Jackson herald. (Jefferson, Jackson County, Ga.) 1881-current, September 09, 1881, Image 1
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ROBERT S. HOWARD,/
Editor and Publisher. $
V OLUME I.
£egaf Jldoerfeements.
Jack son Sheriff y s Sale.
WILL be gold, before tbc Court House door in
Jefferson, on the first Tuesday in Octo
ber, 1881, within the legal hours of sale, to the
highest bidder, the following property, to-wit:
A tract of land, lj'ing in the 248th District, G.
M.. in said county, containing one hundred and
seventeen acres, more or less, adjoining lands of
•1. A. McEver and Webster White on the east,
lands belonging to the estate of T. It. Kininghain
on the north, Itjids of M. JL Messer on the west,
lands of C. on the south. On said
land is a comfortable dwelling and out-buildings,
and three tenant houses and out-buildings. There
is about.seventy-eight acres in a good state of cul
tivation, about fifteen acres in original forest,
about twCnty-four acres in old pine field ; all good
up-land. On said place is a good orchard. Levi
ed on as the property of Martha King, deceased,
to satisfy a ti. fa. issued from the Justice’s Court
of the 418th District, G.M., in favor of J. 11. New
ton vs. Martha King. Levy made and returned
to me by J. O. Tolbert, L. C. Notice of the levy
given to 11. C. Gilbert, Howard Vandiver and F.
A. Reinhardt, tenants in possession, as the law
directs.
T. A. MeELIIANNON, Sh’ff.
Administrator s Sale .
virtue of an order from the Court of Ordi
nary of Gwinnett county, Georgia, will be
sold before the Court House door in the town of
Lawrcnccville. on the iirst Tuesday in October,
1881, the following described tract or parcel of
land, situated in Jackson county, Georgia, and
belonging to the estate of Jesse Osborn, deceased,
to-wit:
One hundred acres of land, more or less, adjoin
ing the line between Jackson and Gwinnett coun
ties on the west, the lands of I. N. McMillan on
the cast, Martha Benson on the north, and on the
south by the road lc ding from Lawrcnccville to
Jell’erson, and being the place whereon Mr. Shell
nut now reside i.
Sold for the purpose of distribution among the
heirs of said Osborn, and to carry out his last
will. Terms cash.
ROB’T 11. BRADFORD,
Adm’r dc bonis non.
Administrator’s Sale.
W 1 LL be sold, before the Court House door in
the town of Jefferson, within the legal hours
of sale, on the first Tuesday in October next, the
one undivided one-half interest in and to seventy
acres of land, more or less; the place whereon
Julia Burson, late of said county, ucc'd, resided
at the time of her death (together with her sister,
■Sarah A. Flannigan, who owns the other half, and
her husband, W. S. Flannigan.) adjoining land of
w. W. Millsaps, Randall Craft and Mary Burson,
on Barber’s creek, in said county. On said land
is situate two dwellings, small orchard, twenty
live acres cleared land, remainder in pine old field.
Sold for the purpose of paying debts and distribu
tion. Terms cash. WVS. FLANNIGAN,
Administrator of Julia Burson.
Jackson Mortgage Sheriff’s
Sale.
WILL he sold, before the Court House door in
Jefferson, Jackson county, Ga., on the lirst
Tuesday in November, 1881, within the legal hours
of sale, to the highest bidder, the following prop
erty, to-wit: One black marc mule, about eight
years old. Levied on as the property of Crotf
Duke, by virtue of and to satisfy a mortgage fi. fa.
in favor of If. Atkins & Cos., vs. Croff Duke, issu
ed from the Superior Court of said county. The
property described in said fi. fa.
T. A. McELHANNON, Sheriff.
Gr IvOlttil l, .bu kson County.
Court of Ordinary. Sitting for County Purposes.
August 22d, 1881.
