The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-17
DANIEL G. REtD's RAPID RISE.
Hoosier kiu tI-MiIlionaire Bank Clerk
Fifteen Years Ago.

From the Indianapolis News.
Daniel G. Reid. the Wall street mag
rate, has returned to hts cid home in
Indiana to make final arrangements for
his million-doIIar mansion at Rich
mond, Ind, which is to be the finest
residence in the state. He was a bank
clerk at Richmond not many years ago
on rleaser salary; now he can sign
check for s25,0Oo,6O0. Like MS partner.
W. 8. Leeds, former Richmond boy
Reid is a IIoosier croesus.
Reid was born and reared IN Richmond
and will not reach his forty-fourth birth
day anniversary until next August. His
father, Daniel Reid, was native of
Rockbridge County. Virginia. In 1921 he
came to Wayne County with is parents
and settled on a farm near New Paris
Ohio, six miles east CT Richmond. Two
years later he went to Richmond and en-
tel ed into business
He resided there five years. then pur-
chased farm in Allen county and re-
manned there until 1855, when he returned
to Richmond and engaged in the grocery
business with Noah S. Leeds. who by
the way was the father of William b.
Leeds, with whom d. G. Reid has been
associated in later years
Daniel Reid the younger was born in
Richmond, but during his early boyhood
mis- father moved to a farm just west of
the city.
He remained on the farm with his
father until 1875, when. as a boy OF is, he
entered the Richmond Second National
Bank as a messenger, His duties were of
a varied sort, for, according to some of
the veterans of that institution, young
Daniel served as Waterman for time.
sleeping in the bank at night and putting
the place in readiness for the following
days business.
He was still very young when made
assistant cashier Of the institution. The
turning point In his life and business
career occurred in the early COS.
Always of a speculative turn, Reid has
the faculty of keeping clear of injudic-
ious investments. his tendency toward
speculation being guided by a judgment
rarely at fault and by a keeping dis
eliminating mind.
Reid and Leeds decided, after d period
spent In investigation, that tinpiate could
be manufactured in this country at a
profit, thing that had been deemed
impractical
The Pennsylvania Railroad Company
Mt that me-1S92-controlled land near
Elwood, and numerous railroad men be-
came Interested In a project to boom the
town..
Leeds, who was at that time identified
with the Pennsylvania as superintendent
of the Richmond division, was one OF the
chief promoters, and in that affair the
project to establish the tinplate mills at
Elwood materialized.
The mills were built and started. Leeds
himself journeyed to Wales and saw the
tfnplate mills there in operation. Machin-
cry Of a similar improved type was MADE
espaoiolly for the Elw0Oi plant.
Other mills were started almost stimuli.
taneously in other parts of the country,
but it remained for the Elwood plant to
go to the front from the start, and il
soon led its competitors. Within five
years from the time IL was opened II had
become the largest concern of its kind In
the world.
Reid entered upon the project with less
than $4,000 sum shat was probably larg-
er than that invested by Leeds.
In 1888, when the combination move
nent was at it's height, 1t was Reid who
planned and who carried to success
full end the joining together of the TIM
plate industries, which resulted in the
formation of the American Tinplate
Company He was made president OF the
trust.
Being closely allied with the steel in
terest3, Il was but naturat1 Fat the Amer
ican TIN plate Company should become
identified with the United States steel
Company. and In this enterprise both
Reid and Leeds were made directors.
All sorts of stories are told OF tho riches
that have been obtained by these two
Richmond men and a conservative esti-
mate places the wealth OF each at moi
LEGS than $25,00c, 900.
one Of the reasons for the present visit
Of Mr.. and Mrs. Reid at this time is tc
look after matters in relation to the
building of a magnificent residence ir
Richmond to cost half a million dollars