Hall, Henry, America's successful men of affairs

([New York] :  New York Tribune,  1895-1896.)

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THE    CITY    OF    NEW    YORK.----GA.                                                           253

employment at the age of thirteen, the family having lost their modest fortune, for
three years the lad found occupation in the boats navigating the Hudson river. Every
winter, when the river was closed by ice, he attended school. At the age of sixteen,
he came to New York for three years of study of architecture, and during the next five
years lived in Canada engaged in planning buildings and construction of lake steam¬
boats. He rose to be superintendent of The Upper Canada Co., in those days an im¬
portant corporation. Then he found occupation at St. Louis and in the vicinity of New
Orleans. When gold was discovered in California, Mr. Garrison established a bank in
Panama, which was successful. In 1852, he came to New York city to open a branch
bank here, but accepted an offer of the San Francisco agency of The Nicaragua Steam¬
ship Co., at a salary of $60,000 a year. Removing to San Francisco, he established the
bank of Garrison & Fritz, represented several large insurance companies, managed the
steamship line, and became first Mayor of that city, and served practically without com¬
pensation, giving his salary to the local orphan asylums. After 1859, he made his home
in New York city. Here he became extensively interested in steamship lines to South
America and the Isthmus, acquiring therefrom the soubriquet of Commodore, and also
in railroads on the Coast. During the War, he espoused the cause of the Union with
enthusiasm. Butler's Ship Island expedition was initiated by him. The old steamship
line to Brazil, founded by him, was an illustration of his courage and enterprise. At
one time, these ships were the only steamers afloat, carrying the Stars and Stripes
in the foreign trade of the United States. A few years before his death, he disposed of
his maritime interests. He aided in building the railroad to the Pacific, and became
controlling owner of The Missouri Pacific Railroad, when the line was sold under fore¬
closure in 1876. He finally sold his interest to Jay Gould. He was also largely inter¬
ested in the elevated roads of this city. The surviving children of Mr. Garrison and
Letitia W., his wife, were William R. Garrison, now deceased, and Catharine M , wife
of Barrett Van Auken. A public spirited man, remarkable for his powerful physique,
rugged energy, and unbending integrity, he was one of those who contributed greatly
to advancing the interests of the metropolis.

EPHRAIM CHURCH GATES, lumberman, born in Hubbardston, Mass., March 28,
1817, comes from old New England stock. His ancestors were English, and his grand¬
father, Asa Church, served in the commissary department in the American Revolution.
His father, Salmon Gates, moved with his family, in 1823, from Hubbardston, Mass.
to Calais, Me., which place he had visited as early as 1807, and thereafter was one of
the active business men of Milltown, which was in his time the principal part of Calais.
Ephraim attended the grammar schools of the town and for two terms the Washington
Academy in Machias. He then found employment with his father, who was developing
the lumber industry of the St. Croix river, then a new interest, and in 1840, having
saved a little capital, began manufacturing lumber for himself, this industry being the
source of the prosperity of this frontier city. For thirty-five years, 1847-82, he was
the leading spirit of the lumber firm of Gates & Wentworth, in partnership with his
brother in law, the Hon. Giles M. Wentworth. He became, by purchase, a large owner
of timber lands in the counties of Washington and Penobscot, Me., and York, N. B.
In 1849, Mr. Gates manufactured and sold to a lumber yard in Mott Haven, New York
city, the first cargo of spruce lumber ever landed on the east side of the Harlem river.
For sixteen years, he continued to sell lumber to this yard, which is on  138th street,
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