Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-04-01
BRIEF SKETCH OF
MORGAN'S CAREER

John Pierpont Morgan started his
the board of directors of large mari
time insurance company. He secured
the position through the influence OF
his wealthy father. For a year young
Morgan attended the directors meet
ings,. but never opened his mouth, ex
[cept to vote.
The president OF the company told
Fthe elder Morgan that nothing could
be done with his son, who seemed to
take little interest in business. John
Pierpont, however, all the time was
laying his plans for his first railroad
consolidation which, when accomplish.
ed established his standing In Wall
street as the only man who ever got
the better OF Jay Gould.
The president of the insurance com.
pany had mistaken taciturnity for in
dolence. The sobriquet of "sphinx of
Wall street" later was the appellation
applied to the man who at first was be-
Neved to have been without business
acumen, but later became the supreme
head OF the American financiers Of the
continent.
Controlled Nine Billions.
Morgan's control over men and
his life. Others, perhaps were wealth
Ter than Morgan, but he commanded
his wealth and that Of others. At the
height Of his power he is said to have
controlled nine billion.
In addition to finance, art, literature,
philanthrophy and sport all came un-
der his influence. His prestige was
not confined to his own country-kings
and emperors and even the pope were
wont to call him in consultation.
Mr.. Morgan came from an old Puri-
tan New England family which dates
back in this country to 1886. He was
born in wealth His father, Junius
Spencer Morgan left him ten million
and he inherited important banking
connections. j S. Morgan had accum-
ulated his fortune in the dry goods
business with Levi P. Morgan and later
as an assistant of Geo. Peabody, mer-
chant. banker and philanthropist.
Nearly seventy-six.
J. Pierpont Morgan was born April
II, 1887, in a brick cottage in Hart
ford, Conn. AS a youngster his tend
ency to write poetry gave him the
nickame of Pip" When he was IA
Morgan was sent to Boston to the
English high school He showed q
particular bent for mathematics but
had no gifts indicative ofunusual men,
tai power
Was Feared and Trusted.
OF ]. p. Morgan, financier, and of his
achievements all the world knows. Few
men have been more widely feared,
yet more generally trusted. Those
who met him only in a business way
saw man rough, emphatic and mac.
cessible as the emperor of Russia,
when he chose to be known as the
worse man in the world to interview
and as man who believed absolutely
in himself and apparently never ques-
toned the correctness Of his methods.
His friends, however, knew him as a
simple, unaffected companion, an inter-
esting conversationalist with keen wit
and genial humor. Once a woman
asked him why he kept on accumulat-
ing money when he already had more
than he needed
~ do not love money" Mr.. Morgan
is said to have replied, "but do enjoy
the excitement, the fun of making it,
Business was not all the life Of j.
Pierpont Morgan. His Office hours were
short and at the close Of his business
day he left his office and his business
behind him. Woe to the persons who
then approached him on business
bent He cared little for society, but
was fond of good dinner in congenial
company, of rare wines and big, black
cigars. Wines he partook OF with
moderation. To cigars he was almost
a slave.