Ordered, by the Court, that four and one-fourth
tenths of one per cent, be assessed and collected
upon the taxable property of said county, as per
Tax Digest for 1881, by the Tax Collector of said
county, for county tax for the year ending De
cember 31st, 1882, for the following purposes, to
wit :
One and 51-100 tenths ofonc per cent., to
pay expenses of the Superior Court 82,800 00
One and 09.1-100 tenths ofonc per cent.,
to build and repair bridges 2,035 00
tine and 01-100 tenths of one-tenth ofonc
per cent., to pay County Treasurer's
salary 300 00
Two and 82-100 tenths of one-tenth of one
per cent., to pay jail fees.... 525 00
Three and 49J-100 tenths of one-tenth of
one per cent., for support of*paupers... G5O 00
Two and 69-100 tenths of one-tenth ofonc
per cent., for contingent expenses 500 00
Five and 8-5-100 tenths of one-tenth ot one
per cent., to pay the legal indebtedness
of the county due and to become due... 1,087 85
Total, for county purposes $7,807 So
11. W. BELL, Ordinary.
| |KOmLI, .I;i(*k*>oii <oiinly.
Whereas, J. B. Pendergrass, Administrator of
t'ue estate of Hugh Sargent, late of said coun
ty, deceased, applies for leave to sell the land be
longing to the estate of said deceased—
This is to cite all concerned, kindred and cred
itors, to show cause, if any, at the regular term
of the Court of Ordinary.of said county, on the
tirst .Monday in October, ISSI. why said leave
should not be granted the applicant.
(liven under my official signature, this Aug. 31.
1881. ' II." W. BELL, Ord’y.
.laekMOU Comity.
Whereas, /,. T. Ni black, Guardian of P. L.
Isiblack, applies for leave to sell six shares of the
stock of the Georgia Kail lioad and Banking Com
pany belonging to the estate of said ward—
This is to cite all concerned, the next of kin,
<(ce., to show cause, if any, at the regular term of
the Court of Ordinary of said county, on the lirst
Monday in October, 1881. why said leave should
not be granted the applicant.
Given under my official signature, this Aug. 31,
ISBI. H. W. BELL, Ord’y.
IlOltWIl, Jacli*>oii Comity.
Who rcas, J. R. Crane makes application to me
in proper form tor Letters of Administration on
the estate of John 11. Colt, late of said county,
deceased—
This is to cite all concerned, kindred and cred
itors. to show cause, if any. before the Court of
Ordinary of said county, on the Ist Monday in Oc
tober, 1881, why said Letters should ‘not be
granted the applicant.
Given under my official signature, this Aug. 31,
1881. 11. tV. BELL, Ord'y.
| | BIOIKiIIA, .lackoon County.
Whereas, Jas. L. Williamson, Administrator of
the estate ofMicager Williamson, late of said coun
ty, dec'd. applies for leave to sell a tract of land
belonging to said deceased's estate, known as the
L. M. Thompson place, lying in said county—
Ehis is to cite all concerned, kindred and cred
itors, to show cause, if any, on the tirst Monday
! >c tober, 1881. at the regular term of the Court
° th dinary of said count}', why said leave should
not be granted the applicant.
hiven under mv official signature, this Aug. 31,
lbbl * * H. W. BELL, Ord’y.
DOlStil l, Jackson Coiinly.
vjr
Whereas, the Road Commissioners, appointed
for the purpose of reviewing and reporting upon
the public utility of establishing as one of the pub
lic roads of said county the road beginning at
Nicholson, on the North Eastern Rail Road, t hence
by King’s bridge, the residences of K. J. Wil
liams, T. W. Arnold, Crooked Creek church, T.
8. Smith. Lee Morchead. Mrs. Fades. J. E. Ar
nold, John Duncan and others, to the Athens and
Talasec bridge road. Also, the road beginning
near the residence of Jack Benton, on Ihe Jeffer
son and Danielsville road, and running to the vil
lage of Nicholson by the residences of 8. L. Bond
and Arch Venable. Said Commissioners having
reported said roads of public utility, an order will
be granted finally establishing as public roads the
same. 011 Monday, the 19th day of September,
1881. if no good cause to the contrary be shown.
