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| Portrait of Philip D. Armour. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Monday, January 7, 1901.
PHILIP D. ARMOUR DEAD.
Head of Noted Business Enterprises Passes Away.
HIS VAIN PURSUIT OF HEALTH.
Death of His Son and Namesake Last Year Caused a Shock Which Had Its Effect in Hastening the End. His Fortune an Immense One.
CHICAGO, Jan. 7.—Philip D. Armour died at his residence in Prairie avenue in this city at 5:45 o'clock last evening. The end came after two years of illness, during which time Mr. Armour visited German baths, passed the cold months in Southern California and devoted himself largely to an attempt to restore his health which, however, had been broken never to be regained.
For several weeks the millionaire had been living at the old family home in Prairie avenue, the usual trip to Southern California not having been taken this winter. He came down to the office in the Home Insurance building but seldom, and as the cold increased he did not come at all. It was understood in his office that he had an incipient attack of pneumonia, but it was given out no later than a week ago that he was on the road to recovery. It was noted, however, that the constant attendance of Dr. Frank Billings, the family physician, at the bedside of the sick man did not corroborate the favorable reports at the downtown office.
For several days death had been feared as the outcome by the close associates of the great captain of industry. When death came his grandchildren, who had so close a place in his heart, were at the family residence, as was J. Ogden Armour, the surviving son.
Mr. Armour had lost strength steadily from day to day since the commencement of the winter. The pneumonia was checked, but strength was not regained. The firm grip he had so long maintained upon the business of Armour & Co., whether at the office or thousands of miles away, slowly relaxed. The sudden death of his son and namesake nearly a year ago hung heavily on him during the closing months of his life. In fact he never recovered from the shock he experienced from that event. It stopped his progress towards recovery in his winter home at Pasadena, and its sorrow remained fresh until the end.
His treadmill of work and his firm grip on affairs were maintained until the spring of 1899. Then the machine began to show signs of breaking. Mr. Armour was reported to be a sick man and these reports were confirmed when he sailed for Germany to take baths at Bad Nauheim. He spent most of the summer at the baths and was sufficiently restored in health to take a trip to Switzerland, where he remained a month among the mountains.
When he returned to Chicago that fall he looked well and his friends hoped his recovery was complete. He went to Danforth Lodge, the summer home of his son Philip D. Armour, Jr., at Oconomowoc Lake, Wis., and remained there until nearly winter. Then he journeyed to Pasadena in Southern California for the cold months. All the time he was at Oconomowoc, he made weekly trips to his office in the Home Insurance building and was receiving constant reports of the general drift of his business affairs.
The death of his son Philip D. Armour, Jr., in Southern California on Jan. 29, 1900, was a great shock to the health-broken man. The son had gone on a visit to his father and was taken suddenly ill with pneumonia. His death followed with scarcely a day's warning. The son had largely interested the father and inherited the business ability of the Armours and was closely following the footsteps of the head when he was stricken down. His beautiful home, completed but a year or two before, at Michigan avenue and Thirty-seventh street, told of his love of art.
Mr. Armour was not able to accompany the funeral party to Chicago. When he did return here he went direct to Oconomowoc and remained there until the chilly weather in the fall drove the summer cottagers to their city homes. After the death of Philip D. Armour, Jr., the vast interests of Armour & Co., which had been carried on as a co-partnership, were incorporated under the old name of Armour & Co. This was to provide greater stability in case of death and made no change in the practical ownership of the properties. Some years before, the grain department had been incorporated under the title of the Armour Elevating company. The death of Simeon B. Armour at Kansas City in March, 1899, caused no particular change in the Armour interests there as they were operated as a stock company.
So carefully had the plans for the future been made that the death of Mr. Armour will have little effect on the outward working of the great enterprise with which it has been so closely identified. It is believed all the Amour properties will be held intact until the grandchildren come into their own.
Estimates of Mr. Armour's own estate run from $10,000,000 to $25,000,000. This of course does not include the $15,000,000 or $20,000,000 owned by the younger members of the family. For years every enterprise he was interested in had been making immense profits. His holdings of stock have all advanced largely during the last three years.
