Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1905-03-29
WALHALLA, 8. c. {,
MISUNDERSTANDING 20. 1905
The Lie OF George Peabody.

lence, George Peabody stands alone
in history" He was born in Dan
vers, Mass, February 1s, 1795-the
year in which Napoleon for the Sec
ond time distinguished himself, and
in which Poland was partitioned for
the third time.
His father, native of st. Albans,
Hertfordshire, England, married q
daughter OF Reginald Foster, whom
Sir Walter Scott mentions in "Mar-
mion" and "The Lay of the Last
Minstrel" Together they emigrated
to this country in 1886, and in 1867
settled in Topfeld, Mass. From
their family of five sons are de-
scended all of the Peabodys Of this
country, and several of them served
in the French and Revolutionary
wars.
At the early age of eleven George
was apprenticed to argrocer in Dan
vers-at the age when boys are usu-
ally interested in play only--and
perhaps it was as well that his mer-
camille life was begun among such
pleasant surroundings; for in those
days, as in these days, boys were not
averse to the good things of life 1t
was there that he laid the foundation
of reputation for honesty, prompt
ness and fidelity which he sustained
throughout long and useful life,
and his honesty must have been
tested when poor, hungry GUS
toner came, for boy with such gen.
erous impulses as he possessed must
have longed to give overweight, and
there, too, no doubt the seed we're
sown that afterwards developed into
one of his strongest characteristics
that of philanthropy.
AT the end of four years he went
up into Vermont to spend a year
with his grandfather, where he grew
rugged and strong, ready to stand
the confinement of business life with
an older brother in Newburyport,
Mass.
A boys salary in those days was a
mere pittance, but George earned a
little extra money by writing ballots
for the Federal party in Newbury-
port. He remained there a short
time only, his brothers store being
destroyed by fire, which decided him
TO risk long and perilous journey
to Georgetown, in the District of Co.
lumbia, hundreds of miles to the
southwest. Such trip was mat
ter of months, hardships and dangers
very different from the few hours
it requires now, spent in ease and
luxury.
For two years he engaged in mer
camille life with his uncle, and in the
War of 1912 joined company of
volunteer artillery and was sent to
Fort Warburton. Many years after.
wards Congress recognized these
services by bestowing grant of one
hundred acres of land upon him.
When he was nineteen he and
Elisha Riggs formed partnership in
the wholesale dry goods business,
and, true to his habits of industry, he
did the work while Riggs furnished
the money. Finding it to their ad-
vantage, they removed to Baltimore
in 1915, where they were 80 prosper
GUS that they were able to send
branch houses to Philadelphia and
New York at the end of seven years.
A merchant in those days was to a
great extent ga travelling man." but
not as we understand the term now
for in going to purchase his goods he
travelled on horseback, passing many
lonely hours, and, when night came,
felt that he was very fortunate if he
found shelter at some farmhouse, OF
maybe gentleman slave owners. In
that way he journeyed through New
York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and
Virginia, coming in contact with al
classes of men and their various Gus.
toms. In 1929 the partnership with
Mr.. Riggs was dissolved, and Mr.