Given under my official signature, this Aug. 16,
ISSI. 11. W. BELL, Ord’y.
| diOKGIA, Jackson Comity.
Whereas, J. C. Wheeler, Administrator de
bonis non, with will annexed, of Dan'l Wheeler,
deceased, represents to this Court, by his petition
duly liled, that he has fully and completely ad
ministered said deceased's estate, and is entitled
to a discharge from said administration—
-4 his is to cite all concerned, kindred and cred
itors, to show cause, if any they can, on the first
Monday in December, 1881, at" the regular term
ol the Court of Ordinary of said county, why Let
ters of Dismission should not be granted the ap
plicant from said trust.
Given under my official signature, this Aug. 31.
1881. IL VY. BELL, Ord’y. *
/ t HOI 14* It , Jack.ion Coiinly.
-
V\ hcrcas, C. M. Wood, Administrator on the
estate of A. M. Loggins, late of said county, de
ceased, represents to the Court, by his petition
duly filed, that he lias fully administered said es
tate, and is entitled to a discharge—
This is to cite all concerned, kindred and cred
itors, to show cause, at the Court of Ordinary of
said county, on the first Monday in October, 1881,
why said applicant should not have Letters of Dis
mission from his said trust.
Given under my oliieial signature this June 28,
1881. 11. VY. BELL. Ord’y.
Jackson County.
Whereas, VY. U. Cosby, Administrator on the
estate of Frances C. Cosby, late of said county,
deceased, represents to the Court that he has fully
administered said estate, and is therefore entitled
to Letters of Dismission—
This is to cite all concerned, kindred and cred
itors, to show cause, at the Court of Ordinary of
said county, on the first Monday in October, 1881,
why said letters should not be granted the appli
cant.
Given under my official signature, this June 28,
1881. H. W. BELL, Ord'y.
J EORGIA, Jackson County.
Whereas. Nancy Lyle and J. W. Lyle, Adin'rs
on the estate of J. B. Lyle, late of said county,
dec’d, applies for leave to sell the land belonging
to said deceased—
This is to cite all concerned, kindred and cred
itors, to show cause, if any, before the Court of
Ordinary of said county, 011 the Ist Monday in Oc
tober, ISSI, why said leave should not be grant
ed the applicants.
Given under my official signature, this Sept. 1,
ISSI. 11. VY. BELL, Ord’y.
To Debtors and Creditors.
ALL persons having demands against Stephen
Wilson, late of said county, deceased, are
hereby notified and required to present them,
properly attested, to the undersigned, within the
time prescribed by law. and all persons indebted
to said deceased are hereby required to make im
mediate payment.
Z. AY. IIOOI). Adm’r,
with the will annexed, of Stephen Wilson, dec’d.
August 5,
Notice to Debtors Creditors.
ALL persons having demands against the estate
of Julia F. Burson, late of said county, de
ceased. are hereby required to present them, duly
authenticated, for payment to the undersigned,
and those due said estate are requested to come
forward and settle. AY. S. FLANNIGAN,
Sept 2 Administrator of Julia F. Burson.
frokssionaf & Uusiiicss trails.
DENTIST,
JnnelO-’SI. Gatnesvii.ee, Ga.
JOHN .1. STKIGtI iMI,
ATTORNE Y-AT-L A AY,
Danieesyiele, Ga.,
Will promptly attend to all business entrusted to
him. dee 17, ’BO.
Dll. N. IS. CASH,
NICHOLSON, GA.,
Tenders his professional services to the surround
ing countiy. Rheumatism, Neuralgia and the dis
eases of women a specialty.
Feb.l3th, 1880. ' ly
HOIVAKI) THOMPSON.
A T T OR X E V- A T-LAW,
Gainesville, Ga.
Prompt and faithful attention given to all busi
ness placed in his hands.
