E 176 .H68 1 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS DDDDS0aED7T >^^^ ■^o. 4°* TWELVE GOOD MEN ^ TRUE COMPILED BY FRANKLYN HOBBS PUBLISHED BY FRANKLYN HOBBS & COMPANY CHICAGO d4 ,, 1910 COPTRIGHT, 1909 FRANKLYN HOBBS & COMPANY CHICAGO All rights reserved fi y^ FOREWORD 'Lives of great men all remind us — " UCH indeed can we gain from a painstaking study of the why's of the success of men who have come to be classed among the truly great. Men like Benjamin Franklin, Wil- liam Penn, George William Childs, and Abraham Lincoln have lived in vain, unless you and I can gather some bit of philosophy, some pleasant thought, or some habit of life — the one or the other of which will make us better men, or add to the peace and tranquillity of our lives. This volumette is intended to place one thought, one idea of right living before its readers, in such brief and understandable form, that anyone who cares for his own future or the future happiness of those dear ones about him, will be able to read, think, digest and act — Act — magic word. Reader, if from the following pages you will extract one idea, imitate one thought or act of one of these twelve men, I will have been repaid a thousand times and more. Put yourself on trial, with these "twelve fi^ood men and true" as the jury. What would be their opinion of your habits of life? And now, having given yourself a fair trial, are you — you, yourself — satisfied that you have done — are doing — everything you can to leave a name behind you, an impress on the crust cf the heart of the world? We love the memory of Franklin for what he gave us in example of thought and act. He discovered electricity, a thiner in itself jjreat — but it is not that for which we revere his memory. What then? For the example he set us of honesty of purpose, of frugahty, of steadfastness. The germ of greatness is in us all and needs only careful nurture and develop- ment. Money of itself is not power, but it is a means of developing power. By its proper use, one may secure education through association, through books, and by means of travel. The man with money in his pocket — if he be a man — can always command respect and atten- tion. First, then, let us be men — honest and dependable men — and then let us have money — the wherewithal to carry forward and make happy and comfort- able the lives of ourselves and those look- ing to or depending upon us. Bacon said — "A man's ordinary ex- penses ought to be but to the half of his receipts, and if he think to wax rich, but to the third part." However, incomes are larger than in the days of Bacon, who hved three hundred and fifty years ago. Then, the salary of the parish priest might have been as much as two hundred and fifty dollars a year, and so now the man who religiously sets aside a small part of his income, and lives com- fortably and carefully, may and prob- ably will find himself in easy circum- stances before he has lived his twoscore and ten, with still a score of his best years ahead — 3^ears to which he can look forward w^ithout fear. TWELVE GOOD MEN AND TRUE CHAPTER ONE BENJAIMIN FRANKLIN ^ RANKLiN^ born the son of a Boston candlemaker in 1706, stands out as a man, a dis- tinct type of man, which has never been duplicated. When we remember that his entire schooling covered a period of less than two years, and those years between the ages of eight- and-a-half and ten, we can scarcely credit the history of his later life. This his- tory, the authenticity of which is of course unquestioned, shows him as a busi- ness man of consequence in 1730, when only twenty-four years old. Starting with nothing but an earnest purpose at 9 the age of seventeen, he, in the short space of seven years, reached a place in the business world which many men might envy. It was about this time that he married Mrs. Rogers. As Miss Read, she had been a sweetheart of Franklin's before he went to England. She had seen him arrive in the city of Philadelphia in the fall of 1728 looking for work. His biographers describe him as "A boy of seventeen — his pockets bulging with his necessary change of underclothing, with a loaf of bread under each arm, while he calmly strode up the street munching a third loaf." Let us here interject that when he had satisfied his own hunger, he gave the other two loaves to a poor wo- man and her children. On this memor- able walk he was seen and laughed at by Miss Read, who seven years later became Mrs. Franklin. She had scoffed at his homely garb and homelier lunch, but she had even then seen through his dirt and rags and recognized a man. Franklin found a job the next day in a print shop, and to the day of his death he was never happier than when setting 10 type or running a press. He found out- let for his thoughts by writing, setting up and printing them. To his having secured a position in Keimer's Print Shop are we indebted for all of the good counsel and beautiful thoughts which he left behind for posterity to read and enjoy. In 1756 Franklin was the recognized leader of the people of Pennsylvania. He went to England on a diplomatic mission for the Colonies in 1757 and did not return to America until the fall of 1762. Franklin is perhaps best known to all of us as the author of "Poor Richard's Almanack," the publication of which he started in 1733. Some of the following wise counsel appeared in its pages : "Creditors are a superstitious sect, great observers of set days and times." "If thou wouldst live long, live well, for folly and wickedness shorten life." "Money and good manners make the gentleman." The character of Benjamin Franklin is one which any of us would do well to emulate. 11 The last important acts of his hfe were his activity in the drafting of the Constitution for the United States, and his speeches and writings against slave- holding in this country. His father, Josiah Franklin, died in 1744, and his mother, Abiah, lived until 1752. Franklin died at the age of eighty- four, three years after his last return from Europe, where he had been on a diplomatic mission for the United States Government. 