JAY COOKE (1821-1905). Banker. A chance move to Philadelphia as a result of the panic of 1837 determined Jay Cooke's future career, with his eventually ending up as a partner in the distinguished banking house of Clark & Company in that city. Retiring as a wealthy man in 1857, he could not stay idle long, and founded Jay Cooke & Company in 1861, destined to become one of the most widely known banking houses in the country. Serving as treasury agent for the U.S. government during the Civil War, Cooke's banking house handled with great success the larger part of the $2 billion in bonds which the government issued to finance the war effort. After the war, Cooke's banking house specialized in financing very large enterprises, most notably the construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad. In the depression of 1873, however, the house failed, helping bring on the panic of 1873.
CHARLES BARNEY Co-founder of today's well known Smith Barney borkerage firm. Charles Barney, founded his firm in 1873 and a young investment banker, Edward B. Smith, started his in 1892. These pioneers of the American securities industry helped make Wall Street the world's financial capital.
Document Signed. Williamsport, Pennsylvania. February 18, 1885. 6 pages. 8" x 12". Manuscript Charter of Incoporation of The Ogontz Fishing Club. The charter outlines the details of the club's formation stating "The purpose of the said Corporation shall be the preservation and propogation of fish in the Waters of the West or First Fork of Larrys Creek and its bributaries in the County of Lycoming and State of Pennsylvania" The document is signed at the conclusion by all who are listed as directors; JAY COOKE, JAY COOKE, JR., CHAS. D. BARNEY, JOHN M. BUTLER, CLINTON LLOYD, THOMAS W. LLOYD AND LIZZIE H. LLOYD. A fine document displaying Cooke's avid interest in sportsmanship and a great association with one of America's most well known brokerage names. Some light dampstaining.