\ym:v c. hoivard,
t T Attorney :iml Counselor sit Law,
JEFFERSON, GA.
Will attend faithfully to all business entrusted
to his care. mch4,
SIIJIAA & TIIOIIPSOA.
A T TORN E VS-A T-L AW.
s Jekfehson.Ga,
Will practice in Jackson and adjoining counties.
~LANDBETHS
]%f SEEDSSh?BEST 1001
I I f|/| If not sold in your town, you 1(11)1
111 (LI. can get them by mail. Drop | | || I |
A I U Ins a Portal Card for Cata- LUUX
logne and Prices. The Oldest and most extensive Seed
Grmrers in the United States.
DAVID LANDItETII & SOXS,Philada. .PA.
NEW ROCKS! ”
I HAVE just put in operation a NEW SET of
WHEAT ROCKS at the
Long Mills,
and all of the machinery is in order to make first
class flour. Send your NEW WHEAT right
along, and I will give satisfaction.
JAMES E. RANDOLPH.
Jefferson, Ga., July Ist, 1881.
JEFFERSON. JACKSON COUNTY, GA., FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1881.
WE EVA'A
[From the Cincinnati Commercial.]
JAMES ROBB.
End of a Remarkable Career —From Poverty
to Princely A.JJluence —A Personal
Memoir.
There died in a secluded but richly ap
pointed home near Cincinnati, yesterday, one
whom the world was fast forgetting, but in
other days had delighted to honor. Wc refer
to Mr. James Robb, whose career, beginning
as a poor and friendless boy, was in point of
dazzling achievement in business and prince
ly social surroundings with hardly a parallel
in American history. In giving the story of
his life the Commercial is enabled to include
a condensed memoir from bis own pen. 11 is
death occurred at an early hour yesterday
morning, at his home near Cheviot.
James Robb was born at or near Waynes
ville, Western Pennsylvania. llis father was
drowned in the Monongahela river when
James was about five years old. His mother
did not marry again, and lived until about
seven years ago, when she died in the home
at Cheviot, near this city.
There were two sons. James and William
M. Robb. The latter was a County Commis
sioncr a number of years, and was on the
Board with Jesse Timanus, one of the local
celebrities of the time.
When James was about thirteen years of
age he astonished his mother by announcing
his intention to start out and make his for
tune. AH lie took was a little bundle of
clothing, which he mounted on his shoulder
with a stick, like the traditional stage Irish
man, and away he went. When almost out
of sight of the parental home he looked back
to wave his hand to his mother, who stood
watching his retreating form until it was lost
to view. The young adventurer reached
Morgantown, Pa., where he obtained a place
in a bank as office boy, and in the course of
ten years attained a good position in the bank
as an accountant. In his twenty fourth year
he resolved to go to New Orleans, and after
the lapse of five years he had made such rapid
advancement that he stood in the front rank
with the prominent bankers of New Orleans.
From that time forward fortune showered
wealth upon him.. lie became the first citi
zon in the Crescent City*-, built a palace and
literally rolled in wealth. 11 is home re
sembled an Italian villa, and, although fallen
into decay, is still one of the sights of New
Orleans. The wealthy Burnside, whose death
was rumored ten days or two weeks ago, be
came its owner, with many of its art treas
ures, and let it fall into ruin.
Many years ago, when Mr. Robb undertook
to build the Northern Railway, he promised
the citizens of New Orleans if they would
contribute liberally for tho construction of
the road, that he would build a house that
should become the pride of the city. They
took at his word, subscribed liberally,
the road was built and so was the house. It
was magnificent.
The bank of James Robb, in New Orleans,
was famous, but associated with it wore four
other banks, one in New York, one in San
Francisco, one in St. Louis and one in Liver
pool—all called by his name. In 1857 Mr.
