Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 January 1901 — E D. ARMOUR IS DEAD [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

E D. ARMOUR IS DEAD

MILLIONAIRE DIESAT HIS HOME IN CHICAGO. End of Several Weeks’ Illness Doe ta Disease—Relatives at Bedside W.X. ness Peaceful Baseins Away Leaves Fortune of $75,000,000. rbilip D. Armour, the world’s wealthiest and best known packer, the man of many enterprises, is dead, at 68 years

of age. Death claimed him at 5:45 o’clock Sunday afternoon, When he passed to eternity surrounded by his family in his palar tial residence, 2115 •Prairie avenue, Chicago. He follows to the grave by less than a year his much-loved son, Flulip D. Armour, Jr„ and by less

than two years his brother, Simeon B. Armour, head of the Kansas City braneh of the great packing establishment. Heart trouble, known technically as myocarditis, was the cause of death. He had been a suffered from this affection for two years. Early in November his last illness began. He guit his desk for the last time one -morning, upon the urgent advice of a physician, for a short rest. He said he was only suffering from a bad cold and need no rest. A few days ago the disease reached an acute stage, and on Sunday morning at 9 o’clock a sudden turn for the worse indicated unmistakably that the grim message was at hand. The patient himself realized the nearness of the end. He was conscious up to 3 p. m. and, say those who were with him, perfectly resigned. He cow versed rationally with members of hit family, recognizing each one, and asking them not to feel sorrow. With especialy tender words for his wife and children, the man of millions lapsed into unconsciousness. Then the soul of the man who controlled the lives and destinies of many thousands of people passed on. He left a fortune of about $75,000,000. Milestones in His Career. Born in Madison County, New York, May Hi, 1832. Saved his first SIOO in 1851, from hk* earnings as farm hand and village grocer’s clerk. Started with a party of argonauts from Oneida, N. Y., bound for California in wagons, April 10, 1852. In 1856 returned to the house of his father in New York, with nearly $4,000 — the foundation of his fortune. In June of that year hq went to Milwaukee and bought an interest in the commission business of Frederick B. Miles. Married to Miss Malvina Belle Ogden, of Cincinnati, in October, 1862. In May, 1863, having dissolved partnership with Miles, he became junior partner of the -firm of Plankinton & Armour, pork packers. In 1864 the Chicago house of his brother Herman O. Armour -was affiliated with the Milwaukee house. Herman was sent to New York, where he opened an eastern branch, called Armour, Plankinton &, Co., and Joseph F. Armour, a younger brother, was placed in charge of the Chicago house, which was known as H. O. Armour & Co. until 1870. In 1865 Philip I). Armour made his first world-famous coup by anticipating the surrender of Gen. Robert E. Lee, and netting about $2,000,000 for his firm by selling pork from S6O down to S4O a barrel, and filling the orders at an average cost of $lB a barrel. Chicago house commenced packing hogs in 1868, under the firm name of P. D. Armour, & Co. Philip D. Armour moved to Chicago, and established his permanent home in 1875. Established Armour Bros.’ Banking Company at Kansas City in 1879, and placed his brother Andrew Watson Armour at the head of it. Established a great packing plant at Kansas City in 1881. In 1878 survived a fierce bull raid in pork, directed at him, employed $2,000,000 in “standing off” his opponents, and netted $1,500,000 by the operation intended to “squeeze” him. Armour Mission founded in 1886 upon SIOO,OOO bequeathed for that purpose by Joseph F. Armour, and further endowed and sustained by Philip D. Armour. Armour Institute founded. In 1892 an effort was made by leading Chicago wheat operators to corner Mr. Armour in a gigantic wheat deal. His chief danger of defeat and enormous loss lay in the fact that his opponents had secured all the elevator space. Within' thirty days Armour had bought or built enough elevators to store his grain and disappoint his rivals. Bought $500,000 worth of gold in London on his personal account and used it to stave off disaster during the days of panic which threatened some Chicagobanks in 1893.

P. D. ARMOUR.