Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1913-04-03
THE DEAD FTNANCIER
Something of J. PierpOnt Nor
gan, The New York Money
King.

John PerpOnt Morgan started his
Business career half century ago
on the board of directors Of a large
maritime insurance company. He
Secured the position through the in
fluence of his wealthy father. For a
year young Morgan attended the d.
rectors' meetings. but never opened
his mouth except to vote.
The president of the company told
the 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 accom-
plished, established his standing in
Wall street as the only man who
ever got the better of Jay Gould.
The president of the insurance
company had mistaken taciturnity
for Incidence. TIE sobriquet of
sphinx Of Wall Street" later was
applied to the man who at first was
believed to have been without bust
ness acumen, but in time bees me the
supreme head of the finances of the
American continent.
Morgan's control over men and
money was the dominate keynote of
b life.
Others. perhaps, were weather.
than Morgan, but he commanded his
wealth and that Of others.
At the height of his power he is
said to have controlled $4,000, Ooe,.
600.
In addition to finance, art, litera.
ture. philanthropy and sport al came
under his influence. His prestige
was not confined to his own country
kings and emperors and even the
Pope were won't to call him int con.
sultation.
Mr.. Morgan came from an ole
Puritan New England family which
dates back in this country to 1886
He was born in wealth. His father
Junius Spencer Morgan, left hin
$40. 900 900. and also young Morgan
inherited important banking con
nections. j. S. Morgan had accum
ulated his fortune in the dry good
business with Levi P. Morton ant
later as an associate Of George Pea
body. merchant. banker and philan
thropist.
J. Pierpont Morgan was born Apri
II. 1888. in a modest, red brick cot
tsge in Hartford. Conn. AS young
ster his tendency to write poetr,
gave hiI the nickname OF Pip.
When he was ID Morgan was sent t,
Boston to the English High School
He shOwed,a particular b n TO
mathematics. but had no gifts indi
cative ofGnusual mental power.
Despite life Of strenuous endeav
or Mr.. Morgan found time for othel
things. He gave away millions il
charity. bat nothing perturbed hin
more than to have it mentioned t
him. He was a devout Christian anC
vestryman of st. Georges Episcopa
church, where he could be seen every
Sunday morning when at home pass
ing the silver salver for the collection
1t is impossible to estimate with
any degree of accuracy the size OF
the Morgan fortune. 1t has beer
variously estimated in recent years
at from $75. 900. 900 10 5000, 00e, 600
If it is anywhere ar the latter
figure. it is equally true that Mr..
Morgan made as much for others.
In 1861 Mr.. Morgan married Miss
Amelia Sturges. who died the follow
ing year. In 1865 he married Frances
Louise Tracey, by whom he had one
son and three daughters. The son.
j. P. Morgan, Jr.. is now man of
middle age. and a number Of years
has been the active head of the Nor
gan banking house in New York.