Robb became pecuniarily embarrassed, owing
to a blunder on the part of the bank in New
York, and he closed owing $3,000,000 ; but
this vast sum was subsequently paid up with
interest in full. Mr. Robb was so popular in
New Orleans that magnificent steamers ply
ing between that city and St. Louis were
named for him ; at the same time his name
was potent in the London and Liverpool
marts. During his embarrassment be gave
a Pittsburg bank some securities which were
so amply satisfactory that the bank gave a
receipt in full to Mr. Robb. It turned out
subsequently that the securities realized much
more than the settlement called for, the bank
desired to refund, but Mr. Robb declined the
offer and remained firm in his refusal to re
ceive any repayment. This mark of his hon
orable disposition excited the admiration of
the bank directors, and they expressed it in
a superb massive silver Roman punch bowl
set, costing a considerable sum.
After the New Orleans embarrassment he
sold out all he possessed in that city and
went to Chicago, where he was soon appoint
ed Receiver of the Chicago, Alton and St.
Louis Railway, at that time very badly mixed
up; its affairs seeming altogether helpless
and nearly hopeless. When the road was
finally re-organized under the masterly man
agement of Mr. Robb, be was elected Presi
dent. He found the stock down to six cents ;
lie left it worth $1.40. A great deal of the
stock was held in Liverpool and London, by
merchants, and they were so pleased with the
management of Mr. Robb that the}' presented
him with a testimonial in the shape of a solid
gold vase, valued at over $7,000. It was ex
hibited in the Industrial Exposition of 1874,
and is a superb work of art. Thirty years
ago Mr. Robb was regarded as the most valu
able patron of art in this country. His pur
chases were remarkable for taste, expert
knowledge and almost princely outlay. He
was the largest purchaser at the sale of the
art collection of Jerome Bonaparte, of Bor
dentown, New Jersey, thirty-five years ago..
FOR THE PEOPLE.
Mr. Robb has himself related an incident of
1 that sale. At the noon recess, being tired,
lie seated himself on a sofa in one of the
rooms, which was presently entered by a
couple of the residents of Bordentown. Not
recognizing Mr. Robb, one of them expressed
his wonder as to who “that d—d fool banker
from New Orleans was who was pouring out
his money like water and they both agreed
that if he had any friends they ought to look
after him.
At that sale Mr. Robb purchased the mag
nificent Reubens, a picture by the master,
twelve by ten feet, entitled “ Peace and
Plenty.” It now adorns one of the rooms of
his L.te residence at Cheviot.
Mr. Robb left Chicago for New York, where
he was speedily elected President of the At
lantic and Great Western Railway, but he
held the position three months only and re.
signed. He did not like the methods of busi
ness pursued at the time by railroad men, and
he returned to the banking business by asso
ciating with the firm of Winslow, Lanier A
Cos., lie being the company. In this firm he
remained several years and then finally re
tired from business.
Before going to New York, however, it
should have been stated that Mr. Robb re
turned from Chicago to New Orleans and or
ganized a bank. This was immediately after
the war, but lie found Southern life, with
which he had been familiar, so changed durin"
His absence, that he became disgusted, with
drew his bank investment and went to New
Y'ork.
Mr. Robb had a deep-seated affection and
life-long devotion for his mother, and when in
his very prime, in the zenith of his fortune—
say thirty-five years ago—he purchased the
property at Cheviot, about 125 acres, and
built an elegant home for his mother. It is
a Gothic cottage, containing thirteen spaci
ous rooms, finished in solid polished oak.
The cottage is built of fine brick, with stone
facings. And thither the old lady came from
her home in Pennsylvania, and there she re
sided until she died, as said before, about
seven years ago, at the rip'c age of eighty
six.
When Mr. Robb left New York, about nine
years ago, he took up his permanent resi
dence with his mother, and into the Cheviot
hoiTiq he gathered all the art treasures which
survived his wreck in 1857, but these are
enough to entitle him to rank among the
great possessors. The house is literally
crammed with rare and fine works of art,
paintings, engravings, carving in ivory and
rare woods, brozes, gems and curiosities from
all lands under the sun—a perfect museum.
