REMINISCENCES

EMORY FISKE SKINNER, 1908: VESTAL PRINTING COMPANY, CHICAGO

 

(Pages from the Skinner book, courtesy of The Penton Collection, Anne Penton Pinckard and Joyce Penton Schnoor)

 

The Table of Contents provides an outline of Skinner's life.

I DEDICATE THESE REMINISCENCES TO MY WIFE WHO HAS BEEN MY AFFECTIONATE COMPANION FOR NEARLY FIFTY YEARS   I HAVE DICTATED THESE PAGES TO HER, AND SHE HAS PUT THEM IN WRITING, WITHOUT COMMENT. WITHOUT HER ASSISTANCE I WOULD NOT HAVE UNDERTAKEN TO WRITE THEM

PREFACE The thought of writing these memoirs was suggested to me by a gentleman, who was a newspaper writer, whom I met in Pensacola several years ago. I was having a pleasant conversation with him in which I related some of the incidents of my life, when he said: "Mr. Skinner, you ought to write a book giving the events of your life; I am sure it would be very interesting." I gave the suggestion no thought until after I was paralyzed. In that condition I could do little but read and talk; often I found the time hang heavily upon me. After some experimenting I found that the dictating of these reminiscences made the time pass pleasanter to me, as it busied my mind. Another reason for writing this book is that I might avoid the utter oblivion which is the condition of humanity in general, a short time after this life is ended, and from which man shrinks in his normal condition. My life has been more stirring and exciting than the plain narrative herein related will convey to the reader. My conduct has been governed by my own judgment, as I have not had an older and wiser head to give me the benefit of advice when such might have been beneficial; when it would have been received and followed if the proper course had been suggested to me, as events in my life have occurred. I have sometimes regretted that I did not continue in the profession of the law, but circumstances seemed to force me into a business life, against my will. Whether my success at law would have been more satisfactory to me than my business life has been, will always remain unknown. I trust this book will be a source of interest and satisfaction to my descendants as it shows how and where I spent my life and my statements regarding these events. Emory Fiske Skinner.

TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I. THE CHENANGO VALLEY OF EARLY DAYS. As things were in my father's day-When I was ten years old- Grandfather's purchase- Milking the cows   CHAPTER II. YOUTHFUL EXPERIENCES. Threshing the boy-Edgar is bunged--The slave girl's retort- Boys I knew--Sherburne Academy--A boy's flight--Early gallantry- Leaving home   CHAPTER III. FROM WASHINGTON TO OSHKOSH. Inauguration of President Pierce- Out of employment-A poor employer-The Regulator- Becoming a mill- wright-Working for Mr. Comstock; for Mr. Ransom-- Chicago in 1855   CHAPTER IV. EARLY DAYS IN OSHKOSH. Description of the place and the conditions -Burnham Foster & Knapp-A donation party-Teaching school -Two friends- Studying law-A railroad accident   CHAPTER V. COLLEGE AT MT. PLEASANT. Our moot court and the literary society-Henry Clay Dean-Admission to the bar-A lively debate-In Iowa wilds with the deputy sheriff     CHAPTER VI. VARIED OCCUPATIONS. With Wheeler & Coolbaugh--A valiant fire company--Towing logs on Lake Poygam--The girl with the handsome chin-Our own home-Sawmill burned--Repairing a railroad- Mortgaging farms to help railroads   CHAPTER VII WESTWARD HO! Senator - Douglas- Military aspirations - War- To California by the way of Panama-San Francisco--Reese River project- Chasing the stage- Strawberry Valley--Lake Tahoe-Virginia City-Dr. Mathewson   CHAPTER VIII. LIFE IN NEVADA. General Rosecranz--The Hunter mine-Road agents--Early days in this State-By way of Nicaraugua, to New York   CHAPTER IX. WIND AND WATER. In New York City- Fenians -Logging at Pentwater--A storm on Bass Lake--Wintering in the woods-A night in a crib house   CHAPTER X. FROM NORTH TO SOUTH. Business ventures in Chicago--Gratiet flour mill-Chicago fire--Cole Bros. fire engine-Fight with Silsby agent-Mr. Hubbard's project- Escambia- Squatters - Carbolized hose   CHAPTER XI. A BEAUTIFUL FOREST. Beginning life in Florida--Southern lumber business--Crackers--The telephone- Calomel pills-Malarial fever     CHAPTER XII POLITICAL VENTURES. Knowles incident- Running for Congress- Quarantine business-Negro Conventions -Witherspoon -Yellowfever- Steams' victory     CHAPTER XIII M'DAVID BROTHERS AS PARTNERS. Capt. Leonard's picturesque profanity- Buying Escambia, interest from Mr. Hubbard-A railroad for log hauling--Brother LaFayette     CHAPTER XIV. OUR TRIP TO GERMANY.   Mr. Schreyer- Hildesheim- Nuremburg- Munich- Heidelberg- Delft- Calais- The Grossvenor     CHAPTER XV. ENGLISH BROTHERS AND ENGLAND. Captain Ingraham- Soul-carting lumber-Business and pleasure- Mill burned--"Such a good time"     CHAPTER XVI GOVERNMENT DEALINGS IN LOGS AND POLITICS. Constructing new mill-Building logging railroad-Poor health and diet-Trespass on Government lands Delegate to Chicago convention- Eagan     CHAPTER XVII MR. SCHREYER AND OTHER TRIBULATIONS. Running for state senatorship--Candidate for judgeship--Mr. Schreyer's rascality     CHAPTER XVIII. A BUSINESS TRIP TO EUROPE. Mr. Pratt -Edinburg- Abbotsford- Castle Warwick-- Heart of England-The tubular car- Bogies- Houses of parliament     CHAPTER XIX. FROM MEXICO To CALIFORNIA. Concluding with Mr. Schreyer--Stevedores of Pensacola-- Southern Lumbermen's Association--Pleasure trip to Mexico--Baron Ketteler--Pres. Diaz--Bull fight-- Mexico to California--Royal Gorge     CHAPTER XX. AVENO MINE. Mr. Godfrey -- Ayer-- Payne-- Patent Medicine--Columbian Exposition     CHAPTER XXI. OUR NEW CORPORATION. Buying out McDavids--Running a sawmill     CHAPTER XXXII SECURING GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS FOR FRIENDS. Mr. Collier and others-Escambia convention -President McKinley-- Tallahassee Convention--St. Louis. Convention     CHAPTER XXIII. THE NEGRO QUESTION.   Col. Tarble's real estate story--Florida climate--Leisure life--The Negro in politics     CHAPTER XXIV. THE SUCCESSION OF ROOSEVELT McGourin--Cost of being a Republican     CHAPTER XXV. MT. MORGAN MINE Another trip toMexico--Guadalajara--Godfrey's rascality-- A. C. Payne--Mine worthless--Suits to recover     CHAPTER XXVI CHANGE OF BASE Paralysis --Nephew at Chumuckla also paralyzed-- Closing Florida affairs-Trip to East Florida- - To California--Grand Canyon--Phoenix     CHAPTER XXVII THE REAL ESTATE AGENT AND HIS SCHEMES. Douville-Battle Creek-Another fire-Sale to Mr. Saunders     CHAPTER XXVIII. WESTERN WONDERLANDS. A tour of the Pacific Coast--Portland Exposition-- Yellowstone Park-Los Angeles home     CHAPTER XXIX. MINING ROMANCES. Mr. French's story--Lost Mines--Austin -- Nevada--A happy life     CHAPTER XXX. RECAPITULATION. My rules for business conduct--Influence of childhood training-Father- Mother- Grandfather- Golfe     CHAPTER XXXI. IN CONCLUSION. My religious convictions--Definition of Faith--Prayer-- The Clergyman's responsibility--Deity--Martyrdom of Man