CHAPTER X.

Daniel drew.

Birth-place—­Birth and parentage—­A farmer’s boy—­Goes to New York to seek his fortune—­Becomes a cattle drover—­Leases the Bull’s Head Tavern—­His energy and success in his business—­Brings the first western cattle to New York—­Helps a friend to build a steamboat—­The fight with Vanderbilt—­Drew buys out his friend, and becomes a steamboat owner—­Vanderbilt endeavors to discourage him—­He perseveres—­His success—­Formation of the “People’s Line” on the Hudson River—­The floating palaces—­Forms a partnership with George Law, and establishes the Stonington line—­Opening of the Hudson River Railway—­Drew’s foresight—­Room enough for the locomotive and the steamboat—­Buys out the Champlain Company—­Causes of his success as a steamboat manager—­Becomes a banker—­His success in Wall Street—­Indorses the acceptances of the Erie Railway Company—­His courage and calmness in the panic of 1857—­He saves “Erie” from ruin—­Elected a director of the Erie Road—­Is made Treasurer—­His interest in the road—­His operations in Wall Street—­His farm in Putnam County—­Joins the Methodist Church—­His liberality—­Builds a church in New York—­Founds the Drew Theological Seminary—­Estimate of his wealth—­His family—­Personal appearance.

CHAPTER XI.

James B. Eads.

Birth—­Childhood—­Fondness for machinery—­Early mechanical skill—­Constructs a steam engine at the age of nine years—­His work-shop—­Death of his father—­Works his way to St. Louis—­Sells apples on the streets—­Finds employment and a friend—­Efforts to improve—­Becomes a clerk on a Mississippi steamer—­Undertakes the recovery of wrecked steamboats—­Success of his undertaking—­Offers to remove the obstacles to the navigation of the Mississippi—­Failure of his health—­Retires from business—­Breaking out of the war—­Summoned to Washington—­His plan for the defense of the western rivers—­Associated with Captain Rodgers in the purchase of gunboats—­His first contract with the Government—­Undertakes to build seven ironclads in sixty-five days—­Magnitude of the undertaking—­His promptness—­Builds other gunboats during the war—­The gunboat fleet at Forts Henry and Donelson the private property of Mr. Eads—­Excellence of the vessels built by him—­A model contractor—­Residence in St. Louis.

CHAPTER XII.

Cyrus W. Field.

Birth—­Parentage—­Early education—­Goes to New York in search of employment—­Obtains a clerkship in a city house, and in a few years becomes a partner—­A rich man at thirty-four—­Retires from business—­Travels in South America—­Meets Mr. Gisborne—­Plan of the Newfoundland Telegraph Company—­Mr. Field declines to embark in it—­Conceives the idea of a telegraph across the Atlantic Ocean—­Correspondence with