Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-02-13
A VERY RAPID RISE
sgMARKAsLE SUCCESSES OF a
HoosiER CLERK
N A DOUBLE DECADE
Gets Rich Fast, Discards the Wife of
His Youth, Marries an Urban oi-
vorcee And Now Becomes pFes'-
dent of Railroad.

Fewer than twenty years ago VIII
lam b. Leeds thought he was fortun-
ate in receiving $50 month as a rail
road clerk. Now he has been elected
president of the Chicago. Rock Island
and Pacific railroad, for which he will
receive salary of probably $4,000 a
year. In addition, he is now one of the
heavy stockholders of the company.
In Mr.. Leeds short career he has
startled the worlds financiers with his
business ability and has amazed soci-
ETY. with his domestic tangles. Prob
ably Leeds wealth would never have
been known had 1t not been for the
facts that came out when he divorced
his first wife.
Mr.. Leeds hasa limited experience
as practical railroad man. his time.
however. during the past ten years has
been devoted to financial matters. He
did not toll long at his $50 clerkship
on the southern Indiana division of the
Panhandle line of the Pennsylvania
railroad. He was rapidly advanced
until he was appointed superintendent.
The tin plate industry was then be-
ginning to assume Importance. Mr..
Leeds became interested in the tin
plate factory In Elwood, Ind. Later
came combination In tin plate A
! short opposition to the trust on MIR.
Leeds part and the latter sold, with
several millions of dollars profit Then
he became interested in the greater
! company and later in the steel cor.
| poration that absorbed the tin plate
trust.
While connected with the Pennsyi-
vania railroad with office in itch
mond, Ind. he met JEANNE Gaar. They
were married and lived together for
twenty years. The little Indiana town
became to small for Leeds and his
newly acquired wealth and the couple
moved to Indianapolis. More millions
were added to his bank account and
the couple occupied twelve rooms in
the Metropole hotel and entertained
lavishly.
In the meantime Mr.. Leeds interest
in steel caused him to spend consider
able time In Cleveland. There he met
Minnie May Stewart Worthington.
daughter of a wealthy resident OF
that city. An attachment that sprung
up between Mr.. Leeds and Mrs. Worth
ington led her to secure divorce from
her husband.
Leeds then started to loosen the
bonds that bound him to his wife. the
latter at first would not listen to
legal separation; she still believed her
husband would return to her.
| Finally convinced that he had been
lost. she allowed his petition for di
vorce to come to hearing but not, II
| liz said, until Leeds had signed 81 ,O00,
900 over to her as the price of a decree,
| The prayer for a divorce was granted
in just thirty minutes by Judge Bishop
of Chicago. In the bill for divorce
Leeds age was given ut 45 and his
wifes at 23 Thrt was three years
ago.
Then the two Divorces were mar
ried and started on a honeymoon IN
| Leeds palatial yacht. This bridal trip
was a seven days wonder, He show
cred his wife with money and presents
He gave her a pearl necklace valued
at $4,000, wedding ring at 81 300. a
diamond necklace at SIS 5000. an ermne
wrap at $4,000. several paintings In
Europe at $4,000 and a trousseau at
$4,000. Her yachting cap was made
with diamond buttons Mr. Leeds took
with him to Europe a trunk full of
choice Havana cigars. He failed to
pay duty on them to the French gov
eminent and they were promptly con
| fiscated. He was fined and narrowly
escaped a jail sentence
When the bride and groom returned
from Europe Leeds paid $4,000 for
piece OF land 100 feet square IN Fifth
avenue. New York On this he arrect.
ed a 81 00O 000 houea