Mr. Armour married Miss Malvina Belle Ogden, daughter of Jonathan Ogden of Cincinnati in October, 1862. They have had two children—Philip D. Armour, Jr., who died a year ago, and J. Ogden Armour, who seems destined by character, training and circumstances, to succeed his father as the head of the Armour house.
Of the five brothers who have been identified with the upbuilding of the Armour enterprises, Herman O. Armour, who went to New York in 1871 to look after the New York interests of the co-partnership is the only surviving member. Joseph F. Armour, who came to Chicago in 1863 and gave his attention to supervision of the packing business, died several years ago.
Simon S. Armour, who for many years directed the Kansas City packing business, died in March, 1899.
Andrew Watson Armour, who managed the banking interests of the Armours in Kansas City died in 1893.
Referring to Mr. Armour's fortune the Chronicle says:
"Mr. Armour's wealth is a subject that may never be accurately known. It is estimated to be not less than $30,000,000 and by some to exceed $50,000,000. The combined wealth of the Chicago Armours is fixed at $60,000,000. In one sense the total is the wealth of Philip D. Armour, but just how much has been carried in his own name and how much in the name of his sons is unknown. He has not been a borrower. He has always been able to pay cash for his purchases and he has never asked a customer to discount a bill.
"In his great wheat deals he has always paid cash. In times of panic he has showed vast resources and in spot cash. In 1893 when a run was made upon the banks in Chicago and the credit of the city and the fate of the exposition was hanging in the balance, Philip D. Armour bought half a million of gold in Europe and offered help to the big institutions of the city from his cash resources in Chicago. With a business of $100,000,000 a year in the packing department alone, grain business of half that amount and practically the owner of a great railroad system, the estimates of his wealth at the utmost figure appear modest instead of exaggerated."
REPRIEVE FOR MURDERER.
He is More Afraid of the Mafia Than of the Chair.
NEW YORK, Jan. 7.—Lorenzo Priori, who was condemned to be electrocuted this morning in Sing Sing prison, was granted a reprieve of twenty days by Gov. Odell last night while he was preparing for the end. Priori was convicted of murdering Vincenso Garagusi, an Italian banker in this city on Dec. 11, 1898, during a quarrel over a card game. He was convicted on the evidence of Garagusi's daughter who testified that she saw him shoot her father. Priori maintained his innocence and hinted that he knew who was guilty, but refused t o give any information on which to base a satisfactory defense. Priori recently told Sister Mary Xavier, the "Prison Angel," that a relative had committed the crime but declared his willingness to die. To his counsel he said that even were he granted a new trial, he would never reach court alive as he would be assassinated by the Mafia. Priori appears to be more afraid of the Mafia than the electric chair.
Gov. Odell granted the reprieve on a petition and affidavits will be submitted to him asking that the court of appeals again take up the case.
DEPORTING THE LEADERS.
Filipino Generals to be Sent to Islands of Guam.
MANILA, Jan. 7.—Deportation of rebel leaders is the latest step in the effort of the United States government to end the insurrection in Luzon. In pursuance of this policy Gen. MacArthur has ordered that the Filipino generals Ricarto, Hizon, Lianera Santos and Del Pilar be sent to the Island of Guam. A number of minor Filipino officers and some civilians, who are accused of aiding the rebels, will also be deported.
A BUSINESS CHANGE.
Ralph W. Mitchell Becomes Sole Proprietor of Mitch's Market.
Mr. Ralph W. Mitchell has purchased of Mr. C. S. Strowbridge the latter's interest in the market which has been conducted under the firm name of Mitchell & Strowbridge for the past year and three months. The change takes place to-day. During the time this firm has been in business they have built up a fine trade and Mitch's market has become a synonym for fine meats.
Mr. Mitchell will continue the business upon the same lines as heretofore and will be pleased to see all his friends and solicits a share of their patronage.
Arrested for Assault and Battery.
Amos Tryon, who lives near the brick schoolhouse, was arrested Saturday for assault and battery by [Cortland County] Sheriff Overton and taken before Justice Kelley of McGraw. The case was adjourned over till Jan. 11, when Tryon will appear before the justice for examination. He procured ball in the sum of $200. His wife Mrs. Ellen R. Tryon swore out the warrant for his arrest.
