The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-10

education 7 went to Bethany because
tan or Disciples Church. founded by
Rev Alexander Campbell 1 Joined that
denomination myself and have always
remained a member of the church. At
college I came into personal relations
with Prof Pendleton. son-in-law Of
Alexander Campbell. and a fine Chris
tian gentleman OF the old South. and
with Rev. Louis Charles Loose then pro-
fcssor OF ancient languages, and now, at
the age Of eighty-siX. professor Of Greek
at the University of Kentucky. Those
two gOod men have had a marked In
fluence on my life. Much can be said in
favor of small colleges. Students at such
institutions are brought into direct con-
tact with the members Of the faculties.
Moreover. life in a small town is simple
and wholesome, and is free from the evil
influences always present in a large COM
munlty."
Few Avenues Open.
'yvho suggested law as your profess
sion7"
In tU"se days young men were not
educated for business. but for the pro-
LESSONS. The college student planned TO
be lawyer. a physician. or a preacher.
I suppose It was thought a waste Of
time and money TO teach ancient Ian
Euages and higher mathematics to the
boy who expected to be nothing more
than a manufacturer a merchant. or a
bank president. In my own case, after
eliminating theology and medicine, only
the law remained. On being graduated
from Bethany College I entered a law
-e,-fa off Ia Inc
while at home. Having been admitted
to the bar. started TO build up a bust
ness for myself"
Did you make a living at first?"
Il was enabled to save money almost
from the day opened an Office. In seven
months 1 was married Some of my
practice was in the minor courts, but
business men came TO me, and among
them was Henry. my brother. Before
long the lawyer with whom I had studied
offered me 500 month and the privilege
Of keeping and getting my own clients.
Ny first year at the law paid me 5000
in money.
Il then formed a partnership with Will
lam BlackstOck Rodgers, a promising
young man, and now one Of the leaders
among the lawyers Of Pittsburg. Our
business was Immediately satisfactory.
4
largest savings bank west of the Allie
gheny Mountains elected me to the Of
fee of counselor The bank. by all odds,
was the best single client in PittsburE:
Il was even better than a big railroad.
OF course, l was the attorney for my
brothers. who were extensively engaged
In manufacturing. My practice was large
~ with business men, and never claimed
10 be more than ordinarily effective be-
fore jury. Indeed. my work was mostly
confined TO the inside of my office"
From LAW TO Business.
after ten years" I said. you aban-
doned your profession and went into
iron and steel and the making Of money!
Il did more or less with iron and steel, "
Senator oliver replied, but for a long
time It looked as II I had miscalculated
with respect to money. Henry w Oliver
established wire department. and I was
asked TO undertake It's management. He
was entirely occupied in manufacturing
nuts and bolts and steel specialties. For
fifteen years we had hard battle. With
the growth of our business we made ex-
tensions and assumed new and heavy ob-
legations. Coal lands were purchased and
We made our own coke Ore lands were
also thought to be an economical neces-
sity
Eventually there were three great de-
partments in our business. First. we
owned furnaces and made iron and steel
All Of the brothers were interested in the
production OF the raw material out of
which we manufactured nuts and bolts
and wire. But I was not partner in the
nut and bolt business. However. I was