12 CHAPTER TWO WILLIAM PENN iLLiAM PENN was bom on Tower Hill, London, Eng- land, October 4, 1644. He was the son of William and Margaret Jasper Penn. Penn joined the Society of Friends in 1667. His father disowned him and he began to preach and write in 1668 and published "The Sandy Foundation Shaken", for which he was imprisoned nine months in London Tower. While there he wrote "No Cross, No Crown." In 1672 he married Gulielma Maria Springet, who died in 1694. In 1680 he entered upon a project of founding a colony of Friends in America 13 and in 1681 he and eleven other Quakers bought East Jersey. These twelve, with twelve more, appointed Robert Barclay Governor of New Jersey. Penn found that the King of England owed his father 16,000 pounds, and being the heir to this estate, he accepted this terri- tory of Pennsylvania, on August 21, 1682, as payment. He advocated and promulgated laws to the effect that all children twelve years old should be taught a trade; all court proceedings be shortened; all prisons made workhouses; that capital crimes be confined to murder and treason. No oath was required of any man giving evidence, and treating in the drinking of healths was forbidden. Trading in rum, cursing, ring fighting, gambling, and theatrical performances were pro- hibited. He sold the land in the territory of Pennsylvania to the colonists at 40 shill- ings for one hundred acres, under a con- tract that one acre of trees should be left for each five acres cleared. This was 14 the beginning of the conservation of American forests, and fairly shows his frugaHty and foresight. In 1682 Penn started to America with one hundred Quakers on the ship "Wel- come''; twenty-five of these persons died during the trip. The remainder landed at Newcastle November 28, entering Pennsylvania November 29, 1682. They established a capital and called it Phila- delphia, and made a treaty with the Indians, recognizing them as the owners of the land. Penn supported King James in the abolition of the tests which prevented Roman Catholics from holding office, and insisted upon religious freedom in Pennsylvania. He was publicly pro- claimed a traitor, but was pardoned in 1693 through his personal friendship with King James. He returned to Phila- delphia in 1690, this city then having a population of seven thousand souls. He returned to England October 28, 1701, and internal strife immediately be- gan in Pennsylvania, worry over which so impaired his health that he suffered a stroke of paralysis in 1712, which ren- 15 dered him completely helpless, but he lived until July 30, 1718, finally ending his days at Ruscombe, Berkshire, Eng- land. 16 CHAPTER THREE THOMAS JEFFERSON ORN at Shadwell, Virginia, April 13, 1743, Thomas Jefferson became in 1801 the third President of the United States. His family had come to Virginia about 1612, and his father assisted as a civil engineer in making the first map of Virginia. His father died in 1757 and his mother in 1776. Thomas had a good educational op- portunity and finally graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1765^. He was admitted to the bar in 1767. Thomas Jefferson first met George Washington in 1769 when they were 17 both members of the House of Burgesses of Virginia, which was the same as our State Legislature of today. He was married on New Year's Day, 1772, to Mrs. Martha Skelton. From the time of his marriage on, Jefferson devoted a portion of his time to law, but by far the greater portion to his farms, which had increased in size until he had in pasturage and under cultivation, upwards of 60,000 acres. His law business was turned over to his cousin, Edmund Randolph, when he was elected to the Continental Congress and went to Philadelphia in the summer of 1775. With Franklin, Adams, Sher- man and Livingston, he served on the Committee appointed to draft a Declara- tion of Independence. Jefferson drew a rough draft of a declaration which he submitted to the other members of the Committee, this rough draft being now in the Congressional Library at Wash- ington. Jefferson's opportunities for educa- tion and advancement were better than those of most other men of his time, but it is notable that all of his education, his 18 legal work, his political offices, and his diplomatic duties never weaned him away from the soil. Thomas Jefferson was first, last and always a farmer. He was elected Governor of Virginia in 1779 and re-elected in 1780. He de- clined the re-nomination for Governor which was tendered him. Mrs. Jefferson died September 6, 1782, and was deeply mourned by Mr. Jefferson, for theirs was a happy union. While in Congress in 1783 Jefferson introduced the Decimal Currency Bill. In 1784 he was elected by Congress a Commissioner to France to work with Franklin and Adams in making commer- cial treaties with European Powers. He was made Minister Plenipotentiary to France by the Eleventh Continental Con- gress, March 10, 1785. While abroad he made valuable collections of seeds, plants and livestock intended for distri- bution and propagation in the United States. It was while he was in France that the Constitution of the United States was adopted and Jefferson expressed his re- gret that the Presidential Term was not 19 fixed for seven years and with a No- Second-Term clause. He wrote many letters to friends in America urging that the prefixes "Excellency," "Worship," "Esquire," or even "Mr." should not apply to any holder of office in the Gov- ernment of the United States. Being truly democratic, Jefferson abhorred titles and objected to being referred to as "Honorable" or "Esquire," but un- der the usage of the day he had earned both titles. In the Presidential