New-York tribune., 1911-11-29
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS.

Ind. in 1856. He died at the Ritz, Paris.
June. 1905. His parents were poor and he
made his first business venture in very
humble role-that or florist in his native
town OF Richmond. This portion OF his ca
reer was brief. for a relative OF his was
general superintendent Of the Pennsylvania
Railroad. and. seeing in the young florist
ability that was going to waste in his mar
row field Of endeavor. he gave him a sub
ordinate position on ono OF his lines. He
worked for a while on the engineering corps
OF the road west Of Pittsburgh, and later
became conductor on the old vandalia line.
While acting in that capacity he met and
formed friendship with Daniel G. Reid,
who was filling A similar position on the
same road-a friendship that had in it much
Of the Jonathan and David spirit until
both men had grown rich and powerful.
Then they quarrelled.
Reid and Leeds left the railroad after a
few years and by combining their forces
and the capital they had acquired bought
tho controlling interest in small tin plate
mill at Richmond. the birthplace OF Mr..
Leeds and another at Nuncie, Ind. They
We're energetic and rssourCefu and made
/ the business pay from the start Protec-
tion favored them and they gradually
amassed fortunes which enabled them 20
acquire other mills until they had formed
the American Tin Plate Company and had
become the controlling factors in the tin
plate industry.
In 1898, with the Moore brothers OF Chi
cago and Daniel G. Reid Mr.. Leeds organ
lied the tin plate factories Of the United
States into one vast corporation OF which
Daniel @. Reid was president and Mr..
Leeds vice-president Leeds and Reid were
/ known as the two little boys from Indiana.
In 1901 the quartet sold out their tin plate
corporation to the United States Steel Com
pany. This speculation netted them an
/ immense sum Of money. one which at that
+ time was generally credited at S46,o00.oG
Then William b. Leeds went back 10 the
railroad His connection with the Chicago.
Rock Island & Pacific Railroad came about
( in rather q picturesque manner. He kept
up his alliance with the Moore brothers and
/ Daniel g. Reid. and with the profit arising
! from the sale of the tin plate trust the
/ Big Four bought in the preferred stock
Of the Chicago, Rock Island Pacific and
Immediately assumed control OF the COM
psny.
/ 4 complicated remodeing followed. the
/ two new corporations. the Rock Island Com
pany and the Chicago. Rock Island & Pa
chc Company being formed and the St
/ Louis & san Francisco Railroad Company
and various minor roads being bought in.
Although Mr. Leeds was the youngest of
the four. hc was a practical experienced
railroad man and was made president OF
/ the road.
Dissensions in regard 10 various phases
/ Of the management arose, however, and az
/ the end OF the year 1875, which terminated
/ four wears service. Mr. Leeds gave indi-
cation Of his intention TO retire from the
/ Rock Island by selling his holdings, which
were taken over by 3. + Yoakum and
James Campbell. of ST. Louis.
Mr.. Leeds kept his connection with the
road as chairman and director Of the COM
pany until February. 1906 when he resigned
from all the boards of directors Of the Rock
Island system and at the same time gave
up his membership in the various commit
tees of which he had been a member
Mr.. Leeds then devoted his energies to
his other business interests. which were I'M
portant He was a director Of the Ameri-
can Sheet and Tin Plate Company. the
Audit Company of New York the Ellwood.
Anderson & Rapelle Railroad. the Nassau
Gas. Heat and Power Company. the United
States Mortgage and Trust Company and
tho Windsor Trust COMPANY.
The year following his retirement was
given up very much TO racing and yacht
ing He bought d string of thoroughbreds
owned by Andrew Miller, erected mag
nihcent stable as a home for bis blooded
animals and became a we'll known follower
of the turf He was also prominent as a