the son. He at last found
employment in a store where he remained two years when his health
compelled outdoor work. He therefore obtained employment carrying chains
for some surveyors at $10 a month. These men were making surveys from
which an Albany publishing firm expected to issue maps for an atlas they
were getting out. Not only did Gould carry the chains but he improved
every opportunity for picking up points in surveying. We see one
characteristic of the man plainly showing itself at this early age, for
when the firm failed, Gould had the maps published himself, and then
personally sold enough of them to clear $1,000. With this start he went
to Pennsylvania, and was employed in a tannery. As one sees, nearly
every successful man owes that success largely to the cultivation of
pleasing manners, so it was with Gould. So apparent was his ability, and
so well did he please his employer, that the man set Gould up in
business at Gouldsborough, where he cleared $6,000 within the next two
years. Gould was not satisfied with this moderate success, fine as it
seemed to be; he only regarded these enterprises as stepping-stones to
something higher. He next enters the metropolis where he buys and sells
hides in a small office at No. 49 Gold street.

About this time Gould met a young lady at the Everett House, where he
lived, whose acquaintance was destined to have a marked influence over
his subsequent career. This bright, handsome girl attracted his
attention so unmistakably that Miss Miller noticed it. A little
flirtation took place which ripened into a mutual affection, and they
were married without waiting for the parents' approval, probably Gould
knew better, as the young lady, at the time was far above his station in
life as society would say, hence acted in this matter as he would in any
business transaction he entered.

Of course, this aroused Mr. Miller's righteous indignation, but he soon
realized that Mr. Gould was a man of no ordinary calibre and wisely
changed his course toward him. Mr. Miller owned a large interest in the
Rensselaer & Saratoga Railroad, and young Gould, after visiting the
same, concluded that it could be made to pay. He accordingly bought the
entire stock his father-in-law owned, notwithstanding the stock was
considered all but worthless. He immediately disposed of all other
business, and assumed the management of the road by buying up as much of
the remaining stock as seemed necessary to give