Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-09
CAREER of L. z. LETTER.
Entered the Dry Goods Business In
1858 and Built Up a Fortune.


!, Levi Zeigler Letter was native of Wash
ington county. Maryland, having been born
in Leitersburg in 1884 He was educated. In
a way. at the little country school In his
native town. and began his business career
a clerk in the country general store.
around the corner from his humble home.
When he was twenty years old he left Lei
tersburg and went to Springfield, Ohio,
where he served a year as clerk in dry
goods and notion store. In 1855. a year
after he left Maryland, he was given a good
position with Cooley, Wadsworth & Co.,
who conducted large dry goods establish
ment in Chicago. This was the real begin
ming of a most remarkable and successful
career.
Mr.. Letter worked side by side with Mar
shall Field for ten years, when they both
decided to go into business for themselves
In 1865 they sold out their interest in the
firm of Cooley, Wadsworth & Co. to John
V. Farwell. Letter and Field purchased a
controlling interest in the business of Pot
ter Palmer, and the firm of Field. Palmer
& Letter. dry goods, was launched on the
commercial tide of Chicago. Mr.. Palmer
retired In the course of a few years, and the
firm became known as Field, Letter & Co.
On New Year day, 1881, Mr. Letter retired
from the dry goods business and turned his
attention to dealing in stocks and bonds
and the purchasing and improving of large
tracts of land in and about Chicago. He
was president director in a score Of
prosperous corporations and holder of
considerable stock listed on the local ex-
change.
He was married in October, 1895 to Mary
Theresa Carver Mrs. Letter and four chill
dren-Mary Victoria, wife of Lord Curson
of kedleSton, and vicereine of India; Joseph
of Chicago wheat pit fame, Nancy L. c.
and Marguerite, better known as Daisy
Letter. both unmarried-survive him.
In this city the social life OF the Letters
N Ia irSf and 1fr.sv
and excited more than the usual attention.
Mr.. Letter was among the first of the multi
milllonaires who selected the capital for
residence after retiring from a business
career. The first winters passed here were
In the Blaine house, now the property of
Mr.. Westinghouse. The fame of the family
and the generous hospitality they extended
became widespread. After the erection OF
the splendid home on Dupont circle, the
triumphs at home and abroad of the elder
daughter of the house. now Lady Curzon,
vlcereine of India, her subsequent marriage
at st. Johns Church, in this city, and the
festivities which preceded and followed the
event. the Letter name seemed spread to
the ends of the earth. Mr.. Letter had not
gone abroad of recent years, on account OF
his failing health, although his family made
repeated journeys across the water.
Mrs. Letter and her youngest daughter
returned only month ago from Europe.
Miss Mamie Letter having remained here
with her father during their absence. Dur
ing the past winter and spring Mr.. and
Miss Letter went driving together every
fine day, and the appearance of the former
was not as greatly changed as his increas-
ing feebleness would have warranted. Dur
ing both the Cleveland administrations the
Letters were very prominent in all official
affairs at the White House. the warmest
friendship from their firs' meeting sprung
Up and has since continued between Mrs.
Cleveland and Mary Letter, now Lady
Curzon. At the wedding of the latter Mrs.
Cleveland was a guest. one of the very few
occasions that she accepted a non-official
Invitation. Mrs. Cleveland's name also ap-
peared at the head of the list of those In
vited to sign the wedding register.
Mr.. Letter busy man until recently
taking an active interest in the manage
nent of his large fortune. He Ia said to
have cared but little for social life. al
though In his prime. acquiescing In the
pleasure his family derived from their par
ticipation.