election of 1800 he received seventy-three electoral votes, Aaron Burr also receiving seventy-three. This made it necessary for the House of Representatives to make a choice, and they elected Jefferson third President of the United States, Aaron Burr becoming Vice-President. His term expired March 4, 1809, and the remainder of his life was given to the cultivation of his extensive farms and the building of the University of Vir- ginia. Jefferson's farm was a model one, and his hospitality became proverbial. His great house containing sixty bed- rooms was always filled, and "Monti- 20 cello," his home, was a meeting place for the progressive men of the age. He es- tablished the University of Virginia, which for many years was often referred to as Jefferson's University. Jefferson died on Independence Day, 1826, and on the same day died John Adams. His last resting place on his estate at Monticello is marked — "Here was buried Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of American Independ- ence, of the Statute of Virginia for Re- ligious Freedom, and Father of the Uni- versity of Virginia." In the selection of names for the Hall of Fame for Great Americans in Octo- ber, 1900, the name of Thomas Jefferson received ninety votes out of a possible ninety-seven. This, in brief, is the story of a man who gave all of his earthly possessions in the service of his country and for the benefit of the people, and although he died poor, his country and his friends actually owed him enough at the time of his death to have made him wealthy. Congress purchased his library for about $23,000 at a time when he needed funds, 21 and it was well known at that time that the library could not be duplicated for $100,000. One personal friend owed him $20,000 on the day of his death, on which his widow never realized. The last words of John Adams, who died on the same day but a few hours later than Jefferson, were — '"Thomas Jefferson still sundves." 22 CHAPTER FOUR JOHN WANAMAKER OHN WANAMAKER WaS bom in Philadelphia, July 11, 1838. He had a common school education, and when four- teen years old struck out for himself. He was made Secre- tary of the Y. M. C. A. in Philadelphia when he was nineteen years old, which place he filled with credit for four years. He was employed in a clothing house for several years, and in 1875 established a store of his own under his own name. While a clerk in the clothing store he lived carefully, and during a period of about fifteen years established the foun- dation of his present fortune. He declined a nomination for Con- gress on the Republican ticket, which 2d nomination would have been equivalent to his election. He also declined a nomination for Mayor of Philadelphia in 1886. He was appointed Postmaster General by President Harrison in 1889. Mr. Wanamaker has been a potent in- fluence in the municipal affairs of Phila- delphia for the past thirty-five years and has done much to keep down political corruption. His particular hobby is the Presby- terian Sunday School which he founded in 1858 and the Y. M. C. A., which hf has always ardently as well as financially supported. His business has been run on a co- operative plan and the employes share in the prosperity of the concern. Many of his employes have celebrated their silver anniversary in his employ, and his great stores in Philadelphia and New York to-day give profitable employment to thousands. Mr. Wanamaker has always been will- ing to pay for ability, and while he has never been antagonistic to Unions among his clerks, he insists upon rewarding in- dividual ability. 24 The last chapter of Mr. Wanamaker's life has yet to be written, but up to this time his career would be a safe ideal for any young man to work toward. A prominent man in Philadelphia in a speech recently said, "Would that we had more Wanamakers in Pennsyl- vania • I" 25 CHAPTER FIVE PHINEAS TAYLOR BARNUM Ew MEN were better known or more admired by the children than Phineas Taylor Barnum. Barnum always in- sisted that he inherited not only the name, but the char- acteristics, of Phineas Tay- lor, his mother's father. At any rate, he was the pet of his grandfather when a child, and from constant association ab- sorbed a great many of his ideas. His father was Philo Barnmii, a son of Capt. Ephraim Barnum. Phineas Taylor Barnum was born the day after the Fourth of July, 1810. His father was a farmer and tavern keeper, as well as tailor for some of his neigh- bors. Barnum had but little opportunity to get an education, his schooling going 26 little beyond the country district school. Barnum's first visit to York (now New York City) was made in 1822. He went to help drive a bunch of cattle, arriving there four days later, having tramped all the way through a heavy snow. After an eventful week in New York he re- turned home, even then determined to make New York City his future home. He later worked in a country store for a time on a percentage basis, and made money. In the Fall of 1826 Barnum was offered a job as clerk in a grocery store i: Brooklyn, which he accepted. At this time he became dissatisfied with the idea of working for a fixed salary. He could only see future independence for himself in some plan whereby he would get full pay for all he would do, and was allowed to do all that he could. In February, 1828, he returned to Bethel and started a retail fruit and confec- tionery store, buying his goods from New York City, starting the business with a capital of $120 which he had saved. 