Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-12-02
Career Romance In Industry.

Career Romance In Industry.
The career OF Henry Clay Frick has
formed one Of the most fascinating
chapters In the romance Of industry in
farm In family of only ordinary
means, he was. At 60. a man OF so
many millions that his fortune, like
those OF Carnegie and Rockefeller. was
largely q matter OF gueswork even to
himself. It has been said he was
worth more than 100000, 900. perhaps
a. much as $2o0.0O0. 900.
Adr. Frick built UP the greatest coke
business In the world. and acquired
such vast interests in steel that he
WAS also one OF the principal magnates
In that industry, and In rounding out
his career he became know as one OF
the worlds greatest collectors OF mas
ter paintings
Mr.. Frick was born Dec. 10, 1st9.
At West Overton, Pa. This village was
named after the maternal grandfather
original family name was Oberhoitger.
and who settled in west Pennsylvania
when that region WAS regarded as the
frontier Of civilization. As the set
Elements along the Allegheny and
grew. and Pittsburgh
emerged from It's swaddling clothes.
Mr.. Overholt became the leading miller
and distiller OF western Pennsylvania.
His daughter. Elizabeth. married John
w. Frick. a young man OF Swiss an
cestry. who at that time was working
as an engineer in the Overholt distiIi-
cry. 1t was from this union that the
future capitalist was born. The father
attempted farming, but did not make
a remarkable success OF it and as n
result young Henry Clay Frick was
adopted into the Overholt
family when he was about IL years old.
He received good basic schooling.
but there was nothing in his boyhood
to indicate the remarkable ability
which characterized his later life. ex-
cept his eagerness to get into business.
For a time he was bookkeeper in hi.
distillery. AMI from this
position he went to Morgan & Co,
coke dealers, and at about 21 years of
age he appeared in Pittsburgh as their
agent. The coke industry was in Its
infancy. The iron masters OF Pitts
burgh were Just beginning TO anp'cc'-
ate the value Of coke for their fur
naces. Young Frick had an oppor-
tunity to acquire a limited interest in
a plant near Broadford. ard out Of the
profits OF this he acquired other hold
ings. He later Joined company to
build railroad to penetrate the Con-
coke region. and In 1871. the
year this road was opened. Mr.. Frick
organized the corporation OF Frick &
Co., which bought coal land and coke
ovens In the Connelsville region. That
was the basis Of tho Frick fortune.
The undivided attention OF the rising
flnancier was given to coke until 1882.
Joins carneoies.
In the midst Of this period there
came the panic OF '7s and the financial
crash of many ambitious operators. At
. sherifrs sale Mr.. Frick purchased
additional tracts Of coal land and
ovens. and . few years later the Nell
ons. powerful Pittsburgh bankers, be-
came iits1sstsd in tho expanding en-
tsrprise OF Ne young operator.
The Cayneg1ss then developing their
great steel business In Pittsburgh. had
taken large holdings in the Frick coke
company, ana IN 1882 Mr.. Prick found
tho Carnegie brothers willing to ad-
nit him an 1 member Of their firm In
constd Grafton Of his giving them furth-
or interests In his coke business. 1t was
thus MI. ,F'rick became also great
Of steea.
Thru the Homestead strike Of 1892,
Mr.. Frtck came into national promi-
nence. Differences had arisen between
tho Carnage steel Company and It's
employees ovar a wage scale. culm!nat-
ing in q strike involving thousands of
men: the calling out Of the national
guard and the proclamation OF martial
law. It was at this period. July %,
1892, that Alexander Berkman. New
York anarchist tried to assassirate
Mr.. Frick. Berkman walked into
Frick's office, drew revolver and
fired, the bullet lodging in Mr. Frick's
neck. Mr.. Frick was shot n second
time and thsn he grappled with Rerk-
man. During the encounter Mr.. Frick
was stabbed three times. but he down.
sd his assailant and held him until
The police arrived. Bsriman was tried
ana sent 70 the Western Penitentiary
IA pittsburaA for twsnty-one years.
Il wan NJ. Frick who later took over
I larEe Dortlon of the Mesnbi ore fields
81 4 fake Superior in q big deal that
saAfantes ~ Carnegie company for