Citizens of Cincinnati will remember with
pleasure the ladies’ art loan exhibition on
Seventh street, between Elm and Plum
streets, in 1878. It is enough now in recall
ing it to observe that it was enriched in al
most every department by articles from Mr.
Robb’s private collections. He exhibited
treasures in the industrial expositions of
of 1874, 1875, 1879 and 1880. In 1878 a
pair of superb Sevres vases, of a rich deep
blue color, was sent with other articles by
Mr. Robb, but in sweeping the floor one
morning an awkward lout knocked down one
of the vases with the handle of the broom and
smashed it. A terrible consternation seized
the art committee, for as any one conversant
with Sevres art work knows, specimens are
not duplicated, and the vase could not be
replaced. A council was called and after
much deliberation two gentlemen, Messrs.
Woods and Goepper, were commissioned to
visit Mr. Robb and communicate to him as
best they could the disaster. Mr. Robb saw
dismay on each countenance, and rallied his
dismal looking visitors. “Gentlemen,” he
said, “ you look troubled ; you look as though
you brought some bad news ; perhaps -my
vases arc smashed and you come to tell me,
but never mind that; you feci worse about it
than I do, and yhu must stay for dinner.”
The fact is, Mr. Robb had come to look at
the world philosophically. In retiring to the
Cheviot home lie said that he was satisfied
with the activities and excitements of life,
and he wanted rest. Not long since lie
showed a friend a pile of letter-books over
four feet in thickness, and containing the
copies of probably 25,000 letters. “These,”
said he, “ I found time to write on purely
private subjects to friends, while I was car
rying on five banks, several railroads, the
Havana gas works, and numerous smaller
business enterprises; and,” he added, “I
have been engaged in almost every branch
of business, and made money until I did not
know what to do with it. I have sat at the
table with royalty, seen every phase of life,
traveled the whole civilized globe and seen
all its art treasures, and I am tired—satiated
—and I have come out here (Cheviot) to
rest.”
lie was an inveterate and omnivorous
reader, and did most of his reading at night.
For this purpose lie had a lamp safely sus
pended over his single bed, in an elegant
little apartment of his parlor, anil when
wakeful he found his books a happy re
source. These were so arranged on either
side of his bed that he could invoke almost
any theme by any famous author without
raising himself from the pillow.
Mr. Robb built the gas works at Havana,
and his business partner was no less a per
sonage than Queen Christina of Spain, rep
resented by the. Marquis of Riewhares. A
daughter of Mr. Robb was married to a cousin
of Queen Christina, and she becanfc by that
marriage the Marchioness of San Roman.
The nuptials were celebrated in the Malmaison
the favorite palace of the great Napoleon, and
in a style second only in splendor to royalty.
Mr. Ri >bb had three daughters and one son.
The two other daughters were married, one
to Dr. Parrish, an eminent surgeon in
Philadelphia, and one to a wealthy merchant
of St. Louis, a Mr. Miltenberger. The son,
James Hamden Robb, was married to a
daughter of Nathaniel P. Thayer, of Boston,
the wealthiest man in New England. The
mother of Mr. Robb’s children died many
years ago, but they are all living.
Mr. Robb's mother was a Meetkerk, a
name somewhat famous in Motley’s History
of the Dutch Republic. Her father held a
position under Washington, and bore it with
unblemished honor. Her more remote an*
eestor, Count Meetkerk, was President of the
Council, and was sent by Ins country as
Representative to tho English Court to con
summate a treaty between the Netherlands
and England during the reign of Queen
Elizabeth.
Mr. Robb's mother and the father of Mr.
John IL Ileich, of this city, were brother and
sister, a relation that brought the late Mr-
Robb into communication with our industrial
expositions, of which Mr. John B. Ileich has
held the position continuously of Assistant
Secretary on account of his long connection
with the Mechanics’ Institute.
