Abbreviations used
Date August 6 1896
County York
Place Fredericton
Newspaper The Gleaner
The language of the text is the original used in the newspaper entry and as transcribed by Daniel F. Johnson. Records acquired by the Provincial Archives are not translated from the language in which they originate.
Some 40 years ago a New Brunswick boy landed in Chicago to seek his fortune. He had lots of hope, but the only wealth he had in the world was 25 cents. He spent this on something to eat and then started to walk to St. Charles, 30 miles west of Chicago, where he had relatives living. On the way thither he met a man hauling grain to Chicago with two teams, driving one and leading the other. He asked the New Brunswicker if he wanted a job hauling grain. The latter of course was glad to accept the position and entered upon his duties forthwith by taking charge of the team that was being led. This job he kept for two months when he went to the pine woods of Wisconsin which were becoming famous as a money making operation. He secured work there, saved a little money and finally started lumbering for himself on a small scale at first, but gradually developing year after year, until in a short time he was one of the largest pine operators in Wisconsin. He is now one of the millionaires of Illinois and lives in a palatial residence about 44 miles west of Chicago. He still lumbers and is increasing his wealth every year. When success began to crown his efforts, he married a western girl and now has a family of five, the male members of which seem to have the natural shrewdness of their father, for they are rolling up wealth. The New Brunswicker referred to is 72 years old and his name is John STEWART, a son of the late Thos. STEWART, who will be remembered by older residents as a shoemaker at Oromocto (Sunbury Co.). He also worked at that trade in this city. John began to battle with the world at an early age, working as a common laborer. He followed milling and was employed in the old Morris mill at Oromocto. When he scraped enough to pay the fare, he went to Chicago. Richard JONES of this city, who was in Mr. Stewart's employ in Illinois for 19 years, says another secret of his success is his knack of handling men. Mr. Stewart has been in N.B. only once since going west, but he is coming to Fredericton this month to spend a few weeks. (see original)