Evening journal., 1913-05-20
H. M. FLACLER
STANDARD Oil
RULER, DIES
MaGnate Rose From Country
Store Clerk to Multi
Millionaire
RAILROAD OVER CORAL
REEFS GREAT ACHIEVEMENT

by The United Press.
WEST PALM BEACH. Fla. May 20
Henry NJ. Flagler, standard Oil
magnate and builder of the Florida
and East Coast Railroad, died at his
winter home, white Hail." here to-
day
Mrs. Flagler and Mrs Harry Hark-
ness Flagler were with him. gor
several hours after his DEATH an ef-
fort was made to withhold the fact
The body will be conveyed to St.
Augustine for interment at that place
in the family mausoleum. The date
of the funeral has not been set
The career OF Henry Morrison
Flagler, whose greatest achievement
was the building Of the Florida and
East Coast Railroad and its extension
over the coral reefs and ocean to Key
West, was as picturesque as It was
neteoric. From behind the counter In
country store he became one of the
rulers of Standard Oil, second only
to John d. Rockefeller and the chief
financial figure in the State OF Florida
His friends say he rose because he
had the dominating qualities Of a.
Morgan and point to him as a self
made man.
Flagler was married three times
His first wife. Miss Mary Hardness,
the daughter OF a Michigan lumber
man. died after a few years OF mar
ried life. II was on the dover which
this first wife brought him that Flag
Ter founded the immense fortune he
leaves. Some years after her death
Flagler married Miss Ida Shourds, the
daughter of a Congregational min
lister. His divorcing his second wife
when he was 70 years old, and sub
sequent marriage to a young woman
half his age made him the target of
much criticism from his enemies.
Flagler's divorce was secured after
Mrs. Flagler II. had been confined in
sanitarium as hopelessly insane.
The fnancier set aside S2.000.O00 for
her maintenance and paid eminent
| physicians princely salaries to attend
her constantly.
Born at Canandiagua. n. Y, in 1890.
! Flagler early began to hustle for him
self. From his wages as clerk i'm
start a small salt manufacturing en-
terprise at Saginaw Mich There he
met the daughter OF a Michigan lum~
herman of some wealth shortly aftes
their marriage Flagler heard Of n
young fellow named Rockefeller at
Cleveland Ohio. who was doing things
in oil. He went to his wifes parents.
who let him have 100000 to invest
and he joined forces with Rockefeller
II was not long before the Flagler
ideas became accepted by Standard
Oil-successor to Rockefeller. An
drews and Flagler-ideas that helped
throttle competition and extend the
rebate system until Il took years to
overcome il. Flagler found ways %
know all that went on in the offices
of the independents" and even forced
the railroads to divide commissions
on business handled for the Stand
ards competitors.
Few men knew Flagler Among
all his business associates hardly
one anecdote can be found. That ne
was cautious, but with 2 capacity for
sensational deeds of finance is known
by his accomplishments. but ,-ere
are no lights on his human side No
one knows whether he needed the
criticism of his martial ventures.
His associates in Wa, Street say
he was man of modest demeanor,
or few words. quiet and absolutely
impervious TO criticism.
When his wife. almost a maniac af-
ter the divorce, was sent to a New
York sanitarium, Flagler set aside
S2,000,000 for her care during her
life To the physician especially de-
tailed TO care for her he paid an
/, enormous weekly fee.
The new social career led by the
/, aged fnancier was too severe fol
his age. Rumors that he was fast
breaking were vigorously denied, bul
It became known that his sight anc
, hearing we're failing when a fall OF
i the marble stairway of his winter
!, home. Whitehall, at Palm Beach
? brought about his fatal illness.
During the late years OF his life
Flagler was vice-president and di
rector Of the Standard Oil of iIev
q Jersey until he resigned " 1911
. chairman of the Board of Directors
n OF the Florida East Coas, Railroad
4 and a director in The Western Uniol
g Telegraph Company, the Peninsula
J. e. Occidental Steamship Compan.
oud rho Tf,ha 4 omnanV