested
In hQd haa ,nly a
holdings Of stock have all advanced
largely during the last three years.
Philip ID. Armour, who was in his six
ty-ninth year, made his own life on lines
unique and wholly original with himself.
From a 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 1S49. and young Ar
mour was the first In Stcckbridge to de-
termine to visit the Pacific coast. He
obtained the permission of his parenls
and at the age of II started, having three
of four companions from the same 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
prsdominated In his life, indicated its |
presence as soon as he saw the godfields |
Of California. He made money from the |
start, and at the end Of six years he re. |
turned home with a fortune. Becoming
dissatisfied with the quiet life Of his ma |
tive town, he came west again and to- |
gether with brOther-in-law established a |
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 1865 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 n |
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 $50, ,OOO.-
600.
In works Of charity Mr.. Armour's
monument will be found in the Armour
institute, to which but short time ago
he gave $700,000 In one remembrance.
Asked once what he considered his best
paying investment, he replied, 1.-The Ar
mour institute"
The institute today represents an in
vestment on the part Of Mr. Armour and
his brother Joseph Of $2,250,0OO and a
yearly expense for maintenance Of $780,
600.