27 In 1831 he commenced the publication of "The Herald of Freedom," a weekly newspaper. Almost as soon as he started the paper he was overwhelmed with suits for libel, and finally was convicted and sentenced to sixty days in the county jail for an attack in his columns on a certain church deacon who had "been guilty of taking usury of an orphan boy." His release from prison w^as cele- brated by the whole population for miles around, and by a banquet at which sev- eral hundreds of his friends were pres- ent. He was driven in a coach drawn by six horses and accompanied by a band of music. The coach was preceded by forty horsemen, and this was Barnum's first introduction to a street parade, which had a great influence on his later life. In 1835 he moved to New York, and from that time on New York can be con- sidered his home. He began his career as a showman by purchasing Aunt Joice Heth, a negro woman supposed to be 161 years old, formerly the property of Gen. George Washington's father. He exliibited the negress in New York at Niblo's Garden. 28 She was supposed to be the nurse who first dressed the infant George Wash- ington. The most remarkable thing about Mr. Bamum's career was that he in whole or in part originated every vocation which he ever followed. His method of run- ning a fruit and candy store was his own, his plan of running a newspaper was his own, and later the show business as he conducted it was an entire novelty which was created by himself. In 1841 he opened a general agency for a certain edition of the Bible, con- ducting the business for about a year and selling thousands upon thousands of Bibles, but not finally making a very large profit. This was the last step aside from the show business, to which he then returned and to which he gave the balance of his life. Barnum was presented with a five- acre tract known as Ivy Island by his grandfather, and when it came to the purchase of Scudder's American Mu- seum he scheduled this property as se- curity for the unpaid portion of the purchase price, which was $12,000. Im- 29 mediately after the purchase of the Mu- seum began Barnum's real business ca- reer. He had bought the Museum largely on credit, and, as he expressed it, it was a "fight for life." He began the conduct of the Museum in 1841, naming it Barnum's American Museum, and began what was perhaps the most sensational advertising campaign ever conducted. Mr. Barnum's financial for- tune was already well started, but his discovery of Charles S. Stratton, whom he rechristened General Tom Thumb, was perhaps the most potent influence in his later money-making career. He paid Charley, who was then only five years of age, $7.50 per week, but a short time after increased his salary to $25. Mr. Bamum later discovered Jenny Lind, "The Swedish Nightingale," and managed her concert tour in America, paying her a salary of $1,000 per con- cert, at the same time netting himself as high as $10,000 to $20,000 per night. Ten thousand dollars of the receipts for the first concert were given to charity, and the receipts for the next concert 30 were divided equally between Mr. Bar- num and Miss Lind. Mr. Barnum seldom appeared on the stage or rostrum, but in 1852 he spent several months delivering temperance lectures throughout the state of Con- necticut, as well as in New York and Pennsylvania. He was an ardent prohi- bitionist and could always draw a large audience. The later years of Mr. Barnum's life were spent at his "Oriental Villa" near Bridgeport, Connecticut. Here his four daughters paid him many visits and ma- terially brightened his last years. He died in 1891, having lived an eventful, busy, and yet withal, careful life. 31 CHAPTER SIX PETER COOPER EFORE the end of the First Presidential Term of George Washington, or, to be more exact, in the year 1791, Peter Cooper was born in the City of New York. El- bert Hubbard, in writing of Peter Cooper, refers to him as "Ameri- ca's First Business Man," and also cred- its him with practicing the Golden Rule and making it profitable to do so. Of this we may be sure — Peter Cooper was the first really great business man born a citizen of the United States of America. He lived to be ninety-two years old, or until 1883, and was an ac- tive, indefatigable worker to the close of his Hfe. Engaging during his long life in many different lines of work, he 32 made a decided success of most of them. Beginning his business career as one of a large family who were, even accord- ing to the standard of that day, quite poor, brought out the initiative, the power, and the endurance of Cooper. The entire time devoted to the school- ing of Peter Cooper would not equal one ordinary term in a city school of today. He learned to build coaches, made many improvements on them, became a finan- cier, and as he succeeded in educating himself through contact with the world, finally became a teacher of others. Coop- er's first wage was $25 per year, as an apprentice to a coach maker, with a four- year term to serve. In the first half of that period he saved something more than $20. Recognizing Cooper's thrift and careful manner of living, his em- ployer increased his pay for the third and fourth year. He conceived the idea of building stage coaches on his own ac- count, but hired out to a woolen manu- facturer for a dollar and a half a day in order to get capital. This was high wages for the time, but Cooper had much inventive genius, and while at work in 33 this mill made a machine of great value to his employer. He sold his interest in the machine to Michael Vassar, founder of Vassar College. He married Sarah Bedell and his wed- ded life was long and happy, covering a period of more than fifty years. In 1812 he started a furniture fac- tory and exchanged it for a glue fac- tory. He was then just past thirty- three, and the foundation of his fortune was laid. He made glue and later in the same factory he made a locomotive steam engine which he patented. With the surplus profits from the glue business he bought suburban Baltimore real estate. He later invested his spare money in stock of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, the first rail- road company in America, organized in 1827. This railroad would mean much to his Baltimore