The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-06-19
From the Baltimore News.

From the Baltimore News.
I'm r. THOMAS F. RYAN, who be-
INl comes the dominating infiu-
ence in the Equitable Life AS
surance society Ct New York through
the purchase of the bulk of the stock
of James Hazen HYDE began his busl-
1sess career in Baltimore, and it was
here that he laid the foundation for his
great fortune, which is estimated any
where from 80 to 100 million dollars. He
is now probably the leading figure in
Wall street.
He has been at the head of nearly
has been consummated in Wall street
in the last decade. No one identified with
that powerful and and resourceful group
of capitalists and financers known as the
Whitney syndicate has gained a wider
measure of success than Mr.. Ryan,
though the public has never been ac-
quainted with his methods, nor has it ever
known of any big transaction contem-
plated by him Until official announcement
of it was made
Mr.. Ryan is 81 years old His career
has been remarkable In many ways. Its
most amazing feature is this-that he
worked his way from absolute poverty to
power and almost unlimited wealth. He
was born in Nelson county, Virginia, on
October II, 1851, his maternal ancestors
having been Scotch-Irlsh and his fathers
ancestors having come from the north OF
ireland to Virginia before the revolution.
His mother died when he vas five years
old, and he went to live with his grand
mother.
Young Ryan left the homestead and
went to Baltimore to seek his fortune
without money or friends he had a hard
row to hoe. BY perseverance he finally
secured small position with John d..
Barry's dry goods commission house. Two
years later he struck out for New York.
In this city he obtained position with
a banking house in which Barry was in
terested. Ryan was then 10. In two years
he had gained, by close attention, won
derful insight of finance.
This early training has stood him well
in hand. At q he formed a stock ex-
change partnership and became his own
boss. That was what he had been striv-
ing for all his life. He prospered so well
that in 1874 he was able to purchase a
seat on the stock exchange. There he
continued in active business for ten
years.
In this short period, Mr.. Ryan, by his
great capacity for work, original ideas,
ability for execution, together with his
quiet, transformations demeanor, attracted
the attention of such heayyweights in the
financial world as Jay Gold, Samuel j.
Tilden, William r. Travers, John B. Ira
yor and William c. Whitney. Mr.. Whit
ney was especially impressed by the
Young man, and in 1886 took hold of him
and together they began the work of con-
soldating the various railway and rail-
road lines in this city. Since then Mr.
RYAN has extended his operations until
he and his associates have consolidated
about everything in sight, including steam
railroads, electric light properties, gas
companies and almost every known branch
of industry and finance.
Mr.. Ryan was the original promoter of
the Metropolitan Street Railway company
which by degrees absorbed practically
every line in Manhattan. He was one of
the organizers of the Consolidated Trac-
ton company of Jersey City, which con-
nected that city with neighborins towns
and cities. He also is largely interested
in the Atlantic Coast electric line. which