The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-09-20
Romance of James Ben Ali Haggin
Who Died at Newport Last Week.
A True American Type, He Saw
Opportunity and Grasped 1t

mutations. Whether the benefit was in
territorial or incidental to his wealth
getting processes may count for some
thing. But did he make two blades Of
grass grow where one had grown be-
fore? Did he enlarge conditions OF we'll
being az he garnercd his crop of silver
and gold medallions?
A millionaire may have life story
worth the telling even II the answer is
not satisfactory to these crucial qucs-
lions. II will be seen perhaps that
James r. Higgins life has interest as
well as useful lesson for our day and
| generation.
He was born at Harrodsburg In the
Blue Grass region Of Kentucky-the
| oldest town in the State-as long ago as
1922. His father, Ferah T. Haggin, was
we'll enough off to give his son n fair
education. probably at Centre Colleges.
One biogrspher talks OF the elder Hag-
gin as an imported 1rishman." which is
a new way to me of describing a rather
usual article In American beginnings.
but II may have meant at that early
day one OF the long line OF Irish school
ma stcrs who instructed American youth
before the public schools were born and
incidentally founded families from
whom many scholar and man of mark
has sprung
II would be interesting II true. hut tho
! roman OF James u. Higgins origin
| has the more curious element that his
mother. Adeline S. IIaggin. was born
Ben All of Turkish parents. II not born
In Turkey itself. Anyway the ". In his
name stood for Ben All. He named one
J of his sons after her. and. equally
| marked honor, called one Of his most
promising horses Ben All Many were
| wont to affirm that "a he grew 10 man
hood and wore a fun brown beard on
his warm olive skin the showing of
J Turanan blood vas unmistalablc.
James was trained to the law and
went forth from his native town and
state IN true American fashion to got
out his shinglc. II was in st Joseph
Mo-. that he put forth that first bait
for legal practice. lie was, however. a
| very young lawyer and did not win
clients in crowds. and accordingly went
down the Mississippi one morning and
got off at Natchez. Miss, for second
trial.
| II Is not recorded that his legal sue
cess was any greater there. but h'
made the acquaintance OF Col. Lewis
Sanders and then of the Colonies
daughter. Eliza Janet, and one par
Of his mission in life was fulfilled, fol
they we're married More than evei
was it necessary for James 10 make hi
talents tell, and We find him shortly
at ST. I.ouis-up the Mississippi from
Natchez-in the company OF Lloyd TIE
|, Wis. another bright young lawyer. als'
married to a daughter OF Col. Sanders
both looking longingly toward the new
land that the Mexican war had laid II
, the lap OF America and where gold ha'
, been found. II was lS4e and he be
came forty-nner. a cousin OF Lloy'
. Tevis IL said to have furnished tn
r adventurous young men with $500 70
, the journey TO California. which at tina
time was accomplished via Panama.
| Here IL where the tale really begins
. for in the young San Francisco OF tina
8 day opportunity had a hundred open
o lngs for the enterprising. James wo
. "A law business. He Joined forces wit
Y Milton IL. Latham under the Arm nam
Of Haggin & Latham. Latham was tn
I talking end OF the firm and Haggin tn
. thinking end. The combination was
j. good one. and they prospered. bu
n Latham. a fine lawyer, had political am
: billions. which James had not, so 1t wa
9 not surprising after some years to ~
y Latham taking the road that late
% landed him in The Governorship OF Cal
q fornia, and Haggin clesving 10 HI
v brother in-law, Lloyd Tevis-a partner
II ship that lasted to the end-nesrly Ia
d century.
d Mines and lands, these were the key
n notes OF effort IN California. The par
=. ners. although keeping their law bus
e ness. specialized in real estate itself 6
= we'll az in the laws OF landed propert
N They bought and cold for others, al
J. az they made money they bought an