property. He built the engine w^hich made the first trip on the new road, the thirteen miles being covered in less than an hour and a quar- ter. The return journey was made in less than an hour. 34 When Cooper reached the age of forty years he was worth $50,000, and when he was fifty he was worth $200,000, be- ing a man of power and influence and one of the wealthiest men in New York. He did not, however, devote his mind to money-making, but was always working in the interests of the people. He or- ganized the Police System of New York, the first Fire Department, and established the first Water Works. While a member of the New York School Board he worked out an educa- tional system which the Board refused to adopt. This caused him to establish Cooper Union, a school which is today a model for the world as an educational in- stitution. In building Cooper Union he used structural iron in combination with brick, and thus began steel building con- struction in America. His investment in the Cooper Union property was nearly three-quarters of a million. Peter Cooper had an ideal and that ideal was Benjamin Franklin. He lived up to his ideal, and if the poor deserving boy of America ever had a better friend 35 than Benjamin Franklin it was Peter Cooper. The memory of Peter Cooper still lives in Cooper Union, or Cooper Insti- tute, as it is sometimes called. Cooper was candidate for the Presi- dency of the United States on the Inde- pendent ticket in 1876. Peter Cooper died in 1883 at the age of ninety-two. 3G CHAPTER SEVEN ABRAHAM LINCOLN ' GEORGE WASHINGTON WaS the "Father of His Coun- try," Abraham Lincoln was the "Brother of Mankind." He was born February 12, ^^UW 1809, in Hardin County, Kentucky, his parents com- ing originally from Virginia. When Abe was eight years old his family moved to Spencer County, Indiana, and there he grew up. He once said : "When I came of age I didn't know much. I could read, write and cipher, but that was all, and I have not been to school since." He worked on his father's farm until he was twenty-two years of age, and about that time became a Captain of Volunteers in the Blackhawk War. In 1832 he ran for the legislature and was 37 defeated. In later years he used to be fond of saying that this was the only time he was ever beaten by the people. At the four next succeeding elections he was elected to the legislature. During his legislative terms he studied law, and in 1849 went to Springfield to practice, continuing law practice until 1854. He was always a Whig in politics. Lincoln left as a part of his estate at his death, a quarter section of land in Kentucky given to him by Uncle Sam as a reward for notable service in the Blackhawk War. It is unnecessary to go into the early life of Abe Lincoln in order to show the almost abject poverty of his family. He was so eager for books that at one time he pulled cornstalks for three days to pay a neighbor for a book. He once wrote to a friend : "One can scarcely be so poor but that, if he will, he can ac- quire sufficient education to get through the world respectably." George Washington was Lincoln's ideal and he used to read about and try to imitate him. When Lincoln was yet 38 a poor boy he used to say: "Some day I will be president." Strong in body and healthful in mind, Abe had no "bad habits — no stain of in- temperance, profanity or vice." He could jump higher and further, run faster, and in a catch-as-catch-can wrestle, put any man on his back. In 1830 Lincoln's family moved near Decatur, Illinois. Abe shared his earn- ings with his parents and was always sending presents home. He bought them land, oxen and other things needed on the farm. While he was working in a store at Cambridge, in making change for an old woman, he made a mistake and that evening found his cash over. It was only a few cents, but Abe walked a long distance to her house through a blizzard to return the money. This incident gave him the sobriquet "Honest Abe." He kept the postoffice for a time, but was never finally "checked out" by the government inspector. Several years later when he was in Springfield, and at a time when he was very poor and deeply 39 in debt, a government inspector called, checked up his accounts, and found him owing the government eighteen dollars and some cents. Abe's employer was about to pay over the amount for him, knowing that he could not possibly have saved so much money, when Abe asked time to go to his boarding place. He returned in a few minutes with an old blue sock and dumped out on the table silver and copper coins to the exact amount due Uncle Sam, these being the same coins he had taken in as postmaster. During the time this trust fund had been in his possession he had missed many a meal. This is another example of his scrupulous honesty. The first speech of the famous Lin- coln-Douglas debate was made from the balcony of the Tremont House, Chicago, July 9, 1858, by Douglas. The following evening Lincoln replied. Although he was defeated in this campaign for the United States senate, he was elected two years later to the presidency, as a direct resuH of his logical and fair arguments. About August, 1862, Lincoln pre- pared the Emancipation Proclamation, 40 and against the advice of most of the members of his cabinet, issued it Septem- ber 22, 1862, to be effective January 1, 1863. When Lincohi was re-elected to the presidency, his second inaugural ad- dress was said to be the greatest state paper in all history. Unfortu- nately, space forbids its reproduction here. While president, Lincoln's life was threatened many times. He never knew fear, but these constant threats against himself made him very sad. He was shot by John Wilkes Booth, brother of Edwin Booth, April 14, 1865, and died the next day. Mrs. Lincoln was afterAvards mentally unbalanced, and representatives of news- papers which had been hostile to Lincoln persecuted her, misquoted her, and gar- bled her statements to the great annoy- ance of the family, and thus hindered reconstruction and the uniting of the North and South. The persecution of Mrs. Lincoln by the press will stand for all time as a blot on American chivalry and as the worst known abuse of the freedom of the press. 