ADIRONDACK MISSION WORK.
A Great Field Wherein is Ignorance, Illiteracy and Immorality.
At the morning service at the Presbyterian church Sunday, Rev. Mr. McCarthy, the state missionary of the Presbyterian denomination in the Adirondack region was present and made an address upon the state of his work there. It was a highly interesting talk, but revealed an astonishing condition of ignorance, illiteracy and immorality here within the confines of the Empire state. Mr. McCarthy has been in this work for over twelve years.
He took us a text for his address Mark xvi:15—"Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." In the beginning he paid a warm tribute to the work as one of his assistants of Rev. John T. Stone, formerly pastor of this church, in his seminary days. One summer he said Mr. Stone tramped 1,200 miles through the mountains with a pack of tracts upon his back distributing literature and establishing Sunday-schools. This region, said Mr. McCarthy, includes nearly the whole of nine counties. It covers a larger area than the state of Massachusetts, and is larger than the two kingdoms of Belgium and Holland. It contains 1,800 lakes and 500 mountains. The scenery is about the most beautiful in the world. Over 100,000 people die of tuberculosis each year in the United States, but many are now coming to the Adirondack country to be cured. A year ago there were 700 of them in Saranac Lake village. It is a better place to be cured than Southern California. About 40 per cent of those who go to the mountains for their health, go home well. When the mercury stands from 30 to 40 degrees below zero the physician requires these people to stay out of doors eight hours a day, and it does them good. The population of the mountain country is rapidly increasing by reason of those who are coming there for help. When I went there twelve years ago there were scarcely any railroads in the mountains. Now you can go into the heart of the country in a parlor car.
The pursuits are lumbering, mining, paper and pulp milling, farming, guiding and conducting boardinghouses and hotels. The majority of the natives are exceedingly poor, so poor that you can hardly imagine it. Their houses are poor and their clothing is poor. Sunday-schools are sending boxes of cast off clothing there to help these people. This Sunday-school has assisted in this way in the past. The degree of illiteracy of these people is surprising. They are very superstitious. I asked one man if he was Protestant. He said, no, he was a Methodist. I asked one woman if there were many Presbyterians in her vicinity. She said I could look in the back shed; there were bear skins, deer skins, fox tails and most everything out there and perhaps I might find some Presbyterians.
The moral condition of these people is very bad. There are 60,000 children there outside of Sunday-schools. They swear by the yard and their parents do too, both fathers and mothers. They yield to all forms of immorality. In a few years all of these who are males will become voters, and they will go into Tammany or something worse. Their condition appeals to us all as patriots to do what we can for them.
The majority of the adult population are unchristian and immoral. One woman told me she believed in the doctrine of total depravity and tried to live up to it. In St. Lawrence county it is a very common affair for men to trade wives. I know of a case where two men traded wives, one giving a bonus to the other of ten acres of land; in another case one paid as a bonus a rifle; another gave a cow as boot money. Evangelist Farnsworth told me that he had worked for two years among the mountain whites of the South and in that time he told me that he had never seen as much immorality as in three months in the Adirondacks.
What has been accomplished so far in our work? The first mission was established at Saranac Lake eleven years ago. The people succeeded in raising $150 to erect a building. This church has grown and increased until last year. It was able to raise $2,200 to pay its congregational expenses. I know a village not far from Paul Smith's where there is population of 800 and where there are twenty-five saloons, but no church. We want to establish one there.
Last August we dedicated the fourteenth church in this region. They have cost from $700 to $1,500 each. The Cortland church has helped build some of them. We are now building the fifteenth in a place of about 1,000 inhabitants. A few miles beyond this there is a village of 1,000 people, the terminus of a railroad. Large paper and pulp mills are located there, but there is not a church in the place. We hope to build our sixteenth church here. There is a town hall, but there is something going on in it every night and all day Sunday so that it is almost impossible to secure it at any time for a meeting.
