The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1903-09-11
.ROATH'S GENEROSITY.
Why Rich Chicagoan Divided
$1,000, 900 Among Relatives.
CURIOUS ABOUT USE OF HIS MONEY

"Uncle Steve," a Prototype OF Dav10
Harum, Gave Away His Fortune
without Any Rcservation-Saved
Money on SO a Month When He
First Went to WorIk-Some of His
Eccentrlcitfes.
In Stephen b. Roath, who came out
of the west and startled his poor rela-
tives in Norwich. Conn.,, by distribut-
ing something like a million dollars
among them, Norwich has found Sec
ond David Hurum, says the New YORK
Herald 1t is not only in the kindness
of his heart. masked by somewhat
gruff nature and a decided proclivity
to get the better end Of bargain al
ways, that "Uncle Steve" as tie
townspeople call him, resembles tie
man Of fiction.
His conversation, his actions, his
looks and even the principles followed
by him from boyhood of poverty are
those of David Harum to an eXactness
that almost startles one who is fortu-
nate enough to talk with this remarka-
BILE old gentleman. True to his prlncl-
pies, Mr.. Roath did not warn his rela-
tives of his plan. They knew nothing
about it until the wealth, far beyond
their fondest dreams, was literally
dumped at their doors.
II got it all fixed" Mr.. Roath
chuckled as he said it, and his eyes
twinkled with delight, land then l
sprung it on them. Now I'll just wait
around and see what they do with it.
Yes. gave it without a single reserva-
ton. They can throw it away if they
want to. I'll just wait and see."
1t was in Chicago. where he went in
1855. that Mr.. Roath made his fortune.
| He was live stock agent for the Illinois
| Central railroad for years there and en-
joyed and benefited by the friendship
Of such money getters as. Marshall
Field. L. 2. Letter, Nelson Morris, the
late Potter Palmer and the late Philip
Armour Always q persistent money
getter, Mr.. Roath made a rule never to
be broken: that the money he saved
must earn more money. And so it was
that from the humblest beginning he
| grew to be man Of millions.
The secret of his success. interspersed
with much sound advice and his rea-
sons for giving away large slice OF
his fortune. was told in most interest
ing manner by Mr.. Roath as he sat in
an easy chair on the porch of the COM
Portable cottage in Norwich which is
the home of Mrs. Matilda Randall. a
widow, who is Mr. Roath's sister.
"How did I invest my money? Let
me give you one piece Of advice, young
man. Don't invest in anything you
can't eat People must eat always, but
in hard times they don't put up big
buildings, they don't buy any luxuries
Don't borrow money. I know a man
who was worth $6,OOOOOO. He wasn't
satisfied and borrowed $6,OO0,OO0 more
to use in speculation. This was all
placed, and things looked promising
until the panic Of 1878 came along
Well. that man was just wiped out.
panic Of 1873.
II have saved money every year OF
my life since began working here in
general store for Sc a month" Mr.
Roath said as be leaned back and rest
ed his game" leg ON stool. IA young
man to succeed in hfe must at least dc
that. Then put the little saved out
at interest. Savings banks in those
days paid 6 per cent.
VI was the first mail agent that eve1
ran on the old Norwich and Worcester
railroad" Uncle Steve said. with som.
pride. "That was in 1848. From 1S5:
to 1858 thirty-five families left Nor
wich for Chicago. I went there in 1S5;
with small working capital and will
a valuable experience I had gained
from my first employer, who was tn
soul of honesty and sharp as stee
trap.
"He showed me how to get ahead
and when I became live stock agent OF
the Illinois CentraEwell, got aheaG
myself. No, / never gambled; that i.
one of the secrets of ruin. But in