41 Almost a half century after the issu- ance of the Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln has come to be fully understood and is today beloved by South as well as North, East as well as West, and by the whole English-speaking world. 43 CHAPTER EIGHT HORACE GREELEY ORACE GREELEY was bom at Amherst, Nfew Hampshire, February 3, 1811, being one of the seven children of Zac- cheus Greeley. He was a precocious youngster, and at the age of two began read- ing the Bible. He was never taught to read, but at the age of three could read easily any children's book, and at four seemed to be able to grasp and understand any book. At a very early age he amused himself by reading books upside down. These points only empha- size the clearness of his intellect and his unusual ability to grasp a thought. 43 His entire schooling was limited to the district school. After he had passed the age of five no one ever succeeded in giv- ing him a word ho could not spelL In 1826, Horace became a printer's devil at East Poultney. One of his asso- ciates in the printing office had this to say of Greeley when he y>^as thirty years old : "If ever there was a self-made man this same Horace Greeley is one, for he had neither wealth nor influential friends, collegiate nor academic education, nor anything to start him in the world, save his own native good sense and uncon- trollable love of study and a determina- tion to win his way by his own efforts." In a later letter from the same associate : "Knowing Horace Greeley as I do and have done for thirty years, I know his integrity, purity and generosity." In 1830, when nineteen years of age, the printing office in which he was em- ployed was closed. He had completed his trade as a printer and confronted the world. He went on foot to his father's home in Pennsylvania, shortening his walk by getting occasional rides on canal boats, and completing his journey by a 44 walk of one hundred miles through the woods. Horace had a year before in- jured a leg and walked at this time with great difficulty. As soon as he was able to walk again he went to Jamestown, twenty miles away, and secured a position in a print- ing office, but his employer failed to pay him. He finally found himself at work in the office of the Erie Gazette, where his ambition and attentiveness to his work were appreciated. While there he saved all that he earned except $6.00, his board, room and washing having been included in his wages. The sum he saved during the seven months was approxi- mately $115.00, which he took home and gave to his father, who at that time was in sad need of it. Greeley's experience with Greeley & Company in publishing the paper known as "The New Yorker" was a consider- able set-back to him, as while the news- paper was popular, it was far from be- ing profitable. He never drew a dollar out of it as salary or expenses. Almost a wreck in 1837, "The New Yorker" 45 continued to grow until a few years later it had really reached a profit-paying basis, Mr. Greeley having had during the period seven different partners who did not have the stick-to-itiveness to wait for success. Mr. Greeley did not make it a real financial success, but he hung on until during the presidential cam- paign of 1840 — the year of "Tippe- canoe and Tyler too" — he was undoubt- edly the most potent force in the cam- paign. Mr. Greeley wrote articles, made speeches, sat on committees, traveled, gave advice, and suggested plans. His two newspapers, "The Log Cabin" and "The New Yorker," were later merged in the New York Tribune. In establishing the Tribune, Mr. Gieeley furnished all the capital, which was not much from a money standpoint. He had, however, great capital in "repu- tation, credit, experience, talent, and op- portunity." He was known to be of incorruptible integrity — one who would pay his debts at any and every sacrifice and one who would not contract an obli- gation which he was not sure of being- able to discharge. 46 Even at that time there were a hun- dred periodicals pubhshed in New York among which were eleven other daily pa- pers. The Tribune venture was in every way a success. Mr. Greeley was elected a member of congress in 1848 to fill the remaining three months of an unexpired term. In 1852 he spent three months in Europe visiting England and the continent. He reported the doings of congress in his paper during the session of 1856. He announced that he went to congress for the purpose of unmasking hypoc- risy, putting down treachery, and de- feating meanness. He was twice as- saulted by members of congress, and several times his life was threatened. The Albany Knickerbocker, knowing him to really be the soul of honor, said: "The fellow who would strike Horace Greeley would strike his own mother." Mr. Greeley, however, made no protest, went about unarmed and continued to call err- ing congressmen to account, much to the benefit of the entire country. On the first day of May, 1872, at Cincinnati, Mr. Greeley was nominated 47 for the presidency on the sixth ballot by the Liberal Republican party. Mr. Greeley's popularity was largely trace- able to his work both before and during the Civil War in the interests of Aboli- tion. This man who was farmer, printer, journalist, politician, and an avowed Abolitionist, was big enough and broad enough, at the close of the Civil War, to protest against the prolonged imprison- ment of the Confederate president, Jef- ferson Davis, and himself signed a bond for Davis' release, an act which at the time was much misunderstood and se- verely criticised. He opposed General Grant for the presidency, having the nomination of the Liberal Republicans and endorsement of the Democrats, but was defeated. This defeat killed him, for he died be- tween election day and the official cast- ing of the electoral vote. While Grant was elected, Greeley polled almost as many popular votes as Grant. He was the people's friend, the peo- ple's idol, and his impress upon this country can never be erased. 