The San Francisco call., 1904-07-10

Y WANTED 70 see Henry Thomas
Oxnard. one OF the manipulators
and dictators OF beet sugar busi-
nesses and policies in the wide
United States, 10 draw my own con-
illusions as TO the personality Of a man
who had long occupied so prominent a
place in the public eye. I had some
difficulty in getting track OF him. I
missed him at the home Of a relative
in the city. who rang the keynote Of
the mans life story and character when
she said: You have to get up early
10 catch him. He's small, I know, but
he has always been full Of purpose.
When you know Henry T. Oxnard
you realize that pugnacious tenacity
Of purpose is the dominant trait In his
character. When you simply meet him
his nose and chin cry out this fact at
you. His grayish eyes, set well apart
In a clear complexion, express the
kindness which is part OF him. Under
the aggressive mustache the straight
lips are those OF a man who can say
no" IL need be. The forehead, broad
and deep, which meets a somewhat
sparse covering OF slightly sandy hair.
betokens brains Of the solid, practical,
achieving sort. His round head is well
set above good shoulders and a stout.
comfortable looking body OF medium
height. Not brilliant outward make
Up. but keen, wideawake and business
Ike.
Clothe this figure in the most unob-
trusive OF business suits. little black
tie. and a square-crowned derby, ard
you have the picture OF the man whom
g Brooklyn paper in 1902 spoke Of in
these words: Away back in 1882 a
young man OF small stature and with
q quick, nervous manner was fire.
Quently 10 be seen passing BY the old
Office OF the Brooklyn Eagle. on lower
Fulton street. He was enc OF the sons
OF the big sugar refner whose factory
was It the corner OF Dock and Water
streets, near Fulton ferry" 1t was
Henry T. Oxnard, fresh from his grad
ustion at Harvard, and ready for his
first actual experience in the business
In which his father and grandfather
had engaged before him. At Harvard
while in his sophomore year he had the
friendship OF Theodore Roosevelt, then
a senior. When Roosevelt bade good-by
70 college Oxnard moved into the quar-
tera which the future President had
occupied. acquiring some OF the de-
parting graduates belongings in so
doing.
4 combination Of English and French
ancestry OF the best sort were the fac
tors IN giving 10 Henry T. Oxnard. him
self born IN Marseilles. France. in 1850,
while his fathers family were travelling
abroad, his qualities Of persistence,
thrift and anesse. His English ancestor
came 70 America in I7z0 and settled in
Boston having been sent by Lord Mon
tsgUe, the father Of Freemasonry in
the New World, 10 further the estab-
hshment Of that order in its new home
as the provincial master Of all Amer
lea Since then the Oxnard family has
been prominent in New England
Americans OF the most progressive
type.
The mother, OF Henry 7. oxnard came
from an old French family Of Louisi-
ana whose ancestry dated back TO the
Capets. His father disposed Of his ex-
tensive cane sugar plantations and re-
hneries in Louisiana in 1860 and es-
capped the dangers OF the Civil War by
travel. Shortly after the birth Of the
future magnate Thomas Oxnard re-
turned TO his old home in Massachu-
setts- Here young Henry T. grew up.
loving the country and an out-of-door
efe and starting in his first business by
raising chickens on an extensive scale.