Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1906-01-19

CHARLES I. YERKES
And yet outside his financial successes
his life was a failure. Divorced from
his first wife, who had chung to him
in the days of his adversely, he mar
ried a second, from whom, too, he was
estranged for year before his death.
His solicitude for third woman had
killed his love for his second wife, just
as his affection for the second had
caused him to discard his first. And
when he died it was in a hotel, only
q stones throw from the palatial
home he had erected in New York,
and in which his second wife at the
time was living. Financially, the
world may regard the career Of Yerkes
as a success, but no man who knows
the spirit of Christianity and believes
in it could hold it up to his child as
an example to be followed.
Failure Leads to Prison.
Mr.. Yerkes was born in Philadel-
phia, in 1887, of Quaker parentage,
and began his business career as
clerk in a grain merchants Office and
without any salary. In 1859 he began
business on his own account. An I'M
Gle had left him some money and
backed by the influence of his father
who was a bank president, he started
in to do banking and stock brol1ing
He was on the high road to success
when the blow fell which blotted his
entire career Through failure caused
by panicky markets after the Chicago
fire, Mr.. Yerkes had to make an as
signment. He had millions Of Phila-
delphia municipal securities to ac-
count for, was unable so to do, was
indicted, tried on charges of embez-
element and larceny, convicted, SEN
fenced to two years in the Eastern
nenitentiary, and served seven months
of the term.
Mr.. Yerkes was then liberated,
through the influence Of political allies
and was later pardoned by the Gov
ernor.
Following his release, Yerkes made
an attempt to regain lost prestige, but
the outlook was too unpromlslng ana
one day he disappeared and for years
was heard of no more. He left his
wife. said to be young and pretty, al
n,ost broken-hearted in a desolate
home She had faithfully stood by
him during his preliminary incarcer-
o+ion in Moyamensing prison, and sac
rificed what little of the fortune that
remained to buy him delicacies and
comforts.
mis- Financial Feet Again.
vorkos made his way to. the North
west. speculated with some success IN
no1yota lands, and bought and SOLD
rool estate in Fargo. Finally he ac-
a,,nonlated the golden chrysalis from
which he hoped to emerge full-blown
enancier and capitalist. He therefore
;,,formed the world that Charles I.
vor,,as was still alive, was not
ashamed of the past, and had fuli con-
edonce in winning success in the fu-
ture.
ononad an Office in Chicago. He did
= banking and brokerage business,
snoc,Iated now and then, lost heay-
;lr for a time and then made large
aoins With a satchel full OF cash he
so+,,rned to Philadelphia, where sep
. ration from his wife was effected.
Then he married Mary Adelaide
Moore the handsome daughter OF
rrbomas Moore, retired capitalist.
From Philadelphia Yerkes retufnea
n chicago, where he fought his way
into the ring of street railway promo
TORS In a few years he and his asso-
oio+as were in full possession or most
- +ba lines. But their methods OF &C
ouiring franchies were questionable.
charges were made that legislators
were bought and the press OF chicago
hooame so hostile that Yerkes pur-
chased a newspaper to defend nm
self. -
Meantime his second wife entered
snto his plans to increase their socisl