Mr. V illiam Henry Davis crossed the ocean
with Mr. Robb in 1857, and the intimacy then
formed continued up to the day of the laser's
death. He states t hat Mr. Robb was a large
benefactor, giving freely oftentimes to objects
in which, of necessity, he could take but little
interest, lie recalls that previous to tire war
Mr. Robb was very much opposed to seces
sion, and published many vigorous articles in
support of his views. Finding that the
Southern people would not be convinced, he
came North and cast his lot with the Union.
Mr. Davis state's that such of the deceased's
old friends as were at pains to seek him out
in his retirement, met with a most hospitable
reception, and were always detained by him
beyond the time of their expected return.
His oft expressed remark that he was con
tented in seclusion and happy with his books,
Mr. Davis thinks, may have been true toward
the last, but that the effort for one who had
led so active a career to accustom himself to
the retiracy of a hermit life cost him an effort
that must have shortened his days.
A condensed memoir from Mr. Robb’s own
hand, which possesses much historical in
terest, is here presented :
MEMOIIt BY Mil. 8088.
January 2, 1877. —This day fifty years
ago, in my thirteenth year, I left the home of
a noble mother (ray father died in 1819,) to
perform a journey of twenty one miles on foot
throught deep and drifting snows, to begin
my career of life, and from that day to this
my fortune has been pushed singly and alone,
without the aid of a penny from any one.
living or dead.
In my twenty-first year I was appointed
cashier of the Branch Bank of Morgantown,
Virginia, at a salary of SBOO per annum. I
resigned this position, in my twenty-fourth
year, owing to my removal to New Orleans,
where I resided twenty-one years, having,
during this period, made six visits to Europe
and fifteen to the Island of Cuba. I was
principal in establishing, from 1838 to 1857,
eight banking and commercial firms and
agencies, viz : New Orleans, Philadelphia,
New York, San Francisco and Liverpool.
England, four of which were in existence in
1857. Under the “ free banking law of
Louisiana” I established the “ Bank of James
Robb,” [resigned in 1856,] with a paid up
capital of six hundred thousand dollars, of
which I was sole proprietor, except eighty
thousand dollars. [This bank did not suspend
in 1857, and now exists as the Merchants’
Bank of New Orleans.]
In 1842 I was elected President of tho New
Orleans Gas Light and Banking Company,
with a paid up capital of $1,800,000. Its
affairs were in disorder, and its shares depreci
ated to $4 per shares, for S3O paid. The com
pany in 1843 resumed its dividends, which
have not since been suspended, and its shares
at one time commanded over 80 per cent,
premium.
In 1844 the Spanish Gas Light Company
was organized for lighting the city of Havana,
its privileges being confirmed by “ Koyal
Order.” The original capital was fixed at
$300,000, all of which I subscribed, and was
made perpetual President of the company.
Subsequently its capital was increased to
$1,000,000, which was equally divided with
the Queen mother of Spain, Maria Christiana,
and myself.
In 1854 when this valuable property be
gan to yield large profits, my necessities,
owing to engagements for Southern rail
ways, amounting to more than $1,000,000,
obliged me to sell my interest, which, in
S TERMS, $1,50 PER ANNUM.
'( SI.OO for Six Months.
the sequel, proved a sacrifice of more than
$300,000.
In 1851 I was made President of the Rail
way Convention at New Orleans, and from
this time may be dated the first successful
attempt of Louisiana to construct railways
and the beginning of my misfortunes. In
November of this year I visited Nashville,
renn.. to solieit-the co-operation of that State
in aiding works of internal improvements,
and addiessed its Legislature in respect to
the same, in pursuance of a message from its
Governor, William B. Campbell. In this
year I was elected a member of the Scnato
ol Louisiana for four years, but only served
one session.
In 1852 I was elected President of ihe New
Orleans, Jackson and Great Northern Rail
way : a member of the City Council of Now
Orleans, and its President; and had I yielded
to the solicitation of friends, would have been
selected as the Representative of Louisiana
in the Senate of the United States for six
years, instead of J. I’. Benjamin, whose election
I both favored and promoted.
