Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1906-01-17


most distinguished fnanciers in the
world died at O'Clock yesterday after
noon in the Holland House, where for a
week he had hravely and with determin-
alton fought against an attack of pneu-
monia, which caused his death. His
physicians and relatives agree in the
opinion that he fully realized his danger
and gave to the battle against death all
the power OF a vigorous mentality which
ms ~ years Of active business life had
not dimmed
Death had been heralded by the phvsi-
clans unwilling verdict that hope was
gone. This was communicated to the
several members OF the family and
friends gathered in adjoining rooms of
the apartment early yesterday, but there
was no scene of farewell then. All that
had been done. Mr.. Field was a man of
such perfect method in all his undertake
ings that he had prepared even against
his dying hours, and, when the last
struggle was approaching, said his final
words to those nearest and dearest to
HIM. Then he turned again to the fight
for life.
His Successful Career.
MIR. Field began his business career in
Chicago so years ago almost to the dav.
lie forged ahead rapidly until his pre-
eminence became unquestioned.
Laying the foundation of his fortune
before the fire of 1871, he lost heavily in
that holocaust, but rapidly retrieved his
/ losses, and within very few years his
house was doing a business aggreeatinp
! SS,000,000 annually.
In 1891 the Field stores were making
sales totalling in the twelve months S35.
| 100000. IN 1905 the aggregate business
was conservatively estimated at Ss0,OOO,-
600.
Mr.. Fields fortune is conservatively
| placed at Sl0O.00O,O00. While these fg.
ures are the ones believed to be nearest
the actual mark, many persons in Chi
cago who knew Mr.. Field intimately de-
clare he was worth Sl50,OOO,OOO. His
fortune increased so fast in the last five
years that it is said he himself hardly
/ grasped its immensely. His dividends
were larger, his securities grew in value
his income, in fact, from every source
was doubling and even TRIPPING itseli
from year 10 year. His real estate hold
ings in and near Chicago are estimated
at S35,0OO,OO0.
Mr.. Fields was a heavy stakeholder il
/ the Pullman Palace Car Co. for man,
years. He owned large holdings in Chi
cago and Northwestern, Lake Shore an,
Michigan Southern, Baltimore and Obi,
and other railroads. His interest il
twenty corporations outside of railroad
was extensive. His mercantile powe
spread 30 every country and into al
climes. He had factories in most of th
important European cities where article
OF rarity and beauty are made.
Mr.. Fields ability 90 keep in toucl
with every department of his varied in
terests was peculiar unto himself. III
did SO with apparently little effort. Hi
was a mind TO grasp lie quickly Learned
and once the idea was registered in hi
brain there It remained.
Although immersed in business affair
from early manhood Mr. Field loved hi
home. The death of his first wife dark
ened his life, but gradually he threy
aside the gloom that held him almos
captive and mingled more with his famil
iars. OF late years he had played
great deal of golf and was devoted to IN
sport
Tho last year of his life was eventfu
i II possessed a mighty Joy and dealt
fearful blow The high tide of his han
pincss came with his marriage on Sen
tcmber 3. 1905, to Della Spencer Gator
whom ho had known for twenty years O
more. The wedding was held in I.ondo
In ST. Margarets Church. Westminster
and was attended by a few of the nea
friends and relatives of the contractin
parties a honeymoon trip on the Con
tinent ensued, but Mr.. and Mrs. Fiel
returned 20 Chicago late in October.
They had been home one month whe
) the accident that eventually resulted /
the death of Marshall Field. Jr.. occurred
The young man was fatally injured bv
shot from a revolver. which was acc
/ dentally discharged
{ Mr. Field was born in May, 1884. a
; Conway, Mass, and was a clerk in
I store az Pittsiioid. Mass. in 1851.
Entering into the employ of Coole,
, | Wadsworth & Co.. Of Chicago, in 1856
1 his services proved valuable enough
4 | secure him In 1850 a membership IN n
I firm. From then on his upward growt
, as merchant was as rand as it was r.
T. markablc.
4 Alr. Field came into the business wit
: stil other new ideas, and had allied wit
. him the business shrewdness and enerp
{ of Levi H. Letter. The two were pYa
7 tically invincible as merchants, and Ion
y before other houses destined to be in
u sense rivals had their start the name
y Field & Letter was known from the A
b. lantic 10 the Pacific.
o The financial loss of the firm bv Il
n fire of 1871 was SS.5O0OO0 ON which 4
= suranco TO the amount of s. 100000 w.
i | collected. Temporary quarters were a