Oct 14, 2026 · 9 hr 35 min · 33 segments
"Lives of Poor Boys Who Became Famous" by Sarah Knowles Bolton offers an inspiring glimpse into the journeys of individuals who rose from humble beginnings to achieve greatness. This collection…
If America had been asked who were to be her most munificent givers in the nineteenth century, she would scarcely have pointed to two grocers' boys, one in a little country store at Danvers, Massachusetts, the other in Baltimore.
Both poor, both uneducated, the one leaving seven millions to Johns Hopkins University and Hospital, the other nearly nine millions to elevate humanity.
George Peabody was born in Danvers, February 18, 1795.
His parents were respectable, hard-working people whose scanty income afforded little education for their children.
George grew up an obedient, faithful son, called a mother-boy by his companions from his devotion to her, a title of which any boy may well be proud.
At eleven years of age he must go out into the world to earn his living.
Doubtless his mother wished to keep her child in school, but there was no money.
A place was found with a Mr. Proctor in a grocery store, and here for four years he worked day by day, giving his earnings to his mother and winning esteem for his promptness and honesty.
But the boy at fifteen began to grow ambitious.
He longed for a larger store and a broader field.
Going with his maternal grandfather to Tetford, Vermont, he remained a year when he came back to work for his brother in a dry goods store in Newburyport.
Perhaps now in this larger town his ambition would be satisfied when, lo, the store burned and George was thrown out of employment.
His father had died and he was without a dollar in the world.
Ambition seemed of little use now.
However, an uncle in Georgetown, D.C., hearing that the boy needed work, sent for him, and thither he went for two years.
Here he made many friends and won trade by his genial manner and respectful bearing.
His tact was unusual.
He never wounded the feelings of a buyer of goods, never tried him with unnecessary talk, never seemed impatient, and was punctual to the minute.
Perhaps no one trait is more desirable than the latter.
A person who breaks his appointments or keeps others waiting for him loses friends and business success as well.
A young man's habits are always observed.
If he is worthy and has energy, the world has a place for him, and sooner or later he will find it.
A wholesale dry goods dealer, Mr. Riggs, had been watching young Peabody.
He desired a partner of energy, perseverance, and honesty.
Calling on the young clerk, he asked him to put his labor against his, Mr. Riggs' capital.
If America had been asked who were to be her most munificent givers in the nineteenth century, she would scarcely have pointed to two grocers' boys, one in a little country store at Danvers, Massachusetts, the other in Baltimore.
Both poor, both uneducated, the one leaving seven millions to Johns Hopkins University and Hospital, the other nearly nine millions to elevate humanity.
George Peabody was born in Danvers, February 18, 1795.
His parents were respectable, hard-working people whose scanty income afforded little education for their children.
George grew up an obedient, faithful son, called a mother-boy by his companions from his devotion to her, a title of which any boy may well be proud.
At eleven years of age he must go out into the world to earn his living.
Doubtless his mother wished to keep her child in school, but there was no money.
A place was found with a Mr. Proctor in a grocery store, and here for four years he worked day by day, giving his earnings to his mother and winning esteem for his promptness and honesty.
But the boy at fifteen began to grow ambitious.
He longed for a larger store and a broader field.
Going with his maternal grandfather to Tetford, Vermont, he remained a year when he came back to work for his brother in a dry goods store in Newburyport.
Perhaps now in this larger town his ambition would be satisfied when, lo, the store burned and George was thrown out of employment.
His father had died and he was without a dollar in the world.
Ambition seemed of little use now.
However, an uncle in Georgetown, D.C., hearing that the boy needed work, sent for him, and thither he went for two years.
Here he made many friends and won trade by his genial manner and respectful bearing.
His tact was unusual.
He never wounded the feelings of a buyer of goods, never tried him with unnecessary talk, never seemed impatient, and was punctual to the minute.
Perhaps no one trait is more desirable than the latter.
A person who breaks his appointments or keeps others waiting for him loses friends and business success as well.
A young man's habits are always observed.
If he is worthy and has energy, the world has a place for him, and sooner or later he will find it.
A wholesale dry goods dealer, Mr. Riggs, had been watching young Peabody.
He desired a partner of energy, perseverance, and honesty.
Calling on the young clerk, he asked him to put his labor against his, Mr. Riggs' capital.
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