The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-01-11
PERSONAL.


The youngest notary public in In
diana is Miss Jessie Johnson. of Koko-
mo. She is IA years old. She received
her commission last week, duly signed
by Governor Hanly and Secretary Of
State Storms.
Mrs Fannie Griscom Parsons is to
be the first person to fill the office of
Director of Farm Colonies I'm New
Of $2,500. The New York farm colonies
have raised all sorts of vegetables, be-
sides keeping the children out of mis-
chief.
A man who had a brief, exceedingly
foolish but picturesque career Is now
dying in Franklin, Pa. with no COM
panion but his faithful wife. His name
is John w. Steel, but he was better
known to the world by his colossal fol-
lies as Coal Oil Johnny" He was 20
years old in 1861, when his foster
mother was blown to pieces while try
ing to encourage fire with coal oil.
This gave Steel his nickname, a farm
under which there were oceans of oil.
and bank account of 100000. He
had to wait a year to come into posses
sion of his fortune, and he spent that
year in plans as to how he would spend
the money. He was very ignorant,
inexperienced boy. not even having
learned to read or write. When he at
last got hold Of his money he made it
fly in ways that were absolutely insen-
safe. He marched about the streets of
towns bedecked with large bills pinned
to his clothes and scattered money to
everyone he met, giving IS for shoe
shine, SO for a shave, and SO on. He
gave his friends money to gamble with,
and once bought a hotel and presented
it to the clerk. In New York he hired
cab, then bought it and presented it
to the driver. He would buy all the
champagne in a New York Hotel at
once. and fill a bathtub with 1T i'm which
to take his bath. It was customary for
goodlooking girl that pleased his fancy.
1t did not take him long to dissipate
all Of his fortune, and then he sold his
oil properties and royalties for a song
and soon woke up one morning to find
himself dead broke and without a sim
gle friend. He had hard work getting
job that paid him $50 a day. He
wandered out West, living I'm Kansas.
South Dakota and Washington, but
never succeeded I'm getting employment
that paid him more than SO a day. A
year ago he came back to Pennsylvania
to die.
Comrade Increase C. Smith died of
apoplexy Dec. 80, on the Steamer City
Of Atlanta. which runs between Sayan-
nah and New York, and of which he
was Chief Engineer. He was born in
Springfield. L. l., 81 years ago. and
when a boy Of IA was on board Com
modore Perrys flagship Mississippi in
his Japan expedition. He served
through the war in the navy, and for
the past 30 years has been connected
with the Ocean Steamship Co. For the
past 10 years he has been the Senior
Engineer of the Company. He was a
lifelong member of the Methodist
Church.
John A. Mccall was born I'm Albany,
n. Y, 81 years ago. His father kept a
small tavern, and he received a course
in commercial college and began his
life occupation as clerk at $40 week
He entered the insurance business as a
bookkeeper in an agency Office of the
Connecticut Mutual, and his intimate
knowledge of the business and execu-
tive ability caused his rapid rise. He
has been President of the New York
Life since 1892. His fortune is repre-
sented by millions, and beside q fine
city residence he owns Summer home
in Long Branch the land OF which is
said to have close 100000 and the
house and other improvements $500. 900
more.
Randall Morgan, the traction mag
nate, has started his young son to work
in the lowest Office in his system, and
he is expected, in addition to his routine
of duties, to learn street-car building,
running, and manipulation generally. in
all their details.
John e. Semmes, Jr., great nephew
OF Raphael Semmes of Alabama reputa-
ton, has been appointed a Second Lieu
tenant in the United States Marine
Corps.
Alexander e. Orr has been appointed
the successor to John A. Mccall as
President Of the New York Life Insur-
ance Co., at salary of $4,000 a year,
where Mccall received 100000. 1t is
not known whether Mr.. Orr will retain
his Presidency beyond April 1, next
when McCall's term would have ex-
PRED. Orr is retired merchant, Pres
ident Of the Rapid Transit Commission
and former President of the Chamber
of Commerce. and is director in many
financial and philanthropic institutions
He was born in Tyrone County, Ire
land. in 1881
James Hazen Hyde and James B.
Alexander have resigned as directors of
the Fidelity Trust Co. and of the Union
National Bank of Newark. N. J. There
seems to be general disposition among
the institutions with which they have
been connected to get rid of all associa-
ton with them.
Elliot Danforth, Treasurer of the
State OF New York from 1890 to 1894.
Committee during the first Bryan cam
paign, died at his home in New York,
Jan. Z. He was born in 1859, the
youngest son of the late Supreme Court
Justice Peter B. Danforth, and adj
mitted to the bar in 1872. He turned
his attention to finance. however, rather
than law. and mingled In politics. be-
ing a candidate for Lieutenant-G Cover
nor in 1898 on the ticket with Van