200                    '^HE OLD MERCHAJVTS
 

CHAPTER XX

There are many honored mercantUe names among the
citizens of different periods, but none stand higher than
:hat of " Ogden." I have in one chapter given a sketch
of James De Peyster Ogden, once an extensive mer¬
chant, and ever a most useful citizen. I will now give
another merchant of the name of Samuel G. Ogden.

He was one of the New Jersey Ogdens. His father
was a clergyman at Newark. Samuel G. Ogden was
one of several sons; one went to China. Samuel
served the usual apprenticeship, or rather clerkship, in
order to thoroughly learn mercantUe business, with the
then (1795) great commercial firm of Gouverneur &
Kemble, No. 94 Front street. Joseph and Isaac Gouv¬
erneur were both partners at that time ; although Jo¬
seph was absent in Europe, and he died shortly after
his return, about 1798. Isaac lived a few doors from
the store, at No. 98 Front street.

The house did an enormous trade, and young Ogden
was in a good school to leam business. As one item of
the business they did a commission business. The ship
" Cleopatra " came consigned to them from the Isle of
France; she was commanded by Captain Beare. G.
& K. sold one invoice of sundry goods, and the net pro¬
ceeds were ^654,195—or $135,488.    G. & K.'s com-