Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-28
THE GREAT POWDER ROMANCE
OF STRONG MEN AND MILLIONS

| Pont. Raskob was elected to the position,
Raskob is one of the defendants in the
suit now pending In the United states
District Court The preliminary steps
In the litigation have shown that when
the defendant directors fioated n loan
through Morgan & Co. in order to pur-
chase the stock of T. Coleman du Pont,
John J. Raskob personally guaranteed the
securities put up as collateral to the
extent of s3i0,O00
Even better indication of the wealth
acquired by Raskob Is seen in arrange
ments now being made on the outskirts
OF Wilmington for the erection of a $780,
VOO home for this new millionaire.
THE RISE OF SHARP.
Another who is in the "purplc-trimmcd
limousine" class in Wilmington Is H. Rod
ney Sharp. He was born of parents in
moderate circumstances, who lived on
the lower peninsula of Delaware. In 1908
he married Isabella Matthew du Pont n
sister to Pierre S. du Pont. and his star
OF good fortune began n spectacular rise.
He became affiliated with the powder
company and Is now assistant treasurer
of the corporation and stockholder in
the du Pont Securities Company. The
outward manifestations Of his bcttercd
condition appear mainly in his automo-
biles and in additions to his residence,
Gibraltar.
Even more interesting is the story of
w. w. Laird. He was the son of n
clergyman and never arose above moder-
ate circumstances until 1904, when he
married Mary A. T3elln du Pont sister
to Pierre S. du Pont. Soon after this he
organized Laird & Co., a stock brokerage
concern. with him were associated
Henry Il. du Pont and Eugene Il. du
Pont The business thrivcd remarkably
and now occupies n large part Of the
,,f I,p u IpAt
Laird e Co. has from time to time
represented the powder company in buy
ing stock. There has also been more or
less speculation on the war bride" mar
ket in Wilmington, and much of this
was transacted through this concern.
Again. w W. Laird has become affiliated
with the du Pont Securities Company
principal defendant in the "du Pont suit"
Tho Laird residence Is an elegant one
on the outskirts of Wilmington. The
Laird automobiles are also the finest to
be had. w. w. Laird recently purchased
u large farm near Wilmington for his
sister, and for his brother, who Is n
clergyman, he secured two Episcopal
parishes. One of them is Emanuels par
iSh and the other the old du Points par
ish Of Christ Church.
CARPENTERS CAREER.
r. r, Morgan Carpenter, who is an in
dividua defendant in the present litiga-
tion brought against the 12 directors of
the powder company has also had an in
terestng career with that corporation.
lie was at one time associated with
lrenee du Pont in the Manufacturers
Contracting Company, of Newark, N. j..
| This company had done some construction
work for the powder company and was
finally bought out by that corporation.
Carpenter married Margaretta Lammot
du Pont. a sister to Pierre S. du Pont, and
upon becoming "one OF the family found
Il series of valuable berths with the pow
der company. He entered in the develop
ment department and eventually was
made head of that branch of the business.
He now figures as a member of the EX-
ecutive Committee and n director of the
powder company.
Similar instances of rapid rise in the
powder company might be told of Charles
Copeland. who married Louisa d'Andelot
du Pont. fourth sister to Pierre ). du
| Pont; of William Coyne, head of the
traffic department of the corporation OF
Harry f. Brown and of Irenee du Pont
Each of these men has had the personal
interest" of Pierre S. du Pont to aid
their own ability in making places for
themselves among the other millionaires
'in the sun"
A STRIKING GROUP.
Out near the Wilmington Country Club
! is a little settlement of very fine houses
| They are occupied by Lammot du Pont
Irenee du Pont. Charles Copeland, W. w
Laird. A. Felix du Pont and Mrs. VIII
liam X. du Pont widow of a brother to
Pierre S. du Pont. This group of resi-
denCes represents wealth acquired in the
main before the outbreak of the war In
Europe. All Wilmington is now expect
antly awaiting the moment when the
houses may be rebuilt or enlarged on
the 100000 scale which John ]. Raskoh
has established as the pace for the I'D
c." (du Pont CommonJ millionaires who
have so recently come into existence.
Wilmington boasts n few other multi
millonaires, but these are chiefly those
who acquired their fortunes prior to the
advent of "war bride" stocks. Among
them is Alfred I. du Pont, recently de-
posed vice president of the powder COM
pany, who aroused the animosity of the
defendant directors of the corporation
by petitioning the United States District
Court for permission to become party
plaintiff in the litigation against Pierre
S. du Pont and his associates.
Alfred !. du Points estate, near Will
mington, comprises 500 acres of land and
one of the finest houses n Delaware. His
wealth, acquired in the main through
the development of the powder company
| since 1902 Cwhen he bought the business
| for about 1000, 600. is now estimated at
! something better than $I5,0OQ,000.
r. Coleman du Pont who also claims