48 CHAPTER NINE PHILIP DANFORTH ARMOUR MONG manufacturers of the nineteenth century, perhaps no one stands out any more prominently than Phihp Danforth Armour. Mr. Ar- mour was born in 1832 on an Oneida County farm in New York. This farm adjoins the prop- erty which is now occupied by the Oneida Community. He was one of six sons. Phihp Armour was ahvays a tireless worker, but it was not until 1851 that he really found the necessity and the op- portunity for branching out for himself, and he started on foot for the new gold fields of the Pacific coast. Walking the entire distance, he arrived in a little over 49 six months, being the only one of the party which started to "arrive," and it was at this period that Phihp Danforth Armour did "arrive." He demonstrated his physical and mental superiority over his companions in this instance, and he fully demonstrated it in the business world many times thereafter. Deciding that gold mining was more or-less uncertain of results, he began tak- ing contract work for sluices and runs, and in a short time was employing a large number of men. Returning from California five or six years later he saw for the first time Chi- cago and Milwaukee. As a choice of location he selected Milwaukee and went into the business of handling produce. Shortly after he became a partner of John Plankinton, and during the Civil War the firm was highly successful and the business very profitable. It was not long until Mr. Armour saw the advantages of Chicago over ^lilwau- kee, and in 1871 the house of Armour & Company, which is today conducting the largest packing business in the world, was established. 50 The success of Mr. Armour's first ven- ture, the success of the concern of Plank- inton & Armour, and later, the success of Armour & Company, were all due in large measure to the keen for^^sisjht, cool business judgment and untiring energy of Philip Armour. Armour was a man who made men. First he made himself and did a good job, and from that time forward he was making other men. Those men who have graduated from under his tutelage into the business world are many of them numbered among the most successful business men of today. With it all, he was careful — careful of his physical well-being, of his health, and of his earnings. He spared nothing which would make him a better man men- tally or physically, but indulged in no excesses, always being the first man at the plant in the morning, and with the day's work well done, usually the first man to leave the plant at night. Mr. Armour was no night-worker. He rose with the sun and often very much before it, did an honest day's work for himself and his dissociates, and left the sluggards 51 to burn the midnight oil while he "slept the sleep of the just." For he was pri- marily a just man. Among the men whom Armour started on the road to success are C. H. Mac- Dowell, Everett Wilson, Thomas J. Con- nors, George Robbins — these and dozens of other men have been made better, bigger and more successful through as- sociation with Philip Danforth Armour. He founded the Armour Institute of Technology, and was in reality more of a philanthropist than even his closest friends knew. He started the first re- frigeration car line, making possible the placing of all kinds of fruits, flowers, fresh meats and provisions direct from an iced car into the merchant's refrigerator. Philip Armour always sold 16 ounces for a pound and was never known to resort to sharp practice of any kind in his business dealings. His stereotyped advice to the boys was : "Be honest, be industrious, be saving, and you'll win." Mr. Armour's life ended in Chicago in January, 1901, at the age of sixty-nine years. 52 CHAPTER TEN RUSSELL SAGE ltssell, sage was born at Shenandoah, New York, August 4, 1816. Two years later his parents moved to Durhamville. When twelve years old he was an errand boy in his brother's grocery store, and at the age of twenty-one he went into partnership with another brother in the retail grocery business at Troy, New York. In 1839 the store was converted into a wholesale house and was owned by Russell Sage and John W. Bates. Mr. Sage became interested in politics and was elected alderman of Troy and later county treasurer. As the Whig 53 candidate for congress in 1850, he was defeated, but was elected at the next election and served from 1853 to 1857. At the close of his congressional ca- reer, during which time he became a friend of Jay Gould, he became engaged in financial matters, and in 1863 opened a broker's office in Wall street and began dealing in railroad stocks and bonds. His keen foresight and absolute honesty non- plussed his adversaries in the market, and in a very few years he had amassed a fortune estimated at from $50,000,000 to $100,000,000. Mr. Sage has been called penurious and even "stingy." He was careful of his money, always exacted the last penny and always gave it. He has been known to eat a fifteen cent lunch and give a quarter to a newsboy for his afternoon paper. Like George W, Childs, he had a horror of waste, and his charities al- ways went to the most needy places. He was unostentatious, and while giving much toward good causes, his benefac- tions were often anonymous. His enormous fortune was left in care of his wife and is being distributed by 54 her in a most careful and effective manner. Among Mr. Sage's gifts might be mentioned a dormitory for the Troy Female Seminary, which