During the year about one hundred Sunday-schools have been organized. In the summer seasons many students go there from the Theological seminaries to assist in this work. We now have seven permanent ordained ministers at work in this field on circuits, preaching the gospel and organizing Sunday-schools. We have an evangelist every winter in addition. Last year we had about 150 conversions. This year we have had fifty so far.
Mr. McCarthy then described the services and the work of the ministers and other assistants and concluded by saying, it is your work; it is the work of the Lord. The Adirondack region is now knocking at your door. I hope it may not knock in vain. Pray for us in the work and help us in any way you can.
"HAPPY BILL" AT ITHACA.
Had an Appreciative Audience at the Band Fair.
The Ithaca Journal speaking of the fair of the Ithaca band which lasted all last week makes this reference to the Friday night entertainment which will appeal to all Cortland readers:
"Happy Bill" Daniels of Cortland played jigs and reels on his violin with band accompaniment, and was compelled to play three encores. He expresses great pride in the fact that he first put Patrick Conway "to the front," and Mr. Conway reciprocates by giving like credit to his first and loyal friend in the world of music. "I wish that Cortland had that leader and his band," exclaimed Mr. Daniels last night, while listening to a quickstep. "But it's too good for any town in America except New York City or Ithaca. We can have the good luck to hear it once in a while, anyway."
Samuel Roberts, John Wafer and Ben Davis, violinists, played against one another again, Roberts winning the prize last night by the voice and verdict of the audience. He played in his shirt sleeves before nearly 2,000 people.
Death of Palmer Olmstead.
Mr. Palmer Olmstead died at his home near the brick schoolhouse on the Groton road at 1 o'clock this morning, aged 65 years, 11 months and 21 days. The funeral will be held Thursday at 1 o'clock. Burial at Virgil.
TO AVOID ANY QUESTION
C. F. Brown Surrenders His Pharmacist's License While He Is Mayor.
Section 110 of the charter of the city of Cortland provides that the mayor of the city shall be the president of the board of police commissioners of the city, and of course is by virtue of that fact a member or the police board.
A general law of this state passed in 1890 forbids a member of a police board of any city in the state from being interested in the sale of liquor. This might be construed to include pharmacists' licenses under the Raines law as at present upon the statute books. This matter has occurred to Mayor C. F. Brown and he is unwilling that even a shadow of an impropriety should rest upon any of his official acts while mayor. For this reason he has surrendered his liquor tax certificate and hereafter will not be interested directly or indirectly in the sale of liquor even as a pharmacist.
SOLD HIS STABLE.
L. J. Fitzgerald Disposed of Blooded Horses—J. and M. Hicks Purchasers.
Hon. L. J. Fitzgerald has sold his entire stock of blooded horses to J. and M. Hicks of Binghamton. The stable consisted of twenty-five horses, as follows: Eight brood mares, five weanlings, four yearlings, four 2-year olds, two 3-year olds, one 4-year-old, and one 5-year-old. The amount received for them was $9,000. Some time ago Mr. Fitzgerald sold seven matured horses from his stables for $8,700.
Mr. Fitzgerald has been raising blooded horses for the past eighteen years and has developed some of the best stock in the United States. He will now turn his attention more particularly to dairying, so far as the conduct of his farms is concerned.
BREVITIES.
—The members of the "Quo Vadis" show company left this morning for Weedsport, where they play this evening.
—A regular meeting of the Royal Arcanum will be held Tuesday evening, Jan. 8, at 7:30 o'clock. Installation of officers.
—The joint installation of officers of Grover Post and of Grover Relief Corps will occur at 7:30 o'clock to-night at G. A. R. hall.
—New display advertisements to-day are—New York Life Insurance company, Insurance, page 4; Palmer & Co., Little prices, page 4.
—It is reported that the Lackawanna railroad will put on a new passenger train in April next that will regularly make the run between Hoboken and Buffalo in eight hours. This will lower the usual time by two hours.
—A regular meeting of the W. C. T. U. will be held Tuesday, Jan. 8 at 2:45 P. M. Consecration service will be led by Mrs. M. V. Hills, followed by a business meeting. The program will include the reading of the state president's annual letter, and reports of superintendents of departments.
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