CHAPTER VI.

Jonas Chickering.

The largest building in the United States—­The Chickering piano factory—­Birth of Jonas Chickering—­Early love of music—­Is apprenticed to a cabinet-maker—­Is employed to repair a piano—­Succeeds in the undertaking—­Consequence of this success—­Becomes a piano-maker—­Removes to Boston—­Is employed as a journeyman—­The labor of his life—­His patience and skill—­Is known as the best workman in the establishment—­History of the piano—­Chickering’s first discovery—­His hope of success based on intelligence—­Becomes a master of the theory of sound—­His studies and their result—­Makes an improvement in the framing of pianos—­Invents the circular scale for square pianos—­Generously makes his invention free—­A noble gift to the world—­His business operations—­Increase in the demand for his instruments—­Death of Captain Mackay—­Mr. Chickering undertakes the sole charge of his affairs—­Fears of his friends—­Magnitude of the business—­The lawyer’s question answered—­The mortgages paid—­Rapid success of Mr. Chickering—­His varied duties—­Sharp competition—­A bogus Chickering—­How a Boston bank lost his custom—­His independence in business—­His character as a merchant—­Trains his sons to succeed him in business—­The result of his efforts—­The present house of Chickering & Sons—­Destruction of the factory—­Offers of aid—­Mr. Chickering’s kindness to his workmen—­Sets to work to re-establish his business—­The new factory begun—­Sudden death of Mr. Chickering.

CHAPTER VII.

Nicholas Longworth.

The grape interest of the United States—­Growing demand for American wines—­Instrumentality of Mr. Longworth in producing this success—­Early life of Mr. Longworth—­Apprenticed to a shoemaker—­Removes to South Carolina—­Returns to Newark and studies law—­Removes to Cincinnati—­Admitted to the bar—­His first case—­Is paid in whisky stills, and trades them for lands which make his fortune—­Rapid growth of Cincinnati—­The oldest native inhabitant of Chicago—­Longworth’s investments in real estate—­Immense profits realized by him—­His experiments in wine growing—­History of the Catawba grape—­Longworth decides to cultivate it entirely—­His efforts to promote the grape culture in the Ohio Valley—­Offers a market for all the grape juice that can be brought to him—­The result of his labors seen in the Ohio vineyards of to-day—­His wine cellars—­Amount of wine made annually by him—­The process used—­How “Sparkling Catawba” is made—­Longworth’s experiments with strawberries—­His liberality—­Gift of land to the Observatory—­His challenge to a grumbler—­Estimate of his character—­His eccentricities—­His generosity to his tenants—­How he made money by helping others to grow rich—­His politics—­How he subscribed one hundred dollars to elect Clay—­His hatred of vagabondage—­His stone quarry—­How he provided it with laborers—­His system of helping the poor—­Is charged with stinginess—­The “devil’s poor”—­Personal appearance—­The “Hard-times” overcoat—­Charity to a millionaire—­Death of Mr. Longworth.