cost a quarter of a million. His first wife was Miss Wynne and his second wife, Miss Olivia Slocum. Mr. Sage was one of those wholesome people whose money does not pervert his ideas, and his life was almost a perfect one. No scandal ever attached to his name and no one ever accused him of a sharp trick or a dishonest act. He was familiarly known to all as "Uncle Russell," which suggests the warm place he held in the hearts of many men. He died at his New York home in 1906. Since his death Mrs. Sage has been busy in the distribution of his wealth, $1,000,000 of which went to the Emma Willard Seminary, $150,000 to a sail- ors' home, $350,000 to the New York Y. M. C. A., and $10,000,000 to a fund for general philanthropic work. 55 CHAPTER ELEVEN GEORGE WILLIAM CHILDS ORN of humble parentage in Baltimore, Maryland, May 12, 1829, George William Childs early took an interest iJK in matters of business. His first separation from his home was when he was thir- teen years old, at Avhich time he served less than two years in the United States Navy. Childs began building his fortune as an errand boy in a book store at the age of fifteen, and by careful management was insured a competence for the re- mainder of his life by the time he reached his majority. When about twenty years old the firm of George W. Childs. & Company was 56 S9 W formed, for the purpose of making and selling confectionery, to which was later added soaps, perfumes and medicines. He sold out in 1850, and finally became a member of the publishing firm of Childs & Peterson. In 1864 he became interested in the Philadelphia Public Ledger which was just then in a bad way. Under the careful management of Childs, the paper immediately improved in tone and morals, and soon doubled its circulation and its advertising. In 1876 a special building was constructed for its quarters. Mr. Childs was always ready to lend a helping hand to budding authors and was constantly offering prizes for the best literary productions. In 1868 his interest in the Typograph- ical Union took form in the gift of a plot of ground for a printers' cemetery, together with an endowment for its per- manent maintenance. Some time later he established a fund for the support of superannuated printers and printers' widows and orphans. He contributed half the money neces- sary to purchase Fairmount Park, and 57 was the first subscriber of $10,000 to- ward the Centennial Exposition. Childs and General U. S. Grant were intimates, and General Grant at one time toured the country in Mr. Childs' pri- vate car. He used his money freely in good works, and it seems to have always re- turned to him. At his death a large endowment was left for the Printers' Home at Colorado Springs, and many other w^orthy insti- tutions were remembered. Mr. Childs died at Philadelphia, Feb- ruary 3, 1894, and funeral services were held in many parts of the country by members of typographical unions. Mr. Childs w^as a friend of presidents, emperors, statesmen, and eminent men in great numbers, but was alwa^^s demo- cratic and always a modest and unassum- ing friend of the people. 58 CHAPTER TWELVE CYRUS HALL MCCORMICK YRUS HALL MCCORMICK WaS born at Walnut Grove, Vir- ginia, February 15, 1809. His father had invented va- rious labor-saving farm de- vices, and it is notable that his grain-cutting machine was invented the year Cyrus was born. Cyrus worked on his father's fai*m and in the workshop where the farm im- plements were made in the intervals of attending public school. When Cyrus was twenty-two years old he added to his father's machine and perfected some details which had been troublesome, securing patents on his im- provements in 1834. He worked in Cincinnati and became interested in an iron foundry which failed in 1837, after which he returned 59 to Walnut Grove. He assisted his father in the manufacture of the reapers and went about among the farmers sohc- iting orders. After his father's death he made many further improvements on the ma- chine which was by this time manu- factured in Cincinnati. A new factory was estabhshed in Chi- cago in 1848 and in 1851 Mr. McCor- mick exhibited his perfected reaper at the World's Fair in London. In 1897 a government estimate states that the McCormick inventions saved the farmers of the United States one hun- dred million dollars annually. In 1850 he established what later be- came the McCormick Theological Sem- inary and gave to this institution at va- rious times over a quarter of a million dollars. He made gifts to Washington and Lee University, the Union Theolog- ical Seminary of Virginia, and Hastings College at Hastings, Nebraska. It may be said that his fortune was founded while he was at work as a sales- man among the farmers near his father's home. He traveled on horseback and by buckboard, and liIs expenses were so modest that the profits reahzed from his sales of machines were wholly left for division between his father and himself. He married Miss Nettie Fowler of New York. After the Chicago fire he built large factories and a number of business blocks, all of which are today a part of the McCormick estates. In selecting names for a place in the Hall of Fame for great Americans his name was classed with those of Fulton, Howe, Morse and Whitney. Mr. McCormick's character may be known by his most intimate friends. He frequently entertained Horace Greeley, Peter Cooper and others of the greatest and best men of his day. Mr. McCormick was above all a friend of the farmer. Raised as a farmer's son, he always enjoyed the companionship of "the men who till the soil." He was a lover of home, a friend of the many, and left a name to his son Cyrus Hall Mc- Cormick, Jr., of which he may well be proud. Mr. McCormick died at his Chicago home on the 13th day of May, 1884. 61 COMPLIMENTS OF NATIONAL SAVINGS AND TRUST COMPANY WASHINGTON, D. C. ^^ %.^" \ , 'o . . * A .•i°«.