In 1857 of the firms established since 1838
there existed James Robb & Cos., of New
Oilcans; Robb. lialleU & Cos., of New York ;
R. Wilson, llallett & Cos., of Liverpool, and
Ta’.lant & Wilde, of San Francisco. The
money panic in the Autumn of this year
caused a suspension of the three former, and
on the last of January. 1858 their unliquidated
liabilities amounted to $2,833,525, all of which
1 assumed, completing the final payment,
principal and interest, in 1860 ; about seven
hundred thousand dollars of the foregoing was
satisfied in securities, accepted by creditors,
in preference to granting an extension of two,
three and four years, with six per cent, in
terest-.
In 1850 my residence was changed from
New Orleans to Chicago, where I was ap'
pointed by the lion. Thomas Drummond,
Judge of the United States District Court,
Receiver of the St. Louis, Alton and Chicago
Railway Company. Upon the organization
of anew company, in 18G2, I was elected
President, which was resigned in 1804, fol
lowed by a change of residence to the city of
New York.
In 1804 the Presidency of the Atlantic
Great Western Railway was tendered and
accepted at a salary of $20,000 per annum,
but resigned within three months, upon tho
discovery of the fraudulent purposes of its
projectors.
In 1865 the Presidency of the Dubuque
and Sioux City Railway Company was ac
cepted, and resigned the following year. In
the Autumn of this year I returned to New
Orleans to establish the Louisiana National
Bank, which went into operation in Janua
ry, 1866, with a paid up capital of $1,000,-
000. I wa3 elected as its first President,
which office I surrendered in the beginning of
1869.
In 1871 I retired from business with di
minished fortune; in 1873 changed ray
residence to “ Ilampden Place,” near Cin
cinnati, where I now reside, having purchased
it in 1844 as a home for my mother, whose
roof I had left fifty years ago, endowed with
her example, her courage and lessons to guide
me, as they have, through the mazes of our
uncertain existence and fluctuating fortunes.
My sacrifices and losses since 1847 (thirty
years), including exaction under the penal
ties of the “Community Laws” of Louisiana,
exceed one million of dollars.
My signature is not outstanding for a
penny ; the remnant of fortune left is equal
to my wants, present and prospective, my
life one of tranquility, and my daily com
panions, hundreds of authors who instruct
me in wisdom, and impart consolations more
precious than riches, neither needed nor
coveted.
• -
A Black Walnut Story.
The smartest Texan, and, in fact, tho
smartest farmer I ever met, is old Sam Graves,
who lives on a one hundred acre farm west
of in central Texas. After Mr.
Graves had shown me his cattle and cotton,
he took me over to sec his woods.
“ Well, what of it ?” I asked, as he pointed
out a ten acre forest.
“ What of it ? Why, them’s black walnuts,
sir. Ten acres of’em. Planted ’em myself,
ten years ago. See, they are ten inches
through. Good trees, eh ?”
And sure enough, there was ten acres of
hand-planted walnut trees. They stood about
200 feet apart, 200 to the acre—in all, 2,000,
trees.
“ Well, how did j’ou get your money back ?”
I asked.
*‘ Black walnuts are worth $2.50 a bushel,
ain't they ? I’ll get 400 bushels this year.
That's SI,OOO. A hundred dollars a year is
good rent for land worth sls an acre, aint’t
it ?”
“Well, what else?” I inquired, growing
interested v
“ The trees,” continued Mr. Graves, “ aro
growing an inch a year. When they are
twenty years old, they will be nineteen inches
through. A black walnut tree nineteen inches
through is worth sls. My 2,000 trees ten
years from now will be worth $30,000. If I
don’t want to cut them all I can cut half of
them, and then raise a bushel of walnut to tho
tree—that is, get $2,500 a year for the crop.
Two hundred and fifty dollars an acre is a
fair rent for sls land, ain’t it?”— Chicwjo.
Tribune.
NUMBER 29.