The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-26

century ago and founded the house by
making and selling the first snuff ever
manufactured on American soil. The
first Lorillard's name was Peter. and
SO was his first sons. The first Peter S
grandson was also christened Peter,
they say, but later changed to the
more euphonious and Frenchified
cegnomen by which he was known to
the world nearly seventy years.
1t was Pierre Lorillard sr who
started the family up the ladder of
society. Perhaps the greatest contrast
between "Old Peter of the Eighteenth
century and "Old Pierre of the
Nineteenth is shown in Pierre's
manifestations of sporting blood "Old
Peter" was never known to venture
anything on a horse race, much less to
risk the hard won profits of his snuff
business at cards. Of Pierre'S racing
prociivities. of his tendency to plunge
in the betting ring, and smart world
is well aware. His fondness for card
playing (chiefy of the variety known
as draw poker) antedated his racing
days by many years, and the weird
stories still told about the wondrous
bluffs he used to put up, the fabulous
draws he used to make, the miraculous
hands he used to hold and the jack
pots he used to rake in when playing
with the sports of his set are almost
past belief.
Pierre Lorillard, sr., first went in for
racing in 1873. His medical men,
alarmed by his weight, suggest that
he interest himself in the turf, believ-
ing the outdoor life that must result
would help to restore his health and
preserve his life. The first animal to
carry his colors was the colt Free
Lance. Free Lance didn't do much,
but Saxon, another of his racers, won
the August stakes and that settled it.
From that on he not only took an in
tense interest in the running, but he
bet on the races daily with an appar-
ent recklessness closely akin to his
methods in poker. In other words,
he soon became a plunger.
Owner of IrOquoiS
1t was in 1879 that LorilIard sent a
draft from his stable including Parole
and Iroquois, now half forgotten even
by veteran turfn1en, to England In
1881 Iroquois won the world famous
derby while the brown gelding Parole
beat Isonomy. then counted the best
horse in all England, in the Newman
ket handicap, and both Iroquois and
Parole were Lorillard horses. No 9TH
er American horse had ever won the
derby then; no other has yet, for the
matter of that, and it goes without
saying that Lorillard was extrava-
gantlv proud of the distinction con-
ferred upon him through the victory
gained by IroquoiS.
When Pierre Lorillard. sr., died in
1901 he had been separated from his
wife, who was Emily Taylor, for some
time. He left an estate valued at
about four million dollars consisting
chiefly Of the Tuxedo park property
and the Continental Tobacco company.
Pierre, jr., took a large interest in the
tobacco company in his fathers life
time. The will left the entire realty
and personal property at the famous
Rancocas stock farm. Johnstown, N.
J., to Mrs. Lillian Barnes Alien. His
will stipulated that if any of the chill
dren contested its provisions the
amount left to them should be paid in
accumulated amounts for ten years to
st. Mary's church, Johnstown.
The will left to the widow an an
nutty of $24, 900 apa to the testator's
sister-in-1aw, Jane r. Judge, an an
nuity of $500. The widow also got
one-fifth of the remainder of the net
income, while another fifth was divid-
ed into four parts and given to the
daughters, Mrs William Kent of
Tuxedo park, Mrs. Maude L. Taller,
who obtained a divorce from T. Suf-
fern Taller and is now the wife of
Cecil Barring, the London banker; the
son, Pierre, and his two sons, Girls
void and Pierre, jr.. the residue was
divided among the children and grand
children Among the grandchildren
were the four children of Mrs. Kent
and the child of Mrs. Taller. Some
months later the executors, of whom
Pierre, jr., was one, estimated the
value of the personal property at ST.
1877 925, but this was regarded as too
low.