The Detroit times., 1908-06-27
PO0RH0USE BARRED
AGAINST FOUNDER
FORMER RAILROAD MAoNATE,
NOW AGED PAuPER, DENIED
SHELTER IN MILWAUKEE.


story OF the Franks that the tickle
Jade Fortune plays In her most heart
less moods came TO It's climax here
when Charles J. L. Meyer. erstwhile
millionaire and prominent lumber
man and railroad magnate Of Wiscon-
sin, sought admission TO the Milwau-
kee poorhouse.
Stripped Of wealth, OF social station.
business standing, Meyer. a patriarch
seventy-seven years OF age, knocked
at the doors of the associated char
tiles, which was established years and
years ago in part through his LAVISH
contributors TO charity, and
He was told that by his removal 20
Chicago. two years since. he had for
feited all right to enter the Milwau'
kee county poorhouse.
Being offered money by Gustav
Frellson. the agent, the septuagen.
arien drew himself erect saying that
he had money enough TO pay his
board until Friday and for his return
to Chicago. where for two years he
has lived In small room at No. 80
Aberdeen-st.
II merely was seeking my rights
as citizen reduced TO penury," he
said; "but am not asking for per-
sonal aims"
Il will write letters to your two
sons-in-law. who are men OF wealth,
and will try to bring them TO a sense
OF duty toward YOU" said Frellson as
his. aged visitor with a sweeping bow
left the ONCE.
Verify story of fortune In It's most
prankish form-one OF the sort that
Balzac would have delighted to weave
into his Coincide Humane.
Years ago, when the numbering In.
dustry In Wisconsin was at It's height.
Meyer was owner Of big sash, door,
blind and wholesale lumber business
In Fond du Lac. He was associated
In business with the late Senator
Sawyer, OF Oshkosh, and was counted
one Of the big men OF his state.
He was a prominent figure In the
councils OF the Republican party, and
twice was delegate-at-large from
Wisconsin to national conventions.
Apart from his station as big luiu.
herman Mr.. Meyer was a pioneer III
the building OF railroads In the Bad
ger state. He helped to finance line
connecting Fond du Lac with Mil
waukee in the SOS, and for years was
president OF what was known as the
Northwestern Union Railroad. When
the present Northwestern road began
TO expand into a system by assimilat-
ing twenty or thirty other lines. Mr.
Meyer was president OF the line that
was considered the nucleus OF the
present system in Wisconsin, and In
consequence. was known TO an older
generation as first president OF the
Chicago & Northwestern railroad"
This title came through the fact that
he was president OF the Northwestern
Union road.
When the sawmills and the single
mills made Fond du Lac one of the
most prosperous communities In the
Fox River valley. Mr.. Meyer owned A
palatial home with extensive grounds,
The natives travelled for miles to see
the beauties Of his palace, which
was known far and wide as one Of
the sights OF the state.
A large conservatory supplied plants
that kept the mansion perpetually
blooming Artificial lakes and rustic
bridges dotted the demesne Of the
lumber lord.
During this period of success Mr.
Meyer was known as one OF the most
liberal OF men. No tramp knocked
at his door without receiving a re-
Spouse. and the wealthy lumberman
gave unsparingly to charitable causes
In all parts Of the state.
hn mn n al
charities first took root Mr.. Meyer
was greatly interested, and wherever
the new Idea sprouted he gave II nour-
iShment.
The sash. door and blind factory
grew to- be the largest OF its kind In
the world. and Meyers fortune in.
creased correspondingly. Twenty
Ave years ago he was rated as worth
81, 500, 900. He was elected mayor Of
Fond du Lac a quarter Of a century
ago In recognition Of his enterprise In
building the railroad between hts
home city and Milwaukee by way Of
GAINESVILLE.
His business expanded until he was
forced to build another factory ~
Chicago. He was one Of the big men
Of Wisconsin.
Fortune took reef In prosperity
Meyer sold out his sash, door and
blind factory and II became the plant
of the Winnebago Furniture Mand-
featuring company. Its former owner,
who had found his Eldorado In the for
ests OF Wisconsin. went TO Hermans-
Vile. Mich, where he owned great
hard wood forests. He assisted In
forming the Winconsin Land and
Lumber company, now one OF the
largest OF Its kind In the state.
Once reverses set in, however. they
came In a steady stream. Meyer lost
money here and there. He lost first
I'm one direction and then in another.
He was tied up In so many ventures
that he was forced to sacrifice one
to save another, losing both In the
operation.
Great inroads were made upon his
fortune which dw!ndled so rapidly
that fifteen years ago Meyer failed
In business.
He rented small room In Aber-
deen-st. and learned the location OF
the l0-cent restaurants. II was a
case OF scrimp and pare every penny
to make II count the most. and. by
dint OF rigorous frugality. Meyer
made his hundred dollars or two last
through two years.