The Daily Missoulian., 1909-09-10
MOST SPECTACULAR
FINANCIAL GENIUS
Edward II. Hartman Will Go Down in History as One
of the Most Daring Stock Spectators and Greatest
Railroad Magnates of His Tme-From Poor
Boy to Man of Many Millions.

Edward Henry Hartman, who viii
go down i'm history as one of the must
spectacular financial geniuaes, most
daring stock spectators and greatest
railroad magnates of his time, was
born ut Hampstead. l.. l., February
-, 1S4S, the son of the Rev. Orlando
Hartman, Jr.. rector Of an Episcopal
church in that town. founded in l702.
The early life of the future man OF
millions was one of great poverty. His
father was II cultured but panr man:
his mother came from an old and
aristocratic, but equally impecunious.
family of New Brunswick, y. J. The
Rev. Orlando Hartman, Jr, had Il
large family, consisting Of four boys
and two girls and his income was al
together Inadequate To feed. ciothe and
educate his children.
In 1855, when Edward Henry Har-
riman was but six years old. the fam
lily moved To Jersey City. The head
of #the family had no regular charge,
but helped out wherever he could. ON
May Q. 1889, the Rev. Orlando Harrl-
man, Jr., was made rector of st. Johns
ut West Hohaken with IA salary of
$500 year. He remained in charge
Of the parish seven and Il half years,
until November. 1866. At that time
his salary was 1914 in arrears. which
was compromised at $3.50, payable in
sixth months with interest. Rut 4,t.'e
is known of +, FL Harriman's life dur
ing these years of poverty. The fam
hn
meadows. and 1T required no emu AT
ingenuity and economy TO make both
ends meet.
His Education.
Edward II. Hartman received his
early education at the district school
and supplemented it by a twe-years'
course i'm IA boys school under church
auspices. where the SONS of clergSmen
paid practically nothing for their eau-
cation. Edwards oldest brother. John
Nelson. and his youngest brother, Will
liam McCurdy. died some years ago.
His second brother, Orlando. became
a real estate dealer in Brooklyn. Lily,
one of his sisters, became the wife ~
Charles u. Simmons of Brown brc-
L Co. nf New York. and Annie. the
other sister, married Van Rensselaer,
of the old and aristocratie family af
that name in New York. The father
died i'm April. 1881, at Jacksonville.
surrounded by ali the comforts that
wealth could produce. He MAS but
Is years old AT the time Of his death
and had suffered much for nearly 20
years
Edward Henry Hartman began his
career as clerk in a brokers' office on
Wall street He showed no unusual
ability and for many years gave na
promise af his later brilliant develop
ment Socially he was Nstl liked ana
those who knew him III that time de-
scrihed him as a saeiAble young rnan.
always full of fun. He was noted
however. for mind Of his awn, What
he wanted he generally obtained, hut
his desires and ambitions were. atthat
time. at least. neither very sweeping
nor particularly important.
How lie obtained his start and the
funds which enabled him to buy a seat
0n the New York stock exchange has
never been clearly explained The most
widely accepted explanation. however
MAS In the effect that during the ia
nous gold corner engineered ~
uould. Fisk. Nimber and others I'd