Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 December 1892 — DEATH OF JAY GOULD. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

DEATH OF JAY GOULD.

The “ Wimivl otwall Slrogt-gag 111 ctunbs to Consumption. i Incidents in the Ll> of One of the j— World. Jay GomM, the “Wizard of Wall Street'* and ono of the richest men in the worhl died at his home in New York city on the 2d, of Consumption. He has been in poor health for two or three years, seeking relief in various ways. In one way by parchasing a yacht and making an extended soa voyage. His precarious illness has lasted for several weeks. Not until Nov/ 23d, however, di<L the family realize a.proachlng dissolution. INCIDENTS OF mS LIFE. Jay Gould was born at Roxbnrv, N. Y., In tho year 1835. His fattier kept a store and tilled a small farm. His mother died when iie. was about six years of age. Young Gould received a fair education aud gave ovldenco'of that love of books

and art which afterward afforded Idm some of tho leading pleasures of his do' inestic leisuro. He was sixteen whon he began his business life, but ids famed invention of a mouse trap preceded Ids engagement In thestoro of ’Squire Durban, The story Is familiar how the young in-' ventor, carrying his precious trap in a> showy mahogany case, was robbed of it In a street car iu New York city, on the occasion of his firsTvfsit to that place. The lad’s chasing the thief resulted, first, in the fellow’s disgust upon discovering, the showy box boing opened and tbe mousetrap disclosed, that lie had risked his liberty for a thing of so little value, and, second, in bis being dealt with under a requisition from the Governor of a neighboring State. At the’‘’Squire,s” young Gould’s historic feat was buying a piece of land in Albany, proceeding in the matter upon information he had gathered by overhearing a confidential disclosure of its cheapness addressed by his employer to' some friends. In 1556 a map of Delaware county was published in Philadelphia containing the words, "From actual survey, by Jay Gould.” Gouldsboro, Pa., was named after tbo subject of this sketch, who in his early manhood formed a partnership with Cok Zadock Pratt in tb« tanning business at that place. Pratt was a busy, prating politician, of whom it is said that 0110 of his most popular speeches was the work of his young partner, to whom be paid SIOO for the production. At Gouldsboro, Gould fell into trouble with the authorities by his persistently defending his possession of an old building, from wbieh he was finally expelled by the military. He managed to get clear of what threatened to lie a serious scrape, and during the last period of bis tanning experiences was tbe proprietor of the business. Mr. Gould removed to Now York city in 1859, and began business as a broker. He had no vices, and showed clear headed perception In availing himself of the condition of the country from then, previous to and throughout the war,to his personal enrichment He become a millionaire ■ dwdßg tbe- war; ” the railroad business in connection witb the Erie, that corporation owed him four million dollars. With his skillful handling of Erie stock began bis greatnoss os a railroad king. To detail Mr. Gould's operations In Cleveland Sc Pittsburg stock, his gigantic investments ip Union Pacific, his dealings in the stock Of Wabash. Kansas £ Texas and other roads, would be a tedious task, were it practicable. Mr. Gould’s wife is dead. He marriad Miss Ellen Miller, daughter of a wellknown New York merchant. Ho has sevi era! children, of whom the eldest, George J., Is in business on Wall street. The firm of which yonng Gould is a member started in business with a capital of *l,OQO.OCO, as is reported, of which lie was provided with one-half by his father. Mr. Gould loved his home, which, whether made in his mansion In New York or at his country spat, Lyndhnrst-on-tlie-Hnd-son, is as refine! and elegant as wealth aud cultivated taste can make it. Bare books, works of art aud curiosities abonnd in the wealth of tils personal possessions. He bought his country seat at Irvington for $255,00 ). It is npw’worth about half a mitt Ton. Nearly two years ago, the conservatory, vain «I at $200,000, tnduding tho plants, was almost destroyed hy Jin. Jay Gould was fond of solitary rides ou horseback. Outside of this ments were indoors, and those of the father student. His appearance was remarkable; notwithstanding that ho was a small, light man, not wetghing over 120 pounds pro bably. lie bad a swarthy complexion, well made features, and a pair of black eyes whose searching glance is not soon forgotten. His manner was quiet, gentle aud courteous, and sn admirer remarks on the “candid and humorous intonation or his voice.” Mr. Gould bad many admirers and detractors, as a matter ot course. His enemies allege that he Is unsern unions, and claim that tbe disasters of-Blaek Friday." the dark day of .September. 1809, were attributable to his schemes. Nobody accuses him of quarrelsomeness. He lores retirement aud peace hut had the courage necessary to vast undertakings whne wanting In physical self assertion. An apocryphal story is told at the expense of his veracity. A speculator iu a small way of business got poiots from Mr. Gould whlch, excepting on one occasion, lie invariably reversed and made money . overy time by going contrary to hi* adviser’s instructions. On one occasion, howover, he took the giant financier at bia word, aivd was almost ruined by doing so. Mr. Gould was a man who gave liberally' without ostentation. Tbe widow of the late James Fisk has publicly stated fur obllgatibns.to him for friendly generosities. The GTaot fund included $35,000 re- , reived from Mr. UuuM, whose large bene- " factions to the yellow fhver snfferersof Memphis-and to the needy frontier farm- .... era of Kansas are remembered by reader* - of the newspapers. Thtt4alarv of the Prince of Wales is $200,000 per year; Duke of Connaught, *1215,000; Duke of Edinburgh,' $125,000, and the Duke of Cambridge, the Queen’s cousin, $60,000. The royal family costs the British tax* payers 140,000 a week. . , . ■ - ~ ,1 :^ t U

JAY,COULD.